Chapter 3 – Pirate Skirmish
After a standard two weeks, Sasuke awoke to the sound of his computer going off, he was receiving a call from Command.
Sasuke walked over to his computer, and answered it, Kakashi appeared on the screen.
"Lieutenant General Hatake," Sasuke said, "What's the word?"
"I would like to speak to you Lieutenant," Kakashi said, "I want to see you, Minuteman Naruto Uzumaki, Minuteman Sakura Haruno, Minuteman Hinata Hyuuga, Minuteman Shino Aburame, and Minuteman Rock Lee in my office."
"I'll get dressed and head on down sir," Sasuke said as he turned off his computer.
Sasuke walked over, and pulled on his Men's true black colored 'Lockstep' Boots after putting on his black and gold Men's 'Commando' Pants, then after putting on his white-colored Men's 'Form' shirt he covered it with his black Men's 'Sterling' Dress Shirt.
Sasuke walked down to Lieutenant General Hatake's office where his five other recruits were waiting.
Hinata was one of Sakura's best friends, and Naruto's secret crush. She was a beautiful five-foot-three female with bob-cut black hair and solid purple eyes.
"Sasuke," Naruto said as Sasuke walked up to them.
"Naruto," Sasuke said as he smoothed out his jacket.
The door to Kakashi's office opened, allowing the six Gallente sailors to enter the office.
"General Hatake sir," Sasuke said as he stood at the opposite side of the table while his five other recruits stood on the sides of the table.
"Welcome," Kakashi said, "Everyone, please take your seats," the six Gallente Sailors took their seats, and Kakashi brought up the hologram of a Noctis-Class ORE industrial ship that was painted black that faded into a pale-skin-like color going upwards, "This is the Noctis-Class ORE industrial ship The Relevance, went missing in Pirate territory thee standard months ago."
"You think that pirates have it?" Sasuke asked.
"We know that pirates have it," Kakashi said, "And we believe that the pirates are carrying Minmatar citizens to be traded as slaves."
Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose, he hated the word slave, and everything it stood for, that's another reason he hated the Amarr.
"What's the objective?" Sasuke asked.
"Everyone in this room is now part of Operation Liberation," Kakashi said, "Everyone in here is as of this moment is under the Command of Guardian Lieutenant Uchiha."
"Guardian Lieutenant?" Naruto asked.
"That's right," Kakashi said, "He was promoted two weeks ago, and was given command of the Proteus-class Strategic Cruiser Venture."
"Interesting new arrangement." Lee said.
"Shut up," Kakashi snapped, "We've been trying to establish a better relationship with the Minmatar, and we've established the identity of one of them is Voshud Major Tsunade."
Sasuke's hand fell to the table, "Holy shit," Sasuke said.
"Who's Voshud Major Tsunade?" Sakura asked.
"She's the daughter of the Minmatar Tribal Liberation Force CEO Gar Orga," Sasuke said, "The most powerful woman in Minmatar Tribal Empire."
Everyone looked at Sasuke, "She's going to be sold as a slave?" Naruto asked.
"Not if we have anything to say about it," Kakashi said, "Your objective is to pose as free-lance mercenaries looking for soldiers. At the moment you confirm Voshud Major Tsunade is inside, drop them all, and get out of there as fast as you can with as many as you can. But above all else, you must be sure that Voshud Major Tsunade survives."
"What about the Minmatar," Lee asked, "They're going to be a little more than suspicious when we land on Venture on Matar and have the most powerful woman in the entire Minmatar Tribal Empire step out followed by us carrying a couple guns."
"Respectfully General I agree with everything Lee said," Sasuke said, "Wouldn't it just be better to relay the information of the Relevance to the Tribal Liberation Force?"
"It would," Kakashi said, "If the Minmatar didn't already agree to this."
"They agreed to us saving one of their own?" Sasuke asked.
"They did," Kakashi said, "The Minmatar have been chomping at the bit to get Lady Tsunade home, and when they discovered we had the information to bring her home, they reached out to us."
