11-07-2008, 02:07 AM
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The deck under Chris feet swayed violently as another volley from the gunboats main turrets bounced off the Audacitys shields. He stumbled, and had to catch hold of the control panel to keep himself from falling. Captain, the pilot, swivelling round in his chair called Captain, the shields cant take much more, sir, fifteen percent, and barely hoding! We have to do something, sir! With that, another volley slammed into the already-weakened shields, overloading the generator and dropping them entirely. Shield failed. Another volley, this time splashing against the unprotected hull, blew off several plates and tore a hole in the cargo bay. Sir, we are venting atmosphere, two guns offline the ship rocked again Theyve hit the cruise power cables, and the primary power core, were done sir. Chris sighed, and reached for the switch to open a comm channel to the attacking gunboat. Then he noticed the gunboats fire was no longer headed in their direction. Following the yellow beams, he could make out about a dozen small shapes bouncing around the sky. Sensors, I want a full scan on those fighters, immediately. The sensor operator span round, a look of astonishment on his face, Im reading several fighter contacts inbound, sir, Templars and Challengers, so, someone had picked up his distress call, after all. Quickly, bring us about and set course for the Freeport.
Looking back at the gunboat, he could see torpedoes and tachyon bursts ripping off huge sections of hull plating, the boats weapons now silent, as it drifted towards the edge of the ice crystal field. The Bretonian fighters, breaking off, took up position alongside the damaged percheron. This is patrol Alpha-one from the Norfolk to the captain of the BMM vessel Audacity, how is your ship holding up?
The cargo hold is punctured, the guns are offline, and the cruise engine is out, besides that, were fine, Chris replied with false optimism, thanks for the quick response, chaps, we almost bought it there. We are setting course for the Freeport, will repair and rearm.
Acknowledged, Audacity, we will escort you to the port.
The big, battle-scarred percheron settled slowly to the ground in the largest hangar bay on Freeport 1. It dwarfed the assorted dromedaries and eagles parked nearby. Several men in overalls approached the access ramp as it swung open, and Chris stepped out. Quite a nice lil ole ye got yerself there, observed one of them, spposin yell be wantin it fixed up?
The hole needs patching, the power to the guns needs restoring, and the cruise engine needs fixing. State your price.
Ill tell yer that when Ive ad a look at it, the man replied.
Very well then, Chris motioned the rest of his crew out of the ship and led the Zoner and his own mechanic inside, Joe, show him what needs doing, but keep an eye on him, mind, I need her to fly again afterwards. The Zoner shot him a hurt look before turning to Joe, the mechanic, who lead him off towards the back of the ship. Chris returned to where the remaining four members of the Audacitys complement stood, Ok, while those two do their mechanical jiggery-pokey, well be staying here. I guess it may take quite a while, so I suggest you go and amuse yourselves.
When the crew had dispersed, Chris returned to the bridge and checked over the instruments one last time, to be certain everything was running smoothly. He checked on the mechanics, both of which were deeply involved in some task that he could not make out, and his wishes of luck were only met by a muffled grunt from Joe. Stepping down onto the hangar floor once again, he headed for the Freeports bar for a stiff drink.
Stepping through the door, he was hit by a wall of noise. Several people wearing a variety of uniforms and cultural clothing were dispersed around the room, some individually, some talking in groups, some seemingly asleep at their tables. He carefully picked his way over to the bar, avoiding the stares of several Corsairs, and ordered a drink. As he turned to find a table, he noticed a man sitting in one of the corners, nursing a large glass of liberty ale. Something about the man was familiar to Chris, so he headed in his direction, hoping that he might find a conversation here. Arriving at the table, he warmly greeted the other, Hello, friend, this seat taken? The man looked up at him, and Chris dropped his drink on the floor, where the glass shattered, sending fragments of glass flying across the floor, along with his drink. AAnthonyis that you? He spluttered, open-mouthed,
Hi, Chris Responded the man, so, you finally found me, eh?
Ant, what happened? Where have you been these past three years? We heard rumors that the Gaians had captured or killed you. Damn, its good to see you, little brother.
