Kusari Gold

[arvg]

It whirred and clanked about like a massive, undulating death machine.

Fraser was losing and he knew it, the power armour was landing blows with a rapidity bred into his species, one that no human body could match. Fraser staggered as the Samurai sent him sprawling across the deck.

The pair of marines opened fire with their pulse rifles unloading a full magazine apiece into the creature; it simply ignored the wounds as it reached out its hands to choke the life from the fallen Bretonian Captain.

There was a yell, as, out of seemingly nowhere, Hartley dropped from atop some crates, a large sledge hammer swinging into the head of the Samurai power armour. Smashing home. Fraser watched in shock as the engineer was thrown off of the Samurai and slammed into the marines knocking them all to the deck.

Fraser didnt hesitate; he scrambled across the deck, scooping up his Sonic Disruptor from where it had fallen, trained in and fired. The concussive energy smashed the Samurai through crates. As the Samurai stumbled to its feet again, Fraser fired a second shot, and a third, advancing steadily, emptying the Sonic Disruptor into the creature, throwing it up against a bulkhead as the sonic weapon pounded the resilient machine into pulp.

He lowered the weapon breathing heavily, the black oozing paste of haydraulic fluid and blood that had once been a Samurai slid down the bulkhead to pool on the deck, and Fraser turned to check on his men.

Hartley was bruised but smiling in pride, as the two marines picked themselves up, both of them shocked that their skipper had killed it.

Go, help secure the ship, Fraser said sliding his Sonic Disruptor back into its holster.

Feeling the bruise on his jaw with his other hand, he glanced over at Hartley and said, I owe you one.

Hartley smiled and winked bending down to pick up a spare pulse rifle and following Fraser as he marched through the corridors of the captured Kusari Destroyer.

Chuck had secured the bridge, the First Officer looking up at Fraser as the Captain walked through onto the tightly packed bridge, running his hands over the command consoles and checking data.

It was so clean, white and plastic. Gleaming and shiny in a way that seemed so alien to the Bretonian skipper used to the blast plates and grime of the TZaht. Holographic controls, floating repeater displays. It was ultra modern, the pinnacle of Kishiro Technologies design teams.

Were restoring communications now, Chuck reported dutifully. I present to the Captain with the prize-ship umm something I cant pronounce.

Fraser nodded his head. I accept this prize in the name of the Queen, he replied formally, coming down to the lower deck and staring out of the observation ports at the crippled Kusari destroyer, outgunned and outnumbered and totally oblivious to the fate that had befallen its comrade.

Across, the TZaht floated, in a few hours a deathtrap to the Kusari crew that occupied her. Fraser gritted his teeth as he sat in the command chair of the destroyer

Dagobaz, he commented.

Sir? Chuck asked.

HMS Dagobaz, Fraser replied. Old Punjabi word, means trickster. Seems fitting for the first Kusari Destroyer captured by the Privateers get the comms working and see if you cant reach the GC and the rest of the Privateers. Someone amongst the Kusari is going to be wondering what happened to their two destroyers and since we dont have the man power to take over two ships might as well see if we cant get a favour out to our friends.

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