Betrayal is a Double-Edged Sword - TC 3.2 DiD
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Poseidon
- Posts: 325
- Joined: Wed, 6. Nov 02, 20:31
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Poseidon
- Posts: 325
- Joined: Wed, 6. Nov 02, 20:31
Sai made a polite expression as he left the pawn shop. The shop occasionally stumbled across some novel tech or weapon, so he made a point of frequently stopping by to check their current stock. He glanced down at the pile of shredded, enameled, and charred Teladi electronics that the shop-keep said he'd picked up that morning, and snorted at the label.
‘Authentic Xenon Spaceweed’, indeed. I’d like to see him try to smoke it. After examining the burnt region, he realized the shop proprietor probably already had.
The Split Acquisitions Specialist tapped out an esoteric pattern on the palm of his hand. The database uplink implanted into his forearm translated the gestures to a log of the expedition and results, and sent it back to the archives of the Honorless. A few more taps, and Sai t’Snt had hailed a cab. He disliked cabs, but using them frequently established a certain precedent. If he arrived somewhere in a strange vehicle, it wouldn't raise any eyebrows.
A dirty brown hovership rattled up next to him, and he climbed in. Before the cab driver could ask, he linked up to the NavCom and uploaded an address. The driver shrugged, and said nothing.
Tharka’s Sun wasn’t poor. Only one of the two planets was habitable, but it still managed to sustain 58 million people. The problem was there was no reason to stay. Orbital Chelt and Scruffin farms kept the impoverished fed. Once, there had been a Tractor Beam factory in the sector, but that had long since fallen into disrepair and been dismantled. Ore and Silicon mines provided enough mineral output to keep traders coming back every once and a while. Other than that, they were just another pit stop on one of the Profit Guild’s Trade Lanes.
Of course, this was exactly what Split Intelligence required: involved, but invisible. His Family had never forgiven him for joining the Council organization. How was he supposed to bring honor to the Family name if all his deeds were unnoticed? Honorless, indeed.
The taxi dropped him off at a Pit near the office. One of the bouncers waved as he entered the rusty bar. He made his way around the observation ring and settled onto his usual stool in the back. The table was also a terminal; he pulled up the fantasy league standings and began sorting his remaining roster. Seven of his initial ten slaves were already dead, and his best combatant was scheduled to fight in a few minutes. He knew he should have favored Paranid warriors given the talent pool for this tourney, but he had drafted exclusively Split slaves. For some reason, he enjoyed watching his brothers die.
The Pit Fight was quick and brutal, as they all should be. The Paranid warrior was fast with his blade, and managed to stab Sai’s warrior multiple times before the Split slave lifted him over his head, and slammed the three-eye onto a set of spikes protruding from the pit walls. So, not out of it yet. Sai gifted the slave enough money for moderate medical attention and a couple good meals, then started his walk to the office.
Upon his return, he found three messages waiting, as well as a package. He dropped the package in a blast chamber, and ran a full sensor sweep. An anti-personnel tracker mine, new, never activated.
The first message was from a rather dense new recruit:
> Tracker mine doesn’t track. Sending it back. Fix and return, or replace. <
Sai removed the mine from the package, and ran his fingers over the small, smooth sphere. At the correct seam, he pressed, and the shell folded open to expose the internal electronics and payload. A quick diagnostic showed it was in perfect working order. He shut it down, re-collapsed it, and dropped it back in the package.
> Tracking wasn't initialized. Friend-Foe settings must be primed before it will activate. <
One down. The second message was from an R&D contact he maintained, in case he had doubts about the devices he acquired:
> Equipment validation failed. Personal Jumpdrive does not work as supplier indicated. Arm and Torso made the jump to Rhonkar’s Clouds; the rest of the body remained in Family Pride. Slave test subject did not survive. <
Sai thought for a moment, and then replied.
> Noted. Will request refund. Thanks for running the test. If you continue developing the tech on your own, I may buy from you. <
The third message was from his superior officer. Evidently one of his Teladi clients in Contorted Dominion needed two more fake IDs. The IDs took a couple hours of hacking and some record swaps, but were mostly trivial.
He was done for the day. The parking garage was a couple blocks away, so he started walking. As he turned the corner, a flash of light in the sky drew his attention… if he had to guess, it was the reflection of the sun off a lens. Surveillance drone, perhaps? Were his superiors checking up on him, or was it something more nefarious?
Not wanting to take the risk, he hailed another cab, and kept walking past the parking garage. A moderately well kept hovership pulled up next to him. He climbed in, and punched in the address to the Orbital Launch Platform. It was time to get off this rock for a bit.
The doors locked, and the car sped off. He never noticed that the cab had no driver.
-----
...and in other news today, local off-planet shuttles were delayed when a taxi smashed through the landing pad railings, and parked under the igniting thrusters of an orbital lifter. It appears to have been an autopilot malfunction. There is a blast shadow from one set of remains, but not enough material survived to make a positive identification. Given the potential impact on the honor of the victim's family, this is probably for the best.
‘Authentic Xenon Spaceweed’, indeed. I’d like to see him try to smoke it. After examining the burnt region, he realized the shop proprietor probably already had.
The Split Acquisitions Specialist tapped out an esoteric pattern on the palm of his hand. The database uplink implanted into his forearm translated the gestures to a log of the expedition and results, and sent it back to the archives of the Honorless. A few more taps, and Sai t’Snt had hailed a cab. He disliked cabs, but using them frequently established a certain precedent. If he arrived somewhere in a strange vehicle, it wouldn't raise any eyebrows.
A dirty brown hovership rattled up next to him, and he climbed in. Before the cab driver could ask, he linked up to the NavCom and uploaded an address. The driver shrugged, and said nothing.
Tharka’s Sun wasn’t poor. Only one of the two planets was habitable, but it still managed to sustain 58 million people. The problem was there was no reason to stay. Orbital Chelt and Scruffin farms kept the impoverished fed. Once, there had been a Tractor Beam factory in the sector, but that had long since fallen into disrepair and been dismantled. Ore and Silicon mines provided enough mineral output to keep traders coming back every once and a while. Other than that, they were just another pit stop on one of the Profit Guild’s Trade Lanes.
Of course, this was exactly what Split Intelligence required: involved, but invisible. His Family had never forgiven him for joining the Council organization. How was he supposed to bring honor to the Family name if all his deeds were unnoticed? Honorless, indeed.
The taxi dropped him off at a Pit near the office. One of the bouncers waved as he entered the rusty bar. He made his way around the observation ring and settled onto his usual stool in the back. The table was also a terminal; he pulled up the fantasy league standings and began sorting his remaining roster. Seven of his initial ten slaves were already dead, and his best combatant was scheduled to fight in a few minutes. He knew he should have favored Paranid warriors given the talent pool for this tourney, but he had drafted exclusively Split slaves. For some reason, he enjoyed watching his brothers die.
The Pit Fight was quick and brutal, as they all should be. The Paranid warrior was fast with his blade, and managed to stab Sai’s warrior multiple times before the Split slave lifted him over his head, and slammed the three-eye onto a set of spikes protruding from the pit walls. So, not out of it yet. Sai gifted the slave enough money for moderate medical attention and a couple good meals, then started his walk to the office.
Upon his return, he found three messages waiting, as well as a package. He dropped the package in a blast chamber, and ran a full sensor sweep. An anti-personnel tracker mine, new, never activated.
The first message was from a rather dense new recruit:
> Tracker mine doesn’t track. Sending it back. Fix and return, or replace. <
Sai removed the mine from the package, and ran his fingers over the small, smooth sphere. At the correct seam, he pressed, and the shell folded open to expose the internal electronics and payload. A quick diagnostic showed it was in perfect working order. He shut it down, re-collapsed it, and dropped it back in the package.
> Tracking wasn't initialized. Friend-Foe settings must be primed before it will activate. <
One down. The second message was from an R&D contact he maintained, in case he had doubts about the devices he acquired:
> Equipment validation failed. Personal Jumpdrive does not work as supplier indicated. Arm and Torso made the jump to Rhonkar’s Clouds; the rest of the body remained in Family Pride. Slave test subject did not survive. <
Sai thought for a moment, and then replied.
> Noted. Will request refund. Thanks for running the test. If you continue developing the tech on your own, I may buy from you. <
The third message was from his superior officer. Evidently one of his Teladi clients in Contorted Dominion needed two more fake IDs. The IDs took a couple hours of hacking and some record swaps, but were mostly trivial.
