17 November 3305, Jonson Ring, 17:05: Hellraiser
17 Nov 2019Pasoleati
Just got out of the VANDERSNATCH, a Krait Phantom which is going to be refitted for Deep Space Missions, and stumbled upon a comm from Killy who seeks assistance in his nearby Combat Zones. The outfitting of the VANDERSNATCH will take some time *1, the Krait is not known for comfort and flexibility and I need both during a deep space mission. Lightweight and well prepared she must become, a pleasant place to be. A huge stock of music of all centuries and Bouers & Ambers speakers mounted. In every cab. May the space hear the sound of Earth! And it needs a coffee machine. A reliable one*2.
The VERSPERGATCHA is what I call a real multi-purpose ship. A ‘boring’ Python some would say. A star in the stars I would say. Not the most fortified, fastest or best cargo carrier one will find in outer space, but a close to perfect balance as I would say. You have 208t cargo and get intercepted by a deadly Anaconda? Let the lights of the VESPERGATCHAmanage it. Two Anacondas go on you because you have been two greedy on missions? Cross the fingers that system security forces are not out for lunch, while you are massacring the first vessel*3. This little ship is surprisingly sturdy when operated well.
So, Killy was out for some assistance in Waribe and VESPERGATCHA should be of some help I though. I sold useless cargo, bought some limpets (never forget your limpets!) and set course. At about 2/3 of the route I discovered that I forgot the fuel scoop which could shorten my trip and I -open mindedly as I am- took some break at a nearby station while the ship was fuelling up. It became obvious that much more Commanders are out here than at my lonely place at the corner of the bubble*4.
When I arrived at Waribe, Killy has been already waiting in his Krait with ‘fancy’ make-it-faster racing stripes. Yeah, at that moment, I clearly preferred my pirate red-/black look. We headed towards the first combat zone and short story short: the VESPERGATCHA did it very well, barely one bar lost in the shields and the enemies were history. Next one then.
The next Combat Zone appeared to be similar, but this time a big target flashed up in the cross hair. ‘The BIG one I said’ and before I actually had time to realize whether the enemy is an Imperial Clipper or Imperial Cutter, the arms of the VESPERGATCHA already put a statement of no return. ‘Amusing I thought -right before all lights went red in my little ship. ‘Trajectory interruption’, ‘System Malfunction’ -the VESPERGATCHA paniced. And so I did with it. We stopped our ambush on the Target of choice and engaged thrusters in the aim of relief. Our shields were flashing and melting and we speeded into the darkness *5.
Killy must have seen that the VESPERGATCHA was in trouble and aimed at my attackers. Things calmed down within 30 seconds and backed by a shield cell I aimed at those who have followed us. Perfect: an imperial Special Task Force has arrived. It is worrying that they could hit the VESPERGATCHA so heavily within a few seconds -even 476 they kept firing (what are these engines?). I went first on the ASP Explorer. The VESPERGATCHA released all her torn on that other little ship which shields went away quite fast, but then… The armour proved to be hard, very hard. Capacitors went low and enemy was still engaging, its shield recovering. Hell. Killy went meanwhile on the FDL -or the other way round, I had really not time to spot that difference. 15% percent left of my victim, the VESPERGATCHA was back*6 when Killy started to flood the channels with ugly words. The difference became clear at that moment.
I opted the seeker missiles to short cut ASP execution, but realized soon that I forget to mount them. Multis then. Rapid fire. Not effective enough. F*** I concluded and set course to get over it *7.
Back into direction, the FDL was behind Killy and Killy… on his way to aerm… somewhere. His Krait was far too slow. The FDL was giving him a hard time. When we got behind them in a comfortable position, we opened fire and the FDL changed mind and went on us. Fine, I thought until the shields started to melt away. ‘What kind of weaponry does thing have?!?’. Another shield cell and 58% hull later, strategy change: no front facing, manoeuvre, all tricks to play. Killy is not on the radar any longer, maybe he had searched safety.
With one shield bar left, the VERSPERGATCHA turned into a runner to gain time*8. At some point we managed to out-manoeuvre the FDL and got below it; all pips to weapons and let hell break loose. The disco lights were playing, the multis warmed the nearby moon and the FDLs hull went down to 15% before its thrusters saved it. Thrusters on and get behind it when the capacitors went empty. The FDL arrived 1% when its shields came back online*9.
The VESPERGATCHA didn’t want to run away this time, this was the chance, the opportunity we have looked forward at -up to the moment when the multis went out of ammo*10. The FDL dished out without mercy and passed away in a beautiful explosion seconds after its shields went down.
Shortly after, we collected the escape pod of Killy and headed back to his home station.
- *1 I am not one of those commanders who like shieldless runs 20k away from the known civilization. ‘See how Sagitarius A* area is! Wait, are these charged lasers pointing on us?!?‘ -No, I am chicken: prepare for the worst, hope the best -this includes some weaponry which real explorers would unmount. Unlike the scientists of the Prometheus observing an alien animal swinging back and forth. ‘It looks like a Cobra on earth, but let’s pet it a bit!’ (famous last words).
- *2 or do you want to turn back 30,000 ly just because the grinding mill of the machine gets broken and the on-board synthesis is of no help? Said that: beans. Tons of Kamito Coffee Beans.
- *3 PVE commanders are of course a different story. These guys are out there just to kill vessels weaker than them.
- *4 this is griefers fault. Being hunted down with 200 opals in your cargo is a selective thrill I prefer, not a regular one. We all have to work for our money, but my time is precious and those lurking Commanders are camping at stations just to hit you down. Not the fun I am seeking for -and so I settled a bit off…
- *5 Well, in my case this is to be read more symbolically. The VERSPERGATCHA was speeding almost 470m/s and still got fired at. Quite an worrying fact…
- *6 …Two shield cells later…
- *7 this is meant.. literally: all pips to SYS and collision course.
- *8 You cannot escape an FDL like that because it is faster, but by maxing your speed you force it to put pips to engine which limits its offensive capabilities. The VESPERGATCHA’s shields charge quicker, time plays for me, baby.
- *9 No comment! Absolutely not! F***!
- *10 REALLY? Yes, really. Guess what my next experimental upgrade was…