Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Endless Dark

The cold of night wrapped him in it's uncomfortable embrace as he squatted down in the shadows of his hiding place on the rocky outcrop. The cosmic winds ripped at the stone cover around him, and sleeting methane rain sprayed his enviro-suit visor like shotgun fire. Far below him, the enemy encampment was a distant hive of activity as the industry of battle preparation rumbled on into the seemingly endless night.

Here, on Vupa 6, the base-moon of choice for many of the warring unification's in the coming Faction Wars, the nights were many Earth days long. Perfect for a stealth operative to survey his foes undetected. The veteran commander adjusted the range magnifier of his optical scope and picked out the heat-blooms of cannon test fire and reactor core emissions. He panned left, seeking one particular familiar heat signature. Nothing. 'Dammit'! He muttered to himself. His information had been an expensive waste of niodium, and an expense that the source of the information would painfully regret as soon as he returned to the star-port tavern.

The commander drew silently back, further into the shadows, before turning about and starting the long walk back to his skoot-buggy. He had been assured that his old rival would be here; Fighting with this particular faction. He felt the anger rise at the back of his throat and gritted his teeth in frustration as he pressed on into the ebony gloom, eager to return to the bar, to drink away his annoyance and take bitter retribution on the lying bastard who sold him the intel.

Things were still in hand. Time was a luxury he still possessed. Patience and forgiveness? These traits were in short supply right now, and results were all that mattered. With the Faction-wars looming and his own body of clients to appease he needed to settle a few scores. 'Oh well', he thought, 'The night is still on my side'.









Submitted by Steve Ross #162076

Dilophos Mecha Review

To start with this is a seventy five ton mecha that will cost you 20,500 Ferrite, 13,500 Bioptics and 130 Niodes, some folks will ask is it worth it all? I say yes! Granted right off the bat the mecha seems like it may have problems as it is vulnerable to both fire and missile damage, but with the inclusion of shields in equipment such vulnerabilities can be addressed and fixed. So what makes this mecha stand out from the others aside from its rather garish paint scheme? It is sturdy and reliable for sure to start. You will get a long life of use from this mecha. Many mid to high level pilots stock their formations with these it is rare to see a formation these days without one in all honesty.

The main selling point for this mecha is the fork damage. Of course that damage can be modified and expounded upon with the addition of the right equipment. It has the potential for many chassis slots to fill out, and it has an excellent cockpit expansion the higher in level it gets, it is mid range with the engine slots and shielding, but given equipment for the seventy five ton mechas you can grab bonuses from the other slots it will open up with leveling. Personally I love this mecha it is one of my favorites, it easily adjusts to whatever load out you want to give it, and you can't go wrong with the times two, and three damage it will give you in addition to the fork ability. It is a laser based mecha and works wonders with such damage which you can also amp up with the proper equipment installed. Overall this is a highly versatile mecha that you really can not afford to do without as you increase your hanger and formation.


















Submitted by Pat Willis #224534

Big Stick Weapon Review

Many will bypass this weapon because it is a missile system and as such the argument is, “Well they are slow to fire so why bother?” The answer to that is simple if you take the risk and equip missiles especially with one of these beauties one shot is often all you need. A smart pilot will couple this system with a mecha that can dish out some extra missile damage, and with equipment being released speed is not the problem it used to be. This is like the weapon name says a Big Stick just carry it and your mecha can walk where it wants.


Damage -55
Speed -99
Splash of 11%
3x damage of 10%










Submitted by Pat Willis #224534

Kojin Stove Weapon Review

This is a big boy toy for certain. A high power high burn rate flame weapon that is devastating to any it touches. This weapon excels on mecha that are built to support flame weapons (Inferno, Gigus, Dilophos) it is devastating to those who cannot take flame damage. Used properly and in combination with the right mecha this weapon will be the prize of your arsenal, especially when attached to a high level high damage mecha configuration. This is no Zippo lighter kids this is one of the big guns and as such it will cost you but it is worth every single niode to watch your enemy burn like a birthday candle.

Damage 85
Speed 105,
Burn of 33%
Splash of 5%










Submitted by Pat Willis #224534

Laser Stallion Weapon Review

This is an odd little laser, mainly because when you fire it, the beam hits what it wants and usually keeps going. Wild ability is what makes this little gem so much fun, it targets a random mecha on the enemy front line, factor in your trample and you are looking at one wild little laser with plenty of horsepower. These weapons are more favored by mercenary crews and Mecha clans than planetary security personnel, but are still considered restricted weapons, so there rarely ever more than a few hundred available at a time. They sell fast so if you see one and you like a little element of surprise to your fights this weapon is for you.

Damage - 35
Speed – 102
Wild
Trample 15%









Submitted by Pat Willis #224534

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Wrecker Shot Weapon Review

This is wonderful weapon for the mecha pilot looking to do damage.  The shot phase shifts into and through the target taking out many critical systems along the way. Much in the same way the steel shower does explosive trample damage this little beauty follows suit. Ideal for mechas with built in trample capabilities already. This gun is right at home on either heavy or light mecha (although it is recommended for experienced pilots rather than beginners) and does substantial damage for the price.

Damage-50
Speed-105
Trample 4%











Submitted by Pat Willis #224534

Steel Shower Weapon Review

Okay let me just get this out right off the bat… I LOVE THIS GUN! Alright now that is out of the way allow me to tell you why. It is everything you want in a slug thrower. It’s fast, it’s accurate, and it’s devastating. This gun is made for fast and deadly fire. Utilizing hyper sonic ammunition and improved fire control sequencing this weapon can chew through ferrite like it was cheese.  The ammunition is flying out of the gun at such a fast rate of fire at such fast speeds that each hit is likely to burn through the target upon contact and continue its damaging flight into the poor slob behind him. Often resulting in multiple damaging effects, in the tearing through of the initial target many vital systems are often simply disconnected or seared shut. Often making a Mecha take more than a simple bullet wound in damage (x2 ability) then upon exit of the initial target it often carries with it shrapnel as well as the original round which is only fractionally slowed. This results in explosive trample damage. This gun is worth every niode spent on it and I simply need more of them…. Excuse me I have to place an order now.

Dam-55
Speed 105
2XDamage 10%
Trample 10%











Submitted by Pat Willis #224534

Carnassial Laser Weapon Review

This is a handy weapon to have as the package says; it packs two high power, high precision beams in one package. This little beauty is your new destructive best friend especially when augmented by Mecha that are designed to up the damage from laser fire. I personally own three (as legitimate prizes from tournaments I Swear!) and have them hooked up as the situation demands it either on my Dilophos or my Bishops. When on a Mecha that can increase laser fire and damage from such, these weapons shine. A bright burst, a sizzle from the discharge battery, and boom look at that… My target is a smoking crater! The crit kill ability is especially nice and the precision helps you to make that shot count! This is not the high end destructive beam of death that say is the Black Widow or the Res Laser but it is a sizable damage weapon packaged economically for the Mecha pilot looking for the edge. It isn’t the biggest, it isn’t the prettiest, but it is reliable and will hit when you pull the trigger. If you’re smart about it and have it hooked up to the right Mecha , well one trigger pull is all you need.

Damage-44
Speed-100
Crit kill 5% - Precision (8)











Submitted by Pat Willis #224534

Half Remembered Battles

The following report was overheard by patrons of a smoky bar,  and recorded by Smilodon Shadow Wolf pilot / mech comm channel... The pilot drinking cold beer and eating roast snavrum, and seemingly having a heated conversation with empty air, or himself...

