Mission A Sphere of Annihilation

[Zago Kint]

​

"We have a million laser cannons on this ship! Is there no one aboard who can hit what they're aiming at?!"


A retort came up from the command center floor, "Sir, the attacking ship is small and maneuverable, and is close to the hull. It's the worst possible firing solution for our gunners. Plus the targeting computers are modified civilian units, not true military-grade-"

Zago cut them off, "Solutions, not excuses!"

Another voice rose up, "We've lost eight-percent of our fighter complement."

Zago blinked. Already? In his mind, he began to tally up the replacement cost of the lost fighters. Then he shook his head. That was a problem for tomorrow. "Order the next wave of fighters to remain close to the Mother. Take out this bastard and accumulate forces before proceeding to engage enemy positions."

An objection, "Sir, if we stop engaging the enemy out there, then they will soon wind up here."

"Yes, yes," he conceded. "We have twenty assault concussion missile-launcher turrets. Long-range, Capital-grade. Fire them continuously at the distant enemy positions to keep them occupied while we clean up this problem on our doorstep."

Finally, no more objections came. Officers started to get to work.

Momentarily, huge waves of concussion missiles streaked towards enemy ship positions and even the installations on the planetoid itself...

---

Treoff Kellak Derron Daks

 

[Treoff Kellak]

Derron Daks​

The Carrack and IPV craft were being sensible, when they reached firing range of the mothership, they strictly stayed at maximum weapons range. They understood the orders of Treoff, they were part of the family, but they were not diehard members. The diehard members that signed on were few and far between, the rest of StarGuard Dynamics were still merely employees in their hearts. If Treoff wanted their love or admiration, he would have to earn it.

Once Treoff had reached the bridge of the Marauder, he assumed cooperative command with the Captain, though the Captain respected him enough to only overstep Treoff if it was absolutely necessary. "We're not going to have any sort of victory if we don't put that ship on its heels. Crew of the Marauder, we're going in to take the brunt of the damage. Shields to maximum, reduce rear shielding strength to increase forward facing shield strength. Lower rear shielding to just good enough against starfighter weaponry. We're gonna cut it close," Treoff stepped forward to the viewport, peering at the distant mothership. He was thinking to have it scanned for weakpoints, but he perceived what he believed to have found one with his own eyes. "TIE Interdictors, form up on the Marauder, Marauder, maximum engine speed. I know we're dumping most power into shields, just give me as much speed as possible. Interdictors, Marauder, I believe I see the bridge of the enemy ship, it's a small tower, let's hooe I'm right. We're going in and hitting it. Hopefully the Marauder survives, but we'll only get one shot at this. Interdictors, stay behind the Marauder, drop your payload after we drop ours. Our attack may be enough to weaken their shields."

Treoff had no idea the strength of the vessels shields, but that was irrelevant at this moment. If he wanted any dent in that thing, he had to risk doing taking damage and see what happens. The Marauder pushed forward, closing the distance. Once those cannons opened up on the Marauder, it would have extremely limited time. Treoff knew the risks, he would never order anyone to do this if he wouldn't do it himself. "Captain, if you sense for a moment that we can't escape their weapons fire in time... call abandon ship," he whispered.

The Ghost spun around again to the rear of the mothership, lining up and B-lining for the engines. By now they had activated their shields, but the Ghost was following orders. They understood their part in this mission, and they were committed.

Both the Marauder and the Ghost were ignoring everything coming at them, and going straight for their targets. The Carrack and the IPV opened fire as they could, but they were general capital vs capital ship targeting; hitting the biggest area for the best accuracy.

Seemingly at almost the same time, both the Ghost and the Marauder opened fire, "Fire all Diamond Boron missiles, everything we've got!" The Marauder was taking so many hits, eyeball visuals weren't possible, so thankfully the Marauder had automatic targeting. The Marauder emptied its missile salvos, one after another, the motherships bridge would be saturated, overwhelming their sensors at the very least, though Treoff didn't believe it was enough to penetrate their shields. He just hope the expense he paid for these missiles would be well worth it. One after another, the missiles filled the salvo, and were launched. They fired every single one they had, but this definitely took a minute or two. More than enough time for the mothership to do damage. The bridge was about to be blown in as an officer spoke out loud the shield percentage as it dropped, "Set an autopilot course outside of the motherships range! Abandon the bridge, I repeat, abandon the bridge!" Treoff shouted. All officers abandoned the bridge, the captain rushing to one of the doors to keep it open. The nav officer inputted the commands, and raced out. The Captain and Treoff exited together, as Treoff activated the blast door.

