The Whorls of Jupiter

Chapter 1 Boarding Action

July 5th 2521 Waxing 4

The Prominent Rage drifted through the Jovian equatorial zone. Inside, alarm klaxons chimed, beeped, and droned in a sequence as they entered the battleskies. The ship rocked as debris from other ships rained down and scattered over its hull like screws across a metal roof. Emerging from the khaki wisps, the Prominent Rage activated its combat thrusters and began its chase. Today's target was a rival transport, one of hundreds soaring the skies in yet another trade war between Bridgemoor Multiglobal and the insurrectionist Free Traders of Io. Above mining and transport ships of countless shapes and sizes were locked in combat with archaic and repurposed weapons.

The Prominent Rage was no different. Originally a freighter used by Jovian pioneers, it now had extra layers of armor welded on and numerous but outdated receding guns. Rage served as both a scout ship and a freighter for Bridgemoor, delivering the most dangerous payload on the planet: Bridgemoor marines. Consisting of mostly ambitious and desperate blue collar workers, the Bridgemoor Marines were the only conscripts that were provided some actual training and were better armed and armored than the insurrectionists that depended on smuggling and piracy for any arms.

Roused from his bunk by ever increasing klaxons and listening to the rattle above Lance Corporal Jorge Murillo strapped on his body armor over his flight suit and attached straps of his hermetically sealed helmet. He dropped by the armory for his gun and Gunnery Sergeant Oddie Velvar was waiting for him. Passing out rifles like they were newspapers in the Great War, Oddie reached behind the counter and handed Jorge's personalized gun to him. An X-89 rapid assault rifle with a grenade underbarrel, extended magazines, a short range Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight that was good up to 250 ft, and an emblem of a flaming skull. Jorge's name was engraved within the side of the rifle. Oddie tossed him a satchel full of loaded magazines hissing with sadistic joy, "Here's some candy for the babiessss!"

Jorge never did understand that expression but he nodded in gratitude for the extra ammunition. He looked through the satchel to see his loadout of varying kinds of ammo. Two magazines of incendiary rounds, two mags of armor piercing, and three mags of standard shredder rounds custom loaded with every third round an incendiary tracer to help line shots downrange.

Corporal Singer waved him over to his assigned place in the port quarter of the Prominent Rage. "You ready for this Jorge?"

Jorge reached into his pouch and withdrew a mag of standard shredder rounds, slammed the magazine home and racked a round in the chamber. "You bet Sing Sing. Kinda surprised there wasn't a briefing though."

"It's a by the book op. We go in and fuck up the competition. Any luck and we'll bring the whole ship down and bail with a kill."

"What's wrong? Afraid of glory Jorge?" Behind them lumbered a massive giant in intimidating dark plated power armor. Stenciled on his collar undershirt were the words 'Jal boseyo!' Sergeant Major Keun MG continued, "We have neither the ammo nor the manpower for a protracted battle."

With his helmet still unsecured and wobbling erratically Oddie supported his battle-buddy, "That's right Sgt. Keun! If you boys want tah eat you're gonna have to land some kills on those... those... f-fucking! Free traders!"

Jorge stepped over and adjusted Oddie's chinstrap, "Surprised to see you volunteering for the shit Oddie."

"You're not my pa, f-fucking greenhorn!"

"I've shot a gun before Oddie. Killed a few people."

Sgt. Major Keun rested his gauntlet on Jorge's shoulder; it weighed like a cinderblock in the shape of a hand. "Oddie, Jorge here will do his job. I recruited him myself after seeing him in the riots on Orbital 54. The man can kill just fine. That said keep your sights on the enemy Jorge. Battle is a little different from a riot."