DiD: When you can't do it your way... do it the Yaki way. (Pt.II Ch.2)(Open to ALL!)

[dragondream]

Chapter 3 - The Three-eyed Beasts (and Fudge Delight)

Derrik, confused and concerned, decided to forget about the strange behaviour of the two Split he had encountered. He made his way back to his Fujin and saw a small looking at the ship in wonder. When Derrik came close to the ship the boy ran up to him.

"Mister, that is one of the smallest ships I've seen," the boy said. "But it looks really nice. What is it?"

"It's a Fujin," Derrik replied.

"A Fudge-in? Like chocolate fudge?"

"No," Derrik replied laughingly. "A Fujin."

"Well, it looks a bit like fudge," the boy said and walked off.

Derrik shook his head and stared as the boy ran off. A fudge? Might not be such a bad name, he thought. He undocked his ship and prepared himself for a long and boring day of more mapping. He mapped as many stations he could find and logged the traffic in the sector of Preacher's Viod. Military and Police movement seemed to be at a minimum - perhaps a good place for some pirating later on - and plenty combat missions to go around. Just as long as your careful not to have to attack Pirates or Yaki in the combat missions, they usually pay a decent reward.

Sterring his ship through the South Gate, he arrived at Dukes Vision. A peculiar sector, he thought. For the one side was truly beautiful, but the other side was as plain as a Boron's... face. He took some pictures of it, to save in his log.

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Then going throught the East Gate, he arrived at Emperor's wisdom. A massive sector in his opinion and it was going to take a while to explore fully. But perhaps a good place to do some pirating much later on, since a massive sector did have specific advatages, like a huge delay in Sector Police or Military arriving on scene.

Finally arriving at Trinity Sanctum, he decided to chill a bit and watch a bit of telly in space. He did not care if they were only adverts, he just felt like some entertainment after having to spend that long exploring space (or maybe he is just the lazy kind).

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After properly mapping Pontifex's Realm, Emperor's Ridge, Duke's Domain, Priest Rings, Paranid Prime and Emperor Mines, Derrik held his breath and felt his body cringe as he realized he was now entering Argon space. This would be the first time he was re-entering Argon space since he betrayed them and ran off with a Military Colossus. Even running off with the Colossus was considered betrayal, since he was only put in command of it, not ownership. However, attacking Argon Traders with it was the limit to the Argon Senate. He knew that if the Argon Senate still knew he was alive they would be hunting him down this minute.

"What are you thinking Derrik?" he said to himself. "How would they even know you're alive? You're just being paranoid."

He gupled deeply as the North Gate of Emperor Mines filled the view from his cockpit.

"They won't know you're alive..."

[ external image ]

Assets:

1 x Yaki Fujin "Fudge"

Credits: 0
Game Time: 04:25:06

[TTD]

Hmm. "Fudge"

Oh well...

Norman will be pleased if he finds it

[dragondream]

NEWS FLASH

XUN - X Universe News - presented to you by Charlene Hudson.

"The Argon Military has officially set their UWS* to Level 3 as increased threats of Yaki have been reported in Border Sectors rampaging through stations and patrol groups. Stations are demanding pilots to protect their property from certain destruction from the Yaki. Col. Van Brennar has said this to be 'the biggest threat in the universe after the Kha'ak and Xenon'. Argon Prime residents complain about over excessive advertising for military recruits.

The Argon Senate has dismissed claims that they have forced people into the army on several Colony Planets, despite the universe wide claims they have done so. Senator Rolland has said that 'people are over-dramatizing the military actions they have taken, and that the biggest threat still remains the Kha'ak.'

Sightings of large troop freighters being escorted into the Border worlds have been reported by hundreds of eye-witnesses. Nevertheless, the Argon Government has assured the people that the higher UWS Level is nothing to be concerned about as the Core Sectors remain mostly safe from our new enemies."

*UWS explanation:

The UWS (Universal War Status) is a new system being implemented by different Race Military as a status of how close we could be to a devastating universal war. The levels are as follows...

