Pirates are Petty People

[William Kerkov Jr.]

Akira's Star floated at several hundred kilometers per hour, circling some ill-known planet, orbiting an even lesser known star, waiting for new prey. Other than the less than hospitable hospitalities, the one thing this system was known for was the hyperspace route that ran through here, the Hydian Way. And what could be more fitting than the Hydian Way Corsairs waiting for some new prey to sink their teeth into.
After their brief interlude into the crumbling Sith Empire and even a detour into the Deep Core, the corsairs were back and ready to plunder. Having not sacked a ship in two weeks, many in the crew were getting jumpy, Bill Kerkov included. Kerkov reclined next to his altar to the goddess Akira. It wasn't like his patron goddess, deity of wealth, reputation, and power, to forsake him like this. "C'mon darling," he pleaded, "I didn't mean all that jizz talking about Wateri." The goddess of pleasure, ecstasy, and lust for all those unanointed into the spacer cult of the Tetra. "Just some bar talk with the crew, thats all." Bill looked longingly to the little statue sitting in the aging and decrepit wooden altar, "Will you forgive me? I promise something big. Real big, no two-bit sacrifice coins like last time." Bill flashed a smile he would flash to a young lad or ladette that caught his eye, "Please?" His one-way conversation was interrupted by a rough voice on the intercom, "Captain, merchant vessel, low armament, spotted forty-two klicks star-ward." Bill kissed the idol, "Thank's deary." Then he spoke to the intercom, "Alright boys, lets get us some nice new shiny things, target that vessel!"
Not too much later, Bill stood at his bridge, watching the various monitors that tracked both the well-being of his ship and the situation around him. A scruffy looking Togruta cringed and said, "Captain, you might want to look at this." Bill moved his attention to the mentioned screen, and saw three transponders. His, the merchant vessel's, and an unknown transponder. "How far away is that vessel?" Bill asked. The Togruta opened up various measuring software on the monitor, "I'd say about equidistant from that freighter as we are captain." Bill just waved his hand and turned back to his position before, "Doesn't matter. Helmsman, flank speed."

[member="Andrai Willows"]

 

[Andrai Willows]

Andrai's ship wasn't named as far as she knew. It was a beaten down, close to broken vessel she'd been able to hijack for a very obvious narrow escape with the Hutts. Her once bolstered crew was down to a minuscule six, men were weary, hungry, and honestly tired of being bossed around by this woman who was trying to keep her ship afloat.

Emotions were beginning to run high between her men when they'd noticed the merchant vessel with another coming up on it. To be a scavenger or a pirate captain and attempt to take both ships on? These men needed a hoist and Andy wasn't much for being at the forefront but the woman had found it was the only way to get any sort of respect when surrounded by these idiots. The previous Captain had left them during their last chase, certain the ship would be destroyed.

"Try to take the ship, boys. This box of bricks has some speed in 'er yet. She'll get there before that other one does. We'll get what we can from that merchant vessel and be eatin' well tonight, boys. Get into your positions. I'll see what I can get outta this engine."

It was then the woman would disappear and begin working on what she could, rerouting power toward the engine and ships speed where she could.

[member="William Kerkov Jr."]

 

[William Kerkov Jr.]

Draco Kayra, Bill's second in command, didn't like the looks of the enemy pirate ship, and his grim look did little to assure Bill. He said, "Captain, we're putting Akira's Star at the safest high speed we can, but that vessel is much smaller, and much faster. The Star may be one of the fastest corvettes out their, but that ship has a lot less mass to haul ass than us, and its sure as hell going to reach that freighter before us." Bill nodded in agreement, "I feared that, have the men prepare the armaments. If we can't get to that ship before they do, I'll be damned if we don't take a piece of that poacher by the end of this."

The Akira's Star kept barreling towards the smaller, more agile craft, as its weapons were primed and readied for action. William Kerkov II was ready to go all out, for if he didn't, he may face worse consequences than a lost prize.

[member="Andrai Willows"]

 

[Andrai Willows]

Andrai heard one of her men yell back toward her that the enemy ship was barreling towards the loot, preparing to fire as was the merchant ship. And with Andy's heap of a vessel flying towards the merchant ship far faster than the Akira's Star she knew their ship would be the one fired at first.

A growl escaping from between her lips and the tool braced between her teeth. "Get behind the stick and get your arses ready to pilot like your lives depend on it. 'Cause they do. This ship 'ere needs a little more power if we're gonna make it out of this."

There was instant chaos at the female's bark. None of them were as good at piloting as Andrai was but the ship needed the power for the agility she would need to maneuver through all of this the proper way. If they didn't get this freighter they were going to need to survive. The woman cursing under her breath as she got shocked by a wire, trying to work quicker.

[member="William Kerkov"] Jr.

 

[Andrai Willows]

Andrai heard one of her men yell back toward her that the enemy ship was barreling towards the loot, preparing to fire as was the merchant ship. And with Andy's heap of a vessel flying towards the merchant ship far faster than the Akira's Star she knew their ship would be the one fired at first.

A growl escaping from between her lips and the tool braced between her teeth. "Get behind the stick and get your arses ready to pilot like your lives depend on it. 'Cause they do. This ship 'ere needs a little more power if we're gonna make it out of this."

There was instant chaos at the female's bark. None of them were as good at piloting as Andrai was but the ship needed the power for the agility she would need to maneuver through all of this the proper way. If they didn't get this freighter they were going to need to survive. The woman cursing under her breath as she got shocked by a wire, trying to work quicker.

[member="William Kerkov"] Jr.

 

[William Kerkov Jr.]

Akira's Star's velocity could not be any higher, it had used its highest acceleration boost possible. But they were still falling behind. Bill watched intentively, regardless. He was doing the math in his head, at their current trajectory, he would be able to fire upon the small, competing pirate ship before it could unload the merchant vessel, or at least he hoped so. So far the supposed gap between the small ship docking with the merchant vessel and when they came into Akira's Star's limited weapon range was around eight minutes, and Bill hoped he could get it shorter, but by the laws of space, there wasn't anything he could do about it.

It wasn't long after that the small ship was within moments of docking, and within Bill's head, he recited, "The countdown has started, the countdown has started, the countdown has started..."

[member="Andrai Willows"]