Warrender
Rising Legend
Currently suffering longterm absence from the site
Posts: 698
|
Post by Warrender on Jul 30, 2015 14:20:51 GMT
Name: Yaraseff, Cortez Location: Util System (aboard the Kebnezer)
The great freighter lurched over to the left while being propelled forward by its powerful engines and narrowly missing a bulk of slowly spinning rock bigger than the cockpit of the Kebnezer. Yaraseff was beginning to realise how stupid it was to try and evade fighters in an asteroid field. 'Fighters are small and nimble and perfectly designed to navigate in tight changing spaces, freighters are huge ponderous snake like constructs with a whacking great engine pushing in the direction you set it, you do the math!' he thought to himself.
He turned his ship 90 degrees on its axis then pulled back on the stick whilst simultaneously pushing the throttle forward, powering the Kebnezer in a tight turn around a large roid. His body still ached from the wound and head throbbed from the impact of being hit in the head, certainly not ideal conditions to be piloting a huge tin can through an asteroid field at high speeds while evading fighter craft with orders to disable or maybe even destroy them. Considering his life and those of his fellow captors were in jeopardy he'd just have to make do.
Another blast hit a nearby asteroid, causing shards of rock to splutter out into space in all directions and striking the hull of the Kebnezer as it passed by. This was intentional, there was no way fully trained pilots would miss at this range. Yaraseff theorised that maybe the pilots knew just how pathetic this escape attempt was and were using it to their advantage to disable the vessel or even encourage their surrender rather than simply destroying the freighter outright. A thought crossed over his mind as the light flickered as yet another piece of rock slammed into the side of his ship and no doubt causing a great deal of internal damage. If he could keep this up and get his ship disabled, perhaps this woman would see sense and attempt to escape in the escape pod, leaving the others to be rescued.
From above the Kebnezer two Formian fighters followed its flight path, dodging asteroids and relaying data to the other 3 members of the team so that they could co-ordinate their strikes accordingly. "Eagle squad, Eagle squad, this is Red Eagle 1. Fuel is nearing halfway point, we'll give it 5 more minutes to disable the vessel before use of lethal force is authorised" The pilot of Red Eagle tilted his fighter craft again to see the Kebnezer below him. Scorch marks dotted around the hull all over and he could see various gases spewing out from whatever pipes and canisters had been ruptured from the asteroid hits. 'It shouldn't be long now' he thought to himself, knowing that in less than 5 minutes the pilot of the freighter will either lose control of his ship or willingly surrender. Either way, this chase was going to end.
His concentration was suddenly taken by a very strange looking asteroid, strange perhaps would be an incorrect term to describe it considering it's shape was exactly the same as every other rock out there, but there was something a little unsettling about this chunk of rock, it was larger than any of the others he had seen but not only that but there was a strange crevice about its middle about half the width of the asteroid that disappeared into blackness as it sank into the heart of the asteroid. If the crevice wasn't so random with smooth and jagged rock he would swear it looked man made. As his stare lingered a bleeping from inside his cockpit brought him back to reality, without breaking his eye line he tilted the joystick over, tilting his craft and causing the bleeping to stop, he looked to the front of his craft to see he had masterfully maneuvered his craft away from crashing into an asteroid.
He didn't know why but he set his external camera to take several photographs of the giant rock whilst it was still in range and marked the co-ordinates for reference before resuming the hunt of the freighter ship.
Yaraseff cursed under his breath as he pulled the Kebnezer into tight turn to avoid a fast moving asteroid and then twisted quickly in the opposite way to escape another, the sound of tortured metal screeching into the cockpit as enormous stresses were placed upon the ships hull and several cargo pods gave way, their clamps twisting and snapping and sending them randomly spinning violently into the asteroid field. Plates along the hull started to come away from the ship, buckling and exposing more of the fragile systems beneath. Everyone on the bridge could feel the ship breaking apart around them, you didn't need to be a seasoned pilot to realise the ship couldn't last much longer and in between the violent course corrections each of the Kebnezers occupants were giving each other knowing looks.
Yaraseff spotted a gap between two moving giants which would place two huge pieces of rock between them and the fighters for about half a minute at best. He tilted the stick to aim in the gap and pushed the side thruster stick up hard to increase the turn, the looming mass of the first asteroid steadily approaching. Time seemed to stand still for everyone aboard as everyones blood went cold, the thrusters had failed to fire. Realisation set in as everyone silently stared at the huge rock they were hurtling towards, knowing there was no way to avoid the impending impact in time.
