Nova Sol - Rebellion (Being Translated)

A strange shipment

Sitting on the cockpit of his Vertiplane V-238C, Lao Shin Chin was smoking the last drag of his cigarette, finishing his final delivery for the night. Whithin his industry the rules were very simple: "Don't ask questions, don't open the package, deliver at the right time". And Lao abode by these three rules completely. He was so strict with them, that whenever a high risk delivery came around, clients asked specifically for Lao and his ship, knowing that their delivery would make it on time. This last delivery had been top priority, from an unknown client, and the payment was higher than usual, so Lao immediately suspected an illegal package. But, since he was not about to start making questions, he accepted the delivery with a 50% payment upfront and was not making any more questions, specially now so close to the dropoff point. His copilot, Kelly Williams, was giving him the last directions received directly from headquarters. The package was to be delivered at warehouse 32 in Shanghai's port, in the industrial zone, at four fifteen in the morning. The pilot should leave in fifteen minutes top and head towards the southern area of the port and into the ocean. This was the first mission he did with Kelly, but that was almost routine for the agency, since it assigned the delivery teams depending on the demands of clients and the characteristics of the delivery.

- All orders received and checked, captain! - informed Kelly to Lao through the helmet communicators.

- Roger that, Kelly. Get the package ready for dropoff. Estimated Time for Arrival: three minutes

- Ok captain, getting the package onto the drop hook.... Captain? I've got a question... Don't you think it's a bit too much what they are paying us for this delivery?

- Kelly, in this industry, the less questions you make, the more work you'lll have... and the longer you'll live

- Yeah, but...

Suddenly the inner lights of the V-238C changed from the typical white color to an intense red. An alarm went off in the control panel, and Lao's helmet visor showed him "Attack warning, ship under electronic lock"

-What's going on captain? are we under attack?

- Just secure the package onto the hook Kelly, and come back to the cockpit as soon as you can! This trip just became a little rougher...

About one kilometer west from their position, an assault group was aiming at the ship with a Hornet military grade rocket launcher, something that was not available to common folk, only to military organizations, the mob and the triads

- That package must not reach its destination. Our client will pay us handsomely if we get it first - said a liutenant from the triads.

-Yes sir! - replied the rocket launcher operator.

The first Hornet missile was fired from the launcher with impressive speed, aiming towards the vertiplane. A second status on the windshield screen popped up: "Incoming Missile". A digital voice was giving the information to Lao's helmet, it was MARA, the ship's Artificial Intelligence

- Attention, incoming missile, impact in 15 seconds. What's the course of action captain?

- MARA, launch countermeasures, Flares!!

- Launching flares. Analysis suggests a second generation Hornet missile. Flares will only have a 39% effectiveness

- 39% is more than enough... Kelly! Either sit down right now or strap your flight suit to the ship's frame. This is gonna be one rough turn!!

The vertiplane twisted over its axis violently towards the right, while the flares were confusing the missile. the Hornet passed just 50 centimeters away from the left engine and got lost in the horizon. Kelly flew around the cargo bay when she wasn't able to secure her suit to the frame, and hit her left arm and her head, leaving her almost unconcious. Immediately after, a second alarm went off, indicating that the ship was under the Hornet's launcher sights again.