Gallion

Just wanted to give you a chance to have a say in what is gonna happen Tac. And now  the rest of the story (RP) The Welcome; Part Five Lt. Cmdr. Gweedo was not a happy camper. He should be with the Graf Spee, supervising the refit and repair of the Galactan Class Battlecruiser, not standing in the doorway of the Wraith Fleet Leader, Commander Tac. Both men looked each other at a loss. Neither expected what each saw. Commander Tac was expecting the Corsair Wing leader, Commander Gallion, who was currently convalescing within the stations medical facility. Lt. Cmdr Gweedo was expecting more than what he saw. He had never met man responsible for both the creation and location of Wraith Fleet. The little man Lt. Cmdr. Gweedo saw standing behind an issue desk with his hands placed on the desk was not what he expected. Imagination is destroyed when faced with reality. A reality that Gweedo had to return to when he remembered why he was here and to whom he was dealing with. Lt. Cmdr Gweedo, GCV Graf Spee Acting Commander, reporting SIR! he said when his wits came back to him. Gweedos academy drill would be proud on the perfect salute rendered to Commander Tac. Commander Tac did nothing at first. He made the Graf Spees acting commander sweat as he took his timing returning Lt. Cmdr.s salute. At ease, Gweedo, report! Lt. Cmdr Gweedo was about to begin his report to Commander Tac when the stations tactical officers voice boomed over the staterooms intercom The Awakening; Part One Gunny York stood next to his commanders bed in the stations medical facility watching Gallion lying in the gurney. The readings on the life support equipment monitoring the Corsair Wing leader were normal. Even to the untrained eye of GnySgt York, Senior Marine assigned to the GCV Graf Spee. York stood and watched, watched and stood as the monitors went beep, beep, beep to the rhythm of Gallions pulse and breaths. Gunny York shook his head slightly as he bowed his head and turned away from Gallions gurney. He turn so as not to have to see the bed-ridden Corsair and to leave his commanders side. Just as York took his first step away from Gallions bedside; the rhythmic beep of the life monitoring equipment ceased. The crusty old Marine stopped in his tracks and spun back towards Gallions gurney and halted in his tracks. He could not believe his eyes. The worried look that has been haunting the Marine since leaving Spectre left Yorks eyes and face. Replaced with confidence and joy as he assumed the ancient tradition of the NCO Corps when their Commander The Welcome; Part Six The two Marines standing guard at door of Commander Tacs stateroom were shoved aside by the crusty old Graf Spee Marine, GnySgt York, after they took to long in allowing access to the entry hatch. York activated the staterooms entry hatch controls, stepped aside, and assumed a guard position in front of the hatch in the hallway. The hatchs door closed. To a passerby, the crusty old Marines expression was enough to stifle any question or comment on just what occurred. The Fix; Part One Lt. Cmdr, Scott almost choked on the coffee he had just started to sip when he read the incoming message he had just received from Wraith-HQ space station and let out a yell of joy that startled the engineer crew members that were near. Scott could not believe what he was reading but he liked the concept and rushed to the Graf Spees research lab. They had a special coating to fabricate and apply; and only three days to complete this bodacious task. The Welcome; Part Seven Commander Tac was in the middle of fighting an unknown vessel and berating an acting commander when he choked on the tirade he was about to unleash on the unsuspecting Lt. Cmdr. Gweedo. The cause of this interruption was the unexpected and unauthorized entry of someone into his command stateroom. Commander Tac was about to unleash a new tirade on the person that had the audacity to enter his inner-sanctum when he saw who was the cause. Commander Tac just stood behind his desk with his mouth open so wide, an Aestrom couldve landed under manual control. Commander Tac eyes blinked as he tried, in vai, to regain his command composure. The silence was broken when the unknown intruder spoke to Lt. Cmdr. Gweedo. Lt. Cmdr. Gweedo, you are relieved of command are assigned to your former duties. Return to the Graf Spee and give Mr. Scott any and all assistance that he may required. Lt. Cmdr. Gweedo snapped to attention, executed an about face, saluted the unknown intruder, and departed the Wraith Command Stateroom. When he exited the stateroom he stopped and grinned at the crusty old Marine that was guarding the staterooms entry hatch. The expression on the crusty old Marines face did not change but the look in GnySgt Yorks eyes said what a million words could not say to Lt. Cmdr Gweedo. Gweedo turned and headed towards Docking Bay 13, slowly at first, then at a double time. The Fix; Part Two Mr. Scott and the Graf Spees Research Engineer, Lt. Cmdr. LeFevre, were looking at their mission brief and contemplating how to accomplish it. The mission was simple; paint the Graf Spee the darkest black as possible. The hard part was to incorporate the rest of the mission. The paint had to absorb all known scanner signals and reduce the scanner signature of the Galactan Class Battlecruiser to next to nil. Both engineers were searching and scanning the Galcom databases for any and all information. Their search was difficult and results were next to nil. It seems that they did not have the appropriate security codes to access certain ISS databases. Each search resulted in the same computer response: ACCESS DENIED The Welcome; Part Eight Commander Tac somehow managed to regain his composure but not his command composure. He was still taken aback from both the unauthorized entrance into his command stateroom and his current guest. All he could do was stare at his guest and fall into his chair. Meanwhile, the guest calmly walked to the holovid controls, input some simple commands, and turned towards the still quasi-dumb founded Wraith Fleet Leader. The guest waited a few minutes before he began. In a monotone, command brief, just-the-facts manner, Commander Gallion briefed his commanding officer on Corsair Wings engagements, mis-engagements, and actions since being deployed to Gammulan space so many weeks ago. The Fix; Part Three Persistence rewards those that are persistent was the old adageat least that is what Mr. Scott thought as Lt. Cmdr. LeFevre access the previously inaccessible data files. Both of the Graf Spees senior engineers looked at each other and smiled. They had hit the mother load. Quickly, they downloaded the necessary files. After both Scott and LeFevre agreed on the BOM, they sent it to the mission commander, and waited for a response. The Welcome; Part Nine When Commander Gallions briefing to Commander Tac reached the part where he entered Spectre Star Station, he stopped; made some adjustments on the holovid controls and waited for the information displayed to sick in. Commander Tac contemplated the holovid display; a red circle extended for several light years around a single point in space. The point was the star system the was home to the Insurgency. Gallion continued with his monologue, In my opinion, neither the Insurgency or the Insurgency Command could not be held responsible for the IFF Module sabotage. They were fighting in Sol system along side Galcom forces, killing Gams and being killed by them. This is circumstantial evidence, but enough to point the finger at the Insurgency. Commander Tac said nothing, he looked at the holovid display and at Commander Gallion. For the first time he noticed something strange about the Corsair Wing leader. Gallions uniform was pressed, insignia was in its proper place, but his collar was a bit high on the neck. Just a speck of white showed above Commander Gallions collar, the white of a wound dressing. What do you think we meaning Wraith Fleet should do Gallion? Commander Tac. Gallion took a deep breath and faced his estranged commander. Here is a Bill of Materials I need to refit and repair the Graf Spee. One ship stands a better chance in tracking down whoever is responsible then a Fleet. Galcom Command cannot be notified because they may be infiltrated. Just as I thought Wraith-HQ was. Tac looked at the BOM that Gallion handed him and just about shite a brick. Many items on this list were both classified and expensive. Tac looked at Gallion and yelled, How did you get this Gallion was expecting such a response from the sometimes emotion Fleet Leader and calmly replied, How I received this list is unimportant, what is important is that it takes Level 5 access to authorize its release. An authorization that you can authorize Commander. Gallion leered at the bewildered Wraith Fleet Leader and waitedand waited.. Finally he could wait no more, what will it be Commander? Do you feel lucky? I do, I need that material. I cannot fly around in that area of space on Iridium the whole time. If you are worried about the galcreds, I have more than enough to Enough! Tac shouted, you and your activities are a thorn in my side Gallion. Do you know how much explaining I had to do just to keep you from a court-martial? You nuke Gammula without Galcom authorization, detain and board a Galcom vessel without any explanation or so much as a thank you, you Commander Gallion had heard it all before and it took all his will power to stifle a yawn. Suddenly he remembered and understood what the man known as Insurgent One was saying to him on Spectre. Clam down Tac, Gallion said, we both knew that this would happened. As a matter of fact, Galcom gave you a heads up before they assigned me to this rust-bucket. Now, back to the issue of materials. Will you authorize the requisition? Commander Tac was taken aback by the subtle brashness displayed by Commander Gallion. He remembered both Galcoms heads up and why he assigned Gallion to Corsair Wing and made him the Wings leader. Request is authorized, Tac said as he thumb printed his stamp of approval on the datapad before he tossed it to Gallion. Gallion caught the datapad and smiled. The Fix; Part Four Both Lt. Cmdrs. Scott and LeFevre danced about the duty station terminal when then Request Authorized displayed on their terminals screen. ETA was three hours for the material. Mr. Scott started a task listing and Mr. LeFevre began calculating the paints formula. When Lt. Cmdr. Gweedo entered the Graf Spees research lab, Mr. Scott handed him a datapad. Gweedo looked at the datapad and smiled. This was going to be good. The Graf Spee would be painted with a scanner absorbing, signature reducing jet ebony black compound. On each Solar panel, the skull and crossed bones of the ancient Jolly Roger would be painted in a brilliant White. The white paints brilliance could be dimmed or brightened via a dimmer located on the Graf Spees command chair. Gweedo smiled and chuckled to himself. Gallion must have lost it now, either that or Commander Tac is just as crazy as Gallion is, he mused to no one in particular. The Welcome; Part Ten This concludes my report to Commander Tac, Gallion said, award recommendations are enclosed with my approval. I will be ready to depart in three days. Any thing else Commander? Commander Tac sat and contemplated his predicament, a predicament of his own making. Hopefully, he would not hang himself. No Gallion, there is nothing else to be said that would amount to anything. How many ships will you be taking? Just the Graf Spee I presume? Tac asked the grinning Corsair. Just the Graf Spee Tac, Gallion replied, one ship and one ship only. Neither one of the Commanders spoke for several minutes. A mini-battle of wills was encoring between these two headstrong commanders. One was a rogue and maverick, the other was stuck behind a desk wishing that he could join in on the hunt. With a nod of his head, Tac dismissed Gallion. Gallion nodded in return and left the Wraith Command Stateroom. When Gallion left Tacs stateroom, Gunny York fell in step slightly behind his commander. Gallion turned his head slightly to his left and said, Gunny, get with Lt. Cmdr. Gweedo, you have two days to get that Lt of yours in-line or he will be sucking vacuum on the third day. If he gives you any lip, kindly tell Resprick to report to me on the double. No heads up will be necessary. Also, I need ten marines to do this Gallion handed the crusty old Marine the datapad he was holding. York read what Gallion wanted to do and smiled, ROE Sir? None Gunney, Gallion replied. GnySgt York had a bit of a step in his already quick step as they neared Docking Bay 13. No problem Sir, Gunny York said, no problem at all. Gallion smiled at the old Gunny as they both entered the airlock. ...remember... (rp/) This will be the last post I will be able to make for several weeks. I will post the Graf Spees refit, repair, and paint job progress report when I get settled into my new assignment. TTFN ------------------ Cmdr Gallion GCV-Graf Spee, Corsair Wing Wraith Fleet [This message has been edited by Gallion (edited 03-16-99).]

Now if I can get my ship out of drydock, maybe I can score some much needed "points" with Galcom command types and avert this travestry. But then again, I just may stay in sickbay with ... ------------------ Cmdr Gallion GCV-Graf Spee, Corsair Wing Wraith Fleet

Well, Tac failed to contact me so he will have to live with what I post ... the horror [This message has been edited by Gallion (edited 03-17-99).]

