Star Mercs: Part One

Here is a quick short story set in the Star Citizen Universe. It's a good time and yes I know I'm a nerd for writing it. Enjoy none the less. 

“Alright Diana, Bertha is all yours. At some point you’re going to have to use that bloated salary I pay you to buy your own ship. Bring her back before the end of the week, and without any new scratches girl.” Diana smiled down at the screen showing an aging scuffled man with steely green eyes and a smile that made his mustache scrutch up into a bushy caterpillar on his face. The animal not the segmented Drake starship by the same name. Though he did have a tattoo of his first big huller on his bicep. She had been a good ship to the end no matter how many holes those damn claim stealing pirates had shot into her.

“Not a second past Monday night dad I promise, see you at the board meeting next week,” Diana grinned as she pulled the faded blue freelancer off of their deep sea floating ranch’s landing pad. The never ending oceans’ of Ergo spread out beneath Diana with the setting star of the Nemo system setting a dazzling display of shimmering white light around her. 

Diana’s father grimaced at the mention of his CEO duties in their small yet profitable mining and ranching company. Money is nice, but no one talks about all the work that comes with it. If you aren’t a trust fund baby, or if you don’t mind waking up in a pile of hookers before turning over and realizing you were in a debt pit so large the red letters on your credit statement could be seen by the passing Hull C’s above with their endlessly spirally rings of cargo. Diana knew for a fact that her old man missed his classic scrapping prospector days back on Nemo II. Simple and full of adventure. A fact he would never tell Diana’s mother who hated that meteorite plagued rock worse than an upstanding citizen of Grim Hex hated the United Earth Empire.

Diana grinned sweetly down at her father’s dark look before cutting the connection. She loved the man, but if they talked for too long he was going to see straight through her soul and into the cosmos beyond. The small town girl had never been the scheming type let alone the type to lie to her father, but drastic times require desperate measures. Dad wouldn’t understand till they got results. Till then he couldn’t know, or he’d cut the cord faster than a custom mustang omega with a pack of vanduul on its trail hits a jump point.

A rattling noise somewhere deep in the aging consul of Bertha dragged Diana back to reality making her smack a dented section of the dash. A second later the rattling turned to a high pitch whine before drowning to the old steady burn of the freelancer’s engines as they made grey black streaks over the fish hatchery and floating rice fields overshadowed by deep sea oil rigs. You had to hand it to the old man. Niko Otello was a man of vision even as he was producing a progeny of ten children to terrorize the universe.

Diana’s father had been flush from his booming mining operation back on Nemo II, and when mother insisted that she wasn’t about to lose any of her hard born children to a burning irate meteorite crashing through their living room he’d figured it was time to move on. So young Otello went looking for a niche on the blue space jewel Ergo. Everyone at the time was all into the oil industry, but a savvy entrepreneur knew you couldn’t follow the crowd if you wanted that big score. So Diana’s father did the only sensible thing, he cornered the market in producing food for all those oil rig workers out far from the massive cities built on the old terraforming platforms.

Sometimes you had to just think outside the box. A trait that was passed down to all of the patriarchs brood which had been a blessing and a curse to everyone around the small army of children. Can’t have eight boys running around, and not have a few explosions rock the ranch every now and then. This dynamic was once again causing unexpected complications despite the fact that all of the boys had become men and left the nest. Worse, due to the delicate nature of their situation it had fallen on Diana to find an unconventional method to solve the problem. 

So here she was borrowing her favorite old space horse from her dad’s garage to go to a fancy exclusive party only the rich and famous were ever invited to. Not that Diana’s father knew that. He thought she was going camping with a few of her friends on one of the abandoned oil rigs dotting Ergo’s surface. She really hoped he’d forgive her some day. That would probably depend on how successful her mission was.

A chiming rang through the cabin making Diana jump and check her mobiglass. The cowgirl looked at the name, and sighed before straightening up and stealing her emotions. This was what she’d signed up for. Putting up with city rats for one night wouldn’t kill her. So with trepidation she answered the call.

“Diana! I’m so happy you’re coming tonight,” squealed a squirrel trapped in a red head’s body that popped up grinning her perfect teeth on the video display. Diana forced herself to smile at her cousin even as her piercing cries threatened to crack her skull open like a ripe melon.

