Elite Wiki - User contributions [en]

And Here The Wheel

2014-06-18T08:10:09Z

Jack Hamtilon:

[[File:AndHereTheWheel.jpg|500px|thumb|right|The Official Elite:Dangerous novel by John Harper]]
==Introduction==

'And Here The Wheel' is an official Elite:Dangerous novel published by Fantastic Books Publishing and written by John Harper, a science fiction author from New Zealand.

The novel was born out of a 'writers pack' pledge to the [http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous Elite:Dangerous kickstarter]. The funds required to make this pledge were crowd sourced on [http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/elite-dangerous-novel-and-here-the-wheel/x/1801378?c=home&website_name=EliteDangerous-And-here-the-wheel Indiegogo] Further funding is being sought for the creation of an audiobook version of the novel.

More information can be found on the novel's website at [http://www.andherethewheel.co.nz www.andherethewheel.co.nz]

==Back Page Copy==

Robert Garry, ex-military officer, wants nothing more than to maintain his integrity and his team’s safety despite a career change to pirate leader but a cargo freighter he targets proves to be holding much more than he bargained for.

Will he escape with his own life, let alone the lives of his crew?

He has always shunned the ‘folk hero’ label but is he in danger of becoming an arch villain in the process…

==Characters==

*'''Robert Garry:''' The protagonist of the novel. He is a moderately successful pirate lord with a small fleet of pirate ships. He treats his men like brothers and as his-own and they follow him with blind dedication.

==Podcast==

John Harper is producing a podcast called "Commander's Log" which is available on [https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/here-wheel-official-novel/id623190075?mt=2 itunes] an [http://laveradio.com/feed/CommandersLogMkIII.xml RSS feed] and [http://andherethewheel.co.nz/podcast/ direct download] from his website. In the podcast John Harper explores the worlds of Elite:Dangerous, answers follower questions and discusses his progress with the novel.

==Publication==

And Here The Wheel was published in May 2014 and can be purchased from the [https://www.fantasticbookspublishing.com/store/ Fantastic Books Bookstore] or [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elite-Here-Wheel-Dangerous-ebook/dp/B00KZ0ZNI4/ref=la_B00L0YFYWE_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1403078408&sr=1-1 Amazon].

[[Category:Fiction]]
[[Category:Elite4]]

File:AndHereTheWheel.jpg

2014-06-18T08:09:14Z

Jack Hamtilon: Book Cover for And Here The Wheel by John Harper

Book Cover for And Here The Wheel by John Harper

And Here The Wheel

2014-06-18T08:08:22Z

Jack Hamtilon:

[[File:AndHereTheWheel.png|500px|thumb|right|The Official Elite:Dangerous novel by John Harper]]
==Introduction==

'And Here The Wheel' is an official Elite:Dangerous novel published by Fantastic Books Publishing and written by John Harper, a science fiction author from New Zealand.

The novel was born out of a 'writers pack' pledge to the [http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous Elite:Dangerous kickstarter]. The funds required to make this pledge were crowd sourced on [http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/elite-dangerous-novel-and-here-the-wheel/x/1801378?c=home&website_name=EliteDangerous-And-here-the-wheel Indiegogo] Further funding is being sought for the creation of an audiobook version of the novel.

More information can be found on the novel's website at [http://www.andherethewheel.co.nz www.andherethewheel.co.nz]

==Back Page Copy==

Robert Garry, ex-military officer, wants nothing more than to maintain his integrity and his team’s safety despite a career change to pirate leader but a cargo freighter he targets proves to be holding much more than he bargained for.

Will he escape with his own life, let alone the lives of his crew?

He has always shunned the ‘folk hero’ label but is he in danger of becoming an arch villain in the process…

==Characters==

*'''Robert Garry:''' The protagonist of the novel. He is a moderately successful pirate lord with a small fleet of pirate ships. He treats his men like brothers and as his-own and they follow him with blind dedication.

==Podcast==

John Harper is producing a podcast called "Commander's Log" which is available on [https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/here-wheel-official-novel/id623190075?mt=2 itunes] an [http://laveradio.com/feed/CommandersLogMkIII.xml RSS feed] and [http://andherethewheel.co.nz/podcast/ direct download] from his website. In the podcast John Harper explores the worlds of Elite:Dangerous, answers follower questions and discusses his progress with the novel.

==Publication==

And Here The Wheel was published in May 2014 and can be purchased from the [https://www.fantasticbookspublishing.com/store/ Fantastic Books Bookstore] or [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elite-Here-Wheel-Dangerous-ebook/dp/B00KZ0ZNI4/ref=la_B00L0YFYWE_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1403078408&sr=1-1 Amazon].

[[Category:Fiction]]
[[Category:Elite4]]

And Here The Wheel

2013-03-25T21:02:51Z

Jack Hamtilon:

[[File:AndHereTheWheel.png|500px|thumb|right|The Official Elite:Dangerous novel by John Harper]]
==Introduction==

'And Here The Wheel' is an official Elite:Dangerous novel being released along side Elite:Dangerous, currently under development with [http://www.frontier.co.uk Frontier Developments]. The novel is being written by John Harper, a science fiction author from New Zealand.

The novel was born out of a 'writers pack' pledge to the [http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous Elite:Dangerous kickstarter]. The funds required to make this pledge were crowd sourced on [http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/elite-dangerous-novel-and-here-the-wheel/x/1801378?c=home&website_name=EliteDangerous-And-here-the-wheel Indiegogo] Further funding is being sought for the creation of an audiobook version of the novel.

More information can be found on the novel's website at [http://www.andherethewheel.co.nz www.andherethewheel.co.nz]

==Plot==

The story follows the leader of a pirate clan as he struggles to free himself and his pirates from a plot to start intergalactic war, and in the process confront the horrors of his past.

==Characters==

*'''Robert Garry:''' The protagonist of the novel. He is a moderatly successful pirate lord with a small fleet of pirate ships. He treats his men like brothers and as his-own and they follow him with blind dedication.

==Podcast==

John Harper is producing a podcast called "Commander's Log" which is available on [https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/here-wheel-official-novel/id623190075?mt=2 itunes] an [http://laveradio.com/feed/CommandersLogMkIII.xml RSS feed] and [http://andherethewheel.co.nz/podcast/ direct download] from his website. In the podcast John Harper explores the worlds of Elite:Dangerous, answers follower questions and discusses his progress with the novel.

==Publication==

Publication is set for March 2014 to coincide with the release of the game Elite:Dangerous. Release will be on Amazon in ebook format with hopefully other formats to follow.

[[Category:Fiction]]
[[Category:Elite4]]

And Here The Wheel

2013-03-25T21:01:17Z

Jack Hamtilon:

[[File:AndHereTheWheel.png|500px|thumb|right|The Official Elite:Dangerous novel by John Harper]]
==Introduction==

'And Here The Wheel' is an official Elite:Dangerous novel being released along side Elite:Dangerous, currently under development with [http://www.frontier.co.uk Frontier Developments]. The novel is being written by John Harper, a science fiction author from New Zealand.

The novel was born out of a 'writers pack' pledge to the [http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous Elite:Dangerous kickstarter]. The funds required to make this pledge were crowd sourced on [http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/elite-dangerous-novel-and-here-the-wheel/x/1801378?c=home&website_name=EliteDangerous-And-here-the-wheel Indiegogo] Further funding is being sought for the creation of an audiobook version of the novel.

More information can be found on the novel's website at [http://www.andherethewheel.co.nz www.andherethewheel.co.nz]

==Plot==

The story follows the leader of a pirate clan as he struggles to free himself and his pirates from a plot to start intergalactic war, and in the process confront the horrors of his past.

==Characters==

*'''Robert Garry:''' The protagonist of the novel.

==Podcast==

John Harper is producing a podcast called "Commander's Log" which is available on [https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/here-wheel-official-novel/id623190075?mt=2 itunes] an [http://laveradio.com/feed/CommandersLogMkIII.xml RSS feed] and [http://andherethewheel.co.nz/podcast/ direct download] from his website. In the podcast John Harper explores the worlds of Elite:Dangerous, answers follower questions and discusses his progress with the novel.

==Publication==

Publication is set for March 2014 to coincide with the release of the game Elite:Dangerous. Release will be on Amazon in ebook format with hopefully other formats to follow.

[[Category:Fiction]]
[[Category:Elite4]]

And Here The Wheel

2013-03-25T21:00:23Z

Jack Hamtilon:

[[File:AndHereTheWheel.png|500px|thumb|right|The Official Elite:Dangerous novel by John Harper]]
==Introduction==

'And Here The Wheel' is an official Elite:Dangerous novel being released along side Elite:Dangerous, currently under development with [http://www.frontier.co.uk Frontier Developments]. The novel is being written by John Harper, a science fiction author from New Zealand.

The novel was born out of a 'writers pack' pledge to the [http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous Elite:Dangerous kickstarter]. The funds required to make this pledge were crowd sourced on [http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/elite-dangerous-novel-and-here-the-wheel/x/1801378?c=home&website_name=EliteDangerous-And-here-the-wheel Indiegogo] Further funding is being sought for the creation of an audiobook version of the novel.

More information can be found on the novel's website at [http://www.andherethewheel.co.nz www.andherethewheel.co.nz]

==Plot==

The story follows the leader of a pirate clan as he struggles to free himself and his pirates from a plot to start intergalactic war, and in the process confront the horrors of his past.

==Podcast==

John Harper is producing a podcast called "Commander's Log" which is available on [https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/here-wheel-official-novel/id623190075?mt=2 itunes] an [http://laveradio.com/feed/CommandersLogMkIII.xml RSS feed] and [http://andherethewheel.co.nz/podcast/ direct download] from his website. In the podcast John Harper explores the worlds of Elite:Dangerous, answers follower questions and discusses his progress with the novel.

==Publication==

Publication is set for March 2014 to coincide with the release of the game Elite:Dangerous. Release will be on Amazon in ebook format with hopefully other formats to follow.

[[Category:Fiction]]
[[Category:Elite4]]

File:AndHereTheWheel.png

2013-03-25T20:58:50Z

Jack Hamtilon:

And Here The Wheel

2013-03-25T20:36:44Z

Jack Hamtilon: Created page with " ==Introduction== 'And Here The Wheel' is an official Elite:Dangerous novel being released along side Elite:Dangerous, currently under development with [http://www.frontier.c..."

==Introduction==

'And Here The Wheel' is an official Elite:Dangerous novel being released along side Elite:Dangerous, currently under development with [http://www.frontier.co.uk Frontier Developments]. The novel is being written by John Harper, a science fiction author from New Zealand.

The novel was born out of a 'writers pack' pledge to the [http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous Elite:Dangerous kickstarter]. The funds required to make this pledge were crowd sourced on [http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/elite-dangerous-novel-and-here-the-wheel/x/1801378?c=home&website_name=EliteDangerous-And-here-the-wheel Indiegogo] Further funding is being sought for the creation of an audiobook version of the novel.

More information can be found on the novel's website at [http://www.andherethewheel.co.nz]

==Plot==

The story follows the leader of a pirate clan as he struggles to free himself and his pirates from a plot to start intergalactic war, and in the process confront the horrors of his past.

==Podcast==

John Harper is producing a podcast called "Commander's Log" which is available on [https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/here-wheel-official-novel/id623190075?mt=2 itunes] an [http://laveradio.com/feed/CommandersLogMkIII.xml RSS feed] and [http://andherethewheel.co.nz/podcast/ direct download] from his website. In the podcast John Harper explores the worlds of Elite:Dangerous, answers follower questions and discusses his progress with the novel.

==Publication==

Publication is set for March 2014 to coincide with the release of the game Elite:Dangerous. Release will be on Amazon in ebook format with hopefully other formats to follow.

[[Category:Fiction]]
[[Category:Elite4]]

Elite Wiki:Current events

2012-11-28T01:12:19Z

Jack Hamtilon:

Want to submit news? Please see the [[News Submission Guidelines]] on how to do this.

==Elite:Dangerous Novels==

There are currently four crowd source funding projects to create official/canon Elite novels to be released with the game in March 2014.

The links are:

John Harper: http://www.indiegogo.com/EliteDangerous-And-here-the-wheel?show_todos=true&a=1801378

Drew Wagar: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1245019716/reclamation-an-elite-novella-by-a-fan-for-the-fans?ref=live

'Commander Boz': http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/336512366/the-cost-of-exploration-an-elite-dangerous-world-b?ref=live

Vasileios Kalampakas: http://www.indiegogo.com/elite-dangerous-novel?a=1801378

Stop by, check them out and please (if you can) help us get some real stories into the Elite universe.

[[User:Jack Hamtilon|Jack Hamtilon]]

==Elite:Dangerous (A.K.A Elite IV) on Kickstarter==

Here it is:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous

Its been going for a week and a bit now and is nearly half way to its goal. 37 days and under 700,000 pounds to go. Lets rally around the 'Creator' and get him over the line!

== Oolite Version 1.76 released ==

Oolite v1.76 stable released on Friday 16th December 2011. Download from [http://www.oolite.org Oolite.org].

[[User:Jaz|JazHaz]] 23:23, 17 December 2011 (UTC)

== Oolite Test Version 1.74 released ==

The latest test version was released on Sunday 13th June 2010. Download from [http://www.oolite.org Oolite.org].

[[User:JazHaz|JazHaz]] 15:52, 16 June 2010 (UTC)

== Elite Wiki back up ==

The Elite Wiki came back up today after nearly two weeks offline, due to the server breaking. Now on a replacement server, hopefully we should have no more problems.

[[User:JazHaz|JazHaz]] (on behalf of [[User:Winston|Winston]]) 13:35, 22 April 2010 (BST)

== B.U.F.F.E.T. version 2 released ==

A new version of B.U.F.F.E.T. (Big Universal Frontier First Encounters Trainer) has been released by whertz. It boasts numerous new features, including a ship manipulator, ship replacement editor and much more.

Download the new version from [http://www.spacesimcentral.com/downloads.php?view=detail&df_id=268 here]

[[User:Steve|Steve]] 14:58, 03 April 2010 (BST)

== Robert Holdstock 1948-2009 ==

The sad news has emerged that Robert Holdstock - author of the Elite novella The Dark Wheel - has died in hospital at the age of 61.

Full story [http://robertholdstock.com/ here]

[[User:Steve|Steve]] 22:15, 29 November 2009 (GMT)

== Oolite test v1.73.4 released ==

Oolite version 1.73.4 is now available for Mac, Windows and Linux systems. This is a bug-fix update to v1.73-1.73.3. Download from [http://www.oolite.org oolite.org].

[[User:Ahruman|Ahruman]] 20:35, 24 September 2009

== Elite - 25th Anniversary ==

It's now a quarter of a century since David Braben and Ian Bell changed the face of computer gaming with the release of Elite on the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron.

Frontier Developments have launched a [http://elite.frontier.co.uk/ 25th Anniversary Website] to celebrate.

[[User:Steve|Steve]] 16:25, 21 September 2009 (BST)

== New dev release of Oolite ==

1.72 is now out for Mac OS X, Linux and Windows. You can get your fresh copy of Oolite from [http://www.oolite.org oolite.org] now.

[[User:Winston|Winston]] 15:03, 8 November 2008 (UTC)

== Elite on TV ==

On the 22nd August a programme was broadcast in the UK all about the creation of Elite, including interviews with its two inventors - David Braben and Ian Bell.

If you missed it you can watch it [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=38455283567435786 here]

[[User:Steve|Steve]] 20:57, 2 September 2008 (BST)

== Ulite, version 4 ==

[[Ulite]], the German web based game inspired by Frontier First Encounters is having a major revision on the 5th of May, with version 4 of the game. The game is available in English as well as German. At present, no information on what the update contains. The game can be found at http://www.ulite.de

[[User:Winston|Winston]] 14:01, 24 April 2008 (BST)

== New Oolite test release - 1.71 ==

A new Oolite test release is available for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. There are many updates and bug fixes - see Ahruman's post here: [http://www.aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?t=4487] . You can download a new package for all platforms from [http://oolite-linux.berlios.de|the BerliOS project page], as an exe installer for Windows, a Linux autopackage, or a Mac OSX .dmg (there are also updaters available; see the appropriate forum on the [http://aegidian.org/bb Oolite Bulletin Board] for information for your specific computer)

[[User:Winston|Winston]] 12:00, 23 April 2008 (BST)

== Braben on the Beeb ==

[[Simon Challands]] on [[alt.fan.elite]] spotted an article on the BBC, about the [[David Braben|Breadbin]] on the BBC Micro. It's an interesting read to Braben's opinion on the machine, and computing today. You can read it here - [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7305699.stm]

[[User:Winston|Winston]] 11:09, 31 March 2008 (BST)

== Braben's impression of the UK government's attitude to the games industry ==

On a link from Frontier's website, I noticed that David Braben has strongly criticised the British government's treatment of the UK game industry. In Gamespot, he's quoted as saying, "The government has made it very clear that it doesn't give a damn about the games industry." When asked to expand on his point, Braben told GameSpot that, "As an industry we have largely slipped between the cracks until now as far as government is concerned. Certainly as an industry, we have a low profile within government; there is a lack of appreciation of the size and revenue generated by our industry, and a similar lack of awareness of the issues we face."

You can read the full article here: [http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6183562.html]

[[User:Winston|Winston]] 11:02, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

== Older news ==

You can see older news by viewing the archive pages - see [[:Category:News]]

[[Category:News]]

Elite Wiki:Current events

2012-11-06T07:44:44Z

Jack Hamtilon:

Want to submit news? Please see the [[News Submission Guidelines]] on how to do this.

==Elite:Dangerous (A.K.A Elite IV) on Kickstarter==

No Bull! Its finally going to happen, release 2014. They need 1.25 million pounds in 60 days to make it happen. If you do 20 pounds you get a free copy of the game when it is released. If you donate more you get some pretty cool in game stuff.

I'd post a link but I found out through facebook and don't really have it on me.

Yes, I know I haven't really followed the news guidelines, but for crying out loud, its elite IV!!!!

ps, Dylan what the hell happened to your bbs?

== Oolite Version 1.76 released ==

Oolite v1.76 stable released on Friday 16th December 2011. Download from [http://www.oolite.org Oolite.org].

[[User:Jaz|JazHaz]] 23:23, 17 December 2011 (UTC)

== Oolite Test Version 1.74 released ==

The latest test version was released on Sunday 13th June 2010. Download from [http://www.oolite.org Oolite.org].

[[User:JazHaz|JazHaz]] 15:52, 16 June 2010 (UTC)

== Elite Wiki back up ==

The Elite Wiki came back up today after nearly two weeks offline, due to the server breaking. Now on a replacement server, hopefully we should have no more problems.

[[User:JazHaz|JazHaz]] (on behalf of [[User:Winston|Winston]]) 13:35, 22 April 2010 (BST)

== B.U.F.F.E.T. version 2 released ==

A new version of B.U.F.F.E.T. (Big Universal Frontier First Encounters Trainer) has been released by whertz. It boasts numerous new features, including a ship manipulator, ship replacement editor and much more.

Download the new version from [http://www.spacesimcentral.com/downloads.php?view=detail&df_id=268 here]

[[User:Steve|Steve]] 14:58, 03 April 2010 (BST)

== Robert Holdstock 1948-2009 ==

The sad news has emerged that Robert Holdstock - author of the Elite novella The Dark Wheel - has died in hospital at the age of 61.

Full story [http://robertholdstock.com/ here]

[[User:Steve|Steve]] 22:15, 29 November 2009 (GMT)

== Oolite test v1.73.4 released ==

Oolite version 1.73.4 is now available for Mac, Windows and Linux systems. This is a bug-fix update to v1.73-1.73.3. Download from [http://www.oolite.org oolite.org].

[[User:Ahruman|Ahruman]] 20:35, 24 September 2009

== Elite - 25th Anniversary ==

It's now a quarter of a century since David Braben and Ian Bell changed the face of computer gaming with the release of Elite on the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron.

Frontier Developments have launched a [http://elite.frontier.co.uk/ 25th Anniversary Website] to celebrate.

[[User:Steve|Steve]] 16:25, 21 September 2009 (BST)

== New dev release of Oolite ==

1.72 is now out for Mac OS X, Linux and Windows. You can get your fresh copy of Oolite from [http://www.oolite.org oolite.org] now.

[[User:Winston|Winston]] 15:03, 8 November 2008 (UTC)

== Elite on TV ==

On the 22nd August a programme was broadcast in the UK all about the creation of Elite, including interviews with its two inventors - David Braben and Ian Bell.

If you missed it you can watch it [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=38455283567435786 here]

[[User:Steve|Steve]] 20:57, 2 September 2008 (BST)

== Ulite, version 4 ==

[[Ulite]], the German web based game inspired by Frontier First Encounters is having a major revision on the 5th of May, with version 4 of the game. The game is available in English as well as German. At present, no information on what the update contains. The game can be found at http://www.ulite.de

[[User:Winston|Winston]] 14:01, 24 April 2008 (BST)

== New Oolite test release - 1.71 ==

A new Oolite test release is available for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. There are many updates and bug fixes - see Ahruman's post here: [http://www.aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?t=4487] . You can download a new package for all platforms from [http://oolite-linux.berlios.de|the BerliOS project page], as an exe installer for Windows, a Linux autopackage, or a Mac OSX .dmg (there are also updaters available; see the appropriate forum on the [http://aegidian.org/bb Oolite Bulletin Board] for information for your specific computer)

[[User:Winston|Winston]] 12:00, 23 April 2008 (BST)

== Braben on the Beeb ==

[[Simon Challands]] on [[alt.fan.elite]] spotted an article on the BBC, about the [[David Braben|Breadbin]] on the BBC Micro. It's an interesting read to Braben's opinion on the machine, and computing today. You can read it here - [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7305699.stm]

[[User:Winston|Winston]] 11:09, 31 March 2008 (BST)

== Braben's impression of the UK government's attitude to the games industry ==

On a link from Frontier's website, I noticed that David Braben has strongly criticised the British government's treatment of the UK game industry. In Gamespot, he's quoted as saying, "The government has made it very clear that it doesn't give a damn about the games industry." When asked to expand on his point, Braben told GameSpot that, "As an industry we have largely slipped between the cracks until now as far as government is concerned. Certainly as an industry, we have a low profile within government; there is a lack of appreciation of the size and revenue generated by our industry, and a similar lack of awareness of the issues we face."

You can read the full article here: [http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6183562.html]

[[User:Winston|Winston]] 11:02, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

== Older news ==

You can see older news by viewing the archive pages - see [[:Category:News]]

[[Category:News]]

The Huge Plasma Accelerator 3

2011-08-15T08:49:00Z

Jack Hamtilon:

{{Infobox Book| title = The Huge Plasma Accelerator III
| name = The Huge Plasma Accelerator III
| sub_title = Tides of War
| image = [[image:LRC.gif]]
| image_caption = The Azure Sunset over Capitol
| author = Elite Fans
| country = UK/AUS/NZ/OTHER
| language = English
| series = [[The HPA Saga]]
| genre = Science Fiction
| publisher = [http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro]
| release_date = 2007-
| media_type = Electronic
| pages = ??
| preceded_by = [[The Huge Plasma Accelerator|The Huge Plasma Accelerator 2]]
| followed_by = -
}}

'''''Reality''''' flooded back; he wasn’t going to get revenge. Not against them. Not if half the rumours he had heard in spacer bars were true. There was no hope in hell for him. They had unlimited resources, and he was just one man.

"I’m going to cut to the chase," said Frantic. "Our organisation wants to take INRA out."

-Book 1, The HPA3 Saga

== Description ==

After escaping from the battle of rocky fields, the battered '''Azure Sunset''' must find refuge and repairs, while her fragmented crew must come to terms with what they lost, and what lays ahead.

Elsewhere in the galaxy, Mack Winston is on a collision course with his past.

==Story Summary (SPOILERS)==

===Opening===

The '''Azure Sunset''' has limped to a drydock run by Frantic's secret organisation. Frantic indicates he wants to destroy INRA once and for all. But to do that, he needs an operational HPA.

de Havilland, Veruz and Emu set off for civilised space to find replacement parts, while Norman and Sam go looking for a replacement ship, as damage to the '''Sunset''' from its last battle was terminal.

===The Next Move===

The crew splits up, each with specific tasks:

[[Norman Mosser]] and Sam Kemper head for the New Rossyth Shipyards to bid for the decommisioned '''AJN Ajax''' and '''Repulse''' which are on sale. On the way, they have to make a few stops to cement their fake ID's.

de Havilland and Veruz take Emu back to her home in Beta Hydri before heading back to the now infamous Williamson Base for new parts for the damaged Huge Plasma Accelerator.

The rest of Norman's crew stay behind to repair the ship, but are they with friend or foe?

===Breakdown===

Everyones particular missions start well but everything quickly unravels:

*Stenson sees through Norman's wild scheme and their showdown on the bridge of the Repulse results in at least one death. . .

*de Havilland becomes one of the criminals he so loathes, and loses the respect and support of his pilot, Michael Veruz

*Lucky, Jon Anders and Roj Wafturn find themselves trapped on the Sunset, with Frantic's forces closing in for a fight to the death.

*Sam begins to remember things about his past, the missing year of his life.

==Major Characters==

*Sam Kemper
Norman Mosser's right hand man. The two have been friends for many years and Sam has diligently followed Norman everywhere. After the failure at Fort Donalds(See the [[HPA1]]), Mosser began to doubt himself. Knowing that Mosser required a jump start, he jettisoned Norman in an escape capsule.

Sam was captured by Alliance Intelligence and interrogated for several months before escaping and meeting up with Mosser.

