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I missed Elbryon, just about the only thing that did make it into or out of Itani space. With the map now on its way back to Sedina I self destructed, re-spawning in Sedina V hold. I immediately jumped in my quad charge cannon Hornet, after a quick stop to grab a bag of snacks the manager of the commissary had ready for me. I raced for the Sedina/Odia worm hole. It was then I noticed that I'd forgotten my comms unit, oh well, If they need me to do something other than just kill everything trying to enter Sedina they will come and tell me. With my cannons at full charge there was nothing to do now but wait. He has to know I'm waiting for him somewhere along the route, hopefully some of the feelers I sent out will find where he's hiding without tipping him off.
It had been two days since I arrived at the Tung mining station. These guys were a nice enough lot, they fed me well, and kept my location a secret. Three CLM pilots had come to visit since I got here and no one had divulged where I was hidden to them. I will have to remember their kindness after all this mess about the globe is over with.
It seemed that RentaGhost's plan to divert CLM with reports of the globe being in his possesion was working, to a point. CLM pilots were now splashing ITAN pilots whenever they came across them, noob or vet it didn't matter. If the globe could change hands once what would stop it from being in the hold of any of our ships. I guess they figure, kill enough of them and we will eventually find the right one.
Maybe it would be ok for me to leave station and try and follow this last clue more closely.
I rolled the globe around and around in my hands trying to figure out anything that would lead me to the right sector in Sedina. I pushed on this and pulled on that, all to no avail. Frustrated I traced my finger around the outside of the CLM insignia, all the while mumbleing any curse word that I could think of.
***BLING***
All of the sudden the raised letters of CLM started pulseing with a soft white light and every time it blinked it emmitted an ever so slight ping that, as I held it, I could barely hear. I wasn't too worried that the noise would give away my hiding place. I ran my fingers around the letters again trying everything to get the damn thing to quit blinking but it wasn't working. I tossed it on my rack and grabbed a blanket to cover it up with when I noticed that the lights were shining a pattern on the ceiling.
Looking at the pattern I was finally able to determine what it was. The lights were showing an old station in Sedina. I had only seen the station one time in my travels so it was very hard to recognize it. It was the old station that now held the race track in H-5. The image looked different without the race track wrapped around it but there was no mistake that's what it was.
Finally, now I know my first stop in this damned journey and with everyones attention focused on RentaGhost the trip down might not be as bad as I expect. I figured I better get going the sooner I get rid of this thing the sooner my life can return to normal.
I gathered up my meager belongings and stuffed everything in my travel sack with that cursed globe at the bottom, hopefully my things would muffle the noise. For my sanity it did I could no longer hear the the ping or see the light comeing from the globe. Now I should be able to pass the miners without raising any more suspisions than I already had, after all an ITAN council member had been "hiding" in the ore locker for two days.
I didn't need any more attention.
I stopped along the busy hallways to give my thanks and good-byes to all those that I had come to know and fill my rations before I left. The dock was a busy place what with the mining Taurs and moths coming and going all the time but none of the miners even payed me any mind they were hell bent on unloading their cargo so they could launch again and heat another roid.
Since I had arrived here int he belly of a moth I didn't have my own boat to pilot out of here so I had to find somone that had one for sale.
*RAXS' NO GOOD MINING SHIPYARD* was the sign that caught my eye so I wandered over to see what he had for sale. A vulture caught my eye, now a vulture isn't my usual cup of tea but after all I was trying to stay hidden so I bought it, outfitted it with a neutronll, a sunflare launcher, and a fast charge cell. I jumped in the vulture and hit the throttle, off to Sedina I went.
-meanwhile-
There was a tremendous knock on MysticRogue's private office. The noise startled her from concentration causeing her to spill the small bottle of pheramone laced perfume all over her paperwork. As expensive and effective as it was this made her mood even worse than it was.
"You better have something important to tell me or you may be looking for somewhere to hide."
"It's me Mystic, look...no hands, something is going on. About 5 minutes ago I heard a noise comeing from the old vaults under our offices. I personally have never been down there, everthing is so outdated what use would I have for any of it? I went to check it out, hopeing to find someone trying to steal something from us. I didn't find anyone but I could still hear the noise."
"So! What was the noise!"
"I think you had better come see for yourself, I may have found the globe."
Mystic Smiled.
Elbryon[ITAN]
Council member
It seemed that RentaGhost's plan to divert CLM with reports of the globe being in his possesion was working, to a point. CLM pilots were now splashing ITAN pilots whenever they came across them, noob or vet it didn't matter. If the globe could change hands once what would stop it from being in the hold of any of our ships. I guess they figure, kill enough of them and we will eventually find the right one.
Maybe it would be ok for me to leave station and try and follow this last clue more closely.
I rolled the globe around and around in my hands trying to figure out anything that would lead me to the right sector in Sedina. I pushed on this and pulled on that, all to no avail. Frustrated I traced my finger around the outside of the CLM insignia, all the while mumbleing any curse word that I could think of.
***BLING***
All of the sudden the raised letters of CLM started pulseing with a soft white light and every time it blinked it emmitted an ever so slight ping that, as I held it, I could barely hear. I wasn't too worried that the noise would give away my hiding place. I ran my fingers around the letters again trying everything to get the damn thing to quit blinking but it wasn't working. I tossed it on my rack and grabbed a blanket to cover it up with when I noticed that the lights were shining a pattern on the ceiling.
Looking at the pattern I was finally able to determine what it was. The lights were showing an old station in Sedina. I had only seen the station one time in my travels so it was very hard to recognize it. It was the old station that now held the race track in H-5. The image looked different without the race track wrapped around it but there was no mistake that's what it was.
Finally, now I know my first stop in this damned journey and with everyones attention focused on RentaGhost the trip down might not be as bad as I expect. I figured I better get going the sooner I get rid of this thing the sooner my life can return to normal.
I gathered up my meager belongings and stuffed everything in my travel sack with that cursed globe at the bottom, hopefully my things would muffle the noise. For my sanity it did I could no longer hear the the ping or see the light comeing from the globe. Now I should be able to pass the miners without raising any more suspisions than I already had, after all an ITAN council member had been "hiding" in the ore locker for two days.
I didn't need any more attention.
I stopped along the busy hallways to give my thanks and good-byes to all those that I had come to know and fill my rations before I left. The dock was a busy place what with the mining Taurs and moths coming and going all the time but none of the miners even payed me any mind they were hell bent on unloading their cargo so they could launch again and heat another roid.
Since I had arrived here int he belly of a moth I didn't have my own boat to pilot out of here so I had to find somone that had one for sale.
*RAXS' NO GOOD MINING SHIPYARD* was the sign that caught my eye so I wandered over to see what he had for sale. A vulture caught my eye, now a vulture isn't my usual cup of tea but after all I was trying to stay hidden so I bought it, outfitted it with a neutronll, a sunflare launcher, and a fast charge cell. I jumped in the vulture and hit the throttle, off to Sedina I went.
-meanwhile-
There was a tremendous knock on MysticRogue's private office. The noise startled her from concentration causeing her to spill the small bottle of pheramone laced perfume all over her paperwork. As expensive and effective as it was this made her mood even worse than it was.
"You better have something important to tell me or you may be looking for somewhere to hide."
"It's me Mystic, look...no hands, something is going on. About 5 minutes ago I heard a noise comeing from the old vaults under our offices. I personally have never been down there, everthing is so outdated what use would I have for any of it? I went to check it out, hopeing to find someone trying to steal something from us. I didn't find anyone but I could still hear the noise."
"So! What was the noise!"
"I think you had better come see for yourself, I may have found the globe."
Mystic Smiled.
Elbryon[ITAN]
Council member
"Ha"
I cleaned a glass of deneb rum at my bar on Latos-N-15 and found a small fake bug at the bottom. "Must've gotten a shock from this". I placed the synth-glass on the shelf, shut off the lights and went up to my bunk, just as my hand hit the side of the sleep pod door, a large siren blared off. "Agh!", i said as I stumbled down to my comm room, weary and a bit drunk. The signal was coming from Elbryon.
"Otto, CLM discovered the fake globe, and they know it isnt real and they are hunting me down, i need to go radio silent. Here, take my beacon code and broadcast it, be ready with station defenses."
The number streamed onto the OLCD, 01000101011011000110001001110010011110010110111101101110.
It started broadcasting while I powered up weapons and set all but one on auto-control, "The gattling turret is mine" i said to myself. I took a seat in the small pod and shouted "Come n' Get me!!".
Otto Lambergen
(Edit: Made Bianary Translate as Elbryon)
I cleaned a glass of deneb rum at my bar on Latos-N-15 and found a small fake bug at the bottom. "Must've gotten a shock from this". I placed the synth-glass on the shelf, shut off the lights and went up to my bunk, just as my hand hit the side of the sleep pod door, a large siren blared off. "Agh!", i said as I stumbled down to my comm room, weary and a bit drunk. The signal was coming from Elbryon.
"Otto, CLM discovered the fake globe, and they know it isnt real and they are hunting me down, i need to go radio silent. Here, take my beacon code and broadcast it, be ready with station defenses."
The number streamed onto the OLCD, 01000101011011000110001001110010011110010110111101101110.
It started broadcasting while I powered up weapons and set all but one on auto-control, "The gattling turret is mine" i said to myself. I took a seat in the small pod and shouted "Come n' Get me!!".
Otto Lambergen
(Edit: Made Bianary Translate as Elbryon)
“Huh …? Wtf ?”
RentaGhost sat there in disbelief , one moment he was running for his life, with three Pirates chasing him, and with his ships hull down to 26% integrity, the next, the Pirates were breaking off pursuit in mid fire , and boosting out to jumping distance.
“What the hell are they doing? They are meant to be killing me!!” He said in frustration.
The plan wasn’t going well at all, first of all He managed to get out of Itani space with no problems whatsoever, second He didn’t see a sole until reaching Bractus, and that was only a trader in a Moth, and thirdly He had to hunt down a Pirate just for them to chase him.
RentaGhost sent out an inquiry on the Guild chat channel…
“Hey guys, has there been any new developments on the Globe? , cos I was in the middle of executing my diversionary plan, when suddenly the pirates that were chasing me broke off pursuit.”
“Hey RG. I’v been examining the globe for any more clues, and I some how activated it, iv got a location from it that im gonna check out…”
“That’s great Elb !! Good work !”
“… but the damn thing is also giving out a beacon signal, CLM are tracking it !!”
“Oh crap !! What are your plans now ? How can I help ?”
“I’m sending my beacon details to Otto to broadcast, to throw them off, then I’ll be going radio silent for a while, I’ll be in touch when iv got more info.”
“Ok Elb . Good luck !”
“Well that explains that then !”
RentaGhost opened up his rucksack and took out the fake globe, feeling a little disappointed that his ruse didn’t last for long.
“But maybe Elbryon got at least one good nites sleep from it.” RentaGhost chuckled to himself.
RentaGhost punched in a destination into his nav map and hit boost, just before hitting jump he jettisoned the fake globe into the empty sector, and watched it float away for a few seconds before jumping.
Back at a station in Jallik, RentaGhost sat sipping his beer just waiting for any new developments….