It seemed like minutes were passing when only a scant few seconds actually had, Yaraseff snapped out of his trance, grabbing the left side thruster stick and jamming it all the way to full praying they still worked and trying to point the Kebnezers nose away from the asteroid and hopefully avoid the bridge being cracked open on impact. As the ship started to turn sideways he released his hold of the direction control stick and placed both hands on the two accelerator thruster handles, gripping them tightly and pulling them back hard, feeling the click as they passed over the all stop position and straight back into full reverse. Huge whining sounds rumbled through the ship as the reverse thrusters still working erupted into life, the ship shook and rattled as several thousand tons of metal started to crumple behind them. Conduits above them started to fall from the ceiling, everything began to buckle and gases hissed into the bridge and presumably all over the ships interior. One of the conduits swung down from the ceiling, slamming into Yaraseff's shoulder sending him spinning in the chair and then followed through full force into Cortez, sending her sprawling out onto the floor, her helmet cracked. Yaraseff almost felt a pang of pity for the woman, almost. Cortez was just rolling over to get to her feet as the entire vessel slammed sideways into the asteroid head first.
|
|
Warrender
Rising Legend
Currently suffering longterm absence from the site
Posts: 698
|
Post by Warrender on Aug 3, 2015 10:25:47 GMT
Name: Ard'jaous Location: Astara (Cakarian Homeworld)
Ard'jaous's flagship blasted into normal space in a blinding explosion of blue light, its thrusters engaging almost instantly to slow the great craft to normal speed. another 49 bright flashes erupted around the Cakari flagship a split second after, bringing the remaining vessels that made up Ard'jaous's escort fleet into normal space, each of them firing reverse thrusters and maneuvering thrusters to bring them into formation.
Before them was a sight that would inspire awe and fear into the heart of any invading force, the Cakarian homeworld, Astara. A huge green and blue world from which the Cakari were first born into the galaxy many millenia ago. From here the Cakarian Empire had grown and expanded to the stars before becoming so old and tired that they withdraw, remaining on the homeworld and their other Bastion worlds to watch the eon's pass by. Surrounding the planet were an uncountable amount of space-stations, each one larger by far than any Dre'kzl trade station and sporting giant weapons capable of ripping to shreds any would be attacker before even coming into range of the home world itself.
Between Ard'jaous's fleet and the space-stations lay the Cakari fleets, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th fleets that littered the black sea of space and formed a barrier of metal, each fleet containing over 1,000 battleships and 9,000 capital ships, ready to engage anyone foolish enough to take on the Cakari.
Aboard the flagship, Ard'jaous stood watching the large viewscreen, arms crossed. He couldn't help but but feel pride as he saw the might of the Cakarian Empire before him. Might stations with weapons capable of devastation entire worlds should they ever be moved into range, 4 of the most powerful and experienced fleets known to the universe, each one brought back to their former glory after the war and capable of destroying any of the races. By the end of the week the completion of 3 more fleets will be added to the Cakarian army, bringing a total of 9 fleets ready to defend the empire and would be the greatest army every raised against the Necraphim. It was no wonder that Ard'jaous's hearts filled with pride, he was about to oversee the greatest battle of his life and one that wouldn't be seen again in thousands of years.
His pride soon turned to pain as his thoughts went beyond the Cakarian empire and to those of the other worlds, races that would not be so lucky as the Cakari and could never hope to stand before the force that awaited them. In the past, the Cakari had used their forces as an arrow head, taking the brunt of the Necraphim forces head on and deflecting their path around the galaxy by sheer force and preventing the destruction of the many worlds where life was forming, such was the power of the Cakari, and even though the might of the Cakari was stronger than it once was, the decision had been made not to defend the other worlds. He understood the reasons, that the other worlds had now evolved far too much for the enemy to simply decide to move on, they were now far to enticing to be ignored and the Necraphim would now not be so easily swayed from what they would consider a tasty meal. Ard'jaous had voiced his concerns many times over but the decision had been made. The Cakari would not interfere this time in what they did not class as a natural occurrence, and although it brought Ard'jaous great pain, he had accepted the Councils decision, every fibre of his being telling him to obey, though he did not regret his twisting of their words to have helped as much as he had.
