Charlie Crocodile
Sorfus Morfus
10
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Posted - 2012.10.18 13:06:00 -
[1] - Quote
GÇ£Bugger.GÇ¥
Lieutenant-Commander Paran was not impressed, not by a long shot.
And if he wasn't impressed then it wouldn't be too long beforeGǪon cue his subcutaneous comms implant beeped and a small image of his captain was projected from his retinal implant, overlaying the control panel in front of him. Accepting the comm with a visual cue he braced himself. The simulated voice of Captain Vesna was an eerie replication of the capsuleerGÇÖs real one. It had all the requisite changes in tone and modulation, but it just didn't quite fit the man once youGÇÖd met him in person.
GÇ£Problem Paran?GÇ¥ asked a voice in his head. It had taken him a couple of years to get used to not responding to that disembodied voice out loud. It was a source of some frustration to him that he would still occasionally talk in undertones when using implant communications. Friends, or more accurately the people he had graduated State Naval College with, had been quick to give him a moniker to memorialise the failing. So he was known by many officers in the Caldari Navy as Mumbles Paran.
Mumbles replied to the enquiry from the commanding officer of the Drake-class battecruiser Acheron. GÇ£Aye Captain. WeGÇÖve been led a merry old dance and it looks like weGÇÖre about to get a bit of a spanking.GÇ¥
The pause in response was enough to put Paran on edge; but the response, when it came, was enough to replace anxiety with shock.
GÇ£I seriously doubt that Commander.GÇ¥
Paran blinked. GÇ£But Captain, weGÇÖre way outside Empire space and we've been chasing the rabbitGÇÖs tale for six hours only to find ourselves in a system with the out-gate camped and weGÇÖve just picked up 10, no, make that 15 rabbit lovers on scan that followed us through!
Again, a pause. Paran was nearly sure the captain and owner of the Acheron did it on purpose. His pilot, capsuleer and personal ticket to promotion and wealth was an infuriating man. The seemingly laconic manner in which he dealt with everything in front of him, and the almost disdainful manner in which he dealt with the majority of his crew and employees should have made him a failure as a capsuleer, and a poor one to boot. But for some unexplained reason that Paran could not identify, the Acheron functioned to a standard so close to perfection that she and her captain were frequently requested to perform missions for the State that the Navy was incapable of or unwilling to undertake. This would not have been hugely remarkable were it not for the fact that the AcheronGÇÖs officers and crew were for the most part thieves, liars, cheats and borderline lunatics.
His own career in the Caldari Navy had come to an ignominious end courtesy of a disastrous operation that had resulted in the loss of three Navy Issue Raven-class battleships, including the one he had been serving on. While he was lucky to be alive, the resulting investigation had found against the bridge crew of the ill-fated vessel following evidence from the capsuleer captain. Paran had been drinking his way through the entire contents of a station bar when his morose reverie had been interrupted by a group of extremely loud crewmen having something between a conversation and an argument. Matt black jumpsuits with a dark red trim on the shoulder boards and a patch on the arm showing a weaving blood red line over a white background. Paran didnGÇÖt have a clue who they were, and had no intention of finding out until his elbow was jostled by one of the enthusiastic crew-members collecting a large array of violent coloured drinks, one of which Paran could swear was melting its way slowly through the plexiglass of its fluted container.
"Sorry chief!" was the reply from the crewmember, who turned to reveal an intricate set of Matar tattoos over an amicable yet deeply angular face.
A deep blue drink in a short glass was put in front of Paran.
"Here, try one of these, it might cheer you up...or possibly make you blind.
The Matari thought a little more, squinting at Paran.
"Or it might tempt you into making some questionable life choices that you may one day regret, but have a right old time until that day.
"er." Paran gulped.
"Exactly" replied the Matari. "Come and join us while you ponder that particular decision. You look like a fine upstanding citizen, maybe you'll rub off on us a little..."
---
That had been three years, and countless drinks of dubious origin ago.
The calm voice spoke again, somehow managing to imply that Captain Vesna had rolled his eyes, sighed and was explaining something to child.
GÇ£Oddly enough commander I'm aware of the predicament you just outlined. Without resorting to that peculiar slang of yours I can confirm that I had, in fact, noticed the significant number of Gurista faction vessels in this system. WhatGÇÖs more, and this may come as a shock to you commander, I anticipated this occurrence and had actually rather counted on it to take place."
"You did sir?"
"Yes Commander"
"oh."
"Oh indeed Mr Paran. Now, would you be so kind as to activate the offlined module I had installed just prior to departing dock yesterdayGǪ"
Another blinking symbol for his attention appeared on Paran's implant. He activated it with a flick of his eye, and was presented with a couple of very pleasing options.
The bridged comms channel squawked in his ear "Heavy tackle by three, correction four hostiles. Scans showing 10-plus bogies inbound. Mass distortion probe sweep indicates probable hostile capital support."
Paran grinned.
"Cyno up sir?"
"I think so Commander, some acquaintances of ours from Navy Security want to have a little chat with these naughty bunnies..."
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Charlie Crocodile
Sorfus Morfus
14
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Posted - 2012.10.24 10:58:00 -
[2] - Quote
Well that was an unexpected pleasure when I logged in!
Many thanks for the opportunity and impetus to scribble something down about internet spaceships Targh, and heartiest congratulations to all the other entrants. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the different takes on crew-capsuleer interaction, and it's given me inspiration to perhaps continue with some more fan fiction.
Like William I write as part of my job, but no fiction allowed so this was a first for me; and after a break from Eve for the last year or so it's been great fun to immerse myself in an element of the game lore that I'd not pondered too much previously.
Maybe some follow up stories are in order to see if it was a fluke...
The 50 million obviously has to go on quafe and exotic dancers for the hardworking crews in my fleet.
Cheers
Charlie
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