Futuristic Stellar Rogues: A Tale Of The Golden Age of Space Piracy (IC)

[Jackson123]

Battleship Eclipse emerged from the inky darkness of the asteroid belt, its massive silhouette slowly materializing as it approached the Republic of Space Pirates, an asteroid stronghold of space piracy. Glinting in the distant starlight, the ship's intimidating dreadnought design and formidable arsenal spoke volumes of its power and capabilities. The imposing figure of the Eclipse loomed, its massive form casting an ominous shadow over the surrounding asteroids, dwarfed by its sheer magnitude.

Eclipse, the jewel of the Republic's confederacy of pirates, was a behemoth of the void. Its ebony hull stretched a staggering 800 meters in length, adorned with scorch marks as battle-worn badges of honor, spoke of countless engagements and the resilience of its crew. Autonomous repair drones buzzed around the vessel's exterior, expertly patching up battle scars and restoring its formidable appearance. Towering superstructures and bristling weapon emplacements adorned its surface, a testament to its fearsome capabilities.

A trio of massive fusion reactors hummed with contained power deep within the ship's core, their steady output of ten terawatts fueling the vessel's formidable systems. The HT-7X Hyperstellar Thrusters, a fusion of Hyperion-Ion-XR2 Ion Thrusters and Quantum-Plasma-AM3 Antimatter Engines, adorned the rear of the ship, providing unparalleled speed and maneuverability in the unforgiving vacuum of space.

The crew members at their stations diligently monitored the ship's systems, ensuring a smooth return to port. VICTORIA, the ship's integrated AI, provided real-time updates and tactical assessments, its holographic interface flickering with data.

As the Eclipse drew nearer to its destination, the thrusters hummed with power, effortlessly maneuvering the massive vessel. The HT-7X Hyperstellar Thrusters propelled the battleship with precision, allowing it to glide through the asteroid field with graceful ease. The crew felt the faint hum of the FRR-9000 Stellarcore Advanced Fusion Reactors, providing the ship's immense power supply, resonating through the hull.

Within the sensor array, the Nova-Sensor-MKVI hummed with activity, scanning the surrounding space. The comprehensive suite detected electromagnetic signatures, quantum entanglement fluctuations, gravitational anomalies, and even tachyon disturbances. It provided the crew with vital information, allowing them to assess potential threats and identify celestial objects of interest.

"Roost Approach, this is the Eclipse, coordinates Alpha-7-4-2-1, returning from a successful raid on O'Neill Cylinder Echo-9. Over."

"Eclipse, this is Roost STC. Acknowledged. Transmit your identification code, current position, and intention, over."

"Roost, Eclipse. Identification code is Sierra-Papa-Bravo-Echo, position is 0-5-7 mark 3-2-1 relative to Roost, and our intention is to land at docking bay Charlie-9 for resupply and repairs. Over."

"Eclipse, Sierra-Papa-Bravo-Echo confirmed. Maintain standard approach vectors and report established localiser Charlie-9. Expect traffic congestion due to high activity levels. Maintain a minimum separation distance of 1000 feet from other vessels during final approach."

"Roost, understood. Maintaining approach vectors. report established localiser Charlie-9. Will maintain a minimum separation distance of 1000 feet during final approach. Thank you. Eclipse, established localiser."

"Eclipse, cleared ILS approach Docking Bay Charlie-9. Be advised of restricted airspace near docking bay Alpha-3. Maintain a safe distance and await further instructions from traffic control upon arrival."

"Understood, Roost. Restricted airspace near docking bay Alpha-3 noted. We will maintain a safe distance and await further instructions. Eclipse out."

From the depths of the mainframe room, a voice resonated throughout the ship. It was the authoritative yet melodic tone of VICTORIA, addressing the crew through the ship-wide PA system. "We are approaching Blackbeard's Roost, expect to land in Docking Bay Charlie-9 approximately fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. Enjoy your well-deserved rest and recuperation. The cosmic seas await our return."

 

[Good Imp-ression]

"Acknowledged." It was a simple, straightforward reply, yet it brought about a great deal of new information for the one who gave it. Fifteen minutes ahead of schedule meant that she had fifteen minutes less to see to the various needs of the crew, as she knew that the moment the ship was docked and VICTORIA unlocked the seals on the airlocks, at least half of her crew would depart the ship. Thus, her ministrations would need to be a bit faster, lest she allow someone to sneak off with an injury that might otherwise be easily treated. Her crewmates were a stubborn bunch at times; she knew that better than anyone.

