25 May 2007

Dampners - I love 'em even if they're used on me.

A bad couple of week for me. Been going out as a tackler and each time, have had my rifter or punisher shredded from underneath me. Got podded twice too.

The most frustrating fight was when I tangled with a celestis - it had dampners, drones and missiles and the pilot played with me. Not only was I webbed but my targeting range had dropped to about 4k....which I could never do due to my webbed frigate running a less than 10 meters per second. I was also scrambled and got leisurely taken apart by the celestis pilot through his missiles and drones. More recently, I ran right into a combined ADF and Red Squad gate camp that shredded my stabber in under three seconds. Got podded also into the bargain so someone is 1 million isk richer.

However, one must never give up and in a short period, in order to recover my wits and some isk I went on a rampage and knocked out a thrasher, three rifters and a caracal.

The caracal pilot's response to my ransom demand of a mere 5 million was:

> FUCK OFF

Oh well. He popped under the 200mm Autocanons and his flash frozen corpse now joins all the other meat icicles I have in my collection. I always love challenges though and never back down from a potential good fight.

So the other day, I was in my punisher - the last of the current batch and configured along the lines of the infamous 'bleeder' setups. I moved from system to system hunting for appropriate targets. A decent pirate never stays in one place for too long.

A Minmatar hurricane-class battle cruiser appeared on my scanner but then disappeared just as quick. Local had five pilots, two I recognised. The other three must be one of the hurricane pilots. The 'cane was also towards one of the three gates. God, I hate it when this happens!

I quickly hit the warp engines and jumped towards the first gate. Nothing.

The 'cane was back on scanner and I chanced the second of the gates. I arrived and still nothing and the 'cane had gone. I lost track of who might be the potential pilot as two had left and four more had come in. At least whoever it was had gone through the third (and typically) the last gate. Without hesitating I jumped to the other gate and went on through, gate command firing up the massive jump engines and letting me zip across light years in the blink of an eye.

Bursting from space, I spotted nothing but the 'cane was on scan...then disappeared. Local had not gone down at this moment so the 'cane was in-system and outside my range. There were no stations for it to dock. This system had five gates in it and I had the scanner at 360 degrees so not a chance to get an guess a location but exercising a bit of logic (who said pirates can't think?) I deduced that due to the range of the scanner and the no change in the population count in local count, he was near one of two gates over 14AU away.

Guessing I jumped to the more populous one. I set the scanner to 180 degrees and pinged ahead and got a contact: the hurricane.

The gate had already stopped firing when I arrived as the hurricane had disappeared. Surely it had jumped? I arrived only for me to catch the disappearing engines signature of the battlecruiser! He was heading towards one of three gates, all in-line with each other. So I gave chase. This went on for another ten minutes with some false leads but I was never more than two jumps behind.

I managed to catch up just as the target 'cane had jumped. It was an exciting chase, though I doubt the hurricane pilot knew that I was on his tail in a punisher. Not wishing to waste more time, I requested a gate activation for me and was quickly processed; arriving at the next system. My eyes widened as I finally saw the target. The hurricane-class battle cruiser is a beautiful ship, I have one in space-dock at the moment and getting some rigs installed.This beautiful killing machine was awesome in it's destructive powers.

Pity that I was planning to kill it in my punisher.

The hurricane pilot was moving away under speed from the gates and it was activating it's shield boosters. So this gave me the first clue: a shield boosting hurricane would be far easier to take then an armour tanking one. Also, it would have one less slot for a webber - which would be the death of me. The pilot was also only three-months out of pod school so this would be to my advantage. However, the battle cruiser was still under the protection of the sentry guns and I was not going to risk a long fight with a battle cruiser as well as getting pummeled by automated sentry guns.

The hurricane pilot also did not target me let alone fire on me so I left and warped to a safe spot and waited. There was no way he would stay near the gate. Eventually, he would leave for a belt or planet or the system entirely. Doubtful he was running a mission for an agent either.

I kept an eye on the scanner and after ten minutes (God, what was he doing?) - he moved and I tried to track him. He had moved off scan and a quick flick through the scanner and I realised he could be at one star gate or the IX cluster. I choose the cluster and went to there ready to double-back if there was a mistake but mid-way through the warp - the distinctive hurricane signature appeared on scan. My heart started to beat faster as I was slowly closing down on him.

My scan spot now told me he was in one of two places - the IX-1 belt or the planet IX itself. I scanned for wrecks but found nothing but decided to try the belt anyway. I landed and was promptly targeted by some irritated Angel cruisers. The 'cane was still on scan and was either in a safe spot or the planet IX itself.

