Hakon
“I can’t wait to get out of system,” Frea complained. She had been in a sour mood ever since the results of the election had confirmed Dagfinn Lynch Aegis as the Lord General of the Jom.
“Yeah, just wait until we are in Warta Space,” First Companion Vault said.
“Hey Warta is miles better than Barta, at least Warta is half civilized,” Ragnor cut in. “The whole Lettowen Nebula is a backwater patchwork of battleground worlds caught between Furse Space, Ruthen Space, and the rest of Bolgar Space.”
“It could be Taara for all I care,” Frea replied as she checked her gear.
Hakon just gave a minor grunt. Frea had her reasons to hate the Lynches, he did as well but Dagfinn was a skilled commander, and his loyalty was to the Jom and not his House or Clan. He had no issue serving under the Lord General, and would rather that than taking contracts in the Lettowen Nebula. They were said to be barbaric worlds.
“The Cuya Sector is rich at least,” Thane Longreach cut in. “Lots of trade flows in through the Old Ruins from Furse Space, and they are strong enough that they were able to withstand the Skoll during the Thousand Year Darkness that made the Old Ruins.”
“Than what do they need us for?” Third Companion Bull asked.
“They are Bolgar,” Thane Longreach shrugged. “The Ironspine System is on the border of the Old Ruins and the Nakon Union. We’ve been contracted to aid the System-lord defend the sub systems sworn to Lord Lum. She is the least powerful of the lords of the sector, likely wants to keep her fleet close to home in case the Nakon Union starts trouble.”
“Or have us start trouble for the Nakon Union,” Hakon cut in dryly.
“Or that,” Thane Longreach replied.
“Either way, at least we will be on contract and away from Jom,” Frea replied.
“I can use the funds,” Guard Elmo Hogg said as he cleaned his rifle.
Ragnor let out a small chuckle. “We just got paid, and with a fair bonus.”
Hogg shrugged as he continued to clean his rifle. “Life is expensive.”
“What the fuck do you spend your money on? Your not even married,” Bull said.
“Whores, and booze aren’t cheap, even less so on Jom,” he replied with another shrug.
Frea laughed. “I hear that. You know how much it costs for a good fuck on Jom?”
“No,” Astrid replied.
“Because your a prude,” Frea said, and blew her a kiss.
“Fuck you,” the fourth Companion, and leader of Frea’s fire team said sharply.
“You’d like that, but not so long as your my boss” Frea responded with a laugh.
Astrid mumbled something, but it wasn’t clear.
“How long to Ironspine anyways?” Hogg asked, changing the subject.
“Ironspine is under eighty light years from Jom, so if all goes well, ten to twelve days,” Thane Longreach said as he began to clean his power suit. “Should be jumping in a day or two, but the contract pays well.”
“Expected to see combat?” Hakon asked.
“When aren’t we expected to see combat?” Ragnor asked him.
“Doesn’t matter,” Frea replied before Hakon could respond. “The fast we leave the system, the better.”