One by one, Maddie ran a swift scan over each crew member's body, treating and bandaging whatever wounds she might find. Some had been lucky in the previous raid and gotten away virtually unscathed. Maddie herself had only received minor damage, which she'd managed to repair even before the ship had fully left the orbit of the colony. Even so, unlike herself, organic bodies had a terrible habit of becoming infected when a wound went untreated, and she had no intention of allowing one of her crew to suffer such a fate. Thus her swift ministrations, ultimately ending with her captain, Anansi Kelx Fontaine. Although the captain was in excellent physical condition, Maddie often noted a tendency within the woman to act irrationally, especially when it came to children. Thus, the good captain - and Maddie did consider her a good captain - was often the one to spend the longest amount of time beneath the robot's care.

"You are fortunate that most civilian colonies do not possess properly trained guard units, Captain," she chided, pulling down Anansi's top from behind to carefully tend to an energy burn on her back. "An experienced militant marksman would have most certainly left you with far worse than this burn." Though she wasn't exactly what one might call emotional, Maddie often took a stern tone when it came to the crew's injuries. After all, her ultimate goal in regards to their health was to be unnecessary; the less they were injured in the first place, the better for everyone. She cared about her crew; such was part of her programming and her place as a medical unit. She simply had a "tough love" approach to keeping them alive and well. Running a special gel over the captain's injury to help heal the burn itself, she stated, "However, I calculate a 93% chance that you will heal without issue from this within 48 standard hours or less. Assuming you do not allow someone else to shoot at you."

Sass was not a part of her original programming, but she'd picked it up from her time among pirates, and it had become one of her favored subroutines, often to the chagrin of those she spoke to.

 

[Marceline_idue]

There was a strange charm in the way she moved; like a ballerina in a dance. With precise movements she swept across the battle scene. Her eyes were fixed set on a little thing that lay there; unmoving. She was panicked. Maybe that was why she didn’t notice the solider that snuck towards her. Anansi hissed in pain as they struck her, a burning pain shot up her neck. As quick as a bolt she turned and a nanobomb flicked from her fingers. A slight smile grazed her features as she turned back to the child. With one swift movement she withdrew her pocket watch and clicked the button atop the clock. A flame overtook the shoulder that had harmed her. Though she could be less interested, for she had reached the child.

Anansi hoisted the little thing over her shoulder and ran back to cover. Leaving the tiny thing safe. She could finally breathe; surveying the area she looked among her crew. Well the ones whom called themselves her crew. For whatever reason or other they listened to what she said. They had a fair chance so she let them work; with a nod of approval. Taking another breath before withdrawing her blade and jumping back out to help.

Later she laid on the floor of her deck with the nurse model ( Good Imp-ression ) tending to her. Anansi had grown very fond of the little droid. It never failed to make her smile at least a little. She gave a snark little laugh then responded to the machines remark. “Aye, but thy weren’t eh?” Anansi didn’t really talk like that normally, but she took to it when she spent some time on another ship. It was a hard habit to break. The reluctant captain just laid there as the little thingy worked on her burn. She hummed a little tube as they worked. She laughed as she heard the machines quick remark along with the maths stuff. “Ah thought ye were a machine. When did tha put personality uno the?” Anansi joked with it, giving another little giggle at her joke.

She was familiar enough with the droid to know that was normal for them, but she couldn’t help at pointing it out. Once they finished Anansi stretched and stood. Giving a little smile and a pat to the droid. “Thanks Mads.” Anansi yawned and walked to the control room. She had to make sure the ship was in good condition. That had been a bit of a tougher fight. She’d have to check in with her crew too. Anansi nodded to herself at this thought and sat in a chair. Her hand stroking the console absent mindedly. “Hey Vicks.” She muttered her accent slipping a bit. With a clearing of her throat she smiled again and went to work checking the conditions of all the bits and bobs. Sure she didn’t understand it much, but she knew enough to tell they needed a bit of repair. She’d have to talk with Mumbi ( Two Fives ) to see what the extent was of course.

But that could wait until later; she had a drink that had her name on it. Anansi smiled to herself and stood. On her way back to the lounge.

 

[Two Fives]

Mumbi is--has already been--on it.

Mumbi Mwangi runs diagnostics, programmes... and checks, too. Considerably large checks. She sends this money halfway across the galaxy.

