It was a cold night on Atlantis.

The not-quite Earth-like atmosphere didn't quite trap the heat

from the almost Earth-like star. A chill breeze stirred the patrons of the Dying Quasar bar as a man
stepped through the front door. The man wore his old coat open in the front and carried a pistol openly
at his side. He gave the room a quick glance, then walked purposely to an open seat at the bar.
Evening stranger, said the barkeep in a too-familiar tone, What'll it be tonight?
Name's Jason, friend, the man said, Just a soda today, not staying long.
I see, long voyage ahead? the barkeep asked, beginning to clean some used tankards.
I hope so. The man paused a moment. I left her Jack. I left Neptune's Pride.
Oh? Why? She was your pride and joy.
Well, I didn't really have a choice. Here, Jason said, handing over a data stick, That'll explain
everything. You're one of the few people in this galaxy I trust, so I know you'll get that to the right
people if the need arises. Jason finished his drink and stood. I probably won't see you again Jack, so
thanks for everything.
Yeah, sure, no problem. As the man turned to leave, Hey Jason. The man turned, Safe
travels.
After all the patrons had stumbled out into the cold night, the bartender looked at the data stick
he'd been given earlier. He fingered it idly, thinking about the man who gave it to him. He used his real
name, he thought. Jack locked the door and went back to his apartment in the back of the bar. Sitting
down at his computer, he considered the data stick. Depending on the contents, it might be very
dangerous to view. Jason needed him though, and Jack didn't think the lad had it in him to put him in
such danger, so he plugged the stick in and opened the drive.
The data stick was encrypted and the folders were written in a cypher, but Jack was familiar
with Jason's security, and soon enough had the whole thing open to view. The drive contained a series
of logs, audio and written, detailing Jason's travels and adventures. Jack skimmed the files until he
came to one labeled as a summary. Looking at the file size, he settled down for a long story.
If you're listening to this, then you're one of the few people I trust. Depending on who you are,
you might know me by a different name. I'm Marcus Bradley to some of you, Alexander Hardigon to
others. Some of you know me as Steve Richardson, and others know me as Peter Carpenter. I've gone
by dozens of other names, but my real name, and the one I'm using from now on, is Jason MacArthur.
You already know some of this story, but for context, and for the others listening, I'm telling
the full version. It begins many years ago, in the year 2422. Our story starts on Mars, in a small worker
town called New Hope. I grew up there, in the shadow of manufactured starships and under the
crushing knowledge that all I had to look forward to in life was an eternity operating a machine in a
smog choked factory. The town was a run down hovel, nothing worked and the community ranged
from depressed at best to cruel and heartless at worst. When they run out of options, desperate people
wind up there, which happens to include some of the worst humanity has to offer. New Hope is the end
of the line for mankind. Just when you thought that wasn't bad enough, I didn't even have a family to
lean on. My mother died giving birth to me, and my father was killed in a work accident when I was
only 6 years old. Alone and orphaned, I was left with what was in the pantry to live off of. I wasn't old
enough to work in the factories yet, so I spent my time marveling at the star ships as they'd take off.
You haven't seen anything until you've felt a new starship engage her engines for the first time. The
noise is deafening, but the sight is truly awe-inspiring. I think was the sight that kept enough hope alive
for me to keep going, but I digress
Periodically, traders and merchants would come to town, often as not due to a wrong turn.
When I was fourteen, I saw this as an opportunity. While the merchant was negotiating some last

