Wanton use of nukes and the path to galactic conquest!

Tenlar Scarflame · Post by **Tenlar Scarflame** » Sun, 1. Nov 09, 06:57

Be warned, my captain. The Terrans desperate must be, if notorious Argon mercenary lords they hire, their patrols to perform. Xenon, likely to encounter we are, and in numbers not small.

Knows something, this SPlinter... that know not we.

Gothsheep · Post by **Gothsheep** » Sun, 1. Nov 09, 08:14

NUKLEAR-SLUG wrote:
Not to worry tho, while I'm only bringing the one ship I've got Orange wing stashed onboard. I'd considered bringing a more seasoned team, but Purple wing can't be trusted not to randomly fire missiles at things and Blue wing has an LX as a flightleader.

I get the feeling that I'm going to wish I'd paid more attention to those 'Understanding our Terran brothers' pamphlets that the Goners keep handing out at stations.

vr01 · Post by **vr01** » Sun, 1. Nov 09, 10:25

I've heard these stories about how Steve has this Paranid working for him who talks like a creature out of a mythical Terran movie...

Guess I should throw my hat in the ring to find out for myself...

Anyway if you happen to find an ATF Vidar floating around while you are in Terran employ, count me in

Ship: ATF Vidar
Ship Name: Can Opener
Armament: 10 x MAML up front, EMPC on the turrets

I'm looking forward to ripping apart some P's for you

plawolf · Post by **plawolf** » Sun, 1. Nov 09, 11:47

Gothsheep wrote: I get the feeling that I'm going to wish I'd paid more attention to those 'Understanding our Terran brothers' pamphlets that the Goners keep handing out at stations.

I think I might still have some left in my kitbag, you are welcome to one when I get back, although I can't tell you what they say since I never bothered to read one.

They are very soft though, makes good toilet paper.

Sandos87 · Post by **Sandos87** » Sun, 1. Nov 09, 14:04

AsterXiphos wrote:
Sandos87 wrote:Cause as everyone knows, looks is at least half the battle.
I thought "knowing" was . . . or is looks the other half?

One might think so, but i've found that knowing tends to just make you realize the dangers you face, so i have
switched that part for what i like to call "liberal use of fluid bravery".. and a good sized chunk of luck.
That, and liberal (ab)use of nukes.

Tenlar Scarflame · Post by **Tenlar Scarflame** » Sun, 1. Nov 09, 16:23

vr01 wrote:I've heard these stories about how Steve has this Paranid working for him who talks like a creature out of a mythical Terran movie...

What you are talking about, I know not...

brucewarren · Post by **brucewarren** » Sun, 1. Nov 09, 16:51

Ship's translator circuit broken must be, understand you I do not

Spacefuel stash, access to while driving, you must be denied.
Drink it all myself I shall

Knetter_Gek · Post by **Knetter_Gek** » Sun, 1. Nov 09, 17:19

plawolf wrote: Say, has anyone seen a furry little critter that answers to 'beep'?

Did you take a miniature giant spacehamster on board? Caution with that - they get in your coffee maker and foul it up in a way that no amount of sugar and cream is going to be able to fix.

insolent1 · Post by **insolent1** » Sun, 1. Nov 09, 17:54

Cruising around terran space in a large ship is not a good idea

plawolf · Post by **plawolf** » Sun, 1. Nov 09, 18:45

Knetter_Gek wrote:Did you take a miniature giant spacehamster on board? Caution with that - they get in your coffee maker and foul it up in a way that no amount of sugar and cream is going to be able to fix.

Is that what happened to poor beep?

Damn, I liked that one. Its so rare to get one that isn't crazy or homicidal...

At least they breed easily enough.

Since your coffee maker doesn't make coffee anymore and I much prefer space fuel anyways, a round on you is in order me thinks.

Come on lads, I got me a feeling about this trip, lets tank up while we can. There's no telling when we might need to launch, and you can't fly with empty tanks!

NUKLEAR-SLUG · Post by **NUKLEAR-SLUG** » Sun, 1. Nov 09, 23:31

Prev chapter<->Next chapter
106 - Patrol

Splinter it seems wants me to join him on a short patrol while we discuss further business which is fine by me except I'm not quite that trusting yet so I'm staying behind my 4Gj of shields thankyou very much. Splinter seemed a bit nonplussed by that one but that's not my concern. Mind you I suspect it does look a little strange a Shrike forming up on the wing of an M3, that usually works the other way around.

