“Yeah, let all those motherfuckers on. Let’s kill us some Galactic military guards.”
I sent back an acknowledgement to Havok to wait a minute before asking Elyek to repeat themselves.
“If we kill the borders, they will just destroy us. And if we let them attach their anchors, we won’t be able to jump. This is not a viable plan. Sorry, Koparr.”
Sighing, I opened up the comm again, “Commander Gerdu, we’ll allow some of your men on our ship,”
“Excellent. I’m glad you have seen sense. Prison is, after all, still better than death. Now you need to stop your ship first so we can anchor to it.”
“You’ll have to give us a little time, Commander. My crew are at odds with my orders. A few minutes please.”
“You have five minutes to stop, then we will open fire. I hope you understand, we will not be giving you the 15 minutes it takes to warm up your folding drive.”
The comm went dead after that bombshell, and I paled. “For fuck’s sake! They know our plan,” I ranted, “We're totally fucked.”
No one had anything to offer, until Calegg piped up, “Can we board their ships?”
“No. They will kill us as we cross,” Elyek said, and I had to agree with their assessment.
“We’ve no choice to either surrender or fight on the run, then,” Ember summarized for us.
“Which aren’t choices at all. But we haven't come this far by surrendering,” I added.
“Captain! Another two ships have appeared,” Calegg announced, “They’re just up ahead and advancing straight towards us.”
“Fuck… shit… double fuck… Bastard!” I screamed in frustration, “Well, we’re really fucked, now. Aren't we?” I seethed to no one in particular, “Get them up on the screen, Calegg. Let’s see if there’s a way we can get past them. We only need to evade death for… How long now, Elyek?”
“Nine minutes, Captain.”
“Nine minutes,” I repeated, “We need to wait until the last possible minute to bolt any which way the coast is clear. And make this ship dance like it’s high at a rave.”
I received some uncomprehending looks from everyone, apart from Ember, who smirked but shook her head. She never liked my metaphors.
Calegg shifted the view to directly ahead of us to encompass the two large, fast-moving ships coming to join the fuck-the-Uprising party. They were familiar. Hope soared within me, but Ember shouted first, excitement tinging her words, “No fucking way! Shaun, is that…”
“I bloody hope so! If it's the Fystr we’re double fucked with a cherry on top. See if you can contact them, Ember.”
She smiled in return. “No need. They’ve just contacted us. Here,” she said, pressing a button.
“Uprising,” came a familiar voice over the radio, “if you attempt to escape again, we will shoot without hesitation. Please hand over the criminal known as Elyek, and you can be on your way.”
She quickly jabbed the button to talk back over the comm. “Astrid! Don't shoot! It's Shaun and Ember. We’re already in enough damn trouble as it is.”
“Ember?” Astrid’s voice came back, and the sound of shock was clear to hear, “But how?”
“Now isn’t the time to discuss it, but you can't have Elyek. They’re a good person and a valuable member of our crew. Their only crime is that someone wanted them as a slave.”
“That doesn't matter, really. It was just a job to make ends meet. I'd far rather have you and Shaun back safe.”
“We are safe-ish,” I shouted into the comm, “but these guys surrounding us are not our friends. Fancy helping your old race mates out?”
“Sure, we’ll help Shaun. We aren’t exactly making friends out here. We’ve already run into our fair share of trouble with the Empire, too. How do you want to do this?” Astrid’s cool voice came back. I felt like jumping around like an excited kid. I was so happy we had a chance to get out of this. But I couldn't really do that at the moment.
“I’m no Sun Tzu,” I responded, “but I would like to not be surrounded when shit kicks off. How about you and the Seshat each take one of the two ships between us. We’ll fly over next to you, while firing on a third, then we can all concentrate on the last ship together.”
“Sounds as good a plan as any,” Astrid said, “I will communicate with Rufus and let you know when to pick up the pace.”
“Okay, great. Thanks, Astrid. And it’s nice to hear you again,” I said.
Ember shouted, “Hi Astrid. See you soon, hopefully.”
“It’s amazing to speak to you both again, we have much to talk about I imagine.” Then her comm went dead.
