The Trap

WHAT CAN THE HARVEST HOPE FOR, IF NOT FOR THE CARE OF THE REAPER MAN?
-- Death appeals to Azrael
(Terry Pratchett, Reaper Man)

Disclaimer: Before I start, I included the entire combat log, it's long but I feel taking bits out is not right

I walk into the NovaKane hangar this evening with a slight headache, some days it's just best not to get out of bed but things need doing and there's always something to do.

An associate reports something curious, Electus Matari Claw and Dramiel in the direction of the 2/10 plex but the Dramiel kept appearing and disappearing off scan and the local comms net.

Eventually it's just the Claw, the Dramiel is now gone.

"It's bait you know?" says Keira
"Of course it's bloody bait" I reply.

Keira can state the obvious in such a mocking tone.

"Guess I'll be going in then" I say as I board Sgt Angua.

The associate reports the Claw, still in the direction of the plex, I enter the black and set warp directly for the gate.

I land, the Claw only 20 clicks away, he engages as I land, quickly trying to control range...

[ 2011.02.03 22:21:54 ] (notify) Benito Arias <-EM->(Claw) has started trying to warp scramble you!

MWD have recently been updated to work in all deadspace complexes, but it is now more important than ever to fit your ship accordingly as I engage back, first webbing and then scrambling the Claw's propulsion...

[ 2011.02.03 22:22:05 ] (notify) You have started trying to warp scramble Benito Arias <-EM->(Claw).

The Dramiel appears on scan, the trap sprung, as the Claw starts to shoot at me...

[ 2011.02.03 22:22:07 ] (combat) 200mm AutoCannon II belonging to Benito Arias lightly hits you, doing 88.9 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:09 ] (combat) 200mm AutoCannon II belonging to Benito Arias hits you, doing 104.0 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:11 ] (combat) 200mm AutoCannon II belonging to Benito Arias heavily hits you, inflicting 127.3 damage.

His range control is poor as I'm now on top of him, I open fire...

[ 2011.02.03 22:22:12 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II barely scratches Benito Arias <-EM->(Claw), causing 191.3 damage.

Dramiel lands from it's warp and engages as it does so...

[ 2011.02.03 22:22:14 ] (notify) Crazy Vania <-EM->(Dramiel) has started trying to warp scramble you!
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:14 ] (combat) 200mm AutoCannon II belonging to Benito Arias misses you completely.

Claw is primary target...

[ 2011.02.03 22:22:14 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II misses Benito Arias <-EM->(Claw) completely.

Swing and a miss, but the fight is far from over...

[ 2011.02.03 22:22:14 ] (combat) 150mm Light AutoCannon II belonging to Crazy Vania misses you completely.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:16 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II hits Benito Arias <-EM->(Claw), doing 354.1 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:16 ] (combat) 200mm AutoCannon II belonging to Benito Arias lightly hits you, doing 99.9 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:16 ] (combat) 150mm Light AutoCannon II belonging to Crazy Vania barely scratches you, causing 37.7 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:18 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II is well aimed at Benito Arias <-EM->(Claw), inflicting 486.8 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:18 ] (combat) 200mm AutoCannon II belonging to Benito Arias hits you, doing 121.1 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:18 ] (combat) 150mm Light AutoCannon II belonging to Crazy Vania barely scratches you, causing 39.0 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:20 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II hits Benito Arias <-EM->(Claw), doing 252.6 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:20 ] (combat) 150mm Light AutoCannon II belonging to Crazy Vania heavily hits you, inflicting 127.2 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:21 ] (combat) 200mm AutoCannon II belonging to Benito Arias misses you completely.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:22 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II misses Benito Arias <-EM->(Claw) completely.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:22 ] (combat) 150mm Light AutoCannon II belonging to Crazy Vania misses you completely.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:23 ] (combat) 200mm AutoCannon II belonging to Benito Arias heavily hits you, inflicting 181.8 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:24 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Crazy Vania barely scratches you, causing 20.6 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:24 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Crazy Vania misses you completely.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:24 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Crazy Vania misses you completely.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:24 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II hits Benito Arias <-EM->(Claw), doing 139.9 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:24 ] (combat) 150mm Light AutoCannon II belonging to Crazy Vania heavily hits you, inflicting 149.2 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:24 ] (notify) Domination Warp Scrambler deactivates as Wasp begins to explode.

