I have a lot of fun writing Elmanckardet too
I admit my character talks more like a human than a Split too, but there aren't really enough examples of Split dialect for me to realistically portray it. So the character is colored by me in some regards, but yes, I definitely took the intelligence background into strong consideration when I was choosing how he would behave. Not sure how many people would remember it from the very start, but I included a mention of a previous very successful operation to hint at the fact that he knows what he's doing in at least a certain spectrum.
I'm also disappointed that a lot of the game's nuances aren't fleshed out...the Split families, Argon command structure, Paranid religious hierarchy, etc. But as far as actual gameplay goes none of that would have even the slightest impact. X isn't very story-driven, you have to admit.
I'm certainly open to your suggestion. In fact, doing it as news reports would introduce a whole new sort of reality into the situation, since people form all kinds of opinions and theories about events, most of them are usually wrong. Since they're usually wrong, I couldn't even tell whoever wrote it that they got it all wrong...because that would be what made it realistic to begin with. Various small-time, independent media outlets throwing out a new take on events that I might have to actually respond to could prove interesting. And it would give poor Nyota Braks more to do...and maybe give me more opportunities to introduce new characters.
The only thing I worry about is whether or not the reader understands how public these attacks are or aren't. The attacks on the Split, for example, I'm putting into the shadows for the most part, so I wouldn't expect news attention there...yet. But anything done to the Argon or Paranid is certainly fair game.
If you want to do something like that, you can run it by me via private message if you like. Otherwise, feel free. My character doesn't have nearly enough headaches yet.
Chapter 62 - Blitzkrieg
"Are you sure about this, sir?"
You're going to make me less sure of it if you keep questioning me, I thought but didn't say. "Practice only goes so far. It's only been a few days, but we're controlling the battlefield. If this goes bad I have backup ready to support you, and all you have to do is use the jumpdrive to escape. Your shields will last more than long enough to get out. Don't worry. You'll lose the nerves once everything starts."
"I hope you're right, sir."
"I'm always right. Now enough chatter. The target is coming through the gate." I could swear I heard Nyota gulp on the other end.
I had woken a few days previously with a dire sort of realization: with the opening gambit against the Split, I needed more missile frigates. I had an operation planned that would require two, a Minotaur and an Ares, but I also needed a distinct second force for my attacks against the Split. That meant at least two missile frigates, if I could find them. I didn't want to use the Cobra, because I wanted it to appear as if the regular Paranid military was making the strikes rather than some scavenging party. All of my Split captures would be put on defensive duties.
But I couldn't only target missile frigates. If I captured a pair of Ares frigates and then a pair started attacking the Split, someone might put two and two together. It was still a possibility, but less likely if I went on a full-out offensive against the Paranid. Plus it might take some heat off of me from the Argon if I left them alone.
Three straight days of scouting and attacks was starting to wear me down, and probably my commandos too. Some of Chianna's hired warriors were cycled in and out for combat experience, though the former Marines still weren't ready. We had a long string of successes, with only one man killed in action. A Split, of course. I barely had any left.
The list of captures was extensive. Some were fighters; a Pericles, a trio of Perseus', and another Medusa had all been abandoned by their pilots. We took a Nemesis on two separate occasions, a Deimos frigate, and an Ares, which was the real target. We also had a lucky break in Split Fire, and I was able to seize not one but two Zeus carriers. One had come in support of the other and scared me half to death, especially with how small that sector is, but we pulled it off. After that I promised my people a well-earned rest if we could find one last target. Another Ares. And find it we did.
My satellites in the Boron sector of Lucky Planets detected it first, heading east. I jumped into Rolk's Legacy in
Sprite to track its movements; when I saw it make the turn to the south, I ordered Nyota Braks to Gunne's Crusade in an Ares, and to get set up among the asteroids. It would be the first time she flew the frigate solo, so her nerves were understandable, if inconvenient.
"Do you have them on scanners?"
"No, sir. I'm too far away from the gate."
"Good. I'm going to jump to the south gate and come toward you. Wait until it's within twenty clicks before you start taking out the escorts, and hit the Ares with Hammers only after the Flails have all hit a target so we can avoid hull damage."
"Y-yes sir," she said shakily. Showing trust was going to give me an ulcer.
Gunne's Crusade, an apt name for an attack but Gunne's supposed Heirs, was a very long sector. I was still over forty kilometers from Nyota when she whispered, "Here goes nothing," and started her attack. I left her to it without comment, criticism or advice. I had access to her scanner data, so I could see the end results. The fighters all dropped pretty quickly...and so did the shields on the Ares. She had probably sent far more Flails than were necessary. She'd learn.
"Make sure you re-calc how many torps you need with the shields damaged." I couldn't hold silent this time.
"Thank you, sir. Launching now." I targeted her Ares and counted the torpedoes as I saw them leave the tubes. Once she stopped firing I switched to her target and checked the shields. She would need to send some Flails still, but the target was far enough away that I waited to see if she would figure it out herself, or how long it would take her to realize it, rather.
I was pleasantly surprised when I saw a few flights of smaller missiles corkscrewing through the space between them. Maybe she had been paying attention during the previous ops after all.
The target's shields were at 2% when the last Hammer struck. "Sending the boys and girls to play!" And, true to her word, I saw four broad white exhaust streams being chased by a few more Flail barrages. This might just work out nicely.
"Shit, sir, he's launching too." I could see it for myself. There was a fair chance those Flails might take out at least one boarding pod, even if they were launched at Nyota. My heart leapt into my throat as the distance between missiles and pods dwindled.
"Strafe up and to the right, now. It'll pull those missiles out of line with the pods if the pods aren't the targets." Maybe the explanation was unnecessary; Nyota did as she was told before I offered it. Sure enough, the oncoming missiles angled upward and I let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"Contact with the hull! Break it down!" Who was that?
The shields were still low enough that I doubted it would need any more munitions. Nyota decided to play it safe and launched three more Flails, which I couldn't fault her for. Maybe it would make the commandos feel better too.
"Almost open, prepare for entry. We go in heavy. No mistakes, people!" Whoever that man was, he was trying way too hard. He was more likely to get his people killed than the enemy if he didn't learn to shut his mouth. I suddenly had a few misgivings about the operation, but interrupting would probably do even more harm. I gritted my teeth and just listened to the battle unfolding in that huge metal coffin.
My misgivings proved both justified and unjustified. We took the frigate and suffered six casualties, but they were all wounded, not killed. I still intended to find out who led the op and sit him down with Chianna and Aron for a heart-to-heart. Overbearing leaders either get their people killed, or get killed by their people. I didn't want either.
Some people choose it, some are chosen...
![[ external image ]](http://litcube.xtimelines.net/LUBanner.png){kind=link}
![[ external image ]](http://www.sartar.de/images/Tukan-banner.gif){kind=link}