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So... is Monk about to start two-timing Joyce with this Pelatus chick? What do you think, people?
LOL That would be an interesting twist.
When is jex gonna make his way outta the garbage? That's what *I* want to know.
When is jex gonna make his way outta the garbage? That's what *I* want to know.
"Nightmares >.<" (Story #20)
*The black cloud of sentient energy was the only break in the brilliancy of the star. Cilious tendrils of energy circulated around it's mass in a random, chaotic way. It seemed to call, to beckon. But how?
How could I see it, see anything? My viewscreen was off, yet I saw all. Suddenly, there was no ship. No pressure suit, no clothes. I was floating in the middle of a sun, unscathed. NO! It must be messing with my head!
Voices began to speak, but how? I had never seen the NSI, much less been implanted with it. The voices escalated and suddenly the Void shrieked. I curled into the fetal position and covered my ears. "Make it stop.... make it stop...", I screamed.
Blood began to pour out of my nose and my head felt dizzy. I felt another hard thud on my temple and suddenly was back in the cockpit.
Blood trickled all over the insides of my helmet, floating globs of it impacting against my now fully smashed visor. My arms felt like lead and my legs wouldn't move.The obsidian mass was still there, floating right in front of my ship as if to taunt me.
The voices returned stronger than before. The cockpit suddenly began to spin and no amount of holding my head stopped it. I need air... Popping off the airtight clamps, I tossed the helmet to the side and gasped, head between my legs. My insides felt like they were eating themselves. Hearing a maniacal laugh, pieces of me disappeared. I could see bone, muscle and blood. Chunks of my arms and legs tore off in front of my eyes, as if something was taking a bite out of me.
I puked. After the hacking stopped and I could regain my breath, I saw that I was whole again. But a worse sight than vomit and blood everywhere greeted me. I saw a Vulture, a ship identified as the Outfit's courier. My reactor fired up, sunflares armed, and turbodrive engaged. The Vulture zoomed one thousand meters in front of me. But my Orion Hornet was faster, had better thrust and was modified for the extreme conditions inside a star. But he still had a lead, one that was quickly shrinking. At six hundred meters, I dumped half my ammo, knowing the other half could elminate him easily. Thus, with a lightened load, my ship went even faster.
The Void was coming up. The Vulture was so close... so close... Then, it dropped the pod and broke off. Unloading my remaining flares into it as the broadside of his Vulture faced me, I witnessed his destruction. His hull started to melt and become one with the star.
But, still, my Hornet traveled ina a straight line. The pod was there, less than five hundred meters ahead. But the numbers on my HUD were scrolling up. I was moving farther away!?!?! My ship was pointed right at it, reactor ready to blow any minute. I overrode the ship's computer and pushed the reactor to red line. The cockpit began to heat up, but I still drove on, nearing 300m/s. But still, the Void neared and the pod moved away.
Nooo... I saw the black tendrils lash out and brush the pod. And then, I couldn't see it. The Void slowly started to rotate and move off...
Screaming in rage, I dived in after her... I wouldn't.. couldn't give up.. the brightness of the star started to fade...fade.. and suddenly...
It was all black.
The Void was calling, taunting...*
I opened my eyes with a start. Not this nightmare again... I swung my legs over the side of the bed and sat up, head in my hands, wiping off the sweat. Breathing deeply, I tried to calm down. "It's just a dream... it's just a dream..." Hearing a murmur from behind, I sighed with relief. She was alive, despite whatever the dream had shown me.
Mulling it over as I cooked breakfast, I couldn't help but shiver from fear. I don't get it. These dreams only started Monday, but it's been almost two weeks now...
It hit me. I had been at Siren's Call and Arna for the past two weeks. I don't know what Corvus had to do with the dream, but they're somehow linked in the back of my mind. I slid some french toast, eggs and sausage onto the plates, hands still shaking. I tried to eat, but I shook too much. Packing my food up and scribbling out a note, I grabbed my flight suit and walked out of the apartment. Killing a bastion should help -.-;
*The black cloud of sentient energy was the only break in the brilliancy of the star. Cilious tendrils of energy circulated around it's mass in a random, chaotic way. It seemed to call, to beckon. But how?
How could I see it, see anything? My viewscreen was off, yet I saw all. Suddenly, there was no ship. No pressure suit, no clothes. I was floating in the middle of a sun, unscathed. NO! It must be messing with my head!
Voices began to speak, but how? I had never seen the NSI, much less been implanted with it. The voices escalated and suddenly the Void shrieked. I curled into the fetal position and covered my ears. "Make it stop.... make it stop...", I screamed.
Blood began to pour out of my nose and my head felt dizzy. I felt another hard thud on my temple and suddenly was back in the cockpit.
Blood trickled all over the insides of my helmet, floating globs of it impacting against my now fully smashed visor. My arms felt like lead and my legs wouldn't move.The obsidian mass was still there, floating right in front of my ship as if to taunt me.
The voices returned stronger than before. The cockpit suddenly began to spin and no amount of holding my head stopped it. I need air... Popping off the airtight clamps, I tossed the helmet to the side and gasped, head between my legs. My insides felt like they were eating themselves. Hearing a maniacal laugh, pieces of me disappeared. I could see bone, muscle and blood. Chunks of my arms and legs tore off in front of my eyes, as if something was taking a bite out of me.
I puked. After the hacking stopped and I could regain my breath, I saw that I was whole again. But a worse sight than vomit and blood everywhere greeted me. I saw a Vulture, a ship identified as the Outfit's courier. My reactor fired up, sunflares armed, and turbodrive engaged. The Vulture zoomed one thousand meters in front of me. But my Orion Hornet was faster, had better thrust and was modified for the extreme conditions inside a star. But he still had a lead, one that was quickly shrinking. At six hundred meters, I dumped half my ammo, knowing the other half could elminate him easily. Thus, with a lightened load, my ship went even faster.
The Void was coming up. The Vulture was so close... so close... Then, it dropped the pod and broke off. Unloading my remaining flares into it as the broadside of his Vulture faced me, I witnessed his destruction. His hull started to melt and become one with the star.
But, still, my Hornet traveled ina a straight line. The pod was there, less than five hundred meters ahead. But the numbers on my HUD were scrolling up. I was moving farther away!?!?! My ship was pointed right at it, reactor ready to blow any minute. I overrode the ship's computer and pushed the reactor to red line. The cockpit began to heat up, but I still drove on, nearing 300m/s. But still, the Void neared and the pod moved away.