The Claw explodes, I turn all my attention on the Dramiel...

[ 2011.02.03 22:22:24 ] (notify) Approaching What Where ?
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:26 ] (combat) 150mm Light AutoCannon II belonging to Crazy Vania lightly hits you, doing 87.4 damage.

Webbed and scrammed but I'm bleeding atmosphere and fuel into space...

[ 2011.02.03 22:22:27 ] (notify) You have started trying to warp scramble Crazy Vania <-EM->(Dramiel).
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:27 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II misses Crazy Vania <-EM->(Dramiel) completely.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:28 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Crazy Vania hits you, doing 29.5 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:28 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Crazy Vania barely scratches you, causing 20.7 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:28 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Crazy Vania hits you, doing 31.5 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:28 ] (combat) 150mm Light AutoCannon II belonging to Crazy Vania misses you completely.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:29 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II hits Crazy Vania <-EM->(Dramiel), doing 365.1 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:30 ] (combat) 150mm Light AutoCannon II belonging to Crazy Vania hits you, doing 123.6 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:31 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II hits Crazy Vania <-EM->(Dramiel), doing 356.4 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:32 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Crazy Vania barely scratches you, causing 18.9 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:32 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Crazy Vania strikes you perfectly, wrecking for 104.4 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:32 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Crazy Vania misses you completely.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:32 ] (combat) 150mm Light AutoCannon II belonging to Crazy Vania lightly hits you, doing 98.5 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:33 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II misses Crazy Vania <-EM->(Dramiel) completely.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:34 ] (combat) 150mm Light AutoCannon II belonging to Crazy Vania heavily hits you, inflicting 161.9 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:35 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II places an excellent hit on Crazy Vania <-EM->(Dramiel), inflicting 586.4 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:36 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Crazy Vania heavily hits you, inflicting 43.3 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:36 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Crazy Vania lightly hits you, doing 25.9 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:36 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Crazy Vania barely scratches you, causing 21.6 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:36 ] (combat) 150mm Light AutoCannon II belonging to Crazy Vania barely scratches you, causing 95.7 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:37 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II barely scratches Crazy Vania <-EM->(Dramiel), causing 257.8 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:38 ] (combat) 150mm Light AutoCannon II belonging to Crazy Vania misses you completely.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:39 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II is well aimed at Crazy Vania <-EM->(Dramiel), inflicting 438.1 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:40 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Crazy Vania misses you completely.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:40 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Crazy Vania places an excellent hit on you, inflicting 45.7 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:40 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Crazy Vania hits you, doing 33.1 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:40 ] (combat) 150mm Light AutoCannon II belonging to Crazy Vania heavily hits you, inflicting 171.0 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:41 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II lightly hits Crazy Vania <-EM->(Dramiel), doing 261.7 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:43 ] (combat) 150mm Light AutoCannon II belonging to Crazy Vania misses you completely.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:43 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II misses Crazy Vania <-EM->(Dramiel) completely.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:44 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Crazy Vania hits you, doing 30.9 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:44 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Crazy Vania hits you, doing 33.8 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:44 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Crazy Vania heavily hits you, inflicting 42.0 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:45 ] (combat) 150mm Light AutoCannon II belonging to Crazy Vania heavily hits you, inflicting 161.4 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:45 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II is well aimed at Crazy Vania <-EM->(Dramiel), inflicting 427.9 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:47 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II places an excellent hit on Crazy Vania <-EM->(Dramiel), inflicting 409.6 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:47 ] (combat) 150mm Light AutoCannon II belonging to Crazy Vania hits you, doing 136.6 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:48 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Crazy Vania places an excellent hit on you, inflicting 39.5 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:48 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Crazy Vania barely scratches you, causing 16.8 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:48 ] (combat) Hobgoblin II belonging to Crazy Vania barely scratches you, causing 18.6 damage.

The fight is close, but in the end...

[ 2011.02.03 22:22:48 ] (combat) Your group of Light Neutron Blaster II is well aimed at Crazy Vania <-EM->(Dramiel), inflicting 195.1 damage.
[ 2011.02.03 22:22:49 ] (notify) True Sansha Stasis Webifier deactivates as What Where ? begins to explode.

Dramiel down, the pilot warping his escape pod out just as I achieved lock.

