Chapter 1 - A new beginning

I'm scrolling through my emails waiting for a job application to pop up… I've been doing nothing but looking for work but there's nothing.

I get a notification, "Dear Mr Edward Thatch..." at the top of my phone screen. I clicked the banner and it said:

"Dear Mr Edward Thatch,

You have been selected for the Privateer Programme, please report to the closest station"

I've seen this on TV before, this is the recruitment programme by the UN. The message continues,

"There are perks of the job, you and your crew will get to split anything valuable you come across as long as 20% goes to the UN to help the main war effort"

They want us to attack and raid supply/civilian ships to not only cut off the enemy supply, but to help the UN.

As I glance around the homeless shelter I'm currently sat in, I start thinking about the fact I've not eaten in 2 days and there's no work. I've got nothing better to do, so I may as well apply.

I look the address up and it's next door to the shelter. Of course the government placed a deadly job near desperate people.

I put my shoes on and stand up from my bed. I walk over to the wardrobe placed in the corner of my plain, white box room and put on my leather jacket. The wardrobe has a full body mirror. I check my look to make sure I look presentable. I'm wearing my Nike Trainers, black skinny jeans, A T-Shirt which says "I'm with nobody" and then, lastly, an unzipped black jacket with bright metal zips and buttons.

I run my hand through my short brown hair and take a deep breath "Let's go" I mutter to myself.

I open the door and walk through what seems to be an endless corridor with identical looking doors numbered. As I get to the exit there's a touch screen computer attached to the wall, I enter my name and there's my details listed:"

Name: Edward Thatch

Age: 24

D.O.B: 13.03.2022

Height: 5"8'

Hair colour: brown

Eye colour: Blue"

I press sign out and head out.

As I walk down the busy streets of New York City, people are rushing past me without a single care of who they're bumping into. I finally get to the recruitment centre, after several minutes of walking, and I find myself stood in front of the giant building which is a towering 5 story concrete block, with a magnet locked glass door in front.

I tap on the window and I see a security guard in an empty lobby, apart from a single receptionist sat behind a desk with a bullet proof screen in front of her.

The security guard presses a button, the door opens and he greets me with a single sentence in a thick, African, rough voice "Reference!" He is standing at around 6 foot 5 inches, black, bald head, towering over me with a dark grey sleeveless shirt, stab proof vest, black shoes and trousers. "I-I'm sorry, I only got an email" I replied. Before I can take a breath, he snaps me off "How about you read it properly!" he shouts, with a powerful and aggressive tone. I get my phone out and read it, right at the top it says "Reference: CVWKXAM" I read the code out to him, he gives a glance to the receptionist whom gives him a nod back. "Go through that entrance on the left and keep heading down until you see glass doors leading outside, there you will find your crew" he said with a little softer tone that time.

I walk into the lobby, the receptionist gently says "Sorry about him, he can be a bit stern". She has blonde hair, red frame glasses and a white blouse. "Maybe you can warn in the email that I would be confronted by Ghana's answer to Brock Lesnar" I quickly replied. She gave a fake smile and then points to the exit on the left.

I'm walking through the corridor, blank cream coloured walls feel like they stretch for miles, after walking for a while I see the glass door lighting up like the sun.

As I walk through, feeling a cold breeze hit my body, I see 5 people gathered in front of a space ship, all talking.