Pulling away from the orbital defence station we're just heading off when Splinter gets a commmunication from their fleet command or something and all the Terrans are suddenly looking tense. Obviously, being stuck fairly deep in the middle of Terran space right now that doesn't really do great things for my peace of mind. Fortunately it turns they haven't just figured out this isn't my first visit here and it's actually all down to a bunch of Xenon causing trouble. Not an uncommon situation for me that, but over in Terran space this it appears is something of a 'Big Thing(tm)'. Either way it's an all hands situation and somehow or other that manages to include our flight. Splinter and his wing are already accelerating for the gate leaving me wallowing behind them. I'll just catch up in my own time then shall I?

Apparently the whole 'You will be escorted at all times, don't deviate from the flight path or else' thing has gone out the window for the moment, but not having much anywhere else to go I guess I'll just tag along anyway so move through the gate into Neptune, where it seems the trouble is. Splinter and his guys are already engaging a small Xenon force, but it's all N's so no big deal, although they are jumping into the sector which is a little unusual. Looks like the Xenon may have managed to shoehorn a jumpdrive into the N, that can't be good for someone. Terran command seems to think otherwise tho and reckons it's down to some device the Xenon are using..

http://dbbr17626.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/steve/106-1.jpg

.. a jump beacon, I'm not sure how that works but apparently it does. Nothing too much to concern about if N's are the best the Xenon can send tho as the Terran forces are handling them quite happily with their Poltergeist missiles. Nice missile that, basically an M5 mountable Flail!

With the N's wiped out before we're even in firing range, tho we did tag a few with Hurricanes, I've apparently earned enough trust with Splinter that he's happy for me to go cover some out of the way sector at the extreme arse-end of Terran space, just in case. Thanks! Somethings going on elsewhere apparently and he reckons the Xenon may try a run thru Oort Cloud. I guess we're last ditch line of defence as I don't think we could really be much further away from the centre of Terran space out here.

So anyway we're sat there a while, watching rocks float by and wondering if anyones remembered we're stuck out here, when we get a message through from Splinter as it seems he's managed to lose one of the Xenon craft and reckons its coming our way. And right on queue there it comes through the gate..

http://dbbr17626.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/steve/106-2.jpg

.. Ok, I swear that thing looks like one of my freight drones. Soon as we get back home I'm ordering all those freight drones rounded up and then I'm going to EMP the lot of them, you know, just to be sure..

Splinter wants us to follow it, but the Xenon drone is way faster than we are so we've got no chance. That's a little more comforting as none of my freight drones can move like this thing can.. then again they may just be pretending. Better EMP them anyway. We are able to get close enough to it's exit point to pick up another ship waiting for it the profile of which looks suspiciously like a Nova. That seems odd, but it jumps out before we can get a proper read on it. Not to worry about it for now tho, Splinter wants us to head back to Uranus as apparently The Xenon have kicked it up a notch and are currently hitting Terran space pretty hard..

Time: 8-20:13
Credits: 225,329

JoeVN09 · Post by **JoeVN09** » Mon, 2. Nov 09, 00:16

"Sorry but we're only letting you bring one ship".

Three-kilometre-long Teladi warship? The Terrans still have some security lessons to learn.

Munvyrm · Post by **Munvyrm** » Mon, 2. Nov 09, 00:35

Seems like maybe Steve could use a Split M7 more than the Split could. You know, for when you absolutely, positively have to run 25% faster than other M7s will allow.

Gothsheep · Post by **Gothsheep** » Mon, 2. Nov 09, 00:49

Munvyrm wrote:Seems like maybe Steve could use a Split M7 more than the Split could. You know, for when you absolutely, positively have to run 25% faster than other M7s will allow.

A Cobra WOULD make quite a nice commandship for Steve's burgeoning fleet.

Alex Vanderbilt · Post by **Alex Vanderbilt** » Mon, 2. Nov 09, 00:59

They are Terrans, dewy-eyed, naïve, but at the same time wary, paranoid and a little ... well, how do I put it in the right way

... spoony to weaponry. Remembers me of the real earth, but that's just a slight feeling.

I really would have seen their face if N_S had entered their sectors in a K or J.