Mother's worlds still panged into his mind, enraging him of her arrogance and refusing to admit what he secretly knew to be true, that she was right, that for all intents of purposes he was a pawn of the Council. He did not know why it pained him so much, the Cakarian Empire had functioned this way for millenia and served them well it had and so it shall for the times to come. He did not understand why he felt this way.
He let out a loud purposeful breath, seeing ships of all sizes parting aside to allow Ard'jaous's escort fleet to pass unhindered. Communications had already been received for Ard'jaous to attend a briefing at Military Headquarters. From there he would review the current status of fleet deployments ready for the incoming invasion and make preparations to be ready for it. It struck him as odd that no communication had been received from the Council as is expected from a Warmaster returning home. He presumed that maybe on this occasion his actions had put him in disfavor and being ignored was a form of punishment to his pride, a message that would be understood by all those aboard the Cakari fleets but would remain unsaid and unknown by the many trillions of Cakari citizens below.
As Ard'jaous's flagship entered orbit around Astara, firing great thrusters to turn its enormous body parallel with the planet, the comm's officer rose to his feet and walked over to Ard'jaous, bowing slightly with palms pressed together, his red robe with gold patterns swaying with his body "Warmaster, I have received a message from the Council. They are ordering you to the Cannon. No further information other than to await instructions"
Ard'jaous nodded "Very well, inform the Council I will board the Cannon immediately and await their instructions""
|
|
Warrender
Rising Legend
Currently suffering longterm absence from the site
Posts: 698
|
Post by Warrender on Aug 3, 2015 15:44:50 GMT
Name: Jaw'duk Location: Formian backwater world
A sleek black frigate dropped out of hyperspace near the distant world of Jaw'duk. A long hexagon shaped hull with straight square wings jutting out from the rear above the engine housing and then pointing sharply downwards, with its angled nose it looked like a bird of prey and was a typical design of a Kraw'ven vessel. The ship maintained its high velocity and engaged its cloaking field as the blue wake of hyperspace dissapated behind it, if their arrival had been detected no one would of been able to determine who or what it was and one would even suspect that the remenants of the Kraw'ven had access to this kind of technology.
As the ship approached the planet Jaw'duk it began scanning the surface, gathering information on its geography. Although being on the edge of Formian space the planet no longer belonged to them, but instead was instead given as a gift to the Jaqul Nos following their exile from their own homeworld.
A race of sentient plants, the Jaqul Nos were a once peaceful race lead by a being known only as Father Nos, highly intelligent and telepathic, Father Nos lead his people forward despite the overwhelming opposition they faced in an unprovoked war against a more powerful aggressor who had declared their world as their own. In a constant battle to increase their military might against these aggressors and without aid from other races the Jaqul Nos spent all efforts towards increasing their limited technology and were almost brought to extinction.
In a last bid attempt to save their race the Jaqul Nos risked everything to take the fight to their aggressors, sending the entire Jaqul Nos fleet to the homeworld of their enemy and laying waste to it using a newly developed deadly void weapon, an explosive bomb capable of creating miniature blackholes and causing devastation to anything close to it. Although a complete success it was all to easy and by the time they realised the severity of their mistake they had no choice but to carry out their mission and launch their entire payload of void bombs onto the cities below. For unknown to either race, as the entire Jaqul Nos fleet arrived in the system their enemy had unknowingly done the same to them, laying waste to the already devastated Nos homeworld before receiving word the missing Jaqul Nos fleet was actually in their own star system.
Although both races suffered excessively in the attacks the Nos lost the war, with their homeworld shattered and their people massacred they had little choice but to abandon their world with every being they could. It was at this time that the Kraw'ven war was drawing to a close and the few races offering support were then able to lend military aid. Although grateful, it was simply too late to be of any good and instead requested evacuation. The Formian emperor, struck with regret from their inability to help offered the Jaqul Nos a world within their borders. Life would be hard there but an abundant quantity of water would mean they could prosper.
As the crew orbiting looked down on this world they were surprised at just how much it had changed in the short years of the Jaqul Nos's arrival. Great flowering cities were already growing tall, a shadow of their former glory but impressive considering how quickly they had grown. Huge fields spread out from the city, flowing water feeding the many crops now growing. Ships of all sizes were strewn across a barren wasteland where the Jaqul Nos were building a fleet to escape, not knowing that above them impending death awaited.