Three years?! exclaimed Anthony in astonishment, Has it been that long?
Yes, the last we heard of you, you were on a convoy run to Harris, then nothing. Sketchy reports about your convoy being ambushed by Gaians, no survivors. We were so worried
Did myhow are our parents holding up?
Chris gulped, and a look of pain crossed his face, TheyCorsairstheyno one knows how they managed to get so far into Bretoniasome blamed the Kusaribut nothing was proved.
Anthony stared at Chris for a moment, dumbfounded, then turned back to his drink. Three years of his life had just vanished, along with his parents. The only thing he had left now, was his brother. Maybe I need anther few of these he muttered.
No, replied Chris, come with me. The man Im working for should be able to get you started with something. And maybe we can help you find out what happened over the last few years.
NO! Anthony was almost shouting now, but he was close to tears at the same time, What happened over the last few years was that my parents died, and I wasnt there to save them! I should have been there!
Ant, its not your fault. No one could have forseen it. It was so sudden, very few people even saw the ships that did it. There was nothing you could have done. I know, I felt the same at first.
Anthony looked up at Chris, his eyes hard, and said in a dangerous voice, I want to hurt them, Chris, I want hurt those bastards that did this. Im not going to rest till every Kusari is dead. I want to see New Tokyo burn.
Woah, thats a bit over the top, Ant, chided Chris, I mean, none of us like them, but he trailed off, seeing the fire in his brothers eyes. Well, for a start, lets get you back home, eh?
Home? Wheres that any more?
Well, my employer has kindly arranged accommodation for me, Im sure theres room for you too. Chris stood up and extended his hand towards his brother. Come on, lets go. Anthony hesitated, before catching his brothers hand, standing up, and pulling him close, Ive missed you so much, Chris, I dont know how long Ive been gone for, or what happened, but I know that Ive missed you.
I know, replied Chris, Ive missed you too, I was so worried after you left, and then, after mum and dadIve been on my own for so longnow, lets get back to my ship, and lets get out of here.
They turned together, and walked out of the bar, headed for the landing bay and the route home.
The deck under Chris feet swayed violently as another volley from the gunboats main turrets bounced off the Audacitys shields. He stumbled, and had to catch hold of the control panel to keep himself from falling. Captain, the pilot, swivelling round in his chair called Captain, the shields cant take much more, sir, fifteen percent, and barely hoding! We have to do something, sir! With that, another volley slammed into the already-weakened shields, overloading the generator and dropping them entirely. Shield failed. Another volley, this time splashing against the unprotected hull, blew off several plates and tore a hole in the cargo bay. Sir, we are venting atmosphere, two guns offline the ship rocked again Theyve hit the cruise power cables, and the primary power core, were done sir. Chris sighed, and reached for the switch to open a comm channel to the attacking gunboat. Then he noticed the gunboats fire was no longer headed in their direction. Following the yellow beams, he could make out about a dozen small shapes bouncing around the sky. Sensors, I want a full scan on those fighters, immediately. The sensor operator span round, a look of astonishment on his face, Im reading several fighter contacts inbound, sir, Templars and Challengers, so, someone had picked up his distress call, after all. Quickly, bring us about and set course for the Freeport.
Looking back at the gunboat, he could see torpedoes and tachyon bursts ripping off huge sections of hull plating, the boats weapons now silent, as it drifted towards the edge of the ice crystal field. The Bretonian fighters, breaking off, took up position alongside the damaged percheron. This is patrol Alpha-one from the Norfolk to the captain of the BMM vessel Audacity, how is your ship holding up?
The cargo hold is punctured, the guns are offline, and the cruise engine is out, besides that, were fine, Chris replied with false optimism, thanks for the quick response, chaps, we almost bought it there. We are setting course for the Freeport, will repair and rearm.
Acknowledged, Audacity, we will escort you to the port.
The big, battle-scarred percheron settled slowly to the ground in the largest hangar bay on Freeport 1. It dwarfed the assorted dromedaries and eagles parked nearby. Several men in overalls approached the access ramp as it swung open, and Chris stepped out. Quite a nice lil ole ye got yerself there, observed one of them, spposin yell be wantin it fixed up?
