Evil in the Night

[PaulB]

Ok, so I'm a bit of a glutton for punishment and don't know when to leave well alone. I kinda take after my old friend Marlowe.
I'd been hopping around TC trying to find a lone Vonari C the past week to test some W. L. Inc. custom missiles to see what they could do against the Big Bug. I had 8 of the compound core hitech gadgets from W. L. The highest yield they assured me - 72Y, 2800R, 77 D/S. Sounded like a lot of double-speak to me. I wasn't optimistic.

I ran across one of the C Bugs in a rather empty little sector just north of Eclipse. I came up from behind and within about 2300 clicks I let all 8 go into the Bug's Weapons Systems.
It didn't seem to make a dent, as I rather expected and I was out of 'kick-ass' so I tried my gats when I got within range, taking out missiles and lighting up the Bug's shields - but that was all I was doing and his guns started pounding me.
Well, one little ole me against a Big Bug and all my 'kick-ass' used up - and the old Mammoth was beginning to take some damage - so I figured I'd better call it a day before it became the Big Sleep - for me. I think those boys at W. L. Inc. are a little behind the times in the Missile Dept., But my Gats from W. L. Inc. - they are Top Dog.

A few days later I picked up an Excal pak and thought I'd go trolling for Big Bugs again. I also took my Firestar and traded it in on a shiny new Chimera. The Firestar was a little to sensitive to my heavy handed driving methods and the Chimera fit the bill giving e a feel a little better than my Mammoth - but I miss not having my crew aboard.

I headed back up north one night and dropped a Sensor and started strolling about looking around corners and under rocks. It didn't take all that long.
There it was - ony my radar when I came out of a jump. The Evil, a Big Bug, a Vonari C.
We were head right at each other. Well, no sneaking up from the rear tonight - the Evil knows I'm here.
So I whispered to myself, "Well Marlowe old buddy - into he breach." - and I set my speed to 750 Inertial and headed in and above the C Bug.
As I got to under 3000 clicks I let loose the Excals at the C Bug's Weapons and as I passed above I pointed my nose down and show him the black eyes of my Gats and let him have it hoping it might make him shake in his boots. Sure!!!

Well when I was past him and out of his gun range I hit IDS and started back bu slowe doen to about 275.
I needed to regen my excals be fore I got there - no rushing in empty handed for this kid. I took a bit of sandwich and a slug of brandy and say back to wait.

As I came up closer to gun range the Bug began spewing missiles at me but I just aimed his Weapons system and gunned them down with my GAT cannon. Who was he kidding!!!
As I got close his shields began to light up so I started hitting him with both Gats - not that it was doing much good, but it made me feel better - and I slowed my speed to more or less match his speed and just kept popping his missiles and hitting him as I could until my excals regen'ed.

Then I caught a glimpse of green dot to the east on my radar.
I did a quick retarger - it was a AI navy Firestar - looked like it might be heading my way. I wonder if I gave the Order to Attack Hostiles if he would get it and help out?
Sometimes those guys willjus sit in the bleachers to see if the quaterback gets sacked - sometimes they join in the fun.
Well, I don't know if he heard me or gave a rat's ass if he did, but it looked like he was picking up speed and heading this way - maybe just to get his own kicks.
Whichever, you take it if you can get it. It took some of the chill out of my feet - it's easy to get cold feet and just want to head home to your easy chair and a pint of brandy rather than fight the Big Evil all alone.

As the Firestar got there my excals were read for another go so I let them fly and kept gunning missiles and the C Bug's Weapons. The Firestar began gunning the belly of the Beast. He'd fire his gats and veer off and come back for some more and at least once I saw him let loose a missile. I was rather busy myself to see everything he was doing but it was sure nice to have a friend.

We kept at it and I wasn't seeing much sign of progress for a long time. I lost track of how many times the excals regen'ed and I fired them - I'd sat at least 5 times and maybe 6 to 8 - and I also bumped my Weapons Energy up to +1, then +2, and later to +3 and in the end to +5, since I wasn't taking any damage myself. At 0/0 I got 15 seconds of firing time for both gats so with +5 I get a hell of a lot more though I haven't tested it on my military frame. On my Mammoth at +3 (and because of my crew) I fired for >1 minuted and then just let go the trigger - 1+ minute - how ofter you need that much time. At +5 on the Mammoth? - I guess I could about fire forever - I don't know - I got a damned good crew.

I fired what must have been my 5th or 6th or whatever round of excals and kept the gats going and the Firestar kept banging away and all of a sudden the C Bug's target display turned Yellow and then I knew!!! - we had him!!!
We kept gunning him and he was throwing the kitchen sink at us - and then the target display turn Red!!!

Pour it to him - and we did and in a short time - POP!!!!!!! goes the Weasle - right in our faces.

What a night!!!! My 1st Vonari C - thanks to the help from navy Firestar. I wanted to offer the guy a glass of brandy but when I looked around he had gone. Maybe I'll run across him someplace, someday.

Anyway, one less Evil Bug stalking the night........
Here's one to you Marlowe old buddy.

[Iron man]

Nice story

[DaveK]

As well as a good story it's also a great tutorial and inspiration for sorting out cold feet!

[Busch]

That's a great story, Paul! Glad you found a method to pop the C-Bugs' carapace!