"Oh go work for Argos its a good way to earn some extra creds, just point lasers at rock." I grumbled to myself as I made my way farther into the cave Lin had just sent me down. I had been volunteered for her and Heller's little mystery hunt after Lin overheard me talking with Isabella about wanting some extra pay. The regular pay wasn't too bad but I needed to pay my monthly dues to Galbank and I was broke after my parents had got in a bind and needed help. "Hey, how far back is this thing supposed to be?" I radioed back as I started to descend slightly.
"Uh you should be almost at it." Heller said as he probably watched my progress from his data slate.
"Just be careful Dusty get the Object and come back." Lin said helpful.
"Yeah I got it ... .wait I see something but it's covered in crystals it looks like a chunk of tungsten I think."
"Yes, that's how Barrett described it, mine the crystals away and grab it."
"Copy that." I said un-slinging my mining laser and waited just a moment for it to fully focus and started to chip away the crystals I stopped right before it could fall free making sure I didn't damage it by accident. Slinging my laser back around my back I went to reach for the object, right before I could touch it I hesitated. It almost felt like there was an aura of sorts coming off it, quickly shaking off the feeling I grabbed it and went to pull it out when everything went black. After I grabbed it I could see thousands of stars and galaxies flying past me as I heard what sounded like a choir until finally there was a bright light.
"Hey Lin, LIN! he's waking up."
"Ah shit Dusty you gave us a scare." Lin said as I slowly blinked the spots out of my vision and started to sit up.
"Easy there, do you remember where you are, your name, what your previous occupation was." Heller asked, poking on his slate.
"Uh yeah I'm on some god forsaken rock mining for Argos, my name is Nick Wood, and I served in the UC as a ground pounder." I answered rubbing the faded scar that ran from my right cheek across my nose.
"Yup that all checks out if he's got any head damage it's not noticable."
"Good so Dusty what happened we heard your laser then after a couple of moments the gravity spiked and we couldn't get a hold of you, normally it takes a lot to lay you grunts out like that."
"I'm not sure I grabbed that thing and then there was music and lights, what the hell did I grab?"
"I'm not sure myself but it won't be our problem once Barrett gets here-." She was cut off as the incoming ship alert sounded. "And that should be him, grab your helmet Dusty your coming with."
Getting off the med-bed I grabbed my helmet and followed after Lin and Heller as they made their way to the air-lock. I tuned out there normal back and forth as I secured my helmet and waited for the air-lock to cycle. As we walked to the landing pads I looked around seeing a couple of others working on the old mech that had broken down on day one of the dig. About halfway there I heard the familiar sound of a ship breaking through the atmosphere, I looked up watching as a rather old model ship descended and touched down. Motioning for me to follow Lin made toward the ship while Heller hung back.
"Liiinnnn how are you? It's been forever." The man I assumed was Barrett walked from the ramp as a heavily modified robot followed behind him.
"Oh no this thing has been a pain in my neck. It did something to my Dusty over there so I hope you can take this thing, pay us and leave."
"Oh Lin i've missed you too." he said, turning to me. "So I hear you went on a trip?"
"That's one way to describe it."
"That good huh?"
Before we could continue his robot cut in. "Captain the Frontiers scanners have detected a ship entering the atmosphere."
"Aw man I thought I lost those guys."
Turning to Barrett so fast I thought she would get whiplash Lin asked. "Lost who Barrett?"
"Um the Crimson Fleet." He answered sheepishly.
"God damn it Barrett." she said, running back to the building shouting out orders.
I went to follow when Heller stopped me and handed me an Eon and a couple of mags. "Here I know you know how to use one so get ready."
Seeing the ship starting to land at the other side of the complex I ran over and slid behind some crates that were facing the now slowly opening ramp of the ship. Noticing a bottle of propane sitting next to me I went to throw it away from me when I got an Idea. Grabbing it with one hand I tossed toward where the ramp would end when it fully opened and brought up the sights of my Eon and waited. The second the ramp was fully down three pirates rushed out with axes intinding on rushing the closest miners, they never got the chance to though as once they hit the ground I fired at the tank and sent it and the three ax holders up in flames.
