…it was so simple. Each morning came to light the day, just as the last one had. The sun would slowly rise over the horizon, the house would begin to stir and the call of the forest would drift through the window into the room.
His sleeping mind would be awakened by the smell of the trees, that musty freshness that sweetened the air from the morning dew. It would greet him with the hope that one day, he would be far from this place and living in peace.
The sensor alerts echoed in the distance and moved closer to the front of Ga’len’s mind. His daydream of memories past was cut short. Another ship was coming into his hunting area.
Revenge, for my friend, Ga’len grinned his evil grin in his mind, alas, it is afoot now.
The An Bealach an Vaga decloaked quickly, locked it’s weapons and began to open fire. As the shields of the incoming rifter melted away, sensors dectected more ships appearing in range.
Blast, they were waiting for me this time, Ga’len’s smile was detected by his sensors in his pod. No matter, to it then!
First was the Rifter frigate. It closed on his ship quickly, spewing rounds into his shields as it’s warp scrambler locked him down. Ga’len turned his ship and aligned out to a planet, trying to put distance between him and the closing frigate. Sensors had detected something unexpected in the rest of the hostile gang. A Loki and it was closing fast.
As the Loki closed range and engaged it’s warp disruptor, the rifter’s hull gave way to the vacuum of space. Suddenly, Ga’len’s ship began to move faster, but not as expected. Yes, the microwarp drive was working, but not as it should.
So, webbed me as well? No matter, I can still outrun you.
The engines of An Bealach an Vaga overloaded and Ga’len lurched forward, moving away from the Loki. By this point, the Loki was deep into it’s armor and for a split second, Ga’len thought about staying in the fight, but the lack of shields and armor made that decision for him.
As Ga’len moved out of range of the Loki’s warp disruptor, he willed his comms to life.
“Nice trap my friend, well played. I would taunt you, but I can see from my sensors the 2 interceptors closing in on you and the 3 battle cruisers who just fired on you are more worthy of your attention than I.”
Ga’len warped off towards a planet as the Loki fell prey to the other roaming pirate gang. All that he could hear on his comms were the threats of revenge from the doomed Loki pilot.
Sometimes, it pays to not be the biggest fish in the pond, Ga’len pondered.
Continued…
Tags: The Bleeding Rose
