After our narrow escape from the Rebel fleet and helping out the stranded Engi, we were kinda just cruising through the galaxy, salvaging what we found laying around. That is until we jumped to this sector.
"Sir, that ship is hailing us", Victor said as I quit out of my game of Minecraft
"Everyone head to the bridge" I said as I left the weapons bay "Let's see what they want"
About a minute later, the five of us had assembled in on the bridge.
"Onscreen" I commanded. The video feed showed a human, but he didn't seem friendly. His face was scarred from combat, and he had a look in his eye that said he meant business.
"Greetings Captain" he said "I have a proposition for you"
"And what would that be?" I asked
"Surrender one of your crew and you will be allowed to pass through unhindered" he said with an evil smile
I had no intention of giving in to his demands.
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I will reduce your ship to slag" He replied, but then his expression changed
"I'll even give you five hundred credits for the pretty one in purple"
That does it
"If you want her, you go through me" I threatened
"Have it your way" he shrugged as he cut the transmission
"ALERT: teleporter signature detected" Grimlock reported as he swiveled 180 degrees on his frame.
In the reflection of the now inactive video screen, I could see three armed human pirates standing at the far side of the room, weapons raised. I spun around ready to fight, but my drone was way ahead of me. His arm-mounted kinetic rifles fired off three rounds each, cutting clean through the invaders
"All targets neutralized" Reported the warbot
"That's how it's done" I celebrated "Dash..."
"Time for some payback?" the pilot offered
"You read my mind, get ready for action" we all returned to our stations as Dash evaded the now active weapons of the slave ship. I activated our own weapons and prepared for battle.
"Alright, now we need to disable that ship without destroying it"
"What? Why?" I heard Dash ask "Let's just waste this sucker"
"Because, if they wanted to make one of us a slave, then they may have more onboard" Spike pointed out
"And we can't risk hurting those innocents" Twilight added
Spike forwarded a schematic of the ship, an old Kestrel Cruiser, I could now see just what we needed to hit to disable the ship.
"Ok, first target is the engines" I said as I primed the beam laser turret "We wouldn't want them to run away"
I moved some of the augmented reality panels around until I found the targeting system. I set the target over the ship's main fuel tank, specifically the fuel lines, located on the aft section of the former Federation ship.
"Cutting the fuel lines now" I said as Dash flew us over the ship. The beam turret unleashed its energy slicing clean across the fuel feeds.
"I'm reading full engine failure, Captain" Spike said
BOOM
"Warning: Missile impact on noncritical subsystem hub" Grimlock reported
"I'm on it" Spike said as he left to fix the damage
Dash then jerked the ship sharply upwards.
"Dammit! Blades, anything you can do about that launcher?" she asked
"Gimme a minute" I replied as I brought up specs on the weapon. I found the weakness: as the weapon loads, it vents heat into space giving me a short window to blast the exposed munitions.
"I got it. Dash get us under that ship's bow: I need a clear shot"
"Careful of that laser cannon too" Twilight added "Our shields can stop it but they can't do that all day"
"Noted" Dash replied as she skillfully piloted the ship into position
"Right there" I said as I swiveled the burst laser into position. I had to bide my time until the vent opened
"What are you waiting for, an invitation?!" Dash exclaimed as she dodged the latest missile.
"I'd like one" I replied sarcastically. Then the vent opened. I fired, the two bolts streaked forward, one impacting uselessly on the hull, while the other hit dead center. The launcher erupted and fell apart, but it wasn't over. The blast flew back up into the ship, and judging from the sensor data Victor was giving me, had torched the weapons bay.
"...And boom goes the dynamite" I said in victory, compounded with the cheers of my shipmates.
"OK, all systems are offline" I said as I turned around and approached the armory "Time for step two"
"And that is?" Dash asked as I grabbed my choice of weapons: a straight-bladed machete-like sword, a set of kunai-style throwing knives and a Predator pistol.
"Simple, we go in and find out if there were any prisoners"
"All right, so let's go" Dash said as she docked the ships together
"Negative" Grimlock said "Only two combat specialists present"
"What!" she replied indignantly "Come on"
"Grimlock's right" Twilight said "And besides, we need you here just in case we need to make a quick exit"
"Fine" She said with a sigh "Have it your way"
"Next time Dash, I promise"
I met Grimlock at the forward airlock, ready to roll.
"Ready?" I asked the mech
"Affirmative"
The airlock closed behind us and sealed, then the doors opposite us hissed as they opened. On the other side, I could see why the ship was so easy to disable. As Grim and I entered the damaged ship, we could see that the craft was grossly under-maintained.
"This ship is in critical condition" Grimlock said
"I heard that. I'm surprised their isn't any duct tape holding it together" I agreed as I drew my pistol. I also hit the communicator mounted on my wrist.
