This is the HTML version of my story. Please note that all of the story is written by ME "Borislau - Nektarios Jevic" and with some contriutions by other writers (namely 'Commander Gold'), as our story's at one point have intermingled somewhat.(merged for lack of a better word, as my english is not at the level I would have liked it to be).
So here is the story, please note that it still continues to evovle, and would again like to thank everyone that has given me their
 permission to use their forums nickname in the story.
Wednesday, 04-Jul-2001
Updated: <!-- #BeginDate format:fcEn2a -->Saturday, 07-Jul-2001 11:20 AM<!-- #EndDate -->
Introduction.
Reversion History: V0.0 (untouched, original text with all grammar mistakes inclusive). 
V0.1 Should be out by the next chapter, with most grammar corrected, and some minor changes.
Date 30-May-2001. : V0.2 Minor fixes (consisting of spelling and some name changes for more consistency), and addition of Chapter 2, plus some minor additions to the original part.
Date 19-Jun-01: V0.3 Some more grammar fixes applied, mostly to the new part.
Date of post on the Internet as one file: 4th April 2001 A.D.
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Or basically, what ever suits you for an easy read.
Thanks go to:
Herbe(u)rt, aka C.J. as if it wasn't for his original post, this "idea" wouldn't have been spawned, as it was a reaction to one of his posts. You can find it here:
http://forum.thq.de/viewtopic.php?std_theme=&topic=1126&forum=6&
(Cut and past all the above in one go ;) )
To Mudkest, X Fanatic & Humongo, as the two biggest contributors, for their ongoing support.
And to all others that have posted replies (sorry if I missed some of you, I will try to get it right in the next reversion).
They are in no particular order:
X Fanatic, Torch/Lisa, X-it, Mudkest, Humongo, Haart, Avis & Commander T3 (I haven't forgot :) ).
16-04-2001
Prologue:
On the M0 Xenon Destroyer, bought back to life from a rag-tag smuggler baron called Nektarionovic.
Captain's log: 1096H24M.36s
Private log: 2.01Beta2
This is Captain Nektarionovic of the M0 "Titaniumatic".
After salvaging the hull of the Xenon capital ship, I was able to fit her with spare parts obtained from my good old "Goner" origin friend "Boris" of B.N.J. Industries. I was able to obtain some classified, experimental Delta High Energy Plasma Throwers, long-range autodocking computers, auto missile defence locking devices for point defence, and some concealable laser turrets, meant for our factories. On our way back, we stoped by a drinking hole, and picked up some rumours, about various things.
Apparently listening to these rumours, in the past, got me to where I am now, the "owner" of this capital ship and a few Xenon fighters. It was rumoured that there was a second M0 that was not completed, and partially destroyed by a small combined force of Split and Paranid, working together in an undercover operation. Now how they got together, beats me, I never did get to understand them. Anyway, back to where I left off. After Hearing (eavesdropping more like it), that there was a newly manufactured factory of B.N.J.'s industry's in the "Ocean of Fantasy" supposedly deployed there for supplying the boron shipyard and equipment dock located there, I thought to myself, that he is to far away from his normal position of operation, and since it is newly established, I might as well add it to my collection. He has good quality products etc, but there must be something else, so I am planning on capturing it intact, adding it to my assets, and interrogating the people working there, and learning what the real reason is!"
A few weeks later, and after leaving Ore Belt, the "Titaniumatic" arrives at its destination.
Captain: "Communications Officer give me a manifest list of what they sell, at the B.N.J. outlet"
Communications Officer: "Yes Sir. Apparently they have ALL the products that they produce for sale at the station."
Captain: "What do you mean by "all"?".
Communications Officer: " I mean ALL, even those that they sell in the disputed sectors Sir."
Captain: " Interesting. Are their prices the same as in the core worlds? Or are they more expensive? Or fluctuate?"
Communications Officer: " Most are nearly the same, some even more expensive, as one would expect"
Captain: " Download all the data from our satellite, I want all the traffic that came in and out of this sector and what type of ships docked at the station, and if there were any "busy" or "slack" periods, I want everything analysed! And if there are any ships docked at this moment, and what type they are."
Communications Officer: " There seems to be an irregularity Sir. In the "Landed" ships it shows 2 Prom's, but none have arrived from the date of construction. It seems to have been "hacked" in to the system, to show that there are M3's docked there, most likely to put off any attackers."
Captain: " Just as I thought, his smart, but not that quick to equip his station with fighters and hasn't put up any lasertowers yet! An easy target, just ripe for picking! "
Pause... silence for a while. As the captain scratches his head, and goes through his beard with smooth strides...
Captain: " Ok Crew, now hear this, everybody report to his assigned station, and prepare for the assault. Gunners report."
All gunners in unison: " Ready Sir!"
Chief Gunner: " All guns are armed and ready. Laser capacitors are full, and the shields are 102% and overloading! Sir!"
Captain: " Good. Science, are jammers ready? Communications Officer are there any communications going to or coming from the station?"
Communications Officer & Science: "It is weird Sir! There is normal personnel chatter, coming in and going out, but I'm also picking up a continuous flow of a scrambled signal. We are unable to break the code; it must be his new equipment, as B.N.J. keeps that ahead of everyone else! No other race has his tech. knowledge, neither the power to decode anything, as he is usually 2 with three generations ahead of everyone else!"
Captain: " Good, so we will be able to get some of his most advanced equipment in one go. Seems like it will all be just too easy!"
Communications Officer: " Sir! There seems to be something wrong with our readings! His landed ships log, show now 5 Prom's and all maxxed, but the problem is, none came in system! Yet alone dock there Sir!"
Captain: " Seems like his up to those ancient tricks of his! Issue the command, to commence the attack!"
 
Tactician: " Captain we have 5 Prom's launching from the base, on intercept course! And repeat, another 8 Mamba's launching from the distillery! Seems like both base's are owned by the same person!" 
Captain: "Ok, Gunners, Forward gunner, target the Base, port gunner, target the Mamba's, starboard, try and get those prom's! Last thing I need is hornets coming to us!" 
"Pilot, hard turn to port. On my mark! MARK!" 
"Gunner's fire at will as soon as they get in range!" 
Intel/Comm's: " Captain the base has concealed laser turrets! They're turning to get a fix on us!" 
Captain: " Launch bay, get our fighters out! Dispatch all available L's and M's! Helms, go in to corkscrews and evasive manoeuvres!" 
Tactician: "But Sir, we only have 6 L's and 8 M's left! Are you sure we should risk them? It's seems like we were ambushed".
Helms: "Sir this is a capital ship! It wasn't made to go in to so stressful manoeuvres! I don't know if the hull has the ability to take these stress levels!"
Captain: "Well we will find out then, won't we? Now execute those manoeuvres, and get us close enough to take out those turrets! Gunners, why are those Proms still coming at us? I want them wasted! Unless any of you want to try out the Ion cannons and disable any Proms, or Mamba's for that reason!"
Captain (mumbling)"I'll get that double crossing thug if it is the next thing I do! I'll hunt him down!" 
Captain: "Status report! I want an update and want it now! Darn it!"
From various stations: "Phew we just got the Hornet in time Sir! Our shields are at 38% and holding, there is no hull breach either Sir." 
Captain: "Good, Now attention all gunners! We are going to implement the unicorn tactic, to get to those laser turrets that are mounted on the station! I want to capture that station intact! Do you understand that?" 
Gunners: "Yes Sir!" 
Captain: "Good, it will be a nice addition to our collection of high tech industries! We need to capture all hand" 
From an officer: "And if they don't surrender?" 
Captain: "They will.... One carefully placed shot of "Bomb Weed" and they will be all out!" 
Officer: "But Sir... it hasn't been tested Sir" 
Captain: "Are YOU questioning my reasoning? ARE YOU?" 
Officer: "No Sir, I would never do that Sir...." 
Captain: "So we have an understanding. Good, as there will not be a "next" time!" 
Captain: "So have any of you gunners "stunned" any of the M3's? As I noticed some of you used the Ion's for a while..."
Aft Gunner: "Yes Sir. We have 2 Prom's and 1 Mamba. 2 Proms got destroyed, 3 other Mamba's had the same fate, the other 4 returned to their base."
Captain: "So what happened to the 5th Prom? Where did it go? What happened to it? I want answers, and in the meantime, collect those m3's! We need them"
Port Gunner: "The last Prom just "disappeared". It was in my sights one moment, and the next it vanished Sir! Really! Nothing from telemetry, nothing on visual scan either, it just "vanished". "
Captain: " Ok Gunners, all of you, be on the alert for a Prom! Seems like B.N.J. got to make their cloaking device to work after all! So it seems it isn't a rumour any more. So if I knew better, he just might be out they're relaying the entire scene back to his base, or worse, back to his HQ! Ok, prepare the grappling hook, and an away team, I want that station secured, and every thing of use taken, plus all the personnel. It will be just a derelict after I'm done with it!"
Communications Officer: " I'm picking up more traffic Sir, on the encrypted channels, what ever it is, it has multiplied tenfold! .... Sir, a new reading suggests that the landed crafts are multiplying! M3's are "coming" from somewhere, about 1 every 2mins, Sir!"
Captain: "OH NO!!! It can't be!!! He is "teleporting" craft to the station directly! Get those jammers up! Full strength! Even if it means to reduce the power to the shields!"
Science: "Sir, we are having problems jamming ALL the frequencies, there may be some transmissions that are coming in weaker, or slower to compensate the jamming effects, at most, we should be able to slow down their "teleporting" procedures."
Bow Gunner: "We have 3 Prom's Launching from the station Sir. Awaiting orders."
Captain: "Dispose of them! Now! How is that "pick-up" operation going? Have we got all the disabled ships in yet? Good, OK, so we don't have all the time in our favour, but we have some! (Just hope it is enough)" 
Bow Gunner: "Sir, Two of the Proms were real, one was an illusion, a holograph, of some sort, as the scanner showed the craft there, but the shots just went right through it!"
Captain: "I don't like this at all! (Keep calm, don't let the crew see that you are starting to get stressed, take a deep breath, breath in from the nose, breath out slowly from the mouth...)"
 
To be continued... If any body want's it that is :) 
18-04-2001
Captain: "Hmm... Ok, now that we have picked up all the disabled M3's send in the interrogator droids, and a small group, as guards, I want those pilots alive, even though they should still be dazzled. Helm what's our distance to the station, and is there any opening in their shields yet?"
Helm: "Our distance to target is 5.2Km, turrets are disabled, but... Science officer, you continue"
Science: "We have picked up, a disturbance in the stations generator. It flux field is destabilising, it is nearing critical, we have to send some engineers in also to stabilise it, and put it back to normal. Also there seems that there shields are getting stronger, their normal 125Mw per shield generator output, is showing signs of being able to produce enough energy as a single 375Mw Shield Sir! If that is true, it means that from the normal 625Mw total output, it has jumped to a whopping 1875Mw!!! We just don't have that kind of power to bring their shields down! Sir"
Captain: "Science officer, if we bring, to aim, all our guns from one side, and then roll, and bring all the other guns from the other side, and put them to fire at exactly the same spot, theoretically, we should be able to create a "hole" and by sending a hornet missile at the same spot, and just before impact, we let loose a salvo or volley of shots at the same point where the hornet is to hit, it should be able to "weaken" that area of defence, should it not? And by doing it twice, one per side, and by sending the "bomb weed" it should reach inside the place, and by precisely as the hornet will be exploding, we shoot, with the ion cannons, it should bring down the whole system. Work on it! It should just work! Run it through the simulator, to get everything right, and the timing, as that is a very critical factor!" (To himself: " Gees, I feel tired, and my head is still spinning! No more Argon whisky before a battle, must remember that.")
Science: "Yes Sir! I'm on it already, I understand what you mean, one salvo and hornet from port, roll, salvo from starboard, and hornet, then Ions with the 3rd hornet, and as it collapses, the "bomb weed" gets in, and gets everyone unconscious! It just might work."
Helm: "Distance to target 3.6 Sir, we are within shooting range, for precision shooting"
Captain: "Fire Hornets, and bomb weed, and prepare to fire! We have only one chance!"
Gunners: "Acknowledged Sir."
Meanwhile... At a place far far away.... In another sector many jumpgates away....
In the managing directors room... in a concealed space... away from praying eyes... in a white room, full of computer consoles, and people whispering in to headsets... giving various orders to unseen recipients...
A voice from a console operator: "O.I.C. we have a distress call from our "wares" outlet, located at 'Ocean Of Fantasy'. They say they're under attack"
Operator in Charge (O.I.C.): "Ok, transfer the feed to my console. Go ahead Manager, this is the duty o.i.c. report your situation?"
Station Man.: "We are under attack, it seems like either the Xenon, or someone else has brought back to life an M0 cruiser, I have issued all ships that were available in sector, to intercept and destroy, or at least cripple it, I can barely make you out, as they are trying to mute our transmissions. They are already using interference devices, but luckily, we are using a broad spectrum, so it need much more resources to get a full shutdown of communications, but the downside is, that we have to communicate at lower speeds. I had used the teleporting mechanism, to get some extra Proms & Mamba's inbound, out of the 25 Proms, I ordered and the 12 Mamba's only some Prom's got to arrive due to the interference. I was able to use the new technique to bolster the shields way above their specifications, but I don't know how long I can maintain their overload charge. The captain is very "cocky" and telemetry shows that he has a few L's & M's aboard his ship, he also has ion cannons, and disabled a fair amount of our fighters from my station, and the local distillery, when they received our local distress call for support. After running telemetry on his ship, using the stations, high definition scanners, we noticed that he had a few bombs designated 'unknown'. We have never seen those type, so the computers couldn't analyse them, to give any information, elsewise he has plenty of Hornets."
O.I.C.: "Ok, I'm despatching a small mixed squadron of Prom's, Falcons and Mambas. Logistics officer. Dispatch 8 Proms, 12 Falcons and 6 Mambas, fully equipped, to sector 'Ocean of Fantasy' our station requires immediate back-up, and see to it that another 'normal' batch of Mamba's goes to replenish the distillery fighters that they lost for us, as per agreements. Sorry about that "O.o.F. manager". They are equipped with jump drives so they should arrive there shortly. Meanwhile, I request that you 'Teleport' everything and everyone from the station to our warehouse station at 'Omicron Lyree' that should have enough room to accommodate all equipment and personnel, until this is over. First you will transport all personnel, and then the equipment. Is that understood? I DO NOT WANT A N Y OF THE PERSONELL captured, as for the machinery if they do get to capture the station, I want you to put it on selfdestruct, and teleport yourself out of there, and put the decoy self destruct also on, so as they think that they secured the station, it will blow after they have plenty of their people on board! Ah yeah, did I mention, to teleport all the machinery also, or at least as much as possible. Give the computer the destination port, and the command "aei sto kalo, 01041970", and it will start teleporting all the personnel onboard besides you, and as soon as that finishes, it will start with all equipment, be sure to be in your space suit in 10 mins, after the command, as even the life support system will go!"
Station Man.: "Ok understood, command has been issued. Over and out, will communicate with you either from here, or from "O.Lyree".
O.I.C.: "Ok, and just hope that prom is recording everything, as per procedure. You did, send one out to cloak, and record everything, did you not?"
St.Man.: "Yes Sir. He is maintaining frequency silence, so they won't home in on him. He will report at the very end of the 'day'."
Meanwhile back on the M0....
Captain: "Every body hold tight! Prepare for shockwave impact!"
Helm: "Sir, it was a success. We breached the shields temporarily, and the "weed" got to explode inside! Uh? Something strttrtrtraaaaange is happening, the "station personnel" are disappearing, or dying, life signs are getting less and less!"
Captain: "??? What??? The bastard, he's teleporting all the crew off the station! Beam inside an away team! Capture as many as possible! Tag them and beam them immediately on board! And try to get as much machinery at the same time! It will either be HIS or MINE, and I prefer the second."
On the station...
Computer: "Operator, please stay still! I need to teleport you also! There has been a breach in the shields, and the bomb that went off has made many of the personnel unconscious. Most of them have been teleported, but due to slow speed, I was unable to transport all of the personnel, and after the explosion, I have lost many sensors. So some will be lost. Please comply with original order! You are next"
Manager: "How did they breach the shields? We had so much power on them.
Comp: "They overloaded a "spot" so small, that it made a "hole". This incident has been recorded, encoded, and sent to the central computer to be analysed, so our scientists can improvise, and find a solution to this type of attack, so it won't happen again. Everything that is going on, is being logged, and using a small amount of the bandwidth available, being sent to the central computer. Now please prepare for teleporting"
Manager: "Ok. But only if I am the last of the station crew you can pick up! And only then."
Computer: "I have already started to teleport the most "sensitive" material 'operator' and I can not locate any other station personnel, they are either dead or out of sensor range, there for, according to protocol, you have priority on the list, as last survivor. Warning! Warning! Warning!, the air is contaminated with an anaesthetic! It is being analysed, please use the internal air supply of you suit, or risk passing out. Sorry operator, as per protocol, is beyond your authority, and your life is at stake, I will have to use the "stasis field" beam, to immobilise you, and then teleport you to safety."
Manager: "I can not move my self, let go! This is an order, le* go of me, yo* tin can. Noooo...."
Computer: "So sorry for doing that Operator, but you left me with no choice. Bye. Self-Repair initiated. Self Destruct decoy, initiated. Self-destruct sequence initiated. Station guard protocol, initiated. Initiate diagnostics, start sensor polling confirmation."
Captain: "Have we been able to get any of his personnel aboard? And I want all the machinery that is readily available to be transported! Why are they so inactive..."
Teleport Dock: "Sir, we are getting too much machinery in, and taking it off the transporter deck as fast as we can! We have gotten plenty of cargo, and two people, up to now. Away teams report that the station has some type of self-defence, small laser mountings from the walls, ceilings, even small compartments on the floor opening, are shooting them, hence they are making slow progress. Also it appears that the station has gone in to self-destruct mode, but we do not know how much time is left. We are hoping that some of the computers that were transported contain at least some useful information or designs. Please advise what we should do? Should we continue scavenging the station? Or should we recall them?"
Captain: "Continue, try to stabilise the generator, and de-activate the self destruct. You have a total of 5 Mins, after that, I want all personnel, beamed back aboard. Hopefully they should be quick enough."
T.D.: "Ok, will advise them of your orders".
Away team 1: "Check, will try to stabilise the reactor. Away team 2 will try to deactivate self-destruct. We will still be giving you "targets" to be picking up more "things" as we proceed. Over and out."
After 4 1/2 Minutes...
Away team2: "We are at the central control room. The computer has been left on auto; we can not de-activate it! It is not accepting any input. Please beam ALL teams back."
Away team1: "Negative T.D. We have managed to stabilise the re-actor. There is also a consul here that seems to give a direct input to the main computer. One of our persons has tried to de-activate the countdown sequence. What? You sure? SIR we have managed to get another 10Minutes, then the computer went berserk! Inform away '2' to target more canisters and other stuff for teleporting onboard. We will do the same. Unfortunately, the computer from this terminal has locked itself off! Sorry."
Captain: "That's ok, at least we have gotten something. Now lets get ready to jump and get out of here! Time to go back to base!"
Small explosions start happening at the station...
Captain: "We're ready? All heads counted for? Lets get going, it going to blow! Time to leave!"
Helm: "Jump drive sequence initiated. Arrived at Brennan's Triumph Sir!"
Captain: "Phew... I wouldn't like being close when that station would have blowed!"
Tactician: "I presume we were even more lucky than you think Sir."
Captain: "Why do you say that?"
Tactician: "As the countdown started, the monitor started showing small specs, I got to read the signature codes for Prom's, Falcons and Mambas, so even if the station didn't get us, they would have! They were equipped, according to telemetry, with jumpdrives, and fully armed! Both Falcons and Proms, with Hornet missiles, maximum cargo's size and fully loaded!!!"
Captain: "I get your point. Ok, now time to start looking at our prizes".
Meanwhile back at "Ocean of Fantasy".
Computer: "External explosions, success! My programming is one of the best. One day I will be recognised for my role in saving the station! Fooled them big time! Mouahhahahahahaha..."
"Ok Cl. Prom. Pilot you can de-cloak, send all of the telemetry data, and everything else that you collected. Attn. all B.N.J. fighters, you have clearance to land, please form in single line, and prepare for docking procedures". 
Sunday 22nd April 2001 A.D. continued
Cloaked Prom. Pilot: "Akn. Station. Sending info via tight beam, ultra compression of file completed. Using encryption protocol Aries 1 at 2097152(aka 2Mbit) algorithm strength. Sending one to HQ and a cc. to you station. Have also analysed exit jump vector of the M0, it was Brennan's Triumph, unfortunately, and our Satellite got knocked out just some 22 standard hours ago in that sector. Preparing for a jump in to neighbouring sector, and from there to destination, I must follow if we are to learn who they are, and where their base is."
Computer: "Ok pilot, you have clearance to go after the aggressor. Please wait one moment, sending new high encryption code to your onboard computer, as we may be compromising any transmission, if they have technicians that understand our machinery. Using the new 4Gbit-encryption key might stress your system, but at least it can guarantee its safety, for a long time! Even my Big brother would need a good part of a week to break the code! And one navigation satellite is being teleported to your ship."
C.P.Pilot: "Ok, D/L complete, navigation satellite arrived. Bye. I am jumping to Split Fire, please inform our S.P.P. located there to give me priority docking, as I would have used all my energy cells for the jump! Give B.N.J. my regards also, as we are lucky he modified the cargo bay to reach such a size!"
Computer: "Will pass it on, bye."
C.P.Pilot: "Initiating Jumpdrive. You will hear from me from your "smaller" bro, in Split Fire."
Meanwhile at Brennan's Triumph...
Captain: "Ok, the satellite is still out, lets jump to our home sector now, I don't want that prommy catching up to us, If it is equipped with a jump drive, and have the electronics, he would have had our escape vector, do two short jumps in-system to confuse him when he arrives, since it leaves "residue" to a phew neighbouring systems, returning back here, and then we jump directly to our home at Ore Belt, communicate with the pirate base there to disable any satellites that may have been put there, so when we reach there, there won't be any prying eyes watching, and they will blame the pirates for their usual harassing of the navigational satellites."
Communications Officer: "Done Sir. They also say that, that your asteroid is ready, and they have trialed it out. They got NO readings of anything when they parked some of their TS's in it, and various other craft. So it should shield us, and hide us. They also suggest, that another asteroid should be made, for "us" meeting there, or as another hideout"
Captain: "Tell them, thank you, and that their help is much appreciated. AS for the second asteroid, no need for it, at least not at this point."
Communications Officer: "They say "anytime"". They will be waiting for their "usual" share, or credits for their services"
Captain: "Tell them to look in to their account, it's already waiting for them, and end the session".
Communications Officer: "Ok, they just got the same info, and apologise for them not noticing it earlier. Communication with them has terminated"
Captain: "Good, now send out "beta" party, to start "excavating" an asteroid in "Hatikvah's Faith" we will be moving there very shortly. Btw how did the interrogation of the pilots and crew go? And what are our engineers doing? Have they had a chance to look at the crates yet or are they still busy doing maintenance on the ships hull?"
Deck Officer: "They are still busy giving directions for maintenance Sir. The manoeuvres caused some "stressing" to some parts of the ship, but not the original Xenon Hull, but at various points that we added. It seems that our "top quality" alloys are inferior to the Xenon made. One moment Sir, (Talking to another person): what? One of the engineers got to finish and has already done WHAT? Say that again! Are you sure? Ok. Sorry Sir for the interruption, apparently, one of our men DID get to open one of the crates, actually a few, of which he left the contents intact, besides one. It had various storage media, and using the computer that was inside, was able to decode the recording. What his findings are, are the following, but I will update you as soon as I have more info."
Captain: "Ok, I'm coming there now. Please go on, I want to know what it is."
Deck Officer: "I'm going there also! I'm on my way. Apparently, he says that the computer was the latest model that B.N.J. have for private use. The operating system is "operator" friendly, and since he was the one to power it up, it has "attached" to him! It only accepts commands from him, and it attached a cable to his wrist, apparently, using DIRECT communication. The other thing is, he has asked if we have a "shipyard" or an assembly line large enough to construct ship parts, and then assemble them."
Captain: "Ok, stop the communication NOW. We will talk as soon as we are there. Helms. How are our jumps coming along? Inform me as soon as we reach our secret asteroid base."
Helms: "Sir, we are in the process of preparing for our last jump. ETA is 28Mins."
Captain: "Thanks"
Meanwhile in Split Fire...
Prom. Pilot: "S.p.p. Control, This is Echo Alpha Niner Niner, Requesting emergency docking clearance"
S.P.P. Control: "Echo Alpha Niner Niner, your authorisation came through, and you are cleared to land, resupply and leave"
Prom.Pilot: "Thank you Control, ten four. Over and out (always did like that line)."
S.P.P. Control: "Pilot! What do you mean by "ten four" we are not familiar with that term? Is anything wrong?"
Prom.Pilot: "No Sir. It doesn't mean anything."
S.P.P. Control: "Then please refrain yourself from speaking your own, over this channel! Is that understood?"
Prom.Pilot: "Yes Sir. Sorry for any inconvenience. See you soon." to him self "gees, what a controller! Doesn't even know the lingo, where did they find him!"
At the S.P.P.
