Pirate Hunter, Part 1

Life started out simple enough. I was just a farmhand on a small agricultural world on the edge of the Galaxy. Rubicum was its name, and it was pretty much left alone. Rare was the visit from a trader or even a pirate. It was one of these rare visits that my life was forever changed, never to be simple again.

Probably the only thing I really remember about my prior life, is how it ended and my new one began. We had a good year that year, and my share owner brought me along to Spaceport City with him to sell of our extra goods. Being an agricultural world we did not have much in the way of technology, especially offworld technology.

What little tech we did have, was kept by the government in Spaceport City to keep abreast of what was going on in the galaxy. Being a communal government, they distributed what they pleased, which was usually just enough to keep the populous happy.

There were also no real cities except for Spaceport City. The entire planet was divided and subdivided by the government, then disbursed among the population with each person having an equal share. We were required to give the government a set amount of produce each year, which was then distributed out among the citizens.

Whatever we had over that amount was ours to do what we would. My share owner, Jameson, typical went to Spaceport City and sold or traded it there. This particular year the harvest was especially good. Seeing as I was the one who came up with the crop plan that had us so successful, Jameson brought me along with him to trade our excess for some offworld tech.

It was my first time in Spaceport City and to be honest, it was a little frightening. Its size was immense, and there were people everywhere. It was the exact opposite of the open country of our subplot. Most of the city was located indoors. You could go days, even weeks without seeing daylight.

The mixture of people was exotic, varying in attitudes as well as looks. There was everything you could imagine available. Even on our remote planet. It made me wonder what could be found on other, bigger planets. You could get anything for a price and for everything there was a price.

WE had left our goods in the cargo bays of the Flea, but somehow they were there at the main spaceport when we arrived. The spaceport itself was not quite the bustle of activity the rest of the city was. There were mostly travelers coming and going, or an official of some sort arriving or leaving. Once in a while a trader would show up for some business or a pirate for some supplies. The latter is what showed up that day, and it was not just supplies they wanted.

The showed up in a Mosquito, which I later learned was a relatively small ship. It was however, quite effective, and in the right hands, deadly. It was especially so against or defenseless city.

***

I do not remember much of the actual attack. There was a large explosion at the shipyard next store (which I later found out was a deliberate hit on the fuel farm), which knocked all of us off our feet. Next thing I remember, I was in a cargo bay with a bunch of other people. None of which knew why we were here, or what was going on.

It was at least a day before anybody even came in, and all he did was grab one of us and leave. He brought him back some hours later, bruised and beaten. The next day someone else was taken and brought back the same way. Apparently our captors took pleasure in the random beating of their captives. We all got together and planned to take our own captive when he arrived the next day, but that night things changed yet again.

That night we all awoke to loud noises seeming to come from outside the ship, accompanied by some pretty violent shaking. Suddenly the door opened and another of our captors started firing wildly into our group. Most of them fell immediately. Two of us were able to subdue the pirate and render him unconscious. Not knowing what to do, I followed my partner out of the bay and throughout the corridors of the ship. He led me to an escape pod, which we launched just before the Mosquito exploded.

Once we were clear, I saw the largest thing I had ever seen in my entire life. It was a Wasp, a fierce ship with heavy weapons and heavy armor. They pulled our little pod into their ship. They met us with armed weapons, but we relayed our story of the attack on my planet and our subsequent capture.

They believed and took us to meet the captain. It turned out they were pirate hunters. The captain listened to our story, and offered to take us to the nearest planet and let us off. The other captive accepted the offer, but my not knowing anything beyond my little subplot on Rubicum asked if I could be returned there.

He agreed, and after we dropped of my escape partner we set course for my home. Along the way, I had the opportunity to sit and talk with the Captain. Saisek was his name, and he took a liking to me. He taught me a little bit of piloting, and it turned out I had quite a knack for it. I also enjoyed it quite a bit.

He offered to keep me on his crew, and I accepted. Somewhere along the way, I made a decision. I decided that someday I would have a ship like this one, and I would use it to hunt pirates from one end of the galaxy to the next.

