The Ultimate Conspiracy - Part III
Dash was awoken by Daros, who informed him that they had just come into the Deneba system and were awaiting permission to enter the sub-space rift. This was all part of the working of the rift; if there was little traffic, ships would enter as they please. If there was a lot of traffic, groups of 25 or so ships would each wait for permission to enter the rift one and a time.
As Dash looked out the viewscreen, he saw numerous Kayan and Horoth ships circling the area as every once and a while a Kayan Firefly would enter or exit the rift. These ships were part of the investigation team looking into the disappearance of the Emerald, of which the mystery had yet to be solved.
Daros then picked up a datapad and handed it to Dash. Just came in from headquarters... he said, and turned back to piloting the Instigator.
Dash looked over the information. It was about Dilgar, the leader of the failed Kayan rebellion. Apparently, though he did think the Kayans cowards for retreating so soon, never had previously expressed his want to rebel. Normally he had been quite happy with what the Kayans did. His actions in the rebellion were quite unusual. The same went for Drodo in the Azdgari rebellion. Though he also disliked the government, even more so than Dilgar, he was also anti-violence. His plan for the rebellion was most unlike him.
Something didnt seem right. Why would Lars Magna waste so much work on causing all these failed and underplanned rebellions? Why did he use people who werent normally even close to the mindset of a Rebel. In fact, information had also just come in that the ITA had approached the Pirates for help After they had rebelled, hinting that they had rebelled first and asked for help later. Somehow Dash knew that the answer to all of this lay in the Milky Way and the UPL.
Finally, Daros signalled to him. Were going in now...
A group of 19 ships entered the sub-spacial rift, and instantly they were swept along in a swirling blue tunnel that emerged from space suddenly, bordered on all sides by a circular ring; the actual jumpgate which was used to open the rift at will. A big improvement over waiting for the right time to open it.
Though they were going at over four times the speed of normal hyperspace, the ship didnt rumble or vibrate at all, except for just a second when they first entered the rift. Dash marvelled at it; it was beautiful, with rays and ribbons of white light swirling around, and stars barely visible beyond the blue haze.
Dash thought about where he would start his investigation. First he would look around Kayia to get any possible tips or leads to the presence of Pirate activity. Because of the Ediens, Voinians, and Federation, Pirates in the Milky Way always cloaked their bases and sometimes even their ships, though due to lack of funding and proper factories that wasnt common.
He would somehow have to find a Pirate ship and follow it to its base. Dash had a lot of tricks for tracking ships and finding hidden bases, and he was confident that he would be able to do this.
Once he found the base, he would have to get inside it. Maybe pretend to be a Pirate or renegade from another nearby system. Once onboard, he would search around, trying to find any suspicious characters that would be linked to Lars. Of course, that wouldnt be easy; ALL Pirates and Renegades looked suspicious. Maybe he could look for turbophase weaponry or a ship that looked like it had come from the New Galaxy. Though both the FSA and the UPL were Pirates, and though both upgraded their ships, and though both favored each other, the ships in either galaxy were much more different than the ships of the other. Ships in the Milky Way were generally more heavily armed, had Quantum weapons, and were faster. Ships in the New Galaxy were better shielded, and had the distinctive Turbophase and Enhanced Thoron Beam weapons.
Finally, after a few hours in transit (which was, in truth, more like 2 days, it only seemed like a few hours to Dash and the others), the group of ships came out of the rift and were thrown from the gaping wormhole-like apature (sp?) in a flash of white light.
Dashs mouth dropped open in awe as he looked across the system. Merchants and independent traders were going here and there, hundreds of Federation warships and fighters swarmed the area. And yet Kayia was still nothing compared to the Federation capitol world of S-570, now known as New Earth.
New Earth and the surrounding system was truely a wonder. Dash had only seen a few holo-pictures of it, but it was nothing like seeing it for yourself. There was a series of 4 stations in it, along with 1 very large and beautifully engineered station. Then there was New Earth, New Verril, and Auir (the large planet that both New Verril and New Earth orbited). All three planets were heavily colonized, and there was never less than 100 non-Federation ships in the system at a time. Voinians often came to that place, and now many other races and governments could be seen there.