“Okay, everyone!” I said, far too energetically, totally pumped from the arrival of a lifeline. “Koparr! Call up the best crew for the weapon stations, and let everyone else know we’re under attack. I imagine some crazy shit will probably start happening. Elyek and Ember, you can man the other two weapon stations. Calegg, when you get the word from the Thoth, don’t hesitate. I need you to get over there, yesterday.”
I received strange looks from everyone, other than Koparr who was busy. I didn’t know why, until a little Havok in my head implied a reason, “Go, Shaun. You’re bossing this situation. I think I even got a little chill, and that’s not possible.”
“Thanks, Havok,” I replied.
Ember quickly spoke to me, “Nice work. Just what we all needed,” she patted me on the shoulder and moved over to her weapons terminal. At that moment, several Torax poured into the room, and without hesitation went to an empty weapons terminal.
“Last thing before this starts,” I said firmly, “you all need to pick the same ship to fire on.”
“The green Destroyer with 856 on the side. It’s the weaker of the two ships,” Elyek explained. I looked at the screen and could see some markings on the hull, but they didn’t translate as numbers, or anything remotely understandable.
“You got it, Ember?” I asked quickly.
“Yes, you fucking idiot. I know what color green is,” she snapped, and I couldn’t help but smile at her.
The comm flashed a notification. I answered it immediately, like the idiot I am, assuming it was Astrid. It wasn’t. It was the Empire Commander Gerdu.
“Your five minutes are up. I will say once more, stop or we'll fire.”
I cut the comm with Gerdu. “Elyek, get me Astrid quickly.”
As second later Astrid's voice came through, “Shaun?”
“We’ve got to come now, Astrid. They’re going to start firing,” I left the line open, and without awaiting a response from Astrid, looked over to Calegg. “Hit it, dude!”
He didn’t hesitate, and we shot off like a bullet. Thankfully without a command from me – because my mind was frazzled – everyone began firing on the target of choice. The Galactic ships started firing only a second after, along with the Thoth and the Seshat. We got hit by a barrage as Calegg didn’t even try to weave, just putting all the ship’s power into our speed.
It took less than a minute to reach the Fystr ships. Calegg pulled a stomach-wrenching maneuver around the back of the Seshat that helped draw some of the fire off the battered Uprising. It was a bit shit for the Seshat, but I approved of it all the same. We needed that brief respite; we had taken far and away the most damage.
When we came out from behind the Seshat, we continued our attack on ship 856. To my awe, the two Fystr ships had already destroyed the first two ships and were proceeding to attack the last two. With the Thoth helping us attack the 856, it took seconds to finish them off. We both switched targets for the last time, and that was my first real space battle over and done with.
We were victorious… somehow… by the biggest stroke of luck ever. I was actually beginning to wonder whether there was a hidden Luck stat. Had the universe taken pity on me for my shit luck as a young lad? I realized everyone was cheering and looking at me, expectantly. I’d totally phased out. My Mental Clarity was great now, so why the fuck was I still phasing out? I wasn’t s
ure. Habit, perhaps? Whatever it was, I needed to start getting my shit together. Ember was hugging me now, which I returned, happily. Elyek joined in, followed by Calegg, then there was just a big crush of Torax bodies, seemingly wanting some victory-hugging action too. I felt like the hole in a donut.
Astrid was still on an open line, and shook everyone out of… whatever the fuck that just was. They all began to move back to their weapon stations, apart from Ember.
“Are you guys okay? That was pretty intense, and you took a fair old walloping.”
“Thanks, Astrid. And yeah. We're all good. Thank all the galactic gods – if there are any – that you came along when you did. Even if it was to kick our ass, too.”
“I’m happy we were able to save you, after we abandoned you on Xonico.”
“Yeah. I suppose you owed us that one,” I laughed, “Though now we probably need to go get some repairs. I just hope that the word doesn’t spread too quickly about what happened here. We should get the fuck out of here, now. Do you have a jump available?”
“No. We just used it to catch you up.”
