Space Corp. Special Forces I

The planet of Sigma Prime glowed an angry orange in the darkness of space, lit by the blazing sun within its galaxy. Sigma Five was a quiet out of the way border trading post with little or no military importance. This was handy for many of the traders, who did not like to advertise their presence to all and sundry. In orbit around Sigma Prime was a freight vessel, of which at least twenty arrived every hour. They all tended to look the same, unmarked and dull grey from all the space dust and debris that they have picked up on their travels. However this ship had peaked the interest of the Space Corp. and was awaiting clearance to break orbit and set course for its new destination.

Down on the planet surface the captain of the vessel, a long tall thin man with a long scar on his cheek. He waited anxiously in a disused part of the station. The area was an old docking bay, which had no camera surveillance equipment, and was put out of action after a failed docking operation killed the crew of a ship in a plasma fire. The abandoned walls were damp and mould was growing down them; a smell of rotting vegetation filled the captain’s nostrils. The glass protection dome was black, cracked and melted by the intense heat; some pieces lay on the ground. Rain fell outside and droplets splashed into puddles on the floor, echoing throughout the chamber. The captain looked at his watch again and thought to himself, ‘where can he be?’

Then out of a dark recess a large masked man edged forward, this was the man whom he had come to meet. The man was a member of a smuggling gang and had been bringing in illegal goods across the border. This type of activity was not uncommon and the Corp. had spent increasing amount of time trying to eradicate it, but to little effect...

Meanwhile back at Quaglo’s the hooded figure that had been staring at Fox since his arrival saw his chance to sneak up him and his companion as they chatted at the bar. The man rose stealthily and walked quickly towards Fox’s turned back with two blasters drawn from their holsters. The man swiftly covered the last ten feet, dogging through the crowd of people in front of him, till he is stood right behind Fox with the barrels of his blasters pushed into the small of Fox’s back. Fox immediately stiffened up and Masters saw the change of body posture, she glanced over Fox’s shoulder where she saw just the hood of the man. Masters began to reach for her sidearm, but Fox placed his hand calmly on hers and shook his head. “Keep looking forward,” said the man in a deep gravely voice.

“Nice to see you Dave,” replied Fox in a cool and calm manner. Masters looked puzzled as Fox reached for his drink off the bar top.

“I should kill you right where you stand,” responded the figure.

“What did I do?” asked Fox innocently.

“You bluffed on a pair of fives and I folded with two nines,” came the reply followed by hearty laugh and broad smile. Captain Fox turned around to look at David Jameson a very old friend from his academy days. Jameson was an ex-Special Forces captain and was touted for greater things, but the lure of money for his special skills proved too much and he left. Jameson had tried to convince Fox to come with him but Fox declined and stayed put...