After the death of Annalise Berihn, Sam became withdrawn.

*Benzedrine Moore (DECEASED)
An Engineer and mechanic, Moore suffers from slight space madness and alcoholism. His brain is slowly deteriorating.

He was imprisoned on the '''Sunset''' by Kim Stenson. He was killed in the battle of rocky fields when the section the ship he was in was destroyed.

*Annalise Berihn (DECEASED)
A weapon loving lady, Annalise was from Diso and worked with her aunty Jannah on the Long Haul Outpost. Tall, seductive and dangerous, she has the complete package. She was killed by Kim Stenson during his flight from Norman Mosser.

*Roj Warfturn
This man is worth 250,000C to the Imperials. He survived the battle of rocky fields in good shape. He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

Wafturn runs engineering on the '''Sunset'''.

*John Anders
He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found. Anders was an electrician by trade before joining Mosser's crew. He is the most stable of the crew.

*'Lucky' Wal
He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

Lucky mans the astrogation and sensor stations on the '''Sunset'''.

*Frantic
Less a member of Mosser's team than an equal that often works with him. Mosser's and Frantic's friendship goes back many years. Each has their own secrets, but they often have common goals and work together.

Frantic takes command of the '''Sunset''' once it arrives in his drydock. He has schemes for the HPA and needs the help of Mosser and his crew.

*de Havilland
Discovered who the mysterious enemy were. To defeat [[INRA]], he has to go back to inhabited space to source replacement parts for the damaged HPA

With Maegil's death, he finds himself drawing closer to Emu, though something inside holds him back, knowing it is wrong.

*Michael Veruz
Is reassesing his career options as his eyes are opened to a new life of running from the law.

*Cmdr Maegil
Flew his ship, the Tenchu in the battle of rocky fields. Lead the Spartacus Brotherhood from near defeat to victory over the Imperials before his ship was destroyed

*Emu
Watches her boyfriend die in the battle of rocky fields. Heartbroken and lonely, she find solace in de Havilland, but she still grieves for her lost man.

*Kim Stenson
After his ambush goes horribly wrong on the '''Sunset''', he decides to escape. This too goes wrong. He loses consciousness as his ship goes out of control. He wakes up a prisoner in some unknown place.

== Links ==

[http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro] has Chapters 1-4 of the unfolding HPA3 drama in pdf and epub formats. Keep checking back for the latest instalments...

[[Category:Fiction]]

The Huge Plasma Accelerator 3

2011-08-15T08:47:43Z

Jack Hamtilon:

{{Infobox Book| title = The Huge Plasma Accelerator III
| name = The Huge Plasma Accelerator III
| sub_title = Tides of War
| image = [[image:LRC.gif]]
| image_caption = The Azure Sunset over Capitol
| author = Elite Fans
| country = UK/AUS/NZ/OTHER
| language = English
| series = [[The HPA Saga]]
| genre = Science Fiction
| publisher = [http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro]
| release_date = 2007-
| media_type = Electronic
| pages = ??
| preceded_by = [[The Huge Plasma Accelerator|The Huge Plasma Accelerator 2]]
| followed_by = -
}}

'''''Reality''''' flooded back; he wasn’t going to get revenge. Not against them. Not if half the rumours he had heard in spacer bars were true. There was no hope in hell for him. They had unlimited resources, and he was just one man.

"I’m going to cut to the chase," said Frantic. "Our organisation wants to take INRA out."

-Book 1, The HPA3 Saga

== Description ==

After escaping from the battle of rocky fields, the battered '''Azure Sunset''' must find refuge and repairs, while her fragmented crew must come to terms with what they lost, and what lays ahead.

Elsewhere in the galaxy, Mack Winston is on a collision course with his past.

== Episodes ==

Click [[HPA3 Episodes|here]] for the latest HPA3 episodes, or check the [[#Links|links]] below

==Story Summary (SPOILERS)==

===Opening===

The '''Azure Sunset''' has limped to a drydock run by Frantic's secret organisation. Frantic indicates he wants to destroy INRA once and for all. But to do that, he needs an operational HPA.

de Havilland, Veruz and Emu set off for civilised space to find replacement parts, while Norman and Sam go looking for a replacement ship, as damage to the '''Sunset''' from its last battle was terminal.

===The Next Move===

The crew splits up, each with specific tasks:

[[Norman Mosser]] and Sam Kemper head for the New Rossyth Shipyards to bid for the decommisioned '''AJN Ajax''' and '''Repulse''' which are on sale. On the way, they have to make a few stops to cement their fake ID's.

de Havilland and Veruz take Emu back to her home in Beta Hydri before heading back to the now infamous Williamson Base for new parts for the damaged Huge Plasma Accelerator.

The rest of Norman's crew stay behind to repair the ship, but are they with friend or foe?

===Breakdown===

Everyones particular missions start well but everything quickly unravels:

*Stenson sees through Norman's wild scheme and their showdown on the bridge of the Repulse results in at least one death. . .

*de Havilland becomes one of the criminals he so loathes, and loses the respect and support of his pilot, Michael Veruz

*Lucky, Jon Anders and Roj Wafturn find themselves trapped on the Sunset, with Frantic's forces closing in for a fight to the death.

*Sam begins to remember things about his past, the missing year of his life.

==Major Characters==

*Sam Kemper
Norman Mosser's right hand man. The two have been friends for many years and Sam has diligently followed Norman everywhere. After the failure at Fort Donalds(See the [[HPA1]]), Mosser began to doubt himself. Knowing that Mosser required a jump start, he jettisoned Norman in an escape capsule.

Sam was captured by Alliance Intelligence and interrogated for several months before escaping and meeting up with Mosser.

After the death of Annalise Berihn, Sam became withdrawn.

*Benzedrine Moore (DECEASED)
An Engineer and mechanic, Moore suffers from slight space madness and alcoholism. His brain is slowly deteriorating.

He was imprisoned on the '''Sunset''' by Kim Stenson. He was killed in the battle of rocky fields when the section the ship he was in was destroyed.

*Annalise Berihn (DECEASED)
A weapon loving lady, Annalise was from Diso and worked with her aunty Jannah on the Long Haul Outpost. Tall, seductive and dangerous, she has the complete package. She was killed by Kim Stenson during his flight from Norman Mosser.

*Roj Warfturn
This man is worth 250,000C to the Imperials. He survived the battle of rocky fields in good shape. He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

Wafturn runs engineering on the '''Sunset'''.

*John Anders
He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found. Anders was an electrician by trade before joining Mosser's crew. He is the most stable of the crew.

*'Lucky' Wal
He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

Lucky mans the astrogation and sensor stations on the '''Sunset'''.

*Frantic
Less a member of Mosser's team than an equal that often works with him. Mosser's and Frantic's friendship goes back many years. Each has their own secrets, but they often have common goals and work together.

Frantic takes command of the '''Sunset''' once it arrives in his drydock. He has schemes for the HPA and needs the help of Mosser and his crew.

*de Havilland
Discovered who the mysterious enemy were. To defeat [[INRA]], he has to go back to inhabited space to source replacement parts for the damaged HPA

With Maegil's death, he finds himself drawing closer to Emu, though something inside holds him back, knowing it is wrong.

*Michael Veruz
Is reassesing his career options as his eyes are opened to a new life of running from the law.

*Cmdr Maegil
Flew his ship, the Tenchu in the battle of rocky fields. Lead the Spartacus Brotherhood from near defeat to victory over the Imperials before his ship was destroyed

*Emu
Watches her boyfriend die in the battle of rocky fields. Heartbroken and lonely, she find solace in de Havilland, but she still grieves for her lost man.

*Kim Stenson
After his ambush goes horribly wrong on the '''Sunset''', he decides to escape. This too goes wrong. He loses consciousness as his ship goes out of control. He wakes up a prisoner in some unknown place.

== Links ==

[http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro] has Chapters 1-4 of the unfolding HPA3 drama in pdf and epub formats. Keep checking back for the latest instalments...

[[Category:Fiction]]

HPA3 Auction Day Pt 2

2008-08-24T22:07:39Z

Jack Hamtilon:

== Summary ==

Norman attempts to leave the Alioth System with the _Repulse_ but has he finally underestimated his enemies?

Click [[HPA3 Episodes|here]] to return to the episodes

----

== Story ==

The fake moustache flopped to the ground, the noise amplified in the deathly silent room. No one moved, frozen still by the sight.

Kim jumped to his feet. “It’s Mosser!”

The spell broke. The crowd erupted in screams of terror as they scrambled away from Sam. Everyone had heard of Mosser’s reputation as a cold blooded pirate. Sara waved and gestured, yelling for calm, while the auctioneer dived behind his dais.

The INRA men were already moving, hands reaching into their jackets.

Norman held his ground against the wave of terrified people, focused entirely on Stenson, tracking his movements.

Sam finally reacted. He didn’t run, he didn’t tense, he simply clapped his hands together.

The back wall of the room exploded. Flames gouged out wall bonding and spread through the room like tongues of death.

Norman hit the deck. Wall fragments blasted through the room. The INRA men disappeared beneath a pair of fireballs.

Then the lights went out.

Norman jumped to his feet. His neural lace gave him superior night vision, but he didn’t need it. He had already memorised the distance and obstacles. He leapt onto the nearest seat, hurdled the next, turned right, took a step and dived.

He collided with a body. They crashed to the ground. Hands grabbed for Norman’s face. Footfalls rang through the floor, their bass thud accentuated by the mortal screams surrounding him.

Norman found Stenson’s face. Before he could retaliate, Norman rammed his fist into Stenson’s jaw then reeled backward. He raced down the aisle and dove over the seats, collapsing into a heap.

Dull red lights ignited, illuminating the room. Norman stayed down, hands over his head. He could taste the plaster, caking his mouth and clogging his nostrils. His right fist throbbed. Stenson had one solid jaw.

“No body move!” yelled a deep voice. Not Stenson.

Norman, spitting plaster, rolled over and edged himself to a sitting position.

A gun muzzle jabbed into his face. “I said don’t move!”

Norman reeled back, more surprised than hurt, and blinked to get his eyes back in focus. One of the INRA stooges stood over him. His hair and face were singed, but he still looked ready to fight. Norman forced a quiver into his lips and started shaking and murmuring quietly to himself.

The stooge withdrew the weapon, seemingly satisfied Norman’s act of cowardice posed no threat. He ran his pistol over the remaining scared people.

Norman pulled himself upright and cracked his neck and shoulders. The room was a total mess. The rear wall was missing, as well as sections of the roof.

Sam was gone.

Norman’s stomach almost flipped. It had worked, even better than he had hoped. Sam still had to escape the station though, so they weren't out of the woods yet. He just had to stay quiet and everything would fall into place.

Stenson knelt by Sara's side, shaking her and calling her name. He yelled out to the INRA men, asking for help.

Norman had to hand it to Stenson. Even if he was working with the arrogant and self serving group INRA, his policeman instincts still held sway. Protect and Serve: Stenson had principles. Perhaps the two of them had more in common than first thought.

The door, hanging by a thread to its hinges, burst inward, crashing to the ground as paramedics rushed through. They scanned the room without stopping and picked out a pair of bidders close to the destroyed rear wall.

Sara coughed, startling Stenson, but he recovered and pulled her up to her feet. Stenson gave her what had to be a rare smile and moved onto the next person. The INRA stooges were animatedly discussing something in the corner.

Norman sat back down on his chair. He felt like someone had pulled the plug out of his toes and all his energy had drained away leaving a dry shell. Absently, he reached for his coffee cup but it shattered shards no longer held any drink. Sighing, Norman stretched back and waited for his with the paramedics.

*

Stenson swore as he slammed the door to the backstage area. Norman frowned and turned back to Sara. Her hair was a mess and dried blood graced her scalp, but her internal fire, visible through her eyes, was as bright as ever. “You were saying?”

“He managed to escape,” Stenson interrupted. Steam erupted from his ears. His face looked like a bright red balloon.

Norman let the man vent. He knew Stenson's anger was focused internally, for letting his arch enemy escape again. _You’re standing right next to me and you can’t even recognise me,_ thought Norman.

Sara gave her stock standard business smile: slight curvature, the top row of teeth visible, but no real warmth. “He didn’t get escape in the _Repulse_ however. And none of the invitees were seriously hurt," she added, almost as an afterthought. She waved the auctioneer over from the corner stall where he and his colleagues were working through the transaction they had just completed with Mr Costello, the Aegean representative.

Norman idly examined the room while the auctioneer loped over. Housed at the far end of the bidding room, there was little damage to indicate there had been an explosion next door. Sam had calculated his explosive requirements perfectly.

Sara cleared her throat in what was becoming an annoying routine. “Mr Dover, you were the next highest bidder for the _Repulse_ with a bid of five point nine billion. Are you interested in completing the purchase at this price?”

Stenson's jaw dropped. He slammed it shut and charged forward. "You can't be serious," he said. "Mosser clearly rigged this auction. The results can't be trusted. You'll have to start again."

The auctioneer straightened upright and looked like he was about to slap Stenson, but decided against it at the last second. "No one rigs P&O auctions; our processes are pure. This Mr Mosser character bidded like everyone else and followed the auction rules." He stamped his feet together. "This auction is valid, sir."

Sara signalled the auctioneer back to his seat then said in her schoolmasterly tone, "Mr Stenson, NRS invested a lot of money in this auction. My job is to ensure that this sale occurs, and that it occurs as quickly as possible. If Mr Dover wants the _Repulse_, it's his.”

Stenson threw up his hands with a curse and stomped to the far side of the room.

A warm glow spread through Norman’s chest. The Alliance had just offered his the perfect platform for the HPA on a silver platter. They wanted him to have it. He wanted to savour this moment. He had learned a lot about planning and manipulation over the years, but this had to be one his crowing achievements. But he couldn't gloat; that wouldn't befit his character. Instead, he smiled. "Yes, please, I will buy the _Repulse_ at my bid.”

Sara stood up and extended her hand. “Then we have a deal. Congratulations Mr Dover.”

Norman shook her hand, standing to match her. She nodded to the auctioneer and they swapped seats.

Norman glanced at Stenson as the auctioneer organised his datapad. Stenson was stroking his jaw, patchy purple from Norman's sucker punch. His eyes bored into Norman, as if he could feel the fist imprint on his face and tie it back to him.

Norman resisted a shiver. He put the paranoia down to the high stakes of the game. Stenson wasn't that amazing. Talented perhaps, but not superhuman.

The auctioneers bald head was caked with blood, but he gripped his datapad with steady hands.
“I just need to go through the payment options with you, if you please Mr Dover. It'll only take a moment."

Norman nodded. The sooner they were done, the sooner he could get out of Stenson's sight. “Please.”

The paperwork was drawn out in triplicate. With a final thumb print, Norman handed over nearly six billion dollars. His hand tingled with the thumb scan, senses heightened by the precariousness of his position. If Stenson were to suddenly figure everything out. . .

The detective was still studying him inquisitively. The two INRA stooges barged through the door and whispered to Stenson. He nodded and left the room with them.

Norman breathed a sigh of relief. With Stenson off his back the tension drained from his face. He felt free again.

The auctioneer grunted in approval at his PAD. Sara leaned forward. “Everything complete?”

"Both transactions have been concluded. The money is now in the designated account and the title deed has been transferred to Mr Dover’s records."

"Fantastic. NRS thanks you for a job well done."

The auctioneer bobbed his head, like a well trained dog receiving a treat. As he moved away to pack up the rest of his equipment, Sara stood up. "Would you like to take a walk, Mr Dover?"

Norman's heart skipped a beat as his instinctive mistrust kicked in. What this an innocent request or had Sara managed to see through him? He would have to play this carefully. He stood and offered her the crook of his elbow. "I would be delighted."

Sara glanced at the arm, as if it were a bug attempting to crawl onto her boot. "A business conversation if you please, Mr Dover."

Norman didn't have to fake the disappointment on his face. ‘Business’ could only mean one of two things. And one of them was bad. He gingerly fell into step with her as they left the back room. The auction room was charred black. Smoke lingered in the air. Emergency services worked to clear the wreckage. The doorway had been cordoned off. Forensics were already analysing the bomb fragments.

_Good luck,_ Norman thought. _You're going to need it._

“Have you put any thought into your next steps Mr Dover?” Sara asked as they cleared the ring of bystanders inspecting the damage.

Norman chuckled inside. Yes, as a matter of fact, he had thought about it. He tried to feign embarrassment. “Honestly no. My focus recently has just been on acquiring the ship. Now that I have it, I need to get it back home somehow, don’t I?”

“Indeed. Additionally, as the owner of the ship, you’ll be paying for the berthing fees.”

Norman gulped. He shuddered to think what that cost would be. “That won’t be cheap, will it?”

Sara snorted. “No. That’s half the reason we needed to get rid of them.”

There was less foot traffic than usual through the station. Perhaps people wee staying at home, still shaken by the ‘Norman Mosser appearance’. Thinking back, he hadn’t made nearly enough appearances in Alliance space.

“I’m sure you’re aware of the required crew compliment for a Long Range Cruiser?” Sara said.

Norman nodded. Although the advanced automation systems of the _Azure Sunset_ allowed her to operate on one to two people, a regular LRC didn’t have the same luxury. “A few shy of three hundred?”

“Two hundred and eighty six,” Sara said, nodding. Her schoolmaster tone was back. “Do you know where you are going to find that many people?”

Norman shrugged. “We have some volunteers back at headquarters, but I may need to find some. . . local talent.”

Sara shucked her hair. “I thought you might. I’ve already started preparing a list of possibilities for you. Just part of the service.” She gave her business smile again, but this time, Norman felt she meant it.

They stopped outside the local NRS offices. Sara leant on the door. “Why don’t you go get some food and come past in a few hours? I should have something to show you by then.”

“Sounds perfect.” Mosser paused. “Although I would like to have another look on board the _Repulse_ if that’s ok.” The last words sounded meek in his throat, like a submissive child asking a parent to play with a toy. His heart thrashed in his chest as he waited for the reply however. Everything depended on Sara’s reply. He stared at her mouth, transfixed, silently pleading.

The seconds passed, torturing Norman’s heart.

Sara reached for her Pad. “Of course Mr Dover. You now own the ship, after all. I’ll upload the access codes and command prompts to your PAD now and you’ll have full access.”

Norman wanted to sag forward in relief but held himself rigid, instead simply nodding as if her decision were inconsequential.

Sara tapped her PAD. Norman’s beeped in response: data received. “Have fun,” said Sara. “I’ll see you soon.”

Norman couldn’t hide his grin. “You bet.”

*

As soon as the NRS supplied shuttle left the space station, Norman jumped into action. He activated his wrist chrono's countdown. Ten minutes. He deactivated the shuttle's autopilot and manoeuvred the ship to head for the _Repulse’s_ bow. Once aligned, he pushed the engines to their maximum. Satisfied with the course correction, he leant down and untied his right shoe. He removed the sole and bumped out a single button dongle. He retied the shoe and checked his chrono.

Nine minutes.

He pressed the button on the dongle.

Nothing happened. Eight minutes thirty.

The back of the _Repulse_ brightened until engine wash illuminated the rear half of the ship. Ever so slowly, the _Repulse_ edged forward, drifting away from the station.

Eight minutes.

The _Repulse_ began to move across the shuttle's viewport.

The radio waves ignited in panicked cries as hundreds of people reacted to the _Repulse's_ sudden activation.

As pilots scrambled out of the way, polluting the airwaves with curses, a strong voice broke through the noise. “NRS Shuttle NR-70, change course immediately. Your course will intersect with the rogue LRC in seven minutes.”

“Six minutes and thirty seconds,” Norman said to himself. He didn’t reply. There were enough voices out there to swallow his whole anyway.

“Shuttle NR-70, do you copy? Change your course immediately. You are on a collision course with the rogue LRC.”

Norman kept quiet, attention shifting between the view screen and his chrono. Six minutes. Space had collapsed into pandemonium as ships flittered back and forth, barred entry to the station so traffic control tried to gain control of the situation.

The airwaves went silent. Not only traffic control, but all the other ships too. The whole area had been blanketed under the station's jammer. Or just his ship had been targeted.

Norman grumbled. Either way, it meant that traffic control were so suspicious that higher powers had been called in to control the situation. He had no doubt his shuttle was high on their priority list either.

Five minutes. Time to turn the shuttle around for the deceleration burn.

The station's main door opened. Two Viper Police ships raced out. Their engine was twisted into an arc as the ships altered course to bear down on his shuttle.

Norman swallowed the lump in his throat. Dread picked its way up his spine, clouding his vision. The police had responded far quicker than he had anticipated. Neither the Empire of the Federation could have responded so fast. No wonder the Alliance had won its freedom.

He was out of options. If he turned around now to decelerate, the Vipers would catch him up and turn him into stellar dust.

The _Repulse_ lumbered forward, building up speed as its military engines pushed the million tonne ship forward.

Four minutes thirty.

If he didn’t turn around now, he would smash against the side of the _Repulse_ and be turned into stellar dust.

Killed by a cop, or killed by his own ignorance of physics. Neither option appealed. But he had to choose one. He spun the ship about. He kept the engines maxed out.

Four minutes.

The Vipers screamed closer. The _Repulse_ filled the rear view. The locked docking bay door sat to the left, ridiculously small and blending in against the surrounding cliff of steel.

Time to open the doors. Norman linked his PAD with the ships antennae and broadcast the lock code to the _Repulse_. The bay door slowly retracted. Artificial light glowed from inside.

Norman clenched his jaw as he handled the controls. It would have been easier to pick out a solitary pixel on a high resolution datapad. Sweat dripping from his face, he corrected his trajectory by over compensating, aiming for the _other_ side of the bay doors.

Three minutes.

The shuttle's rear fins dragged around in an arc, as if pushing through treacle, but as the ship slowed, the speed vector evened out and the turn accelerated.

Two minutes thirty.

The Viper's were almost in range. The shuttle came in line with the edge of the docking bay doors. Norman tweaked the controls and with the final dregs of sideways momentum, the shuttle lined up perfectly with the open doors.

Now he just had to turn the shuttle around and decelerate from his currently suicidal speed. But he would cross that bridge when he got to it.

Two minutes.

His time ran out. The Vipers fired, twin beams of coherent light lashing out across space like talons seeking their prey.

Norman jerked the controls instinctively as if struck by lightning. The shots went wide, but the Vipers were still at maximum firing range.

Every second that passed would improve their aim. And he couldn't manoeuvre. No matter how good a pilot he was, he still had to obey physics. He couldn't fly through the narrow bay doors while flying at random angles and going backwards.

The laser beams scythed closer, pulsing with amplified heat.

Norman exhaled a deep breath. The equation was simple: He wasn't going to make it.

So he changed the equation. He spun the shuttle back around. He killed the main engine and fired up the retros. They had even less acceleration, but at least now he could manoeuvre with a hint of survivability.

One minute thirty.

The _Repulse_ filled his entire forward view. Its size was monstrous. His insignificance next to LCR's still got to him, despite his familiarity. The bay doors were still open, the artificial light inviting him in, tantalisingly close.

The ship bucked. Norman held on for dear life as the shuttle dipped and twisted from the blast.

His luck had run out. He twisted the ship around, bringing an aerofoil out of the laser beams path. He throttled the controls, mirroring the violence outside as the shuttle danced between red blades of death.

One minute.

The bay doors drifted to the right as the shuttle's manoeuvres became more desperate. Norman tried to correct, bringing the shuttle around sharply, as a laser burst flashed past the cockpit window.

The shuttle groaned at the close shave. The rough treatment and high gee's were taking their toll on its fragile frame. Norman urged it to hold together a while longer. He ripped the controls back around to line up with the bay doors, but his sideways momentum continued to thwart him, pushing him out of alignment.

Norman cursed. It was like chasing his own tail. A monstrous thump rang through the shuttle body as it lurched downward. The lights dimmed; klaxons blared. Acrid smoke filled the cockpit.

Norman coughed as he checked the damage readout. His shoulders sunk. The engine was toast. The ship was out of his control now. It was just a lump of fast moving steel, a prisoner to its momentum.

With Norman inside it. Heart filled with dread, he looked out the viewport. The bay doors were dead ahead, reaching out to swallow him.

Fifteen seconds.

Laser beams narrowed in on him from both sides. Norman growled in frustration. He couldn't do anything except rue his bad luck. To have come so far, only to lose metres from the finishing line, was not how he wanted to end.

The shuttle passed through the bay doors. The light blossomed though the cockpit as the shuttle zoomed into the bowels of the ship. The walls raced by in a blur.

Norman eyed the left wall. It inched closer and closer as the _Repulse_ continued to accelerate against the static velocity shuttle. He clenched the arm rests tight and tried to brace himself in the seat. He had a bad feeling about this.

Five. Four. Three. Two. One.

Impact. Norman's whole world shook and imploded as the shuttle crashed into the wall. He went flying. Metal shrieked and cried. Alarms sounded then died strangled deaths as he struggled back to the seat. The speed readout raced downward.

The floor buckled and crinkled. Norman's eyes widened in realisation. The ship was coming apart. He clamped down on the arm rests, holding on for dear life as the ship drifted to the floor.

The shrieking metal filled every cilia in his ears, like tiger claws raking through his brain. The end of the docking shaft was coming up fast. Norman began to wonder what would kill him first; exploding ship or pancaked ship.

The vibrations began to ebb and the ship jerked to a stop. Norman flew into the viewscreen with a yelp.

He came to. A hissing noise broke through the haze. Thoughts and memories swirled through the maelstrom in his mind before snapping into focus.

