In some distant sector of space from Earth, there exist a space station orbiting a cold, barren wasteland on one of the moons of the planet Pluto, where a massive combat fleet can be seen around the station as if guarding the space station.
This station is ‘Omega' station, and it is the last and furthest reach station in the Solar system. The station is far enough from Earth to be away from prying eyes and commercial traffic yet close enough to Earth that reinforcement can arrive from Earth and Mars after five seconds travel delay in a wormhole.
From the smallest and most humble of Caldari shuttles to the mightiest ship the Caldari can offer, the ‘Wyvern' class super carrier, can be seen near the station. Such gathering of Caldari combat fleet can rarely be seen during peacetime. Every single one of the ship is maintaining combat readiness and alert to any changes in the environment to the point that nothing can enter the solar system without being detected by the sensors of the specialized ‘Heron' frigates scattered around the solar system.
Hence, it is not surprising when all attentions are on the local space near the station when a small wormhole appears near to the station, disturbing the rigidly maintained discipline of the fleet in orbit around the station.
A Caldari shuttle bearing the logo of Lai Dai corporation emerged from the wormhole then activating its afterburner and moved forward approaching the station, the shuttle is also flanked by a pair of Caldari ‘Dragonfly' Fighter Drones.
‘Dragonfly’ Fighter Drone
DESCRIPTION:
Type: Light Fighter
Role: Attack
Description: The Dragonfly is a general purpose attack craft.
Blaster Cannon: This weapon-system does significant damage. However the short barrel length hurts its accuracy against small, fast moving targets.
Microwarpdrive: Giving a significant speed boost at the cost of higher signature radius. The Microwarpdrive has a long cool-down cycle between uses.
Heavy Rocket Salvo: A simplified, significantly shorter ranged version of starship launched Heavy Missiles.
[http://games.chruker.dk/eve_online/graphics/ids/2048/2975_2009.jpg][http://www.ravestats.com/public/fen/fighter-dragonfly-3.jpg]
The fleet relaxes once it broadcasted the appropriate security code and the identity of the shuttle are known to be allowed passage in the heavily secured region of space.
The shuttle slows down as it approaches the orbiting space station docking bay. The same pair of Caldari ‘Dragonfly' fighter drones then breaks off as the shuttle enters the space station docking bay.
The shuttle then passes through the force field maintained by the station to keep the void out of the docking and lands on the designated landing pad. Around the vicinity of the landing pad, armed guards and station officials can be seen maintaining a perimeter for the new arrivals.
A pair of agents can be seen nervously holding on to their data pad as the shuttle powers down its engine and lowering its ramp to let its passengers disembark.
Armed guards arrived from the shuttle and formed an honor guard on either side of the shuttle ramp. Shortly after, director Alakoni Ishanoya of Lai Dai Corporation exited the shuttle and walked down to the landing pad flanked by her secretary and armed security officer. Director Alakoni and her entourage then approached one of the officials waiting on the landing pad.
"Greetings director Alakoni, I am the facilitator for today's meeting. All the other directors have arrived and are already inside the conference room. We are just waiting for your arrival before we can proceed with the meeting." Said the station facilitator with respect.
"Very well, let us proceed with all haste then as I would like to get this meeting done as soon as possible as I have other arrangement pending for my attention." Said Alakoni as she motioned for the facilitator to make haste.
"At once director, if you and your entourage can please follow me." Acknowledged the facilitator as he motioned for Alakoni's group to follow behind him.
Guided by the facilitator of the station, director Alakoni and her entourage is escorted by the armed guards of both the station and her guards from ‘Lai Dai Protection Service' who have exited the shuttle with her.
Lai Dai Protection Service is the police and security arm of the Lai Dai mega corporation. As the mega corporations only trust each other so much, they all have their police force to guard their properties.
After a short time, Alakoni and her entourage reached a sealed conference room. Heavily armed guards, combat engineers, and combat mechs defend the conference room from intrusion.
The security measure also includes maintaining the electronic security of the room from outside interference as well as blocking the signal from inside from going out, in essence, the conference room is a black room where information is barred from going out or coming in.
With her guards stationed outside and the facilitator bid their farewell. Alakoni submitted herself and her entourage to DNA scan and security checks. Alakoni's secretary passes a data pad to her hand as she glances through it.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE PANEL EMERGENCY MEETING
Attendees:
* CBD Corporation CEO : Imanima Hinpas
* Hyasyoda Corporation CEO : Ahtonen Osmon
* Ishukone Corporation CEO : Mens Reppola
* Kaalakiota Corporation CEO : Tibus Heth
* Lai Dai Corporation CEO : Alakoni Ishanoya
* Nugoeihuvi Corporation CEO : Morimo Yagala
* Sukuuvestaa Corporation CEO : Kuikiainen Onita
* Wiyrkomi Corporation CEO : Kuruta Irio
The topic of discussion:
* Jamyl Sarum victory over Orcs Minmatar Elder Fleet.
* The effort to locate and acquire the Abaddon Battleship platform Jamyl Sarum used to annihilate the Orcs Minmatar Elder Fleet.
* Review of espionage operation in Dwarven Amarr territory.
Alakoni examined the information pad on her hand as well as glancing through the attendee's list and the agenda for today's emergency Chief Executive Panel meeting.
As she thought, the emergency Chief Executive Panel meeting is regarding Empress Jamyl Sarum victory over the Orcs Minmattar Elder Fleet.
For the benefit of the uninitiated, the Chief Executive Panel is the main bureaucratic apparatus through which the Caldari mega corporations rule the State. The Panel's primary purposes are to determine the budgets of the State's few government agencies, such as the Caldari Navy and the Tribunal, and to act as a way for the State's corporate powers to coordinate national policy, such as foreign relations, customs and trade regulations, and inter-corporate business laws. The Panel makes sure the mega corporations don't overstep their bounds in competing and smooth over potential conflicts before they escalate out of control. It is the closest thing to a unified Caldari government.
