So, maybe the idea wasn't the cleverest in the World, but it was the only one Hortan could come up with on short notice. He would launch in an empty ship and pretend that he was going to visit Azumi. He was certain that she would help him; she seemed so honest and helpful. Not like the other pirates, she was more...he blushed, well that too. He just hoped that he wouldn't run into Mystic as well, or he would probably have the same problem as he did last. He could just barely think coherently around one of them, but with both it would be impossible. He found his newly yellow painted Atlas and launched for the pirates nest.
Hortan entered Latos C-2, CLM Headquarters with the worst feeling of impending doom he had had for a long time. He had stocked up on dipramezine, an anxiety reliever, but it only helped a certain amount. The feeling of dread only intensified as the two guard ships launched. Retractile and Sharingan, two of the most experienced pirates, and not ones given to mercy or free runs.
I am here to see Azumi
Hortan broadcast his message on the sector frequency, but braced for evasive action in case the two pirates decided to give chase.
->Retractile: yarr, pay us 220k each and we'll think about it trader.
Hortan initiated the transfer of the money, after all he felt lucky that it wasn't Lebermac that was on guard. He was pretty sure that no matter the amount, he would just shoot until Hortan's ship exploded.
->Retractile: you can dock trader. For now
Hortan engaged the turbo and flew straight for the launch bay, prepared for evasive action. Just as he was about to dock, streaks of neutron fire flared across the rear of his newly painted Atlas and scoured the armour down to mere microns before he hit the cradle hard. He shut the engine down with emergency procedure, not sure how much damage the engine section had taken. With shaking hands he checked the damage screen, and started shaking even more. One percent armour left on the rear, and almost none around the power coupler and powercell. He opened the canopy manually and swung himself out of the battered Atlas. Two dockhands were approaching, one of them wearing a large grin, was slowly drying his greasy hands on an equally greasy rag.
"Looks like you need the big treatment on that yon ship."
Hortan looked at the two men, remembered what had happened last time and decided that he would go nowhere very fast unless he acted now rather than later.
"I am here to see Azumi, fetch her please. There is a reward for getting her here."
The two dockhands exchanged looks before returning attention to Hortan.
"Ok, we can do that. And who may we say is wanting an audience?"
"Just tell her that Hor...that the TGFT ambassador is here."
"And just how big would this reward be?"
"Well, let's say three hundred for getting her here?"
"Three hundred, sure thing bubba." The dockhands turned and walked into the station, grinning and punching each other along the way. Hortan turned and looked at the damaged craft. He frowned, but then recognised what the neutron scars on the side of his ship was making. It was forming some kind of picture or text. He squinted and finally recognised the CLM written in one metre letters, partially covered by slags from molten xithricite armour. He had been tagged.
Azumi was almost lying in her reclining chair, her feet on the desk listening to some metal band with a female vocalist, while throwing daggers at a picture of a Centaur Mk III on her plasteel wall. The tune fitted her mood perfectly, as "Equally Destructive" described what she was doing to the wall but in reality wanted to do to the owner of the ship. The Centaur was rather holed by now, and it was almost impossible to read the pilot name beneath the cockpit. Just as she threw the last dagger, her door alarm rang, making her hit closer to the name than anticipated and changing the name to Slaine instead. She frowned at that, but got up to open the door. The two snickering dockhands outside stopped their amusement and grabbed their hats in their hands when she opened the door; she was not known for her good temper when interrupted.
"Just what the fuck do you two sad sorry excuses for human beings want?" Her voice was sharp and caustic enough to strip the paint of the doorframe, and the dockhands moved back a bit.
"Eh, sorry Ms Azumi, there is someone to see you, some TGFT dude. Amabasedore or sumthing."
Azumi looked puzzled to one side. "Hortan? What the hell is he doing here." She looked at the dockhands again. "Good, thank you. Now scurry along and do whatever it is you do."
The guards moved away, and Azumi slowly closed the door. Why would he come here? He had not been summoned, at least not that she knew of. And unless she had fallen from yoda's grace, he usually used her to send summons. Maybe he was here for..nah, not likely. She had better go and fetch him. She opened the door, and looked down at her utility jump suit. She closed the door again and smiled. "Not like this you aren't girl, not like this." She had a devious idea that unfortunately would take some time, but what did she care. He could wait, he would wait.
