Excerpt from the personal Log of M'at:

Star date 21.07.32

Well everyone has heard of the infamous Sedina B-8. It's a pirate hangout, a proving ground for new pilots, and even on occasion the sight of some of the largest military training operations I've ever seen. Anyway, I'm no stranger to B-8, and like anyone who has spent more than as little time as possible in that sector I've crossed neuts with a few seriously skilled pirates. I can usually hold my own, but I still come back in an escape pod more than once in a while. So one day I got to thinking'. I'm tired of being an average pilot, I'd like some bragging rights of my own. Now I could spend hours a day training against bots, and sparring with a couple of my friends at the Monastery in Jalik, but like all us UIT brats, I prefer the get rich quick scheme. Or in this case the “get famous quick scheme”. So I did about a half hour of research.... well actually Master Etakono [one of the monks I know], did the research while I sat across the table trying to figure out how to make a paper valk. Anyway, after christening my paper valk the “Bringer of papery doom” my buddy found something I could use.

Ya' see apparently back, on ol' Earth there was this group of warriors who thought it was more honorable to tap someone with a “coup stick” (from what I hear it's this big pole with lots of feathers and stuff on it to make it look all fancy like). So they would hit their opponent with this stick instead of killing him, and this was considered honorable and brave. Immediately after hearing this I figured what the hay, I can afford another ship if this doesn't work out (and I've use enough escape pods that I'm fair sure I can get out safely if it comes to that).

So I now had a plan. Instead of trying to be a fierce pilot by destroying loads of fighters, I'd get fame by “counting coup”. I still can't believe that Etakono translated that right, oh well. So now I had to get a coup stick. I figured it'd be imposable to use an actual stick, so I had to find a weapon that would do the trick. I though about the rail gun, since it's such an unforgiving weapon, but it's too effective, the idea was not to kill after all. My next though was to get that old government issue plasma cannon off my bus from so long ago, but it still could kill, so I wasn't shore than anyone would get the diference. Then it hit me, Mining beams!! They are too week to do any serious damage to the xythalloy hull of a star fighter, but they will scratch the paint somp'tin fierce, and they put on a decent show. And even better they only work in real close, so there is some actual daring do involved.

So I had my plan, I bought a couple mining beams and a charge cannon (just in case) loaded them onto my valk, and headed for B-8.

The first coup I counted was a guy who called himself “Viper 88”. He started the engagement with a hail announcing his intent to kill me (I guess he didn't like the color of my ship or something). He fired the first shots since I wasn't in range of my mining beams yet. I had to get past his weapons fire to no more than 100m. That took a little more skill than I had originally expected, and I took a miner hit to my port pod dealie, but it wasn't anything more than a tap, and soon enough I was in range. I activated my mining beams, they only lasted for a sec, before the computerized safety deactivated them, so I tagged him a couple more times to make shore he got the idea. Then I sent a pre-recorded message that read “I count my coup”. I think he didn't know what to make of this crazy guy talking about coups and firing mining beams. But he disengaged well enough that I didn't have to leave the sector. So I continued the hunt.

My second coup was, I think the best. This guy's transponder read “Martin”. He was flying a rocket valk. Like usual he hailed me demanding I pay some fee or he'd destroy me. Well I was looking for another coup to count so there was no way I'd pay him. Anyway this one could have gone bad, but after the second rocket volley he just stopped shooting. I was a bit perplexed 'cuz I had already lost my starboard stabilizer and was going to have to withdraw soon, but instead I closed the range and tagged him with my beams. When I sent my recorded message, he said it was well deserved, and confessed to forgetting to rearm before showing up. Personally I was equally amazed that he know what the frack “counting coup” meant, and relieved that I had a chance to repair myself. Well they otta' be finished fixing that stabilizer by now so I'm going to see what I can do about reequipping my ship to be a bit more survivable.

Star date 22.07.32:

Man that second run to B-8 was intense yesterday. I ran into Tramshed, I'd heard of him but never actually fought him before. And well I can proudly say that I successfully counted coup on him in the fistfight, but he wasn't a gracious a defeated coup counted person.... huh maybe I should look up what you call someone you counted coup against. Anyway, long story short the second round ended with me buying another valk after a long and arduous trip back the frack to Jalik in an escape pod. I gott'a give the guy props though I mean he was definitely the better pilot, even if I had switched to my charge cannon, I doubt I'd have been able to hit him with the thing. But on the plus side my beams messed up his paintjob before the big bagow.

So anyway I'm waiting for the shop to finish painting my new valk and installing my new equipment load. This time I'm thinking I should go with just the beam. It'll make my ship lighter and all. But I kinda' feel bad calling it a coup when I'm running a mono beam valk. Oh well I'll se how it does.

