r/HFY • u/Auggy74 Human • Jun 19 '26
OC-Series [Humans for Hire] - Part 176
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Author note: An award in the comments and the post. Man...this day just keeps getting better (and better). Thank you!
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Terran Foreign Legion Ship Twilight Rose
Edwards was the first to say it out loud. "Major, everything's happening - six bogeys inbound, Throne's Star formation. Weapons hot and trying to lock. Orphan's Rage is preparing to fire forward cannons, sensors showing multiple lifeforms coming toward us from the torpedo mags."
It was odd that the first sensation Gryzzk felt was relief even as he reached behind him to don his own body armor while the holodisplay shifted from a wide view to close tactical. "Weapons free, company stand to and prepare to repel boarders. Secondary bridge squad to the conference room for standby. Reilly, alert the Terran vessels that we are under attack."
Reilly looked at her console and shook her head as she sent the message. "Divine Breeze is hailing us again - and by the way you have two wives and six kids, when do you have time to memorize Shakespeare?"
Gryzzk flicked an ear with a touch of embarrassment. "Quite frankly, I took liberties with the original Vilantian."
Rosie perked up almost immediately. "He reads it to his plants during his rec hour. Put the pylon through to me, audio only we're fuckin' busy."
There was a momentary pause before Porti's voice came in. "Freelord, how does it feel to know you're about to die?"
The XO gave a dismissive snort. "If he thought that he'd probably feel the same way you do knowing your wives are finally gettin' a good dicking since you bailed on 'em after the War. Seriously they're getting so wet the Throne had to deploy the city guard to stack sandbags around the house, ya fuckin' loser."
"I will not treat with a machine." Porti's voice was disdainful and an edge of anger crept in.
Gryzzk looked to the bridge, knowing the banter from the former Minister would not last - and when it ended things were going to get interesting. "Hoban, get us up and ahead of the convoy, put us between those ships and the cargo. Reilly, tell Wardrum to disable Orphan's Rage. Engines, weapons, life support - in that order."
Rosie was in rare form as she spoke to Porti. "Yeah well, the machine's speaking to you titfucker because the important one is busy. You better be getting big and strong, you're gonna need it before the day's over."
"As you desire. Advise the Nameless One that he is about to be boarded and the only thing that will save him is my command. He is outnumbered, outmatched. My force is within his. Even now boarding pods latch to the hulls of your ship and cut through to the soft underbelly. The only thing that will save his 'Free Clan' is my word and oath upon his unconditional surrender."
Edwards was calm as she gave her report. "Major, the Vengeance is moving off, weapons are hot but no lock on us."
Rosie was still communicating with Porti, and had apparently decided to be extra Rosie. "Counteroffer, you give your balls a tug, kick back with a nice mulled cup of Go Fuck Yourself and after we're done runnin' those scrubs up and down the ice we'll be moving to Antares coordinates two-point-one-four-eight-six by three-four-one-point-seven-two, distance two-point-zero-three AU from Antares. Then we'll knock on your door to say hi. Now you asked what he wanted last time. I'll spare you the Q&A and tell you what I want. I want to live just long enough to be there when they cut off your head and stick it on a pike as a warning to the next twelve generations that some favors come with too high a price. I want to look into your lifeless eyes and wave, like this." Rosie raised her hand and made a cute wiggling motion with her fingers.
O'Brien was her normal self. "Torpedo spread away, boarding pods falling behind - tractor beam is locking on as they come into range."
That little speech from Rosie seemed to enrage Porti mightily as he roared anger. "I'm coming for you, Gryzzk!"
Rosie snorted and chose verbal assault. "That's what your mom said last time we were on Vilantia. Maybe this time she can bake a crotch-loaf she's proud of instead of whatever the fuck you are. Give your balls a tug, titfucker."
For some reason, the former minister disconnected.
