The Tragedy at Epsilon Indi

Alert! Alert! Priority one message incoming.

Jimmy the Mug and I were loading the Workbee when the comm systems flashed red and began going crazy. We both new what it meant. The Hutton Orbital Truckers were at war. All attack ready ships were being called to the Epsilon Indi system, the locals weren't looking kindly upon Hutton's growing influence in the region. We both knew that we would have to put our exploration on hold.

We wrapped up with Workbee and headed towards where our attack ships were docked. Yellow Jacket's repairs had just been completed and we were going back out. When we arrived at Epsilon Indi the fight had already been going strong for a couple of days. The Truckers were doing well when we joined the fight but it wasn't easy going either. The enemy ships were few but they were Federal assault craft, heavy and well armed.

The Truckers had a pair of large Anaconda ships, set up for assaults of this kind, and we opted to take up their wing and follow along. It worked out well for a time, but the enemy decided that the small craft would make for easier targets. They split us off from the main group, Jimmy held out for a while but was taking heavy damage and was forced to jump out of system. Yellow Jacket on the other hand, while equipped for bounty hunting was not as well equipped as our opponents. My shields were worn down and the bastards knocked my frame shift drive out with a couple well timed hits. I couldn't run. I couldn't fight back. I did the only thing I could think to do. I shut down the power core and played dead only operating on my limited life support reserves. I prayed they would be satisfied with not vaporizing my ship and me with it. The shadow of the Anacondas now loomed over me, providing cover fire. In short time a Hutton Trucker salvage ship appeared behind me as the Anacondas lead the battle away. I ejected in the life pod, leaving Yellow Jacket behind. It would be easier for them to pick me up this way.

They picked me up along with other survivors and salvage and jumped out of system. Once we got to the station and I was finally released from the medbay, Jimmy was there. He said that he checked to see if Yellow Jacket was still there after the battle had moved farther away. Another salvage crew had moved in and picked up the ship, but that the damage was extensive. Yellow Jacket needed to be rebuilt if I ever wanted to fly her again.

Even after selling off the cargo load of Hutton Mugs we had loaded onto Workbee there still wasn't enough to repair her. It looks like now the only chance we have to restore my ship is to take Workbee out as planned. Selling off the ton of scan data we can get while out there is the only way now. We leave tomorrow for Betelgeuse.

Doog the Bounty Hunter signing off. <Sigh> For the mug.