Lost Colonial Ship: Aftermath

[Firebrand1]

Continuation and finale of the Lost Colonial Ship story, previous one is here: http://forum.pirategalaxy.com/viewtopic.php?f=305&t=13687

Chapter 1

"You were missing for over 3 days, we just have to make sure that the Mantis didn't do anything to you while you were in those stasis fields." Flame and the rest of the people held captive on the Mantis Dreadnought were being put through intense scrutiny, to make sure that they hadn't been implanted with one of the Mantis mind probes. Flame was uncomfortable with the questioning. "Look, I'm fine alright, nothing happened to us, it's been over a week, something would have shown by now." said Flame. "Alright, you're free to go, then." said Flame's questioner, getting up and allowing him to leave the room.

Flame and the rest of his crew were being held in a makeshift confinement area in a newly built space station over Earth. They had returned victorious from 40 Eridani almost a week and a half ago, and had docked at the station for repairs, only to be met with armed guards when they disembarked the Daedalus. They'd been in the confinement area ever since. However, they were going to be released later in the day, their observation period being completed with no signs of ill effects. Flame was exceptionally happy about this, as he did not particularly like being locked up by his own people.

Flame walked around the confinement area, which was basically the entire lower half of the station, to get to the mess hall. When he arrived, he paused outside for a moment to look at the menu of what they were serving, which was next to the door. The smell of food was wafting into the hall. Flame entered the mess hall, got a drink, and went over to the nearest empty table. He was joined shortly by his chief engineer, Lieutenant Greg Jones. "Quite the mess we're in, eh, Captain?" said Jones. "I'll just be happy when we finally get released later. It's been a nightmare locked up in here with nothing to do." replied Flame. "Yeah, there isn't even a dart board in here, would be a great time to-" Jones was cut off by a sudden ruckus at a nearby table. One of Flame's crewmen had jumped up onto the table, brandishing a small blaster pistol, pointed at Flame. "DOWN!" yelled Jones, as the crewman fired the pistol, which missed and blew a hole in the corner of the table. The crewman tore off, heading toward the station's hangar. Flame, Jones, and a few security officers ran after him.

The chase lasted several minutes, and the crewman shot his way through the barricade separating the makeshift confinement area from the rest of the station. Flame and Jones both picked up a blaster pistol as they ran through what was left of the barricade. The crewman made it to a turbolift, and it shot off to the promenade deck, where the main hangar was located. Flame and the security officers were spamming the lift call button, and one arrived a few seconds later. They all piled in, as the lift shot off to the promenade. They arrived within seconds, and caught a glimpse of the crewman in the crowd of travelers. "There!" said Jones, as he ran off after him. The crewman made it to the hangar doors and went inside, tearing off for the nearest ship, a GC-1 Storm. He got into the cockpit, and was surrounded. "Step out of the craft slowly with your hands where we can see them!" said one of the security officers. The crewman merely glanced at them, as the canopy of the sleek fighter started to close. "Step out of the craft now or we will open fire!" said the security officer. The Storm's engines roared to life, as the security force started shooting at the craft, the lasers merely bouncing off the ship's hull. The fighter rose off of the hangar floor and blasted out of the station, leaving scorch marks on the wall behind it. One of the security officers took out his commlink. After talking for a few seconds, he approached Flame and Jones. "Admiral Hornblower wants to see you two, if you'll follow us." "Alright." said Flame and Jones in unison.

 

[Firebrand1]

Well, here's the second chapter, finally. Sorry for the long wait, and happy new year everybody

Chapter 2

"I'm sorry, but it's what I have to do." Admiral Hornblower was pacing around the room, talking to the two dismayed officers. "You'll be confined to your quarters until further notice, we can't risk any more incidents like this." He said. "Aye, sir." said Flame. Jones and Flame were escorted by armed guards back to their quarters. When the doors closed behind them, they could hear the magnetic locks engage."Well, this is just dandy." said Jones as he sat down on one of the beds.

A few days later, news had reached them that the crewman who attacked them had blown up a small convoy of vital raw materials. Jones and Flame had asked if they could help track him down, but they were refused. Now they were planning their escape, because they had reason to believe that the convoy was just a distraction for something much bigger. "Remember, non-lethal force only," Flame was saying, "we don't want to kill our own guys." A few minutes later, the doors opened and Jones smacked the guard over the head with a potted plant, knocking him unconscious. Flame took the guard's passkey and handed his weapon to Jones, who put the pistol on its minimum setting, enough to knock someone out. They snuck up behind another guard, and Jones shot him with the pistol, knocking the guard out. Flame then took his weapon and some spare energy cells. "Alright, let's try to make our way to the hangar without too much hassle," he said, "hopefully they won't realise we're gone until we're already in a ship." "Yeah, hopefully. But these things generally don't go as planned." replied Jones. "Wait, stop!" whispered Flame. Up ahead was a security turret, put up after the crewman shot the place up. It wasn't lethal, but it would sting like crazy and set off an alarm. Flame set his pistol to a slightly higher setting and shot the turret, frying it. "Let's go." he said.

They made it to the station's hangar bay. There were only a few ships docked, but they knew there were a few 2-seater Valkyrie bombers at the other end of the hangar floor. The only problem was getting there unnoticed. "Wait for it," said Flame, waiting for one of the maintenance crew to turn his back to them, "alright, go!" he whispered, as they quietly ran across the floor to a pile of old parts. "It's a straight shot from here, I can see the bombers," said Jones, "let's make a run for it." Flame nodded, and they tore off for the nearest bomber. "Hey!" one of the hangar crew saw them, and was drawing his energy pistol. "Don't stop, keep going!" said Flame, as a plasma bolt went whizzing by. They reached the bomber, jumped in, and closed the canopy. As they were powering it up, they were surrounded by security personnel, some of them armed with anti-aircraft rocket launchers. "Well, this can't be good." said Jones from the back seat.

 

[Ace flyer]

hey, please continue