Hunt for Buster
Chapter 7
Peter docked behind the freighter and got out as Kea met him. “Peter where you get ship?”
“I have a Pirate in the hole and a passenger on the freighter I want you to meet.” Peter explained as two guards went on the Disco to get the Pirate while they walked over to the freighter. The drone Peter bought was transferring his things onto the Disco.
[Kea] “What drone doing Peter?”
[Peter] “There’s a Buster that was working with the one in the hole I’m going back out to get him.”
[Kea] “How you capture a fighter with a freighter with no damage? I know you good but no one that good!”
[Peter] “I picked up some missiles on the way there. I used them on the Disco and by chance it made him bail. I’m going back out to look for the Buster.”
[Kea] “I no like you get into fight on first job why push your luck what if Buster get Peter?”
[Peter] “Them you get to keep my cut.” [Kea] “Not funny Peter.”
Peter and Kea went onboard the freighter so Dana could explain to Kea about what had happened to her. Peter eased out while Dana was telling her story to Kea and trying to contact her people.
[Dana] “Kea where did Peter go?” [Kea] “He go back out to hunt Buster.”
[Dana] “A squad of fighters will be here in a few hours to pick me up! A Disco is no match for a Buster he’ll be killed!”
“Kea no think so Peter ace fighter pilot. Buster be gone in few hours if Peter want to find buster he need to go.”
Peter hit full speed back to the Outpost to look for the Buster. “Sam set the scanner to long range and use the drone with the video enhancement goggles he’ll be running lights looking for his buddies. I’m going to look at my new ship.”
Sam was in the process of upgrading the scanner and systems as Peter looked a round the small ship. The cabin was a small basic living area was right behind the cockpit. As Peter walked into the engine room the spiders were fast at work on the ship making upgrades.
“Sam any sign of the Buster?” Peter asked as he headed for the cockpit. [Sam] “No Commander.”
Back at the station a Security Officer comes up to talk to Dana about the report Peter had filed.
“Mrs. Lena the man that Mr. Stone turned over to us says that you two fired on him first!”
[Dana] “Officer My Lawyer and Security people will be here in a little while I’ll let him deal with the paper work.”
[Officer] “Yes that’s fine Ma’am but Mr. Stone left with the ship! As far as we know the man setting in our cell is telling the truth it looks bad that Mr. Stone just left without even stopping in to tell his side of the story.”
[Dana] “Let explain this to you if it helps! That man in your cell and his friends were trying to find us so they could kill me. And for whatever reason we managed to survive because something happened to the first ship that was attacking us. It backed off and exploded when the second ship formed up with him to finish us off. Mr. Stone fired missiles at the ship trying to destroy or damage it but the pilot balled and that’s how he got the ship. And the reason he left is to try and find the Buster that was with them before it gets to far away. Did you send a ship after the Buster Officer?”
[Officer] “Well no Ma’am we didn’t.”
[Dana] “Are you going to?”
[Officer] “No Mrs. Lena sorry we can’t afford to lose or send a ship out looking for a rouge Pirates ship.”
[Dana] “I’ll replace the ship and pay a pilot if you have a pilot brave enough to go out and help Mr. Stone.”
[Officer] “Our pilots risk their lives every time they go out! I’ll see what I can do!”
The Officer walked away and called his supervisor about the offer. “I have a ship ready to go if you are willing to make good your offer to pay? He wants 5000 credits and damages.”
[Dana] “You send the ship I’ll pay the pilot.”
While the ship raced to catch up with Peter, Sam was using a long range mapping procedure used by astronomers to look for the Buster.
[Sam] “Peter I have a ship headed for the nebula. Its path puts it starting point where the debris from the Disco would be at. Do you want me to plot a intercept course?”
[Peter] “Yes. How long will it take to catch him?”
[Sam] “About six hours. Peter you just received a long range message that Dana has hired a ship to help you and he is in route looking for us.”
[Peter] “Send him a message drone showing him where we’ll be when we intercept the Buster.”
[Sam] “Intercept course laid in Peter. I don’t have a drone to send and it will take to long to make one.”
[Peter] “Can you adapt a mosquito missile with a homing signal and put the position to meet us in it?”
[Sam] “Yes I can do that it will take ten minutes to refit and launch the missile. He will meet up with us twenty minutes after first contact do you want me to re-calculate the flight path so all three ships will meet at the same time?”
[Peter] “No leave it the way it is I want to get there first and capture the ship and pilot. I’m going to sleep a little wake me in four hours or if anything changes or you find out it’s not him.”
As the four hours passed Sam woke Peter up and after he fixed himself a cup of coffee and freshened up he asked Sam about a dream he had. “Sam I remember my dream like it was real. I dreamed I was in a place called Alpha Prime. I was a child and I had a mother and father their with me. The people and races were different it all seemed so real.”
[Sam] “Alpha Prime was where you were born. It must have been a memory playing itself out as a dream you may want to try and see what new memories you have regained after this mission.”
