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This story is about Outpost Terapin, a station that is vital to the Zidagar's defense against the Azdgari, as well as Igazdra raiding fleets. This chapter of the Phoenix Chronicles goes back to when the final touches were being made on it... when a lone Zidagar Blockade-Runner was skimming through space, with an important cargo of CrystalCores...
----
"Vmm Vmm Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm"
The engine of the Blockade-Runner hummed industriously as the Zidagar pilot relaxed in the cockpit. His arm trailed over the back of the chair as he checked the hyper-space computer to confirm their coordinates.
"Yah, the hyperspace route checks out. With all the Igazdra activity around here I wouldn't be surprised if they gave us the wrong ones though..."
"They better have, this is the last shipment needed to power up the outpost."
The co-pilot had answered him, after running an engine check. The co-pilot walked up to his seat and deposited his weary body on it.
"I'm tired of last-minute delays, no free Zidagar Flameout, no normal work hours. I haven't had a decent rest for at least 3 days."
"The extra pay makes up for it though... we'll have enough saved up to buy our own Blockade-Runner, and then think of the profit we'll make after we quit the government jobs."
"I suppose..."
The gleaming Blockade-Runner cruised through space, the purple-orange colors and the streamlined yet compact appearance making it a worthy addition to the ships of the Zidagar Empire.
It had been created by a Zidagar scientist called Cadar Tigona. It was the main Zidagar supply ship, and was designed to be able to survive war zones and get through blockades, hence it's name.
On the planet Igadzra, in the capital city of the planet, the Igadzra Council was being held in the Council Tower.
The Igadzra leaders met there on important occasions to discuss the future of their people. This time the Council was debating the orders they should relay to the Igazdra Fleet. As you know, the Igadzra are a race with a solitary nature, paranoid and suspicious of any and all. The Igazdra still manage to keep their Empire together, although one wonders how...
"We kaynot allow the Zidaygar to brahk through that sector! The stahtion they are building would save thhem from the oncoming Azdgari, and wouhld stop us as well."
The Igadzra senator sat down, and glanced around at the rest of the Council.
"Ihnformaytive, Senator Dagin, the Council has an agreeahnce upon this." The older Igadzra spoke with a degree of confidence, his eyes roaming the table and finally settling down on the data pad he held.
"I truhst I spaeke for all of you..."
Another Igadzra spoke up.
"I suhposse we ahgree, but there is the question of strahtigheks. How ahr we to stop the station and crypple it?"
A uniformed Igadzra then replied.
"I have anaylized their posihisition and have dytermined that the last shipment of supplies is near the area one of our fleets is posishuned. We could stryke there and then proceed to the stayshion and disable iht. The Azdgari raiding parties that plague the borders would surely then dehstroy the remainder before it is repaired."
What you learn from this, besides that this guy has a seriously hard time pronouncing certain words, is that he is a military figure in the Igadzra senate. The other senators nod and the old one resumes talking.
"Let it be so. A fast attack should dahystroy the supply frayter, and thahn we can disable the station. Excelaynt."
The Council members proceeded to vote. After they finished, the mesage was sent to the Igazra ship, the Londastrak.
On board the Londastrak, a crew member intercepted the transmission and relayed it to the commanding officer.
"So, we hahhv permishion to attaak. Officer Tlatkos, set the coordinates to the Zidagar ships route. Intercept it, destroy iht, and then proceed to the station. Order the two Aradas in sector T1- and T2- to meet us aht the station. Our orders ahr to cripple it, and let the Azdgari scavengers pick iht apart."
Officer Tlatkos keyed in the coordinates, and ordered the crew to jump to hyperspace. The tubular orange ship shot through space, the stars turning into lines of light. It then burst into hyperspace like a huge comet, as it proceeded toward the section of space that the Zidagar Blockade-Runner was now going through...
"The station should be in view in about 10 minutes, or less."
