He fell to the ground with a thud as Aracturus landed a foot in his gut.
Pain overwhelmed his senses as he felt the shame of losing once more to his mentor.
There was no man who could defeat him, save this one.
Sergeant Major Jon Coven accepted his opponent's hand and was pulled back to his feet.
"Your technique is good but your execution is still lacking." Aracturus commented as he put his shirt back on.
Jon saw his opportunity, but his training kicked in and prevented him from taking it.
He would have plenty of time to train on Pator when they arrived.
Aracturus had never had a student like Jon Coven. Disciplined, but brutal. He scared the other students, because he bordered on sociopathic behavior. So Aracturus took him under his wing, and put his name forward for the Swarm's Special Services, or SS.
Jon Coven meanwhile, was planning. He was always planning. He could see a dozen ways to kill each person around him. He did not understand why he must be drilled in such specific means of killing when with preparation he would never need them... but the shame of losing to his mentor hounded him.
On Pator, the apprentice will kill his master.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
The Space Between Us
10.27.114
Paiho, Pator, Pator.
We finally got to talking today, after the baseliners released me from quarantine. I met Matariki's Aunt, and many of her clan. I'm starting to feel better. Less ill at ease.
I got news today that the war in Tribute is over. Victory has been achieved. But the war in the North is far from over. Next we go to Geminate. Northern Coalition., our foe, has pledged that they will not fight to keep sov, promising their membership a return to the era of 'good fights' - an era without sov or worries.
If I believed that, I'd be just about ready to go mining Gallente Ice.
We dropped SBUs in Geminate, and what was the first thing they did?
Spent eight hours with a fifty-man fleet shooting SBUs.
Not doing any more structure shoots. Riiiight.
In Geminate, meanwhile, NCdot has found an unlikely ally in their fight against Solar Fleet - Our Allies.
In a bizarre twist, the HBC, specifically TEST and Pandemic Legion, actually committed supercapitals to aid NCdot.
What followed was a massive supercapital brawl that resulted in Solar Fleet's super fleet being thoroughly spanked.
But as Matariki gently massages away the tension in my shoulders, my mind returns to here. To now.
There is so much to talk about. About us. About the future. About the past. So much grief that I've been keeping inside...
So much grief that's come between us.
What bothers me the most is how inept I've felt since the loss of the Isarararch. I failed my crew that day, and I've not had the confidence to fly again since.
I've finally given up hope that the missing six million members of the original Squeaky Bee Colony will return. They've been missing since the Isarararch went down. I had hope they'd escaped but...
It seems they've perished. I shall have to have a funeral when I get home.
Before I came to Pator, I attended Jules' funeral on Amarr Prime. It was a nice service, but it would have been even nicer had the self-righteous Amarrian cardinals performing the service not gone off on a spiel about how Jules' fate was an example of what happened to those who stray. I suppose I should be happy that he was posthumously exonerated from the charges of heresy brought against him. And at least we recovered his body. Bah.
Matariki still grieves for her lost friendship with Gotti. I can feel it. I feel as if I am to blame, somehow... and this grief...
This grief has created a space between us.
Paiho, Pator, Pator.
We finally got to talking today, after the baseliners released me from quarantine. I met Matariki's Aunt, and many of her clan. I'm starting to feel better. Less ill at ease.
I got news today that the war in Tribute is over. Victory has been achieved. But the war in the North is far from over. Next we go to Geminate. Northern Coalition., our foe, has pledged that they will not fight to keep sov, promising their membership a return to the era of 'good fights' - an era without sov or worries.
If I believed that, I'd be just about ready to go mining Gallente Ice.
We dropped SBUs in Geminate, and what was the first thing they did?
Spent eight hours with a fifty-man fleet shooting SBUs.
Not doing any more structure shoots. Riiiight.
In Geminate, meanwhile, NCdot has found an unlikely ally in their fight against Solar Fleet - Our Allies.
In a bizarre twist, the HBC, specifically TEST and Pandemic Legion, actually committed supercapitals to aid NCdot.
What followed was a massive supercapital brawl that resulted in Solar Fleet's super fleet being thoroughly spanked.
But as Matariki gently massages away the tension in my shoulders, my mind returns to here. To now.
There is so much to talk about. About us. About the future. About the past. So much grief that I've been keeping inside...
So much grief that's come between us.
What bothers me the most is how inept I've felt since the loss of the Isarararch. I failed my crew that day, and I've not had the confidence to fly again since.
I've finally given up hope that the missing six million members of the original Squeaky Bee Colony will return. They've been missing since the Isarararch went down. I had hope they'd escaped but...
It seems they've perished. I shall have to have a funeral when I get home.
Before I came to Pator, I attended Jules' funeral on Amarr Prime. It was a nice service, but it would have been even nicer had the self-righteous Amarrian cardinals performing the service not gone off on a spiel about how Jules' fate was an example of what happened to those who stray. I suppose I should be happy that he was posthumously exonerated from the charges of heresy brought against him. And at least we recovered his body. Bah.
Matariki still grieves for her lost friendship with Gotti. I can feel it. I feel as if I am to blame, somehow... and this grief...