RentaGhost sat there in disbelief , one moment he was running for his life, with three Pirates chasing him, and with his ships hull down to 26% integrity, the next, the Pirates were breaking off pursuit in mid fire , and boosting out to jumping distance.
“What the hell are they doing? They are meant to be killing me!!” He said in frustration.
The plan wasn’t going well at all, first of all He managed to get out of Itani space with no problems whatsoever, second He didn’t see a sole until reaching Bractus, and that was only a trader in a Moth, and thirdly He had to hunt down a Pirate just for them to chase him.
RentaGhost sent out an inquiry on the Guild chat channel…
“Hey guys, has there been any new developments on the Globe? , cos I was in the middle of executing my diversionary plan, when suddenly the pirates that were chasing me broke off pursuit.”
“Hey RG. I’v been examining the globe for any more clues, and I some how activated it, iv got a location from it that im gonna check out…”
“That’s great Elb !! Good work !”
“… but the damn thing is also giving out a beacon signal, CLM are tracking it !!”
“Oh crap !! What are your plans now ? How can I help ?”
“I’m sending my beacon details to Otto to broadcast, to throw them off, then I’ll be going radio silent for a while, I’ll be in touch when iv got more info.”
“Ok Elb . Good luck !”
“Well that explains that then !”
RentaGhost opened up his rucksack and took out the fake globe, feeling a little disappointed that his ruse didn’t last for long.
“But maybe Elbryon got at least one good nites sleep from it.” RentaGhost chuckled to himself.
RentaGhost punched in a destination into his nav map and hit boost, just before hitting jump he jettisoned the fake globe into the empty sector, and watched it float away for a few seconds before jumping.
Back at a station in Jallik, RentaGhost sat sipping his beer just waiting for any new developments….
I knew Mystic wasn't going to like this, I knocked a little more softly on her door than last time so as not to startle her, no response. After a few minutes I knocked again more loudly, still nothing. Finally as I retrieved a stolen gong from my council quarters In a last ditch attempt to wake my probably sleeping commander she appeared down the hall a little confused about the 8 foot metal disk. She paused for a minute before asking "Is that?, Never mind I don't want to know, so what bad news do you have now?". I told her that now there were two beacon signals that could be the globe, so far there was one in grey and one in Itani space, the one in gray was likely the original since it fired up first. Hopefully they don't think of starting more beacons near the real globe, might cause us to mix up the signals. Also if the globe can send signals perhaps It can receive them.
Yoda was waiting impatiently when Mystic arrived in Pelatus. “Took ye long enough”
“Nice to see you too, and you know I did have a bit farther to travel than you” This was the kind of repartee that she missed most, with yoda busy with SAF and her with CLM. They didn't get as much time to just talk as they used to. “So how about that drink ye promised me?” Mystic lead the way inside to the airy sitting area. Grabbing two roid rammers she tossed one to yoda and asked him about the sphere. “So spill, what are all the tiny details that I need to know?”
Several hours later they both prepared to depart, yoda to blast some more itani, she to process the new information. Seems yoda knew more than he had let on. Now it was up to her to put all the pieces together and get the sphere back where it belongs, and use it as it was originally intended. First on the agenda was of course to retrieve it from the itani. Getting back to her office she found a stack of papers as well as a delivery from Pyronis. Opening it up she found the latest shipment of her perfume, she opened one to inhale the sweet hint of roses, the pheromones had no scent that she could detect, but they did the job well, so she continued buying it. Sitting the bottle down she turned her attention to the huge stack of papers. New recruits, applications, protection payment lists, she would deal with that later. Her attention was on the disks she had found downstairs.
Yoda had given her not only his own information, but also had directed her to where to find even more detailed records. The old offices of CLM were used mostly for storage now, but she had followed his directions to the old safe in what she supposed was the old commanders offices. If you could call it that, Mystic much preferred the newer accommodations upstairs, though there was a certain amount of allure to the old fashioned area, she would definitely have to come back down here at some point. Gathering up the disks she found, right where yoda had said they would be and activating the panel as he had instructed, she had headed up to her office.
Which brings her to these disks lying in front of her. “Well no time like the present I guess.” she said removing the first disk from its cover and inserting it. “Lets see what we can see.” A few hours later she was halfway through another of the many disks when a loud pounding startled her causing her to knock over the bottle of perfume, spilling it all over the papers on her desk.
"You better have something important to tell me or you may be looking for somewhere to hide."
"It's me Mystic, look...no hands, something is going on. About 5 minutes ago I heard a noise coming from the old vaults under our offices. I personally have never been down there, everything is so outdated what use would I have for any of it? I went to check it out, hoping to find someone trying to steal something from us. I didn't find anyone but I could still hear the noise."
"So! What was the noise!"
"I think you had better come see for yourself, I may have found the globe."
Mystic smiled, yoda had been right.....again. Together they headed back downstairs to the old office area. The panel she had activated earlier was indeed letting off an annoying beep. “Well this is good news...in a way. This can show us where the sphere is...at least a general area anyway. Keep someone near here at all times look..”
“Will do “
“Any new developments I want to be notified...good or bad, I'm going back to clean up my mess of an office and find some coffee, try to keep awake if I can”
She had went for a walk, her office fairly reeked of her perfume now and the papers were drying. Things were going better it seemed so she had felt a nice walk, a nice cup of coffee and a had even managed a nice hot shower. It was amazing how much better clean clothes and hot water could make you feel. She was thinking this as she came down the hall to see look standing outside her office holding what appeared to be a huge metal disk. She paused for a minute before asking "Is that?, Never mind I don't want to know, so what bad news do you have now?"
“Well it seems we now have two signals, the original in grey and now one in itani space”.
“They may have realized that it was giving off a signal and started the other to try to throw us off”
“Mystic, if the globe can transmit a signal, maybe it can receive one as well?”
She knew where look was headed was this.. “Well your our tech expert, so see what you can do to find out, if it is capable of receiving some type of electronic ping, we should be able to locate it.”
“I will get right on it, and if I can manage to get the frequency right, we can adjust a channel on our ships comms to communicate with the sphere ” Mystic smiled brightly at look, “Great! You do that and I'm going to get back to those dusty disks, keep me updated”
“Will do” look turned to leave
“Umm look?”
“Yeah?”
“Just what were you going to do with that huge thing?”
“I was going to wake you up with it”
“Good thing I wasn't asleep, or one of us might be dead right now.” They both laughed as she went into her office and he headed to start deciphering that signal.
“Nice to see you too, and you know I did have a bit farther to travel than you” This was the kind of repartee that she missed most, with yoda busy with SAF and her with CLM. They didn't get as much time to just talk as they used to. “So how about that drink ye promised me?” Mystic lead the way inside to the airy sitting area. Grabbing two roid rammers she tossed one to yoda and asked him about the sphere. “So spill, what are all the tiny details that I need to know?”
Several hours later they both prepared to depart, yoda to blast some more itani, she to process the new information. Seems yoda knew more than he had let on. Now it was up to her to put all the pieces together and get the sphere back where it belongs, and use it as it was originally intended. First on the agenda was of course to retrieve it from the itani. Getting back to her office she found a stack of papers as well as a delivery from Pyronis. Opening it up she found the latest shipment of her perfume, she opened one to inhale the sweet hint of roses, the pheromones had no scent that she could detect, but they did the job well, so she continued buying it. Sitting the bottle down she turned her attention to the huge stack of papers. New recruits, applications, protection payment lists, she would deal with that later. Her attention was on the disks she had found downstairs.
Yoda had given her not only his own information, but also had directed her to where to find even more detailed records. The old offices of CLM were used mostly for storage now, but she had followed his directions to the old safe in what she supposed was the old commanders offices. If you could call it that, Mystic much preferred the newer accommodations upstairs, though there was a certain amount of allure to the old fashioned area, she would definitely have to come back down here at some point. Gathering up the disks she found, right where yoda had said they would be and activating the panel as he had instructed, she had headed up to her office.
Which brings her to these disks lying in front of her. “Well no time like the present I guess.” she said removing the first disk from its cover and inserting it. “Lets see what we can see.” A few hours later she was halfway through another of the many disks when a loud pounding startled her causing her to knock over the bottle of perfume, spilling it all over the papers on her desk.
"You better have something important to tell me or you may be looking for somewhere to hide."
"It's me Mystic, look...no hands, something is going on. About 5 minutes ago I heard a noise coming from the old vaults under our offices. I personally have never been down there, everything is so outdated what use would I have for any of it? I went to check it out, hoping to find someone trying to steal something from us. I didn't find anyone but I could still hear the noise."
"So! What was the noise!"
"I think you had better come see for yourself, I may have found the globe."
Mystic smiled, yoda had been right.....again. Together they headed back downstairs to the old office area. The panel she had activated earlier was indeed letting off an annoying beep. “Well this is good news...in a way. This can show us where the sphere is...at least a general area anyway. Keep someone near here at all times look..”
“Will do “
“Any new developments I want to be notified...good or bad, I'm going back to clean up my mess of an office and find some coffee, try to keep awake if I can”
She had went for a walk, her office fairly reeked of her perfume now and the papers were drying. Things were going better it seemed so she had felt a nice walk, a nice cup of coffee and a had even managed a nice hot shower. It was amazing how much better clean clothes and hot water could make you feel. She was thinking this as she came down the hall to see look standing outside her office holding what appeared to be a huge metal disk. She paused for a minute before asking "Is that?, Never mind I don't want to know, so what bad news do you have now?"
“Well it seems we now have two signals, the original in grey and now one in itani space”.
“They may have realized that it was giving off a signal and started the other to try to throw us off”
“Mystic, if the globe can transmit a signal, maybe it can receive one as well?”
She knew where look was headed was this.. “Well your our tech expert, so see what you can do to find out, if it is capable of receiving some type of electronic ping, we should be able to locate it.”
“I will get right on it, and if I can manage to get the frequency right, we can adjust a channel on our ships comms to communicate with the sphere ” Mystic smiled brightly at look, “Great! You do that and I'm going to get back to those dusty disks, keep me updated”
“Will do” look turned to leave
“Umm look?”
“Yeah?”
“Just what were you going to do with that huge thing?”
“I was going to wake you up with it”
“Good thing I wasn't asleep, or one of us might be dead right now.” They both laughed as she went into her office and he headed to start deciphering that signal.
Malicious enters the CLM officers room, 'slightly' intoxicated..
"Now, where did I leave that globe.."
"Now, where did I leave that globe.."
I made several jumps in Edras system just to make sure that I wasn't being followed before finally makeing it to the jump sector to Pelatus.
I don't know if this is just an old vulture or what but the electronics in the cockpit keep blinking. I tried to ignore it and just keep going towards the abandoned station in the H-5 sector of Sedina. (If I had payed attention in flight school I might have realized that the blinking lights were old Earth morse code constantly transmitting my current position to someone who was listening.)I turned down the glow on my instruments so it wouldn't impair my sight as I tried to pilot the old vulture.
I finally cleared the worm hole into Pelatus with no pilot contacts or troubles. Turning my vulture around I made speed to reach my next jump distance. Just as I did that my proximity warning began to go off. Quickly I checked my radar and noticed that it was the Itani transport of xith comeing into sector. At first, I relaxed, not seeing any other pilots in the area I hailed the vessel and wished the pilots a safe trip. I let him know about the ion storm in Edras and proceded to continue on my way.
