For the first time three days, the Monroe was quiet... The [url=http://orig06.deviantart.net/2e71/f/2008/352/3/f/spaceship_sketch_by_peteamachree.jpg]massive ship[/url] sailed soundlessly through the void of space. Its exterior battle damaged with energy blasts, metal scars, and burn marks covering it. This ship was not an ordinary one. On board were the galaxy's longest surviving Stellar Exploration team: The Marauders. A group made mostly of criminals, but after surviving for three years, the Committee has (somewhat) warmed up to them, and has given them some slack... 

But ever since their last mission, the enemy has shown no sign of giving some slack. Their mission was to liberate a colony that was being held captives and used as slaves by a species of things that reminded the Captain of naked mole rats, except their teeth held the galaxy's deadliest poison. They were successful, but every single time the Marauders thought they were safe, the Rat Ships appeared out of slip space, and started attacking. For three days.

No one's had any sleep.

But that's changed. After their last encounter and getaway, they have had no encounters for the longest time yet. After high tensions the Captain finally ordered everyone to try and get some sleep. Inside the captain's quarters, soft classical jazz played throughout the room. The room was scattered with electronic debriefing tablets, maps of the recent worlds the Monroe has traveled, and weapon parts. Shelves were lined with momentos from three years of serving as the captain. Horns of different shapes and sizes, small jewels, even some cards that were sent to the ship from colonies they've saved. In the center of the room was his desk where his private computer was, and a picture of a beautiful woman holding a young girl with a missing tooth smile, and her arm around a older boy with a crooked grin.

For three long years Captain Raymond Chase has kept this ship intact through everything thrown at them by the Committee, the bad guys, and everything in between, and of course he's had some help. Raymond sat on his bed, giving a sigh of relief. It felt good to sit down and not hear ship alarms. To be fair, this wasn't the worst obstacle that's been in his way. It wasn't himself that he was worried about, he was more worried about the rookies, and the people who were crazy enough to volunteer to be on the galaxy's deadliest ships. 

They trusted Raymond. He was sure rumors were spread about his past, and his crime. He came from a line of space explorers, he was a golden boy in the army, and then he was accused of killing his step dad and neighbors. No one knows if Raymond really did it except Doctor Rae Driani. someone who actually volunteered to be on board, and has constantly saved Ray's life. In returned she shared a part of her past, and since then the two have had a strong bond and trust towards each other.

As Raymond sat there in silence, his left hand started to shake. A side effect from his first failure. Three years ago when he first got this ship, he promised himself that he wasn't going to fail again. Not on his crew, not on himself, and certainly not on his sister Anna. He threw his dark blue athletic shirt aside, and finally collapsed on the bed, grateful to be in this potion right now--


"ALERT. ALERT. ENEMY SPACECRAFTS DETECTED." A voice on the intercom blared with a loud alarm. Ray shot straight up and walked outside of the captain's quarters, storming down the hallway. "God damn space rats. Rise and shine people! We have company!" Raymond said loudly, banging on the doors of people's rooms. He was still shirtless but knowing the enemy's attack style they didn't have any time to waste before they started firing. "Captain, I am detected six enemy ships coming at us from the Starboard side." A robotic voice said through the intercom.

The Monroe was fitted with an AI. Next to Raymond a couple others, they were the original crew mates. The AI's name is Tango. "Six? That's less than their last attack, but I'm still wondering why they were able to find us, Tahillie." Ray said in a heated tone. Ever since the first ambush their team scouter has been hard at work trying to find a way to escape their radar and tracking device. It obviously hasn't been working. Raymond was in a sprint now, going from corner to corner until he reached the main deck, with large glass windows showing the cosmos. The physical form of Tango was sitting behind a large set of controls and computers. His metal skeleton was shaded a worn down blue, his eyes glowed white, and his metallic fingers were hard at work. His head turned a full 180 degrees to see Raymond.

"Captain on de--"

"Not now, Tango!" Ray said as he went to the right side of the room where a ladder was. He kept muttering to himself as he climbed, reaching a bomber window with a seat and large gun inside. "Marauders in position! These might be the last of 'em, and if they're not, I hope you got some sort of antidote for their poison teeth, Doctor." Raymond pressed a few buttons on the terminal system, the large guns starting up and scanning the cosmos for the enemies.