Aye you think me mad, and you might be right. I'd think I was mad as well if I was seeing me. But I saw something once and not for very long, just long enough to make me question all I've known.... Talked to me they did, but did they really? Then stretched out their hand and opened a doorway / hole in space time stepped thru and were gone....

Tho now I think maybe "Mad Mulligan" aint really mad, and "Herod" has reason to enjoy his fumes on Vupa 6. They saw what I saw, they're out there among us, humanoid in appearance they look and sound like us. But they're godlike beings, holding our fates in their hands,... Judge, Jury, and executioner, they cast the runes, play with our lives, controlling the galaxy as they see fit,... Mysterious beings seldom seen, oft whispered about in back rooms of pubs and mech hangers... Not sure if they're ancient aliens, or forerunners but they belong to the group known only as "devs" supreme beings of fickle nature, caring little what their actions do for the common mech pilot, or the mere mortals among us...

I blacked out for a time, when I came to I found my memories, and what I knew had changed... (and I've argued endlessly with my mech Shadow Wolf that we did fight and win that many battles). But what I remember, and have wrote down in my personal battle report journal. No longer matches Shadow's on board AI units. I know for a fact that I fought and won 5291 battles, fought fearlessly and won. But checking my battle reports on my mechs comps I find only 3671 battles fought and won...That’s a difference of 1620 kills... Am I crazy? Or is Shadow Wolf malfunctioning ? Aye ye think me mad, and you might be right,... but I swear I saw one once. A"dev", pray ye never meet one. They're powers mess with your minds, making real, unreal, what you know meaningless. And your accomplishments for naught...


















Shadow Wolf (Bryan Haycock) ID# 138789

Monday, April 28, 2014

Galaxy Gossip

Deborah Roaché-Hudak here, with an Extra Edition of Galaxy Gossip. The ONLY news source, this side of the galaxy. If we didn't print it, it never happened.

Captain Killgore, Pirate Moon Boss, has been delayed returning from his trip to Cogwerk Port. Rumor has it BrainChef DeCuisine hired Doctor Drake to perform experimental surgery on the Captain and complications arose. Be sure that Galaxy Gossip will pass on news as information surfaces.

That's it for today's breaking stories. Keep your eyes peeled for all the news that's unfit to print, right here in Mecha's Galaxy Gossip, a division of The Galaxy Gathering. Until our next Extra Edition, I bid you all safe travels and successful battles.


















Deborah Roaché-Hudak # 289133

Red Ant Mecha Review

The back bone of just about any mecha pilots arsenal at least for starters the Red Ant is many things. Cheap first of all with it only costing 125 Ferrite and 125 Bioptics each, secondly it is one  most pilots get familiar with right off the bat as it is easily accessible to new pilots. The mecha profile says it is one of the oldest running mecha models in existence and still in widespread use today. That is rather easy to see why, cost is as mentioned fairly cheap, for a ten ton mecha it is indeed pretty durable and at the higher levels gains a respectable amount of expansion slots for a beginner mecha.

Its strength lies in its capacity for dealing out laser damage, no matter if it as simple as a Cheops beam or as sophisticated as an Archfiend this little mecha can deliver the goods on damage bonuses to laser weapons. Often you will see these making up most of a beginner pilots formation, and even see them in use by mid to high level pilots. It is quite simply a versatile, reliable and easy to use mecha that has stood the test of time and proven its worth time and time again on the battlefield. Best to save a few of these for  the King of the Mountain tourneys that pop up favoring low tonnage mecha and even double and triple rainbow events.









Submitted by Pat Willis #224534

Sunday, April 27, 2014

What We Want from You

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen of Mecha Galaxy now that we are up and running we are ready to accept submissions. That can be found on our front page under the submit transmission tab towards the top. Please remember to include your player name as well as player ID# (Found on your in game profile page).

What are we looking for in submissions? First off we do not want to double up on posts, that is to say if you already sent your submission to the A.N.N. please do not send us the same submission, as we are trying to avoid double postings between the two networks. If you submit to the players forum and us that is fine. As to the submissions themselves we are looking for everything!!!

Stories of course, Lore is perfectly fine so long as it follows the already established existing in game lore and doesn't go too far off the path, Galaxy Gossip is always welcome but please no direct name calling or calling out of anyone as we do not need this to be a place of political or personal argument between groups or individuals. We are always looking for  and would love to see Mecha, Equipment, and weapon reviews from the players! So what's on your mind folks? What do you have to say? Let us see what you come up with and allow us to share it with the player base.



Submitted by Pat Willis #224534

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Why We Are Here

Welcome one and all to the  official debut of The Galaxy Gathering! We are the new look and feel to the  beloved game Mecha Galaxy. I am your host Patrick Willis, member of The Black Watch in game. Even though I am with a major in game clan this particular corner of the web is for everyone. We hold no favoritism as it takes all kinds of ideas to flesh out and add to the feel of our favorite game Mecha Galaxy, as such we accept submissions (within reason) from everyone!

I started off with the other in game news network A.N.N. (Asterion News Network) as an editor and writer, working with the others in A.N.N. helped me get a nice look behind the scenes of the game itself. It helped me realize how invaluable player ideas and submissions are to keep the game fresh, incorporate new ideas, and ultimately strive for excellence. This site and all it holds within is an extension of that strive for excellence in both looks, form, player ideas, and as always stories that expand our ever growing Galaxy.

So this is my personal invitation to you the player, to come with us and help flesh out and further the experience of our game, read friends stories, and ultimately partake in the joy and camaraderie that comes from seeing your work recognized. I hope you will come along with us and help us grow as much as you have helped the game itself grow. Welcome one and all I hope you enjoy your time and experience here at The Galaxy Gathering.



















Submitted by Pat Willis #224534

20 Questions With Pat Willis

1. What got you started writing?
I started writing in junior high, found it to be a fun outlet for myself. What started me with Mecha Galaxy would probably be when I noticed they did contests. Just thought what the hell I’ll toss in a few submissions see where it goes, fast forward to now and here I am.

2. What is your RPG background (if you have one)?
Oh man let’s see I have played and written up my own stories/campaigns for ShadowRun, Mech Warrior, Battletech, Rifts, Gamma world, Star Wars, Marvel Super heroes,  Ravenloft, Forgotten realms and  Call of Cthulhu . Just for fun mind you back then I just knew my friends wanted to play the games and they liked my stories I made up for them.

3. Any submissions/stories etc purely in mecha galaxy you are most proud of (accomplishments)?
The Frigis , I got to name it and do the write up for it. That one is my favorite because it was so out of the blue to be asked to write it up. It was literally a..Hey this is what is going on, this is what it looks like, and what it can do with brief outline of primary stats, and do you wanna take a shot at the write up? I was all over it, it was a challenge but I think I had it down by the third draft.  I liked talking to Chef about it and running ideas past him as well.

4. Because I ask everyone this...Fave mecha?
A three way tie between Dilophos, Frigis and Inferno

5. What got you started playing Mecha Galaxy?
I had gotten tired of Vampire Wars, Mafia Wars, Superhero City, and Backyard Monsters so I went looking for something different and ended up here. Now this and Mutants Genetic Gladiators are all I play on FB.

6. Your favorite boss?
Tory so far because she gave me my first Inferno

7. Worst/best enemy/player in the game in the game?
Worst enemy or player huh? Well the whole game is your enemy technically, player wise hey I got people I think suck folks out there think my stuff sucks so whatever..lol. I got no blood feuds or hatreds it’s a game I platy to have fun. With that said I don’t really have a best or my pick of the cream of the crop either. I just worry about what I am doing.

