OK. I'm just gonna do this, since no-one has suggested otherwise
My best work yet. (I think anywayz) Its's a biggy to.
12. Birth of a Legend...
Or leg end, depending on how good you so called "combat pilots" are!
Well. After many Wozura's of trading between my self, flying the "Lazy Geordie", and Nil Rana in "Happy Hauler". I've finally managed to throw enough money together to buy the boys their 1st ships. Although once they see them, I'm not sure wether or not they will be happy about it! Meh, I'm the boss. So they will have to get what they are given! After all, they're not paying me a credit for them!
Speaking of the "Lazy Geordie", here she is:
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/ ... n00095.jpg
Not the prettiest ship your ever gonna see, (looks almost Boron, like a fat fish! lol) but to me she is beautiful!
Anywayz. After a quick trip to the Specialist Sales Shipyard in The Vault, I am now the proud owner of 3 L class Harrier Sentinals. After equiping them with all the necessities I could afford, I was left with the fine sum of 36k. Needless to say, Nil Rana was'nt impressed at having her budget cut! The boys did'nt exactly take to their new ships neither When they saw them for the 1st time after stepping of the transport TP, Mckenna was almost beside himself with rage!
"How the hell do you expect a combat pilot to be effective flying in those pea shooters?!" he scolded.
"Hey! If you think your Terran friends will take you back and provide you with a better ship for nothing, then there's the door Bastu!" I replied
Mckenna did'nt have any comeback on that one.
"Look. They're one of the best armed M5's around. Not to mention the fact they ARE the heaviest shielded craft in the M5 class to. 2 X 5MJ units."
I looked at Jack Jomar and Frozen, and could see they were'nt exactly happy about it neither, but they kept their mouths shut.
"Here are you access cards boys" I said as I handed over the keys, so to speak.
"When your ready, we'll take them out on a shake down cruise, and make our way to the patrol zone I've set up for you."
All 3 nodded quietly in response. With that, we headed to our ships. The boys in their Harrier's and me back in "Inferno", with "Lazy Geordie" on remote trading duties for now. So, without furthur ado. Ladies, gentlemen, Boron, Argon, Split, Paranid, Teladi, Terrans and all other low life of the Universe! It gives me great pleasure to present to you:
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/ ... n00131.jpg
(updated screenshot)
Sabre Squadron! Watch out scum, were coming to get you!
Meet the pilots:
Suadron leader 1st
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/ ... n00088.jpg
Sabre 2, pilot is:
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/ ... n00089.jpg
and last of all, Sabre 3's pilot:
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/ ... n00090.jpg
After Arriving at the area I designated for patrol, I gave the order to enter formation and start the patrol. The lads in front with me a few K behind them, for safety, ready to issue the attack order. With Nothing sinister appearing in Teladi Gain, we moved onto Ceo's Buckzoid. A single Pirate Buster decided to show up.
Fun time!
"OK boys. here's your chance to show me what you got! GO GET HIM!" I called through the comm.
Sabre Squadron immediately broke and headed for their target. The excitement of our 1st enemey encounter was short lived though, as non of the lads got close enough before the Buster went BOOM!
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/ ... n00093.jpg
That was as close as anyone got! Not sure who or what got it in the end, but it was'nt any of us! Dissapointment all round. No matter though as we recommenced the patrol. Although our next encounter, in Profit Share turned out to be 1. Scarier than I had imagined 2. More successful than I had imagined! A lone Pirate Falcon appeared on the Gravidar. However, with this being an M3 I decided I wasn't going to just send the boys in all guns blazing. At least, not until I knew more.
So armed with a freight scanner, I ordered the boys to back off, and got closer to their potential prey......
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/ ... n00096.jpg
Excellent! An extremely undershielded Pirate Falcon. Although I was a bit wary of those 2 CIG's it was carrying!
"Think you lot can handle an M3?" I called out over the comm again.
"You just watch us boss!" Came the response from Jack Jomar. I hoped and prayed he was'nt going to regret those words!
"Just be careful! He's carrying CIG's!"
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/ ... n00097.jpg
I was also thankful for the Teladi Sector Patrol ships that were also closing in on the Falcon, As they caused enough distraction......until.....
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/ ... n00098.jpg
First of many kills for Sabre Squadron! I radioed congratulations to the boys. Although they were more bothered about who scored that kill, to care about what I thought. So a quick check of the database on "Inferno" reveals......
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/ ... oard04.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/ ... oard03.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/ ... oard05.jpg
I call out "1st kill to "Damnation" and Frozen, plus 20800 credits! Nice job. Not a scratch on any of you neither"
"Bring on my next victim!" he laughed. Cocky bugger!
It was'nt until we reached Seizewell that the next target appeared.
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/ ... n00100.jpg
Guess the RNG gods are smiling again today. Another undershielded Falcon, and no CIG's this time!
"Do your stuff boys!" I said as I throttled back "Inferno" and watched as Sabre Squadron accelerated into the distance. Everything went smooth to start with, until the Falcon got a bead on Jack Jomar as he negotiated around a large asteroid! The Pirate let rip into the little Harrier. Shields down and taking damage.....
"Get......*crackle*.....Bastu.....*fffzzzzzt*......offa me!"
I was about to call a retreat when.....
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/ ... n00101.jpg
I shouted to Jack to check he was OK.
"Still in one piece boss, but that Falcon put a few good holes in my hull. Looks like it'll need fixing! 48% integrity. Heading for nearest Repair Facility in Ceo's Sprite now"
"OK, We'll tag along to make sure no-one decides to finish you off!"
Note to self: Never send ships into battle in a pebble dashed sector! Perhaps we were all a bit cocky today. Especially after our first highly successful sortie. Either way, I was going to have to be a bit more careful about where, when and what I sent Sabre Squadron after. Reaching the Repair Facility, I instructed Jack to dock there and sort out "Dragonfire". While the rest of us docked at the Trading Station, for a well earned drink! After a while, The comm pad in my pocket beeped. It was Jack.
"22,973 credits for the full repair boss" He said rather Argnuily!
I sighed and pressed the button to authorise the transfer of funds to Jacks account to pay the mechanics.
"I know your probably not bothered." Said Mckenna, "but can you tell us who waxxed that Falcon, and saved Jack's Bastu in the process?"
I chuckled "Surprised you did'nt ask sooner Mck!"
Reaching for the comm pad again, I key in the command sequence to the database on "inferno". I show Frozen and Mckenna the score's.
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/ ... oard07.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/ ... oard08.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/ ... oard09.jpg
A smile crept across Frozen's face....
"Well, well. 2nd kill for you Frozen, Plus another 20800 credits. Becoming quite the capable pilot arn't you?"
Frozen said nothing, but smiled as he downed his Whiskey.
Game time = 2D 10H 32mins
Ranks = Harmless/Petty Retailer
Cr = 260K
Assets:
8 x Advanced Satellites
1 x Mercury "Happy Hauler"
1 x Discoverer "Inferno"
1 x Octopus Vanguard "Universe Explorer"
1 x Terracorp Vulcan "Lazy Geordie"
3 x Harrier Sentinal (Sabre Squadron)
"Ascendant"
"Dragonfire"
"Damnation"