Usually, on this type of meeting, Alakoni would send a representative. However in this case, due to the nature of the discussion. Every CEO of the Caldari mega corporation is forbidden from sending their representative and must attend in person to discuss how should the Caldari as one of the major factions of the universe should respond to the elevation of the Amarr empire's power in the galactic stage.
Every single member of the Chief Executive Panel is an incredibly authoritative, well-known and capable individual in her eyes. It is no exaggeration to say that within this room are the whole leadership of the Caldari state concentrated in a single area. A single decision made by all eight Caldari megacorp CEO will inevitably affect billions of human lives.
Which is why there is no wonder that outside this station, a mighty fleet of combat ships are stationed from the Caldari Navy are converging on this single station. As well as some private combat ships from each of the three Caldari political factions.
Well, the ships in the private fleet are filled with armed troops just in case treachery is involved and they need to assault the station and save their respective CEO's. However, Alakoni can't help but imagine that the CEO's are a figurative goldfish swimming in an explosive powder keg. The guard dogs can bark, but if they don't want their gold fish to explode, then they better play nice. This policy also forces the CEO's to form a consensus as any dispute which leads to armed conflict will be resolved in a Mutually Assured Destruction or MAD scenario.
Normally she would be happy to attend the Chief Executive Panel meeting. However, ever since Otro Gariushi, the former CEO of Ishukone corporation, died shortly after the Caldari Constructions Armor Forge riots, and the sudden rise to prominence of Tibus Heth. Otro made a national appeal for calm and restraint to the whole State, telling them, "We are united in purpose, but we must never, ever be united in hate." This call for peace was well received, and prompted the Gallente president, Souro Foiritan, to organize a diplomatic summit with Otro to be held aboard the Ishukone corporation's headquarters station in the Malkalen system.
The peace summit went horribly wrong. When Gallente admiral Alexander Noir, used the Federation delegation's flagship the ‘Nyx' class super carrier "FNS Wandering Saint" to ram the Ishukone Corporation's headquarters station in Malkalen where the diplomatic summit was taking place. The resulting explosion killed more than 600,000 other people, including Otro Gariushi.
Well, suffice to say that the dynamic of the megacorp has been disturbed and has turned far darker ever since Tibus Heth introduced a more confrontational policy in Caldari foreign relations in retaliation to the Gallente treachery.
Officially the Lai Dai group, together with the Kaalakiota and the Wiyrkomi group of companies forms the Patriot faction of the Caldari State which has been fiercely pushing for a continuation of the war with Gallente.
The majority of the muscles for the Patriot faction is represented by the Kaalakiota group which is widely considered as the most powerful military wise, and the Wiyrkomi group as the supplier and the logistical support as it has the most diverse manufacturing and product base in the Patriot faction.
Lai Dai group's role within the Patriot faction is more towards Research and Development. However, that is not Lai Dai's only focus as Lai Dai are involved in about every aspect of the business from starships to real estate to entertainment although to a lesser extent compared to the other two group compatriots. Lai Dai has always advocated quality over quantity, and their products have always been of the highest standard. Lai Dai has an active research program and rivals the Ishukone in technological achievements. As part of its political goal to make the State stronger economically, Lai Dai is the primary supporter of the School of Applied Knowledge.
It is by using this achievement as a technologically advanced group and pushing for the pursuit of knowledge through the school of applied knowledge within the Patriot faction that she has to be the moderating influence. Often she has to persuade and convince Tibus Heth to take a more moderate stance on one of his more radical policies.
Alakoni has a reason to not agree with everything Tibus Heth has been proposing, even though their goal as the Patriot faction is the same, which is chiefly concerned with the Caldari State's status versus the other interstellar empires by economically and militarily embracing their Caldari cultural heritage. The main reason is that she doesn't want to burn the bridge that Lai Dai have built with the Dwarven Amarr Empire and the Dwarven Khanid Kingdom due to the intense xenophobia after the destruction of the Ishukone's headquarter in Malkalen System.
The Lai Dai corporation is not driven solely by its association with the Patriot faction. Lai Dai is also heavily invested in both Amarr and the Khanid corporations. Lai Dai took advantage of the political alliance forged, after the ending of the First Caldari-Gallente War, by investing in the Carthum Conglomerate, an Amarr R&D branch and later the Khanid R&D counterpart, Khanid Innovation. Lai Dai supplied both with an infusion of technological creativity needed to grow and reach their goals. This close relationship with the Amarr and Khanid means that Lai Dai is unlikely to work against the Amarr in its interactions with the Caldari State as a whole. The conflict of interest sometimes results in the corporation arguing even with political allies regarding matters of the State and its political opponents.
As Alakoni enters the dark and cold conference room, she can see each of her fellow Caldari mega corporation CEO's.
"Ah, finally Lai Dai is here. Please take a seat Ms. Alakoni, and I can start the meeting as the chairman." Said Tibus Heth, the recently appointed CEO of Kaalakiota corporation.
Alakoni nodded politely while taking her seat, the only empty one in the eight seats surrounding the circular desk. The circular desk is special as it dates back to the old republic, a time before Caldari state comes into being. It is an ancient artifact of historical importance as the decision for the creation of the Caldari State was made on this table from the ashes of the old republic. She has the view taken from above the circular desk inside her Omni-tool.
[https://i.stack.imgur.com/s88SD.png]
Eight seats of power, represented by men and women of absolute authority fighting for humanity's cause and supremacy in the universe. A bastion of might, power, and order in a chaotic universe.
As Alakoni took a seat while she was reminiscing about the weight of history she made herself comfortable, her secretary and her security officer each have taken a standby position on her left and right side. Her secretary is readying his datapad and touch stylus pen, while her security officer is maintaining an overwatch alertly over her shoulder while engaging in a glaring contest with the other megacorp counterpart.
"Yes, please proceed with the meeting, chairman. And I apologize for my tardiness as I have an urgent matter to settle before coming here." Said Alakoni while apologizing to her colleagues.
