Uncle Bob
Chapter 11 Deep Six
After a good nights rest the crew was ready to go as they all met in the galley for breakfast and who does what. The first run was Donna in the RT and Simon in his ship on the core search and Susan and Luke on the outer.
Gabe deployed the satellite and with it’s extended reach seen freight on the display. Donna headed for the back dock where the RT was while Simon asked Gabe to come with him to talk. “Gabe when you going to meet your Uncle?”
Gabe shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know I’m going to look and see if he’s even in the sector.”
[Simon] “I want to go with you when you go to meet him to watch your back.”
[Gabe] “Thanks Simon I got to find him first.”
Simon transported onboard his ship and took off on his run while Gabe transported to the new Nova to try it out and pick up the XL freight.
[Gabe] “Bit use the point to point jump drive to get the ship in transporter range.”
The ship charged and jumped to the freight. Gabe scanned the freight and it was five units of silicon so Gabe transported it onboard. “Bit jump back to the ship and dock.”
The Nova charged and jumped back and docked. The in sector jumping felt like you never moved as the ship jumped from one place to another.
As Gabe transported up Bit asked. “Commander what are you going to call the new ship and Nova?”
[Gabe] “I want to keep the name Seeker for the new ship.”
[Bit] “And the Nova Hauler do you have a name for it?”
[Gabe] “Lets just call it the Nova for now. Bit can you modify the jump drive on the Buzzard to a point to point jump drive like the one onboard the Nova?”
[Bit] “With the right program and equipment it can jump point to point but it will need energy cells to use just like a sector jump. The power unit requires a ship with XL cargo space.”
Gabe went to his room and looked at the sector map and pulled up the Trading Station and accessed the list of services available and went down the list and opened the escorts list and there it was his Uncles name. He was docked and waiting on a job.
Gabe pulled up his references and looked at name after name of well pleased customers with a 95% approval score. And his price reflected the high approval score charging a high price for his ship and skills.
Gabe decided to take his time and not rush down to the Station looking for his Uncle like a long lost pet. Gabe was going to take his time and try and find out what kind on man he was then introduce himself.
Gabe pulled up what records he could on his Uncle and Dad and was staring at the few short lines when Donna hailed the ship. “I found a Buster out here with no pilot.”
Gabe looked as the position of Buster was marked on the sector map now. Gabe hailed Donna. “Hold your position and I’ll jump to where you are.”
Gabe transported down to the Nova and eased out and jumped to where the Buster was. “Donna I’ll transfer your freight over and you restart your search I’ll take care of the ship good job.”
Gabe transported a few missiles over and Donna took off as Gabe scanned the Buster. It was undamaged with basic equipment some speed and rudder enhancements, three 5 meg shields, four PAC weapons and two silkworm missiles. Gabe claimed the ship and set the auto pilot to dock at the Seeker. The Buster started to move and stopped a few minutes later. Gabe transported a drone and repair unit over and started checking the systems till the problem was found and the drone went to work.
Minutes later the drone stopped and Gabe run the systems check again showing up good. Gabe transported the drone and repair unit back onboard and set the Busters auto pilot again and this time it keep going on course for the Seeker as Gabe followed behind in the Nova for a while to make sure the Buster was fixed. After several minutes Gabe jumped back to the Seeker and docked watching the Buster on the sector map in the control room as it slowly made it’s way to the Seeker.
Susan walked in the control room with Gabe. “I seen you got a ship on the monitor what condition is it in?”
[Gabe] “It’s a Buster and it’s in good shape it just had a bad autopilot. Someone’s bad luck is our good fortune.”
[Susan] “Do you want to have some lunch with me?”
The com buzzed showing Gabe had a message from Bit. Gabe looked and smiled. “I can’t right now thanks for asking maybe later.” Susan smiled back and went on to the galley.
