As Godright settled into position near the Blitzkrieg, Bastille, and Creed maintained their vigilance on the bridge. Their eyes fixed on the array of monitors and holographic displays that filled the room. The tension in the air was thick as they awaited the arrival of the three freighters. Their scanners are poised to detect any sign of activity near their designated point to wait for their prey.

Sure enough, as predicted by Ubel's foresight, three blips appeared on their scans, indicating the imminent arrival of the incoming vessels. The three ships just got out from the FTL travel and went to normal speed to traverse and cross the asteroid belt. Creed and Bastille were equally impressed at the pinpoint accuracy of Ubel’s predictions.

"Confirmed detection of three incoming freighters." Their assigned command droid, a sleek metallic figure stationed at the navigation console, reported the detection of the incoming vessels. Its mechanical voice echoed through the bridge, relaying the pertinent information to Creed and Bastille.

"Looks like our guests have arrived right on schedule," Bastille remarked.

Creed nodded in agreement, his eyes narrowing as he studied the blips on the scanner.

"Three freighters, just as Ubel predicted. Let's hope they're carrying the cargo we're after."

Creed glanced at Bastille, a flicker of anticipation crossing his features.

"And it looks like... it's showtime," he said, a hint of excitement in his voice.

Bastille nodded and he leaned in closer to the command droid, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the incoming data that the inorganic officer was receiving.

"These freighters could be carrying anything from supplies to reinforcements. We can't afford to let our guard down." Bastille said, his voice firm and resolute.

Creed nodded in agreement, his gaze fixed on the approaching blips on the screen. As the freighters drew closer, the tension on the bridge reached its peak. Every member of the crew stood ready, their hands poised over their consoles, prepared to spring into action at a moment's notice.

They awaited further instructions from Ubel.

"All ships of Group C, open fire!" Ubel announced through his holo then echoed by the assigned command droid’s metallic voice cutting through the tension on the bridge.

"Looks like it's time to make our move," Creed remarked, his voice steady.

"Agreed, Captain. Let's give these freighters a warm welcome." Bastille nodded, his eyes remained fixed on their prey.

The command droid’s fingers flew across the weapon control panel as it relayed Ubel's orders to the rest of the group of ships. It acted obediently to Ubel's directives and initiated the attack sequence. It wasted no time in executing its directive. Coordinating the synchronized assault with seamless efficiency with other ships of Group C to unleash a devastating barrage of firepower upon the approaching freighters.

Bolts of kinetic energy lanced through the void of space, streaking toward their intended targets with deadly accuracy.

The first salvos struck true, and the freighters' main cannon hulls buckled under the relentless assault, instantly disabling the main threat of counterfire. Creed watched intently as the battle unfolded, his eyes fixed on the holographic display as he monitored the progress of the engagement. Despite the chaos of combat, there was a sense of calculated precision to their actions, a testament to the meticulous planning orchestrated by Ubel that was acted by the droids.

The barrage of long-range weapons fire disabled the main turrets of the UGTR freighters, giving echoing cheers across their fleet while sending panic across the three freighters who just realized that they were being ambushed.

"Looks like they didn't expect us to come out swinging," Bastille remarked, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.

Then Ubel sent another signal which started the actions of Group B ships.

As ships of Group B sprang into action, their vessels moved with speed and precision that belied their rugged exteriors. Steered by the droid commanders, they maneuvered around the enemy vessels with swift efficiency, their movements coordinated and calculated to exploit the vulnerabilities of their adversaries.

The enemy's small arm turret defenses proved no match for the superior maneuverability and thick ship armor of the pirates. The freighter’s 15-inch bullets from their defense turrets were shrugged off by the frontal armor at the bow of the pirate ships. And the pirates wouldn’t just let themselves be the punching bag, at Ubel’s third signal, Group B's vessels unleashed a torrent of firepower, targeting critical systems and key infrastructure with lethal accuracy.

With the help of the droid’s calculations and predicting the line of fire to send maximum damage, the pirates’ small turret rounds were able to penetrate through the thin hull of the freighters. Dismantling the crew that were manning their defensive turrets. From the bridge of the Godright, Creed, and Bastille watched with a mixture of pride and anticipation as ships of Group B executed their maneuvers flawlessly.

“Bastille, Creed. Watch how the droids do their thing. You are expected to exceed such performance in the future.” Ubel addressed the two commanding figures of the Godright.