The Marauder, still with engine power, began maneuvering away from the mothership, but everyone including Daks would notice the bridge blowing out into space. The Marauder began taking hull damage on its side after turning away, and the crew were hunking down. StarGuard Comms lit up, everyone speaking over each other that the bridge of the Marauder was destroyed, many panicking that Treoff may have died. This caused a hiccup in coordination, with fighters concerned and not fully focused, thinking a retreat may be called, but no such occurred. "This is Ghost hailing all allied vessels. We press the attack," a rough, gruff, older and commanding voice spoke, shutting down the panick.

But now, the TIE Interdictors were here, and knowing they would be the next to be targeted, and more than likely destroyed, they carpet bombed the bridge with their 16 Ion Bombs, hoping at least one would get through the shields. The Ghost probably did its last bombing run on the engines, as now it was being forced to dodge enemy starfighters. It was faster than the YT-1300 freighter, but it was still a similar match, so it was forced to defend itself, sticking to the internal frame of the mothership, knowing if it tried to escape, it would be punted by the ships weaponry. So it wasn't the best space for dodging so many enemy fighters.

The TIE Interdictors did their best to escape after the Marauder pulled out, but maybe it was a blessing in disguise... The TIE Interdictors were the closest target now, easy pickings for the guns, and directly in the path of the firing since they replaced the Marauder. They, regrettably, acted as meat shields for the Marauder, before their death, exploding over the bridge of the enemy mothership. The Marauder, able to limp out of weapons range, was obviously disabled. Small exploaions happened around the ship, either from power overloading or breached hull sections venting into space. No escape pods could be seen, aside from a few, but not enough for the whole crew.

With the order from the Ghost, the Carrack, IPVs, Orran, Raider, DP20s and the fighter fleet pushed forward, dogpiling the mothership, as a rallying cry of revenge for Treoff. Even the freighters abandoned the Carryall line and pushed forward, firing their meager weapons at the mothership. It was unlikely they all had enough firepower to destroy the mothership, but Treoffs wish was still to disable it.


Interestingly enough, the two shuttles immediately supporting the ground evacuation suddenly closed their doors, no longer helping people get off planet. They ordered a maximum passenger count of Security Personnel to get in before lifting off. They left the planetoid, heading straight for the Marauder.

Orran

• 3x X-83 TwinTail starfighter
• 3x Preybird-class Starfighter
• 6x TIE/IN interceptor
• 3x TIE/IT Interdictor starfighter (Ion Bomb loadout)

Carrack
- 4x TIE/D automated starfighter

Marauder
- 12x Preybird-class Starfighter

 

[Derron Daks]

DDSI Horizon
.25 AU from the Planetoid
​

"This is Commander Simmerlin of the DDSI Horizon. We've just received word that the last of the shuttles is lifting off. All DDSI personnel are now clear of the planetoid. Our shuttles will need about two more minutes to jump away, and then all the researchers will be clear."

---

DDSI Carryall #3
​

Derron felt some relief that his researchers were no longer likely to be the victim of mass murder or slavery at the hands of pirates... or whoever these people were. Two minutes was something that Star Guard seemed keen to provide. They were risking heavy losses to press their attack.

"Acknowledged, Commander. Move the Horizon to support the Star Guard advance and help to buy those two minutes. I'll move the Carryalls into your wake and come in from a rear vector. Open your ventral doors and prepare for a combat landing."

Just then, the latest barrage of assault concussion missiles came from the Pirate Replenishment Ship. The Replenishment ship's shields were critically low, and she was starting to take actual hull damage in addition to the engine damage she'd already sustained. An impressive showing from the Star Guard security forces. They were punching well above their weight, here.

But the Pirates were punching back. One of the assault missiles impacted Carryall #2, blowing it to pieces in a fast, bright flash. Just like that, one-fourth of DDSI's Carryall force was gone... and from a single lucky shot. Shrapnel from the explosion peppered the other ships' shields as they juked and swerved to avoid other missiles. There had been one pilot and two gunners on that ship.