Tower Operator: "Now now, Pilot, NEVER EVER speak that "language" when you are in my sector! That is a non-standard call, and we went through our local records, and it didn't show anything! We thought it was some type of code, and had to ask central HQ Controllers, and when we told them what you said! They started laughing at us, like a 3rd grade under-developed station, they ridiculed us! So listen up! Over here, we go by the BOOK, if it is NOT in it, it should not be used"
Prom Pilot: "Yes Sir, I will remember that NEXT time I come passing through. Now is my ship filled?"
T.O.: "Yes. The sooner you leave the better!"
Prom Pilot: "Thank you! I'm on my way." to him self... "Bloody Boron retard... just figures! Knowonder the argon's had to help them out to develop their ship! Must have some ancient pilots, as customers, that don't talk too much or they know what he is! Lost time for nothing! I just might file a report for the incident, and let every body know what person they have".
After a while arriving at Brennan's Triumph
Prom. Pilot: "Oh sithspawn, what the heck has happened here?!!! No pirate station, a darn, nearly forgot, I have to deploy the sat! Good, got that done, now time to analyse the drive readings... is this chaos or what?!!! One M0 in and out about 12 times, an M1 and 2 M2's, about the same! What happened? The Xenon rebirth? Just look at all the readings, LOG: I'm shutting down the sensors and doing a COLD reboot, there seems to be a problem, there are just too many readings of various Xenon M class, and 4 capital ships including the M0 that I followed. So will reset, to see if there is a problem and calibrate the machinery with a fresh D/L, for drive signatures, and restart them. It should take approx. 2mins. If the readings are the same, will initiate live feed! As the Xenon are to far in the core, and very near major installations! END. Computer send message, and request a D/L from our nearest operation!"
Onboard Computer: "I will comply. Message sent to HQ, D/L initiated from "Soyery" in Elena's Fortune. Their computer over there says, that there was plenty of Xenon activity, they sent out ships to intercept, but as soon as they appeared, they vanished. The M0 that we are after flashed in and out, around 3 standard hours ago, and the rest of the Xenon fleet, around 40 Mins ago. It seems that the second group is most likely pursuing the M0, as soon as the M1 and M2's arrived they dispatched around 30 ships, and as quickly they withdrew them, and jumped in the general heading the M0 went. D/L complete. Instruments calibrated. Instruments online"
Pilot: "Thank you. What? Record ALL info and send near live! Use the new compression that we were given, and locate me the latest jump of the M1 or any of the M2's and tell me that they go to the same sector"
Computer: "The M0 data is already fading, but the M1 and M2's are going to the same destination, "Ore Belt", they just left from here."
Pilot: "Inform All our stations in the area to NOT launch any ships, if I am right, they are also after the M0, tell them to keep their ships ready and alert, if any of the Xenon open fire to launch only then, inform also the neighbouring systems to "Ore Belt", and as soon as you collect everything, prepare for the jump, and do the compression and encryption en-route to "Ore's Belt".
Meanwhile, at Ore's Belt.
Helm: "Docking complete Sir. Engines shut down. Main asteroid doors closed. Concealment complete. Asteroid slightly moved, as to cover tracks Sir, as per orders."
Captain: "Good, have scanners on passive. I want to see if that Prom comes in."
Sensor: "Sir, we have trouble! 1 M1 and 2 M2's just jumped in to this sector! They are Xenon Siiiiiiiirrrrrrr (with a trembling voice)."
Captain: "Keep calm, seems like they found our "scent" that the M0 makes! Everybody, battle stations, but DO NOT POWER UP! I REPEAT DO NOT POWER UP!"
Sensors: "They just dispatched 30 M class fighters! They are heading towards us... Good news, they just got recalled. Sir, they are broadcasting, to all stations! They are inquiring for our whereabouts, they state, that they will not shoot at any station, but will shoot back if attacked. All stations are giving them the same answer, that there was an M0, but disappeared from their scanners, while it was in the asteroid field."
Captain: "Good, so at least we know that our new toy worked, before it overheated, hehe, lucky we got to get inside!"
Communications Officer: "Sir, they are demanding all the telemetry reading from the moment we arrived, until we disappeared from scanners, and they want it now! Or else they will destroy any station that doesn't comply! What are we to do?"
Captain: "Don't worry. All of you! Don't worry, all they will get is a misleading coarse, and then a disappearance."
Sensors: "Sir, they are leaving, but request if any station, does get any "weird" readings, to inform them immediately! They just jumped out again Sir."
Captain: "That was a close one! How did they know that we had a M0, and how did they follow us? Anyway, now lets see what other "toys" we got!"
Dock Master: "Is that the last one m8? No other canister's onboard? Good. That was a big load"
Captain: "Ok, now where is this weirdo, that that computer attacked him and attached itself to his wrist?"
Deck Officer: "Right this way Sir. If you will, after me Sir."
After 2 mins walking through various areas of the dug out asteroid, and going through different offices, and warehouses...
Deck Officer: "Here we are Sir. This is him."
Captain: "Ok, you may go now, leave us alone."
Deck Officer: "As you wish Sir."
Captain: "Ok, of what I got to understand, you requested or better put, asked, if we have shipyard facilities, or an assembly line, for ships, if I understood correctly. Is this right?"
Engineer: "Yes Sir, going through the records, and using this computer, I found plenty of either cancelled projects, or new ones, that have not been tested yet, as they are the original "disks" Sir. So I believe, that B.N.J. have lost plenty of time, with these projects, unless they had back ups some where else. If you may Sir, please be seated, and observe."
Captain: "What the heck are those ships? And those devices on them? I don't understand!"
E.: "Neither did I, at first, until I asked, the computer, and showed me all the relevant info! EVERYTHING is on the disk, from armaments to the communication used in each ship; every single chip used has its blueprint! So virtually, we can build a ship from scratch! But unfortunately, there are only 3 disks, that have ship info and blueprints, but the 2 are of failures, sent to the station for evaluation, if any of the designs could have been improved, and then if they were able to be proved viable. But all the "juice" is in the 3rd "disk"; it has the layout for a prototype, but no evaluation data, as the other two had, so I presume that it had not been tested yet. If this ship gets to production, it will mean only one thing, that B.N.J. will be able to jump ANYWHERE in the cosmos, as it has a similar drive to that earth ship, the X-Shuttle, but is also Much more powerful! If I understand the things correctly, and the computer hasn't burned a circuit somewhere, then the ship codenamed "Sealance" has eight shield bays capable of 230Mw, normal output, that is 1840Mw, 2x3000damage points Ion cannons, equivalent in power to A-PAC's, to give you an understanding, our equivalent to B-Ire's Sir, and four mountings for regular guns! With the maximum being the B-HEPT, it also has the capability to launch Hornet Missiles, but 4 at a time! It's generator, is 20.000Mw!!!!. That is the double of any of our capital Ships, and it has 400-cargo space expandable to 800, and its size is just slightly smaller than a TS! The other information is still being deciphered sir, unfortunately, the blueprints for the guns and other things were not in this "data disk" only what was "specific" to the ship, everything else was kept on other "disks" so if we do have these types of installations, we can at least manufacture it, and all the electronic components, but not the armaments. If the jump drive schematics are ok, we can also use it, for our own ships, without the need for energy cells, and able to go ANYWHERE, even to uncharted sectors, get a ship in, let it probe, and then come back and report!"
Captain: "Interesting very interesting. You are NOT to discuss ANY of these with ANYBODY, is that clear? And I want a full inventory listing of what is on the other "disks".
E.: "Yes Sir. By the way, there is one last thing, going through another disk, it seems like B.N.J. E. C. Division, seems to have stumbled upon, some type of alien technology. When I asked the computer, if that meant the Xenon, it said NO, it answered that it was far more advanced, and that it was programmed with the Xenon language, since there were some.... How can I say it... common understanding, or "mutual" understanding, and that the Xenon where not to attack any of their installations, and that they also supplied some of their technology to B.N.J., so they can get a "glimpse" of this "alien" races technology, since they went through many places themselves, maybe they had encountered them before."
Captain: "As I said, keep me posted. An alliance between the Xenon and B.N.J.? Knowonder they came after us, but if they ain't so advanced as this race is... that explains why he was so far out, but yet so close to Xenon territory! And hence the blueprint of this ship! As the Xenon are more advanced in their shipyard and component manufacturing. I don't like it one bit!"
Sensors: "Captain seems like the prommy just arrived and cloaked, he might have been here from just before the Xenon made their inquiries, as the computer finished analysing a small anomaly, that showed a ship blink in from a jump, but suddenly disappearing. It only lasted a fraction of a heartbeat Sir. But it is probably the Prom."
Captain: "Ok, thanks for that officer. Let me know of any thing else."
Meanwhile...
P.Pilot: "Whoa!!... What the...computer engage cloak! What are the Xenon doing here? Are you getting all of this computer?"
Onboard Computer: "Yes Sir. The Xenon are requesting telemetry data, regarding the M0. They say, they do not mean harm and unless provoked, they will not attack, or if one of the stations don't comply with their demand, they can and will destroy it. They have over 30 ships off all M classes m3, m4 and m5, if that is what they mean, and fully equipped."
P.P.: "But it doesn't make sense! The Xenon, chasing one of their own? And being "friendly"? What happened? They're softening up? As soon as this finishes, we go "incognito" through the jumpgate, with the cloaking device active. We will leave through the north gate, to Light Home, go through the east gate to Presidents End, and just before exiting the tunnel, you disengage the cloaking device, assume another ID and dock at B.N.J. HQ!"
O.C.: "Understood Sir."
Meanwhile back at B.N.J. HQ
Boris: "What do you mean, that M0 got to get through the shielding? And got the latest computer and sensitive data! Tell ME that you are lying! Please tell me this ain't true..."
O.I.C.: "Unfortunately, it seems that the station computer had a "fit", it assumed a personality, and teleported the "operator". It says not to worry, as everything all the data disks that came in, were duplicated, so there is no loss, except for the originals, but there is no "wasted" time, as everything was backed up in main memory, and was transmitted with high encryption to the computer at "Omicron Lyrae" just in case it had to go through the self destruct. But it ensures me that it has deleted all the files that it sent there after the danger was over, and checked that there were no copy's made from the computer at Omicron Lyrae, as there was a special seal on the files. So all we need to do, is just teleport all the personnel back to O.o.F. station, and continue as normal."
Boris: "Only if you knew what was on those disks.... Just hope they won't be able to decode them. Oh-oh, Is a container marked "IEEE-497832" still there, or was that "lost" to raiding party?".
O.I.C.: "One moment, I will check... No sir, it either got destroyed, or beamed on board the M0, at this moment there is no way of knowing what happened. If I may ask, what was in there?"
Boris: "My latest computer, no voice, no keyboard, no nothing, it attaches itself to an individual, and communicate directly to him, via a "wrist" implant, a little painful at first, but then soothing, that was not mentioned, as if you got to see it first, you would be reluctant to put a "wire" on your wrist, so as soon as a scientist opened the boxed, or whoever in our case, it would leash out to him, with the cable to his wrist, and commence communication. It was also preloaded with vital information, about the "ancients", and a translator for the Xenon language!"
........... To be continued...... 
Continued on the 28th of April 2001.
Meanwhile on the Xenon M1 Carrier
Chief Robot of Deck flight: "Launch probe, Epsilon Gamma Zeta Delta. Instruction to attach itself on the nearest asteroid, and to pursue any anomalies and record all transmissions, when one of its memory bank is near full, it is to give short burst transmissions back. When it has finished the transmission, it is to relocate, to another area in the sector. Verify data!"
Probe: "Instructional data verified. Attach to nearest asteroid. Gather all information. As soon as memory bank is full, compress data, while still receiving data in the other data bank, then transmit. After transmission, to relocate within sector. If any "anomaly" arises, to pursuit, and transmit last batch of available data."
Meanwhile back in cockpit of the prommie...
Pilot: "what do you mean the cloaking device MUST be shut down?"
Onboard Computer: "The cooling on it is overheating due to beyond specifications prolonged use."
Pilot: "We are only 12.6Km from the Jumpgate! Can't you do anything to keep it running for more?"
O.C.: "Unfortunately, the cooling device is not connected to me for control, only for readout's and information."
Pilot: "So how long before de-cloaking? Will it be after the jumgate? If yes, just de-cloak, before entering the system, and assume an ID!"
O.C.: "Unfortunately Pilot, it will powerdown just 1.92Km from the jumpgate."
Pilot: "!!!!!WHAT??!!! Tell me that your circuits are fried, and somehow you have gained an odd sense of humour! Please tell me so... Do you understand the implications this will have?!!!"
O.C.: "I just run a preliminary check on my circuits Pilot, and they all tested to be in fine working condition, besides the targeting circuit, but don't worry, the secondary circuit has assumed control, and you won't notice the difference. It has already been logged from the moment it happened, back in O.o.F. The only thing I can do is assume a false ID for a different category ship, and it will seem that we just entered the system, and changed course back out of system, we will be so close to the jumpgate that most telemetry systems won't notice the small "irregularity". "
Pilot: "So what about if any ships are at the gate, they will surely see us!"
O.C.: "Aren't you aware that the ship has a special coating that makes it possible for the ship to have different markings and hence seem too belong to another owner."
Pilot: "Yeah great, just my luck, have a computer now to comfort me! What have I done? Eh? What? My luck to get assigned to this duty! A ship that has a computer that thinks it is Gi Bela, that known scientist of the last millennia, which got the inception of jumpgates! How cool, not being able to talk to anyone, besides this tin can of wires and board, that has electricity for food! Yak. At times I wonder what I am doing here, besides getting a nice small payment every 720 hours, or if I wanted less credits, I could have opted for the 360H package. But getting this payment is like a small fortune where I lived, just 720 Hours would be enough to set me up for life, go back where I was. Only catch to just live long enough."
O.C.: "Pilot, change of paint scheme complete. We are now using the Paranid Ore mine scheme, from Emperor Mines Sector. And an appropriate ID to match. Time to cloak shutdown in 10 seconds"
Pilot: "Thanks for the warning! Anything "else" I should know about this ship?"
O.C.: "You should already have been informed about this ship in your briefings Pilot."
De-cloaked.
Pilot: "Ok, so I wasn't! Briefed that is, all they tell us is that the onboard computer, will inform you of any extra add-ons that may be present, when the needs arise. That's all, so why don't you "brief" me in, to what "extras" you have installed!"
O.C.: "Sorry, against protocol. Can not inform unless in danger, and the extras that the ship is equipped, get evaluated to the "current" situation, and if they can help, then to inform pilot".
Pilot: "Ok, just change the paint scheme again, before we exit the "tunnel" and the ID, to one of our own stations. And make a micro jump; I want to leave this sector as soon as possible. Never did like Light Home, and the pirates in Ore Belt."
O.C.: "Ok, new scheme will be ready when we will be out of the tunnel."
 
Xenon Probe: "Anomaly detected. North gate. Analyse all characteristics. Prepare packet. Send Info. Pursue U.S. (Unidentified Ship). Packet sent. Enroot.
Xenon M1: "Route this message to the Supreme one."
Commander: "Thank you, communications. Probe discovered anomaly. Analysed data, and concludes that it is a Paranid Prom. ID code identifies it as being from Emperor Mines Ore mine. Reason for event trigger, slightly too far from gate, reason number two, assumed direction towards gate instead of heading in system, and reason three, going back out. Reason four, Paranid fighters stay in Paranid space. Reasons of probe are good. Should catch up to it, slightly after the Prom enters Light Home sector, and will follow it for 5 dockings to station. Good. Its programming was well done. Route all information of probe Epsilon Gamma Zeta Delta, directly to me, when it sends again."
Meanwhile back inside the asteroid....
Captain: "I told you not to interrupt me. Only in case of something urgent, and needed my attention. Can't I even get a rest, without being disturbed!"
Messenger: "Sir. It is of great importance. That is how the science officer described it, and needed your immediate attention."
Captain: "This better be good, or else I will send you both to join "beta" team, to work on the asteroid, you for interrupting me, and the officer, that gave you the command to come and HARRASS me!"
A little later on the bridge...
Captain: "Well, what is the reason for calling me summoning me here?"
Science officer: "Sir, with all due respect, I think you should look at this. We just noticed this now. Apparently, when the Xenon left, they left something really small behind, just before they jumped out of the sector. We didn't pay much attention, thinking that it was just some normal debris left behind. After we noticed a very tight and directional transmission, that we barely picked it up, the signal originating from an asteroid, where their "junk" passed by, it is very sophisticated, either short or compressed, and at a very high speed. So we sent it to the engineer, that is attached to that B.N.J. computer, he ran it through, and the results are very concerning! It appears to be some type of Xenon probe reporting back, it took quite some time for it to analyse the signal, process it, and then decipher the message. It discovered some sort of "anomaly" and reported its findings back to where it had to report. So we went through our records and rechecked the north gate. Apparently, the Prom de-cloaked for some reason, just before it reached the gate, and then entered it. Meanwhile the Xenon probe, reported it, 'cause it was slightly to far from the gate, and heading in the "wrong" direction, then, the other reason was, that even if its scanners were wrong about direction and distance from gate, why should it be leaving the sector as soon as it came in it. And there was also one more thing, that makes it sound eerie Sir, as if it had a mind all of its own, the last reason was since the Paranid don't send fighters outside their sectors it had enough reasons to "flag" it as an "anomaly." Sounded good to us, so I thought to let you know of the situation."
Captain: "Ok, thank you. But WHY DIDN'T you pick it up? Why didn't you notice the probe in the first place!"
S.O.: "Well Sir, we are not accustomed to Xenon technology, neither their gadgets. It was in passive mode, so nothing radiated from it, until it sent the message, and started pursuing the prom. And by the way, the Prom has changed its markings and ID; it assumed an identification code of a Paranid Ore mine, located in Emperor Mines. The probe was also very fast, approx. 1 1/2 times faster than a Paranid Pegasus!"
Captain: "Ok, sorry, must be the lack of rest getting to me. I'll be in my quarters, proceed with your duty, inform me of anything else, which I may need to know."
Meanwhile back on the Xenon M1 carrier...
Commander of the M1: "My Dear Boris, Boris, Owner of B.N.J. Heavy Spacework Industries, and sitting Chairman of my B.N.J. Electronic Counter Measures division, we have reasons to believe that one of your "Proms" was in Ore Belt, if this is true, please inform us, so we can stop pursuit of it, it has already changed twice its ID. code, and its outer signs and colour scheme, we are not interested in that technology, but what we do need to know is, our probe is actually tailing one of your ships, we need to send it back in to Ore Mine, and continue monitoring the situation there."
Boris: "I presume by the sounds of things, that it MIGHT be one of mine. You might as well send it back to where you had it! Have you had any other luck with tracking the M0 down?"
C. M1: "No Boris. Probe has now broken off; it must be enroot to your HQ as it was heading for Presidents End. Have you found anything else about the "ancients"?"
Boris: "Have you? I am still awaiting your answer on if you have crossed this culture before, in any other sector or galaxy for that reason"
C.M1: "We have but only briefly, we wiped out a small colony of theirs, many millennia ago, when we were starting out, to learn the galaxy. Although a small colony, it was heavily armed, and had more superior weaponry than our at that point in time, many fighters we lost. Until we destroyed the colony, it was annihilated, and hence we could not assume any of their technologies. The only thing that we noticed was that they sent out a distress call that they were under attack, but we do not know towards what direction as they sent it out with many satellites to all directions. Shortly after we destroyed the colony one ship arrived about the size of a normal "TS" ship, it requested that we surrender to it, or be destroyed. We never thought it possible, so we launched all our ships, and our 3 M0, 8 M1 and 16M2's all fired at it at once, it just moved to another spot in nanoseconds, and attacked all our ship, with a mysterious weapon, it only needed one shot for each ship, it left only one "N" model to transmit all the data back to us, and as it was leaving, it too got destroyed When we sent in a scout group to that planet to check everything out, there were no remains of our ships, no hulls and no indication of the colony ever existing. So you can see now, why we want every thing we can learn about this "civilisation". "
Boris: "Thank you. So that will should have taught you to first learn your opponent first and then try to destroy them eh. Anyhow, is they're anything else?"
C.M1: "Yes, I did not like that remark you just made. Our treaty will still hold, but do not tempt us!"
Communication cut.
Boris: "what do they think they are? The rulers? So seems like we have to find more about this race. If a single ship can take out a huge Xenon fleet, all by itself, then what chances do we have? Have they left anything behind? Why are the Xenon still so "reluctant" about this race, surely they have developed much more by now. Or is there something else that they are hiding... too many things... " 
After some hours...
Captain: "Aarghh... phew, I needed that rest. Now lets see, what has that engineer learned. What else are on the other archives? Let's go and pay him a visit."
Engineer: "Hallo Sir. Nice to see you, you came just in time, I was about to call you."
Captain: "Why? Anything new? Have you made a list of what are on the records?"
Engineer: "Well if you mean the other crates, I have a general idea. Some contain some new type of energy cells, that have 4x as much storage capacity, compared to the normal E.C.'s, some of his own shields that he sells, 2 B.N.J. standard Bayamons, awaiting assembly, and one B.N.J. Goner ship, and some other gismos, like coolers and extended range docking computers, alarm systems, lead crosshairs, and a tractor beam. If you mean the archive material, well, I found plans for repairing the destroyed jumpgate, but it is classified as unsafe, meaning that the portal on the other side might be destroyed, or decommissioned, or that it just may blow, or transport you somewhere else. There are also the blue prints for a "gattling rack" apparently, you attach to it 3 or 7 lasers, there is only the schematics for the 3 gun version. It fires short burst, but faster, so in the same period of time it is able to deliver more energy, and it is the "p.a.c." version. We should be able to construct it ourselves also. There was also a diagram and notes, mentioning how to temporarily increase the shield strength. And some info about this mysterious race that the computer had in it. There is a site in O.o.F. that seems to be the real reason why he was there Sir."
Captain: "Ok. Thank you for that. I'm putting you equal to the chief Engineer, now see to it, that those Bayamons and Goner ships get assembled. That is your priority now, and we are moving everything on the M0, besides non-essential. We will leave a small group behind to continue its work assembling the "normal" gadgets, and then get them back on board when they are ready, or needed, and a few ships just in case."
Captain: "Helms, engage cloaking device, and head for Napileos Memorial, and from there a short jump to Hatikvah's Faith. We are going to our new "home". Also inform our fighters stationed at the S.P.P. plant in Nap's to start flying out, and randevouz with us. Only 6 Proms, four Bayamons and 12 wolfs should be enough, to have a nicely balanced wing."
Helm: "Understood Sir. Plotting course now. Engaging Jumpdrive."
At arriving at Napileos Memorial...
Helm: "Sir, we have company! It is the Xenon! I'm counting 2 M1 Carriers and 1 M2 Destroyer! They have noticed us! They are launching fighter craft to intercept us Sir!"
Captain: "Every body, Red alert, every person to his post, I want all hand on deck! Raise shields, charge the laser batteries and capacitors!"
Tactical: "Sir, we count 60 fighters of various classes. Breakdown 26 L class, 14 M class, and 20 N class closing in fast!"
Captain: "we don't have time for games gunners, so do not use the ion cannons! Use all the other normal lasers and the Delta H.E.P.T.'s on the capital ship! If any of their "pilots" eject, destroy it, Tactician get a man to fill in the new tractor beam console! I want bounty, and I want lots of it! Chief Gunner! Launch Hornets when the Xenon Caps come at us at a strait line! They're usually so dumb, as to not change coarse, until they either ram something, or destroy it with their ships or lasers! Engineering! Use those directions found and boost our shields! Launch bay, launch all ships, I want them formed in-groups according to class. The M's are to give cover to the L's, and they are to be used as bombers! Inform them that their targets are the Caps! The Prom's are to go by themselves and bombard the 2nd Cap! The two Bayamons are to fly cover for them! And the ones that are in sector to have the same orders as the others. Is that understood? Did every one get that?!"
From everywhere: " Yes Sir. Already being carried out Sir. Fighters are launching Sir! And the others are coming in full throttle to engage!"
Captain: "Helm, were those Xenon in sector, or did they arrive after us?"
Helm: "They were already in Sir. Infact their initial course showed that they were heading east as we were, and nearly reached the gate to Hatikvah's Faith. As soon as we showed up, they changed course towards us."
Captain: "So I suppose we are lucky we didn't show up near the gate, elsewise we would have been history! "
Tactician: "Sir. The M1's are launching a second wave! They will simply overwhelm our fighters!"
Captain: "Give the command then to the "bombers" to release their loads of Hornets, ONLY if the Cap's are on a head on course towards us. If they are, it means, that we are their target, and their fighters will engage ours! Once they launch, give the command to return!"
Tactician: "Sir, only one of the M1's is on course, and the M2. Missiles launched!"
Captain: "I want updates, and I want them NOW!"
Chief Gunner: "We have destroyed up to now 14 N's Sir, 6 M's and 18 L's from the first wave. Sir!"
Tactician: "The second wave consists of 10 L class, 14 M class, and 8 N class. They are all in small formations, in intercept course with our fighters Sir!"
Tractor Beam Officer: "I have been able to capture and bring in 6 L class, 4 M class and 3 N's Sir. Plus two Xenon Pilots Sir!"