Dash shook off the thoughts of wonder as Daros piloted the Instigator down to the spaceport at Kayra, the capitol city of Kayia. This system to was large and a wonderous sight, with the massive monument that the Kayans had erected 6 years ago in the distance. It was odd, knowing that soon it would be 7 years since the galaxy was first turned into chaos. Still seemed like only yesterday.
Dash exited his ship and payed quick visit to the Federation Intellegence Command Center, located on Kayia. The Federation didnt have too much information on Pirates or their wherabouts; the UPL were mysterious, like wraiths of the void of space. They never stayed in one place for very long, and often would switch between three different bases in a system constantly to keep from being found out. Federation Intellegence also hadnt been able to find out much about Pirate goings on inside Federation space; ever since the opening of the sub-space rift, more and more independents had been coming to Federation space, causing a bit of a problem for hunting down Pirates.
Once that was finished, Dash met up with Daros and Kili. They had both been waiting in a bar very popular with mercenaries and renegades, watching for anyone who could even remotely be involved with Lars Magna.
Ordering a drink for the three of them, Dash noticed that Kili was fingering his weapon nervously. Of course, it only seemed nervous to non-humans; for an Azdgari it was quite normal. They were easily excitable and generally hyper, and preferred to keep on their toes.
Dash casually glanced around, and was about to turn back to Kili when he managed to see out of the corner of his eye a cloaked figure. Usually he wouldnt have cared, but ever since his encounter with the dark cloaked figures on Athena, he was cautious about this one. He whispered to Kili. Take a look at the black cloaked figure behind me, table 7. What is he doing and who is he with?
Kili didnt move his head, but just kept on talking with Daros, then responded in a whisper to Dash. There are six of them. Three at the table you talked about, two at table 8 at the far corner of the bar, and the other one thats standing near the doorway.
Dash glanced at the doorway, and just saw the cloaked figure pass through a door marked Employees Only. Emerging seconds later, he took back up his position near the door.
Dash whispered a quick code word to Kili and Daros, then nodded. While Daros watched the others, Kili got up and began to walk out to their ship, apparently just to get something. Along the way he tripped and fell into the figure, knocking him against the wall as a pistol dropped from underneath the figures cloak. Getting up and apologizing, Kili moved on, and Dash looked at the pistol before the stranger picked it up again. A turbophase pistol... he whispered to Daros.
As Kili returned shortly, Dash got a sudden suspicion as the waiter brought their drinks over. As the waiter set them down, Dash carefully and secretly pulled out a hand sensor and scanned the drinks. Just as I thought... Dash thought to himself. Theyre all poisoned.
With a swift motion that looked like an accident, Dash yelled and Kili then banged on the table, sending all of the drinks flying onto the floor. The glasses shattered and the brandy spilled and bursted out onto the floor. Everyone looked at Dash as he spoke. I told you not to be so clumsey! he roared. Then in a lightning fast motion he stood up. NOW!!
As Kili and Daros rose, Dash pulled out two phased neutron pistols and whirled around to face the two cloaked figures at the end of the bar. Pulling the trigger in rapid succession, bolts of neutron energy streaked towards the two men who were standing and pulling out there weapons. Blasting into them, blood spurted out as they were thrown against the back wall and fell to the floor, dead.
Kili had fired on the man near the door, but he rolled over to a table. Kicking it over swiftly and hiding behind the new barricade, he exchanged several shots with Kili. The Azdgari guard was hit in the shoulder and fell. The figure stood and pointed his weapon at him, but stiffened as a bottle of whisky can hard down on his head. As glass and drink flew, he turned around, and was promptly blasted sky high with a single blast. Flying far into the air and landing on a table in back of Kili, the guard struggle to his feet and looked at the man who had shot the assailant.
Federation Pilot Rick Hardslab smiled at the dead Pirate, now lying with a massive blast wound in his chest. He looked at Kili. Sorry about that. Just wanted to help you out a bit there.
Kili smiled and then turned to Daros. Daros had opened fire on the three Pirates that Dash had first noticed. As one was blasted away and fell onto the table in back of him, breaking glasses as he fell, the other two pulled out turbophase rifles and began to exchange fire with Daros.