Nooo... I saw the black tendrils lash out and brush the pod. And then, I couldn't see it. The Void slowly started to rotate and move off...
Screaming in rage, I dived in after her... I wouldn't.. couldn't give up.. the brightness of the star started to fade...fade.. and suddenly...
It was all black.
The Void was calling, taunting...*
I opened my eyes with a start. Not this nightmare again... I swung my legs over the side of the bed and sat up, head in my hands, wiping off the sweat. Breathing deeply, I tried to calm down. "It's just a dream... it's just a dream..." Hearing a murmur from behind, I sighed with relief. She was alive, despite whatever the dream had shown me.
Mulling it over as I cooked breakfast, I couldn't help but shiver from fear. I don't get it. These dreams only started Monday, but it's been almost two weeks now...
It hit me. I had been at Siren's Call and Arna for the past two weeks. I don't know what Corvus had to do with the dream, but they're somehow linked in the back of my mind. I slid some french toast, eggs and sausage onto the plates, hands still shaking. I tried to eat, but I shook too much. Packing my food up and scribbling out a note, I grabbed my flight suit and walked out of the apartment. Killing a bastion should help -.-;
"Unresolved Issues" (Story #21 - A Captain Allende Story)
*The matte black Wraith Mk3 would stick out like a sore thumb anywhere near the icefield. And the general area around it was crawling with pirates, Vipers and warriors of every sort. And so, she sat by the wormhole and waited...
His Hornet warped through, rings of inter-dimensional energy clearly marking his exit point. Before he had a chance to move off, she fired off the first pair of rails. Engaging the zoom to check her shot, she focused on the traitor's ship. The cockpit of her target's Hornet had been shredded. Knowing her real work was done, she led the Hornet and breathed calmy and slowly. Between breathes, she pulled the trigger again. The second pair of rails hit their mark, destroying the enemy ship due to reactor core implosion. Nothing but scrap and dust remained*
**Months later, the monk, formerly known as "moldyman", had resurfaced. The bounty on his head had been reposted and True Shot reassigned to hunting him down (again). Apparently, the thought at the time that he would hide behind his Serco identity to protect him was false. The ship was a decoy, a remotely piloted dummy.**
She sat in Pelatus Bunker and sighed. Nursing a cup of coffee in Ye Olde Grille, she looked around for the owner. From her intel briefing, she knew that the owner, a certain Mary-Jane, talked too much and too freely, for anyone's good. That explains why she got kicked out of the Aelous Private Space Corps. Pity, she was a good TD pilot, if her evaluation scores were anything to go by.
"Hello there, stranger. You're a new face around these parts. What can I do ya for?" Ah yes, Mary Jane had arrived.
"Just looking for an old friend." Friend was the most unlikely word to be used to describe their relationship. But she was just doing her job, a job for the Akanese people. Cold, calculating and detached described her when she focused on something.
"Really? Maybe I know this person. I'd like to help ya find him. Or is it a her?"
"A man, Erik. Used to work here, I think" Think? Of course she knew, but she wasn't about to let Mary Jane know anything. Christina was just a friend of a friend as far as she was concerned.
"Really? He was in here not a few days ago. Nice to see him and his smile again...", MJ drifted off in thought.
"Do you know where I could find him now?"
"He said something about a vacation, I wasn't really paying attention", she blushed. "You could try Sedina"
"Ah, thank you. I should get going now." Samantha put down her half filled cup of coffee and pulled out a few credits to leave on the table.
"Aww, come on, stay for a while. I always like to talk to new people, especially friends of friends." Seeing no harm in this, and the possibilities his new friendship could bring for her mission, Samantha sat back down. They chitchatted about everything from The War to Erik to their respective combat trainings (particularly on this last subject).
Amazingly, Samantha warmed up to MJ (as she now called her). They conversed as if they were sisters, reuniting after a long time apart. Chitchat became chat, which turned into a talk...
After a few hours of talking of light and heavy topics, Samantha finally left, more informed and light-hearted than when she came in. But she was also more confused. She felt less detached, as a thought kept nagging her mind. Before, the monk had been just a traitor, a turncoat, a coward, but now... now she was unsure...
*The matte black Wraith Mk3 would stick out like a sore thumb anywhere near the icefield. And the general area around it was crawling with pirates, Vipers and warriors of every sort. And so, she sat by the wormhole and waited...
His Hornet warped through, rings of inter-dimensional energy clearly marking his exit point. Before he had a chance to move off, she fired off the first pair of rails. Engaging the zoom to check her shot, she focused on the traitor's ship. The cockpit of her target's Hornet had been shredded. Knowing her real work was done, she led the Hornet and breathed calmy and slowly. Between breathes, she pulled the trigger again. The second pair of rails hit their mark, destroying the enemy ship due to reactor core implosion. Nothing but scrap and dust remained*
**Months later, the monk, formerly known as "moldyman", had resurfaced. The bounty on his head had been reposted and True Shot reassigned to hunting him down (again). Apparently, the thought at the time that he would hide behind his Serco identity to protect him was false. The ship was a decoy, a remotely piloted dummy.**
She sat in Pelatus Bunker and sighed. Nursing a cup of coffee in Ye Olde Grille, she looked around for the owner. From her intel briefing, she knew that the owner, a certain Mary-Jane, talked too much and too freely, for anyone's good. That explains why she got kicked out of the Aelous Private Space Corps. Pity, she was a good TD pilot, if her evaluation scores were anything to go by.
"Hello there, stranger. You're a new face around these parts. What can I do ya for?" Ah yes, Mary Jane had arrived.
"Just looking for an old friend." Friend was the most unlikely word to be used to describe their relationship. But she was just doing her job, a job for the Akanese people. Cold, calculating and detached described her when she focused on something.
"Really? Maybe I know this person. I'd like to help ya find him. Or is it a her?"
"A man, Erik. Used to work here, I think" Think? Of course she knew, but she wasn't about to let Mary Jane know anything. Christina was just a friend of a friend as far as she was concerned.
"Really? He was in here not a few days ago. Nice to see him and his smile again...", MJ drifted off in thought.
"Do you know where I could find him now?"