I swung the punisher around and pushed towards the looming presence of the planet. As I exited warp, there was a slight lag as the interface was loading up. A good sign that it had detected a ship and was updating the view.

I think I have him.

Coming out of warp I landed a mere 5km from the hulking presence of the battle cruiser. There was a 'yaaarr' from my frigate crew and it was all hands to battle stations. On came the warp scrambler and the small nosferatu. I waited a few seconds for any drones to appear as re-acquiring targets alway slowed things down.

Several seconds went by and nothing, no drones. No Nos either. Could I be so lucky?

I opened up with the x3 200mm auto cannons and the EMP shells streaked out and hammered into the considerable shields of the hurricane. The hurricane replied with the distinctive recoil of 650mm howitzers. Oh yes, this battle cruiser was built for range and had nothing for small stuff. Amazingly, no webber either.

I set the 0rbit for 2km and settled in. Slowly, slowly chewing his shields down - he was furiously boosting his shields and even with a capacitor booster - it could not go on forever. I stayed around him for over 5 minutes, firing at him before his shields bled out and I was into his armour. I was increasingly nervous however as the longer the attack, the greater the likelihood that there would be 'guests' appearing.

The hurricane's armour now was slowly being chipped off, a meter at a time and I checked to make sure I had enough emp shells - the inventory informed me that I had over 3500 rounds left. Should be enough I hoped.

When his armour was down to 50%, it crepted back up. An armour and shield tanking ship?

I opened up convo with the pilot and asked for a 15 million ransom and all that came back was a polite 'No'. He either didn't have the money, wasn't inclined to give it to me or thought he could survive it.

Then something odd happened. A can appeared next to the hurricane. I quickly opened up and saw over 100 scan probes and two, shivering exotic dancers. Bemused I went in closer (having drifted too far) when the can disappeared. Shocked, I rechecked my overview setting and it confirmed my suspicions. The can was destroyed.

Another can appeared, it was filled with salvaged stuff and ammo. It too popped.

The hurricane pilot realising his predicament had opted to deny me any chance of salvaging his cargo and was destroying it!

Damn it. All that isk.

However, I had to admit that it was a nice move and congratulated him on his move. I presented him with my ransom demands once more and this time he replied that he had only 460,000 isk left. One should never sink all your funds into one ship. Only fly what you can not afford to lose. This would be an expensive lesson for the rookie Hurricane pilot.

The armour was now stripped off from the once-mighty hurricane; it was on fire. I presented a new ransom demand to the pilot: eject from the ship to save yourself from being podded. He merely laughed and continued to destroy his cargo.

The hurricane was listing portside, my last salvo had knocked out it's internal gyroscope and it began to spin a little. It was a pity to destroy such a wonderful ship and I let it's stricken crew to leave. The captain, however had to be caught and taught a painful lesson.

The ship finally exploded, my ship rocking slightly in the expanding debris field. I quickly snagged the Captain's pod.

I congratulated on his cargo-destroying move and killed him before he could reply.

2007.05.24 14:07
Victim: Jeimdal
Alliance: NONE
Corp: Republic Military School
Destroyed: Hurricane
System: Hrondedir
Security: 0.3

Involved parties:
Name: flashfresh (laid the final blow)
Security: -10.0
Alliance: NONE
Corp: Independent Pilots
Ship: Punisher
Weapon: 200mm Light 'Scout' Autocannon I

Destroyed items:
EP-S Gaussian I Excavation Pulse
Medium Shield Booster II
Small Tractor Beam I
Salvager I
Scan Probe Launcher I
650mm Artillery Cannon I
Tracking Computer I
Y-S8 Hydrocarbon I Afterburners
Depleted Uranium M, Qty: 38
Depleted Uranium M, Qty: 38
Depleted Uranium M, Qty: 39

2007.05.24 14:10
Victim: Jeimdal
Alliance: NONE
Corp: Republic Military School
Destroyed: Capsule
System: Hrondedir
Security: 0.3

Involved parties:
Name: flashfresh (laid the final blow)
Security: -10.0
Alliance: NONE
Corp: Independent Pilots
Ship: Punisher
Weapon: 200mm Light 'Scout' Autocannon I

Feeling a bit refreshed I waited out for my flag to expire and pondered on the pilot's reluctance to comply. It is possible that the reputation of pirates as being generally untrustworthy meant that he had nothing to gain by paying the ransom or leaving the ship.

