Lost and Found - A Night Shift Tale

 Alex  glances up from the dining table in the Praetorian Parlor with bloodshot eyes and a haggard look as Amiko and Mojax enter the room.  Smoke fills the air, and a large cigar dangles on Alex's lips, his weary gaze quickly returns to the holographic map on the table, a half empty bottle of whiskey sits near Alex's ash tray.

A screen at the far end of the room which typically shows Alex’s homeland now displays a repeating series of scenes.  The sound is muted, but a hooded man standing in front of the symbol of the Angel Cartel seems to be saying something important, and then the screen suddenly changes to a beautiful young brunette girl, her icy cold eyes betray her immense fear before cycling back to the hooded man.

Mojax’s brow raises as he sees Alex , “Alex? What's wrong?”

Amiko Ishquor looks towards the screen,” My goodness, Alex, how long have you been watching this?”

Alexander Audaci shakes his head, "My sister.....she vanished several years ago....I'd thought she had died."

Alexander Audaci points towards the screen, "And then I received this yesterday from the Angel Cartel."

Amiko Ishquor sits down, obviously discomforted.

Mojax Ven frowns, “Damn them.......”

Alexander nods and takes a long sip of whiskey straight from the bottle, "That man says I have to meet him in Curse and do some jobs for the Angels and in return......I might get her back."  Alex sighs before taking a long draw on his cigar gulping down another round of whiskey.

Amiko frowns sourly, "Might?"

 “Might…” replies Alex as he shakes his head.

Mojax, “Are you certain that is her? Not some pirate trick?”

Amiko leans back watching the smoke from Alex's cigar curl to the ceiling as he lets out a frustrated sigh.

Alex looks at Mojax with sad eyes, “They sent proof, I'm quite certain it is her.”

“What exactly are they asking of you, Alex,” asks Amiko, obviously skeptical of the ordeal, but she has a serious look of concern on her face.

Mojax Ven walks toward the flickering screen, and stares, saying nothing.

Alex watches Mojax move towards the video feed before focusing on the holographic map of the dreaded null-sec region known as Curse, “He says they've been watching me for some time...and that I now have the skills to take care of something they can't do themselves. I don't know the details.”

Amiko , “Typical criminals, vague.”

Disgusted, Mojax shakes her head, “Bastards...”

Alex slams his fist on the table and his voice booms with anger as it echoes around the parlor’s walls, "I swear on God, the Empress, and anything worth swearing on that I will kill every last one of them if they betray me."

Mojax moves a step closer to Alex,” What are your plans, Brother?”

“I’ve had my servants stage some ships in Sendaya, I plan to leave immediately and get this over with. She’s been gone long enough; I’m not about to waste more time while she rots in some forsaken cell.”

“On your own?” Mojax asks with a look of serious concern, her glance shifting between Alex and the half empty bottle of whiskey.

Alex takes one last long draw on the cigar before crushing it in the ash tray. He looks towards the ceiling and slowly blows a series of rings into the air. After letting out a long sigh he replies, “Yes.”

Mojax turns her gaze to Amiko with a raised brow, “Feel like taking a trip, Sister?”

“Well Alex, there is no way I am going to let you go to Senyada on your own,” Amiko says to Alex before glancing to Mojax with a slight grin, “Yes, I do feel like a change of scenery is order.”

Slowly shaking his head Alex replies, “I can't have you two risking ships and crewmen over a personal matter...its going to be dangerous and probably a trap."

As if working off some unseen que between them, Mojax takes a step towards Alex with a confident smile, “You need us to stay out of trouble” just as Amiko rounds the other side of the table and snatches the whiskey out of Alex’s hand.

Holding the bottle out of reach Amiko scold’s Alex, “And with all this you have had, it may be wise to bring us along.”

Alex frowns at the bottle in Amiko’s hand, saying nothing.

Ignoring Alex, Mojax’s eyes shift to Amiko, “So, when do we leave?

Alex glances down at the map one last time, quickly memorizing the route before turning his icy blue gaze to Amiko and then Mojax, "Now, ladies." He stumbles for a second trying to stand and takes a few steps towards the door  , "Ready?"

Mojax replies instantly, “Ready,” and Amiko smiles, “Of course.”

Somewhere in the Curse Region nearly 18 hours later

A Malediction flanked by two Retributions enter the docking pattern of an Angel Cartel station deep in a nameless null-sec system.  The scars of several battles stand out on the polished Amarrian hulls. 