8. Favorite article you have read from player submissions?
Been many good ones too many to recount or recall rally there are many I enjoy. Reading them as editors it kind of all blurs together after a time..lol

9. Favorite mech load out (Weapon/equipment)?
Really liking the high damage fast speed burn/splash capability weapons on an Inferno, but coolant systems and Frigis mechs are good also.

10. How many times you have won gold in Clan Wars?
Once, a few silvers, but only one Gold.

11. How many division wins in the Kotm's do you have?
I have over 20 in top 25 I don’t know exactly how many never counted but over 20 in top 25 for sure.

12. What type of weapon do you prefer?
Lasers rock, although Ice is nice.

13. Who is your favorite player in the game?
Don’t really have one.

14. What is your favorite Kotm Event?
I like the point mech tourneys.

15. Worst feature in the game.
Honestly to me it is honor guard. You are always running out at crap times, without it you don’t get full on dodge and damage. If I am capable of another 58 to dam and another 8 to dodge just give it to me. Not like mercs of my friends come in and whoop on em if I get beat. Got enough with CWs, farming each other etc to push the “social aspect” of the game Hg is just annoying.

16. Best feature in the game.
Equipment since it was added now just need good equipment for the heavier mechs and we’re set.

17. Do you watch every battle or do you hit attack and go back?
Depends really sometimes I watch to see if a new weapon or formation is working right but in KOTM not very often.

18. Most successful attacks won in a day?
No clue made the top of the leader board once for a bit so however many that took.

19. Who’s your favorite G.G. staff member?
We all rock and are awesome nuff said.

20. What type of contest would you like to see from any of the news channels?
As stands I think we do alright. We can’t do much without Dev back up so as much as we may want to run  create a mech, or name whatever it is devs have final say.



















Submitted By Pat Willis #224534

Friday, April 11, 2014

Equipment Review: Frictionless Bearings - Chassis

A great crystal chassis part this allows your mecha to get the hell out of the way and fast of incoming enemy fire. You have all probably run into mecha packing these basic pieces of chassis equipment. They are very handy in whatever mecha you may wish to stick them in, many find they work very well in Bishops as well as Ammonites. They work great in conjunction with other chassis set ups or niode gear that you may wish to install. But if you want to make your mecha get out of the way you really can’t go wrong with these especially when stacked.

Equipment Stats:

Min tons: 50
Max tons-75
Dodge (13)









Submitted By Pat Willis #224534

Equipment Review: Pebble Bed Reactor - Engine

This is a work horse of a engine. As the tonnage is mid-range it will fit into a variety of mechas . Its only bonus is the speed at +14 but given multiple engine slots for most mecha within that tonnage range it really is a great way to get  your  mecha going and build it up to speed fast. It is a pretty basic straight forward crystal engine and as such doesn’t supply anything beyond the speed bonus but when stacked with multiples of this little engine you will certainly notice the difference.

Equipment Stats:
Min tons: 50
Max tons: 70
Speed +14











Submitted By Pat Willis #224534

Weapon Review: Hack Laser

This is a nice weapon for probing enemy weaknesses. The laser is of a mid-range damage variety but because it is designed to integrate with a mechas database of known mecha stress points it hits home and causes more than just the usual damage. A reliable weapon to be sure and the precision built in is definitely a bonus. A proud member of the mid-range damage family this laser rightfully takes its place as a favorite of pilots everywhere.

Weapon Stats:

Damage-55
Speed-101
3x Damage 8%
Precision (5)











Submitted By Pat Willis #224534

Weapon Review: Black Widow

This is a devastating weapon it lines up its shot and aims for where it hurts. The crit kill ability on this weapon is what is needed when the shots count the most. A high damage weapon to begin with toss in other mecha bonuses, and soon the destructive combinations become very clear. A little slower than its mid-range damage cousins, this weapon makes up for it with a big punch and many smoking wrecks in its wake. A solid investment all around and well worth every niode spent.

Weapon Stats:

Damage-85
Speed-101
Crit Kill 17%











Submitted By Pat Willis #224534

Gorak Attack

We got the request in at Black Watch HQ to head out to the Timmarrah asteroid belt in sector 5 of the same system. Apparently some half-baked genetically manipulated Roach was out there with a ton of mechs looking to invade. I got the okay from my clan boss packed up my troops and headed out. I didn’t figure on this being a long and drawn out campaign, intel was scarce but  from what we were told it was your standard issue Star Factories cannon fodder with a few specialty mechas thrown in for good measure.

As soon as we touched down it got fast and heavy. Almost every asteroid in the belt was covered with these buggers intel said 11,579 in total for the invasion force. I relayed the numbers and conditions back to HQ, who promised reinforcements A.S.A.P. As soon as confirmation came in of back up en route my squad and I hit the enemy forces with a vengeance. Anzus burned, Keradons exploded, Ogguns fell by the hundreds. We only really had a hiccup with what seemed to be modified Ogguns and some kind of cartoonish road cone orange looking mechas. They had self-repair equipment added shields, and insane dodge capabilities. They were quite the hassle until we learned we could catch them in a cross fire and reduce their abilities to heal much less dodge out of the line of fire. From asteroid to asteroid we battled all up and down the belt system all the while this fool Gorak is on our speaker systems laughing manically telling us we shall never survive. His laughter was cut short when the rest of the Watch came in and started to hand him his bug ass.

When the smoke cleared there were bodies everywhere, mecha parts strewn across the asteroids and hanging in the black void of space. When all was said and done I had 1551 destroyed enemy mechas to add to my kill count. The salvage was less than desirable though with only 1 Panther Wheel, 1 Enveloper, 2 Smooth bores, 1 Harmonic Disruptor, 2 ECMCM shielding modules, 1 Arctic Delta, 1 Telescoping sight, 2 Ballistic Computers and 1 Plasma bottle Engine. All of which were pretty banged up and only would net less than half the resale price for my troubles. For all the thousands of mechs we poured through not one was fit for repair. In my mission report to HQ  I simply said…”If this happens again leave us out of it, cause honestly we can make more in crystals and niodes doing smuggler runs.”











Submitted By Pat Willis # 224534

The General: A Legend of the Nakshi

Even mecha have their legends especially when they are living, breathing, thinking beings. There are stories amongst the eldest of Skraigs and Gigus that speak of powerful, dangerous ancient Nakshi they simply refer to as Generals. These mythical creatures were stronger, smarter, packed more firepower and had the collective abilities of their brethren. They had the fierce love of fighting like the Gigus, they could tap into the psychic network of the Skraig, and possessed the capabilities of self-transportation the likes of which has never been seen before, at least not without destabilizing the system they are in at the time.

They were able to operate alone or with a pilot, either way mattered not to these ancient beasts.  They commanded thousands of troops and watched entire systems burn. It is said that some of them were forged in the death of countless worlds, but none can prove it today.  They are rumors, ghost stories even, that the beast mecha tell each other during down time from missions. They had identifying marks of course such as multiple Harmonic Disruptors beyond the standard two we see them equipped with today. They also had the Skraig primary weapon of the Ursa Strike embedded in their central core, and were built with customization in mind being proficient with any weapon they cared to install on themselves. In short they were the ultimate beast machine.

No one knows where they may be hiding if in fact any exist today, speculation points towards the Forerunners taking these living engines of destruction with them when they departed from this galaxy. Questioning of the Nakshi we know today reveals nothing, likewise with Skraig, and Gigus. They exist as a story for now within the circles of the living machines we pilot today. Take heed however for any living mechas tales of a bogeyman should be taken most seriously especially for the races of man who may one day accidently stumble across these ancient and powerful creatures. Then only the powers above may save us from these living engines of destruction.








