Merlin Industries II - The Dreams of Euphamés (DiD collaborative storytelling effort)

Rednoahl · Post by **Rednoahl** » Wed, 21. Oct 09, 19:39

I hope he is because while I'm doing the cooking theres gong to be some very messy floors.... we really could do with some sick bags chief.

The Nightmare · Post by **The Nightmare** » Wed, 21. Oct 09, 19:40

im just a pilot of a Eclipse so as far as i know you can fly only a disco

Targ Collective · Post by **Targ Collective** » Wed, 21. Oct 09, 19:47

Recruit Nightmare, your ship has been mothballed after an... accident.

Wanted to avoid any more loss of life - Rednoahl seems to be handling things in the Kitchen fine so I turned your ship into six mines in President's End and have assigned you a position as First Mate, after all you did save my life back there.

*Sniff*

Poor Forrester...

Chapter 8 - A Fallen Hero, Hard Times Again, The Trade Fleet Blossoms and the Problem With Silicon

In short order I find an offer to return an abandoned ship for nearly a million credits.

[URL=hhttp://img97.imageshack.us/img97/7115/x3screen00085.png][ external image ][/URL]

On the grounds that yesterday's M7M could be tomorrow's fully outfitted M2, I accept and find an Express Hauler. These are not available on the open market and statistically superior to the standard Express in every way.

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However, even fully repaired I doubt I could get around 800,000 retail on it so back it goes to the nice customer. I notice a funny colour on the jumpdrive as it slips through its event horizon - still, the ship reaches the destination intact so I'm not worried.

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An Assassination job is the perfect opportunity to test my personal launch.

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I jump in sector, get into the cockpit of Pillbug, undock from Aegis, and jump to the appropriate Gate.

Whoa! These things turn on a pin, easy on the controls man!

I get a bearing on the target - so much firepower! - and am almost into firing range when a nippy little missile toasts my target. No Pay. Not my day.

In Argon Prime there was another easy job...

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And then a more demanding combat mission.

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I get into my launch and lose half my hull in this engagement. If it were not for Forrester and Nightmare riding to the rescue in true style, I would not be writing this message today. Commendations to both of them. After patching the old girl up with my repair laser, I returned her to Aegis determined to keep my distance from M3s from now on.

An easy transport job was risk-free profit...

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And then a further assassination job where disaster struck.

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That is *not* enough to cover the loss of two Eclipses - only Nightmare survived!

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The loss of my personal launch I can stomach easily enough. The loss of Forrester was a hard blow to me, the crew and everyone who knew him. The loss of approx. 20,000,000cr in hardware is *nothing* to the loss of a single life, although I will readily confess I found that most vexing too.

There is no record in the black boxes of who was responsible for this...

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I think (and this is a little embarrassing) that it may have been the Gate superstructure itself - the boys shot out sideways at it, and well, Nightmare lives but Forrester is no longer with us.

In memory of Forrester I am now declaring it legal to use Spacefuel in cooking onboard Aegis, so long as it is kept in very heavily shielded vials in case of police scans and all the intoxicating alcohol is burned off in the cooking process. Tonight it shall be Steak and Spacefuel pie for all hands, to honour the memory of this brave hero. He hauled my backside out of the fire and got killed attempting to defend me like any loyal recruit should.

Everything else I have done pales before this loss. However, there was a ship delivery mission in Argon Prime which, astonishingly, I managed to fail...

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And a group of suicidal passengers seemed to have no qualms docking with a station which was under heavy bombardment by the Paranid military.

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Putting together the mines in President's End and arranging transporters for them (practically unshielded to keep costs down), adding 20,000cr to each mine as venture capital (which overnight has paid itself back 1000% on the Ore front) and heading far up the Ecliptic in Argon Prime out of trouble was the last thing I did before bunking down for the night.

An Ore transport copped it at the hands of a Carrack in Elena's Fortune. Replacing that is the first thing I shall do today. Also, the market for Silicon is not what I thought it would be, while Ore is selling as soon as it is produced; no matter, it can be held in reserve for power production when I can afford it.

Right now I could use another Kraken or two... 'Cause I'm not shooting things in anything less than an M6! Acquiring one is my next target.

Assets:

1 Zephyrus "Merlin Industries Military Transport - Aegis"

1 Pirate Harrier Hauler

1 Pirate Buzzard

1 stock Mercury with some engine tunings - "Merlin Industries Trade Ship - Daedalus"

1 Kestrel Explorer with Mineral Scanner - "Merlin Industries Survey Ship"

2 Mistral Freighters - "Merlin Industries Ore Transporter"

3 Mistral Freighters - "Merlin Industries Silicon Transporter"

6 Mistral Freighters - "Merlin Industries Energy Transporter"

3 Argon Ore Mines L - President's End

3 Argon Silicon Mines L - President's End

517,062cr

(Forrester, now would be an ideal time to create a new character. If a family member of Alex, you will be expected to provide backstory for the family and a convincing reason for joining in spite of your brother/son getting spaced.)

