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Merchant meets combat.
Another bot exploded in the dim outskirts of the Dau system, momentarily illuminating the cockpit of my Centurion IBG. Glowing like the embers of an extinguished fire, the debris dispersed into space. Three NPCs remained in the sector: two Dentek Collectors and an Artemis Collector. I had already destroyed all of the Dentek Assaults in the sector, so I was just cleaning up the less threatening bots.
The communications circuits beeped, and the voice of the director of the TPG Test Pilot Program interrupted my concentration. “Congratulations Moby Dick, you have successfully passed the TPG Test Pilot exam. Return to Dau K-10, TPG Headquarters, at your earliest convenience.” I let out a sigh of relief, and it felt like my first exhale since I entered the sector. Never had I been in combat with so many NPCs.
I finished off the 3 collectors and returned to the station. Even after completing the administrivia documenting my completion of the TPG Test Pilot training program, I was still high from the adrenaline rush. This was my first taste of extended combat in quite some time. As an intergalactic merchant, the most combat I see are pirates in my rear radar scope. Survival of my cargo is more important to me than personal pride. However, I was free of my normal duties as a merchant, and I wanted more action!
Before departing TPG Headquarters, I stopped by my guild's central office. No one was there, but radio was tuned to channel 100. Over the radio I heard someone talk about a Nation War – Itani, UIT, and Serco pilots were meeting in Sedina for a battle royale. I ran back to my IBG, entered Sedina D-2 into my navigation computer, and was on my way. Being an Itani merchant who frequently trades with stations in Serco space makes me very much an outsider of Itan. The fact of the matter is that I blend in with a UIT crowd and stick out like a Xith-laced asteroid in an ice field when I'm in an Itani station. However, I was born on Itan, and there is a spot in my heart for blue space.
I arrived in Sedina D-2 and immediately joined Omega 0's combat group. Most of the pilots had already arrived, and there much chatter over the local sector radio. I said very little, and waited patiently for the battle to begin. As I waited, my mind filled with doubts. Across the asteroid field sat ruthless Serco pilots who had lifetimes more combat experience than me. How could I measure up? Will I be the first to be destroyed? I began strafing in small circles to keep my mind focused on my ship. I felt the ship's inertia fight the constantly changing velocity, and I was in tune with the quiet hum of the engines. Slowly the doubts were replaced with a sense of peaceful symbiosis with my ship. I was ready.
While this battle was fairly small compared to Nation Wars of weeks' past, there was awesome splendor that struck me dumb as the battle began. A Serco pilot was under attack from three different ships and his ship danced amongst the raining streams of blaster fire. It was an impromptu ballet that required no choreography, only the threat of the destruction of one's ship at the hands of the enemy.
It seemed like the moment had lasted a lifetime, but I'm sure only a handful of seconds went by. The look of dumbstruck awe on my face was replaced with one of tight focus and concentration. I banked toward the dogfight, throttled the turbo, and entered the battle.
The battle ended with an Itani victory. I was one of three pilots whose ships remained intact. This time there was no sigh of relief. Instead there was sense of accomplishment and pride. I fought seasoned combat pilots, and I was among the last ones standing. The sense of pride was tempered by gratitude toward the other Itani pilots with whom I fought along side. I knew there was no way I would have survived without them.
Still, I thought, not bad for a trader. Perhaps I'll travel through gray space in a fighter more often.
The communications circuits beeped, and the voice of the director of the TPG Test Pilot Program interrupted my concentration. “Congratulations Moby Dick, you have successfully passed the TPG Test Pilot exam. Return to Dau K-10, TPG Headquarters, at your earliest convenience.” I let out a sigh of relief, and it felt like my first exhale since I entered the sector. Never had I been in combat with so many NPCs.
I finished off the 3 collectors and returned to the station. Even after completing the administrivia documenting my completion of the TPG Test Pilot training program, I was still high from the adrenaline rush. This was my first taste of extended combat in quite some time. As an intergalactic merchant, the most combat I see are pirates in my rear radar scope. Survival of my cargo is more important to me than personal pride. However, I was free of my normal duties as a merchant, and I wanted more action!
Before departing TPG Headquarters, I stopped by my guild's central office. No one was there, but radio was tuned to channel 100. Over the radio I heard someone talk about a Nation War – Itani, UIT, and Serco pilots were meeting in Sedina for a battle royale. I ran back to my IBG, entered Sedina D-2 into my navigation computer, and was on my way. Being an Itani merchant who frequently trades with stations in Serco space makes me very much an outsider of Itan. The fact of the matter is that I blend in with a UIT crowd and stick out like a Xith-laced asteroid in an ice field when I'm in an Itani station. However, I was born on Itan, and there is a spot in my heart for blue space.
I arrived in Sedina D-2 and immediately joined Omega 0's combat group. Most of the pilots had already arrived, and there much chatter over the local sector radio. I said very little, and waited patiently for the battle to begin. As I waited, my mind filled with doubts. Across the asteroid field sat ruthless Serco pilots who had lifetimes more combat experience than me. How could I measure up? Will I be the first to be destroyed? I began strafing in small circles to keep my mind focused on my ship. I felt the ship's inertia fight the constantly changing velocity, and I was in tune with the quiet hum of the engines. Slowly the doubts were replaced with a sense of peaceful symbiosis with my ship. I was ready.
While this battle was fairly small compared to Nation Wars of weeks' past, there was awesome splendor that struck me dumb as the battle began. A Serco pilot was under attack from three different ships and his ship danced amongst the raining streams of blaster fire. It was an impromptu ballet that required no choreography, only the threat of the destruction of one's ship at the hands of the enemy.
It seemed like the moment had lasted a lifetime, but I'm sure only a handful of seconds went by. The look of dumbstruck awe on my face was replaced with one of tight focus and concentration. I banked toward the dogfight, throttled the turbo, and entered the battle.
The battle ended with an Itani victory. I was one of three pilots whose ships remained intact. This time there was no sigh of relief. Instead there was sense of accomplishment and pride. I fought seasoned combat pilots, and I was among the last ones standing. The sense of pride was tempered by gratitude toward the other Itani pilots with whom I fought along side. I knew there was no way I would have survived without them.
Still, I thought, not bad for a trader. Perhaps I'll travel through gray space in a fighter more often.
Nice :)