As tensions continue to rise between the TUC and the Fren experts believe that another round of border skirmishes are likely to begin within the next week. All travelers are advised to take extra precautions if traveling to any colony world close to the Fren border. In other news, no one won last weeks drawing the Galactic Lottery rising the prize to 85.9 million Red Bills, remember Workers you have to pay to play.

Eryn flipped the video screen off, sounds like war was going to break out again with the Fren, hopefully that would draw some attention away from them. " Starlight" said Eryn, " what is the estimated ETA of Athena and the others?"
" They are overdue by ten minutes, which a minute longer than when you asked me last time" said Starlight over the intercom, " please have patience."
" If they've been captured they will be fed enough drugs to make them tell us where we are" said Eryn.
" They have just entered sensor range" said Starlight, " they will probably need help unpacking."
Eryn nodded and left her quarters and started for the hanger bay. Eryn watch as the shuttle came to a stop and the ramp slowly lowered. Robert hurried into the hangar and both saw as a fourth person exited the shuttle. " How was the trip?" asked Robert.
" Productive" said Athena, " I would like to introduce our newest member of the crew, Isabella Constantine."
" A Companion" said Eryn, in a dark fierce tone.
" What is she doing here?" asked Isabella, " you said you were outlaws."
" We are" said Athena, " Eryn's presence takes a little explaining, but don't worry she is not with them anymore."
" I'll take your word for it" said Isabella.
" Athena, may I speak with you for a moment" said Eryn, " in the control room."
" Sure, the rest start unloading the food, I want to get going as soon as possible" said Athena.
Athena and Eryn went into the control room and the door slid behind them. " I do not like those women" she said, " I do not wish to be party of a crew that assists their kind."
" What is wrong with her?" asked Athena, " she is just a Companion."
" Exactly" said Eryn, " I do not like them."
" Why?" asked Athena.
" Companions are almost Citizens" said Eryn, " they receive the privileges and the freedom without any of the work or sacrifice. I bled and nearly died fighting the Fren to become a Citizen, what did she do other than lay on her back and let men do what their perverted minds could think up."
" Eryn" said Athena, " we're outlaws now, Citizen, worker or Companion right now we are all in the same boat, I understand your objections to Companionship but right now we need every warm body on this ship. Don't worry she will pull her own weight like the rest of us, we made that clear to her on the ride back."
" All right" said Eryn, " just make sure her quarters are away from mine."
" No problem" said Athena.

" What is her problem?" asked Isabella, as she helped unload the shuttle, " or that being a fascist jack booted thug?"
" Maybe she doesn't like Companions?" suggested Ami.
" I'm use to that" said Isabella, " I just hope it doesn't get in the way of us staying free."
" You think she is a spy?" asked Robert.
" Once a thug, always a thug" said Isabella, " she put up much of a fight?"
" No" said Jason.
" I'd keep a close eye on her" said Isabella, " she might be leading us into a trap."

Athena and Eryn exited the control room, " All unloaded?" asked Athena.
" All done boss" said Jason, " now we just need somebody to cook."
" I can cook" said Isabella, " it was part of my training."
" Excellent" said Ami, " I'm starving."
" I just need a little help carting all of this too the galley, if a ship like this has one" said Isabella, still in awe of the ship.
" I do" said Starlight walking into the hanger bay, " excuse me Athena, but I need you and Ami on the bridge for a moment."
" Something up?" asked Athena.
" Possibly" said Starlight.
" Go on" said Jason, " we'll handle this."
Athena and Ami followed Starlight as she floated down the hall to the bridge. " I am getting strange readings, I'm not sure if it's the badlands or I'm in need of maintenance" said Starlight.
" Let me have a look" said Ami.
Ami leaned over the console and tapped a few keys. " I think there is something out there" said Ami, " its big."
" Battlecruiser big?" asked Athena.
" Bigger" said Ami, " a lot bigger."
" Should we investigate it?" asked Starlight, " they might be in distress, ships don't normally enter places like this."
" Let's" said Athena, " at least find out what it is, just in case."
" It will take a few hours" said Starlight, " don't want to use the engines too much just in case those ships are close."
" Good it will give us enough time to try out Isabella's cooking" said Ami.