“I’m happy to Cassi…”

“Oh! What are you wearing? You are wearing something nice right? This isn’t the kind of party where you wear a work jumpsuit or even a business suit to, you know? I bet you’re wearing something fabulous!”

“Yes I know, and yes I’m wearing a dress.”

“Wee! Awesome! I haven’t seen you dressed up in anything but lame business suits or garage grease monstrosities since we were kids. This is so great! Dad got me a new dress for this party. Maybe we’ll find you a rich hunk to date tonight. Wouldn’t that be amazing! Don’t you think? Oh! I love your hair. What do you think of mine?”

Diana blinked her deep blue eyes multiple times down at her cousin’s endless rambling letting a strand of her golden blond hair fall in front of her face. Leave it to her cousin to find the most irrelevant aspect of having a quasi illegal randevu under the cover of a massive party for the rich and powerful. If she wasn’t also extremely persistent, and a blabbermouth, Diana would’ve insisted Cassi stay behind. Doing that though would make sure their clandestine meeting became very public very fast.

Diana nodded politely, and blew her shoulder length hair out of her face as she listened to her cousin blubber on and on. It was distracting enough that she had to course correct more than once. Thankfully her uncle finally decided to come to her rescue, but that was probably more for his own sanity than for Diana’s.

“Cassie leave your cousin alone before you make her fly into the ocean to escape your ceaseless blather,” the mobiglass image switched to a regal silver eyed blond man with greying hair, and ramrod like posture. 

“Thanks Uncle Maxrious, but don’t be too hard on her. Aunt Lathen did pick out the dress. It is exciting in its own way,” Diana smiled down at the scarlet dress under her faded black spacer jacket. Tight up her thighs, and an inch away from scandalous around her bust it was a sight to behold on her wirely fit frame. She’d added a brosh her youngest brother had gotten her with an emerald inlaid cross that sat just between her well shaped breasts. Not only was it stylish the piece reminded her of what she was doing. Her brother might be a brilliant idiot who had a habit of digging snares that he would then fall head first into, but Diana still loved him. She’d get him back one way or another even if her parents had given up.

“My wife does know how to dress a charity case. I'll give her that,” sniffed Maxrious even as a smile tugged on his thin lips. 

“In any case,” continued Diana’s all business high rolling politically connected uncle,” the friend I want you to meet will be waiting for us on their ship. Just contain your youthful madness when we land little helion for a time, and it should be an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.” 

“Whatever you say Uncle Maxrious. Don’t let Cassie crash that fancy Terrapin of yours.”

“Hmph, don’t let that bucket of bolts you call a Freelancer lose it’s reactor integrity on the way to the party little lady.”

With that the screen went blank. Diana giggled at the exchange showing off her own dimples in the process. Mom’s side of the family could be such high class dainty fops, but they were family and well connected for anything legally challenged or plain grey on the white to black scale. Just don’t bring it up at the next family ball. Proper edicate as grandma always put it. No reason you can’t be polite as you stab some poor sod in the back before blowing his brains out for good measure.

  The rest of the flight was pretty uneventful with mile after mile of shimmering ocean passing beneath the lumbering rusted whale before her destination zoomed into view. Outstretching ahead of the speeding starship was a plate of metal that had been the base for one of the massive terraforming machines that made up the foundations of the cities on the ocean planet. No one remembered which terraformer this plate belonged to, but it remained a reminder of the giants of their past, literally and figuratively. Today though, the rusting titan was demoted to nothing more, but the gathering point for this little party of the privileged and pampered.

The actual shindig wasn’t on the aging metal plate, but above it in an 890 Jump named the Odysseus’ Gambit which would be parked in the perfect location to see the asteroid shaped as a whale as it passed by in its cosmic orbit. The party also cost an absurd amount of UNC per head. Sometimes it was good to be rich, and have connected uncles of course. 

It didn’t take long to find the cluster of fancy starships, snub ships, and a whole gang of those shiny Origin gravebikes Diana’s younger sister had been droning on about. Her latest boyfriend had one, and the girl just wouldn’t shut up about the sleek craft. Personally Diana didn’t see the appeal. 

