BOUNTY HUNTING
I just stood there for a while staring at my new ship. I couldn’t quite believe that I had it. I was like a kid at Christmas almost shaking with excitement when thinking about flying it.
“Hey!” Someone shouts at me, I snap out of my day dream. Stood staring at me with a scornful look on his face was a docking maintenance manager.
“If you’re not doing anything, you mind getting the hell out of here, this is a busy station and I got work to do.”
That was me not long ago, so I knew what it was like to be in his position. “Oh… yea sorry.” I replied grinning from ear to ear at thought of flying my new ship.
I walked over and stepped on board. I didn’t quite realise how big it was at first, I could probably fit two sidewinders in here with room to spare.
I made my way to the cockpit, two seats occupied the space “Would be nice to have someone to travel with” I mused. I made my way down to my new seat and took my place; the smile was still on my face.
I take my new Cobra Mk.III out of the station; oh boy does it feel nice to fly. After having a little cruise around I open up my Galaxy map to take a look at my route home to Leesti.
It was still over 200 light years away, but I could now make all the jumps needed to get there – all 24 of them. I didn’t want to waste any time on making some progress with my journey and locked the next system and engaged the hyperdrive.
I soon found myself in Ngaliba and thought it would be wise to refuel at one of the nearby outposts. Ngaliba is an area with a lot of conflict zones, clearly a lot of civil unrest going on at the moment. I’m not one to get involved in these political fights I’m just trying to keep out of too much trouble. But in an area with so much going on, you can only avoid it for so long. Whilst heading to Nordenskiold outpost I encounter three separate attempts to pull me out of supercruise, I manage to avoid them all. I’m not risking losing this ship so soon, plus I haven’t had a chance to outfit it properly.
I make it to Nordenskiold, go through the usual rigmaroles refuel and take a look at the Bulletin Board for any easy contracts.
There was a simple contract of recovering artefacts that had been left floating around. It was a decent pay out and not too far away. I took the offer and make quick work of picking up the goods.
After docking back at the station I send the message to say I’m ready to deliver the Artefacts. A few minutes later a tall man dressed in station security approaches.
“Tut, tut. Bringing illegal goods to my station, as the chief of security I couldn’t possibly let this go unnoticed.” He says sounding slightly sarcastic, but still with a hint of seriousness.
“Or, maybe you could do me a favour and we’ll forget all about this.”
“Who the hell are you?” I say to the stranger.
“I’m the one you’re now going to work for. Or, I’m the one who can throw you in a cell and let you rot… you know, because I can.”
I wasn’t really sure how to react to this, he’s basically going to black mail me and there’s nothing I can do about it.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask incredulously
“I get bored out here; we need a little excitement from time to time. Plus I have a ‘friend’ who has a problem that needs to be dealt with and he doesn’t have time to do it himself. You seem smart enough and capable enough based on your latest exploits. So here’s the deal.”
He tells me that I need to head to Duke City and find Carlo Frethens, he’ll give me more details about what needs to be done, but basically they want me to eliminate someone.
“Remember, if you try and run we’ll find you.” He says as he walks off with his artefacts. “Oh, and I’ve transferred a few credits for this.” Pointing to his newly acquired goods. “I can be reasonable if I feel like it!” His laughter fades as he disappears out of sight.
I sit for a while, not really sure how what to do…. “There isn’t much I can do.” I say out loud to myself. Either I do what they ask of me, or they’ll just lock me up or worse.
I shake myself out of my stupor and get on board my ship. Duke City is in Clayakarma, not too far away. “Let’s get this over with.”
I approach Duke City Station and receive a comms message from Carlo. “Meet me on Dock 28.” As I approach the landing pad I can see who I assume is Carlo waiting behind the bullet proof glass of the landing pads control room and a wave of nerves rush over me. As soon as I touch down I go to meet him.
“I have a contract I need you to complete. It shouldn’t be too hard, but you’re going to need to upgrade your weaponry.” Carlo says with cool authority that says he does this kind of thing a lot.
“What no welcome drinks?” I joke to try and hide my nerves. It doesn’t get a laugh.
“I work on behalf of Zachary Hudson; he likes me to keep things in order around here. Karim Kronfli has other plans. He used to work for me, but now he’s trying to go… freelance, I can’t allow that. You’ll find him loitering in LTT 7421, take care of him and come back to me when you have and you’ll be rewarded.”
And with that he turned and walked away.
Assassin? That’s where this life is going? That’s not what I was expecting on this journey. It seemed I had no choice though it either he dies or I do.
Time to arrange for some better weapons. Grimballed Multicannons and an FSD Interdictor should see me through.
As soon as they’re fitted I head out, lock LTT 7421, engage the hyperdrive and pray that I make it back alive.
It wasn’t long before the hunter became the hunted.
It was over. I’d just killed a man. Once back at Duke City I tried to contact Carlo, but all I got was a message.
It had been setup as a normal Bounty, so it looked above board. I felt numb, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I walked to the nearest bar, bought a large whiskey and told the bar man to keep them coming, it was the only way I was sleeping tonight.
– Will
