Wanton use of nukes and the path to galactic conquest!

[5c0rch!]

Anyone remember "Xenon Alley" in X² the threat? The path between the two main xenon sectors through Split and Boron territory including Ocean of Fantasy? That's where I'd set up my first base not realising that it was a Xenon Highway.

NS may have a similar problem being based in Teladi space so close to Xenon 347.

Perhaps NS will have to consider adding to his defences as regular Xenon rampages and atrocities may be the norm in his base region.

Or he could seed the jump gate in X347 with Squash mines or a regular basis.

Masrock

But why were they in PTNI and the Unknown sector west of there? There are no Xenon sectors between X347 and the route that takes you through these sectors, so why would they be there? Perhaps NS has come across one of the elusive Xenon Invasion Fleets? (personally, I have never seen a XIF in any of my games, yet some players have mentioned that they do happen.)

[Lancefighter]

maybe he took a xenon invasion mission?

Idk..


Also, if your logged in, you can click the little orange arrows next to thread titles, and that (usually) jumps you to how far youve read..

[Spitzeuk]

Sorry if this is a spoiler to any of you but it would appear Steve has started missions involving sector patrols against xenon invasions. Good way to add depth and content to the story if you ask me, I'm not saying it's a bad thing.
You can tell in the fourth pic because it has the orange mission guidance crosshair.

[Kapakio]

Hehe, good catch Spitz, and I guess NS left this clue on purpose

[Gold Dragon]

Good Catch indeed. I totally missed the Mission Guidance the first time I looked at that pic.

Nice kill, NS!

[5c0rch!]

Ah, that is why. Kudos for spotting that Splitzeuk, I missed that completely.

[NUKLEAR-SLUG]

Prev chapter<->Next chapter
62 - 0010


Hopefully it's not another K because if it is then I'm sure as hell not getting involved and the Teladi military machine can handle it. Fortunately it's not..

http://dbbr17626.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/steve/62-1.gif

.. just a few More P's and the usual L/M/N mishmash and I can handle that no problem. Cool, I can carry on pretending to be a hero. The N's are already starting to disperse and again that leaves them vulnerable to systematic removal by Green wing who seem to be enjoying themselves immensely running the old seek and destroy routine. The P's go down pretty quickly again, but manage to dump quite a bit of fire onto me this time around so my shields are down in the mid 50's. Not a concern tho as they'll soon recharge and with the last N hunted down and destroyed that leaves the sector clear. Clear for definite this time.

Which is apparently more than can be said for Profit Centre Alpha as I'm now getting emergency squawks from there. What's going on today? Xenon processor-family day out or something? Recalling Blue and Purple I order Green to make the run thru the west gate while we jump to Profit Centre Alpha north gate and arrive just in time to have my navsat popped by an M..

http://dbbr17626.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/steve/62-2.gif

.. Not a huge financial loss obviously, but it's the principal of these things. Luckily the main xenon force is sticking pretty much together this time around (Perhaps they've got tired of Green wing nibbling bits off them?) and even better, they're heading almost straight towards me which means we manage an intercept before they can disperse..

http://dbbr17626.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/steve/62-3.jpg

.. and once we've got hold of them they're not getting away.

With Green wing chasing down the last of the N's that made a break for it that leaves the sector secure once more. The Teladi are most grateful for the assistance but request that as we're in the vicinty could we make a patrol of Two Grand just to make sure. Being in a stupidly good mood at the time having come out of the current battle with everything still attached to where it should be I actually agreed, not considering that Two Grand is a actually a really big sector and the Xenon could quite cheerfully conceal a colossal fleet in there and I wouldn't know about it until I fell over it. Still, they've offered to throw me a few bob for doing it so might as well. Besides, I can always float about a bit and then just pretend I've scoured the place.

As it happens tho there does seem to be at least small Xenon prescence as Green wing picks up an N whizzing about while scouting the sector. I suspect there's more out there, but for now they've just become a secondary concern as something big and juicy just dropped thru the gate behind me..

http://dbbr17626.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/steve/62-4.gif

Mm, tasty!




Assets
1x Shrike 'Preemptive Shrike'
1x Gannet 'Providence'
1x Ares 'Storage'
1x Kestrel 'Flash'

1x Caiman 'NMMC Storage'
1x Iguana Vanguard 'Suicide Taxi Services'
2x Toucan 'Dropship 01-02'

7x Vulture Miner ' Miner - 01,07'
4x Vulture Super Freighter
'Red Wing' 4x Falcon Hauler


Time: 4-15:03
Credits: 612,343

[Mortis494]

Operation 'greedy as that gannet' commences!