This grief has created a space between us.
Monday, October 22, 2012
War and Separation
10.22.114
Pator, Pator, Paiho.
Quarantine. Placed in a quarantine by these savages. And Mata knows why, but she will not say. They bring us food each day, but we do not see them. I feel as though I am being held captive, and Mata is now suffering because of me. Every time I think of it I feel my blood rising, as the winds oustide remind me that these minmatar see me as the enemy - a hated caldari. It has rained since I arrived, though my only indication of this is a single strong window in my prison.
While not uncomfortable, especially as far as prisons go, indeed it is quite comfortable, it is still a prison.
And I do not like prisons.
Meanwhile, my neocomm tells me that H-W, along with thirteen other systems in Tribute, have fallen to the forces of the CFC in a single, sweeping op that laid waste to most of the region.
And I'm here. In a cage.
I came here to see Mata - now I feel as if I've made a mistake.
I hate prisons.
Pator, Pator, Paiho.
Quarantine. Placed in a quarantine by these savages. And Mata knows why, but she will not say. They bring us food each day, but we do not see them. I feel as though I am being held captive, and Mata is now suffering because of me. Every time I think of it I feel my blood rising, as the winds oustide remind me that these minmatar see me as the enemy - a hated caldari. It has rained since I arrived, though my only indication of this is a single strong window in my prison.
While not uncomfortable, especially as far as prisons go, indeed it is quite comfortable, it is still a prison.
And I do not like prisons.
Meanwhile, my neocomm tells me that H-W, along with thirteen other systems in Tribute, have fallen to the forces of the CFC in a single, sweeping op that laid waste to most of the region.
And I'm here. In a cage.
I came here to see Mata - now I feel as if I've made a mistake.
I hate prisons.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Weary worlds
Personal Log of Aracturus Camarus.
D7-ZAC
Aboard Spearhead Six.
As I watch worlds drift past me in the endless void of space, I wonder how many wars they have seen. How many more they would see.
It tires me endlessly.
I haven't seen her in weeks.
The war has exhausted me, and suddenly I know what the looks in the tired faces of the people upon these planets means.
They are tired of the death. The Killing. The struggle.
And so am I. So tired.
I rest each night uneasy, trying desperately to sleep. But sleep is denied to me, or is short enough as to be inconsequential. I watch battles from afar now. Perched in my bomber high above the battle, waiting for my moment to strike. Watching people die by the millions. It's... pretty. In it's own sort of way.
May I sleep in Death.
D7-ZAC
Aboard Spearhead Six.
As I watch worlds drift past me in the endless void of space, I wonder how many wars they have seen. How many more they would see.
It tires me endlessly.
I haven't seen her in weeks.
The war has exhausted me, and suddenly I know what the looks in the tired faces of the people upon these planets means.
They are tired of the death. The Killing. The struggle.
And so am I. So tired.
I rest each night uneasy, trying desperately to sleep. But sleep is denied to me, or is short enough as to be inconsequential. I watch battles from afar now. Perched in my bomber high above the battle, waiting for my moment to strike. Watching people die by the millions. It's... pretty. In it's own sort of way.
May I sleep in Death.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
OOC - In Memorandum.
It's not often that I go out of character, but this occasion demands it.
I would like to take this opportunity to honor the passing of Sean "Vile Rat" Smith - Former GSF Head of the Corps Diplomatique, father, husband, and important internet spaceship pilot.
While I never had the chance to meet Vile Rat in person, I had on one occaision had to speak with him regarding a shoot blues incident, and found him to be one of the nicest people I'd ever met on Eve Online. That he perished a midst such circumstances proves to be a bitter irony. That he died well will be a cold comfort to his wife and two children.
To his family: Would that I were able to do something to ease your pain, but alas, I have only words.
May whatever God you believed in speed your soul to rest. You will be missed.
To the Corps Diplomatique: You've got big shoes to fill.
I would like to take this opportunity to honor the passing of Sean "Vile Rat" Smith - Former GSF Head of the Corps Diplomatique, father, husband, and important internet spaceship pilot.
While I never had the chance to meet Vile Rat in person, I had on one occaision had to speak with him regarding a shoot blues incident, and found him to be one of the nicest people I'd ever met on Eve Online. That he perished a midst such circumstances proves to be a bitter irony. That he died well will be a cold comfort to his wife and two children.
To his family: Would that I were able to do something to ease your pain, but alas, I have only words.
May whatever God you believed in speed your soul to rest. You will be missed.
To the Corps Diplomatique: You've got big shoes to fill.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
'Purity'
Captain's Log, 9.2.114
5S-KXA XI - Wildy Inappropriate Headquarters - RFY-QB Constellation - Deklein.
Deployment orders came through this morning - I've got to get my equipment together tomorrow for the move - thank the Winds that I spent some time refilling my wallet. I've decided to bring the Isarararch on this deployment - I can only hope she survives.
However, as I was speaking with Mata today, I heard something that rubbed me the wrong way about her former love interest, Jacob Gottii.
"He's flying again, after a bit of a break. And some of his ideas about what it means to be a proper Matari have hardened over time."