The ship was leaking air! He had to get out, now. He struggled to his feet and staggered out of the cockpit into the lounge. The hissing intensified. Mist and cobwebs choked his thoughts as he pushed to the back wall, groping for one of the space suits.

His fingers tingled at the lack of air pressure. His face was numb, his mind blank, but his body ran on autopilot, reflexes trained into his muscles after years of emergency exits.

He couldn't remember zipping up the suit, but as soon as the helmet clicked into position, everything smashed into focus like a brick to the face. He slumped to the floor in relief but sheer will power got him back to his feet and into the airlock.

He cycled through and stepped out of the ship. The docking corridor stretched into infinity. A massive gouge lined the near wall, black with carbon scoring and distorted from the heat.

His heart panged with sorrow. He had owned the ship less than an hour and he had already damaged it. Not a good start.

Movement caught his eye from the end of the docking shaft. Were the Viper's flying in after him? He didn’t want to wait around to find out. He lugged his heavy suited legs forward to the nearest airlock. His brow furrowed as he marched forward, determination borne of survival pushing him on. Sweat nucleated across his skin, but he sucked in deep breaths and kept moving.

The airlock was ten metres ahead. Renewed, Norman pushed harder, stumbling as he grabbed the airlock door handle. With his last burst of energy, he pulled the door aside, stepped in, closed the door and began the compression cycle. He collapsed to the floor, feeling the fire in his limbs ebb away.

The light above the inner door turned green and Norman hungrily removed his helmet and gulped in large breaths of clean air. He crawled through the door and collapsed again, panting, soaking in the enormity of what he had just done. He had survived, but only just. He needed to get a new supply of clones; he couldn't keep risking his only life like this.

#

The rear bridge doors opened to reveal a dark and empty expanse, with a few consoles providing the only lighting. Norman ran to the engineering console and turned on the lights. The next step was to get direct control over the override he had planted several days before. Once ready, he entered in the memorised coordinates for the meeting place with Sam.

The scanners beeped, piquing Norman’s interest. The Vipers were still outside, buzzing around like angry but toothless hornets. He wondered why they hadn't tried to land inside. Not that he minded. Several other ships and shuttles flew nearby, but nothing that represented a threat.

The hyperdrive dial blinked. The engines were fully powered. Norman entered the final coordinates and engaged the drive.

The hull plates murmured and rattled beneath his feet as the ship jumped into witchspace.

The ship jerked still a split second later; a microjump, to take the _Repulse_ to the edge of the Alioth system.

“Base, this is Bond," said Sam over the radio almost immediately. "Preparing to dock.”

Norman didn't reply. They agreed he would stay silent unless there was a problem. Instead, he worked on getting more engine control routed to the bridge. The override he had installed had just the single microjump preloaded. He would need direct control over the engines to get back to Frantic's base, something he would struggle to organise without a standard crew or some advanced automation. And with the Alliance Navy no doubt bearing down on the _Repulse_, Norman knew he had to move fast.

The bridge door opened behind him. Norman grunted approvingly. Sam hadn't wasted any time getting on board.

Norman froze.

It wasn't Sam standing before him.

It was Stenson and the two INRA stooges. All three had their guns trained squarely on him.

Norman's heart went into overdrive. How had they gotten on board? The shuttle from earlier, he realised. He had written it off as harmless, not even bothering to check its trajectory. A rookie mistake. And likely a fatal one.

Norman straightened up to face his adversaries. Scenarios and plans rushed through his mind, simultaneously evolved and discarded as he reached for options. He had to stall, soak up time, until Sam could surprise them.

A chill drifted through his gut. Did Stenson know Sam was coming? If so, Norman might as well have given up right then. Trying to hide his true feelings, he sneered at Stenson. "The cop."

Stenson didn't reply. Didn't move. None of them did. Memories of the old sphaghetti westerns flashed before Norman's eyes: The opponents staring at each other, watching, waiting for the clock to strike before they could draw.

The INRA stooges cracked their necks, shoulders and knuckles, eyes staring straight through Norman.

_This is your last clone. There are no more spare clones._ The thought exploded into his head, blowing away all others. If he died now. He would be dead. Permanently. Where the hell was Sam?"

Finally, Stenson spoke. "The evil clone who has killed millions, destroyed billions of credits of property and caused nothing but chaos and misery."

Norman blanched. Even when facing death he still had professional pride. "That's a bit unfair. I made a lot of money at the same time."

Stenson narrowed his eyes, skin folding into wrinkles. The grey hair didn't fool Norman. Stenson had already proven his dangerous capabilities. "Norman Mosser, you're under arrest for crimes against humanity."

The INRA stooges advanced, passing Stenson's flank.

Norman clenched his teeth. He still didn't have a plan. Three on one, and two seconds to crunch time. Not good.

One moment the INRA stooges were reaching out for him, the next they were both on the ground, their backs a mess of charred flesh and clothing.

Stenson stood with gun arm outstretched, smoke drifting from the barrel. The gun snapped back to Norman.

Norman stared at Stenson, mind whirring to work out what he had just witnessed, but another thought overrode all others: the odds were now one to one.

Stenson grinned. "I wanted you all to myself Norman. I couldn't share you. Not after what you did to me." Stenson stepped forward, tilting his head to show the scar. His eyes grew wide and dark, as if a cloud had passed over his soul.

Norman instinctively stepped back. Something ominous wriggled down his spine, something he hadn't felt in a long time. True fear. Stenson was clearly insane. And that made him unpredictable and dangerous. He could snap at any second. Stenson hadn't come for an arrest, no matter what his police oath said. He had come for blood.

Stenson stepped forward, licking his lips, no doubt salivating at some perverted fantasy of torturing him. He spoke in a deranged voice, dark and stretched, as if strangled out of the doors of hell. "I would have waited an eternity for this. It's over, Mosser."

Norman had to act now. He couldn't wait for Sam.

_This is your last clone. This is your last clone. This is your last clone._ The mantra banged through his head, fogging his thoughts. He focused on Stenson's weapon. An Investigator Special, a slightly more powerful version of the Detective, with the typical stubby barrel for easy concealment. The power, range and fabrication specs pulsed out of his neural lace and were projected onto his vision. But the data didn't tell him anything useful.

Panic clawed its way forward into the centre of his thoughts. _This is your last clone._

The stubby barrel! Good for concealment, bad for accuracy. It was his only chance. Norman knew what he had to do. When he had faced off against the other Norman clone in the _Azure Sunset's_ infirmary, he had moved faster than de Havilland. But was

When he had faced himself in the infirmitary in the _Azure Sunset_, he had moved faster than De Havilland. But was Stenson faster than De Havilland? As the inevitablility of his death crushed down on him, Norman knew that there was only way to find out.

_This is your last clone._

Norman moved.

He dived backward, pulled out his Deathwreaker and fired at Stenson.

Norman’s head snapped back as he smashed into the console behind him. His vision darkened as he slid to the ground. The Deathwreaker slid from his numb fingers as he edged downward.

Stenson lay on the ground, unmoving, smoke issuing from his chest.

Elation surged through Norman, but stalled as he looked down. A ragged charred crater stared back at him from his chest. His heart shivered and spasmed as adrenaline tried to combat the damage. Electricity flooded his chest as his neural lace desperately tried to keep his heart ticking over. For all intents and purposes, he was dead.

_This is your last clone. This is your last clone._

Norman waited. He couldn't move, couldn’t breath, couldn’t think. He had taken one risk too many and now his grand adventure had ended. He thought he would have been angry. Instead, he just felt sad. No more adventure, no more risks, no more feeling alive. He knew he would miss that most of all.

As the bridge began to darken, the rear door opened. More of Stenson’s friends? Norman would have smirked if he could have; they couldn’t do anything else to him. They were too late. A small pleasure he could take with him.

A blonde man stepped through. He looked familiar. Lean, medium build and carrying a Deathwreaker.

Sam.

He raced onto the bridge, gun outstretched. He aimed at Stenson as he kicked the body. He checked the INRA stooges before stopping before Norman. The dark emptiness of the barrel stopped inches from Norman’s head.

Sam’s face was unreadable in the fading light. The guns buzz of unreleased energy echoed around the bridge.

_This is your last clone. This is your last clone._

Everything went black.

HPA3 Auction Day Pt 2

2008-08-24T22:05:34Z

Jack Hamtilon: New page: The fake moustache flopped to the ground, the noise amplified in the deathly silent room. No one moved, frozen still by the sight. Kim jumped to his feet. “It’s Mosser!” The spel...

The fake moustache flopped to the ground, the noise amplified in the deathly silent room. No one moved, frozen still by the sight.

Kim jumped to his feet. “It’s Mosser!”

The spell broke. The crowd erupted in screams of terror as they scrambled away from Sam. Everyone had heard of Mosser’s reputation as a cold blooded pirate. Sara waved and gestured, yelling for calm, while the auctioneer dived behind his dais.

The INRA men were already moving, hands reaching into their jackets.

Norman held his ground against the wave of terrified people, focused entirely on Stenson, tracking his movements.

Sam finally reacted. He didn’t run, he didn’t tense, he simply clapped his hands together.

The back wall of the room exploded. Flames gouged out wall bonding and spread through the room like tongues of death.

Norman hit the deck. Wall fragments blasted through the room. The INRA men disappeared beneath a pair of fireballs.

Then the lights went out.

Norman jumped to his feet. His neural lace gave him superior night vision, but he didn’t need it. He had already memorised the distance and obstacles. He leapt onto the nearest seat, hurdled the next, turned right, took a step and dived.

He collided with a body. They crashed to the ground. Hands grabbed for Norman’s face. Footfalls rang through the floor, their bass thud accentuated by the mortal screams surrounding him.

Norman found Stenson’s face. Before he could retaliate, Norman rammed his fist into Stenson’s jaw then reeled backward. He raced down the aisle and dove over the seats, collapsing into a heap.

Dull red lights ignited, illuminating the room. Norman stayed down, hands over his head. He could taste the plaster, caking his mouth and clogging his nostrils. His right fist throbbed. Stenson had one solid jaw.

“No body move!” yelled a deep voice. Not Stenson.

Norman, spitting plaster, rolled over and edged himself to a sitting position.

A gun muzzle jabbed into his face. “I said don’t move!”

Norman reeled back, more surprised than hurt, and blinked to get his eyes back in focus. One of the INRA stooges stood over him. His hair and face were singed, but he still looked ready to fight. Norman forced a quiver into his lips and started shaking and murmuring quietly to himself.

The stooge withdrew the weapon, seemingly satisfied Norman’s act of cowardice posed no threat. He ran his pistol over the remaining scared people.

Norman pulled himself upright and cracked his neck and shoulders. The room was a total mess. The rear wall was missing, as well as sections of the roof.

Sam was gone.

Norman’s stomach almost flipped. It had worked, even better than he had hoped. Sam still had to escape the station though, so they weren't out of the woods yet. He just had to stay quiet and everything would fall into place.

Stenson knelt by Sara's side, shaking her and calling her name. He yelled out to the INRA men, asking for help.

Norman had to hand it to Stenson. Even if he was working with the arrogant and self serving group INRA, his policeman instincts still held sway. Protect and Serve: Stenson had principles. Perhaps the two of them had more in common than first thought.

The door, hanging by a thread to its hinges, burst inward, crashing to the ground as paramedics rushed through. They scanned the room without stopping and picked out a pair of bidders close to the destroyed rear wall.

Sara coughed, startling Stenson, but he recovered and pulled her up to her feet. Stenson gave her what had to be a rare smile and moved onto the next person. The INRA stooges were animatedly discussing something in the corner.

Norman sat back down on his chair. He felt like someone had pulled the plug out of his toes and all his energy had drained away leaving a dry shell. Absently, he reached for his coffee cup but it shattered shards no longer held any drink. Sighing, Norman stretched back and waited for his with the paramedics.

*

Stenson swore as he slammed the door to the backstage area. Norman frowned and turned back to Sara. Her hair was a mess and dried blood graced her scalp, but her internal fire, visible through her eyes, was as bright as ever. “You were saying?”

“He managed to escape,” Stenson interrupted. Steam erupted from his ears. His face looked like a bright red balloon.

Norman let the man vent. He knew Stenson's anger was focused internally, for letting his arch enemy escape again. _You’re standing right next to me and you can’t even recognise me,_ thought Norman.

Sara gave her stock standard business smile: slight curvature, the top row of teeth visible, but no real warmth. “He didn’t get escape in the _Repulse_ however. And none of the invitees were seriously hurt," she added, almost as an afterthought. She waved the auctioneer over from the corner stall where he and his colleagues were working through the transaction they had just completed with Mr Costello, the Aegean representative.

Norman idly examined the room while the auctioneer loped over. Housed at the far end of the bidding room, there was little damage to indicate there had been an explosion next door. Sam had calculated his explosive requirements perfectly.

Sara cleared her throat in what was becoming an annoying routine. “Mr Dover, you were the next highest bidder for the _Repulse_ with a bid of five point nine billion. Are you interested in completing the purchase at this price?”

Stenson's jaw dropped. He slammed it shut and charged forward. "You can't be serious," he said. "Mosser clearly rigged this auction. The results can't be trusted. You'll have to start again."

The auctioneer straightened upright and looked like he was about to slap Stenson, but decided against it at the last second. "No one rigs P&O auctions; our processes are pure. This Mr Mosser character bidded like everyone else and followed the auction rules." He stamped his feet together. "This auction is valid, sir."

Sara signalled the auctioneer back to his seat then said in her schoolmasterly tone, "Mr Stenson, NRS invested a lot of money in this auction. My job is to ensure that this sale occurs, and that it occurs as quickly as possible. If Mr Dover wants the _Repulse_, it's his.”

Stenson threw up his hands with a curse and stomped to the far side of the room.

A warm glow spread through Norman’s chest. The Alliance had just offered his the perfect platform for the HPA on a silver platter. They wanted him to have it. He wanted to savour this moment. He had learned a lot about planning and manipulation over the years, but this had to be one his crowing achievements. But he couldn't gloat; that wouldn't befit his character. Instead, he smiled. "Yes, please, I will buy the _Repulse_ at my bid.”

Sara stood up and extended her hand. “Then we have a deal. Congratulations Mr Dover.”

Norman shook her hand, standing to match her. She nodded to the auctioneer and they swapped seats.

Norman glanced at Stenson as the auctioneer organised his datapad. Stenson was stroking his jaw, patchy purple from Norman's sucker punch. His eyes bored into Norman, as if he could feel the fist imprint on his face and tie it back to him.

Norman resisted a shiver. He put the paranoia down to the high stakes of the game. Stenson wasn't that amazing. Talented perhaps, but not superhuman.

The auctioneers bald head was caked with blood, but he gripped his datapad with steady hands.
“I just need to go through the payment options with you, if you please Mr Dover. It'll only take a moment."

Norman nodded. The sooner they were done, the sooner he could get out of Stenson's sight. “Please.”

The paperwork was drawn out in triplicate. With a final thumb print, Norman handed over nearly six billion dollars. His hand tingled with the thumb scan, senses heightened by the precariousness of his position. If Stenson were to suddenly figure everything out. . .

The detective was still studying him inquisitively. The two INRA stooges barged through the door and whispered to Stenson. He nodded and left the room with them.

Norman breathed a sigh of relief. With Stenson off his back the tension drained from his face. He felt free again.

The auctioneer grunted in approval at his PAD. Sara leaned forward. “Everything complete?”

"Both transactions have been concluded. The money is now in the designated account and the title deed has been transferred to Mr Dover’s records."

"Fantastic. NRS thanks you for a job well done."

The auctioneer bobbed his head, like a well trained dog receiving a treat. As he moved away to pack up the rest of his equipment, Sara stood up. "Would you like to take a walk, Mr Dover?"

Norman's heart skipped a beat as his instinctive mistrust kicked in. What this an innocent request or had Sara managed to see through him? He would have to play this carefully. He stood and offered her the crook of his elbow. "I would be delighted."

Sara glanced at the arm, as if it were a bug attempting to crawl onto her boot. "A business conversation if you please, Mr Dover."

Norman didn't have to fake the disappointment on his face. ‘Business’ could only mean one of two things. And one of them was bad. He gingerly fell into step with her as they left the back room. The auction room was charred black. Smoke lingered in the air. Emergency services worked to clear the wreckage. The doorway had been cordoned off. Forensics were already analysing the bomb fragments.

_Good luck,_ Norman thought. _You're going to need it._

“Have you put any thought into your next steps Mr Dover?” Sara asked as they cleared the ring of bystanders inspecting the damage.

Norman chuckled inside. Yes, as a matter of fact, he had thought about it. He tried to feign embarrassment. “Honestly no. My focus recently has just been on acquiring the ship. Now that I have it, I need to get it back home somehow, don’t I?”

“Indeed. Additionally, as the owner of the ship, you’ll be paying for the berthing fees.”

Norman gulped. He shuddered to think what that cost would be. “That won’t be cheap, will it?”

Sara snorted. “No. That’s half the reason we needed to get rid of them.”

There was less foot traffic than usual through the station. Perhaps people wee staying at home, still shaken by the ‘Norman Mosser appearance’. Thinking back, he hadn’t made nearly enough appearances in Alliance space.

“I’m sure you’re aware of the required crew compliment for a Long Range Cruiser?” Sara said.

Norman nodded. Although the advanced automation systems of the _Azure Sunset_ allowed her to operate on one to two people, a regular LRC didn’t have the same luxury. “A few shy of three hundred?”

“Two hundred and eighty six,” Sara said, nodding. Her schoolmaster tone was back. “Do you know where you are going to find that many people?”

Norman shrugged. “We have some volunteers back at headquarters, but I may need to find some. . . local talent.”

Sara shucked her hair. “I thought you might. I’ve already started preparing a list of possibilities for you. Just part of the service.” She gave her business smile again, but this time, Norman felt she meant it.

They stopped outside the local NRS offices. Sara leant on the door. “Why don’t you go get some food and come past in a few hours? I should have something to show you by then.”

“Sounds perfect.” Mosser paused. “Although I would like to have another look on board the _Repulse_ if that’s ok.” The last words sounded meek in his throat, like a submissive child asking a parent to play with a toy. His heart thrashed in his chest as he waited for the reply however. Everything depended on Sara’s reply. He stared at her mouth, transfixed, silently pleading.

The seconds passed, torturing Norman’s heart.

Sara reached for her Pad. “Of course Mr Dover. You now own the ship, after all. I’ll upload the access codes and command prompts to your PAD now and you’ll have full access.”

Norman wanted to sag forward in relief but held himself rigid, instead simply nodding as if her decision were inconsequential.

Sara tapped her PAD. Norman’s beeped in response: data received. “Have fun,” said Sara. “I’ll see you soon.”

Norman couldn’t hide his grin. “You bet.”

*

As soon as the NRS supplied shuttle left the space station, Norman jumped into action. He activated his wrist chrono's countdown. Ten minutes. He deactivated the shuttle's autopilot and manoeuvred the ship to head for the _Repulse’s_ bow. Once aligned, he pushed the engines to their maximum. Satisfied with the course correction, he leant down and untied his right shoe. He removed the sole and bumped out a single button dongle. He retied the shoe and checked his chrono.

Nine minutes.

He pressed the button on the dongle.

Nothing happened. Eight minutes thirty.

The back of the _Repulse_ brightened until engine wash illuminated the rear half of the ship. Ever so slowly, the _Repulse_ edged forward, drifting away from the station.

Eight minutes.

The _Repulse_ began to move across the shuttle's viewport.

The radio waves ignited in panicked cries as hundreds of people reacted to the _Repulse's_ sudden activation.

As pilots scrambled out of the way, polluting the airwaves with curses, a strong voice broke through the noise. “NRS Shuttle NR-70, change course immediately. Your course will intersect with the rogue LRC in seven minutes.”

“Six minutes and thirty seconds,” Norman said to himself. He didn’t reply. There were enough voices out there to swallow his whole anyway.

“Shuttle NR-70, do you copy? Change your course immediately. You are on a collision course with the rogue LRC.”

Norman kept quiet, attention shifting between the view screen and his chrono. Six minutes. Space had collapsed into pandemonium as ships flittered back and forth, barred entry to the station so traffic control tried to gain control of the situation.

The airwaves went silent. Not only traffic control, but all the other ships too. The whole area had been blanketed under the station's jammer. Or just his ship had been targeted.

Norman grumbled. Either way, it meant that traffic control were so suspicious that higher powers had been called in to control the situation. He had no doubt his shuttle was high on their priority list either.

Five minutes. Time to turn the shuttle around for the deceleration burn.

The station's main door opened. Two Viper Police ships raced out. Their engine was twisted into an arc as the ships altered course to bear down on his shuttle.

Norman swallowed the lump in his throat. Dread picked its way up his spine, clouding his vision. The police had responded far quicker than he had anticipated. Neither the Empire of the Federation could have responded so fast. No wonder the Alliance had won its freedom.

He was out of options. If he turned around now to decelerate, the Vipers would catch him up and turn him into stellar dust.

The _Repulse_ lumbered forward, building up speed as its military engines pushed the million tonne ship forward.

Four minutes thirty.

If he didn’t turn around now, he would smash against the side of the _Repulse_ and be turned into stellar dust.

Killed by a cop, or killed by his own ignorance of physics. Neither option appealed. But he had to choose one. He spun the ship about. He kept the engines maxed out.

Four minutes.

The Vipers screamed closer. The _Repulse_ filled the rear view. The locked docking bay door sat to the left, ridiculously small and blending in against the surrounding cliff of steel.

Time to open the doors. Norman linked his PAD with the ships antennae and broadcast the lock code to the _Repulse_. The bay door slowly retracted. Artificial light glowed from inside.

Norman clenched his jaw as he handled the controls. It would have been easier to pick out a solitary pixel on a high resolution datapad. Sweat dripping from his face, he corrected his trajectory by over compensating, aiming for the _other_ side of the bay doors.

Three minutes.

The shuttle's rear fins dragged around in an arc, as if pushing through treacle, but as the ship slowed, the speed vector evened out and the turn accelerated.

Two minutes thirty.

The Viper's were almost in range. The shuttle came in line with the edge of the docking bay doors. Norman tweaked the controls and with the final dregs of sideways momentum, the shuttle lined up perfectly with the open doors.

Now he just had to turn the shuttle around and decelerate from his currently suicidal speed. But he would cross that bridge when he got to it.

Two minutes.

His time ran out. The Vipers fired, twin beams of coherent light lashing out across space like talons seeking their prey.

Norman jerked the controls instinctively as if struck by lightning. The shots went wide, but the Vipers were still at maximum firing range.

Every second that passed would improve their aim. And he couldn't manoeuvre. No matter how good a pilot he was, he still had to obey physics. He couldn't fly through the narrow bay doors while flying at random angles and going backwards.

The laser beams scythed closer, pulsing with amplified heat.

Norman exhaled a deep breath. The equation was simple: He wasn't going to make it.

So he changed the equation. He spun the shuttle back around. He killed the main engine and fired up the retros. They had even less acceleration, but at least now he could manoeuvre with a hint of survivability.

One minute thirty.

The _Repulse_ filled his entire forward view. Its size was monstrous. His insignificance next to LCR's still got to him, despite his familiarity. The bay doors were still open, the artificial light inviting him in, tantalisingly close.

The ship bucked. Norman held on for dear life as the shuttle dipped and twisted from the blast.

His luck had run out. He twisted the ship around, bringing an aerofoil out of the laser beams path. He throttled the controls, mirroring the violence outside as the shuttle danced between red blades of death.

One minute.

The bay doors drifted to the right as the shuttle's manoeuvres became more desperate. Norman tried to correct, bringing the shuttle around sharply, as a laser burst flashed past the cockpit window.

The shuttle groaned at the close shave. The rough treatment and high gee's were taking their toll on its fragile frame. Norman urged it to hold together a while longer. He ripped the controls back around to line up with the bay doors, but his sideways momentum continued to thwart him, pushing him out of alignment.

Norman cursed. It was like chasing his own tail. A monstrous thump rang through the shuttle body as it lurched downward. The lights dimmed; klaxons blared. Acrid smoke filled the cockpit.

Norman coughed as he checked the damage readout. His shoulders sunk. The engine was toast. The ship was out of his control now. It was just a lump of fast moving steel, a prisoner to its momentum.

With Norman inside it. Heart filled with dread, he looked out the viewport. The bay doors were dead ahead, reaching out to swallow him.

Fifteen seconds.

Laser beams narrowed in on him from both sides. Norman growled in frustration. He couldn't do anything except rue his bad luck. To have come so far, only to lose metres from the finishing line, was not how he wanted to end.

The shuttle passed through the bay doors. The light blossomed though the cockpit as the shuttle zoomed into the bowels of the ship. The walls raced by in a blur.

Norman eyed the left wall. It inched closer and closer as the _Repulse_ continued to accelerate against the static velocity shuttle. He clenched the arm rests tight and tried to brace himself in the seat. He had a bad feeling about this.

Five. Four. Three. Two. One.

Impact. Norman's whole world shook and imploded as the shuttle crashed into the wall. He went flying. Metal shrieked and cried. Alarms sounded then died strangled deaths as he struggled back to the seat. The speed readout raced downward.

The floor buckled and crinkled. Norman's eyes widened in realisation. The ship was coming apart. He clamped down on the arm rests, holding on for dear life as the ship drifted to the floor.

The shrieking metal filled every cilia in his ears, like tiger claws raking through his brain. The end of the docking shaft was coming up fast. Norman began to wonder what would kill him first; exploding ship or pancaked ship.

The vibrations began to ebb and the ship jerked to a stop. Norman flew into the viewscreen with a yelp.

He came to. A hissing noise broke through the haze. Thoughts and memories swirled through the maelstrom in his mind before snapping into focus.

