The Stolen Ship

The *Crimson Void* was alive with purpose. The new crew was already settling into their roles, each member adding their unique skills to the operation of the ship. Michael stood at the bridge, his hands on the control panel, watching as his crew worked like clockwork around him. The engineers were busy keeping the Nx-01's advanced systems running smoothly, while the tactical team worked on training maneuvers for the inevitable confrontations. The bridge felt different now—a living entity with a singular focus. It was a ship, a crew, and a mission all in one.

Michael had made it clear from the beginning that he wasn't interested in running petty scams or small-time jobs. The *Crimson Void* was destined for something bigger. But, as with all pirates, it was time to start with something practical—something that would show the galaxy who they were.

The mission was simple, or at least, it was supposed to be: a Tellarite freighter was carrying a valuable shipment of cargo—high-grade ore and supplies—that could easily be sold on the black market. The freighter would be traveling through a relatively uninhabited sector of space, which meant it was an ideal target for a pirate ship like the *Crimson Void*. A clean, quick strike, and they'd be on their way.

Michael turned to his crew, his voice cutting through the hum of the ship's engines. "*Alright, listen up. We've trained, we've planned, and now it's time to execute. Our first score—easy pickings, but we make it count. No mistakes. We're taking that Tellarite freighter and everything on it.*"

The crew was quiet, each member already knowing their role. The Andorian, named Shai, stood at the weapons station, his hands resting lightly on the controls, ready to bring the ship's weapons online at a moment's notice. Vela, the human woman, was already working on communications, hacking into the Tellarite freighter's signals to mask their approach. The Vulcan tactician, Sovan, was calculating their approach, ensuring they'd strike at the perfect moment. And at the engineering console, T'Lan, the Trill, monitored the ship's systems, making sure everything was running at full capacity.

Michael glanced over at the large viewscreen, watching as the sector's stars glinted faintly in the distance. He knew this wouldn't be a high-risk job, but he wasn't going to underestimate it. Pirates didn't get to take risks in this business. They made their luck—and they did it fast.

"*We're coming up on their position,*" Sovan said, his voice calm and steady. "*Prepare for full-speed approach. They won't even see us coming.*"

Michael nodded, turning back to the controls. "*No turning back now. All hands, brace for impact. Let's make it clean.*"

The *Crimson Void* surged forward, its sleek form cutting through the dark expanse of space like a predator closing in on its prey. The Tellarite freighter was ahead, unaware of the impending danger. Michael's crew had already intercepted its communications and locked onto its course.

Vela's voice came over the intercom. "*They're transmitting their location to the rest of the fleet, but I've scrambled their signals. They won't be able to call for help.*"

Shai grinned. "*Then it's time to teach them the price of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.*"

As the distance between them and the freighter closed, Michael gave the order.

"*Fire a warning shot, Shai. Let them know we're here.*"

Shai's fingers moved with precision, and the *Crimson Void*'s weapon systems hummed to life. A single, powerful burst of plasma shot across the void, striking just shy of the freighter's hull. The warning was clear, and the Tellarites wasted no time in responding, the ship's engines flaring as it attempted to accelerate away.

"*They're trying to run,*" Vela said. "*They'll be out of range in a few minutes if we don't act fast.*"

"*Then let's make sure they don't get away,*" Michael replied, leaning forward in his seat. "*Shai, disable their engines.*"

Shai's eyes gleamed with excitement as he locked onto the freighter's engines. The *Crimson Void* came around for a second pass, the sleek vessel dancing through space with deadly grace. With a sharp motion, Shai fired another burst, this time aimed directly at the freighter's engine manifold. A flash of light exploded from the Tellarite ship's rear, and the freighter's engines sputtered, losing power.

The freighter drifted, helpless, now at their mercy.

Michael couldn't help but grin. It was beautiful. This was piracy at its finest—quick, clean, and profitable.

"*Prepare the boarding party,*" Michael said, his voice cold and calculated. "*Vela, patch me into their comms. Let's see if we can have a nice chat before we take their cargo.*"

Vela worked quickly, her fingers dancing over the console as she hijacked the Tellarite freighter's comm system. After a few moments, a gruff Tellarite voice crackled through the speakers.

"*This is Captain Grak of the *Horizon's Fury*. What do you want, pirate?*"

Michael's grin widened. "*What I want, Grak, is everything you've got. Your cargo, your ship, and your lives. You've got one chance to surrender. Don't make me regret it.*"

Grak growled in response. "*You'll never get away with this. The Tellarite Fleet will—*"

"*The Tellarite Fleet won't get here in time,*" Michael cut him off. "*Now, get your crew to the airlocks. Don't make this harder than it needs to be.*"

Vela gave Michael a nod, and he turned to Shai, who was already preparing the boarding pods.

"*Ready to deploy the pods,*" Shai said, excitement bubbling in his voice. "*Let's go take what's ours.*"

Michael stood, drawing his blaster from his side. "*Alright, people. This is what we came here for. Shai, Vela, you're with me. Sovan, keep the *Void* in position. T'Lan, make sure we've got full shields while we board.*"

The airlocks hissed as the boarding pods shot from the *Crimson Void*, propelling the crew toward the helpless Tellarite freighter. The mission was simple—secure the cargo, take whatever else was useful, and let the freighter go… if they were lucky.

The pods attached with a sharp thud, and Michael led his crew through the airlock, weapons drawn. The Tellarite crew, already on edge, barely had time to react before the pirate crew poured into the corridors of the freighter. A firefight broke out, but it was short-lived. Michael's crew was far more prepared, the element of surprise on their side. Within minutes, the Tellarite crew surrendered, their pride shattered but lives spared for now.

The cargo was quickly transferred—stacks of high-grade ore, precious metals, and medical supplies—everything Michael had hoped for and more.

As they returned to the *Crimson Void*, Michael stood at the bridge, looking out into the vastness of space. The crew had proven their worth, and the first score was a success. They had taken their prize without a hitch, and their reputation was already starting to grow.

"*Well done,*" Michael said, a satisfied grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "*We're just getting started. This is only the beginning of our rise.*"

The crew was silent for a moment, but then Shai slapped his hand against the console. "*Next stop, bigger targets. This is just the warm-up.*"

Michael chuckled, a dark gleam in his eyes. "*Exactly. And when we hit next, they'll know who did it.*"

The *Crimson Void* lurched into warp, leaving the Tellarite freighter behind, its crew grumbling but alive. They had just made their first mark on the galaxy—and Michael Briggs, Captain of the *Crimson Void*, knew it was only the first of many