In Memory...

The space life is often wrought with peril, but rarely truly perilous. Science has advanced to such a state that even premature death itself has all but been eliminated. Mortal Accidents usually are the topics of jest between pirates, the true nature of our violent actions often lost on us from the common-place normality of it all.

It is with a heavy heart that I transcribe the most recent of such events, one without a happy ending.

Standard operation. We were assembled and traveling in an area well-known for it's hostile nature and penchant for random encounters. The Syndicate is one of many areas where law has only meant he who has the most guns wins. Twelve jumps from anything resembling a safe dock. Our FC Shouts into our neocomms:

etheris: "Hostile Fleet spotted! Everyone quickly get to your optimals on that gate and get ready for combat."

My fingers briefly lose sensation as my body quickly produces a wave of adrenalin to respond to the command. The scene is not spectacular, but the meticulous clockwork of 10 pilots orbiting a stargate in practiced synchronized orbits has always made me warm inside.

etheris: "Gate activation, this is it! Everyone lock primary target and DPS it down!"

The hostile gang is 15 strong, and are all piloting fearsome battleships. Their damage potential is impressive, but our counter to this is our speed and practiced precision. Within seconds of the first gate activation, the first target is down. More targets are called. Combat flows through my veins, tachyon laser beams are my vision. Explosions make contact with reinforced armor plating wherever I look.


It looks like they might escape with the majority of their fleet intact, due to their immense faggotry and enough armor plates to build five capital ships. Our FC Heroically drove us forward with his actions and his words, as he Microwarpdrived with immense momentum into the side of the enemy.

etheris: "Bump that mega off the gate! Do NOT let him escape! Ram that sketchy bastard into orbit!"

The Megathron was hit with such a force that it ricocheted off the stargate by about seven thousand meters. Half of it's cabin lights shuddered and dimmed. In a horrific realization, we watched as it directed all of it's capacitor into overheating it's weapon systems and stasis webbifier. The brave Ishtar etheris collided with the Megathron in order to prevent his escape was bent in on itself, a huge concave indentation of fire and leaking gases venting off into space where it struck. When the Megathron locked and webbed the remnants of the heroic craft, it nearly blinded us with it's cannon discharge. Shock echoed through us as combat noises faded into the background. We stared at the strewn remnants of etheris's bravery. Most of us hadn't even realized that the Megathron had been vaporized by our weapon systems as they were overloaded, our subconscious subroutines had maintained a steady stream of firepower onto the failing craft that we just watched eliminate our commander.

Under normal circumstances, his genetic data would have been transmitted via nano-wavelength frequency into a gel-filled tank that would have instantly reproduced his body and mind. We've all had it happen, and were aware of the fine-details as it was the only reason we were able to get out of bed in the morning and do what we do. There was no escape capsule from etheris's shipwreck. he had not had time to start the transmit code for his cloning procedure. The intense force from the Megathron's guns had erased etheris from the universe.

There was an intense, choking silence as we returned to stations, half of us not able to believe what had happened.

Even now, I still look around when I see and Ishtar, expecting to hear his comm channel open up and hear a primary target amongst our corporation be called in jest.

We all fly because that's what we've always dreamed of.
Some are destined to reach horizons no others even see.
He has exceeded our vision as he ascends towards greatness.
Fly safe buddy, and never look back.