The ship was leaking air! He had to get out, now. He struggled to his feet and staggered out of the cockpit into the lounge. The hissing intensified. Mist and cobwebs choked his thoughts as he pushed to the back wall, groping for one of the space suits.

His fingers tingled at the lack of air pressure. His face was numb, his mind blank, but his body ran on autopilot, reflexes trained into his muscles after years of emergency exits.

He couldn't remember zipping up the suit, but as soon as the helmet clicked into position, everything smashed into focus like a brick to the face. He slumped to the floor in relief but sheer will power got him back to his feet and into the airlock.

He cycled through and stepped out of the ship. The docking corridor stretched into infinity. A massive gouge lined the near wall, black with carbon scoring and distorted from the heat.

His heart panged with sorrow. He had owned the ship less than an hour and he had already damaged it. Not a good start.

Movement caught his eye from the end of the docking shaft. Were the Viper's flying in after him? He didn’t want to wait around to find out. He lugged his heavy suited legs forward to the nearest airlock. His brow furrowed as he marched forward, determination borne of survival pushing him on. Sweat nucleated across his skin, but he sucked in deep breaths and kept moving.

The airlock was ten metres ahead. Renewed, Norman pushed harder, stumbling as he grabbed the airlock door handle. With his last burst of energy, he pulled the door aside, stepped in, closed the door and began the compression cycle. He collapsed to the floor, feeling the fire in his limbs ebb away.

The light above the inner door turned green and Norman hungrily removed his helmet and gulped in large breaths of clean air. He crawled through the door and collapsed again, panting, soaking in the enormity of what he had just done. He had survived, but only just. He needed to get a new supply of clones; he couldn't keep risking his only life like this.

#

The rear bridge doors opened to reveal a dark and empty expanse, with a few consoles providing the only lighting. Norman ran to the engineering console and turned on the lights. The next step was to get direct control over the override he had planted several days before. Once ready, he entered in the memorised coordinates for the meeting place with Sam.

The scanners beeped, piquing Norman’s interest. The Vipers were still outside, buzzing around like angry but toothless hornets. He wondered why they hadn't tried to land inside. Not that he minded. Several other ships and shuttles flew nearby, but nothing that represented a threat.

The hyperdrive dial blinked. The engines were fully powered. Norman entered the final coordinates and engaged the drive.

The hull plates murmured and rattled beneath his feet as the ship jumped into witchspace.

The ship jerked still a split second later; a microjump, to take the _Repulse_ to the edge of the Alioth system.

“Base, this is Bond," said Sam over the radio almost immediately. "Preparing to dock.”

Norman didn't reply. They agreed he would stay silent unless there was a problem. Instead, he worked on getting more engine control routed to the bridge. The override he had installed had just the single microjump preloaded. He would need direct control over the engines to get back to Frantic's base, something he would struggle to organise without a standard crew or some advanced automation. And with the Alliance Navy no doubt bearing down on the _Repulse_, Norman knew he had to move fast.

The bridge door opened behind him. Norman grunted approvingly. Sam hadn't wasted any time getting on board.

Norman froze.

It wasn't Sam standing before him.

It was Stenson and the two INRA stooges. All three had their guns trained squarely on him.

Norman's heart went into overdrive. How had they gotten on board? The shuttle from earlier, he realised. He had written it off as harmless, not even bothering to check its trajectory. A rookie mistake. And likely a fatal one.

Norman straightened up to face his adversaries. Scenarios and plans rushed through his mind, simultaneously evolved and discarded as he reached for options. He had to stall, soak up time, until Sam could surprise them.

A chill drifted through his gut. Did Stenson know Sam was coming? If so, Norman might as well have given up right then. Trying to hide his true feelings, he sneered at Stenson. "The cop."

Stenson didn't reply. Didn't move. None of them did. Memories of the old sphaghetti westerns flashed before Norman's eyes: The opponents staring at each other, watching, waiting for the clock to strike before they could draw.

The INRA stooges cracked their necks, shoulders and knuckles, eyes staring straight through Norman.

_This is your last clone. There are no more spare clones._ The thought exploded into his head, blowing away all others. If he died now. He would be dead. Permanently. Where the hell was Sam?"

Finally, Stenson spoke. "The evil clone who has killed millions, destroyed billions of credits of property and caused nothing but chaos and misery."

Norman blanched. Even when facing death he still had professional pride. "That's a bit unfair. I made a lot of money at the same time."

Stenson narrowed his eyes, skin folding into wrinkles. The grey hair didn't fool Norman. Stenson had already proven his dangerous capabilities. "Norman Mosser, you're under arrest for crimes against humanity."

The INRA stooges advanced, passing Stenson's flank.

Norman clenched his teeth. He still didn't have a plan. Three on one, and two seconds to crunch time. Not good.

One moment the INRA stooges were reaching out for him, the next they were both on the ground, their backs a mess of charred flesh and clothing.

Stenson stood with gun arm outstretched, smoke drifting from the barrel. The gun snapped back to Norman.

Norman stared at Stenson, mind whirring to work out what he had just witnessed, but another thought overrode all others: the odds were now one to one.

Stenson grinned. "I wanted you all to myself Norman. I couldn't share you. Not after what you did to me." Stenson stepped forward, tilting his head to show the scar. His eyes grew wide and dark, as if a cloud had passed over his soul.

Norman instinctively stepped back. Something ominous wriggled down his spine, something he hadn't felt in a long time. True fear. Stenson was clearly insane. And that made him unpredictable and dangerous. He could snap at any second. Stenson hadn't come for an arrest, no matter what his police oath said. He had come for blood.

Stenson stepped forward, licking his lips, no doubt salivating at some perverted fantasy of torturing him. He spoke in a deranged voice, dark and stretched, as if strangled out of the doors of hell. "I would have waited an eternity for this. It's over, Mosser."

Norman had to act now. He couldn't wait for Sam.

_This is your last clone. This is your last clone. This is your last clone._ The mantra banged through his head, fogging his thoughts. He focused on Stenson's weapon. An Investigator Special, a slightly more powerful version of the Detective, with the typical stubby barrel for easy concealment. The power, range and fabrication specs pulsed out of his neural lace and were projected onto his vision. But the data didn't tell him anything useful.

Panic clawed its way forward into the centre of his thoughts. _This is your last clone._

The stubby barrel! Good for concealment, bad for accuracy. It was his only chance. Norman knew what he had to do. When he had faced off against the other Norman clone in the _Azure Sunset's_ infirmary, he had moved faster than de Havilland. But was

When he had faced himself in the infirmitary in the _Azure Sunset_, he had moved faster than De Havilland. But was Stenson faster than De Havilland? As the inevitablility of his death crushed down on him, Norman knew that there was only way to find out.

_This is your last clone._

Norman moved.

He dived backward, pulled out his Deathwreaker and fired at Stenson.

Norman’s head snapped back as he smashed into the console behind him. His vision darkened as he slid to the ground. The Deathwreaker slid from his numb fingers as he edged downward.

Stenson lay on the ground, unmoving, smoke issuing from his chest.

Elation surged through Norman, but stalled as he looked down. A ragged charred crater stared back at him from his chest. His heart shivered and spasmed as adrenaline tried to combat the damage. Electricity flooded his chest as his neural lace desperately tried to keep his heart ticking over. For all intents and purposes, he was dead.

_This is your last clone. This is your last clone._

Norman waited. He couldn't move, couldn’t breath, couldn’t think. He had taken one risk too many and now his grand adventure had ended. He thought he would have been angry. Instead, he just felt sad. No more adventure, no more risks, no more feeling alive. He knew he would miss that most of all.

As the bridge began to darken, the rear door opened. More of Stenson’s friends? Norman would have smirked if he could have; they couldn’t do anything else to him. They were too late. A small pleasure he could take with him.

A blonde man stepped through. He looked familiar. Lean, medium build and carrying a Deathwreaker.

Sam.

He raced onto the bridge, gun outstretched. He aimed at Stenson as he kicked the body. He checked the INRA stooges before stopping before Norman. The dark emptiness of the barrel stopped inches from Norman’s head.

Sam’s face was unreadable in the fading light. The guns buzz of unreleased energy echoed around the bridge.

_This is your last clone. This is your last clone._

Everything went black.

HPA3 Episodes

2008-08-18T09:06:10Z

Jack Hamtilon:

== Overview ==

Here you will find the latest episodes of the continuing saga, HPA 3: The Tides of War

----

*[[HPA3 Auction Day Pt 1|Auction Day Part 1]]

Norman and Sam enter the auction of their lives

*[[HPA3 Auction Day Pt 2|Auction Day Part 2]]

Click [[HPA3|here]] to return to the HPA3 page

HPA3 Auction Day Pt 1

2008-08-18T09:05:11Z

Jack Hamtilon:

== Summary ==

Norman and Sam go head to head in the auction of their lives.

Click [[HPA3 Episodes|here]] to return to the episodes

----

== Story ==

Norman sipped his coffee. People moved and jostled around him. Contracted auction staff adjusted their equipment up the front of the gala room. The dozen and a half bidders milled around the seats, talking, drinking and doing last minutes credit rating calculations. Only a few had taken their seats as Norman had done.

And in between them all, New Rossyth Staff hurried back and forth keeping the bidders happy. It was organised chaos.

Norman breathed deeply, sucking in the coffee vapour. Reiquatan Ultra may have had the reputation, but Phekdan coffee outshone it quality. The rich creamy texture massaged his throat as he drank. He couldn’t have dreamed of anything as satisfying.

Then a man walked through the door, shattering any visions of paradise Norman had.

Kim Stenson.

Norman mentally cursed, but his practiced façade remained rock still.

Kim stood in the doorway for a moment, hands on his hips, surveying the crowd. His eyes focused on Norman for a moment before continuing past. He carried his obviously rented suit well, but he still had ‘COP’ written all over him.

Norman chuckled. You could take the man out of the policemen, but you couldn’t take the policeman out of the man, even when supposedly undercover.

Kim stepped forward, flanked by two other men. They wore black, anti flash sunglasses, had trim, almost crew-cut hairlines and wore plain, non-descript suits.

INRA. They looked so plain, they stood out more that Stenson. They took defiant stances at the door and tried to disguise it by leaning an the coffee counter and looking thoroughly bored. Kim took the seat nearest the door and stretched out as if he were digging in for the long run.

Norman pursed his lips. The room's only exit suddenly seemed along way away.

Aloyisus Grant strutted into the room. Norman’s eyes widened. Why hadn't Sam taken his place? Norman worked his jaw as he extrapolated through events to their horrible conclusion: If Sam hadn't succeeded, he must have been captured. What the hell had gone wrong?

Aloysius tilted his head and itched his moustache. He paused mid action before joining a group of laughing businessmen.

Norman sagged forward, sighing in relief. Sam had taken Aloysius's place. The lump in his stomach instantly dissolved. Faking a cramp, he limped over to the coffee. He focused on the brew; it might have been paranoia, but he could feel Stenson's hawk-like eyes boring into his back.

Norman laughed at his nervousness. A first year Imperial Agent would be showing more resolve than this. He had planned everything out to the nth degree. Nothing could go wrong.

He shook off the veil of uncertainty and filled his cup. He poured slowly, taking his time, keeping his eyes on the coffee. Wandering eyes could create suspicion.

"I hear you're from Terra Conquera Mining?" said someone behind him.

Norman turned. Sam stood behind him, eyebrows raised in question. Norman nodded. "That's right." He extended his hand. "TK Dover."

"Aloysius Grant," said Sam in an unrecognisable voice. He pushed past to grab the percolator.

Norman narrowed his eyes. Something didn't feel right. Could he have imagined the Sam's signal earlier?

Sam's eyes weren't giving anything away. People were moving behind him. Sara checked her watch and signalled to the doormen. Things were about to start.

Norman clenched his teeth. If he had to abort, he needed to know now. He risked the code phrase. "I'm not sure this coffee is doing the trick for me."

Sam sipped the brown fluid and sloshed it around his mouth. His eyes lost focus.

Norman's blood boiled at Sam's impudence. The seconds ticked away. What was Sam playing at? Norman stared at Sam exasperated, waiting for an answer.

The door men moved toward the back; Sara the front. People sensing a change drifted toward their seats.

Norman sucked in a deep breath. The plan was dependent on Sam. If he did not give the go ahead, Norman would have to get out, fast.

Finally, Sam swallowed the coffee and sighed. "Putrid is the word I would use. I’ve drunk better coffee in a Vequess slave mine café." He seemed to draw the words out, as if it hurt to form them.

Norman had to hide his smile at the key words: putrid and Vequess. Too crude for Aloysius, but part of Sam’s regular vocab. The loose strands of the plan were finally in place. So why did Sam have such attitude? Norman hoped he hadn’t lost his nerve; He needed him now more than ever, but couldn’t allow anything to endanger this mission.

He would have to keep an eye on Sam.

Sara cleared her throat from behind the dais. The room collapsed into silence under her amplified voice. "Ladies and gentlemen, the time is now eight o'clock." She nodded toward the back. "The door's are now closed. All latecomers will be barred entry. We shall begin the bidding in five minutes. Please take your seats."

Only now did Sam's eyes carry a twinkle. Norman knew Sam intimately. The man couldn’t help being who he was. When the game started, he would play all-in until the end and would love every second of it.

Norman drifted to his seat. Only three quarters of the seats were taken. He had hoped a few more would have had incidents delaying them, but he hadn’t done too badly, considering the time frame. It had been expensive to organise; he hoped it would end up worth it.

He checked out each of his remaining competitors, recalling their names, faces and bios from his neural lace. Quite a few of the significant threats were missing, but Aegean Corporation, Centrix Division and Obertex were still in attendance.

This time Norman did allow himself a half grin. Sam sat three rows back and to Norman's left. Stenson hadn't moved from his seat by the door. His cohorts were still hovering, more interested in the bidders than the bidding.

The auctioneer stood up to the dais. He tightened his tie, cracked his neck and tapped his wooden gavel against the block. "Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to another P&O auction.. The first item tonight is the modified Long Range Cruiser _Ajax_." He paused as the screen behind him came to life. A dot in the centre grew into a fully detailed LRC, which spun around its centre of gravity in both planes. A list of specifications and details appeared down the right hand side of the screen. The auctioneer ran through his required spiel, explaining the main variances of the ex-military ship over the civilian version.

Norman watched the others as they studied the graphic display. Their expressions varied for mild interest to jaw gaping excitement. Norman knew the _Ajax_ was the mid life crisis cure that many of the bidders were looking for. Probably not for the two women though. Norman knew little of them, but women in positions of wealth and power were often more unpredictable and dangerous than men.

The auctioneer finished his blurb then smacked the gavel down. "Who'll give me a quarter of a billion credits?”

A half dozen hand thrust into the air, but a tuxedo clad man claimed the opening bid. The rest of the hands fell as the auctioneer continued. “Who’ll give me point three billion credits? Quarter of a billion credits bid, now point three, now point three, will you give me point three?”

Norman sat back and watched with interest. With no desire for the _Ajax_, he had the luxury of studying the competition. There were several other bidders sitting back, seemingly uninterested in the _Ajax_.

To Norman’s dismay, one of the women, a grey haired lady in a pressed suit kept her hands down, not even holding her numbered paddle, idling looking around the room with bored eyes.

The auctioneer’s cry began to slow but his hands continued to thrust out toward the bidders, the gavel swishing through the air. As the price climbed, the number of bidders dwindled. “Who'll give me a three quarter billion? Half billion bid, now three quarter, now three quarter, will you give me three quarters?"

Only three bidders were left at the billion credit mark: one of the women, Mr Costello from Aegean Corp and the representative of Riverdance Industries. Riverdance fell out at the one point five mark. Tuxedo was frantically whispering to an aide, who had a calculator in hand. The lady fell away quickly after.

"Who'll give me two billion credits? One seven five bid, now two billion, now two billion. Will you give me two billion?"

Silence descended on the room, punctuated by the rustle of papers and a muted cough. The auctioneers head bobbed around almost desperately, pleading the bidders to continue. "Who'll give me one eight five? I'll take one eight five."

The crowd stayed silent. The Mr Costello’s face of unadulterated glee contrasted with the auctioneers. He was clearly on commission. He drew the bidding out, lowering his asking rate, but no one took the bait.

"One seven five going once, one seven five going twice," the auctioneer voice was laced with doom. With a defeated shrug, he raised the gavel high, dramatically above his head.

"One Eight zero."

The room froze as three dozen sets of eyes turned to the door. Kim Stenson had his arm held high, still, unwavering.

The auctioneer stared wide eyed before gathering himself. "One eight zero bid, now one eight five, now one eight five, will you give me one eight five?"

Tuxedo shot his arm up, piping Aegean by a split second. Aegean twisted around, eyes narrowed to slits as he tried to stare Tuxedo down.

The auctioneer didn't give him the chance however as he returned to his chant with renewed vigour. Tuxedo and Aegean went head to head, raising the price past two billion, while Stenson sat back, arms folded, a grin weaved into his face.

Norman raised an eyebrow. The cop was planning something. But what? Norman gave him a glance, but didn’t stare. He couldn’t raise attention to himself.

It took ten minutes for the bidding to ease. The auctioneer smacked his gavel on the board, relief in his strained voice. Mr Costella shook hands with his aide, a triumphant smile on his face. The auctioneer made notes in his book as Sara knelt down to whisper to Mr Costello. Norman couldn't hear the exchange.

Sara stood up and moved to the dais. "Excuse me ladies and gentlemen. With the conclusion of the first sale, we shall take a quick fifteen minute break. Please remember that the doors are to remain closed for the duration of this auction."

The hum of human noise enveloped Norman as he made his way back to the coffee station. The caffeine wasn’t doing his jittery nerves any favours, but he had a feeling he wouldn’t get another chance to savour the Phekdan brew.

Stenson stretched, stood up and went over to his INRA friends. Sara made a beeline for Norman.

Norman sucked in a breath. What did she want? He didn’t have time for an in depth conversation. He risked a glance at Sam. He was playing with his moustache. The final signal.

“Mr Dover,” Sara said. “Where’s Mr Bond?”

“Ahh,” said Norman. In truth he had been waiting for her to ask this question, but he couldn’t appear that way. “He had to return planet side. The spinning of the space station plays havoc with his equilibrium.”

Sara nodded. It was less a nod of belief, but more of not having time to follow through. She changed tact. “The Ajax didn’t hold any interest for you?”

Norman shrugged. “I told you I wanted the _Repulse_. I wasn’t kidding.”

Sara regarded him, hands on her hips. “The ships are identical in all but name, Mr Dover.”

Norman gave a toothy grin. “You’re not a ‘ship’ person, are you Miss Douglass?”

Sara paled. “Excuse me?”

Norman shook his head, an old timer regaling a child with a tall story. “A name can make all the difference. I’ll bid on her, Miss Douglass, and I’ll win her. Don’t have any doubt of that.”

Sara straightened her suit jacket and gave a satisfied humph. “Excellent.” She nodded and disappeared into the throng of people.

Norman sipped his drink and moved around the room. Feeling eyes on him, he looked up to see Stenson staring straight through him.

Norman almost coughed up his drink. Alarm bells rang through his head. Stenson suspected his identity. He had to. Norman tried to nod casually, but knew it looked like the nervous bob of a pigeon’s head. He raised his cup in acknowledgement to strengthen his case.

Stenson pursed his lips and turned away, but he continued to scan the crowd. Sara suddenly appeared beside him. Stenson almost back-pedalled, clearly surprised by the ambush.

Norman couldn’t hear their conversation over the room noise, but Stenson fidgeted as if on a sugar rush. Norman smiled and took another sip. _See how you like it, bud._

The auctioneer drummed his gavel on the board and called people to return to their seats. Norman checked Sam for what must have been the fiftieth time. He looked ready. The butterflies worked their way up Norman’s stomach, but he channelled the nervous energy to his mind and arms, where he needed it the most. Their plans required perfect timing. If anything went wrong. . .

The auctioneer started with the preamble for the _Repulse_, a repeat of the one for the _Ajax_. No one appeared to listen too hard.

With the preliminaries done, the auctioneer ran into his chant. Norman thrust his hand up to claim the opening bid. He wanted to make a statement of intent more than anything else: he meant business this time. He hoped his lack of interest in the _Ajax_ would strengthen that image.

A flurry of arms waved through the room as every single bidder wrested for the top spot. Tuxedo and Riverdance, who missed out on the _Ajax_, seemed hungrier than ever.

The price sky rocketed. Past one billion, then past two. Bidders faded away, but ten people were still in the game at three billion.

Norman kept up with the bidding, but didn’t needlessly push it higher.

The auctioneer’s face grew redder as he cry continued unabated. His eyes were shining bright however, under the vision of his commission.

Tuxedo dropped out at four billion. The two women followed soon after.

Mr Costello pushed the price to five billion. Did he need both, Norman wondered, or did he simply not want anyone else to have them? Costello's aide whispered animatedly into his ear. Were they over their limit? Norman hoped so. He didn't want it to go much higher.

"Who'll give me five six billion? Five five billion bid, now five six, now five six, will you give me five six?" The auctioneer licked his lips, the vision of money clearly streaming past his eyes.

Sam raised a hand, eyes misted over, face relaxed, like a bored student answering the teacher's question.

Norman raised his hand to counter. The auctioneer turned to Mr Costello, greed overpowering his regular protocol. Costello leaned toward his aide, mouthing something inaudible. The aide shook his head. Costello dropped his shoulders and ran his finger past his neck. He had reached the end of his rope.

Norman turned to Sam. They were the only two left. His hands and legs tingled. He could almost taste the sweet nectar of victory.

Sam edged the price to six billion. He lowered his hand, an almost malevolent grin on his face. The auctioneer turned to Norman, eyes wide, mouth agape.

Norman frowned and mouthed a curse he had learnt during his military days. He raised his head, locked eyes with the auctioneer and slowly shook his head. He couldn’t go any further.

The auctioneer's eyes dropped and he puckered his lips, but he checked the crowd with misplaced optimism. The room stayed silent.

The auctioneer wouldn’t give in. “Six Billion going once. I’ll take ten thousand increments. Six Billion going twice.” A long pause. The hammer swivelled past the crowd one more time. “Sold!”

Norman flinched as the gavel slammed down, ringing through the room. The bidding war had drained him, yet the real action was about to start. He tensed his legs and clenched his fists. He checked Stenson's position. Two rows back, five seats across. Two rows back, five seats across.

The auctioneer gathered himself up to full height, his greedy eyes replaced with a condescending aristocratic air. “Congratulations Mr Grant. You are the new owner of the _Repulse_.”

Sam jumped up, arms thrust into the air. "Yes. Victory!” He pumped his fists again.

Then his moustache fell off.

HPA3 Auction Day Pt 1

2008-08-18T09:04:53Z

Jack Hamtilon:

== Summary ==

Norman and Sam go head to head in the auction of their lives.

Click [[HPA3 Episodes|here]] to return to the episodes

----

Norman sipped his coffee. People moved and jostled around him. Contracted auction staff adjusted their equipment up the front of the gala room. The dozen and a half bidders milled around the seats, talking, drinking and doing last minutes credit rating calculations. Only a few had taken their seats as Norman had done.

And in between them all, New Rossyth Staff hurried back and forth keeping the bidders happy. It was organised chaos.

Norman breathed deeply, sucking in the coffee vapour. Reiquatan Ultra may have had the reputation, but Phekdan coffee outshone it quality. The rich creamy texture massaged his throat as he drank. He couldn’t have dreamed of anything as satisfying.

Then a man walked through the door, shattering any visions of paradise Norman had.

Kim Stenson.

Norman mentally cursed, but his practiced façade remained rock still.

Kim stood in the doorway for a moment, hands on his hips, surveying the crowd. His eyes focused on Norman for a moment before continuing past. He carried his obviously rented suit well, but he still had ‘COP’ written all over him.

Norman chuckled. You could take the man out of the policemen, but you couldn’t take the policeman out of the man, even when supposedly undercover.

Kim stepped forward, flanked by two other men. They wore black, anti flash sunglasses, had trim, almost crew-cut hairlines and wore plain, non-descript suits.

INRA. They looked so plain, they stood out more that Stenson. They took defiant stances at the door and tried to disguise it by leaning an the coffee counter and looking thoroughly bored. Kim took the seat nearest the door and stretched out as if he were digging in for the long run.

Norman pursed his lips. The room's only exit suddenly seemed along way away.

Aloyisus Grant strutted into the room. Norman’s eyes widened. Why hadn't Sam taken his place? Norman worked his jaw as he extrapolated through events to their horrible conclusion: If Sam hadn't succeeded, he must have been captured. What the hell had gone wrong?

Aloysius tilted his head and itched his moustache. He paused mid action before joining a group of laughing businessmen.

Norman sagged forward, sighing in relief. Sam had taken Aloysius's place. The lump in his stomach instantly dissolved. Faking a cramp, he limped over to the coffee. He focused on the brew; it might have been paranoia, but he could feel Stenson's hawk-like eyes boring into his back.

Norman laughed at his nervousness. A first year Imperial Agent would be showing more resolve than this. He had planned everything out to the nth degree. Nothing could go wrong.

He shook off the veil of uncertainty and filled his cup. He poured slowly, taking his time, keeping his eyes on the coffee. Wandering eyes could create suspicion.

"I hear you're from Terra Conquera Mining?" said someone behind him.

Norman turned. Sam stood behind him, eyebrows raised in question. Norman nodded. "That's right." He extended his hand. "TK Dover."

"Aloysius Grant," said Sam in an unrecognisable voice. He pushed past to grab the percolator.

