York was standing in dock bay 3 surrounded by Xeno's best fighter pilots. Their eagles, parked behind their backs, were being prepared for combat by elite technicians.
- Pilots, time has come to show the Liberty navy how strong we can hit them. It has come to my knowledge that Bounty Hunters and SA navy fighters will be conducting practice maneuvers trough out Liberty. They will start in Texas. Our mission today will be to attack chosen civilian targets near planet Los Angeles in California system. Goal is to lure their forces from Texas to California in a rush and out of their battle formation. Once scattered they will be easier targets. After we enter California system RV will be 30k above Ontario jump hole. When we all meet we will proceed to planet LA and destroy our target and wait for their response. Fly well my friends.
Any questions?.....No?.....Very well!..Roll call: Bernadotte!
- Oui!
- Milia Fallyna!
- Here.
- Rohen!
- Ya...i am here boss...
- Too bad that Tex isn't here..but he is on important mission. You will be briefed about it later. -York said. - Our ships are ready...lets take them out!
Only 2 minutes has passed and all eagles were in space.
- Set course to Ontario jump hole and enter battle formation. - York ordered.
Flight trough Colorado and Ontario was uneventful. Once that Xeno fighter wing has arrived at RV in California system, first target was sighted and wrath of mighty Xeno weapons was unleashed. All civilian targets were destroyed with in 10 minutes.
- Ok. Now we wait...Bad news travel fast. I am sure that SA and BHG fighters will be here very soon. York said.
And he was right. Not more then 10 minutes had passed when SA pilot announced his entering in California system.
- Start your scanners...Lets find poor bastards. - York said with evil grin...
Liberty navy fighters accompanied by bounty hunters entered scanner range. York ordered attack and whole hell broke lose. Shoots were fired from every direction. Missiles were zooming very close to Xeno cockpits. Fight was fierce. Unfortunately, Xenos suffered first loss. Bernadotte got hit with missile and his eagle was crippled. Explosion was immanent so he ejected. York tractored his escape pod only moments before his eagle exploded.
Explosion of Bernadotte's ship gave wings to navy pilots and they attacked even harder. Another explosion and Xenos lost another fighter. Milia Fallyna. Her ship blow up also after being hit by a missile...Rohen managed to tractor her escape pod...
- Now i am really mad, - York said - Rohen lets give them hell now.
- Ya...i was planning to boss...
- Same target and follow my lead...- York ordered.
Both Xeno changed the attack tactic and soon after first bounty hunter fighter was destroyed....They moved to another. One by one they destroyed all Bounty hunter fighters and it was time to take care of SA fighter. SA was the best fighter among their joint fighter wing, he tried every maneuver in the book to avoid getting hit by angry Xenos. Unlucky for him, Xenos don't fly by the book... His ship disappeared in flames minutes after it was attacked. Whole fighter wing was erased. Xenos have won, despite losses they suffered.
York and Rohen returned to Ouray with victory smile on their faces. Lost fighters can be replaced but news about SA and BHG joint fighter wing destroyed will be main topic in the bars around Liberty for few weeks.
Bernadotte was lucky...he had replacement fighter. Rohen didn't. So York organized small convoy to escort Rohan to Theta to buy new ship. Freighter Lonestar Rebel and gunboat Prospector took some light arms to trade for new ship. Rohan was in Starflier with Bernadotte in his new eagle as wingman.
Convoy set course to Theta. First system was New York. Xenos weren't disturbed by navy patrols there. Once they entered Texas York warned all ships in public frequency not to attack Xeno convoy or their will be fired upon. SA navy capital ships didn't care much for that warning. When convoy approached planet Houston, Liberty carrier Philadelphia attacked. Rohan's little starflier couldn't take that beating. York took Rohans escape pod to his gunboat. Rest of Xeno ships attacked SA forces. SA battlecruiser Red Bear was taking heavy damage and Philadelphia wasn't able to keep Xenos of it. SA, once again got help from Bounty hunters and police. York in his gunboat took care of them. After bounty hunter's ship got destroyed York managed to tractor his escape pod. He will be taken to Ouray for questioning. Once Xenos got rid of pesky fighters all forces united in attack on Red Bear. He didn't stand real chance and it was destroyed despite his smart maneuvers near the planet.