LordForrester · Post by **LordForrester** » Wed, 21. Oct 09, 19:49

Sweet got my coffee maker installed! Found a nice no spill coffee maker made just for spacecraft.
Looking for a good deal on a new helmet with a coffee holder so i can drink and fly and keep both hands on the stick. You need to come out here and join me. I need a good first officer for my first capital ship command.

That was the last words Slamer read in the letter form his brother Alex. It was sent with a letter from Admiral Euphames telling the family about his death in battle. It was a hard blow to the family. They had depended on his wages to survive.

Slamer knew what he had to do and sent in his application to join Admiral Euphames fleet.

Name: Slamer Forrester
Ship anything available.
Ship name: Alex

Targ Collective · Post by **Targ Collective** » Wed, 21. Oct 09, 19:51

What? Ghosts?

It's DiD. I'm sure I wrote that down somewhere.

Lord Alexander Forrester is dead. Don't worry, if you come up with a new character you'll retain seniority.

Olterin · Post by **Olterin** » Wed, 21. Oct 09, 19:56

You know, I have heard the strangest stories about ghosts of space pilots returning to their mothership to haunt it for long times. In fact, I never heard of one vanishing again. Eeeeek

Targ Collective · Post by **Targ Collective** » Wed, 21. Oct 09, 19:57

On the bright side, there is a gap in the crew.

Fancy dying in space Olterin?

Targ Collective · Post by **Targ Collective** » Wed, 21. Oct 09, 20:04

LordForrester wrote:*Working on something done respond tile I post it. *

Hehe. Whoops. Hold fire everyone.

Oh, Olterin, missed your app.

You start sweeping floors, see how you handle a broom for a couple of days. Promotion is fast. If you can handle the indignity of falling to the bottom you have what it takes.

The Nightmare · Post by **The Nightmare** » Wed, 21. Oct 09, 20:07

*minute silence for Forrester*
we fought togheter...drank togheter...and almost died togheter(but im glad i survived)
now i can avenge you if i get a new ship that is

Targ Collective · Post by **Targ Collective** » Wed, 21. Oct 09, 20:11

Forrester, in recognition of your family's service you are promoted to Navigational Officer and XO.

The duties are largely ceremonial and if it's too much for you, well, there's always the kitchens.

LordForrester · Post by **LordForrester** » Wed, 21. Oct 09, 20:14

Being on the bridge with you sir will be good training for when I can captain my own capital ship sir.

Olterin · Post by **Olterin** » Wed, 21. Oct 09, 20:25

I'll take that broom, and a bucket of whatever-you're-cleaning-your-floor-with along with it, if needed. You'll find your floors a mirror, admiral!

As my first action, a minute of silence for our fallen comrade.

The Nightmare · Post by **The Nightmare** » Wed, 21. Oct 09, 20:28

i got 2 and only 2 (for now) questions
1)whats my rank?
2)which is more important since when do we get to command capital ships? especially ghosts

and who will save your sorry ship when all else fails?

Edit:3)what hapend to my ship finally it got blown to bits???

LordForrester · Post by **LordForrester** » Wed, 21. Oct 09, 20:36

Well there has to be one available before you can command it. The admiral is looking into getting an M6 last I heard. I am hoping he goes for one of those cool looking Heavy Centaur cause they look amazing! The admiral knows best no worries!

The Nightmare · Post by **The Nightmare** » Wed, 21. Oct 09, 20:49

don't get your hopes up because he said he is getting it for himself

Targ Collective · Post by **Targ Collective** » Wed, 21. Oct 09, 21:04

Targ Collective wrote:Recruit Nightmare, your ship has been mothballed after an... accident.

Wanted to avoid any more loss of life - Rednoahl seems to be handling things in the Kitchen fine so I turned your ship into six mines in President's End and have assigned you a position as First Mate, after all you did save my life back there.

If you aren't even going to bother to read my missives...

LordForrester · Post by **LordForrester** » Wed, 21. Oct 09, 21:05

ether way nightmare. There will be a ship free. If he commands that one this one is open:) He might want to take me with him for further training so you have a shot as well. Seeing as your first mate I would think you had first dibs.

Dear James,

I caught up with the fleet yesterday in President's End. WOW the Aegis is HUGE compared to all the little M5s we see running around back home. President's End itself is kinda eerie but is a great reminder of why we are out here.

