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Chapter 15 - The Administrator[]
MCGS Flynn, Sampan III-class Cutter
Mandaouaaru system
Lyran Commonwealth
Quarantine Zone
3142
0830 hours...
"Merchant class JumpShip Winstwind This is the Coast Guard vessel Flynn, you will cut your drives and stand down for boarding or you will be fired upon, Respond please, over!" Lt. Commander Tara Hammersley didn't like the look of the civilian ship. "RTO, have you run the registration off their transponder through OCB's composite database?"
"Still waiting on a response from OCB, Mum."
"I don't like the look of her." Tara confided, "Something's just...off. she's not altering her profile?"
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MCGS Flynn, Sampan III-Class Cutter
"Negative mum, we're picking up increased neutrinos from her fusion plants, and she's reefing sail." PO1 Koslowecz reported, "I think she's going to try and hot-charge for a runner, mum."
"BUGGAR! Fire a warning shot across her bow, five rounds rapid, illuminating, from the forward gun, let them know we're serious."
"Five rounds rapid Illumination, Aye mum!"
The 'deck gun' on a Mark III Sampan of this vintage, is a light subcapital cannon, which while ammunition dependent, is less taxing on the ship's power grid than the class 45 Naval Lasers of the previous marks. The 'illumination' rounds are used mainly for warning shots, the detonators in the shells set to a distance and the shell fillers being an explosive high on the visual and EM spectrum. at close range, they can burn out optical sensors and temporarily flash-blind anyone near a window.
"I repeat, Merchant Vessel Winstwind, heave to or you will be destroyed, Over!!"
"This is Merchant vessel Winstwind, don't shoot us! We have women and children aboard!!"
"Ex-Oh, take Corpsman Kelly and a couple of screening kits on Boat Two, move it."
"Aye Mum."
"Winstwind, this is Coast Guard vessel Flynn, stand by for boarders. Do not resist and you will not be harmed. You are in quarantined space and we tracked a Dropper from the surface to your position. Have everyone standing by for health and welfare inspection and plague screening, Over."
"MUM!!! OCB reports back, Winstwind is registered lost to Clan Wolf in Thirty Fifty One!"
"What the hell would they be doing out here?"