The Crescendo drifted lazily into SC-3386-2, the light of the system's yellow star twinkled prettily in the distance as the vessel pushed toward its goal.
Captain Lyle Nevarro scanned the monitors in front of him detailing the ship's position to 3386-2's sun and fourteen planetary bodies, powerful communications signals were being emitted somewhere in this system and the Empire hired him to investigate.
Captain Nevarro was young for a commander of a starship; he used to be a Magnus Security Inc. Fighter Pilot before he was able to save up enough to purchase a freighter. After a decent run ferrying goods for various companies, he finally was able to acquire a Corporate Frigate and hire out his ship's services to those businesses who needed protection. Wartime was good for guy's wallet so long as he fought hard enough to survive.
When he was approached by the Empire to investigate an anomaly in an outlying star system he first scoffed at the idea of scouting out some new region of space, figuring something like that was better left to automated probes, but in the end the money was very adequate and getting in good with the Empress wasn't a bad idea either.
Captain Nevarro continued to peruse the holoscreen in front of him as information from planetary scans were processed. When his communications officer informed him that they had just been pinged and that they were being hailed, Nevarro raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Who is it?"
"Unknown serial code and designation. Should I patch it through?"
Captain Nevarro scratched his chin, "Yes. Audio only."
The Comm Officer nodded and the distinct static of active communications was Nevarro's cue to speak,
"This is the Corporate Frigate MEV Crescendo in service to the Empire of Terra. I am Captain Lyle Nevarro."
There was a beat of silence before a response, "I am Technical Hamilton Loire, Chief of Waystation Alpha-Zero." It sounded like an older man, one who was used to being in a position of authority, "I serve the Umbran Technocracy" he stated proudly, "System Patrol Vessels have been dispatched and ordered to bring you to dock here. We'll have plenty to discuss."
Captain Nevarro was not impressed, "If I refuse?"
"Then they will be ordered to fire on your ship." Technical Loire stated matter-of-factly.
"...Very well. Send docking coordinates." Nevarro slumped in resignation. He may have a warship, but he was in an unknown system with no support and he doubted that the Empire would be too pleased if he instigated an altercation with a bunch of unknowns in the middle of nowhere.
Ten starships showed up from out of the black. They were sleek and angular, silvery with dark blue and black insignias proudly displayed on their prows. They were frigates, but smaller than his by half. They also had a certain grace that Imperial ships lacked and if they had any weapons they weren't easily visible.
Waystation Alpha-Zero was not an incredibly impressive sight to behold for a space station, but it was intriguing for its location. It hung motionless out in the middle of nowhere, Captain Nevarro thought that stations could only be built safely in orbit of celestial bodies due to the incredible energy required to keep such a large body in one spot without natural gravitational forces to help anchor the structure. The Crescendo docked with Alpha-Zero with little issue and the captain selected a security detail to accompany him to his meeting with his captors.
Lyle Nevarro was not big on taking unnecessary risks, he survived everything from the Genociders, right on through to the Corporate Rebellions. Like hell he planned on getting killed on some errand.
The airlock hissed as the pressure regulated and the air of the ship mixed with the station. The door opened and the captain, with his five-man security squad, stepped out of the belly of his vessel right into twenty soldiers with firearms pointed directly at them and a stone-faced old man dressed in white.
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