The hole needs patching, the power to the guns needs restoring, and the cruise engine needs fixing. State your price.
Ill tell yer that when Ive ad a look at it, the man replied.
Very well then, Chris motioned the rest of his crew out of the ship and led the Zoner and his own mechanic inside, Joe, show him what needs doing, but keep an eye on him, mind, I need her to fly again afterwards. The Zoner shot him a hurt look before turning to Joe, the mechanic, who lead him off towards the back of the ship. Chris returned to where the remaining four members of the Audacitys complement stood, Ok, while those two do their mechanical jiggery-pokey, well be staying here. I guess it may take quite a while, so I suggest you go and amuse yourselves.
When the crew had dispersed, Chris returned to the bridge and checked over the instruments one last time, to be certain everything was running smoothly. He checked on the mechanics, both of which were deeply involved in some task that he could not make out, and his wishes of luck were only met by a muffled grunt from Joe. Stepping down onto the hangar floor once again, he headed for the Freeports bar for a stiff drink.
Stepping through the door, he was hit by a wall of noise. Several people wearing a variety of uniforms and cultural clothing were dispersed around the room, some individually, some talking in groups, some seemingly asleep at their tables. He carefully picked his way over to the bar, avoiding the stares of several Corsairs, and ordered a drink. As he turned to find a table, he noticed a man sitting in one of the corners, nursing a large glass of liberty ale. Something about the man was familiar to Chris, so he headed in his direction, hoping that he might find a conversation here. Arriving at the table, he warmly greeted the other, Hello, friend, this seat taken? The man looked up at him, and Chris dropped his drink on the floor, where the glass shattered, sending fragments of glass flying across the floor, along with his drink. AAnthonyis that you? He spluttered, open-mouthed,
Hi, Chris Responded the man, so, you finally found me, eh?
Ant, what happened? Where have you been these past three years? We heard rumors that the Gaians had captured or killed you. Damn, its good to see you, little brother.
Three years?! exclaimed Anthony in astonishment, Has it been that long?
Yes, the last we heard of you, you were on a convoy run to Harris, then nothing. Sketchy reports about your convoy being ambushed by Gaians, no survivors. We were so worried
Did myhow are our parents holding up?
Chris gulped, and a look of pain crossed his face, TheyCorsairstheyno one knows how they managed to get so far into Bretoniasome blamed the Kusaribut nothing was proved.
Anthony stared at Chris for a moment, dumbfounded, then turned back to his drink. Three years of his life had just vanished, along with his parents. The only thing he had left now, was his brother. Maybe I need anther few of these he muttered.
No, replied Chris, come with me. The man Im working for should be able to get you started with something. And maybe we can help you find out what happened over the last few years.
NO! Anthony was almost shouting now, but he was close to tears at the same time, What happened over the last few years was that my parents died, and I wasnt there to save them! I should have been there!
Ant, its not your fault. No one could have forseen it. It was so sudden, very few people even saw the ships that did it. There was nothing you could have done. I know, I felt the same at first.
Anthony looked up at Chris, his eyes hard, and said in a dangerous voice, I want to hurt them, Chris, I want hurt those bastards that did this. Im not going to rest till every Kusari is dead. I want to see New Tokyo burn.
Woah, thats a bit over the top, Ant, chided Chris, I mean, none of us like them, but he trailed off, seeing the fire in his brothers eyes. Well, for a start, lets get you back home, eh?
Home? Wheres that any more?
Well, my employer has kindly arranged accommodation for me, Im sure theres room for you too. Chris stood up and extended his hand towards his brother. Come on, lets go. Anthony hesitated, before catching his brothers hand, standing up, and pulling him close, Ive missed you so much, Chris, I dont know how long Ive been gone for, or what happened, but I know that Ive missed you.
I know, replied Chris, Ive missed you too, I was so worried after you left, and then, after mum and dadIve been on my own for so longnow, lets get back to my ship, and lets get out of here.
They turned together, and walked out of the bar, headed for the landing bay and the route home.