Good work guys getting that in!
Sorry, ended up not been able to get anything much done. Am really quite busy at the moment. Hopefully can catch up on one another time maybe since I’m looking short on time for the time being and unlikely to get this done in the next few days even. I’ll post what I did write to show I tried (Doesn’t really go anywhere, is only the intro and will contain multiple grammar issues I’m sure).
You stifle a yawn as you sit slumped in the captain’s chair, tapping away at computer pad in your hand. Everyone imagines a starship captains days to be full of heroics and fantastic adventures…however the truth is, there’s long periods of boredom filled with routine tasks that need to be completed to keep everything running smoothly.
Right now you’re logging tedious lists of everything you’ve brought on and off your craft over the last few months. The government has taken a special…well lets call it “interest”, in your activities since that unfortunate incident involving:
*choice
#A consignment of liquor.
Yes well, you’d taken on one or two crates of Molovian brandy…ok maybe it was a few more than that. But really it was for negotiation and medical purposes only. I mean sometimes you need a few gifts or nice beverages to smooth along negotiations.
The insinuation that you were trying to get around the strict liquor exporting laws to smuggle the valuable liquid off world for a profit was quite frankly insulting.
*choice
#You’d never sully your good name in that way.
*set idealism +5%
Quite. You’re a captain of your word. Someone plainly had it out for you.
Fortunately the investigation had cleared you of any criminal charges, however a distressing measure of doubt regarding your character must still remain, since they now seem to be pedantic about receiving and checking over your inventory records.
You sigh. Well if it will keep them happy, you’ll just have to buckle down and wade through the paperwork
*goto story1
#Even if accusations were maybe a little true. (Not that you’d ever admit it to the powers that be).
*set idealism -10%
Even starship captains get a bit strapped for cash sometimes. The way you saw it, you were doing a community service getting the booze out to those in need at a competitive cost.
It would never be appropriate to be seen…bending…the rules in this way though, those government types can be notoriously up tight about their rules, so you have your story and are sticking to it.
Fortunately your silver tongue managed to keep your record clean of any wrong doing. They bought the story you fed them…just enough to prevent any charges from being laid, however that doesn’t mean you’re off their radar. You get the impression, you’re now watched more closely than you’d like and have to fill in these endless inventory reports. Ugh
*goto story1
#Some goods of a deceptively flammable nature.
It was an honest mistake. Transporting some fauna from the Centuris system, you had no idea of their ability to spit a combination of chemicals that could spontaneously burst into flames.
Unknowingly you’d placed the troublesome creatures in the hold, next to some important artefacts from the planet Zebulon.
To your credit, you’d put out the fire before it could cause any significant damage to the ship…however not fast enough to prevent the wooden artefacts from becoming slightly…singed.
Needless to say, the Zebulons were not happy that their precious objects had been damaged and there was a minor diplomatic mishap over the incident.
Since then, the Earth authorities had been annoyingly strict with checking over your cargo arrangements. The amount of extra paperwork its caused you, has made you continue to regret the incident to this day.
*goto story1
*label story1
*page_break
The communications panel give a loud whistle indicating an incoming message. You welcome the distraction.
“Sam, if you please?” You turn to your science officer who glances up from her panel with a quickly suppressed look of annoyance. She’s well aware you could activate the view screen from your station.
Instead she merely nods with a fixed smile and flicks a few illuminated switches, bringing a large view screen at the front of the ship to life.
What you see, is not at all what you were expecting.
*page_break
A man of about your age stares back at you, a slight, twisted smile pulling at the edges of his lips. Pale skin, short, ebony hair and a fitted, midnight black outfit buttoned up to his neck completes the oddly monochrome appearance. Grey eyes bore into yours through the screen.
“Greetings Captain!” The clipped voice sounds clearly. “Listen closely, I am here to state my terms.”
The figure gives a melodramatic laugh as he swirls a glittering silver cloak around his shoulders.
*page_break
Terms? You look the figure over silently for a few seconds. Have you met him before?
Straightening in your chair, you address the screen. “Who are you, and what terms are you talking about?”
The mystery man’s eyebrows lift. “You really don’t remember me Captain [i]$!{name}? How soon you forget! I am none other than your arch enemy.”
*fake_choice
#“Hmm…yes well could you be a little more specific? I mean I’ve got so many “arch enemies” sometimes I find it hard to keep track.”
You address him jokingly, knowing it’ll only infuriate the self important man even further.
Since he believes himself to be your “arch enemy”, maybe provoking him a bad idea, but well…stuff it. You’re a star ship captain and shouldn’t have to take this kind of crap from random crazies.
His face purples with rage at your insolence. “I should not have to remind you Captain.” he hisses. “You ruined my life that day. Remember the nanobots? Ringing any bells yet? This time however, you’ll be playing by my rules.”
#“You look kind of familiar, but I’m still drawing a blank. Who are you again?”
There is something vaguely familiar about the man who seems intent on threatening you out of the blue. Try as you might, you can’t quite place him though.
He gives you a frown. “I’m disappointed you forget so quickly. I remember you.” He replies venomously.
“Does a certain incident involving nanobots ring any bells? You ruined my life that day. It’s only fair I return the favor.” He spits the words at you, calm composure broken.
Pausing, he takes a few breaths to restore his composure.
*page_break
Nanobots…what could he mean? Suddenly you have a sinking feeling in your chest.