Now they were just debris.

Several of the assault missiles missed their intended targets... or perhaps they'd been aimed spitefully at the surface of the planetoid. Either way, they exploded with kiloton-level force. Then the sensors lit up as something unexpected began to occur.

Derron was immediately on the comms, "DDSI Horizon. This is Chief Executive Daks. Belay your previous orders. Turn your main sensor dish back towards the planetoid immediately. Something remarkable appears to be occurring, and I want detailed sensor scans. Use turbolasers to support Star Guard if you can, but I want this recorded."

The frequently impassive Derron Daks was wide-eyed as his Carryall's more limited sensors drank in the scene. The planetoid was breaking apart. It wasn't clear yet what, but something was emerging from within...

​

---

Treoff Kellak

 

[Zago Kint]

​

Alert Klaxons blared, and a red hue covered the Mother's bridge as sparks descended from the ceiling.

It was both shocking and embarrassing to see how much damage the Malevolent Mother had suffered. Although she had never been intended to take part in battle, she had been exceedingly well armed in case law enforcement forces caught up to her. She should have been able to easily take down a flotilla of the size opposing her. At least on paper.

But while the ship was huge and well-armed, it was bereft of the military-grade subsystems that made all the guns, sensors, and shield systems work together as they did on a warship. It was like mounting a Turbolaser on a Fishing Boat. You could use the civilian sea-radar system for targeting, and a handheld fire-extinguisher for damage control... but not very well. At its heart, the Malevolent Mother was a replenishment ship. She was perfect for maintaining a pirate fleet and acting as a mobile headquarters.

But as a Battlecruiser... she left much to be desired.

"Critical damage to enemy ship!" An excited officer finally announced some good news. But it was too little, too late.

"... the enemy forces are pressing on, despite this seemingly major setback."

Zago growled, "Perhaps they're emboldened by the twenty fires currently burning aboard this ship! Where is damage control?!"

Before an answer could come to that question, the same officer interjected with, "SIR! The nearby planetoid is breaking apart! We must have hit it harder than we thought!"

Zago shook his head, "What? That makes no sense. It would take multi-gigaton explosions to crack a planetoid of that size!"

"Captain, I'm reading an energy discharge!"

At that moment, the entire bridge shook, and Zago felt the characteristic sensation of air being rapidly sucked out of the room. A hull breach, on the bridge!

He barely managed to grab a railing and activate his shield belt into impermeable mode before getting pulled out of the broken command center windows. Half of the bridge crew weren't so lucky, blown out into space before the emergency shutters could close. As the air returned to the command center, fires erupted all around.

The ship had somehow taken a crippling blow.

But from what? None of the enemy forces had been in the position to strike a blow of this magnitude.

---

Derron Daks Treoff Kellak

 

[Treoff Kellak]

Derron Daks​

The Carrack's Captain was startled by the planetoids action and halted the ship, the IPVs lagged slightly due to the unannounced halt but paused eventually as well. Treoff would have had no way of knowing what happened until later should he be alove, however Derron Daks might have an inkling whether he was or not, as the two shuttles that darted for the Marauder had now launched from the Hangar bay.

The Raider, seeing the shuttles depart the Marauder, made a decision before any comms were made. It activated its primary engine to max power, distributing weapons power to engine power, as it was determined to cover the shuttles. "Commander Treoff to... Executive Derrok Daks..." the transmission came from a secondary channel, and his voice sounded strained and gruff, like he was injured, "it looks like... We hit them with enough damage to cripple them... I'm leading the first wave of a... boarding party. Can you provide me... anti-fighter cover?"

He knew he had better ships more suited to such a mission, but it was the point to inform Daks what he was doing, more than the request for cover. The Ghost, upon hearing this transmission, left the safety of the frame of the mothership, getting into a position to cover the lead shuttle from mothership main weapons, actibg as a physical meat shield to ensure the shuttle would make it.

Orran

• 3x X-83 TwinTail starfighter
• 2x Preybird-class Starfighter
• 5x TIE/IN interceptor
• Destroyed; TIE/IT Interdictor starfighter (Ion Bomb loadout)

Carrack
- 2x TIE/D automated starfighter

Marauder
- 10x Preybird-class Starfighter

 

[Derron Daks]

​

Derron watched with rapt facination as an energy beam erupted from the core of the breaking planetoid.