Level 1 - Lowest level of concern... times of peace.
Level 2 - Regular patrols are scanning the Border sectors for potetnial threats and small invaders are being held back.
Level 3 - Troop movement has been shifted into the Border Sectors to protect our Borders from our main enemies. Recruits are being doubled and doubled again to increase safety.
Level 4 - Huge Capital ships and massive fleets have been dispatched to fight and launch attacks to our enemies and all Military sub-groups have been re-activated.
Level 5 - This is the worst level possible and the Argon Government has assured everyone that this level will never be used by the Government. It is a state of Universal war where all peace treaties are broken with potential enemies and maximum Military fleets are sent deep into enemy space in an attempt to rid the enemy. Trading and bartering are suspended in these times of war...

[dragondream]

Hmm. "Fudge"

Oh well...

Norman will be pleased if he finds it

Hehe. I named it that because Fujin sounds a bit like fudge. I'm sure Norman would like to hear that a ship was named after him though...

[dragondream]

Derrik can not continue the rest of the game on his own. The Yaki Prince decided it was in Derrik's best interest to have someone to be a partner with Derrik in his battles and be his co-pilot on his ships. The advertisement put on several Yaki ships reads as follows...

[ external image ]

If you are interested in this position please state you details as follows...

Name: ...
Time serving the Yaki: ...
Fighting Experience: ...
Trading Experience: ...
Building Experience: ...
Ships Boarded: ...
Do you honour the Yaki Prince: Yes/No
Do you promise never to betray the Yaki: Yes/No
Will you boldly fight against our sworn enemies: Yes/No

We may or may not accept your application depending on your details and your outwardly appearance and if you can juggle three balls standing on your head. Thank you for reading and applying...

[Master of the Blade]

Okidoki then!

Application: Name: Swien Luf(race: Boron)
Time serving the yaki: Several months (Used to be a mercenary)
Fighting experience: Are you kidding? I can take out a Titan with my Tenjin.
Trading experience: very good at not getting caught with illegal Weed 'n' Booze onboard
Building experience: Well, at the times when I do have a TL on hand, I've never lost a station. My 'plexes are of the spaghetti variety though.
Ships boarded: only 3- a Vidar, an Elephan and a Tiger
Do I honour the Yaki prince? Yep, so long as I get paid.
Do I promise never to betray the Yaki? As long as I get my cash, I'd take on a Khaak sector for the Yaki.
Will I boldly fight against our sworn enemies? Guess what? Of course, so long as I'm paid.
Do I care if I die? Well, I'd obviously rather not, but I'm much less likely to die if I'm not on my own.(that's the disclaimer sorted out)

[LordForrester]

Name: Alexander Corstorphine
Race: Terran
Time serving the Yaki: New Recruit

Fighting Experience: Terran Nave, I was the captain of several M7s. I worked my way up as a fighter pilot /CAG/ Captain.

Trading Experience: My Father was the head of a Agricultural shipping company.

Building Experience: Helped my Dad build a lot of Farming Complexes before joining the Nave.

Ships Boarded: Never was in that part of the Nave.

Do you honor the Yaki Prince: Yes as long as the holds up his end of the deal.

Do you promise never to betray the Yaki: See above

Will you boldly fight against our sworn enemies: Yes

History:
We lost every thing because we held to a different religion than the government. I and my family were the target of the Terran inquisition. I was striped of Rank and my Father stripped of his company. My Wife/ mother/ sisters were Dishonored. We fled to Argon but they would not take us in for fear of loss of relations with the Terran's. Cowards!

I will fight with Honor for the Yaki prince but I will not commit Genocide. As long as this condition is met I will be loyal.

[EmperorJon]

Name: 'The Dougginator'
Time serving the Yaki: 18 Years
Fighting Experience: 12 years. Got into my first combat when I was 6!
Trading Experience: A bit off booze n' guns here and there.
Building Experience: Not bad with a TL, like stacked factories.
Ships Boarded: Erm... a TL, when iI was 7. With nothing but an Argnu Burger to use as a club.
Do you honour the Yaki Prince: Duh!
Do you promise never to betray the Yaki: Yes, duh!
Will you boldly fight against our sworn enemies: Fight? FIGHT! WHERE FIGHT, TELL ME NOW... FIGHTY!