“Damn! Sorry. That's okay. Are you alright just following us? There should be safety in numbers, at least,” I said, when a thought hit me, “Astrid! Where is the Hunter ship? And for that matter, where the fuck is Ogun?”
“I think we both have long stories to tell. Let’s move well away from here, like you said, then perhaps we can have a good talk about where you’ve been, and where Ogun has gone.”
“Sounds interesting. Okay, Astrid. Speak soon.” We ended the communication, and Calegg moved us off once more.
C6
Friend in Deed
Once we were a few hours away from the site of the battle, I arranged with Astrid to have a private conversation. We were able to set up a video conference from mine and Ember’s quarters. Astrid had set it up privately from her quarters. Apparently, it wasn’t hard to do. Still, Elyek was a bloody lifesaver when it came to anything to do with computery thingamabobs.
Now, Ember and I sat waiting for the connection to link up. It went from blank to sort of fuzzy for a second, then a close up of Gus’s head appeared on the screen. He looked up, “I think that’s it. Hey, Shaun, Ember. Can you see and hear us?” he asked.
“Yeah, Gus. Great job,” I grinned, like a cat that got the cream. It was hard to describe just how much I missed Gus and Mick, despite my anger at being left to die. They were genuine friends and had risked their lives alongside me, and for me.
“My god you guys!” he said, head still filling the screen, “What, in the actual fuck, are you even doing here? We thought you were dead. We even had a little funeral for you, and everything.”
“Oh, right. Well, thanks… I guess, Gus,” I said, not really knowing how to respond to that. Not only had they had a funeral, but it was probably the most words Gus had ever said in one go, unprompted. He must have been really happy to see us.
Astrid’s voice came from behind Gus’s screen-consuming head. “Gus. Come and sit down, so we can all speak.”
“Sorry, guys. Got a little overwhelmed there.” He went and sat on a long couch next to Mick and Astrid.
I opened my mouth to speak, but as so often happened, Ember beat me to it, “So, here we all are. You deserting motherfuckers!” Ember said, angrily.
The three couch mates looked taken aback, but also guilty. Hell, even I was shocked by Ember's outburst. I thought she was over the moon to see them all again. They began to try to mumble responses, but Ember cut them short with a raucous laugh, “You guys, I’m just fucking with you. We never thought we’d see you again. I’m so happy.”
“As are we, Ember,” Astrid said, relaxing slightly. Mick and Gus’s faces lit up again.
I still didn't get a word in though, because Astrid started talking next, a serious expression once more on her face, “I promise you, once it is safe, we’ll get you back on the Thoth where you belong. You’re not being held against your will, are you? I’d assume not, as you’ve been allowed to talk with us.”
Ember and I looked at each other. “Um. We won't be coming back to the Thoth, Astrid,” I said.
“What! Why on Earth not? You seriously want to fly around with random aliens, all of them wanted by the Empire?” The confusion was clear, not just in her face, but in Gus’s and Mick’s also.
“Okay, two things we need to get cleared up. Firstly, we are all the enemy of the Galactic Empire. Two, this is our ship. And it’s the fastest in the galaxy.”
“It’s your ship?” Astrid said, patronizingly.
“Sure is. Now, you’ve said enough for now, I think. So, let me ask you a question. Where the fuck is Ogun?”
Astrid’s eyes dropped. Mick and Gus looked at each other, worriedly. Finally Astrid spoke, “He left us. He took the Hunter ship and just went.”
“No way!” Ember said, pissed off. “He just left you all in the middle of the galaxy? With no help or support?”
“Why are you surprised, Ember?” I said, “He did it to us, twice.”
It was the normally laid-back Mick who spoke next, “After he left you two behind, he wasn’t the same. We managed to fight off two Hunter ships in a pitched battle, and escaped the Fystr who came to Xonico for us. Once clear, he went to his quarters and stayed there, barely speaking to anyone. After nearly a week of isolating, he came out and announced that he wasn't worthy to lead us. The following day he had disappeared with the Hunter ship.”
“What about the crew of the Hunter ship?”