After the fight Xeno convoy reassembled and proceeded to Theta. Rest of the way was uneventful. With light arms for trade, Xenos bought new eagle quite easy and Rohan finally got some new wings. They prepared to enter cruise speed when near the Freeport Bernadotte got attacked by another bounty hunter in new type of light fighter, Tiger shark. That ship proved to be hard target so York was called to help Bernadotte. Prospector turned his powerful weapons on Bounty hunter and fired. Missed. That pesky little fighter was real hard target. York knew that only one shoot from his guns will kill it, but it was very hard to hit him. Time was on Yorks side. Prospector's turrets were firing and it was only matter of time when they will hit small Tigershark fighter...And then, all the sudden...Bounty hunter blew up in flames.
Prospector was in the lead and convoy moved on. After long journey and few more hours passing trough several hostile systems Xenos were finally home.
- Move prisoner to lower decks. Keep him away from Kusari officers. Lock him in his own cell. I will send Tex to question him. - York ordered. - His name is Joshua Taylor. Feed him well. He may bring us nice income from his ransom.
Sacre bleu, since when there are more escorts than transports?! Complained Bernadotte
The convoy raiding wasn't going exactly as planned, the escorts proved too numerous for two undergunned xenos to hope for anything but certain death
All the xenos had was Bernadotte's old Aigle and the Flamingo - a reverse-engineered freighter. Against them, a massive convoy bound for liberty. Its cargo was extremely valuable for the corrupt government. A very rare species of alien organisms - supposed to accelerate the Los Angeles terraforming efforts multifold. A successful strike would likely draw mass attention.
- Milia, for this one nous devong to go to Alaska. Yes, I know it's far from Ouray, but only there we can hope to pick at least one ship off.
- Roger that
Alaska is a frightening place. cold, desolate and empty...
evading libety patrols, the two xeno ships were finally at the Omicron minor jumphole. They waited...
Long-range scans from the upgarded array of the Flamingo indicated movement. the convou was moving closer and closer every minute.
- They'll be here any second, preparez-vous
- Got a jump signature
- Oui, a liner. leave it, the thing has a shield tres-forte.
- More jumps
- A train! get it, quick!
The unlucky ship was amodern, zoner-built large train, the Shamballa. Zoner ships are known of sturdiness. Increased repair set capacity makes them all but quick to kill.
- Encore a few more shiots...
- And WHAM! the bugger is in flames, poor little bacteria..
- Yeah, I pity them more than th pilots too, but I think they'll do fine in here. Ok, let's hightail it before those escorts get a lock on us.
- Alrigtie, cruising out.
1 hi and run. Typical for xenos. But this time the escorts weren't willing to let up. they chased the terrorists to Connecticut. An ambush was set just outside the jumpgate.
- Ok, hold here and hit the first one to emerge.
- There's one!
Another zoner ship. The pilot was should thank his armor for saving him. A few shots stood between him and the void. A most curious encounter took place then
- What the...
- a nomad ship? What is it doing and why isn't it shooting them?!
- How am I supposed to know. it's shooting us and as such we should return the favour. Tirez!
The nomad ship behaved weirdly. As if the zoners were its friends. Nevertheless. After a few strafes it blew up/in (or whatever happns to a nomad fighter when it gets destroyed). Other escorts withdrew. The xenos destroyed 2 ships without losses. The rest of the convoy passed the battle and headed for California. 1 other train would have been destroyed, but ammo was depleted and the ship couldn't be knocked out of cruise. the repair kits saved his life.
As the convoy reached California, the xenos planned to go there as well. This time however, the escort was far more organized. They all waited just outside the jumpgate. They attacked en-masse and werem't even thinking about retreat. the Flamingo went down first and Bernadotte soon after. The rescue pods cruised back to Ouray still to be welcomed by celebrating xenos. For the Shamballa was ferrying a small, but crucial part of the load. Another decade of delay for LA.
Tex and Richard were in the bar. There was no one except them and bartender. Dimmed lights, music from near by speaker. York and Tex sat there silently. Then York spoke.
- I was contacted today by Bounty hunters. They wish us to release Joshua Taylor. They are willing to offer us something in return. - York said
- Hmmm, I am almost done with his interrogation. He is tough little bounty hunter. But i have some valuable information. If they offers us good deal....i would release him.
- That is what i thought. I am expecting their offer nay time now. Then we will decide.
They continued to drink in quiet. Even music stopped. Only low humming of base power generator and was disrupting silence.
York was sitting in the bar. He had nasty cut above left eye and his hand was in bandages.
- Tough fight today? - Bartender asked.
