Titus was sitting in his office, the only light coming from the distant star of the Torrinos system coming through the window. Haijikioten Security Group rented an office in a small Caldari station owned by Home Guard. He was going over the payroll and smoking his pipe. The bluish smoke wreathed his face, the red embers enhancing the gleam in his eyes. It had been a good year.
The door slid open, and the air seemed to grow much more electric. Kalus stood in the doorway, his slender form silhouetted by the light in the anteroom. Titus could smell the booze on him and scowled.
"What's wrong, Titus? No love for your brother?" Kalus slurred, stumbling into the office and crashing onto the sofa against the wall.
"Just wondering what my dear brother would be wanting this time."
Kalus frowned dramatically. "You really are a fucking dick, you know."
Titus simply stared.
After a few moments, the tension in the room at its zenith, Kalus spoke. "I want you to buy me out."
Titus was shocked. Buy him out? "What are you talking about?"
Kalus sat up straight. "I want you to pay me my portion of HSG. I am leaving to start my own company."
Titus stood, anger consuming him. "You piece of shit. Why the hell would you want to do something stupid like that? You've got no head for running a company!"
Kalus sprung up from the sofa and punched Titus hard on the mouth. "How would you know?" He screamed, kicking Titus as he tried to get up from the floor. "You've never let me try!"
He kicked Titus some more. "You've always looked down on me. You've been holding me back. You've been getting richer and richer while I've been scraping by on what scraps you'd give me! No more!"Tears streamed down his face. "It's my time, damnit!"
This was more than booze, Titus saw. Some drug, likely as not. His heart ached for his brother, but Titus knew he could help him no longer.
Titus stayed on the floor. He typed onto his datapad. He transferred exactly 50% of HSG's net worth to Kalus's account. He sighed. "Fine. It's done. Now get out before I kill you where you stand."
Kalus stiffened, saw the look in Titus's eyes, and walked quickly out the door.
Titus saw the door close, and wept.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Tales of the Haijikioten Brothers: Business
Titus and Kalus were as different as two brothers could be. Kalus was lanky and gaunt, with burning eyes and a head of black hair. Titus was broad and stocky, with icy eyes and a calm demeanor. Kalus always rushed headlong into fights. Titus was calm and murderously effective at finishing the fights Kalus started.
Both were raised on ships. Both learned the mercenary way of life early. Both were seasoned in war before they had thier first woman.
Kalus was astoundingly daring. Nothing caused him to fear. Titus was a shrewd man, cultivating contacts and developing a head for business. When thier father died during a routtine contract, Titus convinced his brother that it was time to start thier own security firm. So, with the casual persuasion of Titus, they obtained a loan, and bought a Lynx-class frigate and converted her for thier kind of operations.
The contracts came in and the brothers expanded thier fleet. Titus invested his money wisely, increasing his holdings and expanding his business. Kalus loved drink and women, and was jealous of his brother's ability to accrue wealth. Titus tried to counsel his brother, but eventually grew tired.
The years passed, and thier relations grew much colder. They purchased a Rokh-class battleship, the Tovil-toba, and Titus assumed command of the ship, and the business. He knew troubled times were ahead.
Both were raised on ships. Both learned the mercenary way of life early. Both were seasoned in war before they had thier first woman.
Kalus was astoundingly daring. Nothing caused him to fear. Titus was a shrewd man, cultivating contacts and developing a head for business. When thier father died during a routtine contract, Titus convinced his brother that it was time to start thier own security firm. So, with the casual persuasion of Titus, they obtained a loan, and bought a Lynx-class frigate and converted her for thier kind of operations.
The contracts came in and the brothers expanded thier fleet. Titus invested his money wisely, increasing his holdings and expanding his business. Kalus loved drink and women, and was jealous of his brother's ability to accrue wealth. Titus tried to counsel his brother, but eventually grew tired.
The years passed, and thier relations grew much colder. They purchased a Rokh-class battleship, the Tovil-toba, and Titus assumed command of the ship, and the business. He knew troubled times were ahead.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Skin of My Teeth
Ryven activated his warp drive along with the rest of Almity's small gang of frigates and destroyers. He watched as the others disappeared in streaks, engine trails fading behind them. He frantically searched his overview for whatever was preventing his warp from activating. There was a glitch. There must be a glitch. He finally caught glimpse of the Ishtar, or Vexor, or whatever it was, and his overview finally updated. "Sneaky Noob." Dumbass name. Decent pilot. Definitely a pain in the ass. Definitely matching him for speed. Ryven double checked to see if his repairs were keeping up with what damage he was taking. Ryven grinned. He was maintaining armor levels near 99.9%. He quickly overheated all of his mid-power modules. He needed to gain an extra boost of speed. He watched as the range began to open. It might be just enough. The rest of the Minmatar gang was far behind, except for this Ishtar/Vexor, and a Malediction that was closing rapidly. Ryven hoped he would be able to escape in time, and saw warning indicators informing him that his modules were sustaining heavy damage from overheating. He crossed his fingers mentally. The heat indicator had reached maximum level right as he broke out of the warp disruptor's range. With lightning speed, he activated his warp drive...