By the time Kili had turned to look, the three were still gunning it out when suddenly Dash lept up into the air and landed behind one of the attackers. With a swift kick that one was sent headlong through a window. The other attacker turned, but he wasnt able to do anything, because a beam of cyan energed blasted through his chest. He fell to the ground, completely dead and lifeless. Dash turned to see Rick Hardslabs bodyguard, Hans, with a large Quantum Beamer Assault Rifle.
Dash thanked the two Federation officers then ran out after the last Pirate which Dash had sent through a window. That is, after they gave the bar manager a tip for the damages of course.
Running around to the side of the building opposite the door, Dash bent down to examine the ground. Shattered glass lay around the area, as well as footprints and some splattered blood. He musta ran off. Lets follow these prints...
The three ran after the footprints, but then Kili headed off to the Instigator. Dash and Daros ran into a hanger bay, just in time to see a black and red arada take off and flying out and into the sky.
The two then rushed back to the Instigator, Dash yelling through his combadge for Kili to get the ship prepped and ready for takeoff. Jumping aboard, the engines of the modified Lazira went to full throttle as the ship bolted low across the spaceport, drawing looks from all the people on the ground, then turned up sharply and headed towards space.
I see him, Daros reported, looking at the sensor screen and at a blue blip, now outlined with green to signify that it had been targetted. Its engaged an ECM device. Adjusting sensors to compensate.
As Kili bandaged his injured arm, Dash piloted and watched the viewscreen as a small white flash beamed in the distance then disappeared. Hes gone to hyperspace! Daros yelled.
Follow him! Dash yelled back, and the Instigator jumped ahead into the realm of hyperspace...
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A few jumps later, they were still pursuing the Pirate arada. Furthur scans had revealed that the arada was probably a courier vessel. It was heavily armed and modified, equipped with both quantum and enhanced thoron beam weaponry, and had specially enhanced engines and fuel tanks. Dash presumed that it was made for going back and forth between the two galaxies.
Suddenly the Instigator entered the DSN-1273 system and watched as the Pirate arada disappeared inside a massive and dense asteroid field. Activating a special scattering field that Dash had aquired from the Federation a few months ago.
The sleek black vessel gluided through the system, keeping a wary eye out for any Pirate ship. As hundreds of asteroids floated around the system, occassionally colliding and sending thousands of tiny micro-meteorides flying into space. As a smallish asteroid bumped into the Instigator, rubbing against the hull, making an eiree sound and finally clanging off into space, Dash thought he saw a ship.
The ship moved forward quicker, and Dash finally caught sight of the ship that they had been following; the black and red arada. The ship glided over to an asteroid, then suddenly flew inside a massive crevice. Dash moved forward to investigate, but suddenly bolted behind a large asteroid as two crescent warships exited the crevice.
Dash spoke as he watched the radar screen. That must be the Pirate base, or at least one of them in here. Reminds me of The Rock, that one base which got blown out of the sky a while ago.
The two dots on the radar screen, representing the two CWs, moved around the system a bit then headed away deeper into the asteroid field. The Instigator followed. Along the way they scanned the Pirate base; it was hollow inside, and Dash detected 150 some ships within. Moving deeper, Dash sighted two more Pirate bases, both carrying 150 ships each. They were also armed with quantum turrets and missile launchers.
Finally, Dash watched the CWs as they approach an incredibly large asteroid and began to patrol the perimeter. Dash scanned the large asteroid and gasped. It held a total of 250 ships, along with a major command base, shipyard, outfitting station, defense missile pods and pop-up turrets, as well as a rather large communications array and research station.
Dash looked at the grim situation. This looks like the heart of the Pirate operation. They have quite a set up here, especially with the fact that all the asteroid bases weve seen so far are also equipped with cloaking devices. Now if we can just get onboard... He was stopped by Kili, who pointed to the base as the black and red Arada streaked forward and entered. Looks like our friend Lars Magna is also involved in this... Daros commented.
Dash nodded as Kili piloted the Instigator behind an asteroid, deactivated the scattering field, then moved ahead towards the Pirate base. The dockmaster hailed them. Pirate Lazira, identify yourself.
Dash spoke. I am Captain Scumdog of the Pirate vessel Instigator. We come with some supplies recently raided from a Federation convoy.