Alakoni's fellow Patriot faction members only nodded mildly, acknowledging her admission. The Practical faction opponent members sneered condescendingly at her. The Liberal faction members didn't look too happy about it but accepted her admission regardless.
"Very well, we are all here now. As the chairman of this meeting I officially start the emergency Chief Executive Panel meeting to discuss how we should proceed as the state towards the recent development in the Amarr Empire. Does anyone have any input to submit to this panel in regards to this development to start with?" Said Tibus Heth, as he officially starts the meeting and the secretaries of each CEO's scrambled to record everything.
Once Tibus Heth begins the meeting, immediately one side of the panel lit up as the Alakoni braced herself for the unpleasantness which she is sure will come from the CEO of Sukuuvestaa Corporation.
And why would she be surprised? The Sukuuvestaa group has always been a thorn in her side and the Patriot faction members.
"Yes, I am wondering why Alakoni did not inform us of the existence of the Amarr superweapon beforehand as Lai Dai have an extensive business relationship with the Amarr's Carthum Conglomerate and the Khanid's Khanid Innovation. Surely Lai Dai would have received some news from their contacts in the empire… Unless they are keeping this information from us to profit later." Accused Kuikiainen Onita, CEO of Sukuuvestaa Corporation.
Alakoni bristled at the accusation, she feels like lashing out and strangling her political opponent across the table from her. A sentiment shared by both of her aides as well as they hooted and sneered at their counterparts across the table.
"You cur, don't mistake me as one of your ilks! That sounds more like something you would do instead! However, to clear my name with the rest of the board members, I will disclose that even my contacts in both the Amarr and Khanid side are blindsided by the Minmatar Elder fleet invasion of Amarr space and are even more shocked at the sudden destruction of said invasion fleet. None of them have any clue to the existence of the Abaddon Battleship which has destroyed such a large invasion fleet as well. And I am inclined to believe them as my sources in the Amarr and Khanid space have always been trustworthy and does not have a history of giving false information to Lai Dai before. We receive a footage of the Abaddon Battleship when the ship fired its doomsday weapon at the Minmatar Elder fleet from my contacts there." Said Alakoni heatedly as she linked her Omni-tool to the holo projector at the center of the table.
Holo projection of the recording of the Abaddon battleship: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKdTJjDnYzE)
"As you can see the Abaddon Battleship seems to have collected all its capacitor at her bow before discharging it towards a capital class Minmatar ship. While at first, this seems mundane, amazingly in defiance of the natural law that we currently understand, the bolt then jump from the doomed capital ship and struck all the other Minmatar ship like chained lightning. My R&D teams are up in arms about how this Amarr super weapon operates, as not only does the damage can spread to a whole fleet, but because they hypothesize that the unidentified bolt of energy causes a ship's shield system to cook itself and thereby destroying or crippling the internal system of the Minmatar ships. The bolt essentially hijacked the defensive shield system and turned it against the ship itself." Explained Alakoni as she pauses and focuses on the moment when the Abaddon unleashed its super weapon.
Alakoni's fellow board members became noisy after the display and Lai Dai's R&D hypothesis.
"Preposterous! We use the same defensive shield system as the Minmatar! The Caldari depends on the strength of its defensive shield system to carry the day! If what you say is true then, the Armor defensive system of the Amarr and Gallente would theoretically fare better against this super weapon! Moreover, if they could install this technology on their Battleships instead of their Titans then it's only about time before the Amarrians start another reclaiming and invade all the other races, humans included!" Exclaimed Kuruta Irio, Wiyrkomi Corporation CEO, as he banged his desk loudly in distress.
"There is a bright spot in this though. We believe that the technology is not yet stable and are unusable after a single shot is fired. It is more akin to a one shot wonder cannon rather than the super weapon we all seem to be under the impression of. From our observation, the Abaddon is in a critical state and needed a dozen ‘Apocalypse' class Amarr Battleship to finish off the crippled fleet. Unfortunately, we are not able to locate the Abaddon after the initial battle. It has been a week now, and we still cannot locate the Abaddon battleship carrying the superweapon." Said Alakoni calmly as she crossed her arms.
"Regardless, we need to intensify our search for the Abaddon battleship. We need to secure such technology for ourselves. And if we are not able to secure it then best we destroy it. How goes our progress infiltrating the Amarr territory to locate the Abaddon Battleship?" Asked Tibus Heth calmly trying to steer the direction of the discussion towards a more productive path.
"I have all of my ‘Manticore' Stealth Bombers on standby on the edge of Amarr space, waiting for Ishukone's ‘Buzzard' Covert Frigates to locate the ship and destroy it if our special forces failed to secure the technology. Do not ask whether I have any spies on Amarr space to locate Jamyl Sarum though as you know Lai Dai's armed forces are strictly for our self-defense only and are hence entirely designed and trained to be for static defense and counter-espionage purpose." Said Alakoni with irritation as she sees Kuikiainen Onita, the CEO of Sukuuvesta Corporation is about to open her mouth again.
"Why did we not deploy our Tengu Strategic cruiser to Amarr space to participate in the search?" Asked Imanima Hinpas, the CEO of CBD Corporation.
"Let me answer that question Alakoni. Well Ms. Imanima, there are two reasons why we did not deploy our Strategic cruisers in the search. One is because we have too few of the ship as it is, as it is prohibitively expensive to develop and risk losing. And secondly, we would not be able to claim that, in the case of capture and destruction of the Strategic Cruiser, that it is the action of rogue pirate elements of our society rather than state sponsored and backed. The existence of the strategic cruiser would have proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that the State is behind the clandestine operation within the Amarrian territory." Explained Mens Reppola, the CEO of Ishukone Corporation.
"I see, thank you for explaining it then. How are you coping now with the loss of your headquarter and the last CEO during the incident in the Malkalen system?" Said Imanima Hinpas, the CEO of CBD Corporation.
"We are still reorganizing, unfortunately, we are not ready to participate in the hunt for the Abaddon. For that, we apologize." Said Mens Reppola, the corporate CEO of Ishukone Corporation as he bows his head in regret.