[dragondream]

The Yaki Prince replies to the following applicants:

To Swien Luf:

Your seemingly obsession of money is hardly pleasing to the Yaki Kingdom. Although we may be pirates, we do not wish ONLY for money such as the pirate scum do. We are concerned your love of money might turn you against the Yaki if another race offer a bigger sum of money in return. We might consider hiring you for some future mercenary jobs in the future, but this position is, I'm afraid, going to be given to someone else.

To Alexander Corstorphine:

We have considered your application to be acceptable in most parts. Judging from the details you seem to be a loyal fighter who would fight for us no matter what. We are a bit worried about your combat skills and trading in the more 'darker' areas of goods trading, but seeing that this is a co-pilot position we are confident you will learn these other aspects on the job. We have personally decided to accept your application on the terms that the first few weeks you will be given a novice's pay.

To The Dougginator:

Your application is amusing to say the least. Your apparent lifetime servitude to us and your combat and boarding skills seem somewhat to be exaggerated. The over-eagerness you show to fight could be a cause of concern in situations where holding back from a fight is recquired. Our absolute success as a pirate kingdom involves strategically knowing our limitations and abilities so we can better plan our assaults. Your application will not be scrapped and will most likely be considered for future positions such as wingman or fighter pilot of your own ship.

The Yaki Prince thanks all applicants for showing their willingness to serve the Prince and rewards all applicants with a 100 credits.

Honour the Prince.

[LordForrester]

Thank you sir! You will not regret it.

Honor the Prince!

[EmperorJon]

Ok, I'll admit that that Argnu Burger was poisoned, and was not infact a club, but a... poisoned burger to feed to the captain. It was a set up you see, he picked me up, I pretended to be left over from a big fight, floating through space in an emergency suit, then I drugged him with the Burger and the Yaki came onboard. Great trick!

[Master of the Blade]

Yep, a mercenary job here and there is just fine. A hand to the Yaki will be lent whenever required.

[tidurlagi]

Name: Jo Sakna
Race: Argon
Time serving the Yaki: New Recruit
Fighting Experience: Capital ships turret and heavy fighter pilot
Trading Experience: Has a few miner loitering Ore Belt and an argon whiskey factory
Building Experience: Not much, just the factory that i own in the past
Ships Boarded: Pirate frigate
Do you honour the Yaki Prince: Yes
Do you promise never to betray the Yaki: Yes as long im not betrayed
Will you boldly fight against our sworn enemies: Yes

I was betrayed by my companion so he can seize my space fuel distilery and claim that as his own. Then im work in Argon military until recently i came across who betrayed me. Filled up with rage, i kill him.
Nowhere to run, i humbly give this aplication.

[dragondream]

Jo Sakna:

I regret to inform you that this position is now closed and already been given to someone. We are sorry to hear that you have nowhere to run to, so we offer you a place aboard our Yaki Shipyard to dwell in until we are in need of fighter pilots. We are planning to expand our fleet by three times over a period of five years! So work as a pilot will become readily available. Until then, we recommend you perhaps take our Yaki Boarding Ships & Other Illegal Activities course available to learn the basics of becoming a Yaki. We hope you enjoy your stay.

We will further be taking no more applications until another position opens up.

Honour the Prince.

[dragondream]

Chapter 4 - Argon Silence and the Mysterious Message

Arriving in Cloudbase Southwest Derrik tensed himself for any Sector Police or Military that might come his way. However, the sector had turned almost lifeless compared to how he remembered it. Only a few traders sprinkled here and there were sluggishly moving along, looking for any half-decent trade run. The Goner temple had vanished from existence and the sky was painted with the color of blood. Derrik soon realized the destruction that had been caused by Xenon, Kha'ak and Yaki attacks. Although the Argon Senate wouldn't admit it, they were on the losing end of the battle, being pushed back by various aggresive races - that seemed to get stronger every day.

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Docking at the Argon Free Trading Station in Ore Belt, he went to the info desk to find out if there were any messages for him. The lady behind the counter typed up on the computer if there were any messages.