(rp) Corsair Wing made it. They were 50km from the safety and security of Wraith-HQ. Per Corsair SOP, each ship was cloaked and would remain cloaked until docked within the space station. This is done to hide the Wings movements from prying eyes. Eyes that do not need to know where Corsair Wing is located. The GCV Graf Spees acting commander, LtCmdr Gweedo, was worried. Ever since the wing left Spectres home system, he had a feeling that they were being followed. Each time the wing exited a jump point, there was always one more flash of light than the number of ships traveling to Wraith-HQ in Corsair Wing. Gweedo counted seven of these jump point anomalies each time the wing exited a jump point, plus one more shortly after. The Daemar; Part One Gallions dream of bliss changed to one of mocking. From soaring with birds to one of desolation and betrayal as he saw a man stabbed in the back. Do you have thirty pieces of Silver Gallion? In his dream, Gallion turned around and around trying to locate and face the voice of his dreams. Thirty pieces of Silver, what the  I have over 500 million Galcreds he thought to himself as he tried to locate the source of the voice. The Welcome; Part One The commander of the GCV Prinze Eugen released the ships of Corsair Wing to dock with Wraith-HQ when they reached auto-docking range, 25km from the space station. One by one, each ship received docking clearance and was controlled by the massive space station. The GVC Graf Spee was assigned its normal docking bay, one that no other ship would share or berth at while the ship was deployed. Docking Bay 13. The Daemar; Part Two Well Gallion, do you have thirty pieces of Silver? Of course I have thirty pieces of Silver, Gallion yelled to nothing and no one at the same time, thirty pieces and then some. Who are you? For our god is a vengeful god and yea he is the god of fire and anger and even unto a god of cruelty for he hath made us flawed in his image The Welcome; Part Two Once the Graf Spee had docked with Wraith-HQ, Lt. Cmdr Gweedo ordered the cloaking device to be deactivated. Without a word from the acting commander of the Graf Spee, the crew began post-docking procedures. Requisitions were approved and sent, repair were prioritized and scheduled, and replacement personnel assigned. Lt. Cmdr. Gweedo approved the last requisition and activated the ship intercom, GnySgt York, report to the MediBay ASAP! Gweedo departed the bridge, heading for the MediBay. The Daemar; Part Three What are you? For our god is a vengeful god and yea he is the god of fire and anger And even unto a god of cruelty for he hath made us flawed in his image The Welcome; Part Three Lt. Cmdr. Gweedo and GnySgt York arrived at the MediBay at the same time. Medics were preparing Commander Gallion for transport to the Wraith medical facility. For the first time, Lt. Cmdr. Looked at his commander laying helplessly in a transport gurney. Gallion looked like a wreck. Tubes, leads, and sensors were hooked up to his seemingly healthy body in and on places that were not meant for them. Gweedo noticed something about the commanders uniform that he did not notice before. Gallions Galcom pin, his wings, were missing. An observation that sparked another revelation to the acting commander of the GCV Graf Spee. He turned and asked GnySgt York a simple question, what happened to Commander Gallions Galcom pin and his Datapad Gunny York? Not waiting for the surprised marine to respond he answered his own question, they are both on Spectre arent they? Gunnery Sergeant York looked as if he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He just looked at Lt. Cmdr. Gweedo and nodded his head ever so slightly. Before Lt. Cmdr. Gweedo could grill the tightlipped further, the ships intercom piped in, Lt. Cmdr. Gweedo, incoming message from Wraith-HQ. Routing to MediBay. The Daemar; Part Four Where are you! and he hath hidden the lure of perfection in our grasp That we would bring down the final fiery Armageddon on our own heads The Welcome; Part Four Lt. Cmdr. Gweedo accessed the incoming message at the duty officers station in the MediBay and shook his head. Commander Tac, Wraith Fleet Leader, wanted Commander Gallion to report to his office immediately. This will not be pretty, Gweedo thought to himself, Cmdr Tac will blow a stack when he reads the wings casualty list. Guess he hasnt done that yet. He turned to the Medical Officer, Lt. Cmdr Katara, and asked, has the casualty list been sent yet? Yes it has, Lt. Cmdr. Katara replied, as soon as we docked I sent it out. Along with the patient transfer request to the Wraith medical facility. The Daemar; Part Four in striving to reach our destiny serve with honor  remember Lt. Cmdr. Gweedo looked at his bed stricken commander. A look of fear and despair was on his face. Suddenly, without warning, the life support equipment monitoring the Graf Spee commanders condition sounded an alarm. Life support readings, pulse, blood pressure, and brain wave patterns were pegged off scale. Ripping the medical equipment sensor leads from his body as Gallion rose upright on the transport gurney and shouted, Show yourself! Tell me who you are! As quickly as it started, Gallions outburst ended. But not before Gallion looked at Lt. Cmdr. Gweedo with a soul piercing glare that made Gweedo take a half step back from the gurney and said, Paint it black, with the Skull and bones in white on the solar panels. Gallion collapsed back into a quasi-coma on the transport gurney. Medics and the Medical Officer rushed to Gallions side, trying to stabilize the delirious Corsair Wing Leader. remember The voice faded away from Gallions now deranged mind and dream and was replaced with an image of the black void of space. Within this black void, the shape of a Galactan Class Battlecruiser could faintly be seen. The Battlecruiser was black, as black as the void around it. On each Solar panel, the white Corsair Skull and bones could be seen. Gallion relaxed and smiled. To the astonishment of the Medical team that surrounded the gurney he laid upon. The Welcome; Part Four The Battle Stations klaxon sounded throughout Wraith space station and the Graf Spee. Lt. Cmdr. Gweedo rushed to the MediBay terminal and brought up a TacOps display. Near the Hadar9/Rinaal jump point he saw a sight that made him smile and laugh to himself. A MR-15 transport ship was playing tag with an unknown Insurgent vessel. Gweedo counted to himself  two  three times the craft collided with each other. After the third collision, a mini super nova was created as the MR-15 exploded, sending the Insurgent vessel careening uncontrolled through space at over 50,000km per second. Slowly, ever so slowly, the unknown Insurgent vessel began to fade from visual scanners as its cloaking field was reestablishing its integrity. Lt. Cmdr. Gweedo turned off the TacOps display. Nothing to worry about. The Insurgent vessel would hightail it out of the Rinaal system if and when the crew regained control if the speeding craft. Motioning to GnySgt York to follow him, Gweedo headed towards the main airlock. He had a meeting to attend, one that he was not looking forward to, with Commander Tac. The Daemar; Part Five An evil grin appeared on Gallions face as he saw the Black Galactan Class Battlecruiser approach the unknown star station. Weapon systems were activated and the Battlecruisers presence was undetected by the unknown station suspended in the black void of space. In the target display, Gallion could barely make out the stations designation and name  CID  . (/rp) My part is complete in this thread. Stay tuned for the further mis-adventures of the Galloping Corsair. DeSylva and Tac  I suggest that each of you coordinate the IFF code snafu with each other. I opened Tacs plot inadvertently during the Gam War threads and have also opened DeSylvas plot in this thread. Personally, I like DeSylvas take on the IFF plot. ------------------ Cmdr Gallion GCV-Graf Spee, Corsair Wing Wraith Fleet [This message has been edited by Gallion (edited 03-14-99).]

<rp> Cosmic Charlie Comms: "Incoming Message from Wraith-HQ" LtCmdr Gweedo: "Pipe it throgh Lt," quote:<garble>....<static>....<more static>....<garbled again> Comms: "Communications systems are still unreliable Sir" LtCmdr Gweedo: "So it seems Lt." Gallion lay in the MediBay heavily sedated and bandaged. He had an eire grin on his face. The Medical Oficer was somewhat concerned over his patient's condition. He had stopped the bleeding and stiched Gallion up OK, probably have a scar around his neck also, but that eire grin had him worried. He had seen Gallion with that grin before, a grin Gallion had just before making a kill. To see such an evil grin on a person when they are concious is one thing and normal; but to see an unconcious person with such a grin was another thing all together. The Medical Officer made an entry in his medical log to have a complete psychological workup done on Gallion as soon as possible. Gallion was dreaming innocent dreams; dreaming the dream of dreams; dreaming of feathers, crows, ashes, and flying. The Time Seventy Minutes Past Midnight, The Witching Hour is through for this day <rp/> ------------------ Cmdr Gallion GCV-Graf Spee, Corsair Wing Wraith Fleet [This message has been edited by Gallion (edited 02-21-99).]