Oh well, the loss of the hurricane is a lot of isk to lose.

I ended the day with a successful ransom however: Jubes's T2 -kitted rifter-class frigate was destroyed in the nearby Angel complex and I managed to get a 2.5million isk ransom out of him. He came back for his wreck five minutes later, in yet another T2-kitted rifter and I destroyed him again but failed to snag the pod. I warp scrambled his wreck instead and he got away.




All in all, it is a good day to be a pirate.

Yarrr.

8 May 2007

Chickens with Claws

Of course, not everything will go my way. I spotted an Arbitrator in local and thought to myself, I could tackle it for Lucius but how long would I last?

The pilot was -9.9 and was experienced enough not to fall for the usual tricks so I had to be persistent with him. This pilot was called 'Malaki Obcance' and his was a member of the Chickens with An Attitude Corp.

We played hide and seek for 10 minutes and numerous occasions we landed too far from each other. I was getting a bit edgy and so was Lucius in the next system. Could the cruiser pilot be calling in reinforcements?

Finally, I landed 20km away from him and powered towards him. He didn't run but spat out some T2 drones and locked me. The rifter was going to get shredded and it was going to hurt.

I quickly called Lucius in and then engaged - the arbitrator was scrambled thus ensuring he could not leave immediately but then he hit me with a couple (or three?) medium nosferatus. My cap disappeared in one cycle and I lose my warp scramble. My small armour repairer also shut down and there was a real danger that Malaki would escape. Lucius had arrived in system and was warping to me.

The t2 drones and his missiles tore off what armour I had and into structure. I had a bit of cap left and managed to squeeze off one more warp scramble before my ship was dismantled from underneath me.

Damn. I popped just as Lucius came into view. I crossed my fingers hoping that the hurricane could lock and pop the arbitrator in time.

Concord, as quick as ever zipped an evemail to me. Those guys know everything!

2007.05.04 22:47
Victim: flashfresh
Alliance: NONE
Corp: Independent Pilots
Destroyed: Rifter
System: Arzad
Security: 0.2

Involved parties:
Name: Malaki Obcance (laid the final blow)
Security: -9.9
Alliance: Chaos Incarnate.
Corp: Chickens with an Attitude
Ship: Arbitrator
Weapon: Piranha Light Missile

Destroyed items:
Gyrostabilizer I
Overdrive Injector System I
1MN Afterburner I
125mm Gatling AutoCannon II
Gremlin Rocket, Qty: 26
EMP S, Qty: 93

The destruction of the arbitrator came quick:

2007.05.04 22:48
Victim: Malaki Obcance
Alliance: Chaos Incarnate.
Corp: Chickens with an Attitude
Destroyed: Arbitrator
System: Arzad
Security: 0.2

Involved parties:
Name: Lucius Cain (laid the final blow)
Security: -10.0
Alliance: NONE
Corp: Bad-Mojo
Ship: Hurricane
Weapon: 220mm Vulcan AutoCannon II

Destroyed items:
Small 'Accommodation' Vestment Reconstructer I
N-Type Explosive Hardener I
Medium 'Knave' I Energy Drain
Piranha Light Missile, Qty: 38

2007.05.04 22:49
Victim: Malaki Obcance
Alliance: Chaos Incarnate.
Corp: Chickens with an Attitude
Destroyed: Capsule
System: Arzad
Security: 0.2

Involved parties:
Name: Lucius Cain (laid the final blow)
Security: -10.0
Alliance: NONE
Corp: Bad-Mojo
Ship: Hurricane
Weapon: 220mm Vulcan AutoCannon II

Amazingly, a hurricane managed to lock and pop the pod as well!!!

Hoo Yaah.

Time to get another ship and continue the yaaring.

7 May 2007

Hurricane loses it's cherry!!

I love new ships and more so when friends try out their new shiny toys. Was hanging out with some friends in the 'Podded Pilot' when my personal comm unit beeped. It was Lucius and he had a new toy and wondered if I was interested in take it out for a spin. He had a beautifully fitted Hurricane-class battle-cruiser and was eager to test it.

Of course I would be interested and I would be happy to fly point for him as a scout and tackler.

We decided to push down the Metropolis pipe and see what potential targets would present itself. The journey down was slow with some potential but no hostile engagements of any sort. We continued into Amarr space.....

flashfresh > going into arzad
flashfresh > arzad is empty
flashfresh > moving to sifilar
flashfresh > where are the amarr pilots gone to?
Lucius Cain > I think i have a RIfter following me.
flashfresh > lol
flashfresh > no way

I had this familiar feeling in my stomach that we were going to end up in a fight....

