17. Picking on the Pirates
After a while sitting in the bar, with the boys, trying to ponder my next move. My intel network screams a warning at me.
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It appears the Kha'ak have decided to give Ore Belt a pounding! That posed too much of a danger to my Vulcan. So, my best course of action, was to get Toki Sillarn to jump to Teldai gain and wait it out. I just had to hope the shields on "TigerInc Silicon Mine 1" could hold out. At leaset until the authorities arrived. In the mean time, Toki could accompany me on any other jobs I picked up. It was'nt long after "Lazy Geordie" docked and I got on board, that I got another warning from my intel network.
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2 Pirate Busters, a Harrier and a Kea. Although the Kea is someway back from the other 3. That gives us a chance to take on the smaller craft and leave the M3 to it's own devices. So, since I had nothing else to do, I message the boys the Teladi Gain sector map. All 6 of them then quickly undock. However, this time I would not be scanning the pirates. 4 against 1 is too much of a risk. 4 against 6 is much better odds!
I glance in the directions of Toki as I start to undock. the look on his face said it all!
"Don't worry mate. We won't be anywhere near the fighting!" I said as I pointed the nose of "Lazy Geordie" towards the South Gate.
I then cut the engines after a wee bit, eventually bringing the ship to a stop. Before issuing the order to Sabre Squadron to attack the lead Pirate Buster.
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I'm glad there was a bit of a gap between the 1st 3 Pirate ships and the Kea. I doubt even the Harrier's would last long against that, if it decided to join in! I just hoped there was enough distance between the 1st 3 and it to take them out, before it could attack.
So, I watched the lads, as I kept one eye on the Kea.
In they waded, as the lead Buster was trashed on Sabre Squadron's 1st attack run. Then the other 2 Pirates broke from their formation and turned to launch an attack of their own. The good thing about Pirate groups, is that they are not usually very co-ordinated. As the Harrier got a bead on "Oops" and the remaining Buster had his eye on "Shoot That Guy". Had they both concentrated on the same target we probably would have lost a ship. As it was they both still managed to deal some damage though. "Oops" was down to 87% hull integrity, before his wing mates came in on their next run and took down his attacker. "Shoot That Guy" was down to 92% before the same fate befell his aggressor.
With the last of the group down, I called an immediate withdrawl from the area. The Kea was within 10k of us by this point, so we all headed West as fast as possible. luckily, the Kea decided not to give chase! PHEW! I guess loyalty is not a Pirates strong point!
Once we were far enough from the remaining Pirate, I relaxed, but only for a moment. My intel network screamed another warning at me! Checking the sector map in Ceo's Buckzoid reveals, a damaged Pirate Falcon. Hmmmmmm........Strange. Wonder what trouble he got himself into? No matter, he is about to have more trouble, in the form of us!
"Up for more Pirate bashing boys?" I called out over the comm channel.
"Just tell us where he is boss" Typical Mckenna, still has an attitude!
"He's in Ceo's Buckzoid. Just exited the West Gate, heading for the East one. I'll see you there!" I reply.
I call out "Inferno", from the Trading Station and quickly change over to it. I then tell Toki Sillarn to make his way to Ceo's Buckzoid aswell, but without using his Jump Drive. Whilst I accelerate off into the distance. There's a reason why I changed to "Inferno", As you'll see shortly.
Exiting the East Gate, I set my sites on the Falcon in question and head off in his direction. As I approach, I try and keep at least the maximum distance required, between me and him to line up a cargo scan. Although I hold back from carrying it out, until Sabre Squadron are in position. So, I use this time to check inferno's database, to see who scored what kills from the previous Pirate group
Speedy & Apollo's Stats
Jack & Fendalis's Stats
Frozen's stats
Mckenna's stats
So, 1st kill for Speedy, total bounty 7280 cr, 2nd kill for Jack Jomar, total bounty 7280 cr and 3rd kill for Frozen, total bounty 46800 cr. I think I'll have to consider him for a promotion at this rate!
So, it looks like Jack and Speedy trashed the Buster's and Frozen got the Harrier.
As Sabre Squadron enter formation, after exiting the Gate, I start the cargo scan on the Falcon. To my total and utter horror, the bugger starts to turn towards me! As I yank back the stick, to go verticle and hit the Boost Extension, I find the reason why the Falcon turned.
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The bugger is a smuggler! Guess I now know the reason why his ship is damaged. Obviously the authorities caught him earlier, but he fought them off. Well, not this time! I wait until I'm out of weapons range, before I issue the attack order to Sabre Squadron. It's then that I get my idea!
I check my target sensors and see the falcon is still heading my way. So I decide to cut the thrusters and slow down! To make him think I'm having engine trouble, but only just enough so that he closes on me VERY slowly!
I then manouver "Inferno" so that I'm heading AWAY from Sabre Squadron. This means that It'll take longer for them to catch up, but now the Falcon is also facing away from them. I just hope my plan works!
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Woohoo! It did! With the Falcon's butt facing the boys when they opened fire, he had no time to turn and fire back at them before he met his end. Scratch another Falcon and add a 3rd Falcon kill to Frozen! lol he seems to like chewing on them! He now stands at 4 kills in total. although, there was no bounty on this one.
Frozens stats
Not a bad return today. 4 Pirates bit the dust and just a few wee scratches to my ships. Just a shame none of the Pirates ejected. Could have collected some more bounty on them. Meh, no matter, I'm happy
Or I will be once we get away from this lot!
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EEK!
Game time = 3D 19h 02mins
Ranks = Harmless/Broker
Cr = 2.2 million
Non combat orientated assets:
1 x Silicon Mine L "TigerInc Silicon Mine 1"
9 x Advanced Satellites
1 x Mercury "Happy Hauler"
1 x Discoverer "inferno"
1 x Terracorp Vulcan "Lazy Geordie"
1 x Octopus Vanguard "Universe Explorer"
Combat capable assets:
6 x Harrier Sentinal "Sabre Squadron"
"Ascendant"
"Dragonfire"
"Damnation"
"Shoot that Guy"
"Oops"
"Warbird"
Going to add something else here. I think it's a good idea
TigerInc TopGun Rankings
Rank-------Pilot-------No. of kills
1st--------Frozen----------4
2nd-----Jack Jomar-------2
3rd-------Speedy----------1
Now We will see who's the best of the best
I'm only going to note the top 3 rankings. As the list will eventually get too long.