...the orange target indicators flashed out of view. Space flew by around him in ripples. He was vaguely aware that his microwarpdrive had been destroyed. If he'd waited half a second longer to activate his warp drive, he would not have escaped. He felt exhiliration the moment he landed on station. The Malediction followed, but, Ryven was able to dock safely. He laughed long and hard.
...the orange target indicators flashed out of view. Space flew by around him in ripples. He was vaguely aware that his microwarpdrive had been destroyed. If he'd waited half a second longer to activate his warp drive, he would not have escaped. He felt exhiliration the moment he landed on station. The Malediction followed, but, Ryven was able to dock safely. He laughed long and hard.
Hit n Run
After decades of fighting in space, I have concluded that my favorite tactics are not the massive set-piece battles, but the hit and run and ambush operations. I have been involved in some massive fleet actions involving a thousand or more ships slugging it out, but, as awe-inspiring as it is seeing that much destructive potential in action, it is actually mind numbing in its execution. Hit and run is far more exhilirating. Dart in, make your attack, warp out before reinforcements arrive. Coordinate and execute. Adjust on the fly. Stick and move. Ambushes similarly require coordination, and the moment the ambush is sprung is sublime.
Last night was a hit and run operation. We managed to bloody a few noses under Almity's command before the Minmatar main fleet arrived in ludicrously overwhelming force (not PL levels of ludicrous, but still pretty laughable). Almity managed to complete our operation and get us home. The point, I guess, is that these smash and roll ops are growing on me.
Last night was a hit and run operation. We managed to bloody a few noses under Almity's command before the Minmatar main fleet arrived in ludicrously overwhelming force (not PL levels of ludicrous, but still pretty laughable). Almity managed to complete our operation and get us home. The point, I guess, is that these smash and roll ops are growing on me.
Friday, May 11, 2012
War Diary: Rifterlings and the Battle of Kourmonen
I was straggling behind the fleet in a laser fit Ferox-class battlecruiser which I had just borrowed from my old comrade, Raphael Saint. The fleet was making a push to try to regain the Kourmonen system, and the Matari had been fighting back every step of the way. Two engagements had already taken place, and I had survived both. A new strategic objective had been broadcast, so, I needed a bigger ship. I had to fly to Arzad to get it. Thus, my tardiness.
I jumped into the Lamaa system, just one jump from my rendezvous with the main body of the fleet. I warped to the Kourmonen gate, and jumped. When my display finally loaded, I knew I was in trouble. A Claw-class interceptor was waiting for me. I engaged my warp drive to try to make a break for the complex my fleet was assaulting. Unfortunately, the Ferox was sluggish, and I saw the familiar indicator of my warp drive being disrupted. So, I made a mad dash for the stargate back to the Lamaa system. The Claw could stop my warp, but couldn't stop me jumping through the gate. I made it back with little to no damage, but found several of the Claw's friends waiting for me. This time, they hit me with stasis webs and warp scramblers. I tried to make it back to the gate, but was essentially frozen in place. That's when I noticed the Blackbird class cruiser ten kilometers away. Like most insane people, I smiled.
I locked up the blackbird and disrupted its warp drive before opening fire with my battery of pulse lasers. Yes, that's right. A Caldari hull with pulse lasers. Get over it. The blackbird was not equipped to deal with that much electromagnetic energy on its shields and began to pull range. Tragically, I had no way to keep the blackbird close enough. That and the bastard kept jamming my targeting systems, which had the effect of pissing me off. Once I had targeting back, I engaged the Claw, which had rejoined the fight, and the Vengeance class assault frigate that was trying to damage my ship's rather strong shield. Neither these Matari, the Rifterlings, nor my ferox seemed to be making much headway. I opened up comms to the fleet commander and informed him of my situation. The fleet commander decided to send aid. So, I waited. Mostly, I just didn't feel like having to sit there for the ridiculous amount of time it would take for the Rifterlings to destroy my ship. It was only a moment or two before the familiar purple squares signifying my friends began to populate my display. The blackbird, recognizing impending doom, warped way quickly, as did the claw. The vengeance, however, was locked down, imprisoned by my warp disruptor and that of likely three or four others. He disintegrated rapidly.
I thanked the fleet and we quickly headed for the complex to assault it. We managed to get set up at range and waited for their arrival. They didn't keep us waiting very long.