"You think this is going to cement Gallente-Minmatar relations?" Sasuke asked.
"No," Kakashi said as he stood up, and walked around the table, "Because our actions are only part of what's going to cement these relations," Kakashi put his hand on Sasuke's shoulder, "What you are your crew are going to do will cement these relations."
"What are me and my crew going to do?" Sasuke asked.
"You are going to take some Minmatar soldiers on a little joint-op," Kakashi said, "After this is done, the Minmatar will be one step closer to joining our little alliance."
"Alliance sir?" Naruto asked.
"You heard me right Minuteman Uzumaki," Kakashi said, "We need to submit relations between the Minmatar and the Gallente Federation."
"Why us then?" Sasuke asked.
"Because there's no one I trust more," Kakashi said as he put his hand on Sasuke's shoulder, "That last rescue mission went off perfectly, with no injuries. Not easy to do on your first deployment."
"And I know you trust these people," Kakashi said, "Maybe it's time to assign you a crew. And with this crew allows you to assign a first officer."
"First Officer?" Sasuke asked.
"That's right," Kakashi said as he placed the ranking medal of a Defender Lieutenant in front of him, "You will designate your first officer immediately."
Sasuke looked around the table, then placed his hand against the top of the medal, and slid it across the table to Naruto, "Me?" Naruto asked.
"You're perfect for the job," Sasuke said, "And besides, you have a politician's mind I could use that on my crew."
"Congratulations Defender Lieutenant Uzumaki," Kakashi said as he ushered Naruto to his feet, then removed the Federation Minuteman shield from his shoulder and placed the rank of the Defender Lieutenant onto Naruto's lapels.
"When do we depart?" Sasuke asked.
"Immediately," Kakashi said, "All stand!"
The six Gallente sailors stood, and shot into attention, "As of this moment, you all get your orders from me and Guardian Lieutenant Uchiha," Kakashi said, "Now go cement Gallente-Minmatar relations! Dismissed!"
"Sir yes sir!" Everyone exclaimed.
The six walked out of the door, and onto the Venture, there was a Captain's chair ready for Sasuke, "Alright," Sasuke said as he walked over to his seat, "Let's get ready to depart. Shino you're my gunner."
"Yes sir," Shino said as he took his seat in the gunner's chair.
"Naruto, Sakura you're my pilots," Sasuke said, "Sakura, co-pilot's chair, Naruto, pilot's chair."
Naruto and Sakura took their seats.
"Lee, I need you on navigation." Sasuke said.
"Sir," Lee said as he took his seat in the navigation's chair.
"Hinata," Sasuke said, "You're on communications: you speak all different dialects."
"Got that." Hinata said as she took her seat.
"Alright," Sasuke said as he took his seat, "Lee, set navi-computer for the Relevance."
"Aye Lieutenant," Lee said as he plugged the coordinates into the navi-computer.
"Naruto, Sakura, take us out." Sasuke said.
Naruto and Sakura backed the ship out of dry-dock, and turned the ship in the correct alignment toward the Relevance's location.
"Coordinates set." Lee said.
"Got that," Naruto said as he input a few commands into his console, "Prepare for jump."
The ship's engines whirled, and then leapt into hyper-speed.
"Estimated time to target, six minutes." Lee said.
"Good," Sasuke said, "Does everyone have a weapon?"
Everyone pulled out their standard-issued 'Templar' scrambler pistols, and held them in the air.
"Alright," Sasuke said as he stood up, then walked around, and handed each of them something that looked like the symbol of the Gallente Federation cast in a gold metal, "This are two-way communicators that were just cleared for use in the military."
"Tap them and we can communicate?" Shino asked.
"Yes," Sasuke said as he strapped one to a small spandex band he wore around his wrist, and hid it underneath the sleeve of his jacket, "When we arrive I want everyone to stay in constant communication. And in order for this to work, we need to sell that we're mercenaries."
