The Outcast codenamed Vengeance

[mwerte]

Vengeance had just graduated from the Malta Fleet Academy and was on R&R at home. It was dinnertime and he was having a peaceful meal with his parents when an “Orange Alert” sounded. Now, “Orange Alerts” meant that a Corsair raiding force had been spotted in Alpha. It was just a raiding party, not a full scale invasion so only “on-call” pilots were ordered into space.

Unfortunately for the Outcasts the Corsairs had more pilots then expected and managed to push all the way to Malta. At this point ALL pilots were called into space and Vengeance rushed to the hanger to get his ship. He never made it to combat though. 2 Corsair ships collided sending one of them into the planet's atmosphere. The ship turned into a fiery ball of death that immolated the pilot but left the remains of the ship smash into the ground. Right near Vengeance's house. The Tizonas, being fairly unstable weapons, detonated flattening 2 square blocks of Malta. Vengeance's parents were right near the epicenter of the explosion and never had a chance to get out.

Swearing revenge Vengeance took off after the 5 Corsair ships that had managed to flee the battle. He brought with him 8 close friends from the academy. They managed to catch up to the enemies right outside Freeport 9 and despite the protestations of the Zoners there the Outcasts ripped into the Corsair formation. This happened before AW was formed. The Corsairs had managed to comm ahead though and had set up a trap, 24 more fighters were waiting, hiding out at the Freeport. As soon as the Outcasts were embattled the enemy fighters poured out the docking bays and swarmed the Outcasts.

4 of Vengeance's friends exploded almost immediately. The 5 remaining Outcasts managed to take down 6 fighters before all but Vengeance and his best friend were all that was left. His friend's name was Carlos Franco and he was that year's Ace Pilot. Vengeance could see him through their cockpit windows. They both knew this wouldn't end well.

“Hey Vengeance?”

“who are you talking to?”

“You”

“Whatever, I am kinda busy here”

“I know.

Get these bastards for me will ya? All of them.”

“So that's why you called me Vengeance, well, if any of us will survive this it will be you. You have the mad skills”

“No, you will avenge us, and your parents, now go!”

“Wait what?”

But Carlos had turned off his transmitter. As Vengeance watched in awe Carlos flew straight at the enemy forcing them away from Vengeance. Carlos downed 1, then another, then another then another Corsair ship, but he was flying offensively now, burning through bats and bots for the sake of scoring hits. And for the sake of distracting the dog Corsairs away from Vengeance. With pure rage clouding his vision Vengeance punched the “cruise” button and fled the battle. At 10k away he turned around to watch. Never before had he seen such grace in a battle.

“Carlos I'm clear, get out”

“Carlos, I said I'm clear, save yourself”

No answer ever came. Carlos managed to destroy 9 more ships while Vengeance was watching. Then a lucky shot pierced Carlos' engine core and his ship turned into a fireball. At that point Vengeance almost rushed back into the battle to engage the remaining pilots but he saw that the 3 remaining original raiders were fleeing under a screen put up by the 7 remaining fighters. Vengeance knew he couldn't get to The Hated Ones without throwing away Carlos' sacrifice. With a near-sob of grief he turned toward home. As he did, he changed his transponder signal from his family's name to “Vengeance” in honor of Carlos.

---