Gabe opened the report that showed his Uncle had just taken a job to escort a worried weapons dealer in a Falcon headed for the Teladi Equipment Dock in PTNI Headquarters. The Xenon had been sending a few scout ships out into Teladi Space and the Teladi had issued a warning. Gabe pulled up the sector map from Black Hole Sun and watched for a few minutes until two Xenon Ns entered to run the gauntlet the Argon Navy was ready to dish out. Gabe watched as two Discos and a Buster fell in behind them and made quick waste of them before they got close to any Stations.
Gabe remembered reading that on average the Xenon would get one out of twenty Ms through from Sector 472 to 347. It was the fighter wings that worried the Argon Navy and when they had a pair of LX heavy fighters or P class corvette as support Sector Security picked their battles then pulling back their Discos and Busters and let the capitol ships that patrol the sectors take care of them.
Gabe watched as he Uncles Nova fell in behind the Falcon and headed for the West Gate. “Bit track My Uncle and tell me if he runs into trouble. I’m going to eat a bite.”
Gabe went to the galley and set down to eat while Susan tried to make small talk and flirt. But as she threw the fishing line out over and over to Gabe he missed the hook every time not even aware of her attempts to catch him and real him in as his thoughts were focused on everything else but her. Luke came in the galley to eat and the fishing stopped as Susan got up and went to her room.
[Luke] “I really like the new ship Captain even the food taste better or is it just me?”
Gabe smiled. “I noticed it too it does taste better. You up for your run?”
[Luke] “Yes Sir all set. I’m glad to be in Argon Space again I don’t mind the Boron but the Split and Paranid act like they want to kill you when they talk or look at you and the Teladi make me fill like checking my pockets to make sure everything is still there.”
Gabe laughed. “We live in a strange universe just think of the ones we haven’t met.”
[Luke] “I think about that sometimes too when I’m way out there. What if I see a strange ship and I open the com to talk and they look at each other and say who ordered dinner.”
Gabe and Luke laughed for a while then talked about the new ships until Gabe went back to the control room.
Simon and Donna came in and unloaded the freight and Luke and Susan took off to search the last half. Simon came in the control room to look over the list of freight found and talk with Gabe before he turned in. “Gabe I been thinking that Kestrel can cover 40% more space than the Disco I have if we had another we could search more space or cut our flying time. If your friend Snake can sell my Disco for a good price and you advance me the rest I’d like to have one and you can keep half of my pay till I pay you back. I could keep the weapons I have and buy one for the turret and swap over the extra equipment I have on the Disco. Your ship smoked me out there Gabe and I know it.”
[Gabe] “I’m fine with that I’ll send Snake a message.” “Thanks Gabe.” Simon replied as he gave Gabe a small hug and went to his cabin.
Gabe sent Snake the message and went to his quarters to lay down and get a little rest before he fell asleep in his chair.
Five hours later Bit woke Gabe up. “Gabe your Uncle is under attack in Scale Plate Green and is outnumbered and will not survive if help doesn‘t arrive sector security is in the southern part of the sector chasing down two Xenon ships and unable to help.”
Gabe jumped out of bed grabbing his pistol belt and raced for the transporter. “Bit lunch the Nava and start charging the jump drive and set it for the nearest Gate to my Uncle!”
[Bit] “The East Gate Commander the fight is half way in between the North and East Gates and headed for the East Gate.”
Gabe hit the transporter and was on the Nova strapping in when the ship jumped. A Pirate Nova, Falcon, Buzzard and a Harrier was all shooting at Gabe’s Uncle. As Gabe headed right for the battle the Harrier exploded in a ball of fire. Gabe fired a missile at the Falcon and targeted the Nova and fired a missile at it. As a blast of names were hurled at Gabe telling him to stay out of this fight he opened up on the Buzzard as soon as it was in range. “This is Gabe Lander and this is my fight you can surrender or die!” His Uncles ship was in bad shape but still able to fight as its shields were climbing up from zero.
The rear turret was ripping what was left of the Buzzard to shreds as the big Nova passed over and Gabe opened up on the Falcon dropping his shields and ripping into the hull before he could get out of the line of fire. The Buzzard was about dead in space when Gabe heard his Uncle tell the Buzzard Pilot to surrender or die. The Buzzard turned to run his ship into Bob’s Nova in a death run. Bob opened fire and blew the ship up before it got turned around.