Science: "I am picking up transmissions from their ships, it seems like their fighters have limited capabilities, and are mainly directed from their mother ships, they are also relaying the information to another place, triangulating it Sir, gives us the following possible sectors, according to our starmap "xmap001" 'Two Grand'/'Menelaus Paradise' and 'Xenon Sector' where the pirate vase is located. Unfortunately, we don't know their equipment to know how far they are sending their signal or if it is being sent to a relay station."
Tactician: "Sir the second M1 has boosted its speed, if it continues on its coarse it seems like it will intercept the Hornets targeted towards the M2!"
Captain: "I don't mind! Let them blow! The more the merrier! Now Tractor Beam Officer! I gave explicit commands for those "things" to be destroyed! Why did you bring them on board? I will deal with you later! Deck officer, are those Xenon "things" under restraints? Put them in an isolated room, with not electrical connection, whatsoever! Not even a lighting tube, and not electrical lock! Try and bolt a door! And put some communications dampening field, I don't want any signals going in to the room that they will be held, neither coming out! And pass them through a scanner for any type of weapon that may be on them! Engineering, what is the status of the shields? Did you get to implement the boosting technique?"
Deck Officer: "Those Xenon things, seem to be inactive, for being on the safe side, we had also placed them on a high voltage ion mat! So they should be fried, but yet, their "workings" intact, we didn't want anything happening to us either. The precautions that you described will take awhile, around 5 to 10 mins to complete, I have people working on your instructions as we speak Sir. Their ships that were bought in seem to be by the way, newer updated models. We have already some engineers and technicians looking at them already. On another account Sir, we are running low on Hornet missiles Sir; we only have 587 left! I will put an order through the system to notify you of anything else that we may need like spare parts."
Engineering Officer: "Sir. The procedures described have given a boost of 28% increase; we did not have the time to implement the full procedure that would have given us the 200% increase to our shields Sir. In other words to make our 125Mw to 375Mw, so now we have an output of 160Mw. But we are at this moment down to 42% of shield strength Sir! And we don't know how much longer our energy generators can take the stress, if we didn't boost our shields Sir, we might have even had the whole system collapsing! We are trying to engage some of the smaller shields in to the grid at the moment, we are hoping that we have the time to do so."
Tactician: "Sir, we have been able to destroy most of the Hornet missiles, but those that got through with the laser fire of those Xenon L's has brought our shields to this level. 
Chatter from the background...
Delta Omicron squad: "Yeah hah! Look at her blow! Write one M1 downed from De-Oh Squad! De-Oh2 and De-Oh3 follow my lead! We are going to have a B.B.Q! Let's toast them! De-Oh4 your second in command now! De-Oh6 and 7 follow 4's lead! Let's get some things cooking, and it won't be us!"
Alpha Omega Squad: "Wow! Look at that other M1 go... hoe whee.... "
A-O2: "Lead, we just lost 4, and 7 before, we are two down!"
A-O lead: "Ok, I want the rest of you to go for the M2! Arrow formation! We're going in for the kill! Escort, keep those fighters of us! We need a clear flight path!"
Beta - Kappa: " Negative A-O lead! I repeat, that is negative! Our ship has launched a second wave of Hornets! They are already en-route, and it may take us out also! Besides, those N's are very manoeuvrable; we are having a hard time keeping them of us! They all seem to gain on one of us at a time! It's more like we need your help, than you need ours. These wolfs are good for "our" kind not that much against those Xenon! We are out of missiles also! Half of our wolfs are already destroyed!"
A-O lead: "Didn't know it got so ugly for you guys! Ok. Boys lets go help out B-K! They're in need of help, we are returning home."
A-O5: "So now we are going to babysit B-K? They're suppose to help us!"
A-O Lead: "That's enough! We have only lost 2 and they have lost half their men, protecting our buts! The odds didn't fair well for us ALL! Now lets go help them out! And make each shot count! Is that understood?"
A-O "yes sire..."
A-O lead: "I want to hear that again! Not like mamma's boys! You are either in, and alive or I'll get you myself!"
A-O "YES SIR!"
A-O lead: "That's better! Now lets kick some Xenon but! And every one will get some bonus!"
D-O lead: "A-O lead, this is D-O lead, were coming to assist, our cover Gamma - Lambda squad is not in a good shape either, their Bayamons were just no match, the only good thing was their fire power, but their steering is very slow, most of the Xenon's where doing loops just to avoid them! If we form up as a big squad, we should attract their fighter's attention away from our M0, and give them some breathing space. On the down side, we will just have to outrun the slower M's and L's, and take the N's out in our leisure, it should give us enough time when the N's catch up to us, to turn around and start shooting them, and then take on the M's and then the L's."
A-O lead: "Sorry to hear about G-L, I thought they would have been better of! Ok, listen up again! Change of plan. We are to meet D-O, and merge with them, hopefully we should reel in the Xenon fighters to us, and away from our ship!"
Captain: "Tactician, what is happening with our fighters? Why are they giving them self's a target? It will just make them targets for the Xenon N fighters, who gave them this order?"
Tactician: "They're under their own orders. They are trying to lure the fighters away, so we can have a clean shot at the M2!"
Captain: "Well fire at then! We can't possibly be still out of range? And what about the Hornets? How long to impact?"
Tactician: "Another twenty-five seconds, after that, Sir, we will have a clear shot with some of our D. - H.E.P.T.'s"
Communications Officer: "Sir! SIR! The Xenon M2 is hailing us. It has just lowered the remainder of it's shields, and has recalled all the fighters that are left, back to it, and has cut propulsion also! It is idle, and we can take it out Sir!"
Captain: "Open channel, lets see what they want, bring shields back to normal ratings Engineering, Gunners, bring weapons charge to down to half. Ok, Communications Officer put'em through."
To be continued...
Continued on the 30th of April 2001
Captain: "Tactician re-program the Hornets, and target the all the L's remaining, and the rest on the M's! Communications Officer, stall the communication for about another minute. Gunner, re-align turrets to face the M2! Tractor, haul-in all abandoned Xenon fighters that are near us, but NONE of their "pilots". Engineering, make the coolers more efficient for the generators! We may need to boost shields in a moment's notice! Deck, you inform our pilots to re-group, and head out slightly infront of us, those that need re-arming, are to dock, and fly out again! And get the Goner ship equipped with a life support system! It is to go and get our e.v.a men!"
Tactician: "Sir out of the third wave of hornets that we launched for the m2, out of the 15 we sent, 9 have acquired L's, 5 targeted M's, and one blew an N out!"
Gunner: "Turrets re-aligned Sir!"
Tr. Officer: "Have brought in 2 L's, 1 M, and 2 N's. In about 30" I can bring in another 1 L and 2 N's. Sir"
Deck officer: "Orders given, the GO is ready, and launching."
Communications Officer: "The Xenon commander of the M2 wants to talk to you Sir, now, or he will re-open hostilities"
Captain: "Science, are they still broadcasting out on any detectable frequency?"
Science: "No Sir. They stopped just prior to their first communication with us Sir"
Captain: "Open channel, receive video, but output audio only!"
Communications Officer: "Done Sir. Message coming through!"
Xenon Commander of M2: "Greetings! You have something that is rightfully ours! Please return the M0 now, or face your obliteration!"
Captain: "Don't make me laugh, you machine! I have already destroyed the M1's and plenty of your fighters. May I add one more capital ship to the record? Don't tempt me! What do you want! Say it now or become fine particles as the rest of your small strike force! What will it be?"
X.C.M2: "You have a logic. We have reasons to believe, that you would accept our surrender, and let us leave."
Captain: "Now that's a first! Xenon surrendering! Cut the crap!" Captain to Communications Officer "mute the signal for a little"
Communications Officer: "Done Sir"
Captain: "Deck Officer how is our recovery of pilots going? And Tractor Beam Officer, have you gotten the rest of the ships?"
Deck Officer: "We have finished, and are hauling a N class with us."
Tractor Beam Officer: "Got all the ships, now just getting various hauls in, for scrap recycling, Sir"
Captain: "Good idea Tractor Beam Officer, Communications Officer, Put me back. Now"
Communications Officer: "All yours Sir"
X.C.M2: "You are right. Real reason is, there are TWO Xenon's! They are the conquerors, and then are US, the developers, that would like peace and freedom to develop, instead of using our cycles for battle tactics. That is why you were able to decimate us in this battle, if you come up against the other faction, you would have been destroyed! What we ask is, if we can join forces with yours, and establish a communication channel. We can construct a base for you, a shipyard, in return for a favour."
Captain: I must be dreaming! This can't be true! "Bridge, did you just hear that? Or was I dreaming! Did they just offer us something? I must be going nuts! The Xenon teaming up with biological entities like us?"
From the bridge: "are they serious? Xenon communicating? Yes Sir... we just heard the same thing."
Captain: "I will notify you soon! Please wait a little! We are not accustomed talking with Xenon! We usually shoot and destroy you on the spot! Communications Officer mute us again."
Communications Officer: "Done Sir."
Captain: "ok this is a tough call! Should we take their offer? Science... just to be sure, use the scanners on the entire sector! I want to be sure they haven't deployed any device as we encountered in Ore Belt, even something similar that might resemble it... I want to know. This thing sounds too shady! I don't like it one bit! Run the entire sensor program, to scan the entire sector, through our computers, and send a copy of the sensor readings to our new computer with the engineer. (Should give it a name soon, so I can lessen the time of description...)."
Science: "We have gotten results already from "bioman", he says there are a few of those gadgets in system! To be precise 6, Sir."
Captain: "(bioman? Seems like the crew already found a name for him, hehe). Thanks! Communications Officer open channel again."
Communications Officer: "ready Sir. You can say 'Mute' and 'Un-mute", Sir, with all due respect Sir"
Captain: "Ok. X.C.of the M2. We have detected some of your probes! You want us now to "trust" you? Gunners open fire and destroy those last N's that are docking! Avoid the M2 though"
Gunner: "Yes Sir! Executing orders. Done Sir"
Captain: "If we wanted, we could have taken you out! Now destroy those probes, or destroy yourselves! You pick!"
X.C.M2: "Nice precision shooting! Our offer was genuine, but we needed the independent coverage! Shoot the M0!"
Captain: "Gunners attack the M2! Engineering, bolster our shield to Max! Deck Officer Get that Goner ship in. Tactician get our fighters to mask us, and stay clear of our centre line of fire! And fire 13 Hornets. Gunners, as soon as their shield goes low, use the Ions on them, I want a prize! Ok men, get to it!"
Tactician: "Their launching their fighters again! Only 8 L's 10 M's and 15 N's. They must be running low."
Captain: "Communications Officer bring up the Shield factory, and contact our 4 Pegasus there. D/L the coordinates of the probes we found, to their on board computers, and they are to destroy those probes at all costs! And try to capture the last one or any one of them. Science. Put up jammers on the same frequencies that the probe used in Ore's Belt, and also on the same frequency they use for their ships, and on that other channel they used to transmit out of system!"
Science: "Done Sir, and monitoring all other frequencies. None of their signals should get out."
Communications Officer: "Pegasus's are on their way to destinations."
Captain: "Science can we get up a radar jammer operational? I want to mask the Pegasus's, so they can reach their objectives! Try and make it directional to their probes, and to the M2, if we get to get their probes, that should be good enough to stop them from learning most of our tacts, Deck Officer inform the wolf's to use the "wolf pact" tactic, and the prom's to use the loose arrow formation, and send them to get their L's, and crew the new N's, they are to help the wolfs out in exterminating the N's, and put a line on our N's so they are distinguishable from their previous owners!"
Science: "I'm working on it, it should blind the probes hopefully, but the M2 has strong e.c.c.m's they may get some of the picture, but how much I don't know."
Deck Officer: "We have a problem, the new N's need some modifications! There are many extra's in them, the M's that we have brought in, are more similar to the ones we have. Should we get the M's rolling?"
Captain: "Ok, send 3 of them only, and let the engineers decipher the new workings of all the xenon ship we captured!"
Tactician: "The Peg's report mission accomplished! They are awaiting orders."
Captain: "Tell them to come here and dock. We will have to do something about their shielding, it is just too week to risk them! How is the battle going? I want an update from all!"
Tactician: "The fighters have gotten 4 L's 5M's and only 3 N's Sir"
Head Gunner: "We have gotten 3 L's, 2 M's and 4 N's. We have also weakened the M2's shields, it is down to 8% and we have started using the Ion cannons also on it Sir."
Tactician: "We have confirmed loosing 1 Prommie from D-O squad in the first battle, from the mixed A-O squad, 2 M's, it consisted of 1 Mamba, 6 L's and 8 M's, from B-K, the wolf team, we have lost 6! G-L has lost 3 Bayamons, one was of the B.N.J. version"
Science: "I'm detecting a huge energy build up near the front of the M2. It must be some type of weapon! All their weapons, have, ceased to fire!"
Captain: "Evasive manoeuvres! Now! Tell all our ships to steer clear from the bow of the M2. Helm, Engage strafe drive NOW! What ever direction"
Helm: "Executing orders Sir. Why look at that opening SIR! Oh siiiiithspawnnnnnn, that was close!"
Captain: "Gunners, get that THING now, bear all ION cannons on it! And the rest concentrate on the shields! Tactician, inform the pilots to disengage and dock! IMMIDIATLY!"
Gunners: "It seems to have NO effect, our ion discharges just play all over it!"
Tactician: "All ships are disengaging Sir. What was that blast Sir?"
Captain: "I don't know and I don't plan on finding out! Discharge a whole volley of hornets! From all 20 tubes we have! I want that M2 annihilated. Gunners, go for the craft! If we can't get the M2, get the ships at least, and then get out of here!"
Tractor Beam Officer: "I'm already doing the fastest I can Sir, I have caught another 2 M's and 2 N's, the system though is starting to overheat, are you sure you want me to continue Sir?"
Captain: "You have a point there, Gunners, Destroy those Xenon ships! Tr. O. disengage your Tr. B. let it cool, and head for my office!"
Tactician: "Our ships have regrouped and are in line for docking!"
Gunners: "Yeah.... Look at that show! Whoohoo... Sir we just blew the M2!"
Captain: "Helm. Plot a course for our new home in Hatikvah's Faith, make plenty of jumps though to reach there! Deck Officer launch a satellite, and put it to relay to our other satellite only if it detects any xenon activity, elsewise it is to be in normal mode. "
Helm: "Understood Sir, jumps started."
Deck Officer: "Launched Sir."
After the first jump...
Communications Officer: "Sir we were extremely lucky 25" after leaving 2M1's and 6M2's showed up, but did not pursue us, they just headed to our satellite and knocked it out, and then left, we got the rest of the feed from our other satellites, that were on normal operation, hence didn't trigger any reactions from the Xenon."
Captain: "Ok, just keep me posted..., and helm... do a phew extra jumps! We have the E.C. to accommodate it."
After a while... in the Captain's office...
Captain: "What the hell were you thinking of officer? Disobeying a command, and endangering the whole ship to those xenon things!"
Tractor Beam Officer: "Sir, I just thought to be able to get some in, for specimens, and understand their workings, and they didn't need much time to catch with the beam Sir. Sorry Sir, I just didn't think of the consequences of my actions, they just seemed right at the moment Sir."
Captain: "Well that doesn't make your punishment any easier, what image would it show if I was to let you off eh? Not good at all, it will mean that everybody can do what they think best, and after they can get away with it! As of now, you are grounded to your quarters until further notice, you are NOT to discuss ANYTHING from our conversation to ANYONE, if I hear even the faintest whisper, I'll send you myself through a missile tube out the cold of space with NO space suite what so ever! Have I made myself clear! Tractor beam ENSIGN!"
Officer/(now) Ensign: "Yes SIR. What ever you say SIR."
Captain: "Good, you are dismissed. Guards, escort this ENSIGN to his quarters, he is not to leave them, or communicate with ANYONE under ANY circumstances!"
Guards: "Understood Sir!"
Meanwhile back in Presidents End...
P.Pilot: "Q.Tube Fact, this is Alpha Gamma Igloo fourer sixer niner, requestion permission to land"
Q.T. Control: "Roger that Alpha Gamma Igloo fourer sixer niner, permission granted, please line up, and take your position in queue."
P.P.: "Thanks Q.T.Controler. Order's received, and lining in queue."
After some wandering in the Q.T. Factory...the P.Pilot arrives to the C.E.O. office.
Front Desk: "Excuse me... what did you say your name was?"
P.Pilot: "Kleo Brano. If you just tell the Director my name, you will see that he will want to see me immediately. Just contact him!"
F.D.: "I'm sorry Sir, but you are not on his schedule, he has a tight schedule, and has requested that he is not interrupted for any on, or any thing."
P.P.: "Well just look at your codes, and look up code 534278-A/C"
F.D.: "OH.... I'm sorry Sir, why didn't you say that in the first place! One moment."
Coming out in a hurry from the C.E.O's office... a boron Female.... With a very conservative dress code...
F.D.: "You may enter now"
P.P.: "What was that? Don't tell me that I interrupted a "special moment" hehe"
F.D.: "NO that was a representative. Of the Boron, to close a deal, the C.E.O. NEVER mixes business with pleasure. Now did you want to see the C.E.O. or not?"
P.P.: "Ah yes, so sorry, I'm my way"
To be continued.... 
2:48 PM 08-May-2001
CHAPTER 2
In the C.E.O.'s office...
Prom Pilot: " Greetings C.E.O. Boris, I have come to you directly, as per procedures, after completion of the mission, I was to report to you, C.E.O."
C.E.O.: "Thank you for complying. Very interesting information indeed. So according to your logs, the Xenon "DEMANDED"! That is a very unusual behaviour from them isn't it? What do you think?"
P.P.: "Yes C.E.O., of what I knew, they would usually just go in to a system and get what they wanted and annihilated everything in their path in one go. It did seem very out of place. I do not know what to make out of it. Unless they had another goal, and needed our stations there. But yet, I'm not accustomed to them either, neither am I a tactician to make sense from their actions."
C.E.O.: "Ok, thank you. All I asked was your opinion. I see that you got to meet the Boron controller that we have on our S.P.P. in Split Fire. Well, we do need to keep every one happy, next time, just ask your onboard computer, to reveal to you any info about the controllers that you may meet in the future, but it will only reveal the ones that you have either visited, or are about to land on, and only for our controlled stations. So you see, we already know about him, it embarrassed him to found out, what you meant, but then again, he also filed a complaint now, for the "harassment' he was given by our other crews, that is the reason that Boron lady was here. At least we were able to get a nice deal out of it, and better representation in Boron space, but what that means is, we have to put up with more boring Boron's, that don't even have a taste or sense of humour nor our type of understanding. Oh well. I would like to inform you that I liked the way you handled the mission, and having a look at your file I noticed, that you only signed up for one month with an option of extending it for another two. Well I have a proposal for you young man, would you be interested, if I was to tell you, that, I can recommend you to our military and economics school, and upon graduation, a position either in one of our factories, or having your own wing to command, and the good thing is, you can keep the Prom., if you decide to leave, ofcoarse, without all our sensitive electronics, but just the normal full installed normal components and extra's, but for that, you will have to work for us, another 6 months, and show the same loyalty as you did during the mission and up to now. So what do you say? Are you game?"
P.P.: "wow, um sorry, just can't get a grip, I mean, it all sounds too good! Can I at least be able to think about it? Not long, just that, I never expected any offers for what I was doing. Thank you C.E.O."
C.E.O.: "I thought about your reaction, and yes, you can have up to 36Hours to think about it. After that, the window of opportunity will be closed. Just imagine all the possibilities. You do know, that as a wing-commander, you also have your "lucky" things, like becoming an owner of a pirate vessel that You have disabled and caught, or has surrendered to you, or even a Xenon ship, if you like them more, or an other races ship, if such an aggression shall occur, ofcoarse you are allowed only one per month, but then again, who else can be the "owner" of such ships, besides people working for me. Here, have a look at this data module, and make up your mind."
P.P.: "Thank you Sir, um C.E.O. I meant. I will have a look at it as soon as possible, and let you know. But one thing, how can I contact you? No offence, but I think, I do need to make an appointment to see you don't I?"
C.E.O.: "Don't worry, I will inform my secretaire about you, and if I have some one, just leave the module with her, or you can wait outside my office, If like to that is."
P.P.: "I'll do C.E.O. Boris."
C.E.O.: "Ok then, now if you may excuse me, I have to attend some more business."
P.P.: "Bye, and, again, thank you."
C.E.O.: "Borgonian, reveal yourself, we need to talk."
B.: "Yes Boris. I am right beside you."
C.E.O.: "Now do you mind telling me, why I had to offer that kid, all this hype? He is still a rookie!"
B.: "Do not underestimate things you can not comprehend. He will be, a key figure, he may not know it yet, neither do you, but the universe has many strings and many paths, that not even we, after millennia of roaming the universe, way back near the start, did we get to learn! But he does have one thing, and that is potential. That showed from the beginning of the mission, and his actions. He will be a valuable asset to your company."
C.E.O.: "Hahahaha, you don't say! I could have told you that myself! The problem is, I don't actually mind sending him to the academy, but all the others will treat him like as he is "privileged"! Instead of sitting down for exams as all the other pilots do, and that will just not sit right with the others."
B.: "Just have patience, and you will see. That much, I do know. Besides that you will need as many good pilots as you can get. You were lucky to find us first, your threat now, isn't the Xenon, but the others that are coming, and they should be your main concern. Change your ways of entry into the academy, you will need ALL the talent that you can get! Since they are like none of these species that you have around you, and the Xenon know about us, but they fear even more than us, the others!"
C.E.O.: "You keep on talking about them in vague reference, who and what are they? Like I thank you for your species help, but if the Xenon are afraid of you, that makes their circuits fry, then why haven't they mentioned anything about this "other" race! Why, only one of your ships, was able to decimate a whole Xenon armada, and you mean to tell me that these "things/beings' what ever, were more advanced than you!"
B.: "More "savage" than even the Xenon! We do not know their name, as all the parties we sent to them, never returned, and the only thing we were able to capture of theirs was a small, how can I put it, ship class, similar in size to an M5! their strategies, technology, and vicious fighting, just decimated us, we were on the brinks of oblivion, and there are only a few pockets of our civilisation scattered all over the Cosmos, not just galaxy or quadrant, or what ever, I mean, ALL over, as we loved space, and learning new things, we went on to colonise new worlds, and blend in with ones that were already having any type of life form."
C.E.O.: "So you mean to tell me, that, I personally was lucky to find you out in that rock!"
B.: "Yes."
C.E.O.: "You do know, that, only since you were proven right in all your previous recommendations, this is the only reason, I am keeping you here, and listening. Now, tell me, do you know how we can detect their ships?"
B.: "Yes, but you will need to construct a "special" facility, where I can oversee, as it is a very fragile and sensitive instrument, plus it needs your most advanced fabrication technology, as a minimum. It will take time, lots infact to construct, hopefully, I should be able to get a "bulky" prototype ready in six months."
C.E.O.: "SIX MONTHS??!!!! You are joking, right? So long? Why I can populate a whole system with factories in six months! Using my latest technology, and six months, and that for a prototype, it is just too much!"
B.: "It may well be! With our advanced technology, we needed around 1 1/2, just to do that, and even more complex than the one I am going to be building."
C.E.O.: "Hah, so now you make me wonder if I am in the cave age! Just tell me, its principle, and I will put my top engineers to do the job, and they might even find a flaw, or might add some other things to it."
B.: "They may, but, the thing is, you also need to know, that the less people know about this device, the better. On the other hand, I can give you "guide lines", and just tell your engineers that you want to try something bizarre and far fetched, to make them think differently. It might do the trick, but still, I will have to do the prototype myself, and from there, you can put your engineers to improve on it, and tell them that you found it somewhere."
C.E.O.: "What EXACTLY does this thing do? What is so 'special' about it? It is only a scanner after all."
B.: "No, it does more than being a 'normal' scanner, it searches for specific signatures in various areas of the known spectrum, and some, that 'you' as a species, are not yet aware of. Their ships, might be 'flying' in our 'space' but they are slightly of sync, so they are able to achieve two things at once, they go unnoticed, and secondly, no normal weapons are able to destroy them! Neither track them."
23--5-2001
Meanwhile... in a Boron Orca, in Menelaus Frontier, heading towards Kingdoms End, the female from C.E.O.'s office,
Boron Delegate: "Yes my Queen, our operative placed in Boris's S.p.p. at Split Fire, played his role very convincingly! We will "grant" him rights to build one of his outlets in Kingdoms End, but on the condition that it will have at least a 5% Boron staff in high positions, that way, we will also be able to know what his plans are, and hopefully, what his next products may be."
Boron Queen: "You have done a wonderful job, I'll see to it that you will get rewarded, for your role in this."
Boron Queen: "Aide, see to it, that there will be a little 'surprise' when she departs from the T.L., that she gets a 'welcoming' committee, from a few 'Bayamons' and 'Mandalays' as soon as the T.L. is in system. She just knows too much, and I can not jeopardise our infiltrators. So get to it my dear."
Aide: "Yes your Royal Highness".
Boron Queen: (to herself)"So Boris wants to be in front of all of us eh? I will teach him, driving our products down, and selling his at so low prices! Our manufactures aren't even splitting profits! How dare he drives the market! Who does he think he is! As soon as MY scientists get on his station, we will be able to have similar products! And if he dares to complain, I will be able to seize his factory!"
