Kusari Gold

[arvg]

Their premier ship of the line, the Kusari Destroyer was the mainstay of the Kusari fleet. Crewed by eighty or so troopers and Kusari fleet officers the vessels acted as the backbone of Kusari battle groups, or as intimidating instruments of terror on independent operations enforcing Imperial will over any that would oppose the order imposed by their totalitarian regime.

He bristled with weapon mounts. Nine cruiser turrets, augmented by heavy missile systems that gave the warship his vicious bite. A full predator tactical system, active command and control systems and support systems capable of re-supplying an entire fighter wing in the field, made the Hatchet a valuable prize to have seized intact.

Fraser was on the bridge, stirring a cup of coffee as he studied the paper charts that were laid out upon the CIC table. The surprise of the capture had yielded an intelligence bonanza that would give Military Intelligence a hard on for days.

Chuck entered the bridge, his hair still wet from the shower he had taken, dressed in his off duty clothes, his First Lieutenants insignia pinned upon the black shirts epaulettes. They were all anxious to be clean, and beggars couldnt be choosers. Fraser had done the same when he had come aboard. With nearly twenty four hours to go until the Tzahts air ran out, there was time to relax after Sergeant Killborne had swept the ship to ensure there were no more Kusari stragglers aboard.

I gave Hartley orders to survey the engineering spaces, Chuck moved to stand at the far end of the gleaming white plastic chart table. As near as I can tell, this ship hasnt been operating far from the main fleet. So in case they send a ship to investigate where this one disappeared, we need to be ready to run.

Agreed, Fraser said, gesturing with his mug at the charts. Appears this ship was under the flag of a Fleet Admiral operating under direct orders from Kusari High Command the flagship is something surprising. Fraser pulled out a series of reference photos from under the charts, tossing them across to his senior lieutenant.

Good god! Chuck breathed as he leafed through the photographs. Thats a battleship.

On his way to Kyushu, Fraser stated. If they set up shop out here, we are in a world of trouble.

What do we do? Chuck inquired. The Destroyers Command Interfaces are all in Kusari, meaning we dont have a hope in hells chance of figuring stuff out. And if that other Hatchet actually fixes what ever is wrong with it and gets a message out, were unbelievably screwed. And even if Hartley pulls off a miracle, we dont have any gun crews to run his weapon systems.

Tzaht can still jump, Fraser replied. Get a warning to the GCS, and maybe they can jump back here


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