Big Game Hunting
`
At Smeaton Port, in the non-Fed sanctioned bars, there are two types of hunter those who make a lot of noise and those, who well, don't. The noisy ones are kind-of interesting with their tales of how many Sidewinders they had trapped and popped or how many Adders they had forced to dump their cargo before driving their hull to 3%, 2%, 1%; not instantly but over minutes....after all they say the pilots of those ships had no where to go! Real kind drawing out those last few minutes – after all with the limits in sub-space comms it wasnt like they could hail anyone as they were out of SC. Shoulda remembered to select their “alert system security” pingers....but the noisy ones always claimed their prey were genuine WANTED and hence that would have been no good. The only problem with these stories, and they were stories, never any las-cam, drone-cam shots of the hunt, was that they always seemed to stop at the smaller end of the ship range. When you asked them about a Conda or Python then they weren't quite so noisy. The quiet ones, they wont say much in the bar, but if you know the right place to go on the systemnet then you can find the advice and guidance that might just help. But let me go back a bit....
`
I hail from Cosi, after some early un-focused efforts I ended up working with the Federation – I kinda drifter from port to port looking for good trades and grinding through the Sidey to the Hauler (max cargo – zero shields) until I could get every farm-boys dream ship of a Cobra MkIII. It was then that I heard about Njikan and its mining opportunities. So I headed on over, maybe 100ly or so, not far in Galaxy terms but fun enough – found some rares at Momus Reach (hunting dogs!). Njikan is my current home and I have done some good work for the leading faction (Fed of course) – Jet Dynamic Industries (who happen to be in a kind of civil war thing).
`
After doing a few missions for the JDI and some mining I was feeling quite happy with a couple of 500K beam lasers a few other B or C modules and about 2 mill in the bank. Then I saw a hunting mission for a rogue called Zaha Payson. JDI called them a rogue and 140k cr looked tempting.
`
Now I had been bloodied, badly, with a +100k cr “mission” in the past. Somewhere around Bestakas, there was a Conda owned by “Thomas the Great” - the clue was in the name, well it was obvious afterwards – and very quickly after I did the first scan and saw “Elite” - gulp! That was where I learned in the first round that a life-support timer of 5 minutes was marginal at least – docked with 20 seconds to go. Rounds 2 and 3 weren't much better, I got to enjoy the view from the cockpit on the second round but with 15 minutes, a much more leisurely trip to the station. Attempts to upgrade weapons, etc didnt seem to make any difference and after the third attempt I took the rep hit and slunk off.
`
So back to 3301 (Happy New Year!) - with my bigger beams and multi-cannon underneath this should be easier. So this is where the quiet ones help – dont say much, but they love to write it down, you just need to know where tolook and what to search for. Well I know that now – after the event – but I thought I could work it out myself.....initially. So I sold the Type 6 (in store), got B class shield generators, shield cell bank and A class power distributors, ECM and chaff. Time to go!
`
Usefully JDI gave me 3 options to find Zaha – all were Cephei Sector + alphanumeric combinations. So I went to the first one QD-T B3-3 and started hunting USS. It must have been my lucky day cause at the first one, I was helpfully redirected to Ross 199. So pop over to 199 and who should I find at the first USS but Zaha...... round 1 commenced. She/He (you can never tell with just the txt comms stream) kicked things off with a straking pass over me, I dropped chaff, returned fire with beams and turned round for the next sweep....repeat a few more times, including some shield cells, missiles from Zaha and I had got the shields out – went to the targeting screen to locate power plant and thats when things went wrong – couldnt find it on the sub target list on first panicked scan – then got it ….Zaha now vanished somewhere las strikes still coming in...shields down to one circle, need another shield cell – click nothing – opps – shield gone – targeting Zaha power plant (not much use) – cracking windscreen – run. Zaha even gave a parting comment....something like “thanks for dropping by” hmph.
`
Back at Njikan I did some searching, where the quiet ones go.....why did I run out of shield cells – I had A class (only 6 or 7), but B class has 11 – not sure on the logic for that but numbers is what I need. Got rid of ECM (just another button to press) and went for point-defence to deal with the missiles – its automatic. I really wanted a A class shield generator but couldnt afford the 1.6m cr cost and need to watch that insurance/re-buy cost. Also saw some advise on keeping to the rear – seemed sensible.
`
Back to Ross 199, it took a few more USS investigations to find Zaha second time, the usual procession of Funeral Barges, “Tech Acquistion Inc” and other well, almost, random signals needed to be examined by leaving SC and getting within a couple of clics of them (no SC USS scanning invented yet.....that would be real useful!) After the 10[SIZE=2]th[/SIZE], 11[SIZE=2]th[/SIZE] time Zaha showed up again, there wasn't any recollection of me from round 1 – there must be a few after her/him? So we started again – like those ancient knights from Earth I heard about – pass 1, pass 2, pass 3 (forgot about the keeping to the rear bit – then remembered), Zaha shields down, target PP and keep going – don't boost, don't want to overshoot, keep dropping shield cells, lasers are on permanent overload / on / overload / on but getting there, PP down to 20%....no more shield cells--------- aargh, i'm down to 40% hull …..round 2 over – back to Njikan.
