[DID] Best Served Cold - APR Book 2

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Sabrina Bergin
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Post by Sabrina Bergin » Tue, 28. Jul 15, 17:06

Triaxx2:

Not quite sure if your other in game descriptions are in English then I would have thought the ships files should have been as well, if you are using the Cadius ship pack mod is it possible you downloaded one that was intended for German or French versions of the game.

I know the English language code number is 04 or 044 don't know where I would look for it though.

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Post by Triaxx2 » Tue, 28. Jul 15, 22:06

I've never gotten Cadius to work at all, so that's not it. It's probably one of LUcike's scripts. No matter, it only pops once per start, so it's only a mild annoyance.
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Post by Sabrina Bergin » Tue, 28. Jul 15, 22:37

Triaxx2:

If it only pops up the once then that shouldn't be a game breaker.

Trouble I would have with that, is that I am a bit OCD it would just bug the hell out of me.

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Post by Triaxx2 » Wed, 29. Jul 15, 20:26

Chapter 31: Taking down Zeus

So, Venomous Cobra turned out to be the right choice for the job. We launched 18 marines. Only fifteen of them got on board for some reason, but that was enough to complete the job flawlessly. Technically, it wasn't flawless, because we still caused a fair bit of hull damage, but a large part of that was me being a little heavy handed with the Flails. Better a bit of hull damage, than a bunch of fried marines. It was under escort by three Nemesii, but three hammers a piece seems to be the cure for that. After the ship was mine, and Tow Wagon (Zephyrus) II was enroute from the jump gate to the Zeus, two more Nemesii came to investigate. I flung some hammers at them as well, but it didn't work out as well. So I brought the VC in between the Tow Wagon and the Nemesii and unleashed some more Hammers. That finished it, and then what was left chased down and mangled firmly a Hazardous Minerals Transporter.

I also called in Viper Strike and opened up on Duke's Haven, but I was out of range. I didn't think to check until after I'd ordered nearly the full complement expended. I flashed a message to Duke: That was a warning. Make ready to trade, or be prepared to rebuild.

I'll check back later to see his decision. And bring a tape measure.

---

My first task is to add an Ammunition factory to my CODEA supply complex. It's a bit excessive considering the only ship using it at the moment is my personal Tenjin, the Warjack, but having ammo available is important. Speaking of, I've noticed we're a little slow on the production of Tomahawks. I'm not using a tremendous amount, but I'd like them a little quicker, especially since we're now also arming Viper Strike. I've also noticed that I need more storage space. I'd like to purchase a Mammoth, but that's a bit of a massive investment. Instead, I'm going to investigate 'acquiring' a Terran Atmosphere Lifter. I admit, this might not be my best plan ever, but it'll certainly be entertaining if I can pull it off. Mean time, I'm busy doing maintenance on my fleet. I've had a Mistral Super Freighter dubbed Chip Shipper sitting at the Argon Prime shipyard for Gunne knows how long. So dropping in there with the Revenge (Panther), I almost instantly purchase a Manta which pops up for sale at the shipyard. I have a bit of a problem doing that kind of thing more often than I should.

I've discovered a severe excess of gunners for the MEFOS system. I've converted one of them to a pilot for the Transport and Travel Service. I'm not sure how well it'll go, but it's worth a shot. As soon as he was in his custom outfitted Disco Raider, he left the military base like a shot. I'll wait and see, and if it's profitable, I'll convert a few more. If not, well, no matter, I'll find something to do with them. Maybe recruits for one of my secondary carriers? If not, I'll have to have a mass firing.

While stopping in Black Hole Sun to discourage a bunch of raiders from annoying one of my traders, I end up going face to face with a Xenon attack group. A Q, a few L's and an M. While I did lose a Pike, Bomber beats Q handily. From there, I took a ship return, and on the way back, a build mission. Parking up in Avarice, I decide a break is in order, only to get informed that one of my Economy and Supply Traders is in need of assistance in Seizewell. Hi ho Silver, Away!