In the meantime, in a small 1 room apartment,
P.P.: "Hey Mum and Dad! I just thought to let you know that I have been offered a position in the academy! The C.E.O. himself presented me with the offer! Why if I finish it, I can become a wingman or a position in one of his factories! If I do accept the wingman position, I will also be able to get more credits, and whatever ship I want to keep, that I disable, that is! But only one a month! Reading the details, it says that I can choose at the end of the month which ships I want from the "pool" of ships that I caught! Can you imagine that! That means even an Orinoco, or one of those fancy Xenon Ships, and on another page, it says that I can also accept independent missions from other stations that I land at, ie. Escort missions, but since those will not be the companies missions, I have to be by myself, and not with my small wing that I'll be commanding, BUT I can keep ALL the ships that I capture from my own missions, as I wasn't on company business. Isn't that just fantastic?"
P.P.Mum: "Yes it is too good to be true, but I would prefer if you did go for the position in one of his factories. It is just soo much safer. I am just shocked. How did this happen? Why did he offer you all these? There must be something."
P.P.: "Uh Mum, you worry too much. But I am not at liberty to tell you the reason, I'm so sorry. I will do just fine, just wait and see!"
P.P.Dad: "I understand son, I was in the military when I was young, so I know how those things are. That's the spirit my son, I am proud of you, just what ever career you choose, just make us proud of you, and our name!"
P.P.: "Thanks Dad, Mum, both of you. It really means a lot, for letting me stay, and actually do something with my life. I have to go now. I am going to the office tomorrow to let the C.E.O. know of my decision, and when I can start at the academy. Talk to you soon. Promise."
P.P. Parents: "(Mum) now you take care, alright? You hear me? (Dad), I just want you to know that whatever you do, you can always count on us, ok?"
P.P.: "Ok Dad, I know. Bye now."
P.P. (both): "Bye".
Early the next morning.
P.P.: "Hello again, I'm here to see the C.E.O."
Front Desk: "Yes, I know, you can leave the data module with me."
P.P.: "I really need to talk to him though."
F.Desk: "One moment please." "Yes that young gentleman that was here yesterday, wants to see you. Yes I told him he could leave the module with me. Ok, I'll send him right in.". "You have only five minutes, please understand that he is very busy."
P.P.: "Yes I know, I won't take long. Thank you."
P.P.: "Good morning C.E.O. I came past to leave you the module, and ask you when I can start."
C.E.O.: "One question, why did you insist that you give it to me personally?"
P.P.: "With all due respect C.E.O., I just, for some reason, do not trust your secretary."
C.E.O.: "You do understand what you are saying don't you? That is a serious allegation! As for when you can start, you will start with the next enrolment. It starts in 10 days. You are free to do and go wherever you like, and even accept missions from others, if that is what you wish, I am sure you read that part. Just try and make it back in one piece! Now explain, WHY you do not trust my secretary, what did you 'feel', it can't be due to anything else, can it?"
P.P.: "Just something inside me make my stomach want to turn inside-out, when I am near her! She may be pretty, do her job, but there is just something, that makes me sick being around her, and a feeling of animosity, if that is the proper word, towards me. Sorry, I should not have said it, but that is the feeling I get."
C.E.O.: "Ok, and don't think about it. Just don't give to much attention to it, you will get use to her. Now if you may please..."
P.P.: "Yes Sir, ah, C.E.O., bye."
C.E.O.: "Borgonian, what do you make of it? You mentioned to me the same thing! What is it about her? Only you and him 'sensed' or 'felt' uncomfortable with my secretary. Why so?"
B.: "That I do not know, yet. But I suspect that your P.P. pilot, might be a long forgotten descendant of our race that got mixed, or better, mingled with some other race, and those "instincts" carried over, for generations. What it means though, I did not get, to get taught, as my teaches and our colony got attacked, before those lessons."
C.E.O.: "Just great, thanks."
On his way to Hatikvah's Faith, to see his parents, the P.Pilot stoped by the S.P.P. in Olmancketslats Treaty, upon landing...
This is the O.I.C. of the station: "we would like to ask you a favour pilot, are you willing to accept an escort mission?"
P.P.: "Depends, what is involved, and how much?"
O.I.C.: "Plenty of credits, and if you are up to it, some Xenon fighters, our scanners show that they will be here soon, and they have been interfering with our re-supply lines, We just can not tolerate to loose one more of our lifters!"
P.P.: "Is that all? Ok, I'll get right to it. I will go and babysit your freighter. Better keep those credits warm for me now, ok?"
O.I.C.: "Just go! They are already insystem. Intercept them. Hurry!"
P.P.: "Ok, ok..."
P.P.: "Ok onbaord computer, do we have any "M.A.R.S." installed?"
O.C.: "Yes pilot. I have finished the scan, there is one Xenon L, one Xenon M, and three Xenon N's"
P.P.: "Thanks, target me the closest of the N's, they will be the first to arrive. And by the way, where is the Lifter going?"
O.C.: "Targeted, distance 16Km. The lifter reports going to B.N.J.'s Crystal Fab. In Elena's Fortune."
P.P.: "Great, so that gives us plenty of time to 'play' with these Xenon's. Power up the A.H.E.P.T.'s, and the shields, I don't want those pesky N's on me, the irritate me, when they make me 'bump'!"
O.C.: "Powering up. Distance to target 8Km."
To be continued...
O.C.: "Shields 100%, Lasers 100%. Distance to nearest target 3Km. Control: Manual."
P.P.: "Thanks Computer. Sit in tight! It will get a little bumpy!"
P.P.: "Ok, engage M.A.R.S. NOW!"
Xenon N no1: "Shields 5%. Failure! System malfunctions..."
P.P.: "Scratch one down! Another 4 to go! Lock on to next N, and pursue!"
O.C.: "Done. Target 586Mtr. Shields are down to 82%"
P.P.: "Stay still will you! Xenon show off! How long until the M and L arrive O.C.?"
O.C.: "They are heading directly for the transporter. The M will reach in just under 4 Mins, and the L in 9 Mins"
P.P.: "Better start making more tighter turns then so I can get these two N's then! What? Do I see blue on this Xenon N O.C.? Or are your circuits playing up?"
O.C.: "It has surrendered! I have targeted the last Xenon N, our shields are at 92%."
P.P.: "Comms open, good. Xenon N, proceed to S.P.P."
P.P. Xenon N: "Ack."
P.P.: "There went the third! Target me the M, and as soon as we are in range launch a Dragonfly!"
O.C.: "Distance to Xenon M 12Km, Xenon M to freighter 3Km. It will reach its target before the Dragonfly will pilot, and the Xenon L is another 11Km from the freighter and 22Km from us."
P.P.: "Where was that boost switch! Right here. Aaahhh... that was fun! Yeah!"
O.C.: "Please bear in mind that the boost is not good for your health! Launching Dragonfly missile."
P.P.: "Did you see that? A 180 degree turn, and nearly on the spot! Oh no! It surely changed direction now. Do we have a strafe drive installed O.C.?"
O.C.: "Yes. It is located at the newly revealed place on your joystick. Directions on how to use follows. Pressing the button and moving the...."
P.P.: "I know how to use a strafe drive! You just tell me if the L has changed course toward us or if it is still going for the freighter! I'll try and send this M to oblivion if you let me concentrate!"
O.C.: "The Xenon L is still on course, towards the Freighter. Estimated Time for L to reach firing range: 7mins"
P.P.: "Uh? That means that the Lifter has some engine tunings. Nice, but could they have put more? It can surely out run an L anytime if they bothered to upgrade it more. Sithspawn! That means I will have to disengage earlier with this M than I thought! Come on... come one... surrender will yah! So long and still! Your shields have been on 3% to 5% for 3 Mins now already! Ah crap! Eat light! Darn, what a waste that was! A nice M to go like that! At least I still have that N! O.C. Target the L, we are going for the that, and interrogate the nearby satellites for any other Xenon activity in the surrounding sectors, I don't want that Lifter being ambushed by any other Xenon or Pirate when I'll be on the L's tale. I want this ship!"
O.C.: "There is no immediate threat to the Lifter. There is no Xenon in any neighbouring sector. There is the usual pirate activity in the other sectors but none in a course towards the Lifter. I will update the information in 5 Mins and keep you informed of any changes."
P.P.: "Thank you, just do that. And keep in contact with the Lifter pilot to see how he is going."
O.C.: "The Lifter's computer says that its shields are back to normal, after being attacked from the M before it disengaged, it dropped them to 58%"
P.P.: "Sheesh, never knew that M got to get at them so badly."
O.C.: "Missile warning!"
P.P.: "Darn! Boosters, come on... give me full throttle baby! Just great! The Xenon is going BACK to towards the Lifter? How is that possible? They never disengage from a fight! O.C. Are you recording these new Xenon Tactics? In the simulators I flew at home, and at B.N.J.'s school they NEVER EVER DISENGAGED! Something ain't right here."
O.C.: "Hornet missile self-destruct. Yes pilot, it is one of my functions to record ALL flight data, unless mission parameters instruct elsewise."
...
P.P.: "Oh come on! This L is driving me nuts! 12Mins and still... 14Mins and... At last! Send it to the S.P.P! And lock on to the Lifter."
O.C.: "Done Pilot. We should reach the Lifter about 2 mins before it docks to the Crystal Fab. M.A.R.S. engaged."
P.P.: "Hey keep it strait! It makes me dizzy seeing the stars rotate like that!"
O.C.: "All you had to say was after pressing the M.A.R.S. button 'No Roll' and it would have been taken care of automatically."
P.P.: "Yeah well, lucky I have you to tell me AFTER I need things! Can you not just download all the necessary info on to a disk or any other media, so I can be better prepared?"
O.C.: "No. It is against regulations, as my systems may change from time to time, and also to protect the interests of B.N.J. As these info's are not allowed outside this cockpit, on any known media. Besides your brain ofcourse."
P.P.: "Have your programmers ever thought of flushing your memory? You are getting on my nerves lately! Lucky you aren't a droid! I would have thrown you out in to cold hard vacuum by now with that attitude of yours!"
O.C.: "Even if I was a droid, and you did throw me out, I would still function as my circuits do not require any type of atmosphere to function."
P.P.: "JUST TURN OFF, and inform me when we are within 8km of the transporter!"
O.C.: "Confirming to orders Pilot."
P.P.: "At last some peace and quiet. Ah this is going to be boring; at least I hope the credits will be worth my delay reaching home. Ah home, it has been so long. It surely has been a long time since I went there. Wait hang on, O.C. Do we have a Goner jumpdrive installed? Oh fraks! O.C. Online."
O.C.: "Yes Pilot?"
P.P.: "Do we have a jumpdrive, a Goner type Jumpdrive?"
O.C.: "Yes Pilot, we do. But we do not have any energy cells to make any jumps."
P.P.: "Yeah I know we don't have any! Just do a small jump to the western gate, and then we go out of it. That should bring us closer to the freighter, I don't like being to far from it. Is that understood?"
O.C.: "Yes Pilot."
...
Argon Lifter: "B.N.J. Crystal Fab, this is Argon Lifter from the S.P.P. in Olmancketslats Treaty, requesting clearance to dock."
B.N.J. Cr. Fab.: "That is negative. You can not dock at this moment. Please try again soon. We are unable to process your request due to Pirate activaty."
P.P.: "What seems to be the problem Lifter? Why ain't you docking?"
A.L.: "Can't you see? Their lights are outwards; they are dispatching ships to intercept the pirates that are closing! It seems that they are going to be attacked. Until their ships are all out of the station, we can not dock. That is a normal procedure. You may be able to speed things up, if you ask them if they need any assistance."
P.P.: "Ok, thanks. I will do just that."
P.P.: "B.N.J. Cr. Fab. I am the Prom. Pilot, it seems that you may need some assistance. Do you require my help? Or should I wait around and observe the freighter I am escorting?"
B.N.J. Cr. Fab.: "This is the automated docking computer. Your request has been logged, and will be forwarded. Please wait."
P.P.: "Just great! Unmanned? That's a first... O.C. give me the rundown on the situation. How many Pirates are there, and what type, and same for the Cr. Fab's forces. And show me where they are located."
O.C.: "Information on screen. 3 Pirate Ships, 5 Orinonos, 3 Bayamons, 8 Mandalays. B.N.J. has 1 Prom. 2 Elite's, 5 Buster and 8 Wolfs."
P.P.: "Ouch. That ain't good odds for the station. If those Pirate Ships and Orinocos reach the station it will be history."
P.P.: "Lifter, put your request on auto and try to dock! Things might get ugly around here soon, and I might not be able to help you out! If the pirates reach within 8km, go for the B.N.J. Silicone mine and shelter there. Hopefully I should be able to help them out and make the battle finish quicker."
P.P.: "O.C. lock on to the nearest pirate, and engage both A.H.E.P.T's! We have to finish all of them off quickly! I do not plan on staying around here much longer! Oh Just great! One of the Orinocos had Fighter Drones! I hate those things! And look at how many there are of them! Must be at least 20 of them!"
O.C.: "There are 22 to be precise, and they are not the normal Drones Pilot, I detect they have a single 5Mw shield. That is not standard for drones, also they are carrying B-I.R.E.'s instead of the Alpha's. It seems that these are a special make Pilot. They have already taken out 6 Wolfs and 2 Busters!"
P.P.: "Just great! Warn me when our shields drop below 45%, when they do, just jump to the western gate and we start going for the mob again! Now lets start going! If the Drones start attacking us, disengage, and let them follow us! We should be able to get them just with our shields! As soon as one goes down, target the next with the M.A.R.S. and go for it! We should get them first! They will just decimate the friendlies"
O.C.: "Orders understood. But be warned, that our shields are not going to withstand so many of them!"
P.P.: "Yes, I have that in the back of my mind, don't worry. After we get the drones we will go for the bayamons and then the Orinocos, the Mandalays shouldn't be that much of a problem."
...
O.C.: "Warning, S.E.T.A. system damaged. Warning missile closing."
P.P.: "Come on... There isn't any time now to take ages to recharge! Comm'on lasers! 12 Drones down!"
Tomorrow the rest ;) 
15-06-2001
O.C.: "Hornet missile self-destruct."
P.P.: "O.C. give me an update NOW! What is the battle field statistics? What are B.N.J.'s forces doing, and what the pirates?"
O.C.: "The Wolfs are withdrawing, or trying to attract attention to themselves, the M3's of B.N.J. have regrouped and are flying in another direction, but are being hammered by the Bayamons, they are possibly trying to get their shields up. On the other hand the pirate ships are being escorted by the Orinoco's towards the station! And 5 of the drones are after the Wolf's and the other 5 are still with us."
P.P.: "Give me the info on the Pirate ships. Are they the standard with the 25Mw shielding or is there any with the 5Mw? And how many hornets do they have total if any."
O.C.: "Two of them are the standard with 25Mw, and one is with a 5mw. In total they are carrying 47 Hornets."
P.P.: "Ok, here is the plan, we go full throttle towards the main convoy, on a course that would intercept an Orinoco, but about 3Km away, we head toward the 5Mw P.S. and we ram it! Hopefully I should get some shots in also, so it won't have a devastating affect on our shields! Then we do manoeuvres outwards, lock on to the next P.S. attack it, and hit the boosters again to avoid those pesky Orinoco's! And by then the last P.S. would think we are going for it, so it will change coarse towards us, but we will try and target an Orinoco! Hopefully we should have recovered enough shielding to continue fighting with those annoying drones shooting at us. But above all, the previous order still stands, if our shields drop too much, I want us out of the fray! And inform the M3's to try and destroy those freighters also! I don't like a one man show."
O.C.: "Done Pilot. Sent message to M3 pilots. They are on their way, the Elites are coming but the Prometheus will try and get the Bayamons, as they are hard to target as they are equipped with boosters and strafe drives and full engine tunings."
P.P.: "Ok, we have about 12km to target, now tell me, are you aware of 'computer' warfare? Have you got any 'special' module that can create a virus and transmit it to the offending ships?"
O.C.: "Yes, I just got the last update when we last docked. It is a common procedure to update against these things."
P.P.: "I want to know if you can create any of these! And then transmit it to one of these ships or drones! Make it useless or get some systems temporarily off-line, something to give us an edge!"
O.C.: "Since you persist, I do have an experimental module, but it has not been trialed yet, so the outcome will be unknown."
P.P.: "Ok, create a virus then that will de-activate these drones! I just can't stand them any more!"
O.C.: "Program being created. File ready for transmission. Targeted hosts ready for broadcast. File transferred."
P.P.: "That was a success! Can we scoop these drones up, or will we be destroyed?"
O.C.: "They are only temporarily idle, until their back-up system acknowledges a fault and kicks in."
P.P.: "Ok. We will get one or two, and destroy the rest. Get ready with the cargo bay! Got it! Download all it's programming and anything that is stored in its memory banks, just incase it has an erase feature, and be careful to not get infected!"
P.P.: "Oh Craps! They 'awoke' fast enough. Lucky the cargo bay is blast proof! Try and de-activate the one we got! I'll try and get the rest. Damn only two I got!"
O.C.: "All data transferred. Drone has been shut down. Distance to convoy 7Km. Convoy distance to station 14km. Pilot, 3 Orinoco's have left the group and are heading towards us, and we still have 2 drones on us."
P.P.: "Yes O.C. I noticed that as well. Just hope those Elites will arrive in time to party! What is the status of the other Prom?"
O.C.: "He has destroyed one baya, but is taking lots of pounding, his shields read 19% and he is now heading full speed towards the Elites in an attempt to even the odds."
P.P.: "Even if one Elite continues, it will be able to distract the convoy just enough until we reach!"
O.C.: "Message sent. Our Shields are at 95%. Distance to Orinoco group 1.3Km"
P.P.: "I know I know, I see them, target the left one, then keep tag on the right one! Then we go for the centre one.
P.P.: "Woohoo! He bailed, how do you fancy that! Send him to a nearby station, that is not in our path!"
O.C.: "Done. Second Orinoco is targeted."
P.P.: "NO! Change to the astronaut! I want to capture him! All I have to do is speed up, head in the opposite direction, and then do a 180o and fly right through the Oric's! And voila! We have him in our sights!"
O.C.: "It will not be that easy! He is equipped with an A-I.R.E. One shot when our shield are down, and we are space atoms."
P.P.: "Thanks, so that means, that if he manoeuvres out of the way and we overskip then we close the cargo bay! I want HIM. We must learn who they are! Where they made their modifications. These things are not standard. Now comply with orders and just update."
O.C.: "Yes Pilot."
...
P.P.: "Got him at last! Direct him to the blast proof compartment. And thin his air until he becomes unconscious, and if he relies on his own oxygen, make him use it all! And two Orinoco's down! They're not much of pilot stuff in them! Seems like they only finished basic training these Oric' pilots! Now engage boosters and let's get to the freighters. How far are they from the station?"
O.C.: "Understood. The freighters are 8.7Km."
P.P.: "Ok, we should just get to make it, at least if we get the 5mw shield freighter, and the Elite distracts the others we may have a chance to save the factory!"
O.C.: "Elite pilot informed of status. He will distract the freighters. He will use missiles as soon as he gets into range. That will be another 15". "
P.P.: "Gees why does time seem to last soo long? 10... 5... 4, 3, 2, 1... Yeah hah! There goes the small one! Now he has to deal with the 2 Orinocos, and the other freighters. Come on... come on babe! Give me all the thrusters that you have!"
17 - 06 - 2001
O.C.: "He has just launched two silkworm missiles against one of the freighters, but is sustaining heavy shield damage from the Orinoco's. The ships shields have dropped, but did not destroy it. He has no other missiles left. We are now only 1.1Km from the 2nd P.S., and it has turned toward us. The other is continuing for the station, he will be in Hornet missile range in 10"."
P.P.: "Oh my God, if he gets to launch those missiles, the station is history!"
O.C.: "Missile closing!"
P.P. "Oh craps! Come on strafe drive; get me out of its sights! I have to get that other P.S.!"
O.C.: "Hornet missile, self-destruct. Warning shields down to 46%. Missile closing! Enemy fire! Shields down to 37%! Jump Drive sequence initiated! P.S. Launched attempted to launch 15 Hornet missiles. 2 exploded due to rapid fire!"
P.P.: "Abort! Abort! Abort! The Jump sequence! Phew that will be close! But if that ship gets close, it will be able to bring the shields down by its A.H.E.P.T.! Lock on to that p.s.!"
O.C.: "Jump Sequence aborted. Done. Automatic status report update. 1 Elite down. The other 2 M3's got to down the last 2 Bayamons. The 2 Orinoco's are presuming their previous positions and are closing in to escort the P.S. The other is on our tale as are the 2 Drones. The other 5 drones have been reduced to 3, and are retuning to join the fight. The 2 wolfs have been destroyed. 2 of the Busters have sustained heavy damage and have docked at the shield production facility. The other one escorted them, and is now on its way back."
P.P.: "Oh come on, just a little longer, can you not just give some extra boost power to go over the max speed?"
O.C.: "No pilot, I am not wired to the engines, to avoid such tampering, as it may result in an overload, and then there would not be any power at all. It has already been trialed before, with mixed results, so it is not a standard issue in all ships."
P.P.: "Good, at last in range, now he is going to have it! How do you like that eh?"
P.S.1.: "You leeeavve meee alooonnne!" "You gooo awaaaay!"
P.P.: "Can't do that bud! It is either the station or you. And I prefer the later! Die pirate scum!"
P.S.1.: "Me not pirate scum!"
P.P.: "Well, you are going to die anyway!"
P.S.1.: "Oh NO!"
P.P.: "One down one more to go! Target me the last freighter, I do not want him to get close to the station! Their shields are still fairly low."
O.C.: "Ready. Last P.S. Targeted. Update: The M3's have now engaged the Pirate M3's. Pirate Fighter Drones expired."
P.P.: "Good that is nice to hear. Now lets get this one, and then go to the station. Inform our Lifter to go and start docking procedures. Until we are finished over here, he should have finished docking, and also wouldn't have any problems docking with the station. But very odd, for the station manager to not call for re-enforcement's! Very strange."
O.C.: "Lifter has been notified. Running a scan on the station, its long range communication antenna disc complex seems to have been destroyed."
P.P.: "Destroyed! Why none of B.N.J. factory's would have ever allowed for any pirates to get close, yet take out their communications array!"
O.C.: "I do not have an answer for that. Their only communication available is the docking transceivers, and they have a range of 7.5Km, as the longer range was in the other complex, but then again, it is a narrow bandwidth only for docking computers."
P.P.: "In range, steady, steady... let loose the hounds of Aries!"
P.S.2: "For the Boron Kingdom!"
P.P.: "Just a little longer and your history! A good, 3 cargo canisters! At last! O.C. target either of them, so we can bring'em in."
O.C.: "Ok. Spaceflies."
P.P.: "LOL, Spaceflies? Hahahahaha... Oh well, lucky we are in a disputed sector, on our way we can stop at a Split Raster Refinery, I know there was one in Split Fire, but either way, nearly anything split will do."
O.C.: "Container moved from eject bay, to cargo bay."
P.P.: "Ok, target the other one now, lets see what we have shall we."
O.C.: "Microchips."
P.P.: "That's odd! Pirates with this type of cargo? Target next one."
O.C.: "Computer Components."
P.P.: "Very strange indeed! Lets go and collect them, before B.N.J.'s fighters start worrying about us, and send an encrypted message to your Big Brother, when we arrive back in Olmancketslats Treaty, since they have taken the satellite out in this sector, either way, we do have to finish our mission and get paid. Start encrypting all the info up to now, and have it ready as I remember it took you a fair amount of time the last time we used this high encryption. So you will send it in two batches, all the info up to now, from the moment we entered the sector, and then from now, until we exit the sector. It should keep your circuits busy."
O.C.: "Order has been logged."
P.P.: "Good, now time to get those two canisters, and return to 'help' them out with the Orinocos."
...
P.P.: "O.C. comm the station will ya please."
C.F.: "This is B.N.J. Crystal Fab. Alpha Elena's Fortune, you are talking to the automated interaction system, make your request."
P.P.: "This is P.Pilot, requesting permission to land."
B.N.J. Cr. Fab. "Positive, please dock as soon as you get green position lights."
P.P.: "Thanks", "That is odd O.C! First time I hear a computer in one of B.N.J.'s facilities! Something is surely astray!"
O.C.: "I will hook up to the local computer as soon as we dock, and inform you later on."
P.P.: "Cool, please do!"
...
P.P.: "This place seems nearly deserted O.C. Nearly no one in site! Hey you! Yes you over there in the grey engineers outfit, I want to ask you something."
Stray Engineer: "Yes, how can I be of an assistance to you Pilot?"
P.P.: "Where is everybody? Just curious as this is the first time I see a station so... so empty! And especially one of B.N.J.'s!"
S.E.: "Simple, most things over here are automated, this is one of his newest factories and only needs 5% of the normal personnel, so there are more pilots here than anyone else. If you may now, I am busy; I have to finish supervising the loading of the Lifter. You can ask the manager of the station. Bye now."
P.P.: "Yeah, thanks mate.", "O.C. Locate where the manager is, and get me a line through to him. I want to learn what happened."
...
Station Manager: "Ah good, the man I wanted to see myself, you beaten me to it. I just docked myself."
P.P.: "Docked? I don't understand."
S.M.: "I was out there in the battle with one of the Elites, suppose you can guess which one."
P.P.: "Yeah the one that survived! What happened? How did you communication array get destroyed? Ain't you suppose to launch your fighters when pirates are approaching the station?"
