Fit for Revenge

It is the fate of all banisters worth sliding down that there is something nasty waiting at the far end.
-- (Terry Pratchett, Maskerade)

After getting Spike out of a tussle with a Thrasher in flames, I spot a Retriever in a belt in Gusandall.

Yes, you read that right... A Retriever... In a belt... In Gusandall.

So I mosey on over and say howdy, he explodes, I scramble the pod and offer terms, to which he doesn't reply, so to the clone vats he goes.

Minutes later he returns in a Cyclone, seemingly after revenge. proving too tempting I warp to the belt and engage, it takes me a while to nibble through his mighty tank but eventually the Cyclone succumbs to my relentless assault. The pod once more scrambled, terms not offered as I know he hasn't had a chance to put new implants in, once more unto the clone vats he returns.

Kane Rizzel > I didn't fit it, I just killed it

Introducing:

You will have to look a long way before you find a bunch of scum-suckers more greedy, humourless and deserving of death than the suits in the music business.

-- (Terry Pratchett, alt.fan.pratchett)

I have been having fun in something slightly different recently, a Cruor class Blood Raider frigate:

Cruor

Mottled, dark red, and shaped like a leech, the Cruor presents a fitting metaphor for the Blood Raiders' philosophy. Designed almost solely to engage in their disturbingly effective tactic of energy draining and stasis webbing, this ship is a cornerstone in any effective Blood Raider fleet - and could play an intriguing role in more standard ones.

Special Ability: 100% bonus to Small Energy Turret damage

Amarr Frigate Skill Bonus: 15% bonus to Energy Vampire and Energy Neutralizer drain amount per level
Minmatar Frigate Skill Bonus: 10% bonus to the velocity factor of stasis webifiers per level


Spike in Gusandall with the 'Death's Head' Nebulae

It's an interesting vessel and is flown somewhat differently than one might imagine, needless to say I've had a few fun fights recently with her while I try to get used to new tactics.

This evening however, I renewed my hatred for something called Warp Core Stabilizers, whilst hunting a Golem, I eventually tracked him down, warped in with Havelock Vetinari, my Bhaalgorm and proceeded to layeth the smack down, only to see the Golem calmly warp away

Shimazu Maru > too bad eh?

Congratulations, you've made ze list. If you ever come to Evannater lowsec again, I will find you, and I will kill you :)

Edit: The blood of this innocent is on your head due to your cowardice, I hope you can live with yourself.

Edit #2: A few close calls today against long range destroyers with no tackle, will need to check myself before just rushing in.

Friend of a friend

"'E's fighting in there!" he stuttered, grabbing the captain's arm.
"All by himself?" said the captain.
"No, with everyone!" shouted Nobby, hopping from one foot to the other.
-- Making Friends and Hitting People
(Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!)

It's not often a fight, that has no winner can be as fun as one I had this evening against someone who could be best described as a nemesis of sorts.

Crazy Vania has run the 2/10 in a Dramiel on numerous occasions, he has tormented some of the locals, has died at my hands a fair few and has once or twice actually destroyed my marvelous flying machines.

He has recently left the services of Electus Matari, the local anti pirates and joined Pod Liberation Authority. Over the last few days he has been coming to Gusandall in a Cruor.

Cruor

Mottled, dark red, and shaped like a leech, the Cruor presents a fitting metaphor for the Blood Raiders' philosophy. Designed almost solely to engage in their disturbingly effective tactic of energy draining and stasis webbing, this ship is a cornerstone in any effective Blood Raider fleet - and could play an intriguing role in more standard ones.

Special Ability: 100% bonus to Small Energy Turret damage

Amarr Frigate Skill Bonus: 15% bonus to Energy Vampire and Energy Neutralizer drain amount per level
Minmatar Frigate Skill Bonus: 10% bonus to the velocity factor of stasis webifiers per level

The last few fights I've had against the Sentinel have made me weary of energy neutralisers and said Sentinel pilot was back in local, so being the daring type I am, I grabbed Sgt Angua, the most volatile frigate I own.

Volatile because it possesses devastating firepower, but also because it requires capacitor to function, without cap she was dead in the water so to speak.

Vania seems to have tangled with the Sentinel but had docked up for the moment. A fight against both would not be the smartest choice.

I warp to the plex and enter the first room. Sentinel is 300 clicks off, I start to close but soon decide no, he wants to dictate the engagement, so take that away from him and let him come to Kane.

I moved back towards the plex centre, and soon, as predicted he started to close. 19km and no closer, I could not allow him within his neut range. I am easily faster and maintain range without problem, waiting for him to make the first move.

Vania warps in with his Cruor, the dance with the Sentinel has taken us 300 odd km away.

The Sentinel is not the most patient and warps out, not being able to get close enough to get a neut off. I have the option to move towards Vania or warp out but nothing ventured, nothing gained :)

I close, not too close though, again, those neuts have me a touch shy. We dance for a bit, I overload my web and scram, take a deep breathe and hit approach, this was going to have to be quick.

Exile or X-Intinct, I chose X cause a lower sig might help more than extra rep, can't rep with no cap and as I'd definitely be low on that, I chose not to even bother with the rep.

I inject the X, my vision blurs a bit, my armour drops as I can't really focus, damn side effects, but that's drugs for you.

Web goes green and I close quicker, scram and guns glow green, overloaded as I'm now at point blank. Vania webs back, neuts go to work on my cap. His shields are stripped and I work on his armour as his lasers strip my shields.

He hits about 60% armour as my mods turn off, Sgt ANgua is now dead in the plex. Vania starts on my armour, no way of repping, I see a sliver of cap and get off two salvos, cap dry. my armour keeps disappearing, a sliver of cap, another two salvos, Vania now deep in armour.

This fight could go either way but I didn't have the luxury of warping out, I was here till the end.

Another sliver of cap, another two salvos, Vania closer to structure and I think he chose to rather withdraw than risk a loss.

He warps out, an intense fight and one I think I was very lucky to warp away from.

He offers a round two...

Crazy Vania > wanna try again kane ?
Crazy Vania > I think I figured a mistake I did
DeathStar > you warp'd into kane?
Kane Rizzel > stagger your neuts
DeathStar > prob 1 of the bigger mnistakes in eve tbh
Crazy Vania > I wont tell you which mistake it was
DeathStar > mistakes*
Crazy Vania > yes I know
Crazy Vania > dont need to tel me that
DeathStar > lmao
Crazy Vania > I have experienced, let's say, in the flesh

I don't actually fancy my chances and decline but we start talking in local and eventually on voice comms and he's a decent fella, he is a good friend of a recent M34N recruit and is ok in my book, he's also a fan of Terry Pratchett which is always a good thing.

On to something I mentioned earlier, Anti Pirates, what has happened to the Anti Pirate corps and alliances, Electus Matari are still about but a shadow of the past really? It seems to be something of a dying art.