The dockmaster laughed. Federation convoy ey? Ye are a brave one to go after those. Land on docking pad 3.
Dash sighed with relief as Kili piloted the Instigator through the opening and into the main docking area. Moving past a containment field (to keep in oxygen) and into an area where cargo was being offloaded by Pirates, the Instigator set down on a landing pad nearby another lazira. Dash and Kili walked off the ship, disguised as Pirates, while Daros landed the Instigator back down on another landing pad. There he would stay and be the Gettaway Car so to speak.
Dash and Kili walked through the Pirate base and into a bar. As Dash sat at one table, Kili walked off to explore the base and see if he could find out everything. As Dash sat their, drinking his burban, three high-ranking looking Pirates sat down at the table behind him.
Dash heard them speaking and tried to listen in as best he could. Im telling you, I was followed here! one Pirate said.
Dont be a fool Skipjack, another said. Theyd never get past our sensors.
But to heck with all that about you being followed, whats your message? the third said.
Skipjacked grumbled and then responded. Lars says that hes been trying to cripple the IGNA. He simply cant do it without risking his borders. Hes already lost over 500 ships, and is getting sick of wasting agents on failed rebellions. He wants more supplies, more agents, and more of the drug.
The second one laughed. Hehe, so ol Lars is beggin for help again? Not odd or unexpected thats for sure...
He was silenced as the third one grabbed his collar and shouted at him. Shut up **** ! If you didnt whine so much we might actually get somewhere. The third one called down. We can give him more agents and mind drugs, but ferrying supplies is getting too dangerous. If he wants more supplies he can find his own. Right now Im too busy trying to work out a government coup, rebellion, and the distributation of weapons to 300,000 freedom fighters. Hard enough getting past Federation and Voinian security, and the boss cant give me an unlimited amount of help. Got that?
Skipjack nodded as **** grumbled about no one listening to his opinion. The third one, who seemed to be the leader, continued. Ill have another seven agents with the mind altering drug board your ship. You can leave immediately once thats done.
Skipjacked grinned. Thanks Lans.
Dash returned to sipping his glass as the three left, when suddenly Kili reappeared and hastily sat down. I found out a lot of stuff, he said. First, they have a lot of weapons and rifles loaded up into all these crates. Looks like theyre being taken somewhere. They also have this massive communications array, reall fancy. Could reach all the way up to Kade easily. I tried breaking into a cargo bay to try and find out what was inside, but I got caught. I killed the guard and then ran back here. Wed better leave...
No sooner had Kili spoke than two Pirate guards rushed into the bar, phased rifles drawn. Dash nodded and the two sat up and began to walk out. No sooner had they left the bar, than they heard the guards yell after them. You two; HALT!
Dash turned around, pistols in hand. Blasting away, the two guards fell within seconds as the bar turned into chaos as Pirates ran here and there, many of them running after Dash and Kili.
Kili drew his rifle and blasted away a guard, sending him flying through a window. The two began to run as Pirates charged after them. Holding them off with phased neutron fire, Kili started to run towards the cargo bay he tried to break into. While he worked on opening it, Dash held off the Pirates.
Bolts of phased neutron energy streaked through the air, blasting into Pirates, sending them flying and splattering blood everywhere. Finally, Kili shouted. Got it!. The doors opened and the two rushed in. Kili quickly closed the doors again and turned around to look at what was inside the bay.
Crates of quantum and turbophase weapons were all over the place, as were small metal crates with a skull and crossbones on the top, signifying that whatever was inside was dangerous. As Kili tried to open one, Dash continued looking and found a crate full of explosives. Among them; turbophase explosives like the ones used to kill his contact in Horoth, and had been used in the attempted killing of himself and Helena. Taking out several explosives and putting them in his backpack, Kili held up a smooth metal cylinder and showed Dash. Its full of some kind of drug... Kili said and Dash scanned it.
Yeah, he said, Some kind of mind-altering drug by the looks of it.
Suddenly Dash became aware of Pirates on the outside trying to open the door. Thankfully Kili had blasted the control pannel, so they would have to open it by force.
Dash looked around at the cargo bay. The situation looked fairly bleak. No other doors, no way to get Daros on the Instigator to help, Pirates were about to break into the room and kill them both, and Dash still had to report his findings.