The man captaining the ship pulled back the red cowl of his cloak to reveal his face, great scars criss-crossing his face and pieces of metal pushing through the skin where augments and replacement bones had been required. Slowly he turned to one of his officers before him and walked behind him in the tightly squeezed bridge barely enough to accommodate 5 men. "Ready the weapon for test firing. Lets see how good this Excelsior weapon truly is".
The man at the console grinned "Yes, Sir" he said enthusiastically as he pushed the button on his console, priming the device in their cargo hold and launching it. They all watched on the viewscreen as the torpedo size object launched at the planet and stood ready to record the results.
Before the torpedo even reached the atmosphere the ship was wrenched to one side then the other, causing the Kraw'ven captain to lurch with the ship and nearly sending him to the floor "REPORT!!" he yelled.
The two officers sat in chairs directly in front of him were frantically punching buttons until one spoke "We've been fired upon, but I can't see anything on sensors!".
The Kraw'ven captain growled, stomping forward and forcefully shoving the man aside so he could see the console. Growling loudly as he interpreted the information. "Jaqul Nos ships, they are organic ships so you can't detect them by power emissions alone" He slapped the man over the head, signalling him to get up straight as he walked off. "Dammit!!" he growled angrilly. "We cannot afford to be detained here, we'll have to come back another time to get what results we can. Get us out of here, now!!"
The cloaked ship fired its thrusters to alter course and engaged its main engines. Although he was mistified as to how they had been detected he couldn't afford to be captured. If anyone discovered their mission or identity he was as good as dead. He sat down in the small cramped chair and watched as his ship started to accelerate so they could reach a point to engage their hyperdrive safely. But just as the vessel reached 1/4 speed he lurched forward from rapid de-acceleration as tendrils from two Nos ships started to wind around the hull, preventing its escape. It now appeared the Captain had underestimated the Jaqul Nos in both ability and technology.
He gritted his teeth as the engine compartments decompressed from the tendrils squeezing the vessel and he knew that escape was beyond his power. Reluctantly he stood again, walking over to the command console and keying in some commands, growling and huffing loudly, not even bothering to inform his crew as they hastily tried everything to break free, not seeing the timer counting down on the command screen for auto-destruct.
Meanwhile, the small torpedo continued its rapid descent toward the Nos's main city. Behind it, several Nos fighters were already in hot pursuit, firing as they got closer and closer, hoping to destroy the torpedo with a lucky shot rather than holding off until there targeting systems were in range to lock on and risk the explosion being closer to the city. The fighters were sleek, green and their hulls flowing in a single sheet of organic metal, only parting in places for engines and weapons to emit from. Sensing they would be too late one of the fighters transferred all available power to thrusters, accelerating past his commrads and pushing the craft far beyond all safety limits and tolerances, causing it to set alight around its engines from the excessive heat generated. But it was not for nought as the fighter levelled with the torpedo and rammed it, causing it to alter its course and as his own fighter span out of control. He had accepted his fate even before he had started his steep acceleration, knowing he would be beyond help. But he was not alone, in his mind he could hear the voice of Father Nos reaching out to him and he was still smiling as his fighter smashed sideways into the ground at full uncontrollable speed.
The torpedo continued on its new course, away from the city but still too close as it was pursued by the remaining fighters who were now in range to use their targeting matrix, the sacrifice of the lone fighter having given them the time they needed to reach the torpedo. Firing shots at the torpedo they tore it apart, black copious gas emitting from it which they flew through. Instantly the fighters began to disintegrate but still they continued firing, now realising the danger to their home and people.
A few more shot saw the torpedo spin out of control and explode, taking with it most of whatever was left inside. With a unison cheer the fighters pulled up sharply, struggling for control as their fighters crumpled and began to fail. All ejected to safety bar one, staying behind to transmit a warning before ejecting himself.