"He said something about a vacation, I wasn't really paying attention", she blushed. "You could try Sedina"
"Ah, thank you. I should get going now." Samantha put down her half filled cup of coffee and pulled out a few credits to leave on the table.
"Aww, come on, stay for a while. I always like to talk to new people, especially friends of friends." Seeing no harm in this, and the possibilities his new friendship could bring for her mission, Samantha sat back down. They chitchatted about everything from The War to Erik to their respective combat trainings (particularly on this last subject).
Amazingly, Samantha warmed up to MJ (as she now called her). They conversed as if they were sisters, reuniting after a long time apart. Chitchat became chat, which turned into a talk...
After a few hours of talking of light and heavy topics, Samantha finally left, more informed and light-hearted than when she came in. But she was also more confused. She felt less detached, as a thought kept nagging her mind. Before, the monk had been just a traitor, a turncoat, a coward, but now... now she was unsure...
"The Test"
Walking through this life
In an unbroken circle
"Hey, didn't I pass this way before?"
It's just a dim memory
The past never leaves
And the future is already here
We know what is to come
But, yet, we stumble around
All the answers to our questions
Lay widespread before us
Trampling these seeds of knowledge
We blaze our own trail
Later on, we look back and say
"Why didn't I see it?"
Or
"I did good"
But, even if we traveled the right path
It all could've been easier
If we just ignored our instincts
And listened to the truth
Walking through this life
In an unbroken circle
"Hey, didn't I pass this way before?"
It's just a dim memory
The past never leaves
And the future is already here
We know what is to come
But, yet, we stumble around
All the answers to our questions
Lay widespread before us
Trampling these seeds of knowledge
We blaze our own trail
Later on, we look back and say
"Why didn't I see it?"
Or
"I did good"
But, even if we traveled the right path
It all could've been easier
If we just ignored our instincts
And listened to the truth
RUN!!! moldyman's gone EMO!!!
Eeeeek!!!
Eeeeek!!!
"A Comedy of Errors" (Story #22)
*Error: No signal can be found*
I glanced at the terminal with anger. What the hell?! Corvus piece of crap. Trying the link again when I saw there was a signal, the same message popped up.
"What the fuck!?"
Hitting the terminal on it's side, amazingly the signal fixed itself back up to full strength. But, alas, it degraded again after a few minutes for no reason. This meant what acess I had had to CorvusNet was lost. Grumbling, I walked out of the room and searched for another terminal in the station.
Passing by a technician, I told him about the malfunctioning terminal. All he did was chuckle and walk past me, like it was all amusing. -.-; Shrugging the weird reaction off, I headed for the terminal I had spotted from the other end of the hall.
Punching in my acess codes, I logged onto the Net to get the day's trade report. I had skimmed through the first five or so summaries when, lo and behold, the signal began to sputter. O.o;
"#!#^*#^*&!^$^@#$^@$^&#$!!#@&(!@#"
I hopped from that terminal to another and another... and another... trying to find a good one. But they all had the same problem, to varying degrees of crappyness. I was about ready to scream with frustration when I found the same tech again, now working on a burnt out light.
"Why do none of the terminals work?"
"I dunno"
"What do you mean 'I dunno'? You're the damn technician!"
"I mean, I don't know"
"Bull***!"
He gestured wildly and muttered "Station EM interference". I could only stare blankly at him. I may not be good with the tech talk, but I know "Station EM interference" is a catch all for "Hell if I know". -.-
Grumbling, I headed for the station office to see if I could get an answer there. Oi! What a bad idea. My mind folded onto itself into an origami swan at all the crooked answers, explanations and such I got. >.<
Returning to my apartment, more confused and frustrated then when I was dealing with the terminals. Taking some meds for a headache, I resolved to take a nap and forget the whole ordeal.
*Error: No signal can be found*
I glanced at the terminal with anger. What the hell?! Corvus piece of crap. Trying the link again when I saw there was a signal, the same message popped up.
"What the fuck!?"
Hitting the terminal on it's side, amazingly the signal fixed itself back up to full strength. But, alas, it degraded again after a few minutes for no reason. This meant what acess I had had to CorvusNet was lost. Grumbling, I walked out of the room and searched for another terminal in the station.
Passing by a technician, I told him about the malfunctioning terminal. All he did was chuckle and walk past me, like it was all amusing. -.-; Shrugging the weird reaction off, I headed for the terminal I had spotted from the other end of the hall.
Punching in my acess codes, I logged onto the Net to get the day's trade report. I had skimmed through the first five or so summaries when, lo and behold, the signal began to sputter. O.o;
"#!#^*#^*&!^$^@#$^@$^&#$!!#@&(!@#"
I hopped from that terminal to another and another... and another... trying to find a good one. But they all had the same problem, to varying degrees of crappyness. I was about ready to scream with frustration when I found the same tech again, now working on a burnt out light.
"Why do none of the terminals work?"
"I dunno"
"What do you mean 'I dunno'? You're the damn technician!"
"I mean, I don't know"
"Bull***!"
He gestured wildly and muttered "Station EM interference". I could only stare blankly at him. I may not be good with the tech talk, but I know "Station EM interference" is a catch all for "Hell if I know". -.-
Grumbling, I headed for the station office to see if I could get an answer there. Oi! What a bad idea. My mind folded onto itself into an origami swan at all the crooked answers, explanations and such I got. >.<
Returning to my apartment, more confused and frustrated then when I was dealing with the terminals. Taking some meds for a headache, I resolved to take a nap and forget the whole ordeal.
"Argh" (Stroy #23)
Nervously tapping my foot, I waited for the Axia Trade Department to post their available missions. I was trading like crazy again, but this time it was to STOP me from going insane. Only another day until...
Ah, there they are, I thought. I took the biggest mission I could find, confirmed it with the department head and prepared my moth for another bulk procurement. It was another long haul of Organic Solvents, of which I had already lost one shipment of to a CLM pirate. After cursing the strike forces out (one pair of my mines had hit another trader by accident. I mean, really, he rammed those suckers ,the moron), and losing my ship (Seems my high Union standing didn't warant me any protection when I was under attack, but another trader getting hit does -.-).
Anyway, I went to an AutoVend and grabbed a cup of coffee, which was probably a bad idea seeing that I was already in a hyper, nervous as hell state. I didn't get to drink the coffee, though, my hands shook too much and some of it spilled on me. After another few curses, I tossed it in the trash and headed off to my ship. While walking, I noticed I was tapping my hand against my side. I had to consciously stop myself.