<sector>axia transport-[ITAN]pilot Elbryon we are currently being chased by [CLM]pilot look...no hands can we get your assistance?
<sector>Elbryon-Sorry chap I am trying to avoid CLM as I have some very important cargo that they would like to get their hands on.
<sector>axia transport-Do you know if any other ITAN are close that could give us an escort and get rid of this aggressor?
<sector>Elbryon-Let me check.
I sent out a guild message to any pilot that may be able to help the transport out. As I finished to comm my proximity warning beeped again. This time I was not relieved to see what had come in sector.
It was look...no hands.
I was still 1500m away from being able to jump out of sector when his first shots grazed the starboard wing of my vulture. I was able to roll out of the way of the rest of the shots from that volley of his busguns of destruction. I turned to return fire and was hit square in the front of my bird by what must have been 100 shots(probably like 5 but its my story).It didn't look like I was going to have any better luck today against look...no hands than I had ever had so I decided my best course of action would be to outrun him.
I hit the thruster and turboed right above his cockpit hopeing to catch him offgaurd so I could get a little jump on his corvvult. It worked, somewhat, well enough I got beyond the range of his busguns. Since even this old vulture can fly faster than the busgun shots I was relatively safe until my battery got depleted and I had to come out of turbo.
Look...no hands caught up to me in no time unloading shot after shot into my aft stabalizers *BOOM**Beep*
I was shot down, and back in the Tung base faster than I could blink.
<guild>Elbryon-Damn are any of you close to Pyronis?
<guild>iry-Yea, don't worry Elb I jumped in just as you were blowing up and got the jump on look...no hands so I have the globe and am bringing it back to you.
<guild>Elbryon-ah you can just keep it:)
<guild>iry-no, I don't think so I have other things to do
Iry showed up with the globe in his hull and handed it back to me. Somehow I have to get this over with so I can get back to my normal life and quit hiding from those pirates.
Well here we go again back on my way to Sedina.
Elbryon[ITAN]
Council Member
I don't know if this is just an old vulture or what but the electronics in the cockpit keep blinking. I tried to ignore it and just keep going towards the abandoned station in the H-5 sector of Sedina. (If I had payed attention in flight school I might have realized that the blinking lights were old Earth morse code constantly transmitting my current position to someone who was listening.)I turned down the glow on my instruments so it wouldn't impair my sight as I tried to pilot the old vulture.
I finally cleared the worm hole into Pelatus with no pilot contacts or troubles. Turning my vulture around I made speed to reach my next jump distance. Just as I did that my proximity warning began to go off. Quickly I checked my radar and noticed that it was the Itani transport of xith comeing into sector. At first, I relaxed, not seeing any other pilots in the area I hailed the vessel and wished the pilots a safe trip. I let him know about the ion storm in Edras and proceded to continue on my way.
<sector>axia transport-[ITAN]pilot Elbryon we are currently being chased by [CLM]pilot look...no hands can we get your assistance?
<sector>Elbryon-Sorry chap I am trying to avoid CLM as I have some very important cargo that they would like to get their hands on.
<sector>axia transport-Do you know if any other ITAN are close that could give us an escort and get rid of this aggressor?
<sector>Elbryon-Let me check.
I sent out a guild message to any pilot that may be able to help the transport out. As I finished to comm my proximity warning beeped again. This time I was not relieved to see what had come in sector.
It was look...no hands.
I was still 1500m away from being able to jump out of sector when his first shots grazed the starboard wing of my vulture. I was able to roll out of the way of the rest of the shots from that volley of his busguns of destruction. I turned to return fire and was hit square in the front of my bird by what must have been 100 shots(probably like 5 but its my story).It didn't look like I was going to have any better luck today against look...no hands than I had ever had so I decided my best course of action would be to outrun him.
I hit the thruster and turboed right above his cockpit hopeing to catch him offgaurd so I could get a little jump on his corvvult. It worked, somewhat, well enough I got beyond the range of his busguns. Since even this old vulture can fly faster than the busgun shots I was relatively safe until my battery got depleted and I had to come out of turbo.
Look...no hands caught up to me in no time unloading shot after shot into my aft stabalizers *BOOM**Beep*
I was shot down, and back in the Tung base faster than I could blink.
<guild>Elbryon-Damn are any of you close to Pyronis?
<guild>iry-Yea, don't worry Elb I jumped in just as you were blowing up and got the jump on look...no hands so I have the globe and am bringing it back to you.
<guild>Elbryon-ah you can just keep it:)
<guild>iry-no, I don't think so I have other things to do
Iry showed up with the globe in his hull and handed it back to me. Somehow I have to get this over with so I can get back to my normal life and quit hiding from those pirates.
Well here we go again back on my way to Sedina.
Elbryon[ITAN]
Council Member
I spent several days throwing signals at the globe's general location. Occasionally the signal changed a little but I still found it difficult to trace the signal to an exact location. The signal reflected off of EVERYTHING, not allowing me to narrow it down to more than half a system. I knew this wouldn't be easy, a 3D game of warmer colder based only on signal strength.
I armed half a dozen noobs with Warthog MK2's and flares and paid them to shoot anything blue trying to pass into Bractus. I didn't really expect them to stop Elbryon but they could buy me enough time to get there, at least that was the plan.
As I was hopping about playing warmer colder I chanced upon a CTC 'voy, perhaps attacking it will cause some radio chatter I could trace. As luck would have it I followed the 'voy right to Elbryon's location. Immediatley I went on the offensive painting the sky red with Bus gun blasts, a few minutes later Elbryon's vulture exploded, leaving some scrap metal and the globe. I raced over and grabbed it.
Forgetting that my location probably wasn't a secret to ITAN I studied the globe immediately, taking readings of the signals emanating from it, taking pictures and looking for any kind of up link port. Then suddenly I heard neutron blasts chew into my hull along with the interference caused noise from flares, lots of flares. Then in less than an instant I was cursing away at HQ. Mystic happened to be walking by the spawning chambers heard my ruckus and asked what the fuss was about. "I had the globe but Iry snuck up behind me in the confusion", I explained. Mystic was less than pleased, "Damn, Maybe you should use real weapons, here I'll pay for them". "Nah that wasn't the problem, the CTC 'voy banged me up a bit before I found them and Iry managed to warp in right behind me as I grabbed the globe. I got a good complete readout on the signals coming from the globe, and some pictures though."
A new recruit rushed up to me with a manila folder containing printouts of the information I gathered during my short time with the globe. Mystic's expression improved a little after seeing the papers, "well looks like you've got something to work with, and alot of work to do, I won't keep you from it." With that she instructed the new recruit turned delivery boy to keep me in snacks, coffee, beer, stims, and whatever else I need to keep working on deciphering the globe.
I gave him a list of foodstuffs to get from the commissary and a credit chip to pay for it, "Grab some grub for yourself too, I'll probably bounce ideas and theories off ya. I entered my quarters and sat down in my bean bag chair in front of my computer. Duct tape reflected the light from my monitor all over the place like a giant squishy disco ball.
I kinda recognized some of the symbols on the globe and I heard ITAN was trying to get to Sedina with the sphere, a good place to start, perhaps I can figure out where specifically they are going and assemble a force in advance...
I armed half a dozen noobs with Warthog MK2's and flares and paid them to shoot anything blue trying to pass into Bractus. I didn't really expect them to stop Elbryon but they could buy me enough time to get there, at least that was the plan.
As I was hopping about playing warmer colder I chanced upon a CTC 'voy, perhaps attacking it will cause some radio chatter I could trace. As luck would have it I followed the 'voy right to Elbryon's location. Immediatley I went on the offensive painting the sky red with Bus gun blasts, a few minutes later Elbryon's vulture exploded, leaving some scrap metal and the globe. I raced over and grabbed it.
Forgetting that my location probably wasn't a secret to ITAN I studied the globe immediately, taking readings of the signals emanating from it, taking pictures and looking for any kind of up link port. Then suddenly I heard neutron blasts chew into my hull along with the interference caused noise from flares, lots of flares. Then in less than an instant I was cursing away at HQ. Mystic happened to be walking by the spawning chambers heard my ruckus and asked what the fuss was about. "I had the globe but Iry snuck up behind me in the confusion", I explained. Mystic was less than pleased, "Damn, Maybe you should use real weapons, here I'll pay for them". "Nah that wasn't the problem, the CTC 'voy banged me up a bit before I found them and Iry managed to warp in right behind me as I grabbed the globe. I got a good complete readout on the signals coming from the globe, and some pictures though."
A new recruit rushed up to me with a manila folder containing printouts of the information I gathered during my short time with the globe. Mystic's expression improved a little after seeing the papers, "well looks like you've got something to work with, and alot of work to do, I won't keep you from it." With that she instructed the new recruit turned delivery boy to keep me in snacks, coffee, beer, stims, and whatever else I need to keep working on deciphering the globe.
I gave him a list of foodstuffs to get from the commissary and a credit chip to pay for it, "Grab some grub for yourself too, I'll probably bounce ideas and theories off ya. I entered my quarters and sat down in my bean bag chair in front of my computer. Duct tape reflected the light from my monitor all over the place like a giant squishy disco ball.
I kinda recognized some of the symbols on the globe and I heard ITAN was trying to get to Sedina with the sphere, a good place to start, perhaps I can figure out where specifically they are going and assemble a force in advance...
As luck would have it, the Tung miners towed in a wrecked Rune that someone had abandoned in one of the bot sectors that they were currently mining.
The poor thing looked like it had gone through hell and stopped to take a picture, but it was a Valk none the less so I set about getting it repaired, as best I could. First, I dug into the comms and controls to see what kind of shape they were in. Interestingly enough the controls had been altered to accept biolink plugins like you would expect to see in a serco ship. Who knows maybe I'll leave those in for use in the future. I decided to check out the data stored to see if I could figure out who had flown this Rune in the past. About an hour into deciphering the codes and passwords I get a big red CLM sign flashing across the terminal.
**CLM WELCOME COMMANDER YODA***
Oh! lucky me this was one of yoda's ships from before he left CLM. Hopefully I would be able to remove any and all tags or tracking devices that he had placed in this ship. After all now that MysticRogue and yoda were back on speaking terms it would not be wise to leave a chance that yoda would have an easy way to locate me. I spent the rest of the day unhooking tracking systems and position beacons, boy he did not want to lose this ship. When I finally had gotten everything out that I could find I began to begin putting back in things that I thought I could use. I purchase 2 hive posis from RAXS' place for the two ports on either side of the nose and a sunflare for the small port under the nose. I tried getting some of the meteor dents out to reduce the aged look because honestly how would it look for an ITAN council member to fly a shabby Valk.
I gave Rax his credit chip to pay for the use of his shipyard and for the parts that I bought and launched, again hopeing to actually make it to Sedina this time. This time I picked a great time to make the trip as the xith convoys had slowed and there was less traffic in this area of space. I made steady progress through worm hole and sector on my way to Sedina until I encountered a storm in the jump path to the Sedina worm hole.
