Alpha Security Chapter 2

[Ed Man]

Assignments

Chapter 2

As the security force returned Josh had prepared a small party for them. Their hard work had paid off! Their first mission was a big success and no one was hurt on their team.

Josh gave them two days off two unwind and a small bonus before starting their next assignments.

This was the first official mission of Alpha Security Inc. and Josh was pleased with the team.
Argon Security was pleased with the successful mission Alpha Security had done they raised the rank of the company and had sent a list of new jobs for Josh to consider.

After a well-deserved break the team was broken up into two and three man teams and sent out on assignments. Some of the personnel would remain onboard as company security. The rest for extraction and backup in case one of the teams got into trouble.

Josh decided to go and see his friend Yakima and to pick up a few jobs in Teladi Space.
After checking the job board a supply ship headed for the Equipment Dock in Rolk’s Fate needed an escort. Josh contacted the Pilot and took the job seeing it was on his way, while putting a company ship for every one to see flying escort was good advertisement.

The Pilot told Josh that he had run into a few Pirates on his last delivery and was fired on! If the Boron fighter had not been close to the freighter he would have lost his freight or ship and his life!

The pirates had eyes and ears telling about loads of goods headed their way and pilots had to file flight plans telling their roughs. All the Pirates had to do was set and wait on their mark.

After checking the freighter contents Josh believed a Pirate attack would happen but the best place for it was the question. Nothing was for certain but with a freighter full of hard to get supplies and weapons it would be like throwing meat to a starving animal and the Pirates was starved for supplies.

Josh quickly advised the freighter Pilot they needed a little help to be on the safe side. After talking for a while the freighter Pilot had most of his credits in the freight onboard. [And there was a lot.]

Josh offered him a deal he liked. Josh would transport the freight and Pilot while in space onto the Excel [Josh’s lifter]. Then transport an Alpha Security Pilot onto the lifter to finish the flight. Then take the Excel with two M4 fighters and jump to the north gate and deliver the supplies to the Equipment Dock.
Josh would escort the empty lifter and call for the M4 fighters to jump in if he seen pirates closing in on them. Josh agreed to do the job for 30,000 credits. And if the freighter received damage anything over 10,000 credits Josh would repair the ship.

The Freelance Pilot liked the deal it was worth the credits to have a contract with a guarantee. No madder what happened 40,000 in credits was all it would cost! After delivery he would make a bundle of credits and could buy a small fighter of his own. It was a win-win deal for the Freelancer. And Josh liked the ideal of capping a few pirate ships to sell while increasing the company’s reputation.

Everything went as planed the Excel had docked and the freight was delivered and payment was made.

As they entered Atreus’ Clouds Josh noticed a conflict between a few small Pirate ships and Sector Security in the far southwest corner of the sector. Most of the Sector Security ships had been sent to assist in the fight.

Josh seen two Mandalays a Bayamon and two Orinoco's headed his way from the North Gate. Josh called for the M4’s to jump in behind him and stay back 4km till the Pirates fired on then.

As the Pirates closed Josh reminded his fighter Pilots the ideal was to protect the Lifter first! And to capture some ships to sell and not to get shot up doing it!

The Mandalays opened fire on the Lifter and Josh as soon as they passed the rear turret damaged one of the Mandalays. As they turned the M4s in the background engaged the Mandalays destroying one while the other ejected.
The Bayamon had closed as Josh fired pausing only to give the pilot time to eject. The turret finished the Bayamon as it flew past.
The two Orinoco’s had scanned the freighter and had turned to deep space to run. The two company M4’s were modified Buster’s with four fast charging 5meg.shields and a rear turret and a larger power unit to keep the enhanced weapons firing. The ships were fast and could easily over take the Orinoco’s that had split up hoping to escape.

Josh ordered the M4’s to split up and go after the Orinoco’s and try to capture the ships.

“If they don’t eject before I’m within 5km of the gate destroy them and form up on me.”
Josh opened the Com. channel so the Orinoco Pilots could hear the order to let them know they could eject or die!

Josh then clamed the Mandalay and set course for the North Gate. The Mandalay was about the same speed as the lifter so they were half way to the Gate when one of the Pilots ejected. Josh slowed down giving the pilot time to claim the Orinoco and have Sector Security pick up the Pirate.

The Orinoco was slower than the Buster and was way behind the convoy. Josh was nearing the Gate when the last Orinoco Pilot shut down his ship and manually ejected. Boron Security picked up the ejected pilot as the last Orinoco ship was claimed.

Josh had set a holding position waiting on the slower ships to form up. Boron Security was grateful and gave a bonus in pay and a big rep. increase for the company and Pilots.
This was better than Josh had expected to achieve. Two M3 and a M5 and the Lifter was fine just a little scorched paint from the Mandalay that exploded.

The Buster Pilots and Josh felt a great since of satisfaction knowing what they had accomplished for the company and themselves.

As the convoy docked at the Equipment Dock the Lifters owner was waiting to inspect his ship.
The ships had docked and Josh and his pilots were inspecting the captured ships and talking about what to do with them. The Lifters owner came over and thanked Josh for a job well done and asked about the Mandalay?

“It’s for sell.” Josh replied with a smile.

The Pilot inspected the ship and replied. “I’ll give you 12,000 right now as she is.”

“And what would you give for a fully fitted ship with 4 shield slots and max specks?” Josh asked.

“Well I have the shields and weapons. So I would give 40,000 do you have one?” The pilot asked.