Suddenly Kili frowned and look around. Hey, do you hear something else? Like metal vibrating?
Dash shrugged. Probably just the ventilation... He stopped and looked up at a ventilation shaft. Kili, climb ontop of those crates and crawl through that ventilation shaft. Ill join ya in a minute.
While Kili began to climb, Dash set up a series of turbophase explosives near the door on top of some weapons and explosives crates. Once he was finished, he climbed on top of the crates and was about to enter the open shaft. Kili looked at him from inside. Dash! Hurry up!
Wait... Dash replied as the doors to the cargo bay sparked and then opened slowly. Pirates began to rush in, looking for them in the almost complete darkness (the lights had been shorted out when Kili opened the door in the first place).
Dash pointed his pistol at one of the explosives and fired, then rushed into the ventilation shaft as the two of them ran quickly through the cramped tunnel. In the cargo bay, the bolt of phased neutron energy glowed purple and shot through the air, blasting into an explosive. That one went off, which in turn set all of the other ones off in a massive fireball which killed all the Pirates in seconds. Soon the explosives had reduced half the cargo bay to rubble and the whole area was on fire. A second major explosion went off, sending fire belching through the cargo bay and at the Pirates outside. As they ran for cover, fire crews rushed forward to try and contain the blaze.
Meanwhile, Kili and Dash continued to run through seemingly endless passages through the bowels of the asteroid base. Finally, Dash came upon a ventilation exit and looked out through the grid and into the command section of the asteroid. Pirates moved here and there, coordinating raids and operations. There was a map of the new galaxy, plans on tables for actions that Lars might take, as well as the Pirate named Lans that Dash had heard. Something then clicked in his mind; Lans Chimera, one of the most dangerous Pirates ever, thought to have been killed years ago. He was a master crime boss, and it was not unlike him to coordinate such an audacious plan.
Before the two moved on towards the docking area, Dash noticed some blue and black lying on a table. It looked like a pistol, but like nothing Dash had seen before. His heart stopped as he realized what it was. Oh my.... Oh my... Oh holy cow, geez.... Thats an Edien Anti-Proton pistol!! he whispered hoarsely to Kili. As he watched, he gasped again as he saw someone talking to Lans Chimera; an Edien, presumably an officer from the looks of it.
Oh geez... Dash said, unable to take his eyes off the Edien. Kili tugged at his arm. We have to go NOW!
The two quickly scurried off through the passageways, then finally kicked open a grid and crawled out behind some cargo containers. Looking around, Dash smiled; the Instigator was sitting just a few dozen feet away.
Rushing forward, Dash and Kili walked up the loading ramp of the Instigator and ran into the bridge. Dash suddenly looked and saw Daros being questioned by two Pirate guards. The Pirates turned around to look at Dash, began to pull their weapons, but it was too late; they were both blasted back by multiple shots from both Dash and Kili.
Daros sighed with relief then grinned. About time you got here! he said, somewhat annoyed, but mostly greatful. He did not like his little chat with the two Pirates. Just a few minutes ago they had boarded the ship and began interrogating and threatening Daros.
As the three took their stations quickly and discarded the two bodies, the whole asteroid was swarming with Pirates, and within just moments theyd be discovered. Dash thought hard, and finally spoke to Daros. Whats in the cargo bay directly in back of this ship? he asked.
Daros looked at his scanners. Mostly just standard supplies and such, but theres also some fuel tanks and explosive containers. High yield stuff. He paused. And if im thinking what youre thinking, then it would be possible to ignite them with some turret fire.
Dash smiled as two Pirate Aradas moved in front of the Lazira, and then opened fire. As quantum pulses impacted the shields of the ship, Dash yelled to Kili. Fire Dispersal rockets! Load rear missile launcher, and fire!
As two dispersal rockets flew forward, exploding in fireballs which engulfed the two aradas and send them flying, a Pursuit Missile was loaded into the rear launcher on the instigator. A second later, the missile was launched into the wall behind the ship. The missile blasted through the thin metal hull, and then exploded, which set off the fuel and explosives.
Now!! Dash yelled and the Instigator shot forward, moving over the edge of the landing pad then quickly moving downwards; just in time to evade the fireball which belched forward and singed the lazira.