He was done for the day. The parking garage was a couple blocks away, so he started walking. As he turned the corner, a flash of light in the sky drew his attention… if he had to guess, it was the reflection of the sun off a lens. Surveillance drone, perhaps? Were his superiors checking up on him, or was it something more nefarious?
Not wanting to take the risk, he hailed another cab, and kept walking past the parking garage. A moderately well kept hovership pulled up next to him. He climbed in, and punched in the address to the Orbital Launch Platform. It was time to get off this rock for a bit.
The doors locked, and the car sped off. He never noticed that the cab had no driver.
-----
...and in other news today, local off-planet shuttles were delayed when a taxi smashed through the landing pad railings, and parked under the igniting thrusters of an orbital lifter. It appears to have been an autopilot malfunction. There is a blast shadow from one set of remains, but not enough material survived to make a positive identification. Given the potential impact on the honor of the victim's family, this is probably for the best.
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Song Of Obsidian
- Posts: 305
- Joined: Wed, 19. Jun 13, 19:46
Yeah, capping for a living seems more reliable for capital ships than fighters. My carriers are going to be pretty much empty. Maybe I should just sell one. The money would serve me better.
Chapter 62 - Honest Evaluation
The recording ended. Both of the people I shared the room with were frowning.
"I'm sorry," Chianna said. "I thought she was ready."
"She?" That voice didn't have a trace of femininity in it.
"She," Aron confirmed with a nod. "Sheron Poler. She was one of the Marines. Far more competent than their captain. I thought she was ready too."
"Maybe she was," I said cautiously. They both looked at me, but I kept my premonition to myself. "Aron, bring her here. This needs to be resolved now."
The man stood, thumped his chest, and left. Chianna waited until he was gone, then turned to me. "What do you know?"
I smiled faintly. "Know? Nothing. But I hadn't known you put any of the Marines through for an op. Was she the only one?" Chianna nodded. "And how did Jorwan take it?"
Comprehension flooded her face. I held myself answered.
Aron returned with the woman in question. A bit tall, towering over Aron, but she looked like a woman. An ordinary woman, not some hulking brute with female organs. That voice still echoing through my mind just didn't match up.
Aron reclaimed his seat. Sheron stopped and stood at attention directly in front of me, behind the single unoccupied chair at the table. "Lieutenant Sheron Poler reporting, sir." Still a Marine, apparently. But her voice was not the one in the recording.
I stared up at her for a few moments. She didn't flinch, fidget, swallow. No nervous ticks. But her jaw was tight. I nodded marginally. "Please, sit, Sheron. We want to talk to you about the op you led." She hesitated, but finally did sit down. Her back remained ramrod straight though, and she folded her hands together on the tabletop.
I nodded to Chianna, and she tapped twice on the screen of the recording device on her right. We listened to it all again, and I watched Sheron's face throughout. She flinched when one of the men screamed, and her tight-jawed disregard failed. By the end her eyes were watery and the tension in her jaw had transferred to her hands, wringing each other ceaselessly.
We sat in silence when the recording had played itself out, until Aron took the lead. "What went wrong?" he asked her.
"I...I don't know, sir. We did everything right."
"Yet you had six casualties. You're lucky they came back damaged instead of dead."
She clammed up, unable or unwilling to speak. I finally intervened. "Why is your voice altered, Sheron?"
She started, then blinked a few times and swallowed. "I was afraid they wouldn't take orders from a woman, sir."
"Have you ever seen anyone balk at orders from Marissa Halter?"
"No, sir."
"Then why would they refuse yours?"
Again she fell silent, and Aron and Chianna waited as well. Apparently I was taking the lead.
"The two people I entrusted with your training vouched for your readiness. They were certain enough that they didn't just send you into combat, but sent you as the leader of a detachment of twenty men and women. We expect casualties in combat. This isn't about that. What it is about is your contribution to the generation of those casualties." I paused, regarding Sheron steadily. Her eyes had dropped, staring at some point on my chest. "Do you know what you did wrong?"
She shook her head.
"Then let me ask you some questions. How long have you trained for space combat operations?"
"Three years, sir."
"Have you ever gone into actual combat, before today?"
"No, sir."
"Yet the people with you have. All of them. And then you show up, untested, to lead them. You give orders, and lace them with condescending mid-operation pep talks. The person most likely to make mistakes told them not to make any right at the start. And not even in her own voice. They were receiving orders from a voice they didn't recognize. Do you know what this looks like?" She shook her head. "It looks like someone felt they needed to prove themselves. And if that was the case, I'm wondering who you felt you needed to prove yourself to. Because it wasn't any of the people in this room, nor was it the people fighting at your side." She winced, but I pressed on. "We all trusted you already. Maybe you can't understand why the warriors would have trusted you, but they did. Because we did. So I will ask you again. What did you do wrong?"
The question was met with silence, but this time I didn't fill it. I waited, and Aron and Chianna waited with me. How did I get here? I wondered silently.
"I didn't trust myself," she said at last. "Sir."
I let that sink in for a couple seconds. "Why not?"
"Because...because I'm only a Lieutenant, sir."
"I see." I looked away from her, to Aron. "Marshal, have you ever addressed Sheron Poler by that rank?"
"No, Commander."
I looked at Chianna. "Never," she said without prompting, and I turned my attention back to the soldier across from me. Her gaze had risen to meet mine.
"I want to make one thing perfectly clear. You are no longer a Marine. Any rank any of you held as Marines no longer applies. For us, competence is the only measure that matters. We will assign people to roles we think fit them best, and that applies to everyone. Brent Jorwan may very well end up taking orders from his greenest recruit, if we judge it appropriate. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"
Sheron nodded sharply. "Yes, sir."
"Good. Take some time to visit the people you fought with. They deserve that much. You won't lead them again, at least not any time in the near future, but I am going to keep you on operational status. Unless you feel your readiness has been compromised?"
She favored me with a fierce smile. "Still in the fight, sir."
"Glad to hear it." I sat back and studied her for a moment, then nodded. "One last thing. I am going to ban you from fraternizing with anyone still in training for the time being, including all of your former comrades. Are we clear?" She nodded again, with a little less certainty. "Then you are dismissed."
Sheron rose, saluted, and left.
Once she was gone I slouched and rested my head against the back of my seat. "I thought I paid you two to deal with this stuff," I accused gently and mostly teasingly.
"We can't do it all," Chianna said innocently. "If we did, what would you pay yourself for?" Aron chuckled.
"After I kill you and resurrect you again," I said with a scowl now firmly fixed on my face, "see to it that Mister Jorwan understands his place in our organization. And do so publicly, so hopefully the other ten learn the lesson too. They are what they have it in them to be, not what some review board or puffed up officer tells them they are."
"You're such an idealist. Maybe you should give up this life of pirating and warfare and become a novelist." Aron laughed again and I shot him a glare that didn't deter him at all.
"Bah. Get out, both of you, so I can search under the table for my sanity with some of my dignity intact." Chianna snickered and I heard the sound of Aron's fist striking his chest - mockingly, no doubt - before they left.
Chapter 62 - Honest Evaluation
The recording ended. Both of the people I shared the room with were frowning.
"I'm sorry," Chianna said. "I thought she was ready."
"She?" That voice didn't have a trace of femininity in it.
"She," Aron confirmed with a nod. "Sheron Poler. She was one of the Marines. Far more competent than their captain. I thought she was ready too."
"Maybe she was," I said cautiously. They both looked at me, but I kept my premonition to myself. "Aron, bring her here. This needs to be resolved now."
The man stood, thumped his chest, and left. Chianna waited until he was gone, then turned to me. "What do you know?"
I smiled faintly. "Know? Nothing. But I hadn't known you put any of the Marines through for an op. Was she the only one?" Chianna nodded. "And how did Jorwan take it?"
Comprehension flooded her face. I held myself answered.
Aron returned with the woman in question. A bit tall, towering over Aron, but she looked like a woman. An ordinary woman, not some hulking brute with female organs. That voice still echoing through my mind just didn't match up.
Aron reclaimed his seat. Sheron stopped and stood at attention directly in front of me, behind the single unoccupied chair at the table. "Lieutenant Sheron Poler reporting, sir." Still a Marine, apparently. But her voice was not the one in the recording.
I stared up at her for a few moments. She didn't flinch, fidget, swallow. No nervous ticks. But her jaw was tight. I nodded marginally. "Please, sit, Sheron. We want to talk to you about the op you led." She hesitated, but finally did sit down. Her back remained ramrod straight though, and she folded her hands together on the tabletop.