Submitted By Pat Willis #224534

Galaxy Gossip 2nd Edition

Welcome one and all to our Galaxy Gathering studios I’m your host Pat Willis coming to you live with another edition of all the news unfit to print we like to call Galaxy Gossip.

First up legal news the Galactic Court Commission office was shut down today when hundreds of petitions for divorce flooded in. Turns out alternate pilot I.D.’s are seeking to divorce the parent I.D.’s citing Irreconcilable Differences as the cause. Custody hearings for the mechas owned by each I.D. to be divided up when the courts wade through them all and make a ruling.

From the planet of Aldorn we have reports of thousands of vehicles crashing when they used the underside of the main continental ladder land bridge. Worldwide reports also came in of black cats crossing people’s paths, although the annual mirror smashing ceremony was a huge success and boasted record numbers. Thirteen days later the planet inexplicably exploded.

The Cogwerk ports transport union was thought to have disappeared, the entire union. When an investigation was launched they were all found eventually under the city in the sewer system. They claimed they were on break

That does it for another edition of Galaxy Gossip, thanks for joining us. See you next time.




















Submitted By Pat Willis #224534

 

The Evolution and Capabilities of Beast Mecha

The following is a data file compiled from Illryian Hegemony scientific research center, based on their extensive use of and working with the beast mecha.

“To begin with many think the Nakshi was the last and therefore the newest beast machine simply because it was revealed to the public last. This is not true, in all actuality the Nakshi came first. They were created by the Forerunners as the first attempt at biomechanical life. They were much the size as we see them today and had much the same abilities.

The Skriag and Gigus are the descendants of the Nakshi. Apparently when the Forerunners departed some distant outposts they left quite a few Nakshi behind whose offspring slowly devolved into a Bipedal reptilian race. This race was in fact two, the prehistoric Skriag and Gigus. From what we have learned they were a little taller than the average human when the Forerunners rediscovered them on those distant worlds. They had formed loose bands of the two races and worshipped the Forerunners as well as the returning Nakshi as Gods.

Seeing as they already revered the Forerunners, it was easy to coax them into experiments that would later turn them into the beast machines we know of today. The process by which they did this is as of yet unknown, and in so far as we can tell impossible to duplicate at this time.

These creatures all served a distinct purpose in the wars fought by the Forerunners. The mighty Gigus was the infantry with its missiles and flame weapons it was shock and awe incarnate. Built to burn down worlds and revel in berserk fury the Gigus was the consummate gladiator.

The Skriag were the communications, and tactical support. With all Skriags being linked via their psychic network they could tap into and keep track of each other’s movements and battle plans, to coordinate accordingly. They also kept the highly volatile Gigus in line. Don’t be mistaken and think the Skriag is only capable of thinking, they are equipped with high powered weapons and can be just as deadly as the Gigus when pressed.

Then there is the Nakshi, the one who started it all. The ability of the Nakshi is to be able to jump without need of a gate. This means that a Nakshi if it had the coordinates could feasibly gate into an enemy structure with a limited number of other beast machines and simply destroy the place. There is a price for this gate jumping. To do so on massive scales for large assaults means the Nakshi has to absorb the energies of the system it is in. This can lead to entire systems destabilizing and going nova. The Nakshi can exert control over both Skriag and Gigus mecha and in mixed company the other two have been noted as giving the Nakshi respect.

Given these machines work so well together and were designed and later redesigned to interact in perfect harmony, it is the opinion of this esteemed establishment that the Hegemony proceed at once with mass acquisitions of these mecha."



Submitted By Pat Willis #224534

Mecha Review: The Harrell

Welcome one and all to the Galaxy Gathering mecha review! I’m your host Pat Willis and today we will be talking about the Cadillac of Mechas the Harrell. This is not an impulse buy coming in at  15,800 Ferrite, 10,300 Bioptics and a whopping 360 Crystals this is a mecha intended for serious buyers and more serious fighters.

Pilots love this thing no doubt; I myself have one and think it is excellent. It is all about pilot comfort and safety with its spacious cockpit holding basic hygiene facilities, a stocked rations pantry, and probably the most sophisticated and comfortable pilot neural relay imaginable to date. The Harrell also contains inner shielding around the cockpit to protect the pilot from any lethal damage the mecha takes. Which then will serve as your own personal shield as it cocoons you in case of ejection, it is simply one of the safest mechas to pilot to date.

The Harrell is a slug thrower coming equipped with a Hex Cannon, Wrecker shots, Smooth Bores, Rail Guns, and a couple of Maulers. It is easily customizable with many options for cockpit equipment and chassis equipment, as well as plenty of room for whatever shielding combination you desire, but it is a slow mecha in comparison to the other bigger mecha.  It of course stacks on the damage to slug throwing weapons but it can be customized to suit any pilot’s needs. Once Star Factories gets a clue and starts to produce equipment for the higher tonnages that will not hinder it through needless vulnerabilities by way of sloppy craftsmanship this will truly be an awesome mecha to behold on the field. Until that day this mecha can and does hold its own nicely it is just capable of so much more further down the road.


















Submitted By Pat Willis #224534

Legend of the Niodemancer

In the early dawn of galactic travel, gate exploration, and niode technologies: an independent clan of pirates calling themselves Crimson Eclipse  roamed the uncharted stars. In the system of Teradorn on the planet of Immolia they came upon a long forgotten Forerunner outpost. It was a forsaken planet where Slag Snavrum, Magma Hounds, and Smoke Hawks held sway over all. They touched down in a natural field making their way towards the outpost to begin their investigation.  The hopes of coming across long forgotten technology that could make them a power in this system loomed in their minds.

They were led by a rough Captain named Johnathan Judas, who had a reputation for cruelty and murder. It was said he feared neither man nor beast, if it could bleed he had killed it in his time. He motioned for his men to spread out and search the outpost. Everyone began to fan out and inspect all the strange looking tools laid about the place. After many rooms that seemed to be living quarters were searched they happened upon what looked like a lab. It was a wide open sterile room, untouched by the ravages of time or the brutal environment of this planet. In the center of the room was a single stasis tube. The pirates were overjoyed thinking they had happened upon an actual Forerunner stasis tube, the salvage alone would be worth a small planets fortune. They began to try and open the tube and that is when the whole clan met its end.

The tube cracked open and thousands of years’ worth of gas came out in one whoosh, instantly flooding the chamber. The pirates breathing in the gasses noticed the effects immediately. Their eyes burned, their lungs felt tight, heartbeats racing, and they stumbled about the room before finally dropping to the ground one by one. The last to go down was old Captain Judas, right before he passed out he saw a shape come out of the gas from the stasis tube. It spoke in his mind clear as day all it said was, “You will do nicely.”

The figure that emerged from the gas was an old wizened Forerunner who had up until now been kept alive by the stasis tube. He knew it was only a short while before the ravages of time caught up with even his ancient and powerful body. Moving as fast as possible he carried the now unconscious and almost dead body of the Captain to another room within the outpost, one that was set up much like a surgical theater. He laid the body on the table while adjusting some knobs and levers. Seeing that all was prepared he began transforming Captain Judas. Most of his body was replaced with niode run cybernetics that contained specific fluctuating Lisi energy. When the energies reach and run at the proper wavelengths through the internal niode matrices the body then became capable of magnifying, depleting or simply taking control of any Lisi energy utilizing device. The process was long and would have been excruciating had the Captain not been out cold but he suffered none the less.

