Dark Haven - Chapter 24

[crunn]

Chapter 01 (Fate of the Armadeaus)
Chapter 02 (Portents)
Chapter 03 (Passing of a Fantasy)
Chapter 04 (Fissures in the Dark)
Chapter 05 (Reminiscence)
Chapter 06 (Things that go Bump...)
Chapter 07 (The Rocky Road)
Chapter 08 (Escape Plan)
Chapter 09 (Becoming)
Chapter 10 (And it Begins Again)
Chapter 11 (Flight)
Chapter 12 (Cut-off)
Chapter 13 (Spicy Noodles Under a Blood Coloured Moon)
Chapter 14 (The Dreaming)
Chapter 15 (Room With A View)
Chapter 16 (Clearing the Way)
Chapter 17 (Nasty)
Chapter 18 (The Gathering)
Chapter 19 (Duty Calls)
Chapter 20 (Transition)
Chapter 21 (Countdown)
Chapter 22 (Untimely Distractions)
Chapter 23 (One Last Time)

------------------------------------------
DARK HAVEN

Chapter 24 (Dark Haven)


Black Ship


'Life, oh glorious life, it has begun here.
Our Capital ships are coming now, faster than us, they will pass us soon.'

...


Argon One


A Boron voice is heard. "Admiral, we see something on the long-range sensors."

"Yes, I see it, them.
Four large objects heading this way, fast.
Octopuses, return to the fleet, match the speed of the objects so we can keep an eye on them.
Fleet, all stop.
We will wait for the Teladi to catch-up.
We will need all our ships together now we know their Capital ships are here.
I would have liked to dodge around their Capitals and take out the Spore, but not even the Rays are fast enough for that.
Besides we need the Rays here if we stand any chance of taking down the ships.
So we will hit the ships head-on then move on to the Spore after."

"Jalat, how long before the Teladi reach us?"

"Eleven mizuras, now that we have stopped.
The four Black ships will reach us in around fifteen."

"Good.
Launch all of our fighters.
Humko Mu, launch your fighters too.
Again, all fighters position yourselves above and below the Shark and Argon One.
Titan, you have far greater shields and hull than the Rays so position yourself a little ahead of them.
Carriers at the back."

...


Jubilee

Discoverer


'They are here.
The Great Ones.
And I am not yet ready.'

...


Pegasus


"Woahh..."

'That Octopus nearly clipped my wing as it came back at me.
I thought for a moment it had spotted me.'

'Well there are the enemy ships.
Sensors can't penetrate the hull, just as in the logs of the Armadeaus and the Jubilee.
I'll just have to see them in action to get some readings.'

'Their size is most impressive.
Ugly looking things though, like a giant egg with spikes coming out either end.
I imagine the spikes are weapons, interesting.'

'I wonder if they can see me through the cloak?
If necessary I can drop the cloak and run.'

'To be safe I'll keep my distance.
Ornov has stopped the fleet, I imagine the battle will take place back there.
So I'll take a big side-step and watch them pass.'

The Pegasus makes a ninety-degree turn and stops twenty kilometres out.

'Perfect.
They haven't altered course, either they can't see me or they don't care. I'm happy either way.'

'Just a couple more mizuras and they will pass, a few after that and the battle will begin.
And I have a front row seat.'

'All scanners, sensors and recorders active.

"Let the battle commence."

...


Argon One


"They have entered scanner range...
Can't penetrate the hull...
On main viewer."

Ornov looks intensely at the image of the four vast Black ships flying in a diamond shape. Two horizontally level with the fleet, one above and one below.
'Just as the Xenon records show, no apparent differences.'
"Close-up on the upper ship."

Jalat zooms the image.

'Same size, same shape, even the same number of weapon spikes.
Let's just hope they are no more powerful than back then.'
"Comms, try contacting the Black ships."

"...Nothing, we don't even know if they are able to receive our communications."

"Try again."

"...Still nothing."

"Teladi four mizuras away.
Enemy eight mizuras."

"Well there are eight mizuras left, keep trying to contact them just incase.
Condor and Albatrosses, please begin launching your fighters now."