I nodded to Chianna, and she tapped twice on the screen of the recording device on her right. We listened to it all again, and I watched Sheron's face throughout. She flinched when one of the men screamed, and her tight-jawed disregard failed. By the end her eyes were watery and the tension in her jaw had transferred to her hands, wringing each other ceaselessly.
We sat in silence when the recording had played itself out, until Aron took the lead. "What went wrong?" he asked her.
"I...I don't know, sir. We did everything right."
"Yet you had six casualties. You're lucky they came back damaged instead of dead."
She clammed up, unable or unwilling to speak. I finally intervened. "Why is your voice altered, Sheron?"
She started, then blinked a few times and swallowed. "I was afraid they wouldn't take orders from a woman, sir."
"Have you ever seen anyone balk at orders from Marissa Halter?"
"No, sir."
"Then why would they refuse yours?"
Again she fell silent, and Aron and Chianna waited as well. Apparently I was taking the lead.
"The two people I entrusted with your training vouched for your readiness. They were certain enough that they didn't just send you into combat, but sent you as the leader of a detachment of twenty men and women. We expect casualties in combat. This isn't about that. What it is about is your contribution to the generation of those casualties." I paused, regarding Sheron steadily. Her eyes had dropped, staring at some point on my chest. "Do you know what you did wrong?"
She shook her head.
"Then let me ask you some questions. How long have you trained for space combat operations?"
"Three years, sir."
"Have you ever gone into actual combat, before today?"
"No, sir."
"Yet the people with you have. All of them. And then you show up, untested, to lead them. You give orders, and lace them with condescending mid-operation pep talks. The person most likely to make mistakes told them not to make any right at the start. And not even in her own voice. They were receiving orders from a voice they didn't recognize. Do you know what this looks like?" She shook her head. "It looks like someone felt they needed to prove themselves. And if that was the case, I'm wondering who you felt you needed to prove yourself to. Because it wasn't any of the people in this room, nor was it the people fighting at your side." She winced, but I pressed on. "We all trusted you already. Maybe you can't understand why the warriors would have trusted you, but they did. Because we did. So I will ask you again. What did you do wrong?"
The question was met with silence, but this time I didn't fill it. I waited, and Aron and Chianna waited with me. How did I get here? I wondered silently.
"I didn't trust myself," she said at last. "Sir."
I let that sink in for a couple seconds. "Why not?"
"Because...because I'm only a Lieutenant, sir."
"I see." I looked away from her, to Aron. "Marshal, have you ever addressed Sheron Poler by that rank?"
"No, Commander."
I looked at Chianna. "Never," she said without prompting, and I turned my attention back to the soldier across from me. Her gaze had risen to meet mine.
"I want to make one thing perfectly clear. You are no longer a Marine. Any rank any of you held as Marines no longer applies. For us, competence is the only measure that matters. We will assign people to roles we think fit them best, and that applies to everyone. Brent Jorwan may very well end up taking orders from his greenest recruit, if we judge it appropriate. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"
Sheron nodded sharply. "Yes, sir."
"Good. Take some time to visit the people you fought with. They deserve that much. You won't lead them again, at least not any time in the near future, but I am going to keep you on operational status. Unless you feel your readiness has been compromised?"
She favored me with a fierce smile. "Still in the fight, sir."
"Glad to hear it." I sat back and studied her for a moment, then nodded. "One last thing. I am going to ban you from fraternizing with anyone still in training for the time being, including all of your former comrades. Are we clear?" She nodded again, with a little less certainty. "Then you are dismissed."
Sheron rose, saluted, and left.
Once she was gone I slouched and rested my head against the back of my seat. "I thought I paid you two to deal with this stuff," I accused gently and mostly teasingly.
"We can't do it all," Chianna said innocently. "If we did, what would you pay yourself for?" Aron chuckled.
"After I kill you and resurrect you again," I said with a scowl now firmly fixed on my face, "see to it that Mister Jorwan understands his place in our organization. And do so publicly, so hopefully the other ten learn the lesson too. They are what they have it in them to be, not what some review board or puffed up officer tells them they are."
"You're such an idealist. Maybe you should give up this life of pirating and warfare and become a novelist." Aron laughed again and I shot him a glare that didn't deter him at all.
"Bah. Get out, both of you, so I can search under the table for my sanity with some of my dignity intact." Chianna snickered and I heard the sound of Aron's fist striking his chest - mockingly, no doubt - before they left.
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Idleking
- Posts: 425
- Joined: Tue, 15. Aug 06, 15:47
Your guys'n'gals are getting naughty... think they'll need more OPs 
As the size of an explosion increases, the number of social situations it is incapable of solving approaches zero.
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Litcube wrote:Don't succumb to the "I figured it'd be ok".
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Song Of Obsidian
- Posts: 305
- Joined: Wed, 19. Jun 13, 19:46
Chapter 63 - Tables Turned
"I can come with you, sir."
"No, no. I gave everyone time off, and that includes you." I glanced over at Nyota, who had latched onto my side in the same manner she would if we were flying fighters. "Worried that I can't handle a simple run through Argon space?"
"No! Er. Yes. I mean, maybe," she stammered. "It's just that you're such a high profile target now. Someone should be with you."
I grinned. "Perhaps you're right, but I'm going alone this time all the same."
"But sir-"
"You're spending too much time with Chianna. I hereby forbid you from speaking with that woman until you both learn to show me some respect." I glanced over again and almost laughed. She was blushing. That never would have worked on Chianna.
"Fine," she huffed. "Just make sure you stop by Gunne's Crusade on your way."
I stopped in the middle of the corridor and turned toward her. "For what?"
She gave me a perplexed look. "The Mercury."
It was my turn to feel perplexed. "What Mercury?"
"Was a Paranid freighter. Some Flails went for it when their target died and the pilot bailed. It might still be there."
"And you didn't see fit to mention this earlier?"
"But sir, I thought you noticed. You notice everything." This wasn't some overdone innocent act, but it still felt like a barb. Maybe it was me spending too much time around Chianna.
"Very well," I quite nearly growled out. "Anything else?"
"That's all. Sir." She saluted and skipped away, probably laughing inside. I need to re-think this equal opportunity employment business...
-------------------------------------
After undocking Sprite from the Cerberus I had to make a stop at the Magnetar to transfer some energy cells over. During the short flight I decided to get in touch with Hohindras, a day later than I had said I would.
"Yeeessss?" It felt like it had been months since I heard him say that last.
"Just wanted to check in quickly, see if you found another business opportunity for me."
He smiled. "I did. The area around PTNI hass been running low on food, sso I built a Sun Oil complex ssimilar to the BoFu one in Montalaar. I ussed my own fundss. After you pay me and ssend a freighter, it will be transsferred to you."
All my people seemed to be getting way too presumptuous lately. "Very well. I think I have a Demeter Hauler I can send. Is that adequate?"
"It will suffice."
"Good. Expect it within the hour. And keep looking. I'll need a lot more income in the next few weeks." I closed the connection and sighed. Maybe I should just consider letting everyone else do all the work while I turn professionally decadent. Wouldn't that be a sight...
-------------------------------------
The Mercury was still there. I saw it on my scanners immediately when I arrived in Gunne's Crusade. Unfortunately, I was noticed just as quickly. Less than a kilometer away from the gate my ears were assailed by the sound warning of nearby enemies. When I looked down, my heart fell into my stomach.
Paranid Bounty Hunter Nemesis
Paranid Bounty Hunter Hades
Paranid Bounty Hunter Perseus
Paranid Bounty Hunter Pericles
Paranid Bounty Hunter Pericles Sentinel
Paranid Bounty Hunter Pegasus
Paranid Bounty Hunter Pegasus Raider
Shit.
"I can come with you, sir."
"No, no. I gave everyone time off, and that includes you." I glanced over at Nyota, who had latched onto my side in the same manner she would if we were flying fighters. "Worried that I can't handle a simple run through Argon space?"
"No! Er. Yes. I mean, maybe," she stammered. "It's just that you're such a high profile target now. Someone should be with you."
I grinned. "Perhaps you're right, but I'm going alone this time all the same."
"But sir-"
"You're spending too much time with Chianna. I hereby forbid you from speaking with that woman until you both learn to show me some respect." I glanced over again and almost laughed. She was blushing. That never would have worked on Chianna.
"Fine," she huffed. "Just make sure you stop by Gunne's Crusade on your way."
I stopped in the middle of the corridor and turned toward her. "For what?"
She gave me a perplexed look. "The Mercury."
It was my turn to feel perplexed. "What Mercury?"
"Was a Paranid freighter. Some Flails went for it when their target died and the pilot bailed. It might still be there."
"And you didn't see fit to mention this earlier?"