They walked into the galley and smelled a wonderful smell. Isabella was in the kitchen gracefully moving about making dinner. " Its almost done" said Isabella, " this setup is amazing, these Naesians really knew how to lay out a kitchen."
" I'm glad you approve" said Starlight.
" Do you need to eat?" asked Isabella, " I wasn't sure."
" I'm an artificial being" said Starlight, " I do not require food."
Isabella nodded and laid several plates out on the counter between the kitchen and galley. The crew immediately began to devour the delicious food, even Eryn enjoyed it, in the most restrained way she could. " This is amazing" said Ami, " I mean really amazing, what else can you do, besides the obvious."
" I know a few things" said Isabella, " things they don't teach at school."
" You sound like trouble" said Robert.
" Maybe I was" said Isabella, " that's all behind me now, I'm through being a Companion and all the shit that goes with it."
" You're welcome here" said Athena, " as long as you keep cooking."
" Certainly" said Isabella, " this will be an exciting adventure."
The meal was finished and Isabella served them dessert when Starlight said, " The vessel is now within range to get a more detailed view of it."
" And?" asked Athena.
" It is a large vessel, two meters in area" said Starlight, " judging by the emissions it is designed for the processing of ores."
" A mining vessel?" asked Jason.
" Makes sense, the badlands have numerous uninhabited planets" said Eryn, " probably full of raw minerals from some world or another."
" But there is no readings from the vessel, it appears to be disabled" said Starlight, " it appears there has been some damage to the vessel, possibly an engine overloaded."
" How serious is the damage?" asked Robert.
" I can't say for certain, they are leaking radiation that is fouling my sensors" said Starlight.
" Should we go and investigate?" asked Robert, " there might be people hurt."
" Need I remind everyone that we are outlaws" said Eryn.
" It is a corporate mining operation most likely" said Isabella, " they won't be so apt to report us if we lend them a hand."
" I say we investigate" said Athena, " there might be injured, we maybe outlaws but we aren't criminals."
" I recommend taking a shuttle that ship probably will not dock well with me" said Starlight.
" Okay, Robert, Ami, Eryn" said Athena, " let's go and see what's up."
" I recommend we take some weapons" said Eryn, " just in case."
Athena nodded, " Just in case" said Athena.
Eryn slipped off her officer's jacket, and adjusted her suspenders, " Don't want to cause any more trouble than necessary" said Eryn.
The four left the galley, " I'll keep an eye on the sensors" said Jason.
" Good idea" said Athena.

Athena slowly piloted the shuttle towards the massive black hulk of a mining vessel. Its huge exhaust vents still pushing out vapor trails but the rest of the ship was still lacking any signs of life. " All signals are dead" said Ami.
" It looks like their communications antenna is gone" said Eryn.
" Gone?" asked Robert.
" Gone" said Eryn, " I can't give you a better explanation, the radiation is too intense."
" It isn't lethal is it?" asked Ami.
" No, totally benign but it makes for a wonderful sensor mask" said Robert.
Athena gently piloted the graceful shuttle towards the airlock and the entire shuttle rattled as it docked. " Seal secure" said Athena.
They got up and they picked up their weapons. Eryn instinctively took the lead, and opened the airlock. The airlock opened and a heavy cloud of caustic smoke invaded the shuttle choking the four of them. " God" gagged Ami, " this stuff tastes awful."
They flipped on their flashlights and slowly entered the ship.