"Shit Kill them all." one of the others cried out letting out a burst of gunfire from his Malesorm causing me to duck down to avoid a face full of lead.
"Shit!" I cursed to myself feeling some of the crate fragments bounce off the visor of my helmet. Taking a deep breath I peeked over the crate and fired off three more shots nailing one in the helmet dropping him instantly and just barely grazing anothers pack causing them to leap behind some containers to my right. Repeating myself by ducking down and popping back up I saw two of them lining up on a miner. Not having the time to properly aim I let off six shots that took one out and I let off two more shots before the gun clicked empty and I had to duck back down to reload.
Noticing me reloading, the last two decided to ignore the others using their mining lasers and went to try and rush me. "Lets get that asshole he's reloading."
I had just racked the slide back when the first one leaped over the crate and made to swing a UC Cutlass at me. Blocking his swing with the reinforced bar on the arm of my mining suit I shoved him back causing him to stumble and fall back letting Lin get a shot on him just as number two came around the corner of the containers to my right slightly rushing my shot I unfortunately missed and hit his pack. Fortunately his pack was already damaged from the first time I hit it causing it to explode letting the fight come to an end.
"Yeah that's the way to go dude." one of the miners shouted as I reloaded to be safe watching the ship run away since its fighters were dead.
As everyone else started taking care of the wounded and I saw Lin and Barrett start to have a very animated discussion I noticed one of the Pirates had a rather large storage pack. Walking over to it and opening it I found Two med-kits, Five standard Maelstrom mags, some credsticks ,and some loose 7.77mm rounds. Nodding to myself I closed the bag and attached it to one of the supply clips on my mining suit. And as I started back toward Lin I stopped to grab one of the Maelstroms and a combat knife one of them had dropped, sliding the knife in the bag and carrying the rifle, deciding to make a sling later.
"Dusty come here." Lin called looking irritated.
Jogging over I said "Yeah what's up?"
"After making some good points and making a deal you are going to deliver this artifact to Constellation."
"What?" I asked, not quite understanding what she was saying.
"Look we don't know exactly what it did to you if anyone would know Constellation would, so you're going to Jemmison while Barrett stays here and helps us pack."
"Yup your part of something bigger now Kid." Barrett adds on unhelpfully.
"But what about my job I kinda need the pay?"
"You'll still get your full pay and I'll push for a bit extra for you, but now that the Fleet has hit once there will be more so this place is a wash now."
"Fuck, allright, are you sure this ship can get there in one piece." I said, eyeing the Frontier.
"Ah she'll get you there alright but you'll need this." Barrett said, handing me a fancy watch. Once I had it on I noticed it showed the current info for the planet including the gravity and oxygen content of the atmo. "Good it fits you just fine, that's how you'll get into the lodge."
Just as I went to make my way up the ramp to the Frontier I heard Heller holler out to me. "Hey here you might want this." He said tossing me my duffle bag that had all my personal effects.
"Thanks man." I said and turned to finally climb up the ladder into the ship. Once onboard it was a pretty cozy interior with a table and a bed but it was also a mess with chunk packages thrown around everywhere. Tucking my duffle and the storage pack I liberated in one of the mesh nets on the wall, I made my way to the pilot's seat where I put my Maelstrom and Eon In the built-in storage of the seat and sat down. Looking around I stopped for a second and looked at the controls. It had been a minute since I last flew but it quickly came back to me as I flipped through the startup procedure, and watched as all the diagnostics came up green.
"Captain Wood I have the shields, the rest is up to you, we are also ready to leave at your choosing." the robot I had learned was called Vasco said over the ship coms.
Taking a deep breath I said. "Alright Vasco, we're taking off now." pulling us off the ground and angling us toward the dark void of space and pushed the throttle to full. "Let's do this."