[Don’t worry host I’ve got a plan.
We let them attach the gangway which includes a data line, and then take over their ship.
If we fixed the transmitter I could have taken them down already but we have to use what we got.] “Oh well that’s good news.” if we can hack their ship that takes most of the risk out but they still have weapons and we only have one chance if we don’t get all of them at once then it could be bad.
I run scenarios trying to come up with a plan.
And within a few minutes a comms request pops up.
Ok time to do this.
Exie open the channel.” A dirty bridge, bigger than mine, but full of boxes and desperately in need of maintenance appears on the 3D holodisplay.
A burly man with unkempt hair and scars all over his face and arms seems to be checking me out like I’m appraising him.
“Cut your engines and prepare to be boarded.
You are going to donate all your supplies to us for protection.
This is a dangerous neighborhood.
You should be thanking us” he says with a cruel smile.
Knowing full well this is a robbery.
“Nah fuck that.
Save the acting for some other sucker.
You’re just another bunch of pirates out to steal others’ hard work.” allowing my anger to show a bit.
Hoping to hide my desperation.
“Words won’t save you, worm.
Out here its just us.
Last chance before we open fire and we all know you won’t last long with your paper thing armor.
If your ‘donations’ are substantial enough maybe you’ll survive this.” This lies are obvious, they’ll never let me live.
They never let miners escape.
They always just disappear and then you might see their ship being used by someone else months or years later.
Just gone.
These bastards prey on the small-time miners, not daring to target the midsized groups with protection or the large corps.
Normally I’d be freaking out right now, lamenting my own doom.
Fortunately for me, I’m feeling calm and hopeful.
With Exie’s control of their ship and my resonance, I’d give us 50/50 odds.
In order to not have them start shooting up my ship, I start to slow and then cut the power.
The die is cast.
I glare at the pirate but he just laughs.
“You’re smart.
We’d definitely kill you if you make us chase you all over.” he gloats as I cut the feed.
Nothing to say now.
My palms begin to sweat and my mouth is parched as I put on my EVA suit in case of depressurization.
I’m not a fighter.
I’m a miner who wants to live and will fight.
“Exie make sure to gain control of their systems as fast as possible.
I’m counting on you.” [Understood, Host.
We will fight together.
This will be our first battle together, but not our last] Exie sounds like an old hand.
I must admit it’s reassuring to have them, to know their experience and knowledge from so many battles of so many different races and ships is on my side.
And my new powers.
It’s easy to forget I’m not the same weak person, incapable of defending myself.
If used properly, I can think of many ways to use this offensively.
Maybe call all the metals in a person’s body or… wait can I make spears?
And make them fly?
In a moment I’m running to the cargo hold and calling out a small ball of metal, enough for 2 short spears hopefully.
The metal spheres cut in half and then start spinning and getting thinner and longer.
Thinner and longer.
Until they are about an inch thick in the middle and taper down to points on both sides.
It’s unrefined and not smooth but the points look deadly.
They feel good.
Right.
Its got a metal muscle vibe with its ridges and bumps.
As I’m practicing a block and then stab, then stand in a throwing position trying to aim, the real reason I’m there comes back.
Oh yeah can my magic throw stuff.
I hold the spear in my right hand out and hold my pal up and then open it upward with the spear balanced on it.
Calling out the the spear, it slowly levitates and moves side to side then forward slightly.
Yes!
I can use my power to move weapons.
It seems to be less powerful moving away from me then towards me.
Guess ‘calling’ is an accurate name.
The mana burn is pretty quick so I just practice a little more before saving the rest.
The hardest part is the wait.
Instead of sitting around I keep practicing with my spears.
Cross blocks.
Single stabs.
Double stab.
Behind the head double block.
Questionable if it’ll be effective but it’s keeping me calm.
10 minutes out they try to initiate contact again but there’s no point.
Better to know it’s a fight to the death, then hope for mercy.
5 minutes out I tell Exie to cut the engine.
Not point wasting fuel.
The battle is about to begin.
I want to try throwing the spears but there is nowhere to throw them without damaging something.
They send out the skybridge, only 3 meters and connect to the Bessie.
Go time!
‘Exie I want the number of fighters and locations asap.’ [Host I’m cracking them right now.
Last firewall down.
I’m in.
ok 3 fighters in the airlock about to close the inner seal.
One is on the bridge monitoring the cameras.] ‘Ok, loop the video feeds now.
Don’t let him see.
Wait, when we disconnect, can you still control the other ship?’ damn forgot about that part.
This could be bad.
[No problem Host.
The AI knows all our plans and can be connected with the close range comms.
We can basically talk with it if we need it to do something.] ‘Got it.
As soon as they start closing the inner seal of the airlock, force open the outer seal to empty their entire ship air supply and throw them out the skybridge.
Disconnect our ship now and push us back a few meters to give the air a place to escape.
If we’re lucky they’ll splat on the airlock door.’ [Will do.
The three boarders have light laser pistols and one of them seems to be the captain.
You ready?
Here we go.
Force opening the outer seal in 3 2 1.
NOW] Inside the enemy ship’s airlock preparing for combat, the captain was already counting the spoils of another ship captured.
He’d done this dozens of times over the years.
Just another fool waiting for them to harvest.
They had seen this ship head deep into the roid field over a week ago and waited patiently for the return.