Chapter 16. Xeno Hunt Diary
22 Oct 2020Black Llama
October 17, 3306Flight Operations Carrier Golden Stag, Onoros system
"What do you want? I'm busy." The Alliance official looks like she could use a few days' worth of sleep. I said, "I just wanted to know where do I get my flight operations plan."
She gives me a very annoyed look, then sighs. "You independent pilots - if I did give you orders, you'll end up doing whatever you want anyway. Look, just go out and shoot Thargoids, ok? You'll find them all over the place." She turns to leave, then stops for a moment: "Actually, if I can make a suggestion, go to the Haki system. We're in need of more pilots over there."
October 18, 3306
Sherrill Orbital, Haki system
The Pilot Fish's docking computer is still functional, so I let it handle the final approach. After the Diamondback Scout sets down on the landing pad I get out via access hatch, hands still shaking. A group of Alliance techs come running, and one of them manages to catch me as I trip and almost fall: "Woah commander, you got shot up pretty bad!" He helps me sit down on some crates as the pad lowers down into the hangar. Another tech hands me a hip flask; I thank her with a nod and take a swig. Whatever it is, it burns my throat a lot and steadies my nerves a little.
Well, now I can say I've angered a Thargoid interceptor and lived to tell the tale.
The local flight operations officer, a gruff, no-nonsense type who looks older than the stars themselves, casually walks up to me. Hands on his hips, he asks, "The hell did ya do, kid?" I look up to him to answer: "Made a mistake, 'is all. Went after some scouts and then one of the big ones shows up. And I'm not a kid." He makes a grunt before replying, "Everyone's a kid ta me. Mind 'em threat level indicators. And remember that Interceptors are always hostile if them scouts are around."
October 19, 3306
The techs at Sherrill Orbital have improvised a kill score board with a large plank of plasteel which they have hung on one of the walls of the pilot's lounge, which has been converted into a makeshift ready room. The thing looks straight out of a historical war movie - hell, they've even managed to synthesize some sticks of white chalk. They have written the names of commanders and the individual kill scores, either scouts or interceptors, for the battle in the Haki system. I look at the board, rather proud of all I've learned in just a few days. So far, I've accounted for 285 scout kills and I'm fairly high up in the scoreboard, all with my DBS and all with a combo of fixed Guardian Gauss cannon and efficient thermal vent beam lasers. Truth be told, I envy those commanders with the skill and confidence to hunt the big game - there are some who have amassed an impressive score of interceptor kills. I still have a lot to learn about anti-xeno combat, but at least I'm not scared of interceptors anymore.
Okay, I'm not terrified of interceptors anymore, they still scare me a little. But at least I've learned how to approach them when they are not hostile, and how to safely scan them. I've now seen three live variants up close: after the Medusa I unexpectedly found five months ago in the Lwalama system, now I have scans of Cyclops and Basilisk variants.
I feel someone punching me in the shoulder: "Not too bad, kid." It's the Flight Ops. "Thanks, old man" I reply. He lifts a finger to my face: "Ye punks are lucky ye're not enlisted - I'd have you hand-washing 'em landing pads for disrespect like that." Then he gives me a slight smile, the first I've ever seen on his face. "But hell, seems we're winning this one, so I'll let this pass." He walks away, and shouts over his shoulder: "I won't respect ya, y'know, until ya learn ta fly with assist off!"