Top stuff NS, I'm off TC until I finish building my new PC (thats two-nil to Egosoft for TC, 5-0 for the X-series so far - I need to give more serious thought to cooling ) Your tales keep me going until I'm back on!

I have a winning idea for the superbox:

For the series of games with the best fanbase and community in the universe (us) add a 'news' menu to the station menus. This would be in the style of the old BBS - but simpler as its basically just a text box with an 'okay to close' button. The field should be limited in size and the entries can be submitted by the fans via the forum. This could apply to one (or more) of the games, preferably TC as it'll be the most played.

By getting the fans involved (even in a small way) it will add a lot of colourful tales and history to the game. As its only text, there will be space for a lot of entries.

Imagine checking the news at a nearby trade station to hear of a piracy report by Leo 'Steve' Kayean. Or another 'weed heist by the infamous addict etc.

And as a marketing ploy, don't release the winning posts/submissions so that everyone who submits an idea has to buy his/her copy to find out if their input made it into the X-Treme boxed set.

What do you think all?

(I wanted to hyperlink my post on the superbox forum entry but don't know how - so copied it here as the most active forum members all read Slug!)

[Lord Dakier]

Call in the toucans

[BeidAmmikon]

That "Mm, tasty!" at the end brought on the image of Lyekka of Lexx enjoying Japan (and mostly everything else, for that matter)

[Eandir]

The N's are already starting to disperse and again that leaves them vulnerable to systematic removal by Green wing who seem to be enjoying themselves immensely running the old seek and destroy routine.

I had to stop reading here on my iPhone until I had Seek and Destroy by Metallica playing.

[ajsarge]

Haha, I just noticed the connection between your last two chapter titles. Binary is quite fitting for killing Xenon.

[Gold Dragon]

I must have missed something.... What did Steve do to tick off the Teladi in Two Grand that badly?

[The_Hypo]

I must have missed something.... What did Steve do to tick off the Teladi in Two Grand that badly?

He switched his Teladi friend-foe settings so he could cap that gannet, most deviously devious!

Bye

[Llama8]

I must have missed something.... What did Steve do to tick off the Teladi in Two Grand that badly?

Made some unfavourable comparisons between the local sector govenor's wife & a randy Argnu?

[Idleking]

Made some unfavourable comparisons between the local sector govenor's wife & a randy Argnu?

Ouch, that'd hurt

Seriously, I need a new machine to run the game smoothly - engaging a Xenonpatrol with two P's and a handful L's and M's at ~3 fps is a roundhouse-kick to the face

@Topic/Story:
Who really cares how the Xenon get access to those sectors in the game?
To be honest, it's a lot more interesting how they're beeing removed again, isn't it?

Oh, I have a nice idea in this regard - turn on Fraps and create a small video of the main event of each episode, put it on yout*be and ... oh, well, I think you got the point...

Because I can't play the game the way it's meant to be played ... I remain *pushingF5every10seconds* in hope the next episode comes soon

[Gorium]

Nice story, and... with business friends like you, I think no races need any enemies... it seems that you have assigned new pilots to all the capital ships going by your mercenary crew... lol, good job.

Seriously, I need a new machine to run the game smoothly - engaging a Xenonpatrol with two P's and a handful L's and M's at ~3 fps is a roundhouse-kick to the face

@Topic/Story:
Who really cares how the Xenon get access to those sectors in the game?
To be honest, it's a lot more interesting how they're beeing removed again, isn't it?

Oh, I have a nice idea in this regard - turn on Fraps and create a small video of the main event of each episode, put it on yout*be and ... oh, well, I think you got the point...

Because I can't play the game the way it's meant to be played ... I remain *pushingF5every10seconds* in hope the next episode comes soon

Go in the Script and Modding forum, and you can install a bunch of mods/script that will help you out in your game (improving performances monstly). Or check this out.... A list of mods/scripts I've installed on my rig in the past. They sure do help on slower rigs.

[Idleking]

Although the fighting-thingie makes me mad, everythin else isn't that bad and since I prefer the think/trade/build parts of the game anyway, it's not such a big problem.
And if I want to have some space-action, I still got my WingCommander game installed and working

N-S what are you doing in RL that takes so much time so you can't post new chapters hour-wise?
I shall be patient. I shall be patient. I shall be patient. I shall be patient. I shall be patient. ...