"How do we do that?" Sakura asked.
"By having you and Hinata dress up as sexy as possible." Sasuke said.
"So we're going to be selling that you guys like to surround yourself with hot women?" Sakura asked.
"Hot slaves," Sasuke said as he took his seat, "We need to make it look like we're serious buyers."
"Do we have to?" Hinata asked.
"If it doesn't work I'll buy the first round of drinks." Sasuke said.
Sakura looked at Hinata, and shrugged, "It's worth a shot." Hinata said.
Sakura and Hinata went into the back, and got changed.
"Hi boys," Sakura said as she and Hinata entered.
Sasuke turned around, and the air was instantly sucked out of his lungs, Sakura was dressed in a women's black and red 'Avenue' shirt (a black and red tank top), a red gold women's 'Impress' skirt that had been cut down the side, revealing the fish-net stockings, she also had on a pair of women's 'Minima' heels, and the cherry on the cake was that Sakura had on blood-red lipstick, and charcoal-black eye-shadow.
Hinata was dressed the same except her 'Avenue' shirt was blue, her 'Impress' skirt was marine (color), her 'Minima' heels were blue, and she had on marine blue lipstick that almost appeared cobalt blue, and her eye-shadow was gold.
"What do you think?" Sakura asked.
"I think if we were the only ones on this ship, I'd almost have the sense to take you into the back room and ravage you till you hair was standing on end." Sasuke replied.
"That goes double for me Hinata." Naruto said.
"There isn't a man alive that could resist you two." Lee said.
"Dido." Shino said.
Lee's console started beeping, they were getting close, "Coming up on the Relevance in thirty seconds Lieutenant." Lee said.
"Places people," Sasuke said as he threw Shino a pair of 'Nightstalker' combat goggles, then Naruto.
The Venture dropped out of hyper-speed, and they found themselves a few miles from the Relevance, "Lee," Sasuke said, "We have an I.D.?"
"Stand by," Lee said as he input a few commands, and a few seconds later, he got the results, "Positive I.D., that's the Relevance alright."
"Good man," Sasuke said as he pointed at Hinata, "Hinata, open a channel."
"Channel opening," Hinata said as she input a few commands into her console.
"Who is this?" The man said.
"This is the Proteus ship Defiant," Sasuke said, "We're a group of mercenaries working for the Angel Cartel hoping to buy some fresh meat."
"I still say this is a waste of time boss." Naruto said.
"Shut up the fuck up," Sasuke said, "Ignore my first mate, permission to dock?"
"Granted," the slaver said as the channel was cut.
"What's the motive here?" Naruto said as he deployed the docking clamp, and merged with the Relevance.
"Just act like bad-asses," Sasuke said as he handed Lee a pair of 'Nightstalker' goggles.
"Keep your eyes open, and your hands near your guns," Sasuke said, "When we confirm Tsunade is on the ship, draw your guns, and don't be afraid to shoot."
"Got you," Naruto said as he hit his gun underneath his jacket.
Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto, Hinata, and Lee walked over to the gate, and watched as it opened, revealing several average-sized men wearing tank tops, military boots, and camo pants.
The man that appeared to be the leader stepped in front, "I am Culvert," he said, "I run this ship."
"I'm Butch," Sasuke said, then pointed at Naruto, "This is my first-mate Steel," he then pointed at Sakura, "This is my mistress Cassidy," Sasuke pointed at Hinata, "Steel's mistress Pearl," Sasuke then pointed at Lee, "My half-brother Kurt."
"I understand you want to buy?" Culvert asked.
"You're damn right I want to buy," Sasuke said as he stepped forward, "You got any older women?"
"Why?" Culvert asked.
"More experience," Sasuke said, "They know how to run a ship better."
"Might have something," Culvert said, "How about blondes?"
"Depends," Sasuke said, "Let's see her."