"Very well Admiral." Replies Tzessosis Koyalis.


Even with the Teladi ships still in motion the highly trained fighter pilots have no problems streaming out of the docking bays and quickly forming into their squadrons.
They stick close-by their motherships matching speed in defensive formations.
It doesn't take long for the Condor to empty of its seventy five fighters.
The two colossal TL's, however, are a little slower to launch fighters.

...


Jubilee

Bridge


"My goodness that is a lot of fighters!" Exclaims Illandas.
"We all know seventy five for a Condor and average twenty for a TL, I can't remember specifically the capacity of an Albatross, but they are upto sixty each and still launching out there."

Sina comes forward with the figures. "I believe the Albatross is fifteen fighters, ten transporters and two tugs normally.
But most Teladi Albatross owners have them refitted to accommodate less fighters and more transporters."

"I imagine they are using the main cargo hold in some manor to fit the extra fighters in." The Captain speculates.

"I'm sure you are right Captain.
That's probably why they are taking a while to launch, not ideal in an emergency, but like this where we have a little time to prepare, very good."

"A total of two hundred and ten Teladi fighters in space now, still launching."

"Impressive." Pierson says aloud to himself.

The Doctors voice comes over the internal communications. "Bridge, this is the Doctor. Is Captain Monroe there?"

"No, he left a little while ago, said he was going back to the Medbay."

"Hmmm, odd...
Don't worry, I'll go look for him myself. Probably just fallen over somewhere, I hope he hasn't hit his head again... That would be nasty.
Doctor out."

...


Argon One


"All Teladi fighters have launched." Jalat announces.
"Two hundred and forty five in total, mostly Falcons, maybe three or four squads each of Hawks and Bats.
Add that to the surviving Argon and Boron fighters gives us a total of three hundred and thirteen fighters."

"And the vast majority are M3's.
Excellent!
Far more than I had bargained for, I only wish we had greater strength in our Capital ships.
Still, it is six against four. And no sign of their small ships."

"Tzessosis Koyalis, have your TL's hang back there, I don't want them getting into the fight.
You take up position to the right of the Argon One.
Teladi fighters stay in your squadrons and position yourselves with the Boron and Argon fighters above and below."

"Three mizuras."

"As with the Xenon, I'd like to take down one target first. So everyone target the upper ship.
All fighters, you don't have enemy fighters to worry about this time so take every shot you can. Also at the upper target first. But be careful, if my information is correct these ships have a method of firing to take out fighters, so needless to say, evasive manoeuvres will be in order.
Jubilee, your turrets will be of little use against these ships so hang back with the Carriers, just enter firing range of your main guns and hit them with all you have."

"One mizura."

"Again, we don't want to be stationary so all ships move in on the enemy now, fire as soon as you enter range and continue firing until the first falls.
Good luck."

...

The four enormous ships slow a little as they near firing range.
The translucent ends of the spear-like weapons begin to glow.

...


Jubilee

Discoverer


'The Hornets are ready.
I am prepared to do what must be done.
I will wait in the cockpit and watch for the right moment.'

Monroe takes the pilots seat and powers up the scanners.
He looks out the front of the M5 and sees, upside-down, the underside of the Jubilee.
Ahead are the Destroyers and a little beyond are the four Black ships.

'They are angered.'

'It is not yet time.
But soon.'

...


"Five...four...three...two...one..."


The mass of fighters accelerate upto then past the Titan just as firing range is reached.
The fighters and Titan fire first at the first target.
The battle field is awash with green plasma.
And every shot is a hit. But to no noticeable effect.
They continue their barrage. Fighters weaving in and out of each other, amazingly never crashing and never taking friendly fire.

Sina thinks to herself. 'The skill involved in that is incredible. One day that will be me out there.'

Pierson thinks to himself. 'They must be crazy. Impressive, but crazy.'

The Black ships and the Rays fire all at once a moment later.
The top and bottom Black ship each fire a single concentrated shot at the Titan tearing its shields away and small chunks of the hull.

Kaar screams. "Repair teams, get those fires out, secure the breaches."