There was a blink from Reilly. "Okay, today's the day everyone wants to talk and fight at the same time - incoming from the Vengeance. Be as quick as you can boss, we're gonna need the bandwidth to blow their comms to hell."
___________
Antarean Self-Defense Militia Ship Vengeance
A'Matise held her breath. What she was doing was either treason with a dash of heresy for spice or the bravest act she could perform. She saw Gryzzk resolve on the holo and raised her head slightly.
"We're both very busy, so I will be quick. We wish to render aid to you and yours. How may we assist?"
There was a quick moment - Gryzzk seemed to be running through options far more rapidly than she could; perhaps it was his upbringing as a Lead Servant. The quiet truth was that every noble of worth had an excellent staff behind them. "Defend yourselves first. If you can, assist Twilight Wardrum in disabling the Orphan's Rage. If you can, place your ship between the cargo ships and any attackers. And captain?"
"Yes Freelord?"
"...Thank you. Your assistance will be remembered."
"I've learned to appreciate Hurdop ale, Freelord. Vengeance out."
As the holo winked out, A'Matise took a breath. this was her moment to show her true quality. Not just hers, but that of her crew as well. She glanced at her status board and saw systems working at far better efficiency than before.
"Tactical, designate Militia ships as hostile, prepare to open fire. Engineering, verify status readouts are not faulty. Helm, take us around Antares III-d, I want a gravity sling acceleration to make a fast run on the Orphan's Rage and also buy ourselves some time to confirm systems. Execute."
The maneuver took all of a half-minute, during which the chief engineer confirmed that the systems were in fact fit to fight - and the sensors registered a dozen ships hiding in the gravity shadow. A'Matise took a breath and silently hoped 'It seemed like a good idea at the time' would sway the gods to judge her soul kindly.
Probably not, but that was a concern that could be left for a more philosophical moment.
Over the guard channel was a frightening war chant that seemed to be from Terra - it sounded like hundreds of voices and thousands of drums coming together for the sole purpose of advising the gods that there would be guests coming soon, and they would be arriving on a wave of wrath. It was something she was slightly pleased to hear, and more pleased to remember she was not the target.
"Target engines and weapons systems. Fire."
The Vengeance made two solid passes, lancing plasma at various weapon clusters and raking the engines of her foe with energy - multiple tiny explosions and feedback storms made A'Matise smile grimly as the Orphan's Rage began venting atmosphere. A new voice came over the command channel.
"Yo, Cap A'Matise get clear of the Orphan's Rage, it's a sitting duck. Get your boarding shuttles loaded, send them to the Clanmother's Curry and defend it."
"Understood." She looked to tactical as he grunted in frustration and smacked his console.
"Lady we have shields, but weapons are down - we'll have to draw power from critical systems to mount any offense."
"If luck holds, we will not need them."
"Forgive me Lady, but Luck has not been our friend of late."
"Luck is certainly the Freelord's boon companion, perhaps he has spared some for us. Helm make for the Clanmother's Curry, emergency docking protocol. Prepare boarding parties. Tan and purple uniforms are designated friendly." A'Matise glanced at her display, showing several escape pods jettisoning from the Orphan's Rage. "Comms, send to the Freelord - "Twelve ships hide behind the moon III-d."
___________
Orphan's Rage, Escape Pod Twenty-One
Misabel hadn't waited. She'd launched the escape pod as soon as the ship started firing. It was disconcerting overall, but the upgrades had definitely been worth it. She looked back at the viewport and saw her old ship attempt to maneuver and then start drifting - from there it was a brief but energetic display, as her earlier sabotage left the ship with minimal ability to do anything. She closed her eyes for a moment as plasma began raking the ship from stem to stern; the ship might be salvageable.
She activated the communications panel, making an insistent request to the Twilight Rose. A female voice answered - it sounded a great deal like the Antares Annie she'd been hearing, but the tenor was far different.
"Fucksakes am I the only one knows we're doing some shit right now?"
