Oddities
10 Jun 2023Ryuko Ntsikana
Oddities
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Reviewing the recordings of the encounters with the pirates, I couldn't help but notice a discrepancy that bothered me. Both of them had the Elite rank, yet their actions were more in line with those of novice pirate recruits. It didn't make sense for experienced pilots of their caliber to be out beyond the rim, targeting unsuspecting explorers. If they were desperate for credits, they would be going after lucrative mining operations or wealthy traders.
Adding to the intrigue was the fact that these pirates belonged to an independent dictatorship faction, located in a single-star system more than 250 light years away. They didn't fit the profile of hardened criminals, and their presence in this region was illogical and nonsensical.
I studied the star map, examining the distances between the locations of the incidents and the territories of proper pirate factions, as well as the regions contested by the Thargoids. If these pirates had caught the attention of any regional powers, human or otherwise, they were putting themselves at great risk. It just didn't add up.
My curiosity was piqued, and I became determined to find out how many more of them were operating in this region. However, before I could delve into that investigation, I had to attend to matters concerning my clan.
As it should be clear by now, I had a penchant for finding unique and unconventional ways to secure funding. Whether it was through search and rescue missions, raids, engaging Thargoid scouts, or various other adventurous endeavors, I always sought out exciting and profitable opportunities. This week, I decided to generate the necessary funds through simple trading.
Upon my return to the carrier, I noticed another nearby carrier offering a generous fee for Tritium. Considering the mineral-rich rings in the region, I realized that I could engage in a bit of mining myself. Of course, this was the typical route for most commanders. Alternatively, one could attempt to interdict pirate mining vessels, but there was no guarantee that they would be interested in purchasing stolen minerals. I had a different plan in mind, one that could fulfill their request while allowing me to make a substantial profit for my clan.
Unfortunately the carrier owner had erred by advertising their request without setting their market to receive. It was a common oversight that I had seen before—was guilty of the same myself—and one I knew they would rectify when they investigated why they were not receiving. This would not happen overnight, giving me time for other ventures.
To borrow an ancient Earth term, I was eager to "go fishing" for these aspiring pirates in the remote corners of space. However, I had been putting off doing reconnaissance in the nearby Thargoid territory. It had been over a month since I told myself that I needed to explore the area and see what I could find. I knew there was a chance I might encounter something unexpected, but that was all part of the plan.
I had yet to come across the new Thargoid Glaive Hunter class and wanted to get a firsthand experience of what it was capable of. Luckily, I had prepared myself for such encounters, and I was glad to have encountered only one of them. It was a nimble little bug, equipped with a few intriguing tricks, but I had a few tricks up my own sleeve.
The first hyperdiction I experienced was the usual scouting attempt by the Thargoids. I believed they were trying to assess my capabilities and wear me down. I suspected their hyperactive murder machine, the Glaive, was lurking nearby, so I deliberately flaunted my presence in nearby systems, hoping to draw it out.
During subsequent hyperdictions, I chose not to engage, sensing that the Thargoids were using these encounters to gauge my responses. I had a hunch that if I demonstrated my ability to boost away successfully enough times, their latest and greatest creation would make its appearance. And it did not disappoint. These oversized insects were nothing if not predictable.
As soon as my ship stopped spinning from the hyperdiction, the missile warning blared. Anticipating its move, I executed an engine boost flip, facing toward it, while activating my hard points. My thumb instinctively triggered the ECM pod, unleashing a burst of white noise across the spectrum within a 3km radius. I watched as the Thargoid's missile veered off course while keeping my targeting reticule fixed on the Glaive.
The Glaive boosted with impressive speed, exceeding 700m/s, as I held down the trigger, unleashing a solid burst from my four AX multi cannons as it zipped past. Its maneuverability was equally impressive, but I boosted forward to create distance, only to find that it had already reversed direction and boosted, easily catching up to me.
Flipping my ship once more, I recognized that this was a classic "puncher versus boxer" scenario. It unleashed its lightning attack, rapidly depleting my shields. I knew that during this phase, it would be nearly invulnerable, similar to its larger interceptor counterparts. However, I continued to fire my multi cannons, unloading a full belt from all four guns into its hull.
As soon as its attack ceased, my multi cannons were reloaded, and I unleashed another barrage, testing if the Glaive had any weaknesses. Its shield dropped quickly, and its hull started to shred. In response, it demonstrated its impressive boosting capabilities, providing me with the opening I was waiting for. I boosted once more in the opposite direction, anticipating its next move, as the missile alert sounded.
Glancing at the scanner, I noticed that it wasn't a single contact but a set of them. I recognized the signal as corrosive missiles. The puncher couldn't handle the boxer without a sneaky punch, and it had attempted to deliver one. However, its timing was off. I boosted once more, activating my frameshift drive, as the Glaive closed in on me rapidly but not fast enough. The space around my ship swirled as I engaged the jump.
I had gathered the information I came for. None of the systems I visited had any Thargoid Revenant-class vessels on the planets below, and I had gotten my first taste of the Thargoid Glaive hunter. Now that I knew what it was capable of and what I could expect in future encounters, it was time to put on my mechanic's hat and make a few modifications for our next encounter.