Norman narrowed his eyes. Something didn't feel right. Could he have imagined the Sam's signal earlier?

Sam's eyes weren't giving anything away. People were moving behind him. Sara checked her watch and signalled to the doormen. Things were about to start.

Norman clenched his teeth. If he had to abort, he needed to know now. He risked the code phrase. "I'm not sure this coffee is doing the trick for me."

Sam sipped the brown fluid and sloshed it around his mouth. His eyes lost focus.

Norman's blood boiled at Sam's impudence. The seconds ticked away. What was Sam playing at? Norman stared at Sam exasperated, waiting for an answer.

The door men moved toward the back; Sara the front. People sensing a change drifted toward their seats.

Norman sucked in a deep breath. The plan was dependent on Sam. If he did not give the go ahead, Norman would have to get out, fast.

Finally, Sam swallowed the coffee and sighed. "Putrid is the word I would use. I’ve drunk better coffee in a Vequess slave mine café." He seemed to draw the words out, as if it hurt to form them.

Norman had to hide his smile at the key words: putrid and Vequess. Too crude for Aloysius, but part of Sam’s regular vocab. The loose strands of the plan were finally in place. So why did Sam have such attitude? Norman hoped he hadn’t lost his nerve; He needed him now more than ever, but couldn’t allow anything to endanger this mission.

He would have to keep an eye on Sam.

Sara cleared her throat from behind the dais. The room collapsed into silence under her amplified voice. "Ladies and gentlemen, the time is now eight o'clock." She nodded toward the back. "The door's are now closed. All latecomers will be barred entry. We shall begin the bidding in five minutes. Please take your seats."

Only now did Sam's eyes carry a twinkle. Norman knew Sam intimately. The man couldn’t help being who he was. When the game started, he would play all-in until the end and would love every second of it.

Norman drifted to his seat. Only three quarters of the seats were taken. He had hoped a few more would have had incidents delaying them, but he hadn’t done too badly, considering the time frame. It had been expensive to organise; he hoped it would end up worth it.

He checked out each of his remaining competitors, recalling their names, faces and bios from his neural lace. Quite a few of the significant threats were missing, but Aegean Corporation, Centrix Division and Obertex were still in attendance.

This time Norman did allow himself a half grin. Sam sat three rows back and to Norman's left. Stenson hadn't moved from his seat by the door. His cohorts were still hovering, more interested in the bidders than the bidding.

The auctioneer stood up to the dais. He tightened his tie, cracked his neck and tapped his wooden gavel against the block. "Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to another P&O auction.. The first item tonight is the modified Long Range Cruiser _Ajax_." He paused as the screen behind him came to life. A dot in the centre grew into a fully detailed LRC, which spun around its centre of gravity in both planes. A list of specifications and details appeared down the right hand side of the screen. The auctioneer ran through his required spiel, explaining the main variances of the ex-military ship over the civilian version.

Norman watched the others as they studied the graphic display. Their expressions varied for mild interest to jaw gaping excitement. Norman knew the _Ajax_ was the mid life crisis cure that many of the bidders were looking for. Probably not for the two women though. Norman knew little of them, but women in positions of wealth and power were often more unpredictable and dangerous than men.

The auctioneer finished his blurb then smacked the gavel down. "Who'll give me a quarter of a billion credits?”

A half dozen hand thrust into the air, but a tuxedo clad man claimed the opening bid. The rest of the hands fell as the auctioneer continued. “Who’ll give me point three billion credits? Quarter of a billion credits bid, now point three, now point three, will you give me point three?”

Norman sat back and watched with interest. With no desire for the _Ajax_, he had the luxury of studying the competition. There were several other bidders sitting back, seemingly uninterested in the _Ajax_.

To Norman’s dismay, one of the women, a grey haired lady in a pressed suit kept her hands down, not even holding her numbered paddle, idling looking around the room with bored eyes.

The auctioneer’s cry began to slow but his hands continued to thrust out toward the bidders, the gavel swishing through the air. As the price climbed, the number of bidders dwindled. “Who'll give me a three quarter billion? Half billion bid, now three quarter, now three quarter, will you give me three quarters?"

Only three bidders were left at the billion credit mark: one of the women, Mr Costello from Aegean Corp and the representative of Riverdance Industries. Riverdance fell out at the one point five mark. Tuxedo was frantically whispering to an aide, who had a calculator in hand. The lady fell away quickly after.

"Who'll give me two billion credits? One seven five bid, now two billion, now two billion. Will you give me two billion?"

Silence descended on the room, punctuated by the rustle of papers and a muted cough. The auctioneers head bobbed around almost desperately, pleading the bidders to continue. "Who'll give me one eight five? I'll take one eight five."

The crowd stayed silent. The Mr Costello’s face of unadulterated glee contrasted with the auctioneers. He was clearly on commission. He drew the bidding out, lowering his asking rate, but no one took the bait.

"One seven five going once, one seven five going twice," the auctioneer voice was laced with doom. With a defeated shrug, he raised the gavel high, dramatically above his head.

"One Eight zero."

The room froze as three dozen sets of eyes turned to the door. Kim Stenson had his arm held high, still, unwavering.

The auctioneer stared wide eyed before gathering himself. "One eight zero bid, now one eight five, now one eight five, will you give me one eight five?"

Tuxedo shot his arm up, piping Aegean by a split second. Aegean twisted around, eyes narrowed to slits as he tried to stare Tuxedo down.

The auctioneer didn't give him the chance however as he returned to his chant with renewed vigour. Tuxedo and Aegean went head to head, raising the price past two billion, while Stenson sat back, arms folded, a grin weaved into his face.

Norman raised an eyebrow. The cop was planning something. But what? Norman gave him a glance, but didn’t stare. He couldn’t raise attention to himself.

It took ten minutes for the bidding to ease. The auctioneer smacked his gavel on the board, relief in his strained voice. Mr Costella shook hands with his aide, a triumphant smile on his face. The auctioneer made notes in his book as Sara knelt down to whisper to Mr Costello. Norman couldn't hear the exchange.

Sara stood up and moved to the dais. "Excuse me ladies and gentlemen. With the conclusion of the first sale, we shall take a quick fifteen minute break. Please remember that the doors are to remain closed for the duration of this auction."

The hum of human noise enveloped Norman as he made his way back to the coffee station. The caffeine wasn’t doing his jittery nerves any favours, but he had a feeling he wouldn’t get another chance to savour the Phekdan brew.

Stenson stretched, stood up and went over to his INRA friends. Sara made a beeline for Norman.

Norman sucked in a breath. What did she want? He didn’t have time for an in depth conversation. He risked a glance at Sam. He was playing with his moustache. The final signal.

“Mr Dover,” Sara said. “Where’s Mr Bond?”

“Ahh,” said Norman. In truth he had been waiting for her to ask this question, but he couldn’t appear that way. “He had to return planet side. The spinning of the space station plays havoc with his equilibrium.”

Sara nodded. It was less a nod of belief, but more of not having time to follow through. She changed tact. “The Ajax didn’t hold any interest for you?”

Norman shrugged. “I told you I wanted the _Repulse_. I wasn’t kidding.”

Sara regarded him, hands on her hips. “The ships are identical in all but name, Mr Dover.”

Norman gave a toothy grin. “You’re not a ‘ship’ person, are you Miss Douglass?”

Sara paled. “Excuse me?”

Norman shook his head, an old timer regaling a child with a tall story. “A name can make all the difference. I’ll bid on her, Miss Douglass, and I’ll win her. Don’t have any doubt of that.”

Sara straightened her suit jacket and gave a satisfied humph. “Excellent.” She nodded and disappeared into the throng of people.

Norman sipped his drink and moved around the room. Feeling eyes on him, he looked up to see Stenson staring straight through him.

Norman almost coughed up his drink. Alarm bells rang through his head. Stenson suspected his identity. He had to. Norman tried to nod casually, but knew it looked like the nervous bob of a pigeon’s head. He raised his cup in acknowledgement to strengthen his case.

Stenson pursed his lips and turned away, but he continued to scan the crowd. Sara suddenly appeared beside him. Stenson almost back-pedalled, clearly surprised by the ambush.

Norman couldn’t hear their conversation over the room noise, but Stenson fidgeted as if on a sugar rush. Norman smiled and took another sip. _See how you like it, bud._

The auctioneer drummed his gavel on the board and called people to return to their seats. Norman checked Sam for what must have been the fiftieth time. He looked ready. The butterflies worked their way up Norman’s stomach, but he channelled the nervous energy to his mind and arms, where he needed it the most. Their plans required perfect timing. If anything went wrong. . .

The auctioneer started with the preamble for the _Repulse_, a repeat of the one for the _Ajax_. No one appeared to listen too hard.

With the preliminaries done, the auctioneer ran into his chant. Norman thrust his hand up to claim the opening bid. He wanted to make a statement of intent more than anything else: he meant business this time. He hoped his lack of interest in the _Ajax_ would strengthen that image.

A flurry of arms waved through the room as every single bidder wrested for the top spot. Tuxedo and Riverdance, who missed out on the _Ajax_, seemed hungrier than ever.

The price sky rocketed. Past one billion, then past two. Bidders faded away, but ten people were still in the game at three billion.

Norman kept up with the bidding, but didn’t needlessly push it higher.

The auctioneer’s face grew redder as he cry continued unabated. His eyes were shining bright however, under the vision of his commission.

Tuxedo dropped out at four billion. The two women followed soon after.

Mr Costello pushed the price to five billion. Did he need both, Norman wondered, or did he simply not want anyone else to have them? Costello's aide whispered animatedly into his ear. Were they over their limit? Norman hoped so. He didn't want it to go much higher.

"Who'll give me five six billion? Five five billion bid, now five six, now five six, will you give me five six?" The auctioneer licked his lips, the vision of money clearly streaming past his eyes.

Sam raised a hand, eyes misted over, face relaxed, like a bored student answering the teacher's question.

Norman raised his hand to counter. The auctioneer turned to Mr Costello, greed overpowering his regular protocol. Costello leaned toward his aide, mouthing something inaudible. The aide shook his head. Costello dropped his shoulders and ran his finger past his neck. He had reached the end of his rope.

Norman turned to Sam. They were the only two left. His hands and legs tingled. He could almost taste the sweet nectar of victory.

Sam edged the price to six billion. He lowered his hand, an almost malevolent grin on his face. The auctioneer turned to Norman, eyes wide, mouth agape.

Norman frowned and mouthed a curse he had learnt during his military days. He raised his head, locked eyes with the auctioneer and slowly shook his head. He couldn’t go any further.

The auctioneer's eyes dropped and he puckered his lips, but he checked the crowd with misplaced optimism. The room stayed silent.

The auctioneer wouldn’t give in. “Six Billion going once. I’ll take ten thousand increments. Six Billion going twice.” A long pause. The hammer swivelled past the crowd one more time. “Sold!”

Norman flinched as the gavel slammed down, ringing through the room. The bidding war had drained him, yet the real action was about to start. He tensed his legs and clenched his fists. He checked Stenson's position. Two rows back, five seats across. Two rows back, five seats across.

The auctioneer gathered himself up to full height, his greedy eyes replaced with a condescending aristocratic air. “Congratulations Mr Grant. You are the new owner of the _Repulse_.”

Sam jumped up, arms thrust into the air. "Yes. Victory!” He pumped his fists again.

Then his moustache fell off.

HPA3 Auction Day Pt 1

2008-08-18T09:00:29Z

Jack Hamtilon: New page: Norman sipped his coffee. People moved and jostled around him. Contracted auction staff adjusted their equipment up the front of the gala room. The dozen and a half bidders milled aro...

Norman sipped his coffee. People moved and jostled around him. Contracted auction staff adjusted their equipment up the front of the gala room. The dozen and a half bidders milled around the seats, talking, drinking and doing last minutes credit rating calculations. Only a few had taken their seats as Norman had done.

And in between them all, New Rossyth Staff hurried back and forth keeping the bidders happy. It was organised chaos.

Norman breathed deeply, sucking in the coffee vapour. Reiquatan Ultra may have had the reputation, but Phekdan coffee outshone it quality. The rich creamy texture massaged his throat as he drank. He couldn’t have dreamed of anything as satisfying.

Then a man walked through the door, shattering any visions of paradise Norman had.

Kim Stenson.

Norman mentally cursed, but his practiced façade remained rock still.

Kim stood in the doorway for a moment, hands on his hips, surveying the crowd. His eyes focused on Norman for a moment before continuing past. He carried his obviously rented suit well, but he still had ‘COP’ written all over him.

Norman chuckled. You could take the man out of the policemen, but you couldn’t take the policeman out of the man, even when supposedly undercover.

Kim stepped forward, flanked by two other men. They wore black, anti flash sunglasses, had trim, almost crew-cut hairlines and wore plain, non-descript suits.

INRA. They looked so plain, they stood out more that Stenson. They took defiant stances at the door and tried to disguise it by leaning an the coffee counter and looking thoroughly bored. Kim took the seat nearest the door and stretched out as if he were digging in for the long run.

Norman pursed his lips. The room's only exit suddenly seemed along way away.

Aloyisus Grant strutted into the room. Norman’s eyes widened. Why hadn't Sam taken his place? Norman worked his jaw as he extrapolated through events to their horrible conclusion: If Sam hadn't succeeded, he must have been captured. What the hell had gone wrong?

Aloysius tilted his head and itched his moustache. He paused mid action before joining a group of laughing businessmen.

Norman sagged forward, sighing in relief. Sam had taken Aloysius's place. The lump in his stomach instantly dissolved. Faking a cramp, he limped over to the coffee. He focused on the brew; it might have been paranoia, but he could feel Stenson's hawk-like eyes boring into his back.

Norman laughed at his nervousness. A first year Imperial Agent would be showing more resolve than this. He had planned everything out to the nth degree. Nothing could go wrong.

He shook off the veil of uncertainty and filled his cup. He poured slowly, taking his time, keeping his eyes on the coffee. Wandering eyes could create suspicion.

"I hear you're from Terra Conquera Mining?" said someone behind him.

Norman turned. Sam stood behind him, eyebrows raised in question. Norman nodded. "That's right." He extended his hand. "TK Dover."

"Aloysius Grant," said Sam in an unrecognisable voice. He pushed past to grab the percolator.

Norman narrowed his eyes. Something didn't feel right. Could he have imagined the Sam's signal earlier?

Sam's eyes weren't giving anything away. People were moving behind him. Sara checked her watch and signalled to the doormen. Things were about to start.

Norman clenched his teeth. If he had to abort, he needed to know now. He risked the code phrase. "I'm not sure this coffee is doing the trick for me."

Sam sipped the brown fluid and sloshed it around his mouth. His eyes lost focus.

Norman's blood boiled at Sam's impudence. The seconds ticked away. What was Sam playing at? Norman stared at Sam exasperated, waiting for an answer.

The door men moved toward the back; Sara the front. People sensing a change drifted toward their seats.

Norman sucked in a deep breath. The plan was dependent on Sam. If he did not give the go ahead, Norman would have to get out, fast.

Finally, Sam swallowed the coffee and sighed. "Putrid is the word I would use. I’ve drunk better coffee in a Vequess slave mine café." He seemed to draw the words out, as if it hurt to form them.

Norman had to hide his smile at the key words: putrid and Vequess. Too crude for Aloysius, but part of Sam’s regular vocab. The loose strands of the plan were finally in place. So why did Sam have such attitude? Norman hoped he hadn’t lost his nerve; He needed him now more than ever, but couldn’t allow anything to endanger this mission.

He would have to keep an eye on Sam.

Sara cleared her throat from behind the dais. The room collapsed into silence under her amplified voice. "Ladies and gentlemen, the time is now eight o'clock." She nodded toward the back. "The door's are now closed. All latecomers will be barred entry. We shall begin the bidding in five minutes. Please take your seats."

Only now did Sam's eyes carry a twinkle. Norman knew Sam intimately. The man couldn’t help being who he was. When the game started, he would play all-in until the end and would love every second of it.

Norman drifted to his seat. Only three quarters of the seats were taken. He had hoped a few more would have had incidents delaying them, but he hadn’t done too badly, considering the time frame. It had been expensive to organise; he hoped it would end up worth it.

He checked out each of his remaining competitors, recalling their names, faces and bios from his neural lace. Quite a few of the significant threats were missing, but Aegean Corporation, Centrix Division and Obertex were still in attendance.

This time Norman did allow himself a half grin. Sam sat three rows back and to Norman's left. Stenson hadn't moved from his seat by the door. His cohorts were still hovering, more interested in the bidders than the bidding.

The auctioneer stood up to the dais. He tightened his tie, cracked his neck and tapped his wooden gavel against the block. "Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to another P&O auction.. The first item tonight is the modified Long Range Cruiser _Ajax_." He paused as the screen behind him came to life. A dot in the centre grew into a fully detailed LRC, which spun around its centre of gravity in both planes. A list of specifications and details appeared down the right hand side of the screen. The auctioneer ran through his required spiel, explaining the main variances of the ex-military ship over the civilian version.

Norman watched the others as they studied the graphic display. Their expressions varied for mild interest to jaw gaping excitement. Norman knew the _Ajax_ was the mid life crisis cure that many of the bidders were looking for. Probably not for the two women though. Norman knew little of them, but women in positions of wealth and power were often more unpredictable and dangerous than men.

The auctioneer finished his blurb then smacked the gavel down. "Who'll give me a quarter of a billion credits?”

A half dozen hand thrust into the air, but a tuxedo clad man claimed the opening bid. The rest of the hands fell as the auctioneer continued. “Who’ll give me point three billion credits? Quarter of a billion credits bid, now point three, now point three, will you give me point three?”

Norman sat back and watched with interest. With no desire for the _Ajax_, he had the luxury of studying the competition. There were several other bidders sitting back, seemingly uninterested in the _Ajax_.

To Norman’s dismay, one of the women, a grey haired lady in a pressed suit kept her hands down, not even holding her numbered paddle, idling looking around the room with bored eyes.

The auctioneer’s cry began to slow but his hands continued to thrust out toward the bidders, the gavel swishing through the air. As the price climbed, the number of bidders dwindled. “Who'll give me a three quarter billion? Half billion bid, now three quarter, now three quarter, will you give me three quarters?"

Only three bidders were left at the billion credit mark: one of the women, Mr Costello from Aegean Corp and the representative of Riverdance Industries. Riverdance fell out at the one point five mark. Tuxedo was frantically whispering to an aide, who had a calculator in hand. The lady fell away quickly after.

"Who'll give me two billion credits? One seven five bid, now two billion, now two billion. Will you give me two billion?"

Silence descended on the room, punctuated by the rustle of papers and a muted cough. The auctioneers head bobbed around almost desperately, pleading the bidders to continue. "Who'll give me one eight five? I'll take one eight five."

The crowd stayed silent. The Mr Costello’s face of unadulterated glee contrasted with the auctioneers. He was clearly on commission. He drew the bidding out, lowering his asking rate, but no one took the bait.

"One seven five going once, one seven five going twice," the auctioneer voice was laced with doom. With a defeated shrug, he raised the gavel high, dramatically above his head.

"One Eight zero."

The room froze as three dozen sets of eyes turned to the door. Kim Stenson had his arm held high, still, unwavering.

The auctioneer stared wide eyed before gathering himself. "One eight zero bid, now one eight five, now one eight five, will you give me one eight five?"

Tuxedo shot his arm up, piping Aegean by a split second. Aegean twisted around, eyes narrowed to slits as he tried to stare Tuxedo down.

The auctioneer didn't give him the chance however as he returned to his chant with renewed vigour. Tuxedo and Aegean went head to head, raising the price past two billion, while Stenson sat back, arms folded, a grin weaved into his face.

Norman raised an eyebrow. The cop was planning something. But what? Norman gave him a glance, but didn’t stare. He couldn’t raise attention to himself.

It took ten minutes for the bidding to ease. The auctioneer smacked his gavel on the board, relief in his strained voice. Mr Costella shook hands with his aide, a triumphant smile on his face. The auctioneer made notes in his book as Sara knelt down to whisper to Mr Costello. Norman couldn't hear the exchange.

Sara stood up and moved to the dais. "Excuse me ladies and gentlemen. With the conclusion of the first sale, we shall take a quick fifteen minute break. Please remember that the doors are to remain closed for the duration of this auction."

The hum of human noise enveloped Norman as he made his way back to the coffee station. The caffeine wasn’t doing his jittery nerves any favours, but he had a feeling he wouldn’t get another chance to savour the Phekdan brew.

Stenson stretched, stood up and went over to his INRA friends. Sara made a beeline for Norman.

Norman sucked in a breath. What did she want? He didn’t have time for an in depth conversation. He risked a glance at Sam. He was playing with his moustache. The final signal.

“Mr Dover,” Sara said. “Where’s Mr Bond?”

“Ahh,” said Norman. In truth he had been waiting for her to ask this question, but he couldn’t appear that way. “He had to return planet side. The spinning of the space station plays havoc with his equilibrium.”

Sara nodded. It was less a nod of belief, but more of not having time to follow through. She changed tact. “The Ajax didn’t hold any interest for you?”

Norman shrugged. “I told you I wanted the _Repulse_. I wasn’t kidding.”

Sara regarded him, hands on her hips. “The ships are identical in all but name, Mr Dover.”

Norman gave a toothy grin. “You’re not a ‘ship’ person, are you Miss Douglass?”

Sara paled. “Excuse me?”

Norman shook his head, an old timer regaling a child with a tall story. “A name can make all the difference. I’ll bid on her, Miss Douglass, and I’ll win her. Don’t have any doubt of that.”

Sara straightened her suit jacket and gave a satisfied humph. “Excellent.” She nodded and disappeared into the throng of people.

Norman sipped his drink and moved around the room. Feeling eyes on him, he looked up to see Stenson staring straight through him.

Norman almost coughed up his drink. Alarm bells rang through his head. Stenson suspected his identity. He had to. Norman tried to nod casually, but knew it looked like the nervous bob of a pigeon’s head. He raised his cup in acknowledgement to strengthen his case.

Stenson pursed his lips and turned away, but he continued to scan the crowd. Sara suddenly appeared beside him. Stenson almost back-pedalled, clearly surprised by the ambush.

Norman couldn’t hear their conversation over the room noise, but Stenson fidgeted as if on a sugar rush. Norman smiled and took another sip. _See how you like it, bud._

The auctioneer drummed his gavel on the board and called people to return to their seats. Norman checked Sam for what must have been the fiftieth time. He looked ready. The butterflies worked their way up Norman’s stomach, but he channelled the nervous energy to his mind and arms, where he needed it the most. Their plans required perfect timing. If anything went wrong. . .

The auctioneer started with the preamble for the _Repulse_, a repeat of the one for the _Ajax_. No one appeared to listen too hard.

With the preliminaries done, the auctioneer ran into his chant. Norman thrust his hand up to claim the opening bid. He wanted to make a statement of intent more than anything else: he meant business this time. He hoped his lack of interest in the _Ajax_ would strengthen that image.

A flurry of arms waved through the room as every single bidder wrested for the top spot. Tuxedo and Riverdance, who missed out on the _Ajax_, seemed hungrier than ever.

The price sky rocketed. Past one billion, then past two. Bidders faded away, but ten people were still in the game at three billion.

Norman kept up with the bidding, but didn’t needlessly push it higher.

The auctioneer’s face grew redder as he cry continued unabated. His eyes were shining bright however, under the vision of his commission.

Tuxedo dropped out at four billion. The two women followed soon after.

Mr Costello pushed the price to five billion. Did he need both, Norman wondered, or did he simply not want anyone else to have them? Costello's aide whispered animatedly into his ear. Were they over their limit? Norman hoped so. He didn't want it to go much higher.

"Who'll give me five six billion? Five five billion bid, now five six, now five six, will you give me five six?" The auctioneer licked his lips, the vision of money clearly streaming past his eyes.

Sam raised a hand, eyes misted over, face relaxed, like a bored student answering the teacher's question.

Norman raised his hand to counter. The auctioneer turned to Mr Costello, greed overpowering his regular protocol. Costello leaned toward his aide, mouthing something inaudible. The aide shook his head. Costello dropped his shoulders and ran his finger past his neck. He had reached the end of his rope.

Norman turned to Sam. They were the only two left. His hands and legs tingled. He could almost taste the sweet nectar of victory.

Sam edged the price to six billion. He lowered his hand, an almost malevolent grin on his face. The auctioneer turned to Norman, eyes wide, mouth agape.

Norman frowned and mouthed a curse he had learnt during his military days. He raised his head, locked eyes with the auctioneer and slowly shook his head. He couldn’t go any further.

The auctioneer's eyes dropped and he puckered his lips, but he checked the crowd with misplaced optimism. The room stayed silent.

The auctioneer wouldn’t give in. “Six Billion going once. I’ll take ten thousand increments. Six Billion going twice.” A long pause. The hammer swivelled past the crowd one more time. “Sold!”

Norman flinched as the gavel slammed down, ringing through the room. The bidding war had drained him, yet the real action was about to start. He tensed his legs and clenched his fists. He checked Stenson's position. Two rows back, five seats across. Two rows back, five seats across.

The auctioneer gathered himself up to full height, his greedy eyes replaced with a condescending aristocratic air. “Congratulations Mr Grant. You are the new owner of the _Repulse_.”

Sam jumped up, arms thrust into the air. "Yes. Victory!” He pumped his fists again.

Then his moustache fell off.

HPA3 Episodes

2008-08-18T08:56:51Z

Jack Hamtilon: New page: == Overview == Here you will find the latest episodes of the continuing saga, HPA 3: The Tides of War *Auction Day Part 1 Norman and Sam enter the auction of...

