Snakes' Nest

heavily modified Boa class appears. A comms channel opens and no pleasant exchanges made, the Boss cuts straight to the point. 'You've been valuable to us Alice. You show some fine intuition, leaving alone those freighters, that while bountiful may cause us problems later. You're now going out into the universe. I'm leaving two more groups with you, making twenty four under your command, including two 'Conda's. Your new teams cut has just risen to thirty percent of the bounty, and you get to keep any bounty from kills made. Don't let me down, You've got promise and I'd hate to take you down.' No further communications were made as the cargo was passed over to the freighters and payment was transferred.

  The ships all departed company, leaving the two new groups behind. After a flurry of introductions, Alice is left in charge. What is going on here? I’m supposed to be gathering intel, but I’m actually enjoying the risk, the combat, I’m now more than just dangerous, soon I’ll be Deadly at this rate, was Giles just working for the pirates to get me in here? Over a wideband comms channel Alice addresses her group, ‘Right boys and girls, girls, It’s nice to see some females out here. We’ve all got scoops, so the universe is our wormhole. we’re going to remain here for a month to get some tactics working, and learn to work with each other before heading out. Unless of course we’re lucky and fill up while here.’ She quickly lays out a plan of hiding and attack, utilising the Anaconda’s with four escorts each to act as trader decoy’s, enticing other traders to come in closer for a safety in numbers plan. Splitting the groups so that pilots can get used to each other’s flight styles.

  Almost two years after that meeting with Giles, Alice is in charge of three systems worth of pirates. Passing from group to group, advising and checking cargo. A holovid message comes through. She knew enough to keep this to herself and bade her leave from Riediquat. In complete isolation Alice plays the message. A man stands before her 'Alice if you have sense you'll be alone to watch this. I'm Jethro, one of the bosses associates. You will rendezvous with us at Quator in ten days.' The message then cut off and slices was left staring at empty space.

  'Well that's it. I had best be off or be in the crap.’ Alice sets jump co-ordinates to take her back to Quator, ‘I wonder if this is good news or bad news.’ Readying herself for emergency action, Alice jumps to her destination system. A few day’s left, I’ll refuel while here. She heads to the sun to fill her fuel tanks with solar plasma, for use in Witchspace transit. “Sun Skimming” she runs a full diagnostic of her Sidewinder, to ensure everything is functioning fully, in particular the not quite legal modifications.

  Hull: 100%

  Laser: Fully Operational

  Laser booster: 42% increased power

  Missile: 4 x Unknown - Modified

  ECM: Unknown - Modified - Operational

  Scanner: Unknown - Modified - Operational

  Energy: Full

  Energy booster: 20% increased power

  Engines: Fully Operational

  Engine booster: 37% increased output

  Micro shield: Fully Operational

  Witchdrive injectors: Fully Operational

  Witchspace Drive: Range 38LY

  Pleased with the output, Alice sets course for the asteroid field where all her cargo drops have been. The improved scanner range, obtained from a location other than the pirate havens, on board “Shadow” show three craft tailing her, just out of standard scanner range. Good, they’ve not learned of my new scanner yet. As she closes into the Asteroid belt, the three tailing craft make a burst of speed and close in, while ahead of her two new craft appear, one of them a hard looking Mamba, the other, ‘Courier!’ Alice lets out a gasp. She arms her missiles, and makes ready for combat.

  A comms channel opens up issuing a digitised voice, ‘Alice. You are to follow us through the Asteroids. Interesting you should approach fully prepared for combat.’

  ‘I never interact anywhere without being ready. You should know that.’ Alice jibes at the pilot who pursued her and missed their target.

  ‘You were one of few, which is why you’ve survived out here. Let’s go, the Boss awaits.’

