The Impenetrable: Sector 1

Ship

Name: The Impenetrable
Class: Noether
Initial Weaponry: Ion Blaster x 2, Pike Beam

Crew

Captain: Sam (Zoltan)
Engineer: Stelly (Zoltan)
Gunnery: Vincent (Zoltan)

Captain's Log

Stardate: 01.02.122512

The Impenetrable is flying true. Though behind enemy lines, we are shipshape and all systems are green. Zoltan engineering has blessed us with the Zoltan shield, which absorbs any attack for a limited time and recharges on each FTL jump. Meanwhile, Zoltan charged physiology has blessed us with extra ship energy as our energy-based anatomies can keep our instruments powered even without the reactor.

We're in deep space, and at the moment, all is quiet. With Stelly manning the engines and Gunnery Sargent Vincent on the weapons, I feel confident we will reach Federation space with ease! We are currently preparing for our first jump. The spiral galaxy houses many jump beacons and though many beg for exploration, we must make sure to reach the galactic sector wormhole before the tidal wave of Rebel ships reaches us, or things will become much more difficult. That said, I've decided to head "south" toward the galactic center.

Stardate: 01.17.122512

The jump is complete, but we've detected an automated Rebel scout attacking a re-fueling outpost. Stelly is complaining that the engines don't have enough power, but after a jump, I tend to have no regard for the safety of my crew, so I just start punching the big red "fire" button. Apparently, according to Vincent, this lights up another red "fire" button on his console, which he just starts punching, as well.

I have Vincent aim the ion blasters at their weapons and shield bays while I order the pike beam to lance across as many of their bays as possible. It's imperative we disable their weapons before they cut through our Zoltan shield, since we don't yet have enough power to charge the normal shield array.

The ion blasts disable their shield and weapons systems, allowing the pike beam to slice through the hull with very little resistance. Immediately, the Rebel ship's engines, drive, shields, and weapons are off line.  Despite this, Stelly is still complaining, like a little bitch, from the engine bay. Something about our shields being down. I resist the urge to open the hull doors all the way to engineering just to shut him up.

Another blast from our pike beam completely destroys the enemy ship. Stelly sounds relieved. I ignore his cowardice and bring some fuel, drone parts, and scrap metal on board.

Fuel: +1
Drone Parts:+1
Scrap: +14

The outpost we saved, which I had completely forgotten about in my blood-lust, generously gifts us with more equipment.

Missiles: +2
Drone Parts: +1
Scrap: +18

I order the scrap piled up between Stelly and the intercom in the engine bay in hopes that I won't have to hear the pantywaist's complaining. He's still going on about the lack of shields!  Idiot.

Systems show green. It's time for the next jump toward home.

Stardate: 01.43.122512

We've jumped in even closer to the galactic core, at the edge of an asteroid field. Still seeing red from the jump, I decide to forge forward into the field to see if we can find any useful materials. Stelly's muffled protests echo out from behind the pile of scrap, but I'm too FTL drunk to listen. I hit the impulse thrusters and dive into the field. 

I find myself cackling out loud as we discover what seems to be the remains of a ship. 

Missiles: +3

Scrap: +22

My only regret is that we didn't find anything to shoot. I think I hear Stelly sobbing from his corner of the ship, but I can't hear it clearly over the growing pile of scrap.

No sign of pursuit by the Rebels, yet, so I choose a lateral jump.

Stardate: 01.43.122512

I'm never going to hear the end of this one. We jump into a system with a class M super-giant spewing intermittent solar flares. Unfortunately, we're attacked by a pirate before our FTL drives can spin up. 

Of course, still punchy from the jump, I order immediate engagement by continuously punching the fire button.

Either Stelly wis screaming like a Zoltan birthspark or the pile of scrap in his bay is shifting. Either way, it is annoying, but our weapons fire soon drowns it out.

I have Vincent once again target their engines and shields with the ion disruptor blasts while aiming the pike beam to arc clear across the ship from bow to stern. With imminent solar flares on the way, even through my bloodlusty eyes, I know we have to end this quickly and jump out as soon as possible.

I am certain this has nothing to do with attempting to maintain the fading FTL high.  

After only a single volley, the pirates call to surrender.  No surprise, as we had knocked out nearly everything, including their navigation, oxygen, shields, engines and weapons. Unfortunately, the FTL high still has me seeing red, so...

Fuck 'em. I continue hitting the fire button.

To Stelly's rather justified dismay, the raging solar flare hits us just as we take the enemy ship apart.  