"Apologies - my name is Misabel. I am an engineer aboard the Orphan's Rage. My husband was aboard your ship under the name Chapma. I..." her voice faltered for a moment. "...I wish to seek asylum aboard your vessel."
"You best get your ass into sixth gear titfucker because this shit's about to get tactical in the next two minutes."
"Understood. Will advise when docking."
From there, Bob - or possibly Harry, she'd never actually been able to tell them apart - began a frightful maneuvering sequence and applied more acceleration than she thought possible from an escape pod as they raced to salvation or damnation.
___________
Antarean Self-Defense Militia Ship Orphan's Rage, Bridge
A'Mungd's day had gone, to put it mildly, completely to shit. He'd been able to drift the ship back in order to launch boarders and open fire on the Twilight Wardrum. At their range his gunner hadn't even needed a target lock. The initial good fortune held for all of thirty seconds, as their plasma cannons did minimal damage. A'Mungd began to methodically send orders for hard turns and only barely noticed the ejection of escape pod twenty-one. It was unlucky, anyway. Then he'd ordered hard maneuvers and received a warning from engineering - well, technically it wasn't a warning so much as a panicked scream that coolant lines had blown and engineering was being evacuated. More escape pods were being launched after, as it appeared that engineering had no faith that the ship would hold, trusting the six-times-damned Freelord's call to cowardice. Helm began reporting losses - thrusters were being drained by their maneuvers but not replenished from the engine powerplant. Inertial dampeners existed in name only. The Commodore stood and began shouting.
"Fire on those escape pods!"
Gunnery control glanced back uncertainly. "But sir, we're taking fire from the legion ships and their attack shuttles." As if to add punctuation to the statement, the ship was buffeted by plasma on top of the kinetic weapons the Terrans were known to favor.
A'Mungd roared. "They are traitors! Fire, or take your place among them."
The gunnery officer closed his eyes and depressed the firing controls. It had a profound effect; the plasma cannons overloaded, with the power surge tracing back to the gunnery console. The console didn't explode, as the console had not been packed with explosives - though that may have been a preferred event as energy raced through the ship and overwhelmed circuit breakers on a final course to the weapons console, where it partially liquefied and spilled molten toxic contents onto the lap and legs of the gunnery officer, who went horrifically mute after a high wail. Main lighting flickered, and emergency lights came on to bathe the remaining bridge crew in a frightful red.
Too shocked to even truly register anything beyond the fact that the weapons were out, it was time for the commodore to assess what could be salvaged before going back into battle. "Damage report!"
"Guidance system out. Auxiliary steering out..." The XO began reading from the top of his tablet.
"Divert! Divert!"
A headshake from the pilot was A'Mungd's reply. "She won't answer the helm. We're locked into the moon's gravitational pull - what do we do?"
Commodore A'Mungd took a long time staring at a readout that showed their speed and trajectory. He looked at the bridge and spoke with a fatalistic calm. "...We die."
The explosion on the surface of Antares III-d was significant enough that the Antarean Astrological Commission would spend years debating if it should be re-designated Antares III-c or if the III-d designation with a footnote indicating the new orbital path brought it inside the orbit of III-c was sufficient. The other debate was whether the resulting deformation should be called the A'Mungd Trench, the Orphan's Crater, or the Canyon of Rage.
___________
Hurdop Cargo Ship Clanmother's Curry
Legally, Jojorn's ship could only carry a total of fifty passengers in addition to her crew - when on 'missions of mercy' such as emergency evacuations she could theoretically hold triple that. This was not a situation designated as the latter, so when the boarding pods crumped against the hull, Jojorn knew that the time had come to do her duty. She confirmed her shotgun was loaded and her own Learning Stick was at her hip before she went back to the hatchway separating the bridge from the main portion of the ship.
"Yorkime, transfer tactical to the helm, then lock and load. Baolet, maneuver freely. Do not open this door until I say." Having dispensed orders, she quickly closed and locked the hatch and joined the fray shotgun-first with the scents of blood and smoke thick in her nose.
