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MacCloud
Super-Earth
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2021
- Location
- East Coast USA
Mac was sitting at a booth with Bull. They were eating an early dinner as they had hopes of leaving town during the night. Before any creditors realized they had left. Neither man should be broke? They both had skills well beyond superior.
Bill 'Bull' Hanson was 6'6" and near three hundred pounds. He was a mountain of muscle and bone and an accomplished fighter. He could have gone pro about anytime during his life. He didn't like fighting all that much. Sure a brawl in a bar was fun but he was not into going into a ring just to pound the shit out of someone. He had gone navy as a youth. He had a knack for repairing about any major part of a ship. He had worked his way up through the ranks but he ran into trouble. His curious mind had lead him into other fields and he found a home in inter-stellar navigation. Due to his size his ship Captain's wanted him to represent the ship when in port against other ship champions. It was a mixed martial arts and most had few rules. Bull had a record of 60-0 over fifteen years in the Fleet. Finally sick of the fighting he had refused, He was 35 years old and felt he had done his duty. The ship Captain had try to force the issue and gotten a broken jaw for his troubles. Bull was court-martialed for striking his commanding officer. He was not found guilty but still kicked out of the fleet. Bull was less than pleased to say the least.
He was at a bar a few months later when a group of eight sailor/thugs found him. Sent by some Officers that were friend's of his late captain. He was outnumbered and none of his playmates were small. That was when Ryder MacCloud had come into his life. Now Ryder was only 6'2" and long limbed, his body just did not show his athletic 200 pound strength much. He knew how to pack the most power in his punch and kicks though. He stepped between Bull and the people who meant him harm saying simply "I don't like the odds. What say I take six of you out of the picture before you and this quiet man have at it." What happened next was a rather cool display of fighting skill. Ryder had pointed to one burley fellow "You should leave." When he attacked Ryder kicked him in the chest followed by a punch to the chin. The fellow flew back into his companions like a rag doll. Ryder pointed to another and spun, a wheel kick took that fellow alongside the head. He spun in the air before falling a few feet away. Ryder continued to point and take the thugs down, at one point taking two down at one time. When there were only two left Ryder backed off and stepped aside. "I am not greedy my good man, those two are for you to do with as you please.
Ryder MacCloud was only twenty-nine at the time, He had been with the marine fighter wing only five years at that point. He had a year and a half of training, another year and a half as a Scout/Sniper with a marine recon force unit. Three years training as a fighter pilot. He had fought in one three year campaign and was just finishing a second. Already a captain and the top scoring Marine Ace. He was a rising star within the marine fighter wing. No one ever asked him to fight for competition. He was known to only fight when it was life and death. He was mostly just left alone. Something he preferred actually.
Of course that was then and this was now. Ryder was now 39 and Bull was 45 now. Mac had been a bounty hunter when they had met the second time. Bull was looking for someway to pay his bills, living in his small but fast light freighter. Mac was looking for a ride to chase down a bounty. They had joined forces and well that had been about three years ago. Now both were still trying to make ends meet but they enjoyed the free lifestyle.
A man in a black suit and polished black shoes walked to their table, May I sit with you? I have a task needs done. It pays well?"
Bull cocked his head "do tell. Have a seat and explain. Your buying dinner if you sit though."
Mac shrugged "You seem to know who we are already, so who might you be?"
The man sat down and waved for the waitress to come over. He looked at Mac with a fixed smile, there was no humor in the expression. "I am Mr. Johnson. You have no doubt met several of my kin over the last few years. My Employer who wishes to remain out of this picture is seeking a brave lot to take out and remove for the rest of time a certain pirate known as BlackBeard. He has a well armed ship and is hiding in the Catseye Nebula. Are you up for the task?" When the waitress arrived Mr Johnson ordered a steak sandwich and had everything at the table put on his bill. He did that without any hesitation.
Mac frowned "That Nebula is known for plasma storms and tricky navigational problems. I have heard of this Blackbeard and it is claimed he has several military grade interceptors and a couple assault shuttles as well as a well armed gunship. I have one interceptor which would not make a dent in the gunship? We would need a military grade torpedo to take out their main ship."