The Nova was on Gabe as the big shield slowly dropped while the rear turret was working on the shields of the Pirate Nova Gabe got turned around and tried to dodge the incoming fire as he opened up on the Nova until he seen parts of the hull ripping of the ship Gabe stopped just in time as smoke was coming from the Pirate Nova. Bob and the Falcon were swapping licks and the Falcon was about to lose as Gabe turned and headed for the Falcon to finish him off.
Gabe ripped a few shots into the Falcon dropping the shields down below zero. “Surrender your ship Pirate and give up while I‘m filling generous enough to let you live.”
The com opened up and it was the Man Gabe had shot back in the Bar that shot him in the leg. “I’ll see you in /////// you stupid \\\\\\\\\!”
Bob opened up on the Falcon exploding it into a ball of fire. “That was one of the men responsible for killing your Dad! Check the Nova out I think it’s done for but you better make sure my scanners are off line. Thanks you saved my life follow me back to the Teladi Shipyard I don’t think I can make it to the Argon one.”
[Gabe] “Set your ship to auto pilot to the Shipyard and transport over.”
[Bob] “I’d love to but the systems are about gone I got to fly her in.”
Bob turned his Nova back for the North Gate while Gabe scanned the Pirate Nova. The Ship and Pilot were both dead in space. Gabe had stopped before he killed him but not before he was wounded and the Pirate decided death was better than jail and let himself bleed out and die.
Gabe claimed the ship and set the autopilot to dock at the Teladi Shipyard then caught up with Bob and followed him to the Shipyard.
Gabe felt every kind of emotion as his thoughts raced around in his head bouncing from one thing to the next until Bob opened the com for a brief response. “I know you got a ton of questions and I hope I got the answers. It’s good to see you Gabriel I wanted to see you I just didn’t think it would be like this we‘ll talk at the Shipyard.”
The com broke and scratched the whole time Bob was talking but Gabe got the message and it calmed him down a little as his thoughts refocused on what was going on. Bob and the Pirate Nova made it through the Gate and headed for the Shipyard as the Pirate Nova slowly followed behind them as Gabe watched as Bobs ship docked and then Gabe docked.
After some time in the security office explaining what had happened and a copy of the flight recorders was recorded after the Pirate Nova docked they were done with security and the reports. Bob looked at his Nova covered with more burnt marks than paint. Gabe herd the Teladi rep explain. “You not have enough credits to fix all of ship what you want to fix first?”
Gabe spoke up to the rep. “Take what you can off of the Pirate Nova and put it on his ship then I’ll sell you the rest will that cover the cost?”
The rep changed his tune. “Yes Mr. Lander with a little extra and we have your ship ready for you when you want to pick it up?”
Gabe looked at his PDA that showed Snake had sent a message to Gabe explaining to pick the Kestrel up there and to sell the Buster and Disco to a dealer in Omicron Lyrae. “Yes I’ll pick it up before we leave right now we have some things to talk about first we’ll be back out in a little while.” Gabe turned around and asked Bob to come onboard his Nova. Bob followed Gabe onboard so they could talk in privet knowing the walls had ears.
After Bob explained to Gabe why he had stayed away to keep him out of harms way Bob told about the Pirate he said had killed his Dad. Bob had dug around for years to find out who hired the Pirates that had killed his brother as he hunted them down one by one and they were all dead now. Bob and Gabe’s Dad had did several jobs for Bolt over the years and as the two started to pull away and do less for Bolt and the last mission was six months before the attack that killed Gabe’s Dad. Bob was suppose to have been with them that day but had got tied up and didn’t make it. There old friend Bolt had taken on the Pirate and a good looking woman Bolt called a pretty little thing and they were all involved in the last mission together as Bold moved the new team up and in and Bob and his brother out of service. Most of the mission Bob and his Dad had done were simple pick up this person or stop that for getting sold and get it back. Gabe stopped Bob. “The girl what did Bold call her again?”