What the hell is wrong with me? (Don't answer that). What easily should be one of the best (if not the best) day of my life is making me a nervous wreck. >.< I looked at the time and my eyes bulged. Shit, I have to work at the bar soon. I went to a nearby terminal and cancelled my contract. I lost some respect with Axia, but if it's between a bit of of Axian respect and an MEP to the head...
Walking up to my ship, I punched in the code and the hatch slid open. O.o I shook my head, and the image was gone. I could've sworn I saw Megan.... Not really wanting to find out, I hopped in my ship and powered up. It was almost time for work, maybe some liquor would calm my nerves.
Never ended up back in the bar, though... >.> <.<
Nervously tapping my foot, I waited for the Axia Trade Department to post their available missions. I was trading like crazy again, but this time it was to STOP me from going insane. Only another day until...
Ah, there they are, I thought. I took the biggest mission I could find, confirmed it with the department head and prepared my moth for another bulk procurement. It was another long haul of Organic Solvents, of which I had already lost one shipment of to a CLM pirate. After cursing the strike forces out (one pair of my mines had hit another trader by accident. I mean, really, he rammed those suckers ,the moron), and losing my ship (Seems my high Union standing didn't warant me any protection when I was under attack, but another trader getting hit does -.-).
Anyway, I went to an AutoVend and grabbed a cup of coffee, which was probably a bad idea seeing that I was already in a hyper, nervous as hell state. I didn't get to drink the coffee, though, my hands shook too much and some of it spilled on me. After another few curses, I tossed it in the trash and headed off to my ship. While walking, I noticed I was tapping my hand against my side. I had to consciously stop myself.
What the hell is wrong with me? (Don't answer that). What easily should be one of the best (if not the best) day of my life is making me a nervous wreck. >.< I looked at the time and my eyes bulged. Shit, I have to work at the bar soon. I went to a nearby terminal and cancelled my contract. I lost some respect with Axia, but if it's between a bit of of Axian respect and an MEP to the head...
Walking up to my ship, I punched in the code and the hatch slid open. O.o I shook my head, and the image was gone. I could've sworn I saw Megan.... Not really wanting to find out, I hopped in my ship and powered up. It was almost time for work, maybe some liquor would calm my nerves.
Never ended up back in the bar, though... >.> <.<
Hey Erik, I'm really sorry that I couldn't make it on Friday >.<
I haven't had internet connection all week and I'm really sorry I couldn't be there -.-
I haven't had internet connection all week and I'm really sorry I couldn't be there -.-
"Crap..! Part I" (Story #24)
Shivering, I crouched in the corner of the cargo container. Holding my PDS in my hands and my headphones in my ears, the blue glow of the PDS screen the only source of light in the refrigerated foods crate. Sniffing the air (and wishing I hadn't), I cringed at the smell and tried ot focus on my PDS and not on my newfound sense of nausea.
Ugh, I thought, things always happen to me at the worst time. What was supposed to be the happiest week of my life on Itan, kicked off by a great celebration, had been cut short. Seems the Akanese were hunting me again (note to self: Don't take bounties. P.S. - Shoot members of the media On Sight). Thanks to the efforts of the media, I had been publicized, despite my wishes to the opposite. From there, it wasn't that hard to find me when ANYONE with acess to CorvusNet could find out basic info on me (again, thanks to the f'ing media).
And so, with a little help from a friend, I was informed that the Order had resumed their search. So I did the only thing I could do: packed up what I needed in my bags and kissed Joyce goodbye while she slept. I also left a note on her PDS, little consolation I know. But what could I do? Last thing I want for her is to get entangled, and possibly, hurt in this mess.
So I boarded a shuttle to a random station in the Itan system. From there I purchased a Government Issue EC-88 and headed to another system, which I won't say where. From that station which orbited just outside the planet's rings, I snuck into the Aelous shipping center and broke into the weekly shipment of food supplies and etcetera for the Makchuga. And there I was now. The hum of the engine that I had grown accustomed to during the length of the flight, died down. There was a slight thud, and then a rocking before the ship righted itself and was still. I knew that all thanks to my PDS, a relic from my days in the Order but still far more advanced than a mere civilian could obtain (except maybe from Corvus, of course).
Packing away my supplies, I threw my bag over my shoulder and crouch walked to the acess hatch. It was a meter by meter door that was used to unload "tag along" crates of supplies from smaller companies that didn't or couldn't afford a seperate Cargo Unit container. I put all my weight on the metal wheel and turned it slowly, as quietly as I could. a metallic click a few seconds later and the hatch swung open outward, revealing the dull grey sorroundings of the Behemoth.
Climbing down the ladder, after I locked the door behind me, I jumped off and headed into one of the "pits", the one meter wide rail trenches used to load the prepacked and attached container bundles, usually 30, 60, 90 or 120CU bundles. I quickly undressed and pulled out my illicitly obtained Corvus Technican's uniform. Donning it as quickly as I could, making sure to look around every few seconds, I packed up again and headed for the crate nearest to the massive, now open, main cargo loading ramp of the Moth. Waiting for a large group of docking bay personnel to pass, I climbed out from behind the crate and walked off into the bay.
All I had time to do now was grab some things from the apartment that I needed if my plan would work and leave another note. Cautiously, I rounded a corner to the Makchuga and pulled out a Neutron Blaster carbine, pretty much a miniaturized Neutron Blaster Rifle, from my pack. Less power and punch, but much easier to hide and tote around. Good thing I had pulled it out because a second later I snuck up behind a man crouching behind the door and put the rifle to his head. Quickly peering over his shoulder, my eyes bulged as he tensed for a second in shock and fear. He tried to whirl around, but I was quicker and pulled the trigger before he could...
I examined the bomb he had been working on, only three more wires and it would've been armed. I may not know much, but I know explosives inside and out. I looked at the face and smiled to myself. Ebony wingmate, Toshan-To Amoro. Looks like now the entire Ebony Wing squadron was enlisted to hunt me down, not just Captain Allende. That meant I had to deal with a Colonel, a Captain and seven brother monks... well, six now. I am not one to kill, unless you threaten my life or the lives of the ones I love. And if they want a fight, they can have all the fight I can bring.