- Yes, very. Today Liberty navy kicked my ass out of California. My gunboat is in the shipyard for repairs. If they are possible. And my bloody hand is hurt so i cant even fly out in my Eagle. Tex is hurt too. He is still in sick bay...............But what the hell...Give one more and i will hit the sack. Tomorrow is new day and who knows what is brings...With my luck, it will be more pain.
Two SA ships, one cruiser and one fighter attempted to stop Yorks killing frenzy in California. Several traders were lost to Prospectors guns. Unfortunately for York, Xenos and attacked traders, they didn't want to pay for support of Xeno cause. York has simple policy about that. You wont support us - then die. First SA ship that attacked Prospector was fighter. After first head to head with Yorks gunboat SA fighter lost his shields and started to avoid Yorks guns until help came. SA cruiser came storming in. Firing from all guns. Fighter now stopped avoiding and went to direct attack. His last attack. After only one pass his ship lost life support so he was forced to eject. Liberty cruiser picked him up and continued to attack Prospector. All his attacks produced very little damage to Prospectors shields. Scanning showed that cruiser's equipment was more suitable for fight against bigger targets and not against small and fast gunboat. York knew how to take advantage of that and he tried to disarm cruiser before he finish it off. He managed to destroy only one cruiser turret and seriously damage cruiser's inferno, but its hull couldn't take much more beating and cruiser imploded after all pressure inside was lost. York got his revenge..and it was even sweeter cause it happened near home.
Joshua Taylor was sitting in small cell somewhere on Ouray base. He didn't know how much time has passed since he was thrown here. Xenos took good care of him most of the time. He received nice meals and medical attention. Although his cell was small, it was rather comfortable considering other cells he saw. Every second day he was questioned about various things by same Xeno. He knew him under name Tex.
One day, who knows how long after he was captured, Tex stop coming. Nobody replaced him. One, maybe two weeks has passed and still nobody came. Xenos still kept him well fed and healthy, but interrogation stopped.
There was one thing Taylor didn't know. Tex was missing. York noticed that he wasn't on base 3 days after he disappeared. Search party was sent to find him. They looked trough out Liberty systems. No success. York was very worried. Nothing like this ever happened to such highly ranked Xeno.
Joshua Taylor was last thing on York's mind and that was the reason that interrogation stopped.
High Xeno activity trough out Liberty caused suspicion among high Liberty officials. They made decision about attacking on Ouray. Goal was to lure Xenos back to base.
For several days, Ouray was operating on skeleton crew only. Whole crew was on search for Tex. Liberty attack came suddenly. Only few light fighters were deployed to defend the station. They couldn't stop strong Liberty fleet. Base defense turrets went off line after heavy beating from turrets of Liberty cruiser. After one hour of heavy bombardment station lost power on several decks. Among others, on one of them was Taylor's. Life support failed and all doors opened automatically. Taylor had hard time to stay conscious. Oxygen level was very low and dropping every minute. With extreme effort Taylor managed to get to dock bay 4. There were no fighters left, or any equipment. Only thing that stood on far end of bay was some old escape pod. Taylor hoped that its life support is still operational so he gathered what strength he had and slowly walked to it. Barely conscious he entered and sealed the doors. With his last breath he pressed undock button on console and passed out.
Hours later, he waked up with terrible headache. Computer was screaming about engine failure and low power. Taylor looked out of small window and saw some planet near bye. He was helpless. Escape pod without engines couldn't turn towards planet. Slowly, as pod was was drifting further, planet became smaller and smaller. To Taylor this situation didn't look good. All that trouble and he only prolonged his life for several hours.
Search for Tex was unsuccessful. There was no sign of him trough out the Liberty. York sent his most trusted men to search whole Sirius if necessary.
Prospector, only xeno gunboat, was waiting ready on Ouray base for York's return. That ship became a legend among Xenos, and most of them consider it a Xeno flag ship. York never shared that feeling. For him it was his beloved ship, trusted friend in many battles...but never a Xeno flag ship. Although he knew that Xenos feel safer near it. They never did have big or strong fleet, but lately they are getting stronger.
That ship, now was only undamaged ship on Ouray base. It was sitting in dock bay 3 as Liberty attack never happened. York got suspicious when he hailed Ouray base from distance and they didn't respond. All fighters in his wing accelerated to full speed. York was very worried. When they got near, they saw that their worst fear got real. York was furious and he wanted to attack Liberty at once. His trusted friend Milia Fallyna calmed him down. Together they designed a plan for their revenge.
