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Restless fingers drummed an unknown rhythm against the leather arm of the captain’s chair. Tensions were high, forcing the air re-circulating systems to work harder to keep the vessel comfortable. On the bridge, all eyes focused intently on the view screen before them, as if it would reveal their prey before the sensor suite could. Throughout the ship the various crewmembers prepared for combat, checking weapons, suiting up in vacuum suits in case of a hull breach, whatever it took to stay alive and focused. As each station completed their particular process of preparation they began checking in to the bridge.

Cabrin responded methodically to the announcements from his friends and their status, “about damn time”, he mumbled to no-one in particular, “now if our target would be kind enough to show up.”

“What are you bitching about?” Alec plopped his tall, wiry frame into the unoccupied seat next to Cabrin in the crowded cockpit.

“Just ready to get this circus rolling already.”Cabrin stared out of the transparasteel cockpit searching every star in view in a vain attempt to locate their intended victim. Blinking lights and a multitude of chirps and beeps kept the two occupied as the ships computer monitored everything inside and outside. Cabrin silently hoped the new sensor array he had purchased and installed recently was worth the outrageous sum he had paid, not to mention the trouble he had gone through to actually retrieve it. So far everything seemed to be going well.

“This guy gonna show or what?” Tullarik’s voice was always annoying; it got worse when he grew impatient.

Cabrin turned to Alec “Remind me to introduce him to the Captains Locker when we get done here.” A slight grin crossed Alec’s face as he watched his friend key the internal mike. “Tullarik, keep your mouth shut…. He’ll get here soon enough.”

Cabrin could almost hear the gunner complaining through pursed lips about how no one appreciated his talents not to mention all the other things he was good for. Suddenly the sensor suite indicated the emergence of a vessel from hyperspace. Immediately, Alec’s fingers danced along the sensor console as he refined the signal.

“ Target vessel at two one zero degrees heading into the asteroid field. Time to intercept at current speed, one minute eighteen seconds.” Alec’s words were crisp and concise honed from years of similar encounters.

“ Ok boys, time for paybacks. Let’s hunt.” Cabrin announced over the ship internal communications suite. As he spoke, a constant thrumming began to pulse lightly
through the ship as he called upon the highly modified engines for more power. The power plants responded immediately forcing the sleek vessel through the shadows of
outerspace. With amazing precision Cabrin vectored the ship for an intercept as Alec called out range adjustments to the awaiting gunners. Just outside of maximum weapons range he transferred targeting and sensor data to the individual weapon stations so the gunners could maximize their firepower.

As the modified freighter made its approach for intercept it became apparent to Cabrin that they had finally been spotted. Cabrin’s smile told Alec his friend was in his “zone”, enjoying every moment as he zeroed in on the enemy. “You enjoy this stuff too much.” Alec’s own smile gave away his feelings as well.

The communications station cut off Cabrin’s reply as it chirped with the notification of an incoming transmission. “Unidentified vessel stand down your weapons and break off your attack. We request you identify yourself immediately.”

Alec looked over to Cabrin a smile still creasing his face as he said, “Hit it.”

With the flip of a switch Alec turned on the ships IFF transmitting its transponder code to the requesting vessel. Various curses and defamations could be heard just before a second request for identification could commence and the signal cut off by electronic countermeasures activated by Alec.

“Vensinian Starshine this is the Witch Hunt. Heave to and prepare to be boarded.”

* * *

“Sir we have a problem.” Talking through the door was getting very irritating for Aryl. He was beginning to wonder why he volunteered for this venture as it was, failing to remember the excellent pay among the other rewards lavished upon him by his boss. His train of thought was interrupted by the sound of the door opening.

“What’s the problem Aryl? Don’t I pay you to deal with my problems?” Irritation was thick in mans voice as he shot a glance back to the lithe form of a young woman waiting expectantly on the bed.

“Yes sir you do. But I don’t think I can help with this one.”

“Speak up man, what is it already?”

“It’s the Witch Hunt sir. She’s found us and chasing us into the field” Meron Val Kel Myr ran a crime empire operating in several systems. For years he has ordered the equivalent of an entire army to do his bidding. He had his own group of assassins at his beck and call to eliminate his rivals and anyone that crossed his path that he came to dislike. Corporations “contributed” monies to him for “rights” of free travel through his occupied space lanes. He has personally welcomed high ranking government officials on their knees as he secretly swore them to his allegiance to gain control of their systems through whatever means necessary including kidnapping and slavery, his companion was evidence of that alone. All of this and the man was standing before Aryl turning paler with every second.

“Sir. They are requesting we heave to for boarding.”

The seconds continued ticking away as Aryls words seemed to fall on deaf ears. “ Sir?”

Aryl took control of the situation as he keyed the ships com and ordered everyone to prepare to repel boarders. He struggled to maintain his balance as the yacht was racked by several blasts. Small fires erupted in various areas as electronics overloaded and blew circuits.