"You have... two messages. Message ID's 304928472 and 304928475. I will need to see your ID before you can read them."

"Sure," Derrik said. Now let's just hope that Fake ID pulls off, he thought.

"Ok, ID checks out fine. Feel free to read them now."

"Thanks," he said.

Message 1 - Gobanis Gustiosanis IV

"Greetingssss Derrik. I hear you have made progresss concerning your first mission. I send you this message to inform you that you will be joining up with another pilot to assist you in your missionsss. You will meet him in the bar of the station you are docked at. The Free Argon Trading Station in Ore Belt. His name isss Alexander Corstorphine.

Honour the Kingdom."

How on Argon Prime did he know I was docked here? He thought to himself. And why did they think I need a partner? I'm quite capable of handling myself, thank you very much! He thought, frustrated.

Message 2 - Unknown Sender

"We know who you are... and we know what you're doing. You think you can hide, but we know where you are. Pay us a sum of 5'000'000 credits and we might just hold back from blabbing to the Argon Government where you are. Do not confuse us with Pirates. We are powerful, and we can see everything. If you do not pay us this money, eventually we will let out on your little secret. Think of it as that we are doing you a favour... by giving you the chance to pay enough money to cover over your crime.

Not paying this money will result in your assassination by our operatives and our informing the Argon of your whereabouts.

We will find you...and we will kill you."

Lovely.

Assets:

1 x Yaki Fujin "Fudge"

Credits: 0
Game Time:04:51:44

[dragondream]

Chapter 5 - Easy Money and Thick People

Derrik walked into the bar, hanging his coat on a nearby hook. He looked around the bar for his new partner and saw a man sitting on his own at a table. He looked like an Argon man, but his cloths style hinted otherwise. The blue and white colour of his uniform immediately remided him of the Terran dress code for all their pilots. Oh, great, he thought. A Terran. The man sat nervously at the table, his legs and arms shaking from the nerves. Looking around the man spotted Derrik standing at the door looking back. Derrik took a deep breath and sat opposite him at the table.

"Derrik Dream," he said introducing himself.

"Alexander Corstorphine," the man said, reaching his arm out to shake hands with Derrik.

Derrik ignored his friendly gesture. "The Prince tells me you are my new partner."

"Well... Co-pilot. At least, that's what the job description said."

"Do you have any experience as a combat pilot? With boarding?"

"I was a Captain of several M7's, but...eh...I do not have any experience with boarding or pirating though."

Derrik stared down at his hand, which was tapping slowly on the table, much to the annoyance of Alexander, who already felt he had been rejected by his new partner. Derrik stopped tapping, causing an even more awkward silence.

"Alexander..." Derrik said. "Do you mind if I call you Alex?"

"No," he said laughing nervously. "No, you can call me Alex if you want."

"Good. Welcome aboard. Although once you see your new ship you might not want to be."

And Derrik was partially right, when Alex saw his new ship, he did not really want to be aboard it. It was the tiniest ship he had ever been in, but he decided to keep quiet about it and just be happy that he would be travelling through space once again. Derrik undocked his ship and flew to Cloudbase Southeast. To his surprise (and shock), two Yaki fighters were being attacked by an Argon Patrol group. His instinct was to go and give a hand helping the Yaki out, but he did not want to give away his position against the Argon just yet. He spotted a Dragonfly missile, lying motionlessly in space. A profit oppurtunity. Steering his ship towards it, he tried his best to avoid getting hit in the fire fight.

"You're going towards the battle scene?" Alex asked. "Why are you doing that?"

"To get that Firefly missile."

"But it's not even worth that much!"

"I need a bit of money to upgrade my engine. At the moment I don't have a single cent to spend."

By the time he got the missile, the fight was over. The Yaki fighters had given the Patrol group a thrashing. Derrik looked in awe.

"How..." Alex could not finish his sentence.

"Two fighters just took out a Patrol group!" Derrik said astounded.

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After the miraculous moment had passed, Derrik docked his ship at the nearby EQ Dock. He sold the Firefly missile and bought 4 engine tunings with the money he got from it.

"Right, now let's look for a combat mission," Derrik said

"Why?"