She gets a video call.

Mumbi mouths the words, "Family," and answers. The face of a black-bagged, liver-spotted elderly lady with rich, dewy skin and hard, skeletal features is thrown across a holographic display in whorls of pale cyan and matte white. Mumbi's hands rise and fall, twisting and turning, in sign languages. She knows many of these languages, as any deaf person would.

Although Mumbi is deaf, her gestures aren't silent. They're strong, controlled and hold this woman--the woman on the hologram--in high regard. Articulately signed colloquial terms reveal this woman to be her mother. They say their hellos, give thanks and say their goodbyes, then Mumbi gets back to work, including repairs and typing out a report that identifies old, faulty components of Eclipse that need replacements.

She uploads this report for everyone--Anansi, in particular--to see.

Marceline_idue

 

[ScatheAriiasqDrayceon]

In their eyes, the world was a busy, busy place. Like an ever-scrolling program, the bright lines that made up their vision were complex and linked in the most fundamental of ways. It was like reading a language they didn't understand for all the sense it made. Patterns and shapes in endless repetition, yet so complex they couldn't tell vertices from edge. Perhaps it was an exaggeration for the sake of themself, but Blackbeard's roost really was a bustling place... for pirate hubs, at least.

Or maybe it was just that the last time Asq had seen another face they'd been filching silver chord, and the voices and presence of others rubbed at their skin like sandpaper. Either way, they took comfort in the unchanging HUD embedded in their retinal display, the only source of movement in the blue hexagons being the temperature and speed values as they slipped between bodies like running water, fingers looped into the bands of their backpack. More of a travel pack, really, for all that it had been modified and messed with in all of their time spent on the move. Modified to keep the valuables securely wrapped in only their thickest of blankets and the valuables themselves secured to the back of the pack with the charging unit.

Still, being among people with sticky fingers made their skin itch despite the heavy assurance bearing down on their shoulders and making it very hard to walk like a normal person. It didn't matter, they supposed as a flash of text interaction and confirmation flickered across their HUD. Their target was here.

Silent as a ghost, they stalked their way to the docking bay, steps light and quick. It really was easy to tailgate their way through the doors, smiling at the poor sod that let them in with all the compassion of a piranha, and "No, sir I jus' got separated from my team 'n my cap'n has the docking card, 'y see." They were honestly a little surprised he let them pass.

Idiot.

A skip, and they vanished into the metal docking halls, checking their HUD again. The Eclipse would dock any minute, and they simply needed to... wait. Settled down on the cold floor, they slung their pack onto their knees, already elbow-deep in bedding and other such necessities as they tapped and searched for the telltale metal.

And just like that, Jet was set up in the docking hall Eclipse was set towards, flattened neatly to the ceiling and recording.

 

[Jackson123]

The Eclipse glided through the asteroid field, with VICTORIA help adjusting the ship's trajectory, aligning it with the docking bay's guidance systems. As the majestic vessel neared its destination, the docking bay loomed before them.

"Roost Tower, Eclipse, final Charlie-9."

"Eclipse, continue approach."

"Continue approach, Eclipse."

The ship's propulsion thrusters hummed. Slowly, gracefully, the Eclipse began its descent, guided by the invisible hands of gravitational control and piloted expertise.

"Eclipse, cleared to land, docking bay Charlie-9, solar wind 175 degrees-mark-2 at 270 knots"

"Cleared to land Charlie-9, Eclipse"

As the Eclipse drew nearer, its velocity gradually reduced. The battleship maneuvered into position with precise finesse. The docking bay bathed the surrounding space in a web of pulsating lights and shimmering energy fields. They beckoned the Eclipse, providing a visual pathway that led to the awaiting embrace of Docking Bay Charlie-9. The docking clamps extended, reaching out like mechanical arms to secure the vessel. A soft metallic click reverberated through the ship, signifying the completion of a successful docking. The battleship, now firmly attached to the docking bay, was embraced by the comforting embrace of Blackbeard's Roost.

"Eclipse, docking clamps confirmed. Welcome to Blackbeard's Roost."

With the docking process completed, the crew of the Eclipse prepares to disembark and begin their restocking and repairs within the bustling spaceport of Blackbeard's Roost.

The air-tight port-side gangway door of the Eclipse opened with a hissing sound, gangway extended to the bustling spaceport, connecting the ship to the intoxicating blend of excitement and possibility that hung in the atmosphere.