"Aye? Like what?"
"Free Matari don't sleep with the enemy, and don't dilute the bloodlines."
Diluting the bloodline? Has he grown so jealous? In a way it disgusts me. Purity is some made-up term so people with no other merit can feel better about themselves. I'm unsure why, but the thought of it makes my blood boil. And to be quite honest, it sounds like jealous bullshit.
I spent several days planetside here in 5s-, on planet V. Atop a mountain, I meditated as the Winds danced around me. And Mata was there in holo to keep me company. She danced with Storm Wind.
The time was peaceful and contemplative. Really, it was.
Oh, and I did a stupid thing and forgot what tribe Mata was from. Stupid Stupid Stupid. She's Atamahara tribe. I should remember this. It's important. And I'm never going to hear the end of it.
But Diluting the bloodline? Seriously? All because I saw Mata in her real body? I mean we slept together but we didn't sleep together... If it weren't for Mata, I'd go give Gottii something to dislike me about. I'd pound him and his pathetic ideas of purity into the ground like all the other idiots that get in the way.
I think the visit from Storm Wind to the mountain I meditated upon was an omen. I'm normally not superstitious, but we are in the middle of a war. And now I'm pissed. I almost feel sorry for NCdot.
I'll be picturing Gottii at the helm of every ship that falls to me or my fleets.
Jacob Gottii had best be glad he's Mata's friend and coworker.
5S-KXA XI - Wildy Inappropriate Headquarters - RFY-QB Constellation - Deklein.
Deployment orders came through this morning - I've got to get my equipment together tomorrow for the move - thank the Winds that I spent some time refilling my wallet. I've decided to bring the Isarararch on this deployment - I can only hope she survives.
However, as I was speaking with Mata today, I heard something that rubbed me the wrong way about her former love interest, Jacob Gottii.
"He's flying again, after a bit of a break. And some of his ideas about what it means to be a proper Matari have hardened over time."
"Aye? Like what?"
"Free Matari don't sleep with the enemy, and don't dilute the bloodlines."
Diluting the bloodline? Has he grown so jealous? In a way it disgusts me. Purity is some made-up term so people with no other merit can feel better about themselves. I'm unsure why, but the thought of it makes my blood boil. And to be quite honest, it sounds like jealous bullshit.
I spent several days planetside here in 5s-, on planet V. Atop a mountain, I meditated as the Winds danced around me. And Mata was there in holo to keep me company. She danced with Storm Wind.
The time was peaceful and contemplative. Really, it was.
Oh, and I did a stupid thing and forgot what tribe Mata was from. Stupid Stupid Stupid. She's Atamahara tribe. I should remember this. It's important. And I'm never going to hear the end of it.
But Diluting the bloodline? Seriously? All because I saw Mata in her real body? I mean we slept together but we didn't sleep together... If it weren't for Mata, I'd go give Gottii something to dislike me about. I'd pound him and his pathetic ideas of purity into the ground like all the other idiots that get in the way.
I think the visit from Storm Wind to the mountain I meditated upon was an omen. I'm normally not superstitious, but we are in the middle of a war. And now I'm pissed. I almost feel sorry for NCdot.
I'll be picturing Gottii at the helm of every ship that falls to me or my fleets.
Jacob Gottii had best be glad he's Mata's friend and coworker.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Diplomatic Incidents
Captain's Log, 9.1.114
System: 5s-KXA
A diplomatic Incident occured involving the leader of the 'Space Violence' squad, ShutUpAndShave (aka SUAS), and the greater HBC. While the Majority of the HBC is technically nuetral to us, the SC and FC team have been asked not to actively seek out and engage them, as the leaders of the HBC, TEST and PL., are still our allies.
So, when SUAS led a fleet into delve to fight SoCo, when he came across a lone nuetral rifter 50 klicks off station, he warped his fleet onto it and attacked it
It died, but immediately fifty or sixty TEST pilots undocked and killed a great deal of his fleet.
One of our Diplos, Digi, was in the channel in seconds, demanding that SUAS reimburse all losses caused by his fleet to HBC members. SUAS, confused, refused.
And so SUAS is gone. A Standing ban has been issued. It is unclear how long it is for, but...
As leaders we must grow used to taking responsibility for our actions.
It is ironic that this is over a nuetral. Only in the CFC will you get in more trouble for shooting a nuetral than a blue. NBSI indeed.
In light of this, I've decided to take some time off of the fighting and work on padding my wallet a little more so next time I visit Mata I can take her to go do something special. After backseating for Roland Hova for nearly six hours, I've heard just about as much as I can take of sperg and asshole-speak. Seriously, fuck that guy. He'd be alright if he didn't say everything like you were an idiot.
That aside, UMI is ours. So is V7-. And GIH.
The shroud of the CFC has fallen over Tribute, and even as our enemies mass, an uneasy silence has settled over the region. There are no Ops planned, no fleets up for another eighteen hours. I don't like the quiet. It makes me worry that the enemy is planning something.
Furthermore, today I have felt.... ill. Not physically, but emotionally. A darkness has descended over my heart, some vile poison that touches my very soul. It started after I left Pator.