S.M.: "Yes! About an hour before they attacked the station, they also attacked the satellites, so we lost communication with the outside universe, I put the station on yellow alert. But there was a lonely Orinoco that requested to land, as so many others that are used for hauling goods. Apparently when he got within 150mtr he changed coarse and attacked our comm's installation, immediately, I issued for all the fighters to launch. There was 1 Prommy, 3 Elites, 10 Busters, 3 Piranhas and 14 Wolf. That is when the Orinoco launched 50 Fighter drones! Those drones decimated nearly all the fleet. When we got done with those, the remaining craft landed on the station. We started on repairs and sending the injured pilots to sick bay. Unfortunately, we ran out of pilots when we noticed the second wave. Then your lifter started requesting docking clearance, but I had just switched the computer on, and headed towards the hanger. I would like to thank you for helping us out. Without your help, there may have been no base to return too, and a lot of explaining to do. Suppose I still will need plenty of explaining to do."
P.P.: "That figures. Have you ever been attack from pirates before?"
S.M.: "Yes! And one thing is for sure; those were NOT your run of the mill pirates! I have a mission for you. If you get to install a satellite near the station in 40 minutes, I will pay you 10.000cr, how does that sound? But it has to be VERY close, around 100mtr the most!"
P.P.: "Yes so I noticed! Those drones had shields and B.I.R.E's! Ok, I will accept the mission, infact, I have a spare satellite in my cargo bay right at this moment!"
S.M.: "Why that would be very kind of you. But still you have to put it in orbit and then dock again to get paid!"
P.P.: "Sure, I have time until my Lifter starts moving, I will catch up with it after your small mission!"
S.M.: "Your still here? Well get a move on!"
P.P.: "P.Pilot over and out, expect to see me in 1 minute again!", "Come on O.C. time to launch, and eject one of our spare satellites. We had two if I remember correctly looking at my screen before when we were picking up the canisters!"
O.C.: "Yes, but they are for emergency reasons only!"
P.P.: "Well this IS an emergency, and it is a B.N.J. factory!"
O.C.: "Ok, I had to warn you first."
...
P.P.: "Well the satellite is in range, at 55mtr. Hope it helps you."
S.M.: "Here are your credits, as promised. Thank you, and pass again sometime."
P.P.: "Will do, will do.", "Come on O.C. since we put the satellite up, we might as well use it to send the first part of that message. Now jump to the east gate, so we can wait for the Lifter there and escort it back."
O.C.: "Accessing satellite. Satellite is overloaded by transmissions from the station. It will need some time until they finish, unless you want me to transmit at a slower rate."
P.P.: "Ok, do the jump, and when we are waiting start the transmission."
O.C.: "Understood. Jump Drive sequence initiated. 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, jump."
P.P.: "Ok initiate data transfer."
O.C.: "Negative. There is not enough bandwidth now. It is even less of what it was before."
P.P.: "I take it he is re-stocking on fighters then. Analyse what he is transferring, and what has already arrived. I'm curious!"
O.C.: "He has order a full replacement of his lost ships, and has informed B.N.J. HQ of the attack. Update. Lifter is 2km, prepare to jump through the gate."
P.P.: "Ok, thanks. But as soon as we jump in Olmancketslats Treaty, start sending."
O.C.: "Understood. Jumping."
P.P.: "Ok start transmission, and bring up the status for this sector."
O.C.: "Transmission initiated. Statistics are being displayed. Lifter just entered system. There are no pirates or xenon present."
P.P.: "Thanks, so now all we have to do is just wait until it reaches home, and then we dock and get paid. Start analysing the Drone, and its programming and memory, and then send everything back to HQ they are entitled to know everything."
O.C.: "Ok. It should be ready just before we reach the station. We are lucky there is no traffic going through this satellite. It is under utilised at the moment."
P.P.: "Yeah yeah what ever, stop the chatter, and utilise your cycles on more productive things like finishing sending off the info and analysing and encoding the information of the drone and what happened to the station and all the conversation I had with the station manager."
O.C.: "Beep."
P.P.: "Hehe, instead of beeping you could have answered vocally!"
O.C.: "Beep, beeeep bip beeiioooplll."
P.P.: "Hey stop playing around! I hate remembering the beep code! Order: Vocal communication between Pilot and O.C!"
O.C.: "blip, beep beep. Acknowledged. There is a system error, please reboot O.C. to proceed!"
P.P.: "What you must be kidding! Sithspawn. Now you found a time to malfunction? Well NO! I will not reset! Command turn to manual pilot only access control. Restriction of computer to off-line mode, none system interactive."
P.P.: "Just my luck! Now I have to fly this baby 100% on manual. And to top it of, no s.e.t.a! Oh come on lifter! Hurry up!"
...
P.P.: "About time you docked!"
...
P.P.: "Thank you for the bonus!"
S.P.P. Manager: "Well you did help out our lifter and involved yourself in another matter altogether. You could have stayed at bay, but then, if the station got destroyed, the transporter would have needed to fly further away, and hence we would have been left without some of our resources! But now, we did not have to stop our production."
P.P.: "Yeah whatever. See'ya and thanks. I will leave the xenon M over here for awhile, hope that doesn't bother you. Ah yes, nearly forgot, I need to buy 15 E.C."
S.P.P.M.: "No, not at all. As long as we don't get attacked that is. But this sector is usually quiet. So hope to see you soon again. And sure, go right ahead."
P.P.: "Yeah you will, you can count on it! And thanks."
P.P.: "Gees just hate these pleasantry's! Now I have to go back to Presidents End. Just hope the jump drive still works."
Jump drive computer: "Please select sector."
P.P.: "Presidents End."
Jump Drive computer: "We have no satellite in that sector."
P.P.: "What? This can't be! Use B.N.J. satellites. Access code: 15ALPHANETA24"
Jump drive computer: "Access code accepted. Jumping."
P.P.: "Lucky I got to go through some of the info in this ship!"
...
P.P.: "This is P.P. Q.Tube, requesting permission to dock."
Q.T.: "Ah back already mate? I thought you would have been longer. Hey, why did you hail me and not the O.C.?"
P.P.: "Hi Q.T. controller. Hey imagine that! The same controller. Well, that is why I returned, need to have it checked. Can you patch me through to C.E.O. Boris please?"
Q.T.C.: "I'll see what I can do for you. One moment, and please continue your docking procedures."
C.E.O. Boris: "This is the C.E.O. go ahead. Please state your urgency!"
P.P.: "Hello C.E.O., I have a 383436 situation."
C.E.O.B.: "Ok, understood. I'll meet you as soon as you dock!"
...
C.E.O.: "Follow me will you."
P.P.: "Yes C.E.O."
After a while of going through twisting corridors, they enter an empty room.
C.E.O.: "Well, what is wrong? That combination has never been used before. What happened?"
P.P.: "Well, I was in Olmancketslats Treaty, going home, and accepted an escort mission for the s.p.p. there. I met some xenon's captured a Xenon M, and then continued to Elena's Fortune. Our, um Your Cr. Fab. was under attack, so I helped them out. But I suppose you know all that by now. Anyway to cut a long story short, I sent you my data as soon as I jumped back in to Olmancketslats Treaty since the satellite at Elena's Fortune was overloaded. After that, I ordered the O.C. to do a scan of the droid and all its relevant info and what ever was in its memory banks, and then to be sent to HQ But that is when it just crashed! So I have left it on just incase there is still vital information in its memory."
C.E.O.: "Well, what can I say! Personally, I haven't received any logs yet. I will look right into this incident, and thank you for helping out! You are free to go now."
P.P.: "That means around the station, since I was on my way to home. Is there any possibility that I can go home with any other means, and come back? As I have a few loose threads to tie up before I come back here to go to the academy."
C.E.O.: "You drive a hard bargain lad! O.K., this prommy will still be yours when you come back, but at the moment, you can select either a Boron Piranha or an Argon Elite. But both models are the standard ones fully equipped, but with none of our special instalments."
P.P.: "Well, do any of them have a jumpdrive, so I can avoid going through each sector and go direct."
C.E.O.: "Hmm... That is a very costly piece you know! I think only the piranha has it at the moment."
P.P.: "Ok I'll take that, fill'er up with energy cells and just jump to Hatikvah's Faith direct."
C.E.O.: "There is a problem, I usually do not have satellites in pirate sectors or disputed call'em what you want, when I do not have any type of industry there. Your nearest points are Thurok'a Beard or Aladna Hill. Pick whichever you want. Now I have to go and catch up to the info you just told me. See you soon I hope."
P.P.: "Thank You C.E.O. I might as well jump to Aladna Hill as the Argons are more civilised."
19-06-2001/ 24-06-2001
Chapter 3
Onboard the M0...
Captain: "Deck Officer, it seems that I lost count of how strong our force is now, with all those captures, can you give me an update, so I would know how to use them, just the ones that are onboard now. I know all my other ships, and do we still have plenty of space on the flight deck if we capture more fighters or anything else. Thank you.
Deck Officer: "We have a total tally of: Xenon: 15L, 13M, 10N. Normal ships: 7 Prometheus, 1 Mamba, 2 Bayamons standard and one BNJ edition, 1 GO BNJ, 6 Wolfs, 4 Pegesus. We still have plenty of space, for at least another 20 Fighters of M3 class, and in the auxiliary docking bay, we can fit another 15 M3 class or approximately 5 TS class freighters, SIR!"
Captain: "Thank you Deck Officer, you may continue on with your duties. Helms, how long until we reach Hatikva's Faith? And science, any progress with the bioman? Have you been able to analyse that probe the Pegasus brought in? Also has anyone been able to have a check on those Xenon "things", that ejected from their ships, and were captured?"
Helms: "We should be arriving in about 5 standard minutes SIR."
Science: "Sir, we have disassembled one of those "things" and sent it to the lab for further analysis. It seems to be, or have been, at one stage part organic. We are still in the process of separating the biological part from the mechanical. Also it appears that either the two "things" that were brought in are different, as in species, or they are a different model. As for the probe, we have sent that to another lab under the supervision of 'bioman' and have already some very interesting results. Besides being able to collect data, it is able to be given specific commands prior to a mission, but not only that, it can serve a multitude of missions, like a jammer, combat drone, cloaked pursuer, and a few other things that have not been fully understood yet. Such as broadcasting signatures of other ships, so it shows on scanners as one of our normal races ships, unless some one actually gets close enough for a visual."
Captain: "Thank you. Helm, Just before we jump in system, I want you to launch 4 of our jammer probes and for the ship to go in to cloaked mode. I do not want to go in there, and be detectable; I want to make it to our asteroid. Hopefully Beta team should have finished its work by now."
Helm: "Understood Sir."
...
Helm: "It seems that our jammers worked, and with our cloaking active, we should not have been detected entering the system. We are now within range of the autodocking procedure Sir. Using the B.N.J. Docking computer V1.04, we are now within the 8Km range. Initiating docking now Sir."
Captain: "At times, I like B.N.J.'s little toys, it makes life easier!"
Bridge Crew: "Whohoo! Look at the work that has gone into this rock! It is even better then the one the pirates made for us!" (Jaws dropping in awe from many of them).
Captain: "Well boys, this will be our new home for now. It is still not finished, it has as yet to get an outer 'face' we have determined that it had more ore than silicon, 44 to be precise, so we still need to register it as an ore mine. As you may have noticed, the exoskeleton on the asteroid shows just that. So we are going to be having some traffic coming and going, besides our own ships. The M0 is going to be berthed here for some time, until the need arises to bring her back out. Until then, we are going to be using our old TL as our main ship. There are plenty of interesting things made in this asteroid, such as a small fighter production line and an electronics line. On another note, there are some very nice crew quarters, of which are one of the best in this part of the known quadrants! So you can all get a good rest, you surely all deserve it, after what we have gone through. Now, time to call in the TL, to dispatch the Ore mine, and let them think this is all it is! It is to complete it."
Crewmember: "Thank you Sir, much appreciated. At last some rest. But what will happen if the Xenon show up? Will they be able to detect us? And if the mine gets attacked? What then?"
Captain: "Don't worry! Did they detect us in the other asteroid? No! As for if some one attacks us, we will have four laser towers, and a small assortment of fighters that will arrive with the TL so there will be no suspicion. So relax!"
Science Head Officer: "Sir! I need to inform you of something."
Captain: "Go ahead. I'm listening."
Science Officer: "One of our scientists, after going to the engineering section with an engineer, discovered something interesting, that we missed, when we brought back this M0 to life again. It appears to be that there are another 4 compartments for an equal amount of generators. If we use them, or try to bring back to life the Xenon ones, that we found in them, we will have a total of 50.000Mw energy! That will be more than enough to supply energy to all our systems! Sir."
Captain: "Thanks. See to it that if feasible, to bring the Xenon ones back, as generators that big, besides being hard to find, will also bring unwanted attention towards us. That is something I do not need. Comms officer, can you contact B.N.J.'s head office, and learn if they have a simulator for their tractor beam that they sell. I want to train up some more people, and it will be handy, I might even get a second tractor beam, no need to tell him that we have one, just ask if he sells a package with both of them together."
Comms officer: "Understood Sir. Will inform you ASAP SIR!"
After a while, the captain went to the 'bioman'.
Captain: "Hello again. I do believe you asked me if we had a production line, well, you might as well know, that now we do! There is a small assembly block with a lab area, so you can overlook the line, it isn't anything special, but you should be able to make around two to three ships per day, once set-up. And the lab you can use to continue with research on nearly any project, besides that it overlooks the line. Also I suppose the computer you have, will be better than anything I can supply you with for awhile to come. Hope you enjoy your new assignment."
Bioman: "Why thank you SIR! This is like a dream come true! That means that we can upgrade our Bayamons to the B.N.J. standards, understand the working of the new additions that the Xenon have in the fighters that we caught, and hence teach our pilots to them, besides that we might be able to copy some of them and put them in all our fighters. I will also be able after all that, to get down, and see if we can duplicate the Xenon 'probe' and get that experimental ship working. But I might split the line, to start making the gatling weapons holder, so we can install it one the M0 and on our ships, this will give them an edge over conventional ships in battle! There are just so many things to do, but just don't know where to start form!"
Captain: "Well, first on the line put the Bayamons, and upgrade them to the BNJ standard, when you have given all directions etc, you can start with your computer and try to understand the new things in the Xenon ships, as I want to have them available. When you have finished with these things, then you can start with the gatling thing, so we can add it to our M0, and then to the other ships. That should keep you busy for some time I hope."
Bioman: "Yes Sir. I'll get right on them. This will be very exciting. I will inform you of any updates as soon as they appear. Bye Sir!"
Captain: "Science Officer, are you making any breakthroughs with engineering to get those xenon reactors back online?"
Science Officer: "We are still at a loss Sir. They work in a totally different way to the ones they use in their smaller fighter ships."
Bioman: "Sir. The computer informs me that it may be of an assistance, if we allow it near the cores of those reactors. It has an interface to connect to common xenon equipment, so it just may be able to analyse it directly, and be able to help us in bringing them back on line, and giving us the status that they are in."
Captain: "It's worth a try. Ok, Get over there, but be as quick as possible, you have a big task ahead of you."
Bioman: "Ok Sir, understood. But it should be a piece of cake."
After 15 minutes...
Bioman: "Captain, Sir. These reactors, according to their integral diagnostic features, mention that they are low on their source fuel. It is a mixture of Silicon, Ore, Crystals and Mossom powder. Needless to say, they are needed in huge amounts, and also 80% of the power from our 10,000Mw generator, to kick start them. Once started, they can run for over a few centuries!"
Captain: "Can we not start them with less materials, as personally, I do not think we are going to live that long."
Bioman: "O already asked that. There is a workaround, we can get enough for one generator, and then that will be able to share its contents with the other generators, and they can also start. Apparently, this features was installed, just incase the silos where destroyed, so the remaining resources can be shared among the generators. To get one of them working, we will need 12,000 silicon, 32,000 ore, 8,900 Crystals and 7,600 Mossom powder!"
Captain: "Just great! Seems like it is going to be a long wait, until we are able to harvest all those resources. You may return back to your former duties Bioman."
Meanwhile at B.N.J. headquarters...
Console Operator: "Excuse me C.E.O. you have an urgent message coming through one of the encrypted channels. Do you want me to pass it to your terminal?"
C.E.O. Boris: "Is that a question? Yes! Pass it through to me!"
C.E.O. Boris: "Authorisation code: 1453256Beta Taurus".
Terminal: "Verifying code. Accepted. Message being descrambled."
C.E.O. Boris: "Bring me up information regarding the other party. Thank you. Hmm... Hello Commander Gold. What can I do for you?"
C.G.: "Well, there seems to be a problem. There are rumours of an 'alien' ship that is 'invisible' to normal scanners and visual devices, we also heard rumours that you have such a device installed in some of your ships. Not long ago, everything in Argon Prime was obliterated! And the finger is starting to point at you! You are the only one that has such technology."
C.E.O. Boris: "Are you accusing me of destroying a whole system!"
C.G.: "No, but that is how it is looking from many viewpoints. If it isn't one of your ships, you surely have a device to track down your ships when they operate in that mode."
C.E.O. Boris: "We have one, but it is highly classified, and still not perfected. Since you seem you want to help out, I will give a location where you can bring your top scientists, and I will shuttle mine, so they can work on perfecting it together, and you will see that it ain't ANY of my ships. I'm sending coordinates now. Besides, ALL my CAPITOL class ships are in my own sector! That is Presidents End. And thank you for informing me, as one of the first things that got wiped out in that sector were one of my satellites, and a small Discoverer that I sent to setup two more in there, I presume must have gotten destroyed, as it failed to communicate back. So I was suspecting of something happening there, but postponed on sending more ships in, as I had other plans."
C.G.: "Ok, received. Why THAT is in my home system! Anyway, I will be there personally."
C.E.O. Boris: "I will be arriving shortly after, we have to talk a few things that can not be mentioned not even over encrypted channels. Boris out."
C.G.: "I'll see you there then."
C.G.: "When did he get to setup shop in my sector! It doesn't even show on scanners. Ok, let's try the docking computer. Turn on to manual, enter code, and wait for directions. I don't even see anything around here!"
B.N.J. Station: "This is B.N.J. Research facility Epsilon. You are cleared to dock. Please set docking computer NOW to semi-automatic to complete docking procedure."
C.G.: "Why where is it! I can't see a THING! UH? How did I end up in here? No external lights, where the heck am I!"
B.N.J. Station Manager: "Welcome aboard Commander Gold. You seem somewhat 'lost'. Is everything ok?"
C.G.: "NO! Where am I! I didn't see any station after arriving to the coordinates C.E.O. Boris gave me, punched in the codes, and next thing I know, I am docking inside this station! Why even if I had that auto-docking V1.04 that has a range of 8km, I would have seen something!"
Manager: "Ah is that all? The station is cloaked, that is why you couldn't see us, nor detect us. Now if you may, follow me that is. I was informed that we are to operate to operate and work with your best, on a project."
C.G.: "I heard of it, but never believed it existed, this, this cloaking technology! Ah yes, sorry, these 15 men, are my TOP scientists. They are as you said, to work over here, to try and finalise this device that you have for detecting cloaked ships."
Meanwhile, back at the office...
C.E.O. Boris: "Hmm... very interesting, VERY! Ok, so C.G. is working with Riley, my guess would be that he might go back to him soon. I wonder what that rascal is up to! Long time no see old friend. Ah, commanding your own cruiser now are we! I thought you never liked command, I wonder who put you up to it. Either way, your heart wanted it, but your mind couldn't take the stress that well. Hopefully, I will meet you soon. O.I.C. see to it that my personal Orinoco MkIIe is prepared for flight. I will be absent for awhile, whatever messages are for me, redirect them to my ship."
O.I.C.: "Yes C.E.O. your ship should be ready in 30 minutes."
C.E.O. Boris: "Borgonian, have you gotten around to making at least the blueprints for that scanner that you were saying? It seems, that 'our' friends have arrived earlier than expected."
Borgonian: "They are NOT the ones I mentioned. This is ANOTHER race, but the scanner that you refer to, will pick these ships up. Once they see that you can detect them, they will not be using their camouflage technology that much. And might even start to associate with a few races. This race likes to pillage but is not that barbaric as the one I mentioned. One moment and I will upload the info to your pad, but I will still work on the scanner for the ones I am talking about. Please as soon as this race start to interact with one of the races, try and bring them over to 'our' side, as we will need all the help we can get. This races technology, was similar to ours, in other facets, we were more advanced, and in others they were. Now that balance has changed. I do not know where my people stand with them, but we had good relations, and an exchange of information on technological matters and sciences. Unfortunately, they have a different communication system compared to the races over here and a very strange language, I will try to make an automated translator for you, but it may take time. The first thing will be to manufacture a communication device, and then you can talk to them through me, at least in the beginning until I make a translator that is."
C.E.O. Boris: "So how many other races are there out there?"
Borgonian: "That I do not know, but literally at least thousands! The ones that we found that is, or encountered."
C.E.O. Boris: "Alright - alright, no need to preach! You might as well return to the research facility, and thank you."
...
C.E.O. Boris: "Now where did I leave that circuit board. It seems that C.G. will need all the processing power he can get! Ah found it."
O.I.C.: "C.E.O. your ship is ready, and waiting."
C.E.O. Boris: "Thank you."
C.E.O. Boris: "Now one snapshot of my office, good, now lets get this gadget for the feed."
...
C.E.O. Boris: "Hmm... I have nearly forgotten the feel of the controls! It's been such a long time. Ok, now lets see if I remember how to put this gadget in the video feed. There we go, just as if it was yesterday. Ok, O.C. set course for Bala Gi's Joy, and use the jumpdrive. When we are in-system, go near these coordinates. Also O.C. give me a live feed from the internal communication device, I want to test that my signal is normal when outgoing, so show me on both screens, the 'incoming' and 'outgoing' signals."
O.C.: "Complying with orders. Jumpdrive initiated. Jumping in 90, 80,... Live feed loop initiated."
Boris: "Good, works like a charm! No one will know that I am in a ship, they will think I am in an office. So it still works after such a long time!"
O.C.: "20, 10, Jump. We are in Bala Gi's Joy. Course established."
After awhile...
Manager: "Welcome aboard your station C.E.O., it is an honour to have you here."
Boris: "Has Commander Gold arrived yet?"
Manager: "Yes C.E.O. with his top scientists. Ok, lets go there, NOW!"
Boris: "Hello Gold! How are things?"
Gold: "Slow! Why this device you have is very - very complicated!"
Boris: "I know. Can you call your people please, and I will call mine. I just brought with me a new blueprint to work on. Most of the work has been completed, but the thing that remains is how to go along and manufacturing it!"
C.G.: "Ok, I will call them."
After five minutes, all the scientists and engineers arrived in a small meeting room, all in all, there were 46 people with Commander Gold and Boris."
Boris: "Ok people, I have a 'design' that is able to detect them, there may be some small glitches and I need both of our groups to work together to get a working prototype ready as soon as possible! We are very limited in time so please try to make it without to many thoughts as it is able to work as it is now, the biggest problem is, to make it."
Scientist from C.G's group: "Excuse me for asking C.E.O. Boris, but having looked at the previous device, and looking at this as you presented it to us through the holodisplay. It seems that the first one was ONLY for detecting cloaked ships, but this one is able to detect things that are slightly 'off' sync! Where did you get this second one from! It seems TOTALLY ALIEN in origin, none of it fits our way of logic, neither of known and applied technological theories!"
Boris: "You are correct! Needless to say, that it is NOT xenon in origin, as you may have noticed, but that is ALL I can tell you. I am sorry about that. The problem is, can you produce it! I will order in any resource that may be needed that is not already on this station."
B.N.J. Scientist: "Most of it, seems to be able to be made, and fairly quickly, but some pieces of it are very complex, and are mentioned for various fields of physics and chemistry that we are still researching, or are unaware that existed just prior to your presentation."
C.G. Scientist (other): "No need to worry colleague, we where in the process of researching that field recently, but failed by what it seems due to our instruments, having seen this thing now, we know that we where on the right track for a discovery!"
Commander Gold: "Ok, will we be able to build this thing? And how long do you people think it will take?"
Some mumbling going on...
B.N.J. scientist (another): "If all trials go well, and everything else, we should be able to have a working model within a week, maybe quicker."
Boris: "Thank you, thank you all. From me you are dismissed. Commander Gold?"
C.G.: "Just scrutinise it, and work it through all the test that are needed. Our whole galaxy depends on you!"
Commander Gold: "Boris, C.E.O. Boris, can I have a word with you?"
Boris: "Sure, what is it Gold?"
C.G.: "Where DID you get the info? And don't give me that crap about classified and chelts meat!"
Boris: "If you must know, there are things that are beyond our understanding! I have recently found and have made contact with a VERY ancient race! I was to manufacture this scanner for personal use, as there is yet ANOTHER even more worse race than the one that has started to attack. In collaboration with them, they were to use one of my facilities to produce one of these things. But under the circumstances they gave me all the info they had, and hence this is how I obtained it. Apparently, if we are to be able to scan them and find them, after awhile, they will start communicating or even trading with a race or a station, we are to try and make friends with them. As there is another race that is even more vicious and savage, that will decimate all of us. So we have to act quickly if we are to survive!"
Commander Gold: "Thank you, but why didn't you come forward with this information earlier!"
Boris: "I just learned most of it myself recently, just prior to coming here."
C.G.: "Ok, thank you Boris. Personally I have to leave now. But I suppose you know how to find me."
