Draaz
10-26-04, 12:52PM
The Trap
The low hum of the instruments and power core of my ship drifting among the stars makes for a soothing sound. After four hours of gate patrols the squadron commander released us to pursue our own agendas. I loaded the coordinates of home base, flipped on the autonav, and felt the push of gravity as my Interceptor accelerated to warp drive speeds. I thought to myself, my own agenda. What is my agenda? What am I doing out here risking my life and millions of credits in equipment for? I think back to the day I left home for the Caldari Academy, and ponder what my Father had said that day. With a small tear running down his cheek, he told me “You honor and actions are all you really have. Take care of both.” I listened and knew what he meant. Six years of training and education was not wasted, as I excelled in all my combat and mechanical skills, to graduate in the top five of the class. It was a glorious day that unfortunately my father did not live to see. He was murdered for a cargo load of Bistot ore in the PF-354 system. Those responsible were dealt with shortly there after. After Graduation I drifted here and there doing the odd job for agents and other corporations. But it was not until I received a comms from one of the leaders of the Shattered Star Confederation that I actually “belonged” anywhere. After a brief interview and combat qualifier, I was made a member of the SSC and the Fountain Alliance. It was a proud day for me and my bloodline.
As my ship dropped from warp to access the next gate I was a little surprised to find a few cargo containers floating near the gate. I shut off the autonav and throttled up to investigate as this was supposed to be a clear system. As I neared the first of five containers I got a new contact on my scanner, it was one of my wing mates, Risenstar. He radioed me asking what all this was, and I replied with no idea. He moved in to formation and we set about looking into the cargo cans. We found most of them were filled with materials to build missiles and hybrid ammo; it was a mystery for sure now. We checked the chatter on channel and made inquiries as to missing or late cargo vessels, no one knew any more than we did. We awaited orders as to what to do with the Cargo cans, as neither one of us had anywhere near enough cargo space to hold all this. As the Fleet Commander from WY called in and requested a system update, we noticed the new contacts appearing as if from thin air. First it was three ships almost forty kilometers from us, then the others appeared, it was a flight of fourteen various covert-op frigates and they had us cold. We both threw on the afterburners and headed for the gate, but it was too far and they cut us off quickly. Pulling out and activating my ECM jammers, I saw the markings on the side of one of the frigates, Red Brigade.
Jinking and popping off missiles at the closest target we were doing well, then Risenstar reported that his shields were toasted. I was down to thirty-five percent and had an EM shield hardener running at max capacity, so I was in fair shape for a few. I told Risenstar to power up his Micro-Warp Drive (MWD), we were making a run for the gate. At twenty-three kilometers from the gate we both fired on a frigate and sped through the burning debris towards the gate at over six kilometers per second. As our reserve power was depleting rapidly we saw the gate activate and ships coming through. “We just might make it...” I screamed in the microphone, but then Risen saw the markings. We weren’t going to make it. Two Red Brigade battleships and multiple cruisers came through; I pulled back on the throttle and spun the ship 180, and put every bit of power I had left into the engines and MWD. I only heard part of Risenstar comms, then static as I raced towards a nearby planet. I had alarms blaring, and alerts going off all over when my main drive kicked in and I warped away. The damage to my ship was extensive and I would probably not make it home this time. The trap was perfect, we never saw it coming. The one thing that did not make sense was where did the Red Brigade get so many Covert-op ships from? I mean the Fountain alliance, consisting of over 20 corporations only has about 7 covert-op ships together. A single corporation having 14, and willing to sacrifice them in combat is just unheard of.
Fleet Command was able to finally cut through the jamming and requested an update. I filled them in on the trap and as much intelligence as I had on the force that was still there. I also informed them that Risenstar was MIA. I was told to sit tight and relay any intel I got to the 7th Hunter Squadron Commander, as he was in charge of the local fleet. So I shut down all non essential systems to sit it out as my ship was in no shape for combat.
