Deep Six Chapter 5

[Ed Man]

Argon Prime
Chapter 5 Deep Six

Pop jumped back with a full load of energy cells and this time he wanted to sell the energy cells when they reached Argon Prime or the first Argon station paying top pay. The three ships headed out as Gabe made a race for the next sector to search around the Gates for dropped crates of goodies just waiting on him to pick them up. This time a single mosquito missile was at the South Gate. The group moved on to the next sector which had a Independent Station in it that Pirates were known to visit on a regular basis so Pop asked Gabe to keep his searching to a limit and that’s what he did as he made a run at the Gates. But this time the prize was setting in the sector out of range of the small scanners but the RT picked the crate of missiles right up. Gabe transported the missiles onboard knowing this time that they were sting missiles and how much they were worth. The next sector was Argon Space and a short run right through The Hole and into The Wall then home to Argon Prime. The Argon Sectors were well traveled and Sector Security picked up dropped crates on a regular basis to keep the lanes and their space clear and clean.

The group cleared the Gate and just as Pop thought two of the stations were paying top price for energy cells. Pop set course for one while Gabe set course for the Equipment Dock to sell the missiles he had picked up. When done they were to meet at the Trading Station and decide if they wanted to keep their apartment that had been setting empty or get their things and live on the vulture or rent a office space. They could search for deals or work for a freight company.
Then their was Gabe he wanted to search space for goodies and so far had did real well at the undertaking as he sold the missiles making him over 33000 credits to add to his account. Gabe pulled up the records on the TP it had made it safely to The Vault and was on a run to Seizewell to pick up a load of workers and had just dropped off a load of energy cells to the split at top prices. Snake was using the TP and Gabe was glad of it as his account for the TP already had over 3000 credits in it after the energy cells got sold. The next stop was a flower farm then on to Seizewell and a sun oil plant then the Trading Station and load of workers at a good price each.

Gabe kept to his training Pop had drilled into him as he looked at the job board for a rider or delivery to the Station an there was one willing to pay 500 credits for a ride. Gabe accepted the request and a young woman answered the call. “I need to get to The Trading Station right away if you’re going right away I’ll take you ride.”
Gabe was quite taken with the woman’s bright blue eyes and good looks. “Yes I about to leave.”
“Well where’s your ship I need to get going Pilot.”
[Gabe] “I meet you at the booking counter so you can sign in. My ship is docked in section C dock 37.”
“I’ll meet you at the counter.” Then the screen went blank. Gabe set for a second just thinking about the woman then realized he better get going as he jumped up in a run headed for the counter to check her in so they could leave. Gabe seen the woman as she headed his way carrying two bags.
She walked up to the counter looked at Gabe. “Is your ship ready to go?”
[Gabe] “Yes just waiting on you. Let me carry one of your bags for you Miss.”
The woman handed Gabe one of the bags as she signed in and Gabe lead the way.
When they reached The RT Gabe said. “Here she is welcome aboard.”
“This is a nice ship for a station hopper to be flying it’s a new Teladi ship isn’t it?”
[Gabe] “Yes it is and is there something wrong with being a station hopper?”
[Woman] “No I didn’t mean to offend you Pilot you just don’t see as nice a ship as this very often.”
[Gabe] “Thanks I like her please strap in the trip won’t take long.”
The blue eyes and good looks went right out the door after Gabe felt like she had just insulted him and Pop.

Gabe opened the RT up and was on the station in seconds taxiing in on the docking lights to their home station. Gabe helped the woman and he bags off the ship signing her off at the desk as she transferred the payment saying. “Thanks I’ll keep you in mind if I need a ride and I meant no harm pilot with the remark.”
The clerk asked. “It’s good to see you back where’s Pop and what did she say Gabe?”
[Gabe] “Nothing really just something about my new ship.”
[Clerk] “You got a new ship show it to me and tell me where you been.”
Gabe figured he could go ahead and tell the clerk and get it over with then he would tell everyone else.
But decided to let Pop tell him what he wanted him to know about the whole ordeal making him wait on Pop to land to get the whole story if he decided to tell him. After a quick tour Gabe went to there apartment to wait on Pop.
Gabe looked around the apartments room were a little smaller than the Vulture’s cabins. But it was up to Pop they had lived their for several years and were friends with a lot of the people in their section and at the docking area. Gabe had finished his schooling in this apartment it was the place Pop had raised him in from the time he had to take him after his parents died. Gabe set on his bed and waited on Pop.