My instincts tell me something is looming on the horizon, something terrible. But I do not know what. my gut tells me I will be tested in the coming days, and I must not be found wanting. And so I now meditate here upon the mountainside overlooking the plains of the fifth planet here in 5s-. There is a little settlement at the base of the mountain here - a mining town with a startport, and not much else. It's people are simple folk, the trials of living beyond the borders of Empire space having hardened them, and made them distrusting of Capsuleers in particular.
Already my heart yearns to have Matariki by my side for this sight. But alas.
Camarus out.
System: 5s-KXA
A diplomatic Incident occured involving the leader of the 'Space Violence' squad, ShutUpAndShave (aka SUAS), and the greater HBC. While the Majority of the HBC is technically nuetral to us, the SC and FC team have been asked not to actively seek out and engage them, as the leaders of the HBC, TEST and PL., are still our allies.
So, when SUAS led a fleet into delve to fight SoCo, when he came across a lone nuetral rifter 50 klicks off station, he warped his fleet onto it and attacked it
It died, but immediately fifty or sixty TEST pilots undocked and killed a great deal of his fleet.
One of our Diplos, Digi, was in the channel in seconds, demanding that SUAS reimburse all losses caused by his fleet to HBC members. SUAS, confused, refused.
And so SUAS is gone. A Standing ban has been issued. It is unclear how long it is for, but...
As leaders we must grow used to taking responsibility for our actions.
It is ironic that this is over a nuetral. Only in the CFC will you get in more trouble for shooting a nuetral than a blue. NBSI indeed.
In light of this, I've decided to take some time off of the fighting and work on padding my wallet a little more so next time I visit Mata I can take her to go do something special. After backseating for Roland Hova for nearly six hours, I've heard just about as much as I can take of sperg and asshole-speak. Seriously, fuck that guy. He'd be alright if he didn't say everything like you were an idiot.
That aside, UMI is ours. So is V7-. And GIH.
The shroud of the CFC has fallen over Tribute, and even as our enemies mass, an uneasy silence has settled over the region. There are no Ops planned, no fleets up for another eighteen hours. I don't like the quiet. It makes me worry that the enemy is planning something.
Furthermore, today I have felt.... ill. Not physically, but emotionally. A darkness has descended over my heart, some vile poison that touches my very soul. It started after I left Pator.
My instincts tell me something is looming on the horizon, something terrible. But I do not know what. my gut tells me I will be tested in the coming days, and I must not be found wanting. And so I now meditate here upon the mountainside overlooking the plains of the fifth planet here in 5s-. There is a little settlement at the base of the mountain here - a mining town with a startport, and not much else. It's people are simple folk, the trials of living beyond the borders of Empire space having hardened them, and made them distrusting of Capsuleers in particular.
Already my heart yearns to have Matariki by my side for this sight. But alas.
Camarus out.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Blood price
Captain's Log 8-29-114,
Pator III (Huggar) - Moon 2 - Republic Security Services Assembly Plant
Aboard the Barkbarkbark(wolf)
I awoke this morning to glorious news - GIH and V7- had been taken. I spent the morning dozing with Mata in the tiny little bed aboard my wolf here in Pator. Now, new news has reached me that is driving all other thoughts from my mind: Hostile SBUs are being on-lined in V7-. Our hard-won prize is under threat before an Infrastructure hub has even been raised. As I write this, super capitals are on the field in V7-, and the battle is escalating quickly. Already three sub-capital fleets have been committed along with our super fleet.
This war is bloodier than any other war in history. Every inch we take in Tribute, every moon, every timer, is contested, and paid for in blood. NCdot have made us pay dearly for these two systems, and even more dearly for the technetium moons we've taken. While NCdot appears to be slowly being worn away, their will to fight remains unbroken, and they form up every time.
Typically, a sovereignty war means that one side is going to bring overwhelming force, and the other usually ends up putting up half a resistance. Or massive super-capital battles happen.
Neither have happened here. It's tit for tat, back and forth. Hostiles have showed up to nearly every fight. And even after we 'win' the battle, they still fight. Even after V7- was 'won' and their TCU was destroyed, they attempted to prevent our TCU from on-lining in a battle that lasted nearly six hours. And now they deploy SBUs to prevent us from putting up an Infrastructure hub.
All they have to do is keep those SBUs alive long enough for them to come online, then they can come and destroy the TCU again. And the battle will start all over again.
Even now as I look over at Mata, still sleeping peacefully, My mind wanders back to the battlefield.
All of our gains are paid for in blood.
May the spirits have mercy on my soul.
Pator III (Huggar) - Moon 2 - Republic Security Services Assembly Plant
Aboard the Barkbarkbark(wolf)
I awoke this morning to glorious news - GIH and V7- had been taken. I spent the morning dozing with Mata in the tiny little bed aboard my wolf here in Pator. Now, new news has reached me that is driving all other thoughts from my mind: Hostile SBUs are being on-lined in V7-. Our hard-won prize is under threat before an Infrastructure hub has even been raised. As I write this, super capitals are on the field in V7-, and the battle is escalating quickly. Already three sub-capital fleets have been committed along with our super fleet.