== Overview ==

Here you will find the latest episodes of the continuing saga, HPA 3: The Tides of War

*[[HPA3 Auction Day Pt 1|Auction Day Part 1]]

Norman and Sam enter the auction of their lives

----

*[[HPA3 Auction Day Pt 2|Auction Day Part 2]]

The Huge Plasma Accelerator 3

2008-08-18T08:54:49Z

Jack Hamtilon:

{{Infobox Book| title = The Huge Plasma Accelerator III
| name = The Huge Plasma Accelerator III
| sub_title = Tides of War
| image = [[image:LRC.gif]]
| image_caption = The Azure Sunset over Capitol
| author = Elite Fans
| country = UK/AUS/NZ/OTHER
| language = English
| series = [[The HPA Saga]]
| genre = Science Fiction
| publisher = [http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro]
| release_date = 2007-
| media_type = Electronic
| pages = ??
| preceded_by = [[The Huge Plasma Accelerator|The Huge Plasma Accelerator 2]]
| followed_by = -
}}

'''''Reality''''' flooded back; he wasn’t going to get revenge. Not against them. Not if half the rumours he had heard in spacer bars were true. There was no hope in hell for him. They had unlimited resources, and he was just one man.

"I’m going to cut to the chase," said Frantic. "Our organisation wants to take INRA out."

-Book 1, The HPA3 Saga

== Description ==

After escaping from the battle of rocky fields, the battered '''Azure Sunset''' must find refuge and repairs, while her fragmented crew must come to terms with what they lost, and what lays ahead.

Elsewhere in the galaxy, Mack Winston is on a collision course with his past.

== Episodes ==

Click [[HPA3 Episodes|here]] for the latest HPA3 episodes, or check the [[#Links|links]] below

==Story Summary (SPOILERS)==

===Opening===

The '''Azure Sunset''' has limped to a drydock run by Frantic's secret organisation. Frantic indicates he wants to destroy INRA once and for all. But to do that, he needs an operational HPA.

de Havilland, Veruz and Emu set off for civilised space to find replacement parts, while Norman and Sam go looking for a replacement ship, as damage to the '''Sunset''' from its last battle was terminal.

===The Next Move===

The crew splits up, each with specific tasks:

Norman Mosser and Sam Kemper head for the New Rossyth Shipyards to bid for the decommisioned '''AJN Ajax''' and '''Repulse''' which are on sale. On the way, they have to make a few stops to cement their fake ID's.

de Havilland and Veruz take Emu back to her home in Beta Hydri before heading back to the now infamous Williamson Base for new parts for the damaged Huge Plasma Accelerator.

The rest of Norman's crew stay behind to repair the ship, but are they with friend or foe?

==Major Characters==

*Sam Kemper
Norman Mosser's right hand man. The two have been friends for many years and Sam has diligently followed Norman everywhere. After the failure at Fort Donalds(See the [[HPA1]]), Mosser began to doubt himself. Knowing that Mosser required a jump start, he jettisoned Norman in an escape capsule.

Sam was captured by Alliance Intelligence and interrogated for several months before escaping and meeting up with Mosser.

After the death of Annalise Berihn, Sam became withdrawn.

*Benzedrine Moore (DECEASED)
An Engineer and mechanic, Moore suffers from slight space madness and alcoholism. His brain is slowly deteriorating.

He was imprisoned on the '''Sunset''' by Kim Stenson. He was killed in the battle of rocky fields when the section the ship he was in was destroyed.

*Annalise Berihn (DECEASED)
A weapon loving lady, Annalise was from Diso and worked with her aunty Jannah on the Long Haul Outpost. Tall, seductive and dangerous, she has the complete package. She was killed by Kim Stenson during his flight from Norman Mosser.

*Roj Warfturn
This man is worth 250,000C to the Imperials. He survived the battle of rocky fields in good shape. He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

Wafturn runs engineering on the '''Sunset'''.

*John Anders
He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found. Anders was an electrician by trade before joining Mosser's crew. He is the most stable of the crew.

*'Lucky' Wal
He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

Lucky mans the astrogation and sensor stations on the '''Sunset'''.

*Frantic
Less a member of Mosser's team than an equal that often works with him. Mosser's and Frantic's friendship goes back many years. Each has their own secrets, but they often have common goals and work together.

Frantic takes command of the '''Sunset''' once it arrives in his drydock. He has schemes for the HPA and needs the help of Mosser and his crew.

*de Havilland
Discovered who the mysterious enemy were. To defeat [[INRA]], he has to go back to inhabited space to source replacement parts for the damaged HPA

With Maegil's death, he finds himself drawing closer to Emu, though something inside holds him back, knowing it is wrong.

*Michael Veruz
Is reassesing his career options as his eyes are opened to a new life of running from the law.

*Cmdr Maegil
Flew his ship, the Tenchu in the battle of rocky fields. Lead the Spartacus Brotherhood from near defeat to victory over the Imperials before his ship was destroyed

*Emu
Watches her boyfriend die in the battle of rocky fields. Heartbroken and lonely, she find solace in de Havilland, but she still grieves for her lost man.

*Kim Stenson
After his ambush goes horribly wrong on the '''Sunset''', he decides to escape. This too goes wrong. He loses consciousness as his ship goes out of control. He wakes up a prisoner in some unknown place.

== Links ==

[http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro] has Chapters 1-3 of the unfolding HPA3 drama. Keep checking back for the latest instalments...

[[Category:Fiction]]

The Huge Plasma Accelerator 3

2008-08-18T08:54:14Z

Jack Hamtilon:

{{Infobox Book| title = The Huge Plasma Accelerator III
| name = The Huge Plasma Accelerator III
| sub_title = Tides of War
| image = [[image:LRC.gif]]
| image_caption = The Azure Sunset over Capitol
| author = Elite Fans
| country = UK/AUS/NZ/OTHER
| language = English
| series = [[The HPA Saga]]
| genre = Science Fiction
| publisher = [http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro]
| release_date = 2007-
| media_type = Electronic
| pages = ??
| preceded_by = [[The Huge Plasma Accelerator|The Huge Plasma Accelerator 2]]
| followed_by = -
}}

'''''Reality''''' flooded back; he wasn’t going to get revenge. Not against them. Not if half the rumours he had heard in spacer bars were true. There was no hope in hell for him. They had unlimited resources, and he was just one man.

"I’m going to cut to the chase," said Frantic. "Our organisation wants to take INRA out."

-Book 1, The HPA3 Saga

== Description ==

After escaping from the battle of rocky fields, the battered '''Azure Sunset''' must find refuge and repairs, while her fragmented crew must come to terms with what they lost, and what lays ahead.

Elsewhere in the galaxy, Mack Winston is on a collision course with his past.

== Episodes ==

Click [[HPA3 Episodes|here]] for the latest HPA3 episodes, or check the [[#Links]] below

==Story Summary (SPOILERS)==

===Opening===

The '''Azure Sunset''' has limped to a drydock run by Frantic's secret organisation. Frantic indicates he wants to destroy INRA once and for all. But to do that, he needs an operational HPA.

de Havilland, Veruz and Emu set off for civilised space to find replacement parts, while Norman and Sam go looking for a replacement ship, as damage to the '''Sunset''' from its last battle was terminal.

===The Next Move===

The crew splits up, each with specific tasks:

Norman Mosser and Sam Kemper head for the New Rossyth Shipyards to bid for the decommisioned '''AJN Ajax''' and '''Repulse''' which are on sale. On the way, they have to make a few stops to cement their fake ID's.

de Havilland and Veruz take Emu back to her home in Beta Hydri before heading back to the now infamous Williamson Base for new parts for the damaged Huge Plasma Accelerator.

The rest of Norman's crew stay behind to repair the ship, but are they with friend or foe?

==Major Characters==

*Sam Kemper
Norman Mosser's right hand man. The two have been friends for many years and Sam has diligently followed Norman everywhere. After the failure at Fort Donalds(See the [[HPA1]]), Mosser began to doubt himself. Knowing that Mosser required a jump start, he jettisoned Norman in an escape capsule.

Sam was captured by Alliance Intelligence and interrogated for several months before escaping and meeting up with Mosser.

After the death of Annalise Berihn, Sam became withdrawn.

*Benzedrine Moore (DECEASED)
An Engineer and mechanic, Moore suffers from slight space madness and alcoholism. His brain is slowly deteriorating.

He was imprisoned on the '''Sunset''' by Kim Stenson. He was killed in the battle of rocky fields when the section the ship he was in was destroyed.

*Annalise Berihn (DECEASED)
A weapon loving lady, Annalise was from Diso and worked with her aunty Jannah on the Long Haul Outpost. Tall, seductive and dangerous, she has the complete package. She was killed by Kim Stenson during his flight from Norman Mosser.

*Roj Warfturn
This man is worth 250,000C to the Imperials. He survived the battle of rocky fields in good shape. He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

Wafturn runs engineering on the '''Sunset'''.

*John Anders
He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found. Anders was an electrician by trade before joining Mosser's crew. He is the most stable of the crew.

*'Lucky' Wal
He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

Lucky mans the astrogation and sensor stations on the '''Sunset'''.

*Frantic
Less a member of Mosser's team than an equal that often works with him. Mosser's and Frantic's friendship goes back many years. Each has their own secrets, but they often have common goals and work together.

Frantic takes command of the '''Sunset''' once it arrives in his drydock. He has schemes for the HPA and needs the help of Mosser and his crew.

*de Havilland
Discovered who the mysterious enemy were. To defeat [[INRA]], he has to go back to inhabited space to source replacement parts for the damaged HPA

With Maegil's death, he finds himself drawing closer to Emu, though something inside holds him back, knowing it is wrong.

*Michael Veruz
Is reassesing his career options as his eyes are opened to a new life of running from the law.

*Cmdr Maegil
Flew his ship, the Tenchu in the battle of rocky fields. Lead the Spartacus Brotherhood from near defeat to victory over the Imperials before his ship was destroyed

*Emu
Watches her boyfriend die in the battle of rocky fields. Heartbroken and lonely, she find solace in de Havilland, but she still grieves for her lost man.

*Kim Stenson
After his ambush goes horribly wrong on the '''Sunset''', he decides to escape. This too goes wrong. He loses consciousness as his ship goes out of control. He wakes up a prisoner in some unknown place.

== Links ==

[http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro] has Chapters 1-3 of the unfolding HPA3 drama. Keep checking back for the latest instalments...

[[Category:Fiction]]

Elite Wiki talk:Manual of Style

2008-07-20T07:42:00Z

Jack Hamtilon: New page: Is this supposed to be there? or is this more spam? doesn't sound like a style manual to me!

Is this supposed to be there? or is this more spam? doesn't sound like a style manual to me!

The HPA Saga

2008-05-23T21:02:37Z

Jack Hamtilon:

== Description ==

The Huge Plasma Accelerator (or HPA) Saga, is a chronicle following the Long range Cruiser, the '''Azure Sunset''' which has a stolen Huge Plasma Accelerator on its front weapon mount.

The ship is controlled by Norman Mosser and his crew of criminals.

== Story (SPOILERS) ==

*[[HPA1|First Saga]]

Norman steals a Huge Plasma Accelerator from the Federation and installs it on a [[Long Range Cruiser]] named the [[Azure Sunset]]. Working with the barstard Prince Marcus, Norman devises a plan to assasinate the Crown Prince by destroying Fort Donalds, a space station orbiting Capitol (Achenar 6d).

Alliance Intelligence hire a rogue named [[Red Ravens]] and his co-pilot to track the HPA. Once they realise what the HPA's target is, they rust to Fort Donalds and thwart the plan by making Marcus's android sabotage the [[Azure Sunset]].

The Imperial Navy arrives at Fort Donalds and in the ensuring battle, the damaged [[Azure Sunset]] escapes. Aided by a mysterious organisation, the [[Azure Sunset]] evades Imperial tracking and is repaired at a hidden base where the engines are upgraded to Imperial military spec.

The failure at Fort Donalds takes its toll on Norman, and he decides to go on a side trip to find [[Raxxla]]. He abandons the [[Azure Sunset]], which is programmed to make random hyperspace jumps to keep in hidden. The random number generator is held by Mary Darkes's brother on Earth.

*[[HPA2|Second Saga]]

After having found Raxxla, but not disclosing what he found, Norman returns to inhabited space with new plans for the [[Azure Sunset]]. He enlists the help of his old friend Sam Kemper. Unfortunately, two other clones of Norman show up, each wanting to get their hands on the Sunset.

A drifter named [[Vasquith de Havilland]] and his co-pilot stumble upon the [[Azure Sunset]] during one of its random jumps. As the investigate further, mysterious ships appear and attack them. [[Vasquith de Havilland|de Havilland]] retreats into the ship itself. There he works out the random number generator for the hyperdrive and kills the pilots of the mysterious ships. He escapes into hyperspace, but is chased across the Galaxy. Knowing he will never be safe, de Havilland decides to use his information of the [[Azure Sunset|Sunset]] to buy protection from Norman Mosser.

The Mosser's battle each other, pulling others into their wake, including a anti-slave group known as the [[Spartacus Brotherhood]]. After a battle with the leader of the Spartans, Norman reclaims the [[Sunset|Azure Sunset]] and goes to hidden base for repairs.

The [[Azure Sunset]] was being tracked however and both the [[Federation]] and [[Empire]] send in fleets to destroy the [[Sunset|Azure Sunset]].

In what was to become known as the ''Battle of Rocky Fields'', a mortally wounded [[Azure Sunset]] manages to escape into hyperspace.

*[[HPA3|Third Saga]]

In the ''Third Saga'', the '''Sunset''' limps back to a drydock belonging to the same organisation which helped Norman at the end of [[HPA1|first saga]]. When there, Frantic takes command and indicates they will use the '''Sunset''' to destroy INRA.

The Azure Sunset is found to be mortally wounded and the HPA is non-functional. While Norman and Sam go to [[Alioth]] to find a new LRC for the gun, [[Vasquith de Havilland|de Havilland]] goes to find replacement parts for the HPA.

[[Category:Fiction]]

The Huge Plasma Accelerator

2008-05-22T23:17:50Z

Jack Hamtilon:

{{Infobox Book| title = The Huge Plasma Accelerator I
| name = The Huge Plasma Accelerator I
| sub_title = The Capitol Incident
| image = [[image:LRC.gif]]
| image_caption = The Azure Sunset over Capitol
| author = Elite Fans
| country = UK/AUS/NZ/OTHER
| language = English
| series = [[The HPA Saga]]
| genre = Science Fiction
| publisher = [http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro]
| release_date = 2006
| media_type = Electronic
| pages = ??
| preceded_by = -
| followed_by = [[The Huge Plasma Accelerator 2]]
}}

'' 'The leader spoke, an aquaphone taped to his throat. His voice echoed over the commlink in Norman's helmet. ''

'' 'Ssso Norman, you sseek to make a deal with ussss?' ''

'' 'Indeed. I wish to obtain a weapon' ''

'' 'What isss the nature of the weapon that you sssseek?' ''

'' 'A Huge Plasma Accelerator' ''

- Extract from "Side Project" from Book 1 of the HPA Saga

== Description ==

A fan-fiction story set in the FFE universe around the year 3307. The main story arc involves the theft of a Huge Plasma Accelerator (HPA) and Imperial politics. Various side stories occur along the way, involving fringe characters and stories.

It is written through the point of view of its multiple authors, whose own characters unwittingly get caught up in what was to become known as the "HPA sarrghhaa"

== Participants ==
*[[Norman Mosser]] (and crew)
*[[Jake Sommersby]] (and Jecht)
*[[Leif Ericsen]] (and crew)
*[[Nomura]]
*[[Red Ravens]] (and Bec, Dreyfus, Marcus etc.)
*[[Frantic]] (and some mysterious organisation)
*[[James K. Winston]] (and Mack)
*[[Jannah Berrinh]] (and Leila Berrinh)
*[[Rowan Weston]]
*[[Ocker]] (and a band of tyrants)
*Probably a couple more small contributors

== Norman's Crew ==

Although many of Mosser's legendary missions involved him alone, as his schemes grew, his need for hired help grew. During the incidents of the HPA 1 saga, his crew included the following people:

*'''Sam Kemper'''
Norman Mosser's right hand man. The two have been friends for many years and Sam has diligently followed Norman everywhere.

*'''Mary Darkes'''
Mary is second in command and runs the [[Azure Sunset]]

*'''Benzedrine Moore'''
An Engineer and mechanic, Moore suffers from slight space madness and alcoholism.

*'''Annalise Berihn'''
A weapon loving lady, Annalise is from Diso and has worked with her aunty Jannah on the Long Haul Outpost. Tall, seductive and dangerous, she has the complete package.

*'''Roj Warfturn'''
This man is worth 250,000C to the Imperials.

*'''John Anders'''
An electrician by trade before joining Mosser's crew, he is the most stable of the crew.

*'''Lucky' Wal'''

== Azure Sunset ==

A [[Long Range Cruiser]] owned by Norman Mosser and equipped with a recalcitant Huge Plasma Accelerator. [[Azure Sunset|Click Here]] for the main article.

== External Links ==

[http://www.galnet.org/index.php GalNET_Terminal]
Select -Fiction- and HPA for an uncompiled linklist.

[http://hughesd.co.uk/elite/fiction.asp Elite BTF] has a PDF version of the HPA and HPA2 sagas, along with the "Past Prologue" compilations of what some of the participants did in the between.

[http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro] has a mirror of the entire HPA 1 and 2 sagas in pdf format.

[[Category:Fiction]]

The Huge Plasma Accelerator 2

2008-05-22T23:09:31Z

Jack Hamtilon:

{{Infobox Book| title = The Huge Plasma Accelerator II
| name = The Huge Plasma Accelerator II
| sub_title = Return of the Azure Sunset
| image = [[image:LRC.gif]]
| image_caption = The Azure Sunset over Capitol
| author = Elite Fans
| country = UK/AUS/NZ/OTHER
| language = English
| series = [[The HPA Saga]]
| genre = Science Fiction
| publisher = [http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro]
| release_date = 2007
| media_type = Electronic
| pages = ??
| preceded_by = [[The Huge Plasma Accelerator|The Huge Plasma Accelerator 1]]
| followed_by = [[The Huge Plasma Accelerator 3]]
}}

'''''"I''''' lifted the object, feeling the ergonomic pistol grip in my hand. The delicately balanced trigger. The enormous
emitter array. The sheer balance of the weapon. The Vega Corp logo, and the ''Azure Sunset'' sigil etched into the
deep blue metal. The sender hadn't needed to sign it. The exquisite vellum and the fact that the object was a brand
new Deathwreaker II had the trademark of Norman Mosser stamped all over it."

-Mack Winston - Book 1 of the HPA2 Saga

== Description ==
A fan-fiction story set in the FFE universe, around the year 3309. It is a couple of years after the Azure Sunset debacle at Fort Donalds. Mack Winston is on the run, with an Imperial Princess. Norman has returned from his search for Raxxla. He wants the Azure Sunset. As events start to ripple across the cosmos, other characters become unwittingly involved in events.

The HPA2 Saga ended in September, 2007. The HPA3 Saga continues the story of the '''Azure Sunset'''

== Participants ==
*[[Norman Mosser]] (and crew)
*[[Mack Winston]] (and Maria Hengist-Duval)
*[[Cmdr Maegil]] (and Emu)
*[[Vasquith de Havilland]] (and Michael Veruz)
*[[Kim Stenson]]
*[[The Spartacus Brotherhood]]

== The Azure Sunset ==
The Azure Sunset is a Long Range Cruiser, commissioned in 3294 as the 'Abrahams Son'. She served as a trading vessel until she was brought by an Imperial Royal and along with Norman Mosser turned into a weapon: A platform for the Huge Plasma Accelerator. The weapon was assembled in secret, the entire ship turned into a fortress for Mosser.
The Azure Sunset was designed for a single purpose, but she failed in her mission and was lost in the depths of space. Many years later, after Norman had returned, ego and all, he sought out to reclaim her. As several Mosser clones had been activated, several avenues were exposed, but in the end, Mosser discovered a man named Vasquith de Havilland who had seen the ship and knew where she would be at any given time. The two teamed up and found their way to the ship.

The front third of the ship is taken up with the HPA, while the rest of the ship is utilitarian. There is a medical centre which serves as a clone depository for Mosser, in case he has any 'accidents'.

The ships superstructure was weakened when it was pulled from hyperspace as it fled the Achernar system. The ship was never fully repaired and remains in a weakened condition. The engines had increased safety margins installed to reduce the stresses on the ship.

== The Story (SPOILERS) ==

=== Opening Gambit ===

'''[[Vasquith de Havilland|de Havilland]]''' and Veruz discover, by accident, the location of the Azure Sunset. He is attacked by unknown aggresors and flees inside the ship where he learns every location the Azure Sunset will hyperspace jump to. After a brief battle onboard the Azure Sunset, de Havilland and Veruz escape in a borrowed Krait, which they take to the AAAI shipyards where de Havilland used to work. They decrypt the hyperspace coordiates of the Azure Sunset and as the city gets attacked by bounty hunters, they escape in a modified Saker Mk III with a Nano Plasma Accelerator. they set up a meeting with Norman Mosser and unwittingly become a part of his crew.

'''[[Kim Stenson|Stenson]]''' gets a notification of an Imperial Courier (Normans type of ship) was attacked by an Interpol patrol. He puts the clues together and goes hunting for more information in Reidquat. He is attacked by a group of heavies, but survives. His clues take him to Alioth where he sees the escaping Saker mk III. he flies to Reidquat and watches de Havilland interact with Norman then follows them through hyperspace...

'''[[Mack Winston|Winston]]''' knows that everyone wants to kill him. Then Norman offers him a job. to kill Norman. Not himself naturally, just the other two of his clones wandering about. Mack takes the job as the money would go along way to salvaging some kind of a life from the wreck he currently endures. He kills one Norman and wounds another, but it manages to get away. Winston is captured my Maegil and taken on as his Apprentice.

'''[[Norman Mosser|Mosser]]''' wants the Azure Sunset. Initially, he works together with his two other clones to retrieve it, but things become untenable and each Mosser tries to hire Mack Winston to kill the others. Two Mossers go to Earth, where one is killed, while the other teams up with Maegil where he gets the coordinates for the Azure Sunset and gets a proposition to join the Spartacus Brotherhood. the original Mosser, meanwhile, heads to Reidquat where he meets up with de Havilland and Veruz. together, they travel to the then current location of the AZ, only to get attacked by the mysterious forces. They escape and form plans to meet at a small, inhabited system...

'''[[CMDR Maegil|Maegil]]''' an Federation ex-special forces officer, currently a Black-Ops undercover agent. He has a distinct and often conflicting set of morals, and wishes to teach this to a young upstart named Mack Winston, also wants to recruit Norman Mosser to his anti-slavery group known as the Spartacus Brotherhood. He had a girlfriend named Emu, who he travels with.

'''[[The Spartacus Brotherhood]]''' is an ex-slaves organization that created a semi-legitimate government and sent an ultimatum to every slavist government or system. Some think they are but brigands, but they keep military discipline in their ranks and won't plunder or murder; instead they have forsaken revenge in favour of justice and fight strictly according to the laws of war. Some of their actions until now include patrolling slavist systems and boarding ships suspected of carrying slaves (apreending them if they are), raiding starports to free slaves and invading the Quexce system to force the local government to abolish slavery. However, some of their actions were (intentionally or not) ham-handed, nearly driving the Federation and the Empire to full-scale war twice so far.

=== Showdown at Sunset ===
All the major players found their own way to the Azure Sunset, aloft in the Ioenin system: Norman and Sam flew with de Havilland and Veruz aboard their Stealthed AAAI Shipyards Saker Mk III. [[CMDR Maegil|Maegil]] and [[Mack Winston|Winston]] via Maegils Asp. Another Norman used another Normans Imperial Courier, but was ultimately killed in the enusing chaos. A series of showdowns encased the ship as the players tried to assert dominance over the others. A standoff was narrowly averted with Maegil being seriously wounded and his computer virus shutting down the auto destruct.

Now Normans crew are in charge of the Azure Sunset. All that stands in their way is an entire ship of defunct systems and a lone Interpol agent...

Meanwhile, [[Mack Winston]] leaves the ''Azure Sunset'' to find some vengeance for the death of his love.

=== Battle of Rocky Fields ===
But little do they know that someone behind the scene is pulling the strings, manoeuvring the Federation and Imperial fleets into a collision with the ''Azure Sunset'' and the [[Spartacus Brotherhood]].

The battles becomes a massive, three-way affair with no holds barred. Each group has objectives and secret instructions. the ''Azure Sunset'' just wants to escape.

On the other side of the known galaxy, [[Mack Winston|Mack]] travels to the Empire to find Maria's father. the two collude to assasinate the man responsible for Maria's death. Mack goes to assasinate the man but finds him already dead and himself framed. He leaves with a lady claiming to help him, but who puts him to sleep.

=== Aftermath ===
Mack awakes to find himself imprisoned by Alliance Security. He has two options: Spill the beans on everything related to the ''Azure Sunset'' or rot in prison with a damaged brain. He agrees to a new life and is about to move on when his presumed dead parents are found in statis.

Meanwhile, the crew of the ''Azure Sunset'' face an even greater challenge. They may have survived, but at great cost: The ship was seriously damaged. More importantly, one of the crew, Moore is missing. No one knows that a lone interpol agent still stalks the corridors of the ''Sunset''...