"But sir, I thought you noticed. You notice everything." This wasn't some overdone innocent act, but it still felt like a barb. Maybe it was me spending too much time around Chianna.
"Very well," I quite nearly growled out. "Anything else?"
"That's all. Sir." She saluted and skipped away, probably laughing inside. I need to re-think this equal opportunity employment business...
-------------------------------------
After undocking Sprite from the Cerberus I had to make a stop at the Magnetar to transfer some energy cells over. During the short flight I decided to get in touch with Hohindras, a day later than I had said I would.
"Yeeessss?" It felt like it had been months since I heard him say that last.
"Just wanted to check in quickly, see if you found another business opportunity for me."
He smiled. "I did. The area around PTNI hass been running low on food, sso I built a Sun Oil complex ssimilar to the BoFu one in Montalaar. I ussed my own fundss. After you pay me and ssend a freighter, it will be transsferred to you."
All my people seemed to be getting way too presumptuous lately. "Very well. I think I have a Demeter Hauler I can send. Is that adequate?"
"It will suffice."
"Good. Expect it within the hour. And keep looking. I'll need a lot more income in the next few weeks." I closed the connection and sighed. Maybe I should just consider letting everyone else do all the work while I turn professionally decadent. Wouldn't that be a sight...
-------------------------------------
The Mercury was still there. I saw it on my scanners immediately when I arrived in Gunne's Crusade. Unfortunately, I was noticed just as quickly. Less than a kilometer away from the gate my ears were assailed by the sound warning of nearby enemies. When I looked down, my heart fell into my stomach.
Paranid Bounty Hunter Nemesis
Paranid Bounty Hunter Hades
Paranid Bounty Hunter Perseus
Paranid Bounty Hunter Pericles
Paranid Bounty Hunter Pericles Sentinel
Paranid Bounty Hunter Pegasus
Paranid Bounty Hunter Pegasus Raider
Shit.
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Poseidon
- Posts: 325
- Joined: Wed, 6. Nov 02, 20:31
A little autonomy is a good thing. Managing rebels, herding cats, yada yada. I don't think you're going to be able to maintain discipline in your upper ranks for much longer. :-p
That's not a terribly intimidating battle group, until you consider you're only in an M3. I wish reverse went faster on these ships.
That's not a terribly intimidating battle group, until you consider you're only in an M3. I wish reverse went faster on these ships.
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Song Of Obsidian
- Posts: 305
- Joined: Wed, 19. Jun 13, 19:46
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Idleking
- Posts: 425
- Joined: Tue, 15. Aug 06, 15:47
Jump in one of your frigates and swat these flies 
Edit:
Fixed a typo ^^
Edit:
Fixed a typo ^^
Last edited by Idleking on Tue, 16. Jul 13, 20:02, edited 1 time in total.
As the size of an explosion increases, the number of social situations it is incapable of solving approaches zero.
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Litcube wrote:Don't succumb to the "I figured it'd be ok".
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Song Of Obsidian
- Posts: 305
- Joined: Wed, 19. Jun 13, 19:46
Chapter 64 - Paranoia Set Loose
The last time I had faced odds like this, I had used the gate for cover to break up their formation. That had been an Argon force in Paranid space. Unfortunately I was in pirate space this time, and hitting the gate might make them hostile. Then again, dying would make that pretty irrelevant.
The Eclipse had a few shortcomings, but I had some advantages too. Strong shielding, for a fighter, was the most obvious. The most useful made itself apparent when I turned around and hit the swarm with ion disruptors. Energy ricocheted from ship to ship...until the Hades launched a Tomahawk. The potent missile promptly detonated and the Hades, the Perseus, and both Pegasus' vanished in a small cloud of debris.
The interceptors gave me a little trouble, but nothing a flamethrower couldn't resolve. That left the Nemesis, which didn't have a weapon in its rear turret. It didn't survive long.
By the time I claimed the Mercury there was another bunch incoming, led by a pair of bombers. I jumped to President's End, and I could see on the Mercury's scanners that they turned around to pursue me. They left the freighter alone.
I drifted toward the middle of the sector, thoughts racing. There was so much I didn't know. Had the bounty again comes from the Paranid government, or another source? Why now? Had Nyota been involved? She did recommend I go to Gunne's Crusade. That might explain how they found me. I didn't want that to be the case. I wanted to trust her. But if not her, how did they find me so fast?
Even with this many unanswered questions, one thing was painfully obvious: I couldn't return to the fleet. If Nyota had betrayed me, she would betray us all. If she hadn't, then they could track me there and everyone would die unnecessarily. I was on my own...again.
-------------------------------------
My newly-enforced solitude and the realization that I would once again be in danger every moment of every day prompted me to finally upgrade my ship of choice. Nothing I owned was entirely optimal. Every one of them lacked something I deemed important. In the end I chose a ship that would allow me to carry Sprite and another fighter around, and still be able to dock at friendly solar plants. It took some time to scrounge up appropriate weapons, during which I was attacked by several bounty hunter fighters, but after a few hours I sat behind the controls of one of the Hyperions. Just in time, as it turned out, to engage and destroy the two bombers.
As soon as they were dealt with I jumped to Argon Prime. No one attacked me, so there must be, I hoped, some dissension between various parties when it came to figuring out how to deal with the Heirs. Either that or they didn't know I had captured two Hyperions. Given how rare they were, the idea of the Paranid concealing the thefts didn't seem very far-fetched.
This didn't help get the word out about the Heirs, however, so I took Sprite out and had the Hyperion follow on autopilot. Still no one attacked me. Helpful bit of information, that, but no one reached out to me either. Oh well.
As I wandered through the Argon core sectors, I started formulating some potential plans for determining whether or not Nyota had turned on me without giving away the fact that I doubted her. But that was the rub; I didn't really doubt her. I just feared her. Trust can be such a torturous thing when doubt is given any room to put down roots. Rationale made this plain, but...I had to know for certain.
The last time I had faced odds like this, I had used the gate for cover to break up their formation. That had been an Argon force in Paranid space. Unfortunately I was in pirate space this time, and hitting the gate might make them hostile. Then again, dying would make that pretty irrelevant.
The Eclipse had a few shortcomings, but I had some advantages too. Strong shielding, for a fighter, was the most obvious. The most useful made itself apparent when I turned around and hit the swarm with ion disruptors. Energy ricocheted from ship to ship...until the Hades launched a Tomahawk. The potent missile promptly detonated and the Hades, the Perseus, and both Pegasus' vanished in a small cloud of debris.
The interceptors gave me a little trouble, but nothing a flamethrower couldn't resolve. That left the Nemesis, which didn't have a weapon in its rear turret. It didn't survive long.
By the time I claimed the Mercury there was another bunch incoming, led by a pair of bombers. I jumped to President's End, and I could see on the Mercury's scanners that they turned around to pursue me. They left the freighter alone.
I drifted toward the middle of the sector, thoughts racing. There was so much I didn't know. Had the bounty again comes from the Paranid government, or another source? Why now? Had Nyota been involved? She did recommend I go to Gunne's Crusade. That might explain how they found me. I didn't want that to be the case. I wanted to trust her. But if not her, how did they find me so fast?
Even with this many unanswered questions, one thing was painfully obvious: I couldn't return to the fleet. If Nyota had betrayed me, she would betray us all. If she hadn't, then they could track me there and everyone would die unnecessarily. I was on my own...again.
-------------------------------------
My newly-enforced solitude and the realization that I would once again be in danger every moment of every day prompted me to finally upgrade my ship of choice. Nothing I owned was entirely optimal. Every one of them lacked something I deemed important. In the end I chose a ship that would allow me to carry Sprite and another fighter around, and still be able to dock at friendly solar plants. It took some time to scrounge up appropriate weapons, during which I was attacked by several bounty hunter fighters, but after a few hours I sat behind the controls of one of the Hyperions. Just in time, as it turned out, to engage and destroy the two bombers.
As soon as they were dealt with I jumped to Argon Prime. No one attacked me, so there must be, I hoped, some dissension between various parties when it came to figuring out how to deal with the Heirs. Either that or they didn't know I had captured two Hyperions. Given how rare they were, the idea of the Paranid concealing the thefts didn't seem very far-fetched.
This didn't help get the word out about the Heirs, however, so I took Sprite out and had the Hyperion follow on autopilot. Still no one attacked me. Helpful bit of information, that, but no one reached out to me either. Oh well.
As I wandered through the Argon core sectors, I started formulating some potential plans for determining whether or not Nyota had turned on me without giving away the fact that I doubted her. But that was the rub; I didn't really doubt her. I just feared her. Trust can be such a torturous thing when doubt is given any room to put down roots. Rationale made this plain, but...I had to know for certain.