This war is bloodier than any other war in history. Every inch we take in Tribute, every moon, every timer, is contested, and paid for in blood. NCdot have made us pay dearly for these two systems, and even more dearly for the technetium moons we've taken. While NCdot appears to be slowly being worn away, their will to fight remains unbroken, and they form up every time.
Typically, a sovereignty war means that one side is going to bring overwhelming force, and the other usually ends up putting up half a resistance. Or massive super-capital battles happen.
Neither have happened here. It's tit for tat, back and forth. Hostiles have showed up to nearly every fight. And even after we 'win' the battle, they still fight. Even after V7- was 'won' and their TCU was destroyed, they attempted to prevent our TCU from on-lining in a battle that lasted nearly six hours. And now they deploy SBUs to prevent us from putting up an Infrastructure hub.
All they have to do is keep those SBUs alive long enough for them to come online, then they can come and destroy the TCU again. And the battle will start all over again.
Even now as I look over at Mata, still sleeping peacefully, My mind wanders back to the battlefield.
All of our gains are paid for in blood.
May the spirits have mercy on my soul.
Kei
"They're beautiful... but aren't I supposed to be the one sending you flowers?" Aracturus asked Matariki.
"They're Kei flowers... like the one tattooed on my hip? They are to remind you of me when you aren't here." She responds, smiling.
Captain's Log, 8.29.114
Flowers. She gave me flowers. I was surprised by this... but it's surprisingly appealing. They smell a bit like her perfume... and every time I smell them I smile because a thought of her crosses my mind.
After battling furiously all day, losing two bombers and a blackbird, I went back to Pator. I think I'll stay a few days here. The invasion seems to be going well, so they can live without me.
We took GIH this morning, in fact.
We went to a little cafe on the Huggar Station in Pator yesterday. We talked for hours... It was wonderful.
And when we returned to my Wolf in my hangar... I could smell the flowers she gave me.
Man I feel like a woman now. Giggling about flowers and going out to cafe's...
Frankly, I could care less at present. Her presence is intoxicating.
On the part of the war, We destroyed the UMI iHub last night. Today, UMI falls. And I'll be wrapped up on my bunk aboard the Barkbarkbark, my wolf, with Matariki Rain wrapped up in my arms.
Life is good.
"They're Kei flowers... like the one tattooed on my hip? They are to remind you of me when you aren't here." She responds, smiling.
Captain's Log, 8.29.114
Flowers. She gave me flowers. I was surprised by this... but it's surprisingly appealing. They smell a bit like her perfume... and every time I smell them I smile because a thought of her crosses my mind.
After battling furiously all day, losing two bombers and a blackbird, I went back to Pator. I think I'll stay a few days here. The invasion seems to be going well, so they can live without me.
We took GIH this morning, in fact.
We went to a little cafe on the Huggar Station in Pator yesterday. We talked for hours... It was wonderful.
And when we returned to my Wolf in my hangar... I could smell the flowers she gave me.
Man I feel like a woman now. Giggling about flowers and going out to cafe's...
Frankly, I could care less at present. Her presence is intoxicating.
On the part of the war, We destroyed the UMI iHub last night. Today, UMI falls. And I'll be wrapped up on my bunk aboard the Barkbarkbark, my wolf, with Matariki Rain wrapped up in my arms.
Life is good.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Night Terror
Beneath the stars of Matar, Aracturus and Matariki Rain lay next to a wizened oak tree, gazing up at the stars... Matariki is seated comfortably in Aracturus' lap, her in unusual garb - not her usual black flight jumpsuit, but instead a sort of traditional Matari tribal outfit.
Aracturus places his hand on her stomach swollen with the child she carries. He seems pleased when the child within responds with a hearty kick.
"He's going to be an athlete I think when he grows up. Perhaps a dancer?" Matariki muses aloud.
"Why do you say that, hmm?" Aracturus asks in response as he rummages through his black uniform jacket's pockets for something.
"He kicks constantly!" comes her reply, along with a blissful smile on her freckled face.
Aracturus and Matariki both laugh together as they lounge beside the tree, their bodies warm against one another. Aracturus seems to find what he's looking for, and brings it out of his pocket, though it's not get visible. He's removed his usual black leather gloves to grip the item, and he toys with it in his large hands.
"If you'd have told me five years ago that we'd end up having a child together... I'm not sure what I would have said." Aracturus finally says thoughtfully.
"If someone had told me I was having another child, I would have thought them Mad. But I suppose this entire thing has been madness from the start, hasn't it?" She replies, her smile wistful and pleasant all at once.
"It has, hasn't it?" He begins, "And Wildly Inappropriate, you might say. Which leads me to something." He finishes with a grin. Matariki twists slightly in his lap to look at him questioningly.
"We've been together for five years now... five long, wonderful years..." He starts again, "And I know forever is a strange thing for us, but... I'd like to share it with you." He finishes as he shows her the thing in his hand. It's a ring, and she gasps.
"Aracturus I... I don't know what to say... You know we don't have those sort of views on..." Matariki sputters out, blushing furiously.