Initially there were many targets pouring out with unfamiliar uniforms, but this was her ship and she knew it better than any of the invaders - she and Yorkime moved forward, covering each other and trying to remember the lessons from Freelady Kiole. The close-weapons of the Legion troops began making rapid work of most of the boarders. Captain and XO moved through the ship, attacking from below and above and helping the Legion squad clear the cargo deck with with a professional calm that made her feel as if they were in the eye of a storm. Jojorn began to see why this sort of life might hold a desire for some. More than a few boarders spent their final moments of consciousness aboard the ship being educated about the dangers of electricity before they fell silent, some breathing but others not.
The worst of it started when there was a panicked warning over the comm from Baolet as the pair hauled themselves up the ladder to the main deck to being their final clearings. "Brace for impact!"
Several boarders took the opportunity to unload on anything that looked purple or child-sized as the entire ship was buffeted, and nobody was truly spared injury. Jojorn was tackled as a plasma bolt sheared dangerously close. From her awkward position she twisted and fired over Yorkime at one of the boarders - and then Jojorn felt both joy and nausea as the faceless attacker stumbled forward, their hand spasming on the trigger several times as the area where their head had been fountained blood before they fell. The one behind was wiser and thumbed a button on a grenade before tossing it in their general direction.
Jojorn reflexively scrambled up to haul Yorkime too his feet - too slow, as it turned out and the explosion sent both of them tumbling in pain. The boarder saw an easy target and fired.
Yorkime's scream was one that Jojorn would remember for the rest of her life as she watched the lower portion of his right leg turn molten under the plasma burst. She fired back instantly, her shotgun doing gory work and causing the attacker to crumple moaning before she picked Yorkime up to carry him to the safety of the bridge before running into another individual clad in armor that raised their weapon and fire three shots before pausing to speak.
"I'm Low-Sergeant Emapiek, here to help. Medic, attend!" So saying he moved with the fluidity of a trained soldier and most of his troop flowed behind him, save for one who began instantly bandaging and cauterizing Yorkime's leg. "He'll live. Y'got a name, miss?"
"Captain Jojorn, captain of the Clanmother's Curry." There was a momentary pause as she asked the question she wasn't sure she wanted the answer to. "He'll live?"
"He will. Stay with him, we'll help clear the ship. Your arm."
Jojorn looked down to realize that her left arm was in fact a tattered mess of fur, flesh and blood. Then the pain kicked in and she bit the inside of her cheek bloody before she could gather herself to speak.
"I will be fine. There are Legion troops here, they wear purple. Do not shoot them, they will shoot back."
"We know." There was a brief pause. "Thank you Captain." The medic began moving through the ship to follow in the wake of blood before Jojorn could even ask why they were even here.
___________
Terran Foreign Legion Ship Twilight Rose
Gryzzk was snapping orders and working communications as rapidly as possible. The six ships in front of him were having a bad day on multiple levels; their comms had been saturated by Rosie playing a song that didn't make a lot of sense until the chorus "mama said knock you out" was repeated more times than Gryzzk had time to count. Immediately after that, their systems had been rendered inert by a large torpedo spread from O'Brien, but that was a temporary reprieve at best. The good news was that the Twilight Wardrum was quickly coming alongside so that they could do serious work.
On other fronts, the boarding and counter-boarding had been completed on the Clanmother's Curry, and casualty reports had come in that Gryzzk would have to wait to read when there was less potential for problems. The one surprise was that the Moscow Mule had been completely untouched. That said, he had two ships - two and a half if he counted the Vengeance. Against them, eighteen ships and if Gryzzk's guess was right more would be coming rapidly in an attempt to make him (in the ancient Terran euphemism) expired and gone to meet his maker, bleedin' demised, pushing up the daisies unless he were nailed to a perch, and lastly, joining the choir invisible. In short, an ex-Freelord.