I had parked my ship in the upper atmosphere of a gas giant hoping I was invisible to the enemy scanners. I was still close enough to see the gate activation when the fleet arrived. They came in firing and from the distance I was at it was a spectacular light show, but then I remembered this was a battle, and many good people were dying.
I powered up and prayed that my engines would hold together long enough to make a run for the gate and the safety of the secondary wave of ships I knew were on the other side. The radio was full of chatter, and orders were coming through and changing as all battle plans do. I waited for the call to move out, that’s when 2 Red Brigade frigates dropped out of warp only 50km from me. I had run out of luck.
I targeted the first one as he hit the edge of my weapons range, locked him down and fired off 3 salvos of light missiles and punch my engines for all they had. I got confirmation of at least 4 out of my 6 missiles hitting the target, he ejected as his ship spiraled off into the gas giant. The other was in pursuit and he had a slight speed advantage over me. He got within weapons range and I fire off missiles at the same time he did. I only had 3 missiles total left, and after they fired I was out of ammo. He got off 2 light missiles which were gaining quickly I was praying my warp drive was ready, and that is when the alarm sounded. No power left in the capacitor and only 42% shields. I thought for sure I was going to be floating home. I grabbed for the eject handle and was going to pull it when both of the Red Brigade missiles exploded behind me, they had run out of fuel. I started looking for a way out of this but was out of options, I could not make the gate, I was out of ammo, and out of power, I decided.
Pulling back hard on the stick, my ship rolled back and I lined up on the Red Brigade ships cockpit. I shit down everything but the engines and shunted all remaining juice to them, I was rocked by to close explosions but they were only EM missiles, so my shields absorbed it but were gone now. I saw the muzzle flash of his guns, looked like close range blasters, and felt the near misses and the impacts as I raced towards him at a combined speed of over 60k per second. He then realized was about to happen but it was too late. I felt the impact and saw a blinding flash, then nothing.
I awoke back at home base to find that my predecessor was killed in the collision and that I was the updated clone he had purchased just hours before that patrol. I guess he knew something…………………………
Draaz
Shattered Star Confederation
Fountain Alliance
Combat Pilot
Clone No.6
The low hum of the instruments and power core of my ship drifting among the stars makes for a soothing sound. After four hours of gate patrols the squadron commander released us to pursue our own agendas. I loaded the coordinates of home base, flipped on the autonav, and felt the push of gravity as my Interceptor accelerated to warp drive speeds. I thought to myself, my own agenda. What is my agenda? What am I doing out here risking my life and millions of credits in equipment for? I think back to the day I left home for the Caldari Academy, and ponder what my Father had said that day. With a small tear running down his cheek, he told me “You honor and actions are all you really have. Take care of both.” I listened and knew what he meant. Six years of training and education was not wasted, as I excelled in all my combat and mechanical skills, to graduate in the top five of the class. It was a glorious day that unfortunately my father did not live to see. He was murdered for a cargo load of Bistot ore in the PF-354 system. Those responsible were dealt with shortly there after. After Graduation I drifted here and there doing the odd job for agents and other corporations. But it was not until I received a comms from one of the leaders of the Shattered Star Confederation that I actually “belonged” anywhere. After a brief interview and combat qualifier, I was made a member of the SSC and the Fountain Alliance. It was a proud day for me and my bloodline.
As my ship dropped from warp to access the next gate I was a little surprised to find a few cargo containers floating near the gate. I shut off the autonav and throttled up to investigate as this was supposed to be a clear system. As I neared the first of five containers I got a new contact on my scanner, it was one of my wing mates, Risenstar. He radioed me asking what all this was, and I replied with no idea. He moved in to formation and we set about looking into the cargo cans. We found most of them were filled with materials to build missiles and hybrid ammo; it was a mystery for sure now. We checked the chatter on channel and made inquiries as to missing or late cargo vessels, no one knew any more than we did. We awaited orders as to what to do with the Cargo cans, as neither one of us had anywhere near enough cargo space to hold all this. As the Fleet Commander from WY called in and requested a system update, we noticed the new contacts appearing as if from thin air. First it was three ships almost forty kilometers from us, then the others appeared, it was a flight of fourteen various covert-op frigates and they had us cold. We both threw on the afterburners and headed for the gate, but it was too far and they cut us off quickly. Pulling out and activating my ECM jammers, I saw the markings on the side of one of the frigates, Red Brigade.