Great, a storm. Oh well at least I had a decent ship this time so I shouldn't have any trouble defending myself on my way to the storm exit. I did have to fight a couple Valent assaults but nothing I really had to worry about.
I finally cleared the storm and could see the Sedina worm hole looming off my port side about 1500m away so I turned the Rune towards it and hit the full thrust. I was finally getting close to the first stop on this arduous trip. I decided to hit the guild comm and let anyone that I could know that I was finally getting close.
<guild>Elbryon-whew! Hey guys I am finally in Sedina I just cleared the Odia worm hole and am makeing my way up to sector L-2. I'll stop there breifly before I go and check out the old station.
When I didn't get a response I just figured that they were all busy and I would hear from them soon. I couldn't have been more wrong apparently while I was more worried about getting the roid dings out of the Rune I forgot to reconfigure the comms to ITAN channels and I had just broadcast that message to everyone in CLM. How did I know you ask, well the guild response I got explained it all....
<guild>MysticRogue-I am not sure how you hacked our guild comms but thankyou for letting me know EXACTLY where I can come and pick up my globe. You may have just saved me a weeks worth of whipping look...no hands to get him to figure out what you have just told me.
Damn! I'm so close. Well I'm going to go anyways the sooner I do the sooner this will be over with. I just hope I can avoid Mystic and her goons long enough to get in and out before they blow me up and take the globe from me.
Elbryon[ITAN]
Council member
The poor thing looked like it had gone through hell and stopped to take a picture, but it was a Valk none the less so I set about getting it repaired, as best I could. First, I dug into the comms and controls to see what kind of shape they were in. Interestingly enough the controls had been altered to accept biolink plugins like you would expect to see in a serco ship. Who knows maybe I'll leave those in for use in the future. I decided to check out the data stored to see if I could figure out who had flown this Rune in the past. About an hour into deciphering the codes and passwords I get a big red CLM sign flashing across the terminal.
**CLM WELCOME COMMANDER YODA***
Oh! lucky me this was one of yoda's ships from before he left CLM. Hopefully I would be able to remove any and all tags or tracking devices that he had placed in this ship. After all now that MysticRogue and yoda were back on speaking terms it would not be wise to leave a chance that yoda would have an easy way to locate me. I spent the rest of the day unhooking tracking systems and position beacons, boy he did not want to lose this ship. When I finally had gotten everything out that I could find I began to begin putting back in things that I thought I could use. I purchase 2 hive posis from RAXS' place for the two ports on either side of the nose and a sunflare for the small port under the nose. I tried getting some of the meteor dents out to reduce the aged look because honestly how would it look for an ITAN council member to fly a shabby Valk.
I gave Rax his credit chip to pay for the use of his shipyard and for the parts that I bought and launched, again hopeing to actually make it to Sedina this time. This time I picked a great time to make the trip as the xith convoys had slowed and there was less traffic in this area of space. I made steady progress through worm hole and sector on my way to Sedina until I encountered a storm in the jump path to the Sedina worm hole.
Great, a storm. Oh well at least I had a decent ship this time so I shouldn't have any trouble defending myself on my way to the storm exit. I did have to fight a couple Valent assaults but nothing I really had to worry about.
I finally cleared the storm and could see the Sedina worm hole looming off my port side about 1500m away so I turned the Rune towards it and hit the full thrust. I was finally getting close to the first stop on this arduous trip. I decided to hit the guild comm and let anyone that I could know that I was finally getting close.
<guild>Elbryon-whew! Hey guys I am finally in Sedina I just cleared the Odia worm hole and am makeing my way up to sector L-2. I'll stop there breifly before I go and check out the old station.
When I didn't get a response I just figured that they were all busy and I would hear from them soon. I couldn't have been more wrong apparently while I was more worried about getting the roid dings out of the Rune I forgot to reconfigure the comms to ITAN channels and I had just broadcast that message to everyone in CLM. How did I know you ask, well the guild response I got explained it all....
<guild>MysticRogue-I am not sure how you hacked our guild comms but thankyou for letting me know EXACTLY where I can come and pick up my globe. You may have just saved me a weeks worth of whipping look...no hands to get him to figure out what you have just told me.
Damn! I'm so close. Well I'm going to go anyways the sooner I do the sooner this will be over with. I just hope I can avoid Mystic and her goons long enough to get in and out before they blow me up and take the globe from me.
Elbryon[ITAN]
Council member
I nearly jumped out of my skin when my comms unit went off in my pocket. After tripping over the empty six pack I knocked on the floor I read the comms unit.
"<guild>Elbryon-whew! Hey guys I am finally in Sedina I just cleared the Odia worm hole and am making my way up to sector L-2. I'll stop there briefly before I go and check out the old station."
What the hell, how'd he get access to our channel? And why would he tell us this info? Then I saw this.
"<guild>MysticRogue-I am not sure how you hacked our guild comms but thank you for letting me know EXACTLY where I can come and pick up my globe. You may have just saved me a weeks worth of whipping look...no hands to get him to figure out what you have just told me."
I woke up the recruit, a new flight mechanic for some of our heavier rigs by flinging the previously knocked over six pack at the gong. GONG, "WHAA?! WHO'S THERE" I nearly fell out of my hover boy laughing, "check your comms, Elbryon, being the genius he is accidentally just told us where he is and that he's going to 'the old station', whatever that means.
He's probably alerted ITAN that his position has been compromised. Wont be but 10 minutes before this place gets shitty with smuf rigs. Start cross-referencing the images on the globe with all stations current and past in the system, there's gotta be a match, check the stations and any landmarks near them."
With that I ran (big change for me) to my hornet, all four bus guns charged and ready to rock. In a few seconds I was at L2 and Elbryon hadn't left yet. I hovered over the undocking bay waiting to see him approach his ship, with luck I could blow him up and steal the globe now, less he finds some way to exit the dock at REALLY high speed.
A few minutes later a message came in from Mystic, "what do you think he means by 'the old station'?". "Dunno I've got the new guy checking for me, I'm waiting to plasma cannon Elbryon's ship to slag when he undocks". "Your using a mechanic to research this?", "Sure, why not, I'm a mechanic mysel.."
I was cut off by the new guy, "Hey hate to interrupt your talk here but I think I found something. The old station in the racetrack. It was a lanthanic ore processing station, particularly Cobalt-60, till it had a problem with the refining equipment. With Xang Xi already stealing most of the business it was simply abandoned. The station gives out alot of hard radiation, all X and Gamma rays."
"See told ya he could do it just fine, We might want to assemble a force over there before he gets there. Maybe even drop off a squad in the station to ambush him in case he makes it into the station."
"<guild>Elbryon-whew! Hey guys I am finally in Sedina I just cleared the Odia worm hole and am making my way up to sector L-2. I'll stop there briefly before I go and check out the old station."
What the hell, how'd he get access to our channel? And why would he tell us this info? Then I saw this.
"<guild>MysticRogue-I am not sure how you hacked our guild comms but thank you for letting me know EXACTLY where I can come and pick up my globe. You may have just saved me a weeks worth of whipping look...no hands to get him to figure out what you have just told me."
I woke up the recruit, a new flight mechanic for some of our heavier rigs by flinging the previously knocked over six pack at the gong. GONG, "WHAA?! WHO'S THERE" I nearly fell out of my hover boy laughing, "check your comms, Elbryon, being the genius he is accidentally just told us where he is and that he's going to 'the old station', whatever that means.
He's probably alerted ITAN that his position has been compromised. Wont be but 10 minutes before this place gets shitty with smuf rigs. Start cross-referencing the images on the globe with all stations current and past in the system, there's gotta be a match, check the stations and any landmarks near them."
With that I ran (big change for me) to my hornet, all four bus guns charged and ready to rock. In a few seconds I was at L2 and Elbryon hadn't left yet. I hovered over the undocking bay waiting to see him approach his ship, with luck I could blow him up and steal the globe now, less he finds some way to exit the dock at REALLY high speed.
A few minutes later a message came in from Mystic, "what do you think he means by 'the old station'?". "Dunno I've got the new guy checking for me, I'm waiting to plasma cannon Elbryon's ship to slag when he undocks". "Your using a mechanic to research this?", "Sure, why not, I'm a mechanic mysel.."
I was cut off by the new guy, "Hey hate to interrupt your talk here but I think I found something. The old station in the racetrack. It was a lanthanic ore processing station, particularly Cobalt-60, till it had a problem with the refining equipment. With Xang Xi already stealing most of the business it was simply abandoned. The station gives out alot of hard radiation, all X and Gamma rays."
"See told ya he could do it just fine, We might want to assemble a force over there before he gets there. Maybe even drop off a squad in the station to ambush him in case he makes it into the station."
Man hiding out for this long is soooooo boring I hope I've hid long enough that look...no hands thinks I've died or something. Well tomorrow I'm going to make my way to the station and see what I can see.
After sitting in L-2 for more than two weeks waiting for look...no hands to get tired of camping the station I finally got tired of waiting and decided I had better try something so I hired one of the various convoy captains that come and go to drop a concussion mine behind them as they left, I figured I could hit that on take-off and it would accelerate me out of dock fast enough I could make it past look...no hands without being shot down.
When it was finally time for the convoy to leave I climbed into one of my Valks that I had left docked here and fromed right in behind the captains warthog. As the convoy left I could see LNH hovering just outside the dock waiting for me to try and leave. The captain dropped the mine and it was my time. I manuvered my valk around the mine so as to get in front of it and oriented myself so that I was faceing directly forward so I wouldn't hit the wall and slowly backed in.
*BANG*
With a tremendous jolt the conc mine launched me out of the exit bay well past the range of LNH's plasma cannons. The chase was on. I made as direct a flight, as I could muster, away from the station with LNH right out of range. I hit the 3000m mark in just a few seconds. I hit the jump right away hopeing to warp in close to the station, which I did, I ended up only about 1000m out.
The old station had been repaired fairly well since they had modded the racetrack around it. It would seem that PA liked to keep their tracks looking good. I found the docking bay easily enough and made a b-line straight for it. Since the station was reportedly abandoned I was not expecting too much chatter from the dock comms as I tried to enter the station so I was surprised to hear a voice come over the dock channel.
<sector>*Station Gaurd Obo Cree-Pilot Elbryon, we have been waiting for you please land and remain in your craft. The levels of X and Gamma radiation require you to wear a radiation suit in all parts of this station. So unless you brought one we will need to provide one for you.
Of course I hadn't brought a radiation suit.
<sector>Elbryon-Will do, but please hurry look...no hands is right on my tail I don't have much time.
<sector>*Station Gaurd Obo Cree-Patience Mr. Elbryon, remember you are our guest. That can be revoked just as simply as it is given.
I sat in my Valk and waited.
It seemed to be forever that I sat there so I decided to take a look at the globe, after all I'm in the right place now I might as well see if I can figure anything out with this cursed thing. I tumbled the globe over and over in my hands looking for any sign that it would give me as to where to go next. I caught a slight hint of light coming from one of the may glyphs running around its surface so I turned the globe over to examine it. The glyph was a small raise portion that resembled an L, as I ran my fingers over its edges the glow intensified slightly finally erupting into a bright beacon of light that engulfed the whole of my cockpit. I couldn't see anything! How do I shut this thing off?