Pop came in looking at Gabe. “Are you alright Gabe? [Gabe nodded his head yes.] I never noticed how small the rooms were in here have you?”
[Gabe] “No not really Pop but they are small.”
Pop set down on the bed with Gabe. “Gabe this has been our home a long time for you we don’t really need it anymore now that we have the Vulture but if you want to we can keep the apartment till you fill like letting it go.”
[Gabe] “No Pop I’m fine with letting it go it’s really just a small cabin in a big, gigantic spaceship if you want to get something let’s buy a place on a planet with real dirt and air.”
[Pop] “That sounds like the best ideal you’ve ever come up with Gabe. I was raised on a planet Gabe space was a real scarry place for me when I first came out here after I signed up with the Navy as a Pilot. And retireing on a planet kind of sounds fitting. We’ll look for a place to buy on a planet if you want after we get going good. You know it’s strange Gabe most people I know in space want to live on a planet and the people I knew when I lived on a planet wanted to live in space. Why can’t we have both?”
[Gabe] “That sounds good to me Pop we need something to look forward to and work for a small business planet side to keep the credits coming in so we can be our own boss what do you think?”

[Pop] “I’ll give it a few more years besides somebody has to look out for you our buddy at the dock told me about the woman you gave a ride.”
Gabe squirmed around on the bed. “It was a taxi mission Pop she paid 500 credits for the ride.”
[Pop] “I know Gabe but someday they’ll be one that comes along you won’t to keep and she’ll want to keep you. That’s just the way it works Gabe just make sure you pick the right one that ’s going to stick with you or you’ll be buying her a place on a planet to raise your kids in. But you won’t be calling it home.”
[Gabe] “You could frighten a man out of wanting to see a woman Pop.”
[Pop] “You better be frightened Gabe you got a little something to offer a woman now. If the wrong one gets her claws into you your going to get hurt and taken.”
[Gabe] “I asked you before and you said wait till I was older then ask. So I guees that ment you got taken when you was younger?”
[Pop] “Yes I did and it about killed me. But I worked my way back up and lucked out and met your Grandmother and I never looked back but I never forgot. I just don’t want to see you get hurt that’s why I tell you to be careful nothing can make you as crazy as a woman I know.”
[Gabe] “What happened to her Pop do you know?”
Pop held his head down. “Yeah I know. She got herself killed missing around with the wrong man. He didn’t let it go like I did he hunted her down and blew her out of the sky. I seen his name listed with the Pirates that had got killed a month later by Sector Security somewhere. I thought of how close that came to being me if I had not let it go at the time. You see I thought she was going to come back for a while then I got so mad if I had known where she was I may have done her in myself but I didn’t. Now do you understand a little better Gabe? Remember pretty is as pretty does Gabe true love is sacrificial not self serving or sexually motivated. A good woman will want to build a life with you and be concerned about you not just what’s in it for her.”
[Gabe] “I’ll remember what you said and be careful Pop.”
[Pop] “Lets go eat I’ll call the others and tell them to meet us, we can get our things later after we eat.”
Gabe left the apartment knowing a new page in his life story was about start as he followed Pop down the hall like he had done so many times before as they went to the cafeteria to get a bite to eat. Gabe felt like it was kind of nostalgic gesture to walk down that hall together the last time as he looked around at everything trying to take it all in like looking at a friend you’ll never see again. This section was reserved for the residents only so after they left the old cheep pictures spaced out on the wall like they were something would be seen by some new family or whoever got there apartment along with the other people in the section they had called home. Well it us to be anyway Gabe thought as they cut the corner and opened a door leading to the cafeteria. Gabe seen Simon talking to the Nurse and the Crewmen seated at a table waiting on them to get there as they waived them on over where two empty chaires were waiting. Gabe realized at that moment when he seen the others the apartment was way to small they needed room to grow.
The next few week went slow for Gabe as he searched the Core Argon Sectors for dropped freight or abandoned ships without much luck only finding a few crates that were not worth much but had been making more credits running taxi missions. Pop had dropped a few satellites in the sectors he traded in the most to watch the prices. Things were going well and Pop had hired two more crewmen when Cherrit got back to help Simon with the Disco. The Vulture was running around the clock making a decent profit and Pop was walking and getting around a lot better and was thinking about going a little further out with his purchases.
Gabe was going to have meeting with Snake so Pop asked Gabe to drop off a satellite in Share Holders Fortune to monitor the prices at the power plants.
Gabe loaded the RT up with energy cells from one of the power plants in The Hole and jumped away.
Gabe had jumped in at the East Gate to see a Pirate Buster firing on a Split freighter who was pleading for help from anyone. The Pirate was trying to get the Split to abandon his ship as he tried to talk the split into ejecting and he would let him fly off in his suit. The Pirate dropped the shields down to about zero on the freighter as the two yelled back and forth to each other.
Gabe looked at the HUD and their was no one coming to help the Split and sector security was in the southern part of the sector out off their small scanner range so they didn’t see the attack.
The Split Pilot was begging for help on a open channel. Gabe was in the right position to help he scanned the Buster it had a 5 and 1 meg shield installed with a damaged 5 meg in the cargo hole. He had more weapons and missiles and more power but it was slower. Gabe moved onto the tail of the Buster and opened fire. The Pirate broke off the attack and hurled a few choice names at Gabe as he tried to get out if the line of fire but not only was the Buster slower it moved like a rock. Gabe stayed on the tail of the Buster dropping the shields down quickly till it was Gabe’s turn to offer the Pirate a chance to eject.
After a few more spaced out shots to keep from blowing the Buster up he ejected. Gabe stopped and claimed the Pirate ship as the Pilot flew off headed for the closest station. Gabe seen the Split Freighter had turned around and was close to the ejected Pilot. Gabe seen weapons fire come from the frount of the freighter as the Pilot vanished in a flash.
The Split Pilot hailed Gabe. “Split thanks human for help. I tell Split Security about you helping Split.”

