In the Lukcobarter system, the Terran and Yanthian armadas meet. The battle is intense with capital ships engaging each other. Captain Scipio sat on the sideline, waiting for one side to prevail and move on.

“Hey, Cap, I bet you 2% of my next share on the Terries,” said Cornelius, he was Scipio’s First Officer and tactical officer.

“I don’t know Corny, those Yannies are tough sons of bitches. 5% Yannies win with less than 25% losses,” said Scipio.

“Deal,” said Cornelius.

“10% if the Surus goes down,” said Balba, the ship’s pilot.

“But Surus has never gone down,” said Cornelius.

“15%?” Scipio replied.

“12%?” Balba said.

“Deal, but, it’s your lost,” said Scipio.

“Sir, we have six inbound ships, three escort class ships two transport ships and a carrier class, sir,” said Aemillia, the ships radar/commutations technician.

“Betting window is closing, any last bets? You got I.Ds on those ships?” said Scipio.

“No, sir, but it looks like…”

“Any bets on the incoming ships?” asks Scipio.

“Engineering is waging 2% on the Surus surviving this engagement and 5% on the vessels being of Caelaoi origin,” said Chief Engineer Burrus over the comm system.

“You’re on for both,” said Balba.

“I want in on that one,” said Cornelius.

“Yeah me too,” said Scipio.

“We have identification, sir,” said Aemilia.

“Drumroll please,” said Scipio. The bridge crew began making drumming sounds with mouths. “And the ships are?”

“Sir, they’re Caelaoi…”

“Damnit,” said Cornelius.

“Shit,” said Balba.

“Yes!” said Chief Engineer Burrus over the comm system.

“… sir,” finished Aemilia.

“Shit,” said Balba and Cornelius realizing that there’s going be competition for todays good.

“The ships are coming out of sub-space sir,” said Aemilia.

“Whereabouts?” asked Scipio.

“3000kms behind us sir,” said Aemilia.

“Let’s warm up those engines,” said Scipio.

“Sir, we’re being hailed,” said Aemilia,

“Alright, put it on,” said Scipio.

“This is Captain Julius Odaenathus of the Hercules. Please leave the system you have ten minutes to comply.”

“Alright, people, any ideas?” said Scipio.

“What about the cloaking device we found?” said Cornelius.

“I can’t guarantee it would work, sir,” said Chief Engineer Burrus.

“Why not?” said Scipio.

“The L-Coupling was badly damaged, I would say it has a 95% chance of failing,” said Chief Engineer Burrus.

“Would there be a L-Coupling on one those ships?” asked Scipio.

“Of course,” said Chief Engineer Burrus.

“Alright, now, which ship would not notice us?” Scipio said to himself looking over the map of the battlefield. “The Surus.”

“The Surus?” said Cornelius.

“It’s perfect, it’s outta combat range at the moment. If those vultures wanna follow us the Surus will attack them. It’s perfect. We do a little salvaging while we’re looking for the L-Coupling and we leave scot-free.” said Scipio.

“That’s a good plan Cap, but, what keeps “the vultures” and the Surus from shooting us down?” said Balba.

“Oh yeah, um… we jump. We make the jump into sub-space, one maybe two seconds in sub-space, we end up near engineering on the Surus. Launch the shuttle and make the jump back into sub-space again maybe five-ten minutes and then comeback and we’ll be waiting for the pick up,” said Scipio.

“Well, it was nice serving with you Captain,” said Balba.

“Chief meet us at the boarding shuttle,” requested Scipio.

Scipio and Cornelius head off the bridge.

“Eamilia? What are you waiting for?” asked Scipio.

“Sorry, sir, I’ve never been on an away mission before,” said Eamilia.

“Can you access values to objects?” said Scipo.

“Yes, sir, I can,” Eamilia.

“C’mon we ain’t got all day,” said Scipio.

Balba takes a second to relish the silence on the bridge before programming the coordinates into the navigational computer.

“Give the word, when you’re ready Cap,” said Balba.

“This is Captain Julius Odaenathus of the…”

Balba turns off the incoming hails.

“We’re all settled here,” said Scipio over comm system.

Balba pulls the cigarette behind her ear.

“Let’s hope this works,” thinks Balba as she lights her cigarette.