She was a wheels on the ground traditionalist kind of gal. Give her a good Ranger with its classic two wheeled design, a speed loadout, or some of her older brother’s homemade size one grenade launchers hooked up, and she’d show these special boys in their fancy pants what a real ride was all about. If they didn’t fall flat on their tailored pretty boy spacesuits, and run home screaming to their rich daddy for help.

Diana made sure to hold on to that image really hard as she circled an open spot between an Origin 600i with a couple of 100is parked on its hull and her uncle’s retrofitted Terrapin. Uncle Marxious may live in the big city, but he was as paranoid as a prepper in an asteroid belt. He’d nabbed that mini flying tank off of a surplus military event to deter any “accidents” during his morning commute. 

Still, Diana’s uncle was a sophisticated man so it didn’t take long for him to paint the exterior with its four VTOL thrusters a slick black, deck out the interior with plush carpets, install a minibar, and last but not least had her father replace the extensive scanning sweet for a just legal massive rocket turret on the roof that would have made a Harbinger bomber envious. Needless to say he hadn’t had any parking tickets for awhile either.

Smiling down at the pretty monster turtleship Diana lightly flowed her joystick into the perfect position, and with a massive cough from Bertha’s two massive burners on the cylindrical ship’s ass set her down amongst the shiny toys. Let the party boys scoff at a real craft for all she cared. None of them could survive longer than five minutes without a hot shot posh “survival” sweet in a 300i in open space. 

“Besides,” Diana figured as she unlatched her seat belt, shut off the engine, and sauntered over to the back hatch past the massive cargo bay streaked with old stains and scratches,” These boys are going to have something else to look at soon enough.”

The cowgirl undid her leather jacket, and threw it over her shoulder before punching the door release button only to have the ramp lower three feet then grind to a halt. Rolling her eyes Diana went to kick the door like she always did before realizing she wasn’t wearing her old grave boots, but instead dainty high heels that promised to do more damage to her foot than to the door. 

Diana frowned at her predicament. Her dramatic entrance was turning more into a comedy scetch. She really hadn’t done anything fancy for awhile, but the rancher figured it was one of those things that came back to you like wearing these useless heels designed less for use and more for getting men to be useful around you. They were the appropriate tool for her coming meeting of course, but she had to get to the meeting first and she could use some practicality right about now.

She was about to start rummaging for a decent wrench to bang on the door when a flustered red head popped into view in the groaning crack the ramp had made. The girl was pretty with a fancy bun and glowing blue stars speckled throughout her hair that highlighted her hundreds of freckles that splashed their way down her body. She also, as Diana knew, had a banshee wail of a screech which the tiny lady proceeded to use to great affect on her country bumpkin cousin.

“Diana! How could you bring this rust bucket to a party like this! People might think your ranch is going out of business. Or worse, the richer hunks might not talk to us!” Diana sighed. Cassie always had her priorities, and whether ridiculous or not she did tend to get her way. One day the Spacer’s daughter was going to make her cousin teach her how to do that. Maybe Diana could teach her how to fish giant sea eel or something. Guys kind of dug a girl who could do something cool, and look sexy while doing it.

“Love you too Cassie. Is Uncle Marxious out there?” As if in response a massive hammering hit the side of the ramp lurching the stubborn piece of hardware into motion with a guttreching squeal that could have driven off a vanduul swarm. Still, the ramp lowered freeing the smiling rancher who had her hip cocked, and her hand on her holster below the short red dress she wore.

It was her favorite P8-P Ballistic Pistol that had quickly become her go to for range blasting, and dinner parties with fellow gunnuts. The beautiful little machine was so smooth on the trigger angels sang when she threw lead into the unholy. The slick beast was just perfect for messing with the heads or pretty boy elites who had bodyguards for the whole self protection racket, and made an instant connection with anyone who could appreciate a nice piece. 

“What in the bottomless abyss is strapped to your thigh Diana Otella.” The Rancher looked out of her ancient vessel to see her uncle in a simple suit with its only ornament being a small blue flower stuck into its breast pocket. He was also making the same face he’d made when he’d caught her attempting to sneak a tarantula into aunt Silia’s hair. 

“This? This is a Bering P8-P Ballistic specially meant for dirtbag snuffing, and showing off to uptight mercs in their fancy ship.” Diana patted her gun lovingly for emphasis.