Lucius Cain > Now sitting on the Sifilar gate in Arzad
Lucius Cain > Freaky Boy
flashfresh > ok doubling back
Lucius Cain > he had a mate in Ezzara, could be the 'cane we saw
flashfresh > Another admirer?

I hit the engines and reversed course, the rifter's frame whipping round and heading back the way I came. I checked the ammunition hoppers.

Lucius Cain > lol, he aggroed
flashfresh > LOL
flashfresh > kill him!
Lucius Cain > has a mwd though, and got to range now
flashfresh > omw

My heart was beating faster with the rifter picking up on my eagerness. I was one jump away and hit the warp gates at full speed - having already notified stargate command of my required destination jump.

flashfresh > I will get the pod and run like hell from the sentry guns!
Lucius Cain > His mate is in system
flashfresh > Jumping into sifilar
flashfresh > omw to arzad
Lucius Cain > I haven't aggroed yet, he is sitting way out
Lucius Cain > Cane on scan
flashfresh > ahh - waiting game eh? I bet you he is waiting for his mate in the 'cane.

I knew, just KNEW that Lucius was about to get engaged once the second ship was system inbound. It would appear to be a good fight: Rifter + Hurricane versus Rifter + Hurricane so the result would be down to tactical decision-making and luck.

Lucius Cain > 'Cane inbound!
flashfresh > here we go......
Lucius Cain > Here it is
flashfresh > I hope they aggro first
flashfresh > Luc, want me to jump through?
Lucius Cain > Affirmative. The rifter is blinkie!
Lucius Cain > I'm engaging
flashfresh > jumping

I eagerly activated the jump gates and put the ship at battlestations. There was a momentary blur as the space around the ships warps into a fusion of colourful hues then the frigate is flung to the otherside of the system. The exit stargate's Geller field keeps the ship invisible but one can see that a Rifter-class frigate was buzzing around the brooding presence of Lucius' Hurricane, its sub-light engines at full throttle as it attempted to close the gap. I locked the rifter and fired at him with my 125mm tech 2 autocannons but the enemy frigate had a microwarpdrive and sped away as my emp shells tore away his shields. He then disappeared.The enemy hurricane had by now appeared and closed the distance to Lucius. Both Hurricane class ships traded fearsome fire at each as the gap between them closed. I locked the hurricane and drove in and added my firepower, splitting it between it's drones and the ship itself. The enemy rifter then came screaming back in. Engaging both of me and Lucius. The fighting was wonderfully intoxicating.

flashfresh > Enemy 'cane up close!
flashfresh > u ok buddy?
Lucius Cain > he ain't even close to breaking me

Another 30 seconds of furious broadsides and the enemy Hurricane was listing to one side, spewing fire and escape pods. It was drifting starboard now and was presenting it's vulnerable underside to Lucius' and my firepower. Our emp and proton shells tore huge chunks into the ship. Two more explosions blew out the port and starboard engines, the huge behemoth engines spinning off into the distance.

flashfresh > he's going to pop!
flashfresh > Yaaarrr

We wanted the Captain as a trophy. The ship disappeared in a bright flash and I locked onto the pod.

flashfresh > gonna pod the captain.....

And so I did, the emp shells atomising the capsule and the amniotic fluid inside the pod flash freezing in the harsh vacuum of space. The rifter seeing the death of his colleague should have run but he bravely flew back into the fray and between Lucius and I, he was dismantled in short order but I locked an errant drone instead of the pod so failed to pop the capsule.

The local communication net opened up:

Lucius Cain > gf mate
flashfresh > gf
Freaky Boy > 0/
Freaky Boy > gf
Freaky Boy > ballanced fight
Freaky Boy > you win fairly ;)
Lucius Cain > Well done mate
Freaky Boy > fly safe ;)
Freaky Boy > see ya

With local space free of all traffic, Lucius and I had time to survey our victory.

Lucius Cain > Good job mate :)
Lucius Cain > Got some nice stuff here too
Lucius Cain > Got room in your cargo for it?

Concord confirmed the kills.