The other two Black ships fire the individually spread shots taking out a great many fighters, each vaporised in a ball of flame.

The two Rays once more fire as one. The sheets of heavy weapons fire from each combined with the continued hits from the fighters and Titan begin taking effect on the first target.
It slows a little, the other three taking a slight lead. Noticeable blemishes appear on its smooth black skin where the impacts have been.

"The Titan probably won't survive another hit like that.
Forty two fighters down, mostly Boron." Announces Jalat.

"Titan, pull back a little, let the rays take the lead now.
Carriers, speed-up a little, see if we can distribute their fire more evenly between us.
Fighters, it looks like they can only fire in a small arc directly ahead or behind, see if you can stay out of their line, we don't want to loose any more of you.
Jubilee, stay close to the Argon One, try not to get hit."

'Good plan, not getting hit.' Thinks Pierson.

The fighters are now swarming around the enemy ships staying out of their line of fire and still firing heavily on the first target.
The Black ship at the bottom of the diamond formation stops and begins turning up on its end, an obvious attempt to attack the fighters, the other three continue ahead slowly.

"Fighters, be careful of that lower ship, it is trying to target you."

The three enemy ships that are remaining on course fire again. A moment before the discharge the glowing spikes glow all the brighter, arcs of energy sparked between, then in a single focused burst the energy courses from each of the three and all connect with the Titan.
The Destroyer disappears in a fireball. What little debris remains could be collected by hand.
The shockwave from the destroyed Titan hits all the allied Capital ships physically knocking them a few metres apart, the shields prevent any damage.

The Carriers and Corvette enter firing range and add their firepower to the rest. As before, the single Delta HEPT stands out from all the other spheres of plasma. But this time it seems to make no greater impact than any other weapon.

Having stopped firing for a few sezuras to allow recharge, the Rays begin again.
Now the first target is showing signs of 'death'. It stops and a black liquid flows from the many 'wounds'.
Another bombardment from the Carriers impact on the front end and several of the weapon spikes shatter.

"Almost there.
Just a little more.
Fighters, the fourth target is now in position and preparing to fire, evasive manoeuvres. It will be very difficult to keep out of the line-of-fire of all of them, just do your best, and keep firing."

Many fighters ignite as the fourth ship fires its weapon up at them.

"Twenty five destroyed, six disabled.
Mostly Teladi this time, and one full squadron of Busters."

A group of Falcons make another run towards their target. Strafing shots up its side then across the top. Many of the shots deliberately aimed at previously opened 'wounds'.
Its weapons stop glowing.

"Finally, the first target is destroyed.
Everyone target the one on the left, that's the one furthest north.
Fighters, try to put the second target between you and the fourth, use it as a shield, they are remarkably good at taking out fighters.
They seem to be weaker on their sides.
Rays, break off and swing around to the north of the target, hit it all you can on its side.
We can't lock on with missiles, but if you get a good line fire them manually.
Try to save as many Hornets as you can for the Spore."

The two remaining allied Destroyers leave the group and very quickly leave firing range.
They stop and turn back to face the target.

Black ship two and three fire again, this time at the Shark. The Sharks weaker shields and old style hull have no chance against the incredibly powerful weapons. The Boron Carrier begins to break apart. Slowly at first, then fires break out of the hull all along the sides. The ship falls cleanly in two then both halves are slowly consumed in fire.
There is time for many of the crew to escape in their EVA suits.

"Survivors?"

"Yes, almost three hundred."

"I don't want to call any fighters out of the battle.
Did I see a Lifter in the hanger as I came in?"

"Yes Admiral."

"Send it out to rescue the survivors."

"...Done."

...


Lifter


"Launching."

The Lifter exits the rear launch doors of the Argon One then swings around to face the battle and the wreckage of the Shark.
The Jubilee can be seen not far below the huge Argon Carrier. The twin GHEPT's fire again and again, over and over, each hitting the second target a little way in the distance, this distance grows ever shorter.

'"Just go pickup the survivors." he says, he must be out of his mind.
It's a warzone out here, literally.'

The fourth enemy ship fires again at the fighters as it moves in closer.