The Zidagar pilot looked around for his co-pilot, and found him. His co-pilot was checking the cargo area, and nervously too.
"I can't help being so excited. Azdgari raiders could be anywhere. I even hear Igadzra Aradas sneak up into this section of space for surprise attacks. We couldn't get away from them without military support."
"Now you're making me nervous! Now shut up, and return to the pilot bay!"
"Yah, I'm coming... what was that?"
"Hmm?"
"I could've sworn I heard a ship come out of hyperspace."
"There it is!"
They both looked out the viewport and beheld an Igazra cruising through space toward them.
"Oh no... a simple freighter cannot survive that... we're doomed...."
The pilot powered up the engines and prepared to make a futile attempt to escape. The phase turret on the Blockade-Runner tracked toward the Igazra, although had they had 6 phase turrets, it could not have been more hopeless.
The Igazra released a SAD module. It homed in on the freighter and impacted on the shields. The ship shook, as it desperately struggled to maneuver to safety. Three SAD's were deployed now. They twirled and spun through space and finally smashed against the ship's shields once more. The shields started to disintegrate and weaken, as the freighter quaked and staggered like the two Zidagar inside.
"We can't take much more! When our ship is in range of the phase cannons on that thing, we'll be destroyed! Even if we could keep out of range, the SAD's would destroy us first!"
"I suppose we won't be quitting the government job. This is the end."
"Good-bye. Those pathetic Igadzra won't destroy the fire that burns within the Zidagar! We will die! But we will die for the sake of our race! For our honor! Our pride! Let them do their worst."
They both stand tall, staring at the Igazra cruising toward them, doom evident in every weapon bristling over it's cylindrical frame.
-----
The freighter's shields give out, as another volley of SAD's hits the freighter. Now it is defenseless, its armor smoking and in some places crumpled and charred. The Igazra's phase turrets swivel toward it, and power up.
In the blink of an eye, 2 Zidara's jump out of hyperspace, escorted by 6 Zidagar Fighters. They speed toward the battle, particle beams energizing.
The Igazra stops its attack.
On board the Igazra...
The commanding officer looked at the Zidara's with distaste and said, "Leyt us forgeht this puny frayter. Jump to Sector T. All military crew, to battle stations!"
"To dastroy the stashun is our primary goal. This ship is of no consequence."
Inside the freighter the Zidagar saw the Igazra disappear into hyperspace.
"We're saved!"
A groan answered him. The Zidagar pilot was on the floor, his side cut from being thrown against a sharp tool when one of the SAD's had hit the ship.
"Are you hurt?"
"What does it look like? Of course I'm hurt!"
The co-pilot hailed a Zidara, and they were brought on board.
The injured pilot was brought down with a stretcher, looking, I might add, rather happy. He waved his hand around, as cheers reached his ears (or the Zidagar equivalent of an ear). They brought him mugs of foaming liquid as he related the tale of how they had survived the warships brutal attack.
"Yah, at least 20 Aradas were attacking us too, but I took care of them! I just blew 'em away with the phase turret, until they ran for their lives! Then that Igazra had to cheat and attack us. Well, it was about to beg for mercy when you guys came, but by then it was already running from us..."
The Igazra met with the two Arada's and they proceeded toward the unfinished Outpost Terapin.
Three Zidara's and ten Zidagar Fighters were guarding the station. They cruised around the perimeter, carefully watching out for enemy activity.
Then, the Igazra and the Igadzra Arada's came out of hyperspace.
Inside the main Zidara...
"Lieutenant Hajile! Alert the fleet! Igazra and 2 Arada's coming at this sector. All crew to combat stations! We have a battle to win."
The commanding Zidagar sat back down in the command chair.
This battle would decide the fate of this region of space. Without the station, nothing would hold back the Azdgari raiders.
The Zidagar Fighters shot bursts of phase beams at the Igadzra ships, as the Zidara's behind them prepared to open fire with the Phased Disruption Beams.
