A shrill whistle noise crackled through poorly designed speakers dotted throughout the ship, attracting the attention of all those on board as silence spread through each corridor and room where people were.
"
I'm about to enter orbit around Verzonia" came a gruff uninterested voice through the speakers. "
Hold tight, buckle up and sit your asses down, I don't care in what order" he continued, followed by static as the comms were switched off.
From the pilot chair of the ships bridge a sole figure sat in the darkened room, his body sideways to the console and his right hand resting on the comm controls on the left of the console. He always sat like that when making communications as it was easier to use the buttons with his right hand, his left always twitching each time he tried to concentrate on making it do something.
With a grunt and used his good hand to grab his trouser above the knee, yanking upward to glide his leg underneath the console, then the same for his left to allow him to sit comfortably in the middle of it. He winced slightly as a slight pain shot up his left leg, instantly ignoring it and wincing merely out of reflex rather than pain.
Jameson, the ships pilot was a mess, there was always alcohol on his breath as well as putrid chewing tabacco, his left hand was all but useless and twitched badly if he tried to do anything other than grab or thump something, even pushing a button with one finger was nigh impossible after suffering severe nerve damage. Both legs were useless, his kneecaps all but destroyed after being shot in both knee's and left to die on a god forsaken battlefield.
He had fought in the Great War, his heart filled with pride at serving his planet and protecting his people. But when the invaders reached his world, their forces were massacred, the enemy knowing exactly where to strike from intel received by someone in the town and barely any of the 3000 defending men survived. He was left alone to die on the battlefield as his planet was taken over by force by Geese. When he was eventually recovered from the battlefield there was nothing to go back to. Despite the severe lack of medical supplies he was able to keep his legs though they could never repair the damage done by a vindictive Geese soldier. His wife and child were never seen again, presumably taken by Geese as some sort of trophy or murdered and their bodies hidden.
The young man who had once been vibrant, happy and so full of life, now was bitter and angry, wholloling in self pity and hatred for the betrayal that cost him everything, his wife, his son, his home and his body, everything.
Snapping out of his memories, Jameson thumped the communications array, broadcasting a wideband message. "
This is da Eagle Eye, registry number 5567241, requesting permission to land"
He paused, waiting for a response. after 20 seconds he inhaled, about to repeat his message when the speaker of his desk crackled. "
Ya? whadda want buddy?" Came the reply in a completely uninterested tone.
Jameson rasied an eyebrow, speaking slowly and trying to hide his annoyance "
I want to land"
There was a pause, and Jameson exhalled irritatedly at having to wait. "
Yeah ok" Came the response. Angrily Jameson leaned closer to the microphone "
Ya wanna give me co-ordinates to land this bucket? Or should I shove it on top of ya house!!"
There was another pause "
Stick it where you want, bub. Ain't got none of those fancy landing pad here. Put your piece of junk in the swamp for all I care"
Jameson stamped his bad hand on the comm, switching it off and started to plot a course to land in a dirt field just outside of town, taking the ship downward without warning in a slow decent he didn't bother to inform the passengers onboard, he didn't in fact care, he'd given out a warning already so it would be their own fault if they tripped or fell. The ship rattled as it descended, thrusters soon activated, slowing down the descent and Jameson skillfully angled the ship, landing pads taking the weight of the ship as it landed gracefully.
He might be a cripple, be impatience, bitter and angry, but he was the best damn pilot around and the crew knew it. Even better was he only asked for enough money to live and to feed his habits. The solitude, isolation and occasional new packet of tabacco was all he really wanted in life anymore.
Logging into the local net he downloaded appropriate data for the planet, and forwarded to Captain Sebastian Moresby. The data file contained lots of information but only a few bits seemed to be of value. 1 job available was transporting a shipment of fuelcells and equipment to a nearby system. The details could be found at the towns foundry. Another job was the transport of several tons of water from the towns resevoir company. the last item was to investigate the sister town that had gone off radar 5 days ago. The towns Sherrif had gone to investigate along with 3 deputies, none returned. The details can be found at the local Sherrif's station.