Deep Six Chapter 9

[Ed Man]

One Thing Leads to Another
Chapter 9 Deep Six

Gabe looked at the Buzzard on the HUD no knowing what to do with it so soon in the search. He eased back in his seat trying to stay calm as he looked over the ships stats. It was a Pirate Buzzard that was painted up to look like it was part of the asteroid field out of sight from the traffic lanes and the Pirates it was there to spy on. Anyone just passing by without a advanced scanner would have missed it as it set with it’s main generator and shields powered down dead in space.

After a hour of looking at the Buzzard Gabe decided to send it on to the Shipyard and hail the Split for the Seeker while he waited outside the station.
Gabe followed the Buzzard as it made it’s way over to the Shipyard. When the outside lights came on Gabe looked down the list of names for Na Chin and hailed him from outside the Station. “Split was wondering why Human was taking so long. I need to talk to you can you land?”
Gabe tensed up and said. “I can’t right now I need to get back to my designated position to watch for my ships.”
[Split] “Very well Split come out to you.”

Gabe thought as he set the auto Pilot to return to the place he launched the ships from that none of this had turned out the way he planned. Gabe thought if he docked the ship and hailed the Split from outside at lease he wouldn’t have to go in until the search was over and he needed to pick up the ship to leave.
Now the Split was coming to his ship.
Gabe thought for a minute. “Bit get the Security Drone armed and ready and send it to the cabin next to the galley and close the door. If he pulls a weapon to kill me have the drone kill him and recall the ships and get out of here.”
[Bit] “Understood Commander but I don’t think he intends to harm you. I been monitoring his calls and he and the Clerk as you call him want’s you to do a job for them.”
[Gabe] “I thought you wasn’t allowed to decode security messages?”
[Bit] “Your safety is my first priority Commander and legally I haven’t broken any laws. I am just a piece of equipment that didn’t make any copy’s or disclose what was said. I just told you the focal point of there conversation. Do you want me to stop monitoring coded call or messages concerning you?”
[Gabe] “I want you to look out for me and keep it legal. What do is the Clerks name?”
[Bit] “I would be braking the law if I told you that Commander. Ask the Split he may tell you something about him.”

