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Blerg Shipping's freighters had the bridge hatches reinforced to make a safe area for the freighter's crew to wait out the boarding and plunder. Once the ships were gone, the crew would close the airlock doors and bring the ship back online before leaving the bridge.
Once all twenty crew members of the Rascal were crowded into the bridge, Captain Slatter nodded telling the pilot to open the outer airlock door. Immediately, the crew felt a small bump as the first Crew ship docked with the Rascal's airlock.
"Well, it's all up to the lawyers and insurance people, now. Let them do the fighting," Captain Slatter said to his pilot. He was referencing the fight that would occur between Blerg Shipping, Petersburg Mining, and Billis Corporation over the stolen cargo.
Petersburg Mining would sue Blerg Shipping for the missing cargo, and Blerg Shipping's insurance company would sue Billis Corporation for lack of security over their shipping lanes. Petersburg Mining would join that lawsuit, and Billis Corporation would counter-sue both of the other corporations for bringing such valuable cargo in lightly-armed ships and without hired security into their space, and so on. What the Crews had done to Captain Slatter's career was nothing compared to what Petersburg Mining and Billis Corporation would do to him for letting the Crews take his cargo without fighting back.
"At least the Blergs will have our backs," the pilot replied. "They always protect their own—a lot better than Muddwer Shipping does."
At this point, both men just wanted it to be over with, so they could repair the ship and get back home.
"Wake me when they're done," Captain Slatter told his pilot as he sat back in his chair and closed his eyes. "I'm exhausted."
The polite knock on the door was a surprise and they all looked at one another then Captain Slatter motioned for the door to be opened, shocked to find a man standing there in an old world three piece suit.
"Hello there, I am FL Ianto Harkness-Jones and these pirates have informed me that you were once one of them. I would like to think you have not sold out and are simply working for a wage. I am here to give you the chance to work with those who are winning the war, I will give you the chance to defect only once" Ianto said calmly and Slatter was about to tell him to fuck off when he saw a flash of red, then the colour drained from his face as he saw an old friend appear at Ianto's right hand.
"hi" John said softly, "How are you Slate?"
"Johnty?"
John grinned as he looked at the third Captain to join this wee fleet.
He liked this form of piracy.
All in the name of the empire.
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Captain John Hart stood in front of one of the full-length mirrors he had installed in his luxury bathroom.
He wiped the steam from the mirror to get a better look at himself. A full hot water shower was another benefit he enjoyed that was unheard of for ships the size of the Excalibur. He turned his head from side to side before reaching up to stroke the greying hair on his temples.
He briefly considered dying it, but in the end, he decided that a little gray added to his character. Modern medical nanites could get rid of any signs of aging or injuries, John didn't want blue hair or anything strange-looking, like other Captains often utilized to scare their opponents. He needed to look dignified enough to demand respect from both his crew and the wealthy people he took hostage…. Er worked with? Yeah. Heh heh.
The Captain flexed his muscles. Battles in space didn't require much strength: all he needed to do was push a button and the ship's artificial intelligence would take care of everything. Very rarely did you ever make physical contact with an enemy; when you did, it was about fighting skills and speed, and not about strength.
But, he thought, I still need to look good when I work out. His muscles had to be developed and the scars on his body needed to remain. He wanted to give off an attitude of "I've been there, I've done that, and I'm still in good enough shape to do it again" appearance to his men whenever they saw him in the gym or without his uniform.
"John?"
John spun with glee as he heard Ianto's voice, done playing Captain for now as he skipped to the other room where Ianto was calmly pouring a coffee for them both.
"Where is your woman?" Ianto asked as he took a seat and John shrugged to show he didn't really care.
"Probably beating the shit out of someone knowing her." He finally guessed, "Or playing with the dogs."
"You were sure he would defect" Ianto smiled, "Good call."
"Well, I'm glad you listened to me before blowing him out of the black." John replied, "I enjoyed that. Felt like a real captain and everything."
Ianto laughed as he reminded him he was a Captain.
"Oh yeah, still feels weird" John rolled his eyes.
"Well I am glad it is working, maybe more of your old reprobate friends can join you and I can go home" Ianto sighed as he watched John preen.
Gods, he was so ready to go home to his family.
John didn't really need him for this.