York spent most of that day in command room of the base reading casualty and damage reports. One report surprised him. Joshua Taylor cant be found in his cell or anywhere on the station. Very suspicious York thought.
Maybe that whole attack was designed to save Taylor. Maybe even Tex is missing or kidnapped so pilots go to search for him leaving base defenseless. Even more reason for revenge in near future.
About midnight, Milia entered command room.
- Richard, all is prepared. We launch tomorrow, 13:00 hours. Go get some sleep. We need you in your best edition tomorrow.
- Don't you worrie. I will be ready. But, as always you are right, i will go to bed.
Next day York and Milia assembled some of the finest pilots from Ouray base. They formed small hunting pack ready to kill anything that stands in their way.
- Ok men, you all know what to do...stay close to me and follow my lead...i call the targets.
All windows in Ourays bar were filled with faces of people who came to see their brave pilots before they enter cruel fight. As always odds were against them.
Hunting pack entered California system undetected. They asked few traders to support Xeno right to fight against corrupted Liberty government, but the refused. Pack didn't took that very well. Traders were destroyed.
Near Magellan jump hole Xenos intercepted Bounty hunter battleship Digger. York, in his dark joke mood asked 2 mill from battleship captain fro safe passage of his ship. Captain didn't like it so he attacked Xenos. They responded with full fire capability and soon battleship was only on 50% of his hull runing towards California Minor where he crash docked.
York ordered relocation of hunting pack near Mojave planet. There they intercepted HUZAREX luxury liner. Scans of that ship revealed that is was in fact pirate ship. Xenos don't like pirates on their turf so after interesting fight liner was destroyed. Before he was destroyed he dispatched system wide call for help. One mercenary gunboat responded to that call. Liberty gunboat, with similar name; Huzares was destroyed after short battle. Only minutes have passed after Liberty gunboat was gone when Bounty hunter destroyer accompanied by Liberty police dreadnought dropped out of trade lane. They immediately began simultaneous attack on Xeno forces. Destroyer went down first. After hard fight his hull was on about 5% when he tried to run. With some tricky maneuvers trough trade lanes York managed to chase him down and destroyed imploded in front of Yorks eyes. Liberty dred proved to be much harder target. But Xenos were swarming him patiently until finally his hull collapsed and he fell apart.
York was very pleased about todays revenge upon Liberty lawfulls. Hunting pack of 2 very heavy fighters, one light fighter and gunboat took two battleships, cruiser, luxury liner and gunboat, with only one casualty; destroyed light fighter. Xenos today won another great battle in their never ending war against liberty corruption.
York was sitting in the bar when Bernadotte entered.
- Hey, here... - York waved to Bern - where have u been you insane Frenchmen. I haven't see you for some time.
Bernadotte sat at Yorks table and ordered a drink. - Ah, my old friend. I was around. I heard some rumors so i went to explore them a bit. Liberty isn't safe for a Xeno as it used to be. South alliance got help from another corrupted liberty "law" organization, LSF. So called Liberty security force. Corrupted to the bone. I scanned few of their ships my self. Some intel i gathered from, lets say, sources that wish to be unknown...Merde, i even payed for few rumors. But now, now i know what we have against us.
- Excellent. I will organize our high ranks to meet up with you so you can fill them in. I have some information too and i was wondering will you help me to make some profit out of it.
- Heh, my good man, you know me...always for action. My eagle haven't seen any fight for some time. What you have for us?
York looked around the bar and leaned to Berns ear. - I heard that some heavy transports will be passing near Denver. Prospector is ready in the hangar. We go in 15 minutes.
York and Bernadotte were flying towards Denver when they spotted first trader. He was slightly of course and was flying directly to their hands. York opened fire from Prospectors turrets while Bernadotte opened comms to rich trader. Blazing fire from Prospector very soon convinced trader to support Xenos in their fight. Amount was 2 mill. Plenty of money from Xeno point of view. Traded suffered some damage to his ship but was happy that he was still in one piece. Almost at the same time another trader entered the system. York got glimpse of him in the trade lane and immediately jumped out and headed back. Bernadote was taking another route so they managed to intercept trader at New York gates. This trader didn't need much convincing. York and him met before. He payed asked amount of 5 mill and in that way ensured that Xeno needs will be filled for some time.
From no where, liberty battlecruiser appeared. It just jumped into system and both York and Bernadotte were taken by surprise. But not for long. Battlecruiser hesitated in attack. And that kind of error Xenos don't forgive.