To the eye, it was as though someone had concealed a superlaser within the sphere. But a weapon system of that nature would have shown up on previous scans. In any event, the beam certainly behaved like a weapon. It intersected with the position of the Pirate mothership, searing into it from stem to stern. The sensors of the Carryall ship Derron was piloting were not able to adequately measure the power of the beam. But the fact that it melted through several meters of the replenishment ship's hull was evident. The damage to the pirate vessel must have been catastrophic.

"Tell me you got that on sensors," Derron said to the Horizon on comms.

"Affirmative, Chief," came the response, "that beam was in the Terawatt range, and seems to have emanated from a discrete structure or ship hidden within the core of the planetoid. We have readings on organic materials, and... we have a life-sign. An immense life-sign."

"Keep the sensor dish focused on the planetoid at all costs," Derron ordered- but then a new transmission interrupted him.

"Commander Treoff to... Executive Derrok Daks..." the transmission came from a secondary channel, and his voice sounded strained and gruff, like he was injured, "it looks like... We hit them with enough damage to cripple them... I'm leading the first wave of a... boarding party. Can you provide me... anti-fighter cover?"

A boarding party? And he sounded as though he might be injured. Was Treoff a madman? There could be thousands of pirates on a ship that large. Boarding it was surely suicide.

His first impulse was to ignore the transmission. Let the mad security specialist perish. All that mattered were the scans of the remarkable events transpiring with the planetoid. He was here for the science, and the unprecedented events at hand could be something uniquely observed, never before seen in the entirety of recorded history.

But the calculus of his mind was not entirely devoid of humanity. Not yet.

And there was a formula in favor of kinder action.

Treoff had made a formidable defensive effort, here. It could be considered above and beyond the limits of what a security company was expected to do. Abandoning him to his death would be removing a reliable figure from the landscape of corporate security companies.

The next time DDSI needed security, they'd have to settle for someone less devoted to their duty.

If Treoff died here.

If he lived, DDSI would potentially have a reliable security partner in Star Guard for many years to come.

Kindness and self-interest could coincide... if you did the math correctly.

"Commander Treoff, we are moving into a position to support you. Horizon, fire a scientific probe to orbit the planetoid and collect data. Meanwhile, move into a position to defend Star Guard's boarding attempt. I'm ordering two of the Carryalls to return to your hangar. Load them with DDSI security.

Their orders are to support StarGuard's boarding action. We can secure areas already captured and hold them so that StarGuard troops can continue to advance without concern for their rear flanks."

Foolish? Potentially. But that energy beam had caused catastrophic damage to the pirate ship. The crew aboard would be in disarray. There must be hundreds or thousands of casualties. A boarding action, well-supported and executed with confidence... it might actually succeed.

"Acknowledged Chief," came the response from Commander Simmerlin, "probe is away. We are moving to collect the Carry-alls and provide fighter screens with our defensive armament." The unspoken sentiment, I hope you know what you're doing was an undercurrent to the spoken words.

Derron was risking a sacrifice to make a real ally.

There was more than one way to factor an equation.

He hoped he had chosen correctly.

---

Treoff Kellak Zago Kint

 

[Zago Kint]

​

The entire command center was ablaze.

Power flickered on and off on the control consoles that lined the space. Most of the officers here were dead. Some were dying. Only Zago's personal forcefield had permitted him to remain unscathed.

But he would not remain unscathed for long.

When the Dusate pirates discovered what he'd allowed to happen to their mother-ship, he'd probably be disemboweled.

He had some cash reserves he might use to buy a better fate... but even then, he'd be thrown out on his ear.

Where could he go?

Back to the Hutts?

Moving to a flickering console, Zago pressed its keys, struggling to get some sort of sensor return on its screens. For a moment, it looked like ships were moving in... to board?

Ludicrous! The Malevolent Mother had been nearly crippled, but there were thousands of crew aboard. No one could hope to take the ship... or could they?

Everything was in disarray. Would the crew even put up a fight under these conditions?

He had to make his way to the Engine room. Take control of the ship from there. If the primary Hyperdrive was out, he could still jump out with the backup.

Better to return a burning wreck to the Dusate pirates than to lose the ship entirely.