Balba puts the ship into launch mode and hits the enter key on the navigational computer. The ship is engulfed in a white bright light as it slips into sub-space. Time inside the ship seems to slow down. Seconds seem like hours. A bright light emerges from sub-space and ejects a black cylinder and disappears as quickly as it appears. Inside the cylinder, the crew is left dealing with effects of conscious sub-space travel.

“Did anybody else’s brain just vomit?” asked Aemilia.

“You’d think you’d get use to that feeling,” said Scipio. “Chief where did Balba leave us?”

“We are… wow, 10 kms out,” said Chief Engineer Burrus.

“Alright, people,” said Scipio. He then pauses for a second to fight the bile in his stomach from coming up. “Lets get ready for boarding.”

Aemilia slips on a bland grey Caelaoi body armour, gloves and helmet. Caelaoi body armour wasn’t designed for protection, couldn’t save you from a laser blast or a bullet. It was more ceremonial and to intimidate the opponent. The helmet covered the full face and with advent of space travel the whole suit became airtight. Later, they added vents in the mask that could be closed. Scipio’s helmet had painted the face of scarred rabid dog with blood stained teeth. His chest had a bloody handprint dragged across it. Scipio also, had a bandolier across his chest and a utility belt and gun holster. Cornelius’s helmet was white with a mark for each kill he had. He was up to 37. Chief Engineer Burrus’s helmet had a large red “C”

on it. The “C” had been mark of his forefathers and had been handed down for generations.

“Firing harpoons,” said Chief Engineer Burrus.

The shuttle shakes as the rocket powered harpoons leave the shuttle.

“Success, taking up the slack. turing on the laser cutter,” said Chief Engineer Burrus.

The laser beam hits the hull of the Surus and begins to cut a perfect circle. The evacuating air takes everything with it that’s not bolted down.

“Cut complete,” said Chief Engineer Burrus.

“Alright, let’s check the comms, Corny?” said Scipio.

“Present,” said Cornelius.

“Aemilia?”

“Yes, sir,” said Aemilia.

“Chief?”

“Loud and clear,” said Chief Engineer Burrus.

“Hah, almost forgot,” said Scipio attaching the air hose to his mask.

The shuttle silently slips into the Surus’s open wound. The doors of the shuttle open. Scipio steps into the Surus and falls forward nearly crouching himself.

“Mind the gap,” said Scipio.

Scipio helps the others over the threshold.

“Alright, lets get to work, remove a panel and see what kind of wires they got. Corny check the door make sure there’s no marines trying to get in here,” said Scipo.

Chief Engineer Burrus pulls out his screwdriver from his utility belt. He quickly removes the screws and pops the panel. Under the panel laid thousands of wires, Burrus grabs he wire cutter and snips one random. He removes plastic cover and cuts the tip off into a black box. The black box had four lights, yellow for gold, white for silica, green for cooper, and light blue for silver. The lights cycle through several times before stopping on the yellow.

“Captain, this wire’s made of gold,” said Chief Engineer Burrus.

Even though they could not see Scipio’s face; they knew he was smiling.

“Alright, Corny, Aemilia, you guys cut those wires out and then move onto the next panel. Chief your with me, let’s go find that L-Coupling.”

Scipio places an explosive by the door.

“If we ain’t back in 10 minutes leave and blow the door,” said Scipio.

“Yes, sir,” said Aemilia.

Scipio and Chief Engineer Burrus head down the hallway. Terran ships were considered to be the cleanest and best lit ships in the galaxy. Scipio turns up the tint on his visor. At each intersection was nicely labelled signs. “Stock Room —>;;;;”. They walk into the stock room and find the L-Coupling.

“Might as well take two,” said Chief Engineer Burrus.

“Who’s gonna stop us?” said Scipio and chuckled at how easy this mission was going.

At that moment, outside of the Surus, Captain Julius Odaenathus of the Hercules orders his transport ships to board the Surus. The nice bright hallway lights in the Surus turn to dark deep red.

“Red Alert! Red Alert!” said the Surus’s computer.

“This is Admiral Reginald Barca,” said an old defiant voice over the PA system. “Caelaoi pirates have boarded this ship. I am ordering everyone under my command to defend Her to last the man. The Surus will not fall today.”

“I really hope they’re not talking about us,” said Chief Engineer Burrus.

“Yeah… me too,” said Scipio.