Together, Eagle and gunboat dropped cruisers shields very fast. Liberty cruiser gave a good fight, but slowly, by the damage of Xeno guns, it hull started imploding while ship caught on fire.
Since all this happened near New York jump gates, liberty police were swarming every where. Among them York noticed one luxury liner. Chase was on. Liner was fast. It seemed faster then eagle and little gunboat. Chase spread up trough whole Colorado system. But finally Xenos caught up with liner near Colorado jump gates in Galileo. To protect his valuable cargo, captain agreed to pay ransom of one mill for safe passage.
Xenos turned back and went home. Pleased with success of the mission.
______________________________________________________________
- Eight million in total. Thats how much money our todays mission brought to us. We suffered no casualties or ship damage. - York was talking in the bar - That will help our fight. We can better equip our ships now. And soon, Liberty corruption will face full wrath of Xenos from Ouray. And junkers will be next.
Junkers....scum of the Liberty...source of all corruption, drugs and who knows what...Today they dared to come close to Ouray base in hunt for Xenos. Defense fleet was dispatched immediately. Among them Prospector. The Gunboat.
Prospector was surrounded by many light fighters. They swarmed around him like flies. Together they attacked approaching Junker vessels. Junker gunboat started to fire first. York took it as target and fight started. Other vessel, heavy armored transport of unknown kind to York was doing massacre among small and light fighters that Xenos usually fly. To save few fighters that have survived terrible attack from freighter, York started to fire at it. Although very powerful, freighter couldn't stand beating from a gunboat.
Soon it exploded and York flew right trough explosion. Parts of the ship bumped to Prospectors hull while gunboat passed trough debris.
- This is how Junker becomes one with his junk - York laughed.
One more threat was left...junker gunboat, so York didn't have much time to dwell. He turned his ship fast and started attack on gunboat. Full spread of infernos hit the junker shields. Then another. Slowly it shields began to drop. Junker got scared and started to run. York fired cruise disrupter's but it was too late. Junker ran.
Prospectors turrets were still smoking when yet another vessel attacked the base. Rheinland police battleship. It was twice of the size of the base it self. Yorks gunboat looked like a toy near that ship.
-Ah, hell with this...ATTACK!!!! - York ordered to his crew.
Big, slow and powerful ship on one side and small, fast weak gunboat and asteroid field on another. Battleship didn't stand much chance. York kept his ship at distance from battleship, but in range of his own turrets. Captain of the battleship tried every maneuver he knew, but that didn't help. Battleship barely moved in asteroid field. York was patient. His turrets were firing constantly, he did few simple maneuvers so he could dodge enemie fire.
And then...after long time and half hull on battleship gone with half of repair supply's spent captain of the battleship asked for cease fire. He retreated to Pueblo station to get repairs...
Finally, York could dock to restock his so far undamaged ship and rest for a while. Rest didn't take long. It was time for daily patrol trough Colorado in search for rich traders. Only thing that York could find was lonely bounty hunter fighter. York chased him around Colorado until it finally came near Denver where he got reinforcement. Same Rheinland battleship gave fire protection to the BHG fighter. Unlucky for BHG that didn't help him much. After few circles around the battleship, few shots and the missile breached the opening in the fighter hull and it imploded before pilot could seal the hole. BHG fighter managed to send distress call before York got him. One Kusari destroyer, also belonging to BHGs came to help. Battleship and fast little destroyer were too much for Prospector so York retreated to Ouray base.
Prospector docked and York jumped to his Eagle. Outside he joined another Xeno pilot, Phanks. Together they patrolled around the base expecting attack any moment. And it came. Two BHG fighters against two Xenos. BHGs never stood a chance. Xenos ripped their hull with ease. Some intel reached Ouray base commander of possible BHG reinforcements, so he sent one more fighter. Dread, new Xeno pilot joined the fight and three Xenos first killed one and then another BHG fighter. In the mean time BHGs got help too. Kusari destroyer and rheinland gunboat...both ships belonged to the BHGs. Same destroyer that drove York to retreat. Time for revenge. But gunboat was first target.
Three brave Xenos were joined by another...Spear. With simultaneous attack from all 4 fighters they managed to destroy gunboat rather quickly. No gunboat can stand fire from 4 fighters...
Destroyer was much, much harder. Armed with flaks and missiles and powerful turrets it posed great threat to already weakened fighters. Fight lasted very long and every pilot gave his best. And final result showed.
Destroyer went down in flames while crew sent distress call. But it was too late for them. Nobody heard them.
Help never came.