The Way of Things
…
Late in the 21st century, mankind left the cradle of Earth, migrating to the stars. They took with them dreams of a better tomorrow, settling dozens of worlds. While teeming with plant and animal life, humanity found itself alone among the stars. Those systems were dubbed the ‘Colonial Core’, or simply the ‘Cores’. Two hundred years later, guided by Earth, the Cores came into their own. Together they ushered in scientific and technological miracles.
After that, they set fire to the galaxy.
The Cores War raged for ten years. It engulfed the twelve colonial Core regions of deep space in blood until the fighting came to a tenuous end. Humanity had fallen from its zenith, with most of its scientific achievements lost to the ravages of war. Some, like starships, survived but were harder to produce in the post-war era.
Now, fifteen years later, some Cores are ruled by militaristic regimes, others by dictatorships or organized crime, and still others by shaky presidencies. Many inhabitants, looking to leave their past behind, make their post-war living as ‘vessel extractors’. Otherwise known with derision among the Cores as SCRAPJACKS.
Scrapjacks skate the line between piracy and legitimacy. They navigate unstable colonies rife with underhanded business practices and corrupt government officials. Trying to repossess or salvage illegally seized freighters, decommissioned military ships or other craft can prove dangerous. But scrapjacks are well-entrenched in the seedy underside of colonial life, willing to use inventive or questionable tactics to solve the problem at hand. They are paid well, considered indispensable by some, and free to move through the Cores with relative anonymity. Clients go to great lengths to guard their ‘jacks identities against those who fall victim to a scrapjack’s “ship liberation”.
But a scrapjack’s work sometimes causes more trouble than even a few million cred - and a little luck - can fix.
Out to the Black
Captain Mao Tanner with his new hired crew set out on a mission to track down and bring back a long lost exploration ship. A 900 ton Odyssey Class called the Argo. It’s a “bread and butter” job. Get the ship and tow her back to Calim Station for the client to take ownership. Nothing easier.
That was easier said that done.
A Knack For Trouble
Now, the crew of the Calypso have a bucket-load of passengers, not all of them organic, and a mission of mercy on their hands.
Behind them is the derelict ship, Argo, now blown to bits, along with possibly an angry patron who wanted the ship.
This is not to mention the Plantagenet Syndicate, which was using the Argo for some… less than legal personal projects… that are now so much space dust thanks to the scrapjacks of the Calypso.
Ahead? There lies a new system. Uncharted and not known to the public, but absolutely “off the books”, since its being strip mined by one Tellmark Labs.
Much to the dismay of what may be the first non-human, organic, species ever encountered.
Maybe.
After all, things are never straightforward out in the black. Usually they are a bit sideways.
Hosted and narrated by:
Christopher Ash (Kummer_Wolfe)
Started 05/02/21.
Scenes played: 5
License: Community License