Every board members respectfully nodded and acknowledged Ishukone's loss. The board is allowing Ishukone’s absence in the ongoing operation in consideration of their circumstances.
"What are the Amarr doing at the moment? I imagined they are quite ecstatic that their new Empress is bringing in a new big bad stick in the neighborhood, so to say." Said Imanima Hinpas, the CEO of CBD Corporation.
Tibus Heth looks up at Imanima Hinpas, and switch the channel of the holo recorder at the center of the circular desk to play a recording of the Amarr Certified Network or ACN, the mouthpiece of the Amarr empire.
"See for yourself." Said Tibus Heth as he motioned his fellow board members to the projected holo-screen at the center of the desk.
ACN news release on the situation:
"Sarum Prime - In the aftermath of Jamyl Sarum's triumphant return and the defeat of the invading Minmatar forces here last week, the overall mood on Mekhios has been celebratory, with many church services on the planet offering special prayers of thanks and the Sarum Family proclaiming Sunday to be a planetary holiday. Her gilded path to taking the throne of the Empire has only intensified the revelry.
However, the battle above this heavily populated world has not only brought joy. It has brought destruction to a wide swath of the planet's northern continent, where wreckage from the Minmatar and Amarr ships destroyed on Tuesday has been raining down for the better part of a week. Late Tuesday, half of a Minmatar Naglfar-class dreadnought hit the outskirts of Erasileo, a city of 1.5 million people. The blast destroyed a large section of the city and started fires that burned until early Friday morning, and most of the city has been evacuated as a precaution due to noxious gases produced by the fire. Planetary officials fear that the area may have to be sealed off for extensive decontamination, as starship drives contain a wide variety of radioactive components, heavy metals, and other health hazards.
While Erasileo has been the worst incident here, it has hardly been alone. A camp home to over 5,000 slaves belonging to the Sarum Family was hit by wreckage from many ships, killing at least half the slaves and sickening most of the rest; according to House officials, the damages from that impact alone will number in the hundreds of millions of ISK.
The port city of Tempestas Terminus was hit by a tidal wave created by some impacts offshore, destroying much of the city's port facilities and the luxurious waterfront district. According to Amarr Certified News, at least 200 people are dead as a result and as many as ten times more are missing. "It hit just as the waterfront was starting to open up for business," said one witness. "I've never seen anything like it. one minute a dozen people were walking along the boardwalk, and the next, the ocean had swallowed them up."
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
According to planetary officials, local defense forces have spent much of the last several days attempting to remove the largest debris from decaying orbits and recover it for salvage. Though the battle over the planet temporarily knocked out the tracking system used to identify threats - which led to the Erasileo disaster - it was back online within 12 hours, saving many more lives. Unfortunately, the debris field could still pose a significant threat for a considerable length of time.
"There's so much out there though," said one salvager, "that it could take weeks or months to get most of the big stuff, and then you're still going to have fairly large chunks raining down for who knows how long. Frankly, with that many ships destroyed in orbit, we're lucky we only had one really serious impact."
Planetary officials tell ACN that the number of dead may be in the tens of thousands by the time a full assessment can be made, with as many as twice that wounded or sickened. "The health effects could last for years," said Garmasi Panora, professor of environmental sciences at Hedion University. "The gases, dust, and other contaminants released from the impacts could stay in the planet's upper atmosphere for decades. To deal with that kind of a threat, you almost need to use techniques usually used for terraforming. Unfortunately, those are a lot harder to do when you're trying to do it on one of the densest populated worlds in the entire Empire."
The Sarum Family, however, has promised that they will not allow this disaster to overshadow their triumph over the Minmatar here. According to a spokesman for the family, Jamyl Sarum herself has sworn that the planet will be restored to pristine condition. "Lady Sarum has called upon the best minds in the Empire to attack this problem and offered a considerable honorarium for those who do so. The Sarum Family intends to make this restoration a budgetary priority."
"Well then, let us discuss how best we should capitalize on the distraction this has caused the Gallente Federation. Do not forget about the 600,000 lives lost because of Gallente treachery. As we speak, the Caldari Navy is preparing our military to strike at Caldari Prime and finally take back what is rightfully ours." Said Tibus Heth as he brings everyone's attention and casually revealed the hidden agenda of today's meeting.
Alakoni sighed at the change of topic, regardless of the decision made, this meeting would take a while.
Caldari Prime, a planet developed in collaboration with the Gallente government around fifty years ago. Caldari Prime is a planet with an exact twin orbiting the system's sun in the same ellipsis route and speed. Therefore, its twin, Gallente Prime, is always a shuttle distance away. Originally it was a symbol of peace and cooperation with the elves of Gallente Federation turning sour due to trade dispute and rising nationalism which leads to the first Caldari-Gallente war, a war which Caldari have lost.
However after the Caldari lost the first war with Gallente decades ago, now Caldari prime belongs to and are occupied by the Gallente Federation. Some humans remain on the planet more because they have nowhere else to go and subsist by becoming a paid laborer for the Federation's citizen while hoping for deliverance from the Caldari State.
Alakoni believes that Tibus Heth is using the tragedy which occurs to Ishukone Corporation's headquarters station in Malkalen for his purpose… Unfortunately, Alakoni is not able to object to the planned military assault of Caldari prime as the political atmosphere of the State are thick with demands of retaliation and for blood against the Federation. To publically object against the assault would have been political suicide. Hence Alakoni stilled her tongue and supported the Patriot faction as best as she could.
After a few hours discussing the plan of attack on Caldari Prime, all board members have agreed and contributed resources to the assault. Alakoni herself has committed three of Lai Dai's ‘Golem' class marauder and a dozen ‘Cerberus' class Heavy Assault Cruiser to assist in the assault. The Caldari Navy is deploying three ‘Wyvern' class super carrier contingent in case the ‘Erebus' class Gallente Titan made an appearance on the field. The other board members are supporting the assault with ground troops, Heavy Assault cruiser and their class of Tech 2 mega-corp exclusive ships.