I thought that friggin light was going to burn out my eyes just as the cockpit to my valk opened. The light streamed out. I was just getting my vision back and I saw docked to my left was look...no hands ship, how could they do that?
Wow! for being a station consumed with radiation it sure gave off a very nice scent.
<sector>Elbryon-How the hell did you get here so fast?
<sector>look...no hands-Relax Itani, I told you I was gonna catch you you lousy smurf!
<sector>MysticRogue-Easy look, don't be so rude to our guest. He has brought us a gift. Surrender the map now and you will be released, safe and unharmed.
<sector>Elbryon-Oddly enough Mysti I can't just let you have it. You will have to catch m......
I did't get the last word out before LNH bludgeoned me in the head with the back of his blaster. The last thing I remembered was falling out of my cockpit and being caught by Mystic just before I hit the floor. Man she smelled good for a pirate.
I woke up here laying on a cot locked in some friggin room at an abandoned station in Sedina. I hope someone can find me or CLM lets me go. I don't like being alone, especially with that map now in CLM's hands. I failed, I have to get out of here and get that thing back. Who knows what that pirate hid away? Whatever it is ITAN should get it not those pirates.
Did I mention how good Mystic smelled:(
Elbryon[ITAN]
Council member
When it was finally time for the convoy to leave I climbed into one of my Valks that I had left docked here and fromed right in behind the captains warthog. As the convoy left I could see LNH hovering just outside the dock waiting for me to try and leave. The captain dropped the mine and it was my time. I manuvered my valk around the mine so as to get in front of it and oriented myself so that I was faceing directly forward so I wouldn't hit the wall and slowly backed in.
*BANG*
With a tremendous jolt the conc mine launched me out of the exit bay well past the range of LNH's plasma cannons. The chase was on. I made as direct a flight, as I could muster, away from the station with LNH right out of range. I hit the 3000m mark in just a few seconds. I hit the jump right away hopeing to warp in close to the station, which I did, I ended up only about 1000m out.
The old station had been repaired fairly well since they had modded the racetrack around it. It would seem that PA liked to keep their tracks looking good. I found the docking bay easily enough and made a b-line straight for it. Since the station was reportedly abandoned I was not expecting too much chatter from the dock comms as I tried to enter the station so I was surprised to hear a voice come over the dock channel.
<sector>*Station Gaurd Obo Cree-Pilot Elbryon, we have been waiting for you please land and remain in your craft. The levels of X and Gamma radiation require you to wear a radiation suit in all parts of this station. So unless you brought one we will need to provide one for you.
Of course I hadn't brought a radiation suit.
<sector>Elbryon-Will do, but please hurry look...no hands is right on my tail I don't have much time.
<sector>*Station Gaurd Obo Cree-Patience Mr. Elbryon, remember you are our guest. That can be revoked just as simply as it is given.
I sat in my Valk and waited.
It seemed to be forever that I sat there so I decided to take a look at the globe, after all I'm in the right place now I might as well see if I can figure anything out with this cursed thing. I tumbled the globe over and over in my hands looking for any sign that it would give me as to where to go next. I caught a slight hint of light coming from one of the may glyphs running around its surface so I turned the globe over to examine it. The glyph was a small raise portion that resembled an L, as I ran my fingers over its edges the glow intensified slightly finally erupting into a bright beacon of light that engulfed the whole of my cockpit. I couldn't see anything! How do I shut this thing off?
I thought that friggin light was going to burn out my eyes just as the cockpit to my valk opened. The light streamed out. I was just getting my vision back and I saw docked to my left was look...no hands ship, how could they do that?
Wow! for being a station consumed with radiation it sure gave off a very nice scent.
<sector>Elbryon-How the hell did you get here so fast?
<sector>look...no hands-Relax Itani, I told you I was gonna catch you you lousy smurf!
<sector>MysticRogue-Easy look, don't be so rude to our guest. He has brought us a gift. Surrender the map now and you will be released, safe and unharmed.
<sector>Elbryon-Oddly enough Mysti I can't just let you have it. You will have to catch m......
I did't get the last word out before LNH bludgeoned me in the head with the back of his blaster. The last thing I remembered was falling out of my cockpit and being caught by Mystic just before I hit the floor. Man she smelled good for a pirate.
I woke up here laying on a cot locked in some friggin room at an abandoned station in Sedina. I hope someone can find me or CLM lets me go. I don't like being alone, especially with that map now in CLM's hands. I failed, I have to get out of here and get that thing back. Who knows what that pirate hid away? Whatever it is ITAN should get it not those pirates.
Did I mention how good Mystic smelled:(
Elbryon[ITAN]
Council member
I opened the slot in the door to Elbroyn's cell and placed his dinner on the trey, "Ahh I see you're awake, here's your dinner and some pain killers. No neither are poisoned, and don't bother trying to dig your way out with the plastic spoon, it won't work. Don't pick at your stitches, you had a skull fracture and theres no auto docs on this station. Any questions?"
Elbryon looked confused for a moment, perhaps I hit him too hard. "When will I get out of here, What about the radiation, and, is this real lemon aid?"
I chuckled a bit "Heh heh yea it's real lemon aid. You'll get out of here when we decide to let you go, shouldn't be too long. And this cell is magnetically shielded, so you've got nothing to worry about there."
I shut the slot and walked down the hall to Mystic's make shift office, "What the heck do we need him for, Lets just space him". She looked up from some papers the new mechanic sent over trying to figure out the picture the globe was projecting, "Patience, you almost killed him with that blow to the head, He's not exhausted his usefulness yet...."
Elbryon looked confused for a moment, perhaps I hit him too hard. "When will I get out of here, What about the radiation, and, is this real lemon aid?"
I chuckled a bit "Heh heh yea it's real lemon aid. You'll get out of here when we decide to let you go, shouldn't be too long. And this cell is magnetically shielded, so you've got nothing to worry about there."
I shut the slot and walked down the hall to Mystic's make shift office, "What the heck do we need him for, Lets just space him". She looked up from some papers the new mechanic sent over trying to figure out the picture the globe was projecting, "Patience, you almost killed him with that blow to the head, He's not exhausted his usefulness yet...."
<guild>"MR to JJ"
<guild>"Yeah, boss..."
<guild>"We've got it, suspend operations in Latos. We need your expertise in Sedina."
<guild>"I've got my kit with me, I'll be there soonest."
JahelaJ had been cycling between the wormholes in Latos in an attempt to spot Elbryon if he attempted to make Sedina space through UIT or Serco space. Not a glamorous assignment but the thought of the globe being discovered again after all these years had intrigued her.
RelayeR had told her about the globe when she started working for REI. Back then, she thought they were tales told to inspire and inspire they did. JehelaJ had spent the rest of her time at REI digging up any scrap of information she could find about the globe. The information she found stoked the fires of curiosity until they were the infernos of an obsession.
The anecdotes, charts, names, dates and places she had gathered almost filled a 3 terabyte shard. Her "kit" as she called it. She couldn't wait to apply all that knowledge to the real deal.
"This is going to be awesome", she chuckled to herself as she punched her Taur towards Sedina.
<guild>"Yeah, boss..."
<guild>"We've got it, suspend operations in Latos. We need your expertise in Sedina."
<guild>"I've got my kit with me, I'll be there soonest."
JahelaJ had been cycling between the wormholes in Latos in an attempt to spot Elbryon if he attempted to make Sedina space through UIT or Serco space. Not a glamorous assignment but the thought of the globe being discovered again after all these years had intrigued her.
RelayeR had told her about the globe when she started working for REI. Back then, she thought they were tales told to inspire and inspire they did. JehelaJ had spent the rest of her time at REI digging up any scrap of information she could find about the globe. The information she found stoked the fires of curiosity until they were the infernos of an obsession.
The anecdotes, charts, names, dates and places she had gathered almost filled a 3 terabyte shard. Her "kit" as she called it. She couldn't wait to apply all that knowledge to the real deal.
"This is going to be awesome", she chuckled to herself as she punched her Taur towards Sedina.
The last two weeks had been productive, if a bit rushed. Elbryon making that miscommunication to CLM had been just what they needed. They knew where he was headed, CLM just had to be there first. Mystic had started making plans as soon as look was in place. Seems Elbryon helped more than he knew. Hiding in L-2 for the past two weeks he had given them more than ample opportunity to get everything situated. Part of CLM was patrolling all nearby wormholes in case he slipped by look, the others had been making preparations at the abandoned station. Fortune had smiled on CLM once again that the station was kept up by the Phoenix Alliance, their allies. PA used the area to host racing events for pilots willing to venture into grey. There were several racetracks set up, but this one had been built around an abandoned station.
The radiation had been a concern but with the combined talents of the pirates, it had been made habitable in no time. Magnetic fields had been set up in several areas that they would need. Mystic had decided to temporarily move her office there, so that she would be able stay nearby while they waited.
It was here that she sat now, just waiting. She knew that the others were getting tense as well, taking turns to make sure that no one got through the wormholes without them knowing. JJ and Cowboy had been covering Latos in alternating shifts. Taker had been hanging out in Sedina , which suited him fine, as thats where he spent most of his time anyway. Tumble and tram were usually in this area as well, and they loved the standing orders that all ITAN ships were to be destroyed on sight. Malicious had joined her and the others on the station. Mostly new recruits were here right now, along with a few well paid technicians they needed to get the station in at least semi-working order.
“He is on the move!”, looks voice came over her comm. Mystic immediately alerted everyone, “This is it, he is on his way, lets do this right and we will have everything we need” She made her way down to the docking area, careful to stay out of sight of any docking ships. Suddenly the proximity alert sounded, letting them know a ship was nearby, checking the signature she saw it was Elbryon. “Lets not let anything go wrong guys,”she whispered mostly to herself. He had came in 1000m from the station, that could make things hairy.
<sector>*Station Guard Obo Cree-”Pilot Elbryon, we have been waiting for you please land and remain in your craft. The levels of X and Gamma radiation require you to wear a radiation suit in all parts of this station. So unless you brought one we will need to provide one for you.”
<sector>Elbryon-Will do, but please hurry look...no hands is right on my tail I don't have much time.
<sector>*Station Guard Obo Cree-”Patience Mr. Elbryon, remember you are our guest. That can be revoked just as simply as it is given”
Mystic gave a slight glare to the new recruit playing as the station guard. She didn't want Elbryon to take off again, when he was so close.
The Valk landed smoothly and it seemed Elbryon was taking the “guard” at his word, as he was just sitting quietly, looking at something, Mystic assumed it to be the globe. She watched as look moved his ship in very quietly and got out. Suddenly his cockpit filled with a radiant light that Mystic knew had to be blinding to anyone close to it. “Well fate smiles on us once again it seems”she said as she walked towards the ship, look coming up on the other side. She walked up and opened the door to the cockpit, watching Elbryon rub his eyes.
“How the hell did you get here so fast? “this directed at look, he didn't seem to have noticed her yet, Mystic surmised.