-- -.-- / -. . -.-. -.- / .... ..- .-. - ... / .- -.- .. .-. .- <rp> The Parlance The image of the Graf SpeeÔÇÖs transporter room faded away and replaced by the images of a room on the Insurgent Starstation Spectre. Across a large black table sat a man in a black one-piece spacer-suit. Gallion was not worried about what may or may not be behind him. That is what Gunny York and his marine was for; to watch his back. Gallion looked at both the man and the room around him. He took in both the man across the table and the attire he wore. The manÔÇÖs attire was non-discrete, standard spacer issue black one-piece with an overly large belt buckle but nothing else. His attire was not adorned with insignia, name, or other regalia that would identify him. What intrigued Gallion the most were this manÔÇÖs eyes. A personÔÇÖs eyes are the gateway to their soul and are the one part of the Terran body that cannot lie. The tongue may be slick and smooth, the smile seems genuine, but the eyes will never bear falsehood or untruth. The man not only met GallionÔÇÖs gaze, but also maintained it without flinching; buzzzzzzzzzzz. Gallion knew that this man was Insurgent One, the Rattler, the man responsible for organizing the once ragtag Insurgency into an effective, disciplined, and organized force to be reckoned with in the Galaxy. The quasi-battle of wills was broken between the two when The Rattler broke the silence with his calm, firm, and confident voice. Rattler / --. . -. - .-.. . -- . -. / --..-- / / .-- . .-.. -.-. --- -- . / - --- / / - .... . / .-. .- - - .-.. . .-. / ... / -.. . -. / / --..-- / / .- -. -.. / - --- / .-- .... .- - / -.. --- / .. / --- .-- . / - .... .. ... / .--. .-.. . .- ... ..- .-. . / / / - .... .. ... / .. ... / .- / ... - --- .-. -.-- / .. / -- ..- ... - / .... . .- .-. / .-.-.- / / / .. - / ... / --. --- - - .- / -... . / .--. .-. . - - -.-- / .. -- .--. --- .-. - .- -. - / ..-. --- .-. / -.-- --- ..- / - --- / .... .- ...- . / .--- . --- .--. .- .-. -.. .. --.. . -.. / -.-- --- ..- .-. / ... .... .. .--. ... / ..-. --- .-. / .-.-.- / / / -. --- .-- / .-.. . - / ... / .... . .- .-. / .. - / ..--.. / / Gallion: .. / .- .--. .--. .-. . -.-. .. .- - . / -.-- --- ..- .-. / - .. -- . / --..-- / / .. -. -.. ..- .-.. --. . -. -.-. . / --..-- / / .- -. -.. / -.-- . ... / -- -.-- / .--. .-.. .. --. .... - / .. ... / .. -- .--. --- .-. - .- -. - / .-.-.- / / / .. / .- -- / .. -. / ... . .- .-. -.-. .... / --- ..-. / .. -. ..-. --- .-. -- .- - .. --- -. / .-.-.- / / / .. -. ..-. --- .-. -- .- - .. --- -. / - .... .- - / --- -. .-.. -.-- / -.-- --- ..- / -- .- -.-- / .--. .-. --- ...- .. -.. . / .-.-.- / / / .-.. . - / -- . / - .-. -.-- / - --- / . -..- .--. .-.. .- .. -. / .-.-.- / / Without waiting for The RattlerÔÇÖs response, Gallion moved towards the black table and activated the holoprojector controls located in front of him. He brought up the galactic Navchart and began his story. Gallion recounted the perils and exploits that Corsair Wing suffered and endured since deployed to Gammulan space when the Gammulans invaded Sol. Gallion said more than he intended to The Rattler. He did not know exactly why but it seemed to be the right thing to do, buzzzzzzzzzzz. Rattler leaned back into his chair and listened without comment or visible expression to GallionÔÇÖs tirade. That is until Gallion began explaining the Wing's TDF IFF Code Module sabotage. Taken aback by the abruptness, and direct "frontal assault" going on before him, Rattler could only watch and listen. This Commander had taken charge of the situation, and all Rattler could muster was -.-. --- -. - .. -. ..- . / --..-- / / --. .- .-.. .-.. .. --- -. / --..-- / / .. ..-. / -.-- --- ..- / .... .- ...- . / .- / .--. --- .. -. - / - --- / -- .- -.- . / .... . .-. . / .-.-.- / / / -.-- --- ..- / .... .- ...- . / -- -.-- / .- - - . -. - .. --- -. / --..-- / / -.. --- -. / - / ... --.- ..- .- -. -.. . .-. / .. - / ..--.. / / Gallion: ÔÇ£... we have isolated the possible source of the TDF IFF Code module sabotage down to two areas: One: Wraith-HQ may possibly be compromised and infiltrated. By who or whom is unknown. Two: The TDF IFF Code module transmission was intercepted; altered; and re-transmitted to Wraith-HQ, again by who or whom is unknown. Point of interception has been narrowed down to within this circle of systems on the Navchart.ÔÇØ buzzzzzzzz Rattler: .. / ... - .. .-.. .-.. / -.. --- / -. --- - / ... . . / .... --- .-- / - .... .. ... / . ..-. ..-. . -.-. - ... / -- . / --- .-. / - .... . / .. -. ... ..- .-. --. . -. -.-. -.-- / .-.-.- / / / .. ..-. / - .... .. ... / .. ... / .- .-.. .-.. / - .... .- - / -.-- --- ..- / .... .- ...- . / --. --- - / --- .-. / - --- / ... .- -.-- / - .... . -. / -.-- --- ..- / .-- .- ... - . -.. / -. --- - / --- -. .-.. -.-- / -.-- --- ..- .-. / - .. -- . / -... ..- - / .- .-.. ... --- / -.-- --- ..- .-. / ... .... .. .--. ... / .- -. -.. / -.-- --- ..- .-. / .-.. .. / Gallion adjusted the holoprojector controls and a red circle appeared within the holo-display hovering over the table of the room. The epicenter of this red circle was Antis/Trenis, home system of Spectre, and the Insurgency. Rattler: / .. -- .--. --- ... ... .. -... .-.. . / ..--.. / / / -. --- -. . / --- ..-. / ... .--. . -.-. - .-. . / .-- .- ... / . ...- . -. / .. -. / - .... .. ... / --.- ..- .- -.. .-. .- -. - / -.. ..- .-. .. -. --. / - .... .. ... / - .. -- . / .-.-.- / / / .. / -.-. .- -. / .--. . .-. ... --- -. .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / ...- --- ..- -.-. .... / ..-. --- .-. / .- .-.. .-.. / --- ..-. / -- -.-- / -.-. --- -- -- .- -. -.. . .-. ... / --..-- / / ... .- ...- . / --- -. . / --..-- / / .- -. -.. / .... . / .... .- -.. / -- --- .-. . / .--. .-. . ... ... .. -. --. / -- .- - - . .-. ... / . .-.. ... . .-- .... . .-. . / .-.-.- / / / .. / .-.. .-.. / --. ..- .- .-. .- -. - . . / - .... .- - / .. - / .-- .- ... / -. --- - / .- -. / .. -. ... ..- .-. --. . -. - / - .... .- - / -.-. .- ..- ... . -.. / - .... .. ... / ..--.. / / Rattler's Personal Communicator chirped and announced an arrival of yet another New Member to the Insurgency. Commander Echo, of the Ship "Persephone" Requesting Permission to Join the Insurgency, and Docking Clearance for needed Repairs Permission Granted to Join the Insurgency, Commander. From this moment one, you carry the Title of Insurgent, and Your Ship shall be known as ICV Persephone. Do Her Proud, Commander. Proceed to Docking Bay 2 for Final Clearances to Dock. Rattler.... Out! See what I mean Commander Gallion. Commander Echo's Crossed The Line Now. No way back, but I doubt that She would want to return anyway. Gallion: .. / .- -- / -. --- - / .. -- .--. .-.. -.-- .. -. --. / - .... .- - / - .... . / .. -. ... ..- .-. --. . -. -.-. -.-- / -. --- .-. / .- -- / .. / .. -- .--. .-.. .. -.-. .- - .. -. --. / - .... . -- / .- ... / -... . .. -. --. / .-. . ... .--. --- -. ... .. -... .-.. . / ..-. --- .-. / - .... . / .. ..-. ..-. / -.-. --- -.. . / ... .- -... --- - .- --. . / --..-- / / -.-- --- ..- / .- -. -.. / - .... . -.-- / .-- . .-. . / .- - / ... --- .-.. ..-. .. --. .... - .. -. --. / - .... . / --. .- -- -- ... / .- -. -.. / -.. -.-- .. -. --. / .-.. .. -.- . / - .... . / .-. . ... - / --- ..-. / --. .- .-.. -.-. --- -- / .-- .- ... / .-.-.- / / / .. / .- -- / --- -. / .- / -- .. ... ... .. --- -. / .-.-.- / / / -- -.-- / -- .. ... ... .. --- -. / .. ... / - --- / ..-. .. -. -.. / - .... . / .--. . .-. .--. . - .-. .- - --- .-. ... / --..-- / / -... -.-- / .- -. -.-- / -- . .- -. ... / .- - / -- -.-- / -.. .. ... .--. --- ... .- .-.. / .-.-.- / / Rattler: / ... --- / .-- .... -.-- / -.-. --- -- . / .... . .-. . / / / .-- .... -.-- / -. --- - / ..- ... . / --. .- .-.. -.-. --- -- / ... / .- ... ... . - ... / / Gallion: -... . -.-. .- ..- ... . -... . -.-. .- ..- ... . .. Gallion could not finish what he was about to say. The confidence he had seemed to waiver and drain away when The Rattler asked him two simple questions that any academy cadet could answer without hesitation. Rattler: -... . -.-. .- ..- ... . / -.-- --- ..- / -.-. .- -. -. --- - / - .-. ..- ... - / --. .- .-.. -.-. --- -- / --- .-. / --. .- .-.. -.-. --- -- / ... / -.-. .-. --- -. .. . ... / .- -. -.-- -- --- .-. . / / .-.-.- / / .-.-.- / / .-.-.- / / .-. .. --. .... - / / / .. -. / .- -.. -.. .. - .. --- -. / --..-- / / -.-- --- ..- .-. / -- .. ... ... .. --- -. / .. ... / -. --- - / ... .- -. -.-. - .. --- -. . -.. / .. ... / .. - / / / .. / ... . . -- / - --- / .-. . -- . -- -... . .-. / .- / -.-- --- ..- -. --. / -.-. --- -- -- .- -. -.. . .-. / --..-- / / -.. .. ... . -. -.-. .... .- -. - . -.. / .- ... / -.-- --- ..- / -. --- .-- / .- .-. . --- -. -.-. . / ..--.. / / .... .. ... / ... ..- .--. . .-. .. --- .-. ... / .-- . .-. . / .- .-.. ... --- / .. .-.. .-.. / -.-. --- -. -.-. . .. ...- . -.. / --..-- / / -... .- -.. / - . -- .--. . .-. . -.. / / --. . -. - .-.. . -- . -. / / .- .-.. ... --- / .-.-.- / / - .... . -.-- / ... . -. - / .... .. -- / --- -. / .- / / -.. . . .--. / ... .--. .- -.-. . / .--. . -. . - .-. .- - .. --- -. / / -- .. ... ... .. --- -. / - --- / --. .- -- -- ..- .-.. .- -. / ... .--. .- -.-. . / .- ... / .-- . .-.. .-.. / .-.-.- / / .- ..-. - . .-. / .- -.-. .... .. . ...- .. -. --. / .... .. ... / --- -... .--- . -.-. - .. ...- . ... / .- -. -.. / .-. . - ..- .-. -. .. -. --. / .... --- -- . / .-- .. - .... / / ..- -. -.. . -. .. .- -... .-.. . / / .--. .-. --- --- ..-. / / - .... .- - / - .... . / --. .- -- -- ..- .-.. .- -. ... / .-- . .-. . / ... ..- .--. . .-. .. --- .-. / .. -. / - . -.-. .... -. .. -.-. .- .-.. / -.. . ...- . .-.. --- .--. -- . -. - / --..-- / / .... . / .-- .- ... / -... .-. .- -. -.. . -.. / .- / / .--. .. .-. .- - . / / --..-- / / / ... -- ..- --. --. .-.. . .-. / / --..-- / / .- -. -.. / .... .- -.. / -. --- / .-. . -.-. --- ..- .-. ... . / -... ..- - / - --- / / -.. .. ... ... --- .-.. ...- . / / .... .. ... / .- ..-. ..-. .. .-.. .. .- - .. --- -. / .-- .. - .... / --. .- .-.. -.-. --- -- / .- -. -.. / .. - / ... / .- ... ... --- -.-. .. .- - . ... / .-.-.- / / .. / -... . .- .-. / -. --- / .. .-.. .-.. / .-- .. .-.. .-.. / - --- / --. .- .-.. -.-. --- -- / --..-- / / .. - ... . .-.. ..-. / --..-- / / -... ..- - / .. / .... .- .-. -... --- .-. / -.. . . .--. / .-. .- --. . / - --- .-- .- .-. -.. ... / . .- .-. - .... -.-. --- -- / .- -. -.. / - .... . / .. -. ... .- -. .. - -.-- / - .... .- - / -.. .-- . .-.. .-.. ... / - .... . .-. . .. -. / .-.-.- / / -.. --- . ... / - .... .. ... / .-. .. -. --. / .- / -... . .-.. .-.. / .-- .. - .... / -.-- --- ..- / -.-. --- -- -- .- -. -.. . .-. / --. .- .-.. .-.. .. --- -. / / .-- .... -.-- / .-- --- ..- .-.. -.. / ... --- -- . --- -. . / .-- .. - .... / -.-- --- ..- .-. / --- -... ...- .. --- ..- ... / ... -.- .. .-.. .-.. ... / -... . / ... . -. - / --- -. / .- / ... ..- .. -.-. .. -.. . / -- .. ... ... .. --- -. / --..-- / / ..- -. .-.. . ... ... / .. - / .-- .- ... / . -..- .--. . -.-. - . -.. / - .... .- - / -.-- --- ..- / .-- --- ..- .-.. -.. / --. . - / - .... . / .. -. ..-. --- .-. -- .- - .. --- -. / - .... .- - / - .... . -.-- / ... . -. - / -.-- --- ..- / .- ..-. - . .-. / --..-- / / - .-. .- -. ... -- .. - / - .... .. ... / -.. .- - .- / --..-- / / .- -. -.. / -.-. . .- ... . / - --- / . -..- .. ... - / - .... . .-. . .- ..-. - . .-. / / / . ...- . .-. / .-- --- -. -.. . .-. / .-- .... -.-- / .- .-.. .-.. / - .... --- ... . / ... .... .. .--. ... / .-- . .-. . / .-- .... . .-. . / -.-- --- ..- / .-.. . .- ... - / . -..- .--. . -.-. - . -.. / - .... . -- / / . ...- . .-. / .-- --- -. -.. . .-. / .--- ..- ... - / .... --- .-- / - .... . -.-- / ... . . -- . -.. / - --- / -.- -. --- .-- / -.-- --- ..- .-. / . ...- . .-. -.-- / -- --- ...- . / --..-- / / .- -. -.. / -... . / - .... . -.-- / .-. . / .-- .- .. - .. -. --. / ..-. --- .-. / -.-- --- ..- / .-- .... . -. / -.-- --- ..- / -.-. .- -- . / --- ..- - / --- ..-. / .... -.-- .--. . .-. / / - .... .. -. -.- / -.-. --- -- -- .- -. -.. . .-. / --..-- / / - .... .. -. -.- / ..-. --- .-. / -.-- --- ..- .-. ... . .-.. ..-. / - .... .. ... / --- -. . / - .. -- . / .-.-.- / / .. - / ... / --. --- .. -. --. / - --- / ... .- ...- . / -.-- --- ..- .-. / .-.. .. ..-. . / ..--.. / / / . ...- . .-. -.-- / --..-- / / .. / .-. . .--. . .- - / --..-- / / . ...- . .-. -.-- / -- . -- -... . .-. / --- ..-. / ... .--. . -.-. - .-. . / .... .- ... / -... . . -. / .. -. / -.-- --- ..- .-. / ... .... --- . ... / .- - / --- -. . / - .. -- . / --- .-. / .- -. --- - .... . .-. / .-.-.- / / - .... .- - / ... / .-- .... -.-- / .-- . / .- .-. . / .... . .-. . / --..-- / / .- -. -.. / - .... .- - / ... / .-- .... -.-- / --..-- / / .-- .. - .... / . ...- . .-. -.-- / -.. .- -.-- / - .... .- - / .--. .- ... ... . ... / --..-- / / .- -. --- - .... . .-. / -... .-. --- - .... . .-. / -.-. --- -- . ... / - --- / ... .--. . -.-. - .-. . / .-.-.- / / / -- .- -.-- -... . / ... --- -- . -.. .- -.-- / .. - / .-.. .-.. / -... . / -.-- --- ..- / The Quickening Gallion looked as if he had been slapped in the face. The Rattler had just hammered the nail home. What he said was true as Gallion experience attest. Corsair Wing is the misfit of Galcom. The last place any officer wanted to be assigned if they wanted a career in Galcom. Which brought up an interesting fact to Gallion? A fact that he never considered or realized. His Combat Officer, Lt. Resprick ÔÇ£volunteeredÔÇØ, actually he pulled some strings to be assigned to Wraith Fleet, specifically, Corsair Wing. Buzzzzzzzzzzz Suddenly, without warning the table in front [t]The Rattler pitched down and up in front of Gallion. A microsecond later, Gallion felt the collar around his next tighten and constrict. GallionÔÇÖs eyes began to bulge out as his breathing became more difficult. He brought his hands up to the collar of his uniform in a futile attempt to alleviate the constricting pressure around his neck. Time slowed to almost a stand still as the oxygen-rich blood that supplied his brain was slowly cut-off. Voices were muffled and distorted. He heard the ear-reaching sound of crushing bone and cartilage and a thump on the floor at his feet. He saw The RattlerÔÇÖs look of shock and disbelief. He saw his attaches reaching for their sidearm, diving towards opposite sides of each other in slow motion. Gunny York had drawn his weapon and trained it on GallionÔÇÖs assailant. To his left, the marine had his weapon drawn and trained on The Rattler. GallionÔÇÖs assailant dragged him towards one of the corners of the room. Gallion did his best to keep his feet moving to lessen the increasingly constricting pressure around his neck. He began to feel something wet and sticky ooze down his chest; slow at first but steadily increasing. Gallion began to see deep shades of purple, blue, and red as his vision began to fade. More muffled voices he heard as the lights suddenly went out. Gallion began to review his life when all of a sudden the lights came back on. Gallion could dimly see Gunny York, looking for a clean shot to save his Commander. The brightly-lit room began to dim and fad away, voices once vividly heard began to muffle, not to be heard at all. When the constricting pressure around GallionÔÇÖs neck suddenly disappeared. Gallion fell forward, away from the corner of the room gasping for air and breath. Gunny York, with a sadistic grin, finally had the clean shot he was waiting for and began to squeeze his weaponÔÇÖs firing mechanism. Gallion managed to gulp in a mouthful of air into his lungs and say, ÔÇ£HOLD!