minute sales, I snuck inside his caravan with his acquired goods. I didn't care where I went, just that it
was somewhere away from here. I was discovered by the merchant himself a few days later when her
unloaded the trucks at the starport. His name was Jack Williams. I'll never forget that day. I was young
and scared, and only knew that I needed to be away from Mars. I wasn't sure what would happen when
I was discovered, but it had to be better than the future that awaited me in New Hope. I half expected to
be turned in, half expected to be shot on the spot, but Jack did neither. He asked me what I was doing,
and after my explanation offered to take me with him. I didnt question him. I would have followed
him into the sun if he'd have asked me to, just to get away from Mars.
It turns out Jack had some less than reputable contacts that he worked with. We headed to the
Epsilon Eridani system, even then a home to all kinds of folk who live just outside the law. We put into
port above Epsilon Eridani III, where Jack officially enlisted me as a cabin boy on his ship. Never
before or since have I been so excited. Jack kept his involvement with the pirates, scoundrels, and
smugglers to strictly trade, but I wanted more. After a few years, I told Jack I was signing on with
another ship, Neptune's Pride. She was small but fast; her crew specialized in hit and run raids and
blockade running. Jack was disappointed, but he knew I couldn't stay on his ship forever, and he was
getting close to retirement anyways.
Aboard the Pride, I learned a lot. If it involved a starship, I was only too eager to help out. I
spent time in engineering, at the weapons console, anything anyone would let me work with. As time
passed, I rose through the ranks until I was promoted to chief of engineering as Commander. I was then
third in command, behind the first officer, Commander Alexi Stukov and Captain Tom Skerritt. Stukov
and I were never on good terms. He had been Commander Stukov for a very long time, and never
forgave me for my rapid ascension. There had been bad blood between us for a while, but we kept it to
a minimum out of respect for the Captain.
Eventually however, Skerritt grew old and ready to retire. He took me aside, and told me that
he wanted me to take over as captain. I was honored, and not a little surprised. Stukov had been
Skerritt's second-in-command for years; it was strange that he'd choose me, his third-in-command. I
accepted of course, I loved Neptune's Pride, and was thrilled to have such a position. Xtukov wasn't
pleased, but he said nothing to me then or ever.
I was the captain of the Pride for several years. Under my command we raided a number of
systems, Tau Ceti and Alpha Centauri chief among them. We aimed primarily military and government
targets; my logic being that they at least could handle the loss. They also were better defended against
us, but my men and I preferred the challenge. Having to work so hard for a prize made us feel as if
we'd earned it, which helped sooth some our out guilty consciences. We didn't take prisoners, but we
also tried to minimize casualties. Leg shots and knockout blows were our pension.
Part of the reason for our clean style was to separate ourselves from some more distasteful
crews. One ship in particular, the Siren's Call, consistently competed with us for jobs and marks, but
they were ruthless in their execution, pardon the pun. They didn't take any prisoner's either, but that's
only because they never left any survivors either. Their captain, Giaccomo Bernoucci, was a hard man
who wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice one of his own crew if it would get the job done. He and I met on
several occasions; the meetings were understandably tense.
Anyways, one day we had planned a raid on a research facility in orbit around Himalia. We
didn't know what they were studying there, but it was top secret, and so that likely meant military
technology of some kind. Naturally, we wanted a part of it. The plan was simple, break in, download
the data banks, steal a prototype if possible, and get out. Simple. We we sending in three teams. I was
leading the main team, Stukov had one, and my third, Maria Gonzalez was leading the third.
Everything was going well, the staff was mostly away on shore leave, and the few people we
encountered were easy enough to subdue.
My team was almost to the primary memory core when the alarms suddenly went off. It was
surprising and unfortunate, but we had handled this kind of setback before, we were one of the best

