Chapter 01 (Fate of the Armadeaus)
Chapter 02 (Portents)
Chapter 03 (Passing of a Fantasy)
Chapter 04 (Fissures in the Dark)
Chapter 05 (Reminiscence)
Chapter 06 (Things that go Bump...)
Chapter 07 (The Rocky Road)
Chapter 08 (Escape Plan)
Chapter 09 (Becoming)
Chapter 10 (And it Begins Again)
Chapter 11 (Flight)
Chapter 12 (Cut-off)
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DARK HAVEN
Chapter 13 (Spicy Noodles Under a Blood Coloured Moon)
Jubilee
"Well Sina, do you think we can take them?"
"Yes I think so.
Might not be too easy though, we might take a little damage. They do have forty six guns and an unknown number of missiles all pointing at us.
The Commander has already lost one shield, if he's not careful he might not make it, and we all know he is not the most careful of pilots."
"Yes, I think you are right there.
Open a channel to the Elites.
Commander?"
"Yes Captain. We heard the transmission from the pirates.
I assume we are going to give them a serious butt kicking."
"Not exactly.
The increasing speed of the black ships means Pierson can only give them the run-around for so long. Even if that is several hours we still want to get out ASAP, there is Monroes life to consider."
"Yes, of course."
"As the Elites are a little slower I want you two to keep heading for the gate..."
"But Captain I..."
"Let me finish Commander.
As we pass through the pirates I want both of you to concentrate your fire on the Orinoco, try to destroy it but don't slow down, and get to that gate.
We will deal with the others.
Hopefully with the Orinoco down and one or two of the Bayamons the rest will flee.
Good luck, Hall out."
...
Elites
"Well Lieutenant Commander, you heard the Captain, again.
I thought we were here to escort the Corvette not the other way around.
We'll be entering firing range in a little under ten mizuras.
Lock on target."
...
Jubilee
"Captain, I've targeted the three fastest Bayamons. One with the main guns, and one with each turret.
I have also scanned all the ships. Between them they are carrying eighteen Wasp missiles and seven Silkworm missiles.
Our counter measures are ready, as are our own missiles."
"Very good Lieutenant.
Seven mizuras to target.
Fourteen more to the gate.
I wonder how Pierson is doing."
...
Discoverer
"Nothing but basic military rations!!!"
'Dry nutrition bars, plain and several fruit flavours.
A few single portion FMS meals.
Nothing special. Spicy noodles, an unnamed meat dish, vegetable mix, a few others.'
'I ate better when I was a poorly paid trader.
I think I've lost my appetite now.'
'I'd better eat something though.
But which delectable treat to choose, mmmmm.'
*chuckle*
'I'm assuming there is a difference in their flavours.'
...
Paranid Prime Shipyard
High Security Military Special Forces Docking Bay
'The High Priest of Vengeance is right, the Emperor would have my head, and rightly so.
I wonder how this 'New Enemy' got past our detection arrays.
Also why none of our spies have reported anything about this from the other races.'
'I'm about to enter the hanger.
Level six clearance required.
Being head of Intelligence gives me level eight.'
"Access Granted."
'I've only been in this hanger once before.
The door slides silently closed behind me.
The automated security guns around the large dock track my movements, the green light on each show they are not currently armed.'
'Thirty docking berths, twenty one occupied, and every one a ship capable of cloaking.
Every Paranid shipyard has a hanger identical to this one.
The nine empty berths are ships out on missions.'
'The ships are an equal number of Pegasus, Poseidon and Prometheus.
Of course each are the very latest models, not yet publicly available.
Each contain the very best quality and most advanced equipment that Research and Development has to offer and our spies have stolen.
There is also one clone of the X-Shuttle, out-dated of course but still kept for research purposes. The alien ship still has its mysteries.'
'Research on a cloak for the Corvette class ship is well underway, I hope to be seeing a prototype in a month or two.'
'My Pegasus is docked in berth eight, some distance across the hanger.'
...
'I'm almost there.
I see it now.
