Heretic Zed
Lurker
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2009
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The ‘Verse so far…
As could be expected, after the Miranda broadcast, there had been political uproar. Important men resigned, scapegoats were named and one of them had literally fallen on his sword. But the major players, the rich men in the shadows remained the same and before long things settled down back to business as usual. The would kept turning, the ‘Verse kept spinning.
The new batch of politicians had made promises about taking military action against the Reavers. Operation Miranda, a taskforce of ships sent into Reaver territory in an attempt to exterminate them. Lead by generals who had been colonels during the Unification War, one crucial error had been made. The Taskforce commanders had underestimated the Reavers, thought of them as rabid mindless animals. They were mistaken. Reavers are mad, no doubt about that. But they are also highly intelligent. The taskforce encountered traps, ambushes, and found themselves being the hunted. If not for reinforcements sent from the core worlds, the taskforce would never have made it back alive.
Yet the operation seems to have worked. Reaver attacks are far less frequent now, as though the rim has suddenly become silent…
***
Some days just had more problems then others. Life was just like that, nothing to do but take them on one by one. And it was with this attitude Captain Isa Mac-Orashu stood on the sloped hatch of the firefly class ship Rhapsody. It had touched down on Haven not more than a quarter hour ago. Apparently it didn’t take long for the crew to pack up the last of their positions, because now they were making their way past her.
First was Hendly, he was the “Security Specialist”, civilized talk for hired gunmen. He didn’t say anything, just walked away with his back to Isa. She couldn’t really blame him. Why stick around when nobody else was.
Next was Dash, the pilot. She only met Isa’s eyes once sheepishly then quickly looked away. What was it, guilt? Shame? Or was she just frightened?
Bernard, the medic was next, directing some dockworkers to help him load the coffin containing Reed, the mechanic, onto a mule hovercraft. Bernard blamed himself for Reed’s death. Kept saying his skills weren’t good enough. True, he had choked under pressure, but Reavers were hardly something a country doctor like Bernard couldn’t have been ready for. Reed shouldn’t have charged in like that either, that’s what got him killed. Sometimes being afraid was a useful trait.
Next was Max, First mate, he didn’t say anything to Isa, but he mumbled random gibberish to himself. He had been like that the whole trip back from the job. The man needed serous help. Maybe he could find it on Haven, but Isa doubted he would ever head back into the black again.
And last, Sara. Prissy and imperious as ever. She strode past Isa and turned, “You! She said in a voice bordering on hysteria, “In all my years I have never met anyone so obnoxiously rude and lecherous and…” Isa stopped listening after that point. God the woman could complain. She was a want-to-be Companion who thought she could make her mark out on the edge of the ‘verse. She had been sourly mistaken.
Sara continued on for a time. Isa nodded without listening. Whatever Sara was spouting it was probably true. At last the other woman finished her tirade and fixed Isa with a look of contempt.
Isa mimed blowing her a kiss, which made Sara bristle even more. She spun on her heal, a motion that resulted in her loosing her balance, nearly twisting her ankle. Sara declined to look back and limped away as quickly as she could. Some women just didn’t have what it would take to be a Companion.
“Well” Isa said to herself, “That’s everyone.” Turning around she looked into the hold of her now vacant ship. There was still work do be done. A drawback of being part of legal salvage operations, contracts to fulfill. “Guess it’s time for a new crew.”
She stepped off the hatch ramp, closed and locked the door behind her after setting her scout drone to patrol mode inside the hold. Locks were all well and good, but having something watching over the ship wile she was gone was better. One might consider it a gross miss use of military surplus equipment, but it wasn’t like she could afford a real watch dog.
As could be expected, after the Miranda broadcast, there had been political uproar. Important men resigned, scapegoats were named and one of them had literally fallen on his sword. But the major players, the rich men in the shadows remained the same and before long things settled down back to business as usual. The would kept turning, the ‘Verse kept spinning.
The new batch of politicians had made promises about taking military action against the Reavers. Operation Miranda, a taskforce of ships sent into Reaver territory in an attempt to exterminate them. Lead by generals who had been colonels during the Unification War, one crucial error had been made. The Taskforce commanders had underestimated the Reavers, thought of them as rabid mindless animals. They were mistaken. Reavers are mad, no doubt about that. But they are also highly intelligent. The taskforce encountered traps, ambushes, and found themselves being the hunted. If not for reinforcements sent from the core worlds, the taskforce would never have made it back alive.
Yet the operation seems to have worked. Reaver attacks are far less frequent now, as though the rim has suddenly become silent…
***
Some days just had more problems then others. Life was just like that, nothing to do but take them on one by one. And it was with this attitude Captain Isa Mac-Orashu stood on the sloped hatch of the firefly class ship Rhapsody. It had touched down on Haven not more than a quarter hour ago. Apparently it didn’t take long for the crew to pack up the last of their positions, because now they were making their way past her.
First was Hendly, he was the “Security Specialist”, civilized talk for hired gunmen. He didn’t say anything, just walked away with his back to Isa. She couldn’t really blame him. Why stick around when nobody else was.
Next was Dash, the pilot. She only met Isa’s eyes once sheepishly then quickly looked away. What was it, guilt? Shame? Or was she just frightened?
Bernard, the medic was next, directing some dockworkers to help him load the coffin containing Reed, the mechanic, onto a mule hovercraft. Bernard blamed himself for Reed’s death. Kept saying his skills weren’t good enough. True, he had choked under pressure, but Reavers were hardly something a country doctor like Bernard couldn’t have been ready for. Reed shouldn’t have charged in like that either, that’s what got him killed. Sometimes being afraid was a useful trait.
Next was Max, First mate, he didn’t say anything to Isa, but he mumbled random gibberish to himself. He had been like that the whole trip back from the job. The man needed serous help. Maybe he could find it on Haven, but Isa doubted he would ever head back into the black again.
And last, Sara. Prissy and imperious as ever. She strode past Isa and turned, “You! She said in a voice bordering on hysteria, “In all my years I have never met anyone so obnoxiously rude and lecherous and…” Isa stopped listening after that point. God the woman could complain. She was a want-to-be Companion who thought she could make her mark out on the edge of the ‘verse. She had been sourly mistaken.
Sara continued on for a time. Isa nodded without listening. Whatever Sara was spouting it was probably true. At last the other woman finished her tirade and fixed Isa with a look of contempt.
Isa mimed blowing her a kiss, which made Sara bristle even more. She spun on her heal, a motion that resulted in her loosing her balance, nearly twisting her ankle. Sara declined to look back and limped away as quickly as she could. Some women just didn’t have what it would take to be a Companion.
“Well” Isa said to herself, “That’s everyone.” Turning around she looked into the hold of her now vacant ship. There was still work do be done. A drawback of being part of legal salvage operations, contracts to fulfill. “Guess it’s time for a new crew.”
She stepped off the hatch ramp, closed and locked the door behind her after setting her scout drone to patrol mode inside the hold. Locks were all well and good, but having something watching over the ship wile she was gone was better. One might consider it a gross miss use of military surplus equipment, but it wasn’t like she could afford a real watch dog.
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