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Idleking
- Posts: 425
- Joined: Tue, 15. Aug 06, 15:47
Set Nyota up to capture some major Argon Vessels.
Should be an easy way to measure her trustwortyness.
I'm aware of Spies being able to work against their government (on a more or less limited scale, of course), but from a roleplaying point of view, it seems the most obvious and easy-to-pull-off 'test' that comes to my mind.
Especially since she has already made herself familiar with the Ares.
So hit two birds with one stone, gear up your Paranid-made ships and go hunt some argon vessels
Oh btw, I almost forgot:
Hey, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not after you anyway
Should be an easy way to measure her trustwortyness.
I'm aware of Spies being able to work against their government (on a more or less limited scale, of course), but from a roleplaying point of view, it seems the most obvious and easy-to-pull-off 'test' that comes to my mind.
Especially since she has already made herself familiar with the Ares.
So hit two birds with one stone, gear up your Paranid-made ships and go hunt some argon vessels
Oh btw, I almost forgot:
Hey, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not after you anyway
As the size of an explosion increases, the number of social situations it is incapable of solving approaches zero.
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Litcube wrote:Don't succumb to the "I figured it'd be ok".
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Sabrina Bergin
- Posts: 2239
- Joined: Sat, 12. Apr 08, 10:53
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Song Of Obsidian
- Posts: 305
- Joined: Wed, 19. Jun 13, 19:46
Chapter 65 - Pink Shiny Things
The time in Argon space wasn't a complete waste; I was able to take some work for extra money. A taxi request kicked my paranoia into high gear so I refused it, but I did get a couple easy ship recovery missions for decent pay.
Mahi Ma contacted me in the middle of one of them. I had almost forgotten about the Boron, with as long as it was taking to gather materials to fix whatever device he wanted to fix. And, of course, he was asking for more supplies. I already had them, as luck would have it, though 500 Nividium isn't a cheap request. But I sent it anyway, only because I remembered that Bala Gi and Julian Brennan might be at the end of this tedious passage.
But the Nividium wasn't enough. He needed crystals too. A lot of them.
-------------------------------------
"There might be a way," Hohindras said.
"Enlighten me."
"You want to build a new weaponsss complex, yess?" He already knew the answer, so I just waited. "We could start construction now, and only build the stationss required to produce cryssstals."
I thought that over. The idea had merit, and it was moving in the right direction. But it wouldn't help with my income. "What would it cost to get that segment up and running?"
His calculations took several minutes. "Dependss on the minesss. It will be over 100 million creditss regardlesss," he said at last.
Ouch. That would just about wipe me out, financially. Maybe I could sell a Zeus; it wasn't really a combat ship and my collection of fighters wasn't enough to fill even one of them. That would help. But there was a problem.
"Alright. I'll give you two sectors to work with. Draw up plans for both, and I'll let you know which of the two you'll be building in sometime in the next day or so. Will that be enough time?" He nodded, so I uploaded the sector information to the computer on his freighter and bid him farewell. Then I put in another comm that, I hoped, would answer a nagging question I had.
"Yes, sir?" Nyota said.
"Sorry to barge in on your downtime, but I need a favor."
"Anything, sir."
"I need you to grab the Nemesis with the ID tag YM6ED-30 and buy say, six Firestorm torpedoes. I'll be uploading the target data to the ship's computer. It's a long way to go, so take all the jump energy you can carry. There shouldn't be any opposition to worry about but it's near Xenon space, so be sure you have enough energy cells to jump a few sectors once you're there."
"YM6ED-30. Got it." She looked curious, but not worried. Maybe she had been putting up a front all this time and could hide her emotions well. Doubtful, but anything is possible.
"Good. Stick around in the sector when the target is destroyed, and contact me to let me know. I'll be building another complex in the sector and would like you to fly cover for me while I scan the asteroids. Understood?"
"No trouble at all, sir. See you soon." I could see that familiar girlish excitement building behind her eyes. She would probably skip her way through whatever ship she was on. Damned woman.
Better a damned woman than a damned traitor.
The time in Argon space wasn't a complete waste; I was able to take some work for extra money. A taxi request kicked my paranoia into high gear so I refused it, but I did get a couple easy ship recovery missions for decent pay.
Mahi Ma contacted me in the middle of one of them. I had almost forgotten about the Boron, with as long as it was taking to gather materials to fix whatever device he wanted to fix. And, of course, he was asking for more supplies. I already had them, as luck would have it, though 500 Nividium isn't a cheap request. But I sent it anyway, only because I remembered that Bala Gi and Julian Brennan might be at the end of this tedious passage.
But the Nividium wasn't enough. He needed crystals too. A lot of them.
-------------------------------------
"There might be a way," Hohindras said.
"Enlighten me."
"You want to build a new weaponsss complex, yess?" He already knew the answer, so I just waited. "We could start construction now, and only build the stationss required to produce cryssstals."
I thought that over. The idea had merit, and it was moving in the right direction. But it wouldn't help with my income. "What would it cost to get that segment up and running?"
His calculations took several minutes. "Dependss on the minesss. It will be over 100 million creditss regardlesss," he said at last.
Ouch. That would just about wipe me out, financially. Maybe I could sell a Zeus; it wasn't really a combat ship and my collection of fighters wasn't enough to fill even one of them. That would help. But there was a problem.
"Alright. I'll give you two sectors to work with. Draw up plans for both, and I'll let you know which of the two you'll be building in sometime in the next day or so. Will that be enough time?" He nodded, so I uploaded the sector information to the computer on his freighter and bid him farewell. Then I put in another comm that, I hoped, would answer a nagging question I had.
"Yes, sir?" Nyota said.
"Sorry to barge in on your downtime, but I need a favor."
"Anything, sir."
"I need you to grab the Nemesis with the ID tag YM6ED-30 and buy say, six Firestorm torpedoes. I'll be uploading the target data to the ship's computer. It's a long way to go, so take all the jump energy you can carry. There shouldn't be any opposition to worry about but it's near Xenon space, so be sure you have enough energy cells to jump a few sectors once you're there."
"YM6ED-30. Got it." She looked curious, but not worried. Maybe she had been putting up a front all this time and could hide her emotions well. Doubtful, but anything is possible.
"Good. Stick around in the sector when the target is destroyed, and contact me to let me know. I'll be building another complex in the sector and would like you to fly cover for me while I scan the asteroids. Understood?"
"No trouble at all, sir. See you soon." I could see that familiar girlish excitement building behind her eyes. She would probably skip her way through whatever ship she was on. Damned woman.
Better a damned woman than a damned traitor.
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Song Of Obsidian
- Posts: 305
- Joined: Wed, 19. Jun 13, 19:46
Chapter 66 - Peace of Mind
The remains of the pirate base were clearly visible when I arrived in the Unknown sector west of Xenon 534. Nyota's Nemesis was a few kilometers away and facing me. I wasn't particularly worried; I had all four turrets set to missile defense, and my firepower far exceeded hers. If another bunch of bounty hunters came in at my back, though, I might be in trouble.
Of course, I fully intended to put myself in harm's way. The only way to learn if she had turned on me was to present so many opportunities that she couldn't pass at least one up.
"Didn't have any trouble, I hope."
"No, sir. Except I had to stop in Hila's Joy for energy. I wish you'd picked something with more cargo space."
"Might have gone with the Hydra, but it's a pretty weak corvette," I said while I throttled down. The Hyperion took a bit longer to come to a halt than I was used to with the fighters. "I don't consider you expendable."
"Sir," she said, looking a bit flustered, "you shouldn't say such sweet things. You'll ruin your reputation."
"I have a reputation?"
"Everyone has a reputation. Now would you start scanning those 'roids? I don't like sitting so close to Xenon space." I noticed a faint rosy hue to her cheeks. I'd have to find out something about this reputation of mine.
"Maybe I should start saluting you." I winked at her then cut the comms so I could board the Eclipse. It was slower than the Hyperion, but also smaller. The asteroid field seemed pretty dense in some areas and I didn't want to clip any rocks with the corvette's larger profile. It would also be more tempting to attack than the heavy corvette.
Once the locking mechanisms released the fighter I strafed straight down, only accelerating once I was well clear. I let the autopilot handle the actual scans, while I loaded a pair of freighters with energy cells to make the next part easier. Jumping the Hercules all over the place for 29 stations was going to burn through them pretty quick.
