Chapter 1. (15 years later)
"Sir, scanners are still clear," said the radar officer.
"Very well Lieutenant, keep an eye on it we don't know when the pirates are coming in, just this is the place. Keep us posted." Captain Roberts said, briefly looking up from the THPT, towards the radar station. They were waiting for a supposed drug run meeting that should be taking place at any moment in this spot. One pirate fleet would be dropping off a shipment of drugs for another fleet to pick up and start their leg of the shipment. Deadspace pockets were a haven for pirate gangs because there was no easy way for law enforcement and rival forces to track the down to these spots. Of course the occasional scout would pick one up or an arrested pirate would sing a few trade routes and that would leave the door open for people like Captain Roberts and his crew to round up some smugglers and ruin a few drug junks' day.
The Gra'ika has been parked here for 36 hours already, waiting for the drop off to occur. Charles knew this wasn't unusual, he had been part of many stings before, pirates would make the delivery in a random time in time frame of a week once a month to keep everyone guessing. All he and his crew could do was sit under a cloaking device and wait for their unlucky targets to make the first move. It was missions like this that had occupied his time since the war ended, both while he was in the Caldari Fleet, and five years later when he went private. He found that he couldn't keep up with fleet regiment after he lost his family. Most of his crew understood that and remaining loyal to their captain resigned with the Fleet as well to continue serving under him. Most importantly his best friend and executive officer, Commander Crystal 'Eeman Mafqoodeenqalb, stayed by his side all these years despite getting married five years prior. He knew without her support he would not have survived to see this day, both on the battlefield and in coping with the loss of his family. Charles was eternally grateful for her continued support, even after he suggested that she retire from space faring life and settle down she refused. She won that argument by reminding him that it was too early to look for another chief engineer, whom her husband was currently serving as.
Crystal had met her husband, Raven Mafqoodeenqalb, six years ago while on shore leave in Jita. The ship had taken a particularly hard beating during a mission and would be in dry dock for a month and a half, so Charles granted shore leave to everyone. While he and Crystal did try to relax during their vacation, they both knew they would need to recruit a new engineer, because the last one died from radiation poisoning during the mission. Crystal being the ever efficient worker she was, killed two birds with one stone one night in a bar. She managed to bring a man home that she not only got along with but was a talented engineer. He had served with the Caldari Fleet during the war as well and had several service medals to his name, so he was the perfect choice as a replacement chief engineer. Once the Gra'ika was space worthy again he officially joined the crew as Lieutenant Commander Mafqoodeenqalb, and still in a budding relationship with the XO. Originally Charles was not very happy with the idea of his XO having a relationship with one of her subordinates, however he did not have the heart to make her choose between her boyfriend and her career and one year later the two were married. While she took her husband's name everyone on the ship still called her by her maiden name, old habits die hard.
Charles was snapped back into the present by his communication officer's call, "Sir, I am detecting a local spike, forty-five different registered ships have just entered the system!"
This was out of the ordinary, but nothing for Charles to worry about, pirates don't fly registered ships so they won't appear in local channel, "Put it in the log Lieutenant Thompson, but nothing else that is not our concern our goal is to stop the drug delivery. Make sure to note all the different corps the ships belong too, Command will worry about it when we get home."
The Lieutenant spoke again, "Sir, I already have and there is no pattern it appears more likely that they are acting independently of each other,"
It was the XO's turn to speak, "Chuck, this is most unusual, this system never sees this kind of traffic. Perhaps is a trick the pirates set up to distract us. Thompson is there anything being said over the local channel?"
"Negative Ma'am, nothing but stat- Captain! Incoming transmission from REGCOM over priority Alpha Red channel requesting to speak to you personally, in private"
Before Charles could reply, the radar officer spoke, "Incoming pirate fleet, 50 km out and holding, no way to know if this is the receiving fleet or the delivering fleet,"
Charles issued his orders as he turned toward his ready room located just off the bridge. "Figures they would come now, alright Commander you have the bridge while I talk to REGCOM. Do not open fire or drop cloak, only engage if they decloak us," Crystal answered with a crisp salute, which he returned then both turned on their heel and went about their business.