My tactical overview began to fill up with the familiar flashing orange boxes I had come to love. The fleet commander's orders began to fill my ears and our fleet aligned to the system's star with microwarpdrives on. Engagement orders piled in and comms and space both seemed to fill with the furor of battle. Ship after ship was engaged and destroyed on both sides, before finally, our fleet realized we had to leave. I left in my capsule, the ferox a cloud of debris floating in dead space.
In the end, we lost over 50 ships to some 40 minmatar kills. ISK wise, we came out ahead. I would say, truly, it was a monetary victory, a tactical defeat, and a strategic victory. We showed that we still have the ability to fight. We showed we can do it in lesser ships. So, despite our losses, I feel it was an overall victory. Most importantly, it was a good night.
I jumped into the Lamaa system, just one jump from my rendezvous with the main body of the fleet. I warped to the Kourmonen gate, and jumped. When my display finally loaded, I knew I was in trouble. A Claw-class interceptor was waiting for me. I engaged my warp drive to try to make a break for the complex my fleet was assaulting. Unfortunately, the Ferox was sluggish, and I saw the familiar indicator of my warp drive being disrupted. So, I made a mad dash for the stargate back to the Lamaa system. The Claw could stop my warp, but couldn't stop me jumping through the gate. I made it back with little to no damage, but found several of the Claw's friends waiting for me. This time, they hit me with stasis webs and warp scramblers. I tried to make it back to the gate, but was essentially frozen in place. That's when I noticed the Blackbird class cruiser ten kilometers away. Like most insane people, I smiled.
I locked up the blackbird and disrupted its warp drive before opening fire with my battery of pulse lasers. Yes, that's right. A Caldari hull with pulse lasers. Get over it. The blackbird was not equipped to deal with that much electromagnetic energy on its shields and began to pull range. Tragically, I had no way to keep the blackbird close enough. That and the bastard kept jamming my targeting systems, which had the effect of pissing me off. Once I had targeting back, I engaged the Claw, which had rejoined the fight, and the Vengeance class assault frigate that was trying to damage my ship's rather strong shield. Neither these Matari, the Rifterlings, nor my ferox seemed to be making much headway. I opened up comms to the fleet commander and informed him of my situation. The fleet commander decided to send aid. So, I waited. Mostly, I just didn't feel like having to sit there for the ridiculous amount of time it would take for the Rifterlings to destroy my ship. It was only a moment or two before the familiar purple squares signifying my friends began to populate my display. The blackbird, recognizing impending doom, warped way quickly, as did the claw. The vengeance, however, was locked down, imprisoned by my warp disruptor and that of likely three or four others. He disintegrated rapidly.
I thanked the fleet and we quickly headed for the complex to assault it. We managed to get set up at range and waited for their arrival. They didn't keep us waiting very long.
My tactical overview began to fill up with the familiar flashing orange boxes I had come to love. The fleet commander's orders began to fill my ears and our fleet aligned to the system's star with microwarpdrives on. Engagement orders piled in and comms and space both seemed to fill with the furor of battle. Ship after ship was engaged and destroyed on both sides, before finally, our fleet realized we had to leave. I left in my capsule, the ferox a cloud of debris floating in dead space.
In the end, we lost over 50 ships to some 40 minmatar kills. ISK wise, we came out ahead. I would say, truly, it was a monetary victory, a tactical defeat, and a strategic victory. We showed that we still have the ability to fight. We showed we can do it in lesser ships. So, despite our losses, I feel it was an overall victory. Most importantly, it was a good night.
The Wedding
Ryven and Leela cuddled cozily on a lounger together on the terrace at Cerra Manor, drinks in hand. The light of Huola's star had sunk below the horizon and the night air was cool on their skin. They were alone and silent, comfortable in each other's company. Ryven reflected on their history together.
Leela had been a contact of his during his more turbulent years, before he found his home fighting for the Amarr. She had an affinity for obtaining information through a long list of personal contacts throughout New Eden. Over several years of working together, he had developed an affection for the young woman, beautiful as she was, and full of confidence and vigor. She excited him. He chafed at her virtual imprisonment under the strict rule of her father, Garta Yttria. He was abusive, controlling, and a certifiable sadist. Ryven developed a keen hatred for the man. So, when Leela came to him asking for help, he was happy to oblige. He was not as happy to let Garta live.
Fresh from this escape, Ryven devoted the remains of his inheritance from Titus to financing Leela's training as a capsuleer. He paid her way, helped train her, and then made a huge life change. He found God. He became a crusader. In light of his new faith, he knew he had to set her free from him as well. This wasn't easy for him, but, morality never is. So, he met with her, and discussed the future. She surprised him. She agreed to forsake her people and join him in fighting for the Empire. She chose Ryven. Ryven never forgot.
