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10th October, 4501

Merc Doods

by Captain Peter Avignon

Captain’s Log – SS Good Times II


Miracle System – 1 October 4501
 
We hadn’t even finished docking procedures on Miracle when a tight-beam transmission arrived—encrypted, timestamped from around the time we’d left the system last. Coordinates only. No name, no explanation. Just a location: a tavern in a port town called Soto De Hielo.
 
The town’s a solid mid-level settlement—15 to 20 thousand souls, with its own spaceport and that particular brand of neon-drenched, rust-flecked cyberpunk charm that seems to thrive this far from the Core. Lucid strapped on that oversized flying sword she’s so proud of—looks a little ridiculous on her frame, but she carries it like she owns the street. Can’t argue with confidence.
 
The tavern was exactly what you’d expect: low light, lower morals, and a smell like recycled air and broken promises. We took a booth. Lucid killed an energy drink in three gulps. I ordered something called a “Nanobrew”—thick enough to chew, 50% hops by volume. Beñat went local with a viciously bitter microbrew and a plate of worm cheese. Tasted like regret and pepper.
 
A figure approached—grey cloak, shaved head, androgynous build. They slid into the booth between Lucid and me without a word. The barkeep brought them the same gut-rot Beñat was drinking. Then they… changed. A flicker behind the eyes, a shift in posture. Something woke up behind their face.
 
The voice was different. Calm. Authoritative. They laid out the job: guard an industrial facility on Sienta. A ship is being built for a system navy. Twelve mercenaries needed. Half a million credits upfront to fund and equip the team—more on completion. Three million for success, double if we provide an escort through the next system.
 
They claimed to be part of an anti-piracy group—500 years old, few ships, fewer crew. The credit stick they handed Lucid felt heavy with promise. Moderate pirate risk. Possible collusion with the previous security team.
 
The presence left as suddenly as it came. The person across from us blinked, confused. Called the one we spoke to “Boss.” An agent wafer in their skull—remote puppetry. Classy.
 
We’re recruiting all twelve of our new fleet members for this. Cost us 460,320 credits to gear them up. In ten days, we’ll be guarding a shipyard. In five, we’ll be back in this bar—getting paid, or getting dead.
 
— Captain Peter Avignon
SS Good Times II
“We don’t take jobs. We take chances.”
 
[Addendum: If this goes south, remind me to bill the “500-year-old anti-piracy group” for dry cleaning. And trauma.]

Continue reading...

  1. Bringing the Fight to Them
  2. Personal Log - New Year, New Shipping Codes
    2nd of January, 4500
  3. Lots of Dead Bodies
    2nd of January, 4500
  4. Personal Log
    9th of January, 4500
  5. Personal Log: Ship Upgrades on Mehen
    10th of January, 4500
  6. Personal Log: The Kumarbi Conspiracy
    17th of January, 4500
  7. Heading into the Unknown
    28th January 4500
  8. The Expedition Begins
    18th of February, 4500
  9. Faxi
  10. Eldanea System + Pariahan Fronts
    4th of March, 4500
  11. Against the Solanian Survey Corp
    18th of March, 4500
  12. Obligatory Water Level
    20th of March, 4500 CE
  13. Aidan Thorpe Arrested
    8th of April, 4500
  14. Leunus Prime
    15th of April, 4500 CE
  15. Impounded on Catta Primae
    25th of April, 4500 CE
  16. Captain's Log: Communications officer detained
    7th of June, 4500 CE
  17. next steps
    14 June 4500
  18. the Mistake (the Planet)
    21st of June, 4500
  19. Licking our wounds in Wild Space
    18 September, 4500
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    5 October 4500
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  23. Extra-judicial shipping in the Union of Sol
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  27. Fancy Auction
  28. Peter joins the Military-Industrial Complex
  29. Operation Murder Galvao [TOP SECRET]
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  30. I'm at Soup
  31. Taking down Galvao
    18th of April, 4501
  32. Xin Heinan Occupied
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  35. Making the Trek to the Jred Frontier, pt 1
    19th of May, 4501
  36. Guerilla Journalism
    20th of May, 4501 CE
  37. Water Crisis on Actium
    12 June 4501
  38. Just your typical vaporator delivery
    13 June 4501
  39. VapeTech® Infiltration: Operation "Clawed Opportunity"
    15 June, 4501 CE
  40. Veii vs VapeTech®
    16 June, 4501 CE
  41. Killer Robot v. Big Bomb
  42. Onwards, to Jred Space!
    26 August, 4501 CE
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    2nd of September, 4501 CE
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    3 September, 4501
  45. Upgrades, people. Upgrades.
    24th of September, 4501
  46. Merc Doods
    10th October, 4501
  47. Merc Doods 2
    11 October 4501
  48. Merc Doods 3: The Merckening
    11 OCtober, 4501

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by 3 Armored Kittens · Prodromos v.1.1 - World Anvil 0.9.15.045 © 2017-2025 [en] | Anvil Time: 06:23, Dec 20 2025