“Aye commander.” Creed nodded to Ubel’s holo.

"They're like a pack of Greta Wolves," Bastille remarked, admiration evident in his voice.

"Indeed." Creed nodded in agreement, his eyes fixed on the holographic display before him. "We should keep up the pressure. We can't afford to let up now."

One of the UGTR freighters attempted to flee. Its crew resorted to desperate measures in a bid for survival by ramming itself into the pirate ship but failed to even budge the much heavier pirate ships that were equipped with far more powerful engines. The pirate ships moved with fluidity and precision that seemed almost unnatural. Which were, of course, results of the guidance by the expert control of the droids.

“Oh no you don’t!” Their efforts were in vain as the pirate ships just swiftly moved to intercept, ramming the fleeing vessel with brutal efficiency back into the corner with its sister ships.

The freighter groaned under the force of the collision, its engines sputtering and failing as it was immobilized by the pirate ships that had encircled it.

Cornered by heavy pirate ships and asteroids that threatened to flatten them, the UGTR freighters found themselves hemmed in on all sides. Their attempts to safely maneuver out of harm’s way were thwarted at every turn. With nowhere left to run, their fate seemed all but sealed as the pirate fleet closed in for the final strike.

The main cannons were disabled but at that point, even the small defensive turrets of the UGTR freighters were being systematically disabled, one by one, by the relentless assault of Group C's close-range barrage of passes.

A satisfied smile played on Ubel's lips as he watched the battle unfold. This was precisely the outcome he had envisioned when he formulated his plan.

Inside the boarding pods that awaited their turn, the atmosphere was tense and filled with blood-thirsty. Crew members checked and rechecked their weapons, ensuring they were primed and ready for the imminent confrontation. They were armed to the teeth.

Although they were equipped with low-quality plate armor suits and used third-rate small arms, they were all confident that their long and aged experience would make up for it. Their armor was not much of a protection but more of an intimidation. It had thorns for the fear factor. They were all fueled not just by their greed but also by the motivation to show their new commander their worth after they heard his subtle insults on how they managed their fleet.

“Remember! We may be ignorant in sailing our ships, but we are pirates! Show our new commander why we are fucking known as the Demonic Monkeys of space.” one of the acting leaders of each pod, a woman with short brown hair, reminded all of them.

And they all answered in one unified warcry.

“ENNNNNRUUUURAAAAAAAAA!”

The low hum of their pod's engines reverberated through the cramped space inside.

“Boarding teams, launch!” The command droid assigned to their group, sent a command to start the boarding sequence. Group A ships wasted no time and launched the boarding pods towards the UGTR freighters.

As they approached the enemy vessels, adrenaline heightened their senses and sharpened their focus. They knew that they were about to step into the heart of the storm, facing off against the entrenched defenders of the UGTR freighters.

The boarding pods passed the pirate ships harmlessly. With a sudden jolt, the boarding pods made contact with the hulls of the enemy ships, piercing through the hulls of the UGTR freighters like knives through flesh and latching on with a metallic clang.

A large number of cylindrical pods slammed into the hulls of the UGTR freighters. At high speed, the sheer force and impact of their entry created penetrating collisions or caused the metal hulls to buckle and warp where pods landed.

Although some were able to penetrate through thin layers of metal hulls, most who struck the thickest layers still had to use their equipped advanced drills, boring through the weakened defenses with ease. The molten exteriors glowed in golden red as they served as a gateway for the pirates within the pods.

As the pods breached the hulls of the freighters, one could imagine the chaos that was to come inside.

“Let loose! Blood shall flow! Credits will flood! And we take it all!”

“ENNNNNNNNNUUUURAAAHHHH!!!” With a resounding chorus of battle cries, the boarding parties burst forth from their pods, pouring into the corridors of the freighters like a tide of steel and fury of a locust swarm. Their eyes were ablaze with greed, violence, and lust as they fought to gain control of the enemy vessels.

The defenders, still caught off guard by the sudden assault, scrambled to mount a defense. Bullets tracing and grenades erupting in every direction, illuminating the darkened corridors with flashes of deadly light.

Led by seasoned pirates and accompanied by brutally efficient droids, their eyes gleaming with the promise of victory. Their years of experience in the unforgiving void lent them an edge over their unsuspecting adversaries. The corridors became a suffocating battleground, each passageway a deadly maze of peril and opportunity.

