Deep Six Chapter 1

[Ed Man]

Into The Deep
Chapter 1 Deep Six

A aggravated young man opens the hatch to the pilots compartment and states. “Hay Pop the passenger is wanting a extra snack and drink what do you want me to do?”
A aged man turns around and looks at him saying. “Gabriel just give him extra it’s no big deal.”
The young man returns to the cargo hole and his fussy passenger who has already changed his mind about what movie to watch again. The Pilot opens the little discovery up to full speed as it races through space to deliver their rider to his destination wanting the bonus he guaranteed if he arrived early. The pilot noticed a little pirate activity on his HUD as he entered the sector and set course for the Teladi Trading Station their rider was going to. The ride had been a long and tiresome taxi run as the business man that had hired them had complained about everything on the trip. As the ship docked the pilot looked at Gabriel as their rider transferred payment. “Stay on the ship and don’t let anyone touch her! I’ll be back in a few minutes after I check the job listings and local market prices for bargains.”

Gabriel locked the hatch and turned on the security system as he watched the monitors. He had been in Teladi space before but not this far into their space. His Grandfather had visited a lot of sectors in his time but this was the first time either of them had been to this sector. Gabriel had come along with his Grandfather on the long ride to help with the passenger and get some flying time in on the return trip.

Gabriel had been living with his grandfather since he was seven when his parents got killed when their freighter and escort ship came under attack and was destroyed. The Grandfather had stayed close or in their home sector only taking jobs that allowed him to be close home so he could look after Gabriel. This was the first big trip he had taken since the death of Gabriel’s parents. Gabriel under stood now that he was a little older why his Grandfather had settled down to take care of him and Gabriel was glad he did. But now Gabriel was old enough to fly and had his pilots license. He had begged his Grandfather to venture out and take longer trips now that he could help. This one trip had paid more than a weeks worth of in sector trips would have produced and if they were lucky enough to get a return rider or delivery headed their way on the return trip it would be like getting a bonus.

Gabriel seen his Grandfather returning on the monitor and was at the hatch waiting. “Hay Pop did you find us a fair on the way back home?”
The old man looked up a little disappointed. “No but I did get a delivery to the Equipment Dock in this sector it’s not much but it’s twice what I’d make for the same run back home. Maybe I’ll find something there? If not we’ll just head on back home and stop at a few stations on the way.”

After the ship docked and the freight was unloaded Gabe got the same instructions to stay onboard and watch the ship but this time he ask. “Pop what if somebody did try to break in or got in I couldn’t stop them, I need some kind of weapon or something.”
He looked at Gabe for a minute knowing the time had come and the boy was right he did need some kind of protection. Gabe had taken the training to carry a weapon and his permit allowed him to carry a small blaster and stunner for protection. “All right come on with me I’ll look and see what they have but you’ll have to be quite and I’m not promising you I’ll get you anything understand?”
Gabe grabbed his jacket up and put it on smiling. “I understand Pop I’ll be quite and let you do the talking.”

The two headed out into the commercial section of the station and looked at the list of shops on the directory and found one close by. The station had several shops that sold weapons and the Grandfather already knew the weapon he wanted for Gabe but finding the best price was the next task.
After going onto four of the shops and seeing the same price on the pistol the search changed to how much for pistol and holster. The old man knew that if they added more to the deal the prices would change it was just finding out who would go the lowest. So now it was a pistol, holster and hand scanner all of which Gabe needed. After a quick visit to all the shops and not getting a fair price much less a good deal they decided to go to the job board and look for a fair and leave before their parking permit run out.
Several jobs were on the board but none were headed their way so they turned to leave when a Teladi asked them in a almost perfect Argon tongue. “Are you looking for a delivery?”
The old man looked around with a surprised expression on his face saying. “Yes but none are headed in our direction.”
The Teladi looked at the two saying. “I need to get to the Equipment Dock in Home of Oportunity two sectors away. I’ll make it worth your while if you take me there please set down and at least listen to my offer.”
The two were amazed at how well the Teladi talked and decided to listen to his offer just to hear him speak.
His name was Snake and he had been a slave raised by a human owner which explained how he had learned to speak the Argon tongue so well. Snake operated a repair shop for ships and supplies outlet on the Equipment Dock two sectors away. He had sent his Falcon on ahead with a full load of supplies and had stayed behind to wait on a shipment of wasp missiles. The missiles had arrived but the Harrier Sentinel he owned was long over due and he needed to get back to the Dock with the missiles right away.