There were several high-yield asteroids. The three highest silicon asteroids were relatively close to each other, and the two best ore ones were somewhat apart from everything else. I started visualizing where and how to place the stations, but since I didn't know the size and shape of the stations I would be placing there was only so far I could get.
"Alright Nyota. You might need to move, either down, west, or farther east. I'm going to be bringing in stations and will be placing some of them where you are."
"I'd hate to get smooshed. Sir." She started drifting to the east; it was the direction I least expected if she wanted to ambush me. Unless she moved closer to the gate while I was gone...
I docked with the Hyperion and jumped to Grand Exchange, where the Hercules was waiting. I transferred Sprite from the corvette to the massive transport before getting started, just in case I did need to do some fighting, then got to work.
Starting with the silicon mines made the most sense. They were the only Teladi stations I'd be buying this time around, and they were cheap...and therefore expendable. Only two would fit in the ship, which was a shame. A Mammoth would have been so much more convenient.
I didn't expect an attack the first trip back. She would want to make sure I was defenseless, or so I told myself. She was still off to the east when I returned, so I behaved as if everything was business as usual. Unpacking the stations proved easier than I expected. I was definitely paying Hohindras too much for this.
My second trip required two stops. I picked up the last silicon mine in Grand Exchange, then a crystal fab in Omicron Lyrae. A bout of nerves struck me when I initiated the jump back to the Unknown sector. Every second felt like ten until Omicron disappeared and I saw...nothing. Nothing except what I had already seen. All was serene, except me. Even Nyota was silent. Nyota was silent...
"Haven't fallen asleep, have you?" I asked as I started the unpacking protocols.
Her face came up immediately. "No, sir."
"Good. This is going to take a while. I'd hate for my wing to start getting lazy and let me die."
She gave me a lazy sort of smile. "I'm ok, sir." She looked like she wanted to say something more, and after a moment she did. "I know we can't really hear much in space but this place just FEELS quiet. You know?"
I nodded. "Eerie. Like we shouldn't be here."
"Yes, sir." She sounded relieved. Shared understanding can go a long way toward helping one not feel so alone.
She's not a traitor.
But that's what she would want me to think. She could be lulling me into complacency. I had at least fifteen trips to make. It could happen at any time.
Paranoia gets tiresome.
-------------------------------------
"Sir, can I ask you something?"
The complex was coming along nicely. All six crystal fabs were in place, and the fifth cattle ranch was constructing itself before my eyes. And all of this was occurring uninterrupted.
I didn't consider a question to be an interruption.
"Of course. What's on your mind?"
"I'm just wondering when the war ends."
Now that was a good question. With concerns other than revenge to take into account, with some goal other than claiming six of every ship before disappearing, I didn't know. So I talked it out with her.
"That's not a simple question, but you already know that. The Paranid are a very arrogant people. They call it superiority, but it's just pride. If we just stopped attacking them, they would continue attacking anyone they please. But our every attack justifies further attacks from them. So the only way it really ends is for someone to step in and force negotiations. But since this isn't an official war, that might be a long time coming." I started to feel ill. "And that means sacrifices. A lot of them.
"Their pride will get in the way. It's very hard to hurt a race like this so badly that they actually feel like they're losing. We could steal ships from them until we're all too old to remember what we were fighting for, and it wouldn't be enough. They'd continue building more, and the lives lost would be barely noticeable in the grand scheme. So we have to do something drastic. And we'll probably have to keep hitting them in ways they can't just brush off, until someone sues for peace. And even then, they'll just be biding their time until they can take revenge. But we'll have to accept that we can't do anything lasting. We can only stop the hostilities for now. The only alternative is genocide, and I'm not up for that."
Nyota was silent throughout my ramble. Maybe this was above her, but it gave me an idea. A place to start. Or, rather, a person to ask.
"So we have to undermine their religion, sir?"
I smiled grimly. "That's exactly what we have to do."
-------------------------------------
It took more than fifteen trips; I had forgotten about the kits needed for connecting the stations to actually form a complex. I finally returned in the Hyperion to do a fly-by. It looked fairly neat, with mostly regular spacing. Not bad, for my first time out.
And no attacks ever materialized, despite my vulnerability.
Afterward Nyota returned to the fleet, and I started shuttling in enough energy cells to get the place running on its own. It was running at an energy deficit, unfortunately, but a minor one. I had gone ahead and constructed all of the necessary cahoona bakeries and cattle ranches. Some of them were turned off. One of the solar plants was also turned off to maximize crystal surplus, hence the minor deficit. I could keep up with it until I didn't need crystals any more.
I was plenty tired, worn down by tedium and nerves, but I didn't allow myself a break. I had a new destination in mind, a new contact to meet. And, thankfully, the certainty that the bounty had an outside source.
It seemed silly, but I found peace of mind in the knowledge that only enemies wanted me dead.
The remains of the pirate base were clearly visible when I arrived in the Unknown sector west of Xenon 534. Nyota's Nemesis was a few kilometers away and facing me. I wasn't particularly worried; I had all four turrets set to missile defense, and my firepower far exceeded hers. If another bunch of bounty hunters came in at my back, though, I might be in trouble.
Of course, I fully intended to put myself in harm's way. The only way to learn if she had turned on me was to present so many opportunities that she couldn't pass at least one up.
"Didn't have any trouble, I hope."
"No, sir. Except I had to stop in Hila's Joy for energy. I wish you'd picked something with more cargo space."
"Might have gone with the Hydra, but it's a pretty weak corvette," I said while I throttled down. The Hyperion took a bit longer to come to a halt than I was used to with the fighters. "I don't consider you expendable."
"Sir," she said, looking a bit flustered, "you shouldn't say such sweet things. You'll ruin your reputation."
"I have a reputation?"
"Everyone has a reputation. Now would you start scanning those 'roids? I don't like sitting so close to Xenon space." I noticed a faint rosy hue to her cheeks. I'd have to find out something about this reputation of mine.
"Maybe I should start saluting you." I winked at her then cut the comms so I could board the Eclipse. It was slower than the Hyperion, but also smaller. The asteroid field seemed pretty dense in some areas and I didn't want to clip any rocks with the corvette's larger profile. It would also be more tempting to attack than the heavy corvette.
Once the locking mechanisms released the fighter I strafed straight down, only accelerating once I was well clear. I let the autopilot handle the actual scans, while I loaded a pair of freighters with energy cells to make the next part easier. Jumping the Hercules all over the place for 29 stations was going to burn through them pretty quick.
There were several high-yield asteroids. The three highest silicon asteroids were relatively close to each other, and the two best ore ones were somewhat apart from everything else. I started visualizing where and how to place the stations, but since I didn't know the size and shape of the stations I would be placing there was only so far I could get.
"Alright Nyota. You might need to move, either down, west, or farther east. I'm going to be bringing in stations and will be placing some of them where you are."
"I'd hate to get smooshed. Sir." She started drifting to the east; it was the direction I least expected if she wanted to ambush me. Unless she moved closer to the gate while I was gone...
I docked with the Hyperion and jumped to Grand Exchange, where the Hercules was waiting. I transferred Sprite from the corvette to the massive transport before getting started, just in case I did need to do some fighting, then got to work.
Starting with the silicon mines made the most sense. They were the only Teladi stations I'd be buying this time around, and they were cheap...and therefore expendable. Only two would fit in the ship, which was a shame. A Mammoth would have been so much more convenient.
I didn't expect an attack the first trip back. She would want to make sure I was defenseless, or so I told myself. She was still off to the east when I returned, so I behaved as if everything was business as usual. Unpacking the stations proved easier than I expected. I was definitely paying Hohindras too much for this.
My second trip required two stops. I picked up the last silicon mine in Grand Exchange, then a crystal fab in Omicron Lyrae. A bout of nerves struck me when I initiated the jump back to the Unknown sector. Every second felt like ten until Omicron disappeared and I saw...nothing. Nothing except what I had already seen. All was serene, except me. Even Nyota was silent. Nyota was silent...
"Haven't fallen asleep, have you?" I asked as I started the unpacking protocols.
Her face came up immediately. "No, sir."
"Good. This is going to take a while. I'd hate for my wing to start getting lazy and let me die."
She gave me a lazy sort of smile. "I'm ok, sir." She looked like she wanted to say something more, and after a moment she did. "I know we can't really hear much in space but this place just FEELS quiet. You know?"
I nodded. "Eerie. Like we shouldn't be here."
"Yes, sir." She sounded relieved. Shared understanding can go a long way toward helping one not feel so alone.
She's not a traitor.
But that's what she would want me to think. She could be lulling me into complacency. I had at least fifteen trips to make. It could happen at any time.