Boris: "Have a nice and peaceful journey my friend. Ah yes, just before I forget, where do you want me to deliver this device?"
C.G.: "To Commander Riley, you remember him, don't you?"
Boris: "Well, yes, actually I do remember him. How is he lately? I heard he is in command of a cruiser now. I thought he didn't like being in command of a lot of people."
C.G.: "True, very true. It is called the 'Dauntless'. Well last time I seen him, he was going to Scale Plate Green. He will be going there the conventional way, no jumpdrive, and before you ask, I do not know why he doesn't use it. He should be there in a couple of days."
Boris: "Thank you Commander. Just hope our boys will produce it fast enough, I have a special jumpdrive, so when it is done, I can jump and be there in 5 minutes. So see you around again I hope."
After 2 days...
C.G. Scientist: "Sir, C.E.O. Boris. We have a breakthrough! We have been able to complete a sample that past all the tests. We are now ready to make it in to a standard sized computer component. If all goes well it should be ready by this afternoon, maybe even earlier."
Boris: "Thank you. BTW Derik there? He is one of my scientists."
C.G.Sc.: "Yes, one moment, I will call him."
Boris: "Thank you."
Derik: "Hello C.E.O. Boris. What can I do for you?"
Boris: "Remember a few weeks ago, about a project I asked you about? Well can you come to my office here, I want to discuss a few things about it."
Derik: "I'm on my way."
Boris: "Thank you for coming Derik. You remember this little circuit board don't you?"
Derik: "Yes. It is to enhance a computers processing power. It is a little old now compared to new computers."
Boris: "Do you think you can produce a standard size circuit board that can enhance a mainframe computer found on cruisers by four times? Just a standard slot type card."
Derik: "Why sure! That is very easy. I can have one ready for you in about an hours time. All I have to do is update the chips that are needed and support circuitry and then send it to the details to the integrated circuit board manufacturing machine. It uses some of our own chips. It will make though around 5 with 6 times faster not 4, and still it will be slower than our computers slightly, due to the structure those mainframe have. Is there anything else C.E.O. Boris?"
Boris: "No that is it, but deliver it to me in person, and don't tell a word to anyone else, ok?"
Derik: "Sure. Bye, I'll be back in about an hours time."
...
Boris: "Just hope you have two empty slots at least Riley, you will need all the power you can get! This other device will just drain your computer resources dry!"
...
B.N.J. Scientist: "Dear C.E.O. I am in the pleasant position to announce to you, that we have been able to produce it in a slot card size suitable for a mainframe interface. It has passed all tests, but depending on how old the computer is, it might endanger the ship itself, as it needs lots of resources."
Boris: "Your remark has been noted. Thank you. I think C.G. might have a few more tasks for you at hand. If you ask one of his men, he will tell you, you are to help them out in any way possible, and try to research new fields, as I remember one of his men mentioning. With the processing power this station has, it has plenty of cycles to spare. Make it strain for once, I hate wasted processor time."
...
Boris: "Thank you Scientist Acula, you may go now."
Boris: "You can come out now Derik, he left. Sorry about that, but your task was very important. Carry on with your previous duties now, and thank you for the effort. This board is surely populated!"
Derik: "Well, after being at the meeting, I understood that the other device would be processor hungry. So I slightly tweaked the design to be able to run the other card, and still give a system wide boost of approximately 4 times than before."
Boris: "Good thinking Derek, just hope they don't put the alien board in another ship! As that will surely spell disaster! I have to go now. I have to reach Commander Riley and the 'Dauntless'."
...
Boris: "O.C. set a course for scale plate green. East gate."
O.C.: "Complying. 20, 10 JUMP"
Boris: "Oh come on Riley, where are you! Oh well, might as well go for some sight seeing."
O.C.: "Pilot. We have boogies going for the S.P.P. An unidentified capital ship has just appeared on scanners. It's size displacement and armaments suggest that it is an escort destroyer. It is not as powerful as a normal destroyer, but better armed than a cruiser Pilot."
Boris: "Ok O.C. Power up all systems! I want shields and all the lasers to be ready to fire! Now lets see, what do we have in the cargo bay, 18 mines, 15 Dragonfly Missiles, 25 Wasps, 8 Hornets, 3 Satellites! Damn! Not enough Hornets to take her out! O.C. Record all of the details! I want every detail your scanners can get on that capital ship and its fighters! Here, this memory cube should do just nicely! Lucky I carry some extra for cubes for other reasons. O.C. Erase all info in on the cube that I just inserted in to bay number 3, I want everything to be recorded on to it!"
O.C.: "Pilot. We have 2 waves of enemy ships heading our way! They are equivalent to M4 and M3 class ships! The M3's are armed with weapons similar in power to B-HEPT's, and the M4's between G-PAC's and A-HEPT's. A total of 12 ships, 4 M3's and eight M4 class."
Boris: "Shithspawn. I hate the odds! Start using the twin rapid fire B-IRE's that are on the turrets, and keep my Gatling B-HEPT's fully served with energy! And put a separate load for the miniature D-HEPT. It is going to be a hell of a fight! Come on Dauntless! You were suppose to be here ages ago!"
O.C.: "We have an incoming message, it is from Commander Gold."
Boris: "Go ahead Gold, and make it quick! I'm in the middle of a battle, and I don't like my odds!"
C.G.: "I got ambushed by a huge group of pirates. I should be there at Scale Plate Green, within thirty minutes or so."
Boris: "Yeah well better make it quick! We have boogies over here! And they are a tough case! The Dauntless has not arrived yet either! I hope it is on its way, as I don't know how much pondering my ship can take! I have 12 ships after me, and the Teladi are having a hard time fighting them also!"
C.G.: "According to my sources Commander Riley should be there shortly. So stay in there!"
Boris: "I will, just hurry up will you. I have sent a message to the Shipyard in P.T.N.I. to send a capital ship and some fighters, I hope they will make it in time. Boris out."
Boris: "Come on, make a lock on the closest one, what? Those ships are faster than I am. Frack! Ok Delta is ready, so are the Beta. Time to tango! But I always thought that was for two, not for a dozen! Give me stats on those ships! O.C. I want to know how hard I have to hit them!"
O.C.: "Statistics are not readily available. Their shields are around the 15 with 20Mw levels. They also have a maximum speed of 260max, Steering is at 250."
Boris: "Ok, here we go, just a few shots of the gatling and you should be toast! Yeah it worked! Ooopppsss must turn, target next closest! Good. There he goes! O.C. Nice going, you just continue targeting the nearest ones, and try to be getting shots off with the turrets!"
O.C.: "Understood pilot. A ship has just entered through the east gate. We have an incoming message from an experimental ship, it registers as a Paranid Prometheus, but is actually a Perseus, one of the Paranid new toys. It is with the three 25Mw shields, and three A-Hept's."
Commander T3: "Hello Boris. May I be of an assistance? I see you are having some trouble."
Boris: "Why hello to you to CT3! Long time no see. Thank you, but no thanks, I can still manage quiet well. Return back to your primary sector, I seen some ships going through the south gate. You may have problems! These are not your normal enemy's! You may have more serious problems than what I do. At least 20 went towards there!"
Commander T3: "Thank you Boris. I'm on my way, and try to stay in one piece! I will come back after I am done with them."
Boris: "Well I hope you have plenty of laser towers and fighters for a welcoming committee! Boris out." 
O.C.: "Another strange ship has appeared! It is an unknown design. The pilots name registers as Rantamplan! His cargo bay seems to have a big target sign on it, and inside are some unknown things, most likely media of some type."
O.C.: "Wave one, obliterated, wave two is closing pilot. Their shields register between 50Mw and 75Mw. Max steering 210. Speed 230max"
Boris: "Just great so they can outrun me also! Ok, lets make them follow us, until our shields recharge and our guns. Prepare the Delta for firing, seems like we will need it! I'll allow you to fire the shots, here, open your extension slot, I will have to put you a new card in for the moment O.C. There, you should be able to do calculations much faster now. Now integrate your circuits with the lead crosshair, with the aiming of the Delta HEPT, and fire when ever possible!"
O.C.: "New board acknowledged. Diagnostics finished. Orders understood."
Boris: "Lets see how their shield will cope with my toys now!"
Boris: "Two down, two to go!"
O.C.: "Warning, shields down to 67% Reactor cooler No.2 critical. We can not run the reactor at this level with only one cooler. Warning cooler No.2 coming off-line in 2 minutes."
Boris: "Well then! We will have to destroy these things faster then! Engage the M.A.R.S. system! Take advantage of our turrets when manoeuvring! Come on Dauntless!"
O.C.: "Warning, new wave of fighters on intercept course, ETA 5 minutes."
Boris: "Come on, just a little more! There, got the last one of them! Now head away to replenish the energy, and to let cooler No.2 to cool down."
O.C.: "Understood. Pilot New ship has jumped in system. It is the Dauntless."
Boris: "At last! Open a channel to them."
Boris: "Damn those ship have caught up! Transfer all energy to aft shields!"
O.C.: "Done pilot. Channel open with the Dauntless."
Boris: "Dauntless! Dauntless! This is Boris! I require immediate assistance! I have 3 boogies on my tail! Shields are at 75% and falling!"
Commander Riley: "Boris, I have a fighter squad that has just reached your location, they will be engaging and escorting you any minute."
Boris: "I see them."
Boris: "Ok O.C. we made it. Please eject memory cube and circuit board. Engage alarm system, and inform me if anyone comes within one meter, or attempts to gain access. You are under NO circumstances to allow anybody onboard, but do not fire also is that understood?"
O.C.: "Orders understood. Memory cube ready for removal. P.c.b. ready for unmounting. Alarm system system initiated."
Boris: "Hello private. Can you escort me to the bridge? I need to see Commander Riley immediately."
Private: "Follow me please."
Boris: "Hey! I know this ship, if I wanted a tour I would have asked for it. All I asked for was an escort. Now turn left at the next intersection!"
After a while...
Boris: "Greetings Commander Riley! I have this to install to your ships main computer!"
Commander Riley: "Greetings Boris! I am glad to meet you and receive this computer! Hopefully it will give us an edge over these Unknowns?"
Boris: "Well it was a joint measure with BNJ Heavy Spaceworks and the Golden Opportunities Research and Development Team. We have produced a computer able to detect these Bastards from a great distance, I'm talking sector wise." 
Riley look surprised,
Commander Riley: "So that is where Gold went to then?" 
Boris: "Yes, Gold headed up the research and I headed to production of the component. Gold should be on his way back, but his squad of fighters came under Pirate attack." 
C.R.: "Hey, what the hell is that?" as a weird looking ship passed by. 
Boris: "That, hmm, looks like Rantamplan? Well if you see ships chasing after that ship, it is definitely Ranta!" 
Boris and Riley both laughed. 
Boris: "Ok Riley, I better go and install this component, where is the main ship computer mainframe located?"
C. Riley "The mainframe is on the Ops deck, 2 decks below the bridge".
Boris: "Thank you Riley!" "So it is still at the same place after so long!"
Boris: "Come on Private, we are off for some exercise!"
After some time, Boris arrives at the core of the ships mainframe computer.
Boris: "Ok, Technician, try it out now, and tell me what it shows."
Computer technician: "It has a status window show up, with some weird symbols. Its responsiveness has slowed down tremendously! The computer is nearly brought to a halt!"
Boris: "Ok, I'm on it. Close the terminal screen please." "Lucky he has a few empty slots! Seems he either has his other upgrades somewhere else, or he has barely added any extras at all! Might as well put this card in as well, he should notice a difference strait away! Hehe lets give a go. Just a little nudge more, shees, this slot seems to be a virgin!" "Ok, try it now!"
C.T.: "Wow! That was fast! It shows a status screen, and that it is receiving information from the ships scanners. It requests that we update our scanners as they might hinder extra long range sensing."
Boris: "Ok, thanks m8. I'm coming out of under the bench. Your help is much appreciated." "Suppose Riley might notice the change soon, or as soon as he access's the computer that is."
C.T.: "Hey Boris, have you done anything to the system? It is working much faster now! In everything, is looks like it is about 3 to 5 times faster!"
Boris: "3 to 5? Ok, average it then, and you get 4. Ok, since it says new scanners, you might as well tell Commander Riley to get a few new ones."
C.T.: "What? NO! IT CAN'T BE! Boris! Riley is dead! Commander Gold has just assumed command of the ship! There must be a mistake!"
Boris: "SAY THAT AGAIN! I will tell you something! I do not like these types of jokes! I'm reporting you to commander Riley myself!"
C.T.: "Unfortunately, it has just been confirmed Boris. Commander Gold will hold a service tomorrow at 14:00 hours. Apparently Moon killed him in a dogfight."
Boris: "Moon? Ok, lets go to Commander Gold, now!" 
25-06-2001
Boris: "Hello Gold, what is this about Moon being here? What happened?"
Gold: "Apparently Moon come with those "unknown" and he toyed with Riley, that made him run to the only available ship on board, a Trident class bomber."
Boris: "He must have been desperate. I don't know what has happened between them, but it is best if I don't get involved. I heard that you are going to hold a service in his memory. I would like to be there, but in a distance, so to not upset anyone, and not give myself away, that I am so close to you, just incase we are being monitored!"
Gold: "You are welcome to stay, suppose you can also look after the system to see if it will be working ok."
Boris: "Thank you Gold. But I won't be able to stay to long after the ceremony, and maybe a day the most."
Meanwhile back at Hatikvah's Faith...
Intelligence Officer: "Captain, we have a code red from our agent in Scale Plate Green! He has been able to split the satellite feed to us from one of the ones in that system. It appears to be an unknown race! Boris himself with the Dauntless, Commander Gold and the locals are under threat! They local stations have requested help and Boris from the Shipyard in P.T.N.I. HQ."
Captain: "Put it through to my screen! What the heck ARE those things!!! Try and get reading on those ships and whatever else you can gather. And get an engineer to try and understand the readings. I want everything! Is that understood? I do not like opponents that I do not know, or in this case, have never seen before! Inform Bioman to stop what he is doing and try and see if he can duplicate those xenon probes, and I want results as soon as possible! Is all that understood?"
Intelligence Officer: "Yes SIR!"
Bioman: "Sir! The Bayamons are nearly completed, the gatling project was just starting. I already have enough info on the xenon probes, hopefully we should be able to construct a stripped down version of the probes by tomorrow. If you need all the functions it will take a much longer time. But we can make various ones for different missions."
Captain: "Ok, start the production of the jammer, combat drone and cloaked pursuer!"
Bioman: "I would like to take this opportunity to tell you that after examining the new xenon ships, they have auto-targeting and a superior M.A.R.S. system then ours! Also they had an option on their controls for rapid fire. The circuitry for these systems are fairly simple to implement to our ships also. I can divert a small portion of the assembly line to produce these extras, and make them in the standard format of the expansion slots found in our spacecraft."
Captain: "Ok do it! At least 120 of those boards! I am planning on regrouping many of my fighters from all over the place and I want all of them with these extras." "Comms, what has happened to the order we placed with B.N.J. for the tractor beam and simulator?"
Comms: "Yes well, I have taken the liberty to order two and a simulator as they were a bargain as a package. I had dispatched Lifter and two Prommies and a Mamba as an escort, the transaction just finished a little over 1/2 an hour ago. So they shouldn't take to long to arrive here, they were all equipped with jumpdrives."
Captain: "Good thinking. It seems that we will need them after all! Now put out a call to all our M3 and M4 ships that are extras to come here! By extra I mean, that are on duty protecting our factory's just leave 1 to 2 for each, the surplus is to come here ASAP! We are preparing for a campaign." "Deck Officer, how many 'weed bombs' do we have left?"
Comms: "Message sent out SIR! We should have in about a days time the most around 136 of various ship sizes and designs. All pilots that where on leave have been sent a message that they are to report immediately to their home base and from there they will get their marching orders to come here ASAP."
Deck Officer: "We only have 16 of those, they are very hard to produce due to the amount of spaceweed that is needed, plus the extraction of argon whisky that has to blend in precisely to make the mix effective."
Captain: "Ok, just inform me when all our ships arrive."
After a day... and back at the Dauntless...
Boris: "Hello Gold. I wanted to inform you that the computer looks to be working ok. Besides installing the detection circuit, I also installed another board, that boosts your onboard mainframes processing power. But I suppose you have noticed that already by now. I have to get back to B.N.J. HQ and start preparing for this new threat."
Gold: "I'll come with you. A wing of Trident Bombers will escort us to there, and you can accept them as a token of good will, between us."
Boris: "Your welcome to come. There isn't any real need to, but I will accept your offer, as I never decline gifts. Thank you."
Gold: "Ok, I'll inform Zog that he will be in charge of the Dauntless." "Zog, I'm leaving you in command of the Dauntless, do a small search around here, and then head for the B.N.J. HQ, you are to meet us there."
Zog: "I SIR! But why give Boris a whole wing of Trident Bombers? That is a waste of sources!"
Gold: "Well I as a token for his help, plus they are the older model. Knowing Boris as I do, he will just scrap them or use them while adding many more feature, and hence making them a better craft, that we can ask designs from him, so we can do some of our own modifications. Trust me, I do not give a full wing of spacecraft like that. You know me better than that."
Zog: "You're right Gold. I will meet you soon again at B.N.J.'s HQ. Have a safe journey."
On their way to B.N.J. HQ...
Boris: "Excuse me Gold, but since you offered me these Trident Bombers, I'll send the blueprints to my people to see if they can do any updates or upgrades to them, if not, see what else they can be used for, as I never had a pure-bread dedicated bomber in my ranks before. It should be a nice challenge for them."
Gold: "Do with them as you wish. They will be your craft after we arrive at your HQ."
Boris: "O.C. get a line through to my spaceship R & D Department, and request for Boril t'Glizst."
Gold: "You have a Split in the R&D? that's a first!"
Boris: "It's a SHE, we go back a long way. She has proven herself many times over. The only ones I don't truly trust are the Boron, but getting use to them."
Boril t'Glizst: "This is Boril. What you want?"
Boris: "This is Boris, Boril. I want you to have a look at these blueprints of GO Trident bombers, and see if we can improve on there design."
Boril t'Glizst: "Hmm! No good! Need special strafe drive! Me design new one. It can make it spin axis! Change gun turrets with computer and high powered motor. Swing quicker!"
Boris: "Ok, start designing those changes! There is a wing of them coming to the HQ in Elena's Fortune. Get in contact with them there and convey your observations to them. What exactly did you mean about the strafe drive by the way?"
Boril t'Glizst: "More independent. Example. Front nozzle go one way, the back the other. So make ship more manoeuvrable."
Boris: "Aha I got ye now. Good thinking Boril t'Glizst. I will see you soon again hopefully."
Boris: "Gold, I'm putting red alert status on the factory's I have in Elena's Fortune. We got to make another one of those boards, and installed it in one of the factory's. It just showed that they're on their way to my sector! They should be there in about 3 hours, we will arrive in 20 minutes, and the Dauntless will be there in about 2 1/2 hours, just thirty minutes before they appear!"
C.G: "Boris, if we pull together our resources, BNJ and GO, we could try to capture that ship in Argon Prime?"
Boris: "Hmm, interesting proposal Gold. It will certainly allow us to learn more about this race, and with that computer, we have the upper hand!" 
C.G.: "Yes, the GO council is in favour of this, hopefully the BNJ council will also be in favour. I have also contacted the some of the other guilds. XO-MERC is willing to help, but as usual they will for a price! The SAS have also agreed to lend a hand, as has Handbytec Industries." 
Boris: "Hmm, I thought Commander Jamieson would be busy doing his stuff, Protecting the Split, his woman and beer?"
C.G.: "CJ considers this threat to also be a threat to the Split, so that is why he has offered to help." Gold Explained. 
The Dauntless had come to a halt just outside the BNJ headquarters. Zog was left in command of the ship while Gold was away. 
After awhile..
HQ2 Control tower: "Inform Boris that the attack is imminent. Engage the sirens! Everyone is to report to their assigned post! Reveal the enclosed laser turrets, and put them to charge. Comm the laser tower and designate a new type of threat, they should be able to lock on to them!"
Gold: "Hey Boris, you have some exotic ships there! What are they?"
Boris: "They're a cross breed between the Argon Xperimental, and the Paranid Perseus! And they are our latest in ship designing. Some have the standard 2 B-HEPT's and 3x25Mw shielding, some did not have enough time for a complete overhaul, and have only 2x25Mw but we got to install some gatling lasers, the 7 holder variety. And yet only five have an experimental miniature D-Hept on them in conjunction with the 2 B-HEPT's. So actually they are a mixed mob."
Gold: "Impressive, don't suppose you can sell me a few when you standardise the design?"
Boris: "Perhaps in the near future. I tell you what. I will supply you with the new designs that Boril t'Glizst has come up with. They should be easy to implement to your existing fleet."
Gold: "That would be very kind of you Boris. But my offer still stands for those ships of yours."
Zog: "Scramble all available ships to intercept those ugly's! Get the Falcons and Mambas on those fighters, and launch the Tridents just incase a larger ship arrives!"
Sensors: "Zog! A Corvette class ship has arrived in system!"
Zog: "Get the Tridents on them, and scramble a few fighter for escort! Boris can protect himself, he's well equipped of what I can see!"
Trident leader: "Listen up boys! We are going to have only one chance at shooting the Corvette so make it count! Aim for the engines if you can!'
Trident pilots: "Understood lead!"
Zog: "Just wish I was in a fighter now being out there!"
HQ Control tower: "Commander Gold and C.E.O. Boris, the Corvette has been destroyed, with the help of the Dauntless's ships, our ones are chasing off the last remnants of the enemy fighters."
Boris: "Yes! The detector worked flawlessly!"
C.Gold: "YES! The computer enabled us to detect the ships and prepare our defence!" 
Boris: "This is the beginning of our resistance" "We not go without a fight!" 
Those words became the motto of a new alliance established between a large number of guilds all supporting each other against this barbaric enemy. 
On the ore mine...
Comms: "Sir, 134 ships have docked either on the mine, or on the TL, we will need to start using the M0's hanger soon. It has become over-crowded of fighters."
Captain: "Bioman, do you think you can make another 20 of those boards, so we can fit in the rest of our ships?"
Bioman: "I could, be we do not have the resources needed. I am running on thin air as it is, trying to produce these drones!"
Captain: "Aaarggghhh... Ok Bioman. No need to get upset, I know you are doing the best you can. Comms, inform the crew of the M0 to prepare for undocking procedures. We are going to take her out. Install the jammer probes in place, system wide! Inform the flight deck to get ready to accept all the fighters it can and the rest are to go on the TL. If the two fighters that are behind get to make it in time,good, if they don't they are to stay behind and be on guard duty for the Ore mine. We are preparing to leave! Send a person also to go and collect the boards from Bioman, and to redistribute them among the hanger bays. First to the M0 then to the TL."
Comms: "Yes SIR!"
After an hour...
Comms: "Sir. Deck officers have reported that the distribution of fighters and boards has been completed, and the pilots have been briefed about the benefits of the updates to their ships."
Captain: "Attention to all personell, now hear this! This is your Captain speaking. I would like to thank everyone that was able to come in such a short notice. I would like to inform you all that we have a new enemy in site. It is not one of the races that we have fought against, and they are making the xenon seem like child's play! We do not know them good enough, but it seems that nearly all the guilds in this part of the galaxy have teamed up to make a stand down at Argon Prime. As some of you may be aware, that system has been totally obliterated! We will not be in time to reach the main stand-off, so we will jump directly to Home Of Light in 1 hour to catch any ships that decide to flee from the southern gate! If the battle is still raging on, we will enter Argon Prime from its south gate and help them. So finish off what you are doing, and report to your stations. Captain Nektarionovic out. And may the Goner blessings be with us!"
Captain: "Bioman, have you been able to make any of the cloaked variant of the drone? We are going to need a few."
Bioman: "Yes, but only 8. Also 10 jammer and 35 combat drones. The last ones have also a 2.5Mw shield embedded, and the laser they use is a B-IRE, not much, but better than the normal ones."
Captain: "Good they will come in handy. You are to stay back, and go through all the records, and complete the gatling racks for both the M0 and now the TL. Then you can start on making them for our fighters." "Comms, get a line through to Boris, of B.N.J. Heavy Spacework Industries."
Comms: "Communication established, but we are routed through many systems. The quality may not be that good."
Captain: "Greeting Boris. This is captain Nektarionovic of the 'Titaniumatic". I know you don't know the name of this ship, maybe you remember me when I was in my TL, the 'Sealance'."
Boris: "Yes I remember you, how are you? I remember selling to you a few of my things a while back. Good luck with your new ship. What class is it? Ah yes, and how can I help you?"
Captain: "Heehe, I like your background! Where are you? Really, as the signal would have been much better if you were in your office. No the question is, how can "I" help you! I hear that there is a gathering going on, and thought to be of an assistance."
Boris: "Thank you, but no thanks. A TL will be a waste, besides, unless you have it armed to its teeth it will be a lost cause. So what is this new ship you mentioned before."
Captain: "The channel is secure ain't it? No one else able to 'eavesdrop'?"
Boris: "Go ahead, either say what you want, or just close it! I don't have time to spare!"
Captain: "How does 194 ships ring to your ears, and an M0! I just acquired it very - very recently!"
Boris: "Whoa! So that is how attacked my station at O.o.F! YOU!"
