Short Story - The Mark

[Graf_Grau]

Got a bit stumped on my project so I knocked up this story to pass the time.

The Mark

“Space the final frontier. These are the voyages of the …”

“Gardna, Shut up!” The voice was grim and aged. “I don’t know where you got that foolish quotation, but do you have to use it in every log entry?”

“Sorry Captain Graaf” Replied Rolf Gardna, the novice pilot of the private corvette Antigone’s Revenge.

“Good, I don’t want my bridge sounding like the setting for a holodrama.” Captain Graaf spoke gruffly. “Lock in coordinates for Rolke’s Fate and activate the jump drive.”

The corvette shuddered slightly with the build up of energy. The jump drive was a revolutionary development in interstellar travel yet being still in its infancy, there were still issues to iron out. As the shuddering grew in intensity a blue swirl appeared against the blackness of space ahead of the ship. The swirl was in fact the event horizon of an artificial wormhole, tearing through the fabric of space. As the hole expanded the ship eased itself through, entering the tunnel which would propel it across the galaxy to a new star system light years away.

As the stars returned, Captain Graaf took stock of the current sector situation. Rolke’s Fate, like many of the Boron home sectors was a busy one. On his navigational display he could see dozens of transport ships heading to and fro, running errands for the many space stations dotted across the area. Escort fighters followed several of the transports, ready to ward off the infrequent pirate raiders who on occasion went looking for prey.

The ships computer droned, “we are scanned,” in its soulless yet clearly female voice.

Graaf noticed a wing of Boron scout fighters as they carried out a flyby over his bridge.

“We scanned your ship and didn’t find anything illegal, thanks for your cooperation.” The watery voice of the Boron flight leader called over the communication system. As the fighters flew off, they dipped their tentacle like wings in respect. Graaf would have reciprocated but the Antigone’s Revenge didn’t have wings. Built for combat it was all engines, armour and weaponry, no space was wasted for frivolous aesthetics. A menacing ship for an equally violent Captain.

“Sir, I’ve scanned the sector I think I have located the target.” Spoke up Gardna.

“Move to intercept and bring it up on my display.” Graaf ordered.

The target or mark in bounty hunter parlance was flying in a corvette of Split manufacture. “Damn” thought Graaf. The Dragon was a good deal faster than his corvette. The only hope would be that the outlaw on board would be flying at slow speeds to avoid suspicion.

A few Mizuras later, the ships were almost within firing range. “Captain we are almost in weapons range, should we open fire?” enquired Gardna.

“Negative, try to close, if he gets a whiff of trouble, he’ll head for the gate and we can’t catch him then.” Graaf replied with a grave expression.

As the bounty hunter closed with his prey, he could see the flare of the engines on the dragon. It would soon be time to open fire. Moments ticked by and suddenly the Dragon pilot realised the danger. Too late, Graaf activated the main guns of the Antigone’s Revenge. Green balls of energised plasma batter the shields of the Dragon, some impacting on the hull. The shields briefly flickered and several hits were registered on the Dragon’s engines, its speed beginning to decline.

“Got you now.” Said Captain Graaf with a tight smile. “Now Gardna, launch.”

The young pilot activated a control lever and several powerful hornet missiles went crashing into the corvette. The shields bulged and then exploded under the massive explosions that tore at them. Huge rents were torn in its hull and the ship began to list, as stabilising thrusters slowly lost their power.

“Continue firing,” Graaf ordered. “I want the ship scrapped. I’m going to take out the Pegasus and pick up any survivors.”

Graaf stared out at the drifting hulk. Fires still raged across the hull and vapour and gas poured out into space, only to freeze quickly, making the remains of the ship appear to be some giant tentacled creature. Getting down to work, he flitted skilfully through the debris, when he noticed a much smaller shape, barely a silhouette against the blackened hull. On instinct he closed. With a roar of engines a small ship appeared heading fast towards the gate. It was a Split Jaguar, clearly the target was trying to escape. Graaf laughed, it had been a while since he sat in the cockpit of a fighter. The Pegasus was fast, Much faster than the Jaguar.

The pilot tried to evade, but Graaf had no trouble keeping up. Opening fire with his light but rapid firing lasers, the shields of the Jaguar quickly fell. Across the communication channel a high-pitched voice cried, “You’ll never take me alive.” Captain Graaf smiled. “I never intended too.” He said as he launched a missile across the space between the two ships.

[HCFC]

You will have the dragon boys up in arms with that one. Not even a single arse shot off

[Graf_Grau]

I find the game rules don't fit fiction. I take an artistic licence to change the physics, how combat works, shields, etc everything. The thing is in a ncetaur the only M6 I have every destroyed is the dragon.

[KiwiNZ]

Nice one

Haven't actually tried dog fighting in a Pegasus in ages but it sure can't be fun and calling it a fighter is way too much credit

[Graf_Grau]

I've never killed anything in one but they are a great way of drawing the xenon off the routes through their sectors. I must have saved dozens of transports this way, if only they paid for the privelege!