Gabe returned to his holding point and watch the HUD as a Scorpion left the Shipyard and was headed for the Seeker. Gabe looked at the pilots name as if there was any doubt about who it was. It was Na Chin and he was hailing the ship. [Gabe] “Put him through Bit.”
[Na Chin] “You have transporter or do I need to dock?”
[Gabe] “Just get close and transport over.”
The Split transported over as Gabe stood at the pad trying to decide how to deal with him. As the Split got off he looked at Gabe. “Thank you for seeing me.”
[Gabe] “Thank you for letting us search you sector and welcome aboard the Seeker.”
Gabe showed him to the galley and offered him a drink to be polite.
[Na Chin] “No thank you. You get real nice ship it Pirate Buzzard with Vanguard parts so it have more power. We need you to pick up girl from Pirate Station in Nathans Voyage.”
[Gabe] “Why me why don’t you just send a agent to pick her up?”
[Na Chin] “Bolt need to get her out now. She no know who to trust and no time to set up contact with agent but she know who you are. Just dock go in bar where she work and she leave with you. Split need you to check on Caiman Miner working in sector watching Pirate Station. They long over due on report see what wrong and tell them to leave sector, come home.”
[Gabe] “And what am I suppose to do take the Seeker and leave now? No I think you need to fine someone else.”
[Na Chin] “No you take Buzzard! We max out ship and put jump drive in and good weapons and Split fix ship so it handle better and fly faster than normal Pirate Buzzard. We fix up with outfit so you look like Pirate. You get ship maxed out with jump drive and weapons and big increase in status with Split plus bonus when you get back with girl.”
[Gabe] “What kind of bonus and what about the Argon what’s his part? What is his name?”
[Na Chin] “His name Bolt and he give you Buzzard and jump drive and repairs. Split give you new Jaguar or 150,000 credits. It simple job just get girl check on Split Miner and jump back and get paid and we all done.”
Simon sent Gabe a urgent message. “Hold on a minute please I need to take this.” The message said the asteroid had a speck of dark matter trapped inside the ore and alloy core of the asteroid. And by the computer estimates if someone were to try to mine it or explode the asteroid it would wipe out a 30 k radius into nothing give or take 20%.
Gabe looked at Na Chin. “You need to read this.”
The Split looked at the message. “How you know dark matter is inside asteroid?”
[Gabe] “We have the latest and best scanners that can be bought we collect freight we got to see everything inside before we bring it aboard. If it say’s it there it is. What do you want to do now?”
[Na Chin] “Split no want to start a panic or get sector flooded with scientist wanting to look at asteroid. I’ll contact Split scientist and they do research on asteroid. You still need to go get girl or take Buzzard and leave sector.”
[Gabe] “I don’t want to have to kill anyone or shoot my way out of the station or do any dog fighting in the Buzzard is it going to be that way? If it is I’m not going I’ll just leave.”
[Na Chin] “Not fighting or shooting just in get girl and out then contact Split Miner then jump back here. If you have to fight way out or fighter get attacked Na Chin give you new Scorpion just no start fight to get ship.”
[Gabe] “When do I leave?”
Na Chin placed a call an looked at his PDA. “You leave it four hours but you need to go to Shipyard in two hours so you get ready go over mission and leave on time.”
[Gabe] “I’ll be there I’ll call one of men back to stay with the Seeker.”
Na Chin shook Gabe’s hand and transported back to his ship and was gone. Gabe called Simon back to the ship. As much as he hated telling him about what was going on he needed Simon onboard to take care of things. After a I can’t believe you agreed to that talk from Simon the two loaded up on the RT and Simon dropped Gabe off at the Shipyard still not liking what was going on but wished Gabe good luck and headed back to the Seeker.
Na Chin took Gabe into a room where he explained where the girl was and what to be expecting inside the station. Na Chin made it sound so easy as Gabe but the suit on and strapped the two pistols and a knife on under his coat. The pistols were top of the line solid round pistols that fit your had like a glove.
The Split knew how to fight and they made the best weapons and Gabe was going to get to keep them and the whole outfit. Na Chin handed Gabe three extra clips to go on the shoulder harness under his coat in pockets made just for the clips. The whole thing was made to move in so you could fight if you had to and it was comfortable and stable as Na Chin had Gabe move around so he would be use to it and look normal.

Na Chin run over the code words one last time for the Split in the miner and showed Gabe a picture of the girl one last time before he boared the Buzzard. Gabe looked at the picture thinking as he boarded the girl had changed her looks so much that Gabe would not have known who she was and he guessed that was the ideal. Gabe checked the hole as the ship hit open space it had five disruptor missiles, weapons, equipment and energy cells. The plan was to fly to the next sector and jump then there would be enough left to jump directly back. Gabe opened the buzzard up as it climed to over 300 and the thrusters had been enhanced to make it handly better the Split had did a real good job on making a get away ship. But Gabe was counting on a nice easy ride with no problems just in and out with the girl, give the miner a message and back to the sector to collect the cost of a Jaguar finish the sector scan and leave.
Gabe cleared the gate into the next sector and jumped. The Split had one up on Snakes fine tuning of the jump drive it was a smooth as silk as he cleared the Gate. Gabe opened the buzzard up a little and set course for the Pirate Station. Docking was no problem as Gabe explained all he wanted was some food and a drink.
Gabe was approached by several runners trying to sell Gabe everything from women to weed as he made his way to the bar. His code name was Hopper and the girl was going by Sugar. Gabe entered the lounge and went to the bar and set down and Sugar came right over. “Can I get you something honey?”
[Gabe] “What’s your name baby?” [Girl] “They call me Sugar what’s your name?”
[Gabe] “They call me Hopper.” She eased over to Gabe and whispered in his ear. “Order a drink and talk to me and we’ll flirt for a show and we’ll leave together and get out of here.”
So Gabe ordered a drink and set there as Sugar got close every chance she could so Gabe could tell here about the asteroid and how it would explode. As she lisened to one thing but reacted another way like it was a hot first date and Gabe was about to get lucky. The act went on for till Sugar seen a pair walk in and said. “Let’s go them two are trouble just follow me out.”