ÔÇØ before landing face-first on the roomÔÇÖs floor; gasping for more life-giving air. He looked quite comical, like a fish out of water trying to breathe. Rattler: / .- -.- .. .-. .- / --..-- / / .-.. . - / - .... .- - / -- .- -. / --. --- / ..--.. / / / .. - / ... / .-. . .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / -- . / --..-- / / --- .-.. -.. / ..-. .-. .. . -. -.. / --..-- / / .- -. -.. / - .... .. ... / .. ... / ... .--. . -.-. - .-. . / .-.-.- / / -.-- --- ..- / .-. . / .... --- -- . / --..-- / / .. -. / / - .... . / -.. . -. / ..--.. / / / .- .-.. .-.. / .. ... / .-- . .-.. .-.. / --..-- / / ... --- / ... - --- .--. / - .... .. ... / -. --- -. ... . -. ... . / .-.-.- / / / / -- . -.. .. -.-. ... / - --- / - .... . / ... - .- ..-. ..-. / -... .-. .. . ..-. .. -. --. / .-. --- --- -- / --..-- / / --- -. / - .... . / -.. --- ..- -... .-.. . / ..--.. / / / / / / / -. --- .-- / --..-- / / -.-. --- -- -- .- -. -.. . .-. / --. .- .-.. .-.. .. --- -. / --..-- / / .- ... / ... --- --- -. / .- ... / -.-- --- ..- / .-. . --. .- .. -. / -.-- --- ..- .-. / -.-. --- -- .--. --- ... ..- .-. . / --..-- / / .-- .... .- - / -.-. .- -. / ... .--. . -.-. - .-. . / -.. --- / - --- / .- ... ... .. ... - / -.-- --- ..- / .-.-.- / / .-- . / ..-. . . .-.. / -.. ..- - -.-- / -... --- ..- -. -.. / - --- / .- ... ... .. ... - / -.-- --- ..- .-. / . -. -.. . .- ...- --- .-. ... / -. --- .-- / --..-- / / - --- / - .-. -.-- / - --- / -- .- -.- . / .- -- . -. -.. ... / ..-. --- .-. / .-- .... .- - / .... .- ... / .--- ..- ... - / .... .- .--. .--. . -. . -.. / .-.-.- / / .. ..-. / .. / -.-. .- -. / .--. .-. --- ...- .. -.. . / -.. .- - .- / --..-- / / - . .-.. .-.. / -- . / .... --- .-- / .- -. -.. / .. - / ... / -.-- --- ..- .-. ... / .-.-.- / / After several long seconds of gasping for air, Gallion managed to regain his composure and breathing. He propped himself up and got up to his knees. Rubbing and his neck and hacking his lungs out. Between hacking fits, Gallion surveyed the room closely for the first time. Gunny York and his sidekick marine took a protective posture around their Commander. They had been embarrassed once, they would not allow it to happen again. Gallion notice something that he had felt but not seen before the attack. An Insurgent soldier lay dead not far from where he had been standing before the attack. He looks towards the corner of the room and saw his attacker. His hands clenching his head and his mouth was wide open, as if to scream. Not far from the attacker's body lay the implement of destruction that almost killed Gallion. Two metal rings, strung together with what looked like piano wire. Gallion walked on his knees, his hacking fits started to subside, to the body of his attacker. Gallion checked for and found a weak pulse. He placed his hand on his attackerÔÇÖs forehead, lowered his head a bit, and closed his eyes. Buzzzzzzzzzz Gallion suddenly opened his eyes and snatched his head back up. Using the wall to steady himself, Gallion stood up, faced The Rattler and leaned against the wall. Gallion: .... . / .-- .. .-.. .-.. / -... . / ..-. .. -. . / --..-- / / .- / .-- . . -.- / --- .-. / ... --- / .. -. / ... .. -.-. -.- / -... .- -.-- / .- -. -.. / .... . / ... .... --- ..- .-.. -.. / -... . / .- ... / --. --- --- -.. / .- ... / -. . .-- / .-.-.- / / .--. .... -.-- ... .. -.-. .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / .-.-.- / / <cough> - .... . .-. . / .. ... / .- / -.. .- - .- .--. .- -.. / ... --- -- . .-- .... . .-. . / -. . .- .-. / - .... . / - .- -... .-.. . / .-- .. - .... / .. -. ..-. --- .-. -- .- - .. --- -. / .- -. -.. / - .... .-. . . / ..-. .. .-.. . ... / -.-- --- ..- / -- .- -.-- / ..-. .. -. -.. / ..- ... . ..-. ..- .-.. / .-.-.- / / / - .... . / .-. . .- ... --- -. / .. / .-. .. ... -.- . -.. / -.-. --- -- .. -. --. / .... . .-. . / .-- .- ... / - --- / ..-. .. -. -..<cough> --- ..- - / .. ..-. / -.-- --- ..- / -.- -. . .-- / --- ..-. / .- -. -.-- / --- ..- - / -....- / --- ..-. / -....- / - .... . / -....- / --- .-. -.. .. -. .- .-. -.-- / ... .... .. .--. / -- --- ...- . -- . -. - ... / .-- .. - .... .. -. / - .... . / .- .-. . .- / .. / --- ..- - .-.. .. -. . -.. / .-.-.- / / / - .... . .-. . / .. ... / -. --- - / -- ..- -.-. .... / --- ..-. / .- -. -.-- - .... .. -. --. / - .... .- - / .... .- .--. .--. . -. ... / .. -. / - .... .- - / .- .-. . .- / - .... .- - / -.-- --- ..- / --- .-. / - .... . / .. -. ... ..- .-. --. . -. -.-. -.-- / .. ... / -. --- - / .- .-- .- .-. . / --- ..-. / .-.-.- / / . <cough>.. / -- ..- ... - / --. --- / -. --- .-- / --..-- / / - .... . / ..-. . .-- . .-. / - .... .- - / -.- -. --- .-- / --- ..-. / -- -.-- / .--. .-. . ... . -. -.-. . / .- -. -.. / --- ..- .-. / -- . . - .. -. --. / .... . .-. . / - .... . / -... . - - . .-. / .-.-.- / / / .- -- / .. / - --- / .- ... ... ..- -- . / - .... .- - / -.-- --- ..- / .-- .. .-.. .-.. / .- .-.. .-.. --- .-- / -.-. --- .-. ... .- .. .-. / - --- / .-.. . .- ...- . / Gallion motioned to Gunny York and his sidekick marine. They nodded and each grabbed one of GallionÔÇÖs arms. Gallion looked at The Rattler and waivered. Finally, he bowed his head slightly and drooped his shoulders, as if unloading a five hundred pound monkey off his back. If it were not for the two marines, Gallion may have kissed the deck again. The RattlerÔÇÖs gaze never left Gallion. Rattler, drawing from history, and recognizing the significance of this meeting, Saluted Gallion. Not the average Salute, but one which would have been rendered between two medieval knights. The bent elbow held perfectly horizontal to the shoulder, with fingertips touching the eyebrow. Slowly Rattler rotated his hand at the wrist, exposing his palm to Gallion, signifying raising the visor to his helmet, then just as suddenly, snapping it back into traditional salute, again signifying the closing of the visor, and two Knights were ready to do battle if necessary. He hoped this gesture had not been lost on Gallion. Parting with "Friends", even newly found ones, was always painful for Rattler. With these times, One never knew if they would ever gaze upon one another again. With that, Rattler grinned broadly at Gallion. He then focused his attention to Gunny York, "Gunny, You better take good care of This Man! He's the best you could Ever Hope For, and by the way, next time we meet, I expect you to be First Sergeant York. That's an order!ÔÇØ Gallion nodded and saluted the Insurgent leader the same way. Why? Ancient tradition and protocol, when a parley is concluded, the parties exchanged salutes and returned to their battle lines. Also as a sign of respect. The RattlerÔÇÖs words rang true and hit close to home. Gunny York grinned and nodded towards The Rattler. No wonder the Insurgency is growing, Gallion thought. Gallion and the marines activated their transponder beacons and shortly they were transported to where they belonged, back on the Graf Spee. The marines assisted Gallion to through the ship, to the bridge, and to his command chair. Upon reaching his command chair he activated and transmitted one message to Spectre. Gallion: / - .... . .-. . / .. ... / .- -. --- - .... . .-. / - .... .. -. --. / - .... .- - / .. / -. . . -.. / ..-. --- .-. / -.-- --- ..- / - --- / -.. --- / ..-. --- .-. / -- . / -. --- .-- / .. -. ... ..- .-. --. . -. - / --- -. . / .-.-.- / / / .. Gallion did not wait for a reply from Spectre, he terminated the tight-beam comms channel. He opened the Wings tacnet channel and gave the RTB order to the Wing. Slowly, Corsair began to turn towards the Antis/Khan jump point. Finally, the CorsairÔÇÖs were going home. The constant tempo of three weeks of continuos operations began to catch up to the brassy Corsair leader. Gallion slumped in his command chair a little, breathing a sigh of relief. Relief to the effect that for this one time, he did not have to watch his back as one-by-one Corsair left the heart of the Insurgency. Just before the Graf Spee reached the jump point, Gallion tapped out once more on the strange device attached to the armrest of his command chair.. quote:- --- / .- -. ... .-- . .-. / -.-- --- ..- .-. / --.- ..- . ... - .. --- -. / --..-- / / / -.-- --- ..- .-. / --- ..-. ..-. . .-. / .. ... / .- .--. .--. . .- .-.. .. -. --. / .- -. -.. / .. / - ..- .-. -. / -.. --- .-- -. / .-- .. - .... / --. .-. . .- - / -.. .. ... .--. .- .. .-. / --..-- / / -- -.-- / - .. -- . / .... .- ... / -. .- ..- --. .... - / -.-. --- -- . - .... / .-.-.- / / / .. ..-. / - .. -- . ... / .-- . .-. . / -.. .. ..-. ..-. . .-. . -. - / --..-- / / .. / .-- .. .-.. .-.. / .-.. --- --- -.- / ..-. --- .-. .-- .- .-. -.. / - --- / .-- .... . -. / --- ..- .-. / .--. .- - .... ... / ... .... --- ..- .-.. -.. / -.-. .-. --- ... ... / --..-- / / -... ..- - / .- .-.. .- ... / / - .. ... / -. .- ..- --. .... - / .-.-.- / / / - .... --- ..- / .- .-. - / .--. .- .-. - .. -. --. / .. ... / .-- .. - .... / ... .-- . . - / ... --- .-. .-. --- .-- / --..-- / / .. / -- ..- ... - / -... .. -.. / -.-- --- ..- / ... .-- . . - / .- -.. --- / .-.-.- / / / .. ..-. / --- ..- .-. / .--. .- - .... ... / .- .-. . / -.. . ... - .. -. . -.. / - --- / -.-. .-. --- ... ... / --..-- / / .. / .... --- .--. . / - .... .- - / .. / -.-. .- -. / -.. --- / .- ... / -.-- --- ..- / .... .- -.. / - --- / .-.-.- / / / .. ..-. / .- -. -.-- - .... .. -. --. / .. ... / ..-. --- ..- -. -.. / ..- ... . / - .... . / .--. .- -.. / - --- / ... . -. -.. / .-.-.- / / / --. .- .-.. .-.. .. --- -. / --..-- / / --. .-. .- ..-. / ... .--. . . Gallion saw and heard the incoming message. quote:...- . .-. -.-- / .-- . .-.. .-.. / --..-- / / -.-. --- -- -- .- -. -.. . .-. / ..--.. / / -.-- --- ..- / -.- -. --- .-- / .-- .... . .-. . / ... .--. . -.-. - .-. . / .-.. .. ...- . ... / .-.-.- / / -.. --- -. / - / ..-. --- .-. --. . - / -.-- --- ..- .-. / .-- .- -.-- / -... .- -.-. -.- / .-.-.- / / -.. --- --- .-. / .-- .. .-.. .-.. / .- .-.. .-- .- -.-- ... / -... . / --- .--. . -. / ..-. --- .-. / -.-- --- ..- / --..-- / / -... ..- - / -.-. --- -- . / .- .-.. --- -. . / -. . -..- - / - .. -- . / --..-- / / --- .-. / -... .-. .. -. --. / -.. . ... -.-- .-.. ...- .- / .- ... / .- / .--. .- ... ... . -. --. . .-. / .-.-.- / / -. --- - / --- ..-. - . -. / .-- . / --. . - / - .... .. ... / -- ..- -.-. .... / . -..- -.-. .. - . -- . -. - / .... . .-. . / --..-- / / ... --- / -.-. --- -- . / .- --. .- .. -. / --..-- / / ... --- -. / ..--.. / / / - . .-.. .-.. / - .... .- - / ..-. .-.. . . - / -.-. --- -- -- .- -. -.. . .-. / --- ..-. / -.-- --- ..- .-. ... / - .... .- - / .... . / ... / .-- . .- -.- / --..-- / / .- -. -.. / -.-. .-.. --- ... . -.. / -- .. -. -.. . -.. / .-.-.- / / .... . / ... .... --- ..- .-.. -.. / -. --- - / . ...- . -. / - .... .. -. -.- / --- ..-. / --. .. ...- .. -. --. / -.-- --- ..- .-. / ... .... .. .--. / - --- / .... .. ... / -.-. --- -- -- ..- -. .. -.-. .- - .. --- -. ... / --- ..-. ..-. .. -.-. . .-. / --..-- / / -... ..- - / ... .... --- ..- .-.. -.. / - .... .. ... / .... .- .--. .--. . -. / --..-- / / - .... . .-. . / ... / .- -. --- - .... . .-. / ... .... .. .--. / -... . .. -. --. / -... ..- .. .-.. - / --..-- / / .--- ..- ... - / .-.. .. -.- . / - .... . / -... ..- -.-. -.- / - .... .- - / ... .--. .. .-. .. - . -.. / .--. .- ... - / -.-- --- ..- / . .- .-. .-.. .. . .-. / --..-- / / - .... .- - / .... .- ... / -.-- --- ..- .-. / -. .- -- . / --- -. / .... . .-. / .-.-.- / / -. --- .-- / --..-- / / -... . --. --- -. . / --..-- / / -.-. --- .-. ... .- .. .-. / --..-- / / / / / ..-. .- .. .-. / .-- .. -. -.. ... / .- -. -.. / ..-. --- .-.. .-.. --- .-- .. -. --. / ... . .- ... / ..--.. / / / / .-. .- - - .-.. . .-. / .-.-.- / / .-.-.- / / .-.-.- / / .-.-.- / / .-.-.- / / .-.-.- / / .-.-.- / / .-.-.- / / .-.-.- / / .-.-.- / --- ..- - / ..--.. / Just as the message ended the last of the Corsairs, the GCV Graf Spee left Antis. On their long journey home. Gallion collapsed in his command chair, blood seeping from the wound he suffered on his neck by the unknown Insurgent attacker. Gunny York and the marine eased the wounded Gallion from the Graf SpeeÔÇÖs command chair down to the deck directly below. Medics, ever alert and ready arrive on the bridge shortly there after, stabilized Gallion, and moved him to the MediBay. Gallion dreamed as he never dreamed before. The combination of exhaustion, bloodloss, and medication put Gallion on cloud nine. He felt no pain, he felt as if he could fly. Flying like the birds of his youth on Earth. Flying like a crow..... The Time Sixty-One Minutes Past Midnight, The Witching Hour Plus One, time for the Wraiths to flee <rp/> This is the last of the coded posts that I will submit. This was a long one. RattlerÔÇÖs dialog is 99.9% his. My thanks go to the Insurgency on this post, notably Insurgent One, Akira [for not completely tightened the noose ] and Chavik. My part of this thread is not over, I have at least one more post. I hope nothing was lost in the translation, literally I almost forgot. Welcome aboard Commander Echo ------------------ Cmdr Gallion GCV-Graf Spee, Corsair Wing Wraith Fleet [This message has been edited by Gallion (edited 02-20-99).]

