The Journey-Part 1
Disaster
Bakka sat in a newly designed prototype Star Hawk downing his medically subscribed morning beer while the onboard scientific equipment went “whiz hiss pop”. The nifty little space ship had come across a small dark cloud and had sensors extended from the nose cone to analyse the anomaly.
“Whiz hiss pop” said the science panel as Bakka scanned through the mornings news briefs from HQ
“Hmm large sensor blips reported from all deep space tracking stations. Could be trouble” Bakka told the panel.
“Whiz hiss pop” replied the panel
“That’s what I thought you would say” sighed Bakka
“Whiz bang pop”
“Huh? Computer!”
“Available” a metallic voice rang out.
“What was that?”
“Whiz bang pop” the metallic voice answers with a definite hint of smugness.
“Listen smart arse. I’m running the show here and you know what I was referring to.”
The metallic voice can be clearly heard sighing as it answers. “A brain the size of a planet and IT wants me to tell IT the difference between a whiz hiss pop and a whiz bang pop”
Bakka eyes pop open “IT? IT! You hunk of positronic junk! If you answer 42 I’m going to find Windows 3.1 and load it into your core program stack.”
“24?” the quip came back
“24! Right. That’s it. Reprogramming for you and your errant electrons when we get back to HQ.” yelled Bakka.
“You would just get me again. So does this mean you don’t want to know about the 24 Micro bots hidden inside the anomaly?”
“What you mean I….. Whoa, really? Micro Bots you say? Cool can we get them?” all annoyance faded at the unexpected find. ”Can you get them or do I need to go EVA?”
With the newly found Micro bots buzzing the Star Hawk, Bakka heads away from the core system of Freedom Force, chasing one of the ghost blips reported by the deep space sensors. Fours hour pass full of arguments between Bakka and the recalcitrant computer when a signal hits the detection plates.
“Slow and stealth” orders Bakka instantly.
“Did that 2.5 secs ago” responds the computer
“Hump. The Micro bots?”
“20 Within stealth field. 4 sent ahead on scout duty”
“Hump. Remind me why I’m here” an exasperated Bakka asks the ship in general
“Comic relief" was the dry response. ”The Micro bots report that it’s a capital ship from the MWC” continued the computer.
“What’s it doing out here?” queried Bakka
“Heading into MWC at a third it’s normal cruising speed. Massive damage to engines and shields.”
“Destealth and contact them”
As the Star Hawk returns to normal space four bursts of flame can be seen from mid ship of the MWC Ranger
“Oh shit. Are those Anti matter missiles?”
“Yep. Evasion tactics initiated. 25% survival expected.” tones the computer soullessly.
“Jeeze. They don’t want to talk and you talk to much. How we doing?”
The Star Hawk had gone to full power and was heading for the nearest missile. At extreme range the photon cannons opened up and scored a lucky hit on the missile. Flame filled the view screen as the payload responded by spending its enormous explosive might on empty space. As soon as the ship had accelerated, the Micro bots deviated off at a tangent from the Star Hawk. Filling the ether with confusing signals they wove a confusing dance within a confined area of space. This had attracted the attention of the fourth missile and was changing directions towards the bots. The Micro bots took off with the missile in hot pursuit.
The second and third anti matter missiles had locked onto the Star hawk and no amount of dodging and weaving by the computer could either line them up for a strafing run or get rid of them.
“Survival odds 10% Captain” toned the computer
“Manual control” yelled Bakka
Control surfaces lifted from the floor and the panel in front of Bakka.
“Whoo hoo. Surf’s up” yelled Bakka as the Star hawk slipped inside the turning circle of a missile. “They may be fast but they can’t turn like this baby can.”
Now past the second missile the ship was heading for the third one. When all the beeping lights on his scanner lined up Bakka thumbed the photon cannons and sent a line of fire towards the missile. The missile expedited its demise by not dodging at all. The little ship was rocked by the two explosions.
“Huh?”
“Second missile has been destroyed as well Captain. We have received a message from the MWC ship.”
“What it say?”
“Apologies, Missiles ordered to self destruct. Defences on Automatic. Assistance not needed. Peace to Freedom Force. Full summary in attached. Nice flying. MWC Hayride out”
“Just like that?” gasps Bakka. “Jeeze some people. Bang, Oops, sorry and bye. Computer send message ‘Go sit on a pitchfork.’”
“Unable to comply, Messages must be sent by approved penguins only”
“You for real? Bloody Hurley is sneaker than Slitherin. What’s in the attachment?”
“A full account of the lost fight Between GROSS and the fellowship/MWC compact.”
“Ouch. Transmit it back to HQ and head for home” Bakka leaned back in his chair and stretched his wings out fully. “Hmm I do like this symbol. Wombie out did himself here.”
“Transmission completed. Captain, the Micro bots have consumed the missile and are returning to the Star Hawk.”
“Consumed?”
“Yes Sir and they now number 324 bots with the origanl 24 calling themselves Doom bots”
“Outstanding. You still in control I take it?”
“I never was.”
“Um. Who is?” stumered Bakka
“They are programmed to protect organics. They will protect you until you die”
“Strewth. That’s good for the ego.”
The ship headed for home while Bakka and the computer resumed insult flinging once again.
Just under two light hours from Freedom Forces Core system the Ship was awash with colour and sound from the full length hypertainment system.
“Yeah har. Level 4. Nothing can stop this Ranger. D&D 3D 6th revision whoops ass” an excited Bakka flapped around the control room. “Take that you orc scum” the fully upright 3D image of a orc crumpled to the forest floor with an arrow sticking from his backside. “That will teach you for running from me.”
A red light blared through the hyper vision. In the time it took Bakka to turn and look for the source of the interruption another three yellow lights had joined the first red warning lamp.
“Wha..’
“Warning” intoned the computer,”Collision in 60 Seconds”
“Cancel program and evasive action”
The hypertainment system shut down and the normal boring ship deco returned. On screen a wall of flame was shown travelling towards the ship
“Welcome to hell” mumbled Bakka
“Evasion impossible.”
“Oh shit. What is it?”
“Evidence points it was the sun around HQ.” responds the computer. “30 seconds before impact”
“Can we ride it out?”
“0% survival”
“Options?” quivered Bakka
“Non Sir”
“So now I get some respect?” Bakka laughs “Does that mean I win the arguments?”
Bakka heads for the corner and wraps his wings around himself and starts chanting, “Need a beer. Oh shit. Need a beer. Oh shit”.
Bakka blacks out as the wall of star matter strikes the Star hawk.
Stardock Forums
