Kevin Milady

Kevin Milady was a smuggler from the Landreich.

Bio

He was the pilot and owner of the ship Phantom. He had one good eye. After the death of his copilot he recruited Hans Kruger, who feared him, but also secretly admired him.

On 2634.121 his ship carried illegal Kilrathi durasteel. On its way out the Hallin system, it was pursued by Vak fighters which they tried to lose, when 3 new marks appeared on the plot board. At his request co-pilot Hans Kruger gave the readout that they are Targu-class frigates. He asked Marilyn Langer about the pursuit but she reported they were gaining on them. Grinning sardonically he turned to gaze at Kruger who said things aren't looking good. Milady slammed his stick forward, cutting off the hydrogen scoop fields, causing the ship to tumble over, and slapped in full throttle.

As they turned and the Vaks came toward them, he ordered Hans to lock the lasers but they passed brushing against the ship, and cursed Hans as it bucked and rocked, for failing to shoot.

He kept pressing on the throttles, up to the firewall; the ship shuddered to a stop relative to the jump point and slowly started to crawl away. The frigates were 2000 clicks away, and once more he flipped the ship over so that it was again lined up on the jump point, dodging the ship straight down and away from their original trajectory, escaping the fire spray from the frigates. Some shots hit the ship and snorted seeing Hans putting on his helmet, remarking that if the ship were destroyed and he survived, the Kilrathi would capture him and do things worse than death.

Kevin noticed that the frigates, obviously having pulled some upgrade, were able turn and bore in. Halfway through their turn, he was nervous, even scared, but hoping that they would reach the jump point before closing in. Hans warned that they will reached them in 40" and Kevin snarled at him to shut up, and ordered Marilyn to drop the nuke mine. Hans was terrified to learn at that moment that they were illegally carrying one all the time and started crying; Kevin told him to either quit and "get off", or concentrate on the light frigate that had just came through between them and the jump point.

Indeed, one frigate was crippled, but Hans announced that the other launced seeker missiles. Milady understood that they pissed the Cats for blowing such expensive weapons for them, almost pleased with the "honor", but also weary. He ordered Langer to try to nail them, and Kruger to blow chaff. Kevin weaved the joystick as the ship went to the jump point. He activated the jump engine, but Hans announced that they don't have enough energy, and Kevin shut the shields down. He stood scared to death, staring wide-eyed at the dark frigate. A shot from the ship sheared through the portside wing, and Kevin dodged the next volley; once he resumed course, suddenly Hans slammed the scoops off, that would make it impossible to maneuver; Kevin roared in surprise, and Hans replied that this will offer them some speed. Indeed, they passed the frigate and the engine was engaging.

Death

In his last moments his face briefly expressed an instant of elation with the thought that they'd hit jump. This was followed by a flash of light from behind; Langer shot the seeker but too close: the fragments of the missile teared open the rear of the ship, and a jagged hunk of durasteel decapitated him, and remained imbedded in the back of his seat.