'More of our pilots lost, I wonder who?
I'm glad I'm not a fighter pilot.
Their explosions seem tiny in comparison to the colossal ships they surround, almost insignificant.
Hell, the Argon One is small compared to them.'

'Target nearest survivor.
Six K.
Good they are all heading this way.'

The second Black ship begins turning north, away from the two remaining Carriers. It has obviously chosen one of the Rays as its next target. All the time it takes hits from all allied ships, most effectively the fighters.
An arc of energy jolts forth from the third and strikes the Condor, its more powerful shields are only reduced to fifty five percent.
Before the second has lined up on one of the Boron Destroyers, the Rays re-enter firing range at top speed. The twin M2's slow as they let loose with every shot they have, once their weapons are drained they speed-up and turn left of the target. It continues turning to track, though slower now, several 'wounds' have opened up.
Now the rear weapon of the second enemy ship comes in to play, it fires on the Condor as the fourth fires again on the fighters, the mighty bolts of energy lighting the battle field once more.

...


Argon One


"Another thirty two fighters lost.
We are almost out of Boron fighters, Argon are getting sparse.
The Condor's shields are down to...
The third is firing again.
The Condor has lost shields and is taking hull damage."

"Bring us forward faster, towards the third ship, see if we can get it to change target."

The fourth fires once more at the fighters, almost every hit is a kill. It then begins to speed up in the direction of the second.
A moment later it is parked alongside the second and starts tracking the incoming Rays.

"With almost half of our fighters lost it looks like number four has decided the Rays are a better target. Watch yourselves."

The Rays come back in for another strike.
Maximum speed straight at their target.
As soon as firing range is reached they begin to fire and slow a little. The two Black ships also fire, both on the same Ray.
Wave after wave of GHEPT's hit the target and begin to tear through its skin, chunks of flesh-like material peel from the ship. That same black liquid fills the space around the dead ship.
Simultaneously the targeted Ray receives the two bolts of enemy fire and instantly looses its shields and many ships systems including rudder control.
The second Ray turns left and accelerates away again.
However, the damaged Ray ploughs headlong into the alien corpse. The Ray cuts its way inside the Black ship and lodges there for a moment.

The Admiral looks on hoping that they might have survived. But the collision impact of the two ships is more than enough to shred both. The Ray explodes inside the alien ship, the toughness of the Black hull is enough to keep the bulk of the explosion contained.

"Number two down, everyone target number three."

"Number three is getting a little close for comfort, four kilometres from the Condor. Firing again.
The Condor is going down... We have a few survivors, not many."

"Lifter, you have more survivors to collect once you are done there, Teladi this time."

"Yes sir."

Jalats eyes freeze on the sector map. "Admiral."

"Yes Commander?"

"We have more company.
I'm reading maybe a thousand... maybe more."

...


Black Ship


'They are killing our Capital ships.
They are powerful indeed.
More powerful than the Silver enemy.
They will be stopped.'

'We will be there soon.
Our other defence ships are already in the system.'

'No matter.
They will be destroyed.
They will make good nourishment.'

...


Argon One


"How long?"

"Ten mizuras.
Maybe less, they are accelerating slowly.
We still have two of their Capitals left.
We are down to one Ray the Argon One the Jubilee and one hundred and fifty eight fighters."

Ornov looks out the front view as if in a trance.

"Admiral...
Admiral Ornov!"

"Yes I see..."

The third Black ship begins lining up on the Argon One. The forth tracks the Ray as it swings around for another pass.

"Jubilee, get out!
Run, there is nothing more you can do here."

...


Jubilee


"Admiral?" Captain Hall questions.

"That is an order!"

"Very well Admiral."

Illandas speaks to the Captain. "He has a point.
They have taken four of our Capital ship for two of theirs.
With only two remaining on either side the outcome is inevitable.
I agree with him on this, there is nothing more we can do."

"Pierson, back to Teladi Way.
Top speed."

"Yes sir!" Pierson exclaims, perhaps too joyfully.

The Corvette swings around under the Carrier and almost instantly hits top speed in the direction of the gate.