When I stepped on board the ship I was greeted by the first mate nightmare. He introduced me to the Admiral. I talked to the Admiral about my commission and he set me up as a Navigational Officer and XO. He handed a book to me as thick as my arm to read over. I am so glad that Dad made me finish that class on Navigation now. He tells me that he wanted to keep me close so I can learn what it takes to command a ship of my own one day. "you will make a DANG fine officer if you are half the man your bother Alex was!" Its a lot to live up to but I am ready to try.

Keep working hard at school and take care of mom for me.

Your bother,

Slamer

P.S. Alex was right the Coffee here is CRAP. Send me some of the good stuff Dad is growing.

Targ Collective · Post by **Targ Collective** » Wed, 21. Oct 09, 21:10

I intend to retain Aegis for a number of purposes - logistics, supply and when the time comes Aegis can be a mini-Mammoth acting as a mobile supply base.

Don't concern yourselves. She shall see her fair share of action. Just don't expect me to put her in the front line again.

Money is a bit tight at the moment Nightmare. Mind you, as we have seen if you keep your eyes open and keep your nerve, you never do know when the Universe will suddenly give you 25mcr out of the blue. Keep hoping crew!

---

Broken the 10mcr barrier.

Soon, crew, soon.

Targ Collective · Post by **Targ Collective** » Thu, 22. Oct 09, 05:29

Chapter 9 - Overstatement

Sometimes the mind boggles. All I can assume is that there are people out there with insufficient rep to buy these things who really, really want one.

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I mean, a million credit scout? Really!

The Heavy Centaur that Forrester suggested was also the most expensive option. I would need to work long and hard to put together the credits for just the bare hull. The choice was actually quite hard to make - statistically the Centaur has the edge in terms of cargo space, the Skiron is statistically superior to the Centaur almost to Heavy Centaur levels while having moderate space while the Heavy Centaur is no frills, slow but all guns. A very balanced setup it must be said.

Well, I was in President's End about a lost Caiman, and noticed a Kha'ak Cluster. I will admit that had me very worried, as only one of my freighters in fact has any shielding.

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I took a close look and yes, it was a big one.

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In sector, a Heavy Centaur Prototype. These military models are not on sale to the public, but I decided to see how it fared against the Kha'ak.

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The next six stills show the Centaur doing battle against what turned out to be a pair of Clusters and the cleared sector map.

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I was sold - I wanted one. That wasn't even an optimal loadout!

After much work, and a great deal of effort ferrying people and goods from place to place with missions sometimes as high-paying as this...

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...I am proud to present to the fleet the MIC "Overstatement", an Argon Heavy Centaur. As you are all aware she is basically a bare hull with minimal shielding and no guns at the moment and upgrading and outfitting her is next on the agenda, prior to making some Pirates hurt very badly.

A scale comparison against Aegis shows Overstatement to be a surprisingly small vessel.

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However Overstatement is a combat ship, not a very light carrier and that compact form belies a formidable firepower.

I am not going to lie to you crew, our time in Overstatement is set to be brief. I am already looking to acquire an M7 or possibly, now we have a vessel capable of shifting rocks around, an M7M if we can get infrastructure in place to support it. Overstatement will be stripped down and sold to fund the next rung up the ladder in time.

XO Forrester, you will have responsibility for Overstatement while the rest of us gather the guns and shields to make her combat capable. Once she is up and running I will transfer command of Aegis over to you - you will be responsible for running tender duty and supplying Overstatement with energy, which I shall captain personally. The kitchen staff will join me aboard the new vessel where I can keep an eye on them.

Olterin - ahem - Rednoahl, how do you feel about a Minotaur? I know I said I'd get you into command of an Aquilo again (and don't worry, in time) but for the first fleet M7M I'm after something boarding-pod capable.

Assets:

1 Zephyrus "Merlin Industries Military Transport - Aegis"

1 Discoverer - "Merlin Industries Jumpdriver Courier"

1 Discoverer - "Merlin Industries Shipyard Monitor - CB South East"

1 Heavy Centaur "Merlin Industries Corvette - Overstatement"

1 Pirate Harrier Hauler

1 Pirate Buzzard

1 stock Mercury with some engine tunings - "Merlin Industries Trade Ship - Daedalus"

1 Kestrel Explorer with Mineral Scanner - "Merlin Industries Survey Ship"

3 Mistral Freighters - "Merlin Industries Ore Transporter"

3 Mistral Freighters - "Merlin Industries Silicon Transporter"

6 Mistral Freighters - "Merlin Industries Energy Transporter"

3 Argon Ore Mines L - President's End

3 Argon Silicon Mines L - President's End

451,744cr

The Nightmare · Post by **The Nightmare** » Thu, 22. Oct 09, 09:26

great...another ship that we must fix...
when...i cannot say....

egosoft.com

egosoft.com

Merlin Industries II - The Dreams of Euphamés (DiD collaborative storytelling effort)