"I know... but things changed when you became a capsuleer... Even if it doesn't end up being forever... I still can think of no better person to spend eternity with... than you." Aracturus says to her, his breath caught in his throat, and his heart praying she accepts.
"I... yes. Yes. Spirits, Yes." She says, her lips turned up in a joyous smile.
Aracturus slips the ring onto her slender finger, and she nuzzles against his back as she strokes her stomach. She twists her neck around and kisses him gently upon the lips.
They sit together for what seems like an age, blissful...
Until...
The sky begins to grow light. The light his Aracturus's eyelids as he dozes with Matariki on his lap, and he thinks it is perhaps too early for dawn... But then roar fills the sky, and his eyes bolt open as both he and Matariki look heavenward. His eyes widen in shock as he sees it, bright dancing light in the heavens, a towering inferno plunging downward from the heavens - A fiery bolt of Nano fiber hull plating and metal.
It's a ship!
Aracturus' mind immediately recognizes it - A tengu-class strategic cruiser. Or at least it was. Now it is a massive decrepit projectile heading straight for them. He realizes Matariki is no longer on his lap and he struggles to his feet. Matariki has her hand rested on the tree as she watches the approaching ship in horror.
"RUN!" Aracturus says to her as he takes her by the arm and pulls.
She comes in close and kisses him - once - before they both take off running as fast as Matariki's pregnant legs will take them.
It's too slow.
I should have carried her... Aracturus thinks to himself.
The ship crashes down not far from them, and dust and smoke and flame envelop the pair, hurling Aracturus away from the woman bearing his child. Aracturus lands hard upon the rock and stone and rubble of Matar, his lungs filled with ash and soot. He struggles to his feet, looking around, through the dirt, soot, and ash that sits upon the air as it rushes past him, propelled by the awesome force of the crash.
"MATA!" He shouts, and catches a mouthful of ash in the process. He coughs and sputters, and searches the dust... and then he sees her.
She's bleeding. Bruised, Scorched. Crying. And she's holding a child. The child's skin is scorched beyond recognition, and it is clearly dead, and Mata weeps in between ragged breaths. She doesn't seem to be pregnant anymore, and Aracturus seems to know the child is his. She points her finger at him accusingly, and speaks a single word:
"Why?" Her eyes gaze at him accusingly.
"Mata, I-" Aracturus begins, but he's cut off.
"Why did you kill him?" she says, her voice cracked and harsh, tears running down her bruised and bloody face.
"I didn't I-" Aracturus sputters
"Why did you kill him?" comes another voice from behind him.
Aracturus wheels around, and as he looks around, he is surrounded by a sea of the dead - burnt, broken bodies, staring at him accusingly.
"Why did you kill me?" One asks.
"Why did I have to die?" Asks another. And the voices begin chanting these questions.
He begins to see living amongst the dead - sobbing mothers that cling to their dead children - though their children are grown up.
"Why did you kill my baby?" The mothers ask.
They surround Aracturus, asking Why, why,why, why. He covers his ears with his hands, to find that his hands are burned and broken - and he sees his reflection in the mirrored surface of a hull plate. His hair is white, his skin burned, scarred, and bloody, and medals lie upon his chest, coated in blood.
He sinks to his knees as they surround him.
"No... I didn't! No! NO!" He screams as more faces come up from the ground - faces he recognizes as that of his dead crewmates from the Fairborough.
"Why did you leave me to die?" They ask, adding their Why's to the din.
Aracturus clutches his head in his hands as he huddles in the fetal position on the ground. The dead close in around him, and he hears Matariki speak.
"You could have saved us."
The dead grab hold of Aracturus and begin to rip him apart.
Aracturus awoke screaming.
Aracturus places his hand on her stomach swollen with the child she carries. He seems pleased when the child within responds with a hearty kick.
"He's going to be an athlete I think when he grows up. Perhaps a dancer?" Matariki muses aloud.
"Why do you say that, hmm?" Aracturus asks in response as he rummages through his black uniform jacket's pockets for something.
"He kicks constantly!" comes her reply, along with a blissful smile on her freckled face.
Aracturus and Matariki both laugh together as they lounge beside the tree, their bodies warm against one another. Aracturus seems to find what he's looking for, and brings it out of his pocket, though it's not get visible. He's removed his usual black leather gloves to grip the item, and he toys with it in his large hands.
"If you'd have told me five years ago that we'd end up having a child together... I'm not sure what I would have said." Aracturus finally says thoughtfully.
"If someone had told me I was having another child, I would have thought them Mad. But I suppose this entire thing has been madness from the start, hasn't it?" She replies, her smile wistful and pleasant all at once.
"It has, hasn't it?" He begins, "And Wildly Inappropriate, you might say. Which leads me to something." He finishes with a grin. Matariki twists slightly in his lap to look at him questioningly.
"We've been together for five years now... five long, wonderful years..." He starts again, "And I know forever is a strange thing for us, but... I'd like to share it with you." He finishes as he shows her the thing in his hand. It's a ring, and she gasps.
"Aracturus I... I don't know what to say... You know we don't have those sort of views on..." Matariki sputters out, blushing furiously.
