Chronicle of the Unknown Sector. (#Wattys2015)

Part 10: Traumatic deja vu

A week after the departure of the Sector's capital planet Merydion, the men and women of Serpent Company aboard the Abaconda were taking full advantage of relaxation after the numerous assignments and operations throughout the Sector.

To the common soldier and ship crew it was a welcome change of pace, however from the non-commission officers all the way up to Pablo himself felt it was amiss for sensors hadn't picked up any Pirate, Slaver or even Ravener activity.

Pablo himself remained in his quarters for most the traversing of space on the way back to Transcendence, by mid-day shipboard time he was joined by Gab and Vera who'd brought him lunch. Sitting in a leather armchair staring outward at the endless stars passing by reflecting on what had transpired over the previous month, to him it almost felt like he was living somebody else's life.

An hour later one of the ships personal reported that the Captain requested him on the bridge, heading there without delay with Gab and Vera close in tow Pablo's thoughts were it was a simple distress call or threat scan. Upon arrival the Commander was informed that the newly recruited Shadow Operative Washira code-named 'Panther' had acquired a set of encrypted secret documents of the highest degree, adding that they had been over-ridden and code-broke the contents caught Pablo's interest for the documents stated of an asteroid based complex within the Aegis sub-sector which happened to be in close proximity to the Abaconda's current location.

"Sir, what're your orders?" the Captain asked toward his superior as all eyes were fixed on Pablo's reaction and response of orders.

"It's a simple recon run, I'll be seeing to it personally." Pablo replied turning to the Captain.

"Are you sure sir, I strongly recommend a squad at..." the Captain began to state before being cut off with Pablo simply shaking his head twice slowly.

"The men need their rest, I'll be fine on my own." he answered rejecting the Captain's statement before he turned to Gab and Vera, "You two will be in charge until I return, it won't take long I promise." he added proceeding his way out toward the armoury.

After gearing up at the armoury Pablo accompanied by his girlfriend and adoptive sister entered the hanger-bay where the heavy armed and armoured star-fighter now renamed to 'Annihilator' with fiery red paint with black outlines was being prep for launch.

"Be careful love." Gab expressed her concern toward Pablo hugging him tightly with Vera joining in on the hugging shortly after.

"Hey, careful is my middle name." Pablo joked around with a small smirk.

"I thought your middle name was Irving?" Vera replied peering up at him with a look of confusion making him roll his eyes knowing it was true meanwhile Gab displayed a smile at the odd mid-name of her boyfriend.

Moments after climbing aboard into the piloting seat and being sealed in finishing the launch preparations as the hanger bay sounded for all to clear the launchpad with crew-members running clear of the immediate area around the ship, engines spoiling up with Pablo fixating his eyes on the blinking red light before illuminating green. Firing up it's engines alongside the clamps of the launchpad releasing the craft flung outward into vast space from the strike cruiser, the craft flew several miles out then bolting into a flash-jump.

Arriving into sub-sector Aegis from flash-jump spoiling down the ships main engine Pablo manoeuvred the craft around searching for the asteroid complex, cruising round a close by set asteroid belts he at last spotted it discovering a metallic landing platform resting at the centre of one of the floating rocks.

Taking a steady decent into the landing zone Pablo touched down peering up as the air-sealing doors closed above him enclosing into total pitch black darkness, the lights flaring up on his armour upon disembarking he found that the complex's state appeared abandoned venturing inward.