Our sensors go down immediately, so I know we have fires on board. I quickly order atmosphere to be vented to our door and sensor control bays in order to extinguish the flames in vacuum. Except the door controls are broken. We will have to take care of the fires manually.

Without hesitation, I order Stelly to put the fires out and, in a fit of confusion, order myself to do the same.  Deep down inside, I must have a very warm soft spot for Vincent.

The bastard isn't fast enough. Another flare hits us, cutting off our oxygen systems, just as we repair the door controls. This is bad. Quickly, I send Stelly back in with Vincent's help.

They are unable to put the fire out and get O2 back online before I se their health starting to redline. I order them out to the sick bay to heal up before taking another run at it.

Another flare.  Too late. We have to jump out.  I jump us back to our previous sector, knowing it to be safe. I'm a freaking genius.  Better get that O2 back on line before we go anywhere else, though. Once again, I order Stelly and Vincent to repair the environmental controls.

Unluckily for them, however, I doze off.

And awaken to notice that though they've managed to repair the O2 converters, they've asphyxiated from lack of oxygen in the bay.

This mission hasn't gone well. I don't feel much remorse for Stelly, but Vincent was a good guy. Either way, though, now, I'm alone.

At least Stelly's shut the fuck up.

I manage to get all the systems back online, by myself.  However, now, without the help of the other two, I'm in a bit of trouble, as their charged physiologies had helped keep all the systems powered. Things are looking bleak. Nothing left to do but key in the next jump, I suppose.

Stardate: 02.03.122512

I see a Rebel space station with an automated sentry ship. I should probably get my condition looked at next time I'm at a med station. This red-war haze is going to get me killed.

Even with two crewmen down, I decide to transfer controls of engineering and weapons to the bridge. This makes response time slower, but there's nothing to be done for it but attack.

I swear I hear Stelly continuing to scream at me through the intercom. That's impossible, though.

Right?

Fortunately, the sentry has no shields. A few blasts from the pike beam disintegrates it, and I salvage the leftovers. I'm going to need all the help I can get, after all, piloting this crate by myself.

Fuel: +2

Missiles: +2

Scrap: +33

As I reach for the FTL controls, I hear Stelly calling me a lucky idiot. It must be my imagination. Has to be.

I mean, the asshole is dead. And assholes don't come back from the dead, do they?  

The long range scanners show me a distress beacon and a nearby trade station. The station might have available crew to hire. Maybe if I can add another crew member, Stelly will stop talking to me.

I decide to jump for the trade station.

Stardate: 02.03.122512

Unfortunately, no crew is available at the station, which turns out to be a crippled ship trying to trade equipment for scrap.  I ask them if they can hear Stelly, but they just look at me like I am wearing a mantis on my head. It takes a lot to resist turning the pike beam on and strafing it across their faces.

Instead, I inspected their wares. Without a crew, it looks mostly useless, to me. Especially the crew teleporter. 

The crewman that shows it to me trails off awkwardly in mid-pitch.  

It takes a lot to resist shooting him in the genitals.

I decide on a simple minor hull repair before disengaging with the useless trade ship and heading for the next jump beacon.

Stardate: 02.15.122512

A planet!  Thank goodness. I decided to beam down in hopes that Stelly's nagging voice will stay behind on the ship. 

I find a cave with a crazy life form in it. Seems he's been down there for a while. I decide to invite him on board.

What can go wrong?

Well, he died on the way up.  I eject him into the atmosphere of the planet because he's starting to smell.  Worse than he already did.

Stelly welcomes me home. I can't believe he's even more annoying after death than before. Not even a face to punch for relief.

Time to jump, again.

Stardate: 02.19.122512

Stelly's screaming in my ear, again, as I drop out of hyperspace, right into the clutches of a Rebel ship. 

I start tapping the fire button, furiously. I'm starting to hate this ship.  "Impenetrable", my ass.

I aim my remaining ion blaster at their weapons systems and set the pike beam arc to once again take out as many systems as possible.

Things don't start out well. Both shots missed, but I hear a missile hit the hull. Nothing ruptures, but shields go down completely. I redirect the ion blast at their shields in hopes that the pike beam can actually do some damage.

The next missile hits the bridge.  I'm on fire! I ignore the pain and quickly attempt to put the fire out while hoping the automated targeting system would keep them from firing that blasted missile launcher again.

Explosions are going off everywhere, now. I'm badly injured and the medical bay is on fire. I'm venting it out, but I don't think I'll survive this. Everything's down, now.

I hate you, Stelly. Death will be welcome, after having known you, you filthy bastard.

You------ 

[end of file]