The gas that had been released spread into the air and slowly drifted downwards. Its power diminished severely by the dispersal but its affects instantly apparent as huge portions of the city started to turn black from the poison now infecting it. A warning siren went out, warning all citizens to go indoors and await instructions as emergency services were called and distress calls went out into deep space, warning them of the impending epidemic and no one was paying attention as a small explosion occurred in orbit around their world.
|
|
Warrender
Rising Legend
Currently suffering longterm absence from the site
Posts: 698
|
Post by Warrender on Aug 4, 2015 11:25:14 GMT
Name: Admiral Bajiri (Formian) Location: Dre'kzl Trade Station 17 aboard the Formian Battleship
Admiral Bajiri wiped the sweat from his forehead with his hand before flicking his elongated fingers quickly, splattering the deck with it. He had come down in person to get a status report from his medics knowing how busy they were, but after seeing the ensuing chaos he opted to get his hands a little dirty and help out until he had to attend to more important duties. The reports from the officials aboard the Space Station had been very clear, if they weren't dead then they weren't infected and their injuries caused by the panic of the disaster.
Several area's had been reopened after decontamination protocols had been completed as even with hazard suits it became apparent that there was no way to safely examine the airborne toxin without a high risk of furthering the contamination. The Dre'kzl Minister had already been in contact with their allies the Cakari and spoken with the Administration Office of the Cakarian Council in a bid to use their advance research facilities to investigate this biological weapon. They were not only surprised at the refusal they received but also how quickly it came as Cakari were renowned for their excessive deliberations. For fact the response came so quickly had meant the Council either were uninterested or the topic instantly dismissed. This left them with all but one choice, they had to evacuate the entire station and quarantine it until they could guarantee all traces of the toxin were destroyed.
The Space Stations Administers now operating aboard Bajiri's battleship were flooded with frantic calls from both traders and foreign ministers alike. With the impending disaster awaiting them the supplies being traded and transported via the space stations were vital and the loss of just one station would have a resounding effect on those affected in their ability to complete their ships within the timeframe.
Bajiri couldn't help but feel pang of hatred towards the Cakari. He had been on the front lines in the Ardenti-Cakari war, he had stood against the Cakari with his allies the Ardenti and Kal-mari before the Kal-mari betrayed them both in a sneak attack. The Cakari at least were upfront in their position, yes he had anger towards them, but this, this was aborehrent. The Cakari were only a few hours out and they wouldn't offer a single ship in aid, it was though they were ignoring the entire situation.
Bajiri's bottom of his face twitched as he dwelled on it, his thoughts disrupted as a call came across the communication system "Admiral Bajiri. Please respond"
The Admiral at the time was carrying a stretcher with another medic. He glanced down at the occupant only now realising he was a Kal-mari civilian. A part of him wanted to tip the stretcher sideways and throw him to the floor but he knew better of it. This man had no part in what happened and didn't deserve the wraith for what his people had done or the backlash that resulted from their utter defeat all those years ago, but he hated this man, hated him for what he represented. Bajiri reached the spot that had been allocated for the stretcher and unceremoniously dropped it down firmly, eliciting a loud moan of pain from the Kal-mari occupant. It was only a little thing but it made Bajiri feel slightly better.
Weaving his way through the crowds of the injured he reached a comms unit and keyed in the commands to reach the bridge "This is Admiral Bajiri, report" There was a short pause as he waited for the response. "Eagle squad has just returned from their mission, they are just entering the final docking stages and the flight deck commander has requested you join them in the debriefing. Room 114, Sir"
It was not uncommon for Bajiri to have regular meetings with the commander, however it was unusual to have the pilots present as well. Considering the circumstances he figured the information was too important to wait until the original debriefing. Bajiri pressed the comm's unit again, leaning in closer to speak. "I'm on my way" he spoke, moving his hand away from the transmit button and looking back into the room as he started to walk out, a pang of guilt in no longer being able to help them.
Name: Admiral Bajiri (Formian) Location: Formian Battleship Room 114
The door to Room 114 hissed and clicked before sliding open and Admiral Bajiri calmly walked in to the medium sized room. A large black slate table stood in its middle, surrounded by dark wooden like chairs made from a single flowing piece of thin wood in an almost S shape. In 6 of the chairs sat the 5 fighter pilots and the flight deck commander, each looking identical without any form of identification. But Bajiri was a Formian, to him he knew exactly who was who with ease and was why espionage within Formian cities was impossible but why they made formidable agents outside of their own borders with other races.
The Admiral sat down at the head table in the chair that had been specifically left for him. "Report" He said, picking up a few datasheets idly that had been left for him as part of the meeting. The attendees briefly looked to each other before the Eagle One's leader spoke up.
