Month: March 2019

The Forge Region – Anttanen Constellation
Uitra System – Planet VI, Moon 4
State War Academy Station

25 March YC 121

“Mr Vuonolailen, what was the point of the yesterday’s mission? Shooting Arrogators is not what I expected from an advanced military course,” I asked a bit testily. “Surely, Mr Tarumo’s letter gave you a good idea of my track record which contained much tougher encounters.”

“That was just a quick test, Mr Korff. I prefer to verify my students’ credentials before sending them into the fray,” explained Ijumachi.

“Okay, I understand, Mr Vuonolailen, but I hope that the future missions will live up to the expectations set by the course name.”

Ijumachi smiled and said, “So you want me to set a high bar for you? Okay, how about piloting a hellburner?” Continue reading “Angel of Mercy”

The Forge Region – Anttanen Constellation
Uitra System – Planet VI, Moon 4
State War Academy Station

24 March YC 121

Three days after the encounter with Tahamar I was sitting in Tarumo’s office and discussing the implications of my discovery.

“We long suspected he was a capsuleer,” said Tarumo, “given the ease with which he escaped our traps and evaded surveillance.”

“So we can expect him to return soon?” asked I despondently.

“Not necessarily. Firstly, it depends on whether his capsule was equipped with the brain scanner.”

“Was it?” I asked eagerly. Continue reading “The Swap”

The Forge Region – Anttanen Constellation
Uitra System – Planet VI, Moon 4
State War Academy Station

21 March YC 121

Two days after the drug bust I received a call from Tarumo who had a new mission for me. Another warehouse, thought I, and unhurriedly dressed up and walked to the agent’s office.

“Good morning, Mr Korff,” greeted me Tarumo.

“I hope it is, Mr Tarumo,” replied I settling in a comfy chair.

“Before the last mission I asked you to destroy all pirate ships that you would encounter. I am very pleased that you fulfilled my request. Apparently, Guristas had limited number of combat ships in Uitra and when you destroyed their outer defences they requested reinforcements from another system. All that time we were closely monitoring the pirate activity in the neighbouring systems and we managed to get leads to Tahamar’s whereabouts.” Continue reading “The Final(?) Battle with Tahamar”

The Forge Region – Anttanen Constellation
Uitra System – Planet VI, Moon 4
State War Academy Station

19 March YC 121

At last, the wait was over – I got a call from Tarumo requesting my presence in his office.

“Where is that bastard?” was my first question when I stormed into his room.

“Good morning, Mr Korff,” was immaculately polite Tarumo’s reply.

“Yes, of course. Good morning, Mr Tarumo,” said I catching my breath. “So where is he?”

“We don’t know.”

I was flabbergasted, “You don’t? But…”

“Mr Korff,” interrupted me Tarumo, “I suggest that you take a seat and listen to the mission brief.” Continue reading “Shortcut to Happiness”

Burning forward, the Thrasher’s autocannons open up, stripping the Algos’ shields. Drones deployed, they return the favour and chew into the assailant.
Adjusting orbit to outrange the guns, tunnel vision takes hold and the Algos doesn’t notice as an Astero decloaks to lay down webbing and launch its own swarm.
Both destroyers now in hull, fusion rounds eviscerating the Algos’ remaining structure as it wills its drones on for a final volley on the Thrasher and… Continue reading “Warp. Pod. Repeat.”

The Forge Region – Anttanen Constellation
Uitra System – Planet VI, Moon 4
State War Academy Station

17 March YC 121

The meeting with Tarumo was disappointing; they still didn’t have any solid intel on Tahamar’s whereabouts. Once again, I was forced to wait.

My ennui didn’t last long though, as a day later I received a nice surprise by email. Remember I talked about Reyg Xander and his award-winning story Warp. Pod. Repeat.? After reading the piece I got excited and sent Reyg a message in which I congratulated him on winning the prize and asked if he could answer a few questions about his experience. The most I hoped for was an email exchange but, unexpectedly, Reyg suggested to meet me in person. Moreover, he had kindly agreed to contribute his story to this blog as a guest author. I was absolutely delighted and invited him to visit me at the place of my current residence. Continue reading “A Meeting with Reyg Xander”

The Forge Region – Anttanen Constellation
Uitra System – Planet VI, Moon 4
State War Academy Station

14 March YC 121

The next few days following my last conversation with Tarumo I spent reading books and catching up on the latest episodes of my favourite holovid shows. Again, my reading list was filled with Pod and Planet Contest entries written by capsuleers. Reading them together with Aura provoked some funny conversations. For example, when we finished Kilzin’s Filaments Gone Wrong she asked, “How could Kilzin drink rum in the capsule if it was filled with pod goo?”

“Don’t worry about such details – it’s all fiction,” said I.

Aura gave me a strange look and asked another question, “And why did he call his computer ‘computer’?”

“What do you call a computer? A sister?” Continue reading “Book Club”

The Forge Region – Anttanen Constellation
Uitra System – Planet VI, Moon 4
State War Academy Station

8 March YC 121

The ‘full investigation’ didn’t take long – next day after the mission I received a message from Tarumo in which he invited me to visit his office ‘at my earliest convenience’. I recognised that turn of phrase as a euphemism for ‘ASAP’ and was intrigued as Tarumo was not known for mincing his words. Needless to say, my earliest convenience was now.

The agent greeted me and offered a seat; he looked more formal than usual.

“First of all, Mr Korff, I want to apologise for my yesterday’s behaviour.”

Aha, thought I.

“Although I had every reason to consider the mission unsuccessful,” continued Tarumo, “the show of emotions was totally uncalled for.”

Yikes! If a multi-billion-ISK failure is not a good enough reason to get emotional, what is?

Aloud I said, “No need for apology, Mr Tarumo. I was not offended.” Then, to change the uncomfortable subject, I asked, “How is the investigation going?”

“It is finished, Mr Korff, and its results are the reason why I summoned you.” Continue reading “Good Partners, Bad Partners”

The Forge Region – Anttanen Constellation
Uitra System – Planet VI, Moon 4
State War Academy Station

7 March YC 121

If Tarumo was disappointed that Tahamar escaped again he didn’t show it. In fact, I think he was relieved to see me return in one piece after having sent me to a mission without proper intel. His eyes lit up and he nodded approvingly when at the debrief he learnt that I had downed eleven pirate ships. My mission was deemed successful and I was given three days of R&R.

Although I welcomed some rest I didn’t need that much of it. The fact that Tahamar was still at large weighed heavily on my conscience and by Thursday my level of anxiety was at a record level. So first thing in the morning I turned up at Tarumo’s office and pretty much demanded the report on Tahamar investigation.

Tarumo looked like he didn’t sleep since our last meeting. He rubbed his eyes and said wearily, “Tahamar is still active. He changed his base but we haven’t been able to locate it yet.”

“Is there any way I can help with reconnaissance?” asked I. Continue reading “Who Needs a Janitor?”

The Forge Region – Anttanen Constellation
Uitra System – Planet VI, Moon 4
State War Academy Station

3 March YC 121

After escaping from the outpost Tahamar did not go into hiding. On the contrary, the bandit loudly announced his vile presence by commandeering a State Navy ship and terrorising Anttanen Constellation. I could not believe my ears when Tarumo told me about that.

“A State Navy ship? How can one ‘commandeer’ it?” Continue reading “A Three-Course Dinner”