With that on his mind, he went towards the turbolift. If he moved fast, he might remove the ship from here before it was captured.

---

Treoff Kellak Derron Daks

 

[Treoff Kellak]

Derron Daks​

Treoff struggled, leaning on his right against the wall of the shuttle as the co-pilot and a couple security personnel finished bandaging him up, he gripped his Legion Pistol hard, hooking the slide onto something to slowly pull it back and make sure the chamber was loaded. "Pilot! he yelled in a strained voice, "when we board, you are to immediately leave, and retrieve marines from the Marauder. Do not argue, if you do not immediately leave, every second you waste might be a life we lose." "I understand, Treoff, I promise to get you as many reinforcements as quickly as I can. Also, your message got through, Derron Daks got your message, he's coming through for you."

'So it's not just about money, hoh Daks?' he thought to hinself, grinning. He was thankful. If he makes it out of this, he's going to take a cut in his personal pay. But now to think; the bridge was pretty much disabled, so there was no threat there. The engines were partially crippled, but not fully, so that was still Ghosts target. The last thing would probably be the Hyperdrive, and Treoff didn't want to be slingshotted to a random location without backup. "Pilot, here's what you're going to do... Order the Carrack, DP20s, and the IPV's to target the thickest part of the ship, it's probably towards the rear behind all the modified replenishment tanks. I want every gun they have barreling into the hull. No power to shields, all power to weapons. I want the, gah!" Treoff jerked, a bit of a muscle pulled in his left arm, waking up the pain receptors. He strained and gritted his teeth as a security person reached over woth more painkillers. Treoff nodded to the man, "I want the Orran and the Raider, with the freighters in the rear, up in the gullet of the mothership. Really choke this bantha, anything that launchers, put the fighter screen in her throat! The Carrack and the DP20s trying to chew through the hull could disrupt more power systems, if not the entire power reactor, and maybe, just maybe, we disable or cripple the hyperdrive. You have your orders."

Although the entire StarGuard fleet was already aggressively pressing the attack, essentially leaving a No Man's Land behind in their wake to get to the mothership, so when the Pilot broadcasted Treoffs words to all friendly ships, StarGuard ships were practically already in position. The DP20s mlved into formation with the Carrack, and with the IPVs, they continued to hit the same spot in the hull, over and over, rocking the ship. The Raider was first to get right up into the motherships gullet and start free firing at fighters and even into the makeshift hangars. Meanwhile, Ghost hearing this, had to dodge a few more fighters, unfortunately having to take some hits. But on a limp, he headed back towards the engines. He also had his speed cut in half.

"Follow the... Trench on the top of the hull, look for... A docking ring, or hatch towards the rear. That's... Where we're dropping in," a few Preybirds caught up with the shuttles in their final run to the mothership, providing cover for them until they reached the trench.

Orran

• 3x X-83 TwinTail starfighter
• 2x Preybird-class Starfighter
• 5x TIE/IN interceptor
• Destroyed; TIE/IT Interdictor starfighter (Ion Bomb loadout)

Carrack
- 2x TIE/D automated starfighter

Marauder
- 10x Preybird-class Starfighter

 

[Derron Daks]

The ventral doors of the DDSI Horizon yawned open, accepting the other Carryalls within. The doors closed briefly, allowing DDSI Security personnel to board. Then they opened once more, and the Carryalls were away again, on their way to support Star Guard's boarding action.

Meanwhile, Derron's lead Carryall pressed into the melee of fighter craft engaging in a dance of death in the space around the Pirates' replenishment ship.

His survival was most likely owed as much to the confusion of the pirates after witnessing the exploding world and violent energy beam. All determination and fight seemed to have bled out of them. Many of the starfighters abandoned the battle entirely, fleeing and jumping away.

Those that remained were the ships without on-board hyperspace capability. But any feeling of victory had fled with their comrades. They juked and dove with the grim procession of men marching towards death. The lasers that ended their lives seemed an inevitability- no longer an avoidable fate.

Meanwhile, the probe orbiting the remains of the planetoid witnessed something never before recorded on sensors. From the rubble came a kilometer-long creature, speckled in resplendent, radiant spots. Crackling energy flashed between its mandibles. For a moment, it seemed the massive insect-like being might fire another energy beam...