Gabe did a closer scan of the Buster and it showed clean so he sent it to the Trading Station so he could file a report and give Security a copy of the ship logs. Gabe sent Snake a message telling him what was going on and he may be a little late. Gabe dropped the satellite and took up a escorp position behind the Buster. Gabe was watching the HUD as a Harrrier was headed his way at full speed when he got a hail.
“Gabe this is Snake tell me everything that happened.”
Gabe told Snake everything and Snake told Gabe to hold his position till he contacted Sector Security.
Snake took of in the Harrier and returned with the two Sector Security Officers that were patrolling the southern part of the system.
They flew around the Buster and scanned it. “It’s clean you can go Pilot thanks for you help.”
[Snake] “Send the buster to the Equipment Dock Gabe your cleared to go I’ll tell you why when we dock.”

Snake took of back to the Dock while Gabe followed the Buster till he knew it was safe for him to dock.
Snake was waiting on Gabe when he docked and showed him to his office and shut the door.
Snake explained. “The Buster would never be reported other than shots were exchanged between the Buster and Freighter. Sector Security is padding the report to keep form spending their time and resources to find out who the Pirate was that got killed. Plus filling a complaint with the Split about the Freighter Pilot that killed his attacker would just further straining their relations with the Split. You found the ship adrift and they cleared it for you and that’s what you need to tell anyone who ask about it. Do you want me to try and sell it of repair it for you?”
Gabe opened his mouth wanting to say something about the false report but stopped and said. “I want to fix it. Do you want to talk while I’m in here about the TP?”
Snake handed Gabe a written contract to read about buying a jump drive for the TP. Snake was going to buy the jump drive and deduct 10% off of Gabe’s profits till he got his investment back.
Gabe looked at his account for the TP which was already over 55,000 credits. “Snake I want you to rewrite this contract I’ll transfer 50,000 credits back to you and take 20% off my cut hows that sound?”
Snake smiled. “Like a better deal you’re a good egg Gabe. Are you going to keep the Buster?”
[Gabe] “I was going to give it to Pop it’s a better all round ship and Pop was going to venture out a little with his freighter using the jump drive. He was talking about getting one for the Disco so the way I see it is he can get one for the Buster and hire someone to run taxi missions in the Disco.”
The Buster had docked and was being checked out while Snake had the contract rewritten.
[Snake] “The Buster has a lockbox in it with 3000 credits worth of tokens and some jewelry and weapons I have a man getting a price on the jewelry and weapons now. The hole had two missiles in it that won’t fit the Buster or anything you have. There worth 16,000 credits each and the shield can be repaired so after the repairs, parts and adding all the extras and discount you will be coming out to the good with everything but a jump drive.”
Snake showed Gabe the work list and addons that showed the missile defense but no missiles. “I don’t see any missiles for the defence system can you add about twelve?”
[Snake] “We don’t have any do you have any in Argon Space I’ll pay 167 credit’s a peace for 500 right now.”
Gabe sent Pop a message asking him to check on mosquito missiles Snake wanted 500 at 167 credits each.