Culvert led Sasuke and his team into the back where Culvert's men brought the blonde women out of their cells dressed in only their bras and a mini-skirt, Naruto's goggles scanned every last one of them, and then came across the sixth in line, and whispered to Sasuke, "Have them pull number six's head up."
"What can you tell me about number six?" Sasuke asked.
Culvert grabbed the woman by the hair, and yanked her upwards to face Sasuke, "This one I think you'll find quite the cougar," he said, "We found her floating around in some abandoned Amarr ship."
Naruto's glasses made a positive identification, and then walked up to Sasuke, "Identity confirmed," Naruto whispered, "That's her."
"Tell me Culvert," Sasuke said as he walked up to Tsunade, knelt down, and raised her chin to look into her eyes, "Where'd you really find these Minmatar soldiers," Sasuke gave Tsunade a small wink, he then stood up, kicked Culvert in the throat, sending him stumbling backwards.
Sasuke then drew his HK-2, and fired one round into the ceiling, "GALLENTE FEDERAL DEFENSE UNION! EVERYONE ON THE FLOOR!"
Naruto then drew his Templar scrambler pistol, and took out two of Culvert's guards' knees.
Sakura threw her knee into the third guard's groin, reached into her skirt, pulled out her Templar pistol, and held it in the guard's face
Hinata stomped on the forth guard's foot, elbowed him in the throat, kneed him in the gut, bringing him to his knees, she then drew her own Templar, and pointed it at the guard.
Lee spun-kicked the fifth guard across the face, and drew his own Templar.
"You alright Lady Tsunade," Sasuke asked as he walked over to Tsunade, and cut her loose with his 'Blackprey' Nova knife.
"A Gallente soldier here to save us," Tsunade said as she stood to her feet, "Now I've seen it all."
Naruto then forced Culvert and his men, at gun point to remove their boots, and enter a single prison cell.
Hinata and Sakura then freed the remaining Minmatar soldiers.
"Is that all," Sasuke asked as he sealed the cell Naruto forced Culvert and his men into.
"That's everyone," Sakura said, "We've sealed the remainder of Culvert's men inside the cockpit."
"Good," Sasuke said, "Let's get out of here!"
As Sasuke was ushering the Minmatar soldiers into the air-lock leading into the ship, Sasuke felt his communicator going off, "Go ahead," Sasuke said as he tapped the communicator attached to his wrist.
"Sasuke you better hurry up," Shino said, "The pirates in the cockpit are charging their port torch-cannons."
"Fuck," Sasuke said, "Naruto, Sakura! Get aboard the Venture, and start up engines, we need to get out of here!"
Naruto and Sakura ran into the air-lock followed by the last of the Minmatar, Sasuke, Lee, and Hinata.
Once Hinata was aboard, a single bullet bounced off the wall, and missed Sasuke by an inch, Sasuke turned around, and saw that Culvert and his men had broken free.
Sasuke pulled a grenade, popped the pin, and threw it as hard as he could toward Culvert, it landed just an inch from his foot, Culvert and his men dove to the side, giving Sasuke enough time to run into the Relevance, and shut the door just in time to fire a few shots at some of Culvert's men that got up in time to shoot.
Sasuke then ran into the bridge, and took his seat in the captain's chair, "Naruto, release docking-clamp and get us the fuck out of here," Sasuke exclaimed as he grabbed onto the back of the seat.
Naruto hit the docking-clamp button, and the ship jolted sideways, and the ship took off.
"Their weapons are fully charged!" Shino exclaimed.
"Evasive maneuvers," Sasuke exclaimed, "Lee, input the coordinates for Matar!"
"On it!" Lee exclaimed.
"Weapons still charging!" Shino exclaimed.
The Relevance fired five shots, four missed, and one struck the Venture on the side.
The Venture shook, "DAMAGE REPORT!" Sasuke shouted.
"Shields took direct hit," Shino exclaimed, "Their weapons certainly aren't sub-par Lieutenant we lost twenty percent of the shields!"
