Re: Dawn - Gatherings
2409.3
Mentocka system
Mentocka VII...
The shuttle landed hard. The fact that a shuttle landed here at all was, amazingly, no cause for alarm to the colonists.
Throughout the war the mercenary pilots that operated outside of any empire association were be used as couriers, spies, and assassins by those who didn’t want to leave a direct trail back to themselves.
This shuttle had the plain markings of a privateer – someone who would trade in supplies from one colony to the next. The landing skid of this shuttle bent on landing, and would not be able to properly retract on take-off again. The pilot had extricated himself from the ship, and offered to pay for the repair parts with a large bonus on his next contract shipment. To his dismay, the people on this particular planet needed labor more than contract bonuses. He would be able to get his parts, but only after participating in the creation of mines and weapon platforms for the defense of the planet.
The pilot protested, but he needed to get the parts.
He lamented that this wasn’t his war, but he needed to get the parts.
He explained that he needed to make other contracts and couldn’t wait on this planet, but...
He needed to get the parts.
Finally, Ed Jefferies “reluctantly” agreed to work for the defenders of Mentocka VII...
Mentocka system
...onboard CDS Lugosi...
The technicians monitored the movement of the Abbidon fleet. Nine ships now were on the way to a point two sectors from Mentocka VII. There were six destroyers, two cargo ships, and – most disturbing of all – a troop transport with 46 units of ground troops onboard. It seemed the Abbidon were trying to take the planet without destroying any of the facilities, unaware they had already been destroyed by the colonists themselves to conserve supplies. The colonists, along with Mr. Jefferies, began to construct fighters from abandoned shuttles. The mines should help prevent the ships from breaking through, and there were three weapon platforms backing them up, but fighters on the ground would be the last line of defense...
Mentocka system
...onboard CDS Shelly...
The ship had just enough time to make a nearby asteroid field and deploy her satellite. She was sure to draw an angry response from the Abbidon, but the captain was confident in his ability to run away from trouble. Besides, the satellite might get a lucky shot in, or the Abbidon might have an unlucky encounter with an asteroid. Either way, the satellite was bait. Would it be enough to attract the Abbidon and buy the colony another month?
Sheliak system
...onboard CDS Beagle...
She was back after a month in Pantrissa. A new sensor array augmented the one already in use. This one was a shorter range, but more sophisticated. It could find detail twice as good as the primary sensor. Also onboard was one of the solar collectors Cabrerra wanted to get back in Zezzis, as well as a solar sail. Beagle’s orders were to develop as much intelligence on the Norak as possible.
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