The Admiral is heard again. "Illandas, are you there?"

"Yes I can hear you."

"I won't abandon the Jubilee or the Boron by jumping out. We will cover your escape.
So I probably won't get out of this alive. Fleet Command will be yours.
It will be your responsibility to stop this invasion. Hopefully they will only take one sector at a time giving you time to prepare.
Rebuild the fleet, I don't care what the finance department says, you know what fire power is needed here, do whatever it takes.
Take the records of this battle and the other records, you know which, and go to the Paranid and Split. Damn-well get them involved in this.
Good luck."

"Good luck to you too."

"Ornov out."

...


Pegasus


'This is going very badly.
When I return I will be strongly recommending that the entire Paranid Fleet be positioned in Teladi Way.'

'I will wait a little longer to see the end of this fight, then I too will leave and report back.'

...


Jubilee

Discoverer


'Interesting turn of events.
My plan will need amended.
There is still time.'

...


Argon One


"Lifter, forget the remaining survivors you get out too.
Albatrosses, you leave aswell. You fighters are needed to cover the escape, I doubt they will survive."

A Teladi voice. "Admiral, the Director will be unhappy at the losss of thesse fighterss, but I agree.
And there iss no profit in our deathss in addition.
We bid you farewell and good luck."

The Two Teladi TL's activate their Jumpdrives and leave the sector.

"Ray, Fighters, forget saving the Hornets, everyone with a clear shot take it now!"

The Ray speeds in for its second run on the third Black ship. Its forward weapons and Hornets ready.
Fighters clear the way for the Boron Destroyer and ready their own Hornets, still firing every shot they can.

"All Hornets away.
Forty eight in total.
That should hurt it."

Number four takes a shot across at the Ray as it turns away.
The Rays shields are reduced to eight percent.

An ever growing sphere of blue light radiates outward from the third Black ship as the clusters of missiles approach. Five kilometres, ten, fifteen, encompassing most of the battle field. Then it fades and disappears.

"The Hornets have just stopped... dead... deactivated."

"Damn...
Continue firing.
Ready another volley of Hornets maybe they can only do that once."

The third is now aimed at the Argon One and fires.
The ship shakes.

"Shields at sixty percent.
Hornets away.
Twenty two in total this time."

Another blue sphere disables the missiles.

"Damn!!!
All ships, it looks like missiles are of no use...
Well, we have no other use for them now, use them at will."

...


Jubilee


Sina. "The Albatrosses have left and the Lifter with the survivors is following us.
We are too fast for it, should we slow down and escort it out?"

Illandas. "No, it can make its own way home.
We have our orders, and a higher mission.
How long to the gate?"

Pierson answers. "Just under ten mizuras."

Captain Hall presses a control and the main viewer displays the battle scene.

...


Argon One


The continual bombardment on the sides of third enemy ship, mainly due to the fighters, is becoming noticeable, blemishes and several small wounds are beginning to show.
The Ray comes in for another shot, this time from above. With weapons fully recharged again and shields upto thirty percent, it lets loose with everything, Hornets included.

Once more the missiles are countered but the shots take their toll.
A large wound is opened up on top, again the black liquid pours out.
But this doesn't stop it.
Number three fires forwards and backwards together. The front weapon taking the Argon Carrier's shields down to zero and causing several hull breaches. The rear weapon eliminating many more fighters.
The Ray swings around and accelerates away just as number four fires, and misses.

"The Damned thing missed?
That's a first.
Time to the small ships arrival?"

"Three mizuras."

"At least let us take this one before they get here."

"There are more...
I have sixteen contacts on the long-range sensors...
Size is almost that of a Titan."

"Nice!"

With the Ray out of range, number four fires at the fighters destroying almost half of the few remaining. Only Teladi falcons remain.

The Argon One fires its final shots into the front of the third Black ship, several weapon spears shatter, but not before it returns fire tearing the front end off the Argon Flagship.
The burning wreckage spins out of control downward spiralling. Fires grow as sections of the hull plating break off. The engines glow bright for a moment then blow. Fragments shear outward.