"Fire when ready!" Sasuke exclaimed.
Shino aimed the cannons, and fired, the Relevance took six direct hit, the first four took out the shields, and the last two hit the Relevance directly in the side, taking out three of the cannons, "Direct hits Lieutenant," Shino said as he continued typing away at the computer.
"Status of the Relevance!" Sasuke exclaimed.
"Their shields are down Lieutenant," Shino said, "They lost three cannons!"
"How much charge we got left?" Sasuke asked.
"Not enough sir!" Shino exclaimed.
"Sasuke," Naruto exclaimed, "I'm picking up another ship dropping out of hyper-speed!"
The ship that dropped out of hyper-speed was the Minmatar Vargur-class Marauder Battleship the Dakelh.
"That's a damn Minmatar Battleship!" Hinata exclaimed.
"What's that doing here?!" Sasuke exclaimed.
"To help us," Tsunade said as she entered, wearing Sakura's jacket.
"Good to see you recovering from your emotional experience," Sasuke said, "What that ship really doing here?"
"To get us out of here," Tsunade said, "I wasn't sure you could handle this."
"Thanks for the confidence," Sasuke said as the Dakelh fired at the Relevance, showering it in lasers, and destroying it completely.
"The Relevance has been destroyed Sasuke," Shino said, "No survivors."
"Beside the point," Sasuke said as he stood up, and walked over to Tsunade, "Now to make a proper introduction," Sasuke held out his hand, "I am Guardian Lieutenant Sasuke Uchiha, Lieutenant General Kakashi Hatake sent us to rescue you."
"Pleasure," Tsunade said as she shook Sasuke's hand, "Remind me to thank this Lieutenant General Hatake the next time I see him."
"Sasuke," Hinata said, "The Dakelh is hailing us."
"Open a channel," Sasuke said as he walked around to stand in front of his chair, "This is Sasuke Uchiha, commanding officer of the Gallente ship Venture."
"This is the Matar Colonel Alomar, captain of the Minmatar ship Dakelh." Alomar said.
"I know who you are Alomar," Sasuke said, "Your exploits against the Blood Raiders and the Amarr are legendary sir."
"We've been asked by the Minmatar Tribal Chief to escort you back to Matar," Alomar said, "Please throttle back your engines so we can dock," the channel cut
"You trust these guys?" Sasuke asked.
"No really," Tsunade said, "He's unstable, but he's still a well-respected and highly decorated member of the Minmatar Tribal Liberation Force."
"Shino," Sasuke said, "Scan the ship, do you pick up just Minmatar signatures?"
"Standby," Shino said as he entered a few commands into his console, a few seconds later, Shino's answer came back, "Scans just came back. It's confirmed Sasuke, the only readings coming from that ship are coming from Minmatar Tribal Liberation Force soldiers."
"You can scan our ships' life form readings," Tsunade said, "How?"
"Experimental scanning software," Sasuke said, "One of the many things we can bring to our little alliance."
"Indeed." Tsunade said.
"Naruto, begin docking procedure," Sasuke said as he looked back at the Rocky.
"Got that." Naruto said.
As the Venture began docking with Dakelh, the Minmatar soldiers walked up to the bridge, and watched as a symbol for their people docked with a Gallente ship.
Sasuke and his crew joined the Minmatar soldiers in the air-lock, when the doors opened, a hulking six-foot-seven African-Minmatarian male with a burn mark that covered half his face stood on the other side of the air-lock wearing a dropsuit with no helmet, and a necklace with large teeth hanging off them hanging around his neck.
"Alomar," Sasuke said as he walked up to the large man.
"Mr. Uchiha," Alomar said as he gave Sasuke a small salute, "Welcome aboard the Dakelh."
"To Matar?" Sasuke asked.
"To Matar," Alomar said as Sasuke, his crew, Tsunade, and Alomar walked up to the bridge, and watched as the Dakelh jumped into hyper-speed.
For Matar and the new alliance…