crews around. We made it to the core, but Stukov was waiting for us. He wasn't supposed to be there;
his assignment was to lock down the guard station and prevent just this kind of thing from happening.
'Greetings Captain, rotten luck eh?' he said mockingly, his weapon drawn and pointed my
way.
'What are you doing here Alexi? You're supposed to be at the guard station.' I started scanning
the room for places to take cover, but there wasn't much about, and Stukov had the high ground at the
control terminal for the core.
Stukov smiled. 'Surely you see what will happen now. You're going to stay on this station while
I leave in my ship. You'll take the entire blame for the break in and the entire murdered crew of this
station.' Yeah, that gun was definitely pointed at me.
'Don't do this Alexi, you know what the Council thinks of mutineers.' I tried to get a read on
the other crew members present, would they support me or Stukov, but alas, our combat armor comes
with a full face helmet, no such luck.
'What mutiny? Everyone here is loyal to me, and as far as the rest of the crew will know, you
died in the confusion after the alarm was tripped.' The men with Stukov were fingering their weapons
anxiously now, Stukov had indeed picked loyal men for his team.
'Then we have nothing left to discuss,' I said, falling into a rolling dodge for cover. The room
erupted into a firefight. Scant cover forced the combatants to stay mobile, mixing the two sides into a
hopeless mess. Only Stukov and I stood out as obvious targets, and the battle soon became dominated
by desperate attempts to get a shot off at the two of us. It was a battle with only one possible outcome: I
wasn't willing to kill any of my own men, but Stukov was. The commander started targeting those who
fired on him, and soon I was outnumbered badly. The only choice open to me was to flee. I had to get
to the ship and take off before Stukov. Shouting to my remaining me to follow me, I made a dash for
the exit.
The battle turned into a mad chase then, the twisting passages and frequent turns giving me the
advantage. I radioed Maria to get to the ship and prepare for launch. It was the most nerve-wracking
few moments of my life. We dodged around corners and sped down the halls, never more than a
moment away from a sizzling laser blast. Coming around a corner, I saw a young man, presumably one
of the scientists hurrying my way. 'Go!' I shouted, 'Get out of the way!' His confused look turned to
horror at my approach, but only for a moment before a blast took him squarely in the chest. I stumbled,
tripping over his failing body and turned to see Stukow standing at the end of the hallway, weapon out.
It was over, I knew. Stukov wasn't a bad shot, I was on the ground, and there wasn't a bit of cover
anywhere near me. I looked up at Stukov, 'Why?'
'I've been serving on this crew longer than you've been breathing, and yet I'm supposed to
follow your orders?! Every rank I've attained, I've been passed over for at least once before. Every
assignment has been given to someone else. I've been living in the shadow of younger and less
experienced men than myself for too long! I deserve this command! I deserved it years ago!'
'But you were so close! Next month the other captains and I were going to discuss who should
command some of the new salvage, and your name was at the top of many of their lists, mine included.
But now...'
'I don't want a salvaged ship! I deserve the Pride! I've served on her for over two decades! I
deserve to command her! Not some looted piece of garbage!'
'Is she worth this?'
Alexi considered for a moment. 'Yes,' he said, walking down the hall towards me. 'Good luck
finding passage off this station Jason, especially with that leg,' Zap! Fire seared through my leg as
Stukoz's shot passed through it. 'Don't let me see you again. I'd hate to think of what the Council would
do to a captain that abandoned his crew.' He kept walking, around the corner and out of sight. The pain
was unbearable. Stukov's shot had fused some nerves together, creating a feedback loop of some kind
that sent me spiraling down into blessed unconsciousness.

I awoke on a medical table, by body numb, but my heart aching. I was being tended to by an
elderly doctor. He told me that I'd been out for a few days, and that I was the only man found alive on
that station. I was currently under investigation for the murder of the crew compliment, and so was
confined to the medical wing. I hadn't killed anyone, but even if I could prove that, I did launch a raid
on the station. It truly was a hopeless situation.
I resigned myself to my inevitable fate, waiting for the day of the trial to begin. When it did,
they had some retired navy officer, Captain Ben Abresch, defending me. The man was a pilot, not a
lawyer, but I already knew what was coming, so it didn't matter. Captain Abresch surprised me though.
He had collected video files from the day of the raid and used them to prove I killed no one. That still
left the charges of piracy, trespassing, and the like, but after a private conversation with the judge, those
charges were dropped. Ben later explained that the station was home to a secret research project and
that they couldn't afford any press at all, so they dropped the charges and were letting me go. Only the
murder charges were enough to risk public knowledge, and with those no longer relevant, I was free to
go. I offered Ben my thanks and my sincere apologies that I didn't have anything I could pay him back
with. He then invited me to serve on his ship, a small private craft he had received upon retirement.
There I could 'work off' my debt. I accepted happily, glad to be heading for space again, and thrilled to
be away from that station.
That's where we are now. I got to keep my equipment because I have 'legal' permits for it all.
GalacticsamuraI is a genius if you ever need forged documents. Some day I'd like to return to the
Epsilon Eridani system and give Stukov the payback he deserves. I'd like to return to get Neptune's
Pride back from him, I still love that ship. Oh well, wishful thinking won't get me anywhere. I'm flying
with Captain Abresch now; I've left piracy behind, for the most part. It's hard to do everything the legal
way after so many years of doing it the illegal way, but Captain insists, and so I obey. I'm not sure
where we're going now, or what we'll do when we get there, but I don't mind as long as I get to keep
flying.