Meron, suddenly lurched back into reality, dove back into the confines of his stateroom and began to get dressed. He muttered curses under his breath as he slipped on his trousers. His bedmate struggled to cover herself with the sheets on the bed not quite aware of what was going on. She felt very little anyway with all the stim she had ingested, pity he thought as he stormed from the room “she was one of the better ones I had had lately.” His words were muffled by the chirps and whirring of the various maintenance droids skittering about trying in vain to repair the wounded vessel.

* * *

Cabrin effortlessly maneuvered his ship through the asteroid field while easily avoiding both asteroid and turret fire from the yacht. He seemed unimpressed and in was most definitely “in the zone” as Alec shot a quick glance at the pilot. Intense combat and space battles were what these guys lived for. Everyone aboard was the epitome of an adrenaline junkie. They laughed amongst themselves as the shots from their prey came close to the ship, sometimes too close followed by several choice words from Cabrin regarding possible damage to his beloved Witch Hunt. “They put one scratch on her and I’ll kill them myself.”

“How could you tell?” Alec’s comment made Cabrin glance at his friend with a smirk causing Alec to laugh a little harder.

“Would you mind working a little here?”

“Please. These guys are amateurs. Meron shouldn’t have tried to hide from us in his yacht. It shall be his undoing.”

The com crackled in Cabrin’s ear, “Would you mind calming down the fancy flying so we can get a decent shot?”

Cabrin shot a glance at Alec shaking his head, “Just shut up and get ready to board, Tullarik.”

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The Witch Hunt maneuvered alongside the disable yacht and extended a docking collar. Everyone aboard prepared for the boarding knowing there was going to be a firefight. The anticipation of action was like a drug. The five veterans waited until the collar pressurized watching intently through the transparasteel viewport at their prize. Jared stepped forward with his blaster rifle held at the ready position. Everyone knew their role in the boarding and Jared’s was to go first and clear a path for the others. It is what he lived for.

After the collar pressurized, Cabrin moved to the access hatch on the yacht and began working the security system. It took a minute to breach the codes and get the green light that would allow the hatch to open. “Get ready. Three…two…one…go, go, go!”

Jared burst through the hatch into the enemy vessel as several shots rang out from inside barely missing him. A single blast from his weapon sent a shot through one of the defenders, dropping him where he stood. Cabrin and the others followed right behind Jared returning fire in pre-established zones to cover the most area possible. Alec headed to the cockpit with Tullarik as Nigel and Cabrin broke for the crew quarters and engineering. Jared maintained his position covering the galley area exchanging fire with two more defenders.

As Cabrin rounded the corner to the passageway leading to engineering he ran head-on into a maintenance droid attempting to move forward to service it’s stricken vessel. Cabrin shoved the droid aside and snapped off two shots as one of the crew dove for cover into one of the staterooms. The smell of ionized atmosphere began to permeate the ship as the attackers continued pressing their enemy. As Cabrin approached the doorway the defender had dove into, he stopped. Nigel moved up behind him standing back to back with his friend covering the way they had come.
“Surrender or die. It’s that simple.” Cabrin’s voice echoed through the passage as the speaker in his helmet projected his command.

“Very diplomatic” Nigel stated still watching the rear.

“I thought so” Cabrin waited another couple of seconds and was about to turn the corner when suddenly the door opened and two empty hands slowly came into view. Cabrin switched his blaster to stun and waited for the man to come into full view before raising his weapon and firing. The man tried to step back only to slump to the deck unconscious. “How’s that for diplomacy?”

“Subtle…you’re showing your soft side again.” Nigel continued watching their back as Cabrin started to slowly continue down the corridor.

The sound of another door opening caused the two to focus their weapons down the corridor just as a barely clothed female stumbled out of one of the rooms. A glance told Cabrin she was jacked up on something as she reached for invisible floating objects which swarmed around her. Another shot from Cabrin’s pistol dropped the girl to the floor. As he knelt to drag her out of the way a metal cylinder bounced out of the room and into the corridor.

“Grenade!”

Both men dove for cover, Nigel jumping back around the corner and Cabrin diving into the still open bulkhead into the first room they had cleared. The explosion sent shards of metal in all directions, searing the air and shredding exposed flesh. It took several seconds for the area to clear of ricocheting metal and smoke.

Nigel poked his around calling out to his teammate “You ok?”

“I’m good.” Cabrin bounced his head out of the room and back into cover, quick flashing to see if anyone had come out after the blast. All he saw was the girl, her eyes fixed on the ceiling while gasping for breath. The grenade had bounced to the other side of the bulkhead she was laying against and apparently she had been hit by flying fragments. Blood began oozing from several wounds along her upper torso and neck. “Damn it.”

Cabrin keyed his com “Jared I need you back here, we have a casualty. Everyone else give me a sitrep.”