Snake was working on trying to expand his business and open up a shop on the equipment dock they were on and was not getting a warm welcome from the locals. All the local pilots were not willing to help Snake because the repair shops already on the dock would hold them in contempt for helping a competitor they didn’t want their.
The deal was struck to take Snake and his wasp to the dock two sectors away for a good price and a few extras for the ship and Gabe a new pistol, holster, and hand scanner all better than the ones he had been looking at and to sweeten the deal a pair of wasp missiles when they arrived. It was a deal to good to pass up for Gabe and his Grandfather.
As the missiles were being loaded Snake watched and scanned every box as they were loaded while the locals hissed and snarled at Snake as he watched their every move.
Snake came into the ship and set down. “The load was clean we’re ready to go.”
Gabe looked a little surprised at the remark and asked. “Why wouldn’t it be? It’s your supplies!”
Snake looked at Gabe. “You’re in Teladi space and the Teladi way is credits, no good or bad just credits. If someone pays the loaders to put a bomb onboard your ship because they want your ship or want to kill you it’s just business to them. Always scan your loads you’re not in Argon space any more.”
Snake told Gabe about some of the dishonest acts he had seen through the years done to ships and pilots because they slipped up and paid the price but lived to tell about it. But most didn’t they just went missing along with their ship. He explained it was easer for a Pirate to posion a pilot place a bomb in the cargo hole or sabotage a ship and watch from a distance till the dirty undertaking played out and then move in.

Snake was watching the monitor that was set to the HUD on the way back for his ship. As they cleared the first sector and entered the Gate the scanner showed groups of Pirates flying around in the sector.
Snake gave them the codes to access satellite in the sector most of the Pirates were staying in the asteroid belt to the north and northeast away from the main freight lines and stations.
Snake explained that a Pirate Station was deep in the asteroid belt and advised anyone he meet to stay away from it. The South Gate was clear of any Pirates as the ship hit full speed heading straight for it. The ship got scanned by sector security as they passed by on their rounds and two other small fighters as they passed.
Snake explained they were spotters looking for a easy mark for the Pirates not a ship full of missiles that could blow them out of the sky so they were safe. Snake was getting a little uneasy about his Harrier and Pilot as he looked at the Ids of the ships on the monitor they were about at the gate and their was still no sign of the ship.
Gabe asked about the ship. Snake explained His ship was a Harrier Sentinel that was maxed out with two 5meg shields and 4 beta IRE with something he called a mosquito missile defense system. Gabe explained he had never heard of it before so he got a quick sales pitch about the system from Snake as the ship taxied to enter the Gate.
No red dots were in the sector as the Equipment Dock came into view on the monitor but there was still no sign of Snakes Harrier as he looked hoping to see it come into view somewhere.
The ship was taxing to dock before Snake set back and quit looking for his ship on the monitor. Gabe didn’t know much about Teladi and how they looked but he could tell Snake was upset about his ship and Pilot.
As the docking clamps secured the ship Gabe said. “I sorry about your ship no showing up.”
Snake changed his whole expression after the remark. “Thanks please come with me and let me show you my shop.”
Snake got off the ship with Gabe and his Garandfather right behind him and started giving orders out like a drill sergeant to the workers in a Teladi tongue. The workers went right to work while they went into a office and set down. A plate of snacks and drinks were brought in for them to enjoy while Snake went to take care of some business. Gabe asked Pop as he looked at the food knowing what the answer would be. “Pop do we have to go back through that sector to get home?”
The old man stopped eating and looked at Gabe. “You know we do Gabe it’s the only way back. We’ll take our time and dodge anything that looks like trouble. The payoff was good on this run but I don’t the neighborhood and we’re out of place here. The sooner we get back home the better.”