His brain and consciousness were  ripped out and stored while his body was being remade, then torn out of the storage field to be slammed once again back into this abomination. His niode enhanced system constantly generating a field to contain his life force and consciousness. Then the Forerunner sensing the end of his life as the Captains conversion was coming to an end summoned all his remain mental energies and projected his consciousness into the same form the Captain inhabited.

The result was a creature we now call the Niodemancer. The mind and soul of old Captain Judas trapped within the cyber niode form with the remains of a Forerunners essence trapped in his subconscious. He looks normal enough covered in synth skin, he will even bleed when cut but he is no longer human or mortal as is commonly understood. He is out there still the monster to the Forerunners Dr. Frankenstein, ancient, ruthless, powerful, and now word has it he is coming back to society. No one knows what brings him out of the shadows of history into this modern era, but it is known he is back. Why is up for speculation…..

Jabber was restless, he had departed from the AFF twice now and this time it looked like it was over for good. He didn’t want to walk away but politics and policies had soured the Affiliation and he wanted out. So he had packed up his mecha traded in his credits for a used but reliable transport cruiser and set off on his own. He was headed for a little known system called Teradorn, to the planet Immolia where he had hoped to find riches and retire like a king. In his travels he had heard whispers and rumors of that planet. Some said it was cursed, others said haunted; one thing they all agreed on it was dangerous.

There were three main dangers to Immolia they were Slag Snavrum, Magma Hounds and Smoke Hawks. Slag Snavrum were a relative of the much more common and well known jungle Snavrum. The main difference here was they lived deep beneath the ground in subterranean caverns which usually connected up to a lava flow from the planets core. These creatures would simply jump into the lava flow and swim in it. When they came out to eat or sleep the lava cooled on their hides turning to a form of slag. This gave them the capacity to take near limitless damage without actually being effected and caused them to grow to almost twice their normal size due to the layers of slag built up on their hides.

If you could get past those you then had to deal with Magma Hounds. In reality these are a close cousin to the Slag Snavrum using much the same principle as their cousins for armor. They are more canine in appearance and actions standing roughly as high as a man’s hip. In small numbers they are no worry, in large groups they are terrifying. There are records stating multiple packs have destroyed entire squads suffering no casualties to the packs, mostly due to the corrosive nature of their armor and bodily secretions being acidic.

Lastly we come to the Smoke Hawks. Avian predators of Immolia They have evolved to actually produce their own jet engines. At the center of each of the wings is a large oval gland that inflates and deflates as the creature fly’s through the air. The oval glad is actually a methane emitter that ignites when the creatures “sweat” combines with the air there is a spark which ignites the methane and allows the creature to fly at near Mach speeds. They are about as large as a Warhorse Mecha and they kill everything they see.

Those three species were really the only real concern on the planet’s surface; otherwise it was just another standard rock hanging in the curtain of night. Jabber figured he had what he needed and set up his small drop pod from his vessel to house his dilo Mecha Jabberwocky. He set the cargo transport for a stationary orbit until he called for it and dropped his ship down to the surface.

His arrival was not unnoticed however and as soon as he landed he was set upon by Smoke Hawks. Five in all blasting through the air, swerving, diving down at him with murder in their eyes and death cries on the wind. Jabber simply set his mecha up in a backward lean and let loose with its Kaos Beams. In a matter of seconds he had reduced five down to two. The remaining two decided they wanted no part of the slaughter and left the scene screaming to the wind and blasting loudly.

He powered down his weapons but left them on standby in case another natural predator should decide he was a good target today. Setting his mechas sensors to search for niode energy spikes he set off across the harsh world of Immolia. Jabber did encounter Slag Snavrum and Magma Hounds in his journey but they were short lived encounters that were easily resolved with a proper show of force. He had been on the planet for about a week now and he had nothing to show for it. He was ready to give up and call for his ship to pick him up when he saw the readings.

Due north about one thousand miles there was a very strong niode signal. Only a handful of things gave off a signal that strong at this distance and all of those things were Forerunner in nature. He marked the coordinates on his H.U.D. and made his way north counting imaginary credits in his head. It was the last anyone ever heard of him. …

Jabber followed the niode signal until he came to a large valley hidden deep in Immolias dense forest and swamp lands. He headed for the center of the clearing where the reading was the strongest, did a few sensor sweeps and geared up to go for a walk. Being sure all was in perfect working order before putting on the environmental suit, and equipping his Thumper MK-2 hand cannon. It was a scaled down personal fire arm version of a full grown mechs Wrecker shot. Jabberwocky’s access hatch slid open and Jabber stepped onto the planet’s surface.

Orienting himself with his hand held niode emanation tracker he followed the signal to an gigantic old weathered tree.

Whatever was making this signal was either in the tree itself or buried beneath it. Either way to Jabber the tree had to go. Aiming the Thumper at what he hoped was just a glancing shot, he squeezed the trigger. The report sounded like thunder in the clearing and when the smoke cleared there was a very large hole in what used to be the front of the tree. A large staircase blanketed in gloom, going down from the base into the ground beneath and beyond became visible. “Success!!” he thought to himself as he made his way slowly down the stairs.

The tracker was going nuts in his hands to the point where it actually burned itself out trying to take in all the readings in the place. Jabber made his way through what appeared to be crew quarters, and perhaps a main meeting or dining area. Forerunner tech lay all around him some of it smashed to pieces, most of it looked like it had been scavenged already all in all this looked like more of a scrap yard than a Forerunner outpost proper. Rummaging through rooms and getting more and more disappointed with each one he was about ready to call it a day when he heard a noise from behind him.

Turning and raising his Thumper in case of Magma Hounds or some other predators Jabber was ready for anything, except what he saw. What stood there was at least seven feet tall, humanoid in general shape, long bronze, gold, and copper coloring in its hair, it had one dull metallic bronze colored eye and the other was bright neon green, Jabber also noted it looked about as solid as a ferricrete wall. Thinking it was some kind of automated defense system left over to guard the base Jabber let loose with his Thumper at point blank range.

About half the ammo cylinder through he stopped shooting figuring it, whatever the hell it was had to be dead. Waving away some of the smoke and expecting to see a large body on the floor, his surprise caught in his throat as more of a muffled..”Wha..” as a massive arm reached out cutting through the smoke to grab his throat. The creature pulled Jabber fully off of the floor to look him in the eye. The neon green eye blazed as it scanned the man, a smile played across the lips of the creature and for the first time since it appeared it spoke.

“Forerunner D.N.A. in you boy that is a bad thing for you, see I have a bit of an issue with them for what they did to good ole Captain Judas,” the creature rasped close in Jabbers ear. Trying to raise his arm to aim, to gather his strength to fight to do anything was impossible Jabber was fading fast being suffocated by this self-proclaimed Captain.  The creature noticed the man struggling in his grip, shook its head slowly saying, “No, boy no good now face your end like a man”, and promptly broke his neck with one swift jerk of his wrist.

Letting the body fall to the floor in a slump the creature started to make its way up the stairs and out into the clearing on the surface. Once out it was met with the sight of a Dilophos mecha in standby mode which issued a challenge as he neared.

“This is Wocky the A.I. personality interface of the Dilophos mecha Jabberwocky, halt your progress towards this mecha or be destroyed.”

The creature looked up at the mecha and his hair started to wave as if in a sudden wind or underwater. The hairs were actually microfiber niobium weave relays. They scanned the area for niode readings and wavelengths, Lisi energy, communications, and also enables him to send signals as well as receive. Sending is exactly what he did, in a matter of moments he had rewritten the Wocky battle A.I. personality and took over the mech. Clambering into the cockpit he had a bit of a tight fit and noted modifications had to be made to make this mecha serviceable to him. Some of which he could do right now. He plugged into the neural interface without any pilot gear, just sat down and integrated right into the mecha. He switched over a few battle programs, programmed in some new coordinates and changed out the Mecha registry.

