"Alliance command, this is sleeper ship Liberty... we read incoming hostiles, Should I abort?"
"Negative, Launch is still a go...."
With that the five sleeper ships launched, determined to break the coalition blockade and reach the Sirius system.
They were successful, however, the liberty took a hit. the damage appeared to be minor, but a small breach had been made in the hull. No one was really sure where the shot had come from, it was always assumed that it was one of the many attacking coalition ships.
Turns out it wasn't a particle weapon after all, It was a projectile... or rather, a pod...
*******************
Date: 3000 B.C.
Location: Somewhere in the Amazon Rain forest
Dave, a young man of great ambition was born to a family of simple hunters and fishermen. He lived in a small village in the amazon rain forest, until his parents were eaten by crocodiles. Only 15 at the time, he was forced to fend for himself. Down the river was a large city long since forgotten in modern times. It was at that time the economic center of the world. crude ships went to and from the city carrying goods of all sorts.
Dave watched the wealthy, well fed people on these treasure-laiden ships go by on the amazon river, Longing for their riches.
One day, as Dave was nearly dead from starvation, and the various infections from his injuries that resulted in hunting by himself... he decided that he would have to take more drastic measures to survive. As Dave saw a cargo raft coming rather close to the shoreline, he picked up the largest stick he could find and hurled it at a man sitting on the outside of the raft, knocking him into the water. Dave then swam with all his strength to reach the raft, What he found would change his life forever.
This was no ordinary raft, One of the outlying villages had discovered a plant which had miraculous healing powers, and had sent the raft to sell the newly discovered plant to the king of the region.
Starving, and not realizing what he had discovered, Dave ate it all. Shortly thereafter his wounds began healing themselves at an incredible rate, and he felt stronger than he ever had in his life...
With superior ability... comes superior ambition... Dave kept this raft, and traveled up and down the amazon river, boarding and preying on passing merchant vessels. Eventually he became quite wealthy from his pillaging.
Now that he had wealth... he wanted more... Power. Dave set off to the shores of the central amazonian city.
With speed and strength that made watching the matrix look like watching retarded circus animals, he fought his way to the King's palace... Rumors say that he impaled the king with a fully grown giant sequoia tree.
After Dave's conquest was complete... he entrusted several nobles with the secret of this miraculous plant. They not only gained superior strength and stamina, but immortality.
They came to be called The Jungle Pirate Legion, and lived in secrecy throughout history
*******************
The captain of the Liberty was far too distracted trying to fight past the coalition blockade to realize that he had stowaways. an entire section of the ship where the pod hit had lost contact... however the hull breach seemed to have sealed itself... and so they continued to the Sirius system.
*******************
Jungle Pirate Dave entered the bridge, his slave crew cowering in fear of his wrath. He stood tall at 7'2", 300 lbs of muscle. Jungle Pirate ships were quite unique. They were converted from any ship they could get their hands on, In this case a Liberty Rogue gunboat. The entire inside of the ship was hollowed out, corridors and bulkheads were replaced with plant life, vines hanging everywhere, and even trees growing from the floor. The bridge was a wooden platform approximately two stories from the bottom of the ship, right in front of the view screen. Bizarre wildlife hid in the crevices and tree hollows within the ship, roaming the ship... unseen, looking for a lazy slave who's sleeping on the job to serve as dinner. Somehow the plants had grown into elaborate corridors and tunnels, there were even clearings or "rooms" that were covered over with poisonous plants that served as a brig.
"Captain! scanners are picking up a firefly class transport at 9k distance"
"Jungle Pirate Arnold is hailing"
Arnold's voice came over the com "Avast! thar be a trader ripe fer pickins!"
Jungle Pirate Arnold was in a converted werewolf VHF, he preferred smaller ships for their agility in chasing down prey. Most jungle pirates however preferred larger ships as they were not only vehicles, but their homes. Jungle Pirates are, by definition truly nomads. Not the squishy blue kind.
The jungle pirate attack squadron pulled up behind the firefly that was already at cruising speed trying to get away from his inevitable fate.
"Avast ye! Halt yer ship and hand over the booty, this be yer only chance... or when we do catch ye, it wont be pretty." Demanded Dave
"Not a bleeding chance!" cried the trader
The trader flew toward California minor, Arnold stayed on his tail while Dave used the trade lane to intercept. The trader saw this and turned away into open space. The chase continued as both Arnold and Dave grew closer and closer, every time he tried to turn just a bit... the distance closed rapidly. These men were obviously not new to hunting down a fleeing merchant ship.
In a last desperate attempt at escape, the trader made a full 180 degree turn. The last mistake he would ever make.
The distance closed to 1k almost instantly... Arnold's VHF pulled to the side, and Dave's gunship powered down its engines and thrusters, going into a 340 mps drift... Which allowed him to fire the forward battle razor.
The firefly transports left engine nacelle burst into flames and separated from the hull, sending the ship spiraling into space.
The jungle pirates boarded the ship, the crew of the transport ready to fight them off. 15 armed guards aimed their rifles at Jungle Pirates Dave and Arnold, who appeared to be unarmed. Dave glanced at Arnold, then back at the guards... Then they both pulled large curved blades out of sheaths on their belts...
gunshots rang through the ships hallways... silence... then Dave and Arnold broke down the door to the bridge, seemingly uninjured, and tied up the captain.
"What should we do with the crew, Dave?"
"The weak ones will fuel the engines... the rest will be slaves... as for him *glancing at the captain* He will feed Krushtor."
Krushtor was Jungle Pirate Dave's pet. The crocodile that had eaten his father, preserved in perfect health by the very plant that kept Dave and the others alive.
ARRRRR!!!!
Pirates log, april 02
6017 Amazon Calendar
I be headin to upgrade the weapons on me ship, after dispensin multiple bounty hunters. Seems some of me prey had enough cash left over to pay off a few goons. No matter, Krushtor is well fed now.
Liburty navy be sendin a gunship with fighter escort after me! Har har, Its gonna take more than that to get ol' davey.
LNS-Navydude: Jungle pirate dave, you are under arrest Dave: Why be that? LNS-Navydude: Locals reported your pirate activities Dave: Aye?
Jungle pirate dave swung down from the bridge to the airlock, put on a crude helmet and went in.
With his left arm, he grabbed on to the railing, and opened the airlock doors
Dave was staring straight down the barrel of the main gun on a navy gunship, holding his breath... he took aim, and Flung his trusty machete at the ship... Sparks shot off the hull as the metal blade scraped against the base of the cruise disrupter launcher... more sparks spewed from the area, and it dislodged.
Jungle pirate Dave hurried back to the bridge and powered the cruise engines to full power
Dave: HAR HAR HAR!!!!!!
Dave went straight for the inter-NY jump hole... the angered and bewildered navy ships persued, joined by more fighters.
Dave entered the jump hole into the badlands... his new refuge... his new jungle, would they dare face him in here?
The gunship and one of the fighter escorts came through, only to be faced by an army of rogues, outcasts, and buffalo base. Streams of light and color streaked through the dark purple haze, and the navy made a 180 for the jump hole, but not before Dave inflicted some bruises with his battle razor.