Snake came back in with a top of the line scanner and pistol with a shoulder holster and handed it to Gabe. “Here try it on and see how it fills.”
Gabe picked up the pistol it was a top of the line small plaster with a stunner setting. He put the holster on and slide the pistol inside and closed his jacket and looked in the mirror. “It’s nice and light I like it and you can’t see it under my jacket. But I can’t afford it I take the one we talked about.”
Snake looked a little surprised at the remark and said. “I don’t have that model right now I made a deal will you take this one in it’s place and call it even?”
Gabe smiled as he said. “Yes! Thanks!”
A Teladi came into the office and said something to Snake and as soonas he left he looked at Pop and asked. “Do you want to do me a big favor and help yourself at the same time?”
Pop looked at Snake. “We just want to get through that sector to the north and back home.”
Snake stated. “Then this is a job for you two.”
Snake went on to explain that his recorder logs from his satellites showed his ship had made it through the sector to the north and through the gate. He needed a fast ship with a scanner to search for his ship and the Disco mounted a better scanner than the Harrier which ment the disco could cover more space in half the time. The Falcon was to escort them to the next sector and stand watch while the Disco searched the sector for the Harrier. The deal was to search two sectors Share Holders Fortune and The Vault if the ship wasn’t in either of them then it was gone.
This time the deal was working out to their advantage as Snake and Pop worked on the details. This time Gabe asked Snake to install that missile defense system on the ship as part of the deal.

The trip through the Pirate sector was slow as the Disco fell in behind the slow moving Falcon. When they reached Share Holders Fortune the Falcon headed for the center of the sector to wait on the Disco to search for the Harrier.
The search was going well and moved to the outer fringes of the system where Pop turned the pilots seat over to Gabe so he could rest. Gabe noticed a freight container on the HUD and when the ship passed near it he had the computer pause the search and move to the container. As the ship closed to range he scanned the freight. Unknown missile was all he got. There was ten small missiles in the box so he hit the button for the new freight transporter Snake had put on the ship and the container was in the cargo hole. “Computer continue with the sector search.” Was the order as the ship picked right back up where it stopped. Gabe didn’t know what kind of missle he had but he knew it was worth picking up to sell no matter what it was.
The search went on for a few more hours and he spotted a pair of containers. This time when he scanned one had four wasp missiles and the other was four mosquito missiles. He transported them into the ship and placed them in the missile bank. Gabe was starting to like this ridding around and picking up dropped freight a man could make a living doing this kind of work and they could use the last missiles he just found.
Snake had mapped out a search parameter and the Disco had just finished it so Gabe set course for the Falcon. He looked over at Pop who was starting to wake up and looked at the HUD. “Where you going Gabe?” “The search is finished Pop I’m headed for the Falcon and on to the next sector. Let me tell you what I found floating out here while we were searching for the Harrier.” Gabe went onto tell Pop all about the containers he had found and after a quick lecture from Pop about picking up unknown freight. The next stop and rejoining up with the Falcon was the Equipment Dock in the next sector to sell the unknown missiles just to be on the safe side.
The Falcon pilot was ready to go as the two ships headed for the next sector to start the search all over.
While Pop headed for the Equipment Dock the Teladi Pilot in the Falcon headed for the Trading Station to get some supplies. The plan was for Pop to start the search when he was finished and the Falcon would be at the center of the sector when he was finished.
The Disco docked and Pop went outside to talk to the sales rep about the missiles. Gabe watched as the Teladi scanned the missiles and receved a message. “Computer data upgrade on Kha’ak missiles crate contains ten Sting Missiles.” Next was the price which was over three thousand credit’s a piece which made Pop smile as the Teladi rep transferred 33,680 credits into his account for the missiles Gabe had picked up. Gabe and Pop were very happy about the last few days of work that had made them enough credits to buy a Disco for Gabe to work out of and a lot of upgrades on the ship they were in.
But Pop knew the job wasn’t finished just yet so he started the search as soon as they undocked so they could get finished and back home to Argon Space and safer sectors.