“And you suspect not one issue with their security upon boarding their vessel? These men are killers Diana. Not the rental security types you run into at a spaceport.”

“Calm down uncle Marxious. They’re killers, and we want to do business with them. You think killers respect anyone who comes to a meeting without a gun? Trust me, men like this like a lady who can handle a hand cannon. Especially one who can fill out a dress like this.” Diana smiled, and struck a seductive pose she’d always seen in vids advertising ships and exotic planets with even more exotic women. 

Before their conversation could continue a massive squeal that slaughtered any eardrums within a forty foot vicinity assaulted Diana’s senses as her cousin swooped in for the kill faster than a starving snake finding its first mouse. Cassie’s barrage was overwhelming, and complete. Diana had no defence.

“Diana! Diana! That dress is gorgeous! Did you do your Hair?”

“No my mom…

“What?! Aunt Karty is this amazing at hairdressing! Would she do my hair at the next party?”

“I guess, but Cassie…”

“Whoo! That gun does look cute with that dress, can you hook me up with one?”

“Cassie you need to know how to use a gun before you can strap one to your leg.”

“I know who we could show them off too! Come on! It will be fun.”

This went on for a time till Diana turned pleading yet shocked puppy eyes to her uncle in a clear SOS that could be read in Banu space. Marxious for his part distracted himself with an M50 landing behind him while the rusted series of industrial facilities was bathed in red streaks from the setting sun beyond. Still, the man was obsessively if not religiously in need of being punctual, and that seemed to be Diana’s salvation.

“Cassie,” Marxious said in a quiet but firm voice that was completely ignored.

“Wow this ship really smells. How does it even fly?”

“Cassie.” Marxious put his hands on his hips showing his own sidearm in its shoulder holster. Of course he got on her case when he was packing. That seemed to sum up Diana’s childhood excursions with her mother’s relatives in a nutshell.

“I love the idea for this party! Reminds me of one we had last year back in…”

“Cassie!”

The petite redhead seemed to levitate three feet off the ground at the sound of her father’s more serious voice. Diana had always thought his standard monotone was intense enough. It would’ve made him pretty mean at practical jokes if he could ever summon enough irresponsibility to have a sense of humor. Maybe the universe couldn’t handle that kind of power so it was probably for the best. Needless to say, his daughter took after her mother both in her mad ability to drive you insane, and act completely innocent in the process.

“Why are you yelling dad I’m right here?” Diana wasn’t sure, but she thought she could just see her uncle’s eye twitch for half a second. Still, the space rancher knew from experience getting properly furious with Cassie was pointless. If she didn’t break down into immune tears on her gorgeous little face she would act so completely dum the IQ levels of the neighboring solar system would lower a whole deviation. Don’t even ask what happened in their own system. The damage was likely irreversible at this point. 

“Let your cousin think long enough to follow me to the rendezvous, and for the love of everything holy in the universe do not follow us into the meeting. You can have fun, but you will let us finish our business in peace.”

“Of course daddy. Why did you think I’d want to be in a stuffy old meeting anyway?"

“I shudder to wonder, come along.” With that Marxious turned on his heels, and the two girls had to hustle to keep up with his long purposeful strides that seemed to ignore the uneven delapitating metal beneath. Not for the first time that night Diana missed her hand made leather boots. These heels had their appeal, but by the verse they were horrible for rough terrain.

Eventually they came to what looked like a brand new space port terminal put on wheels set up on the massive plate’s edge overlooking the last scraps of light as the sea swallows their star. Gathered at the base on lush couches on top of red carpets and mobile heaters were amassed the party guests. Diana could see just beyond them were a squad of well dressed muscled fellows who could only be the mercenaries in question. 

There were four of them all together in pricey tailored suits that just managed to hold back their bulk, and not so hidden weapons from bursting out in a crescendo of sparks and muscle. Two of them were holding what the ever observant space rancher saw as a couple of classy bullpup assault rifles from Bering which were the P4-CQB if she remembered correctly. The other two were clearly armed, but had them concealed under their sports jackets. Diana knew what those bulges ment. These were her kind of people.