 

[Good Imp-ression]

With final docking procedures nearly complete and the crew preparing to disembark, Maddie made a point to complete a final inspection and inventory of her medbay's hold. Purchasing her own supplies was still such a novel concept. When she had been in the service of the military, all of her supplies had been issued at regular intervals. She rather appreciated the ability to set her own inventory parameters, though it was always a gamble as to whether she could find what she needed. Even here, the only supplies she could get were those someone had managed to steal and put up for purchase. Her inspection ended with a mechanical "tsk"; supplies were lower than she liked, even for a crew this small. She’d need to do some shopping.

When the all clear was given and VICTORIA completed the docking, Maddie made her way to the airlock. Activating her comm unit, she sent a message to the crew. For Mumbi, it would appear as a text message. For the rest, simply her voice. "Unit M4-D13 now departing the Eclipse. Objective: resupply. Please refrain from causing yourselves injuries until my return." Reporting her comings and goings wasn't strictly necessary, but it was an old protocol she never felt bothered to deactivate. Plus, she hoped knowing their diligent doctor wasn't around would help encourage the crew not to do anything too reckless.

She hoped, anyway.

Stepping down out of the Eclipse and descending the loading ramp, her sensors began taking in her surroundings. This was most certainly a pirate station: clean only to a point, people chattering about raids and rebellion, shifty eyes and sleights of hand... There was a certain energy to it all that made a person both excited and cautious at once, or so a previous crewmate had once told her. In her eyes, it was all just a mess. But it was one she could appreciate; anyone who disrupted the flow too greatly was always dealt with, often permanently. She could appreciate the efficiency, even if she found the loss of life distasteful. Still, as a machine and a doctor alike, she understood that sometimes a limb needed removing to save the body as a whole.

She also knew that pirate stations, especially one so active as Blackbeard's Roost, were filled with strange and often questionable beings. That was why, when her sensors detected a living humanoid waiting in the hangar that wasn't crew, it wasn’t outlandishly surprising, even if it did raise concerns. Turning to face them, she spotted the curious being just off to one side, a cautious distance from the Eclipse. Raising her right hand to her communicator, her left hand spins about to reveal the barrel of her pistol, pointed at the human across the way. "Unit M4-D13 reporting. There is an unknown person occupying our docking bay. Shall I neutralize them?"

 

[MackennaSchofield]

In the far corner of Blackbeard's Roost, amidst the bustling activity and constant hum of the pirate stronghold, stood a vibrant and spirited figure. With a sense of quiet determination, she positioned herself near the edge, where her gaze fixated on the colossal hull that was slowly manoeuvring into the docking bay. In the midst of chaos and frenzied movement, she remained still, her eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and anticipation. Countless ships have docked under her gaze, but she still managed to get herself excited seeing a new one dock. The satisfying sight of hulls docking captivated her every time, like pieces of a grand cosmic puzzle falling into place; And the sheer diversity of vessels that graced the pirate station never failed to captivate her imagination. As she stood there, silently observing the docking procedure, her youthful spirit seemed to ignite the very atmosphere around her, adding a touch of vibrancy to the otherwise rugged and weathered surroundings.

With a swift and practised motion, she drew her trusty sniper rifle up-close. Carefully, she brought the scope to her eye, adjusting it with precision, as her gaze fixating on the docking bay of the hangar. Through the enhanced lens, she observed a figure emerging from the loading ramp of the massive hull, confidently stepping into the pirate stronghold. As her gaze pierced through the scope, an intriguing sight unfolded. The lady, who had just stepped out of the loading ramp, stood her ground with steely determination, and suddenly pointed a barrel at a living humanoid figure. It was evident that she was defending herself from an unidentified entity, so naturally her curiosity drove her to keep watching behind the scope. Little did she know, the advanced radar system on the hull had already exposed her location.

 

[Rcticwolf]

Skar approached the door that lead to the ramp that allowed the crew to disembark the ship only to see the captain and a couple of her crew mates talking to a strange person. Skar left her rifle slung across her back and the hilt of her energy sword on her belt as she walked up behind the captain. “Is there a problem Cap’n?” Skar asked Marceline_idue

 

[Marceline_idue]

Anansi watched from the lounge windows as Blackbeard’s roost drew closer. The light filtered out like rivers from the body. She felt her body draw out in ease. As a person of stealth she found it much easier to be around a crowd; one could disappear so easily into it. Just be another background character. Just another pirate. No one important. She had no death defying mission; just survival. But that was everyone’s mission. To survive. To reach out to the stars and say “I win. You won’t take my atoms today.”