"I know... but things changed when you became a capsuleer... Even if it doesn't end up being forever... I still can think of no better person to spend eternity with... than you." Aracturus says to her, his breath caught in his throat, and his heart praying she accepts.
"I... yes. Yes. Spirits, Yes." She says, her lips turned up in a joyous smile.
Aracturus slips the ring onto her slender finger, and she nuzzles against his back as she strokes her stomach. She twists her neck around and kisses him gently upon the lips.
They sit together for what seems like an age, blissful...
Until...
The sky begins to grow light. The light his Aracturus's eyelids as he dozes with Matariki on his lap, and he thinks it is perhaps too early for dawn... But then roar fills the sky, and his eyes bolt open as both he and Matariki look heavenward. His eyes widen in shock as he sees it, bright dancing light in the heavens, a towering inferno plunging downward from the heavens - A fiery bolt of Nano fiber hull plating and metal.
It's a ship!
Aracturus' mind immediately recognizes it - A tengu-class strategic cruiser. Or at least it was. Now it is a massive decrepit projectile heading straight for them. He realizes Matariki is no longer on his lap and he struggles to his feet. Matariki has her hand rested on the tree as she watches the approaching ship in horror.
"RUN!" Aracturus says to her as he takes her by the arm and pulls.
She comes in close and kisses him - once - before they both take off running as fast as Matariki's pregnant legs will take them.
It's too slow.
I should have carried her... Aracturus thinks to himself.
The ship crashes down not far from them, and dust and smoke and flame envelop the pair, hurling Aracturus away from the woman bearing his child. Aracturus lands hard upon the rock and stone and rubble of Matar, his lungs filled with ash and soot. He struggles to his feet, looking around, through the dirt, soot, and ash that sits upon the air as it rushes past him, propelled by the awesome force of the crash.
"MATA!" He shouts, and catches a mouthful of ash in the process. He coughs and sputters, and searches the dust... and then he sees her.
She's bleeding. Bruised, Scorched. Crying. And she's holding a child. The child's skin is scorched beyond recognition, and it is clearly dead, and Mata weeps in between ragged breaths. She doesn't seem to be pregnant anymore, and Aracturus seems to know the child is his. She points her finger at him accusingly, and speaks a single word:
"Why?" Her eyes gaze at him accusingly.
"Mata, I-" Aracturus begins, but he's cut off.
"Why did you kill him?" she says, her voice cracked and harsh, tears running down her bruised and bloody face.
"I didn't I-" Aracturus sputters
"Why did you kill him?" comes another voice from behind him.
Aracturus wheels around, and as he looks around, he is surrounded by a sea of the dead - burnt, broken bodies, staring at him accusingly.
"Why did you kill me?" One asks.
"Why did I have to die?" Asks another. And the voices begin chanting these questions.
He begins to see living amongst the dead - sobbing mothers that cling to their dead children - though their children are grown up.
"Why did you kill my baby?" The mothers ask.
They surround Aracturus, asking Why, why,why, why. He covers his ears with his hands, to find that his hands are burned and broken - and he sees his reflection in the mirrored surface of a hull plate. His hair is white, his skin burned, scarred, and bloody, and medals lie upon his chest, coated in blood.
He sinks to his knees as they surround him.
"No... I didn't! No! NO!" He screams as more faces come up from the ground - faces he recognizes as that of his dead crewmates from the Fairborough.
"Why did you leave me to die?" They ask, adding their Why's to the din.
Aracturus clutches his head in his hands as he huddles in the fetal position on the ground. The dead close in around him, and he hears Matariki speak.
"You could have saved us."
The dead grab hold of Aracturus and begin to rip him apart.
Aracturus awoke screaming.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Fever Pitch
Captain's log, 8.23.114,
She took the interbus home this morning, and my heart goes with her. Meanwhile, I turn my mind and eyes back to the North, to the fevered melee that has quickly become all-consuming for many of my comrades. With our foes arrayed against us, It's almost disheartening.
But then I see my allies flying beside me, in numbers I had thought impossible, and I remember:
We are no longer the small alliance that we once were. We're a coalition, strong, and in it's prime, not yet having begun the inevitable decline that all empires will eventually undergo.
It's amazing, to realize that we are no longer a baby alliance. We've grown up. Now we find ourselves slowly but surely taking not just the entire West, but the North as well. Tribute is a rich region, filled with Technetium, more than any other region in the cluster - something to bolster our already considerable wallet against our enemies.
And yesterday, an incentive program for skirmish commanders and fleet commanders was announced, as well as a new position: Senior Skirmish Commander.
The violence of this war shocks me - I'm used to watching hostiles run away, not to have massive fleets engage every day of the week - not just single fleets, but Massive, Multi-Fleet forces on both sides clashing in enormous slugfests. Losses on both sides are high, but the strategic goals are slowly but very surely washing away against the inoxerable tide of the CFC.
And yet my mind still returns to her. To our lovemaking, to our talks, and to everything she represents to me. The fighting in space is as fevered as our lovemaking, and as a result, I've never been happier.
The nightmares are slowly getting better - I haven't had one in the last two nights. However, having a beautiful woman beside me during the night probably had a huge effect.
