12 March 3050
System 118756
Major William Mitchell, Commander 2nd Battalion, 2nd Oberon Guards, inhaled the foul stench aboard the ancient Invader Jumpship, but it was better than the smell on his Overlord Dropship whose air scrubbers had given up any effort of removing smells. It had been a long 8 months since leaving Placida to raid Dichell and then Paran and Vannes on the way back home. Along with his own Battalion, he had a Company of Infantry from the Sigurd Guards onboard a just as old Fury Dropship. He knew he had been given the mission as punishment, along with his people, for always protesting the bad treatment of the people they protected. The third collar was taken by a beaten up Mule Dropship which carried their booty of food, Agromechs and confiscated trucks. He continued making his way to the Jumpships bridge while his mind thought of fresh air, warm shower and most of all gravity.
Entering the Invader's bridge, he called out to Captain Felicia Graves. "Felicia, please tell me we are ready for the final jump."
Captain Felicia Graves slowly turned to face him. "Will, what are you doing up here? You should be belted in for the jump."
"I could not take the stench any longer. I swear they assigned me the worst damned Dropship in the Oberon Fleet for this mission." Major William Mitchell replied
"Well, you will be glad to know we just triple checked everything and we are set for the 5 minute countdown. Get strapped in that empty couch and ride it out up here." Captain Felicia Graves said pointing to an empty spot on the bridge.
Major William Mitchell did as instructed as the 5 minute jump warning sounded. Once firmly strapped in, he smiled as the thought of some relaxation after months away.
12 March 3050
Placida, Oberon Confederation
The ancient Invader Jumpship materialized at the Nadir Jump Point and immediately proximity alarms sounded on the bridge startling everyone. Captain Felicia Graves began giving orders as the sensors began coming back online. "Invader Jumpship 1,300 kilometers starboard. I do not recognize the transponder. We are being hailed."
"Unidentified vessel this is Clan Wolf Jumpship Excellence, state your intentions."
"Who the hell is Clan Wolf? And what are our intentions?" Captain Felicia Graves asked and then "Another transponder just lit off moving at speed from close orbit of Placida. Not sure what it is but it's increasing speed. CWS Arms Reach."
Unstrapping from the couch, Major William Mitchell replied "Half the weapons on these Dropships don't even work. So fighting any sort of space battle is out. I vote we take that damned Jumpship and get the hell out of dodge as quick as we can."
"You better move quick then. No telling if that Invader is ready to jump or not, but it's sail is still deployed so probably not." Captain Felicia Graves said as she start shouting orders to unfurl the sail for recharge. Luckily, Placida was 21 days at 1g thrust to where they were. But that CWS Arms Reach was pushing 2.5g by her computers calculations.
"Tell the Fury to detach and make for that Invader. Load tranq guns. Once we are away from here, we can question them and maybe get some answers. You might want to prepare to abandon this ship and move over there." Major William Mitchell said
"Do I respond to that hail?" Captain Felicia Graves asked
"Sure, why not. Tell them we plan to take their ride away from them and make them prisoners. The Fury should be there in no time." Major William Mitchell replied as he exited the bridge and headed for his own Overlord.
The emergency detachment and hard boost for the unknown Jumpship caught Captain Marcus Wright by surprise. But he could almost read Major Mitchell's mind and quickly figured out what was what. "Load up the tranqs. Dart anyone who even looks hostile or does not obey a command. We all hate zero g crap, but we have done it before."
Once the Fury had docked with the unknown Invader, they were surprised when the hatch opened. On the other side was the biggest woman he had ever seen. She grabbed his lead man and with hardly no effort snapped his neck. "Sweet jesus!!!!" He yelled as he put 8 tranq darts into the hulking woman and she still managed to sling another of his men into the bulkhead hard enough to break bones. As his people pushed their way into the Jumpship, they faced several more big assed people, only they were using live ammo. He lost 17 more people before his enemy were covered in tranq darts and silently floating in the attached cargo bay.
"Second Platoon, take engineering. First Platoon secure this cargo bay and our ride, get those prisoners secured. Tightly. Third Platoon follow me to the bridge." Captain Marcus Wright ordered
It took 30 minutes to secure the Invader Jumpship. They lost another 19 men to whoever the giants were. But they now had ten of the hulking people tightly secured with cargo rachet straps in the cargo bay. "Ship secure Major, but damned if it was easy. The Captain is still awake and says we won the Trial of Possession. Wants to know who they now serve. What do I tell him?" Captain Marcus Wright said over the radio
"First ask him how ready they are to jump." Captain Felicia Graves cut in
Captain Marcus Wright asked and got an answer quick. "Says they just need to furl the sail. But your going to need to crew this ship, his people are going to be out for 8 hours at least."
"That settles it. We are all moving over there quickly." Captain Felicia Graves replied