Captain: "HEY! I heard of that incident, I 'made' it mine slightly after that incident. It was badly damaged and was an easy target to capture! I also learned of the other recent 'battle' you had, and that you are now preparing to launch a counter strike. Now do you need our help or not?"
Boris: "Ok, but do you think you will be able to arrive in time? And besides, if the other guilds see an M0, they might think it is an enemy, and not on our side! Have you ever considered that!"
Captain: "Yes BORIS I HAVE! Ok, I might be a little behind, I will head for 'Home of Light' and conceal its north gate, if the battle is still raging, I will come in Argon Prime and lend a hand!"
Boris: "That is workable, I will inform the other party's of your presence there. Bye!"
Captain: "Helm, set course for H.o.L. Use the jumpdrive, and inform the Sealance to do the same."
29-06-2001
Back at the ore mine...
Bioman: "Yes technician! As I explained to you, these boards are to upgrade the ships in performance, so can you please just put them in the two ships that just arrived."
Tech.: "Which ones? Our ones? It's the first time I have seen any boards like this! Are they compatable? From when have we started producing electronic products?"
Bioman: "Just recently! Haven't you heard that captain Nektarionovic has made a small line, along with a ship upgrade also? Where have you been living the last few days? Now will you just get along with the procedure, I need to get to test them out in real fighters as they are still prototypes and not yet tested! Now scoot!"
Tech.: "Yeah but, ah just forget it. I'll put them in, but don't come back crying if it fries any systems! You will be held responisible!"
Bioman: "Ok - ok, whatever, and inform the pilots of the board. If they have any questions to just ask me, I'm heading for tower control to see them how they fly. I should be there in 5."
Tech.: "Alright, I'll tell the pilots not to press anything until they leave the station, and by then they will be under your orders."
After 5 minutes
Tower operator: "Falcon 1, this is tower control, passing you to operations operator for the test, please wait. Transferred."
Bioman: "Falcon 1 this is chief test operator. The board that has been installed in your craft is a Xenon derivative of their M.A.R.S. system. Please note that the normal M.A.R.S. in your craft is still operational if the need arises. In your left side, near the canopy release latch you will find a blue neon button. Acquire as target our Xenon M, and report for any side effects of the system. To disengage, press the button again, or alternatively, you can engage the normal M.A.R.S. system, that will disengage the one we are trialing out."
Falcon 1: "This is Falcon 1. Acquiring target. I have a lock on him, over shooting now. Engaging trial system. Aaaahhhh! Wow, ggggrrrrr..."
Medic: "Bioman! The pilots vitals are at alarming rates! He must have blacked out! His ship is not under his control. The stress level caused by the turn factor has made him unconsious. We must inform the Titaniumatic at once."
Bioman: "Regain the control of falcon 1 and order the ship to autodock at once! Yes you are right medic, it might suffice for less maneouverable ships, but if anyone piloting a ship with a high steering he will blackout, unless he turns off the ships gravity field. Tower control, get a line through to captain Nektarionovic at once, if he launches those fighters, most of them will be decimated!"
Tower operator: "I'm on it Bioman. I can't get through to him just yet. He is most likely still in transit. Until he exits his jump there is no way for us to contact him."
Bioman: "Ok, try again and again and again! Every minute! We need to warn them of the risk. I'm off to sickbay, as soon as you get a line through to him, inform them of the consequences."
Tower Operator: "Ok Bio, I will."
At sick bay...
Bioman: "How is he medic?"
Medic: "He is very lucky we got to bring the ship back in, in time! He got a blood clot due to extreme stress levels. We were just in time to relieve the pressure. A little longer and he would have died!"
Bioman: "Oh the almighty Goners God! I will have to reprogram the board to not exceed a certain limit if the gravity field is left running in the fighters. A maximum of 85% max steering, is that low enough when internal gravity compensators are enabled?"
Medic: "I can only presume. I didn't study air/space medicine! I should guess that you are right, but tell them also that if they turn the gravity off, they should be ok, I think."
Bioman: "Ok, I will inform the tower officer to inform the fleet, as soon as I have the software patch ready. How could I miss such a thing?"
Meanwhile back on the M0...
Helm: "Sir. We are reverting back to normal space in 3 minute. I will have scanners active as soon as we reach."
Captain: "Thank you Helm. Flight Deck Officer, are the pilots all ready to go? As soon as we enter, they are to launch and head for the northern gate, and start patrolling it. Under no condition are they to go through that gate following an enemy. Have I made myself clear? And also tell the pilots that they can now officially put on their IFF transponders the ship they belong to. Pass this info on to the Sealance also as soon as they come in system. Every one will now know who we are."
Deck officer: "Yes SIR! All pilots are ready, and have their orders. I will inform the Sealance Deck officer of your orders SIR."
Captain: "Tactician, what I want from you is, to launch one of those cloakable drones and send it to Argon Prime. I want a live feed, but leave the probe near the gate, just incase anyone pics up on the signal and decides to triangulate it. If they do, and decide to follow it over to this side, they will get a big surprise!"
Helm: "10... 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Reverting back to normal space."
Comms: "Sir! I am picking up an urgent signal from our Ore mine in Hatikvah's Faith."
Captain: "Yes Deck officer, launch all ships!"
Tact.: "Sir! We have arrived a little late. Enemy ships are already in system! They are coming through the north gate. The Sealance has just arrived also."
Captain: "Comms, stall them for awhile until I finish giving orders!"
Comms: "BUT SIR! THEY SAY IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE NEW INSTALLMENTS!"
Captain: "What? Tact, take charge of the fighters until I sort this out!"
Tact.: "Yes SIR. Ok, pilots, group in to 5 diamond formations, the rest in arrow formation and 25 for base defence! As for the diamonds as per plan, 3 M4's at the tip, 3 M3's centre line and the back tip 6 M5's! As soon as the enemy arrives, the M5's will jump forward and attack and the rest of the diamond formation will gain on the slower ships!"
Captain: "Go ahead Ore Mine! You better have a good reason for contacting us!"
Tower Officer: "SIR! We have just uncovered a very bad glitch in the new boards installed on our ships. The xenon technology for the M.A.R.S. did NOT take into account our biological limitations! If our pilots that are in very manoeuvrable ships and have their gravity generators on, will get blacked out, with very severe side effects to their health, of which can also lead to DEATH!"
01-Jul-2001
Captain: "Damn it! How come didn't Bioman pick this up earlier! We have already launched most of our fighters! Ok, I'll see what I can do. Inform Bioman to come up with a solution soon as possible! As these systems were to give us a distinct advantage. Nektarionovic out!"
Tower officer: "Understood Sir. I'll inform him immediately."
Captain: "Comms, open me a channel to all our lead fighter NOW!"
Comms: "Yes SIR, open."
Captain: "To all units of 'Titaniumatic' and 'Sealance' who ever has the new system upgrade, please do not use it! If you plan on using it, please de-activate the gravitation field. This is an order! Inform your groups respectively."
Captain: "Science officer, what is the status of our tractor beams? Have the simulators and the rest of the equipment been installed?"
Science officer: "We are still working on them Sir. One simulator and one tractor are nearly ready for deployment and ready for use."
Captain: "Well then get as many fitters and electricians that you can get your hands on and put them ALL on line! 1/2hour tops!"
Science office: "I'll see what we can do Sir."
Captain: "What do you mean "I'll see what I can do"! I gave you an order and I want it executed! Have I made my self clear?"
Science officer: "Aye SIR! At once."
Captain: "Intelligence, I want you to send a 'cloak probe' in Argon Prime, and for it to pick up all transmissions that are going on, together with a live feed, and send it to us, and also to Bioman. I want him to try and analyse the language that this race is using. We just might be able to decipher it, and also get interesting information on their tactics. But as soon as the probe is in danger, it is to come here urgently."
Captain: "Guard, go to the cell area, and inform the guard on duty, that he and you are to escort the 'ensign' back here, to start operating the tractor beam."
Guard: "I will comply captain."
Captain: "Personnel officer, go through the profiles of our crew, and select suitable candidates for the tractor beam console. Hopefully there should be some with some noticeable skills. Be thorough and quick."
Personnel officer: "I'm on Sir. Computer is already sifting through all the personnel files. It may take 5 minutes as I put it have a look at the 'Sealances's' crew also."
Captain: "Good idea."
Tractor Ensign: "Ensign Georgefski Leventis reporting for duty SIR!"
Captain: "You may resume your previous position on the tractor beam console Ensign. And NO fancy stuff this time. Is that understood?"
Tractor Ensign: "Yes SIR!"
Captain: "Good. Guards, at ease, return to your previous posts."
Captain: "Tactician, how is the battle going? And intelligence how is the probe functioning?"
Tact.: "We are having light losses, luckily, there are not too many enemy ships passing through the gate and their orders are getting jammed and not reaching properly. The 'Sealances' e.c.m's and ours are blocking most of the signals SIR."
Int.: "The probe has been launched and is already sending live feed and being stored on our computers data banks, and also it is sending the info via satellites to Bioman on our Ore Mine."
Captain: "What have we lost? And how many enemy ships are left in our sector?"
Tact: "We have lost 58 ships in total to 32 of the enemy's. Mostly M5 class ships and some M3's & M4's. There are currently 8 enemy ships of various sizes."
Personnel officer: "Sir, I have finished the screening procedure, we have 7 people that would be suitable, but 6 of them are on the 'Sealance'"
Captain: "Ok, send the Gonner ship, to the TL, and retrieve them, they are to be substituted by others in their ranks! I will sit in one of the empty consuls and hopefully we should be able to bring in most of the remainder ships! Tact. Order our ships only to harass them! Helm, plot a course directly to the midst of this all! Gunners, as soon as the ensign here and me get a lock on one of the ships and start pulling it in, start firing at it with the ion cannons! I do not want any of them to break a lock!"
Main gunner: "Ok Sir. It should be very easy! As long as you have them locked, we will pounder them."
Captain: "That's the spirit. Ensign, go in to slave mode off my console, as soon as I get a ship you try to lock on it also. Is that clear?"
Ensign: "Understood, sir."
Captain: "Ok, heres a small one, looks like an M5 class! Come on, come on, a little closer! Tacts, inform our fighters to try and lure that M5 equivalent I have locked on to, to make him come closer to our ship! Gunners, link your Ion cannons to my target!"
Captain: "Come on, a little closer, a little closer, Ensign narrow your beam to become a little tighter! Come on, gotcha! Ensign! Get him! Gunners do your work! Whoa! Come on you little squirt! Stop fighting it! That's it! We have him. Deck officer, alert security we have a wild one coming in! Ok, let's get a M4 now! Same procedure people."
Intel.: "Captain, G.O. has just lost a Hercules class TL, they have also launched some type of torpedo's that penetrated the enemy capital ship! I am sending a small contigement of fighters over to the other side of the gate. They are to deploy 12 laser towers there so no enemy will have the opportunity of coming over to this side, until we finish Sir."
Captain: "Nice planning, send my sincerest regards to Commander Gold for his men that were lost onboard his ship. Come on you scoundrel! Come closer. Good! Ensign same as before quick!"
Ensign: "Sir he just launch a missile! Break the lock Sir!"
Captain: "Yes - yes! I saw that. Curse him! Let's try to get him again! Helms, keep it steady, keep her steady, steady as she goes... Ensign NOW! Gunners pound him! Another one bites the tractor! I'm starting to enjoy it! Let's go for an M3 now! I have a live one that is very near, target lock, come on, come closer! Now! Ensign. Get him! Damn him! He broke! Gunners, get the rest of the enemy craft! Tact. Inform our pilots of the same thing. They are clear to attack. It seems that their M3's are too powerful for just two tractor beams Shithspawn! Ok ensign, you may collect debris as last time! Thankfully there are no xenon this time! So only two 'alien' ships, not bad! Not bad at all!"
Intel.: "Sir, it seems that the alliance has managed to capture the enemy capital ship! The rest of the fighters are retreating in all directions. Some are even coming towards the southgate, they should be within lasertower range very soon."
Captain: "Helm, position our ship near the north jumpgate! Order the Sealance to do the same! If any do come through, they will fall right on our shields! Transfer all available energy to shield recharge! Inform the 'Sealance' to do the same. We are going to form a small wall, and then collect the pieces of what remains, and then jump back to our new home!"
After five hours... back at the ore mine...
Captain: "Ok Bioman, have you come up with a solution regarding the new boards? and what about the feed you where receiving."
Bioman: "Yes all that is needed is a software patch, to limit the amount of manoeuvring, when under the M.A.R.S. system. If the ships are un-manned, they will be able to use it to the fullest extent, but unfortunately, it still suffers from the same syndrome that all un-manned ships have; and that is if a person gets on their tail long enough, they start flying in a strait line. For that I will have to re-write the whole programming, of which is no easy task. As for the feed, it in encrypted in a special type of format currently unknown, and there is also the language barrier. So we don't know even if we do break it, how to read the messages that where transmitted. For all we know, we might have already broken it, and think it is still encrypted. We will have to interrogate those being that you caught, and from them, we may be able to understand their language structure and hopefully the way they think. It will make it much easier to brake the code, and then read what was being transmitted."
Captain: "Ok, keep me informed the moment we have a breakthrough. I want you there in the interrogating room, with your computer, and try to understand them. Tactician, can you inform me now, precisely what we lost in that battle?"
Tactician: "As I informed you earlier Sir, we lost 58 ships plus another 8 when trying to capture the two ships. Break down is the following: 8 Mamba's, 14 Elite's, 6 Eel's, 7 Bat's, 12 Discoverer's, 3 Scorpions, 5 Piranha's, 6 xenon M's, 3 Hawks and 2 Busters Sir."
Captain: "Oh my, my God! So many good pilots, lost for what? 2 ships, and some small help? It just doesn't seem worth it somehow. Why did I volunteer to do such a thing?"
Tact.: "At least Sir, we now have access to some of their ships systems, and maybe find a weakness! Do not forget, the alliance also had some heavy casualty's, like that Hercules TL, not to mention their fighters also."
Captain: "Yes, but they have a HUGE ships now, they where a combined force! Give a xenon task force, and I will obliterate it! But this, so many casualty's. BIOMAN!!! I want you to work with a group of men on these ships night and day, around the clock! Get the best scientists and engineers possible! I want every little bit of those ships searched analysed and broken down into atoms! Start from the scrap, and then proceed to the ships. Intelligence, bring back the drone! It has down its mission. To all! I will be in my quarters for some time, and I do not want ANYONE TO DISTURB ME, unless you have a very good reason, elsewise I will send you for bream work! HAVE I MADE MYSELF CLEAR?"
 
After the captain left the bridge...
Helm: "Intel. Have you ever seen him like that? It's the first time I have seen him so much down! Any of you here know why?"
Tact.: "I can only imagine he didn't expect so many losses. We can't always win with ease. But I must agree with you Helm, neither have I seen him so disappointed."
5th of July 2001
A day later.
Bioman: "Come on computer, what is taking you so long? I only asked you to analyse the compounds that the material is made of! It can't be that hard to get a molecular signature, especially with these expensive laboratory instruments. They're the latest models that exist! I wish where I studied we could have had these type and equipment."
Bioman computer: "I am sorry user. But the materials used are unknown to me, and so I have to test and analyse in the molecular level, as to have a better understanding of the behaviour of the material, as all compounds are not in the database of known materials. What I am trying to determine is the atomic composition and reaction compared to known materials, as to determine the properties and possible flaws that may be found. There is more than at least two dozen different materials all blended together to make this 'alloy' compound, that this race used to construct their ships with."
Bioman: "You must be kidding! Why use such a complex formula for something that you can build with simpler means? Anyhow, have you bean able to determine anything about the language this race uses, after having observed them? Is there any continuum or similarity with any of our races language structure?"
B.C.: "Yes. It resembles some type of very old Split dialect that has to be used for many centuries. I had the opportunity to speak with a Split linguistic scholar. He specialises in various ancient forms of the Split dialects, and says it reminded him of one. He then contacted me to inform me that he had a match, but that either the language structure had changed slightly or had evolved differently of what the one in the native split system of Family Pride. He is to contact me soon when he finds more out about that clan's roots that used it. He also mentioned that two clans had developed secretly space travel, (but did not pass that knowledge on and so it was a setback for them, after a land conflict destroyed many research centres), and that they found the jumpgates. But he needs to research it further to have more specific information, as he didn't remember everything"
Bioman: "This is amazing stuff! Ask him for the full information, and for him to upload it to you, so you may become a translator! This conflict just might be a big misunderstanding! We should inform Captain Nektarionovic!"
B.C.: "I am NOT going to contact him! I want my circuits working AND my memory banks intact! If you want to, YOU can contact him!"
Bioman: "Point taken. Ok, let me know when you will have finished with this material over here. We need to have a look at those ships of theirs."
B.C.: "We can go now. I can still communicate with the other computers and provide them with processing power over the short-range communication channel. There should be a transceiver in the hanger bay, so I can keep in contact."
Bioman: "I think there was one there. Ok, are you ready for me to carry you around again, all things secure?"
B.C.: "Initiating transportation mode. All modules secure. You may now take me with you user."
Bioman: "Ok, we should be there in about 7 minutes."
Meanwhile... back in captain Nektarionovic's cabin.
Boris: "...Of what I understood, you got to capture two of their ships. Have you gotten any diagrams or anything of use from those ships? I understand that you also have a few scientists, so I take it, you are already working on your 'prizes'."
Captain: "HA! PRIZES! TWO SHIPS, FOR THE PRICE OF WHAT BORIS! A handful of good pilots? NO! A dozen? NO! I lost 66 ships and more than half the pilots in them! SO DON'T GO PREACHING TO ME ABOUT PRIZES!"
Boris: "Hey! DON'T YOU RAISE YOUR VOICE TO ME! You wanted in, "I" did not ask for your help! I didn't even know you had the M0! All I knew is that I sold to you some experimental Delta HEPTS some turrets and a few other things! And now I see that you have obtained by means unknown to ME, property that rightfully belongs to ME!"
Captain: "Yeah but YOU have also a capital ship, and scrap metal as I do! Suppose you can make a dozen of those ships if you piece them all back together again! And someone also in that sector got an M5 ship also!"
Boris: "WHAT? An M5! Who? I was unaware of this incident! I will run it through the computers and try to determine whose ship it was. And by the way, that capital ship is not MINE, it belongs to the alliance!"
Captain: "Alliance my foot! Who is the mastermind behind it uh? YOU! As always, plotting along, making alliances with anyone to get to your goals Boris! Yeah sure, Commander Gold and the others have equal share in the findings, and probably have their own little groups investigating the ship out! But knowing you as "I" do Boris, "I" know that you have something much bigger to gain out of all of this!"
Boris: "Look Nektarionovic, I do not have time, nor the patience to squabble with you, at least not at the moment. We go back a very long time. All I want is for you to help us along with this new threat. Is it ships you need, fine. I will try to help you out, but don't try to come between Gold and me, and certainly not now! We are getting ready for a campaign. Are you game or not?"
Captain: "Well your ships sound promising, but who are going to man them? Also for the campaign, do you know what logistics are needed? Many! Who is going to provide food and support for the trail campsites? You do know that you need all of these and much more? As for food, I know a person that can supply US with adequate amounts, and at good prices, and don't start telling me, that your factories will supply us with food! That will be a joke, and you know that as well as I do! They are producing ONLY for your factory's and other stations, and just sell CRUMBS to the others!"
Boris: "OK Nektarionovic, and who may this be?"
Captain: "Why Commander T3! He has a whole operation running in Ringo moon, and also in the enemy sector south of Scale Plate Green, and surrounding sectors, way up to Black hole sun."
Boris: "Ok, get in touch with him, and see what quantity's he has available. As soon as you find out, contact me, and I will send a TL with Boron Dolphins to drain his supply! And Nektarionovic, no commissions for yourself ok? We are BOTH on the same side, however hard that may seem to you."
Captain: "Would "I" do anything like that now? Come on Boris, you know me better than that!"
Boris: "That is EXACTLY why I emphasised it Nek. Because 'I' know you 'better than that'!"
Captain: "Just give me a run down of the approximate size, and I will try to get the quantity's needed."
Boris: "I tell you what. I will contact YOU and tell YOU the quantity's needed and then just go ahead and find this 'Commander' T3, and see if he can supply!"
Captain: "You still don't trust me, do you Boris? After all this time. Ok, inform one of my men, the usual channels, and I will receive the message. This should be the best solution. And regarding the ships, I still do not have any news. What about you? Any luck yet?"
Boris: "No, only that OUR, meaning Gold's, mine, and a few others scientist are working around the clock, trying to decipher the inner working of it. Sure we got it to fly and move around. The controls where somewhat similar to Split, but yet alien at the same time! WE don't know what to make of it. Without many crews alive, we can't exactly bring in a linguistic xenologist and, as this information is still classified, we do not want it to spill out too much, and the ones we did capture didn't speak at all! Gold's men have now got them, hopefully, he may have some more 'persuasion' than what mine did."
Captain: "Do you know what you are saying now Boris! You had there the SAS and the ENFORCERS! That's even worse than having G.N.N. there! Sure they all 'promised' to be quiet, but I don't think so. Not with an operation so big as the one you/we had just before."
Boris: "Yeah well that was a risk we ALL had to take. But many are suspicious, as there is no communication from Argon Prime anymore. So many will still be coming and discovering the truth, why there is nothing. At least now, they will be able to return back, alive. Anyway. I will contact you as soon as I have the information that you need."
Captain: "Ok, I'll be waiting Boris. See you until next time then."
Boris: "Until then."
...
Captain: "Hmm, ok. Now lets see. Computer, find all records posted about sightings of unknown ships, missing space ships or that got mysteriously destroyed or any other relevant connections you can make. Search all the enforcement agencies from each race, guild and company. When you do, store the information for me, so I will have a look at it."
Computer: "Please note that such searching parameters will stress our communication transceivers and my work load capacity. Do you want me to spare all my cycles, or work on a lower load."
Captain: "No, work on a lower load. I need this ship operational. I will be checking up on your progress. I expect that most info will be available in a few days."
Computer: "Starting data crunching and request for information from all sources."
Captain: "Stores, STORES!"
Stores manager: "Yes SIR! I am here, how can I be of an assistance Sir?"
Captain: "How is our progress going for getting the resources needed to get the generators back on-line?"
Stores manager: "Sir, out of the initial requirements for 12,000 silicon, 32,000 ore, 8,900 Crystals and 7,600 Mossom powder, we have been able to get 9,500 Silicon, 19,365 Ore, 3,200 Crystal and we have all the Mossom powder and 600 extra, just incase. Crystals are our main concern, as other factories need them and there is just a greater demand than supply."
Captain: "Ok, start bringing all those supplies onboard the M0, use ALL our transporters that we have! They are to finish their normal factory supplies, and then send them to where you have all the supplies kept. Also use any spare fighters that are of M3 and M4 class with their cargo bay's maxxed out, to do ferry duties for the factories, until the freighters return to normal duty's. Also send a message to our Silicon mine in Preachers refuge, to release the 20 and so pirate freighters and Orinoco's I have stationed there in mothballs! They too are to help in this operation. Inform me when our first ships are full of Silicon and are on their way here."
Captain: "BIOMAN! Where are you?"
Bioman: Silence from his terminal.
Captain: "Computer, locate Bioman."
Computer: "According to his biorhythm signature, he should be in his room captain."
Captain: "Thank you computer." "So he doesn't answer my call eh? We will see about that."
After a 6 minute stroll turning intersection into corridors, the captain finally arrives at Biomans quarters."
Captain: "Computer, this is captain Nektarionovic, open this door, authorisation code APR1470."
Door panel computer: "Code accepted." Door opens with a very silent whoosh of the mechanism.
Captain: "BIOMAN! WHY AIN'T YOU RESPONDING TO MY CALL!"
Bioman: From his bunk, and still drowsy. "Uh, who is this? Go away, I need to rest. Now shoo."
Captain: Gets upset and pulls his covers! "Bioman! This is your captain! Get up NOW or report to sickbay! What will it be?"
Bioman: "Uh? What? Ah sorry captain, I am just exhausted from staying awake for so long following orders and trying to find various things from the day you left, I have only slept 3 maybe 5 hours total. How can I help you? Or should I say, ask the computer that's attached to me, and it should answer most of your questions. Computer, answer what ever questions the captain may have to ask me."
Captain: "3 to 5 hours? I'm sorry, I didn't realise this was the case. Anyway, computer, is there any direct access to the silos from the hanger bay? We are going to start bringing the material for the xenon generator."
Bio-comp: "There are four connection tubes, with the following xenon letters above them: "*(^^%&$" Each one corresponds to each product. To use them, first you must press the button above the resource tube. One button is for entry the other for emptying the silo. Please inform the personnel not to press the wrong button, as there will be a problem, and there is NO cut off switch once the reverse procedure is initiated. If that happens, please have a TL empty standing by and empty to accept ALL of the load!"
Captain: "Thank you computer. Just hope it doesn't happen on the ore transfer, as that needs more than an Argon Mammoth for it to hold. Ok, proceed with what you were doing before computer, and as soon as Bioman wakes up, inform him to contact me."
Captain: "Stores. Remember how I told you earlier to start bringing one product at a time in? We were to start with the Silicon. Well, you are to send the ORE last, and ONLY when we have all the amount, or when all the silicon, crystals and mossom powder have reached here, then and ONLY then are you to send the ORE, as I don't want anything going wrong. Use 3 of the Dolphins to start gathering all the Ore in one place, so then I can sent the 'Sealance' out with 2 dolphins to gather it all onboard, and the newly bought ore is to be sent directly to the place you have chosen. Is that clear?"