“Lets get this over with,” Alex says to his wing mates before exiting the pod to wait for them in the hanger bay.  A few minutes later the three battle weary pilots meet near the station’s main access door in Praetorian flight uniforms with pistols on their hips.

Suddenly the access door opens to reveal several guards waiting on the other side.  One of them, apparently the leader, steps forward and says “Follow me,” before turning and heading down the long hall.  The three Praetorians fall into step behind him while the other guards follow close behind.  After a series of twists and turns and several hidden doors the group stops in front of a cold, black steel door with the Angel Cartel’s symbol emblazoned in silver.

All three Praetorians  move to enter the but leader of the guard puts out a hand to stop them before nodding to Alex, “Only him, you two wait here.” Alex steps through and turns back with a worried look. Amiko and Mojax respond with reassuring smiles just as the door slams shut between them.

Several long minutes pass by before the door swings open again.  Alex enters the hall frowning and finds his two corp mates leaning against the wall with an unusually calm demeanor.  He pauses for a second and gives them a curious look, “Tell me later, but for now lets get the hell out of here while we still can.”

Silently, the three friends rushed through the maze of hallways and make their back to the hanger before splitting up to board their ships. Ignoring orders from the station’s undock manager the three Praetorian ships rocketed out of the undock and aligned to the nearest stargate.

“What happened in there?” All three said at once.

After a moment of awkward silence Alex replied, his voice betraying mixed emotions, “My sister is safe, back in Mehkios…though I don’t think she will ever be the same again. All these years with the Angel’s…something terrible happened to her in there”

No one said anything for several more minutes as they made a jump into the next system.

Alex’s voice came across the comms again, “What happened to the guards in the hallway?”

“They were needed somewhere else, which was actually very convenient because I was able to find a few Cynabal blue prints in one of those offices we passed after they were…indisposed,” replied Mojax over the giggles of Amiko, who burst onto the comms with an excited voice.

“I didn’t want those bastards to get away with what they did to you, so I ordered my crew to take a look around the hanger.  I have a few extra domination target painters courtesy of the Angels. Maybe the proceeds could help get your sister the treatment she needs?”

Alex let out a hearty chuckle, easing the tension in the small fleet as they made the jump from Doril to Sendaya, “You two are amazing….lets go home, I need to see my Sister.”

Refining Fire

January YC 107 – Domain – Classified Imperial Army Outpost

A white mist fills the air as Alex exhales heavily.  Behind him, his 20-man platoon known as ‘Rock-hard’ tries to keep up.  Three feet of snow and a cold win push against them as they make their way up the 8 mile trek known as Agony Hill.  As one of the soldiers starts to fall behind Alex slows his pace and looks back towards his men.

“We finish this together, as one. No one falls behind!” He points to his best runner and then to the struggling soldier, “Help out your buddy.”

For weeks now, Alex had been pushing his men up the snowy mountain, forcing them into the best shape of their lives.  Everyone knew of the Blood Raider’s treacherous attack on Amarr, and it was only a matter of time before they were called up to deploy.   As they reached the summit 20 minutes later and everyone stopped to catch their breath Alex’s neocom started beeping loudly, catching everyone by surprise. Alexander’s raised brow turned into a sheepish grin as he read the message aloud.

“By order of Emperor Doriam II you are hereby summoned to report to Hanger 317A for immediate deployment.  You have two hours to secure your equipment and gather in the Assembly Area.”

July YC 107 – Bleak Lands Region – Sahtogas

Fully fitted in Imperial Army combat gear, 2^nd Lieutenant Audaci stands in the middle of his 20 man platoon as their drop ship prepares to hurtle towards the planet’s surface.  He is clearly younger than most of the men surrounding him, but his unusually calm demeanor suggests there’s a level of unseen maturity.  Slowly, his cold blue eyes move around the room, stopping momentarily on each Soldier.

“This is it, men.  This is our moment.  The hikes, the runs, the seemingly never-ending training exercises, now is the time to put everything we’ve been through and everything we’ve learned to use.  The Blood Raiders think they can poison our people and get away with it, they think they can hide down there where the Navy can’t go, but these bastards are about meet a Righteous end, and we’re here to make sure they do.  This shit isn’t going to be pretty, I guarantee you that, but remember our training, stick with the man on your right, and we’ll make it out alive.”

As the countdown light turns to yellow, a booming voice echoes through the ship’s hull, “Two Minutes to Launch.” Alex makes his way around the drop ship and checks the straps holding each soldier in place with a sharp tug.  At each stop he pauses, places a firm hand on his comrades shoulder and calmly whispers their motto, “Remember Agony.”