Kane Rizzel > gf
Crazy Vania > :)
Kane Rizzel > login trap not work
Crazy Vania > I'll keep trying to figure out ways to kill your dare
Crazy Vania > :)
Kane Rizzel > but gf none the less :D

So I was baited, of course I was, it's as easy as that, there could have been a Concord billboard with BAIT in bright shiny letters and I still would have gone in.

Why? you may ask... Hehe, y'all should know by now but mostly I do it cause I love it.

Sgt Angua is fast earning her keep and continues to impress me.

YOINK!

"You can think and you can fight, but the world's always movin', and if you wanna stay ahead you gotta dance."

-- (Terry Pratchett, The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents)

Sometimes you just have to smile. I was bombing around in my Pilgrim trying to see if I could catch anything, scored an Ishkur kill in Gus before moving on out to surrounding systems. Joined up with Arzal trying to jack a Megathron who was sniping on a gate in Ingunn but all of Arzal's hard work probing him out were for nought as I uncloaked to try and lock before he warped off. He was aligned and at speed and got away before my lock resolved.

I was still mucking about in Ingunn watching a Megathron and Abbadon play docking games when a Cyclone undocked and warped to a planet, I followed but found he was safe spotted. So I gave my friend a call, she had just replaced her Cheetah, which was killed by the Megathron we missed earlier (An unfortunate cloaking accident led to her demise) and she headed straight on over to probe him out. Seconds after she dropped her first probe she reported a hit, I waited as she set up the warpin.

"No mistakes this time."

I warped in at her signal and landed right on top of the Cyclone, sitting dead still, I locked, scrammed, webbed and set my tracking disruptor active. A swarm of Hammerhead drones engulfed him and went to work as I held a tight 500 metre orbit. He deployed a flight of medium ECM drones and it wasn't long before they got there first cycle.

"Oh for crying out loud."

I furiously spammed lock on him and his drones. First order of business was to destroy the drones, my lock resolved and my Hammerheads were sent to intercept his Vespas. One down as another jam cycle hits me.

"Now you're starting to annoy me" I said to the Cyclone pilot although he probably didn't hear it.

My drones were now autonomous and were still taking out his ECM annoyances. He got one last cycle on me just as the last drone popped but it was now a matter of seconds before I started in on him again. My armour repairer and cap booster were working overtime, earning there keep as I finally got lock again, set the tracking disruptor active and resumed my tight orbit with the aid of scrambler and web. Hammerheads tearing into his shields as he capped out and lost his shield hardeners. He was at about half armour when he did something that surprised me... HE EJECTED!

Kane Rizzel > good fight I suppose
Shilo Harris > eh, was afk for the first 2 min so yeah :)

His escape pod made a hasty exit stage left.

Drones recalled in an instant as I set a bookmark of the Cyclone's location, warped to a station, ejected my pod, undocked and went about some Grand Theft Cyclone.

I boarded the Cyclone and was pleasantly surprised at the haul, some nice tech 2 goodness which will fetch a shiny penny in Rens.




2008.12.15 18:59
okay i'm noticing from the lack of insurance that you probably quit shooting and stole my ship.

either you're a great pirate, or i'm a dumbass, or both :)

Well, a little of both mate. Was a good fight and even though I didn't get a killmail the ISK is always welcome

UPDATE

I was sitting cloaked in the Pilgrim when I spotted a Claw interceptor entering the local 2/10 plex, knowing I couldn't follow in the recon I docked up and grabbed Going Postal™ for a bit of Rifter violence.

I warped in to the plex, having made sure I had the keys for the next two acceleration gates. The Claw was moving quickly through the rooms, not spending time to engage the Gistii guards. I approached the third gate, scanner showing my mark in the third room. I burst out of warp, trails of plasma streaming of the Rifter hull. My intended victim was 50km away so I punched my afterburner and started to make to intercept his orbit.

The Claw pilot didn't notice me until it was too late as I relieved him of the confines of the once beautiful Claw. His escape pod was scrambled and ransom terms offered in private convo.

"I don't have any implants so pod away" was his reply to which I gladly obliged.

The loot surprised me but I also grabbed the loot from the deadspace overseers can, which yielded a Gistii B-Type 1mn Microwarp Drive, Afterburner and Small Shield Transporter.

A nice kill, an even better haul in loot.

Update part deux

I have a new forum signature and blog banner courtesy of Brother Benthor

I get knocked down, but I get up again.

In retrospect, Victor was always a little unclear about those next few minutes. That's the way it goes. The moments that change your life are the ones that happen suddenly, like the one where you die.