Shivering, I crouched in the corner of the cargo container. Holding my PDS in my hands and my headphones in my ears, the blue glow of the PDS screen the only source of light in the refrigerated foods crate. Sniffing the air (and wishing I hadn't), I cringed at the smell and tried ot focus on my PDS and not on my newfound sense of nausea.
Ugh, I thought, things always happen to me at the worst time. What was supposed to be the happiest week of my life on Itan, kicked off by a great celebration, had been cut short. Seems the Akanese were hunting me again (note to self: Don't take bounties. P.S. - Shoot members of the media On Sight). Thanks to the efforts of the media, I had been publicized, despite my wishes to the opposite. From there, it wasn't that hard to find me when ANYONE with acess to CorvusNet could find out basic info on me (again, thanks to the f'ing media).
And so, with a little help from a friend, I was informed that the Order had resumed their search. So I did the only thing I could do: packed up what I needed in my bags and kissed Joyce goodbye while she slept. I also left a note on her PDS, little consolation I know. But what could I do? Last thing I want for her is to get entangled, and possibly, hurt in this mess.
So I boarded a shuttle to a random station in the Itan system. From there I purchased a Government Issue EC-88 and headed to another system, which I won't say where. From that station which orbited just outside the planet's rings, I snuck into the Aelous shipping center and broke into the weekly shipment of food supplies and etcetera for the Makchuga. And there I was now. The hum of the engine that I had grown accustomed to during the length of the flight, died down. There was a slight thud, and then a rocking before the ship righted itself and was still. I knew that all thanks to my PDS, a relic from my days in the Order but still far more advanced than a mere civilian could obtain (except maybe from Corvus, of course).
Packing away my supplies, I threw my bag over my shoulder and crouch walked to the acess hatch. It was a meter by meter door that was used to unload "tag along" crates of supplies from smaller companies that didn't or couldn't afford a seperate Cargo Unit container. I put all my weight on the metal wheel and turned it slowly, as quietly as I could. a metallic click a few seconds later and the hatch swung open outward, revealing the dull grey sorroundings of the Behemoth.
Climbing down the ladder, after I locked the door behind me, I jumped off and headed into one of the "pits", the one meter wide rail trenches used to load the prepacked and attached container bundles, usually 30, 60, 90 or 120CU bundles. I quickly undressed and pulled out my illicitly obtained Corvus Technican's uniform. Donning it as quickly as I could, making sure to look around every few seconds, I packed up again and headed for the crate nearest to the massive, now open, main cargo loading ramp of the Moth. Waiting for a large group of docking bay personnel to pass, I climbed out from behind the crate and walked off into the bay.
All I had time to do now was grab some things from the apartment that I needed if my plan would work and leave another note. Cautiously, I rounded a corner to the Makchuga and pulled out a Neutron Blaster carbine, pretty much a miniaturized Neutron Blaster Rifle, from my pack. Less power and punch, but much easier to hide and tote around. Good thing I had pulled it out because a second later I snuck up behind a man crouching behind the door and put the rifle to his head. Quickly peering over his shoulder, my eyes bulged as he tensed for a second in shock and fear. He tried to whirl around, but I was quicker and pulled the trigger before he could...
I examined the bomb he had been working on, only three more wires and it would've been armed. I may not know much, but I know explosives inside and out. I looked at the face and smiled to myself. Ebony wingmate, Toshan-To Amoro. Looks like now the entire Ebony Wing squadron was enlisted to hunt me down, not just Captain Allende. That meant I had to deal with a Colonel, a Captain and seven brother monks... well, six now. I am not one to kill, unless you threaten my life or the lives of the ones I love. And if they want a fight, they can have all the fight I can bring.
"Crap...! Part II" (Story #25)
"Today, a pilot in the service of Corvus Prime has died.
'Corvus is sad to mark the passing of a pilot, callsign MonkofAkan. He was on a trade run for the Corvus Hold station, hauling one hundred and twenty cargo units of Volatile Chemicals. According to an eyewitness, he was being chased into Sedina B-8 by an unknown pilot in an unidentfiable ship. The Behemoth that MonkofAkan was flying headed right for an ice crystal at maximum speed and impacted, igniting the contents in the hold of the ship as well.
Investigators from the Sedina V station have recovered the rubble and eyewitness testimony. It appears that the flight control system locked up due to the belated effects of an impact of shots onto the computer core. Remnants of the escape pod were found, but not intact as the much larger than normal explosion caught it before it could speed away. A detached reserve data disk and a tooth were all that were found within the reamins of the pod.
This day we mark the passing of a true friend of Corvus Prime.'
A short remembrance, according to Allon Yomane, Corvus Hold Administration. In other news..."
"And thus, he was gone. The one known as MonkofAkan ceased to exist as such. He will live on, though, in one form or another. Though we may not see Monk anymore, I believe in reincarnation, rebirth as a new person. I am sure we will see him around and not even know it"
-Anonymous
I sat back and smiled. Looking up on all the Nets I legally had acess to (and of course, ones I didn't), I could see that Ebony Wing and the Order had been thrown off. The one chasing me was none other than the good Captain. And, this time, I actually was in the ship. But not all 120 cus had been Volatile Chemicals. Some space was reserved for the second hand escape pod I had acquired. Pulling a tooth was a painful but necessary step. And the disk was just for kicks. But Corvus had only shown up fifteen minutes after the "accident", enough time for the Order to shift through the debris and take what they wanted. Including the second infodisk, marked just for the Captain.
Now where is it... aha.
"Dear Samantha,
If you're reading this, you've finally done it. I hope all the promotions and money the Order bestow on you make up for what you have done. Think back to that letter I first gave you, when I defected. Read it again and then I dare you to be proud and happy with your recent actions. And then, if I know you, you will feel what I felt before defecting: horrible, ashamed and enraged. What you do with these feelings and these emotions is up to you"
Sort of a cruel "I told you so", but it might have the desired effect. At the very least, I believe she, nor the rest of the Order will ever be looking for me again. At the most... well, I have no idea. That's all up to her. For now, I sit back in a crappy rented room ata TPG station deep in Union space and smile. Soon, I can come back out and resume my normal life with my loving wife. And, I have a lot of explaining to do... >.>;
Let's just say the whole "I was but a simple fighter pilot" explanation wasn't entirely accurate...
"Today, a pilot in the service of Corvus Prime has died.
