Voyage: Journey to Earth

Chapter 15: Hunters

Having escaped the conflict, the crew of the humpback are able to relax for a bit. When they checked were they are, the crew quickly realize that they are getting closer to Earth. The crew is excited to know that their voyage is coming to an end. The celebration is cut short when multiple blips are detected on the radar. Farron orders for a visual of the blips and sees a familiar band of mercenaries. Something was off about these mercenaries though. The mercs were much more heavily armed than they were before. Without hesitation, Farron orders all starfighter pilots into defensive position.

"These guys again?! These mercs just don't know when to quit!." Says one of the pilots.

"Lets focus on what's important. Defending the humpback, the tech, and the crew." Jacks says making his way towards the eagle.

The starfighters engage in combat with the mercenaries. Jack notices the improved firepower of the merc ships. One ship in particular catches his attention. The ship is a starfighter but this starfighter feels familiar to Jack. Its almost as if he recognizes this starfighter. The starfighter opens fire on the eagle. The eagle responds with blaster shots in return. It quickly dawns Jack what the starfighter is, the falcon. The falcon is the fastest starfighter in the republics army, specialized in hit and run tactics. The eagle and falcon trade shots for shots as they zip past each other. For every shot the eagle lands on the falcon, the falcon returns fire in response. As the two starfighters zoom past each other, Jack gets a glimpse of the pilot. Memories flood Jacks mind. It dawned on Jack that he knew who the pilot was.

Before Jack could respond, Farron orders for all starfighters to return to the humpback. Realizing how damaged the eagle is, Jack flies back into the humpback. The mercenaries try to follow but are stopped by the pilot of the falcon. The mercenaries return to their ship as the humpback warps away from the scene. As the starfighters land inside the ship, the pilot of the falcon exits the falcon and removes his helmet. One of the mercs, a canid, approaches the pilot with anger in its eyes.

"What the hell Ryan! We almost had them!" Says the mercenary.

"I don't think you noticed, but one of those pilots is of greater importance. Our client wants that pilot dead and I intend to uphold that end of the deal." Says Ryan, barking at the canid.

Ryan leaves for the bridge and opens communication with his client, General Midas. The screen opens and Midas appears from the other side of the screen.

"General. We've tracked down the humpback but they got away from us. We intend to continue our pursuit." Says Ryan.

"Good to know that you're holding your end of the deal, Mr. Hunter. You know how much of a threat to the republic Jack Rider is. We can't have a dead man walking. Bring us the tech and get rid of those traitors on the humpback." Says Midas with a sinister grin on his face.

As the screen closes, Ryan thinks back to his time on the raptor squad with Jack. His thoughts fill him rage as remembers that day the squad was taken out. In his mind, Jack is a traitor to the united galactic republic. Ryan intends to kill Jack and restore the republic to its proper glory.