"Very well, we all agree to the assault to be carried out in 72 hours. I hope all of you will clear your schedules by that time to cope with anything the Gallente will come up with to counter our move. With this as the chairman, I declare this meeting to be closed, and I hope to see you all again at our next scheduled meeting after the Caldari Prime assault." Said Tibus Heth as his secretary collected all the documents and signed Letter of Intent and Agreement on how to distribute the territory gained and spoils of war when they occupy Caldari Prime.
Alakoni sighed and are at least glad that the meeting is finally over, as every CEO wrapped up and left the room, leaving only her and Sukuuvestaa Corporation CEO, Kuikiainen Onita left on the desk. She cracked her neck and took a glass of water to drink before she was interrupted once again by her political opponent. A deplorable women if she ever saw one, the worker under Sukuuvestaa are charged more expensive than the average Caldari laborer, which leads to poorer health in most of their worker due to lesser quality diet.
"Alakoni, I have heard some interesting tidbit from a little bird, and I was hoping you could enlighten me." Said Kuikiainen Onita.
Alakoni continues to take a slow and deliberate drink from her glass of water, if her opponent could pick the time to ask now when she is relieving her thirst then Kuikiainen might as well wait. Alakoni then gleefully enjoys the impatient expression on Kuikiainen's face before she dropped her empty glass onto the desk.
"What is it Kuikiainen? Did you extort my employees again after they foolishly gambled away their hard earned money in your casinos?" Scowled Alakoni as she remembers the experience, this is a common method of practice for the management of Sukuuvestaa and no matter how many times she warns her employees a few have always deviated from her instruction.
"I could neither deny nor confirm that question. However, a more important question would be why you would commit Inferno Squad, an Adamantite-ranked mercenary to babysit a minor? You even outfitted her with advanced pilot drop suit and gear from your armory." Asked Kuikiainen Onita.
Alakoni heart stopped for a moment as Kuikiainen mentioned someone who could be Raine but smoothly answered while noting that Kuikiainen does not have a name to connect the dots.
"Why Kuikiainen, I didn't know you cared. What business do you have with who I decided to sponsor?" Counter ask Alakoni.
"It became my business when you put her in state custody and spent good money to hire top corporate lawyers to make sure none of us could touch her. Look here, you do not have a frivolous reputation among the directors, and I could respect that even if we do not see eye to eye. So something about her must be worth all the trouble, and I want in on that. So what is her story?" Probed Kuikiainen Onita again.
"Suffice to say she is very important to Lai Dai group and should you mess with her then I would make you regret it. We do not have any business plan with her, and we do not expect any return on the investment we have spent on her. She is free to pursue whatever she wishes with the backing of Lai Dai group." Answered Alakoni as she glared at Kuikiainen Onita.
"You expect me to believe that? You have been making strange moves that are very out of character of you these past few days. Especially the nanotech wig you have been pushing, marketing, and developing out of the blue. The advertisement alone has raised the attention of the other CEOs because of the generous deal which would not net you any profit and at the risk of it becoming a short term fad. We did not expect you to commit to a fool's venture like a first-time investor, Alakoni. There have been talks among my allies in the Practical faction that you have gone senile and whether a replacement should be pushed to represent Lai Dai in the Chief Executive Panel. I am just trying to help you out here, scratch my back and I'll scratch yours as well." Offered Kuikiainen Onita.
"And who would replace me Kuikiainen? My shareholders are my relatives, and we do not backstab each other to climb to the top just as Sukuuvestaa did. Oh, I'm sorry I forgot to say that we do not spread our legs to reach the top as well. You can keep your support. We are Lai Dai, and we take care of our own." Retorted Alakoni coldly as she glared at Kuikiainen.
Kuikiainen Onita face darkened and with restrained anger left the room with her aides and security officer in tow.
Alakoni schooled her emotion and packed up her copy of documents and agreement. Leaving the empty high-security conference room, where she is once again joined by her contingent of armed guards from ‘Lai Dai Protection Service.'
Alakoni's secretary, security officer, and her armed guards return with haste to the Caldari shuttle. Everyone then took a seat while Alakoni barely has the time to relax as she noticed that she had received a high-priority call from the spies she has sent to trail Raine.
Alakoni has set up to receive this call not on her Omni-tool as the console in front of her have better security code as it is linked to the more powerful Shuttle mainframe computer.
"Hello, give me your report… What do you mean she disappear from your sight?! I've already told you to keep a close eye on her!" Said Alakoni as she angrily reacted to the caller on the opposite end.
"...So Inferno Squad have located and secure her you say? That is good, and I hope she is ok. Have you contacted Commander Iden Versio on what happened to cause you to lose sight of her?" Asked Alakoni with exasperation.
"...She stopped what? Are you high on the job? You better start making sense or so help me…" Said Alakoni as she is getting more exasperated.
"...They did what?! A thousand bits for a nine-year old orphan girl?! Who authorizes the transfer?!" Exclaimed Alakoni with alarm.
"The orphanage director himself you say… Look I don't care who this Vernon Dursley is, but if he is willing to sell an orphan under his charge then clearly he is corrupt! The Caldari and our founding father would not stand for us to traffic humans like slaves! We are not the Amarr even if we do business with them!" Said Alakoni heatedly.
"... Kill him. He is a Goddamned bangsat (bastard equivalent in Indonesian), and he deserved what is coming for him. Also, make an example of him, the rest of the orphanage staff should see his fate and then make sure to send them for re-education." Instructed Alakoni with condemnation.
Alakoni then closed the call while still being in a foul mood, during the call her secretary and security entourage respectfully stay quiet. Alakoni then contacted the shuttle pilot from her Omni-tool.
"Pilot, let us return to the ‘Drake’ battlecruiser. We are done here." Commanded Alakoni hotly.
"Yes, director Alakoni. The ‘Dragonfly' fighter drones are already coming in to escort us back." Replied the shuttle pilot.