Without hesitation she sauntered up to the muscle hunks, and right by the pretty boys in their fancy suits and perfect teeth. If she was going to have to wait here for their ride she was going to wait with some gentlemen who were more her speed. Cassie was confused, but stuck to her side. Luckily, she clammed up at the site of the big serious goons. Uncle Marxious for his part raised an eyebrow, but was called off to do political rounds to a few of the older guests at the party.

Diana centered in on a gentlemen who was a tad leaner than the other mercs with sky blue eyes, steely demeanor, dark ponytail, and thick beard brushed to perfection for the occasion. The much shorter lady figured he wasn’t the type for grooming unless the job called for it. Judging by the way his eyes ignored her dress, and went straight to her gun Diana figured he was as professional as they got. That was certainly a good sign, and Diana knew how to charm a military type even when on duty. 

“Good evening ma'am if you wouldn’t mind waiting with the other guests, and leaving your weapon with your ship it would help the staff here greatly.” His accent told Diana he was not the waiter type. Probably a homesteader at some point, or maybe even been around the old Grimm Hex mining facility one too many times. Diana knew better than to pretend to be posh. It was something you had to have genes for like her uncle. Otherwise observant folks who’ve spent their lives around the modern aristocracy would spot you three systems out before you even thought about throwing on a penguin suit. In response Diana brought out her sweetest rancher girl tone. He had to be uncomfortable with his act after all so a little home town flavoring might do the merc some good.

“What? Sit with those city slickers? No sir this lady ain’t fancy enough for them, and even though you seem nice I can’t lose Tanya here. It be like asking me to go in naked. Being unarmed would be down right unlady like.” Diana put her hands on her hips, and leaned back to look the six foot tall man in the eyes. The move also thrusts out her chest showing off the custom dress’s deep V.  

“Ma’am, I’m afraid that’s how this goes. It’s for the safety of our guests, and crew,” none of the mammoth sized men dained to look at the buffet of flesh Diana had offered them. She had to smile at that. This was good. The mercs had passed her first test, and proven that they were professionals when on the job. Of course, she was going to need more than guard duty out of them, but at least now she knew they wouldn’t get too interested in the local wildlife during a mission. One would be shocked at the amount of “professionals” out there that could be distracted.

Taking a nice subtle half step back Diana cocked her hip, but brought her chest back in before continuing. “I am your guest, and this gun is for my safety. Besides, your crew seems pretty well armed to feel threatened by little old me.” 

“A woman’s size doesn’t change the fact her bullet will kill you.”

“Are you going to give me a reason to shoot you big fella?”

“Not if you don’t give me one ma’am.”

Diana noticed that even as they bantered the man was keeping an eye on her and the surroundings. Very nice, not allowing themselves to be distracted by guests, and VIPs demanding their attention, but not being unnecessarily rude. Again, she doubted she’d need them for a black tie affair, but the fact that they seemed adaptable was a good sign. Diana figured now was the right time to change tacts. 

“Look big guy I’m here to meet Drax if you know what I mean, and I don’t like being the only one not armed in a room while negotiating.”

“You’re commissioner Marxious’ niece?”

“One and the same.”

The bearded mercenary grimaced under all his slick whiskers making them dance like a forest in a disko. Diana could almost see those gears working behind them baby blues, and with a nod from the merc his cohort lifted his mobiglass to his scar ridden face to scan her. After a second he nodded back to the wild bearded mercenary who smiled warmly down through the thick beard it's dark hair making his teeth reflect the dying light.

“Welcome Lady Otello, and to your guest?”
“My cousin Cassie. The commissioner’s daughter.”
“I see ma’am. She seems far too pretty for his ugly mug. You must take after your mother eh girl?” Cassie giggled under the attention, and never one to back down from flattery stepped out from behind her cousin. 

“Have you ever had a private tour of an Origin 890 Jump little lady?” Cassie shook her head back and forth while biting her lower lip. The sight almost made Diana roll her eyes. She’d warned her cousin that kind of look catches the attention of every single male within the immediate vicinity. Not that Cassie had gotten it. She really was innocent, or stupid. Diana still couldn’t decide.

The merc Lieutenant snapped his fingers at the large fellow to his left with cropped sandy blond hair who unlike the other men was clean shaven. “This is Milto, he’ll show you around our ship when she lands.”