The droids moved with mechanical flow, their inorganic metal limbs striking with lethal efficiency as they engaged the enemy with cold, calculated precision. In their advance, these inorganic companions of each team took the brunt of the resisting shots, acting as a humanoid tank. With every shot fired and every blow struck, they advanced closer to their objective, driving the defenders back with merciless force.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Bullets ricocheted off metal walls, sparks flying as energy shields crackled and faltered under the onslaught. Blood and dead bodies floated in zero gravity, making the skirmishes even more complicated. It was a brutal and chaotic scene, a symphony of violence and chaos that echoed through the corridors of these freighters.

Then on each team, Ubel assigned three crew to deploy jamming and beacon links.

“Bos-I mean commander! Beacon activated.” Ubel received three confirmations from each freighter of the successful deployment. Then with his Neuromancy, he took out the capability of these ships using these beacons to activate their sentry drones and provided a clear picture of each ship’s designs, structure, and digital security.

This was a crucial phase of the engagement, one that would determine the fate of the captured freighters and the success of their raid. Unlike the pirate ships before, these freighters have good built-in anti-hacking in place for each of the ships. Ubel had to manually deploy these beacons for him to be able to connect directly to the ship and deploy the droids. And he watched intently as the boarding operation unfolded.

But as the minutes passed, the resistance from the UGTR crew grew fiercer. Their mercenaries proved their worth by halting the advance of the pirates.

For the defenders, it was a desperate struggle for survival as they faced overwhelming odds against the relentless onslaught of the pirates and enemy droids that boarded their ships. For the pirates, they fought with a ferocity born of desperation, knowing that victory meant survival in the unforgiving expanse of space.

Ubel watched from the bridge of the Blitzkrieg, his eyes gleaming with anticipation and thrill. The capture of the freighters would be a crucial victory for his usurpation of this pirate fleet, one that would prove his capability as their commander and bolster their strength to secure their dominance in the system.

As the battle raged on, the corridors of the freighters became a scene of carnage and chaos. Not wanting to be left behind from action and wanting to see the bloody fighting himself, Ubel decided to transfer his consciousness into the neural network of one of the battle droids in the second target freighter, accompanying the boarding teams.

Instantly, he felt the cold efficiency of the machine enveloping his senses. His awareness expanded to encompass the droid's sensors and processing capabilities. His mind merged seamlessly with the mechanical form, his thoughts and actions flowing as one with the programming of the droid.

The world took on a new perspective as he surveyed the scene, his senses heightened by the mechanical body he now inhabited. He could see the flickering lights of the corridors, the smoke and haze of blaster fire, and the figures of his comrades locked in combat with the defenders. Ubel’s droid body moved with a sense of purpose and clarity, his movements guided by a combination of human intuition and machine precision.

“…” One of the boarding crew seems to have noticed his droid to be acting strangely. She immediately reacted and alerted her fellow mates. “One of the droids is acting strange!”

All of them aimed their rifles at the droid in response with immediate caution. But before they could open fire, a voice rang out from the droid.

“It’s me.” Ubel’s voice echoed in a metallic ring from the droid’s voice box.

“Boss?”

“It’s ‘commander’. Geez. Habits die hard huh.” he corrected, sighing in disbelief. “Anyways, I want to see how you do it with my own eyes. Continue with your advance. Just consider me as a witness of some sort.”

He decided to trust in their abilities to carry out the raid effectively and realized that they were more than capable of handling the situation on their own.

“Ummmm… okay.” his crew seemed to be more confused about his presence but obeyed his orders as they went back to their scheduled assault and quickly hastened their advance.

Some of them were actually expecting and wanted to see him in action as they had heard the tales of their new leader's combat prowess that defeated Munda and his elite troops.

Using the droid's advanced aiming system, Ubel was able to pinpoint enemy targets with precision, delivering devastating shots. But even more impressive were his crew whom he knew to have no aim-assist system in their ocular implants, yet they were able to be as precise and efficient as the droids in ground combat. He doesn’t even need to direct his crew with expert precision to coordinate their movements. It seems that they were all acting on muscle memory from their long years of experience in their career in piracy.

The assigned commander of the boarding pod on this ship, coordinated the entire boarding teams with tactical precision, directing them to key strategic points and exploiting weaknesses in the enemy's defenses with ruthless efficiency. Moving with precision and speed, the droids advance with the human crew through the twisting passageways of the freighter, leading the charge against the enemy.