Paranoia gets tiresome.
-------------------------------------
"Sir, can I ask you something?"
The complex was coming along nicely. All six crystal fabs were in place, and the fifth cattle ranch was constructing itself before my eyes. And all of this was occurring uninterrupted.
I didn't consider a question to be an interruption.
"Of course. What's on your mind?"
"I'm just wondering when the war ends."
Now that was a good question. With concerns other than revenge to take into account, with some goal other than claiming six of every ship before disappearing, I didn't know. So I talked it out with her.
"That's not a simple question, but you already know that. The Paranid are a very arrogant people. They call it superiority, but it's just pride. If we just stopped attacking them, they would continue attacking anyone they please. But our every attack justifies further attacks from them. So the only way it really ends is for someone to step in and force negotiations. But since this isn't an official war, that might be a long time coming." I started to feel ill. "And that means sacrifices. A lot of them.
"Their pride will get in the way. It's very hard to hurt a race like this so badly that they actually feel like they're losing. We could steal ships from them until we're all too old to remember what we were fighting for, and it wouldn't be enough. They'd continue building more, and the lives lost would be barely noticeable in the grand scheme. So we have to do something drastic. And we'll probably have to keep hitting them in ways they can't just brush off, until someone sues for peace. And even then, they'll just be biding their time until they can take revenge. But we'll have to accept that we can't do anything lasting. We can only stop the hostilities for now. The only alternative is genocide, and I'm not up for that."
Nyota was silent throughout my ramble. Maybe this was above her, but it gave me an idea. A place to start. Or, rather, a person to ask.
"So we have to undermine their religion, sir?"
I smiled grimly. "That's exactly what we have to do."
-------------------------------------
It took more than fifteen trips; I had forgotten about the kits needed for connecting the stations to actually form a complex. I finally returned in the Hyperion to do a fly-by. It looked fairly neat, with mostly regular spacing. Not bad, for my first time out.
And no attacks ever materialized, despite my vulnerability.
Afterward Nyota returned to the fleet, and I started shuttling in enough energy cells to get the place running on its own. It was running at an energy deficit, unfortunately, but a minor one. I had gone ahead and constructed all of the necessary cahoona bakeries and cattle ranches. Some of them were turned off. One of the solar plants was also turned off to maximize crystal surplus, hence the minor deficit. I could keep up with it until I didn't need crystals any more.
I was plenty tired, worn down by tedium and nerves, but I didn't allow myself a break. I had a new destination in mind, a new contact to meet. And, thankfully, the certainty that the bounty had an outside source.
It seemed silly, but I found peace of mind in the knowledge that only enemies wanted me dead.
Last edited by Song Of Obsidian on Sun, 21. Jul 13, 21:17, edited 1 time in total.
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Poseidon
- Posts: 325
- Joined: Wed, 6. Nov 02, 20:31
Nice complex, and good idea on getting it primed and pumping out high priority goods.
Nyota is either innocent, or a professional.
The discussion of 'an end to the war' is always a difficult one. It becomes harder when you have an nonreactive AI. :-p But! Common enemy and all that... there be Terrans in them there hills.
Nyota is either innocent, or a professional.
The discussion of 'an end to the war' is always a difficult one. It becomes harder when you have an nonreactive AI. :-p But! Common enemy and all that... there be Terrans in them there hills.
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Song Of Obsidian
- Posts: 305
- Joined: Wed, 19. Jun 13, 19:46
I actually did consider the possibility of running the story until it could 'graduate' to AP, but I doubt I'll do it. Would be interesting though.
We already know she's not a professional...the very first scene I wrote of her after the attack on Elena's Fortune should make it obvious. Just my poor paranoid character who doesn't know it.
Anyone else notice that Paranid is just paranoid without the 'o'?
The end of the war discussion was realistic. The end of the war ideal, not so much. But I'm going to have a lot of fun TRYING to end the war. My goals are pretty lofty though. Hope I live long enough to pull off some of them
We already know she's not a professional...the very first scene I wrote of her after the attack on Elena's Fortune should make it obvious. Just my poor paranoid character who doesn't know it.
Anyone else notice that Paranid is just paranoid without the 'o'?
The end of the war discussion was realistic. The end of the war ideal, not so much. But I'm going to have a lot of fun TRYING to end the war. My goals are pretty lofty though. Hope I live long enough to pull off some of them
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Song Of Obsidian
- Posts: 305
- Joined: Wed, 19. Jun 13, 19:46
Chapter 67 - Deal with the Devil
The headquarters for Duke's Buccaneers was outside scanner range, but the Zeus assigned to its defense was not. And it was not alone. I counted four escorting Nemesis corvettes, with several others loitering on their own. Friendly bunch. Friendlier still when the Zeus turned toward me without bothering to chat. It was up to me to be diplomatic, apparently.
"I hope you're not planning an unpleasant greeting for me."
After a moment's pause, a Paranid showed up on my comm screen. "A Split piloting a Hyperion Vanguard. How did you acquire it?"
"The only way a Split could 'acquire' one," I said with a hint of a smug smile.
The Paranid snorted. "Bold. Twice as bold coming here. Now what do you want?"
"To arrange an exchange of services with your organization."
He stared at me for a few moments before replying, during which the Zeus started to turn away. "You may proceed. You may not dock at our headquarters. Speak with Taimanckardet about your deal." Then he was gone.
And to think that I actually used to get paid to do this sort of thing.
I threw a mocking salute at the silent behemoth that was passing by a couple kilometers to my left, then started toward the distant headquarters.
I couldn't help but notice that three of the independent corvettes moved to shadow me from between ten and twelve kilometers.
I brought the Hyperion to a halt twenty-four kilometers from the station. Or started to, rather; the ship finally stopped closer to twenty-two away. I waited until after I stopped moving to bring up the station's automated interaction system. The list was long; I found Taimanckardet at number fifteen.
"Yes?"
Please don't be like Hohindras, I thought. "You represent the Buccaneers?"
"Yes."
"Good. I came to offer an exchange. Service for service."
"I am listening."
"Then I won't waste your time. You, I hope, have access to information that would help me a great deal. I, conversely, can handle jobs for you that you might not want to be associated with your organization."
"And if we wanted it known the job came from us?"
"You wouldn't want to use me."
All three of his eyes narrowed. It was a little disconcerting. "You are known."
"I get grief from the Paranid government every now and then." I didn't want them to know who I was...which was silly. I needed to start using disguises.
"And what would stop you from betraying our confidence to save your wretched hide?"
Fast on his feet, this one. "Not interested in redemption. You'll understand when you find out what information I seek."
"Go on."
I smiled. "Itineraries for Paranid high officials, up to and including the Priest Duke."
That set him back. I could see the wheels turning behind his eyes. It wouldn't take much for him to figure out why I might want that information. Even if he came up with a few different ideas, at least one of them would be right.
"I'll need to speak with the Duke." He didn't have to elaborate for me to understand he meant the Pirate Duke. "While I do, there is work you could perform for us."
"I am willing."
"I will send the mission details to you. Someone needs to die, and we don't care how. Take care of him quickly and we might respond more favorably to your proposal." I inclined my head in acknowledgement and acceptance, and the conversation ended just as my computer chirped to let me know there was a message for me to read.
The headquarters for Duke's Buccaneers was outside scanner range, but the Zeus assigned to its defense was not. And it was not alone. I counted four escorting Nemesis corvettes, with several others loitering on their own. Friendly bunch. Friendlier still when the Zeus turned toward me without bothering to chat. It was up to me to be diplomatic, apparently.
"I hope you're not planning an unpleasant greeting for me."
After a moment's pause, a Paranid showed up on my comm screen. "A Split piloting a Hyperion Vanguard. How did you acquire it?"
"The only way a Split could 'acquire' one," I said with a hint of a smug smile.
The Paranid snorted. "Bold. Twice as bold coming here. Now what do you want?"
"To arrange an exchange of services with your organization."
He stared at me for a few moments before replying, during which the Zeus started to turn away. "You may proceed. You may not dock at our headquarters. Speak with Taimanckardet about your deal." Then he was gone.
And to think that I actually used to get paid to do this sort of thing.
I threw a mocking salute at the silent behemoth that was passing by a couple kilometers to my left, then started toward the distant headquarters.
I couldn't help but notice that three of the independent corvettes moved to shadow me from between ten and twelve kilometers.
I brought the Hyperion to a halt twenty-four kilometers from the station. Or started to, rather; the ship finally stopped closer to twenty-two away. I waited until after I stopped moving to bring up the station's automated interaction system. The list was long; I found Taimanckardet at number fifteen.