  Following the two ships ahead, and being tailed by three more, Alice feels edgy, but keeps calm, and is constantly aware of possible escape routes. Nearing a central area of the asteroid field a vast space station comes into view, in a patch clear of all debris. Alice stares at the station, several freighter class ships docked or holding nearby. On top, a single landing area containing a large Boa, bristling with armaments. I should have guessed, well here goes. As she approaches the station a message comes over the comms channel, ‘Sidewinder Shadow, You are cleared for docking on the external pad.’ Alice heads towards the landing pad where the Boa is situated. After a faultless docking procedure, she leaves her ship wearing an enviro suit and heads towards a life tube, and descends into the station. There is only one stop and one exit, into a clear plas room where she can view the inner workings and dealings inside the station. After a few moments wait, another door opens, a speaker bid’s Alice to remove her protection and enter. Inside is a large luxurious apartment, a vast wealth of luxuries from ill-gotten gains. A large man with the appearance of being once very powerful now turning to fat, with an indeterminate age is sitting in a large comfortable seat.

  ‘Welcome Alice,’ He looks directly at her, ‘your time with us has been somewhat profitable, however now that career is at an end.’

  Alice tenses, ready for a fight for her life, They’ve found out my real reason for being here.

  ‘I’m the “Boss”. To those close enough I’m Finkle.’ He grins at her as she looks around for possible escape. ‘There is no need to prepare for a fight, just yet. You have a choice.’

  ‘And that choice is how to die I assume?’

  ‘Choose one way, and you can choose how to die. Your choice is promotion.’

  ‘That’s not a choice.’

  ‘That is your choice, do you accept?’

  ‘And if I choose to stay?’

  ‘That is not an option, Promotion, yes or no.’

  ‘What is the promotion position?’

  ‘Better than what you do, very lucrative.’

  ‘I get the feeling you’re telling me, you have a new job for me, take it or die. Without telling me the new job.’

  ‘Don’t toy with me, I like clever people, but not cocky. You read into it what you wish. Will you take the new position?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Good girl, your ship is having a few upgrades performed as we speak. There is no charge for these. Once complete you will carry on your old role until called. Your new role will require undercover operations within the police from time to time. You will also carry out assassinations. This will not be a problem, as you so rightly observed, the answer is yes or die. Julie here,’ he indicates a woman to his right, ‘will see to your needs for the next couple of days while work is carried out. Take time out and enjoy the luxuries before you start your new role. Good bye.’

  Well, the feds are still paying me, I’m enjoying my new life, and I’m one step off Deadly, what more can a girl want? Julie steps forward and ushers Alice through a door into her new life.

  #

  Acknowledgements

  David Braben and Ian Bell for creating Elite, which I’ve spent years playing and its sequels, and offshoots ( Frontier, Frontier First Encounters and FFE Russian Mod). The game that got me hooked on games, and space.

  Giles Williams for Oolite, a fantastic remake of the original Elite.

  Drew Wagar - https://www.drewwagar.com - For his Oolite saga ‘Status Quo’, ‘Mutabilis’, ‘Incursio’ and ‘Finis’ - maybe better known for Rebecca Tyley and Jim Feynman. A fantastic saga which gave me the idea to write. I just wish there were more of these to continue.

  Last but not least Liam Rafferty for the fantastic cover design, and the use of his planet Liam Rafferty’s Paradise and his station Liam Rafferty’s Mobius.

  #

&
nbsp; About the author (that’s me)

  Hmm, first or third person? I think first.

  I started playing Elite back in 1989 at College in Yorkshire, and became instantly hooked. This led to many a sober ‘honest hosslifer, I’m not as thunk as drinkll peep I am’ philosophical discussion, propping up the hedge of a friends neighbour, with our feet dangling off the kerb.

  Then along came Frontier and its follow up, Frontier First Encounters. Again I was hooked.

  Appetite sated for a few years while I undertook FPS (First Person Shooters) online, with the community that goes with it. Then I’d heard rumors of Elite 4. WOW, and joined up with Frontier Forums. Several times a year I’d check in on them and nothing.

  During this time Mountain Biking, Karting, Track Days, Scuba Diving all loomed large. Scuba Diving still does, where myself and my partner dive occasionally with Seasearch North East (www.seasearchne.com a website they asked me to design for them, which isn’t too bad if you ask me, I’m no webdev.), the North East section of a voluntary group of divers who nationwide produce reports and carry out seabed survey’s for the marine conservation society.

  Then in November 2012 a Kickstarter project for Elite: Dangerous started. That was it. Life on