Lelith Hellebron
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Posted - 2011.09.19 06:36:00 -
[1] - Quote
The Gank
Highlander drifted lazily toward the debris field, energy silently sweeping over its angular exterior as the shield extenders strained to recuperate from the whirlwind of destruction. The white star Ofstold beamed brightly in the distance, illuminating clouds of shattered hulls that a fusillade of heavy missiles had left behind. The almost serene image belied the tumult within the starship. Inside, the battlecruiser resonated with the sounds of frantic post-sortie maintenance - engineers argued briskly about power demands, reloading racks whirred and clanked loudly as they fed the ravenous array of launchers, and the engines sent vibrations through the entire ship as they roared at full-throttle.
Floating in the protective cocoon of her pod, Lelith Hellebron could hear none of it. She rarely withdrew her conciousness from a ship she was captaining. On occasion, however, usually after a hard fight, she would pull her mind back into her own flesh and blood, suspended there in the viscous liquid filling her pod. During these moments of quiet reflection, all she could percieve were her thoughts and her heartbeat.
A soft red glow filled Lelith's mind. She was unaccustomed to it, and it took her a moment to rememeber what it was; a warning light on the inside of her pod had been activated and was shining through her closed eyelids, transforming the usual darkness of semi-conciousness into a soft but ominous red. She focused, and there it was; her overview picking up an incoming capsuleer flagged with a criminal security status. Her mind raced - she was in a deadspace pocket in the middle of nowhere. Definetly a pirate. Are they alone? It didn't matter just then; she didn't want any part of them.
Heart racing, Lelith picked the first location she could on the overview and urged the warp core to engage. Unfortunately, Highlander was not an agile vessel, aligning excruciatingly slowly. The interloper came screaming out of warp, also in a Drake, bleeding off the last of its velocity in an instant. As the newcomer attempted to lock on to Highlander, Lelith realized she didn't have much hope for warping out, so she began to prepare for a fight. She despaired for only a moment over her sub-standard launchers and ammunition - surely her aggressor would have superior munitions. She put it out of her mind; what's done is done. If she had an edge, it would come from her superlative shielding technology and state-of-the-art drones, a wing of fully augmented Hobgoblin II's. She had to play to these strengths.
Predictably, the moment the offending Drake achieved lock, Highlander's warp-field collapsed. Lelith was scrambled and stranded. As the first Heavy Assault Missiles streaked toward Highlander from the pirate vessel, its pilot's condescendingly silky voice filled Lelith's concious.
"Fifty million, good sir, and you are free to go" Shizraak sleazed. Lelith wondered briefly if there were saps out there foolish enough to pay a ransom greater than the value of their ship. Fierce missile impacts snapped her out of her market analysis - such an absurd ransom was not a healthy indication that this individual intended to honor it. She surpressed the urge to unleash a verbal assault on her assailant - if discourse was going to get her anywhere, it would have to be diplomatic and level headed. Even then, it was a long shot. If she was going to try and reason, though, she'd need to buy some time to do it. She had to reduce the incoming damage by taking out Shizraak's drones.
"Sadly," Lelith said with the most regretful inflection she could muster, "I don't think my lousy Drake is worth quite that much" She thought for a moment, then lied, "Not that I could pay it if she was. How about ten million up front, and fifteen million after you warp out?" Lelith still wasn't sure whether she'd actually follow through with that offer if Shizraak accepted, but she couldn't give it too much thought just then; she had finally aquired the five drones harassing her and began to pick them off. Shizraak seemed to be considering the offer.
"Fifteen now, ten after" Shizraak said pointedly. Lelith couldn't be sure, but the tone seemed a little less self-assured. She wondered if Shizraak had noticed her missing drones. Out of other targets and not willing to let Highlander die without a fight, Lelith had turned the batteries and Hobgoblins against Shizraak's Drake. It was then that Lelith noticed something rather unexpected; the pirate's shielding was evaporating absurdly fast, but more importantly, Highlander's shields had crept down to 36% - where they had stabilized.
"I'm afraid I've no reason to believe you won't pocket the fifteen million and collect your killmail anyway. You might, however, play by the rules if the lion's share of the sum is dependant on my safety" Lelith offered calmly. She wanted to buy time for the situation to develop. She watched her displays in tense silence for a moment. Was she sweating? It was always so hard to tell in the pod goo. Slowly, Highlander's superiority became clear; Shizraak's shields dropped below 33% while Highlander's hovered at 36%. Both pilots watched in astonishment.
"Sorry you feel that way, but I am honorable. I'll let you depart" Shizraak said, finally breaking the long comm silence. Lelith was positive; Shizraak's voice was laden with a mix of impotent fury and shame. As her Drake began to align for warp, it's shields finally gave out and Highlander's heavy scourge missiles began to shred the pirate vessel's armor.
"Aweful kind of you, madam" Lelith replied with all the grace and tact of a humbled Amarran. Deep in the heart of the Highlander, a malicious grin tugged at the edge of Lelith Hellebron's unconcious lips as she activated her own scrambler.
I am a leaf on the wind...
Watch how I soar! |