Bull chipped in "Which is why the fleet isn't going after this guy. He is not a major player and the cost/risk factors are just not worth the effort. Your asking a lot of the pair of us."
Mr Johnson shook his head. The prices is thirty million for the main gunship. one million for each of the six fighters, three million for the two assault shuttles. We figure the crew is about fifty, so twenty-five million for the crew and another twenty million for BlackBeard's head. If it is accomplished quickly, say a month we will call it an even 90 million. "that should cover your repairs and the cost of hiring whatever more help you need? I have information heavy metal is here? She is a rather skilled fighter pilot as well as a friend of yours as I recall? Mr. Johnson looked directly at Mac "just what sort of torpedo are you thinking of?"
Mac shrugged as he answered the question. "I am thinking for the size of the ship a shark type would be sufficient, make it two and a launcher that can handle both and I will see what we can do. That gunship has four turrets and anyone of them could take out a torpedo. One for the job and one for insurance in case we lose the first to defensive fire."
Mr Johnson shifted as his sandwich was delivered, once the waitress left he looked at the sandwich and than at the two men. "This is need to know information but you two have a reputation for caring about why you take a job. Seems a certain high ranking corporate type had a pretty little daughter. She grew up into a charming and intelligent young woman who loved the stars and science type stuff. Anyway she wanted to go to the stars and study them. So Daddy bought her an exploration ship, and hired a crew of nerdy science types. Said Daughter was delighted. She was not savvy though and took her ship to this Catseye nebula to study the phenomenon there. She was a good daughter and sent a message back to Daddy every week. She would describe the wonders she saw and the important science stuff her and the crew documented. The last transmission was a while ago. While she was sending her ship was attacked the contact went dead as he heard the ship crew was surrendering to the Blackbeard."
Mr. Johnson stood "he called in some favors and three navy patrol ships went into the area. One went into the Nebula itself even. That one never returned. The other two searched for a couple weeks before giving up. My Boss has no illusion his baby is still alive but now he seeks vengeance. The job is yours, count on the torpedoes arriving at your ship in the morning."
Bull took the untouched sandwich and began eating it. "What you think Mac? We could use Heavy Metal and her fighter for this."
As if speaking her name was magic she walked into the diner as Bull mentioned her name.
Mac stood and waved "come join us "dinner is my treat!"
Bill 'Bull' Hanson was 6'6" and near three hundred pounds. He was a mountain of muscle and bone and an accomplished fighter. He could have gone pro about anytime during his life. He didn't like fighting all that much. Sure a brawl in a bar was fun but he was not into going into a ring just to pound the shit out of someone. He had gone navy as a youth. He had a knack for repairing about any major part of a ship. He had worked his way up through the ranks but he ran into trouble. His curious mind had lead him into other fields and he found a home in inter-stellar navigation. Due to his size his ship Captain's wanted him to represent the ship when in port against other ship champions. It was a mixed martial arts and most had few rules. Bull had a record of 60-0 over fifteen years in the Fleet. Finally sick of the fighting he had refused, He was 35 years old and felt he had done his duty. The ship Captain had try to force the issue and gotten a broken jaw for his troubles. Bull was court-martialed for striking his commanding officer. He was not found guilty but still kicked out of the fleet. Bull was less than pleased to say the least.
He was at a bar a few months later when a group of eight sailor/thugs found him. Sent by some Officers that were friend's of his late captain. He was outnumbered and none of his playmates were small. That was when Ryder MacCloud had come into his life. Now Ryder was only 6'2" and long limbed, his body just did not show his athletic 200 pound strength much. He knew how to pack the most power in his punch and kicks though. He stepped between Bull and the people who meant him harm saying simply "I don't like the odds. What say I take six of you out of the picture before you and this quiet man have at it." What happened next was a rather cool display of fighting skill. Ryder had pointed to one burley fellow "You should leave." When he attacked Ryder kicked him in the chest followed by a punch to the chin. The fellow flew back into his companions like a rag doll. Ryder pointed to another and spun, a wheel kick took that fellow alongside the head. He spun in the air before falling a few feet away. Ryder continued to point and take the thugs down, at one point taking two down at one time. When there were only two left Ryder backed off and stepped aside. "I am not greedy my good man, those two are for you to do with as you please.