"Because... I have an idea," Derrik said with an evil grin.

He looked around and found a Station Protect mission for the Shipyard nearby. As soon as he accepted it, a Pirate Harrier showed up on scene. He sat watching it go towards the Shipyard and had the SETA on.

"What are you doing?" Alex asked. "Aren't you gonna go after it?"

"Nah... these sectors will usually have a Patrol group come through here regularly. That ship will be dead before he can do any damage."

He accepted two more Station Protect missions and waited for the attacking ships to die, leaving the Patrol groups to clean up.

"And if I'm right and the Patrol groups take 'em out, we should still get paid."

"You're evil," Alex said in disbelief.

"I know," Derrik replied grinning.

It went even better than Derrik thought. The pilot of the Harrier that was attacking the Shipyard obviously didn't have good flying skills. He crashed into the station and was crushed like a flea. On top of that, the guy that offered the mission still paid them the promised money and told them they did "fantastic" work! Could it get any better?

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"Well, that's 300 credits. now let's see how the other two are doing."

The second mission was a success as well, and the second batch of money was paid. Derrik was shocked to see his rep with the Argon went up to Federation Member... and they didn't even know he wasn't helping them! In fact, he was going against them and was getting cash and rep for it as well!

"This day just keeps getting better and better."

Alex could not believe his eyes. Never in a million years did he think that the Argon could be so dumb. The Terrans would have long caught on to what Derrik was doing, but here the Argon were paying him for playing against them. Unthinkable.

The last mission was completed when an Argon Nova shot the last Harrier down.

[ external image ]

"Ok, that's the last of the payment," Derrik said relieved. "Now let's head to Herron's Nebulae for a couple... 'trade runs'."

Assets:

1 x Yaki Fujin "Fudge"

Credits: 1,281
Game Time: 05:43:56

[TTD]

That's a clever move.

Get paid for doin'nowt.

[LordForrester]

It had been a long wait in the bar. He had been acutely aware of the stares his terran uniform was drawing. He made a mental note to get a change of clothes with his first pay check.

He had thought about his family. He hated leaving them to live in that run down little farm house that the prince had given them. Dad was going to organize the farmers around it and start shipping goods out to the prince's fleet.

Alex missed his wife Dorry most of all. They had never before been separated. She had always lived on his ships with him. He promised her that he would one day have a ship that could again be their home together. The thought of her brave face as she waved good-bye to him two weeks ago still haunted him.

After two weeks of thinking about what his first day would be like, he had never in his wildest dreams thought that he would be sitting in the back seat of a little fighter watching Derrik take advantage of all those stupid station owners.

He had not yet made up his mind about the man Derrik Dream. He seemed to be a sad and disappointing man when Alex first met him in the bar. After this idea of his, he saw instead that Derrik was a man with a great sense of humor. The next few weeks are going to be interesting, thought Alex.

[dragondream]

XUN - X Universe News - presented to you by Charlene Hudson

"Cloudbase Southeast was struck by Pirate and Yaki attacks yesterday. Several Sector Police were killed and three stations were the victims of the Pirate and Yaki attacks. The Argon Military has told us these events are nothing to be scared of and that the threat has been dealt with.

Aaand in other news... Senator Higgins has openly revealed his hatred for the Boron race. In a press conference he admitted that "if the Boron couldn't speak he would have them served for dinner as ice cold sushi" and later said "the Paranid - our enemies - have made an alliance with a nation of warfare. We have made an alliance with a bunch of fish..." These comments have caused much heated arguments in the Senate. The Boron claim this as a "threat to the alliance" and demand immediate removal of Senator Higgins from the Argon Senate.

And finally, a recent universal poll has discovered that over 30% of all traders have at sometime or another traded in illegal goods, especially Space Fuel. This rising trade is being spread into the Core Sectors and smuggling is being done under the noses of Sector Police. The Argon Federation have increased scans of illegal goods by 50% and hope to catch out all illegal goods traders, while on the other hand the Argon Senate are, at the moment, re-discussing whether Space Fuel should be banned at all..."

[EmperorJon]

These news reports are hilarious!