Over the months together fighting the Minmatar, their bond had strengthened. She could cut through his bullshit, melt away his worries, and render him completely vulnerable. Most surprisingly, he didn't mind. Now, he couldn't imagine ever losing her.
At this point in his musings, Ryven reached a conclusion. He looked down at Leela's head on his chest, rising and falling with his breathing, her red hair waving in the light breeze. She must have felt his gaze, because she turned and gazed up at him, her eyes meeting his.
"See something you like?" She gave him an adorable smirk.
"You have no idea." He smiled involuntarily. She was always drawing smiles out of him.
"Oh, I don't know. I think I have a pretty good idea." She gave him a mischievous grin and looked around to see if there were any onlookers.
"As much as I would love to take you down to the beach and, well, you know, I have something else in mind."
"Oh?" She looked extremely curious.
"Marry me."
Her eyes shot wide open. Her mouth dropped open. Her face turned bright red.
"Make that face all you want. I still want you to marry me."
Her shocked expression slowly melted away into one full of mirth. "Are you sure?" She smiled. "I'm not very domesticated."
"Absolutely certain. I wouldn't have you any other way."
"Well, can't say I didn't warn you." She shrugged. "Okay, then. Yes. Let's get all married and shit."
Ryven laughed. "You know, you could act at least a little bit excited about it."
She wrapped her arm around his neck and gave him a passionate kiss. "That better?"
Ryven smiled wide. "Much better. Now let's go down to the beach and do this."
"Right now?" She looked amused. "Not gonna invite all your crazy ass friends and throw a huge bash and parade me around?"
"Does that sound like me?"
Her expression softened into one that spoke volumes of love. "No. Which is why I love you."
He carried her in his arms down to the beach, set her down on the sand, and opened up his neocom. Five minutes later, they were officially married. Two hours later, the marriage was well and duly consummated.
Ryven's afternote: It took two days to get all that sand out. That stuff gets everywhere. ;)
Leela had been a contact of his during his more turbulent years, before he found his home fighting for the Amarr. She had an affinity for obtaining information through a long list of personal contacts throughout New Eden. Over several years of working together, he had developed an affection for the young woman, beautiful as she was, and full of confidence and vigor. She excited him. He chafed at her virtual imprisonment under the strict rule of her father, Garta Yttria. He was abusive, controlling, and a certifiable sadist. Ryven developed a keen hatred for the man. So, when Leela came to him asking for help, he was happy to oblige. He was not as happy to let Garta live.
Fresh from this escape, Ryven devoted the remains of his inheritance from Titus to financing Leela's training as a capsuleer. He paid her way, helped train her, and then made a huge life change. He found God. He became a crusader. In light of his new faith, he knew he had to set her free from him as well. This wasn't easy for him, but, morality never is. So, he met with her, and discussed the future. She surprised him. She agreed to forsake her people and join him in fighting for the Empire. She chose Ryven. Ryven never forgot.
Over the months together fighting the Minmatar, their bond had strengthened. She could cut through his bullshit, melt away his worries, and render him completely vulnerable. Most surprisingly, he didn't mind. Now, he couldn't imagine ever losing her.
At this point in his musings, Ryven reached a conclusion. He looked down at Leela's head on his chest, rising and falling with his breathing, her red hair waving in the light breeze. She must have felt his gaze, because she turned and gazed up at him, her eyes meeting his.
"See something you like?" She gave him an adorable smirk.
"You have no idea." He smiled involuntarily. She was always drawing smiles out of him.
"Oh, I don't know. I think I have a pretty good idea." She gave him a mischievous grin and looked around to see if there were any onlookers.
"As much as I would love to take you down to the beach and, well, you know, I have something else in mind."
"Oh?" She looked extremely curious.
"Marry me."
Her eyes shot wide open. Her mouth dropped open. Her face turned bright red.
"Make that face all you want. I still want you to marry me."
Her shocked expression slowly melted away into one full of mirth. "Are you sure?" She smiled. "I'm not very domesticated."
"Absolutely certain. I wouldn't have you any other way."
"Well, can't say I didn't warn you." She shrugged. "Okay, then. Yes. Let's get all married and shit."
Ryven laughed. "You know, you could act at least a little bit excited about it."
She wrapped her arm around his neck and gave him a passionate kiss. "That better?"
Ryven smiled wide. "Much better. Now let's go down to the beach and do this."
"Right now?" She looked amused. "Not gonna invite all your crazy ass friends and throw a huge bash and parade me around?"
"Does that sound like me?"
Her expression softened into one that spoke volumes of love. "No. Which is why I love you."
He carried her in his arms down to the beach, set her down on the sand, and opened up his neocom. Five minutes later, they were officially married. Two hours later, the marriage was well and duly consummated.
Ryven's afternote: It took two days to get all that sand out. That stuff gets everywhere. ;)
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