"We tracked the freighter vessels to the Util system where it tried to evade us in an asteroid field" He began, one of the fighter pilots snorting quietly in amusement at the notion of what they had tried to do. "We attempted to disable the craft in order to tow it back and hopefully secure more information as to their involvement in the attack aboard the Trade Station. Sadly, while we were successful, the craft's speed and erratic manoeuvring resulted in the craft crashing into one of the asteroids at high velocity, it's possible there were survivors but unlikely. We have recorded its last known position but had to return before our fuel dropped too low. We are awaiting for our fighters to refuel and with permission we intend to return to the site to begin salvaging what we can"
The pilot paused, waiting for a response from the Admiral as he sat quietly, elbows resting on the tables edge stretching his long arms across as his hands loosely touched at the fingers, occasionally tapping his hand up and down in contemplation. He gave a more firmer tap with his hands and then spoke, unclasping his hands and leaning back into the chair that formed perfectly to his curved spine. "It is indeed disappointing you weren't able to recover the craft. Hopefully we can get some answers, at the very least I hope that this will prevent further attacks elsewhere. From what we have learnt here this virus is highly adaptive, extremely hard to contain and excessively barbaric in what it does. There is no way this substance is natural, it has been created to do this and at the moment we have no way of knowing who is behind this"[/b]
The Admiral paused again, glancing at each of the men in turn before focusing directly on the Squad Leader. "This freighter may be our only possible lead on information about this attack, I cannot emphasise enough the important of gathering as much information as possible and quickly"
"There's more, Admiral" One of the pilots on the opposite side of the table piped up, causing all eyes to draw to him. "Yes Admiral" The Squad Leader continued, focusing the attention back to him. "I wasn't sure until I returned to the ship but whilst we were out there I saw something that I found suspicious. While waiting for you to attend the briefing I checked the system and discovered that I was right to be. In the last few months there has been a high volume of pirate attacks in and around the Util system, if I'm right, the object I saw could possibly be a pirate facility, it has a chasm large enough for ships to enter and I could almost swear it was man-made. I'd like to check it out if I may"
The Admiral glanced down at a data sheet, his very brief glance having noticed a report showing a large asteroid to which he pushed the datapad aside, trying to find it. Picking it up in his hand his black beady eyes flitted side to side as he read the information. Barely a moment later he placed the pad down dismissively.
"Our priority at the moment is finding as much information as we can on this virus, not pirate hunting" He said, staring at the Squad Leader who shuffled anxiously in his seat. The Admiral then let out a sigh despite his mouthless face and picked up the pad again to read. "But ... it would be unwise to let an opportunity like this slip us by. Considering the freighter specifically choosing that system it could be likely that they planned to escape to this base if it really is a pirate base, though I'm dubious they would have the resources to create such a virus they may well have been the carriers"
The Admiral kept reading the report, reasoning in his mind the best course of action before placing the pad down once more carefully and turning to the flight deck commander. "Deck Commander, we have too many responsibilities here for us to travel to the Util system on a whim and would ultimately prove fruitless considering we're too large to enter the asteroid field. Therefore, I want you to take 5 fighter squadrons and support craft to the Util system. Eagle will be in command of the mission. Your primary mission is to recover anything of value from the crashed freighter and bring it safely back. Your optional mission is to investigate the area for pirate activity and if you discover anything you have permission to use any means necessary to destroy or incapacitate it. Dismissed!"
There was a flurry of movement as everything packed away datapads and rose from their seats. The Admiral took the datapads he had been presented with and headed to the bridge while the Flight Deck Commander and Eagle Pilots headed towards the flight deck in preparation for the upcoming mission.
|
|
Warrender
Rising Legend
Currently suffering longterm absence from the site
Posts: 698
|
Post by Warrender on Aug 5, 2015 12:22:30 GMT
Name: Ard'jaous Location: The Cakari Space Cannon (Astara Homworld)
The circle hatch hissed and rolled away inside the recess, allowing entry on the deck of the Cakarian's space cannon. The cool air whooshed inside the much warmer airlock the moment the door had opened and Ard'jaous stepped out, leaving his shuttle behind. The air was much colder here from the excessive amount of coolant systems required to keep the cannon from overheating.