Sugar had just cleared the bar and Gabe was right behind her as the two walked up. “Where do you think you’re going you just been playing me for a fool you stupid ///////.”
Sugar looked at the Man that was now all upset and mad and worst of all ready to fight and said. “Just back off and let us leave he’s just a old friend and I need to talk to him. Have a seat over there and I’ll get you a drink I just need to talk to him.”
The big bull of a man grapped Sugar by the arm jerking her off to the side. “You’re not going anywhere with him!” He shouted as he hit Gabe in the jaw and grabbed his pistol out of his holster as Gabe staggered back trying to gain his footing.
A shot rang out as Gabe looked at the pistol in his hand and a hole in the big mans head then he hit the floor. Gabe was in a daze for a moment then he felt the pain as a bullet went through the calf of his leg.
His arm went up to shoot the other man seeing Sugar had knocked his arm down making him miss a kill shot and hitting his leg.
The man was pulling his arm back up to shoot Gabe as Sugar staggered back from the hit she must have got for saving Gabe.
Gabe shot the mans arm making him drop the pistol and put a round in his leg driving his body to the ground. Gabe could here Sugar. “Don’t kill him they’ll get you for murder!”

Sugar run over with a bandanna and tied it around Gabes leg to stop the bleeding. The bar keeper spoke up. “I seen it all he pulled on you first. But you need to leave now and Sugar you go with him and don’t come back ever!”
Sugar helped Gabe out the door and on to a cart as she jumped behind the wheel and took of for the docks.
Sugar asked as she looked at the leg. “Where you docked.”
Gabe gritted his teeth and told her where and the ship was a buzzard. Sugar knew the Statio nand pulled right up as close as she could to the Buzzard and said. “I know it’s going to hurt but it’s a clean through shot and it didn’t hit any main arterys or your seat would be full of blood. You got to get onto the ship and try to look as normal as possible so the Guards won’t stop us and we need to get off the station before they start looking for us and shut the docks down. [Sugar watched as the Guards moved out of sight and grabbed Gabe by the arm.] Let’s go and hurry.”
Gabe gritted his teeth to keep from screaming and made his way onboard the ship ordered the ship to undock and get to open space. The ship undocked and eased out of the station just in time as the station went on lockdown. Sugar got the medical kit down and opened it up saying. “Do you want to pull your pants down or I can cut the leg off I need to patch you up.”
The pants were already ruined so Gabe told her to cut the leg off. She gave Gabe a shot in his leg that helped in seconds to make the pain go away so Gabe asked. “How long will that last I need to find a Split Miner out her and relay a message to it then we can leave.”
Sugars whole appearance changed to a distressed look as she said. “The cult I was watching on the station has lanched a attack on the Miner to capture it and are planning on using it to blow up the asteroid.”
[Gabe] “Do you know that the asteroid will consume a 30 k radius around it into nothing if they blow it up!”
[Sugar] “We got to stop them somehow they plan on going there in two days with the whole group and blow up the asteroid. Their leader has convenced them they’ll all be changed into a higher life form if they are near the asteroid when it is opened up and the power held inside is released. They’re not all bad people most are families just part of the group is made up of Pirates and they’re the ones we need to stop before they capture that miner or destroy it if they have.”
[Gabe] “Strap in the copilots seat and run tactical. Do you know where it was?”
[Sugar] “Somewhere in southeast section of the asteroid field behind the Station out of scanner range.”
Gabe truned the Buzzard around and opened it up as sugar plotted the fastest course through the field. Gabe slowed the ship as he dodged asteroids while Sugar keep her eyes on the scanner for the miner.
The station was out of sight and scanner range as a ship showed up on the display and sugar plotted a new course. As the Buzzard got closer the Miner came into view. Rocks and debris was all around the Miner as the Pirate ships run on the miner fireing trying to get the Split crew to surrender and abandon ship.
The Miner was taking damage as the fighter worked on destroying the last shield. The big Miner set there dead in space surrounded by so much debris trying to board the freighter would be suicide.