Josh contacted the Chief onboard the Elephant and had him jump to the sector and fly close to the Equipment Dock to pick up the ships.

“Make it 50,000 and I’ll give you 425m/s speed and max cargo of a Disco with 4 shield slots and a nice cockpit and I‘ll mount a A.I.R.E. on the rear in a turret.” Josh replied.

The Freelancer replied with a smile. “It’s a deal! When can I get it?”

“Give me two days for refit and its yours. Give me the shields, equipment and weapons and I’ll install them for you when its finished. Pick it up in Sector [The Wall]; just hail the TL for your ship they'll be looking for you.” Josh replied.

The pilot loaded the supplies onto the Exaireo and Josh and the captured ships docked onboard the TL.

The two Buster pilots were escorting a convoy to Argon Prime then pack to HQ to rejoin the team and their duties.

The Chief and his crew needed a little down time while the ship was being refitted so Josh had the TL jump to The Wall so the crew could enjoy some R&R.

Josh wanted to get back to his strategy and go see Yakima and pick up a few jobs. This time when Josh undocked he jumped to the sector.

Josh exited the South Gate there was a Split Mule under attack ahead of him running for the Trading Station hoping for help.

“Don’t let Split die! Please help Split! Split will pay!”

The poor Split was begging for help as Josh Hailed the Split. “Pilot I’m inbound Hold on.”

Two Bayamons were toying with him trying to get him to eject. The Sector seemed to have a high number of Pirate ships flying around.

Josh opened fire on the closest attacking fighters making him turn away from the assault so his shields could recover.
The second fighter turned to fire as Josh hit the strafe dodging the fire. As the ship flew by the rear turrets lit him up dropping his shields making him run. The Split was still running for the Station as Josh turned to intercept the fighter.
As Josh closed driving a few shots into the hull as the shields failed the Pilot ejected.

Josh turned to intercept the other Bayamon a Mandalay had joined the fight and was on his wing.
The Pilot ejected and was picked up by the Mandalay. As the supercharged Mandalay ran for the East gate the Bayamon now on autopilot engaged Josh.

Josh fired on the ship and turned the ion disrupters on to cap the ship. As Josh stayed on the rear of the ship firing the ID the Mandalay had all ready made the Gate and was jumping.

“Sarah how fast was the Mandalay at top speed?” Josh asked as he keeps up the assault on the Bayamon.

“The ship jumped to 375m/s in five seconds then it took 7 seconds more to reach 475m/s and stayed there till they neared the Gate. The ship had some kind of booster that used energy cells. As I monitored the ship in flight energy cells were being depleted as the ship climbed from 375 to 475m/s till they slowed to enter the Gate.” Sarah replied.

“Wow a new technology to boost your speed and on a pirate ship. Did you get a good scan of the ship and it’s new booster?” Josh asked, as the Bayamon was finely disabled and setting dead.

“No all I could get was standard and long-range scans. The ship stayed out of range for a concentrated scanning of the technology. The Split has docked and just transferred you 5,000 credits for your help.” Sarah replied.

“If you spot the ship again tell me! Claim the Bayamon and send it to the Equipment Dock with the other. Dock the ship and find Yakima. Tell him I want to talk I have two ships for sale.” Josh replied as he studied the readings on the ship.

As the Exaireo docked Yakima was all ready at the docking bays and was waiting on Josh.

“Please come onboard Yakima.” Josh welcomed his friend onboard and poured him a drink.

“Please sit down and enjoy the drink it’s your favorite. I have a few questions about a ship. And please tell me where is all the pirate activity coming from?” Josh asked.

Yakima told Josh he was also trying to find out about the new booster. And there was a new Independent Base in the extreme upper Northeast part of the Sector far out of scanner range. That was the reason for the increase in Pirate activity. And how big pay off’s and bribe’s have just about stopped all sector patrols.

Yakima told Josh how those that opposed what was going on ended up dead or missing. Ships were being forced to eject their freight or pay for passage. Tensions were on the rise from inside the sector and the other races talking sanctions against the Teladi.

Yakima informed Josh how he had talked to the Sector Director. “She regrets the mess she has allowed but is afraid to do anything for fear of losing her and her family’s lives. A chance to make lots of credits for someone with your talents.”

‘Send a secure massage to the Sector Director and ask her to make a surprise inspection on the station so I can talk to her. I will transport into your office unseen to discuss her problem and see if I can be of any assistance.” Josh replied.

Yakima gladly bought the two ships seeing he could sell them easily to a buyer who would take them to the new Pirate Base and resale them to the highest bidder. Making a lot of profit but sometimes getting shot in the process.

Josh needed some Intel on the Pirate Station and their activities. So he contacted some of his Teladi field agents and deployed them throughout the sector and Station.

The Station Director was quick to respond showing her desperation about the problem.
Josh transported into the office as planed meeting with the Director asking. “I see you have a problem with Pirates Madam Director. I am with Alpha Securities do you need our help?”

The Director responded quickly. “YES! The problem has to be removed from this sector. The Company Director has all ready made contacted telling me to regain control of the sector or I will be replaced. What do you propose and how much is it going to cost?”

“Well that depends on your resolve and how far you want to go? Do you want to regain control of the sector or do you want to get rid of the Station and Pirates or both?” Josh asked.

“You see what you can do to solve this problem then contact me in my office when you’re ready. I’m not hiding any more. I want to resolve this peacefully Freelancers bring credits to the sector but I will do whatever I need to do to restore order and trade.” The Director replied while leaving the office.