The cannon was the most novel thing the Cakarian's had built in the last 3000 years and had been done so at the specific request of Ard'jaous himself during the Ardenti-Cakari War. A huge 4 mile long tube of metal containing all the equipment required to complete its deadly function. From the outside it resembled a dreadnought rivalling that of the Cakarian Flagship, but at its core lay its secret. A long cylinder stretching from Aft to Bow, capable of drawing in huge asteroids and accelerating them to hyperspace speeds, a complex system saturated each asteroid as it entered, not only allowing it to be affected by the gravitational pulls of the weapon but also to control when and where the asteroid would eventually exit hyperspace as the particles slowly dissipated. For all intents and purposes the Cannon was a planet killer, the deadliest weapons ever constructed in the modern era after the decommissioning and forbidding the use of the Aegis weapons built eons ago by his kin.
Ard'jaous journeyed a short distance down the long corridor that disappeared into blackness as it stretched out the length of the ship and entered through a side door in which a train car lay. He stepped inside, bodyguards following behind in formation and adding to the din of heavy footsteps. "Take me to the Command Centre"" he called to the driver. The driver didn't acknowledge him, a mixture of organic and artificial intelligence in the form of man the creature was merely a tool of the Cakari with no self-awareness whatsoever. The creature’s claw like hands reached out and typed in several commands on the screen in front of it, causing the train to accelerate faster and faster until the bulkheads were just a blur. After a few minutes the train started to slowly de-accelerate until it came to a complete stop.
He exited the train car into the same tunnel he was just in, only now he was 4 miles away. Across from him lay the doors to the Command Centre which he and his group of bodyguards now marched towards, keying in his access codes to permit him access inside.
The room was huge and round, computer stations, giant screen and terminals were strewn out over the entire room, the soft bleeps of computer noises were the only thing breaking the silence. Unlike the busy command deck of a star ship the command centre of the Cannon was quiet, laid back and calm. One of the officers spotted the Warmaster and rose to his feet, calling out with a salute and prompting all others inside to do the same. Ard'jaous merely nodded, signalling them to continue their work to which they instantly did as he walked over to one of the consoles, leaving his bodyguards to stand watch at the door.
Ard'jaous keyed in a few command to let the computer know it was him who was operating it and activated a comm call to the Cakari Council chambers. After a short pause his call was connected and the image of Ta'rellis appeared in the screen.
"I bring you greetings, Councillor Ta'rellis, I await your instruction" Ard'jaous called to the screen, his voice slightly louder than required despite being a good distance from the huge viewscreen the Councillor was appearing on.
"Greetings to you, Warmaster, I am transmitting the co-ordinates of an asteroid we wish destroyed, you need not know the reason"
Ard'jaous ruffled his shoulders in annoyance, annoyed that the Council were keeping him out of the loop but had little choice but to carry out his orders. "It will be done" he replied, fingers flexing as he gripped his staff tightly. "Good" was the only response he received before the viewscreen went blank.
He unencrypted the file that the station had received and decoded it, adding the information into the main system and bringing the information up on all the screens before he pressed a button on the console which elicited a high pitched wail across the ships internal comms unit. "All hands, prepare for firing, I repeat, prepare for firing!"
The once quiet command centre burst into noise as the crew began the firing sequence, bringing systems online, flooding pipes with coolant and running system checks on systems to determine their status. Others began the targeting sequence, determining location, range, mass, direction and orientation of the asteroid to ensure that when the weapon fired its payload would hit exactly where the object had moved since firing. Impossible calculations started flowing down the screen as words and letters jumped across the screen as it analysed every detail of its target to determine all factors required for a successful firing.
Next the station began to rumble as thrusters along the entire hull began to fire, slowly moving the huge weapon into the exact position. Even a 10,000th of a millimetre out would result in a complete and utter miss. Ard'jaous stood with his arms crossed as the crew voiced countdowns and statuses to each other, ensuring that the entire operation went smoothly. Screens showed a huge asteroid that had been kept nearby slowly moving behind the cannon, its surface being saturated with energies designed to allow the cannon to mould it to its will as it waited silently at the rear opening of the cannon, held there by the gravitational forces of the cannons internal system.
One by one the crew voices their all clear status and then silence once again spread across the room save for the bleeping of the computer systems as they all waited for the order. Ard'jaous merely stood there, arms crossed and his stare locked onto the screen in front of him, showing the locations of the cannon, the target and the course the asteroid would take. "Fire!" he said calmly but clearly into the room.
