Lucky Seven Chapter 7

[Ed Man]

Watch Your Six
Chapter 7 Lucky Seven

After loading up with energy cells and picking up Randy and a extra half load of goods he had stored at the Trading Station it was time to leave.
Bob jumped to Legend’s Home and set course for the OTAS Headquarters. The ships were ready and as Bob looked over the list of missiles Randy had picked up he wanted to jump up and down and shout for joy but just gave a small smile as the two looked at each other smiling.
Randy had picked up over a millions credits in missiles and weapons.

Like they had thought the Pirates had sent their best ships with the best weapons and missiles for the last big battle. The only problem was the Argon Government had had enough of the Pirates using their space as a battle ground and sent in Capitol ships to help clear them out and had posted two Centaurs and a Cerberus with fighter escorts to the sector to keep the peace.

Jake and the Engineer did some catching up while the weapons and missiles from the run were installed on the ships and the surplus were sold off.
Bob installed a jump drive and transporter on the second Buster and left the Disco with the Engineer to toy with.
Bob was going to try his hand at capping ships in the second Buster after mounting the Ion Disruptor and a pair of Phased Repeater Guns Randy had picked up.
With it’s enhanced speed, rudder and extra shield along with PAC weapons in the other slots and rear turret and a few disruptor missiles the Buster was more than ready to go. It was ready to hunt and Bob was ready to go hunting for its prey the Xenon.

Jake was headed for Omicron Lyrae to start work with a shipping company that had connections with every race including Terran. They had the largest company owned satellite network in known space that they could have access to for a extra thousand credit’s a week.
But first Jake had to sign a contract with them so he could book jobs through their company agents.
Then pay the thousand credit’s a week to add their names to the list to access the codes to the satellite network.

Bob had a meeting with all the pilots before they left and the main topic was. “Watch your six!”

The ships were loaded and ready to go. Jake jumped to Omicron Lyrae while Bob jumped to Black Hole Sun and looked over at Randy. “Let’s get started Randy take the Kestrel and make a run through the sector. We’re going high to the center east out of range of small scanners.”

The first run Randy found a few missiles but Bob soon found out after destroying three Ns he was trying to capture how to work the Xenon.
Bob fell in behind a N with the intention of capturing the M it was escorting and opened up with the intent of blowing it up when it went dead.
Bob pulled away just before it blew as it drifted of dead and turned on the M and opened up on it as it tried to return fire and get in behind him.
Again Bob opened up eager to claim the N just wanting to destroy the M and get back to the N. The M lost it’s shields and was at about 75% when it went dead. It went to about 60% hull before the shots stop hitting it.

Bob thought for a few minutes as he tried to understand what he was doing wrong he had spent hours trying to capture the Ns. System after system went down till Sector Security got involved and made Bob finish them off. The last N just keep going and going after Bob lured it off out of scanner range and played with it till he got weary and blew it up.

Bob claimed the M and N and docked them on the TM. Bob docked the M in the repair bay and sent the drones onboard to start repairs on the higher priced ship as he had Steve set course for the Shipyard.

Bob went to his room and looked at some articles written by pilots about capturing Xenon ships. After five or six he discovered that dropping the shields down and ripping the hull down to about 80% as fast as you could seamed to be the best way to capture on the average only one out of six right away.
The ones that didn’t go dead right away use the Ion Disruptor on to finish them off.

The Xenon were every ones enemies so attacking them didn’t matter they wanted to kill every one and blow up every thing and would attack any target of opportunity. The ones Bob had been attacking were the replacements headed for Xenon Sector 347.
But every ounce and a while the Xenon did scouting and raiding runs into Argon Space looking for anything to shoot.
From time to time the Xenon would send a Capitol ship through and Bob and his crew had already been warned to leave all the Xenon ships alone when that happened and to stay clear and let the Argon Navy handle it.

By the time the TM reached the Shipyard the Drones had a shield and two PAC weapons working bumping the sale price of the M way up. The N slowly eased out and into the shipyard only selling for 17,000 credits. The M eased out and into the shipyard but it sold for 178,000 credits.

Bob docked the TM and had a second bay outfitted with a repair bay and bought two more repair drones. A little time spent on repairing the shields, weapons and high end equipment was worth the effort in the long run essentially on the larger ships. The work the drones had added a lot to the price of the M.