“Guh!” With his enhanced perception of the droid’s sensors, Ubel was able to anticipate the movements of a hidden mercenary that was waiting for him. The mercenary probably targeted him as part of the ambush to attack the rear of the assaulting team in a pincer.

But using the droid’s body, Ubel was able to react with lightning-fast reflexes. The rigid body of the droid allowed him to welcome the point-blank shots of the mercenary and used the blinding lights of each shot to temporarily disorient the mercenary. Then he used the inorganic strength of the droid to disarm his opponent and shot the mercenary in the head.

The crew who was advancing in front of him saw through those seconds of action and was impressed.

“I didn’t know you have such martial skills bos-commander.”

“Nope, it's still bad as ever. It seems my close-quarter combat skills have dulled.” Blaster bolts sizzled past, but the droid's armored form provided ample protection against the enemy fire as Ubel studied his current skills in hand-to-hand combat.

Then to test further, he became more and more active in fighting the resistance using mostly his hands and feet. With his consciousness merged with the battle droid, Ubel moved with an otherworldly grace. His movements became more fluid and precise. Using the droid's advanced targeting systems, he was able to pick off enemy combatants with deadly accuracy. And as he fought alongside his crew, Ubel felt a rush of exhilaration. Something that he experienced before.

The thrill of combat–was intoxicating. This was what he lived for. The thrill of the chase and brush of death, the adrenaline-fueled battle. He relished the challenge. He finally understood why outlaws lived for moments like these… and the realization that this was the perfect career for himself.

Both sides fought fiercely for control of the ships. The mercenaries were taken aback by how they were losing ground more quickly to the pirates than they had thought. They had expected the pirates to be disorganized and unprepared, but instead, they found themselves facing a well-coordinated and determined enemy.

Despite their surprise, the mercenaries fought back with all their might, determined to hold their ground against the pirate invaders. They engaged in a deadly game of cat and mouse through the narrow corridors of the freighter.

With each blaster bolt exchanged, each enemy defeated, Ubel felt a sense of satisfaction wash over him. His crew was more than capable of holding their own in combat, their prowess in battle was a testament to their training and resilience.

As they pressed deeper into the heart of the enemy freighters, Ubel marveled at the skill and efficiency of his crew. They moved with precision and purpose, clearing each corridor and compartment with methodical determination.

Ubel however, remained vigilant. Scanning the corridors and every turn for any signs of enemy counterattack or ambush. Despite providing tactical guidance to his crew after hacking the mainframe of the ship and directing them to key strategic locations to maximize their effectiveness, he still acted with caution.

Especially when he realized that these pirates… were under-armored and outgunned. They may have no tactical know-how on ship battles, but their expertise in ground combat was undeniably skilled. However, he couldn't help but notice the toll it was taking on them.

Many of his crew members already sustained injuries due to their lack of adequate armor for ground combat and boarding assaults. It was clear that their current gear was insufficient to protect them in the heat of battle.

Making a mental note to address this issue as soon as possible, Ubel resolved to prioritize upgrading their equipment once they had secured more plunder and bolstered their war chest. He knew that investing in better armor and weapons would not only improve their chances of success in future battles but also ensure the safety and well-being of his crew. Something that couldn’t be replaced like droids or drones.

Ubel's mind raced with plans and strategies for improving their arsenal. He envisioned outfitting his crew with state-of-the-art armor that could withstand the rigors of combat and harsh environment while providing maximum protection against enemy fire. Additionally, he planned to acquire advanced weapons systems that would give them a decisive edge in battle.

In the confined spaces of the freighter corridors, the fighting escalated to close-quarters combat as the pirates clashed with the armed resistance they encountered. The element of surprise worked in favor of the resisting civilians and mercenaries, but the experienced pirates quickly adapted to the situation, using their combat skills to gain the upper hand.

They now entered an open area which was probably the cargo bay of the freighter.

“Do you have a lot of experience in ground combat boss?” one of the crew asked as they slowly advanced while covering each other’s back.

“Call me, ah nevermind.” Ubel sighed and confessed. “To be honest, I never had any good combat that uses guns, small arms, or even melee weapons. I am usually just closely knitted with a fleet command or ship management. The closest thing that I ever had as close combat experience was as a hacker.”

