Chapter Seven: A Pirates' Piracy

The *Crimson Void* had been cruising through uncharted space for days now, its engines humming with the satisfaction of their most recent conquest. Michael Briggs sat in the command chair, his fingers tracing the outline of a star map on the holoscreen. The crew was scattered throughout the ship, preparing for their next move, but Michael's mind was already on the next opportunity.

In the last six months, the crew had become a well-oiled machine, and the *Void* had grown into a deadly weapon—a force that could go toe-to-toe with even the mightiest of warships. Michael knew that there were more riches to be claimed, more ships to be taken.

"We've gotten a lot recently," Michael mused aloud, "but there's something about taking it from someone *like* us." He turned to Vela, who was scanning the comms for any potential targets. "Anything new?"

Vela paused, fingers tapping on the console. "I've got something, Captain. A band of Nausicaan raiders. They've been hitting independent freighters and merchants in this sector. Small-time players, but they've got a nice haul."

Michael's lips curled into a grin. The Nausicaans were known for their brutal tactics and their love of raiding and plundering. The fact that they were pirates didn't bother Michael in the least. In fact, it made the idea of attacking them all the more appealing. Pirates preying on pirates—that was something Michael could get behind.

"Plot a course," he ordered, his voice sharp. "We're going hunting. Let's see how the *Void* stacks up against the competition."

---

Hours later, the *Crimson Void* arrived at the Nausicaan's current hunting grounds. The crew moved with practiced efficiency as they prepared to strike.

T'Lan stood at the helm, her fingers dancing over the controls. "Captain, the raiders are on an intercept course with a civilian transport. They're on a collision course with a nearby freighter. It won't be long before they board."

Michael's eyes narrowed. "Good. We'll catch them mid-raid."

"Shai," Michael said, turning to the weapons officer, "take out their engines. I don't want them going anywhere."

"Aye, Captain," Shai replied, a grin forming on his face as his fingers hovered over the targeting system. "Their ship won't know what hit it."

The Nausicaan ship, a jagged and menacing vessel designed for intimidation, came into view—a scavenged mess of mismatched plating and weaponry. It was in the middle of boarding the unarmed transport when the *Void* struck.

"Firing!" Shai called.

A barrage of disruptor blasts erupted from the *Void*, tearing into the Nausicaan ship's engines. The impact was immediate. The Nausicaan ship shuddered as its power systems sputtered and sparked, a cry of panic and confusion coming from their bridge.

"Shields down to 40%!" Vela reported, her voice calm despite the chaos on the comms. "They're returning fire, but their weapons are weaker than ours."

"Good," Michael said, leaning forward in his chair. "Make them regret picking this fight."

The *Void* unleashed another wave of fire. The Nausicaan raiders' ship was battered with each shot, shields collapsing in a burst of energy. Michael could see the crew scrambling in real time, desperately trying to mount a defense, but it was too late. The *Void* was already on top of them.

"Boarding pods ready," Sovan said, his voice emotionless as always. "Shall we deploy?"

"*Deploy*," Michael ordered with a fierce grin. "Let's show these raiders how real pirates do business."

The *Void* launched its boarding pods with precision, smashing into the hull of the Nausicaan vessel. The pirates had barely a moment to react before Michael and his crew were storming the ship, weapons drawn.

The Nausicaans were brutal fighters, their bodies muscled and scarred from years of raiding. They had the advantage in hand-to-hand combat, but the crew of the *Void* was better prepared and better equipped. Michael and Sovan led the charge, cutting through the enemy's front lines with ease. T'Lan and Shai took the rear, making sure that no raiders could slip past them.

The Nausicaans fought viciously, but the *Void*'s crew was relentless. With their superior numbers and advanced weaponry, it wasn't long before the raiders were either subdued or scattered, retreating to their poorly defended lower decks.

"*It's done,*" Vela reported over the comm. "*They're trying to surrender, but their ship is useless without their engines. We've got full control.*"

Michael stood over the defeated Nausicaan captain, a smug grin on his face as he stared down at the cowering pirate. The captain, a hulking, scarred figure with a jagged forehead, sneered up at him.

"You're pirates," the Nausicaan spat. "Why don't you let us go? We're the same."

Michael's smile grew sharper. "You're wrong. *We* know how to win."

He motioned for his crew to round up the remaining survivors, the raiders now prisoners of the *Void*. As they were restrained and escorted back to the ship, Michael gave the order to strip the Nausicaan vessel of everything of value—every weapon, piece of technology, and scrap of salvageable material.

---

The *Void*'s crew worked quickly, tearing apart the Nausicaan ship and transferring the goods to their own. The *Void* was a mobile scrapyard, a collection of the best parts from every ship it had taken, and now it was even more powerful for it. Shai was already eyeing the Nausicaan's weapons, eager to retrofit them into the *Void's* systems. Meanwhile, Vela had already begun sifting through the communications logs, looking for any intelligence that might be of use.

But Michael had something more immediate in mind. "Let's not stop here. They had a base. I can feel it. I want everything they've been hiding."

The *Void* moved through the stars, now full of fresh supplies and prisoners. The location of the Nausicaan base wasn't far, hidden deep in an asteroid field just beyond the reach of any patrols. A perfect hideout for a pirate group trying to avoid detection.

T'Lan quickly plotted the course, and soon the *Void* was on its way to the base. It wasn't long before the ominous presence of a large pirate stronghold appeared on their scanners—a fortress of scrap metal and salvage.

"Ready to engage, Captain," Shai reported, his voice eager for another fight.

Michael gave the order. "Let's finish what we started."

---

The *Void* descended on the Nausicaan base like a storm. The asteroid fortress was a crumbling maze of ancient hulls and outdated technology, but it still housed a sizable force. Nausicaan raiders poured out of their makeshift barracks, preparing for a fight they were ill-prepared to win.

The *Void* hit them hard, disrupting their defenses with pinpoint precision. They never stood a chance.

The base's central power core was swiftly taken offline by Shai and T'Lan, plunging the facility into darkness and causing chaos among the Nausicaans. Meanwhile, Michael and Sovan led a sweep through the lower levels, securing valuable resources and salvaging the rare tech that had made its way to the base.

In a matter of hours, the once-proud Nausicaan stronghold was reduced to rubble. The *Void* crew had taken everything they could carry—refined metals, high-grade fuel, and weapons systems that would make their ship even deadlier. The prisoners were loaded up, ready to be sold to the highest bidder.

Michael stood on the bridge, watching the base burn in the distance. "Pirates attacking pirates," he muttered, a satisfied grin creeping across his face. "Now that's what I call a good day's work."

With their loot and prisoners secured, the *Crimson Void* moved on. They had dealt a heavy blow to the Nausicaans, but Michael knew that the galaxy was full of opportunities. Pirates like the *Void* didn't need allies or enemies—just riches to claim and battles to win.

And for the *Void* crew, there was always more to take.