Alakoni can feel the shuttle engine humming a bit louder, and then the afterburner activates as the shuttle shot out of the hangar bay. The shuttle is then joined by the same pair of ‘Dragonfly' fighter drones that escorted the shuttle to the station earlier.
With instruction from the station control tower, the surrounding ships made a clear space in front of the shuttle as the shuttle and the fighter drones launched their worm drive and entered the wormhole together.
As the shuttle enters the wormhole, Alakoni can see the fighter drones streaming in the same velocity and destination as the shuttle, before the wormhole closes behind them. She then starts to work again, checking her subordinates report from her seat as she sipped on artificial caffeine.
Alakoni only managed to work for half an hour before the shuttle suddenly shakes violently and everything on her desk are thrown to the floor. Alakoni's secretary screams and her security officer took out her sidearm while looking around for any threat.
Alakoni happens to see the shuttle and the fighter drones have forcedly exited the wormhole before the scheduled time and in a rough manner compared to normal condition. She immediately contacts the shuttle pilot to ask what is going on.
"Pilot! What just happened?!" Asked Alakoni urgently.
"Director! We just hit a wormhole-disrupting interdiction sphere! Unidentified assailants are currently ambushing us!" Reported the pilot in panic.
Alakoni swiftly accessed her command console by linking it to the shuttle's onboard sensor arrays and have registered six ships affiliated with the ‘Guristas' pirate in the local area where they are forcefully pulled out from their wormhole.
[http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20101223201158/sistersprobe/de/images/0/00/Guristas.jpg]
Founded by the charismatic Fatal and technically-minded Rabbit, the Guristas pirates are a fearless, professional and highly-organized outfit operating out of their home region Venal. Unlike other rogue factions, the Guristas focus primarily on old-fashioned piracy, although they're not afraid of making surgical raids deep into Caldari space if they think doing so will achieve something worthwhile.
The Guristas Pirates are traditional pirates in the sense that their operation is not based on some creed or ideology, but a plain and simple greed. The Guristas have bases close to Caldari space where they commit raids, often on the State itself.
The Guristas are considered more honorable than many of their fellow rogue and pirate factions.
The Guristas Pirates tend to operate the frigate-class 'Worm,' the cruiser-class 'Gila,' and the battleship-class 'Rattlesnake.'
Battle OST Soundtrack: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drJqDmEGIes)
"Guristas pirates! Pilot! Guristas pirates are ambushing us! I have registered six enemy vessels a fair distance away from us! I need you to buck up and start coursing an escape route! I will connect one of the ‘Dragonfly’ fighter drones to hook up to the shuttle and slave its control to you! Do your best to stay alive, and I will direct the other fighter drone to engage our ambushers!" Shouted Alakoni as she programmed both the ‘Dragonfly' fighter drones to follow her command.
Outside the shuttle, one of the ‘Dragonfly' fighter drone hooked onto the shuttle and latched on securely making a hybrid of two different ships class joined. Since the shuttle is much smaller compared to the ‘Dragonfly' fighter drone, it looks as if the shuttle is an egg carried by a dragon.
With both ships physically joined and the control slaved to the shuttle pilot, it made an escape route towards the nearby asteroid belt to outrun the Guristas pirate ambush. The larger fighter drone engine pushes the smaller shuttle faster than what is possible under the shuttle's power.
Unfortunately, the gravity compensator of the shuttle is not rated to operate at such speed, as the shuttle passengers and pilot experience something like a gravity wall pushing against their body. Alakoni groaned at the increase in G-force, while painful and nauseating the extra speed gives them the edge they need to escape their ambushers. Alakoni manages to upload the ambushers ship class which is chasing after their improvised shuttle/fighter hybrid to her command console.
The Guristas have six ships in their ambusher fleet. The enemy composition are four ‘Worm' class frigates, one ‘Flycatcher' class Interdictor destroyer and one ‘Gila (ED Note: Fun fact, gila means crazy in Indonesian)' class cruiser. The ‘Flycatcher' class Interdictor consistently launched interdiction spheres, which prevents them from escaping the ambush by entering the wormhole. The ‘Worm' class frigate launched their light combat drones and small light missiles at the escaping shuttle/fighter. The ‘Gila' class cruiser is launching their pair of medium combat drones and medium heavy missiles at the other ‘Dragonfly' fighter drone which is not hooked to the desperately escaping shuttle.
Alakoni tries to hold onto her stomach as the pilot of the shuttle/fighter hybrid made a rolling evasion maneuver, forming a spiral of motion, while it's ‘Defender' rockets and turrets light up the scores of small light missiles and light combat drones trailing behind their shuttle/fighter hybrid flight path. None of the light missiles and light combat drones from the ‘Worm' class frigates managed to hit the shuttle/fighter hybrid as the fire control are entirely taken over by the Artificial Intelligence of the ‘Dragonfly' fighter drone while the piloting of the shuttle/fighter hybrid is done manually by the pilot.
Alakoni, charged with an adrenaline rush, directed the other ‘Dragonfly' fighter drone to prioritize destroying the four ‘Worm' class frigates as they are the only ships which can manage to keep up with the fleeing shuttle/fighter hybrid speed.
The free ‘Dragonfly' Fighter Drone micro-warp drive runs hot as it overheats its engine to keep up with the smaller, lighter and faster ‘Worm' class frigates. All the while launching salvos of heavy missiles and overheating it's short ranged blaster cannons at the ‘Worm' class frigates.
It's persistence paid off as one by one the frigates are overwhelmed and destroyed by the barrage of blaster cannons and heavy missiles from the hotly pursuing ‘Dragonfly' fighter drone.
The ‘Worm' class frigates fates are sealed. Since in their haste and desire to pursue the fleeing shuttle/fighter hybrid, their trajectory is straightforward. The frigates trajectory makes it easier for the ‘Dragonfly' fighter drone onboard computer to track. The frigates cannot afford to make evasive maneuver if they do not want the shuttle/fighter to escape outside of their offensive weapons optimum range.