Then as if to prove his point, he suddenly lost connection with the droid and was sent back to the bridge of the Blitzkrieg.

“What the fuck…” The sudden disconnection with the droid jolted Ubel, momentarily disorienting him.

He opened up the holo then called out the team that he was with earlier and asked for their situation.

“What happened?” he asked.

“C-commander? The droid you were in... was shot.”

The holo that he was shown displayed a disabled droid with a large hole on its head, still molten by a high caliber round. Its systems fell under the force of the sniper's shot.

“They are probably using a high-caliber rifle or sniper. Let the droids take over while covering their advance.” Ubel commanded. “I’ll be joining you again.”

With quick reflexes, he seamlessly transferred his consciousness to another nearby droid, his focus unbroken as he rejoined the fray. His awareness was now focused on a new vantage point. Ubel quickly surveyed the situation, searching for the sniper who had taken out the droid. He scanned the corridors; his sensors alert for any sign of movement or hostile activity.

His mind was a whirlwind of tactical analysis and strategic planning as he navigated the ever-shifting landscape of battle while trying to find the sniper. Then as his calculations were completed, he realized that they were under three to four snipers.

Before he could even relay this information, Ubel's frustration grew as he found himself once again incapacitated by a well-placed shot from the enemy. He took over another droid but the same thing happened until all the droids that were accompanying that team were taken out. Their advance stalled as they took cover from the sniper’s fire. He relayed the probable location of each sniper and commanded one of his ships that had cornered the freighter to shoot anti-personnel rounds that would penetrate through the cargo bay and shoot down the snipers.

After sending out the probable locations, he decided to wait on the bridge of the Blitzkrieg for the pirates to finish their attack this time. He already got enough footage that confirmed his thoughts on what to fix or upgrade on this fleet.

His mind flashed back to his days playing Pitch Black Void. His gameplay and most of his playthrough were mostly performed with his excellent use of Neuromancy to outsmart, dominate, or control the situations rather than relying on raw combat prowess with small arms or using the First-Person feature.

Feeling out of his element amid this intense firefight, Ubel sighed in resignation, acknowledging his shortcomings when it came to the first-person shooter aspect of the battle. He knew that his strength had always lay in strategic planning and manipulation to make others kill his enemies, and not himself in direct combat.

With a grim realization, Ubel decided to retreat to the safety of the Blitzkrieg's bridge, where he could oversee the battle from a distance and provide strategic guidance to his crew. Despite his frustration at being unable to actively participate in the fight, he knew that his presence on the bridge would still be invaluable to the success of their mission.

As he settled into the command chair on the bridge, Ubel monitored the progress of the battle through the ship's sensors and communication systems.

Though he may not be on the front lines, Ubel knew that his role in the battle was crucial. From the bridge of the Blitzkrieg, he would serve as the orchestrator of their success, ensuring that every move was executed with precision and finesse.

As the tense minutes stretched on, Ubel remained perched in the command chair on the bridge of the Blitzkrieg, his gaze fixed intently on the holo displays before him. Each passing moment felt like an eternity as he awaited word from his command droids scattered throughout the enemy vessels.

It took approximately 47 minutes until Ubel heard a confirmation from all of his command droids. He watched the displays before him, analyzing the data streaming in from the command droids stationed aboard the captured ships.

A wave of satisfaction washed over Ubel as he absorbed the news. Despite the challenges they had faced, his crew had emerged victorious. Their raid had been executed flawlessly, thanks to the meticulous planning and coordination.

“Ship 1 subdued.”

“Ship 3 Subdued.”

“Ship 2 Subdued.”

As the last of the enemy resistance was quelled, Ubel couldn't help but feel a sense of pride swelling within him. The first hunt of his pirate career had been a resounding success.

In the end, the UGTR freighters stood no chance against the combined might of his pirates and droids. Now his droids were reporting their plundered cargo and the status of the freighter’s crew that were taken prisoners.

Then he realized that he may have overstayed his welcome as he detected several ship signatures that belonged to the UGTR. As such, he immediately issued his new command.

“Group C, tug the freighters unto your ships. We’re moving out.”

Although Blitzkrieg scanners detected no incoming response from UGTR patrols, he still wanted to avoid the possibility of an early confrontation for now.

Their ships turned as it led their captured prize away from where their ship's transponders were disabled.

Three UGTR Freighters have disappeared from the shipping map, never to be seen again.