... but instead, in a flash of light, it disappeared into hyperspace.

Gone in an instant.

Never before seen. Perhaps never to be seen again.

The only proof it had ever happened was contained in the sensor readings of the ships which had been present.

Treoff Kellak

 

[Treoff Kellak]

Derron Daks​

Treoff was exhausted and in pain, the extent of the injuries at this moment was unknown. It was obvious he would be pissed off, the next moments when he met the Pirate Captain woukd shape Treoffs future in ways nobody could think of. The shuttles followed the trench line towards the rear of the ship, until they both would find hatches to board the mothership. They were unabke to pick up clear sensor data from the event that happened to the planetoid, due to the sensors being blocked by the mothership itself, so Treoff was unaware and missed all of the action.

Two different hatches, the shuttles deposited their passengers, flooding into the mothership. Though not a grand invasion force, the pirates would be discombobulated due to the lack of an officer giving orders and the totally-Treoffs-fault massive attack on the enemy ship. Treoff dropping down into the ship, covered in blood, the first thing he saw was a pirate. They stared at each other for only seconds, before Treoff raised his right hand, revealing his Legion pistol, and pulled the trigger.

He fired a round into the pirates shoulder as the security personnel were trying to come out. More shots could be heard. He riddled the pirates shoulders and legs with bullets before yelling out loud, "where's your Captain?! Where is he headed to? Do you have any escape pods??" He leaned down over the disabled pirate, blood dripping on them, as he puts the pistol to the pirates head. Suddenly, other pirates erupted in fire at Treoff and his grouo, but Treoff ignored it, staring into the eyes of the pirate he had on the ground. His pirate buddies wouldn't save him, so he better spill what answers he has.

Meanwhile, the mothership continued to rock and shake, StarGuard Dynamics ships punching into the shieldless mothership, doing their best to ensure it coukd not run away, even woth Treoff aboard. Though they did catch the sight of the planetoid firing, the creature within, and then its departure. Daks was going to have a field day analyzing the data.

 

[Zago Kint]

​

In order to resist torture and interrogation, you needed something to hold onto.

Hope. Rage. It didn't matter. Something.

But the pirate had nothing left. And the resistance slowly fled from his broken, bleeding body.

"I saw him... going... to the Engine room..."

He might have doubted that his will could sink any lower, but upon hearing his own lips betray the Captain, he bled the last of his strength and reserve. It was a bloodletting of heart, rather than flesh and blood.

Eyes became dull. His heaving chest halted. The spurts of blood from his veins and arteries became a trickle.

He was gone.

The firefight raged all around, and other pirates followed him into the afterlife.

The Carryalls of DDSI linked up with the replenishment ship, and orange-suited figures hustled out to hold the ground which Star Guard had taken.

The way was clear.

Any other fights were of limited use. The one that mattered was in the Engine Room. From there, someone could wrest control of the whole ship.



Treoff Kellak

 

[Treoff Kellak]

Derron Daks​

Still bleeding and exhausted, he watched as the man couldn't live any longer. If he answered, he was prepared to call a medic to see to their wounds, but Treoff must have hit an artery. He let the mans eyes close before he slowly pulled his weapon away from their head. As the weapons fire lit up the hallway like a spotlight, he slumped to the wall, trying to gain cover behind a crate. He was regaining his strength and composure before he stood back up, and turned on his heel towards the rear of the ship. Many of his reinforcements stayed behind to hold off the pirate advance, while a few followed him. Those that heard the pirates last dying breath knew where Treoff was going, the rest did not. Treoff ended up catching up with the second shuttle that had found a hatch into the ship, but he was on a mission, and didn't stop. Some of the others following Treoff shouted at them to follow.

Treoff worked his way down into the gargantuan ship, thankfully it seemed the ship was properly made with familiar markings, saying where whatever was located. When he finally reached the engine bay, he approached one of the bay doors leading into it. He didn't know if he beat the Captain, though he doubted it, or if he was in there.... waiting for him. No, he was in the engine room for a reason. Treoff lightly punched the door mechanism, instead of just palming it and using normal touch, since he only hand the one hand left, and it was holding his pistol. When he saw a man in the room messing with one of the engine panels, he raised his arm once more, as he did so previously with the last crewman. "If you say 'it's just business' where you stand will be the place you die," he pulled the trigger, hitting the mans right shoulder, preventing them from continuing whatever they were doing. He stepped inside the room, not caring if there were other pirates there. If any were, and aimed their weapons at him, his own men would also flood the room and aim their weapons at the pirates.