Just as the countdown light turned green Alex finished strapping himself in.  The drop ship shot downward, forcing the men into their harnesses while they raced towards the planet’s surface, and a calming female voice filled hull.

Face the enemy as a solid wall ¶ For faith is your armor ¶ And through it, the enemy

will find no breach ¶ Wrap your arms around the enemy ¶ For faith is your fire ¶ And with it, burn away his evil — Amarr Askura, 10:3

Abruptly, the drop ship struck the ground with tremendous force and the harnesses holding the men in place automatically released. Some threw up, most dropped to their knees, but when Alex ordered “Stand to!” they instantly formed up on the door.  Gunfire could be heard banging against the ship’s hull from the outside, and as the ramp dropped down with a whoosh of air the sounds of combat and screaming men filled Alex’s ears.

A Small Beginning

Deep inland on Sarum Prime II’s largest landmass lies a large estate of lush rolling farmland in the heart of a picturesque river valley.  Trees line the edges of several small streams throughout the property, which includes several outbuildings, a small barracks for guards, and a large, white washed two story home.   While the owners of the properly are undoubtedly self-sufficient, the estate lacks an atmosphere of opulent wealth.  Rather, the character of the land and buildings suggests this is a place of strong character and proud Amarrians.

Along one of the shallow flowing creek beds, four young boys move quietly in a “V” formation with a bright eyed, well built looking lad leading the way as if on a military operation.  The eager squad is armed with harmless toy rifles and a great deal of enthusiasm.

“Why are we walking through the water?” Asks one of the young boys.

The leader of the young squad, Alexander, replies sharply, “Because the most difficult approach is the least expected by the enemy, silence!”

After scouting ahead, Alexander carefully places each of his young friends along the rising outer bank of the creek bed, and then orders the assault. Suddenly, the four young Soldiers-to-be pounce on their enemies, screaming a war cry and shooting their harmless rifles on a small group of unprepared slaves working a tobacco field near the large house.

“Surrender yourself to the Empire or face certain death!!!” screams Alex as he charges the very surprised field workers.

Abruptly, from the direction of the house, a large, deep voice booms, “Alex! What did I tell you about bothering the slaves while they work? Get over here right now!”  Pointing to his friends, “All of you, go home immediately.”

Instantly, Alex’s friends vanished in a mad dash for safety from the imposing voice’s owner, Philip Audaci. With this head down, Alex slowly walked towards his father who was standing on the wide front porch of the large house. His father stared menancingly down on his son as he approached.  Philip was tall, well built, with piercing blue eyes and a cold intelligence that struck fear into the very souls of those who didn’t know him, not to mention his son. The piercing eyes betrayed the secrets of quiet man who had seen too much in service to the Emperor. A renowned Officer in the Imperial Army, Phillip was a proud man with proven combat experience in the vital, yet much less glorious role of a ground commander. He’d fought countless campaigns on behalf of the Empire, against slave rebellions, pirates, and the Minmatar in places where the famed power of the Emperor’s starships could not reach.  Slowly, Phillip had risen through the ranks to become one of the most powerful and widely respected ground commanders in the Army, before retiring and moving back to his home planet in Sarum Prime.  Unlike the glorious captains of the Empire’s Battle cruisers, Philip faced his enemies face to face in armed combat, fighting for his life and the lives of his men.

As Alex approached you could see the pain in the eyes of a father who wanted dearly for his son to pursue a different path, a path of peace and prosperity, but knew that was not to be as he observed his son leading peers in imaginary combat operations at such a young age. There was simply too much of him in his son to prevent the inevitable.

“Son, explain yourself.” Demanded Phillip.

Standing erect, with shoulders back and eyes forward, “No excuse, Sir. I knew better then to bother the slaves from their work.”

“You knew, and yet persisted anyways. As punishment, tomorrow you will work alongside them from dawn to dusk. You will share in their provisions, in their sweat, and in their blood. “

Looking down, “Yes sir.”

“Alex, there is more to leading then hunting defenseless workers. To be a true leader, capable of inspiring calm in the midst of chaos, you must create a team, and to build a team you must share with your men the sacrifices they make. You must share in their sacrifice of blood, sweat, and tears. Only through shared hardships can you gain the trust and respect of your subordinates. That will be tomorrow’s lesson, a lesson, I trust, you will not soon forget.”