Starlight

Cheloniarians weren't made for running but they could sprint short distances. As she went the lights dimmed and red lights began to pulse and an alarm began to sound. Crewmen sprinted past heading for action stations quick as their legs could carry them. Arik unsealed the deadbolt to the bridge and entered.

"What's the situation Arvo?" She asked between gritted teeth.

"No clear picture yet they aren't in range of external cameras yet but scans indicate a second ship near our mark." Arvo responded quickly as she watcher Arik take her seat.

"Weapons stations report ready captain." Reported Gann head of ship security.

Arik nodded her thanks to both, though her ship the Solja was not a military vessel by any standard, all Cheloniarians had military backgrounds thanks to Cheloniar law requiring all to serve three years in one of flur Cheloniar Military branches or sub branches. Amd sp the Solja was more than capable of defending itself. Most likely this other ship was as well if it too were crewed by Cheloniarians. Which meant this would not be pretty if fighting broke out between them.

"Gann order the armory opened and have weapons passed out if we are boarded we need to be ready.

Gann nodded and pressed a button, a blue light began flashing and intercoms blared to open the armories and for all crew to arm themselves. Weapons within a few seconds were brought to the bridge. Each one had name tags attached to them and so were delivered with no mistaking whose was whose. Again Arik nodded her thanks as she laid the shotgun across her lap and belted her knife sheath and axe on the opposite hip.

The next three minutes passed like an eternity. As they neared final two minutes comsman Manta spoke up from her station behind Arik.

"Captain we are recieving a hail.." She reported.

"Let's hear it."

The vessel had no screens so audio would have to be done. "This is Captain Arik Ruvon of the Cheloniar Salvage Guild ship Solja, you are salvaging without permit which is a violation of article 45 of the Guild Charter pull off or you will be fired upon.

There was silence for a moment and then a gruff voice spoke up. "Salvage Guild? Neva eard o ya!" The voice said. I know ya are Cheloniarian an I don fall unda your jurestiction."

"Eplain yourself!" Arik snapped loosing her composure at the blatant disrespect spoken by the voice.

"Bugga off this Stroider terf ya enterin" The voice answered.

Arik looked to her bridge crew it was Gann who had an answer he nodded to Manta who muted the feed.

"The guild warned of tensions between the Salvage Guild and the Mining Guild...my guess is that these are Asteroid miners from the Rim Belt..." Gann said quickly then nodded to Manta who unmuted the feed long enough for all to hear the tail end of a tyraid of curses and insults.

"Atention Stroider pull off and return to the Rim Belt where you belong." Arik said with a hint of malice in her tone hopeing the Miner would listen.

"Ya ha t catch me firs an I got ya Salvage."

"Captain the Byzar and the Mining vessel are moving off at sublight..." Arvo reported unable to hide the shock in her tone.

Arik growled..."You have no Salvage rights Miner return our Salvage now or we will have no choice but to-" Arik was interrupted by Manta who was also surprised.

"He disconnected coms..." Manta reported. "He can't hear us..."

"Lay in a pursuit course they won't take our mark full speed!"

"Aye aye!" Responded the helmsman pushing Solja's engine throttle to all ahead full.

Solja's sublight boosters responded, inertia dampeners were switched off after the burn and Solja sped after the Mining vessel and the Byzar. Arik remained on the bridge and weapons remained passed out. A message was sent to the Salvage Guild headquarters on Cheloniar Prime Arik hoped negotiations in the interrim to the Rim Belt woud make this insane Miners to cease their interruption to business.