“Relax Itani, I told you I was gonna catch you you lousy smurf! “
“Easy look, don't be so rude to our guest. He has brought us a gift.”,to Elbryon”Surrender the map now and you will be released, safe and unharmed. “
“Oddly enough Mystic I can't just let you have it. You will have to catch m...” he was cut off as look brought his blaster down on the back of his head. Mystic barely managed to catch him, seeing a hint of a smile as she did so.”She sighed, “Ok now you take him and make sure he gets medical attention and then put him in the room. I didn't intend for you to bash him.”
“He was about to try to run..” Mystic cut him off “To where? We are not 2 feet from his ship, his engines off and cockpit open” she sighed. “When he comes around make sure he has some food and medicines, and give him some of that fresh lemonade I made in the galley. We can at least be polite hosts” With this she picked up the globe, turned and walked back to her temporary office.
Mystic looked at the globe, it was beautifully designed, now to unlock its secrets. She put in a call to JJ,
"MR to JJ"
"Yeah, boss..."
"We've got it, suspend operations in Latos. We need your expertise in Sedina."
"I've got my kit with me, I'll be there soonest."
Now back to waiting, and wondering if holding a council member of ITAN was going to be profitable, or just a pain in the neck. She just had to put in a call to yoda, he would love this. He wasn't available, so she left him a message.
“Hey guess what I have locked up right now? An itani, but not just any itani...Council member Elbryon of ITAN. Things are about to get interesting I believe.” With that she signed off , grabbed a cup of coffee and sat back down as one of the newer guys brought in some papers. She was looking them over when look came in a few minutes later.
“Is our guest comfortable?” she asked without looking up.
"What the heck do we need him for, Lets just space him".
She finally looked up from the papers the new mechanic sent over trying to figure out the picture the globe was projecting, "Patience, you almost killed him with that blow to the head, He's not exhausted his usefulness yet...."
“And your starting to get as antsy as tumble about rushing to destroy someone that might come in handy....”
The radiation had been a concern but with the combined talents of the pirates, it had been made habitable in no time. Magnetic fields had been set up in several areas that they would need. Mystic had decided to temporarily move her office there, so that she would be able stay nearby while they waited.
It was here that she sat now, just waiting. She knew that the others were getting tense as well, taking turns to make sure that no one got through the wormholes without them knowing. JJ and Cowboy had been covering Latos in alternating shifts. Taker had been hanging out in Sedina , which suited him fine, as thats where he spent most of his time anyway. Tumble and tram were usually in this area as well, and they loved the standing orders that all ITAN ships were to be destroyed on sight. Malicious had joined her and the others on the station. Mostly new recruits were here right now, along with a few well paid technicians they needed to get the station in at least semi-working order.
“He is on the move!”, looks voice came over her comm. Mystic immediately alerted everyone, “This is it, he is on his way, lets do this right and we will have everything we need” She made her way down to the docking area, careful to stay out of sight of any docking ships. Suddenly the proximity alert sounded, letting them know a ship was nearby, checking the signature she saw it was Elbryon. “Lets not let anything go wrong guys,”she whispered mostly to herself. He had came in 1000m from the station, that could make things hairy.
<sector>*Station Guard Obo Cree-”Pilot Elbryon, we have been waiting for you please land and remain in your craft. The levels of X and Gamma radiation require you to wear a radiation suit in all parts of this station. So unless you brought one we will need to provide one for you.”
<sector>Elbryon-Will do, but please hurry look...no hands is right on my tail I don't have much time.
<sector>*Station Guard Obo Cree-”Patience Mr. Elbryon, remember you are our guest. That can be revoked just as simply as it is given”
Mystic gave a slight glare to the new recruit playing as the station guard. She didn't want Elbryon to take off again, when he was so close.
The Valk landed smoothly and it seemed Elbryon was taking the “guard” at his word, as he was just sitting quietly, looking at something, Mystic assumed it to be the globe. She watched as look moved his ship in very quietly and got out. Suddenly his cockpit filled with a radiant light that Mystic knew had to be blinding to anyone close to it. “Well fate smiles on us once again it seems”she said as she walked towards the ship, look coming up on the other side. She walked up and opened the door to the cockpit, watching Elbryon rub his eyes.
“How the hell did you get here so fast? “this directed at look, he didn't seem to have noticed her yet, Mystic surmised.
“Relax Itani, I told you I was gonna catch you you lousy smurf! “
“Easy look, don't be so rude to our guest. He has brought us a gift.”,to Elbryon”Surrender the map now and you will be released, safe and unharmed. “
“Oddly enough Mystic I can't just let you have it. You will have to catch m...” he was cut off as look brought his blaster down on the back of his head. Mystic barely managed to catch him, seeing a hint of a smile as she did so.”She sighed, “Ok now you take him and make sure he gets medical attention and then put him in the room. I didn't intend for you to bash him.”
“He was about to try to run..” Mystic cut him off “To where? We are not 2 feet from his ship, his engines off and cockpit open” she sighed. “When he comes around make sure he has some food and medicines, and give him some of that fresh lemonade I made in the galley. We can at least be polite hosts” With this she picked up the globe, turned and walked back to her temporary office.
Mystic looked at the globe, it was beautifully designed, now to unlock its secrets. She put in a call to JJ,
"MR to JJ"
"Yeah, boss..."
"We've got it, suspend operations in Latos. We need your expertise in Sedina."
"I've got my kit with me, I'll be there soonest."
Now back to waiting, and wondering if holding a council member of ITAN was going to be profitable, or just a pain in the neck. She just had to put in a call to yoda, he would love this. He wasn't available, so she left him a message.
“Hey guess what I have locked up right now? An itani, but not just any itani...Council member Elbryon of ITAN. Things are about to get interesting I believe.” With that she signed off , grabbed a cup of coffee and sat back down as one of the newer guys brought in some papers. She was looking them over when look came in a few minutes later.
“Is our guest comfortable?” she asked without looking up.
"What the heck do we need him for, Lets just space him".
She finally looked up from the papers the new mechanic sent over trying to figure out the picture the globe was projecting, "Patience, you almost killed him with that blow to the head, He's not exhausted his usefulness yet...."
“And your starting to get as antsy as tumble about rushing to destroy someone that might come in handy....”
JahelaJ docked her taur and headed for MysticRogue's temporary office. The trip over was uneventful as no smurfs presented themselves for a return trip to smurfland. Mystic's order to kill any blues was never lifted so JahelaJ wanted to put the adrenaline pumping in her system to good use. Alas, that was not to be and she arrived in K5 with the jitters.
She knocked on her Commander's door and heard a strained "Enter". When she opened the door, she could barely see MysticRogue behind the piles of printouts on either side of the globe.
The globe... Upon seeing it for the first time, JahelaJ could only stare. She had read countless descriptions of the globe from many claiming to have seen it, from many more that claimed to know someone who had seen it and from still more that she knew, right away, didn't know what the hell they were talking about. From the ridiculous to the sublime, none of the descriptions did the globe the least bit of justice. It's size, gold color, ornate carvings and raised runes gave it an alien air that gave the beholder the shudders.
The globe was giving off a light that varied in intensity and color and struck all four walls, ceiling, desk and floor. A portion of it shone on a bookcase to the right of the desk. On the bookcase was a slab of dark-orange ore, probably left over from the previous mining concern here. Where the light hit the ore, it's intensity and color changed and for a second, JahelaJ could have sworn she saw a face. The image passed and what remained was a swirl of colors that looked like the rest of the light hitting the walls.
Not hearing anything for a moment after bidding the knocker to enter, MysticRogue looked up from her reading and saw JahelaJ staring at the bookcase.
"Girl, am I glad to see you!" Mystic said as she got up and walked around the desk. She gave and received a triple cheek kiss and noticed the dazed expression on JahelaJ's face.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"Yes, I'm a little rattled over finally seeing the globe... I could have sworn I saw... oh, nevermind, it was nothing. Have you been able to decipher anything yet?"
"Just old tales told by fools, it seems. Almost everything I've seen so far is third and forth-hand info that just isn't panning out. I'm really hoping you and your kit can shed some light on this. Forgive the pun", she smirked, pointing around the room at the swirling colors.
"Well, let's see." said JahelaJ as she moved to the console in the center of the room. She removed her data shard from it's case and inserted it into the console.
She knocked on her Commander's door and heard a strained "Enter". When she opened the door, she could barely see MysticRogue behind the piles of printouts on either side of the globe.
The globe... Upon seeing it for the first time, JahelaJ could only stare. She had read countless descriptions of the globe from many claiming to have seen it, from many more that claimed to know someone who had seen it and from still more that she knew, right away, didn't know what the hell they were talking about. From the ridiculous to the sublime, none of the descriptions did the globe the least bit of justice. It's size, gold color, ornate carvings and raised runes gave it an alien air that gave the beholder the shudders.
The globe was giving off a light that varied in intensity and color and struck all four walls, ceiling, desk and floor. A portion of it shone on a bookcase to the right of the desk. On the bookcase was a slab of dark-orange ore, probably left over from the previous mining concern here. Where the light hit the ore, it's intensity and color changed and for a second, JahelaJ could have sworn she saw a face. The image passed and what remained was a swirl of colors that looked like the rest of the light hitting the walls.
Not hearing anything for a moment after bidding the knocker to enter, MysticRogue looked up from her reading and saw JahelaJ staring at the bookcase.
"Girl, am I glad to see you!" Mystic said as she got up and walked around the desk. She gave and received a triple cheek kiss and noticed the dazed expression on JahelaJ's face.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"Yes, I'm a little rattled over finally seeing the globe... I could have sworn I saw... oh, nevermind, it was nothing. Have you been able to decipher anything yet?"
"Just old tales told by fools, it seems. Almost everything I've seen so far is third and forth-hand info that just isn't panning out. I'm really hoping you and your kit can shed some light on this. Forgive the pun", she smirked, pointing around the room at the swirling colors.
"Well, let's see." said JahelaJ as she moved to the console in the center of the room. She removed her data shard from it's case and inserted it into the console.
After several failed attempts to hire a trader iry purchased an EC 107 and set course for the weapons markets of Verasi. Aside from having to dodge Jolly Roger’s exorbitant passage fee at the Latos-Azek wormhole the trip to Verasi was fairly routine. Upon arrival at Kannik Hold iry discovered that the selection was in fact... impressive, and began buying anything that might aid in Elbryon's rescue.
One Behemoth, 2 Basic Targeting System, 2 ERS Tracking Systems, 2 Guided Missile Casings, 2 Instrumentation Panels, 2 crates of Military Research Supplies, 2 crates of NanoFeed, 10 crates of Personal Defense Systems, 2 Propellant Actuators, 3 Radiation Containment Kits, 20 crates of Solid Explosives, 5 Solid Fuel Packs, and 2 crates of XiRite Alloy later...
The massive hold of the Behemoth was actually filled, and iry realized that perhaps he had gone just a little overboard. Elbryon’s last known heading was for one of the abandoned racing stations, it was possible that by entering his signal was blocked out, but the suddenness of the silence suggested otherwise. Yes, he'd vanished without a trace into an abandoned station with CLM on his tail but was all this necessary?
Soon he was well on his way back to Sedina when the proximity warning beeped and the ultra spacious Behemoth XC of Bron Charleson completed its jump through the Nyrius-Dau wormhole with Jolly Roger hot on his tail. Unwilling to risk his cargo any more than necessary iry reported Jolly's location to the UIT strike forces and commenced the jump to Dau while Jolly Roger was still occupied with the fleeing XC.