'Corvus is sad to mark the passing of a pilot, callsign MonkofAkan. He was on a trade run for the Corvus Hold station, hauling one hundred and twenty cargo units of Volatile Chemicals. According to an eyewitness, he was being chased into Sedina B-8 by an unknown pilot in an unidentfiable ship. The Behemoth that MonkofAkan was flying headed right for an ice crystal at maximum speed and impacted, igniting the contents in the hold of the ship as well.
Investigators from the Sedina V station have recovered the rubble and eyewitness testimony. It appears that the flight control system locked up due to the belated effects of an impact of shots onto the computer core. Remnants of the escape pod were found, but not intact as the much larger than normal explosion caught it before it could speed away. A detached reserve data disk and a tooth were all that were found within the reamins of the pod.
This day we mark the passing of a true friend of Corvus Prime.'
A short remembrance, according to Allon Yomane, Corvus Hold Administration. In other news..."
"And thus, he was gone. The one known as MonkofAkan ceased to exist as such. He will live on, though, in one form or another. Though we may not see Monk anymore, I believe in reincarnation, rebirth as a new person. I am sure we will see him around and not even know it"
-Anonymous
I sat back and smiled. Looking up on all the Nets I legally had acess to (and of course, ones I didn't), I could see that Ebony Wing and the Order had been thrown off. The one chasing me was none other than the good Captain. And, this time, I actually was in the ship. But not all 120 cus had been Volatile Chemicals. Some space was reserved for the second hand escape pod I had acquired. Pulling a tooth was a painful but necessary step. And the disk was just for kicks. But Corvus had only shown up fifteen minutes after the "accident", enough time for the Order to shift through the debris and take what they wanted. Including the second infodisk, marked just for the Captain.
Now where is it... aha.
"Dear Samantha,
If you're reading this, you've finally done it. I hope all the promotions and money the Order bestow on you make up for what you have done. Think back to that letter I first gave you, when I defected. Read it again and then I dare you to be proud and happy with your recent actions. And then, if I know you, you will feel what I felt before defecting: horrible, ashamed and enraged. What you do with these feelings and these emotions is up to you"
Sort of a cruel "I told you so", but it might have the desired effect. At the very least, I believe she, nor the rest of the Order will ever be looking for me again. At the most... well, I have no idea. That's all up to her. For now, I sit back in a crappy rented room ata TPG station deep in Union space and smile. Soon, I can come back out and resume my normal life with my loving wife. And, I have a lot of explaining to do... >.>;
Let's just say the whole "I was but a simple fighter pilot" explanation wasn't entirely accurate...
I've read through and loved this entire series. Good job. :D
Thankee :)
"Crap...! Part III" (Story #26)
And, finally, it was done. The Order had been thrown off. Hell, half the people I knew had been thrown off. So, thirteen days later, I stumbled back into the bar. It had been a struggle; I didn't fall asleep until Miharu practically pushed me out of the bar and into my apartment (in fuzzy pink handcuffs, but that's a whole other thing).
Well, now it's early morning. And here I sit, back at my desk with a spare blanket wrapped around me, PDS in my hand. And I guess it's about time I explained why everything happened the way it did...
Way way WAY back when I was in the Order of Akan, I was part of an elite squadron, codename Ebony Wing. It consisted of one high ranking Intelligence Officer (a Colonel in our case), one mid level ranking officer (the Captain), and 8 Monks divided between three Fighter/Bombers and five Light Fighters. Though we were all fighter pilots, we were trained to do much more.
Our mission statement... well, let me give you an example. Ever heard of the SkyCommand nuking back during the first interstellar Serco/Itani conflict? Ebony Wing traces it's roots back to that squadron. So, anything extremely covert or sensitive was handled by us. Now, this alone would be enough for the Order to want my blood, a case of the old "He knows too much, whack him". But there was one specific incident that even the Akanese disavowed any knowledge of.
This happened right about when I joined the squadron, the year 4426. I had been enlisted into it as a Fighter/Bomber pilot (gotta love that Hornet). Anyway, the Union of Independent Territories had begun to sell war materials to the Serco Dominion en masse. Diplomatic talks between the Itani and the UIT had failed, even silent urgings from the Akanese had failed to change the Union's "We're free traders, we'll sell what we want to who we want when we want to" stance. Needless to say, this got the Order riled up.
So, a few days later, word came from up high to our commanders to prepare for an assault on a station. So, after a week or two of practice, drills, and instructions, we moved out to Edras and the Union's Edras Crossroads station. It was a barracks, thus it was a veritable warehouse of wargoods. A strike against the station's supplies should send the message to the UIT, or so the Order thought.
The other two fighter/bombers and I began an attack run against predesignated coordinates on the station's exterior. Plenty of rockets fired and the hull of the staton buckled and reverberated from the shockwave of explosions. Almost immediately, the Union scrambled a strike force out of the station. We bombers broke off and ran through the fighter line, which was racing straight for the strike force and engaged them. With the Strike Force sufficiently distracted, we made a lazy circle and came into the station for run after run. Munitions detonated, gases used for blasters escaped, and the station began to cave in on one side.
Then, after another attack run, we fied the last of our rockets and missiles. But... one of the flares was heading off from the main group of munitions. It headed for a lower pylon, impacting and detonating. There must have been some damage to the station's fusion core, because a few seconds later, an orange faint glow appeared around that area.
"Uh, Captain... Stray Strike. Possible fusion core impact. Suggest we break off"
"Copy, Ebony Wing, Strike is over. Move back to the rendevous sector."
Instead of curving backwards, I aimed for a point past the reactor core and turboed for dear life. As I passed by it, I turned my head and for a split second saw though the hole in the station and inside it to the reactor. Gases were venting, people and objecs flying out of the hole. I shudderedd and concentrated on my controls instead.
And, THAT is why I started thinking of leaving the Order. I'm 99% sure that that stray rocket wasn't me, but to have participated in such an act... >.<; Yeah yeah, some may say I don't "have the stomach for it", but really. I don't care. I'm out of the Order, they think I'm dead and I have a happier, better life. I'd rather stick with what I have now then ever go back.
I must've fallen asleep at the desk, because, next thing I knew, I opened my eyes and the chronometer read morning. -.-* Sleepy
"Crap...! Part III" (Story #26)
And, finally, it was done. The Order had been thrown off. Hell, half the people I knew had been thrown off. So, thirteen days later, I stumbled back into the bar. It had been a struggle; I didn't fall asleep until Miharu practically pushed me out of the bar and into my apartment (in fuzzy pink handcuffs, but that's a whole other thing).