Jabber and the Jabberwocky were dead, now the Galaxy had to deal with Captain Johnathan Judas pilot of the Dilophos Heretic. Smiling to himself as he called for pick up off the planet’s surface, thousands of years spent in slumber in that god forsaken Forerunner compound, and some bumbling pilot comes along and finally sets him free. Maybe he should have been nicer to the pilot instead of snapping his neck like that, Nah dead is better they can’t warn any one.

Captain Johnathan Judas known as the Niodemancer was four days out from Teradorn Prime from Immolia by way of transport carrier bringing him back to the known worlds. Just because there were gates all over the Galaxy didn’t mean all travel was instantaneous. Some systems such as this one were so far out in the frontier spaces that you simply needed transport to and from your gate planet to get where you are going. This particular trip was going to take four days.

Getting as comfortable as possible in the cockpit of his newly acquired Dilophos, Heretic wasn’t easy. It was roomy to be sure but overall too confining for the Captains seven foot frame. He knew he would face close scrutiny were he to get out of his mecha and join the other passengers, so he just stayed put. He left an automated message saying he had quarantined himself within his mecha due to Immolian flu.  No one would want to risk exposure to such a quick spreading sickness so hopefully they would leave him be for their own sakes.

He leaned back as far as he could and closed his mismatched eyes while casting his mind back through the fog of memory to how it all started. He remembered bringing his crew down to the surface of Immolia looking for Forerunner salvage. He remembered the poisons pouring out of the stasis tube they found killing off all his pirate clan in an instant and leading to him becoming this creature. His living consciousness and what people would call his soul was ripped from his body and stored in a stasis field while in his mind he howled in rage and pain over what was being done to him.

The Forerunner responsible for his Clans death and his being remade into this creature was at the end of its life when it started to remake him, when it finished remaking him it was ready to die. So in one last desperate hope at continuing its own existence the Forerunner cast its mind and memories into the Captain while ripping him from his stasis field to slam him back into this vastly remade and modified form.

Only the Forerunner did not count on the madness that would return with the Captain to be housed in this new form. Upon releasing Judas from the field and returning him to his altered body the ancient Forerunner found itself at war with the Captains mind and soul. A human consciousness and soul are not made to be torn out and thrown back in. Upon returning to his own mental landscape Captain Judas found himself face to face with his captor, killer, and now maker a mental construct of what was once the Forerunner Roah.

The Forerunner tried to explain everything to the Captain. Why he needed him, why this was done, what the end game was to be. Captain Judas was having none of it and in a blind rage he decimated the Forerunner, wiping its coherent consciousness from his mind. The personality of the Forerunner Roah had been destroyed but not the knowledge it contained. Captain Judas had a full working encyclopedia of all things Forerunner in his head now thanks to that  fool  Roah.

He remembered his awakening not that many hours ago by the misguided pilot Jabber who sought the same thing as Judas once did. All he wanted was credits and tech what he got was death. All in all the Captain didn’t feel that badly about it. Besides the pilot shot first, so Judas had just defended himself. As his prize for that killing he took the pilots mecha and signaled this transport. Now he was bound for the Cogwerk Port, a place he knew even in his time. Now it seemed the port served as a loading station, transport hub, and R&D for the rest of the Galaxy. It also served as the hanger area for three other mechas listed as owned by this dead pilot Jabber. The Captain had a mind to acquire them.

The reasons for doing so were simple. The more mechas he had the more area he could cover when he restarted his Clan the Crimson Eclipse. He dreamed of one day raising his Pirate Clan from the pages of history and once again pillaging amongst the stars. Unfortunately these thoughts were interrupted by the pressure seal on his Dilo hissing; meaning someone from outside was trying to get in.

The Captain sighed and waited as the would be thief’s slowly sliced through his encryption and started opening his cockpit. Some people simply can’t leave well enough alone he thought to himself as the canopy fully opened and he saw two youths in security uniforms standing before him.

“The niode readings are off the charts, has to be some smuggled tech in the cockpit oldest trick in the book”, the tallest and oldest looking of the two was telling his partner as it opened up. His eyes widened in shock when suddenly a large form stood up from the mechas driver’s seat.

“Come to steal from the Captain are you boys? Can’t ya read?  The sign said Immolian flu, but no that wouldn’t be enough to dissuade a couple of lads with credits in their eyes I suppose.” Judas said as he rose to his full height.

“Ah well boys can’t be undone now, you saw me you have to die, can’t have no one learning the Captains business afore I’m ready to start can we?” With that he reached out grabbed them both about the neck and shoved as hard as he could away from both the mecha and himself.

Two people went flying and tumbling through the air before they reached the ground with a sickening thud and crack respectively. The sudden deaths caused the security cameras to kick in immediately upon any termination of life from the crew as monitored by the ships A.I. The Captain failed to notice the camera swinging into position and filming the whole episode, from point of impact onwards. He also failed to pick up on the sent encryption packet that was beamed ahead of the ship to the Cogwerk port security station.

Landing and disembarking were going to be a whole new set of complications for Captain Judas, but he was unaware of this and went back to his own thoughts and memories of times gone by. Meanwhile three days out there was a heavy security force assembling ready for him to come back to the known universe.

Cogwerk port security gate check point was rather slow and sleepy in the early hours of the morning when an alarm went off. “All hands to stations priority 1 alert. All hands to stations..”,  The automated alarm system informed everyone. “Alright gents what do we have this morning?” the security chief asked as he walked into the room wiping sleep from his eyes and drinking his morning caffo drink.

“Well come on, someone has got to have some information, and turn off that damned alarm, I can’t hear myself think!” he bellowed as he sat in his chair and flicked on the main monitor.

“Sir receiving now, you are going to want to look at this.” Said a private from behind his screen.

“Put it up on the main let’s have a look.” the Chief answered.

Everyone turned their attention to the huge wall mounted screen which contained audio, video and text files. It out lined that a personal cruiser had been rented by one Jabber formerly of the AFF and his mecha. Only to be reported as missing, yet at the same time a private transport was contracted to do a pick up off of Immolia. When the transport landed they picked up one Dilophos mecha but no record of the pilot. The first transport was still missing and presumed crashed or destroyed. The video was of a hanger area presumably from the bay of the second transport.

It showed two people in security uniforms hack into the canopy to open up the same Dilophos mecha. It also showed what happened to them once they did and how they died  quite suddenly. “Back that up, zoom and freeze!” the Chief said.

The video zoomed in on the large tall figure that flowed out of the Dilo cockpit and grabbed the two security officers. “Freeze it there”. The Chief instructed as he got up to walk around and get a better look at the screen. There wasn’t much that could be made out due to poor lighting conditions in the hanger and the transport didn’t have top of the line equipment so the image was a little grainy. The chief looked up at the wall screen and saw a little detail here and there but nothing he could honestly identify or place. Whatever had grabbed those two security guards was big, that was a given just looking at it rose up from the cockpit. Of detail there was none to be identified for sure. A glint of light here a shadow there, but no real detail aside from a glowing eye could be discerned.