`
More quiet advice from those more experienced...go the multi-cannon route with a missile pack for good measure – light usage on the weapon power. And cheaper (not on ammo – but sell the 500k cr beams) – I decided to
go to a B4 power generator to release the credits for a A4 shield generator. Round 3 is on. Found Zaha a bit quicker this time, my USS sniffing skills are improving! Line up, set the pips, keep off the boost, stick to the rear, popping chaff, multi-cannons open up......FINE – what / why....... I didnt let Zaha fire first....but this means the system security team are going to join in – flipping 'eck. No sign of them yet so working the multi-cannon on the shields – takes a little longer than the beams but it seems a smoother experience, steady as it goes. Shields down, PP target …...down to 50% PP, then some a yellow triangle appears, security, just what I dont need, seems to get close and then vanishes (not me sir I blame Zaha) then another one – need to finish the job. By now PP is down to 10% ish – Zaha is slowing up – real close in front of me – multiple fires on the Conda and what looks like smoke pouring out mid hull......a couple of dead on missiles and m-c and pop.....Zaha is no more. Breath ...blink I did it.....no time to rest its more security, boost, FSD and now back to Njikan.
`
Cruising back to Smeaton Port, double check not wanted in this system – good to go, but overshoot the station in SC, so loop back, slowing down to avoid the rings of Njikan 3 ….and then interdicted! This should be interesting. I submit.....I have just popped an Elite Conda. Who has decided to say Hello, why its Lumiya, Wanted in an Adder. He (or she) does a few passes, I throttle back and just watch....his hardpoints are out and some beams of light shot forth....I layout my multi-cannon and lets just say I didnt wait till 3% hull, 2%, 1%…..it was a quick trip from 100 to 0, no stopping till the bang....5000 cr are mine when I safely land back at Smeaton. JDI credit me 140K to my account for Zaha, about 15K in repairs, fuel and ammo (ignore rounds 1 and 2), pay the fine from 199. Time to put my feet up, but a quick check of the bulletin board and JDI seems to have recognised my moral compass being pointed to credits and offers me an opportunity to locate some Alien Artefacts for them.......shall I....?
`
At Smeaton Port, in the non-Fed sanctioned bars, there are two types of hunter those who make a lot of noise and those, who well, don't. The noisy ones are kind-of interesting with their tales of how many Sidewinders they had trapped and popped or how many Adders they had forced to dump their cargo before driving their hull to 3%, 2%, 1%; not instantly but over minutes....after all they say the pilots of those ships had no where to go! Real kind drawing out those last few minutes – after all with the limits in sub-space comms it wasnt like they could hail anyone as they were out of SC. Shoulda remembered to select their “alert system security” pingers....but the noisy ones always claimed their prey were genuine WANTED and hence that would have been no good. The only problem with these stories, and they were stories, never any las-cam, drone-cam shots of the hunt, was that they always seemed to stop at the smaller end of the ship range. When you asked them about a Conda or Python then they weren't quite so noisy. The quiet ones, they wont say much in the bar, but if you know the right place to go on the systemnet then you can find the advice and guidance that might just help. But let me go back a bit....
`
I hail from Cosi, after some early un-focused efforts I ended up working with the Federation – I kinda drifter from port to port looking for good trades and grinding through the Sidey to the Hauler (max cargo – zero shields) until I could get every farm-boys dream ship of a Cobra MkIII. It was then that I heard about Njikan and its mining opportunities. So I headed on over, maybe 100ly or so, not far in Galaxy terms but fun enough – found some rares at Momus Reach (hunting dogs!). Njikan is my current home and I have done some good work for the leading faction (Fed of course) – Jet Dynamic Industries (who happen to be in a kind of civil war thing).
`
After doing a few missions for the JDI and some mining I was feeling quite happy with a couple of 500K beam lasers a few other B or C modules and about 2 mill in the bank. Then I saw a hunting mission for a rogue called Zaha Payson. JDI called them a rogue and 140k cr looked tempting.
`
Now I had been bloodied, badly, with a +100k cr “mission” in the past. Somewhere around Bestakas, there was a Conda owned by “Thomas the Great” - the clue was in the name, well it was obvious afterwards – and very quickly after I did the first scan and saw “Elite” - gulp! That was where I learned in the first round that a life-support timer of 5 minutes was marginal at least – docked with 20 seconds to go. Rounds 2 and 3 weren't much better, I got to enjoy the view from the cockpit on the second round but with 15 minutes, a much more leisurely trip to the station. Attempts to upgrade weapons, etc didnt seem to make any difference and after the third attempt I took the rep hit and slunk off.