I always liked the shape of the Pegasus, rounded front, the rear tapering away, very aerodynamic looking, best of all they are small and fast, very fast.
'Entering the hatch. I close it behind me.
The cockpit is rather cramped but sufficient.
Power on.
Systems online
Engines and thrusters on.'
"Requesting permission to launch."
"Granted."
'Manoeuvring thrusters only, lift off the pad.
Upward to the inner hatch, carefully through. The force-field around the doors crackle as I pass through.
I'm in the launch tubes, the ship now weightless, steering is easier now.
The tube turns upward and I see the outer doors, they are opening.
Another crackle as I pass and I'm out in space.'
'Shields, weapons online.'
'Turn to the gate, accelerate.
It's quite a distance to Teladi Way but won't take too long in this ship.
Faster than either the commercial or military versions.
These Special Opps Pegasus' can reach one thousand six hundred and twenty two meters per sezura when decloaked.'
...
Elites
"We are about to enter firing range, get ready for evasive manoeuvres, there are a lot of them."
"Ready Commander, Orinoco targeted. Lets hope they don't all target us two."
The Lieutenant Commander thought to himself,
'Try to take out the Orinoco, don't slow down and keep heading for the gate, sounds good to me.
I hope the Commander doesn't try anything stupid, he's already lost one shield.'
The two groups of ships flying to intercept, quickly close the gap.
The Elites are first to fire, both lined up on the Blood Moons lead ship.
The Orinoco veers upward at the last moment and manages to avoid all but one of the AHEPT shots. The green plasma impacts on its shields and quickly dissipates.
The Lieutenant Commander strafes left to avoid an incoming barrage from one of the Bayamons, he then continues for the gate as ordered.
"Damn!
We didn't get a kill.
LC, I'm going after the Orinoco, you stay on course, I'll catch you up."
The Commander turns sharply upward to give chase.
An exploding Bayamon only meters away shakes his ship, the red flare lighting up his cockpit blinds him momentarily.
When he is able to see again he is met with the sight of the Orinoco, close up and personal.
The Commander turns sharply again, but too late. Six shots from the Orinoco hit dead on, then two more before he is clear.
The Elites remaining shield is drained, now he is taking hull damage.
The rudder had taken the brunt of the hit, down to eighty nine percent efficiency. Engines ninety seven.
The Orinoco accelerates away again and starts to turn back towards the Commander. Its turning still a little slower than the compromised Elite. The commander already lined up, fires.
Four shots rip out of the Elite and hit the lead Pirate ship, its shields down to twenty percent.
He fires again.
Nothing.
"What!!
Damage report."
The view screen to his left flickered, he punched it and it came back up.
'Weapon capacitor damaged, damn.
Recharge rate almost down to zero.'
The Commander notices one more Bayamon and a Mandalay destroyed in the distance.
The Orinoco is once again lined up on the Elite and accelerating fast.
It fires six more shots.
The Commander hit the boosters just in time to dodge them all but the Pirate ship now tracking him, predicting his moves fires several shots in an arc ahead of him, three hit their target.
'Engines this time, maximum speed down to seventy seven meters per sezura.
Boosters destroyed.'
The Orinoco, now giving chase to the near disabled Elite, closes in for the kill.
A huge fire ball tore through the ship.
The shockwave from the exploding Orinoco sent the Elite into a spin.
With the electrics now fried and the controls no longer responding the dizzying Commander could only guess what had happened.
...
Discoverer
'Spicy noodles, I think.'
"A rich blend of Boron spices, mixed together with old grandma Bettsies good old Argon know-how.
Pour contents into bowl,
Add half a kelnar of water,
Place in FMS,
Four mizuras on high power,
stir then leave to stand for two mizuras."
'Ok, I need a bowl.
Try the storage lockers...
Nope, nope, nope...
Hmmm, that's handy, no bowl.
This large mug might do.'
'Open the packet...
Wohha, they don't smell good.
Well, I'll try them now I've opened them.
Tip...
Pour water...
FMS Four miz...'
'Take a quick look in the cockpit while I wait.
Speed... four-ninety to three-thirty.
Still ok for now.