Well, now it's early morning. And here I sit, back at my desk with a spare blanket wrapped around me, PDS in my hand. And I guess it's about time I explained why everything happened the way it did...
Way way WAY back when I was in the Order of Akan, I was part of an elite squadron, codename Ebony Wing. It consisted of one high ranking Intelligence Officer (a Colonel in our case), one mid level ranking officer (the Captain), and 8 Monks divided between three Fighter/Bombers and five Light Fighters. Though we were all fighter pilots, we were trained to do much more.
Our mission statement... well, let me give you an example. Ever heard of the SkyCommand nuking back during the first interstellar Serco/Itani conflict? Ebony Wing traces it's roots back to that squadron. So, anything extremely covert or sensitive was handled by us. Now, this alone would be enough for the Order to want my blood, a case of the old "He knows too much, whack him". But there was one specific incident that even the Akanese disavowed any knowledge of.
This happened right about when I joined the squadron, the year 4426. I had been enlisted into it as a Fighter/Bomber pilot (gotta love that Hornet). Anyway, the Union of Independent Territories had begun to sell war materials to the Serco Dominion en masse. Diplomatic talks between the Itani and the UIT had failed, even silent urgings from the Akanese had failed to change the Union's "We're free traders, we'll sell what we want to who we want when we want to" stance. Needless to say, this got the Order riled up.
So, a few days later, word came from up high to our commanders to prepare for an assault on a station. So, after a week or two of practice, drills, and instructions, we moved out to Edras and the Union's Edras Crossroads station. It was a barracks, thus it was a veritable warehouse of wargoods. A strike against the station's supplies should send the message to the UIT, or so the Order thought.
The other two fighter/bombers and I began an attack run against predesignated coordinates on the station's exterior. Plenty of rockets fired and the hull of the staton buckled and reverberated from the shockwave of explosions. Almost immediately, the Union scrambled a strike force out of the station. We bombers broke off and ran through the fighter line, which was racing straight for the strike force and engaged them. With the Strike Force sufficiently distracted, we made a lazy circle and came into the station for run after run. Munitions detonated, gases used for blasters escaped, and the station began to cave in on one side.
Then, after another attack run, we fied the last of our rockets and missiles. But... one of the flares was heading off from the main group of munitions. It headed for a lower pylon, impacting and detonating. There must have been some damage to the station's fusion core, because a few seconds later, an orange faint glow appeared around that area.
"Uh, Captain... Stray Strike. Possible fusion core impact. Suggest we break off"
"Copy, Ebony Wing, Strike is over. Move back to the rendevous sector."
Instead of curving backwards, I aimed for a point past the reactor core and turboed for dear life. As I passed by it, I turned my head and for a split second saw though the hole in the station and inside it to the reactor. Gases were venting, people and objecs flying out of the hole. I shudderedd and concentrated on my controls instead.
And, THAT is why I started thinking of leaving the Order. I'm 99% sure that that stray rocket wasn't me, but to have participated in such an act... >.<; Yeah yeah, some may say I don't "have the stomach for it", but really. I don't care. I'm out of the Order, they think I'm dead and I have a happier, better life. I'd rather stick with what I have now then ever go back.
I must've fallen asleep at the desk, because, next thing I knew, I opened my eyes and the chronometer read morning. -.-* Sleepy
All the stories have been updated and checked for grammar and spelling mistakes. Please point out if I missed anything.
You don't have the stomach for it.
/me gets an open connection to an [SKV] contact, to have them pass along to Akanese agents the truth behind Erik C.'s location
/me gets an open connection to an [SKV] contact, to have them pass along to Akanese agents the truth behind Erik C.'s location
Lecter Post Recovery:
04:42PM Dr. Lecter
You don't have the stomach for it.
/me gets an open connection to an [SKV] contact, to have them pass along to Akanese agents the truth behind Erik C.'s location
04:42PM Dr. Lecter
You don't have the stomach for it.
/me gets an open connection to an [SKV] contact, to have them pass along to Akanese agents the truth behind Erik C.'s location
/me notes that SKV couldn't give more of a damn about a potato then me.
I see someone missed the role [SKV] was to play in this little transaction. I don't just waltz into Akanese territory and parlay about their wayward moron.
I have itani morons willing to do that for me (forgive the redundancy herein).
I have itani morons willing to do that for me (forgive the redundancy herein).
Originally posted January 25th, 2006
"Restitution" (Story #27)
*sigh* I went about the outside of the station, waving the pole-like device in my hand about. This was the Corvus version of restitution for what I had done. the pole-like device was about three meters long and generated an electromagnetic field, strong enough to gently attract scrap metal bits from up to twenty meters away. And, boy, was there a lot of scrap metal. I looked around at the veritable constellation of shimmering shards of metal and goblets of hydaulic oil. Yap, lots and lots of cleanup.
I don't usually do this, only occassionally, and even then, just to help a friend out. And that's what happened. A friend that I knew from a while back, Minus Malus I believe, needed some scrap metal and he needed it fast. Well, there was the conventional way of getting it by going out to hunt the Hive, but that was neither fast nor fun. My way, however, was tons of fun for all involved. Well, maybe except for the poor station guards.
So, I set about making his wishes come true. Loading up a Centaur with a pair of Lightning Mine Launchers quickly, I set out and slowly manuveured the twenty one thosand pound ship around. I eventually ended up at the spot. It was a narrow space between two blocks of the station. It had three entrances and a wide, but low ceiling , middle. Carefully, I scraped the wings by and entered into the cavity, dropping a pair of mines as I entered. I hurried over to the other two entrance points and did the same. Finally, I left the last pair in the middle and moved off to a corner of the expanse.
Station Guards at most stations are under strict orders to destroy any floating munitions, even if it means sacrificing a ship. And the guards at Corvus get paid good money (Viper patrols, the occasional pirate trying to pirate the capital of Corvus, a station war popping up all warrant this). So, the station guards did the only thing they could do: try to manuveur close and take them out by eyeballing their blasters onto the mines. Unfortunately for them, close enough was within the mine's deadly range. Bolts of electric energy shot out and damaged the Vultures continuosly until they exploded. This would continue, a new guard coming out to replace the old one. On and on...
