Into Wild Space -- part 1

With a deep scream Keirra felt the hull of the Caracal breach, her mind feeling every single bit of pain as the ship ruptured, the screams of her crew across the comms. In total silence the Pod she was in warped away. Completely automated the small craft moved from gate to gate, from system to system stopping at the Sarum Prime gate. With gleaming armour plating a Coercer-class Destroyer, part of the Sarum security force stopped just above, a single tractor beam pulling the hydrostatic pod toward the ship.

Aarin Lars, a technician aboard the "Celestial Song", approached the battered pod, quickly opening it's side port. With a scanner he checked the person within, his eyes daring across the reports. Turning toward the Amarrian medic standing nearby he nodded "She's alive, lucky one she is. I don't see any damage".The doctor moved toward the POD, typing in the code retrieved by Aarin and it's door opened slowly, bio-gel leaking outside. Inisde lay a woman with strong Caldari features, a small but apparently resilient body. With the aid of a medical technician he extracted Keirra out, carrying her on a stretcher to the Coercer's medical bay.

A week later Keirra opened her eyes, a foggy light before them. Reaching toward her head, sitting up slowly, calling out a name "Jukka ... what happened". A woman stood besides her but she didn't seem to be aboard her ship anymore. She was in a clean hospital reserve. The nurse reached down to settle her into the bed and sighed "Settle down, you need to rest girl....". Alertness forced Keirra to sit up again. "Where is my crew ...?!".

At her feet just at the edge of the bed an Amarr Navy officer responded "Your ship was destroyed within the Providence region, we found it's remains and the frozen corpses of your crew".

She could not believe it. Her friends, were gone. She had been with them on the same ship, adventuring together, sharing every single part of the life of a spacer. With a deep sigh Keirra pushed the Nurse aside slowly who didn't attempt again to get her into bed. Instead another woman appeared into the reserve with her clothing, handing them over with a smile. Ignorant of the apalled gaze the three Amarrians gave her she stripped off her hospital gown, uncaring if her forms would be visible, putting on her usual clothing. With a respectful yet demanding tone she asked "Where am I? Which station?"

The officer collected his thoughts and responded "Sarum Prime, Imperial Academy miss...".

Giving him a nod all she could say was "Thank you for looking out for my health, however i'm no good here. Funds will be transferred to the hospital for your services". Before any of them could reply Keirra moved toward the hospital's reception desk and despite protests from the Nurses and doctor she asked to be checked out. The local Amarr doctor did his best to have her change her mind but to little result. Storming out the sliding doors she quickly made her way toward the station's market area.

A baffled nurse looked at the doctor "She's a fiery one but her attitude may get her killed"
The old medic sighed "She's Caldari, what do you expect. She lives for competition and adventure, there is no stopping one such as her. I fear that whoever destroyed her ship will be needing coffins not hospital beds".

Making her way to a console Keirra quickly opened the ship market window. The station offered most types of ships but she moved to the Caldari section. Stopping her eyes upon a brand new Blackbird she confirmed the purchase, a blinking icon indicating her that the funds had been transferred. With the acquisition of a data-pad she moved to the docking area where the assembled spacecraft waited. With a trained eye she ran her hand across it's lower hull, inspecting the landing struts, ventral RCS thruster ports and grinned. The ship itself was in good order.

A group of technicians came out of the docking bay office, slowly closing in to her position "Nice purchase ma'am, brand new off the assembly line. Have you made an inventory of the systems you wish installed?"

Tilting her head to the left she looked at the Tech Support man and nodded, handing him over a datapad. The man browsed the items and raised an eyebrow "Umbra White Noise Generators, Improved Cloaking Device, Signal Distorsion amplifier, Mutispectral Jammer, Magnetometric and Ladar as well, Shield Extender and Afterburner......three Assault Launchers, damage control and these rigs. Okay you want us to get these for you off the market?".

Keirra smiled "Yes, the funds will transfer from my account, please have it fitted as soon as possible sir". Without another word she headed up the ramp into the ship itself. The interiors were clean, smelled of fresh paint, otherwise it was a typical Caldari vessel. However she was satisfied, she needed little more than that.