***

The Gnat fell out of subspace and joined the rest of the traffic inbound for the Sigma system. It was a short, stubby ship and did not hold much in the way of crew or cargo, but it was cheap to operate, making it a good ship to earn a profit with. It passed a myriad of other ships, mostly traders with a police ship to be seen here or there. They all ignored the ship as it called to control.

"Sigma Control, this is Gnat 07, request clearance to enter Sigma space, over."

"Gnat 07, this is Sigma Control, roger, what is your destination, over."

"This is Gnat 07, I am heading to Let Tet orbital station, over.

"This is Sigma control, roger, we hold you on track, you are clear for landing at LTOS, have a good stay, out."

The ship glided though the magcon field and landed gracefully on the proper spot. The hatch opened and out stepped a man with sandy hair. He had dark eyes and was simply dressed, but had the looks of a man not to be trifled with.

When he stepped out, he was met by an older man. The was color long gone from his hair, his face weathered by years of experience but showing warm congeniality none the less. "Tridon! How are you, my friend?"

"Jasten? What are you doing here?" he asked with a smile.

"I heard Saisek retired and you were on your own -" He looked at the Gnat, "Is this all he had for you? The man's got enough money to buy his own moon and all he gives you is a Gnat? What does that thing have, a pulse laser?"

"Not even," Tridon cringed a bit. "I know, it's not much, but it is more than I had a year ago. I'll make enough to trade up in no time."

"No weapons?? Good thing you can fly, kid. Saisek must be getting cheap in his old age," Jasten retorted with a laugh.

"He don't even make it up to cheap." Tridon laughed. "I bought this with what I had saved from my pay since Saisek first picked me up. I skimped on the weapon so I would have more to start out with. I can outfly an trouble that comes my way for now."

"I'd recommend getting something with a shield soon, a few hits and that baby's gone. You're a good pilot, but nobody can out run a laser for ever." He cautioned, then smiled again, "Come on, I'll show ya 'round." Jasten put his arm around Tridon and led him out of the bay.

***

Halfway across the galaxy, in a dark corner of a dimly lit café two figures sat trying to fade into the seats.

"...I'm tellin' ya, Saisek's outta the game, fat dumb an' happy on some moon he's got." The first was saying.

"It's not Saisek I'm worryin' about, it's that spawn of his." The second replied.

"Tridon? That guy's just a kid! From some backwards world on the edge. He ain't no threat. Heck, I hear all he's got is a Gnat!"

"Fool! That "kid" is a darn good pilot, an' he's smart too! I bet he's got himself a Grasshopper within a year, an' a Wasp not long after that. Don't underestimate him, he could quickly become a problem."

"Then we take him out before that happens."

"It ain’t gonna be that easy. He’s a smart fella, I bet he lays low until he’s got something he can bite back with. Besides, the galaxy’s a big place, and Tridon is not even known yet. Once he starts making waves, we’ll know, then we ambush him. He’ll never know what hit him!"

The first of the pair smiled and nodded, "So it’s like I said, we ain’t got nothin’ to worry about. We’re gonna take back our corner of the galaxy, and no upstart is gonna stop us."

***

"HEY! Be careful with that!"

Jasten was roaring with laughter, "I’m telling ya kid, you need to load your own cargo. Heck, I would be surprised if that even WAS your cargo!"

Tridon paid little attention, he was busy making sure his goods were properly loaded and stowed. When it all was secure, and he got ready to leave, Jasten was full of last minute advice.

"Get an escape pod as soon as you can, and make sure you get that thing insured, stay away from the pirate infested systems..."

"Jasten-"

"...Stay clear of contraband, you want to keep your record clean-"

"Jasten! I got it. I'm not the same farm boy you picked up a few years ago. I know how to survive out here, ok?"

"Sure, kid, just be careful is all I’m saying. If you need anything, ANYthing, just look me up."

"I will, I got it, you can relax. Next time you see me, I will be in a Hornet."

The pair shook hands, and Tridon climbed into his Gnat. He started his ignition sequence and called to control, "Sigma control, this is Gnat 07, request clearance for outbound traffic, over."

"Gnat 07, you are clear for outbound in the gamma lane, out."

Jasten watched the Gnat lift off and head out through the magcon field. Though he did not say it, he was sure Tridon was going to be instrumental somehow in things to come.