OOC- Grunadulater, can we discuss this later, on AIM?
Persephone
{From: Council of Four, Silverbridge}
{To: Kayan Union}
Our thanks go out to you. We had not expected such a reply in the least - we had assumed you would send us the specifications for tachyonic shielding and leave us to incorporate it instead. Once again, our thanks. The basic designs of the Zira and Zidara will be completed in one week now, and we'll filter those vessels into your space to accept the new shield designs. Apologies for stalling your supercruiser operation.
We will be celebrating our 20th anniversary within three days now, so our apologies in advance for any lack of contact during the next few days. If you wish, we will inform our communication relays to send a message to you every minute with "Thank-you" as the subject line.
(cut) "What are you on , Atma, you can't say something like that!"
"Oh, bother."(/cut)
Apparently, the other members of the Council are regretting letting me compose this message. I must go inform them of a few things - I hope you'll excuse me.
{end transmission}
Cintrial
"Sir! Good news!"
"Not more good news..." the officer murmured drolly. "If we get any more good news, cadet, I'm going to have to start shooting people. I mean, I was supposed to be sent to Zeus. What a boring-"
"Umm...sir?"
"Ah yes. The good news, you say? What is it? The Akrahd finally gave us something resemble to shoot? That'd be a-"
"Sir?"
"Next time, just blurt it out, boy. I mean, seriously-"
"The thoron siphon is complete."
"Mind your manners! Didn't your commanding officer ever tell you not to interrupt another officer? When I was being trained-"
"Never mind, sir. I'll leave it for tomorrow."
"Thank you. I am rather busy, you know."
The cadet, standing outside the officer's quarters, the door still closed, looked at his watch. He then blushed. "Yes sir. Apologies, sir."
"Go away."
"Yes, sir."
With the thoron siphon complete, work had already begun on the ideas for a rocket resembling the anti-fighter rocket, but with more basic power, and extremely powerful engines - dubbed the "fast-rocket", with the full name of hyper-velocity rocket. Designs were still being drawn up, but by the time the festival had ended, the scientists would be able to say what it was, exactly, that they were going to develop.
NSI-4299
Elipus Ipir was, as he often described himself, an upper class citizen, in more ways than one. He was handsome, intelligent, and had achieved much in his life - although he was still in the prime of his life. Elipus was, it goes without saying, very proud of himself, and dare it be said, impressed by himself. Now, as Elipus was a very just and orderly man, it could be seen as somewhat "strange" that he was here, on Tetra-Alpha, in a long abandoned star system just off the border of League space. However, Elipus had long since decided that anyone who came to a conclusion that Elipus had fallen on hard times and had resorted to criminal behaviour was, quite literally, "one of them". You see, Elipus had realised many years ago that not many people were blessed with his brilliance, and many of them were quite imperfect in numerous ways. It was, thus, not at all surprising, for one as brilliant as Elipus, that he had uncovered the great conspiracy behind the Strand League's "Galactic Community".
Elipus snorted delicately. It was all very obvious for one as talented as he was - why no-one else had realised that the League were working in conjunction with the Akrahd scum was, unfortunately, beyond him. As a concerned citizen of the real community of the Large Megellanic Cloud, nameless though it may be, it had been Elipus' duty to turn to the only people who could stop the League before it was too late. He didn't particularly like the Guild of Free Privateers, more commonly and incorrectly labelled the "pirates", but he had decided that such sacrifices must be made.
It was no surprise that the Guild had decided to let him into their operation. He was very pleased, he had to admit, with their plans. He had been privy to almost all of their planning, of course, as one as brilliant as he needed to know these things to help contribute. He had already helped modify a few minor problems with the original plan - which was to assassinate the Council of Four and League cabinet with carefully planted snipers. He had quite impressed the Guild officer when he had suggested a P501:504 sniper rather than a standard impact one. He had shrugged off his demonstration of knowledge when inquired, but in fact he was quite proud of himself for knowing about it.
He took a moment to take a breath. The corridors in Tetra-Alpha, he had decided, were cramped, lacked style and were seemingly endless. If they tired Elipus out as they did, they must have been Hell on the inferior League officers that had once manned this outpost. After examining his reflection in a port window, he quickly brought out his comb and neatened his hair. It was always a good idea to look your best before meeting with savages, just to ensure that they understand the situation.