No I don't want to rush you - I'm just... addicted

[NUKLEAR-SLUG]

N-S: Quick question... If you have more than 4 Pods on an M7M and you order a Pod Barrage, will it only launch the 4 pods there are marines for (5 marines per pod, 20 total marines) or would it launch all 8 without guys in 1/2 of them?

It launches a full spread of 8. In most respects a waste of pods, although if you were going after something that had lots of guns the extra dummy pods would be a worthwhile tradeoff I reckon.


Prev chapter<->Next chapter
63 - 0011


A quick scan reveals..

http://dbbr17626.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/steve/63-1.gif

.. that this one is going to be no trouble at all. Just one single flail to concern myself over and that's not at risk of causing much damage with that one. Splitting Blue wing down to its independent elements I order them to start bringing down the shields while I call in 'Providence' and transfer four boarding pods across ready for the boarding action. With 'Providence' in place, the Gannets shields down low and lured into the position I want it we're good to launch..

http://dbbr17626.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/steve/63-2.jpg

.. A launch which goes horribly astray. I'm not entirely clear as to what went wrong, misfire in the tubes perhaps? Whatever caused it all four boarding pods detonate almost instantly on launch leaving marines that were expecting to be latched onto the hull of the Gannet floating impotently in space. I'm almost certain the Gannet couldn't have shot them down with it's tail defense turret as not only did it not have time to fire before they blew, but it was busy taking potshots at 'Baa-Ram-Ewe' at the time. Altogether odd.

Unfortunately while I'm recovering my troops I discover it wasn't a harmless incident and we've taken three casualties in the process. Not a good start to things, but with the remaining seventeen picked up and transported back to 'Providence' along with my last four boarding pods for a second attempt it turns out things are in line to get worse as the Gannet manages to land a couple rounds on one of Purple wing which are currently covering 'Providence' and they instantly react and before I can call them off they've hammered the Gannet with sufficient HEPT and missile fire to have stripped off the remaining few shield percent points along with about 40% of the hull. I mean, I know I've issued a general 'If-it-moves-kill-it!' directive but, c'mon guys, is a little discretion too much to ask for? I mean, really, is it?

Anyways, it seems we're now going for a Gannet with 60% hull, so who knows what's going to be left of it by the time they've finished shooting up the inside to match the outside? Well, we'll see as second launch goes completely to plan and the guys latch on as intended. Much better. A short time later and the ship is secured succesfully, although sadly with the loss of yet another marine. So transferring the remaining sixteen marines back to 'Providence' I move in close to my new Gannet to cover it from any dangers while I transfer some shields across to it and they charge up some.

Now there's two types of close. The first type where you get to cover your new charge while it gets itself ready to move.. and the second type where your new charge explodes in a big fireball. Today it seems I've managed the latter by miscalculating the distance between Gannet and the sensor spikes projecting forward from my Shrike. Seems I'm the only danger I should be worrying about. I'm not happy.

Fortunately elsewhere things go a little better, although it turns out there's a few more Xenon kicking around Two Grand than was immediately obvious..

http://dbbr17626.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/steve/63-3.jpg

.. Green wing gets in a bit of trouble, not thru any lack of ability, but due to them running a little low on Wasp missiles, which affects their ability to project firepower on target and results in 'Bait' taking a near-fatal hit from an N and 'Radar Malfunction' loses some paintwork. 'Bait' I order to break off from the wing and retreat to my Shrike for safety while the rest of Green wing go and rescue my TP which I've had following behind me hoovering up any loose missiles and has got itself in a bit of trouble from yet another N.

Ammo concerns are actually becoming a bit of an issue at this point as this has turned from a sector defence incident into a major four-sector campaign and missiles are getting low all around. Luckily this turns out to be the last of the Xenon forces and with the destruction of the last P it's all over for now.

Time to head home, I've got some more construction to oversee..



Assets
1x Shrike 'Preemptive Shrike'
1x Gannet 'Providence'
1x Ares 'Storage'
1x Kestrel 'Flash'

1x Caiman 'NMMC Storage'
1x Iguana Vanguard 'Suicide Taxi Services'
2x Toucan 'Dropship 01-02'

7x Vulture Miner ' Miner - 01,07'
4x Vulture Super Freighter
'Red Wing' 4x Falcon Hauler


Time: 4-15:03
Credits: 612,343

[TEA_Cypher]

Yay I was the only one of Green wing not to get in trouble, hang on when was I transfered? I though I was Blue wing, what need next is some races, see who has the fastest kestral.