The smooth faced merc stepped forward, and slicker than a snake in a pond took Cassie’s hand and led her toward one of the couches overburdened with high born ladies and all kinds of horderves. Now that guy knew how to handle a lady. Diana told herself to watch that mercenary. Charmers could be problematic for her starry eyed cousin. Cassie might be simple, but she was family. Still, that would have to wait till after the current business concluded.

“Smart giving chatty Cassie a chaperone. Do I get a babysitter too? And do say it’s you blue eyes.”
“No ma’am. You get Lutz over here till our liaison officer takes you to the captain,” Diana saw the first legit smile on the mercenary’s face when he pointed at the tall, dark, brooding, and perpetually scowling merc who’d scanned her before. That actually made Diana laugh out loud. This fellow looked like all kinds of fun.

“Hello there Lutzie. How do you feel about taking this fine lady around on your arm?” Diana asked with her best mischievous grin on her face. The merc’s answer wasn’t what she expected.

“I’m married,” answered mister warm and cuddly with the stoniest delivery Diana had ever heard. The effect was made more intense with his thick gravelly voice that grinded past her earwaves harsher than a Orion’s refinery. 

The other mercenaries snickered, and Diana joined in. She had not pegged tall, dark, and battle scarred as a family man. She already liked him.

“Is your wife with the crew?”
“Chief Stewardess.”

“We’ll have to say hello to her so I can thank her for letting me borrow such a strong man for my little adventure won’t we big guy?” So saying she saddled up next to him, but a respectable distance so she didn’t make him uncomfortable. A taken man was a taken man after all. Diana really wanted to know what kind of lady grabs a mercenary like this from the front line. That had to be a story worth hearing.

Before Diana’s new chaperone could respond a sonic boom interrupted him. Diana was too busy holding her short cut dress down over her unmentionables to look up at first so by the time she did it was as if the massive 890 Jump massive hull had warped into existence right above her head. The space yacht ’s slick bow and angular lines cut through the atmosphere like a graceful black swan back on the homeworld. Unlike her sister ships The Odysseus’ Gambit had a black paint job with a single red streak running across its bow which gave Diana the feel of a predator instead of a party vessel. Like a hawk swooping in on its prey in style. 

With massive woosh of air the hotshot pilot pulled the giant starship within meters of the metal plate jutting out of the sea in a power stop that must have shook the planet to its core. That’s what it felt like to Diana who would’ve fallen flat on her face if oversized old Lutz hadn’t of gripped her shoulders in a firm if a bit too tight grip. He was a big fellow after all with biceps larger than her petite thighs. The space rancher was grateful for his support after looking around, and seeing half of the party rolling around on the ground. It looked as if anyone who wasn’t sitting on a couch or part of the staff, except for Cassie since she’d been escorted, and her uncle who never appeared clumsy even if a nuclear warhead had erupted five to his right, were flat on their face.

There were some angry words, but mostly cheers as the partially inebriated rich boys, and their less than reputable women picked themselves up. It was quite the show even if you weren’t drunk. That pilot had to be exmilitary to handle a bird that size like a snub fighter. Not just any cowboy can rangle one hundred and fifty feet of manicured luxury, metal, and glass. Things were looking good indeed.

Lutz steadied Diana again as the massive ship rumbled into position for their expandable bridge to extend to the docking collar on wheels the mercs were guarding. The motion was fluid, and natural like God itself had planned the sky whale’s descent. Without a word or signal the docking collar thrust forward into the space yacht before the vibrations had even finished reverberating through the metal plate they stood on.

“Drax will be waiting in the pool deck if I know him. Come along ma’am.” Lutz growled before stalking off ahead of the colorful crowd quickly forming a line at the base of the docking collar. Diana had time to make eye contact with Uncle Marxious who took a half a second from his conversation with what looked like one of the more corporate of corporate officials from Crusader industries to give her a reassuring node. With that the cowgirl was whisked on to the pristine halls of the rich, powerful, and very dangerous with a winning smile on her face and one hand tapping her hand cannon.

Click here to read part two. Interested in Star Citizen? Here is a post on Mini Carriers, and here is something a little different if you're feeling adventurous. Thanks for reading!