Forsaken

[Misha_Gottlich]

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[REBOOTING]... Standby...
[LIFE SUPPORT]
[SENSORY SYSTEMS]: [color=#00FF00]Active
[MOBILITY SYSTEMS]: Active
[SUPPORT SYSTEMS]: Active
[WEAPON SYSTEMS]: Active
...
[REBOOTING]: Complete

"Uuggg, What the hell... Unngg! Ouch! Fuck!"

Consciousness flooded back into Taden's head, pushed on a wave of AI support. His mind raced as his CPU augmented brain registered exactly what had just taken place. He had thrown the destroyer into full reverse, but it was only seconds away from colliding violently with the Overlord it had been escorting. The inertial suppression system in his bio-suit whined with the stress of the momentum change. The escort cruiser had been at full thrust chasing the boarding craft when Taden had smashed his way onto the bridge, and it was still moving at full clip when it hammered into the Overlord. Already pushed to the limits, the inertia dampening system gave out and Taden was sent flying over the helm-controls and smashed into the main view-screen at the front of the bridge. The force of the impact drove his heavy cybernetic body deep into the display bulkhead. The rest of the bridge began to crumple on top of Harrs, piling computer systems, bulkhead compartments, and the remains of Taden's Blacktip bomber up into the front of the cruisers forward most section.

As viewed from outside the ship, the escort cruiser had embedded itself a good way into the outer hull of the Overlord capital ship, which had buckled slightly at the impact site. the nose of the smaller craft was buried into the hull of the larger ship and had become entangled in the twisting masses of the two ships hulls. The reverse thrusters continued to fire at full blast, straining the cruisers engines in a futile attempt to free the ships head from the hole it was stuck in. Metal twisted and screamed as the two massive vessels struggled but were unable to separate. The color of the engine trails began to change to darker and darker shades as the engines were strained past their limits. The impact must have disabled the engine crew and maintenance team because the propulsion system was overheating and would go critical at any moment.

Back inside the bulkhead at the front of the impact point, Taden was regaining consciousness. As he assessed the situation, system data flowed into his CPU system and he was immediately aware of the critical danger he was in. The cruiser had become entangled with the capital ship it was escorting and its engines were about to go critical. Taden scanned his surroundings and was met with more bad news. The bridge had become a crumpled mass of debris and most of it was piled on top of him. Luckily, part of that debris was the remains of his busted bomber. Most of its systems still registered as functional, and Harrs was formulating a plan to save what was left of his sorry hide.

His first attempt at moving was halted in excruciating pain! His right hand was pinned between some of the wreckage and Taden could see a small amount of blood seeping out of the Bio-Suit glove that was over it.
"Oh that's great! I don't have many flesh bits left here! COME ON!"
Taden braced his left arm against his left leg and used the leverage to lift the twisted metal off of his right hand. It was definitely broken, but he didn't think he would loose it. He'd just have to get it patched up after the mission was over and the Guildmaster was rescued.

With his hand freed, Harrs made his way painfully to the cockpit of his disabled snub craft. He crawled back into the cockpit and did a lightning fast systems check. Shields, propulsion, and life support systems were shot, but power management and weapons were at least partially functional. Taden's AI CPU got an emergency signal from the ship denoting the engines going critical and there being an imminent detonation, he was going to have to work fast! Taden primed the only laser battery still operational and aimed it as close as the damaged targeting servos could point it in the direction where the two ships met. Taden squeezed the trigger and the weapon began pulsing hot plasma into the place where the two ship hulls were fused. The metal quickly became super-heated and twisted with the impact of the laser fire. With a loud whining PING the weapon system of Taden's fighter craft gave out. He knew that was coming and wasted no time. He shoved himself out of the wreckage of the snub craft and began hastily crawling toward the location he had been firing upon...

And then the engines gave out. There was a massive KRAAKOOOM as the over-stressed propulsion systems of the escort cruiser detonated in extraordinary fashion. The front portion of the cruiser was pressed even deeper into the hull of the Overlord and larger rear section was broken off and propelled away from the impact site. Smaller explosions continued to ignite the back section of the ship as it began to tumble uncontrollably through the active battle taking place in space around the colliding ships. It was loosing atmosphere rapidly and would be completely decompressed soon, which should put out most of the fires, but gave little hope for any surviving crew members.

In the forward bridge section, Taden was once again slammed forward with incredible force. He managed to curl up to somewhat protect himself from another devastating impact before smashing into the section he had just been firing upon. Taden's hard, mechanical, cyborg body was propelled through the weakened metal of the two ship hulls and flew out into an internal corridor aboard the Overlord like a massive black cannonball! His back smashed against the opposing wall and his heavy frame was implanted into the surface several feet above the floor.

"UHFF, NNGGH. Uh, I'm aboard the, NNGHH, Overlord now"

Taden managed to maintain consciousness just long enough to grunt an update into his comm unit before his mind slipped into the blackness to await its next [REBOOT] in a few seconds. A few moments of peace in the darkness of unconsciousness would be a respite for the battered cybernetic warrior... This was really turning out to be a shit day...

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...Chaos Aboard the Overlord...

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