Sidebar --- That is how I interpreted DeSylva's post Akira ... with a little help from a friend that is [This message has been edited by Gallion (edited 02-19-99).]

<rp> The Grovel Comms: ÔÇ£Incoming message Commander from Spectre!ÔÇØ Gallion: ÔÇ£Route it to me in the transporter room Lt.ÔÇØ Comms: ÔÇ£Aye Sir.... Message sent.ÔÇØ Gallion read the message just received from the Insurgent Starstation Spectre. After erasing the message, he motioned to his attaches to move closer. So much for proving my case, Gallion thought as he removed his Galcom pin and stuck it into his datapad. Gallion: ÔÇ£Chief, deactivate the WingÔÇÖs the IFF codes and revert back to Galcom IFF. Do not reactivate them until either I return or the allotted time has expired.ÔÇØ Chief Engineer: ÔÇ£Aye Sir! Action without risk is akin to no action at all. Risk is what a Commander must take. Gallion wondered if the benefits would be worth the risk he is taking. I hope that there arenÔÇÖt anymore stray bucks out there, Gallion thought ... bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz The Time Fourteen Passed Midnight, well into the Witching Hour <rp/> .... . / .-- .. - .... --- ..- - / ... .. -. / ... .... .- .-.. .-.. / -.-. .- ... - . / - .... . / ..-. .. .-. ... - / ... - --- -. . ..-. --- ..- -. -.. / .- / ..-. . .- - .... . .-. / --- -. / - .... . / ..-. .-.. --- --- .-. / --. .-. .. -. / ..-. --- .-.. .-.. --- .-- / .- .-.. --- -. --. / .. ... ... / -.-. --- --- .-. -.. .. -. .- - --- .-. / .- -. -.. / ... . . / .-- .... .- - / -- .- -.-- / -... . / - ..- .-. -. . -.. / --- .-. / ..- -. - ..- .-. -. -. --- .-- / .- -.- .. .-. .- ------------------ Cmdr Gallion GCV-Graf Spee, Corsair Wing Wraith Fleet [This message has been edited by Gallion (edited 02-19-99).]

<rp> The Promotion Comms: ÔÇ£Incoming mes...ÔÇØ Gallion: ÔÇ£I see it Lt. Follow the Insurgent beacon ship and notify the Wing.ÔÇØ Gallion tapped out his reply. quote:.- -.-. -.- -. --- .-- .-.. . -.. --. . -.. / --..-- / / ..-. --- .-.. .-.. --- .-- .. -. --. / -... . .- -.-. --- -. / / -... .-. . .- -.- / / - .... . / .--. .- .-- -. / .. ... / --- -. / -.- .. -. --. / / / .- .-- .- .. - .. -. --. / .--. .-. --- -- --- - .. --- -. / / -... .-. . .- -.- / / .-- .. .-.. .-.. / .. - / .- / -.- -. .. --. .... - / -... .. ... .... --- .--. / --.- ..- . . -. / --- .-. / .-. --- --- -.- / -... .-. . .- -.- / .... .- ...- . / .. -. ..-. --- .-. -- .- - .. --- -. / .- -. -.. / -. . . -.. / - --- / -.-. --- -. ..-. . .-. / -... .-. . .- -.- / .- / -... . .- -- / - --- / -.-- --- ..- .-. / .--. .-.. .- -.-. . / .. ... / .--. .-. . ..-. . .-. .- -... .-.. . / .. / .- -- / ... ..- .-. . / -... .-. . .- -.- / / -- -.-- ... . .-.. ..-. / .- -. -.. / ... --- ..- -. -.. -... --- ..- -.-- / - .-- --- / .. ... / .- .-.. .-.. / .. / -. . . -.. / / -... .-. . .- -.- / / .- .-- .- .. - / .-. . .--. .-.. -.-- / .-- .. - .... / -... .- .. - . -.. / -... .-. . .- - .... / -... .-. . .- -.- / - .... .. ... / ... .--. .- -.-. . / .... .- ... / . -.-- . ... / .- ... / -.-- --- ..- .-. / -... ..- -.-. -.- / -.. --- / .- - - . ... - / / -... .-. . .- -.- / / ..- -. - .. .-.. / - .... . / . -. -.. / --- ..-. / - .... . / .-- .. - -.-. .... .. -. --. / .... --- ..- .-. / .--. .-.. ..- ... / --- -. . / .. / - .... .. -. -.- / -... .-. . .- -.- / -... . ..-. --- .-. . / .--. .- -. .. -.-. / ... - .-. .. -.- . ... / .- -. -.. / - .... . / .-- .-. .- .. - .... / -.. --- / ... . . -.- Gallion: ÔÇ£Lt. Cmdr Gweedo is in command until I return. GSgt York, you plus one meet me in the transporter room in one minute, sidearm and transponder only. If no word from me by 0200, launch probe ÔÇô SOS mode and return to Wraith-HQ. Comms, notify the Prinze Eugen Commander and tell him he is the Corsair now until my return. Any questions?ÔÇØ Gallion surveyed his bridge crew. Combat Officer Lt. Resprick was about to say something but his question stifled in his throat when GallionÔÇÖs gaze met his own. Gallion made for the transporter room. His thoughts were traveling a mile a minute. Rationalizing the situation did not help either. The buzzing in the back of his head increased but not as before. Normally this would warn Gallion of imminent danger; this time the buzzing produced a soothing sensation. Gallion did not know what this meant. His immediate concern was to get information and resume the mystery tour. GSgt York and another marine were at the transporter room when Gallion arrived. Each stood on a transporter pad and waited. Waiting for the key to get into the Den. The Time Twelve Past Midnight, The Witching hour plus Twelve <rp/> -. --- - / -.-- . - / .- -.- .. .-. .- -... .. .-. -.. / .- .-. .. ... . / ..-. .-. --- -- / -.-- --- ..- .-. / .- ... .... . ... -.-- --- ..- .-. / -- --- ...- . / -.. . -. / -.- . . .--. . .-. ------------------ Cmdr Gallion GCV-Graf Spee, Corsair Wing Wraith Fleet [This message has been edited by Gallion (edited 02-18-99).]