Victim: Chimeira
Alliance: NONE
Corp: Shih Yang Tong
Destroyed: Hurricane
System: Arzad
Security: 0.2

Involved parties:

Name: Lucius Cain (laid the final blow)
Security: -10.0
Alliance: NONE
Corp: Bad-Mojo
Ship: Hurricane
Weapon: 220mm Vulcan AutoCannon II

Name: flashfresh
Security: -10.0
Alliance: NONE
Corp: Independent Pilots
Ship: Rifter
Weapon: Rifter

Destroyed items:
10MN MicroWarpdrive II
220mm Vulcan AutoCannon II
Medium 'Knave' I Energy Drain
Medium Armor Repairer II
Medium Armor Repairer II
Warp Disruptor II
220mm Vulcan AutoCannon II
Proton M, Qty: 4831 (Cargo)
Proton M, Qty: 77
Proton M, Qty: 77
Proton M, Qty: 77
Proton M, Qty: 77

Some nice T2 kit survived the carnage. Now Concord also recorded the destruction of the Rifter.

Victim: Freaky Boy
Alliance: NONE
Corp: Shih Yang Tong
Destroyed: Rifter
System: Arzad
Security: 0.2

Involved parties:

Name: Lucius Cain (laid the final blow)
Security: -10.0
Alliance: NONE
Corp: Bad-Mojo
Ship: Hurricane
Weapon: 220mm Vulcan AutoCannon II

Name: flashfresh
Security: -10.0
Alliance: NONE
Corp: Independent Pilots
Ship: Rifter
Weapon: Rifter

Destroyed items:
EMP S, Qty: 2383 (Cargo)
J5 Prototype Warp Inhibitor I
OE-5200 Rocket Launcher
Small Armor Repairer II
1MN MicroWarpdrive I
125mm Light 'Scout' Autocannon I
125mm Light Carbine Repeating Cannon I
125mm Light Carbine Repeating Cannon I
Overdrive Injector System I
Phalanx Rocket, Qty: 30 (Cargo)
Foxfire Rocket, Qty: 1609 (Cargo)
Cap Booster 100, Qty: 2
EMP S, Qty: 68
EMP S, Qty: 68
EMP S, Qty: 68
Foxfire Rocket, Qty: 4

Checking the tactical computer, I got a battle report out of it:

Location: Sifilar
Duration: 00:04:02

Weapons Used:
Gremlin Rocket
125mm Gatling AutoCannon II

Enemies Attacked:
Hammerhead I [SHYT]
Freaky Boy [SHYT]
Chimeira [SHYT]

Damage Done: 3251.50
Damage Received: 1842.80

Not bad.

However, more was to follow. As our ships powered out of the constellation with my rifter ahead as a scout we spotted another pirate dogging us.

More to follow.....

2 May 2007

Eager Beaver or pussy lover?

I was minding my own business when I spied a noob rifter pilot come into local. Ten seconds later the local communication window flashes. What follow is quite funny.

minicosh > PUSSY
flashfresh > ?
minicosh > top planet now bitch
flashfresh > LOL
minicosh > come on fight me
minicosh > PUSSY
minicosh > get anough kill mail
minicosh > PUSSY
minicosh > PLAESE
flashfresh > You are v eager
minicosh > yep
minicosh > i want to get killing
minicosh > hurry up i need my first victim
minicosh > PUSSY
flashfresh > U want me to kill you?
flashfresh > who's your main, little puppy?
minicosh > no i wanna kill u
minicosh > PUSSY
minicosh > main??

Since he's a noob - I thought let's do the gang, warp and gank trick. I invited minicosh into the gang and then warped to him at 100KM. Then before he could react, I gang warped us to a planet.

minicosh > ????

Obviously, he was confused and not quite sure why he was being warped. However, I was going to teach him a lesson. As soon as we both dropped out from warp, I turned round and spun up the autocannons. As the shells raced over to him, they chewed into his shields. He fired back immediately.

minicosh >yay

He obviously was enjoying himself. However, he had zero shield tank and I doubt he had an armour tank either. The EMP shells really started to hurt him but interestingly, he had knocked all my shields off too. Being an armour tanker however meant that I did not really care.

(combat) Your 200mm Light 'Scout' Autocannon I perfectly strikes minicosh , wrecking for 131.0 damage.

This final shot blew his rifter to pieces.

I had to snag the pod.....

(notify) You have started trying to warp scramble minicosh .

And kill the fool.

(notify) For participating in the podding of minicosh your security status has been adjusted by -2.5000.

We chatted after he popped out from the cloning vats as he was interested in ship setups so I gave him some tips. He was eager to get into bigger ships but I cautioned him that one should stay in frigates or cruisers and get the supporting skills back up to speed. I also told him to not swear too much as it made him look like a petulant child.

Quite pleasant actually but he signed off with:

minicosh > PUSSY


(sigh). Is he five?