AV

NUKLEAR-SLUG · Post by **NUKLEAR-SLUG** » Mon, 2. Nov 09, 16:14

Prev chapter<->Next chapter
107 - K

Exiting the Oort Cloud gate puts us back in Pluto space and Splinter isn't kidding..

http://dbbr17626.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/steve/107-1.gif

.. that's quite a few Xenon ships there and they're heavy ones too. Not too much to worry about tho as there are a number of Terran M6 closing on them already so with us throwing our weight in too they shouldn't last long. I was expecting better, but it turns out the Valis suffer some losses without suceeding in destroying a single one of the P's, although in their favour I think in terms of total damage inflicted the Terans came off better. It's good for me tho as I arrive just about in time to deal with a half-dozen P's with very little shielding remaining between them and the Gauss rounds punch thru that without concern.

With the P's cleaned up and the last couple N's being chased down by Hurricanes I'm all set to move on when there's a bright flash off to the north. Xenon reinforcements on the way and this time they're bringing in the big toys, a K. That makes me pause for thought as normally I'd be on the radio to one of the bombers I'd have tagging along for just such situations, unfortunately today I don't have a bomber along to deal with it easily, but I do have a small cache of nukes I keep around the place for those problem days when you really feel the need to atomise something..

http://dbbr17626.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/steve/107-2.jpg

..And normally that approach works fine, but this K is on the ball and neither of the two Firestorms I send in hit their target which means if I'm going to destroy it I'm going to have to get a lot more up close and personal than I really care to, and since I don't care to, I'm not going to. Orange wing on the other hand picked a bad day to get assigned as my personal escort..

http://dbbr17626.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/steve/107-3.gif

.. Off you go then lads, trial by fire and all that!

I decided I'd cut them a little slack tho, what with this being their first skirmish and all, so I sent a handful of drones on ahead to act as distraction which allows them to get in close and start pouring on the fire without 100% of the K's fire heading back their way, and with me closing in rolling Hornets as fast as possible to give the K something else to think about it goes down suprisingly easily..

http://dbbr17626.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/steve/107-4.jpg

Neptune is much the same story, a fairly large group of P's and a small assortment of fighters tagging along with them. Luckily no destroyers with this lot though, but moving into Uranus and there's another one waiting. It's distracted chasing down a Yokohama tho which very sensibly is getting the hell out of there as fast as it can and, while the K is not paying attention and with Orange wing hunting down a rogue P, I get the opportunity to close in on the K on its flank..

http://dbbr17626.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/steve/107-5.jpg

.. and dump a full battery of IBL into it. I'm quite glad I swapped out those CIGS for a full IBL bank, it bottoms out the energy reserves in short order, but in addition to the quad gauss cannons on the left/right turrets and a salvo of Hornets means I can pack one hell of a forward punch when I've got the need.

The loss of that last K seems to blunt the brunt of the Xenon attack and Splinter seems well pleased, so much so that we're invited to dock at the saturn Research station for debrief. He even overlooked the sudden appearance of Orange wing who I'm cheered to discover have succesfully managed to make it thru the day without so much as a scratch between them. A most impressive first day!

Time: 8-20:13
Credits: 225,329

Targ Collective · Post by **Targ Collective** » Mon, 2. Nov 09, 17:30

You're getting better at writing up these exploits with practice Nuklear. Personally I'd have said Orange wing were toast. Well done!

Xenon333 · Post by **Xenon333** » Mon, 2. Nov 09, 17:56

Erm 'beep' seems to be missing from that picture, I hope you had him saved to pen drive somewhere before that was taken...

Ctrl-Alt-Del already !!!

01000010011001010110010101110000

Knetter_Gek wrote:
plawolf wrote: Say, has anyone seen a furry little critter that answers to 'beep'?
Did you take a miniature giant spacehamster on board? Caution with that - they get in your coffee maker and foul it up in a way that no amount of sugar and cream is going to be able to fix.

Cough :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_X_ ... aces#Xenon

Fallen-Angel · Post by **Fallen-Angel** » Mon, 2. Nov 09, 19:06

May I ask how much reputation you earned with the Terrans by blowing up those Ks and Ps?

Seleucius · Post by **Seleucius** » Mon, 2. Nov 09, 19:33

NUKLEAR-SLUG wrote:Orange wing on the other hand picked a bad day to get assigned as my personal escort..
http://dbbr17626.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/steve/107-3.gif
.. Off you go then lads, trial by fire and all that!
[...] Orange wing who I'm cheered to discover have succesfully managed to make it thru the day without so much as a scratch between them.

And on that note, my vote for Orange's theme song goes to Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries. I get the feeling I'm going to need a bigger belt to scratch notches in if we're rolling shotgun on Preemptive Shrike.

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Wanton use of nukes and the path to galactic conquest!