The fighters deal the last few fatal blows to the dying Black ship.

...


Boron Ray


"This is Kulo Wo of the Ray to the thirty one remaining fighters.
We are all that is left, the only chance for the escaping ships.
Obviously we can't take out the last Capital ship, never mind the rest of their fleet or the Spore.
But I have an idea to buy them a little more time.
We run. We need to make sure they are chasing us and not the Jubilee. So we run at the Spore, make sure we have their attention.
Even we can not outrun their Capital ships once they reach top speed, but it should draw them a little further from the gate.
No... You fighters should try to escape, I'm sure the Ray will be distraction enough for them.
Go now while there may still be time."

"We will not abandon you now.
We will continue firing on the sides of the target for as long as we are alive."

"I thank you, my friends."

The fighters do exactly as promised and continue their attack, no matter how futile.
The Ray heads straight for the Spore and the nearing cloud of small ships.
The fourth Black ship turns and begins to accelerate after the Ray.

"It is working.
It may only give them a mizura or two extra but that may be enough."

...


Pegasus


'Time to go, I think.
Ten mizuras to the gate.
I still don't dare drop the cloak until I'm far beyond the range of any Argon Fleet ships.'

...


Jubilee


"Time to gate?"

"Four mizuras."

"The Ray is doing a good job of distracting them, leading them away.
We will easily make it out now.
Possibly the lifter too."

Pierson speaks. "Admiral Illandas, I've been thinking..."

"Admiral Illandas... That has a nice ring to it.
Sorry, you were saying?"

"Yes, I think it may be time we gave this system a proper name.
Dark Haven."

"Dark Haven...
Hmm, also has a nice ring to it.
Certainly appropriate...
Very well, consider it done. My first act in Admiralty.
I hear-by name this system 'Dark Haven'."

...


Black Ship


'It is coming to us.
One of their large ships.
Fast.
We will move aside or it may kill some of us in passing.'

'Our Capital ship will catch it soon and our large defence ships are coming too.
It will be destroyed.
It will make good nourishment.'

'We must protect the Capital ship.
It can not kill the small ones, they are too fast for it to kill them.'

'Their large ship has passed us now.
We are almost there.'

'We surround their smaller ships and kill them.'

...


Jubilee


"All fighters are lost.
The Black Capital ship is almost upon the Ray...
Entering firing range...
It is gone."

"Two mizuras to the gate."

"Captain, The Discoverer is breaking away from us."

...


Pegasus


'Just me the Jubilee and the Lifter left.
The Black Capital ship is heading back for the gate and the Jubilee again.
The sixteen smaller Capital ships are still heading this way.
And the cloud of small ships are gathering wreckage and returning to the Spore.'

'The Jubilee is almost out.
It will be a close race between me and the Black ship for second out. The Lifter won't make it, two more mizuras and it will be caught.
Actually, I might hang back a while, I don't want to get too close to that thing just incase it can see me.
Changing course, forty five degrees down.'

'What's this?
The Jubilee is launching its Discoverer.
I wonder why.'

...


Discoverer


'It is time.'

"Security over-ride, release docking clamps."

The clamps release and the Discoverer parts from the Corvette.

...


Jubilee


"Scan it, who is onboard?"

"Monroe."

"Captain Monroe, this is Captain Hall, what the hell are you doing?...
Monroe!"

"Twenty sezuras to gate, will we slow down?"

"No Pierson, keep going.
Monroe, answer!"

...


Discoverer


Captain Halls voice is heard. "Captain Monroe, this is Captain Hall, what the hell are you doing?...
Monroe!...
Monroe, answer!"

"Don't worry Captain, everything is fine, just fine...
or it will be.
Get out, now.
I am ready.
There is no time left.
I will destroy the gate."

Monroe turns the communications off.

'This is for the Armadeaus.
For Cellone!'

...

The Jubilee disappears from Dark Haven through the gate to Teladi Way.
Two sezuras later a ball of blinding fire and light engulfs the gate.

...


Pegasus


"Uh-oh"

[crunn]

That's all folks.

Well, for now.
I have a few ideas for a Dark Haven 2.