`
So back to 3301 (Happy New Year!) - with my bigger beams and multi-cannon underneath this should be easier. So this is where the quiet ones help – dont say much, but they love to write it down, you just need to know where tolook and what to search for. Well I know that now – after the event – but I thought I could work it out myself.....initially. So I sold the Type 6 (in store), got B class shield generators, shield cell bank and A class power distributors, ECM and chaff. Time to go!
`
Usefully JDI gave me 3 options to find Zaha – all were Cephei Sector + alphanumeric combinations. So I went to the first one QD-T B3-3 and started hunting USS. It must have been my lucky day cause at the first one, I was helpfully redirected to Ross 199. So pop over to 199 and who should I find at the first USS but Zaha...... round 1 commenced. She/He (you can never tell with just the txt comms stream) kicked things off with a straking pass over me, I dropped chaff, returned fire with beams and turned round for the next sweep....repeat a few more times, including some shield cells, missiles from Zaha and I had got the shields out – went to the targeting screen to locate power plant and thats when things went wrong – couldnt find it on the sub target list on first panicked scan – then got it ….Zaha now vanished somewhere las strikes still coming in...shields down to one circle, need another shield cell – click nothing – opps – shield gone – targeting Zaha power plant (not much use) – cracking windscreen – run. Zaha even gave a parting comment....something like “thanks for dropping by” hmph.
`
Back at Njikan I did some searching, where the quiet ones go.....why did I run out of shield cells – I had A class (only 6 or 7), but B class has 11 – not sure on the logic for that but numbers is what I need. Got rid of ECM (just another button to press) and went for point-defence to deal with the missiles – its automatic. I really wanted a A class shield generator but couldnt afford the 1.6m cr cost and need to watch that insurance/re-buy cost. Also saw some advise on keeping to the rear – seemed sensible.
`
Back to Ross 199, it took a few more USS investigations to find Zaha second time, the usual procession of Funeral Barges, “Tech Acquistion Inc” and other well, almost, random signals needed to be examined by leaving SC and getting within a couple of clics of them (no SC USS scanning invented yet.....that would be real useful!) After the 10[SIZE=2]th[/SIZE], 11[SIZE=2]th[/SIZE] time Zaha showed up again, there wasn't any recollection of me from round 1 – there must be a few after her/him? So we started again – like those ancient knights from Earth I heard about – pass 1, pass 2, pass 3 (forgot about the keeping to the rear bit – then remembered), Zaha shields down, target PP and keep going – don't boost, don't want to overshoot, keep dropping shield cells, lasers are on permanent overload / on / overload / on but getting there, PP down to 20%....no more shield cells--------- aargh, i'm down to 40% hull …..round 2 over – back to Njikan.
`
More quiet advice from those more experienced...go the multi-cannon route with a missile pack for good measure – light usage on the weapon power. And cheaper (not on ammo – but sell the 500k cr beams) – I decided to
go to a B4 power generator to release the credits for a A4 shield generator. Round 3 is on. Found Zaha a bit quicker this time, my USS sniffing skills are improving! Line up, set the pips, keep off the boost, stick to the rear, popping chaff, multi-cannons open up......FINE – what / why....... I didnt let Zaha fire first....but this means the system security team are going to join in – flipping 'eck. No sign of them yet so working the multi-cannon on the shields – takes a little longer than the beams but it seems a smoother experience, steady as it goes. Shields down, PP target …...down to 50% PP, then some a yellow triangle appears, security, just what I dont need, seems to get close and then vanishes (not me sir I blame Zaha) then another one – need to finish the job. By now PP is down to 10% ish – Zaha is slowing up – real close in front of me – multiple fires on the Conda and what looks like smoke pouring out mid hull......a couple of dead on missiles and m-c and pop.....Zaha is no more. Breath ...blink I did it.....no time to rest its more security, boost, FSD and now back to Njikan.
`
Cruising back to Smeaton Port, double check not wanted in this system – good to go, but overshoot the station in SC, so loop back, slowing down to avoid the rings of Njikan 3 ….and then interdicted! This should be interesting. I submit.....I have just popped an Elite Conda. Who has decided to say Hello, why its Lumiya, Wanted in an Adder. He (or she) does a few passes, I throttle back and just watch....his hardpoints are out and some beams of light shot forth....I layout my multi-cannon and lets just say I didnt wait till 3% hull, 2%, 1%…..it was a quick trip from 100 to 0, no stopping till the bang....5000 cr are mine when I safely land back at Smeaton. JDI credit me 140K to my account for Zaha, about 15K in repairs, fuel and ammo (ignore rounds 1 and 2), pay the fine from 199. Time to put my feet up, but a quick check of the bulletin board and JDI seems to have recognised my moral compass being pointed to credits and offers me an opportunity to locate some Alien Artefacts for them.......shall I....?