 

[Zago Kint]

ENGINE ROOM
Malevolent Mother


​

The shot that struck Zago didn't harm him, being absorbed by his shield. But it did distract him from his task.

He'd been a few button presses from engaging the engines and getting the secondary hyperdrive online. Then the ship would be away from this place, and Zago could rally the remaining crew to fend off the invaders.

But no... the enemy had advanced through the ship more quickly than anticipated. And they seemed to know exactly where to find him.

Bastards.

Turning towards his foe- the leader of the enemy forces? He pushed the barrels of his dual-barrel blaster outside of the confines of his personal force field.

"It's not just business," Zago said with a growl in his voice, "It's my goddamned business. My rock out there. My space you're in. Or did you people just set up shop and assume you owned the place because no one was home?"

But he didn't open fire yet. He recognized that he was overpowered, here. He might kill this one man, but there were others.

Zago couldn't kill them all. Not before his shield was overloaded.

But... maybe this guy wouldn't want to suffer more losses on his way to victory.

Maybe escape was still an option.

"If you try to take me, it'll cost you dearly."



Treoff Kellak

 

[Treoff Kellak]

Derron Daks​

Treoff couldn't help but smirk. For the pirate, Treoff seemed out of breath, struggling to stand, and injured. But Treoff was in his second wind, and he was determined to be Executioner today, yet the man had a point. As sweat rolled down his forehead, he thought over the mans words, "I didn't see your fething name on it, nerfherder," he gasped, relaxing his posture as he tried to keep himself standing. He made a move to put his hands up, as if surrendering, if not for the fact one of his hands were fething missing. "Your actions here cost lives. Not just enemy lives, but allied lives. I've already paid a heavy price today, and you're in debt. You know what happens when you're in debt."

Treoff felt confident enough that he slowly approached the captain, but he made no serious moves, "you sound ready to negotiate, unfortunately, I'm not here to negotiate. If you want to leave here, you have to pay your debt. The ship is mine, but that's without question, so that's not even on the table. You can go crawling back to whatever criminal skughole you serve, in an escape pod, the rest of your men will be arrested and tried for their crimes. There's nothing you can give me to pay full restitution, today, so I'll find you when I want to; keep your pirate and criminal contacts on good relations, you'll need them. Lastly," Treoff raised his land arm, as if he pointed his bloodied, handless arm at the pirates left arm, "an eye for an eye." And if the pirate didn't like those terms, Treoff raised his right arm, flashing his pistol once more. Zago could tell this was his only chance without a fight, Treoff was one thin thread away from going all out, no matter the 'cost.' His friends and family were dead, he was ready to make sure they wouldn't die in vein.

 

[Derron Daks]

ENGINE ROOM
Malevolent Mother


​

Zago performed a mental calculus, deciding how much the ship was worth to him, how much the other lives aboard were worth to him, and how much his life was worth to him. Spoiler: A Lot.

"I like my eyes. And my arms. Take a piece of someone else, if you need to, because Me is the only thing I care about here.

I'll give you the control codes to this ship. Even half-burned, the Malevolent Mother is worth more than your entire operation.

And there's thousands of prisoners you'll be taking, most of 'em with bounties. That'll recoup your losses.

If you're a sick fuck who needs to carve off arms, take your pick. But you aren't touching me without going all in.

I'll owe you one favor, and I'll take my own ship out of the hangar. Running away isn't worth anything to me if I don't have a hyperdrive.

That's the deal."




Treoff Kellak

 

[Treoff Kellak]

Derron Daks​

The entire ship shook again, StarGuard ships were still firing on the ship, eating through the hull with their weapons.... Treoff had not ordered them to stop yet. "I'm not negotiating with terrorists," Treoff extended his right arm out and aimed it at the shield, not caring that it existed. His men made ready their weapons, they were just as determined as he was. They thought he was dead from the get-go after the barrage Zago laid down on his ship from before, and that hatred was still in their hearts. "If you want to live, I need to leave you something to remember me by. And if you wanna talk about sick fucks, remember the only people here that are soldiers are my away teams. You've killed families. You want to leave? You lose a hand. That's not the deal, that's the answer to Life. And I have no problem taking the first shot to get revenge for those families."

