FSRB Chpt 243

==The Federated Suns Reborn - Chapter 243==
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February 3072Interlude: Progress
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Zenith Jump Point, Des Arc System
Anjin Muerto Combat Region, Minette Operational Area
Crucis March 
Federated Suns 
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"Now that is something I never expected to see this far out... What a beauty!" Captain Archibald Laurent said ruefully and admiringly as he sat back in the captain's chair of the bridge of the Mule class Cargo DropShip Sûre and whistled in appreciation. 
His third officer Francois Laurent or "weapons officer" as the boy liked to be called looked up from his console to see what his uncle was talking about. Like many small "tramp" freighter DropShips most of the crew were relations of the captain. Seeing what was on the screen he turned slightly to the older man. "It's just a JumpShip, Uncle... I mean Captain."
Archibald chuckled. Hell half the crew called him uncle, even if the title was mostly honorary rather than the truth in young Francois's case. Still the boy was still learning and prone to think that they should run the ship like a navy assault ship... Waving away the "slip" of his familiar title rather than rank he pointed with a long bony finger. "That's not just a JumpShip my boy, that is a Monolith class JumpShip. A big brute of a JumpShip. Not like the Merchant class we are riding to Vandalia with our cargo of ores for the smelters there..."
"So? A JumpShip is a JumpShip. What does it matter that it's bigger?" Francois still sounded confused. 
"It's simply Laury, back when I was your age you rarely saw a Monolith anywhere except maybe on the runs between Galax and New Avalon or some other important system. At least not one that wasn't in the Navy. Civilian Monolith's were rare and they didn't waste time with the Outback trade. Not enough money to be made in it. There simply wasn't enough trade or enough demand for the bigger JumpShips that could carry so many dropships! You never saw anything bigger than an Invader and even those were damn rare! The bigger beasts like the Star Lords and Monoliths were too rare and too damn expensive to risk out here in the dark!" Archibald laughed. "For one thing if one broke down it was a damn long way to bring the spare parts to get it back working well enough to limp to a yard for a refit. They were primadonnas that were too precious to risk to pirate attacks as well!"
"It must be out of Crofton." The young weapon's officer mused. "Important factories there. More important than the Blackstone Industries factories on Vandalia that's for sure. Maybe that's what brought it out this far?" 
"Maybe... But the fact you are seeing a Monolith even on a run to or from Crofton is telling in itself, boy." Archibald sat back in his old well worn chair. "We're growing up out here in the Outback... Getting more prosperous. Just look off to the port side, a brand new recharge station. That wasn't here five years ago. Nor was it's twin down at the Nadir Jump Point. You mark my words Laury, by the time your my age you'll be seeing Monolith's at every second jump point. They'll be a common sight, even out past Crofton. Maybe those big star whales will be jumping all the way out to Tortuga and beyond into the new colonies by then...!" 
Francois Laurent looked at his uncle and then back at the screen on which the Monolith was holding station as a jump charge was beamed to it via microwaves from the Olympus class Recharge Station that was beaming a charge to the smaller Merchant class JumpShip they were attached too. For a second he could see things through his uncles eyes. The eyes of a tramp freighter captain who had made a living for himself and his family by plying the half dead trade routes of the Outback, carrying the items that kept those worlds alive and barely making the loan payments on his ship. Hell missing them a few times if the stories were true. A man who was now seeing those same struggling worlds that had once barely broken even being able to pay for higher value goods that had finally let the family begin to make headway against the bank loans on the old Sûre. He remembered the older hands stories about half empty holds that contained little more than basic foodstuffs that barely paid for the fuel and engine time. Not like the full hold of premium ores destined to be turned into BattleMech armor they were carrying now. The younger Laurent suddenly comprehended exactly what the Monolith was a symbol off to the older man. Progress. Economic stability and prosperity. He shyly smiled and nodded at his uncle in understanding.
Seeing that his nephew finally understood him Archibald nodded back then grinned. "Now... Why don't you go get me a coffee while I enjoy the view of that great beauty of a ship!"
"Yes, Uncle. Of course." Francois chuckled as he unclipped himself from his seat and pushed himself off towards the door to the small kitchen on this level. "One coffee, black, coming up!"
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