Jinking and popping off missiles at the closest target we were doing well, then Risenstar reported that his shields were toasted. I was down to thirty-five percent and had an EM shield hardener running at max capacity, so I was in fair shape for a few. I told Risenstar to power up his Micro-Warp Drive (MWD), we were making a run for the gate. At twenty-three kilometers from the gate we both fired on a frigate and sped through the burning debris towards the gate at over six kilometers per second. As our reserve power was depleting rapidly we saw the gate activate and ships coming through. “We just might make it...” I screamed in the microphone, but then Risen saw the markings. We weren’t going to make it. Two Red Brigade battleships and multiple cruisers came through; I pulled back on the throttle and spun the ship 180, and put every bit of power I had left into the engines and MWD. I only heard part of Risenstar comms, then static as I raced towards a nearby planet. I had alarms blaring, and alerts going off all over when my main drive kicked in and I warped away. The damage to my ship was extensive and I would probably not make it home this time. The trap was perfect, we never saw it coming. The one thing that did not make sense was where did the Red Brigade get so many Covert-op ships from? I mean the Fountain alliance, consisting of over 20 corporations only has about 7 covert-op ships together. A single corporation having 14, and willing to sacrifice them in combat is just unheard of.
Fleet Command was able to finally cut through the jamming and requested an update. I filled them in on the trap and as much intelligence as I had on the force that was still there. I also informed them that Risenstar was MIA. I was told to sit tight and relay any intel I got to the 7th Hunter Squadron Commander, as he was in charge of the local fleet. So I shut down all non essential systems to sit it out as my ship was in no shape for combat.
I had parked my ship in the upper atmosphere of a gas giant hoping I was invisible to the enemy scanners. I was still close enough to see the gate activation when the fleet arrived. They came in firing and from the distance I was at it was a spectacular light show, but then I remembered this was a battle, and many good people were dying.
I powered up and prayed that my engines would hold together long enough to make a run for the gate and the safety of the secondary wave of ships I knew were on the other side. The radio was full of chatter, and orders were coming through and changing as all battle plans do. I waited for the call to move out, that’s when 2 Red Brigade frigates dropped out of warp only 50km from me. I had run out of luck.
I targeted the first one as he hit the edge of my weapons range, locked him down and fired off 3 salvos of light missiles and punch my engines for all they had. I got confirmation of at least 4 out of my 6 missiles hitting the target, he ejected as his ship spiraled off into the gas giant. The other was in pursuit and he had a slight speed advantage over me. He got within weapons range and I fire off missiles at the same time he did. I only had 3 missiles total left, and after they fired I was out of ammo. He got off 2 light missiles which were gaining quickly I was praying my warp drive was ready, and that is when the alarm sounded. No power left in the capacitor and only 42% shields. I thought for sure I was going to be floating home. I grabbed for the eject handle and was going to pull it when both of the Red Brigade missiles exploded behind me, they had run out of fuel. I started looking for a way out of this but was out of options, I could not make the gate, I was out of ammo, and out of power, I decided.
Pulling back hard on the stick, my ship rolled back and I lined up on the Red Brigade ships cockpit. I shit down everything but the engines and shunted all remaining juice to them, I was rocked by to close explosions but they were only EM missiles, so my shields absorbed it but were gone now. I saw the muzzle flash of his guns, looked like close range blasters, and felt the near misses and the impacts as I raced towards him at a combined speed of over 60k per second. He then realized was about to happen but it was too late. I felt the impact and saw a blinding flash, then nothing.
I awoke back at home base to find that my predecessor was killed in the collision and that I was the updated clone he had purchased just hours before that patrol. I guess he knew something…………………………
Draaz
Shattered Star Confederation
Fountain Alliance
Combat Pilot
Clone No.6