 

[Zago Kint]

ENGINE ROOM
Malevolent Mother
​

"You're overplaying your hand," Zago declared, "must be how you lost it."

If this guy wasn't haggling, then Zago wasn't selling. He had other options that this man didn't seem to recognize.

Pushing his blaster barrels out of the shield, he opened fire, fully-automatic. Blaster bolts streamed through the space between Zago and Treoff, as though someone had set up a squad-automatic-weapon and was gunning down a whole platoon. An impressive pistol, designed for situations much like this one.

Meanwhile, even as blaster-bolts were flying, his left hand reached out and danced upon some of the console controls.

An overload had been initiated.

In five minutes, the Malevolent Mother would become a small sun, and nobody would survive.

With that accomplished, Zago began to back away towards a doorway at the rear of the engine room...


Treoff Kellak

 

[Treoff Kellak]

Derron Daks​

Treoff took one more breath, listening to the pirates words. That told him all he needed to know. But just as he was prepared to take the first shot, the mad man unleashed hell. Treoff had burned enough time between the two that a few more soldiers were able to arrive to the engine room, although the flurry of blaster fire put them off from entering the room just yet. Treoff took several shots directly, acting essentially as a meat shield for most of his men before they open fired. As he fell, he stared at the man, directly in his eyes. For the pirate Treoff was nothing. For Treoff, the pirate was one of the biggest obstacles of his entire life. Treoff was just a set back, a stepping stone for him. His life raced through his mind as he felt like time had slowed down. Would this be it for him? Hitting the ground, blaster fire flew above him as his soldiers fired back, and the pirate unleashed whatever hell he brought with him.

The ships alarm sounded off, the men having assumptions as to what it was, after seeing the pirate mess with the console. As for Treoff, the lights flashed against his face, but he didn't acknowledge it. His men couldn't even reach him as they were exposed while the pirate was moving with determination, not even acknowledging him anymore. Treoff had that one last breath from earlier, and when time seemed to come back, hitting him with realization, he took one last look at the pirate, "this must be how it ends.... for all of us," he whispered. With his last act, seeing the door, he raised his weapon and shot the door controls. The pirate could easily jimmy the wiring and other connectors to get it open eventually, but not before his shield was overwhelmed. Unfortunately, Treoff would black out before he could ever find out what happened after he pulled that trigger.

 

[Derron Daks]

DDSI Horizon, One Hour Later
Denouement​

DDSI had an extensive library of data, and a small army of scientists aboard. Shutting off the Malevolent Mother's self-destruct had not posed a serious challenge. The Chief Executive of Star Guard had been evacuated- at Derron's insistence- to the Horizon. They had a fully stocked medbay and medical droid, not to mention actual Doctors in virtually every medical specialization imaginable on board. Star Guard probably had their own medical facilities, but Derron Daks was convinced that no one could beat his own little hospital.

Unfortunately, the pirate leader had escaped. But the Malevolent Mother and her surviving crew were now in the hands of Star Guard's personnel. Early estimates had been that a half-million in bounties could be collected for them. That was Star Guard's profit- and should offset some of their losses from the catastrophes of the day. Derron had no interest in such things.

No, his prize was the data collected on the Astro-Coleoptera, and any material it had left behind from its apparent 'egg.' At least, the material of scientific interest. Much of the 'shell' contained minerals which might interest Salacia Consolidated. They needed some way to recoup the loss of their machinery on the surface. For Derron, he'd lost inflatable prefab buildings. But Salacia had lost expensive drilling rigs. Hopefully, the exotic minerals of the eggshell would recompense them to some degree.

The Horizon's on-board starship component factories were hard at work creating essential components to repair Star Guard ships, including their prize of the replenishment ship. Even after critical component replacement, that ship would need a million credits of repairs. But since it was worth several times that figure, Star Guard would still come out ahead on that score, as well. Even if they sold it to a scrapyard, they would make a profit.

All in all, this mission had been a success, if not in the way Derron had first envisioned.

He'd mark it as a 'win,' and as a lesson learned about the hazards of operating in Wild Space...




Treoff Kellak Makai Dashiell