Preparation isn't optional.
08 Oct 2023Silver Taffer
So, I ground out a top 25% place in the recent Community Goal and got my free Sub Surface Missile reward. Three of 'em, no less! Nice! Now all I needed to do was get into a Maelstrom Titan and try them out, hopefully rescuing some poor unfortunates being held captive by the intransigent insects.Basing my carrier in the Vukurbeh system, I kitted out my AX Krait with all the tech I deemed necessary and headed for the Tyranus Maelstrom.
Attempt #1
HYPERDICTION! No less than two ferocious frisbees, aka Glaives, started lashing me with lightning attacks, disabling drives and various modules. Neither silent running nor heatsink purges deterred them, apparently they could detect me no matter how cold I ran. I had no option but to fight back!
It transpired that a single class 2 AX enhanced multi cannon was about as effective as throwing marshmallows at 'em! All it seemed to do was make them even more vicious!
Rebuy number one!
Attempt #2
Made it into the Maelstrom system and, escaping two interdictions with minimal damage (no frisbees), I boosted through the caustic cloud spitting out the occasional caustic sink. So far so good.
The Titan charged up it's pulse wave, I waited calm and confident for the release, finger poised on the button of my neutralizer. With a brilliant flash the pulse detonated and rolled out towards my ship, simultaneously I triggered my pulse wave neutralizer.
The wave should have washed harmlessly past my Krait but, to my horrified confusion, it was picked up by the wave and tumbled helplessly back with useless thrusters!
What the hell just happened? Had I mistimed my countermeasure? Damn it, despite running short of caustic sinks I would give it another go!
Another go, same result! I just couldn't figure it out, I had passed through to the Titan several times before so what was going wrong? What was I doing wrong?
Sheer stubbornness drove me to another attempt regardless of having run out of caustic sinks and hull down to less than 50%. I really should have listened to the little voice of caution trying to urge me to retreat and regroup.
Rebuy #2.
Attempt #3
There are times when sheer frustration and anger drive common sense into the void. This third attempt was just such a time. Not my wisest moment!
HYPERDICTION; Another bloody frisbee, only one this time but still more than my Krait could evade, escape or beat off.
Rebuy #3
I was done, I needed a drink. A large drink! A very large drink, followed by several more. Always assuming the multiple rebuys had left me with enough credits to get a mouse tipsy!
Epilogue
After much deliberation on my recent debacle I reached two conclusions.
One; I would mount three class 3 AX enhanced multicannon, leaving the two class 2 hard points for one beam laser (long range, thermal vent) and one sub-surface extraction missile. The latter has 90-odd missiles so one module should suffice.
Two; Next time I would have the TG Pulse Neutralizer equipped. 'Cos it turned out I had mistakenly fitted a standard Pulse Wave Neutralizer, which comprehensively explained why I hadn't been able to avoid the Titan pulse wave.
How embarrassing was that?