---

The following morning, as I'm busy doing a bit of paperwork, there's an alert about a ship under attack in Cardinal's Domain. By the time the computer brings up the map, all that's left is a rapidly expanding cloud of debris. My Weapon Supplier, which I can't even remember what it was supplying, is just gone. A Paranid Military Agamemnon is to blame. I know this because the Squints are broadcasting it proudly as a victory over the evil pirates. I think I should perhaps explain my displeasure.

Viper Strike jumps in almost on top of the Revenge. Needless to say, Viper Strike is exceptional at putting it's point across. The squints seem unreasonably displeased, though I'm completely dumb struck as to why. From there, I bounce north to Mi-Ton's Refuge, and meet up with Rapscallion. It seems the Paranid need another slapping down.
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Post by Sabrina Bergin » Thu, 30. Jul 15, 14:09

I am all in favour of slapping the Paranid.

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Post by Triaxx2 » Thu, 10. Dec 15, 13:50

Chapter 32: Squint Slapping, for Fun and Profitssss

Rapscallion enters from the north gate, and immediately I engage the turbo booster. Split make the best toys. The Orbital Weapons Platform objects strenuously. Not nearly strenuously enough. We pitch forward, and make a beeline for the Shipyard. It's a good thing, since an Odysseus turns up behind us. Fortunately I have one point five thousand Mosquito missiles on board, and no matter how many missiles the Escort Hades throws, not a single one gets through. Eventually I get irritated and call for some tactical assistance. Death Barge (Minotaur) arrives and fires enough missiles to get the job done and have some change. The Ody manages to shoot down one out of the entire barrage. It's not enough.

The Equipment dock goes down in a blinding white blast. Then we head on to the Trading Station as the Death Barge leaves the sector. I retreat to Moo-Kye's Revenge for refueling, and call the Revenge to pick up an abandoned Pleco. While there, I notice a minor issue with it's fighter fleet. There's three ships in it, and one of them is armed with Impulse Ray Emitters. What? We jump to the sector east of Montalaar, and I investigate.

As it turns out, as each ship is knocked out of combat status by damage, some of the weapons they have are destroyed. And when the ships are rearmed, there aren't enough weapons to go around. Sometimes substitutions are made, and other times, the ships just end up out of service. There is, for no apparent reason, no reporting mechanism for dealing with this.

I am told that the Commodore is supposed to be attentive to these things. I reply that the Commodore is a little busy trying not to have everyone's dangly bits shot off and is thus occupied. There seems to be no solution other than to try and hunt down more. I dig up some reports. The Squints have been slapped pretty hard, but I'll go after them more later. Having a fleet that's not prepared to back me up is a little more important just now.

---

Oh boy. So the solution it seems, is more complex. Complex, as in stations. One thing I do, is purchase an Argon Mammoth, and proceed to dub it: The Cargo Dump. It will have the singular job of extracting the extra bits picked up by the Revenge's Elephant Tender. As well as the Rapscallion or other ships as I use them.

That will free some space from the Elephant, and then allow it to stock rearmaments such as Particle Accelerator Cannons and High Energy Plasma Throwers. It should have had them already, but well... it didn't. *sigh*

I must admit, I absolutely hate paperwork. Never mind the fact that it now exists entirely in electronic form, I hate it even more than I hate the squints. I now have two new factories, one HEPT production plant and one PAC production plant. Now I'm sitting near Montalaar, waiting for more PAC's and HEPT 's to be delivered.

That said I'm thinking it's time to arm up and go finish Operation Final Fury. They've told me that everything is ready. I just need to make sure I have a fleet that's not going to go pop when we arrive. I may even pull Warsquid off guard duty, and move it to guard our entry point. I think perhaps I'll lead the way with Born of Ashes. (Phoenix) I'd take the Lollipop, but it's lacking in guns. As in entirely. Which is a less than stellar position to be in when a Kka'ak attack group is approaching.
Last edited by Triaxx2 on Sun, 13. Dec 15, 03:30, edited 1 time in total.
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APR Book 2: Best Served Cold Updated 8/5/2016

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Post by Triaxx2 » Sun, 13. Dec 15, 03:27

I am capable of many things. Counting it would seem, is not one of those things. :lol:

---

Chapter 33: Kha'ak Fighting

I'm not sure, exactly what the plan is. Wait, that's not quite correct. I'm aware that the plan is to completely destroy all remnants of the Kha'ak that we can find. I'm not sure how we're intending to do that.