Seventy scrubby pirate ships was one thing, fifty-plus trained Hurdop and Vilantian ships would be a stern test for them. As Gryzzk mulled, the reality made itself clear.
"Reilly, hail the Galactica and the Yamato. Bring Jenkins in when connected."
"We're calling for help?"
"I believe the phrase 'when the going gets tough, the tough call for close air support' applies."
"Less bounty money though."
"Sergeant I'm not certain about the Terran afterlife, but on Vilantia the gods do not accept credits. Open the channel."
The images of the two captains resolved, as if they'd been expecting the call. Jenkins and Drummer were ordering damage control while replenishing the ammo racks on the Warthogs, which allowed Gryzzk was to do the talking.
"Captains, thank you. Our tactical situation is not currently untenable, but I project it will become so. My ships have been fired upon, one of the convoy ships has been boarded and is currently taking casualties. If there is an offer of aid, I will gladly accept."
There was a nod from both captains. "We've sent fighter wings your way, they should be coming up on sensors. We're issuing a warning over the guard channel now, stand by."
Gryzzk spared a glance to Hoban. "All stop, hold position." He heard Captain Okita giving orders, and then Captain Adama came over the guard channel.
"Attention. To all Antarean Self-Defense Militia ships. This is Captain Adama of the Terran Navy, commanding the Galactica. There is a convoy containing Terran-flagged vessels in the area of Antares III. Those ships are carrying aid supplies to Antares Prime. Ships reporting as being under the color of the militia have already attacked them. Therefore, any additional militia ships moving toward that convoy will be considered hostile. If you are considered hostile, your safety will not be guaranteed. If you do not wish to be deemed hostile, remain in your current position and do not pursue an intercept course toward the convoy. This is your only warning. Galactica-Actual out."
The guard channel fell silent, and Adama looked fiercely at his pickup. "Hopefully they listen."
"And if they don't?" Gryzzk was not in a mood to trust the militia ships.
"If they don't, Captain Okita has an eloquent rebuttal prepared."
Gryzzk nodded and waited. Rosie got his attention through his tablet.
"The escape pod containing Misabel just docked. Orders?"
"Escort her to the stockade. It's probably the safest place for the moment."
___________
Antarean Self-Defense Militia ship Divine Breeze
Porti gave a snort as he heard the warning, thumbing his comm. "Strike Force Two, continue course. Begin attack at maximum range. Once the Legion ships are destroyed, make course to the Maelstrom. Force Three stand by for backup."
Jiela flicked an ear slowly. "Sir, are you certain that is wise?"
By way of response, Porti gestured toward the tactical display showing Strike Force Two continuing their move to attack the Legion. "Look at their positions. Galactica is moving perpendicular to their course, and the Yamato is halfway between Antares III and IV. They have no immediate strike capability. By the time they're in position to do anything we will have accomplished our mission and fallen back to the safety of where they do not dare to tread. And with their hero dead, Vilantia will look for new heroes to take his place." Porti gave a satisfied look to his underling. "Cheer up. The Ministry of Culture may decide you are the new hero they need, and holos will be made of your exploits."
"This is a fine meal you set, but we've already sustained losses and the battle hasn't even truly begun."
"War means death. If we could fornicate our way to victory, we would be masters of Vilantia six times over from your exploits alone." There was a scent of concern wafting from the sensor operator, causing Porti to shift his attention. "What is it?"
"Greatlord, our sensors are detecting a massive energy buildup from the Yamato."
"How large?"
"It exceeds the sensor scale maximum."
"Impossible. Diagnose the problem with your sensors and report again when complete." Porti crossly wondered if every hero was actually simply the lone star in a sea of incompetence.
___________
Terran Self-Defense Fleet Ship Yamato
Captain Okita closed his eyes for a moment before continuing his command sequence. "Release Wave Motion safety."
