The low rumble of the ship's engines was like a heartbeat—steady and constant. Rhys Tannen leaned back in his well-worn pilot seat, boots casually propped up on the console. The Ironsight, his hand-me-down vessel, wasn't much to brag about. It had seen its share of skirmishes, patched together with mismatched panels, and always smelled faintly of burnt metal. But hey, it got him where he needed to go. For now, that was enough.
He glanced at the flickering dashboard, watching the ship's trajectory toward the outer sectors. Not a glamorous mission by any stretch, but it would pay the bills. Assuming everything went smoothly.
"You always look so relaxed during a mission," came a familiar voice from behind.
Without turning, Rhys smirked. "That's because I know how to kick back and relax, unlike some people."
Behind him stood Jax Koro, his long-time partner in crime—or survival, depending on who you asked. Jax was the cautious type, always double-checking every detail. Rhys? He thrived on chaos. Maybe that's why the Federation kept hiring him for these low-glory, high-risk jobs no one else wanted.
"Some of us have a thing for staying alive," Jax muttered, sliding into the co-pilot's chair. "Did you even look at the specs on this prototype we're hauling?"
Rhys cast a lazy glance at the cargo hold indicator—a single red dot blinking steadily. "Nah. Don't need to. We're getting paid, and that's all I care about. Some new Federation gadget. Doesn't matter as long as the credits hit my account."
Jax sighed, rubbing his temples. "This isn't just any piece of tech. They're sending us through corporate space. We've already got targets on our backs."
"That's why you're here," Rhys chuckled, adjusting his flight jacket. "I just fly the ship."
But beneath the carefree facade, he knew Jax had a point. The Federation didn't outsource to guys like them unless they wanted to keep things off the books. If this prototype was worth risking a route through corporate territory, others would be very interested.
As if reading his mind, Jax added, "I've heard rumors about pirate activity in this sector. Might want to keep your hand near the trigger."
Pirates. Of course. Not that it bothered Rhys much. He'd been in more dogfights than he'd care to count, some in ships worse off than The Ironsight.
"How long until we're back in Federation space?" Rhys asked, tapping the console.
"About two hours. Unless we run into trouble."
"Plenty of time to catch some shut-eye," he said, closing his eyes. "Wake me if things get interesting."
He wasn't actually planning to sleep. The air was thick with unspoken tension as they edged closer to corporate space. Even he could feel it—a knot in his stomach he couldn't quite shake.
A sudden beeping shattered the silence.
"Proximity alert," Jax said sharply. Two blips on the radar, closing in fast from behind. "They're not broadcasting signals. Could be pirates."
"Or worse," Rhys muttered, fingers dancing over the controls.
Jax shot him a glance. "What's worse than pirates?"
Rhys didn't answer. He flipped a few switches, bringing the ship's defensive systems online. The shield generator hummed to life—a comforting sound, even if it wasn't the strongest.
The comm crackled. A distorted voice filled the cockpit. "Auxiliary-class ship Ironsight, you are carrying stolen Federation property. Power down your engines and prepare to be boarded."
Rhys let out a short laugh. "Stolen property? That's the best they can come up with?"
"Privateers," Jax grimaced. "Pirate hit squads hired by corporations. They'll strip us clean if they get aboard."
"Not on my watch," Rhys said, eyes narrowing. "Hold on tight."
He pushed the throttle to full. The Ironsight surged forward, stars stretching into lines as they accelerated. The pursuing ships matched their speed.
"They're gaining on us," Jax warned.
"Good. Let them try."
Rhys veered sharply toward a nearby asteroid field. Risky, sure. But he'd flown through worse. If they could lose the ships in there, they'd stand a better chance.
"This is insane!" Jax shouted as the ship jolted from side to side, dodging massive floating rocks.
"Relax," Rhys grinned. "I've done this a hundred times."
The cockpit lit up with flashes as enemy fire zipped past them. One wrong move, and they'd be space dust. But this? This was where Rhys felt alive.
"We're not gonna make it!" Jax yelled, gripping his seat.
"Have a little faith," Rhys shot back.
A fiery explosion reflected off the controls as one of the pursuers clipped an asteroid, breaking apart. The second ship hung back, more cautious now.
"Ready the plasma cannons," Rhys ordered.
Jax hesitated but then activated the weapons. Rhys waited, timing it just right. As they cleared a large asteroid, he shouted, "Now!"
Jax fired. The plasma blast hit the enemy ship square on, sending it spiraling out of control.
"See? Told you," Rhys said smugly, easing off the throttle as they exited the asteroid field.
Jax exhaled slowly. "You're out of your mind."
"Maybe, but it worked," Rhys winked. "Now let's deliver this thing before the Federation decides to dock our pay."
As they set course back to safer territory, Rhys allowed himself a moment of quiet. He thought about that cruiser-class ship he'd been eyeing—a real beauty that could take him anywhere he wanted to go. Each job brought him a step closer.
One step closer to freedom.
And out here, that was worth any risk.