Rocket Fox: Part Nineteen

Vulpinia was the third planet of the Lupine planetary system, and was also graced by three moons. The two largest were Pau Theta I and Pau Theta II, both of which orbited the planet simultaneously and held such an orbit that Pau Theta I was constantly in an outer orbit of Pau Theta II’s. Some have often wondered if this was the reason why Pau Theta II had an atmosphere while Pau Theta I did not. Still, this did not stop exploration ships from investigating the lifeless moon, one which they found was rich in neutronium. After the mining incidents on Pau Theta II, however, many in the Vulpinian governments felt it best to leave mining to other, more habitable worlds.

This didn’t stop any from suggesting that the planet couldn’t be used as an outpost and listening station. A claim that persisted decades after the end of the Great Vulpine Pantheran war. Every time the suggestion was brought up, however, it was always met with delays, the most important being the moral complications with their neighbours on Critainia and Lupinia, the second and fourth planets in the Lupine planetary system.

While diplomats and dignitaries discussed the possibilities of an outpost, however, another group that was completely unaffiliated with the Lupine, Vulpine or Critainians decided Pau Theta I would serve just as well for them. The Jackai.

The Jackai were native to Lupinia, and distant cousins of the Lupine that called the fourth planet home. Unlike their Lupine cousins, however, the Jackai were much more aggressive. At least, the Hyna tribes of the Jackai were more aggressive. Jayna tribe members were often accused of Hyna thievery only because they had the misfortune of looking some similar. But there were ways of telling them apart. One was the social circles they followed. Jayne were caring and compassionate to the pack mates, while Hyna were very domineering to those they considered lessers, even within the pack.

The Jackai, much like the Lupine, did not venture into space on their own merit. Had it not been for the Great Lupine Land War, then the Jackai would have never had the idea to move out into the far reaches of the planetary system. But once they saw Vulpine and Critainian star ships and fighter craft, they began to get ideas.

The Hyna managed to cobble together pieces of ships and learn how to construct their own. Mind you, they were always clunky and ugly looking. But the Hyna weren’t going out into space for exploration, they were going out into space to pillage just as they had on the surface of Lupinia. They proved to be cunning and manipulative pirates, forcing even those few Vulpine and Pantheran pirates to give up a great deal of territory in the Wayfarer’s Belt.

Every now and then, ships would venture away from the safety of the Belt, moving in closer to the merchants’ run that ran from the Belt to Critainia. One in particular, a cunning Jackai named Silent Stalker, found hiding near the moons of Lupinia and Vulpinia gave his ship and crew a great advantage. He became the listening post that the Vulpine never built. And he picked his targets carefully. Wanted by every government in the system, Stalker had become public enemy number one. His attacks were quick, his ship powerful and intimidating, and his crew ruthless.

On this day, his ship, dubbed the Pirate’s Victory, watched and listened for traffic on the merchants’ run to Critainia. They were finding the pickings slim, but there was some promise.

“Lionid’s Pride is on a run to Critainian space,” a stocky comm officer announced. His work station was very rag tag and put together as best it could be. A great deal of the parts were salvaged from other ships the Victory had sacked. But it worked extremely well. The Victory wasn’t a ship that needed to be aesthetically pleasing, but she did need to work as best as possible. “No other ships on the run…” He paused as he listened carefully to the comm chatter. “Hold on. There’s a vessel launching from Pau Theta II.”

“Did they detect us?” Stalker called out with a gruff voice. He sat up in his command chair and held a firm grip on his ceremonial chak’ta blade. A four foot long blade, narrow at the hilt and widened as it curved upward until it came to a sharp point at the tip.

“No,” the comm officer said as he continued to listen. “But it is Main Authority. Vulpine registry. RVA Nighthawk.” Stalker shrugged and shook his head in response. “New class of vessel, from what I’ve heard. Haven’t heard anything else, though. They’re on the way to Critainia, will pass us by in an hour.”

“Once they do,” Stalker said as he rose to his feet. “We’ll set a course to intercept the Lionid’s Pride.” He turned to his navigations and helms officers. “How long would it take us to over take the Pride?”

“At her current course and speed,” the navigation officer announced. “And, once the Vulppie ship passes us, about three hours.”

“Any idea how long this Nighthawk will take before passing the Pride?” Stalker said as he stood between the navigation and helms officers, sword tip resting on the bridge’s deck as both hands clasped the hilt carefully.

“Approximately two hours,” the navigation officer announced. “Orders, Stalker?”

Stalker looked out the view screen to the stars that lay beyond. Each decision he made had to be carefully planned. This Nighthawk, however, was a wild card. A new Vulpine ship, but very little about it was known at all. “Tall Ear, see if our mole in the Main Authority is available and see if he’s heard anything about this ship,” he said, calling back to the comm officer. “Once the Nighthawk passes us by, set a course to over take the Pride. Do not increase speed to match the Nighthawk, keep it at the speed we recorded the Pride at. Once we’re absolutely one hundred percent sure the Nighthawk is out of range of the Pride, we strike.” He picked up his blade and moved back to his command chair. “Lay in a course, helmsman. You have your orders.”

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