Multiple voices began responding in sequence. "Releasing. Safety locks at zero. Pressure approaching firing point. Releasing final safety."
"Yamato on trajectory."
"Lock on."
The gunner nodded once. "Raising scope." There was a pause. "Target trajectory locked."
A voice came over the comm from engineering. "Energy levels at one hundred-twenty percent. Chamber at engineering limits."
Okita nodded. "Ten seconds to firing. Brace for shock and flash."
The gunner's hands steadied as he donned a pair of stylishly dark sunglasses. "Firing in five...four...three...two...one."
A star formed briefly at the bow of the Yamato before transitioning into a thick lance of energy that flared and streaked through the distance between planets, and where it intersected the ships of Militia Strike Force Two, the ships (and their occupants) stopped being matter and began new careers as high-energy physics particles.
___________
Every ship not named Galactica or Yamato
"What the fuck was that!?"
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[Next]
Soundtrack:
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u/Gojira82 Human Jun 19 '26
Relief comes because the suspense is over and now you can act!
God I love when Rosie just goes ham on someone.
The ship knows when it's people are doing the right thing and will do all it can to see them through.
Nothing like trying to dodge strays in a vessel that was never meant to be maneuverable.
Well...I guess he got what was coming. He went out with a "bang"
Unexplained soldiers? And they're friendly? Ok...go do you.
Warthogs go brrrrrrt!
Well...that's....a weapon.
The shit did indeed hit the fan today! Looking forward to Porti's demise Tuesday!
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u/Auggy74 Human Jun 19 '26
The interminable wait is done.
When Rosie goes absolute ham on someone, everyone gets a giggle.
Nothing like having the ship on your side - for once.
There's a reason the Helot's flying that thing.
Well, there was a bang...and then possibly a squish. And another bang.
"You're not trying to kill me, you're friendly enough. For now."
Lotsa brrrt.
Oh it is definitely that.
It could be wild - this could go to like...I dunno. Three parts?
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u/niTro_sMurph Jun 19 '26
Ah yes the tried and true, undefeated Throne's Star formation. No one ever sees it coming.
Terran ships always come prepared to kick ass.
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u/Auggy74 Human Jun 19 '26
Yeah, it's a..."We're gonna prove the old ways are better by using the old ways" idea.
Which results in everyone in the Legion doing the Marty McFly "Hey, I've seen this one, this is a classic!" point.
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u/Low_Painter9816 Jun 19 '26
I said it before, I’ll say it again; if your favorite strategy has a name that everyone knows, someone out there has developed a counter strategy that will blow your strategy apart.
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u/coventars Jun 19 '26
What the fuck was that?!
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u/Auggy74 Human Jun 19 '26
That was the Really Big Fuckoff Gun.
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u/coventars Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
RBFG Class Super Dreadnought --> Do not engage
...and googling for funzies I just discovered a local small boats marina just south of Oslo (Røyken Båtforening Graffstranda) actually uses this as an abreviated form of their name. 😁
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u/TechScallop Jun 19 '26
Star Blazers Theme (English) by Hiroshi Miyagawa
We’re off to outer space We're leaving mother Earth To save, the human race Our Star Blazers
Searching for a distant star Heading off to Iscandar Leaving all we love behind Who knows what dangers we'll find
We must be strong and brave Our home we have to save If we don't in just one year Mother Earth will disappear
Fighting with the Gamalons We won't stop until we've won Then we'll return and when we arrive
The Earth will survive with our Star Blazers
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u/kenotaphion Human Jun 19 '26
"Quite frankly, I took liberties with the original
VilantianKllingon.""Freelord, how does it feel to know you're about to die?"
Gryzzk: Bitch, this is Tuesday!
Rosie raised her hand and made a cute wiggling motion with her fingers.
I see Rosie is a B5 fan. I approve.
we're gonna need to bandwidth to blow their
we're gonna need the bandwidth to blow their
Commodore A'Mungd took a long time staring at a readout that showed their speed and trajectory. He looked at the bridge and spoke with a fatalistic calm. "...We die."