It was unfortunate that Bron Charleson's appearance was just the distraction needed to escape the notice of Jolly Roger. iry reached for his comm, he wasn't going to count on luck saving him a second time, and neither was he going to let Bron's (unwilling) sacrifice go to waste.
Only Omega 0 and a passing pilot named n!nj@ were available to offer escort. iry took cover within a TPG convoy bound for Latos while Omega 0 and n!nj@ scouted the Latos-Sedina wormhole. It was odd for both ends to be devoid of pirate activity at this hour, but it seemed even pirates had to take a break from wormhole surveillance every once in awhile. Despite n!nj@'s itchy trigger finger at the sight of Daggoth Koronoth, iry managed to make it to Daltas Hold unpursued.
"What do you mean inspection?!"
iry's, mind raced, searching for some way past this very nosey station guard when the dock master suddenly authorized entry despite the guard's prodding.
It seemed he was going to need to have a chat with the good Lieutenant about the proper uses of guild funds.
"So what was the big deal?" Omega inquired over the comm.
iry glanced at his cargo manifest and changed his mind.
"Heh, I'll show you."
iry transmitted his cargo manifest and grinned as he received a whistle in reply.
iry and Omega arrived at the (still) abandoned station and were surprised to find a number of other pilotless vessels inside the dock. iry checked the charge on his sidearm and tossed an extra into his bag while Omega secured the lifeless dock. Satisfied, iry began sneaking down an open passage in search of Elbryon.
Most of the station was sealed off leaving iry with only a few areas to search. It wasn't long until he encountered someone emerging from a storage room with an empty tray. Realizing he'd been spotted iry fired a paralyzing ion bolt into the figures chest, and hoped no one was close enough to notice. Unable to leave the body where it fell, iry reopened the storage room in search of a suitable place to hide his stunned victim. The room, it turned out, wasn't empty and iry reflexively pointed his blaster at the head of the room's only inhabitant.
The moment of tension passed and iry reluctantly lowered his weapon and mumbled something about rescue operations gone wrong and dragged the paralyzed body into the cell.
"On your feet! Omega's waiting for us." iry pulled out the extra pistol and shoved it into Elbryon's hand before leading him out the door.
One Behemoth, 2 Basic Targeting System, 2 ERS Tracking Systems, 2 Guided Missile Casings, 2 Instrumentation Panels, 2 crates of Military Research Supplies, 2 crates of NanoFeed, 10 crates of Personal Defense Systems, 2 Propellant Actuators, 3 Radiation Containment Kits, 20 crates of Solid Explosives, 5 Solid Fuel Packs, and 2 crates of XiRite Alloy later...
The massive hold of the Behemoth was actually filled, and iry realized that perhaps he had gone just a little overboard. Elbryon’s last known heading was for one of the abandoned racing stations, it was possible that by entering his signal was blocked out, but the suddenness of the silence suggested otherwise. Yes, he'd vanished without a trace into an abandoned station with CLM on his tail but was all this necessary?
Soon he was well on his way back to Sedina when the proximity warning beeped and the ultra spacious Behemoth XC of Bron Charleson completed its jump through the Nyrius-Dau wormhole with Jolly Roger hot on his tail. Unwilling to risk his cargo any more than necessary iry reported Jolly's location to the UIT strike forces and commenced the jump to Dau while Jolly Roger was still occupied with the fleeing XC.
It was unfortunate that Bron Charleson's appearance was just the distraction needed to escape the notice of Jolly Roger. iry reached for his comm, he wasn't going to count on luck saving him a second time, and neither was he going to let Bron's (unwilling) sacrifice go to waste.
Only Omega 0 and a passing pilot named n!nj@ were available to offer escort. iry took cover within a TPG convoy bound for Latos while Omega 0 and n!nj@ scouted the Latos-Sedina wormhole. It was odd for both ends to be devoid of pirate activity at this hour, but it seemed even pirates had to take a break from wormhole surveillance every once in awhile. Despite n!nj@'s itchy trigger finger at the sight of Daggoth Koronoth, iry managed to make it to Daltas Hold unpursued.
"What do you mean inspection?!"
iry's, mind raced, searching for some way past this very nosey station guard when the dock master suddenly authorized entry despite the guard's prodding.
It seemed he was going to need to have a chat with the good Lieutenant about the proper uses of guild funds.
"So what was the big deal?" Omega inquired over the comm.
iry glanced at his cargo manifest and changed his mind.
"Heh, I'll show you."
iry transmitted his cargo manifest and grinned as he received a whistle in reply.
iry and Omega arrived at the (still) abandoned station and were surprised to find a number of other pilotless vessels inside the dock. iry checked the charge on his sidearm and tossed an extra into his bag while Omega secured the lifeless dock. Satisfied, iry began sneaking down an open passage in search of Elbryon.
Most of the station was sealed off leaving iry with only a few areas to search. It wasn't long until he encountered someone emerging from a storage room with an empty tray. Realizing he'd been spotted iry fired a paralyzing ion bolt into the figures chest, and hoped no one was close enough to notice. Unable to leave the body where it fell, iry reopened the storage room in search of a suitable place to hide his stunned victim. The room, it turned out, wasn't empty and iry reflexively pointed his blaster at the head of the room's only inhabitant.
The moment of tension passed and iry reluctantly lowered his weapon and mumbled something about rescue operations gone wrong and dragged the paralyzed body into the cell.
"On your feet! Omega's waiting for us." iry pulled out the extra pistol and shoved it into Elbryon's hand before leading him out the door.
After an hour of database searches that lead nowhere, JahelaJ slumped back in her chair.
"I know I'm missing something obvious but I've tried everything I can think of to get an answer about the lights."
"Well, keep at it, JJ. We've got to get past this first hurdle soon. This place won't be safe for long", Mystic said as she headed out the door.
JahelaJ closed her eyes to block out the swirling lights hitting everything in the room. She just couldn't understand the purpose of suck a chaotic display. It was like someone was wildly swinging an old-time movie projector in the deep end of a dark swimming pool. She also knew the lights were disjointed but with purpose.
At that moment, she recalled the face that appeared on the slab of ore on the bookcase. She turned towards it but it just shown with the same crazy colors as the rest of the room. She got up and went to the bookcase. She lifted the slab and, holding it to her chest, carried it over toward the globe. When she was about three meters from the globe, she heard someone say "...closest roid." JahelaJ stopped in her tracks but there was nobody else in the room and no more talking. She looked down at the slab of ore but it was just reflecting the same swirls. She backed up a bit... nothing. Then a bit more and the talking could be heard as clear as day!
"...from a jump-in of e14, go to the closest roid. The..."
JahelaJ almost dropped the slab of ore. She peered over the top and looked again at the side of the slab facing the globe. The projection had solidified a bit to show a man's face speaking. It was far from clear and she didn't recognize the man or anything in the background around him. She turned the slab around and looked at the small metal plate affixed to the bottom: "99.76% Heliocene Ore - first mineral processed at K-05."
She set the slab down and went back to the console. She quickly typed in "Heliocene" and got a few hits.
The first hit was an interview with a very old heliocene miner who told a wild tale about a massive theft of ore from a processing plant back in the day. Normally, such a story would not have been included in her kit but something the miner said made JahelaJ keep it. She re-watched the interview. Most of it was boring and inconsequential until the miner said "...as we were laying beside the seven taurs with blasters to our heads, one of the thieves said to another: 'Why does he need this much?' The other replied: 'He said something about needing 33,000 kilos to make the lens, I don't ask questions, I just do what I'm told.'"
The other two hits on heliocene revealed nothing useful.
JahelaJ decided to try "lens" in the search.
She only got one hit. It was an old transcript from the incident-debriefing where the globe was first lost. One of the pilots involved in the search was asked to speculate on the whereabouts of the globe. He stated that he thought the globe had been absorbed into the hive bots like everything else is. He was then asked what should be looked for. The pilots words seemed more like a sassy taunt than an answer as he said "Look for a queen with three lenses."
Everyone knew that queens had two "lens" eyes for biopic vision.
JahelaJ went to the globe and examined it closely. There was nothing on the surface that would seem like a lens or be mistaken for a lens, only runes, etchings and a series of cracks that she thought were seams of some sort. The light was coming out of almost all the seams but when she looked closer, there was an etching in the shape of a small "x" that had a tiny dot of light in the center. As far as she could tell, this was the only location on the globe that emitted light that wasn't a seam.
She went back to the console and typed a single "x" in the search field.
She received over 7,000 hits and started to quickly scan them for subject importance. She had quickly scanned and eliminated over 100 entries when she heard what sounded like a blaster and a thud. She quickly shut down the console, removed her kit and hid it in it's case. She killed the lights in the office and got down behind the desk, blaster in hand.
"I know I'm missing something obvious but I've tried everything I can think of to get an answer about the lights."
"Well, keep at it, JJ. We've got to get past this first hurdle soon. This place won't be safe for long", Mystic said as she headed out the door.
JahelaJ closed her eyes to block out the swirling lights hitting everything in the room. She just couldn't understand the purpose of suck a chaotic display. It was like someone was wildly swinging an old-time movie projector in the deep end of a dark swimming pool. She also knew the lights were disjointed but with purpose.
At that moment, she recalled the face that appeared on the slab of ore on the bookcase. She turned towards it but it just shown with the same crazy colors as the rest of the room. She got up and went to the bookcase. She lifted the slab and, holding it to her chest, carried it over toward the globe. When she was about three meters from the globe, she heard someone say "...closest roid." JahelaJ stopped in her tracks but there was nobody else in the room and no more talking. She looked down at the slab of ore but it was just reflecting the same swirls. She backed up a bit... nothing. Then a bit more and the talking could be heard as clear as day!
"...from a jump-in of e14, go to the closest roid. The..."
JahelaJ almost dropped the slab of ore. She peered over the top and looked again at the side of the slab facing the globe. The projection had solidified a bit to show a man's face speaking. It was far from clear and she didn't recognize the man or anything in the background around him. She turned the slab around and looked at the small metal plate affixed to the bottom: "99.76% Heliocene Ore - first mineral processed at K-05."
She set the slab down and went back to the console. She quickly typed in "Heliocene" and got a few hits.
The first hit was an interview with a very old heliocene miner who told a wild tale about a massive theft of ore from a processing plant back in the day. Normally, such a story would not have been included in her kit but something the miner said made JahelaJ keep it. She re-watched the interview. Most of it was boring and inconsequential until the miner said "...as we were laying beside the seven taurs with blasters to our heads, one of the thieves said to another: 'Why does he need this much?' The other replied: 'He said something about needing 33,000 kilos to make the lens, I don't ask questions, I just do what I'm told.'"
The other two hits on heliocene revealed nothing useful.
JahelaJ decided to try "lens" in the search.
She only got one hit. It was an old transcript from the incident-debriefing where the globe was first lost. One of the pilots involved in the search was asked to speculate on the whereabouts of the globe. He stated that he thought the globe had been absorbed into the hive bots like everything else is. He was then asked what should be looked for. The pilots words seemed more like a sassy taunt than an answer as he said "Look for a queen with three lenses."