[Gabe] “I’m sending them a message to get the data recorders and set the self destruct to plow after the last ones out. I’m going to try and hide in transporter range and when the shields drop below zero I’ll transport as many out as I can one at a time.”
Gabe slid right in unnoticed with all the excitement going on with the battle no one spotted them.
They watched the scanner as the shields dropped below zero Gabe hit the transporter and a Split holding a data device was onboard. “Split have data Pirates attack Miner for no reason.”
The wait was on again until at last one more Split was onboard. The anxiety was getting strong as the shield started going up and the ships stopped attacking the Miner.
The computer sounded out. “We just been scanned.”
Gabe pulled the ship grabing the com. “Cut your shields we been spotted I’ll get you!”
Weapons fire was hiting the Buzzard as Gabe transported one more onto the ship.
Gabe watched as the shields came back on the Miner as one ship stayed to fire at the Miner while the reast were hot on their tail after them.
The Split were strapped in as Gabe weaved in and out catching a shot from time to time but never dropping the shields. One ship had hit a asteroid and blew up while the slower M4 ships were falling behind but one Pirate Harrier Raider was pounding at Gabes tale.
Gabe seen a opening in the field. “Plot me a course to that area.”
Sugar laid out the path as it came up on the HUD as Gabe raced to make it ahead of the Raider.
The Buzzard hit the opening as Gabe made a hard turn around a rock and did a 180 and waited on the Raider to come around. The nose of the Raider came into view as Gabe opened up with the four Phased Repeater Guns tearing the ship to shreds as the Pirate ejected right into a asteroid killing himself just seconds before the ship exploded. The Split gave a cheer as the ship exploded while Gabe watched as the second Harrier was coming out into the open another way and Gabe was waiting as he came out with a round of fire for him till the ship started spinning as the Pirate tried to regain control all the way into a asteroid. And a nother cheer from the Split sounded out on the ship.
After seeing the two M5 ships get wasted the Pirate Buzzard was holding back waiting on his friend in the Buster to catch up as two on one was a lot better odds.
[Gabe] “I got to take it to one of them and even the odds.”
Gabe ploted a path right for the Buzzard and when the Buzzard seen Gabe headed for him he took off around the back side of a asteroid. But Gabe keep turned to attack the Buster coming up out off the field firing a missile at him hitting the ships under belly as Gabe got a few shots in on the Buster before it run to meet up with the Buzzard. Gabe seen a chance to return to the Miner to get the last Split of the done for ship and jump away.
The race was own as Gabe went back while the two Pirate ships faided off out of scanner range as the Miner came into view.
The Harrier had been taking full atvantage of his time the shields were gone on the Miner and he was trying to board the Miner and finish off the last member of the crew. Gabe hailed the Split as he closed to transporter range and the last Split was onboard. Gabe pulled away starting the jump drive while the last Split crewman yelled how he had set the self destruct.
The count down was close as the two ships were closing on Gabe unaware that the Miner was about to blow and send moutain of rocks and debris all over them.
Just as the ships were about to fire they jumped and the Split Shipyard showed up on the screen. A round of cheers rang out from the Split as Gabe set course for the Shipyard.
A message came in from Simon. “Glade to see you made it back Luke has already had to unload his ship once this sector is going to be a good one.”

Gabe felt a pain shoot through his leg as he hailed the Shipyard and contacted Na Chin. The Split Commander in back was talking to the Shipyard as Gabe felt himself filling faint and as he told Sugar to take over he closed his eyes and was out.

[Ed Man]

No he's not Josh jush have to wait and see
But he will show up soon