"Spike, locate the most likely place for prisoner storage"
"Hmmm...Ah, there we go. Blades, try looking near the rear of the ship" the little Engi replied "That's where I'd keep a prisoner"
"OK, everyone remember that if Spike goes crazy" I said, garnering giggles from Twilight and Dash
"Oh har har, very funny" he replied sarcastically "You may also want to make it quick, I'm reading oxygen levels falling"
I took the hint and began making my way through the ship toward the rear. We passed through two sets of blast doors and arrived at the weapons bay. Every inch of the room was scorched from the missile that detonated in the tube. consoles were shattered, and I think there was a dead guy shredded up in the corner.
"Wow" I said "We really gutted this place, huh" I asked Grimlock
"Affirmative" he replied, but then stopped
"Captain, enemy detected" he reported
I drew my sword, ready to engage.
"Where?" I asked
"Outside the door, two targets; one immediate, one facing away"
I was ready. The door opened and the pirate nearby turned around
"Who the fuck are...?" he began but it was too late. In one motion, I sliced the sword across his throat, causing him to stumble back and fall over dead. His buddy stood up from repairing a power line (With duct tape), and upon seeing his friend now dead on the floor, drew his pistol and...
BANG
A shot rang out from behind me and the pirate dropped like a stone.
"Nice shot, Grim" I said
"Targeting error encountered" he said as his rifle retracted back into his arm "Reevaluation of targeting protocols necessary"
"Later, let's keep going. If Spike is right then the prisoner should be just ahead"
We made our way through the last part of the ship and the engine room with no trouble. Behind the engine room was a small cargo compartment retrofitted to hold prisoners. The room had cells along the walls where a single prisoner cold be contained behind a force field. At the far end of the room was a single active barrier that was keeping a Zoltan locked up. The Zoltan was curled up in the corner and bore an odd characteristic: it was a dark pink (No, it wasn't red, it was dark pink. Deal with it).
"Hey, you OK?" I asked as Grimlock examined the control pad. It stood up and looked back at me with its bright blue eyes. I always found the Zoltan race fascinating; after all, who wouldn't be interested in a race that is essentially a living reactor. This Zoltan, aside from it being pink, was also thinner and more feminine then most of the green Zoltan I had met
"Aside from the fact that I'm locked up in this place by a bunch of mean ol' meanie heads?" she replied in a squeaky voice "I'm fine"
"Well, don't worry, we're here to get you out" I assured her
"Let me see, I'd need to reroute power away the shield generator" Sparks said as she tried to shut down the shield "then I'd need to drain the..."
SMASH.
"Bypass complete" Grimlock said as the shield flickered and finally faded away
"...Or you could just punch the control panel" she said "that works too" I could imagine she was face-palming.
Then a siren went off and all the lights began to flash red.
"Self-Destruct system engaged" a computerized voice said "T-minus thirty seconds to reactor meltdown. All personnel report to escape pods for evacuation.
"Aaaand that's our cue to leave" I said "Grim, cover the rear. Dash, have the ship ready to leave"
We then bolted back through the ship, racing against the countdown. We passed a few other pirates, but they were to caught up with self preservation to care. We reached the airlock as the timer reached ten. The doors slammed shut and the other side opened to Requiem. Once onboard, our door sealed and the docking clamps released.
"Dash, get us out of here!"
The ship pulled away from the dying craft not a moment too soon. As soon as we cleared its radius, the pirate ship exploded into chunks.
"I think that went well" I said
"Thank you for saving me" the Zoltan said as I lead her to the weapons bay to meet the rest of my friends
"No problem" I said as we passed the last door "It's what we do"
"We?"
"Of course" I replied as I gestured to the people and Engi in the room
"Dashie?" The Zoltan said when she saw our pilot
"Pinkie?" replied the surprised pilot
"Dashie!" she cheered as she shot forward and wrapped Dash in a hug "Ohmygosh, I can't believe it's you, Dashie"
"It's nice to see you too, Pinks" Dash replied "But...I can't...breathe"
"Oh, sorry" Pinkie said as she released her death grip on Dash
"I take it you two know each other?" Twilight said
"Uh huh, me and Dashie are best friends"
"We go way back" Dash added "Here, let me introduce you"
After a quick intro, we all had one question.
"So, Pinkie, what will you do now?" I asked
"Um, I don't really know" she answered, her color becoming a bit darker "I don't really have a place to go"
"Hey, why don't we let her join us?" Dash offered, causing the Zoltan to light back up "Trust me, she will be a huge help"
I looked at Twi and Spike, who both nodded yes
"I don't see why not" I said "Welcome aboard Pinkie"
"Ohmygosh, this is going to be so AWESOME..."
She then seemed to morph into a small sphere and shoot across the room where she reformed back into normal form
"we'll have adventure and fight evil stuff..."
She changed again and shot off to a different part of the room
"And we'll make all kinds of friends and see so much cool stuff..."
She shot in front of me and immediately wrapped me in a bone-crushing hug
"Thankyouthankyouthankyou!"
This is going to be interesting