<rp> En Passant Gallion was waiting, waiting for what he did not really know. He only knew that his gambit was the logical thing to do given the circumstances. Gallion put the time to good use and found a connection that just may save his arse. Hopefully, he will not have to play his trump card. Gallion grinned a sig... TacOps: ÔÇ£Commander, one Insurgent ship is moving away, point 21, minus 49 by point 79, off the aft Sir!ÔÇØ Gallion looked into his CVD and targeted the craft; Battlecruiser Mk2, one of their new ones, Gallion thought. Nothing special about this ship movement, he activated his target camera to get a better view. Speed dropped rapidly to zero, indicating the beginning of a jump. A jump anomaly formed at the front of the Insurgent Battlecruiser. Everything looked normal until the Insurgent vessel disappeared from the CVD display and TacOps scanners. Not a normal jump after all. Gallion: ÔÇ£Any trace of that ship?ÔÇØ TacOps: ÔÇ£Negative sir! The Insurgent vessel must have cloaked.ÔÇØ Damn, thought Gallion, but then again I canÔÇÖt blame them either. The Corsair Wing leader had to fight his natural instinct and the buzz in the back of his head. A buzz that saved him and the Wing on more than one occasion. Discretion is the better part of valor sometimes, Gallion thought. Gallion: ÔÇ£TACNET Open; Activate PTA, 10% target MISSILES only until further notice, Gallion OUT!ÔÇØ At least we will not be sitting ducks, Gallion thought as he surveyed the battlefield. Odds were not with Corsair this time, not even as a long shot. Gallion began tapping on his command chair again. .--. .- .-- -. / - --- / -.- / / . -. / .--. .- ... ... .- -. - / .-- --- ..- .-.. -.. / -... . / .- / --. --- --- -.. / -- --- ...- . .- -. -.. / .--. ..- - / -- . / -... .- -.-. -.- / .. -. / -.-. .... . -.-. -.- .. / ... . . / -- .- - . / .. -. / - .-- --- / -- --- ...- . ... .-- .... .- - / -.. --- / -.-- --- ..- / ... . . Corsair WingÔÇÖs IFF filckered in time with GallionÔÇÖs tapping. His Comms officerÔÇÖs face looked like a supenova when she finally figured out what her commander was doing. She smiled and looked at Gallion, a look that beamed with confidence. The Time Ten Past Midnight, Fifty minutes remain in the Witching hour. <rp/> - .... . / .- .-. .. --.. --- -. .- / -.-. .- .--. .. - .- .-.. / .. ... / ..- .--. ------------------ Cmdr Gallion GCV-Graf Spee, Corsair Wing Wraith Fleet [This message has been edited by Gallion (edited 02-17-99).]

<rp> The Play Comms: ÔÇ£Incoming message Sir;ÔÇØ quote: You've got 15 minutes to respond correctly Graf Spee! After that, I send you to Hell for invasion of Insurgency Space. Check, Your Move! And he plays Chess too ... hmmm, that was not in the file; Gallion mused and wondered. Gallion: ÔÇØComms, Open and maintain tight-beam channel with Spectre!ÔÇØ Comms: ÔÇ£Channel opened Sir!ÔÇØ Gallion: ÔÇ£Route ALL transmissions to my station from and to Spectre.ÔÇØ Comms: ÔÇ£Aye sir,ÔÇØ the Comms officer replied to Commander Gallion. At the same time, she was wondering if she should call for help. Corsair Wing was completely surrounded by the Insurgents Gallion looked at the uncertainty that was reflected in the face his Comms Officer. He then scanned the rest of the bridge and saw the same look. Each crewmember wondered if Commander had lost his mind. Gallion had seen that look before, the look of mutiny, despair, and lack of confidence in their commander. Gallion got out of his command chair and moved to the center of the bridge. Gallion: ÔÇ£TACNET Open: Ok, you may be wondering what the devil are we doing here in Insurgent space, surrounded by Insurgents, and may be blown away by Insurgents. A ship intercepted the TDF IFF Code modules that were transmitted to Wraith HQ. That ship slipped a mickey on the IFF codes. That mickey caused the loss of three Corsair Wing ships and crews. We still havenÔÇÖt repaired the damaged that it caused. I intend to find that ship or the person, people, or organization that were responsible for the mickey and send them beyond the void. I need each and every one of you to bear with me. I know that it does not look good for us but we are Corsair's and CorsairÔÇÖs never lose. Gallion OUT!, TACNET CLOSED!ÔÇØ With that Gallion returned to his command chair and typed in a reply to the RattlerÔÇÖs challenge; quote:Ay, it stands so that I may hardly tarry so long. But I would be loath to fall into my dreams again: I will therefore tarry in despite of the flesh and the blood. At the same time Gallion tapped vehemonantly on that strange device on the chairÔÇÖs armrest which caused the Wings IFF codes to flicker: The Opening .. / -.-. --- -- . / .. -. / .--. . .- -.-. . / / / -.-. .- .-. . / ..-. --- .-. / .- / --. .- -- . / --- ..-. / -.-. .... . ... ... Pawn to King four, check is blocked but mate is still possible. Gallion hoped that it would not be his King that is crowned. It is Four Past Midnight. Gallion thinks that he has just touched the warrior inside. If he hasn't then the warriors outside will let him know... <rp/> ------------------ Cmdr Gallion GCV-Graf Spee, Corsair Wing Wraith Fleet [This message has been edited by Gallion (edited 02-17-99).]

This thread is a continuation of the Finding Akira thread to a certain degree. Any and all are welcome to post, either within the "plot" (if there even is one) or with their own adventure. Timeline is a couple of days after the Return of the Nevermore to Spectre SS..... Parts of this thread are coded. Two scripts located at this website inter.scoutnet.org/morse/ will translate code to text and text to code. Only copy/paste 2-3 lines at a time, the scripts can only handle so much. <rp> The Prose Gallion did not have to wait long for the InsurgentÔÇÖs reply to his little ploy. Ship, after ship launched from The RattlerÔÇÖs Den. Gallion had figured out how to Insurgent OneÔÇÖs attention. Hopefully without having to fight his way out of system. Gallion: ÔÇ£TACNET Open! Gallion to Wing, lower shield strength by 50%, Gallion OUT!ÔÇØ Gallion hoped that the Insurgent Commanders would recognize this gesture. An ancient gesture warships of old use to signify ÔÇ£parleyÔÇØ verses war. Just to make sure, Gallion did what he did not want to do ... Gallion: ÔÇ£Comms, Open tight beam channel to Spectre!ÔÇØ Comms: ÔÇ£Channel open Sir! Gallion: quote: What, would you make me mad? Am not I Christopher Sly, old Sly's son of Burtonheath, by birth a pedlar, by education a cardmaker, by transmutation a bear-herd, and now by present profession a tinker? Ask Marian Hacket, the fat ale-wife of Wincot, if she know me not: if she say I am not fourteen pence on the score for sheer ale, , score me up for the lyingest knave in Christendom What! I am not bestraught: here'sÔÇö Gallion: ÔÇ£Comms, close channel and route any response from Spectre directly to me.ÔÇØ Comms: ÔÇ£Aye Sir, communications traffic between the Insurgent vessels and Spectre has increased Sir.ÔÇØ Gallion was tense and uncertain. His Shrewness just might be his undoing this time. Commander Tac again repeated his order to RTB, to the safety and comfort of home. A home that he no longer felt comfortable at or within. Gallion ignored this latest attempt to interrupt his mission by the Wraith Fleet Commander. Communications systems were unreliable anyway and he was not sure if the message was clear enough. Bah, Tac is a pompus twit and an arse anyway, Gallion thought to himself, I'll deal with him soon enough. The Witching Hour: With that thought Gallion turned his attention to the immediate threat. The thirty Insurgent spacecraft that completely encircled Corsair Wing. A circle of death if Gallion's plan did not work .... The circle kept growing, more ships were being launched from both the Rattler's Den and from the planet's surface. Gallion was beginning to have a bad feeling about this. <rp/> ------------------ Cmdr Gallion GCV-Graf Spee, Corsair Wing Wraith Fleet [This message has been edited by Gallion (edited 02-20-99).]

<rp> The Place: Khan/Arenis: One jump away from Spectre-HQ, aka RattlerÔÇÖs Den, the InsurgentÔÇÖs main base and star station, a logical place for the one known as Insurgent One to call his home. The Time: Four minutes to Midnight, the witching hour. The time of ghouls, goblins, and wraiths to come out and terrorize the living in ancient Terran legends. The Dilemma: Gallion had to make a choice, once made there would be no turning back. He could hang for what he was about to do, but Gallion had to go through with it. He needed information. Information that would end his mystery tour and search for the ship responsible for crippling his wing. The ship that corrupted the TDF IFF codes. To obtain this information Commander Gallion would have to contact the most wanted and maybe dangerous Terran in the known Galaxy. Code named Insurgent One and known as Rattler before he was run out of Galcom by Custom Agents. For seven Galcom ships to enter Insurgent space was nothing new. Galcom regularly conducts ÔÇ£police actionsÔÇØ against the Terran rebels wherever they could be found. The Delimma facing Commander Gallion and Corsair Wing was how to knock at the RattlerÔÇÖs Den without having to break down the door and fight their way out. Gallion put down the datapad that his Research Engineer brought him just moments ago. A Shakespearean and a Warrior, mused the Corsair Wing leader, what could he do with that. There had to be something he could use to signify that he wanted to parley, not fight. Comms: ÔÇ£Commander, incoming message from Usagi.ÔÇØ Gallion: ÔÇ£Route it to my terminal. Route any and all transmissions from Usagi and Wraith-HQ to my terminal from now on.ÔÇØ Comms: ÔÇ£Aye Sir! Message transfer complete.ÔÇØ Gallion looked at the incoming message from the GCV-Usagi, Flagship of Wraith Fleet, and commanded by Commander Tac, Wraith Fleet Leader. ÔÇ£RTBÔÇØ Return to Base, beautiful words if Gallion were not so ... so set in his ways. Ways that almost got him court-martialed many times. He had things to do and a mystery tour to complete. Bah, Gallion said to himself, Tac can wait. He has more than enough to occupy himself. Gallion: ÔÇ£TACNET Open! Engage Navigation plot to Antis Now! Gallion OUT!ÔÇØ Visible spectrum and normal scanners could not see Corsair Wing movement. Fourteen hyperspace jump-anomalies gave way that fact that Corsair Wing movement began. Soon those too were gone. One-by-one, Corsair Wing left the Arenis star system and entered Trennis star system. Gallion: ÔÇ£TACNET Open! Target Spectre star station and engage hyperdrive on my Mark! Gallion OUT!ÔÇØ Gallion check the Graf SpeeÔÇÖs systems display located on his HUD display. Hyperdrive 56% ... 61% ... 72% Gonna have to Research and Chief Engineers look into that one day, Gallion thought, there has to be a way to get the Hyperdrive engines to recharge faster. 92% ... 96% ... 99% ... 100% Gallion: TACNET Open: Mark! Engage TDF IFF code modules now; Gallion OUT! Chief, Comms, get ready to initiate slave control on WingÔÇÖs TDF IFF codes when hyperjump is complete.ÔÇØ Gallion did not wait for a response. He knew that his orders would be carried out. The Graf Spee had an excellent crew. With the exception of one bad apple, his Combat Officer Lt. Resprick. The Dance: Corsair Wing completed the short hyper-jump from the jump point to within 75 kilometers of Spectre star station and came to a halt. Gallion studied his TacOps display and saw nothing out of the ordinary. Several Mandorian Jenstar traders were on approach to the star station and four P21 Vandal heavy fighters were patrolling the system. Normal space traffic for any star station in the galaxy. Gallion: ÔÇ£TACNET Open! Activate TDF IFF code module and slave controls, PTA systems OFF, and weapons on stand-by ÔÇô fire on my command only, deactivate cloaking devices. OUT!ÔÇØ As one the seven Galcom vessels of Corsair Wing, two Galactan Battlecruisers and five Solnar Heavycruisers, faded into visual and scanner detection. Gallion began to tap feverishly on an unknown device located on the armrest of his command chair. Each tap caused the entire WingÔÇÖs IFF codes to fluctuate. From a ship monitoring they would see seven ships IFF going on and off. TDF . TDF . TDF . T D F - T D F - T D F - TDF . TDF . TDF . Gallion repeated this several times and waited. Leaving the TDF IFF codes on. After waiting serveal seconds he repeated his actions and waited again. TDF . TDF . TDF . T D F - T D F - T D F - TDF . TDF . TDF . He looked at the bridge chronometer, it was Midnight, the witching hour. Gallion had no idea what would happen. Or even if his little ruse would work. He could not risk opening a channel with the star station. The void of space was full of ears. Ears that would love to hear what he had to say. What Gallion had to say to the Rattler was something that could not be overheard by anyone or anything. <rp/> I think this thread is complete now, great job to everyone and thanks for letting me play. This tale has only begun And Tac, was it five or was it six....in all the excitement I lost count....so you have to ask yourself, ÔÇ£do you feel lucky?ÔÇØ ------------------ Cmdr Gallion GCV-Graf Spee, Corsair Wing Wraith Fleet [This message has been edited by Gallion (edited 02-16-99).]