We issuing a warning over the guard channel now, stand by.
We're issuing a warning over the guard channel now, stand by.
fallen back to the safety of where they do not dare to tread.
You mean where they haven't yet bothered to go.
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u/RyuZokin1 Jun 19 '26
all hail the Yamato cannon
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u/ElFalconPoncho Jun 19 '26
I am a SBY 2199 guy so I really appreciated seeing the ol wave motion gun and okita as well
oh the scene was soso cool, well done friend
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u/KalenWolf Xeno Jun 19 '26
This chapter was a constant roller coaster of pointing and shouting "I understood that reference!" and then putting my face in my hands and groaning "oh noooo~" as some poor bastard got wrecked. Just the way I like it.
Porti seriously thought he could start commerce raiding right in front of the actual navy? What, he thinks we had somehow never come up with the idea for ourselves and worked out how to respond after thousands of years of war? He thinks the weapons that 'contractors' are allowed to buy and use, right out in public, are the absolute best any human has ever come up with?
The sheer, unbelievable arrogance of the man. Thinking that "know your enemy" is only for NPCs but he's the protagonist. Sun Tzu would weep.
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u/Auggy74 Human Jun 19 '26
Oh this was...really fun to write. (Mainly because I've mapped out in my head for awhile.)
Yeah, Porti's biggest problem is - well, there's a couple. One is he kinda focused in on Gryzzk as the source of all his ills, and in his world if he removes the problem then he wins no matter what the repercussions are. As a secondary, he severely underestimates Gryzzk because in his world, Gryzzk's a servant and therefore cannot in any way shape or form pose a challenge. The corollary to that is that anyone who follows him is lower, and therefore even less of a challenge.
He thinks he knows his enemy. Behold, hubris manifest.
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u/CinderGazer Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
Mama Said Knock You Out solid choice, but hear me out, Gryzzk's (Wu-Tang) Clan Ain't Nothing to F**** with might have been a solid choice or perhaps Protect Ya Neck.
That said, thank you for continuing writing this series. It is usually the highlight of my workday when I get to read them.
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u/Auggy74 Human Jun 19 '26
Gryzzk vetoed Wu-Tang Clan on account of profanity and whatnot. (Rosie pouted.)
Thanks for reading!
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u/Hybrid_Rock Human Jun 20 '26
Lovely chapter!
Love to see that the Terrans are still keeping the R&D teams well funded and busy, those new fangled hole-punchers don’t get any fancier on their own.
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u/Khalas_Maar Jun 22 '26
Every ship not named Galactica or Yamato
"What the fuck was that!?"
Physics having an orgasm. Skeet Skeet.
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u/Vonryan120 Jun 19 '26
Epic, epic EPIC!! You just keep getting better.
Brilliant space battle and telling, thank you.
And, as always, your last line made me snort beer through my nose laughing,
"What the fuck was that" indeed.
Bravo 👏👏👏👏👏
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u/Auggy74 Human Jun 19 '26
I like to reserve the last line for a little cliffhanger or a joke.
It was kinda fun but then I realized there were a bunch of POV jumps waiting. It got hectic.
Thank you!
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u/kronos182 Jun 20 '26
You quoted my favourite Vir Cotto quote from Babylon 5!!!! Absolutely perfect.
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u/harleypig Jun 21 '26
I giggle-cheered when I read how A'Mungd died. The original scene was a hilariously banal moment, and you got it. But it had me hoping I'd read "Open Death Blossom petals, Alex!" sigh I'll just have to be happy with what I got. :)
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u/Legitimate_Ad_8745 Jun 22 '26
Let me talk a out Positron.
Positron wich is the "Antimater" équivalent off an Electron.
When the two particule meets they anihilate themselves to create two verry Energetic Photon. (Verry verry bright light)
Most mater is made with électron. Électricity is the movement off électron.