== Mosser's Crew ==

Although many of Mosser's legendary missions involved him alone, as his schemes grew, his need for hired help grew. His crew has chopped and changed over the years, but during the HPA2 saga, Mosser's crew includes the following people:

*'''Sam Kemper'''
Norman Mosser's right hand man. The two have been friends for many years and Sam has diligently followed Norman everywhere. After the failure at Fort Donalds, Mosser grew doubts and Sam jettisoned him in an escape capsule to jump start him again. Unfortunately he was captured by Alliance Intelligence before he could reclaim Mosser.

He escaped somehow and managed to meet up with Mosser on a distant planet, after Mosser had returned from Raxxla.

*'''Benzedrine Moore'''
An Engineer and mechanic, Moore suffers from slight space madness and alcoholism. His brain is slowly deteriorating.

*'''Annalise Berihn'''
A weapon loving lady, Annalise is from Diso and has worked with her aunty Jannah on the Long Haul Outpost. Tall, seductive and dangerous, she has the complete package.

*'''Roj Warfturn'''
This man is worth 250,000C to the Imperials.

*'''John Anders'''

*''''Lucky' Wal'''

*'''[[Frantic]]'''
Less a member of Mosser's team than an equal that often works with him. Mosser's and Frantic's friendship goes back many years. Each has their own secrets, but they often have common goals and work together.

== Weapons of the Saga ==
===Federal Marines - Special Issue Carbine===
Based on the civilian Laser Carbine, the Special Issue was repowered by the Armonitions Corporation. the resulting laser pulse is shorter, but has a higher energy level and a faster refire rate. The recoil is almost completely compensated for. A folding stock and a more utilitarian look gives the Special Issue an almost spectral look. It is cheap and lightweight, but easily damaged and no good as a bludgeoning weapon. The barrel especially is prone to damage.

===L&F Detective Special===
The Lance and Ferman Detective Special is a small, lightweight laser pistol with an average power output of 1 kilo-watt. Its small stature belies a robust weapon that will work in all environments. It is a discreet weapon that can be easily hidden, a must for detectives on the beat. Although not prone to malfunction, such an event is usually disastrous to the weapon. The main drawback of the Detective Special is the low power output.

===Colt .45 "Peace maker"===
The Colt Single Action Army handgun, also known as the Colt Peacemaker or Single Action Army, is a single action revolver holding 6 rounds of ammunition. It was designed for the US cavalry by Colt's Manufacturing Company and adopted in 1873, and it was perhaps the most prolific pistol in the wild west.

===CCH "Ambassador"===
In 2056, Churchill Combine Houver produced a weapon they called the "Ambassador". A stepping stone between the traditional pistol of the 20th century and the true railguns of the 22nd century, the "Ambassador" was a true hybrid, combining the chemical power of a bullet with the electrical power of a railgun. A new, smaller bullet was produced, which fitted into a large magazine. Although fired like a normal bullet, magnetism was used in reloading, allowing a simpler, cheaper gun, but also a dangerously high refire rate. the same Magnetism suite was used to give Molecular spin to the bullets. The nanoscale vibrations allowed deeper penetration of the target, including Spectra and High Powerered Body armour.

===Colt "Diplomat"===
Favoured by special forces in all the major militaries, the "Diplomat" is a simple, but powerful weapon. It forgoes style and class for functionality. the resulting weapon looks like it was birthed in a junkyard, but packs a large enough punch to rival the Deathwrecker. The laser focusing and emitting crystal is the only high tech component, giving unparalled accuracy. The Diplomat can be dropped, kicked, compacted, shot at and detonated, and will keep working. Despite the simplistic design, the cost of the "Diplomat" is high. the weapon is also unfriendly to the user in terms of recoil and hand damage; there is no heat dissipation componentry, although some can be brought after market.

===L&F Inspector Special===
Lance and Ferman took the famously reliable "Detective Special" and threw some more money at it. They wanted a more upmarket weapon that was as successful as the Detective, but looked great and worked better. The resulting weapon was creatively labelled the "Inspector". Although the accuracy and looks were improved, the cost also increased, alienating loyal customers. The Inspector continues to sell, despite its only moderate success.

==="Winter Moon" katana and the "Little Moon" wakizashi===
A diamond-edged duralium 'daisho' (Japanese: 'large and small') given to Maegil by his Sensei, Emu's father. It incorporates the japanese swordmaking concept of a hard cutting edge sheated in a softer, shock absorving material to prevent shattering.

===Ingram 350===
The preferred Federal Special Forces assault rifle, also adopted by the Spartacus Brotherhood Marines.
Its standard version has a medium powered fast rate of fire, good against soft armour or massed opponents, but has a power regulator that can be set for a slower, 350KW shield piercing output. Its modular design can be converted to a carbine, a sniper rifle or an infantry support weapon and back in a moment's notice just by exchanging its modules, making it an excellent all-round weapon. Its downsides are the the '350 is rather heavy weighted on some configurations and is definitevely not a cheap weapon.

===GVG===
Gratuitous Violence Gun, the Imperial Army mainstream assault rifle. In an attempt to level its poorly trained conscript forces with the Federation's shielded professional soldiers, the Empire created a sturdy weapon that substituted marksmanship for sheer destructiveness. Very powerful, it has an incorporated plasma granade launcher. Even with government-manipulated production prices, the only reason the Empire can afford these weapons as mainstream is that they usually outlast the soldiers...

===Vega Corp Deathwrecker Mk I===
A weapon designed to wreck death and destruction, regardless of consequences. The deathwreaker is actually a hand held micro laser cannon, sacrificing minor things as heat exchangers, safety norms and core radiation shielding, for capacitors and yet more capacitors... 200 million were released on the market before Vega corp. was forced to stop its production on account of the law suits for personal and genetic damage, but even so it's still in demand on grittier systems. Of course, the only places you can walk around with one without being stopped by the police is where battle weapons are legal, or there's no police at all...
It huge blast in a small package has another price: a power cell has capacity to fire only five times before reloading, and the lack of heat exchanger forces for a long refire time to prevent overheating.

===Vega Corp Deathwrecker Mk II===
With exquisite Achenar-style design, 15% more blast and 8% larger power cells, it can go up to 300!KW, but it also incorporates a regulation swich that reduces its power and increases the power cell life. Unfortunately, the Vega corp still wasn't able to include shielding on it and keep it a hand gun, so they added a legal disclaimer on the bottom of grip; basically it states in legalese that on carrying or firing the weapon, the user acknowleges and accepts its hazards. To read it, one just needs a lawyer and a electron sweep microscope (not included, Cr1499+tax).
The psychos who disable the safety interlocks usually find its 0.5MW 'sufficient' even for the most extreme uses... They also discover the meaning of 'severe radiation burns'.

===Vega Corp Deathwrecker Mk II - Mosser Special Edition===
The MK II with a platinum 'Azure Sunset' sigil and an exchangeable focusing and emitting crystal capable of burning the image of Norman Mosser up to 100m. Only 300 were made, and of those, many were bought by... Mosser!

== External Links ==
[http://hughesd.co.uk/elite/hpa2.asp Elite BTF] has a PDF version of the HPA and HPA2 (in progress) sagas, along with the "Past Prologue" compilations of what some of the participants did in the between.

[http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro] offers PDF versions of the HPA for download, PDF ''and'' RTF versions of HPA2, plus "Maiden Voyage" and "A Call To Duty" - stories involving some of the HPA characters in the lead up to HPA2.
Also, as of September 2007, the beginning of '''HPA3''' is available!

[[Category:Fiction]]

The Huge Plasma Accelerator 3

2008-05-22T23:09:09Z

Jack Hamtilon:

{{Infobox Book| title = The Huge Plasma Accelerator III
| name = The Huge Plasma Accelerator III
| sub_title = Tides of War
| image = [[image:LRC.gif]]
| image_caption = The Azure Sunset over Capitol
| author = Elite Fans
| country = UK/AUS/NZ/OTHER
| language = English
| series = [[The HPA Saga]]
| genre = Science Fiction
| publisher = [http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro]
| release_date = 2007-
| media_type = Electronic
| pages = ??
| preceded_by = [[The Huge Plasma Accelerator|The Huge Plasma Accelerator 2]]
| followed_by = -
}}

'''''Reality''''' flooded back; he wasn’t going to get revenge. Not against them. Not if half the rumours he had heard in spacer bars were true. There was no hope in hell for him. They had unlimited resources, and he was just one man.

"I’m going to cut to the chase," said Frantic. "Our organisation wants to take INRA out."

-Book 1, The HPA3 Saga

== Description ==

After escaping from the battle of rocky fields, the battered '''Azure Sunset''' must find refuge and repairs, while her fragmented crew must come to terms with what they lost, and what lays ahead.

Elsewhere in the galaxy, Mack Winston is on a collision course with his past.

==Story so far (SPOILERS)==

===Opening===

The '''Azure Sunset''' has limped to a drydock run by Frantic's secret organisation. Frantic indicates he wants to destroy INRA once and for all. But to do that, he needs an operational HPA.

de Havilland, Veruz and Emu set off for civilised space to find replacement parts, while Norman and Sam go looking for a replacement ship, as damage to the '''Sunset''' from its last battle was terminal.

===The Next Move===

The crew splits up, each with specific tasks:

Norman Mosser and Sam Kemper head for the New Rossyth Shipyards to bid for the decommisioned '''AJN Ajax''' and '''Repulse''' which are on sale. On the way, they have to make a few stops to cement their fake ID's.

de Havilland and Veruz take Emu back to her home in Beta Hydri before heading back to the now infamous Williamson Base for new parts for the damaged Huge Plasma Accelerator.

The rest of Norman's crew stay behind to repair the ship, but are they with friend or foe?

==Major Characters==

*Sam Kemper
Norman Mosser's right hand man. The two have been friends for many years and Sam has diligently followed Norman everywhere. After the failure at Fort Donalds(See the [[HPA1]]), Mosser began to doubt himself. Knowing that Mosser required a jump start, he jettisoned Norman in an escape capsule.

Sam was captured by Alliance Intelligence and interrogated for several months before escaping and meeting up with Mosser.

After the death of Annalise Berihn, Sam became withdrawn.

*Benzedrine Moore (DECEASED)
An Engineer and mechanic, Moore suffers from slight space madness and alcoholism. His brain is slowly deteriorating.

He was imprisoned on the '''Sunset''' by Kim Stenson. He was killed in the battle of rocky fields when the section the ship he was in was destroyed.

*Annalise Berihn (DECEASED)
A weapon loving lady, Annalise was from Diso and worked with her aunty Jannah on the Long Haul Outpost. Tall, seductive and dangerous, she has the complete package. She was killed by Kim Stenson during his flight from Norman Mosser.

*Roj Warfturn
This man is worth 250,000C to the Imperials. He survived the battle of rocky fields in good shape. He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

Wafturn runs engineering on the '''Sunset'''.

*John Anders
He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found. Anders was an electrician by trade before joining Mosser's crew. He is the most stable of the crew.

*'Lucky' Wal
He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

Lucky mans the astrogation and sensor stations on the '''Sunset'''.

*Frantic
Less a member of Mosser's team than an equal that often works with him. Mosser's and Frantic's friendship goes back many years. Each has their own secrets, but they often have common goals and work together.

Frantic takes command of the '''Sunset''' once it arrives in his drydock. He has schemes for the HPA and needs the help of Mosser and his crew.

*de Havilland
Discovered who the mysterious enemy were. To defeat [[INRA]], he has to go back to inhabited space to source replacement parts for the damaged HPA

With Maegil's death, he finds himself drawing closer to Emu, though something inside holds him back, knowing it is wrong.

*Michael Veruz
Is reassesing his career options as his eyes are opened to a new life of running from the law.

*Cmdr Maegil
Flew his ship, the Tenchu in the battle of rocky fields. Lead the Spartacus Brotherhood from near defeat to victory over the Imperials before his ship was destroyed

*Emu
Watches her boyfriend die in the battle of rocky fields. Heartbroken and lonely, she find solace in de Havilland, but she still grieves for her lost man.

*Kim Stenson
After his ambush goes horribly wrong on the '''Sunset''', he decides to escape. This too goes wrong. He loses consciousness as his ship goes out of control. He wakes up a prisoner in some unknown place.

== Links ==

[http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro] has Chapters 1 and 2 of the unfolding HPA3 drama. Keep checking back for the latest instalments...

[[Category:Fiction]]

The Huge Plasma Accelerator 2

2008-05-22T23:04:18Z

Jack Hamtilon:

{{Infobox Book| title = The Huge Plasma Accelerator II
| name = The Huge Plasma Accelerator II
| sub_title = Return of the Azure Sunset
| image = [[image:LRC.gif]]
| image_caption = The Azure Sunset over Capitol
| author = Elite Fans
| country = UK/AUS/NZ/OTHER
| language = English
| series = [[The HPA Saga]]
| genre = Science Fiction
| publisher = [http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro]
| release_date = 2007
| media_type = Electronic
| pages = ??
| preceded_by = [[The Huge Plasma Accelerator|The Huge Plasma Accelerator 1]]
| followed_by = [[The Huge Plasma Accelerator 3]]
}}

'''''"I lifted the object, feeling the ergonomic pistol grip in my hand. The delicately balanced trigger. The enormous
emitter array. The sheer balance of the weapon. The Vega Corp logo, and the ''Azure Sunset'' sigil etched into the
deep blue metal. The sender hadn't needed to sign it. The exquisite vellum and the fact that the object was a brand
new Deathwreaker II had the trademark of Norman Mosser stamped all over it."

-Mack Winston - Book 1 of the HPA2 Saga'''''

== Description ==
A fan-fiction story set in the FFE universe, around the year 3309. It is a couple of years after the Azure Sunset debacle at Fort Donalds. Mack Winston is on the run, with an Imperial Princess. Norman has returned from his search for Raxxla. He wants the Azure Sunset. As events start to ripple across the cosmos, other characters become unwittingly involved in events.

The HPA2 Saga ended in September, 2007. The HPA3 Saga continues the story of the '''Azure Sunset'''

== Participants ==
*[[Norman Mosser]] (and crew)
*[[Mack Winston]] (and Maria Hengist-Duval)
*[[Cmdr Maegil]] (and Emu)
*[[Vasquith de Havilland]] (and Michael Veruz)
*[[Kim Stenson]]
*[[The Spartacus Brotherhood]]

== The Azure Sunset ==
The Azure Sunset is a Long Range Cruiser, commissioned in 3294 as the 'Abrahams Son'. She served as a trading vessel until she was brought by an Imperial Royal and along with Norman Mosser turned into a weapon: A platform for the Huge Plasma Accelerator. The weapon was assembled in secret, the entire ship turned into a fortress for Mosser.
The Azure Sunset was designed for a single purpose, but she failed in her mission and was lost in the depths of space. Many years later, after Norman had returned, ego and all, he sought out to reclaim her. As several Mosser clones had been activated, several avenues were exposed, but in the end, Mosser discovered a man named Vasquith de Havilland who had seen the ship and knew where she would be at any given time. The two teamed up and found their way to the ship.

The front third of the ship is taken up with the HPA, while the rest of the ship is utilitarian. There is a medical centre which serves as a clone depository for Mosser, in case he has any 'accidents'.

The ships superstructure was weakened when it was pulled from hyperspace as it fled the Achernar system. The ship was never fully repaired and remains in a weakened condition. The engines had increased safety margins installed to reduce the stresses on the ship.

== The Story (SPOILERS) ==

=== Opening Gambit ===

'''[[Vasquith de Havilland|de Havilland]]''' and Veruz discover, by accident, the location of the Azure Sunset. He is attacked by unknown aggresors and flees inside the ship where he learns every location the Azure Sunset will hyperspace jump to. After a brief battle onboard the Azure Sunset, de Havilland and Veruz escape in a borrowed Krait, which they take to the AAAI shipyards where de Havilland used to work. They decrypt the hyperspace coordiates of the Azure Sunset and as the city gets attacked by bounty hunters, they escape in a modified Saker Mk III with a Nano Plasma Accelerator. they set up a meeting with Norman Mosser and unwittingly become a part of his crew.

'''[[Kim Stenson|Stenson]]''' gets a notification of an Imperial Courier (Normans type of ship) was attacked by an Interpol patrol. He puts the clues together and goes hunting for more information in Reidquat. He is attacked by a group of heavies, but survives. His clues take him to Alioth where he sees the escaping Saker mk III. he flies to Reidquat and watches de Havilland interact with Norman then follows them through hyperspace...

'''[[Mack Winston|Winston]]''' knows that everyone wants to kill him. Then Norman offers him a job. to kill Norman. Not himself naturally, just the other two of his clones wandering about. Mack takes the job as the money would go along way to salvaging some kind of a life from the wreck he currently endures. He kills one Norman and wounds another, but it manages to get away. Winston is captured my Maegil and taken on as his Apprentice.

'''[[Norman Mosser|Mosser]]''' wants the Azure Sunset. Initially, he works together with his two other clones to retrieve it, but things become untenable and each Mosser tries to hire Mack Winston to kill the others. Two Mossers go to Earth, where one is killed, while the other teams up with Maegil where he gets the coordinates for the Azure Sunset and gets a proposition to join the Spartacus Brotherhood. the original Mosser, meanwhile, heads to Reidquat where he meets up with de Havilland and Veruz. together, they travel to the then current location of the AZ, only to get attacked by the mysterious forces. They escape and form plans to meet at a small, inhabited system...

'''[[CMDR Maegil|Maegil]]''' an Federation ex-special forces officer, currently a Black-Ops undercover agent. He has a distinct and often conflicting set of morals, and wishes to teach this to a young upstart named Mack Winston, also wants to recruit Norman Mosser to his anti-slavery group known as the Spartacus Brotherhood. He had a girlfriend named Emu, who he travels with.

'''[[The Spartacus Brotherhood]]''' is an ex-slaves organization that created a semi-legitimate government and sent an ultimatum to every slavist government or system. Some think they are but brigands, but they keep military discipline in their ranks and won't plunder or murder; instead they have forsaken revenge in favour of justice and fight strictly according to the laws of war. Some of their actions until now include patrolling slavist systems and boarding ships suspected of carrying slaves (apreending them if they are), raiding starports to free slaves and invading the Quexce system to force the local government to abolish slavery. However, some of their actions were (intentionally or not) ham-handed, nearly driving the Federation and the Empire to full-scale war twice so far.

=== Showdown at Sunset ===
All the major players found their own way to the Azure Sunset, aloft in the Ioenin system: Norman and Sam flew with de Havilland and Veruz aboard their Stealthed AAAI Shipyards Saker Mk III. [[CMDR Maegil|Maegil]] and [[Mack Winston|Winston]] via Maegils Asp. Another Norman used another Normans Imperial Courier, but was ultimately killed in the enusing chaos. A series of showdowns encased the ship as the players tried to assert dominance over the others. A standoff was narrowly averted with Maegil being seriously wounded and his computer virus shutting down the auto destruct.

Now Normans crew are in charge of the Azure Sunset. All that stands in their way is an entire ship of defunct systems and a lone Interpol agent...

Meanwhile, [[Mack Winston]] leaves the ''Azure Sunset'' to find some vengeance for the death of his love.

=== Battle of Rocky Fields ===
But little do they know that someone behind the scene is pulling the strings, manoeuvring the Federation and Imperial fleets into a collision with the ''Azure Sunset'' and the [[Spartacus Brotherhood]].

The battles becomes a massive, three-way affair with no holds barred. Each group has objectives and secret instructions. the ''Azure Sunset'' just wants to escape.

On the other side of the known galaxy, [[Mack Winston|Mack]] travels to the Empire to find Maria's father. the two collude to assasinate the man responsible for Maria's death. Mack goes to assasinate the man but finds him already dead and himself framed. He leaves with a lady claiming to help him, but who puts him to sleep.

=== Aftermath ===
Mack awakes to find himself imprisoned by Alliance Security. He has two options: Spill the beans on everything related to the ''Azure Sunset'' or rot in prison with a damaged brain. He agrees to a new life and is about to move on when his presumed dead parents are found in statis.

Meanwhile, the crew of the ''Azure Sunset'' face an even greater challenge. They may have survived, but at great cost: The ship was seriously damaged. More importantly, one of the crew, Moore is missing. No one knows that a lone interpol agent still stalks the corridors of the ''Sunset''...

== Mosser's Crew ==

Although many of Mosser's legendary missions involved him alone, as his schemes grew, his need for hired help grew. His crew has chopped and changed over the years, but during the HPA2 saga, Mosser's crew includes the following people:

*'''Sam Kemper'''
Norman Mosser's right hand man. The two have been friends for many years and Sam has diligently followed Norman everywhere. After the failure at Fort Donalds, Mosser grew doubts and Sam jettisoned him in an escape capsule to jump start him again. Unfortunately he was captured by Alliance Intelligence before he could reclaim Mosser.

He escaped somehow and managed to meet up with Mosser on a distant planet, after Mosser had returned from Raxxla.

*'''Benzedrine Moore'''
An Engineer and mechanic, Moore suffers from slight space madness and alcoholism. His brain is slowly deteriorating.

*'''Annalise Berihn'''
A weapon loving lady, Annalise is from Diso and has worked with her aunty Jannah on the Long Haul Outpost. Tall, seductive and dangerous, she has the complete package.

*'''Roj Warfturn'''
This man is worth 250,000C to the Imperials.

*'''John Anders'''

*''''Lucky' Wal'''

*'''[[Frantic]]'''
Less a member of Mosser's team than an equal that often works with him. Mosser's and Frantic's friendship goes back many years. Each has their own secrets, but they often have common goals and work together.

== Weapons of the Saga ==
===Federal Marines - Special Issue Carbine===
Based on the civilian Laser Carbine, the Special Issue was repowered by the Armonitions Corporation. the resulting laser pulse is shorter, but has a higher energy level and a faster refire rate. The recoil is almost completely compensated for. A folding stock and a more utilitarian look gives the Special Issue an almost spectral look. It is cheap and lightweight, but easily damaged and no good as a bludgeoning weapon. The barrel especially is prone to damage.

===L&F Detective Special===
The Lance and Ferman Detective Special is a small, lightweight laser pistol with an average power output of 1 kilo-watt. Its small stature belies a robust weapon that will work in all environments. It is a discreet weapon that can be easily hidden, a must for detectives on the beat. Although not prone to malfunction, such an event is usually disastrous to the weapon. The main drawback of the Detective Special is the low power output.

===Colt .45 "Peace maker"===
The Colt Single Action Army handgun, also known as the Colt Peacemaker or Single Action Army, is a single action revolver holding 6 rounds of ammunition. It was designed for the US cavalry by Colt's Manufacturing Company and adopted in 1873, and it was perhaps the most prolific pistol in the wild west.

===CCH "Ambassador"===
In 2056, Churchill Combine Houver produced a weapon they called the "Ambassador". A stepping stone between the traditional pistol of the 20th century and the true railguns of the 22nd century, the "Ambassador" was a true hybrid, combining the chemical power of a bullet with the electrical power of a railgun. A new, smaller bullet was produced, which fitted into a large magazine. Although fired like a normal bullet, magnetism was used in reloading, allowing a simpler, cheaper gun, but also a dangerously high refire rate. the same Magnetism suite was used to give Molecular spin to the bullets. The nanoscale vibrations allowed deeper penetration of the target, including Spectra and High Powerered Body armour.

===Colt "Diplomat"===
Favoured by special forces in all the major militaries, the "Diplomat" is a simple, but powerful weapon. It forgoes style and class for functionality. the resulting weapon looks like it was birthed in a junkyard, but packs a large enough punch to rival the Deathwrecker. The laser focusing and emitting crystal is the only high tech component, giving unparalled accuracy. The Diplomat can be dropped, kicked, compacted, shot at and detonated, and will keep working. Despite the simplistic design, the cost of the "Diplomat" is high. the weapon is also unfriendly to the user in terms of recoil and hand damage; there is no heat dissipation componentry, although some can be brought after market.

===L&F Inspector Special===
Lance and Ferman took the famously reliable "Detective Special" and threw some more money at it. They wanted a more upmarket weapon that was as successful as the Detective, but looked great and worked better. The resulting weapon was creatively labelled the "Inspector". Although the accuracy and looks were improved, the cost also increased, alienating loyal customers. The Inspector continues to sell, despite its only moderate success.

==="Winter Moon" katana and the "Little Moon" wakizashi===
A diamond-edged duralium 'daisho' (Japanese: 'large and small') given to Maegil by his Sensei, Emu's father. It incorporates the japanese swordmaking concept of a hard cutting edge sheated in a softer, shock absorving material to prevent shattering.

===Ingram 350===
The preferred Federal Special Forces assault rifle, also adopted by the Spartacus Brotherhood Marines.
Its standard version has a medium powered fast rate of fire, good against soft armour or massed opponents, but has a power regulator that can be set for a slower, 350KW shield piercing output. Its modular design can be converted to a carbine, a sniper rifle or an infantry support weapon and back in a moment's notice just by exchanging its modules, making it an excellent all-round weapon. Its downsides are the the '350 is rather heavy weighted on some configurations and is definitevely not a cheap weapon.

===GVG===
Gratuitous Violence Gun, the Imperial Army mainstream assault rifle. In an attempt to level its poorly trained conscript forces with the Federation's shielded professional soldiers, the Empire created a sturdy weapon that substituted marksmanship for sheer destructiveness. Very powerful, it has an incorporated plasma granade launcher. Even with government-manipulated production prices, the only reason the Empire can afford these weapons as mainstream is that they usually outlast the soldiers...