Could start heading back down towards the gate soon.
Woo, pirates, thirteen, mostly Bayamons, Jubilee should be alright with that.
Back to the noodles.'
*Chime*
'Take them out.
Smell a little better now.
Stir... what with?
I think I saw a fork in here somewhere...
Ah yes, stir...
And leave to stand...'
'Mmmm, they don't taste too bad, well, I mean I have tasted worse.'
...
Jubilee
"Fire as soon as we enter range, then continue firing at will.
Get as many of the Bayamons as we can first."
"Yes captain."
The Jubilee charged into battle, an Elite on each side pulling slightly ahead as the Corvette slowed.
The main guns fired a few moments after the Elites weapons.
The double Gamma HEPT fired at the fastest of the Bayamon which was a short distance above the Orinoco.
The Orinoco veered sharply upwards past the Bayamon, Elite close behind.
"What the hell does the Commander think he is doing!"
The Commander passed only meters to the side of the Bayamon just as the GHEPT vaporised the pirate ship.
The Elite was visibly shaken.
"Damn lucky to be alive.
Contact the Commander."
"Nothing, he's not receiving."
The Bayamons and Mandalays all targeted the Jubilee.
They fired everything they had, missiles included.
The Corvettes turrets tracked the next two fastest of the Bayamons, most of the shots hitting, it wasn't long before they were both destroyed.
As Sina steered the M6 to aim the main guns at the next target the Captain selected the nearest two pirate ships for the turrets to take out.
The plasma bolts from the pirate ships began impacting the Corvette, low powered weapons wouldn't normally do anything to the shields of an M6 but there were so many and all of them direct hits on the slower moving ship.
"Shields ninety two percent...
Ninety
Eighty eight."
"Missiles incoming.
Counter measures away."
Starbursts flared out from all around the Jubilee. The enemy missiles tracking them, each detonating one after the other.
"All enemy missiles successfully countered."
The upper turret spun around as one of the pirate M4's strafed across the top of the Corvette, the Bayomons fire hit with all twenty shots reducing the Jubilee shields further. The turret finally broke through its shields and ripped off one of the wings. An internal explosion destroyed the pirate ship as it span out of control.
"Captain, the Commander is in trouble, his shield is down, ship taking damage."
"Aim the main guns at the Orinoco, take it out ASAP."
The turrets with their new targets locked in began firing again.
A Mandalay fell almost immediately, another Bayamon a moment later.
"The Commander might not make it, Orinoco lining up for the final kill.
GHEPT away.
I hope this hits..."
The huge fire ball tore through the pirate ship.
The shockwave from the exploding Orinoco sent the Elite into a spin.
"The Commander has lost power but is alive.
One more M4 down.
The remaining three Bayamons and one Mandalay are retreating.
Heading towards the station."
"Let them go."
Dark Haven - Chapter 13
Moderators: TheElf, Moderators for English X Forum
Dark Haven - Chapter 13
Last edited by crunn on Wed, 4. Jun 03, 12:35, edited 1 time in total.
Very good read, crunn. It makes one wonder, though, how this idiot made it to Commander. Obviously he does not obey orders and neither cares about equipment. Looks like very infuential friends to me 
Very nice description of the M6, makes me eager to see one in action.
Looking forward to more.
"there is Monroes life the consider" - to consider
Very nice description of the M6, makes me eager to see one in action.Looking forward to more.
"there is Monroes life the consider" - to consider
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Deleted User
i would miss him though, bit of a loose cannon 
Thanks, fixed.KiwiNZ wrote:"there is Monroes life the consider" - to consider
Please do, watch out though, tiz a tad spicy.robroy wrote:Crunn, i will try the noodle recipe to-nite
Thanks,Moss wrote:Nice battle crunn, I was beginning to wonder where you'd got to!
As you know I wasn't too happy with the battle in chapter7, bland, boring, n' such.
So this time I wrote and re-re-re-wrote it till I was happy, (took a few days)
Well, happier. Still not up to the standard of Merc or Steve, but at least a little better than my first attempt.
... and alien thoughts...