The victorious ‘Dragonfly' fighter drone did not achieve this victory unscathed though. As even though all the ‘Worm' class frigates are destroyed, which took out the heat from the shuttle/fighter hybrid, it's being hammered by the light and heavy missiles as well as the medium combat drones from the ‘Flycatcher' class Interdictor destroyer and ‘Gila' class cruiser from behind.
Even though it's own ‘Defender' rockets and turrets mowed down the light missiles launched by the ‘Flycatcher' class Interdictor destroyer. The 'Dragonfly' fighter drone cannot manage to destroy the heavy missiles and the medium combat drone from the ‘Gila' class cruiser before it hit the shield and eventually depleted the shield until the armor are scrapped layer by layer violently.
The Artificial Intelligence of the battered ‘Dragonfly' fighter drone made a quick calculation and valiantly made the only action that will ensure it's charge's safety. The battered ‘Dragonfly' fighter drone, on the verge of destruction, changed its course and engage its micro warp drive once again to make a suicide run towards the ‘Flycatcher' class Interdictor destroyer.
With horror, the crews of the ‘Flycatcher' class Interdictor Destroyer only have time to utter a single curse as the ‘Dragonfly' fighter drone crashed into their ship and both disappear in a blaze of fire.
"Pilot! The Interdictor has been destroyed! Can we make an emergency wormhole slip?!" Screamed Alakoni as she plays her last hand against their ambushers.
Alakoni gritted her teeth, the only enemy ship left is the ‘Gila' combat cruiser, and they are steadily outpacing the ‘Gila' cruiser’s speed. Eventually, they would be out of their heavy missiles range, but the medium combat drones would still be a problem. She does not have any asset left to destroy the ‘Gila' cruiser, and if the shuttle detached itself from the ‘Dragonfly' fighter drone to destroy the ‘Gila' cruiser, it would leave the shuttle vulnerable to the medium combat drones and would surely be destroyed. They are at an impasse, in this case only speed and the use of environment would let them prevail in this situation.
"Negative director! We can't stay still to launch the wormhole sphere while the ‘Gila' cruiser medium combat drones are hot on our trail! Stopping at this point will give the drones the opportunity to destroy us! The only thing we can do is to escape until we are outside of the ‘Gila' cruiser’s effective drone control range then we can spare the time to escape to the wormhole! Hold on director! It's about to get rough in here!" Reported the pilot as the shuttle/fighter hybrid give it's all to escape the approaching medium combat drones and approaching heavy missiles from the ‘Gila' cruiser.
Alakoni braced for impact as the shuttle/fighter hybrid unleashed a barrage of heavy missiles and blaster cannons to clear the path as they enter the asteroid belt. The foolhardy maneuver worked as the heavy missiles launched by the ‘Gila' cruiser strikes the drifting asteroids instead of their ship.
Although it prolongs their life, it is still risky as the shuttle/fighter are crashing into the smaller asteroids fragments which are blasted by their ship's barrage and avoiding the larger asteroid which they cannot destroy.
Fortunately, in addition to being a shield to the heavy missiles, it also forces the medium combat drones to break off pursuit to instead follow their ship from outside the area littered by the asteroid belt. One medium combat drone above and one medium combat drone below on the edges of the asteroid field, waiting for their ship to exit the asteroid field eventually.
Alakoni is making good progress as they continue to increase the distance between them and their pursuer at the cost of slower speed by maneuvering the asteroid field testing the pilot's skill to the limit. The ‘Gila' cruiser crazily enters the asteroid belt full on throttle behind their shuttle/fighter hybrid path.
The ‘Gila' cruiser are taking damage because it is not as maneuverable as their shuttle/fighter hybrid but they still can do by simply brute pushing its way through the asteroid field, launching heavy missiles at everything in front of the ‘Gila’ cruiser, making a mess of the asteroid field.
"They are that driven to kill me until that extent!?" Shouted Alakoni in disbelief as she monitors her pursuer from the shuttle's sensor array as it breaks through the asteroid field like a bull through a bicycle riders’ lane.
"Director! We cannot stay longer within this asteroid field any longer! We have to exit the asteroid field, or we would be too damaged to move!" Reported the pilot shuttle urgently.
"Do it! Choose a path above or below the asteroid belt and destroy the medium combat drone on that side of the field! Aim our weapons system at the medium combat drone on that side and let loose everything!" Commanded Alakoni hotly.
With a burst of speed, the shuttle/fighter hybrid angled up to protect the shuttle on its underside from asteroid debris using the ‘Dragonfly' fighter drone's shield and armor. The shuttle/fighter hybrid then violently breached the surface of the asteroid belt and aimed its weapon system at the underside of the waiting medium combat drone.
With a shudder, a violent barrage of blaster cannons and heavy missiles spewed forth from the front of the shuttle/fighter hybrid.
The ordinances and missiles are hitting the underside of the medium combat drones and shredding it's shield and armor badly, yet it is still operational as it shifted its angle to aim its weapon system to retaliate back.
Before the medium combat drone can fire, the ‘Dragonfly' fighter drone micro warp drive burst to life and rammed the medium combat drone in front of it into pieces.
Alakoni gritted her teeth as her secretary and security officer screamed from the fierce impact.
"Director, our blaster cannons are offline from the impact, and I have just used the last of my heavy missiles. All our weapon systems are down! If we want to slip into the wormhole, then now is the time while the ‘Gila' cruiser is still stuck inside the asteroid field and the other medium combat drone is still on the other side!" Shouted the shuttle pilot urgently.
"Do it pilot! Before anything else happen! The moment the wormhole is open burn straight inside!" Replied Alakoni back equally urgent.
Rather than using the time to reply, the shuttle pilot stops the motion of the shuttle/fighter hybrid and proceeds to empty the ‘Dragonfly' fighter drone capacitor to open a wormhole. Minutes ticked by tensely as the worm drive is being generated.
The moment the worm sphere is ready, the ‘Dragonfly' fighter drone launched the worm sphere and detonated ahead of the shuttle/fighter hybrid, opening a rift in real space ahead of them.