As the Pirate Aradas floated around, dissorientated, and Pirate ships moved here and there trying to find the source of the fireball, the Instigator shot towards the entrance. As a Pirate Lazira fired a rocket at it, Kili barely managed to evade the rocket, which continued on moving and blasted into a wall. That set off a second fireball, which engulfed several Pirate ships and then kept on going. As structural beams collapsed and walls exploded left and right, the Instigator activated its afterburners, sending it flying through the entrance as the docking bay was engulfed in flames.
Dash sighed with relief, but far too soon, as the ship was rocked as pursuit missiles blasted into the ship. Daros yelled a report. Pirate Lazira incoming! Coordinates 2.509! Rockets incoming!
The ship rocked and the lights flickered, and Dash nodded to Kili. Load rear launcher. Fire dispersal rockets! Set for proximity warhead!
As three rockets were fired, the enemy lazira weaved back and forth and was able to avoid heavy damage. As a pursuit missile rushed forward, a consol exploded and Kili spoke. Heavy damage to rear shields! Rear launchers disabled!
Dangit... Dash said to himself. Evasive maneuvers! Move towards the asteroids!
The Instigator weaved in and out of asteroids, barely missing quantum fire and rockets which crashed into the asteroids and sent space dust and chunks of rock flying. This continued for what seemed like ages. The two ships continued the duel, the Instigator shaked from the near misses and chunks of rock thrown up at them from the asteroids.
Kili tried hiding behind asteroids, sending asteroids flying at the enemy ship with a tractor beam, but the enemy ship continued firing and chasing. Finally, Dash had enough. Kili, evasive pattern Delta 9.
Kili nodded and grimaced as the Instigator engaged afterburners and shot forward, moved around an asteroid in a complete circle, and then came out onto their original course; behind the enemy ship.
Arm all weapons; fire!!
Missiles and rockets streaked into the lazira, blasting apart its engine section and disintigrating the wings. As a violent and brilliant fireball engulfed the ship, Daros detected multiple incoming Pirate targets.
Lets get out of here... Dash said half to himself. Engage to hyperspace! Set course for the nearest Federation base!
The Instigator deccelerated, and finally blasted through space in a streak of light, entering hyperspace and moving towards the nearest friendly base...
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The Igadzra system was simply swarming with Federation warships preparing for the next offensive, when suddenly the Instigator jumped in from hyperspace. The ship was still damaged, and a Federation battlecruiser quickly intercepted it and towed the damage light warship to a Federation shipyard.
As the Lazira was being repaired, Dash was debreifed by Federate officials. He reported about his investigation in the New Galaxy and how it had led him into the Milky Way.
After hearing his full story and suspicions, the commander excused himself and left the room. Dash just sat there, thinking over how much he had learned. What was the Mind Drug? How exactly was Lans involved in all this? Was he the main boss, and Lars his pawn? Was Lars his own boss and just cooperating with Lans? Or was there a third character in all of this, who was the boss of both Lans and Lars? And what were they planning that concerned getting bask Federate and Voinian security?
As Dash thought over the whole thing, suddenly the door to the room opened and two alliance commanders entered. One was the original commander, the other was Admiral LoneIgadzra. Dash shook his hand. Its an honor to meet you, Ive heard much about your record.
LoneIgadzra smiled, somewhat suspiciously though. Of course, most all Igadzra looked suspicious, considering their paranoid nature, and LoneIgadzra was no exception. He was unusually suspicious and alert, and was also a former assassin. Even in his post-assassin days, Carnotaur still used him in special quick assassin strikes, many of these which took place when LoneIgadzra still worked as a mercenary with Carnotaur.
How would you like to help coordinate a tactical assault? LoneIgadzra asked.
Errr... Im not sure if I understand you... Dash replied, somewhat confused.
LoneIgadzra grinned. The Federation is going to assault Lans Chimeras stronghold.
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If at first you don't succeed...Hit it harder! - Me
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Millennium. Its coming, prepare for it.
Coming to the (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiaSW.com/games/ev/chronicles.html")EV Chronicles(/url).
(This message has been edited by Captain Carnotaur (edited 12-04-2001).)