The Disco run its search pattern as the two watched the HUD for any sign of freigh and most of all the Harrier. The Disco had traveled way beyond scanner range of the traffic lanes and stations when they seen a bleep on the HUD that showed to be a ship. They stopped the search and headed for the ship the ID code came up there was the Harrier setting dead in space. Pop pulled the ship in closer and scanned it. The pilot was dead but the ship looked to be intact and in good shape. They sent a long range message to the Falcon and waited but no reply came. Pop set another message to the Falcon and still no reply came back.
Pop looked at Gabe knowing what he had to do next. “Gabe take the controls I’ve got to do a spacewalk and claim the ship board it then fly it back to the Station and give it to the Falcon pilot so we can get paid and leave.”
Gabe watched as Pop eased slowly up on the Harrier and ID code turned green showing it was Pops as he entered inside the Harrier.
“Pop can you read me?” Gabe asked as he scanned the ship worried about his Grandfathers wellbeing on a strange ship with a dead man.
“I’m fine Gabe fall in behind me.” Pop replied as he stated the ship up and set course for the Trading Station. The ship was slow compaired to the Disco as they crept along headed on a direct course for the station. Gabe seen three ships headed straight for them on the long range scanner. “Pop I got three ships headed our way on a intercept course.”
Pop replied in a slurred voice. “I don’t see them Gabe I’m filling real lightheaded.” And then the com went dead. “POP! POP! Are you alright? POP! Answer me please.” But no answer came. Gabe could see three Pirate ship headed right for them and would be in fireing range in less than a minute. “Computer can you transport Pop back into the Disco and set the Harrier to attack the Pirates if they fire on us?”
“Yes.” Was the reply. “Do it then!” Gabe replied as the Pirates closed to fireing range.

The first shots hit the Harrier as Gabe tried to evade the fire taking a couple of hits as the Pirates yelled several outrageous expressions of how he was going to die for trying to take their ship.
Gabe twisted the ship around trying to stay calm talking to himself looking at the HUD. One was trying to line up on his tail while one was on the Harrier the other was slower and trying to catch up with the one on his tail. “Come on Gabe you can do this just calm down and remember all your training in the sims.”

Gabe twisted and turned putting more distance between them and the second ship coming up behind them and when the time was right he twisted and turned to try and get on the tail of Harrier on his tail. “Scan the closest enemy computer.” His ship was better shielded and about the same weapons. A missile was fired as the computer sounded. “Wasp missile inbound missile defense system activated and firing.”
Gabe plunged down and away as the missile exploded he fired one of his wasp at the Harrier that had turned away. “Computer lock on to the second Harrier and fire a wasp at it and then relock my targeting onto the closest Pirate Harrier.” The first Harrier took a hit as the wasp plunged into the rear of his ship. A stream of foul words came across the com as the Pirate tried to get controld of his ship as it rolled from the plast. Gabe took atvantage of the ships spinning and opened fire. The shields dropped on the Harrier as Gabe let the servos empty out the com was dead the as the ship exploded into a fire ball.
Gabe turned his ship as he took a few hits from the second Harrier that had reached firing range.
Gabe flew of to let his shields recover as he shook from fear and the fact he just killed a man the tears ran down his cheek. He looked at the Harrier they were sent to find and had claimed it was holding it’s own with the third Pirate Harrier for now but it‘s shields were slowly getting chipped away. Gabe knew he had to take out the second Pirate Harrier and get back before the Harrier was destroyed and the fight turned into two Pirate Ships on him. Gabe scanned the second ship it was slower but had a five meg shield with four Alpha PAC cannons mounted.

[collins50]

Very Good Ed,
Josh to the rescue?

[SpitfireJB]

Ed I just gotback on and read the last of Castaway and the first chapter of Deep Six and have to say Good job. I will be witing on this story like the ones before. Just one question what happens to Robby in castaway?

[Ed Man]

no Josh to the rescue new people but he may at sometime make a show of some kind

Robby is in the closed sector with his nanny safe and sound.

I may pick the story line back up with Josh at a later date. I never did finish his story out all the way I had a lot more for Josh to do but not right now