Phase beams and SAD's shot toward the Zidagar, and a fighter was destroyed when two SAD's and a flurry of phase beams blew it apart.
The Zidara's pivoted and turned, shooting the disruption beams across the hulls of the Igadzra ships.
Then, a beam of green energy shot from the Igazra and disintegrated two Zidagar Fighters. The Zidara's focused all firepower on the Igazra, seeing that it had the powerful Igazra Beam installed.
The two Arada's shot through the battle zone, with Zidagar Fighters close behind. Phased beams from the fighters were weakening the rear shields, until the Arada's turned around and blasted them with Dispersal Rockets and phase cannons. A fighter screamed out of control, and blew up on a nearby asteroid.
The Igazra Beam, combined with the Igazra's SAD's and phase beams, broke through the hull of a Zidara. Streaming fire and metal from the huge hole in it's side, it sunk through space.
The Arada's joined up with the Igazra, and together they destroyed three more Zidagar Fighters. The situation looked hopeless for the Zidagar. The two Zidaras cruised toward the station, as the fighters struggled to destroy the Aradas.
One Igadzra Arada was focusing on a single fighter, firing dispersal rockets at it, trying to take it down. Finally one hit, and the fighter spun out of control. The fighter pilot somehow managed to turn his ship so that it crashed into the Arada. The cockpit's shield was already weakened, so the Arada's pilot was killed, causing it to drift through space aimlessly.
One Zidagar pilot saw the fighter's destruction. Rage filled his heart as he saw the wreckage of his fellow pilot's strewing the area.
"You're going down..."
He found the other Arada, and shot at him. The Arada turned around and shot at him in return. They sped past each other, and came around for another pass.
"So, think you're such a hotshot? Try this!"
The Zidagar pilot went toward him at top speed, blasting away with phase beams. The Arada was hit, but made a slick maneuver that placed the fighter in front of him.
"Oh no, I'm going to die. I'm right in his scope..."
The fighter pilot desperately tried to slow down and turn, but he knew it wouldn't happen in time. Suprisingly, the Arada didn't fire. He turned around and shot at the Arada again.
"So, think you're such a top cadet? Wanted to get the perfect kill did you? Well, I won't let you get that chance again..."
The Arada got caught in the crossfire of the main battle and it's shields were damaged. The Zidagar pilot saw this and fired his phase cannons at full power, at the Arada's cockpit. He was joined by two other fighters. They all shot at the pilot section, until it blew apart.
"Happy graduation day, sucker!!!"
By now the Igazra was at the station, and it had destroyed another Zidara. Its shields appeared to be highly enhanced, but they were giving out. The lone Zidara cruised over the station, as beams of energy skimmed past it. The Igazra was over the station, and was starting to fire it's phase beams at it.
Pieces of metal were slowly melted off. The stations shield was not yet operational. The Igazra prepared to focus it's Igazra Beam and blast the station to smithereens.
Then, the stations weapons came online. Phase turret after phase turret focused on the Igazra and started to melt the underside. The Zidara and the Zidagar fighters joined the stations attack on the Igazra. Just before the beam fired, the Igazra's underside was melted apart. It sunk backwards and it's hull pointed upwards. The beam shot up into space, the green light gradually disappearing into the sea of stars.
The station had been saved. That was the story of how Terapin Station came into being. When you fly past it, remember all the brave Zidagar who gave their lives to protect it...
Transmission Terminated
(This message has been edited by moderator (edited 11-12-2001).)
nice story Phoenix, What's with all the spelling errors for the Igazdra?
------------------ You have been overriden by Overrider. Prepare to die evil scum! -Me All quiet on the western Front. But not for long.... OH SAY CAN YOU SEE!!!!!!!!........ The Underdogs Smiles:(url="http://"http://community.theunderdogs.org/smiley/gallery.htm")Underdog Smiles(/url) AIM: Overrider720, Ferazel17 or WhiteStreak7