[Bob] “Bold called her a pretty little thing.”
Gabe took out his PDA. “Is this the woman?” As he showed Bob a picture of Susan.
[Bob] “That’s her where did you meet her?”
Gabe told Bob all about what had happened and how Susan was working for him.
[Bob] “Gabe she’s playing you! I don’t know what the game is but you’re being played. I heard that Bolt an them two had butted heads to many times and Bolt was going to get rid of them and I heard the same about them two planing on getting rid of Bolt and venture out on their own. If she’s on your ship your there next mark. Let me make a few calls and I‘ll be a while so you can take care of your business and I’ll meet you back here onboard your ship when I’m finished and don‘t leave till I get back.”
Gabe went and paid for the Kestrel and looked it over remembering the small shower and bed he rolled out of but these were basic compaired to them. The rest of the ship was just what he wanted and after a stop at the Argon Equipment dock on the way back it would have the same as the RT. After they sold the Buster and Disco then on to the Goner Temple north of where the Seeker was and jump drives for the RT and new Kestrel.
As the wait turned into hours Bob returned. “I’m sorry it took so long but the information came right from the man who sold the gear to the now dead Pirate scum and his partner Susan if that’s her real name. They were going to kill me first! That didn’t work so well for them!
But Susan doesn’t know that and she is waiting on a signal from her dead Pirate friend to set things into motion and I got the frequency to trip her into action. Then she was to signal him to dock onboard your ship and help her finish killing the rest of the crew. He sold her a hairpin that has a drug in it that will make you tell them anything and make you obedient to their commands. The drug has bad side effects but as far as I can tell they were going to kill you anyway after you signed the ships and bank account over to them. Then they were going to sell the ships and cash out your account and start over somewhere with new names and papers in the outer sectors till the heat cooled down.
Shoot Gabe they may have been going to by a station and settle down with your assets.
Lets come up with a plan to keep everone safe and catch her in the act without getting anyone hurt.”
The getting rid of the crew was the easy part and it fit right in with what was going on with the business. The second part of the plan Bob had covered a friend of his was to enter the sector and send the signal to Susan and wait on her to make her move. Bob had a way to get rid of Susan and like Bold she wasn’t coming back. Years earler a Pirate Clan leaders son was kidnapped and killed and Bob knew it was Susan but lacked the evidence to prove his case and the Clan leader would be extremely greatfull but most of all Susan would be gone and not in some Argon detention center that she could bribe her way out of with something she knows. Bob wanted her dead or they would have to worry about her the rest of there lives.
The plan was decided now all they had to do was set it into motion. Bob’s Nova was ready so the two set out for the Equipment Dock in Omicron Lyrae to drop of the Kestrel to get a new interior and cabin and dock Bobs Nova. The trip was slow as the ships docked Gabe had already sent Simon a message from Teladi Space telling the crew to get some rest and be ready to work when he got back at 1400 hours.
Gabe paid for the repairs and docking of Bobs Nova as Bob got onboard with Gabe and said. “Im ready lets do it.”
Gabe had Bit hide Bobs from the scanner on the Seeker so the crew would never know he was there. The Nova entered Tresure Chest and headed for the Seeker as Gabe and Bob seen the Falcon setting just like Bob had asked him setting the plan into motion.
Gabe docked while Bob waited on the Nova for the next part of their plan to start. Gabe called everyone into the galley and sent each one out on a ship. Simon was to take the Buzzard and escort Luke in the Disco and Donna in the Buster and go to the Equipment Dock in Omicron Lyrae and sell most of the missiles transfer the weapons they were going to keep over to the new Kestrel and sell the Disco and Buster to the Dealer who was waiting on them. Then take the Kestrel to the Goner Sector north of Tresure Chest and get a jump drive and transporter installed then get some R&R time in and be back by 0700.
Susan was to take the RT and sell the remainder of the missiles at the Equipment Dock in Black Hole Sun then go to the Goner Sector and get a jump drive installed and take some R&R time and be back by 0700.
Deep Six Chapter 11
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