Everyone knew that queens had two "lens" eyes for biopic vision.
JahelaJ went to the globe and examined it closely. There was nothing on the surface that would seem like a lens or be mistaken for a lens, only runes, etchings and a series of cracks that she thought were seams of some sort. The light was coming out of almost all the seams but when she looked closer, there was an etching in the shape of a small "x" that had a tiny dot of light in the center. As far as she could tell, this was the only location on the globe that emitted light that wasn't a seam.
She went back to the console and typed a single "x" in the search field.
She received over 7,000 hits and started to quickly scan them for subject importance. She had quickly scanned and eliminated over 100 entries when she heard what sounded like a blaster and a thud. She quickly shut down the console, removed her kit and hid it in it's case. She killed the lights in the office and got down behind the desk, blaster in hand.
"Why do I have to deliver Elbryon's next meal, Didn't Mystic ask you to do it?", damned mechanic was getting uppity again, "Yes and now I'm ordering you to do it, thats how the chain of command works". The mechanic wasn't too happy, "man I signed up to fix ships not give some smurf *pew* *uhhg* *thud*".
I knew that sound immediatley, a stun blaster, very quiet, I'd've not heard it if not for the comms unit. I grabbed my shotgun and armed the claymores mounted in the ceiling outside my office.
I called JahelaJ, she's closest to the prisoner, "hey watch your back we've got weapons fire in your area", a few tense seconds passed and a reply was whispered back "Yea I heard it, make sure Mystic is safe, I don't think you can get to me without being detected."
We didn't have time to set up magnetic containment fields on the whole station, only a few parts, JJ was on her own for now. I put in a call to Mystic, "hey boss I think we got company", no reply and with who knows who wandering around the station I couldn't just take a sledge hammer to the bulkhead separating our offices to wake her.
A moment later it dawned on me. This used to be the head maintenance office, I looked in the closet, an old Oxy-Acetylene torch sat beneath an old overcoat and a vacuum cleaner. I quietly wheeled the tanks over to the wall and began quietly cutting a small hole in the wall, sure enough she was sleeping at her desk, now to make the hole bigger.
After a minute of cutting the wall away, careful not to set her on fire I had a hole large enough to throw a few bits of junk at her and wake her up, she stirred slowly then noticed her comms unit had a message. As soon as she was finished I shined my flashlight through the hole onto her face, "look what the hell?"
"I think there's ITAN in the corridor, stand back I'll cut a bigger hole in the wall". Now with her not in the path of hot slag I could let the torch work it's magic, It made short work of the inch thick wall, why in the hell were these banned anyway?
Mystic climbed through the hole not to happy about the mess, "what makes you think theres ITAN in here?", "I was making the new guy deliver Elbryon his lunch and he was cur off mid word by a stun blaster shot, JJ heard it too". "that was YOUR job, who else have to contacted?", "nobody yet, here take these" I handed Mystic a blast pistol and a few extra batteries as I tried to raise Flag.
"Flag you awake?", "Yea what's up?" "We've got company, Is your door open?", "Just a little, I'll take a peek down the hall". A few minutes of silence, "It's Iry and Elbryon, there almost at the docking bay they won't see you open your door", I turned to Mystic, "We can't let them escape, or at least not that easily."
I called JJ and let her know that she's safe for now and motioned out my door for flag to get down here. Me and Flag looked at mystic and said almost in unison, "so what's the plan boss?". Mystic gave Flag her blaster, sat down at my console and punched up her ship's external cameras. "I think you can catch up to them and kill em both if you're quick enough. They are still several hundred meters from their ship, go run now."
I wasn't used to being barked at, neither was Flag, but we quietly hustled down the hall after Omega and the somewhat clumsy Elbryon, still a little brain damaged I guess. Damn they were fast, we got a clear shot at them only as they were about to enter their ship.
Upon sighting them we opened fire, plasma bolts and buckshot spraying everywhere putting several small pieces into Iry as the hatch closed. Then something happened we hadn't planned for. Omega swung the warship in our general direction and unleashed a hail of AGT and Gauss fire as he backed the Hog out into space. Pieces of debris flew everywhere, as me and Flag took cover, "Dammit they got away, Mystic is going to be pissed" I screamed to Flag as our hearing slowly returned.
Mystic came tearing down the hall after watching the spectacle unfold on her ship's external camera. "You guys alright? You get him?". I looked myself over, two legs two arms nine fingers one head, "Yea I'm alright", NINE fingers? "oh shit I lost another one" I said holding up a prosthetic hand, sans half a middle finger. Flag burst out laughing, "There it is", pointing to the remains of a mechanical finger jammed in an old light socket, "Should I turn it on, see if it glows?". I smirked and gave Flag the stump, "screw you".
JJ figured it was safe to venture out of her office, "What the hell was THAT", I blinked hard a few times, trying to think of a reply when Flag beat me to it. "Umm a fire fight", JJ was less than amused, "No shit, what happened?". I spoke up "Omega and Iry got the drop on us, the got Elbryon out, I put some lead into Iry, dunno how bad. How's the research going"
"It was going fine till all hell broke loose outside, Why didn't they come looking for the globe?", Mystic got tired of standing there silent "There were only three of them, and they had no idea how many of us there are here, Getting Elbryon was probably their top priority, they've got plenty of soldiers, not so many council members."
She took a deep breath and continued, "Look, see what station defenses you can get online, I don't want any more surprises. Flag go round up all the shooters you can find, we could be in for a bigger firefight."
Flag boosted out of the bay back to HQ to round up anybody we had at HQ. I got to work on fixing the old built in turret defenses, they only had old slow Plasma Devastators mounted from a few hundred years ago. Old technology that became obsolete after the end of the corperate wars.
I woke the mechanic, "we've got work to do, take that taur and fill it with Plasma Devastators that's all those old turrets can handle" He looked confused, "But they've already got Plasma Dev's". This was going to be a long day, "Those damned cannon are slower than bus guns, their meant for shooting capitol ships, not fighters, now move your ass"
I turned towards Mystic, "Alright I've got some turrets to dismantle", Mystic laughed "Ok have fun, Now JJ what have you found out?" JJ stood up from leaning on the doorway, "Here, take a look"
I knew that sound immediatley, a stun blaster, very quiet, I'd've not heard it if not for the comms unit. I grabbed my shotgun and armed the claymores mounted in the ceiling outside my office.
I called JahelaJ, she's closest to the prisoner, "hey watch your back we've got weapons fire in your area", a few tense seconds passed and a reply was whispered back "Yea I heard it, make sure Mystic is safe, I don't think you can get to me without being detected."
We didn't have time to set up magnetic containment fields on the whole station, only a few parts, JJ was on her own for now. I put in a call to Mystic, "hey boss I think we got company", no reply and with who knows who wandering around the station I couldn't just take a sledge hammer to the bulkhead separating our offices to wake her.
A moment later it dawned on me. This used to be the head maintenance office, I looked in the closet, an old Oxy-Acetylene torch sat beneath an old overcoat and a vacuum cleaner. I quietly wheeled the tanks over to the wall and began quietly cutting a small hole in the wall, sure enough she was sleeping at her desk, now to make the hole bigger.
After a minute of cutting the wall away, careful not to set her on fire I had a hole large enough to throw a few bits of junk at her and wake her up, she stirred slowly then noticed her comms unit had a message. As soon as she was finished I shined my flashlight through the hole onto her face, "look what the hell?"
"I think there's ITAN in the corridor, stand back I'll cut a bigger hole in the wall". Now with her not in the path of hot slag I could let the torch work it's magic, It made short work of the inch thick wall, why in the hell were these banned anyway?
Mystic climbed through the hole not to happy about the mess, "what makes you think theres ITAN in here?", "I was making the new guy deliver Elbryon his lunch and he was cur off mid word by a stun blaster shot, JJ heard it too". "that was YOUR job, who else have to contacted?", "nobody yet, here take these" I handed Mystic a blast pistol and a few extra batteries as I tried to raise Flag.
"Flag you awake?", "Yea what's up?" "We've got company, Is your door open?", "Just a little, I'll take a peek down the hall". A few minutes of silence, "It's Iry and Elbryon, there almost at the docking bay they won't see you open your door", I turned to Mystic, "We can't let them escape, or at least not that easily."
I called JJ and let her know that she's safe for now and motioned out my door for flag to get down here. Me and Flag looked at mystic and said almost in unison, "so what's the plan boss?". Mystic gave Flag her blaster, sat down at my console and punched up her ship's external cameras. "I think you can catch up to them and kill em both if you're quick enough. They are still several hundred meters from their ship, go run now."
I wasn't used to being barked at, neither was Flag, but we quietly hustled down the hall after Omega and the somewhat clumsy Elbryon, still a little brain damaged I guess. Damn they were fast, we got a clear shot at them only as they were about to enter their ship.
Upon sighting them we opened fire, plasma bolts and buckshot spraying everywhere putting several small pieces into Iry as the hatch closed. Then something happened we hadn't planned for. Omega swung the warship in our general direction and unleashed a hail of AGT and Gauss fire as he backed the Hog out into space. Pieces of debris flew everywhere, as me and Flag took cover, "Dammit they got away, Mystic is going to be pissed" I screamed to Flag as our hearing slowly returned.
Mystic came tearing down the hall after watching the spectacle unfold on her ship's external camera. "You guys alright? You get him?". I looked myself over, two legs two arms nine fingers one head, "Yea I'm alright", NINE fingers? "oh shit I lost another one" I said holding up a prosthetic hand, sans half a middle finger. Flag burst out laughing, "There it is", pointing to the remains of a mechanical finger jammed in an old light socket, "Should I turn it on, see if it glows?". I smirked and gave Flag the stump, "screw you".
JJ figured it was safe to venture out of her office, "What the hell was THAT", I blinked hard a few times, trying to think of a reply when Flag beat me to it. "Umm a fire fight", JJ was less than amused, "No shit, what happened?". I spoke up "Omega and Iry got the drop on us, the got Elbryon out, I put some lead into Iry, dunno how bad. How's the research going"
"It was going fine till all hell broke loose outside, Why didn't they come looking for the globe?", Mystic got tired of standing there silent "There were only three of them, and they had no idea how many of us there are here, Getting Elbryon was probably their top priority, they've got plenty of soldiers, not so many council members."
She took a deep breath and continued, "Look, see what station defenses you can get online, I don't want any more surprises. Flag go round up all the shooters you can find, we could be in for a bigger firefight."
Flag boosted out of the bay back to HQ to round up anybody we had at HQ. I got to work on fixing the old built in turret defenses, they only had old slow Plasma Devastators mounted from a few hundred years ago. Old technology that became obsolete after the end of the corperate wars.
I woke the mechanic, "we've got work to do, take that taur and fill it with Plasma Devastators that's all those old turrets can handle" He looked confused, "But they've already got Plasma Dev's". This was going to be a long day, "Those damned cannon are slower than bus guns, their meant for shooting capitol ships, not fighters, now move your ass"
I turned towards Mystic, "Alright I've got some turrets to dismantle", Mystic laughed "Ok have fun, Now JJ what have you found out?" JJ stood up from leaning on the doorway, "Here, take a look"