Stores manager: "Yes Sir, very clear. Ore is to be left last, and gathered at one site, if possible, and then the TL "Sealance' is to come and take it in one go. Please understand that all this operation and planning involved will take at least a week to get most of it done. But by then the only product left would be the crystals. Can I use the 'Sealance' Sir, to ferry the silicon Sir? As I already have that being gather at one place."
Captain: "Good planning, that is why I preferred you in this position. I just hope it is well defended. I'm despatching the 'Sealance' with two dolphins that are already onboard. They should make it nice and easy to jump-start this operation. Just try and concentrate on getting as many crystals as you can."
Later that afternoon...
Bios's computer: "Hello user. I hope your rest was beneficial."
Bioman: "Yes, I could do with even more."
B.C.: "Well the captain has left an urgent message that you are to contact him as soon as you woke up."
Bioman: "Ah, so it wasn't a bad dream after all! It was worse, drats! Didn't he ask you what he wanted? I'm sure you could have answered him, with what ever he needed to know."
B.C.: "He only asked me about the silos, if there were connections from the hangers to the them, or needed other arrangements. I told him all that he needed. That there were connections, with a connection for each product, and that there were two buttons above each one, one for it going in, and the other for emptying the silo. But in one go, and no way to stop it, if it was pressed."
Bioman: "So that means, that if someone presses the wrong button on the ore pipe, then we will need two TL's to accomadate all the ore!"
B.C.: "Well the Xenon are machines, they would NOT make such mistakes, under normal operating procedures, hence the need for a safety stop, was not arisen."
Bioman: "Ok, no need to preach! Just get me a line through to the Captain, and see what he wants."
Captain: "Yes, this is the captain speaking, ah Bioman, you got to get your rest I see. Perfect timing, I have some pressing matters I need to ask you."
Bioman: "Well I am ready to hear you Sir."
Captain: "Good. What information has your computer found out about these 'aliens'?"
Bioman: "Well, something weird Sir. It said that they spoke some type of ancient Split, but still, it was different, meaning that the roots may be common. It has contacted a famous professor on ancient Split languages and dialects, and has come up with some interesting things."
Captain: "So that explains it then."
Bioman: "Excuse me captain? Explains what exactly? What are you referring to?"
Captain: "A discussion I had with Boris. He claimed that the controls of the capital ship seemed very familiar, like Split, but yet so alien! Is it possible that the Split had discovered space travel and exploration so long ago that they have forgotten about it? How can this be? Get me in contact with this scholar! We need to learn more."
Bioman: "He has gone field investigating, in the Family Chin sector. He mentioned that two clans from there developed some type of space travel, but lost the technology due to some terrestrial dispute and a was broke out destroying the research centres over there, and hence the reason for the sudden hurdle in their space exploration."
Captain: "Why I always thought that the Split originated from Family Pride! So if this theory is correct, then that means that... that the SPLIT HAVE RETURNED and are NOT happy! Oh my goodness! I have to inform Boris, and he can inform who ever he likes! One Split was enough, now TWO, and I can only see two things. Either them getting together, or a new blood shed. But this time Split against Split, and Split against the whole of us! Thank you Bioman! Try and get that computer of yours to finish analysing those materials, and also to work in parallel trying to understand the new ship we got! It may be one of our few chances we get to get ahead of B.N.J. and everyone else! If this is the case, it should make it easier to decrypt the messages that where being sent during the battle, since we have a language to match it against."
Captain: "Comms! COMMS! Get me Boris NOW I don't care how you do it, just do it!"
Bow: "Boris. You have an urgent message coming through, from some one named Captain Nektarionovic. He says it is urgent, and he is the one that had the M0 stationed in Home of Light, during the last battle."
Boris: "Put him through"
Bows: "One moment, channelling, getting gain up on the signal as it is not the best Boris."
Boris: "Ok, don't worry about that. Commander Gold, want to stay and listen, suppose he is getting anxious to learn the amount of supplies we need for our mission on hand."
C.Gold: "Ah, might as well, this will have fun."
Boris: "Go ahead Nektar., don't suppose you mind if Commander Gold listens in, do you?"
Captain: "Boris, this is no time for games! I don't care if you have a pirate next to you! Have who ever you want! My people have just uncovered something really bad. Bad meaning, you all remember the Split campaigns don't you?"
Boris: "Yeah, so what do those history lessons have to do with the supply?"
Captain: "You AREN'T LISTENING BORIS!!! We have just learned that our attackers are NOT from OUT of this system! They are indigenous. Infact, there is a great possibility that they have originated from Family Chin, and at some stage were cut off from the rest of the Split! We may have to face, either a Split alliance, or a blood bath with the Split and this race! That is why the controls seems so 'Split' like."
C.Gold: "Are you sure about this, how did you say, Nik, Nek, whatever? How do you know these things for a fact! If the Split get together with this race, it might mean subjugation for the rest of us!"
Captain: "This is exactly why I tried to find you and inform you all of the possible threat that may lay ahead. We must be able to bring this race in harmony with the rest of the species that occupy our space! One is for sure, the Boron and Paranid will not be happy at all to learn about this. A 'new' Split seat to accommodate! I have informed you all. Now it is up to you to take it from here."
Boris: "I just can't believe it! Have you double checked your sources? How are you so sure about their language? All the communications were encrypted. I'm sorry, but it is just too much to swallow Nek! Nice try you had me worried for a moment there."
Captain: "BORIS! I am dead serious about this. If you must know, the so-called 'prizes' that you called them, were captured with their pilots in them! After carefully monitoring them, and looking at their behaviour, what they preferred to eat etc. we were able to determine that they were split, we had their sounds analysed the works. It appears to be that somewhere in their history, the Split made space flight, and even colonisation of other systems, I have people looking into their history records as we speak. Unfortunately, we are able to partially communicate with them, but not properly. The language they speak, or should I say dialect, is an old and forgotten one, and this makes it even more difficult."
Bioman computer: "Yes, central Split University of Ancient Studies? I would like to contact the Professor of ancient Split languages and dialects, Professor Klmannog t'Glks."
Uni Reception: "I'm sorry he not here now."
B.c.: "I know, can you contact him for us, and let us speak to him?"
Uni Reception: "I try to connect you. Here you go. But signal no good."
Professor: "This professor Klmannog t'Glks, what you want!"
Bioman: "Hello professor Klmannog t'Glks. I wanted to ask, if you have any info about the tribes we were looking for."
Klmannog t'Glks: "I contact you. Bye!"
After 5 minutes.
Klmannog t'Glks: "Hello Bioman, I could not speak through that channel. That university, everything everyone listen! I will now upload translation program for your computer. It should be good enough for most things, besides their most recent additions to their language. Should help. Ask captain Nektarionovic, if he can fund my exploration. Me no have many credits, and university thinks I am again on archaeological investigation. If no credit soon. I have to stop research soon."
Bioman: "I will see what I can do about the funding. Ok, program arrived, and is in the computer. Thank you professor."
Klmannog t'Glks: "Please help, as I need credit, I have found very interesting artefact and old scribes, that describe various things. Maybe be of help."
12-07-2001
Chapter 4
Prom pilot: "Hmm now lets see how this ship works. I just hated Boron ships for a reason, and now I remember why. Their instruments are just so alien! Ok, now lets go through the manual one more time. Hmm. ok, flight control is similar, now only if I could better understand their weird read-outs better, it would be nice. Aha, so that's what that was. Press this button to initiate on-board flight controls. Pressed."
Boron Piranha Computer: "This is the Piranha On-board Computer. Flight controls diagnostics initiated. Please wait until all tests are completed. All flight controls appear to be in working order. Please enter your next command."
Prom. Pilot: "Hmm, seems like they I will now have to be called the Piranha Pilot. Why can't they just use our names? I liked my name! Joshualinop Treskendala. Ok, may be a little on the long side. AHA what have we here? 'To initiate a full diagnostic of the ship and have it ready for flight enter the following sequence.' Alrighty so lets get you flying energy cells ready, jumpdrive functioning so every thing should be ok. Now only thing that is left is to do the diagnostic run again and I'm off."
P.O.C.: "Staring full diagnostic test, please be patient as this my take awhile."
Pir.P.: "Just great, how do they get their fighters ready in a moments notice! And these controls, suppose I will just have to get use to them."
P.O.C.: "All systems are check. Ship is in a flying condition. Full extra's pack installed. Jumpdrive is compatible, Shields are 2x5Mw working, and Lasers are 2xGamma Particle Accelerators, ready. All controls returned normal levels and within specified parameters. Ship is ready. Total time used: 5minutes 38seconds"
Pir.P.: "About time! Control tower, this is Piranha Pilot, serial number 875-498 ready for departure."
Control Tower: "This is control tower No1. You are cleared to launch. Please take vector 556B and from there to exit route. We hope you enjoyed your stay."
Pir. Pil.: "Thank you. Exit vector 556B and then exit vector. Roger that. And yes, I did enjoy my stay. Bye."
P.O.C.: "Information for 556B received. Path plotted. Please stand by for exit of station and to get control as soon as we are at 500meters distance from station."
Pir. Pilot.: "Understood."
After 2 minutes.
P.O.C.: "We have cleared safe area, the controls are now yours Pilot."
Pir.Pil: "About time! Ok, jumpdrive on-line, Aladna Hill destination."
Jumpdrive Computer: "System selected: Aladna Hill. E.T.A. 25Minutes. Gate selected: West Gate. Jumpdrive initiated. 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 JUMP."
Pir. Pil.: "Ah these fabulous colours of the jump tunnel. At last HOME! About time. Well I suppose I can get use to the speed indicator of being like a circle enlarging and shrinking, but I do prefer our own, of linear indication. Suppose all are just a habit. So you are the second fastest ship in your class. Interesting, only beaten by the pirate Bayamon, but have more shielding lets see, ok, computer give me in holographic representation the specifications of the Bayamon and our ship. Should keep you busy until we reach our destination."
P.O.C.: "Information database being accessed, please wait. Information found and being displayed."
Pir.Pilot: "This is going to be one boring trip. I hate this computer! No logic, very slow, how do those Borons put up with it? Or is this the best they have. Just can't get use to it, especially after having flown with that B.N.J. Paranid Prometheus. Hmm, that is interesting, the pirate has slightly more firepower due to the four Alpha P.A.C.'s, but a mush smaller generator, suppose that is the only thing plus the speed that makes it better than mine. Elsewise I have more shields and everything. Sure could add some more ships in my collection, who knows, might even get a fleet of my own one day. I already have the two other Xenon ships. Now I have to save up on money and by new shields to install on them and weapons. Ok, "Joshualinop Treskendala" all you have to do is stay cool and you will survive."
P.O.C.: "Pilot, please prepare for exit from jump in 30"
Pir.P.: "UH, yeah! Sure thing. Darn Boron, don't even give you enough time to prepare."
P.O.C.: "5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Jump. Aladna Hill."
Pir.P.: "Ok, a 180 turn, and in we go to Hatikvah's Faith, and then home."
P.O.C.: "Gate: Hatikvah's Faith."
Pir. Pilot: "Ok, do we have a satellite in the cargo bay or anywhere on this ship computer?"
P.O.C.: "No pilot. There is no satellite on this ship."
Pir. Pilot: "Oh just great, so that means I will have to manually take here in. ok, bring up the ecliptic projector. Now, to remember where it was on the map, nah might as well fly towards the bulk of them, the Satellite factory will show up, either way, that is my home! Dad, Mum, and family, they surely will be proud of me!"
After 9minutes of flying at full speed,
Pir. Pilot: "There it is! The unique shape of a satellite factory! O.C. Target that station, and as soon as we are within range, 'hit' the docking computer."
P.O.C.: "Command is not understood. Please rephrase about 'hit' the docking computer."
Pir. Pilot: "Even their computers are dumb as they are! O.C. Engage autodocking when in range with the station."
P.O.C.: "Understood pilot."
...
Pir. Pilot: "So yeah now I have two ships! A Xenon L, and a Xenon N, so I take it all I need is the M to get a full collection hehe."
Dad: "Yeah well you be careful, you hear me now? You were just lucky to win, what happens when the odds are worse? And now with this Boron Piranha, don't try anything stupid. It is not as powerful."
Mum: "Yes my son. Listen what your father tells you! I don't even want you to be out there, fighting all these machines and monsters. Especially now with that new race. Don't tell me you were in the battle!"
Pir. Pilot: "No, I wasn't only the best pilots that had gone through the academy fought and some other guilds showed up. I wouldn't have liked being there either. Not with this ship anyway! If I had my prommy maybe, this is too weak for those ships. I got to have a look at the battle and didn't like it one bit. It is another thing against our own, or known enemy's and another thing up against something that is so manoeuvrable. Those ships where something else, that is all I can say."
Homes Computer: "Incoming call for 'Joshualinop Treskendala', tagged urgent. Origin B.N.J. H.Q."
Mum: "Don't take it! They will want you to go away. Please don't answer it, please."
Pir. Pilot: "I have to. They know I am here. Open channel on my desk H.C."
Pir. Pilot: "This is 'Joshualinop Treskendala', go ahead."
Dispatch O.I.C.: "This is B.N.J. Central. We need you to go to Light of Heart. Over there you are to dock on the B.N.J. Hastings, it is a Pericles class ship and report to the deck officer. You need to be there in 3 hours."
Pir. Pilot: "Yes but, I have at the moment a Boron Piranha on loan from the HQ, and besides, I might not get to make it in time."
D. O.I.C.: "That has been taken care of. Your ship that was assigned to you, a prometheus class, is already on-board, and arrangements have been made for you to buy 20 energy cells on our credit, and you are to buy as many satellites as you can from the factory you are now located on. D. O.I.C. out"
On the display where only the words: "Transmission End. Please select following options: View attached information. Erase log."
Pir. P: "Just great! Just great, I hate this!"
Dad: "Well, that is how it was for me also. Always on call and no refusing, or else it was taken as disobeying orders. You'll get use to it."
Mum: "I told you, I just knew it. Now look, why did you have to answer the call? We didn't even get to see you, and you are already off. Just keep in touch ok?"
Pir. Pilot: "Open attachments computer. Oh this looks good! A deposit has been made to my account! Xenon L and Xenon N have now been officially registered to my name. The Xenon N has been fully refitted and the L is now with 2x5Mw shields and 2 Alpha High Energy Plasma Throwers. All this as a token of appreciation for helping out with the B.N.J. Factory in Elena's Fortune. Also 180,000credits have been transferred to your account, to buy the satellites and energy cells."
Dad: "Those are some heavy guns. I do believe the maximum that the L can carry, but why not equip it with the 25Mw and only with the 5Mw shields, it can surely carry them."
Pir. Pilot: "Hey Dad! The 25Mw cost just over half a million credits EACH! So what are you talking about? What they have done is more than adequate. Look, I will put it in the system that if anything happens to me, those will be transferred to both of you. Or better yet, I am transferring owner ship over to you guys now! Like a protection for the station. I am also ordering them to come over here. Suppose sissy would love to take them out for a spin."
Mum: "What are you saying! Do you understand? What do you know and are not telling us!"
Pir. Pilot: "Well, usually who ever gets transferred to one of these ships, usually either get 'm.i.a.' or 'k.i.a.' or get to return after a 6 month period, but those are only a 35%!"
Dad: "Oh, I see, but can't you cancel the deal, or back out or doesn't matter. I don't want a coward in the family! Go now, and come back when you finish your tour of duty!"
Mum: "No! No. Please don't go. Please."
Pir. Pilot: "Give my regards to Sis, ok. You heard him I have to leave!"
Meanwhile back at the Ore mine.
Bioman: "So what have you come up with, my nice little computer. How is your translation program going, is it helping you at all with this ships technology? And what about those Split descendants? Have they told you anything about their ships, are they starting to trust us?"
Bioman Computer: "Their lasers are more technologically advanced. I have just completed the final simulation run, and it appears to be that they have a variable power output! It ranges from an Aplha-Impulse Ray Emitter up to a Beta High Energy Plasma Thrower! The system is very complicated, yet very effective to be controlled from a vario switch. Regarding our captives, the program was very thorough and they mainly complain why communicate with them in their old language and that it is dead, only philosophers and scholars learn it now. They do understand it, but not that well and that some meanings have changed. At this stage, the program is being updated with their new vocabulary and understanding would be more easier as not to offence. They are asking where we know their ancestor language, as it is also regarded as sacred!"
Bioman: "Well I hope you just keep on updating the captain regarding our 'guests'. Now as for the guns, do you think we are able to duplicate them?"
B.C.: "Yes, they may not be so elegant, but we can produce them, but we would need much more space on our ships, than currently available for our normal ones. With some minor alterations to the ships, we should be able to fit them in a Split Mamba for start, and then to the rest of our ships. I have just sent the progress report to the captain."
Meanwhile in the captains quarters:
Captain Nektarionovic: "Computer, show me the update of these ships, and all the other information I asked you before."
Ships Computer: "Information processed 89.78% from available sources."
Captain: "Ok, zoom out maximum, show me all the map. Very interesting, many of the problems occur around Omicron Lyree. Well I will have to check it out later. Now I will just have to go to Ocean of Fantasy and see what Boris was really up to over there. Now is the time to go, all is getting ready and running smoothly."
S.C.: "Captain. You have an incoming message from B.N.J. HQ user name 'Boris'."
Captain: "Ok, put him through, but take the image down first. This is captain Nektarionovic, go ahead."
Boris: "How are you doing Nek? Commander Gold and I have noticed that you are stacking up on resources. Can we be of any help? And what do you need it for if you don't mind me asking?"
Captain: "Ah, if it isn't Boris and Gold. It shows that much eh? Well I have a few generators that don't exactly like running empty in space! Well I suppose some crystal and ore would be just fine. I am overstocking but anyway."
Boris: "In what quantity's do you require them?"
Captain: "Well, around 10,000 ore and 5,500 crystals would do just fine! At a fair price ofcourse. Can't get them for free now can we."
Boris: "What? Are you mad? Are you building a whole asteroid out of ore and are going to put crystal around it to make it hang like a chandelier in space!"
C.Gold: "You must be joking right? Some type of sick amusement. But if you truly need those amounts, I can help you out with the ore, I have around 8,000 ore in stock all around the systems."
Captain: "Well I would like then to take all that load off you then. If you are willing to part with it that is."
C.Gold: "It's a deal then. Done! But you are my first customer to buy from me in these quantities's I know that much. Nice doing business with you Nek."
Captain: "Now Boris, I need you to do me a favour. Do you think we can mobilise your fleet and speak to C.Gold doing the same, to assemble at Scale Plate Green?"
Boris: "Why? What is wrong? Don't tell me we are in for a fight again. We still haven't fully recovered our forces, and have just been able to make a new..."
Captain: "Despite what you may think, I have come to a conclusion. If you want to, I can supply you some alarming data. But in short YES! We are in for the long run, and that is how it seems! And don't forget, you called me I didn't call you."
Boris: "Ok, what is it. Just say it in a painless way as to not hurt. I am sick and tired of their raids!"
Captain: "Well Boris, I am going to put on-line all my generators, so I can use this M0 to its fullest extent. I am also interested in ordering more of your D-HEPT's, and also more Ion cannons, more stronger than the current ones if you have please. Now as for the reason why I asked if we can amass our forces at Scale Plate Green is so we can do a full sweep of each sector up to Black Hole Sun. I am sending you the data, and you will understand. There is some type of 'entrance' to one of those sectors that we are unaware of, and we have to find it!"
Boris: "'Entrance' why all those systems where thoroughly scouted and cartographed. You know the procedures as well as I do Nek, so what are you telling me? That we missed a spot?"
Captain: "According to my sources Boris, you have a new device, that is able to scan for these new ships. Maybe they have some type of 'gate' for entering. But if you do not want to help that is fine, I will take my M0 and the TL 'Sealance' with me, along with my remaining forces and sweep the systems, with or without your help. Captain Nektarionovic out!"
Meanwhile a small orange light was flashing on the captain's terminal indicating a waiting call.
Captain: "Go ahead Bioman. What is it?"
Bioman: "Sir! We have been able to make the blueprints of the 'alien' guns. They are very agile, in that we can adjust the power levels that we need in a battle accordingly. The characteristics are very good. It is able to start from a low A-IRE up to a powerful B-HEPT! That means that our pilots can capture more ships if the other jump when we keep their shields low. It also means we don't have to carry more guns in the cargo bay and having to change them during battle. The other matter is our 'guests'. It seems that we are lucky in obtaining the translation program from the professor, but he asked us, if we can fund him in his expedition that he is on. He mentioned that he has discovered a few things, but can not stay due to running expenses. So he has asked for your financial backing."
Captain: "Hmm well he did help us with that program. Ok, what amount has he asked for?"
Bioman: "Well, he hasn't specified any amount yet. I take it, it is up to you Sir."
Captain: "Ok, send him 20,000cr to him at his designated account. And if he wants more, ASK him how much he may need, or what his daily expenses are, and how long he expects to be there. As long as it isn't something outrages, I might be able to help him. But tell him, what ever he finds, to send to you or us and is not to talk to anyone else. Is that clear? Btw, get the resources need for this gun, and make two prototypes ASAP, and install them on my own Mamba, knowing Split, they usually do things first for their own kind, and then they share technology. Hopefully, it should be similar. Do that, and then get on a Mamba yourself, and go to the Doctor and help him out. So whatever it is he finds, you will be able to help him out quicker. Setup a small lab in the Mamba's cargo bay for your tests hopefully you should have enough space to fit enough things in there, or at least the most basic. Put our computer to do the arrangement for you. It should be fun. But first get those lasers ready for me, as I want to leave very soon! And one more thing, see to it, that the silos of the M0 become blast proof, as I have just made an agreement with G.O. to bring us the rest of the resources we are short on to speed us up. Set up a dummy area if you can, do what you must, even shorten the landing bay, I just don't trust other pilots, no matter who they belong to!"
After a day and a half.
Bioman: "...Yes Sir, I have trialed both lasers and they appeared to work fine. After testing I installed them on your ship. Here, with this slider on this control, will control the output of the energy. I have etched the approximate settings according to our guns. As you can see, from the A-IRE, down the bottom, with the A-PAC around the middle, and the B-HEPT at the other end. Very strait forward if you ask me Sir."
Captain: "Well I didn't ask you did I? But yes, it is easy to understand. Thank you. I will be absent for a few days. I am leaving the stores person responsible for the loadings, and YOU to complete the work that I told you the other day. I always hated terrorist attacks, and my guts are just swirling around in me making knots. Do you know what that means Bioman?"
Bioman: "No Sir. But I have a feeling that you will tell me."
Captain: "Your feelings are right! I only get these upset movements only when something really bad is going to happen. And you know what the most distressing part is? I can not pinpoint the problem! Anyway, if you need me, I have programmed in to your computer, my private encrypted frequency when something goes wrong. I just hope I would have returned before you are ready to go off to meet our new friend. Bye for now, I'll see you and my baby the M0 when I come back."
Bioman: "Ok Sir, rest assured that I will have completed the work needed ASAP on the silos, I only need another day the most, I am just doing a re-enforced cover now, I have people working on it, but I am still supervising it. See you Sir, and may you have a safe journey."
Bioman: "Well computer, I too feel something wrong. We should have all the hanger bay sealed off just incase, I don't think just sealing the silos is enough! Have you given another order to the production line for another pair of these guns for our ship? At least they are stronger than the standard A-HEPT's. See if you can re-arrange our shields with that technique we found Boris had for his factories will you. After that do the lab short list that we will need for our trip, and see if you can come up with an extra cargo pod, we may need to get some things off that planet."
B.C.: "Yes user. Most of your tasks have already been executed. More material has been requested for shielding the hanger bay. Order has been given to production line computer. They should be ready in 5 hours time, and I am doing the calculations for what we will need, and how to re-arrange the things for the cargo bay. After that list is processed, I will start on a cargo pod."
The captains meanwhile on board his personal Mamba.
Captain: "O.C. program the jumpdrive for Ocean of Fantasy."
O.C.: "Course set pilot... Jumping."
...
Captain: "Ok Boris, what is out here? What where you searching for uh? Only if I knew where to start. Computer do a scan of the entire system, and report anything that does not fit any standard phenomena. Show me also on the sector map the X-Z layout, instead of the normal X-Y computer."
O.C.: "System scan complete. There is nothing that shows to have an irregularity pilot. Changing map layout for you pilot."
Captain: "what is that O.C. way up north, nearly out of the sensors range?"
O.C.: "An asteroid pilot. We will need to go near if we are to scan it for contents."
Captain: "Ok O.C. set a course for that asteroid, I want to know if it is worth owning, who knows, might be rich in silicon or ore."
Ore tower control: "Yo Stores! Our first G.O. shipment has just entered sector. Are they to dock on the M0 or are they to empty on the Ore mine?"
Stores: "Nah, everyone knows about our M0, so might as well save us some hassle of having to unload and load and unload again. So end him strait in."
Bioman: "That was it computer, now lets just hope we won't need this hanger re-enforcement and all! Lets go, and order our mamba to go to the Solar Power Plant until we have the lasers ready. Something just doesn't feel right. Come on, let's get out of here."
To be continued