As Born of Ashes enters the sector, I notice two things. One is a Paranid Military Scorpion turning to engage me. I am slightly less than threatened. The other is an abandoned Gladiator. There are also a Centaur and Boa in the sector that have been stuck at the shipyard for a bit now. I'm thinking, after the mission, I'll come down here with Command and Control (Aran), and pick up all three. For now though, I head towards the Military Base. I am informed, in delighted sounding Split tones, that we are going to destroy the Hive once and for all. I should sacrifice myself only if necessary. Ummm.. No.

That's what minions are for.

The command and control system plots me a jump into Kha'ak 926. Dead center in the sector. Yeah, no. I reorient the landing co-ordinates +26km X +26km. It's not so bad as I anticipated, though I must admit, I'm surprised the pirates managed to get here first. Not that they last long under the guns of the Born of Ashes. I then in-sector jump, nearly on top of the Kha'ak Guardian they want me to destroy. It's not much more of a challenge than the pirate was. Nor are the bases they're protecting.

It actually ends up being less of a challenge than I was hoping for. I mean, seriously? I've felt more threat from old ladies with knitting needles. These were the mighty foes who decimated President's End? I am less than impreseed.

---

“Still, this is how the Kha'ak fell from the Commonwealth. Destroyed at the hands of a coalition of nations. And one idiot who blew himself up. But the Kha'ak shall rise again! They shall know the warm embrace...”

THUMP.

“Ow.” An'ki rubbed the back of her head. “What was that for?” she asked Morgan.

“You're not allowed to insert dirty jokes into the Eulogy for a species.” the woman shook her head.

“I can't help it. The jokes write themselves.” An'ki shook her head. “It's like they were named by a thirteen year old.”

“I'm certain it means something glorious and noble in their language.” Morgan shrugged.

“Right, sure.”

---

Sitting and waiting for a Kestrel should NOT be a long event. Atalanta III seems intent on going as slowly as possible. I'm sitting in Born of Ashes, waiting for it to get into teleporter range, so I can jump to that and dock with Command And Control, which is just a bit away from me. My Griffon, (silly name) is waiting at the Shipyard in Argon M148. It was in space, but I ordered it to dock, so no one shot it up before I got my hands on it.

There are a couple of build missions in M148. I can't really see ever coming back here, so I take those misisons. One is for a Firefly Missile Factory right there, which is stupid simple, (It's sold at the local station.) The other is for a Chelt Aquarium M in Nathan's Voyage.

Nathan's Voyage is not a sector I come to very often. I'm not entirely sure why either. It's a nice sector. Peaceful, serene. It's almost beautiful.

I decide to look around for something to do. Grand Exchange has the Shipyard asking for help defending them from a Xenon fleet. It's a bunch of fighters, backed by a K. Fortunately, bombers beat destroyers. That leads me to a mission to build a station in Bright Profit. From there, I work my way south to Menlaus Paradise, and find out that there's an unknown sector down there. It's chock full of asteroids, and absolutely nothing else. The confirmation of this comes when I call in Scavenger's Lair (Condor) into the middle of the sector and have it deploy it's recon fighters. Nothing but asteroids within 60km of the center point. I like it.

I notice two issues while I'm waiting for the scans to complete. First, is that some of the recon fighters from Lair are damaged. Not badly enough to prevent them from flying, but enough to register. I note it's because it has no CODEA supply ship assigned. Fortunately, I do have a solution for that. One of my pilots is reassigned to a Caiman Super Freighter until I can train a replacement freighter pilot.