Bob was docked when he got the message with the codes for the satellite network. Like a bunch of kids Bob and the rest of the crew looked on as Bob entered the codes and the map opened up covering the entire display. Bob and the rest of the crew was looking at all the sectors as one of the new crewmen just said wow!
They had mapped the entire known system and the only sectors without satellites were known hostile Pirate sectors, the Terran Core Sectors and some Yaki sectors.

Bob set course for Teladi Sector Scale Plate Green at half speed while the Kestrel did a quick search of each sector on the way. After reaching Scale Plate Green and not finding much but seeing Xenon going in and out of around the Gate unchallenged from Sector Security. Bob docked the Kestrel and decided to at least check out PTNI Headquarters after hearing so much about it then head back to Black Hole Sun.

The whole crew was looking around as Bob did a sweep of the sector and was about to leave when he got a message from the Shipyard. “Please dock at the shipyard we have a transporting job to offer you. We will pay you 20,000 credits to deliver two freight drones loaded with supplies to the Shipyard in Grand Exchange.
The Teladi Company would be extremely grateful for your help in this matter. The Shipyard is in urgent need of the supplies and we see your ship is equipped with a jump drive and two secure docking bays. If you use you deliver the drones to the Shipyard within four hours you will get a additional 25,000 credit bonus for your effort.”

Bob docked to talk to the Teladi about the offer. The shipping Clerk was waiting on Bob as soon as he stepped of the TM. “You deliver freight for Teladi?”
[Bob] “As long as there isn’t any goods the Argon banned.”
The Clerk showed Bob the list. “See Human just supplies. You take job?”

Bob looked at the list and contract to make sure it paid 45,000 credits for the quick delivery and it did along with a increase in status with the Teladi.
“Yes load the drones I’ll take the job.”

After the drones were loaded Bob eased the TM out of the Shipyard then checked the sector on the new satellite map then jumped.
None of the crew had been to Grand Exchange and everyone was looking as the TM entered the sector.
The Sector had four Gates and like Black Hole Sun the North Gate lead to a Xenon Sector.
After seeing the sector was clear Bob had Randy do a quick run while they unloaded the Freight Drones and collected the credits.

The drones were unloaded and Bob was siging off on the patment when the Teladi Rep. stated. “We done unloading drones open doors so Teladi place drones back on your ship.”
[Bob] “No Teladi not place drones back on ship! Just delivery no return.”

The Teladi agent took up the contract and looked all over it then looked at Bob. “Teladi no got room for Drones here. We load drones and you take them to Equipment Dock in next sector. Teladi pay you 15,000 credits to delever Drones. Easy job for Human and it help Teladi out you take job?”

[Bob] “I don’t know its next to a Pirate Sectors so it’s a dangerous place to be delivering freight to and I really don’t want any trouble.”
[Teladi agent] “No trouble for Human Pirates no want trouble with Teladi and you working for Teladi so no trouble. Can we make a deal?”

Bob looked at his PDA and checked on Randy who had found a few missiles around the North Gate and was about finished. Bob looked at the Teladi. “I need two more worker drones and some equipment you give it to me and I’ll delever the freight drones to the Equipment Dock and leave them no return trip.”

The Teladi looked over the list and replied. “You holding Teladi up but Teladi need to deliver drones so Teladi take your offer.”
Bob looked over the contract before he signed it to make sure it was right as the last thing on his list was loaded and the two Freight Drones were secure Bob signed it and headed out.

Randy docked as soon as the TM was clear and in the open while Bob was checking the next sector out for Pirates before he went through the South Gate.
They watched on the map as two Pirate ships slowly went through the South Gate and the sector was clear.
Bob went through the Gate and entered sector Merchant Haven and set course for the Equipment Dock.

Bob knew what the deal was the Teladi at the Shipyard didn’t want the freight drones or to sent them out because he would have had to send a escort with them and they would have been sent right back to the Shipyard. Now they would be the Equipment Docks problem because Bob wasn’t planing on staying just unload get paid and leave.

Bob unloaded the Drones and was at the counter transferring the payment over into his account when the Clerk asked. “Teladi no see where you take Drones back we no want Drones.”
[Bob] “Just delivery nothing else.”
[Teladi Clerk] “Teladi sale you drones cheep and you take them away.”
Bob started to walk away. “No thanks I really don’t need them.”
[Teladi Clerk] “Teladi let you have them 20,000 credits each if you load them up and take them away.”