Star date 22.07.32 supplemental:

Man was that fun. This one dude, “Solution” was his call sign I think.. anyway, I counted coup on him twice. After the first count he ignored my recorded message and kept coming, so I figured I'd gotten my honor victory I may as well disengage (if he hit me at all it was no worse than hitting a micrometer during long flights). So anyway I dropped by a nearby station, and grabbed a Serca-Cola; my absolute favorite soda. It's a shame their illegal in Itani space, I hate having to go to pirate territory and par insane scoundrel bar prices, or even worse having to go all the way to Serco-vill, there is just too damned much security. But that's a subject I could write a book on. So anyway, after my drink I head back to B-8 looking for some more coups to count, when suddenly my IFF reads an incoming hostile. Not only that but it's good ol' Solution again. We maneuvered around a bit, he fires enough live shots for the both of us (none of which do any series damage) and then I close in and tag him again. But just like before he wouldn't give up so I disengaged. This run got me thinkin' maybe I should carry one beam (after all 2 is kinda' unnecessary) and a pair of midweight low yield weapons, you know in case I needed to fire live rounds. So here I am shopping for new weaponry, I really wish there was more of a selection, but that's what I get for basing my operation out of Jalik. Anyway, I'm going to put in an order for a couple of flechets, I never see them get any serious use.

Star date 23.07.32:

Man I just got back from another B-8 run, and wow was it cool. My first coup of the day was one I'm only going to call a half coup. But it was a cool story anyway. I'd seen “Alamar” before in B-8 but we never engaged. This time however we had a bit of a battle. I forget who fired first, but I remember he wouldn't let me close enough to get off my beams. So I used my flechets to try and distract him. Apparently it worked better than I'd expected as that Vult he was flying went side long into a 'roid. So after a not too long wait in the shop I went back fully repaired, and there was Alamar again. This time however, I managed to get 4 solid tags in with my beam and then disengage. My next run was less impressive though, I tagged someone who called himself “Tumblemonster” I'd heard the name once or twice, so he pretty much has to be famous, but I can't remember what it was for. Probably pirating he seemed the type. Anyway it wasn't that grate a story to tell, just another coup.

So, I think there is going to be another one of those Cap. Ship training runs soon. Maybe I'll try to add a HAC to my list of coups, now that would be worth bragging about.

Heheh I like the yarn. A novel idea.

Hehe, nice one. Though I think it would be funner to beat people to death with a stick over mining beams... :P

A way u could improve is havin only 1 mining beam so ur ship is lighter and better to dodge those damn rockets :)

he uh actually did switch to one beam. Oh and a very cool idea, you have my respect.

I was wondering why you were firing mining beams at me! Seems like counting coupe goes to whoever gets the first hit then? I'll have to bring a beam next time I see you!

-tm

yeah I really see that working out tumble. What if you both hit each other at the same time.

PS: I've been couped :(

updated coup count:

Mecha Tourias
Ming
Borb II

And the SMV Protaris (admitedly it no longer had any turrets at that time)

Ever thought about using the repairgun to count coups? It actually has a cool effect when it hits and requires a little more than just getting close.

The "disadvantage" though is tht it doesnÄt fit on a valk. :P

...so I was so not expecting to see a beam 'weapon' shooting from the nose of a valk, that I ran in fear yelling WTF

ROFL

Good fun tho, msut try it.

well, i may use a repair gun when i fly a hog, but i only recently got the licence levels for a valk, so the novelty of flying one still interests me.

I was concidering changin to a hog anyway, so that i could have some choice of colors for my beams.

i apriciate the sugestion and may be using it soon.

harhar, cool plan, I think we actually suggested something like this once a while ago.

You owe me 50cr for the price of the paint job you messed up.

:P

Ming challenged you to a duel, and fought you in Moth, you were in your Valk, we duelled, and Viper88 came barging in thinking you were pirating some defenseless trader! I got the message about "counting coup" but had already spammed you with a salvo or two of swarms - I like the idea of using mining beams, to score a honour victory, I will use concussion mines and repair guns if I see you again!

Well written, pretty good idea, but crap implementation. I mean, come on, a mining beam? What's the challenge in that? "Oooo, look at me, I got in to 100m away from you in one of the best dodging ships evah!"

Repair guns forevah.

 genka,

I get 100 m away and stay there for a few strikes then i have to escape without dying against an oponent who is doing their best to kill me. I'll admit the reapare gun may be a better choise, but i wanted to do this with a valk for the first round so it was either mining beams or scanners and i chose the more difficult of the two. Also i'd say the Rev C and IBG are better dogers than the Valk.

besides historicly all it took to cout coup was getting close enoug to use a coup stick without dying.