<rp> The Place: Cyron Star System The Time: Time for the Commander Gallion, Corsair Wing leader to make a decision. A decision that may very well rock the foundation of Galcom, or the termination of his already shaky-at-best Galcom career. The Events After the unforeseen and embarrassing encounter with ISS Fleet Commander Tringad and the GVC Midway in Gammulan system LV-110, Gallion has a dilemma. Do I follow orders or do I continue on a mystery tour. A mystery tour that could lead to who knows what or where. Gammulan forces in LV-110 interrupted the unforeseen encounter with Commander Tringad. Corsair Wing bought Commander Tringad precious time to make his escape. To which Tringad put to good use and withdrew from the battle. Where the Midway went Gallion did not care, as long as it was far away from him. The battle itself was somewhat normal. Gammulans attacked the Galcom invaders and the Corsair invaders defended themselves. They defended themselves so well that there was no Gammulan opposition from LV-110 to their present location in the Cyron system; Fifteen kilometers from the Cyrian/Cyron jump point. Gallion was unsure of the exact Gammulan losses, he only knew that he was short one more Solnar class heavycruiser and that there were only three red blips and six SOS blips on the TACSCAN when the Wing departed LV-110. Not a bad kill to loss ratio but the loss to Gallion were forces that he could ill-afford to lose. During the trip from LV-110 to Corsair WingÔÇÖs present location, Gallion studied the data recovered from the MidwayÔÇÖs databanks and the one file that could land him in GalcomÔÇÖs brig; the highly classified dossier on Insurgent One. Gallion learned of and at the same time was somewhat bewildered by the heroic accomplishments of the combined Insurgent and Terran defense of Sol against the Gammulan invaders. The alliance ended when the Raven group nuked Neptune and fled to parts unknown. Why the Insurgents would nuke a fellow Terran system did not concern Gallion. The Commlink/Logs between ISS Fleet Leader Commander DeSylva and Insurgent One is what really caught is attention. Obsessed would be a better word for it. Gallion searched for a ÔÇØconnectionÔÇØ between the two. A connection that Gallion failed to find with the data that he had from Tringad and the Midway. Well, there is only one way to find out, Gallion thought, I hope that I do not hang for this. Gallion: TACNET Open; Gallion to Wing engage cloaking device and set course for this system, acknowledge when course is plotted and prepare to engage on my Mark! Gallion OUT! Gallion pressed the Fleet commanderÔÇÖs button and set a course for Corsair Wing. One-by-one, elements of Corsair Wing confirmed ÔÇ£Course plotted in Navigation...ÔÇØ As usual, the Prinze Eugen was last with their Nav plot confirmation report. Gallion made a mental note of that. He would get that commander relieved for gross incompetence when this ÔÇ£mystery tourÔÇØ is complete. Gallion: "TACNET Open; MARK!" Corsair Wing faded from the visible spectrum as the cloaking fields strengthened around each Corsair Wing ship. ETA to destination was twenty-five minutes. Enough time for the infamous Corsair leader to change his mind. GallionÔÇÖs innards were in a turmoil contemplating all the possibilities and outcomes. As long as Murphy is in the Galley, Gallion thought, then all would be well. Gallion: ÔÇ£Lab, find any and all references in Mother for Shakespeare, you have fifteen minutes, OUT!ÔÇØ Gallion reclined in his command chair on the bridge. If he played his cards right this just may work out.....but then again... Gallion: ÔÇ£Chief; Comms, record; be prepared to engage TDF IFF Code on my Mark. Comms relay that to the Wing.ÔÇØ A Shakespearian and a Warrior......hmmmm......Gallion contemplated the ramifications and prepared for the worst. The Destination: The last place seven Galcom vessels wanted to be or would be expected; the Den. <rp/> ------------------ Cmdr Gallion GCV-Graf Spee, Corsair Wing Wraith Fleet [This message has been edited by Gallion (edited 02-14-99).]

I am taking some ÔÇ£poetic licenseÔÇØ with TringadÔÇÖs dialog. <rp> Commander Gallion watched the seconds tick by; 5....4....3....2.... TacOff: ÔÇ£Commander! The Midway has lowered their shields and powered down their weapons.ÔÇØ Smart Commander, Gallion thought. Gallion: ÔÇ£Away Team ROE, do not fire unless fired on first. Any sign of trouble, squawk once. Find the MidwayÔÇÖs Commander. When found notify me at once. Get their NAV, Commslog, and TacOps data ASAP. You have 3 minutes, Gallion OUT! Engage Transporter!ÔÇØ Gallion relaxed a bit into his command chair, waiting for the Away Team to complete their orders. He turned to get a cup of Java when the Away Team Leader reported in. AT: ÔÇ£Commander, Midway Commander has been secured. He says his name is Commander Alun Tringad, ISS Fleet; data recovery begun; two minutes until completed.ÔÇØ Commander Tringad, ISS Fleet? Gallion looked him up in the Galcom ship registry. Tringad is the Commander of the GCV Black Falcon, Galactan Class Battlecruiser. WhatÔÇÖs he doing in command of a Starcruiser class Heavycruiser? Gallion thought about for a few microseconds and decided he didnÔÇÖt want to know. ISS Fleet was a weird bunch. Many secret squirrel activities, they always got the latest and greatest toys and games. Gallion: ÔÇ£Comms, open secure, low power, tight-beam holo-vid channel with Midway. Away Team, out Commander Tringad in his chair and keep an eye on him.ÔÇØ Comms: ÔÇ£holo-vid channel opened Sir!ÔÇØ Gallion activated his holo-vid player and scrutinized the MidwayÔÇÖs Commander when the channel between the two ships synchronized up. Yep, at least he looks like Commander Tringad.... Gallion: ÔÇ£Commander Tringad, I do not know what you think you are doing in Gammulan space with a dingy, nor do I care. Forgive this breach in protocol but I am sure you understand given the circumstances. All we need is information and my Team will be gone and you may continue your cruise.ÔÇØ Midway: ÔÇ£Understand Commander, we will assist in any way that we can.ÔÇØ AT: ÔÇ£Data recovery complete, transponders activated.ÔÇØ Gallion: ÔÇ£Engage Transporter! Relay to the Wing, weapon systems off! Commander Tringad our business with your ship is complete. Again, my apologies. I have one request of you.ÔÇØ Midway: ÔÇ£Sure Commander Gallion, what can I do for you?ÔÇØ Gallion quickly explained Corsair WingÔÇÖs adventures over the past few days. Commander Tringad listened without comment or gesture until he heard the last item on GallionÔÇÖs tirade ÔÇô TDF IFF Code sabotage. Gallion noticed how Tringad changed from a person just half-listening to him to a person that hung on each and every word that he said. Commander Tringad quickly filled Gallion in on the TDF debacle in Sol. Gallion made a decision, a decision that could cost what little was left of his Galcom career, but it was a risk that he was willing to take. He had to find that mystery ship. He needed information that would not have been recovered during the Away TeamÔÇÖs data recovery on the Midway. Gallion: ÔÇ£Commander Tringad, what I am about to ask you to do and ask for must not leave this conversation. I need you to transmit these two files to your HQ. Your HQ will know what to do with them. Second, I need any information that you have on Insurgent One, and I need it now. We have been sitting in one spot in Gammulan space far to long as it is.ÔÇØ Gallion pulled two files up, ÔÇ£TraitorÔÇØ and ÔÇ£DutchmanÔÇØ, and transmitted them to the MidwayÔÇÖs commander and waited, he really hated to wait. Commander Tringad looked as if he had been smacked across his face when he heard GallionÔÇÖs strange request. How would the Corsair Wing leader know that he even knew who or what Insurgent One was? Tringad contemplated GallionÔÇÖs request. Given the events of the past few days, he thought that nothing could surprise him, yet he was stunned. What would a Corsair want or do with this highly classified material? Insurgent One was the most wanted man in Galcom space. Tringad did something that he hoped that he would not regret as he bought the dossier up and transmitted the data. Midway: ÔÇ£Data transfer complete Gallion. I hope you know what you are doing. We can both hang for this you know!ÔÇØ Gallion: ÔÇ£Understood Commander Tringad, my thanks. Again my apologies for detaining you and your ship. Pass to your HQ, Wraith HQ may be infiltrated.ÔÇØ Just then the battle klaxon on the Graf Spee started ringing. The ship computer started its automated script, ÔÇ£Battlecruiser Acquired, Missile launch detected...ÔÇØ Gallion looked at his TacOps display and saw 15 red blips appear out of nowhere. Gallion: ÔÇ£Tringad get your ship out of here! Corsair will cover your escape! Do not engage, RUN! You have 1 minute to get out of this system! Gallion OUT! TACNET OPEN! Gallion to Wing, cover the Midway --- be prepared to disengage and resume previous course on my Mark! Graf Spee OUT! All right people, showtime! LetÔÇÖs show these Gamms how to dance!ÔÇØ Corsair Wing spread out. Each ship engaging the Gammulan warships that had the audacity to engage them. Gallion watched his TacOps display, slowly; ever so slowly; the Midway faded from scanners. Whew, at least they are halfway out of here, Gallion thought. 45 seconds left ÔÇÿtill the Midway is safe, then it will be Corsair WingÔÇÖs turn to run. <rp/> ------------------ CMDR Gallion GCV-Graf Spee, Corsair Wing Wraith Fleet