Bob just shook his head no as he walked on off. A Boron stopped Bob. “Wait up Pilot I need to talk to you.”
Bob lisened as the Boron explained how he had came up from Queen’s Retribution looking for power plants and was mislead when he was sent into Maelstrom and was attacked and his ship was badly damaged.

He had just made it out alive with his ship and was trying to get back to Boron space.
He worked for the Boron Trade Commission and had a business offer to make Bob. He wanted Bob to buy the drones and dock them and his damaged Barracuda on the TM and go to Grand Excange and buy as many energy cells as he could fit into the drones and his ships.
Then jump to Queen’s Retribution where he could sell the drones for 40,000 each and every energy cell he wanted to sale for 20 credits each. The pilot would pay Bob 8,000 credits up front for the ride back to his sector and 10,000 more when they got there. The Boron agent drew up a contract and handed it to Bob guaranteeing the payment on everything he said.

Bob looked over the contract and took the job and looked at the Teladi Clerk. “You give me a worker drone to help load the freight drones and I’ll take them.”

The Teladi snarled a little. “Teladi give you drone you take Freight Drones and leave no want see them again.”
Bob went over to the Clerks office and paid for the drones while they were loading everything up. Next stop Grand Excange and a load of energy cells.

After checking for Pirates Bob eased the TM out of the Equipment Dock and set course for the North Gate.
The Agents ship looked like it had just came out of a scrap yard it was badly damaged and shot up but the Boron didn’t want to talk about what had happened all he wanted was to get home.
He went to the room Bob had assigned him and asked to be told when they were in his home sector.

After buying a load of energy cells for 12 credit’s a piece Bob synchronize up with the Buster and jumped to Queen’s Retribution and set course for the Shipyard.
Bob could hear the Boron praying for the families of all the dead souls he had just killed in battle as he knocked on the door and told him through the door he was in his home sector.

The Boron came out and asked if he could call the Shipyard. Bob opened a connection to the Shipyard for the Boron and the Boron told who he was and he was onboard the TM and looked at Bob. “Captain the shipyard will direct you to our secure docking bays so my ship can be unloaded along with the freight drones. I will transfer payment over to you when we dock.”

The Boron just turned and went back to his room and it didn’t take a genius to see the Boron was upset.

A Boron officer was waiting to escort Bob to the office while a small group of Borons met there rider as he came off the TM and was surrounded as they all held him.
Bob could see several different ships of every race as the officer lead the way. Bob looked back to see the workers unloading the Barracuda and were easing it into one of the bays.

Bob keep some energy cells for his jump drive and unloaded the rest. The clerk came out with a invoice for 150,000 credits for Bob. Bob looked at the Clerk. “I think you overpaid me about 20,000 credits.”
[Clerk] “We would have given you any amount you wanted for the safe return of out hero. Consider it a bonus and thank you. We do need you to undock and move your ship to the main docking area. The family is wanting to meet and thank you and welcome you to the sector.”

Bob moved his ship to the main dock where the Mother of the Boron that had turned out to be a national hero and next in line as ruler over the sector.
A Guard was waiting and escorted Bob to a room where the mother was waiting.
When Bob entered the room the mother was in her royal garments turned and addressed Bob. “Robert Fisher I want to thank you for my son’s safe return. You will always be welcome in our sector from this day forward Mr. Fisher.”

Bob didn’t know what to do or how to act but tried to be as gracious as he could nodding his head down in respect saying. “It was my pleasure Ma’am.”

The leader reached over and touched Bob and nodded back as She turned and left. The Guard explained that his name would go down on record as being touched by the leader which was their way of showing blessing and how he would always be welcome in the sector and would be allotted a small spot of land on the planet to live on as long as he was alive.

Bob went back to the TM to find out it had the cargo bay maxed out along with every add on the Boron had to offer along with a room full of gifts for him and the crew.

Bob looked around at all the gifts and told the crew. “Let’s leave while we’re all still liked and ahead of the game before one of us does something to spoil things.”

[collins50]

Ed I enjoyed this chapter, Thanks
and please keep up the good work