“Alright boys no idea what this is or why it is coming here but I want everyone ready! Scramble the S.W.A.T. mecha unit and have them be on the gate perimeter in sector 5 in fewer than ten minutes. By the calculations of this in flight distress signal we have about an hour to prepare At best.” The chief finished up giving his orders and went back to his desk, where he proceeded to contact the Illyrian Embassy here in the Ports. He sent them the data file with all the information he had received and asked for back up on this one. Knowing that whatever this was it had to be related to the Forerunners and their toys. He wanted to be absolutely certain that when this thing walked through the gate from Teradorn Prime the reception would be more than enough to handle whatever trouble may come with it...(to be continued)

The Cogwerk gate area was filled with security mecha of all types and tonnages waiting for the gate to power up and send through the “suspicious and dangerous mecha” they had all been summoned to deal with. The Illyrian Embassy had sent over its own crack security staff consisting of two Skriag, five Gigus and a Nakshi command mech. The port security consisted mainly of Severs, Ogguns, and Infernos, no matter what the make or model of the mech or who happened to be driving, they all knew the deal.

One mech was about to come through that gate piloted by, well no one really knew. They all saw the security footage from the transport they all had read the report which listed Lisi energy ratings off the charts, and they all knew at least one former major clan family member was dead. None of this was reassuring.

The warning lights on the gate started to strobe on and off signaling the imminent arrival of their visitor. Electric discharge started splashing across the gate surface and eventually formed a curtain which parted to reveal a Dilophos mecha stepping through. It walked forward to get clear of the gate and walked into the half circle lined about the  port of defenders. External speakers were switched on and a voice addressed the assembled security team, “I have no quarrel with you lads, I won this mech by right of combat. I am simply here to claim the other mechas from the hanger once owned by the previous owner of this mech. Step aside let ole Captain Judas get on with his business and no one will be harmed.”

There was no vocal reply to this challenge instead the assembled mecha all powered up and took aim. Then for the first time they all got a real clear indication of what they were dealing with. The Dilophos mech canopy opened and a figure stood up.  This “pilot” was huge at about seven feet tall, with a leaden color to his skin, scars everywhere, bronze, tan, and copper hair, with a bright neon green eye and a dull metallic bronze eye with a slight yellow glow to the pupil.

The person if that is what you could call it scrambled out of the cockpit and climbed down his mecha in a flowing sinuous fashion until he reached the ground. He took about ten steps from his mecha to the assembled force and simply stood there. His hair flowed as if a sudden breeze had kicked up and he closed his eyes while smiling to himself.

In the next instant pure chaos as the Illyrian squads mecha went wild and started tearing into the other mechs around them. The Skriags dispatched the Ogguns with ease, the Infernos fell in a flaming heap to the Gigus and the Nakshi roared and raged against the Severs. It was total chaos, pilots screaming, metal tearing, parts flying in an instant the area was turned into a charnel house.

The lone figure did not see and did not notice coming up from behind the gate platform two Frigis mecha. They walked out, locked on and both hit him at the same time with their pulse weaponry. The flash was blinding as the trademark lightning pulse hit and lit up the figure where he stood. The monstrosity swayed a bit but did not go down. The other mecha pilots however were able to quickly bring their machines under control and soon had those all pointing back at the now charred figure.

He swayed and smoked where he stood then in a voice that was strained from pain he said loudly, “You are fools! Trying to stop me and you know not what I’m even about. The gates, the Forerunners, dear stars above they are not all benign. You have been led astray, they will return to finish what they started the Nakshi are the key!”

He then fell over, chest rising and falling heavily but somehow he was still alive. The Nakshi driver got out of his mecha and carefully inspected the prone form now lying at his feet. He pulled a pocket data corder out did a few scans, read the results, turned white as a sheet and made a priority one communication with his embassy. Within the hour a full containment crew had arrived and secured the creature to get it ready for transport back to the Illyrian science center.

The Nakshi pilot walked over to the Cogwerk port security chief and filled him in.

“Look Chief this is way above your pay grade, just know we will pay for any and all damages to the area and mechas involved. This is our prisoner now and we’re the best able to contain him. So clean up as best you can send us a bill and then do yourself a favor and forget this ever happened.”

The Chief didn’t like it, but he was outranked and at this point severely outgunned. He just nodded, signed the paper work presented to him, and decided after his shift he was going to get good and drunk. The Illyrian squad and containment unit bundled up the unconscious form of Captain Judas and took him away for questioning; they also confiscated his mecha just in case it too had secrets to reveal. Then they were gone as if they were never there headed back through the gate system to the Hegemony Science center. That was the first contact with the Niodemancer the Galaxy had in thousands of years. It would not be the last.













Submitted By Pat Willis #224534

Awakening Nakshi

I had no idea where I was going or what I was going to do, and for the first time in a long while I was okay with that.  Not that long ago I had a bounty hunter on my tail , the upside was I had clan backing and reinforcement. But I moved on and went clanless. Oh I left the AFF on well enough terms, even have an invite to come back if I like. But for now I am independent, well for as long as that lasts anyways. Clans are always a good idea, and going it alone  can be  problematic at best what with pirates and fighting factions all around. Even so there is something to be said for a independent. Mainly most folks never think that one person and his small mech group are going to pull off any kind of win in a confrontation. It takes a special kind of crazy to pull a stunt like that. But it also takes special weapons and mechs to get the job done. Which is why I was out on this desert waste of a planet..

"Jabber senor sweeps indicate strong niode presence roughly 1 mile due west of our current position." Wocky the personality A.I. Interface of my Dilophos mech Jabberwocky decided to inform me as I brought myself out of my thoughts and back into the here and now.  "Unusual spikes in energy and discharge patterns also coming from the same area".

"Any ideas on what it is making all the ruckus girl?" I asked.

"Negative, no data available at this time." Was her reply. Well that settled that. I sent Jabberwocky into a full run towards the indicated coordinates. It didn't take long given the terrain was straight, traction was problematic at times given all the sand everywhere. I didn't even want to think of the bill that would come with getting all the joints and weapon systems free and clear of all the sand.

We arrived at a sand cliff edge. A hard drop down was the only way forward. So I revved up Wockys Ion Drive to maximum, feed the power  slowly into the back, hip, and leg thrusters. After I had all the readings in the green I started a controlled fall. Using my thrusters as literal air brakes in between rocketing towards the bottom of the cliff I managed to control my fall and not  get myself killed. A bumpy but thankfully short time later we reached the bottom. I turned on my exterior lighting and took a look around.

We seemed to be standing at the mouth to a large cave and subterranean tunnel structure. The radar showed the place to be huge but it also showed where the energy was coming from. No missing it dead center of this labyrinth was a steady and strong signal. Mapping the route  on Wockys  multiple slaved Cal-9000s took no time at all and we made our way to the center of this place.

I pulled up short real fast though upon seeing just what was giving those readings. It was huge! It looked like some kind of mutated Skriag. It had a bladed head, hand like appendages ending in huge claws unlike the normal bladed arms of the Skriag. It had what looked like a center fusion cannon unit as well but the readings were coming from the hands instead of the chest. "What the hell are you" I wondered to myself. I wasn't aware I had even spoken until suddenly the comm channel queues in a signal clear as day and I hear. "I am Impact. I am a Nakshi. I have called you here, we will be as one."

Jabberwockys systems went dead across the board right after that. Full on power down. I looked out the canopy and saw this monstrous mech beast coming towards me. The eyes lit up the interior of my Dilophos as it bent down a little to look inside. The light was blinding, noises filled my head, I had no sense of balance even though I was sitting. My head reeled, my mind felt slow and sluggish. I struggled to  at least eject, but just as I almost had my hand on the button I couldn't fight it any more. The world went black and I knew nothing for a time.