After several minutes Pop replied. “I can do that see you in about a hour with the missiles.”
[Snake] “That’s good! You can have the twelve now. Gabe what are you calling your company?”
Gabe had been thinking about a name for a while and his future plans. “I plan on calling it Deep Six and I plan on expanding with another Kestrel and a Magnetar but that’s a long ways off.”

[Snake] “I can get you a Kestrel when your ready but you’ll have to buy the Magnetar from the Argon but I would be glad to upgrade it for you.”
[Gabe] “Tell me what’s going on why are the Teladi so worried about the Split?”
[Snake] “You have to fly through Split Space on both sides of these sectors and they are complaining that to many Teladi ships fly through their space with illegal goods. So they have stepped up their patrols and have taken a shoot first ask questions later on Pirates or anyone caught with illegal goods. You seen some of the bad fillings it has caused between the Pirates held up in the next sector and the Split. The Split want the Base gone and the Teladi say they will look into it. Then they shoot a few of the Pirates known to be enemies of the Teladi and it’s about time for the cycle to repeat. That puts the Teladi at odds with the Pirates for a while and the whole cycle repeats itself.”
[Gabe] “So if the Split are destroying ships on a regular basis there should be freight floating around in the neighboring Split Sectors.”
[Snake] “That makes since I would think they would be on the fringes of the sectors out of scanner range. If you go to the Split sectors you better okay it with Sector Security first before you start searching their space. And if you find any space weed or illegal goods you better destroy it, don’t leave it they may be watching to see what you do.”

Gabe receved a message on his PDA that Pop had just jumped into the sector and was headed for the Dock so Gabe went with Snakes Crewmen to meet up with Pop and tell him about the Buster.
And after a lecture from Pop on leaving Pirates alone the two were getting of a tram to see the Buster.
[Pop] “Gabe I can’t take this ship it’s already repaired and maxed out you must have spent a fortune on it.”
[Gabe] “No I told you about the ship I don’t have a credit in it Pop and I want you to have it. You’re about to expand your trading out and need a bigger fighter escort.”
[Pop] “I could say the same about you Gabe needing the ship for the same reasons.”
[Gabe] “But I’m still flying solo and you already have a crew ready to put into the ship I don’t.”
[Pop] “Let me buy the ship from you I been saving up for a Buster and jump drive.”
[Gabe] “I know Pop so buy the jump drive and put it in this Buster and save your credits for a rainy day.”
[Pop] “I don’t know Gabe you could sell the ship and buy that Magnetar you been wanting.”
[Gabe] “I’m not ready for it right now besides I like being my own boss. I’ll buy it next I promise.”

[collins50]

Ed will Gabe Meet Josh at some point?

Good one.

[Ed Man]

Yes he will meet Josh

[Abscon]

You've done well writing this, i should go back and read the prior ones....will do that tonight when I've got some time.

As for critiquing some of the paragraphs are too large and get a bit hard to read and keep your place,space them out more and it'll be more enjoyable.

I like the style simple yet effective more like an electronic journal than anything else and adds to the feel.

I await the next one
Until next time