Picking up the garbage

Things had changed in the past couple of weeks and for once in her life Keirra was satisfied. She had returned within the Caldari State, found employement with a private Corporation and strangely met new people. Still confused and reserved she reviewed their files, curious though. Nik Domar, Mr. RJ Hunley, many others as well. Her eyes however rested on a single co-worker. Nik Domar, Minmatar by birth, qualified in multiple professions. He intrigued her. With a good working relation going on reported to most of the other employees she switched to a Holo-projection of her logs.

While she had little space experience she had the privilege of witnessing up close the majesty of a Maelstrom type Battle-Ship. Despite it's Minmatar design the ship had impressed her. State of the art technology, modern weapons, computer systems and simply an feeling of power. The trip to the Samauni system had been productive and finally after grueling days of work her dream had come true. A Badger MK II transport ship waited for her. A movement of sliding doors made Keirra jump in her seat. Turning her eyes rested on Mr. Domar and she grinned "Do that again Nik and I might blow an arm or leg off, you startled me". Discretely she set her Ishukone "Scarbolt" automatic pistol in the drawer of her desk.

The Minmatar barely sketched any gesture but responded "You need some time off Lukkanen. So much work, always browsing the market and studying. Work can make one sick you know. Now get yourself ready. It's time to test that Cormorant of yours.".

It was true, she had studied Destroyers lately and indeed turned out they were decent all rounders. Replace their gun turrets with Tractor Beams and Salvager devices and they became effective salvaging vessels. Pull out the reactor control units and add an Expanded Cargohold and they would be literally working small cargo vessels. Rising from her seat, picking up her jacket she went out of the Corporate office past the waiting Minmatar. She looked at him inquisitively and continued along her path toward the turbolifts. As her gloved finger pressed on the elevator's -Call- button she turned to her right. Domar followed her and now leaned against the wall he spoke "So what's the deal with you Lukkanen? Buying off a Badger and a Cormorant?".

Stretching a little Keirra chuckled to herself, not looking at the man but her response came naturally "Deal is simple. My old man owned a Salvaging and transport business, we were working for Ishukone, I suppose i'm picking up where he left off when he died". With a shake of her head she adjusted her loose hair slightly, stepping into the elevator as it's doors opened. Following her, Nik also entered the elevator, silent for now. He wasn't much of a talker unless he said something to say or ask.

With heavy boots the small Civire woman stepped onto the station's dock, looking around, her voice quiet this time "So what ship are you bringing in Nikki?".

The Matar shrugged but eventually he indicated out a Cyclone-class battle-cruiser "I'll bring the Cyclone-class I own. I'll kill them,you jump in and clear everything". With a final word he moved to the nearby docking platform an up the ramp into the bowels of the vessel. With her blue eyes looking at him go she turned herself, adjusting her t-shirt, realizing she had forgotten to pull her jacket on.

Despite the stares she did get along the way from many men on the station she felt comfortable. Her foot set itself slowly on the ramp leading to the AVS Avenger, her Cormorant-type destroyer and firm footsteps carried her into the ship, eventually leading to it's bridge.

......Hours later...........

After some thirty jumps her ship once again faced the long way home. While her old crew kept transferring from ship to ship as her missions demanded, this time she did not go into the  hydrostatic pod. Sitting quietly with a bottle of Quafe in her hand on the bridge she looked on her viewscreen. Off the starboard the engine exhausts of the Cyclone flared as both ships moved away from the Onnamon-Uuhulanen star gate. Pushing her comms button her voice could finally be heard "Nik, i'm stopping here for the night. I'll see you tomorrow."

An audio reply came quickly from the Matari ship "Roger that. I have the whole cargo-bay filled with the items you collected. Jita is waiting with an everhungry market. This mission has been uneventful, get yourself some sleep Keirra, have a good one". With that his voice cut off as the Cyclone moved into Warp.

Once again, alone in the cold emptyness of space Keirra sighed, looking at a small photo of her family kept besides her Captain's chair. Turning toward her helmsman she smiled but to herself this time "Jukka, takes us home. We all deserve our rest..."