Carpathia IV: Episode 301 - Precious
NCCS Shadowdancer-A
An hour into the battle and the vashta proved, as expected, to be an even match. Shadowdancer ducked and weaved through the battle, keeping a vashta ship in its sights, all while taking pot shots, either from strafing vashta ships or weapons fire meant for someone else. As they gave chase, an impact rocked the ship, harder than usual, but Teek stayed on course.
Shep: That blast came from the Blood Agony. Shielding on ventral stern port damaged. Minnie is rerouting power.
Joust: Keep an eye on that. Nalma, how's our quarry?
Nalma: One more good target lock and we should have them.
Teek: I'll get you lined up!
Teek white-knuckled the yoke for several more minutes while Nalma worked the targeting scanners. A brief moment of clear space and direct line appeared on the vashta ship, and Nalma took action.
Nalma: Firing disruptors and warheads!
The Shadowdancer's volley erupted swiftly and decisively, overwhelming the vashta's shields, eating deep into the engines.
Joust: Pull up!
Teek raised the Shadowdancer's nose and gunned the throttle just before the vashta ship exploded, leaving behind a miniature black hole that collapsed after a few seconds.
Shep: It looks like a group of vashta are setting up to swarm the Sentinel. Neptunus is on route, but they need more.
Aire: Teek!
Teek: On our way!
Teek gunned the throttle and brought the ship about, making as straight as he could for the Sentinel. Straight, but for the other ships and weapons fire in the way.
Shep: Vashta ships converging on the Sentinel. The Tengu is also en route.
Joust: Same class as the Sentinel. That'll give us considerably more firepower.
Aire: Prepare for a flypast. Go in hard and fast and then come about. Nalma, shoot anything that isn't one of ours. Our goal is to draw them away from the Sentinel.
Nalma: Understood!
Shadowdancer streaked through space, converging rapidly on the Sentinel. Not rapidly enough, in Aire's opinion, but there was little he could do outside of get out and push. Sentinel was now under attack, desperately trying to escape, but with five vashta ships pelting it with weapons fire.
Shep: Neptunus is on-scene. Two of the vashta ships are breaking off the Sentinel assault.
Joust: ETA?
Teek: 45 seconds!
Nalma: I've got two vashta ships off the Sentinel's stern. Head for those.
Teek: On it! If they split up, I'll find a good target for you.
The seconds ticked off while the Sentinel kept taking damage. Teek, for his part, shaved a few off the estimate by bumping the speed up to half induction when he came into a clear section of space. When they arrived, the two vashta ships that Nalma indicated earlier had split up, but one formed up with another, presenting a new, tantalizing target.
Nalma: Good choice, Teek. Go right between them. Locking targets.
Teek stuck the Shadowdancer's nose right on target, rocketing in between the two vashta ships while Nalma unleashed as much hellfire upon them as the weapons would allow. Shadowdancer shuddered as it took several hits of its own.
Joust: Come about for another pass.
Shadowdancer turned 180 degrees and headed back, but the two ships had already peeled away from each other with one headed for them. Nalma opened fire once more while the Tengu arrived at the same time to engage the other ships.
Shep: Sentinel has sustained heavy damage.
Kit: Confirmed. Encrypted message from the Sentinel. They are moving off the battlefield to effect repairs. They estimate a half hour. The Starshark will accompany them.
Aire: Keep an eye on the Sentinel in case they make a run at them again. What of our pursuer?
Shep: 1000 meters and gaining.
Teek: We have a couple of thrusters down, so I can't outrun them.
Nalma: Evade as best you can and I'll fire when I've got target lock.
Teek: They'll never get us with Teek at the wheel!
Meanwhile, on Chrono Blade
Elsewhere on the battlefield, the Chrono Blade had problems of its own, the victim of two swarms so far, both of which they managed to escape. Now, Captain Tyler ordered the ship to find another ship to join up with.
Kau: Message from Admiral Zhang. Swarming tactics increasing. Recommend joining in groups of at least three lead by at least one capital ship.
Teren: Find the nearest smaller ship. We'll join with them and seek out more.
Revenant: Yes, Commander. Scanning.
A bang and a shudder, rocked the ship, hard enough to strain the seatbelts.
Sena: That one was from the Blood Agony. We're too far out in the open.
Before Captain Tyler had a chance to give another order, Engineering called.
Sauron: Engineering to bridge.
Ivy: Bridge here.
Sauron: That last blast severely damaged the shield modulator processor. I need two minutes to drop the shields so that we can put in a new one.
Ivy: We need to find a safe spot first. I'll let you know when to begin. Riku, find a place where the vashta are too busy to focus on us.
Riku: On it!
Revenant: I have a spot about one minute from here. Marking location.
Riku: Got it!
One long minute passed while Riku expertly piloted the Chrono Blade to the designated location, dodging shots as he went. At the coordinates, it was indeed quiet compared to the rest of the warzone, but still he kept running evasive patterns in the area.
Ivy: Engineering, proceed.
Sauron: Acknowledged. Dropping shields.
Teren: And now we wait.
They didn't have to wait long, not for the shields, but for another distraction. A large figure suddenly materialized in the front of the bridge. Furry, naked, red eyes. He looked around for a moment and then spread his wings wide. Ivy stood and addressed her crew before the stranger.
Ivy: Mind your duties, everyone. You must be Aionaptara.
Aionaptara spoke in his customary fashion, without moving his mouth, filling the entire bridge with his voice.
Aionaptara: This vessel bears the marks I know too well,
And yet, it is not his—not Valro’s helm.
Thou art not he, though much in thee aligns;
Thy ships, like Vashta's, oft are hard to parse.
My time grows thin, and I have not the will
To chase through endless dark for fleeting hope.
The one I seek is not within thy hold,
Yet still thou shalt attend and hear me speak.
Ivy: We are on a time constraint as well. I will hear what you have to say.
Aionaptara reached behind his back and produced a fluffy star-shaped pillow bearing a happy face on the front. Where he was hiding this, nobody knew, for he wore no clothing or backpack of any kind.
Aionaptara: This… this small thing is dearer unto me
Than all the stars that wheel in endless night.
I—I would have thee keep it, guard it well.
Should fate be kind, and both our battles won,
I shall return… and take it back once more.
Aionaptara stepped forward, holding the pillow out in his hands like it was a beloved, delicate puppy. Ivy stepped forward with trepidation and gently took it from his hands.
Ivy: We will keep this safe for you.
Aionaptara: You have my thanks. I go to seek my wrath
’Gainst Lazmaedia, bane of all I knew.
Mark this—I come not hither for thy cause,
Nor shall I turn to mend what is not mine.
Attend thy own affairs. Guard what is thine.
My path is drawn, and I shall walk alone.
Aionaptara turned, looking as he was ready to disappear... dematerialize, whatever it is he does, when Ivy stopped him.
Ivy: Lord Aionaptara. You don't have to walk alone if you don't want to.
Aionaptara stopped and turned, a veil of poignancy spread across his face. He said nothing as he looked away, unable to meet Ivy's eyes directly, and then disappeared. Ivy let out a deep breath and returned to her chair with the pillow safe in her hands.
Ivy: Kau, message Admiral Zhang and Kuro. Tell them that Aionaptara has arrived.
Kau: Sending message, Captain.
Sena: Shields are back up, Captain.
Atsuo: Engineering to bridge. We're finished!
Ivy: Good! Find us a juicy target and take us back in!
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Colourbrand
Falke2009