The interior of the ship was pitch black, a thick pallor of oily smoke hung in the still air, smoke so thick the flashlights were barely able to illuminate a few feet of hallway. Ami found a computer console and tapped the screen. " Its dead" said Ami, " power must be offline."
" Shouldn't the emergency power be on?" asked Robert.
" Ship this big, emergency power probably barely keeps life support running" said Eryn, " we should split up and try and get to the bridge."
" Split up?" asked Robert.
" Two teams could find it twice as fast" said Athena.
They paired off, Ami and Eryn went down the first corridor to the left and Athena and Robert went straight ahead.
Ami and Eryn slowly inched their way down the corridor, the ship was totally silent save for their footsteps. Ami was sweating, her hands were twitching around her flashlight and pistol. She had been on many ships in her life but none this silent. Ships always had their little noises, the engines running, computer systems beeping and whirring, the lights humming, but this was like a tomb. Ami looked over at Eryn, her face looked carved out of pure white marble, at least she was tense as well. They slowly rounded the corner and something swung down at them. Both women screamed and Eryn fired two rounds into their attacker. " What was that?" asked Athena over the control.
The two women stepped close and Ami smirked, " Boss we just killed a wire bundle" she said picking up the shot off end, " this place is freaky."
Eryn looked over at Ami, " Not a soul" she said.
" Wouldn't dream of it" said Ami.
They continued on down the hall, as they came looked down another corridor they saw flames licking the side of the hall. They started for the flames. In the middle of the hallway in what was probably a maintenance station. Flames were licking what was left of the station. " Power conduit blew out" said Ami.
" I'm getting the feeling this wasn't an accident" said Eryn.
" Maybe the abandoned the ship after the engine failed?" suggested Ami.
Eryn shook her head, " Corporate crews would sooner go down with the ship rather than abandon with a full cargo" said Eryn.
" But pirates would attack an ore refinery" said Ami, " how would they transport it back?"
" This is a strange situation" said Eryn.

Athena and Robert slowly climbed the ladder and reached the next level. Damage was everywhere, panels were blown out, wires and conduit hung from the ceiling like jungle veins. Athena put her hand on the deck and froze, it was sticky. " What?" asked Robert.
" Shine you light up here" said Athena.
Robert lifted her flashlight and illuminated Athena's hand. It was covered in blood. Athena pulled herself out of the hatch and shined her light on the floor. There was a long blood trail leading to the hatch and then another leading away. Athena swallowed hard, something very bad happened here, she could feel it all the way down in her toes. Robert looked at the blood trail, " He dragged himself to the hatch and then something dragged him away at a much faster pace, see how the blood is more streaked on that trail than this" he said.
Athena nodded, " Bridge is this way" she said, her light illuminating the word Bridge and an arrow.
The pair walked through the damaged hallway carefully picking their way through the wreckage. They slowly came to the bridge and tried to pry the doors open but were only able to move them a few inches. " Ami" said Athena into her communicator, " we found the bridge, lock on to my signal and follow it up here."
It took Ami and Eryn several minutes to find there way to the doors. Eryn jammed the butt of her rifle in the door and they all looked into the bridge.
It was a complete disaster, the view screen was shattered, all the consoles where smashed. " Look" whispered Ami.
Someone was sitting in the captain's chair, " Sir" said Athena, " sir do you need help?"
" He's dead" said Eryn.
They walked in and Athena spun the chair around. The horror that assaulted them, all of them, even Eryn, had to fight to keep down Isabella's fine meal. The man was completely unharmed, except someone had taken all the skin off his face leaving only a blood skull behind. His hands were tied to the chair as where his feet. His fingers were dug deep in the armrests. " Shit" said Eryn.
Robert leaned in close, " This was done slowly" he said, " look at how ragged the edges are."
" I'm going to take your word for it" said Athena, " you're saying he was tortured."
" Absolutely" said Robert, " and judging by the absence of any other injury on the body he didn't give up anything."
" God, what kind of sick fuck would do something like this" said Ami.
" A sick fuck that really wanted some information out of this guy" said Eryn, " but what?"
Athena took a deep breath and began to rummage through the body's pockets, blood and gore was all over his jumpsuit. Athena found nothing just more gore. " Get the main power back online, I want answers" said Athena, " whoever did this is probably lurking around somewhere."
Everyone looked down at the body, a shiver slowly arced from one to next as they tried to think of who could have done this. Ami slowly walked over to the last functioning console, " Damage on all decks, main power is totally shot but I think I can redirect the power from the refinery to main systems, but I need to go down into the refinery to do it" said Ami.
" I'll come with" said Eryn.
The pair started for the refinery as Athena and Robert started to pick through the mess of the bridge.