--Moving Pictures

"Sir"
"Yes, what is it now?"
"Well, there's a Rifter sir"
"A Rifter you say?"
"Yes sir"
"...and what about this Rifter?"
"Well it seems to be attacking us"
"ATTACKING US?"
"That is correct sir"
"Are we by any chance attacking back?
"Not at this time sir"
"WELL WHY THE HELL NOT?"
"It's a Rifter sir, it's not like it can hurt us, we are in a Raven battleship sir"
"Any details on the Rifter pilot?"
"He appears to be quite mad sir"
"He appears to be mad... Mad?"
"Yes sir"
"and how pray tell have you come to this astonishing conclusion?"
"He's in a Rifter sir"
"I think we've established that"
"and he's attacking a Raven battleship"
"Thank you captain obvious, I can see my money is well spent"
"Orders sir?"
"Oh I dunno, launch some missiles at him, that should scare him off"
"Aye sir"

...

"Sir"
"Yes?"
"Uhm... he's still attacking us"
"Have you tried warping to a stargate?"
"Aye sir, it appears our warp core is scrambled"
"Does he have any corp mates in system?"
"He appears to be alone sir, still firing on us though"

Meanwhile, aboard the Rifter:

"Is this thing on"
"What's up Kane"
"There's a Raven in Eifer"
"A Raven?"
"Is there an echo in here? Yes... A RAVEN"
"What about it?"
"I have it tackled"
"TACKLED?"
"yes, was wondering if anyone wanted a piece of the action"
"What are you flying?"
"A Rifter"
"A RIFTER?"
"Sheesh, this echo is annoying, I could use a hand to be honest, this guy can tank me all day"
"On our way"

Back on the Raven:

"Sir"
"What is it now?"
"It seems the local comms net has just spiked"
"And?"
"For a Captain of a battleship you sure do ask a lot of dumb questions"
"What?"
"See what I mean?"
"What did you just say?"
"Oops"
"What oops?"
"Onyx, Onyx, Onyx, Tempest and oh dear"
"What the hell is an oh dear?"
"It appears he has some friends... and they brought a Falcon"
"A Falcon?"
"Aye sir, it appears as if we are in a spot of bother"
"A spot of bother you say?"
"That I did"
"Wonderful, a few months out of the academy and I'm in a spot of bother"
"Systems jammed, shields failing"
"Great, just great"

...

"Where am I?"
"Welcome to the Quafe Company cloning facilities"
"Cloning facilities, how the fuck I get here?
"Now now, no need for that kind of language"
"Language? what's wrong with my fucking language? How the fuck did I get here?"
"It appears your escape pod was destroyed, hence you waking up in a cloning vat"
"UGH, headache"
"An unfortunate side effect but one that will pass, here's your bill, have a nice day"

Clawing my way back

Mmm, a Drake on scan, I narrow it down to a cluster and warp to the first belt at range.
Mmm, a Claw too, this should be interesting.
I engaged my warp drive to where the Claw appeared to be. Warp trails streaming off my Rifter as I entered normal space, the Claw over 140 clicks above me. I guess I'll just play possum and see if he bites.

Of course he bit, closing the distance quickly, very quicly. In the blink of an eye he was on top of me, the Drake warped in. Time to make a gracious exit.

"1v1 vs the Claw" I asked in local Comms
"Sure dude" came the reply

The Drake left the scene and I warped back in at a range of 100km. The Claw clearly confident closed quickly again, locked and engaged me. Kane being Kane returns the favour, web overloaded, waiting for that magic number to appear on the overview.

Claw is fast, over 6km/s, I'm patient though, at that speed he won't be doing much damage to me. He passes within web range but gains distance too quick for me to react. I make a straight trajectory at full speed, his orbit changes to compensate, I "Crazy Ivan"*, web goes active, distance is closed, at point blank range things go south for the Claw pilot. The cordial "GF" is shared in local as I allow the escape pod to warp out, something I tend to do with arranged 1v1s.

Props to both pilots for honouring the 1v1, I imagine it was difficult for the Drake pilot to sit in system as his friend was destroyed but they both earned my respect for that.

A good end to what had been a pretty bad day for me, as with all things it's how one reacts to loss that determines who he is. I returned to Gusandall, satisfied and in despearate need of a smoke and a cup of tea.

* Crazy Ivan as described in this tale.