Fifteen minutes later Ashe collected his crew of loyal friends. All three had been with him since he had bought his ship six years ago and between them they had visited most of the known galaxy. He calmly assessed them trying to see them as his uncle did.
Freddie was leaning against the wall loudly chewing gum like himself, his hair was two long falling into his dark green eyes when he lent forward. Cole was laying on the table snoring softly his size 13 boots hanging off the end there was a hole in the left sole. Both men were tall and well-built from the hard labour they needed to do running the airship.
Their Gyro Engineer M. J. Deveral entered the mess hall, covered in soot and grime wiping black smudges in a dirty rag
"Well, we are up and running cap, Where we off to?" Ashe looked long and hard at his Gyro Engineer. Although most people considered the engineer a he, he was actually a she going by the name of Dev and normally covered in dirty overalls she didn't deem it necessary to correct peoples first opinions everyone assumed the foul mouthed drunk was a man and she seemed to like it that way. Ashe sighed this was not going to go down well
"I have some news and a confession "
"and I hope our pay checks Cap." Dev grumbled plonking herself on to he steel floor. Reaching into one of her many pockets she pulled out a spanner and started to fiddle with a contraption in her lap
"What's that" Freddie asked moving round the table to get a better look smacking Cole round the head to wake him up as he passed
Dev looked up smiling "Analytical Virus- Unit mark II new model should be more successful then mark I"
"Bloody hope so Dev the last one dam near took me hand off" Cole complained sitting up crossing his legs on the table.
Ashe sighed "Back on track guys, I must tell you that Viceroy Samuel Houston Carberry Touzel. Has died"
All three gave him a blank look "The heir to the Touzel throne" he prompted
"We know who it is Cap. We just not sure why you think we would care he was making out to be as bad as his pa and the daughter will just take over when old man Touzel pops his clogs so the lineage is stable, it's not like it was his only sprog" Freddie explained
Ashe looked pained "Well its not as simple as that, I must have your word that what I tell you will not leave this room" Again all three gave him a look
"Who else would we tell Cap. No one else will talk to us" Dev said winking at Cole
"Ok right " flustered Ashe continued "Well Professor Dahlia Longworth the now heiress to the Touzel throne is currently stranded off world on a planet whose council has just fallen into pirate hands"
"and we need to know this because?" Freddie prompted after a moments of stunned silence
"Because we have been employed to fetch her home before anyone realises she is not safe on the estate."
"Well Bugger me," Cole muttered "Why us, its not like we are the obvious choice for a rescue mission don't they have an army for that?"
"It would be too conspicuous the whole Aesullo army running of to a distant minor planet don't you think"
"Yer, but why us? why not one of the other 2350 Gyrospheres in the fleet?"
"Because my uncle is her godfather" Asher waited for the uproar but once again it was silent "Aren't you wondering why my uncle would be godfather to the royal highness's daughter?"
"So are you finally telling us about your family" Freddie said slowly thinking Ashe was acting like a dumb ass
"You already know?" Ashe was shocked he had worked so hard to ensure no one knew, It was a bitter pill to swallow knowing the men he trusted the most probably only let him lead them because of his family name