"Firing sequence has begun" the weapons crewman said. "Firing in 10...9...8...7...6...5...4... ... ... WARMASTER!!!! The Cannon is retargeting!!!" He suddenly shouted.
Ard'jaous instantly uncrossed his arms and gave him his full attention as other crew members also started to make noise as information changed on their screens. "Report!" he yelled, his eyes scanning the room to find the first person who could give him some answers. After a few scant seconds the weapons officer stood from his post and looked to Ard'jaous, catching his attention.
"Warmaster, the cannon is retargeting an object in the Retyu system and readjusting our firing position. We've been locked out of the system!" The officer cried out to him, the panic in his voice obvious. As for Ard'jaous, he was already worried but his eyes widened the moment he heard the word, Retyu, the last location he had seen the Ardenti lifeship.
Ard'jaous banged his fist on the comm.’s units, shouting loudly and quickly to everyone aboard and in front of him in the command centre "All hands! All hands! Deactivate the cannon! Use any means necessary do not let..." His shouting was interrupted by the weapons crewman speaking in a low sombre voice. "It's too late, Warmaster. She's firing"
They all watched the screens as the asteroid was quickly pulled inside the giant cannon and could hear the rumbling as it accelerated fast and hard inside the chamber, erupting quickly after out of the nose of the Cannon with a bang that would shatter bones if not for the vacuum of space. They all watched as the large asteroid sparked and blurred, entering into hyperspace in a flash of blue. There would be no way to catch up it now, and no way to warn the Ardenti in time. There would be war between the Cakari and Ardenti once more.
|
|
Warrender
Rising Legend
Currently suffering longterm absence from the site
Posts: 698
|
Post by Warrender on Aug 6, 2015 8:09:34 GMT
((For those of you reading this story I'd greatly appreciate any feedback if you have time. Thanks to those already leaving likes and encouraging comments. I fully intend to try and publish this story once it's up to a better standard that it is and I know certain things within at the moment are likely not quite right or confusing, especially the intro, so yeah, criticism and pointers would be gratefully received as it's hard to improve it because being the writer I'm automatically biased to the content))
((EDIT: Slightly altered the wording in the first 2 posts, removed some information in favour of a shorter passage for clarity and fixed some errors in the storyline that needed addressing))
.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2015 0:44:29 GMT
So far I've enjoyed it quite a lot, the story is interesting if a bit, disjointed(?), on account of the scale. Eager to see more of it.
|
|
Warrender
Rising Legend
Currently suffering longterm absence from the site
Posts: 698
|
Post by Warrender on Aug 7, 2015 7:47:13 GMT
Disjointed as meaning bouncing from one scene to the next to get round all the different characters? If so then that's something I'm hoping to address as I continue and might even re-order some of the previous posts so that they are joined as one entire post rather than 3 separate ones for example. That would create less bouncing of locations/characters where I can get away with it.
|
|
Warrender
Rising Legend
Currently suffering longterm absence from the site
Posts: 698
|
Post by Warrender on Aug 19, 2015 8:23:35 GMT
I've had some more feedback from people away from the site. The feedback received points suggests that I seem to enjoy saying the word "Ard'jaous" a lot! so will reword it a bit to drop how many times I mention his name. Should be easy, if you know it's related to him then there's no need to say his name.
Already mentioned is that it jumps about to much, disjointed as Cashdash pointed out, so I will render that by making posts longer for single characters and some of the older posts I'll join together to make them longer and not have to jump about back and forth so much.
The last comment which was kind of a surprise but is what I need to hear, is that it seems to be written with teenagers in mind with my writing style and language. This certainly was not intentional and I'm stumped as to what exactly makes it a story for a younger audience and more importantly, how to fix that. You don't need to swear to make something adult so it's purely down to my writing style.
So, I'll shall fix the bugs as best I can and press on with writing. However, any comments/advice is always welcome.
|
|
|
Post by Lord Harrab on Aug 19, 2015 12:14:16 GMT
i guess your style has changed to reflect your audience, which is mainly here and to my knowledge mostly teenagers, so its not unreasonable to assume you've been influenced by them.
It would also explain why we ourselves didn't notice. The Outsider sees most the game and all that.
|
|