The other issue is that my entire cargo train in PMP (Pax Mort Paranidia- Unknown Sector west of X534) is ready to make another run to the Hub, but I only have one ship with a Singularity projector. Another one costs nearly 200 million credits. That's a couple of Destroyers if I can put my hands on them. It's not untenable, just irritating. Gotta do some recon. For the moment though, I'm going to discard a couple of freighters acquired from one of my Xenon Sector raids. They're full of goods I can't sell anywhere else, so I'll dispose of two birds with one stone.
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Post by Song Of Obsidian » Sun, 13. Dec 15, 03:49

I had thought about posting something inane to seal your erm...counting error...into the story's history forever and ever and ever. Disney style.

Then I got lazy. I consider it a missed opportunity.

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Post by Triaxx2 » Sun, 13. Dec 15, 03:52

Be honest, you didn't notice until I mentioned it. :P

Don't worry, I'm certain there will be opportunities in the future.
A Pirate's Revenge Completed Now in PDF by _Zap_
APR Book 2: Best Served Cold Updated 8/5/2016

The Tale of Ea't s'Quid Completed

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Post by Triaxx2 » Wed, 13. Jul 16, 04:41

Thought I'd posted this one forever ago: (Also, it's been seven months to the day.)

---

Chapter 34: Destroyer Hunting

So, I'm on the hunt for some destroyers. Carriers would also be acceptable. My first stop, as usual, is going to be Duke's. He usually has something I can steal, and frankly, I prefer to annoy him and the Paranid if I can. If he's not packing, I'll go hunting through the Paranid Sectors. Atalanta is fast enough they just 'Can't Touch This.'

Or would be, if it had a Turbo Booster, which it's lacking for some inexplicable reason. And a Freight scanner. Urgh. Alright, new plan. We're heading to Patriarch's Conclusion. They've got a shipyard and an equipment dock. I'll pick up a Turbo Booster and Freight Scanner there. Upon arrival though, I'm contracted to grab an Eclipse in Faded Dreams. Piece of cake. Once I return to Patriarch's Conclusion, there are a few other missions to kill pirates. All of them Squints, humorously enough. I'm not in the mood though. Atalanta docks with the EQD, just after I return the Eclipse to it's rightful owner.

Other pirates might have considered keeping it. It's likely worth more than the 4.7 mill I got for returning it. Sadly, it still looks like a turd. Besides, I'd have to take a rep hit and I like being friends with the Split. They have nice toys.

Duke does happen to have a carrier in sector. Unfortunately, it has both Hull Polarization and Internal Sentry Lasers. Not at all interested in tangling with that. No fighters, but it is escorted by three Nemesii. There are a few other Nemesii in the sector, but they're all friendly. Duke's station is not, nor presumably is the small pirate fleet docked on board. I could destroy it, but what's the point? It's not bothering me and my shows of strength haven't done any good before. I roll over and race for the gate.

North into Heaven's Assertion, I notice something silhouetted against the sky. Running north, it's the local supply Hercules. I chance a scan, doing just over 1.5km/s, and find it it too has Hull Polarization and Internal Sentry Lasers. Blargh. Turn east and head for the gate. I duck through, and return to the Revenge, mildly disheartened and supremely annoyed. The local shipyard has a Pelican for sale. It comes with four marines, all Boron. Including a pair of twins. Gaga Ga. And his sister Gaga Ga. They officially win the award for least creative parents EVER.

We jump to Aladna Hill, and pick up a Triplex Scanner for Atalanta. Then a mission to place a Scruffin Farm in Light of Heart. The wheat farm in Aladna Hill wants us to patrol for Xenon. Fine. I run above the ecliptic and park out of reach. Two Q's jump in and begin making a ruckus, along with some assorted escorts. Fortunately, I have both backup, in the form of Born of Ashes and Scavenger's Lair, as well as my bomber wing.