[Peter] “I do remember my mother and father! Sam it means a lot to me just to remember them two months ago it was all a blank. It just all seams so distance like I’m looking through the eyes of another person but I know it was me.
What’s the status of the ship and the backup fighter?”
[Sam] “I have confirmed the ship is the Pirate Buster and the support fighter is on course but will be 40 minutes out when you reach firing range.”
[Peter] “Any improvements made to the ship I should know about?”
[Sam] “The scanner, shields and several systems have been improved. The spiders are currently working on a transporter that should be completed before you intercept the Buster.”
[Peter] “Good and when you get a chance fix the food processor I remember having one that made good food. That thing makes food so bad its hard to eat. And that stuff it call coffee is just bad.”
[Sam] “I can work on it but the data I need is still on the storage device on the ship back at the station.”
[Peter] “Sam that buster is headed somewhere can you see anything ahead of it he’s flying to?”
[Sam] “No but he is headed in a strait line to something.”
[Peter] “Keep watch maybe it will make since later. Is he using the stars?”
[Sam] “He is flying directly at a star that could be picked out easily.”
[Peter] “Were they any records or markings on this ship anywhere that might be a star map?”
[Sam] “No but if he doesn’t hit his mark and change direction before a hour we’ll be in scanner range.”
Peter watched as the ship keep to it’s course and thirty minutes later it stopped. “Sam slow down and see what he does.”
The buster turned as it lined up with the sun and a star and headed out in the direction of another star.
[Peter] “You getting all this Sam?” [Sam] “I’m charting his path now.”
[Peter] “Will the support ship be able to find us?”
[Sam] “He should be able to see our engine glare and see we have changed course. If not we can meet up with him on the way back.”
[Peter] “Turn our rear marker light on so our support ship can see it flashing. The engines have been upgraded kick them up to full speed and get this over with. I plan on taking the Buster the normal way. The mine in his hull was a good tactic when we were in the freighter but not now. When we reach weapons range and the fight starts hack the drone and raise the ejection setting on the ship to 10% if you can.”
[Sam] “I can hack the drone but getting it out of the cargo hole and into the main area of the ship will be a problem. The ship is set at -10% you will have to damage the Buster to get him to eject. I can monitor the shots and tell you when to stop firing.”
[Peter] “I want him and if the ship takes some damage, I’m fine with that.”
The Buster spotted Peter on long range scanners and turned to engage. When Peter hit missile range the Buster Pilot fired a wasp.
[Peter] “I don’t think we need to give him a chance to surrender now.”
When the missile was close enough Peter blew it up and dodged the fragments.
[Peter] “Did you really think I would fly right into the missile save us both the trouble and just eject and get it over with! I’ll let you eat on the return trip to the station!”
[Pirate] “I’ll feed you some ////----xxxx you xxx//////!!!”
[Peter] “You have anger issues. I may give you a little shock treatment to help you clean up that dirty mouth. You remember this ship? It use to be one your buddies he didn’t need it anymore he just left it. Unlike his friend or whats left of him floating in fragments with the wreckage of his ship.”
[Pirate] “Big talk for a little /////####\\\\\\\ M5 ###### pilot!!!”
“Sam you got the drone?” Peter asked as he dodged incoming fire as he tried to get on the tail of the Buster. While the Buster Pilot was trying to blow Peter out of the sky in the process.
[Sam] “I have control of the drone. But the cargo bay hatch is locked inside the cabin.”
Peter twisted, turned, dodged, and thrusted in every direction until he was on the tail of the Buster and after blasting a few rounds into the Buster Peter stated. “Last chance to surrender.”
[Sam] “He just ordered the drone to load the mine I’m sending a malfunction response.”
Peter keep firing as the shields droped lower.
[Sam] “He ordered the drone again to drop the mine.”
[Peter] “Load a empty crate and send the ready signal.”
Peter was tearing away at the shields of the Buster as the Pirate dropped the empty crate and hit his booster. But mutch to the surprise of the Pirate the weapons fire keep coming as Sam started the countdown. The Pirate was frantic as he watched the shields drop to zero and then all he heard was a rushing sound as he was jettisoned from the cabin into open space.
Peter dove down to avoid hitting him as he closed on the Buster. “Sam clame the ship and lets pull away out of the range of the Pirate and give him some time to think.”
As they moved away the Pirate watched in fear as the two ship got smaller until they were just a small dot in space. He watched not taking his eyes off the dot he knew was his only hope of survival till his eyes hurt.
Peter transported his drone over to the Buster and scanned the ship and after it was cleared he stated.
“Sam start repairing the Buster it’s a long trip back to the station.”
[Sam] “I would advise against repairing the ship until we get back. If you come back with a repaired ship how will you explain how you did it? I would recommend repairing the ship on a trip to the planet. The shipyard will never know the ship was damaged and the station will think you repaired it at the shipyard.
The escort ship is asking for your orders.”
[Peter] “Fly the Buster back to the Trading Station and have him fly escort. I’m going to talk to the Pirate he’s had time to think and consider his options.”
