At the location of the Felidae Galaxy jumpgate, a group of ten ships was floating in space as if waiting for the jumpgate to activate.
"All ships, standby and prepare to fire disruption weapons as soon as the target exits the jumpgate. Sensors are detecting that the jumpgate is activating." A female Leonian who was the captain of a large-class ship ordered as she communicated with the other ships that she had grouped up with for this bounty.
"Are we sure it's the target?" the captain of another ship asked over the group's private comm channel.
"It should be, we know the time and date when they entered the Oasis Galaxies jumpgate, and we got here before the calculated earliest time that the subspace drive on a medium-class ship could get them here using the jumpgate."
"Understood," the second captain replied before everyone focused on the jumpgate that was starting to activate as the different sections started lighting up one after the other.
After waiting for several moments, the jumpgate fully activated as the pool of energy-like water formed, and a ship slowly started to emerge from within.
"ALL SHIPS OPEN FIRE!" The lead captain ordered before the group of waiting ships all fired off their disruption weapons, causing the blackness of space to be filled with hundreds of blue beams and bolts of energy that flew towards the ship that was leaving the jumpgate.
As the ship fully emerged from the jumpgate, the hundreds of disruption attacks hit the ship, causing the lights on the ship and those appearing from within through the windows to start fluctuating while the rear thrusters of the ship also began to fluctuate before they all went dark, and the ship shut down and the momentum it had caused it to continue drifting slowly away from the jumpgate.
"Good job, everyone, that bounty is ours. Remember to only target the crew and leave the divas and dragon unharmed," The lead captain said happily.
"Errrr, captain, I think we have a problem," The Tigressa, who was in charge of the ship's sensors, suddenly said.
"What sort of problem?" The captain asked.
"The registration of the ship that just came through the jumpgate doesn't match that which is on the bounty." The Tigressa said with concern.
"Huh, what are you talking about?"
"The ship registration on the bounty is E D F Zero Zero One dash Spector; however, the registration that the ship is transmitting happens to be D D C Seven Four Eight dash Ironblood."
"WHAT!" The captain said in surprise before asking, "You're telling me that we just disabled the wrong ship?"
"That does appear to be the case, yes."
"Fuck."
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Let us go back in time a few hours to before the group of ten bounty hunter ships arrived at the Felidae Galaxy jumpgate.
The jumpgate activated, and after the pool of energy-like water formed, Spector emerged and successfully arrived in the Felidae Galaxy.
"So what's our destination?" Adam asked as he looked out the mess hall window and watched the jumpgate shut down.
"Eri and I communicated during the last three days, and she informed me that once we arrive, we should head for the Leonian homeworld of Felinia Seven because that is where the opening ceremony will be taking place for the UMB Cup. She also added that she will meet up with us at our hotel after we arrive, so I will contact her in a moment and inform her."
"Alright, Spector, please set course for Felinia Seven."
"Affirmative, we will arrive there in a little over one hour," Spector replied before she turned slightly and jumped into FTL.
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"Number Seven, I have received confirmation that the ship has just exited the jumpgate before entering FTL in the direction of Felinia Seven." A male Panthera said after a holographic screen appeared before Ichiro.
"I still can't believe the family head allowed you to use one of the family's stealth ships to monitor the jumpgate, benefits of being her mate, I guess," Ichiro replied with a smirk.
"You know full well that my being her mate has nothing to do with the fact, and it's because your Mr Mysterious is paying us so much."
"I guess, so what's your plan, and when do you plan to move Number Four?"
"The UMB Cup opening ceremony, of course," Number Four replied with a smirk before continuing, "Since Diva Lorelie is scheduled to perform at the opening ceremony and our informant within Maiya's staff has informed us that her boyfriend, the captain of the ship, will be participating in the friendly match, the ship will be empty."
"Remember to be wary of the mysterious individual who killed one hundred and five's team, in case they appear again?"
"That's why you persuaded Mr Mysterious to hire more than just me; I, along with Numbers Eleven and Thirteen, will be more than enough to handle them."
"Alright, just remember to make a copy of everything about that ship, from its design and capabilities to its AI, before handing it over to the client."
"Of course."
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Spector dropped out of FTL above Felinia 7, a planet that was mostly brown in colour, though it did have some large areas of blue representing water.
"Is the Felinia Seven mostly desert?" Adam asked curiously as he looked down at the planet through the mess hall's windows.
"That's correct, the Leonian homeworld is mainly desert, while the Tigressa homeworld of Felinia Five is more of a forest planet. Each of the different Catonian subspecies evolved slightly differently because of the planet they came from." Rowena explained.
"So, do you know if we dock at the space station like on Oceana Seven, or can we land on the planet?" Adam asked.
"The general rule of thumb is that if there's a space station orbiting the planet, then assume you will have to dock your ship there.
Generally, only the powerful and influential can get a docking bay on one of the important planets in a galaxy. So, unless they tell us otherwise, assume we are to dock at the space station." Rowena explained.
"Copy that, I will head up to the bridge then," Adam replied before he stood up and stretched slightly.
"Do you need a hand?" Stacey asked.
"No, it's fine, it's just docking, so I'm sure I can manage," Adam said with a wink before leaving the mess hall and heading for the cockpit.
Once he arrived, he sat in his normal seat and had Spector approach the space station before hailing them and saying, "Felinia Seven space station, this is E D F Zero Zero One dash Spector, requesting authorisation to dock."
"Greetings, Spector, we have been expecting you and have been told to inform you that a docking bay has been provided for you planet-side.
You are to head for the spaceport and use docking bay Gamma Seven Nine."
"Understood, thank you for the information," Adam replied before ending communication and then saying, "Spector, plot a course."
"Affirmative," Spector responded before turning towards the planet and entering the atmosphere.
"E D F Zero Zero One dash Spector, this is Felinia Seven spaceport, we have detected your approach, please head for docking bay Gamma Seven Nine," A voice suddenly said through the comm as the Felinia Seven spaceport contacted Spector upon its approach.
"Copy that," Adam replied before saying, "Spector, commence landing sequence.
Affirmative.
As Spector approached the spaceport docking bay, a pair of large doors opened in the earth, allowing Spector to fly inside and begin landing in the underground docking bay before the large doors closed.
Spector deployed her landing gear and gently touched down on the landing pad before announcing, "Landing complete."
"Are you able to access the spaceport's security footage?"
"Affirmative," the space port monitors all ships that are docked within it. I can hack into the security footage through this connection."
"Good. We are in the Noir Families' home galaxy. I'm almost certain that they're going to try and steal you again."
"I agree, and have already calculated several possible ways they will try and steal me, along with countermeasures.
I just need your authorisation to implement them should the need arise."
"You've got it, you can do whatever you have to do to defend yourself. But try to keep innocent casualties to a minimum if possible."
"Affirmative."
"Also, notify me immediately should anything arrive."
"Affirmative."
"Alright, I suppose we should head out then," Adam said before he got up and left the cockpit.
"Everyone ready to head out?" He asked as he returned to the mess hall.
"We were just waiting on you," Lorelie replied with a smile.
"Sorry to make you wait. I was just giving Spector some quick instructions."
"What instructions?" Stacey asked.
"Just about defending herself and preventing any thieves who try to steal her. We're in the Noir Families' home galaxy after all."
"That's a good idea, since they've already tried once, I'm sure they won't pass up this opportunity to try something," Rowena stated.