“That’s really the only option we have” exclaimed Orion.  The interceptors at that moment did a fly by searching and scanning for any signs of life or electrical surges, they let loose a concussion missile that obliterated a nearby dilithium hauler, they were not taking prisoners.  Their Blue photon trails Staying in unison assured Orion that they had stayed in formation and had not yet detected the ship he was on but it would only be a matter of time.

He looked down at his bomber jacket Draped around Ursa cursing himself For not removing the contents in his inner pocket before offering his coat.  “Your slipping Orion” he thought to himself figuring out how to get those back in case Ursa rifled through his pockets.  He turned toward Cel Who seemed visibly uneasy and his hair had mysteriously changed colour.  “You got a little something in your hair Cel, probably some drive grease you may want to address”.  It definitely wasn’t drive grease but he figured he’d save him the embarrassment and throw him a bone.  

“Xael”. If you wanted to set the coordinates for The Briar Patch outside of the Mephiston system We can get to my dropship.  “I presume this ship has a lot more hidden that can handle that area of space?”

The briar patch was a spacers worst dream.  Remnants of explosive gas clouds in space, the odd gravimetric well from old nebulas, meteorite belts and radiation storms that scrambled most crafts fly by wire systems which forced the pilots to manually travel through.  The perfect place to hide as not many dared to get close.

Suddenly ACE boomed to life reciting backup procedures and blurting out operational and system errors.  “ACE, you good?” Queried Orion.  ACE replied “systems operating at 40% efficiency.  EMP surge detected.  Movement and protectorate functions at bare minimum.  Diagnostics re routed for optimum usage.  Sorrry boss.”  The last few words glitchy and stammered.  “Xael, if I can plug him in to your hyperdrive I can get us a lot closer to my dropship and minimize the risk of the first part of the briar patch, however In his state he could also put us in into that bloody ship over there too.”  Ace stammered out loud “Mortem Obire”. Caught off guard Orion asked “What?”.   “The target ships name.  Mortem Obire. In Old Terran Latin, Mortem Obire can be broken down a few ways. It could mean to face death. The Latin phrase about death could be translated as leave this life to remember someone you’ve lost.  I also was able to procure schematics at the expense of some of my stems being damaged doooo doooo doooo to the emp.”

Leave this life?  Face death?  Orion had faced death many times,  he’d never been lucky enough to embrace it.  Only to be left with the scars of his friends and family who had.  Orion secretly wished for death but he felt something was holding him back as punishment for not being able to interfere with deaths grasp, not being the one to take the plasma blast, nor the knife, to not be the hero mourned. It was easier to be dead than alive.  Orion questioned his morals.  Was this ship truly his creation?  A machination of his thoughts and ideas.  “ACE, compile and store all data in operational folder titled personalem inferni (personal hell), I’ll need everything you got for when we get back to the dropship!”  Orion ordered. 

Orion looked at Cel and stated “In response to your question, you will know when I know.  This is not mine”. Pointing at the Mortem “However I feel I have had a hand in the creation of this. I don’t expect any of you to understand but I ask that you trust me.  Once we get to my dropship we will be safe and we can sort any discrepancies there.”

His hard wired military instincts forcing through Orion looked to Ursa adding “If your as good as I think you are we will be in safe hands but in our best interests I feel it would be best if Xael helped with the navigating.  This being her ship and all and it normally takes two to get through the patch intact.” He motioned. “Xael, once we get your drive online one of us can man the laser and shift the shield if needs be to deflect any blasts if we’re detected.  Then it’s up to you, and ACE if you wish to get that hyperdrive dialed in and get us out of here. Once were in hyperspace if there was a spot where I could collect my thoughts and go over some of the data from ACE I’ll get you to point in the right direction. Just let me know before we exit hyperspace be prepared for evasive maneuvers immediately.  The briar patch is no cakewalk.