These thoughts circled around her mind as the ship docked into their place. Anansi shook them out and stood starting to make her way to the haul. The purple stone in her bracelet glowed. Anansi smiled, Mumbi never failed to do exactly as was expected. She just had to think about it and boom it’s done. She would check the reports in a bit. Anansi desperately needed a drink. The technical stuff could hold on until later.

Everything was going all according to the usual. The ship docks, the crew make their way out, little nurse calls in her absence. Like clock work. Anansi was walking at a slow pace so she was still a little ways from the docking bay when she heard Maddie’s report. It was like a fire flashed before her eyes. Unknown person? What could they want? Anansi took a moment to steel herself before responding. She tapped her bracelet to be heard my Maddie, “No, stay put. I’m on my way.” ( Good Imp-ression ) With that Anansi broke into a run. Only the worst of things sailing through her mind. It could be anyone. But she could only think one thing, “They found me.” But that couldn’t be it, could it? No, they would be a lot less obvious.

Anansi came rounding the corner like a bolt of fire. She came to a stop just behind Maddie. Her eyes took a moment to adjust to the new scenery, and it took her a moment to find this unknown person. In fact she spotted the one further away first. “Must be protection. As an extra precaution, smart of them.” ( MackennaSchofield ) She thought. Anansi found the other one next; the one currently being held at gunpoint. ( ScatheAriiasqDrayceon ) Her eyes scanned the figure up and down with distrust. They didn’t exactly look like a spy, but you could never be too careful. “Maddie stand down but be alert.” She muttered the the droid next to her. “So, what are you doing around these parts?” She asked the “unknown figure”.


(the darker the red the louder she says it, the lightest red it thought.)

 

[ScatheAriiasqDrayceon]

When their HUD split and showed Jet's surveillance view, signal secure and buzzing quietly under the noise of every other connected signal in existence, it took them a moment to actually understand what was happening. The two images tried to merge together, at first, blurring the lines between calm blue-green and the multichromatic world. To get them to part, they found it was like having to adjust a particularly finicky camera, such that they chose to ignore the voices behind them for longer than was socially acceptable just to fix their eyes. Eventually, they managed, HUD in one side of their vision and only slightly bleeding over to the other. They lost most of their clarity of the world, but that was fine it wasn't as if anything really important was—

Huh one of those pirate people was pointing a gun at them.

Their hands out to the side and easily visible, they turned on a heel as if friction simply didn't apply to them (bonus of having cut the striped pattern off the bottoms of their shoes for robot-insulation, they supposed). Their torso twisted only after their legs did, and their head followed at something at a sluggish pace, tilting back and forth before it settled with a slight tilt focused on the figures in front of them. They would have looked almost drunk, if it weren't for the clear coordination of their hands as they laced their fingers together.

Only then did Jet remind them they'd been spoken to (and about), and after a blink that lasted too long to look anything resembling normal, they spoke. "What a greeting." their voice was dry, monotone, almost, save for the slightest brush of intonation that spoke only of something like boredom, even as nerves fired hot under their skin. "Jesus—" and they blinked again, seemingly recalculating—"you're makin' me pray to a figure I don't believe in, now." Their nose wrinkled with something like amusement trailing at the smile that pulled at their lips. "I'm lookin' for my crew, if you must know—don't gotta shoot every poor sod that pokes their head into your docking bay; might start a fight." When their smile widened, it dripped of something slimy. Disingenuous, almost, but tucked neatly within layers of purpose and odd mannerisms that made it a hard read. Actually, most of them was a hard read, all things considered. As if they couldn't keep a straight face to save their life but nothing they emoted was of any consequence to them.

And sure, they could have poured on the acting a little better, but their eyes visibly didn't focus or track movement, and it's not like they were the important thing here. Asq just needed to keep them distracted long enough to not notice the odd stain on the roof when they left. Not part of the original plan, but hey, they were somewhat good at improvising.

Maybe.

Hm.

Maybe they should have made his camera markings more of a dull color, now that they thought about it.

"Coulda sworn they docked here yesterday." Which, true, the ship they had been on docked in this same place yesterday, and they slipped off without being noticed once everyone had left. They'd hardly consider that a crew, though, they couldn't find a rat in a barrel if the thing glowed neon green. They shrugged. "Must be wrong, though."