<rp> Corsair WingÔÇÖs two hours of respite from galactic conflict was up. The WingÔÇÖs ships went on full alert as the last of the shuttles returned to the two Gallatin Battlecruisers. The mining expedition hit the Iridium mother-load on the moon orbiting LV-115. Enough Iridium was mined to allow the entire wing to remain cloaked for 70 minutes. Not bad for a few hours work, Gallion thought. Gallion: ÔÇ£Comms, XMT to Wing; Nav set course for Crystar, engage course and Cloaking device on my mark.ÔÇØ Comss/Nav: ÔÇ£Aye Sir, course plotted and sent to Wing.ÔÇØ Gallion: ÔÇ£MARK!ÔÇØ Each shipÔÇÖs jump towards the LV-110 jump point with out incident. Each ship slowly disappears from visual and scanner detection as cloaking device was engaged. One by one, Corsair Wing went through the jump point, each reappearing on the other side in LV-110. All that is except one unlucky ship. The unluckiest ship in the galaxy, the GCV Graf Spee. The Graf Spee made it to LV-110 without any problems. The problem was what in the shipÔÇÖs way after emerging from the jump point. Seems that there was an Obstacle, a hidden obstacle. Whose nature was revealed to a startled Gallion when both the Graf SpeeÔÇÖs and the ObstacleÔÇÖs became visible as their cloaking fields wavered. A Galactan Battlecruiser and a Starcruiser-class Heavy Cruiser appeared. What made Gallion forget this little Murphy incident was the appearance of the rest of Corsair Wing. The other ships of Corsair Wing followed the WingÔÇÖs SOP; when one of the WingÔÇÖs ships has a cloaking ÔÇ£malfunctionÔÇØ the rest of the Wing changes course to render any and all assistance to the unfortunate craft. SOP treats all causes of cloaking field failure as hostile, whether they are accidental (as the Graf Spee just experienced) failures or mechanical failures. Seven ships surrounded the Starcuiser using the WingÔÇÖs infamous ÔÇ£Blossom Flower FormationÔÇØ. The flowerÔÇÖs epicenter was the unfortunate heavycruiser who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Gallion: ÔÇ£Tactical check the Galcom ships registry for that craft; TACNET Open ÔÇô Lock weapons on the Starcruiser, fire on my Mark, Gallion OUT!ÔÇØ Commander Gallion settled into his perch on the bridge conducting his own search of GalcomÔÇÖs ship registry. The StarcruiserÔÇÖs IFF code indicated that it was the GCV Midway. GallionÔÇÖs registry search failed to find any Galcom craft registered with that name. Gallion folded brought is hands together near his face, to the bridge crew it wouldÔÇÖve looked as if the Commander was praying, pondering his next move. Could this be the cruiser responsible for the IFF sabotage? Could I be this ÔÇ£luckyÔÇØ? He thought. As quickly as it came Gallion dismissed these thoughts altogether. He could never be so lucky. Gallion: ÔÇ£CO prepare away strike team, target is the Starcruiser, ROE to follow!; CE send one SE to the transporter room. Comms, send message to Starcruiser GCV Midway ÔÇô I have no record of any Galcom vessel registered in that name, Prepare to be boarded and searched or be destroyed. You have 5 seconds to respond. GCV Graf Spee OUT!ÔÇØ The next five seconds will be the longest. Gallion hated to wait but that was all he could do now. Marines hurry up and he has to wait...... <rp/> ------------------ CMDR Gallion GCV-Graf Spee, Corsair Wing Wraith Fleet

<rp> His Marine bodyguard awakened Commander Gallion in his command chair. Chief Engineer Scott was waiting nearby to talk to the GCV Graf Spee commander. CE: ÔÇ£Wing status report sir,ÔÇØ Scott said while handing a datapad to Gallion. Commander Gallion, still trying to shake the cobwebs from his all-too-short rest looked at the datapad Scott handed to him. His confidence slackened when he read the Communications Systems and Cloaking Device readiness. Communication Systems for the entire Wing were unreliable, short-range transmission and reception were operational but long-range comms were out. The EMP during the WingÔÇÖs exodus from the Gammulan homeworld fried microprocessors needed for repairs. Iridium supplies were next to nill, entire wing could cloak for approx 10 minutes. Just enough time to set the Wing up for failure if they were to run across ÔÇ£hostileÔÇØ forces. A chance Gallion was not willing to take this deep in Gammulan territory. Gallion: ÔÇ£Nav, set course for the moon orbiting LV-115; FO, prepare all remaining Shuttle craft with probes, were are going mining; Comms transmit all to Prinze Eugen, Cruisers are to remain in Debris Field. Set course and engage when ready; we have 2-hours to get as much Iridium as we can.ÔÇØ Gallion looked at the chronometer, a device known as a clock in ancient days, and skunked down in his command chair farther. CE Scott returned to his duty station, knowing that there would be no rest for the weary. Gallion scanned his gaze over the bridge area. Everywhere he saw the signs of constant operations beginning to effect the bridge crew. He activated his intercom system, keying the medbay, ÔÇ£Doc, do we still have that case of ÔÇ£special medicationÔÇØ on-board?ÔÇÖ Med Off: ÔÇ£Aye Sir, you know my opinion of these drugs.ÔÇØ Gallion: ÔÇ£Yes, I am aware, what is the longest amount of time that we can safely use them?ÔÇØ Med Off: ÔÇ£39 Hours Sir, anymore and weÔÇÖll have a bunch of zombies on our hands.ÔÇØ Gallion: ÔÇ£Thanks, be prepared to issue to Wing in 2 hours, OUT! TACNET OPEN: Prinze Eugen and Cruisers go to minimum manning; expect 2 hours down time; rest your people while we can. Gallion OUT! Commander to crew: minimum manning; 2-hour sleep for all; rotate crew. Enjoy it while we can people, things will get very hot soon. Commander OUT!ÔÇØ Gallion reclined back into the security of his commanderÔÇÖs chair. The bridge was a flurry of activity as the crew began to file towards the Turbo shaft. With the AP engaged meant no one had to actually fly the Graf Spee. Both the remaining BCs emerged from the debris field and jumped towards the moon orbiting LV-115, shortly both BC established an orbit around the moon, shuttlecraft launched, deployed their mining probes, and returned to their mother craft. All I can do is wait now, Gallion thought as he began to review the COMMLINK/Log. A lot of garbage. The EMP really did a number on the COMMLINK/Log datafile. Transmissions from Wraith HQ were really hosed, almost as if someone or something was trying to jam them. One message really stood out to Gallion; it was a direct communiqu├® from Wraith Fleet Commander Tac to the Graf Spee: <static>...<garble>...Spee <static>...Wraith-HQ compromised. Do not trust <static>... ginating ..<garble>from<static>..HQ .... <static>... <static>...IFF codes have been <static>...<garble>...<static>...TDF has been d...<static>... Source of ..<static>...<garble>...<static>...has been traced to <static>...Cruiser, RACE/CASTES/AFFILIATION UNK.. <static>...<garble>...<static>...base... <static>..<static>...<garble>...<static>....transmissions to Wr...<garble>...<static>...mder Tac OUT. Well, guess homebase is just as hosed as the Wing is Gallion thought. Things were getting real sticky. Cruiser, unknown type, affiliation, castes, or race was the key to this mystery. A mystery that Gallion was going to solve. <rp/> ------------------ CMDR Gallion GCV-Graf Spee, Corsair Wing Wraith Fleet [This message has been edited by Gallion (edited 02-05-99).]

Dont know how others will work your "mission" in Cmdr Tringad, but I have a surprise in the works.

<rp> The Corsair Wing Commander surveyed his WingÔÇÖs status report, it was a small status report at that. Four Heavycruisers were lost during the WingÔÇÖs ÔÇ£Strategic RelocationÔÇØ (aka retreat) from the Gammulan Homeworld located at Gamma1. How those four Cruisers were lost was a fluke. Gallion studied the battle logs trying to figure out what went wrong. The more he studied, the more baffled he became, baffled more from disbelief than anything else. The recall order from Commander Tac, Wraith Fleet Commander, couldnÔÇÖt have come at a more inopportune time than it did. Right at the exact beginning of the WingÔÇÖs coordinated attack on both the Gammulan Homeworld and the Hexar Space Station orbiting the planet. Battle logs showed what Gallion already knew, the OTS attack on Gamma1 was a waste of ordinance. All five OTS weapons were destroyed by ground based SAL and SAM defenses before they entered the planetÔÇÖs troposphere. They became another bright spot in the sky to those Gammulans that were observing from the planet surface. Two Cruisers were lost when they were disengaging from their attack on Hexar. Both were hammered by several Pacer and Slave missiles launched from the space station. Lucky hits, Gallion thought, they were at the wrong place at the wrong time. Two more cruisers were lost when they collided with each other after hyperjumping to the Tyrnnis jump point. A flaw in their NAV computer programming, a flaw that was suppose to have been fixed months ago. Just to be on the safe side, Gallion had the Comms, Fight, Navigation and Engineering officers look at the Graf SpeeÔÇÖs NAV computer system and programs. He didnÔÇÖt want anymore surprises. The Wing had to fight their way through both to the Gamma1/Tyrnnis jump point, Tyrnnis and LV-110 systems. Scanners indicated that a debris field was located but no Gammulan bases in the LV-115 system. Commander Gallion, over serious objections from both is crew and the other Wing ship commanders, to make course for the debris field. Both the Graf Spee and the Prinze Eugen, along with the remaining Heavycruisers sustained damage during the strategic relocation of the Wing. None of the eight ships was disabled but the entire wing needed time to relax and heal. The past 12 hours have been exciting, too exciting in GallionÔÇÖs opinion. The debris field provided the camouflage and concealment from Gammulan scanners. Giving Corsair Wing the time it needs to repair, rest, and heal. Unfortunately, the field also hampered the wings monitoring efforts. Only one probe remained, on the Graf Spee, available for launch. Gallion did not want to alert the WingÔÇÖs presence within the system to the Gammulans unless he really had to. Gallion began to review the Commlog also. Long-haul communications were down, victim to the two lost cruiserÔÇÖs death explosion. Their explosion was nuclear chain reaction, not a ÔÇ£normalÔÇØ ship explosion, if it there was such a thing as normal ship explosion. The resulting explosion caused a huge EMP that fried every communications system in the fleet. It is also probably the reason why Gammulan reinforcements did not arrive earlier in defense of their Homeworld. Communications were erratic and garbled were working. Commlog was full of fleet and ship battle communications. Gallion was able to determine that the Gammulans launched a major attack in the Sol system and that an alliance between all Terran forces, Galcom and Insurgent, was necessary to defeat the Gammulan attack. The Commlog entries that both sparked GallionÔÇÖs interest and worried him the most were conflicting. Several were from both Wraith HQ and Commander Tac, Wraith Fleet leader. Gallion drifted asleep in his command chair on the bridge as he read these communiqu├®ÔÇÖs. Dreaming of Scarecrows, Tin-men, Lions, Tigers, [and] Bears (oh my), a yellow brick road, a wizard, and a Crow......... <rp/> ------------------ CMDR Gallion GCV-Graf Spee, Corsair Wing Wraith Fleet [This message has been edited by Gallion (edited 01-29-99).]

'Bout time you showed up Tac SOP = Standard Operating Procedures ------------------ CMDR Gallion GCV-Graf Spee, Corsair Wing Wraith Fleet Still on the Offensive somewhere in Gamm-land with plenty of Iridium to spare! [This message has been edited by Gallion (edited 01-27-99).]

<rp> We be the misfits of GALCOM I tell ya. I feel like on of ..... Misguided Children of old. Used, abused, and bailing out the brass. They sit in their "pretty" star station, nice and safe. Where do they stick us? 10 jumps from them and 5 from others. When they want their dirty work down, they send the Wraithers. Should've taken the court-martial. <rp/> Cmdr Gallion GCV Graf Spee Wraith Fleet, Corsair Wing Currently somewhere in Gamm-land evading Galcom authorities. [This message has been edited by Gallion (edited 01-25-99).]

Gothca turkey gents ... right in .... If ye be in Wraith then claim it in yer posts! Wraithers may hide but we never run! Cmdr Gallion GCV Graf Spee Wraith Fleet, Corsair Wing [were's Tac when we need him???] [This message has been edited by Gallion (edited 01-25-99).]

Count me in DeSylva. Can't let PRIME (and sub-fleets) get all the action! Cmdr Gallion GCV Graf Spee Wraith Fleet, Corsair Wing "The fastest bucket of bolts in the Galaxy!"

Ouuccchhh! Maybe there could be a Fleet "counter" in the forum somewhere? Just a thought only. Where be the rest of Wraith Fleet? I only "know" of two. Cmdr Gallion GCV Graf Spee Wraith Fleet, Corsair Wing "...all that is gold does not glitter, all those who wander are not lost ..."

I see a zinger coming back from ISS HQ, watch out CMDR Bad Mojo. You may be in PRIME Fleet but the ISS has resources that are .... Cmdr Gallion GCV Graf Spee Wraith Fleet Corsair Wing Leader