A mission to defend the Particle Accelerator Cannon Forge goes sour when one of my crystal transports gets caught in the crossfire. There's a message from the pilot as having ejected successfully, but there's no evidence of her. I hate to think of her being caught in the crossfire, but it's the only thing I can think of. It's a pity, I have to admit, but I didn't expect anyone to be in the way. I do get an Osprey out of the deal though. Yay?

From there, it's on to Merchant Haven. There's a pirate atttack going on when I arrive, and the fighters launch. They get a couple, but the others escape north into Grand Exchange. And get immediately ganked by the local Condor. This amuses me greatly. I head south for the gate to Maelstrom, dropping a jump beacon near the trading station. The pirate activity in the sector is at the same time worrying and encouraging. Worrying because I just dropped a jump beacon, encouraging because I'm hunting destroyers.

Parking near the south gate, I climb into Warjack. My crew seems to think this is something of a dumb idea, but that's why I'm in charge. On the far side of the gate, I happen to run across a moderately damaged Tenjin that's been abandoned. I call for Atalanta to come and claim it and then they head for the Revenge. I begin the long trek across the sector. Just as I'm starting to think I'm alone, a Pirate Buster looms out of the nebula clouding my vision. Time for some fun.

A single pass reduces him to atoms, and a lone crate of space fuel spinning gently in the darkness. I'll salute him when I get back. Meanwhile I try and concentrate on a little remote maintenance of my fleet. Curiously, the loss of that crystal trader doesn't seem to have broken anything. The complex in New Income is having an issue. And there seem to be an awful lot of pirates coming up towards my CODEA complex. I order Scavenger's Lair to jump south and investigate.

Closing in on the gate out of Maelstrom, I finally see a Pirate attack group and it's a little larger than I want to tangle with. I engage a small group, consisting of a Nova Raider, Kea and Pirate Elite. I end up winning, but I lose my shields, get knocked down to 77% of my hull and lose my jump drive. Fortunately, I manage to stand on the Turbo Booster and get out of dodge. The Revenge meets me in the middle of the sector.

There's a Galleon in the sector. I want it. Bad. Too badly. Instead, I jump north to Grand Exchange, and call for Great Wyrm (Python) I don't remember ever taking it into combat and this seems like a good time to test out it's ability. Jumping south to Maelstrom, I head towards the Plasma Burst Generator Forge I noticed there. The Great Wyrm makes short work of it, managing to turn twelve IBL's onto the target. Leaping north again, I exchange the Great Wyrm for Venomous Cobra. And get into a Firing solution on the Galleon I spotted, only to realize I only have one boarding pod.

Okay, I'm going to have a drink and then go to bed. Maybe the morning will be more interesting.
A Pirate's Revenge Completed Now in PDF by _Zap_
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Post by Zaitsev » Wed, 13. Jul 16, 07:14

Ey, Triaxx2 is back!

*jumps up and down like an idiot*
I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am :D

DiDs:
Eye of the storm Completed
Eye of the storm - book 2 Inactive
Black Sun - Completed
Endgame - Completed

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Post by Triaxx2 » Wed, 13. Jul 16, 12:19

Yup. It's too hot to record video, but I can play this.
A Pirate's Revenge Completed Now in PDF by _Zap_
APR Book 2: Best Served Cold Updated 8/5/2016

The Tale of Ea't s'Quid Completed

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Post by Triaxx2 » Sat, 16. Jul 16, 12:19

Chapter 35: Profitable Ventures

It seems forever since I've written a journal entry, though it was only last night. Perhaps I should find something else to drink. As it is, I wake with a hangover and a few messages waiting. Honestly, the universe seems to be spinning out of control. I'm still bleeding money and I can't find out where. Of course, plugging what I think is a leak, only causes more to pop up. The dyke is too big, and I'm out of fingers. Time to pour more water in.

I jump to Merchant's Haven first, and engage some pirates. The first one we encounter is flying a bloody Kea, and those things can take punishment like a Corvette. I hate fighting them. It chews one of my ships down to four stars of damage. The next group has a Nova instead, and that goes better.