And, now, I was out here carting all the crap that Minus and another Itani didn't take with them. I pulle together a bunch of scrap into a cluster and guided it over to a behemoth with it's massivee cargo bay door open. I flung the metal inside and leant against the wall of the ship. Staring at the star, i saw a faint black glow obscure it partially. "even if half of that is oil..." I sighed and continued on my work. Lots and lots and lots of scrap to collect.
"Restitution" (Story #27)
*sigh* I went about the outside of the station, waving the pole-like device in my hand about. This was the Corvus version of restitution for what I had done. the pole-like device was about three meters long and generated an electromagnetic field, strong enough to gently attract scrap metal bits from up to twenty meters away. And, boy, was there a lot of scrap metal. I looked around at the veritable constellation of shimmering shards of metal and goblets of hydaulic oil. Yap, lots and lots of cleanup.
I don't usually do this, only occassionally, and even then, just to help a friend out. And that's what happened. A friend that I knew from a while back, Minus Malus I believe, needed some scrap metal and he needed it fast. Well, there was the conventional way of getting it by going out to hunt the Hive, but that was neither fast nor fun. My way, however, was tons of fun for all involved. Well, maybe except for the poor station guards.
So, I set about making his wishes come true. Loading up a Centaur with a pair of Lightning Mine Launchers quickly, I set out and slowly manuveured the twenty one thosand pound ship around. I eventually ended up at the spot. It was a narrow space between two blocks of the station. It had three entrances and a wide, but low ceiling , middle. Carefully, I scraped the wings by and entered into the cavity, dropping a pair of mines as I entered. I hurried over to the other two entrance points and did the same. Finally, I left the last pair in the middle and moved off to a corner of the expanse.
Station Guards at most stations are under strict orders to destroy any floating munitions, even if it means sacrificing a ship. And the guards at Corvus get paid good money (Viper patrols, the occasional pirate trying to pirate the capital of Corvus, a station war popping up all warrant this). So, the station guards did the only thing they could do: try to manuveur close and take them out by eyeballing their blasters onto the mines. Unfortunately for them, close enough was within the mine's deadly range. Bolts of electric energy shot out and damaged the Vultures continuosly until they exploded. This would continue, a new guard coming out to replace the old one. On and on...
And, now, I was out here carting all the crap that Minus and another Itani didn't take with them. I pulle together a bunch of scrap into a cluster and guided it over to a behemoth with it's massivee cargo bay door open. I flung the metal inside and leant against the wall of the ship. Staring at the star, i saw a faint black glow obscure it partially. "even if half of that is oil..." I sighed and continued on my work. Lots and lots and lots of scrap to collect.
Originally posted January 27th, 2006
"Remorse and Guilt. Or is it guilt and remorse..." (Story #28)
Well, stuff happened. Stuff that's made me reevaluate who I am and how I interact with others. I won't say what; it's private and I don't feel like sharing. Suffice to say, I'm asking myself some deep hard questions. The type of questions one never wants to ask themselves. The type of stuff that disgusts you by even thinking of the question, not even the possible answers.
So, here I sit, out in grey space far from any traffic. The isolation is what I need and the view is nice. I have a bright yellow star and an orang-ish ringed planet. I flew in with my Valkyrie last night, crossing the ring's orbital plane so I took the quickest and safest way in. Manuveuring over the scarce asteroid, I parked myself not a mter away from it, content to hug the roidbut not land on it. "This place looks familiar", I thought. I wondered why that could be. Before I remembered, my mind drifted off into thought.
Staring at the planet, the first question I asked myself was "Why?". Why had I ever left the order? why had I left that rigid society for the unknown of Grey Space and the Union? Why had I ended up at odia M-14 when I did? Was it fate? Everything seemed so good, almost unreal...
Don't laugh at me! I know you are. Seriously, everyone has to sit and reflect on themselves sometime. If you haven't you're either: A) Avoiding it or B) Content with being ignorant. And I'm sorry, I'd rather be some sappy fool who thinks about things than some automated guise who doesn't care about how he came to be or why he must kill those Itani, just that he do it and do it well.
Well, anyway, I'll be around to run the race. I also got info that that blasted spike is moving tomorrow. I'll be around by then. Oh, damn! Now I remember why I remember this spot. This is where I filmed to be in that holoflick by the director Ghost I believe. You should go see it. Later all.
P.S. - Don't bother looking too hard. I won't go anywhere if you find me, but really, don't bother too much. I'm not too much to bother over anyway. You know who you are.
"Remorse and Guilt. Or is it guilt and remorse..." (Story #28)
Well, stuff happened. Stuff that's made me reevaluate who I am and how I interact with others. I won't say what; it's private and I don't feel like sharing. Suffice to say, I'm asking myself some deep hard questions. The type of questions one never wants to ask themselves. The type of stuff that disgusts you by even thinking of the question, not even the possible answers.
So, here I sit, out in grey space far from any traffic. The isolation is what I need and the view is nice. I have a bright yellow star and an orang-ish ringed planet. I flew in with my Valkyrie last night, crossing the ring's orbital plane so I took the quickest and safest way in. Manuveuring over the scarce asteroid, I parked myself not a mter away from it, content to hug the roidbut not land on it. "This place looks familiar", I thought. I wondered why that could be. Before I remembered, my mind drifted off into thought.
Staring at the planet, the first question I asked myself was "Why?". Why had I ever left the order? why had I left that rigid society for the unknown of Grey Space and the Union? Why had I ended up at odia M-14 when I did? Was it fate? Everything seemed so good, almost unreal...
Don't laugh at me! I know you are. Seriously, everyone has to sit and reflect on themselves sometime. If you haven't you're either: A) Avoiding it or B) Content with being ignorant. And I'm sorry, I'd rather be some sappy fool who thinks about things than some automated guise who doesn't care about how he came to be or why he must kill those Itani, just that he do it and do it well.
Well, anyway, I'll be around to run the race. I also got info that that blasted spike is moving tomorrow. I'll be around by then. Oh, damn! Now I remember why I remember this spot. This is where I filmed to be in that holoflick by the director Ghost I believe. You should go see it. Later all.
P.S. - Don't bother looking too hard. I won't go anywhere if you find me, but really, don't bother too much. I'm not too much to bother over anyway. You know who you are.