Ryder MacCloud was only twenty-nine at the time, He had been with the marine fighter wing only five years at that point. He had a year and a half of training, another year and a half as a Scout/Sniper with a marine recon force unit. Three years training as a fighter pilot. He had fought in one three year campaign and was just finishing a second. Already a captain and the top scoring Marine Ace. He was a rising star within the marine fighter wing. No one ever asked him to fight for competition. He was known to only fight when it was life and death. He was mostly just left alone. Something he preferred actually.
Of course that was then and this was now. Ryder was now 39 and Bull was 45 now. Mac had been a bounty hunter when they had met the second time. Bull was looking for someway to pay his bills, living in his small but fast light freighter. Mac was looking for a ride to chase down a bounty. They had joined forces and well that had been about three years ago. Now both were still trying to make ends meet but they enjoyed the free lifestyle.
A man in a black suit and polished black shoes walked to their table, May I sit with you? I have a task needs done. It pays well?"
Bull cocked his head "do tell. Have a seat and explain. Your buying dinner if you sit though."
Mac shrugged "You seem to know who we are already, so who might you be?"
The man sat down and waved for the waitress to come over. He looked at Mac with a fixed smile, there was no humor in the expression. "I am Mr. Johnson. You have no doubt met several of my kin over the last few years. My Employer who wishes to remain out of this picture is seeking a brave lot to take out and remove for the rest of time a certain pirate known as BlackBeard. He has a well armed ship and is hiding in the Catseye Nebula. Are you up for the task?" When the waitress arrived Mr Johnson ordered a steak sandwich and had everything at the table put on his bill. He did that without any hesitation.
Mac frowned "That Nebula is known for plasma storms and tricky navigational problems. I have heard of this Blackbeard and it is claimed he has several military grade interceptors and a couple assault shuttles as well as a well armed gunship. I have one interceptor which would not make a dent in the gunship? We would need a military grade torpedo to take out their main ship."
Bull chipped in "Which is why the fleet isn't going after this guy. He is not a major player and the cost/risk factors are just not worth the effort. Your asking a lot of the pair of us."
Mr Johnson shook his head. The prices is thirty million for the main gunship. one million for each of the six fighters, three million for the two assault shuttles. We figure the crew is about fifty, so twenty-five million for the crew and another twenty million for BlackBeard's head. If it is accomplished quickly, say a month we will call it an even 90 million. "that should cover your repairs and the cost of hiring whatever more help you need? I have information heavy metal is here? She is a rather skilled fighter pilot as well as a friend of yours as I recall? Mr. Johnson looked directly at Mac "just what sort of torpedo are you thinking of?"
Mac shrugged as he answered the question. "I am thinking for the size of the ship a shark type would be sufficient, make it two and a launcher that can handle both and I will see what we can do. That gunship has four turrets and anyone of them could take out a torpedo. One for the job and one for insurance in case we lose the first to defensive fire."
Mr Johnson shifted as his sandwich was delivered, once the waitress left he looked at the sandwich and than at the two men. "This is need to know information but you two have a reputation for caring about why you take a job. Seems a certain high ranking corporate type had a pretty little daughter. She grew up into a charming and intelligent young woman who loved the stars and science type stuff. Anyway she wanted to go to the stars and study them. So Daddy bought her an exploration ship, and hired a crew of nerdy science types. Said Daughter was delighted. She was not savvy though and took her ship to this Catseye nebula to study the phenomenon there. She was a good daughter and sent a message back to Daddy every week. She would describe the wonders she saw and the important science stuff her and the crew documented. The last transmission was a while ago. While she was sending her ship was attacked the contact went dead as he heard the ship crew was surrendering to the Blackbeard."
Mr. Johnson stood "he called in some favors and three navy patrol ships went into the area. One went into the Nebula itself even. That one never returned. The other two searched for a couple weeks before giving up. My Boss has no illusion his baby is still alive but now he seeks vengeance. The job is yours, count on the torpedoes arriving at your ship in the morning."
Bull took the untouched sandwich and began eating it. "What you think Mac? We could use Heavy Metal and her fighter for this."
As if speaking her name was magic she walked into the diner as Bull mentioned her name.
Mac stood and waved "come join us "dinner is my treat!"