Then I jump up to Grand Exchange, hoping for a mission to defend the sector. Instead, I get a patrol. That's fine by me. The first thing to arrive are a pair of Q and their attendant fighters. This is going to be very, very interesting.

Fortunately, between the main guns on the Revenge (Panther), and the missiles from the Bombers on board, we manage to stomp our way through the first wave, and then head towards the middle of the sector. Turns out that was all they sent, though it was pretty nasty. I didn't lose any fighters, but I did have a second one heavily damaged, so I have to retreat to the CODEA Supply Complex for more Microchips. I notice a significant surplus of all the materials needed, so I have Great Hauler 1 (Atmosphere Lifter) go and fetch two more and install them.

From there, I jump on to Barren Shores which has produced some more chips, and claim them for myself. Then I'm off to Akeela's Beacon on reports of enemy activity. I drop a jump beacon near the solar power plants, and then jump to Light of Heart to place a Split Silkworm Missile Factory and after another contact, a Teladi Bliss Place L. The former isn't so useful, but the latter is very handy since it's more place to sell my weed. I jet around the sector, using Atalanta III.

I forget just how inadvisably fast the Pirate Kestrel is. I knock out a couple of Paranid Courier ships, and a food transporter with it. Ultimately, I'm getting back into the groove of actual piracy again, not just flat out open warfare. Again, it feels like it's been forever, and I'm thinking it's time to kick this war against the Paranid back into high-gear. But that requires getting in good with the other races, so once I get going, I don't have to deal with them as well. I've already proved I'm capable of wiping a race out with some help, now it's time to show I can do it all on my own.

And then we'll see to the Terrans. Just you watch.
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APR Book 2: Best Served Cold Updated 8/5/2016

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Post by Triaxx2 » Fri, 5. Aug 16, 21:27

Chapter 36: Rhythm of the Ocean

It's strange. I don't remember Mak or Steve ever having this much trouble with their goals. Okay, yes, Mak had that whole thing where he took a convoy to Duke's and had his freshly acquired M6 blown up out from under him. But that was his own fault for not guarding his convoy better.

And Steve blew himself up on a Tyr. (Twice technically, but the first time was Mak's fault.) So why is it so bloody hard to acquire 20,000 Hammer Heavy Torpedoes, and crack a planet? Or at least render it uninhabitable? It's like there's some Random Number God out there, throwing more Paranid at me every time I turn around. But that can't be right...

It feels good to do some actual piracy, even in Haktikvah's with all it's Asteroids. After catching a blast of PBG fire that I just escape even going 635m/s, I decide enough of that nonsense and head back for the Revenge. By that point, the attack fighters are arriving and they stomp all over the target. I hang around for a while, wiping out Paranid patrols, but it's lost it's luster. After crushing fleets, being a simple pirate is no way to live. I jump out, leading the Elephant to Avarice. From there I jump to Grand Exchange and catch the tail end of a Xenon Patrol. Then I'm informed I have a ship in Haktikvah's Faith under attack. Swearing I jump back but the pirate harrier has already destroyed it. Flak shreds it but the damage is done. My Elephant snags up some goodies from a capital that's exploded in the sector. Some more pirates and Paranid come in the sector and then we proceed to stomp them firmly.

A bit of jumping around doesn't yield anything interesting except an easily dispatched Q in Zyarth's Dominion, but dropping into Black Hole Sun does. The Free Argon Trading Station wants me to patrol. But the Military Outpost wants me to stop a Xenon Invasion. No problem.

Err.. okay, minor problem. They've brought a J. Brilliant. Okay, BOMBERS! Those take the J, though I also open fire on it with the main guns on the Revenge. It goes down in fairly short order. What are a problem though, are the L's which are heavily armed with PBE's and proceed to gang up on, and wipe out three Tenjins before I can bring my FAA to bear on them. Only one of the pilots make it out, and the Cargo Salvage ship picks her up in short order. I saw two of those pilots freeze in flight. That was terrifying because I was just out of range to do anything.