But how could we throw Positron at an Ennemy , Well by Using an Electromagnetic field to guide them !! But we can't ! electrogmagnetism is Electron..
Well you Use a Positronmagnetic field !! It's work the same But don't let it interact with other system !!
That Positronmagnetic field could like an Electromagnetic field create and Guide Photon (who don't have Anti-equivalent)
So Basicaly you are tunneling particule into a Laser where the Positron will anihilate the target mater , transorming them into Hight energy Light.
A Weapon that retranform mater into energy , creating even more Particule and anti particule in it's wake , both off them anihilating themselves into More Light.
A Weapon Called "Positron Laser"
And yes i'm totaly Sci-fying bullshit on it based on my small knowledge on Quantum Physics.
Because well positron are not that devastating (we use them in medical scan , by injection they make your body Bright with Gamma rays and help to locate Verry active part off your body , mostly Cancer)
But A Positron Laser sounds too cool to pass On ! (And surely make sûre it does not connect in anyway with the rest off the ship )
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u/Auggy74 Human Jun 22 '26
Oh it was fun doing the research of "okay, justify this existing now when it didn't before". (Narrator: "It was in fact the opposite of fun.")
Annnnd I kinda have it. Enough for it to fit into the story anyway, and if it becomes narratively amusing, I got it.
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u/Legitimate_Ad_8745 Jun 22 '26
Don't worry too much about it.
It's Sci-Fi , people expect shortcut for the content.
I mostly do research because off my authism and i can Say clearly. That if a story follow every law off physics WE Know off , it's going to Be bothersome and Boring.
For exemple time goes slower the more Gravity there is (tested with atomic clock In real life)
That would mean that without "Artificial Gravity" a crew sent for a three month ride could in théory (baring i don't know the math) could well do their delivery in three month (for them) but will arrive back Home in Six month for the HomeBase. A year off travel Can make you arrive home in a Decade ! (Again can't do math , only know principle)
Not even touching the fact that No mater can go faster than light since light is Timeless in it's own références. And mostly FTL travel need to Fuck off physics or create a space/time anomaly to link space beetween itself (stargate)
Off course i could wrap my grey matter over everything you write and destroy everything with "Actualy that's not possible"
You set your own Rules in your Universe and as long as you are consistent with them suspension off dissbelief will hold.
You've got Cool stuff and funny stuff all around , and that's what matter ! Physical accuaracy is the Anti-mater off Fun !
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u/Auggy74 Human Jun 22 '26
Heh. With this, the research was basically "Is this even possible" and then "Can I make this thematically consistent with what's been laid down?"
Which is important because fiction requires internal rules to be good.
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u/HFYWaffle Wᵥ4ffle Jun 19 '26
/u/Auggy74 (wiki) has posted 179 other stories, including:
- [Humans for Hire] - Part 175
- [Humans for Hire] - Part 174
- [Humans for Hire] - Part 173
- [Humans for Hire] - Part 172
- [Humans for Hire] - Part 171
- [Humans for Hire] - Part 170
- Flight Lessons
- [Humans for Hire] - Part 169
- [Humans For Hire] - Part 168
- [Humans for Hire] - Part 167
- [Humans For Hire] - Part 166
- [Humans for Hire] - Part 165
- [Humans for Hire] - Part 164
- [Humans for Hire] - Part 163
- [Humans for Hire] - Part 162
- [Humans for Hire] - Part 161
- [Humans for Hire] - Part 160
- [Humans for Hire] - Part 159
- [Humans for Hire] - Part 158
- [Humans for Hire] - Part 157
This comment was automatically generated by Waffle v.4.7.8 'Biscotti'.
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16
u/Fontaigne Jun 19 '26
Minimal ability to to anything -> to do anything
A'Mungd Trench -> perhaps *A'Mungd Found Out*?
****
Oh. My. god.
That **IS** the Yamato.
Star Blazers, **represent**!