Yeah, they been getting a little too bold here of late. A Brit dread I came upon was being engaged by Aux ships along with a Freelance Zoner Gunboat that was just wreaking havoc with him. I came along just about in time to mop up as he'd already dealt with 3 of the bombers but the Gunboat had him on the ropes. I pulled alongside to assist about the time his hull ruptured, scattering scorched shrapnel and crew pods everywhere. I scooped up all I could and went after the Gunboat but after seeing his buddies fail even after a brutal and well-fought battle, I guess he didn't have the stomach for my paint job (which I happen to be very fond of) and bailed.
From what I could ascertain after the fray many of these Aux pilots are basing out of one of the Barrier Gate stations. Wasn't long after my medical officer was elbow deep in British and Auxian wounded that another Freelance gunboat stuck his nose outside one of the Barrier Gate stations. I was a bit consumed with scanning for more wounded and possible prisoners when my hand brushed against my weapons control, misfiring a mortar round at the closest barrier station at which point the Freelance pilot started shooting off his mouth about the Crayter Republic trying to annex another base and warning me against shooting again. I told him it was an honest misfire but the way he started running his mouth brought a lovely retort from my Comms officer about his being in Crayter territory and to mind his rude mouth and his probable questionable business.
I just smiled at that but then the freelancer did something that was brutally braindead. He fired on us. By this time the base was already firing on us with everything they had and started spilling angry pilots out of every bay door anyway so I had no qualms about letting my weapons officer, Mr. Kelly, have a little fun with the mouthy Freelance pilot.
A couple of well placed mortar and heavy mortar rounds ended his retorts with shocking brevity. I just smiled again as I instructed helmsman Jacobs to take us out of range of the station as we'd collected all remaining life pods from the Brit Dread and those foolish enough to tangle with his lot. It was a well-fought battle, as I mentioned earlier in my report, even if the ship did eventually pop like a Ginormous, big, festered zit. The captain and most of his crew fared rather well after their ordeal and I'm sure their Admiral will have questions over the loss of such a magnificent ship, but that is the cost of battle sometimes, especially with as many bombers as he had on his case.
One rather creative move on the Captain's part was a cruise engine boost and drift that spun him around facing his opponents which is how most of the damage he dealt occured. I thought it a rather brilliant maneuver on his part and rarely had I ever seen such a maneuver in asteroid ridden space as that in the Barrier Rim.
Well done, says I. To the captain of the HMS Hercules....well done! I'll be his wingman anytime.
Captain Thorensen,
Battledread CFV Leonardo
Always remember to shoot at other humans. The nomads love you for it and telepathically radiate the amusement they feel for the stupidity of the human race. So much for leaving the prejudices and warmongering behind when we polluted Sirius space with our stench.
