RidOv Chpt-23

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==Ridiculously Overboard!! (A Captain Roberts Tale!!)Chapter 23 - The Wreckage of a Past Battle==
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Unnamed Gas Giant - Northsun System, Deep Periphery
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"See? I told you...
...it would be here!" 
The station was located in orbit around another gas-giant. The skeletal gantries were mostly empty, one still held the partially skinned corpse of another Bonaventure class ship, the bent ribs and frames suggestive of taking significant damage.
As they drew closer, the rest of the damage was apparent. Someone had raked the site with capital-grade weapons sometime long in the past.
"I'd guess we're late to whatever the party was." Larry noted.
"Yeah. I guess we are." Amanda said, "Still, there might be clues or something in the main structure."
"Or something." he agreed, "I think we can write off there being anything in those H2 tanks though."
Amanda made a decision. "Bring us about at one third power, toward the main planet, you're right, that base was shelled to pieces...but there still might be stuff on the planet, or people we can trade with."
"Aye aye." Lori said from the Helm console, as rather oddly 'this heading' appeared as numbers and vectors.
"All watches keep an eye out for fusion torches, the old-school navy data said there was a spacer community out here with stations." she added, "They couldn't have murdered them all."
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"Outworlds Alliance markings, OWS Evanescent...
...which is in the old database." Kari Rockliffe reported by tightbeam. "I'm going to guess it's a recent salvage, she's in prime condition, unlike the Brubaker."
She wasn't using fusion, because fusion torches are bright. Instead, she was poking along at very slow rates, riding an elecro-ion thruster in her pinnace.
<<"They're probably not official, but you're sure it's a fully operational Bonnie, Over?">>
"Ayeh. Some of the running lights are off, but I'd say that ship's been serviced, maybe mothballed in a sheltered facility...I'm thinking they might be low on fuel, I don't see a CAP out and they're slow-boating, Over."
<<"Roger that, how many days out from the planet, Over?">>
"At their rate? I'm going to guess somewhere between eleven and twenty days. Whoever's at the helm isn't burning one gee steady, over?"
<<"Telescopes on the moon are picking it up now, yeah...she's in good condition, no combat damage apparent, Over.">>
"What do you want me to do? these aren't typical bandits...at least, they don't look like it, no dropships, no Jumper with droppers, bonnies don't have collars, so it's not likely a surface raider, over?"
<<"I dunno, this is weird alright. They took a look at the old base and turned around? means they have someone who knows how to use a telescope, they're doing a conservative approach to the inner system? We'll keep the civil defense wing warm and fueled for now, and see what they do when they get in standard radio range, but keep the limpet nukes warm just in case, Over.">>
"Roger that, scout one Out."
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