"Yes?"
Please don't be like Hohindras, I thought. "You represent the Buccaneers?"
"Yes."
"Good. I came to offer an exchange. Service for service."
"I am listening."
"Then I won't waste your time. You, I hope, have access to information that would help me a great deal. I, conversely, can handle jobs for you that you might not want to be associated with your organization."
"And if we wanted it known the job came from us?"
"You wouldn't want to use me."
All three of his eyes narrowed. It was a little disconcerting. "You are known."
"I get grief from the Paranid government every now and then." I didn't want them to know who I was...which was silly. I needed to start using disguises.
"And what would stop you from betraying our confidence to save your wretched hide?"
Fast on his feet, this one. "Not interested in redemption. You'll understand when you find out what information I seek."
"Go on."
I smiled. "Itineraries for Paranid high officials, up to and including the Priest Duke."
That set him back. I could see the wheels turning behind his eyes. It wouldn't take much for him to figure out why I might want that information. Even if he came up with a few different ideas, at least one of them would be right.
"I'll need to speak with the Duke." He didn't have to elaborate for me to understand he meant the Pirate Duke. "While I do, there is work you could perform for us."
"I am willing."
"I will send the mission details to you. Someone needs to die, and we don't care how. Take care of him quickly and we might respond more favorably to your proposal." I inclined my head in acknowledgement and acceptance, and the conversation ended just as my computer chirped to let me know there was a message for me to read.
Last edited by Song Of Obsidian on Wed, 17. Jul 13, 22:25, edited 1 time in total.
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Poseidon
- Posts: 325
- Joined: Wed, 6. Nov 02, 20:31
It's difficult to graduate from one game to the next, sadly. Unless you planned to destroy everything you own, and just keep your name, reputation, and plot into the next game. That could be fun, and you could start to accumulate readers across multiple settings. When rebirth comes out, you'd have yourself a trilogy.
We know, but we don't really know. You posted that early, but the Unreliable Narrator trope is always a good way to bias audience expectations. I've used it in the past.
My autocorrect fixed Paranid to Noid all the time. Kinda irritating. Kinda accurate. They're definitely compensating for something.
Having unreachable goals makes the journey more fun, because your brain will keep trying to make them happen anyway. eventually, you'll find a strange compromise that technically solves the problem, even if the intent is a swing and a miss.
Also, hell yes, TC Corp Plots.
We know, but we don't really know. You posted that early, but the Unreliable Narrator trope is always a good way to bias audience expectations. I've used it in the past.
My autocorrect fixed Paranid to Noid all the time. Kinda irritating. Kinda accurate. They're definitely compensating for something.
Having unreachable goals makes the journey more fun, because your brain will keep trying to make them happen anyway. eventually, you'll find a strange compromise that technically solves the problem, even if the intent is a swing and a miss.
Also, hell yes, TC Corp Plots.
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Song Of Obsidian
- Posts: 305
- Joined: Wed, 19. Jun 13, 19:46
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Idleking
- Posts: 425
- Joined: Tue, 15. Aug 06, 15:47
Yeah, Corp Plots are cool - at least as long as you can do Kill and Taxi missions....
It gets kinda sucky if they want you to bring Disruptor missiles and you just can't frikkin' find any of those things anywhere
It gets kinda sucky if they want you to bring Disruptor missiles and you just can't frikkin' find any of those things anywhere
As the size of an explosion increases, the number of social situations it is incapable of solving approaches zero.
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Litcube wrote:Don't succumb to the "I figured it'd be ok".
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Song Of Obsidian
- Posts: 305
- Joined: Wed, 19. Jun 13, 19:46
I'll be getting grouchy with the Duke's rep. Very grouchy.
Chapter 68 - First Soul
As soon as I saw the data Taimanckardet sent me, I knew I had to take a slightly different approach than originally intended. Should have thought this through before making the trip out here.
I was to perform an assassination. He had already said as much, of course, but he didn't mention that I would have to meet a contact in Paranid space to learn the target's whereabouts. I was flying a very limited-production Paranid ship, stolen, with an Argon M3 fighter attached in front of its left wings. Very conspicuous and distinctive.
I ordered the Chokaro to the Unknown sector next to Montalaar and met it there to swap ships before meeting this contact. The Tenjin's cargo space would mean frequent refueling stops at long distances from my areas of operations, but there was no helping that. I could plan it all out later.
My contact was flying a Discoverer in Heaven's Assertion, a Paranid sector with only one notable feature: a shipyard. When I arrived the scout ship was drifting near the middle of the sector, just out of comm range. I closed the distance and didn't waste any more of my precious time limit chatting.
"I'm here for the coordinates."
"Ok."
That was it.
The target data came through to my ship computer. Whoever it was, they were thankfully on a ship. Much easier for me to access, except for one tiny little problem. The ship, a Nemesis, was being escorted through Cardinal's Domain, one of the Paranid core sectors that usually had a carrier and a destroyer on defensive tasking. This could get ugly, but I wasn't about to abort. I couldn't afford to fail. I chose the north gate of the sector as my jump destination, and just hoped there weren't any vision-blocking ships in front of me when I arrived.
There weren't. There was, however, a Nemesis, and several smaller escort craft. Luck favored me this time.
They were moving slowly; max thrusters brought me within range in short order. I armed my three plasma burst generators and ignored the target ship, instead spraying gouts of flame in a circle around it. Most of the escorts were interceptors and scout ships. All of them vanished within seconds. The single Perseus took another second or two longer, which left me with just my target and 24 minutes to kill him. Except for that Odysseus turning toward me, fourteen kilometers distant. But I expected to be gone long before it could reach me.
The Nemesis was a little too close for the flamethrowers, so I switched to pulsed beam emitters to start wearing down his shields while I widened the gap between us, then switched back. The kill took maybe twelve seconds. And right around eleven seconds, the bounty hunters arrived.
I received a message but didn't take the time to read it. A quick jump took me to the south gate of Moo-Kye's Revenge, and there I waited for the bounty hunters to come through the gate, where I destroyed them one at a time.
I rued the day these idiots might figure out how to actually trap a target for a kill.
Chapter 68 - First Soul
As soon as I saw the data Taimanckardet sent me, I knew I had to take a slightly different approach than originally intended. Should have thought this through before making the trip out here.
I was to perform an assassination. He had already said as much, of course, but he didn't mention that I would have to meet a contact in Paranid space to learn the target's whereabouts. I was flying a very limited-production Paranid ship, stolen, with an Argon M3 fighter attached in front of its left wings. Very conspicuous and distinctive.
I ordered the Chokaro to the Unknown sector next to Montalaar and met it there to swap ships before meeting this contact. The Tenjin's cargo space would mean frequent refueling stops at long distances from my areas of operations, but there was no helping that. I could plan it all out later.
My contact was flying a Discoverer in Heaven's Assertion, a Paranid sector with only one notable feature: a shipyard. When I arrived the scout ship was drifting near the middle of the sector, just out of comm range. I closed the distance and didn't waste any more of my precious time limit chatting.
"I'm here for the coordinates."
"Ok."
That was it.
The target data came through to my ship computer. Whoever it was, they were thankfully on a ship. Much easier for me to access, except for one tiny little problem. The ship, a Nemesis, was being escorted through Cardinal's Domain, one of the Paranid core sectors that usually had a carrier and a destroyer on defensive tasking. This could get ugly, but I wasn't about to abort. I couldn't afford to fail. I chose the north gate of the sector as my jump destination, and just hoped there weren't any vision-blocking ships in front of me when I arrived.
There weren't. There was, however, a Nemesis, and several smaller escort craft. Luck favored me this time.
They were moving slowly; max thrusters brought me within range in short order. I armed my three plasma burst generators and ignored the target ship, instead spraying gouts of flame in a circle around it. Most of the escorts were interceptors and scout ships. All of them vanished within seconds. The single Perseus took another second or two longer, which left me with just my target and 24 minutes to kill him. Except for that Odysseus turning toward me, fourteen kilometers distant. But I expected to be gone long before it could reach me.
The Nemesis was a little too close for the flamethrowers, so I switched to pulsed beam emitters to start wearing down his shields while I widened the gap between us, then switched back. The kill took maybe twelve seconds. And right around eleven seconds, the bounty hunters arrived.
I received a message but didn't take the time to read it. A quick jump took me to the south gate of Moo-Kye's Revenge, and there I waited for the bounty hunters to come through the gate, where I destroyed them one at a time.
I rued the day these idiots might figure out how to actually trap a target for a kill.