The shuttle pilot activates the engine again to slip into the wormhole, but the shuttle/fighter shook violently before it can enter it.
Alakoni glanced at her command console and with dread saw that the other medium combat drone has already reached them and have shot and disable the ‘Dragonfly' fighter drone's engine. The medium combat drone is now making another turn to strafe them again, and at this point, Alakoni fear that it will be a kill run.
"Director! Our propulsion system is offline! We are dead in the water!" Shouted the shuttle pilot in panic.
Alakoni steeled her resolve and once again with speed that she was not aware possible, everything blurred, and every motion inside the shuttle slows to a crawl. At this point, the adrenaline has supercharged her senses and giving her time to think of a solution.
Alakoni's fingers typed at lightning speed for the ‘Dragonfly' fighter drone to release the shuttle and return the shuttle's control to the shuttle pilot's. With a loud clunk, the shuttle's connection to the ‘Dragonfly' fighter drone is no more, and the shuttle's engine is turning back online.
"The shuttle's propulsion system and control are back online! Pilot burn straight for the wormhole now!" Screamed Alakoni urgently as she took off her earpiece and shouted into her mic.
The seconds ticked by as Alakoni sees the medium combat drone coming in straight at her shuttle with murderous intent even as the shuttle pilot scrambles and burning its engine into the wormhole.
On the corner of her eyes, she can see through the shuttle's sensor array, the ‘Gila' cruiser has just breached the asteroid field and have immediately launched a volley of heavy missiles burning straight for her shuttle.
Just as the shuttle starts to enter the wormhole, the heavy missiles inexplicably changed direction and missed her shuttle entirely, even as the medium combat drone fly harmlessly without bothering to shoot her shuttle.
Before the wormhole envelopes her shuttle entirely, she spotted a battleship uncloaking on the portside of the shuttle. Her shuttle's IFF transponder managed to identify it as a ‘Widow' class Black Ops Battleship owned by Kalaakiota mega-corp.
Even as she hates to admit it, looks like she owes Tibus Heth her life today and hopes that it won't cost her too much to pay him back the next time she attended the Chief Executive Panel meeting. With that thought in Alakoni's mind, the shuttle is finally swallowed by the wormhole, whisking it and it’s passengers safely back to the nearest Lai Dai controlled territory.
Battle OST Soundtrack: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4JX90qtzoA)
With the disappearance of the main target and the intervention of the Kalaakiota's ‘Widow' class Black Ops Battleship which have disengaged their covert ops cloak to intervene. The Guristas ‘Gila' class cruiser has no reason to stick around.
The ‘Widow' class Black Ops Battleship ECM or ‘Electronic Counter Measure' hacked the ‘Gila' cruise missile system offline through electronic warfare. The ‘Gila' cruiser crews are engaging their worm drive to escape the ‘Widow' class Black Ops Battleship.
Unknown to the crews of the ‘Gila' cruiser. The only reason their flight of heavy missiles changes direction at the last second and their medium combat drone not responding to their command is because the ‘Widow' class Black Ops Battleship electronic system interfered with the heavy missile's guidance system and hijacked the control of the ‘Gila' cruiser's medium combat drone.
But ‘Gila' cruiser crews did eventually realize the hijacking as they come under attack from their own medium combat drone, disabling their propulsion system and engine, leaving them dead in the water. Ironically, it is the same drone which has taken out the ‘Dragonfly' fighter drone propulsion system as well. The table has been turned against the Guristas as they found that their weapon system has crippled them.
Inside the ‘Widow' class Black Ops Battleship command bridge stands a stern and grim figure of Tibus Heth, the CEO of Kalaakiota mega-corp as he monitors the battlefield after he ordered the intervention to save his fellow Patriot faction member, the CEO of Lai Dai mega-corp, Alakoni Ishanoya.
"Director, the Guristas pirates are at our mercy. They are contacting us through an open channel to ask what is our term for them to parley. What is your next order?" Asked the captain of the ‘Widow' class Black Ops Battleship.
Tibus Heth coldly watched the struggling ‘Gila' cruiser being bleed out by their own medium combat drone.
"Pirates? Do not mistake them as pirates captain... What you see as pirates, I see as traitors against the Caldari State. Damn the parley. Load the cruise missiles. We will cleanse this filth from our territory. Make an example out of them." Judged the executor and CEO of Kalaakiota mega-corp.
"As your will director. Load up the missiles, lock our missiles to target the Guristas ‘Gila' cruiser. Aim to kill ladies." Commanded the ‘Widow' class Black Ops Battleship captain to her command crew members.
The ‘Widow' class Black Ops Battleship missile silos opens up just as it angles it's nose directly against the doomed Guristas ‘Gila' cruiser.
"Fire!" Shouted the captain of the ‘Widow' class Black Ops Battleship as the large-sized cruise missiles fires and launches itself from the missile silos. A dozen large cruise missiles raced towards the doomed Guristas ‘Gila' cruiser, dead in the water.
Tibus Heth watches for a second as the large cruise missiles volley headed toward the struggling Guristas ‘Gila' cruiser before he made a turn towards the exit, intending to return back to his living quarters. To his pleasure, the Guristas ‘Gila' cruiser crew member's shouting and sobbing pleas for mercy was suddenly cut short before he passed through the exit to the command bridge.
As Tibus Heth exits the command bridge, he considers what he has achieved today. He managed to finalize the plan of his lifelong ambition for a military assault on Caldari prime, personally orders the execution of traitorous Guristas pirate scums and even managed to make Alakoni Ishanoya, the CEO of Lai Dai owe him a debt for saving her life.
Tibus Heth genuinely smiled, which is pleasing to him as he could not remember when was the last time he has the chance to smile since taking over the leadership of the Kalaakiota mega-corp as its CEO.
“Yes, today is a good day” keeps looping within his mind even as he reaches his living quarter and laid his head on his bed to sleep after a day's hard work. Tibus Heth then dreams of conquest and glory surrounded by the burning wreckage of Gallente ships around the orbit of Caldari Prime.