...I wonder what Mata is doing...
She took the interbus home this morning, and my heart goes with her. Meanwhile, I turn my mind and eyes back to the North, to the fevered melee that has quickly become all-consuming for many of my comrades. With our foes arrayed against us, It's almost disheartening.
But then I see my allies flying beside me, in numbers I had thought impossible, and I remember:
We are no longer the small alliance that we once were. We're a coalition, strong, and in it's prime, not yet having begun the inevitable decline that all empires will eventually undergo.
It's amazing, to realize that we are no longer a baby alliance. We've grown up. Now we find ourselves slowly but surely taking not just the entire West, but the North as well. Tribute is a rich region, filled with Technetium, more than any other region in the cluster - something to bolster our already considerable wallet against our enemies.
And yesterday, an incentive program for skirmish commanders and fleet commanders was announced, as well as a new position: Senior Skirmish Commander.
The violence of this war shocks me - I'm used to watching hostiles run away, not to have massive fleets engage every day of the week - not just single fleets, but Massive, Multi-Fleet forces on both sides clashing in enormous slugfests. Losses on both sides are high, but the strategic goals are slowly but very surely washing away against the inoxerable tide of the CFC.
And yet my mind still returns to her. To our lovemaking, to our talks, and to everything she represents to me. The fighting in space is as fevered as our lovemaking, and as a result, I've never been happier.
The nightmares are slowly getting better - I haven't had one in the last two nights. However, having a beautiful woman beside me during the night probably had a huge effect.
...I wonder what Mata is doing...
Love in Deklein
Captain's Log, 8.22.114
Last night, I got the surprise of my life when into the hangar of the Isararach docked an Interbus shuttle, and out jumped Matariki Rain.
I'd been begging her to come to Deklein via Interbus for a while now, and she finally decided to come. We stayed up most of the night talking, making love, and watching the stars.
I'll admit it. I've fallen for her.
We discussed our future together, and she still avoids what she eloquently terms 'coupledom', stating that the word 'love' is more often used to control people than anything else. We'll see. For now, I'm content just with her presence.
Last night, I got the surprise of my life when into the hangar of the Isararach docked an Interbus shuttle, and out jumped Matariki Rain.
I'd been begging her to come to Deklein via Interbus for a while now, and she finally decided to come. We stayed up most of the night talking, making love, and watching the stars.
I'll admit it. I've fallen for her.
We discussed our future together, and she still avoids what she eloquently terms 'coupledom', stating that the word 'love' is more often used to control people than anything else. We'll see. For now, I'm content just with her presence.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Death Toll
8-18
I just heard the death toll from -A-'s supercapital welp - four hundred thousand deaths. May they rest easy.
Camarus out.
I just heard the death toll from -A-'s supercapital welp - four hundred thousand deaths. May they rest easy.
Camarus out.
Friday, August 17, 2012
days at a time...
Aracturus had been stuck stationside for days, but he didn't mind. His evenings were spent in a holo-channel with the one person who made him feel whole, and his days were spent daydreaming of that person.
This shocked and surprised him - he had never been one for daydreaming, nor had he ever been particularly romantic. But here he was, daydreaming. The fact that he'd missed out on the biggest set of supercapital kills in recent memory didn't even bother him.
In his mind he occaisionally mulled over more serious matters - his bees were in trouble. After his conversation with scherezad, he was confident the braindamaged drone scientist could find a solution.
In the end, he only really cared if they tried to attack a particular sebiestor woman...
He stared out the window at the ships flying by... and his thoughts returned to Taff.
"Well, now you're in over your head." he murmured to himself.
He'd never been so happy to be in over his head.
This shocked and surprised him - he had never been one for daydreaming, nor had he ever been particularly romantic. But here he was, daydreaming. The fact that he'd missed out on the biggest set of supercapital kills in recent memory didn't even bother him.
In his mind he occaisionally mulled over more serious matters - his bees were in trouble. After his conversation with scherezad, he was confident the braindamaged drone scientist could find a solution.
In the end, he only really cared if they tried to attack a particular sebiestor woman...
He stared out the window at the ships flying by... and his thoughts returned to Taff.
"Well, now you're in over your head." he murmured to himself.
He'd never been so happy to be in over his head.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Journal entry - 1 - Aracturus Camarus
I've never had home feel quite so cold as it is now. Every moment spent away seems to take an age.
It's been a long while since I felt... alive at all. Now I feel so alive I may as well be practically bursting with sunshine and rainbows. Even my nightmares have gotten less frequent and less intense.
Is it really all because of one person?
Perhaps. All I know is this: I want more. More seeing them, more smelling them, more tasting, touching, feeling, hearing... everything.
Perhaps I can find time for another vacation this week...
Camarus out.
It's been a long while since I felt... alive at all. Now I feel so alive I may as well be practically bursting with sunshine and rainbows. Even my nightmares have gotten less frequent and less intense.
Is it really all because of one person?
Perhaps. All I know is this: I want more. More seeing them, more smelling them, more tasting, touching, feeling, hearing... everything.
Perhaps I can find time for another vacation this week...
Camarus out.
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