As Charles stepped in to his ready room he had an uneasy feeling. While he had resigned from the Fleet, he and his crew were still in the reserves. He wanted to keep his foot in the door in case things around New Eden got hectic again, and it looked now he was going to be paying the price for that. He sat down at his desk and picked up his phone, "Captain Charles Roberts, authorization code, Tango, Foxtrot, Delta, September, receiving priority Alpha Red transmission from REGCOM," The computer took a moment to process his information and encrypt the transmission from his end, but finally he heard a junior Admiral, Admiral Sky begin to speak.
"Captain Roberts, Sit-Rep."
"Sir, we just detected a local spike of registered ships, then shortly after a pirate fleet warped into the deadspace pocket. We are still under cloak and observing. With all due respect Admiral Sky, I may have been out of the fleet for a sometime, but I do know that Admiral Yarimotto is in still in command of this region, may I ask why I have the pleasure of speaking to you?"
The Admiral did not at the least sound offended, in fact he had expected this, "You are wrong, well you are wrong as of five minutes ago. Five minutes ago there was attack on REGCOM HQ in Sankkassen, the entire station is in ruins. I was the only Fleet councilman to survive as I was out on Academy inspection, I have taken personal command of the regional fleet."
Charles was shocked, "Sir, attacked? Gallente?"
"No Captain, but a Gallente terrorist faction has claimed responsibility for the attack, the Gallente Government is cooperating, infact they are sending an officer right now to brief us on this organization as we speak. I want you in on that meeting with him as well as your best ground combat specialists, considered you and your crew called up to active status. Make best speed to Paara, I have set up temporary HQ there. Forget the pirates Charles, this is much more important,"
"Understood Admiral, Captain Roberts out," he killed the connection, then paused for a moment before opening ship wide comms, "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the Captain. I have just received word that moments ago REGCOM HQ was attacked and destroyed, Admiral Sky has taken command of the regional fleet and has recalled us to active status. It looks we are in the fleet again boys and girls. Our orders are to drop everything and head to Paara where Admiral Sky has set up temporary HQ, and I am to meet with him personally. Most of you fought with me in the Caldari-Gallente War all those years ago, your experiences will serve you well soon. We may not know exactly who attacked us, but make no mistake: we are currently at war! AND WE WILL FIND WHO DID THIS AND TEACH THEM NOT TO MESS WITH CALDARI! That is all the information I have now, Commander 'Eeman please come to my ready room," with that Charles put down the receiver and waited for Crystal to come in.
Crystal briskly entered the ready room with a ghostly look on her face, "Chuck, Admiral Sky in command? He's only been on the council for two years you have any idea how many good men had to die to put him in charge? I don't know about the rest of the ship, but the bridge crew is looking awfully green now. We didn't even have a loss this heavy during the War!"
"I know Crystal, this is not an easy loss to stomach, we will survive somehow. Before you ask, we know it was a Gallente terrorist faction that staged the attack, however we don't know anything about said faction. We are to be briefed on them by a Gallente officer when we make it to Paara,"
"Chuck this looks really bad, Gallente terrorists? Sounds more like a government cover up to take pot shots at us"
"I doubt it Crystal, they know we still have some of our spies in place since the war, and they wouldn't risk sending anyone over to our space that we could take as a hostage in case we found out. They don't have to be government backed to be against us, no, I think it's an independent group who wasn't happy with the cease fire and waited until now to do anything about it. Anyway gather our top ten marksmen they will accompany us to the briefing, dismissed,"
Crystal saluted before turning on her heel and heading for the door but turned her head before leaving, "I sure hope your right Chuck, things will get really really messy if you're wrong," with that she left Charles alone to think about impending meeting in peace.
The Gra'ika had docked in REGCOM HQ, Paara ten minutes ago. Charles and Crystal were on walking to the conference room with their strike team comprising of Major Steele, Lieutenant Johnson, Ensign Sparks, Master Chief Petty Officer Dobbs, Gunnery Sergeant Rook, Petty Officer First Class Smith, Privates Jackson, Mendez, Martin, and Smith. It was a blend of Marines and Sailors, but Charles knew they would work well together. Charles made it to the conference room and entered. The Gallente official and Admiral Sky were already seated at the big table, Charles looked at the official, he knew that man, and it pissed him off. "Son of a Bitch, Admiral what the fuck is this man doing here!?"
A/N: Left a little bit of a cliff hanger for you there! please review.