"Jabber...", I heard a voice as if from far away, like half hearing a conversation in another room but you can't make out what is being said. Everything was hollow sounding and distorted. I tried to concentrate, my mind felt sluggish, not able to grasp any one thought at a time, or hold one for that matter if I did for more than three seconds.

"Jabber open your eyes," the voice again called to me this time much clearer and much, much deeper. There was a storm in that voice. All tornadoes, and thunder dragged across gravel. The sound alone should have made me fear for my sanity if not my life, but somehow I found it soothing. So I decided may as well try opening my eyes as was suggested.

I instantly regretted that decision. As soon as I opened my eyes everything was too bright. Shapes were off, details were blurred it was all very nausea inducing. "Concentrate now Jabber, seriously concentrate." The voice said to me again. So I opened my eyes again now that I had a bit more of my wits about me. Instantly I realized what was wrong. It was my perspective! I was looking at things from the eye line of a Nakshi.

Memories came flooding back to me. I remembered the sandy waste lands I trekked my Dilophos mecha Jabberwocky through, I remembered the deep cave system we found, and lastly I remembered discovering this beast machine who was currently addressing me..Impact.

"Good your memory is adjusting well, all life signs, stable, integration process complete. Welcome to my mind Jabber."

I was floored the last thing I remembered was passing out in Jabberwoky as this  critter bent down to have a look see into my cockpit after that I blacked out only to awaken here all disoriented.

"Okay from what I remember you are bigger than my Skriag, so how the hell did you open up my mecha to get me in here? Oh hell you blew up my Wocky didn't you?" I had to ask and was a bit afraid of the answer.

"No Jabber be at peace. your machine is well, totally unharmed. I simply powered it down draining its niode energy briefly. Then I gated you out of the pilots chair and into my nervous system." It answered me as if addressing a child. Then before I could even say it the thing answered my next question before I could ask.

"Yes, I am a gate jumper. We Nakshi were designed to be fully mobile battle and command platforms. This means we had to be able to go anywhere in a hurry, so we were designed with the ability to tap into existing gate networks. We can piggy back those networks and even in some cases totally bend them to arrive wherever we like. It takes considerable power to do it but it can be done."

"Why would you be designed with such an ability?," I asked.

"We were made for one purpose only and that was War." It went on to explain,"You mentioned a Skriag earlier  it surprises me you know of them. They were our decedents , they and the Gigus. Glad to see they survived. They were the after effects of the wars we fought. They were the guards against the enemy we pushed back into the unknown places between the stars. But you mentioned it's size was like that of my own. Peculiar, seeing as they and the Gigus were once no bigger than your kind Jabber."

"I can only surmise the Forerunners thought it best to alter them to imitate us. We were made as is, from the start we were living, breathing, thinking machines. The forerunners made us with great care and gave us vast power to fight their war. The enemy was ancient and nameless, they just called it , "Shektalana" meaning the hidden enemy.

They were sentient shadows, they drove machines of smoke and nightmares. They laid waste to thousands of worlds. They would devour entire civilizations in days, erase whole races in hours. They were an abomination to the Forerunners, we were the solution."

"Why do we have the power to gate? Why does it take so much energy to do so? Because transportation is only a by product of the weapon the Forerunners made us. We can absorb entire suns, in doing so we force the life cycle of the sun or star in question forward incredibly. This makes it very, very unstable. Eventually it expands and explodes, or implodes creating massive black holes. ."

"This was our job. Find infected systems and wipe the whole sector clean. Sterilize it of all life, no better way to do that than with a big explosion or a black hole. We are the executioners of billions, we are Nakshi, this is why we exist"

So there I was inside the Nakshi known as Impact getting a history lesson on his creation by the Forerunners. Also as it turned out I would be receiving a history lesson of my own about myself.

"So now you know why I exist and what I was made for but what do you know about yourself Jabber? " The beast machine asked me.

"Not much I have to admit. My early years were spent pirating and gaining a education in illegal activities, I got involved in a few border skirmishes between factions but aside from that I have kept my head down and my nose clean," I answered him.

"No, not what I meant at all. I mean do you know WHERE you come from?" It asked me in a serious tone.

"No can't say as I do." I admitted, "When I scanned you before you came down into my "home" I had thought at first you were a Forerunner. Which is why I said we were to be as one. But then I gated you inside me and realized you are not a full on Forerunner. You are a hybrid most likely descended from the Illyrian Hegemony. They all have Forerunner DNA in them. For some reason the Forerunners found that particular faction to be reliable and pleasing to them. Long story short they mated with them and started a hybrid race of human and Forerunners. We Nakshi perform best when there is a Forerunner at the controls. It has to do with psychic reaction time and synaptic acceleration. But even with a hybrid such as yourself Jabber  the reaction times and integration speed are ten times faster than if a normal pilot were to try and sit  in this cockpit." He explained as if talking to a child.

"So let me get this right? According to you, while rummaging around in my DNA to get this integration going you found Forerunner genetics running around in my body? You say this is because I am actually a member of the Illyrian Hegemony. But if this were the case I would have grown up in that Factions society,but I was raised by pirates." I answered him in an annoyed tone. I knew who the hell I was I lived my own life, I had no idea why the hell this critter was now trying to tell me different.

Turns out this beast machine was anticipating  my reply as well as my reluctance. Before I could argue further he sent a file  through my mind. Turns out seeing as I used to belong to the AFF, they had an entire profile on me including my past, a file the agreed with government and military records for the  Hegemony.

Plain as day in my head this file  told me what he said was true. Right at the top in nice bold letters was a brief blurb that stated ,"D.N.A. on file proves him to be descended from one of the old houses of the Illyrian Hegemony. Historical accounts seem to back up this claim, pointing to a kidnapping that targeted the security chief of the House of Romulus son.  The records get a little confusing from here out but what is known for certain is, the child was abducted, ransom was demanded and delivered but no child was ever returned."

So my pirate clan I knew as family were really my abductors and captors. I really was a member of a prominent, wealthy, and political faction. This critter lured me in because it sensed my DNA was what it needed, and it needed me to know the truth of who I am. But why?

"Alright Impact  I recognize the security codes at the top of the file you showed me, I accept it is not fake. However I don't see what this  information has to do with anything right here and now!"

"Acceptance is the first step in unlocking your true potential and through that, my own." Was his answer.  I tried to get him to elaborate on the subject but all he would say is that when I got to that point we'd both know. I yelled, pleaded, tried to strike a deal something anything to get it to tell me more but nothing I did moved it one inch. Seemed it had made up its mind and nothing I could do would get it to talk.

We sat in silence for  time until Impact finally asked me if I was ready to get the hell out of here. Of course I said yes but  had to wonder how in the stars I was going to get the Nakshi and my Dilophos  Jabberwocky out of this tunnel system. The answer I found out was much simpler than I thought.

Impact did one of his localized gates and stuck me back into the cockpit of Wocky, who powered up to full the instant I fully materialized. Over the comm channel came a transmission from Impact.

"Just give me the co ordinates and I will handle our travel plans from there." He told me. So I gave him the co ordinates and sat back in wonder as the world around me simply disappeared. When everything came back into focus I discovered we were all standing in my own private hanger I had rented out  on the outskirts of Cogwerk space. I smiled to myself and powered down Wocky. All the while watching my newest acquisition the Nakshi known as Impact walk on over to my Skriag and two Gigus to begin downloading information. Things were looking up I thought to myself as I turned to go to my lodging for the night. I got a new beast machine, Wocky is in perfect working order and I didn't even get shot at once. My luck will never hold like this....


















Submitted By Pat Willis #224534