[KiwiNZ]

Cool read! That is one open-ended non-open-ended story

Interesting turn of things regarding Monroe, I did not expect that one. What puzzles me was the fact that, for exaple, the Argon One would not try to ram into the alien ship, it might have worked and the Argon ship was mostly dead already. These destroyers must be fast if they outrun the Boron Ray.

Another thing, I recall you mentioning that the alien cap ships usually come throught the newly established gate (spore) but it seems they sent their whole fleet through deep space and still arrive in a very short space of time.


Looking forward to see what you come up with for that potential sequel. Well done.

[crunn]

Thenks Kiwi

What puzzles me was the fact that, for example, the Argon One would not try to ram into the alien ship.

I'd thought about having Ornov do a Sheridan 'Give me ramming speed'
But we already had the Ray ram one (unintentionally) I didn't want to risk making it repetitive.

Another thing, I recall you mentioning that the alien cap ships usually come through the newly established gate (spore) but it seems they sent their whole fleet through deep space and still arrive in a very short space of time.

Oh, maybe I should have been clearer on that one.
The 4 huge, 16 large and all the ones you didn't see did come through the Spore/Gate.
A couple times before, the small Black ships (and now Monroe) always say-
"Life, oh glorious life, it has begun here."
As the Spore erupts, sort of a chant or custom of their people.

I should probably have Monroe actually state the fact.
I'll edit that in later.

Thanks again

[crunn]

While I'm still thinking of it,

What was it that you were expecting regarding Monroe?

(maybe he kills the Jubilee and no one gets out, actually, that might have been a more interesting ending)

[Moss]

Pegasus "Uh-oh" Poor guy, still he still has his cloak eh?

Nice finishing battle Crunn, tho I must say I wasn't expecting such a defeat by the spores forces, as for the ending and Monroe, I was thinking he'd be attacking the spore itself with those hornets, closing the gate as he did was quite unexpected, but perhaps that was the change he made to his plan, a good move I think.

All in all a good ending, and left quite nicely for a sequel certainly leaves most of the races, except for the Paranid and Split! with a very good idea of the capabilities of the Spores forces, but not the motives that drive them on. They took a beating in Dark Haven but they do still hold the sector, i'm wondering if they will actualy want to keep expanding into the X part of the galaxy after that pounding

It does leave me with a few unanswered questions like, do they live alongside any other intellegent beings at all or is everything just food and space to expand into? If you do decide to continue the story, i'd like to know more about these Spores, how they think individualy or wether they are just a single mind, who or what leads/drives them on, they seem to be partway between being some sort of space plant and insect type behavior but obviously intellegent.

Cheers Crunn was a good read thanks for posting it for us.

[KiwiNZ]

While I'm still thinking of it,

What was it that you were expecting regarding Monroe?

(maybe he kills the Jubilee and no one gets out, actually, that might have been a more interesting ending)

I indeed thought he was under control of the aliens rather than jeopardise their progress. Still curious how he is gonna blow up the gate in a Discoverer So there is definitely pleanty of scope for a sequel.

I agree with Moss on the Pegasus exclamation "Uh-oh", that really is a funny one

[Al]

Nice one Crunn. I got to admit that I expected a 'final' end to the story with the spore and co blasted away. Very good twist and of course leaves you open for the next story or Part 3

Al

[crunn]

Thanks muchly everyone

I really enjoyed writing this, and there will be a sequel.

But not right away.
I'd not long started reading Lord of the Rings when I started DH and I haven’t touched LOTR since.
So that's getting done before I even think about DH2.

I've submitted DH for the "get your story on the X2 disk" thing.
So fingers crossed.

Thanks again for all your support/ideas/suggestions/input/etc

crunn

[joseki]

I liked this story.

The first few chapters were outstanding. I thought that the way you decided to write them was really good.

[Mercenary]

Just read through this.

Good read. I did wonder if Monroe was going to try and destroy the Spore/Gate at first.

Nice touch for the sequal as they now Aliens now need to form another gate or find another route into the known sectors...

Well the Pegasus needs to find another route home...