Suffice to say, I'm less than amused. Still, it's a fair bit of cash, even if the nasty little voice in my head is telling me that's two less pilots I have to pay. Worse though, that's three new Tenjin's I need. And as you might expect, the cost of those things adds up quickly.

As is, I decide to take a patrol mission from the Trading Station. They want me to search for Xenon ships between Black Hole Sun and Omicron Lyrae. It all goes well in BHS, but when we get into Treasure Chest, one of the Tenjins gets caught in a cloud of fighters with PBE. The pilot manages to eject, and after the fight's over, the Cargo Salvage ship picks him up without issue. That's another expense, but I'm glad the pilot made it. He's a bit shaken, but otherwise unhurt. Fortunately, the Xenon don't seem to bother suits.

While waiting for resupply, I send one of my TM's to pick up some of the Tenjin's sitting at the Senator's Badland's shipyards, and deliver them to me. The ship arrives in good order, and then jumps away. I'd be extremely delighted if I could work out how to setup a Replenishment ship, but I haven't managed it yet. Oh well. Automated replenishment will have to wait for another day.

In the end, the last couple ships in my mission are pirates, and they go down without much fight. Most pilots would be hard pressed to fend off a half dozen Tenjin's unless they're in a capital.

At least now I can afford to refit the replacement ships.
A Pirate's Revenge Completed Now in PDF by _Zap_
APR Book 2: Best Served Cold Updated 8/5/2016

The Tale of Ea't s'Quid Completed

Dovie'andi se tovya sagain

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Re: [DID] Best Served Cold - APR Book 2

Post by Triaxx2 » Mon, 8. Oct 18, 04:29

The upcoming release of X4 has reminded me I took a break from this story. Shorter chapters as I work out how my dual hats of Writer and Space Pirate work.

Chapter 37: Reinvigoration

I slept. I rested. It feels like I slept for months, and I dreamed. Dreamed a nightmare, a single ship, wreaking havoc and dividing the commonwealth, shattering it into dozens of factions. Then long after it had been brought to heel and destroyed by the combined fire power of all the fleets that could come to bear on it, a new hope for the future emerged. I woke, smiling for the hope of the future.

Of course the first mission is an assassination of a slimy Paranid. And then another, and another and another. I'm unbelievably happy to actually get a mission to build an Argon Firefly forge. I have to stop along of the Hub after that though, because my tender is getting full. It's also sorely in need of some more fighter drones. I think I need to add a drone station to my CODEA Complex. Hmmm... feels like it's been ages since I've done any building for myself.

So looking around the various TL's I own, I come to the conclusion that I'm a quarter of the way to my goal, of 20,000 Hammer Heavy Torpedoes. I have just over seven thousand of them stockpiles in my Missile Warehouse. I require another one, which unfortunately means irritating the Terrans.

Oh. That's sad. I've just received a message my Angel Economy and Supply Trader has been destroyed... in Seizewell... By pirates. The Teladi are becoming bothersome with their insistence on not dealing with pirates. I think it's time I take some personal interest in locating and removing some pirate bases. I know they'll rebuild. But for now it's time to explain my displeasure. At volume. With big, big guns.
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Song Of Obsidian
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Re: [DID] Best Served Cold - APR Book 2

Post by Song Of Obsidian » Wed, 19. Dec 18, 09:02

Triaxx2 wrote:
Mon, 8. Oct 18, 04:29
Shorter chapters
See that 's'? That denotes a plural. I only see one chapter. Quit slacking off.
From iron, steel. From wood, ash.

Triaxx2
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Re: [DID] Best Served Cold - APR Book 2

Post by Triaxx2 » Sun, 23. Dec 18, 14:57

Less slacking off, more a minor issue of having to re-write a large section of the next chapter because my save corrupted itself. Fortunately it's only the one chapter.
A Pirate's Revenge Completed Now in PDF by _Zap_
APR Book 2: Best Served Cold Updated 8/5/2016

The Tale of Ea't s'Quid Completed

Dovie'andi se tovya sagain

Triaxx2
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Re: [DID] Best Served Cold - APR Book 2

Post by Triaxx2 » Thu, 27. Dec 18, 20:05

See? Only a minor delay. :D

Chapter 38: Expressing Displeasure

I have to locate the pirate strongholds before I can destroy them. So my first task is to add that fighter drone production, while my scouts hunt down the pirate bases.