Peter flew back out to the Pirate as he just sat there not trying to go anywhere knowing there was nowhere
for him to go.
[Peter] “You ready to talk?” [Pirate] “I have a few chips to bargain with.”
[Peter] “Well I’m glad to here that please tell me?”
[Pirate] “The woman that hired us and supplied us with the ship your in the Buster and a Dolphin super freighter I have hid with her son in it. I’ll ID the woman and tell all even where the Dolphin is when you get me back to the Trading Station.”
[Peter] “What about the Boys Dad and the Boy?”
[Pirate] “The man you killed in the other Disco took him out and said he used his body for target practice. He was a cold blooded killer so I believed him and he didn’t have time to drop him off anywhere but open space so he’s dead. But the Boy is alive and well onboard the Dolphin. His little hot tail girl friend is working with us. She’s taking care of him and they have enough supplies for two more weeks. So if you want to save him you better get me back to the station safe and sound so I can negotiate a deal with the Sector Police.”
Peter cut the com. “Sam stop the Buster I want to get the drone back onboard and search every bit of data on the ship for the location of the Dolphin.”
[Peter] “You just hang out here My friend will be back in a little while to pick you up. Now don’t go anywhere all right.” Peter said as few of laughing to where the Buster was at.
Peter told the pilot of the support ship about the Pirate and his story while Sam searched the Buster for any data leading to the Dolphin.
[Sam] “I have the codes to the Dolphin and I recovered a erased flight record to the Dolphin. He was on his way to the Dolphin when you stopped him.”
[Peter] “Sam transport the drone back over.” Peter called the Pilot on the support ship. “I need you to pick up the Pirate and take him back with you while you escort the Buster back. I’m going to look for the Dolphin here’s the data of where it’s suppose to be. And tell them not to make any deals with him until I get back.”
[Pilot] “I can do that. What if you don’t make it back lets say in a week?”
[Peter] “Tell them to do whatever they want.”
[Pilot] “Good luck Mr. Stone.” [Peter] “Thanks and good flying to you.”
[Peter] “Sam set course for the location of the Dolphin and open it up we got a long ride.”
The Pirate watched as Peter zipped right past headed in the direction of where the Dolphin was.
While he watched the lights of Peters ship fading in the distance wondering how long it would take him to die alone in space. Unaware of the Fighter Pilot swooping in from behind picked him up.
“Welcome onboard you Pirate scum you stay quite on our trip back and I won’t eject you and shoot your legs and arms off!” The Pirate heard over the intercom as a drone put restrains on him while he was stuck to a containment wall like a fly on a piece of tape.
After a long trip Peter was about to enter the massive nebula on the outer edge of the system.
“Sam you got anything?” [Sam] “Nothing.” [Peter] “Bounce a signal out in the gas like sonar.”
Peter went slowly deeper into the nebula until Sam replied. “I got a asteroid slow down and pull to the side of it.”
Peter slowed the ship as they eased past the asteroid. [Sam] “I got a Dolphin super freighter sitting on the back of the asteroid.”
[Peter] “Do the know we’re here?”
[Sam] “No scanners only work on close range in the dense areas of the nebula. Move to this position and I can scan the ship without them nowing.” Peter moved the ship into place. [Sam] “I have them a man in the hole locked in a cage. The woman is setting outside the cage watching something on a monitor. It’s a movie of some kind.”
[Peter] “Use the codes and hack the systems and turn off the alarms. I’ll fly closer and transport the Drone over to the control room.” As Sam turned the alarms off Peter pulled the Disco up near the freighter and transported the drone over. Peter looked at the scans and the girl was unarmed.
[Peter] “Sam she’s unarmed transport the Boy into the Ship and secure him. And then transport Her into the cell the boy was in.”
[Sam] “Got him. Charging transporter she’s in the cell. The Drone is in control of the freighter it is yours.”
[Peter] “Get the freighter off the asteroid and clear so we can out of here. Set course for the Trading Station as soon as it’s clear I’m going to check on our guest in back.”
[Boy] “What do you want with me?” [Peter] “Nothing I’m here to rescue you.”
[Boy] “Did My Father send you?” [Peter] “No I had a run in with the people that had you. He was going to try and negotiate a deal for your location.”
[Boy] “What are you going to do with me?” [Peter] “Take you to the Trading Station and give you and that girl to Sector Security.”
[Boy] “Where’s the girl?” [Peter] “In the cage you was in woundering what happened. Here clean yourself up and change you stink it’s a long trip back and it’s a small ship.” Peter placed some clothes on the bench and opened the bathroom door.
The trip out of the nebula was long because the massive freighters top speed was slow and maneuver sluggish at best. After they entered open space and everything was clear Peter replied. “Sam increase speed and steering to max on the freighter and program the drone onboard with piloting and security skills. I want it to fly the freighter back to the Trading Station. I’m going to take a nap while our rider is sleeping wake me when you are done.”
Peter locked the cockpit door, laid the seat back and closed his eyes.
Castaway Chapter 7
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