“He called them over the day before and anchored the ship to the Thoth. We had no idea what he was planning. It was done very cleverly,” Astrid added.
“Typical. That seems to be his style,” I said, although I was beginning to feel a little bad saying it. With my increased clarity, combined with my improved ability to see the bigger picture, I could now see Ogun hadn’t acted selfishly. It just hurt to be expendable.
“I’m upset,” Astrid continued, “but I have our people to care for, so I focus on that.”
“So, what the hell are you doing next? What’s your plan?” I asked, hoping they would be interested in joining us on a more permanent basis.
“Trying to survive. We've managed to pick up enough contracts to buy synth crates and fuel. Though it’s damn near impossible to look after two huge ships and 150 people on the scraps we’ve had. Elyek was worth a thousand senlars to us. Would’ve kept us fueled and fed for a couple of weeks, at least,” Astrid said. I could see the stress on her. I noticed the other two looked frazzled as well.
Ember and I looked at each other again. She smiled a little, while I tried to keep a poker face. “You thinking what I'm thinking?” I asked her.
“Yes. I am, Shaun… Astrid!” Ember said, questioningly, looking from me to Astrid, “What exactly is your overall plan?”
“I really am just trying to keep everyone alive. There’s no way we can ever go back to Earth, and we aren’t welcome here either. To be honest, we are just floating without direction or clue.” Mick nodded in agreement. Gus was fiddling with a handheld terminal.
“I have a proposition,” Ember said, dramatically.
Astrid looked confused, “Okay?”
“Shaun and I have actually set up a company. We’re called Uprising and our goal is to build a mercenary army. We’ll be taking the best military contracts we can find, and hopefully attract more warriors along the way. The more new recruits we can attract, the bigger the jobs we can get, until we’re a force to be reckoned with. The question is, will you join us? Though I must make it clear from the beginning, Shaun here is our leader,” Ember said, patting my shoulder.
I didn’t know what response to expect from Astrid, but it definitely wasn’t that she’d start laughing her ass off. The expression on her face as she looked at Gus and Mick in disbelief irritated the fuck out of me. As if to say, ‘Are these guys serious?’ Thankfully, Gus and Mick didn’t share the same reaction. They looked tentatively interested. She fina
lly calmed and turned her attention back to us, “Nice one, Ember. I don’t know if you’re taking the piss, or if you’re serious and just delusional.”
I could feel Ember’s rage building. She was about to turn our ‘Join Uprising’ pitch into an irretrievable argument. I had to step in, even though I was just as pissed off myself with Astrid’s rudeness.
“Astrid, I like you, I do. But take a little care. I’m the leader of the Uprising, and I offer you the same as Ember just has. Before you respond, take a moment.”
“I don’t need a moment, Shaun,” she butted in aggressively, “Do you have any idea how much stress I'm under? How much Ogun has dropped on my shoulders? Grand dreams are great, but life in this galaxy isn't built on dreams. It’s built on money and power. I have none, and you have less. While I respect you both and what you’ve done so far, I don't think you appreciate the demands of looking after so many people. Can you even guarantee work for us all? NO! You fucking can’t. So stop dicking around. I’ve already lost 1000 senlar for letting you keep Elyek, but that puts the Seshat and Thoth in real dire straits. We’ve put all our resources into hunting them down. Now we need to find something else, quickly.”
Ember was practically vibrating with indignation at Astrid’s words. I don't know if it was my improved stats, but I could understand where she was coming from. As a rarity, I managed to get in before Ember could start shouting, though I could see she was now fuming with me for interrupting her twice in a row.
“Fuck me, Astrid. You’ve made this so much harder than it had to be. Just join the Uprising and you won't have to worry about surviving, only growing stronger,” Ember was about to jump back in, when I held a hand up to stop her. “We’re going to look for more crew members for work and for repairs to our ship. If we can’t find work, we can look after you all indefinitely until we do. Just wind your neck in and accept the proposal. It's not like it can hurt you any, by joining with us.”
“Do you have any idea how much it will cost to look after us?”
Condition Evolution 3: A LitRPG / Gamelit Adventure Page 6