Of course it's never that easy. The drone factory employs Split cloned tissue for guidance and fire control, so it requires Massom Powder for proper protein production. I also added a couple of Boron Chip plants to improve the production. It's a little over the supply, but the production cycle is so long it shouldn't make a difference.

While I wait, I decide to check in on the various available controls and find out that MARS does have a priority targeting system. And it takes just one button. Sigh. I need to prod my way through more menus and see what else can be done. But then I get a message that there are more pirates in Seizewell. Time to make my initial displeasure felt. Upon arrival a prepped pair of Tenjins are teleported into space, and they immediately max throttle to engage the four pirates. Two Elites, a Buzzard, and Harrier are little match for the two heavy fighters, but I order the Revenge into position to support. My vengeance is not to be ignored. It turns out to be very fortuitous. The local shipyard has a Split who wants a Rastar Refinery M in Family Whi, and I have a TL docked at a Split Shipyard. While ordering it to jump in, I also spot some pirates, and decide to jump into meet them.

Of course a pair of Pirate Nova Raiders are a slightly better match for my Tenjin's but not while I'm here to support them. My TL drops the station and jumps out while I move to engage the Pirates. There are Paranid here, but this is a bad place to engage them.

A contract on the life of a pirate takes me to Rhonkar's fire, where we live through the first engagement, then I lose one of my remaining Tenjins to a small group of pirate M4's. Argh. Time to retreat and give things time to rearm. Still no word on the pirate bases. Perhaps I'll take a missile frigate and take the fight to them in a place I know they'll be.

I make the jump back to Avarice, and park on the northern end of the sector. All fighters are grounded. Instead of a missile frigate, I send for the Rapscallion (Brigantine) it's not been doing much and it's properly prepared for a combat mission. Next stop, Grand Exchange. It has a slight pirate problem. Mostly it's small bits of rapidly expanding ex-pirate but even so, those things are dangerous. Good thing someone invented shields. Merchant Haven suddenly has the same problem. But I need some bigger targets. Even M3's aren't much of a match for me and the pirates can replace them with depressing speed.

Rolling into Gaian Star after a long, boring flight, I'm greeted by enemy pirates and strangely enough... neutral ones. The enemies don't put up much fight and the neutrals seem uninterested in my prescence. The Pirate base ahead though, that's a juicy target I can't resist. Destroying it is a hollow revenge though. By the time I've arrived all the pirates have already attacked and despite being told I'd be hunted like vermin, nothing comes to threaten me. I board the Revenge again, and jump away. I need a drink.
A Pirate's Revenge Completed Now in PDF by _Zap_
APR Book 2: Best Served Cold Updated 8/5/2016

The Tale of Ea't s'Quid Completed

Dovie'andi se tovya sagain

Song Of Obsidian
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Re: [DID] Best Served Cold - APR Book 2

Post by Song Of Obsidian » Fri, 28. Dec 18, 14:08

Yes, only two months. Now keep it going while the rest of us continue slacking off ;)
Triaxx2 wrote:
Thu, 27. Dec 18, 20:05
The drone factory employs Split cloned tissue for guidance and fire control, so it requires Massom Powder for proper protein production.
How I've missed your brand of alternate world views.
From iron, steel. From wood, ash.

Triaxx2
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Joined: Tue, 29. Dec 09, 02:15
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Re: [DID] Best Served Cold - APR Book 2

Post by Triaxx2 » Sun, 30. Dec 18, 05:13

Thanks, glad you're enjoying it.
A Pirate's Revenge Completed Now in PDF by _Zap_
APR Book 2: Best Served Cold Updated 8/5/2016

The Tale of Ea't s'Quid Completed

Dovie'andi se tovya sagain

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