It was as he was putting his comb away that Elipus saw several specks far out in the never ending abyss of space. Naturally, he stayed a few moments to watch. After no more than ten seconds, his mouth opened with horror. They were spaceships! They moved quickly towards Tetra-Alpha, and were obviously huge. And then, there was a massive blast in the hull from somewhere above, and Elipus screeched.
"Are you sure that there's nothing more substantial on the outpost than close range weaponry? Tassar inquired as he watched the specks that were a barrage of Scarab discs head out towards Tetra-Alpha on the scanner. There was no sign of the railgun pellets, but that was no surprise. Railgun pellets were too small for most scanners to pick them up, moved far too fast for anything to keep a lock, and unless a star's light reflected off them, were completely invisible.
"I'm sure," Dacona replied confidently. "When Tetra-Alpha was abandoned, they took everything not directly incorporated into the core out. The Igadzra had always built their silos to be as independant of the ship as possible, even back in the days of SAE modules, and, as such, they took them all out."
Tassar nodded. "They could always have thrown on a few railguns," he added, snorting. "That thing is worse than useless."
"Railguns on a stationery object? No-one ever got around to a turreted version, so that'd be just as worse than useless," Dacona answered with a faint smile. "I'm going to get around to that, eventually. Once everything else is sorted out."
Tassar rolled his eyes. "See enemy. Shoot enemy. Enemy is dead. Now, where about in that do you need all sorts of fancy weaponry and equipment and cup holders that not only hold your cup, but read your mind to work out when you want them to hold your cup?"
"Can we get back to the current situation?" Dacona sighed.
"Of course. You just had to ask."
"You're on form today," Dacona noted idly.
"Aren't I always?" Tassar replied without the faintest trace of a smile.
"Well, yesterday..." Dacona began, before deciding not to bother.
"Oh, forget that. I'm just grumpy now and then. Now, weren't we supposed to be talking about something or other?"
Dacona sighed and rolled his eyes. "Kids."
Apparently, shield generators were another thing that the Igadzrans had always liked to keep fairly independant of the ship - at least in the case of Tetra-Alpha. The outpost was bare of shields, and the short barrage from railguns and Scarab discs, even from so small a sorty, was almost too much. Tassar had seemed quite interested in what the people there would do if there was a hull breach, but Dacona managed - just - to keep him from testing his ideas.
The weapons systems of the outpost were quickly eliminated thanks to the accuracy and range of IGNA weaponry, and then the rather difficult process of actually docking with the outpost took place. It has been noted that docking with an outpost occupied by people who aren't too keen on you doing so can be somewhat messy. The Strand League had very rarely had to do so, instead relying on bombardments. Thus, the idea was extremely dangerous, and was very nearly called off completely.
"Sir, we can't go any closer now," stated one officer at the helm.
"Okay. Target the blast doors to the docking bay. Destroy it," Dacona ordered, managing to entirely hide his worry - from all but Tassar, who was leaning on a wall looking absolutely emotionless.
The process didn't take long. The blast doors were torn apart by the railguns from the few Izars. With the League's already bad armour and its powerful weaponry, the unshielded Tetra-Alpha was laughable. Unfortunately, this attack wasn't about destroying Tetra-Alpha - it was about capturing the man in command.
Once the blast doors were down, the ships manouevred their way into the docking bay, which was already depressurised. A quick sweep around with ship-based weaponry overkilled all defensive measures in the bay, and then Dacona was left with a minor problem.
"Ah - we destroyed the blast doors, didn't we?" he murmured.
"I've told you, time and time again, crossing that bridge when you come to it will only get 'yer feet wet," Tassar replied jovially. "It's not a problem, anyway. You see, they put a second blast door behind the first. Just send someone up to the control room to set the second door in place and re-pressurise this place."
Dacona sighed. "I'm getting old."
"That may work on Lariat, sonny, but I'm at least two decades ahead of you, so, bad luck," Tassar grinned. "I'll get to it right anyway," he added more seriously.
"Thanks. And next time I slip up..."
"Yes?"
"Keep your goddamn mouth shut."
*Technology
Zidara & Zira Upgrades: 2/6
Thoron Siphon: Completed
Hyper-velocity: Design Sketches Stage
3 Aries Colonisation: 1/4
*Naval Stats OOC- caught myself in the act; should equal out by not furthering construction in this post
ZSN: 222,500
IGNA: 222,500
IXD: 50,000
ZEN: 30,000
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-Lyat Esponer Corsair