===Vega Corp Deathwrecker Mk I===
A weapon designed to wreck death and destruction, regardless of consequences. The deathwreaker is actually a hand held micro laser cannon, sacrificing minor things as heat exchangers, safety norms and core radiation shielding, for capacitors and yet more capacitors... 200 million were released on the market before Vega corp. was forced to stop its production on account of the law suits for personal and genetic damage, but even so it's still in demand on grittier systems. Of course, the only places you can walk around with one without being stopped by the police is where battle weapons are legal, or there's no police at all...
It huge blast in a small package has another price: a power cell has capacity to fire only five times before reloading, and the lack of heat exchanger forces for a long refire time to prevent overheating.

===Vega Corp Deathwrecker Mk II===
With exquisite Achenar-style design, 15% more blast and 8% larger power cells, it can go up to 300!KW, but it also incorporates a regulation swich that reduces its power and increases the power cell life. Unfortunately, the Vega corp still wasn't able to include shielding on it and keep it a hand gun, so they added a legal disclaimer on the bottom of grip; basically it states in legalese that on carrying or firing the weapon, the user acknowleges and accepts its hazards. To read it, one just needs a lawyer and a electron sweep microscope (not included, Cr1499+tax).
The psychos who disable the safety interlocks usually find its 0.5MW 'sufficient' even for the most extreme uses... They also discover the meaning of 'severe radiation burns'.

===Vega Corp Deathwrecker Mk II - Mosser Special Edition===
The MK II with a platinum 'Azure Sunset' sigil and an exchangeable focusing and emitting crystal capable of burning the image of Norman Mosser up to 100m. Only 300 were made, and of those, many were bought by... Mosser!

== External Links ==
[http://hughesd.co.uk/elite/hpa2.asp Elite BTF] has a PDF version of the HPA and HPA2 (in progress) sagas, along with the "Past Prologue" compilations of what some of the participants did in the between.

[http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro] offers PDF versions of the HPA for download, PDF ''and'' RTF versions of HPA2, plus "Maiden Voyage" and "A Call To Duty" - stories involving some of the HPA characters in the lead up to HPA2.
Also, as of September 2007, the beginning of '''HPA3''' is available!

[[Category:Fiction]]

The Huge Plasma Accelerator 2

2008-05-22T10:26:27Z

Jack Hamtilon:

{{Infobox Book| title = The Huge Plasma Accelerator II
| name = The Huge Plasma Accelerator II
| sub_title = Return of the Azure Sunset
| image = [[image:LRC.gif]]
| image_caption = The Azure Sunset over Capitol
| author = Elite Fans
| country = UK/AUS/NZ/OTHER
| language = English
| series = The HPA Chronicles
| genre = Science Fiction
| publisher = NA
| release_date = 2007
| media_type = Electronic
| pages = ??
| preceded_by = [[The Huge Plasma Accelerator|The Huge Plasma Accelerator 1]]
| followed_by = [[The Huge Plasma Accelerator 3]]
}}

'''''"I lifted the object, feeling the ergonomic pistol grip in my hand. The delicately balanced trigger. The enormous
emitter array. The sheer balance of the weapon. The Vega Corp logo, and the ''Azure Sunset'' sigil etched into the
deep blue metal. The sender hadn't needed to sign it. The exquisite vellum and the fact that the object was a brand
new Deathwreaker II had the trademark of Norman Mosser stamped all over it."

-Mack Winston - Book 1 of the HPA2 Saga'''''

== Description ==
A fan-fiction story set in the FFE universe, around the year 3309. It is a couple of years after the Azure Sunset debacle at Fort Donalds. Mack Winston is on the run, with an Imperial Princess. Norman has returned from his search for Raxxla. He wants the Azure Sunset. As events start to ripple across the cosmos, other characters become unwittingly involved in events.

The HPA2 Saga ended in September, 2007. The HPA3 Saga continues the story of the '''Azure Sunset'''

== Participants ==
*[[Norman Mosser]] (and crew)
*[[Mack Winston]] (and Maria Hengist-Duval)
*[[Cmdr Maegil]] (and Emu)
*[[Vasquith de Havilland]] (and Michael Veruz)
*[[Kim Stenson]]
*[[The Spartacus Brotherhood]]

== The Azure Sunset ==
The Azure Sunset is a Long Range Cruiser, commissioned in 3294 as the 'Abrahams Son'. She served as a trading vessel until she was brought by an Imperial Royal and along with Norman Mosser turned into a weapon: A platform for the Huge Plasma Accelerator. The weapon was assembled in secret, the entire ship turned into a fortress for Mosser.
The Azure Sunset was designed for a single purpose, but she failed in her mission and was lost in the depths of space. Many years later, after Norman had returned, ego and all, he sought out to reclaim her. As several Mosser clones had been activated, several avenues were exposed, but in the end, Mosser discovered a man named Vasquith de Havilland who had seen the ship and knew where she would be at any given time. The two teamed up and found their way to the ship.

The front third of the ship is taken up with the HPA, while the rest of the ship is utilitarian. There is a medical centre which serves as a clone depository for Mosser, in case he has any 'accidents'.

The ships superstructure was weakened when it was pulled from hyperspace as it fled the Achernar system. The ship was never fully repaired and remains in a weakened condition. The engines had increased safety margins installed to reduce the stresses on the ship.

== The Story (SPOILERS) ==

=== Opening Gambit ===

'''[[Vasquith de Havilland|de Havilland]]''' and Veruz discover, by accident, the location of the Azure Sunset. He is attacked by unknown aggresors and flees inside the ship where he learns every location the Azure Sunset will hyperspace jump to. After a brief battle onboard the Azure Sunset, de Havilland and Veruz escape in a borrowed Krait, which they take to the AAAI shipyards where de Havilland used to work. They decrypt the hyperspace coordiates of the Azure Sunset and as the city gets attacked by bounty hunters, they escape in a modified Saker Mk III with a Nano Plasma Accelerator. they set up a meeting with Norman Mosser and unwittingly become a part of his crew.

'''[[Kim Stenson|Stenson]]''' gets a notification of an Imperial Courier (Normans type of ship) was attacked by an Interpol patrol. He puts the clues together and goes hunting for more information in Reidquat. He is attacked by a group of heavies, but survives. His clues take him to Alioth where he sees the escaping Saker mk III. he flies to Reidquat and watches de Havilland interact with Norman then follows them through hyperspace...

'''[[Mack Winston|Winston]]''' knows that everyone wants to kill him. Then Norman offers him a job. to kill Norman. Not himself naturally, just the other two of his clones wandering about. Mack takes the job as the money would go along way to salvaging some kind of a life from the wreck he currently endures. He kills one Norman and wounds another, but it manages to get away. Winston is captured my Maegil and taken on as his Apprentice.

'''[[Norman Mosser|Mosser]]''' wants the Azure Sunset. Initially, he works together with his two other clones to retrieve it, but things become untenable and each Mosser tries to hire Mack Winston to kill the others. Two Mossers go to Earth, where one is killed, while the other teams up with Maegil where he gets the coordinates for the Azure Sunset and gets a proposition to join the Spartacus Brotherhood. the original Mosser, meanwhile, heads to Reidquat where he meets up with de Havilland and Veruz. together, they travel to the then current location of the AZ, only to get attacked by the mysterious forces. They escape and form plans to meet at a small, inhabited system...

'''[[CMDR Maegil|Maegil]]''' an Federation ex-special forces officer, currently a Black-Ops undercover agent. He has a distinct and often conflicting set of morals, and wishes to teach this to a young upstart named Mack Winston, also wants to recruit Norman Mosser to his anti-slavery group known as the Spartacus Brotherhood. He had a girlfriend named Emu, who he travels with.

'''[[The Spartacus Brotherhood]]''' is an ex-slaves organization that created a semi-legitimate government and sent an ultimatum to every slavist government or system. Some think they are but brigands, but they keep military discipline in their ranks and won't plunder or murder; instead they have forsaken revenge in favour of justice and fight strictly according to the laws of war. Some of their actions until now include patrolling slavist systems and boarding ships suspected of carrying slaves (apreending them if they are), raiding starports to free slaves and invading the Quexce system to force the local government to abolish slavery. However, some of their actions were (intentionally or not) ham-handed, nearly driving the Federation and the Empire to full-scale war twice so far.

=== Showdown at Sunset ===
All the major players found their own way to the Azure Sunset, aloft in the Ioenin system: Norman and Sam flew with de Havilland and Veruz aboard their Stealthed AAAI Shipyards Saker Mk III. [[CMDR Maegil|Maegil]] and [[Mack Winston|Winston]] via Maegils Asp. Another Norman used another Normans Imperial Courier, but was ultimately killed in the enusing chaos. A series of showdowns encased the ship as the players tried to assert dominance over the others. A standoff was narrowly averted with Maegil being seriously wounded and his computer virus shutting down the auto destruct.

Now Normans crew are in charge of the Azure Sunset. All that stands in their way is an entire ship of defunct systems and a lone Interpol agent...

Meanwhile, [[Mack Winston]] leaves the ''Azure Sunset'' to find some vengeance for the death of his love.

=== Battle of Rocky Fields ===
But little do they know that someone behind the scene is pulling the strings, manoeuvring the Federation and Imperial fleets into a collision with the ''Azure Sunset'' and the [[Spartacus Brotherhood]].

The battles becomes a massive, three-way affair with no holds barred. Each group has objectives and secret instructions. the ''Azure Sunset'' just wants to escape.

On the other side of the known galaxy, [[Mack Winston|Mack]] travels to the Empire to find Maria's father. the two collude to assasinate the man responsible for Maria's death. Mack goes to assasinate the man but finds him already dead and himself framed. He leaves with a lady claiming to help him, but who puts him to sleep.

=== Aftermath ===
Mack awakes to find himself imprisoned by Alliance Security. He has two options: Spill the beans on everything related to the ''Azure Sunset'' or rot in prison with a damaged brain. He agrees to a new life and is about to move on when his presumed dead parents are found in statis.

Meanwhile, the crew of the ''Azure Sunset'' face an even greater challenge. They may have survived, but at great cost: The ship was seriously damaged. More importantly, one of the crew, Moore is missing. No one knows that a lone interpol agent still stalks the corridors of the ''Sunset''...

== Mosser's Crew ==

Although many of Mosser's legendary missions involved him alone, as his schemes grew, his need for hired help grew. His crew has chopped and changed over the years, but during the HPA2 saga, Mosser's crew includes the following people:

*'''Sam Kemper'''
Norman Mosser's right hand man. The two have been friends for many years and Sam has diligently followed Norman everywhere. After the failure at Fort Donalds, Mosser grew doubts and Sam jettisoned him in an escape capsule to jump start him again. Unfortunately he was captured by Alliance Intelligence before he could reclaim Mosser.

He escaped somehow and managed to meet up with Mosser on a distant planet, after Mosser had returned from Raxxla.

*'''Benzedrine Moore'''
An Engineer and mechanic, Moore suffers from slight space madness and alcoholism. His brain is slowly deteriorating.

*'''Annalise Berihn'''
A weapon loving lady, Annalise is from Diso and has worked with her aunty Jannah on the Long Haul Outpost. Tall, seductive and dangerous, she has the complete package.

*'''Roj Warfturn'''
This man is worth 250,000C to the Imperials.

*'''John Anders'''

*''''Lucky' Wal'''

*'''[[Frantic]]'''
Less a member of Mosser's team than an equal that often works with him. Mosser's and Frantic's friendship goes back many years. Each has their own secrets, but they often have common goals and work together.

== Weapons of the Saga ==
===Federal Marines - Special Issue Carbine===
Based on the civilian Laser Carbine, the Special Issue was repowered by the Armonitions Corporation. the resulting laser pulse is shorter, but has a higher energy level and a faster refire rate. The recoil is almost completely compensated for. A folding stock and a more utilitarian look gives the Special Issue an almost spectral look. It is cheap and lightweight, but easily damaged and no good as a bludgeoning weapon. The barrel especially is prone to damage.

===L&F Detective Special===
The Lance and Ferman Detective Special is a small, lightweight laser pistol with an average power output of 1 kilo-watt. Its small stature belies a robust weapon that will work in all environments. It is a discreet weapon that can be easily hidden, a must for detectives on the beat. Although not prone to malfunction, such an event is usually disastrous to the weapon. The main drawback of the Detective Special is the low power output.

===Colt .45 "Peace maker"===
The Colt Single Action Army handgun, also known as the Colt Peacemaker or Single Action Army, is a single action revolver holding 6 rounds of ammunition. It was designed for the US cavalry by Colt's Manufacturing Company and adopted in 1873, and it was perhaps the most prolific pistol in the wild west.

===CCH "Ambassador"===
In 2056, Churchill Combine Houver produced a weapon they called the "Ambassador". A stepping stone between the traditional pistol of the 20th century and the true railguns of the 22nd century, the "Ambassador" was a true hybrid, combining the chemical power of a bullet with the electrical power of a railgun. A new, smaller bullet was produced, which fitted into a large magazine. Although fired like a normal bullet, magnetism was used in reloading, allowing a simpler, cheaper gun, but also a dangerously high refire rate. the same Magnetism suite was used to give Molecular spin to the bullets. The nanoscale vibrations allowed deeper penetration of the target, including Spectra and High Powerered Body armour.

===Colt "Diplomat"===
Favoured by special forces in all the major militaries, the "Diplomat" is a simple, but powerful weapon. It forgoes style and class for functionality. the resulting weapon looks like it was birthed in a junkyard, but packs a large enough punch to rival the Deathwrecker. The laser focusing and emitting crystal is the only high tech component, giving unparalled accuracy. The Diplomat can be dropped, kicked, compacted, shot at and detonated, and will keep working. Despite the simplistic design, the cost of the "Diplomat" is high. the weapon is also unfriendly to the user in terms of recoil and hand damage; there is no heat dissipation componentry, although some can be brought after market.

===L&F Inspector Special===
Lance and Ferman took the famously reliable "Detective Special" and threw some more money at it. They wanted a more upmarket weapon that was as successful as the Detective, but looked great and worked better. The resulting weapon was creatively labelled the "Inspector". Although the accuracy and looks were improved, the cost also increased, alienating loyal customers. The Inspector continues to sell, despite its only moderate success.

==="Winter Moon" katana and the "Little Moon" wakizashi===
A diamond-edged duralium 'daisho' (Japanese: 'large and small') given to Maegil by his Sensei, Emu's father. It incorporates the japanese swordmaking concept of a hard cutting edge sheated in a softer, shock absorving material to prevent shattering.

===Ingram 350===
The preferred Federal Special Forces assault rifle, also adopted by the Spartacus Brotherhood Marines.
Its standard version has a medium powered fast rate of fire, good against soft armour or massed opponents, but has a power regulator that can be set for a slower, 350KW shield piercing output. Its modular design can be converted to a carbine, a sniper rifle or an infantry support weapon and back in a moment's notice just by exchanging its modules, making it an excellent all-round weapon. Its downsides are the the '350 is rather heavy weighted on some configurations and is definitevely not a cheap weapon.

===GVG===
Gratuitous Violence Gun, the Imperial Army mainstream assault rifle. In an attempt to level its poorly trained conscript forces with the Federation's shielded professional soldiers, the Empire created a sturdy weapon that substituted marksmanship for sheer destructiveness. Very powerful, it has an incorporated plasma granade launcher. Even with government-manipulated production prices, the only reason the Empire can afford these weapons as mainstream is that they usually outlast the soldiers...

===Vega Corp Deathwrecker Mk I===
A weapon designed to wreck death and destruction, regardless of consequences. The deathwreaker is actually a hand held micro laser cannon, sacrificing minor things as heat exchangers, safety norms and core radiation shielding, for capacitors and yet more capacitors... 200 million were released on the market before Vega corp. was forced to stop its production on account of the law suits for personal and genetic damage, but even so it's still in demand on grittier systems. Of course, the only places you can walk around with one without being stopped by the police is where battle weapons are legal, or there's no police at all...
It huge blast in a small package has another price: a power cell has capacity to fire only five times before reloading, and the lack of heat exchanger forces for a long refire time to prevent overheating.

===Vega Corp Deathwrecker Mk II===
With exquisite Achenar-style design, 15% more blast and 8% larger power cells, it can go up to 300!KW, but it also incorporates a regulation swich that reduces its power and increases the power cell life. Unfortunately, the Vega corp still wasn't able to include shielding on it and keep it a hand gun, so they added a legal disclaimer on the bottom of grip; basically it states in legalese that on carrying or firing the weapon, the user acknowleges and accepts its hazards. To read it, one just needs a lawyer and a electron sweep microscope (not included, Cr1499+tax).
The psychos who disable the safety interlocks usually find its 0.5MW 'sufficient' even for the most extreme uses... They also discover the meaning of 'severe radiation burns'.

===Vega Corp Deathwrecker Mk II - Mosser Special Edition===
The MK II with a platinum 'Azure Sunset' sigil and an exchangeable focusing and emitting crystal capable of burning the image of Norman Mosser up to 100m. Only 300 were made, and of those, many were bought by... Mosser!

== External Links ==
[http://hughesd.co.uk/elite/hpa2.asp Elite BTF] has a PDF version of the HPA and HPA2 (in progress) sagas, along with the "Past Prologue" compilations of what some of the participants did in the between.

[http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro] offers PDF versions of the HPA for download, PDF ''and'' RTF versions of HPA2, plus "Maiden Voyage" and "A Call To Duty" - stories involving some of the HPA characters in the lead up to HPA2.
Also, as of September 2007, the beginning of '''HPA3''' is available!

[[Category:Fiction]]

Template:Infobox Book

2008-05-22T10:21:21Z

Jack Hamtilon:

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Template:Infobox Book

2008-05-22T10:16:56Z

Jack Hamtilon:

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Template:Infobox Book

2008-05-22T09:57:11Z

Jack Hamtilon: New page: {{Infobox |bodystyle=width:{{{infoboxwidth|{{{width|20em}}}}}}; |abovestyle=background:inherit; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic; |labelstyle=background:inherit; white-space:nowrap; |ab...

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LRC

2008-05-22T09:37:36Z

Jack Hamtilon: Redirecting to Long Range Cruiser

#REDIRECT [[Long Range Cruiser]]

The Huge Plasma Accelerator 3

2008-05-08T01:50:19Z

Jack Hamtilon:

Reality flooded back; he wasn’t going to get revenge. Not against them. Not if half the rumours he had heard in spacer bars were true. There was no hope in hell for him. They had unlimited resources, and he was just one man.

He was fucked.

"I’m going to cut to the chase," said Frantic. "Our organisation wants to take INRA out."

-Book 1, The HPA3 Saga

== Description ==

After escaping from the battle of rocky fields, the battered '''Azure Sunset''' must find refuge and repairs, while her fragmented crew must come to terms with what they lost, and what lays ahead.

Elsewhere in the galaxy, Mack Winston is on a collision course with his past.

==Story so far (SPOILERS)==

===Opening===

The '''Azure Sunset''' has limped to a drydock run by Frantic's secret organisation. Frantic indicates he wants to destroy INRA once and for all. But to do that, he needs an operational HPA.

de Havilland, Veruz and Emu set off for civilised space to find replacement parts, while Norman and Sam go looking for a replacement ship, as damage to the '''Sunset''' from its last battle was terminal.

===The Next Move===

The crew splits up, each with specific tasks:

Norman Mosser and Sam Kemper head for the New Rossyth Shipyards to bid for the decommisioned '''AJN Ajax''' and '''Repulse''' which are on sale. On the way, they have to make a few stops to cement their fake ID's.

de Havilland and Veruz take Emu back to her home in Beta Hydri before heading back to the now infamous Williamson Base for new parts for the damaged Huge Plasma Accelerator.

The rest of Norman's crew stay behind to repair the ship, but are they with friend or foe?

==Major Characters==

*Sam Kemper
Norman Mosser's right hand man. The two have been friends for many years and Sam has diligently followed Norman everywhere. After the failure at Fort Donalds(See the [[HPA1]]), Mosser began to doubt himself. Knowing that Mosser required a jump start, he jettisoned Norman in an escape capsule.

Sam was captured by Alliance Intelligence and interrogated for several months before escaping and meeting up with Mosser.

After the death of Annalise Berihn, Sam became withdrawn.

*Benzedrine Moore (DECEASED)
An Engineer and mechanic, Moore suffers from slight space madness and alcoholism. His brain is slowly deteriorating.

He was imprisoned on the '''Sunset''' by Kim Stenson. He was killed in the battle of rocky fields when the section the ship he was in was destroyed.

*Annalise Berihn (DECEASED)
A weapon loving lady, Annalise was from Diso and worked with her aunty Jannah on the Long Haul Outpost. Tall, seductive and dangerous, she has the complete package. She was killed by Kim Stenson during his flight from Norman Mosser.

*Roj Warfturn
This man is worth 250,000C to the Imperials. He survived the battle of rocky fields in good shape. He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

Wafturn runs engineering on the '''Sunset'''.

*John Anders
He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found. Anders was an electrician by trade before joining Mosser's crew. He is the most stable of the crew.

*'Lucky' Wal
He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

Lucky mans the astrogation and sensor stations on the '''Sunset'''.

*Frantic
Less a member of Mosser's team than an equal that often works with him. Mosser's and Frantic's friendship goes back many years. Each has their own secrets, but they often have common goals and work together.

Frantic takes command of the '''Sunset''' once it arrives in his drydock. He has schemes for the HPA and needs the help of Mosser and his crew.

*de Havilland
Discovered who the mysterious enemy were. To defeat [[INRA]], he has to go back to inhabited space to source replacement parts for the damaged HPA

With Maegil's death, he finds himself drawing closer to Emu, though something inside holds him back, knowing it is wrong.

*Michael Veruz
Is reassesing his career options as his eyes are opened to a new life of running from the law.

*Cmdr Maegil
Flew his ship, the Tenchu in the battle of rocky fields. Lead the Spartacus Brotherhood from near defeat to victory over the Imperials before his ship was destroyed

*Emu
Watches her boyfriend die in the battle of rocky fields. Heartbroken and lonely, she find solace in de Havilland, but she still grieves for her lost man.

*Kim Stenson
After his ambush goes horribly wrong on the '''Sunset''', he decides to escape. This too goes wrong. He loses consciousness as his ship goes out of control. He wakes up a prisoner in some unknown place.

== Links ==

[http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro] has Chapters 1 and 2 of the unfolding HPA3 drama. Keep checking back for the latest instalments...

[[Category:Fiction]]

The Huge Plasma Accelerator 3

2008-05-08T01:45:34Z

Jack Hamtilon:

Reality flooded back; he wasn’t going to get revenge. Not against them. Not if half the rumours he had heard in spacer bars were true. There was no hope in hell for him. They had unlimited resources, and he was just one man.

He was fucked.

"I’m going to cut to the chase," said Frantic. "Our organisation wants to take INRA out."

-Book 1, The HPA3 Saga

== Description ==

After escaping from the battle of rocky fields, the battered '''Azure Sunset''' must find refuge and repairs, while her fragmented crew must come to terms with what they lost, and what lays ahead.

Elsewhere in the galaxy, Mack Winston is on a collision course with his past.

==Story so far (SPOILERS)==

===Opening===

The '''Azure Sunset''' has limped to a drydock run by Frantic's secret organisation. Frantic indicates he wants to destroy INRA once and for all. But to do that, he needs an operational HPA.

de Havilland, Veruz and Emu set off for civilised space to find replacement parts, while Norman and Sam go looking for a replacement ship, as damage to the '''Sunset''' from its last battle was terminal.

===The Next Move===

The crew splits up, each with specific tasks:

Norman Mosser and Sam Kemper head for the New Rossyth Shipyards to bid for the decommisioned '''AJN Ajax''' and '''Repulse''' which are on sale. On the way, they have to make a few stops to cement their fake ID's.

de Havilland and Veruz take Emu back to her home in Beta Hydri before heading back to the now infamous Williamson Base for new parts for the damaged Huge Plasma Accelerator.

The rest of Norman's crew stay behind to repair the ship, but are they with friend or foe?

==Major Characters==

*Sam Kemper
Norman Mosser's right hand man. The two have been friends for many years and Sam has diligently followed Norman everywhere. After the failure at Fort Donalds(See the [[HPA1]]), Mosser began to doubt himself. Knowing that Mosser required a jump start, he jettisoned Norman in an escape capsule.

Sam was captured by Alliance Intelligence and interrogated for several months before escaping and meeting up with Mosser.

After the death of Annalise Berihn, Sam became withdrawn.

*Benzedrine Moore (DECEASED)
An Engineer and mechanic, Moore suffers from slight space madness and alcoholism. His brain is slowly deteriorating.

He was imprisoned on the '''Sunset''' by Kim Stenson. He was killed in the battle of rocky fields when the section the ship he was in was destroyed.

*Annalise Berihn (DECEASED)
A weapon loving lady, Annalise was from Diso and worked with her aunty Jannah on the Long Haul Outpost. Tall, seductive and dangerous, she has the complete package. She was killed by Kim Stenson during his flight from Norman Mosser.

*Roj Warfturn
This man is worth 250,000C to the Imperials. He survived the battle of rocky fields in good shape. He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

Wafturn runs engineering on the '''Sunset'''.

*John Anders
He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

*'Lucky' Wal
He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

Lucky mans the astrogation and sensor stations on the '''Sunset'''.

*Frantic
Less a member of Mosser's team than an equal that often works with him. Mosser's and Frantic's friendship goes back many years. Each has their own secrets, but they often have common goals and work together.

Frantic takes command of the '''Sunset''' once it arrives in his drydock. He has schemes for the HPA and needs the help of Mosser and his crew.

*de Havilland
Discovered who the mysterious enemy were. To defeat [[INRA]], he has to go back to inhabited space to source replacement parts for the damaged HPA

With Maegil's death, he finds himself drawing closer to Emu, though something inside holds him back, knowing it is wrong.

*Michael Veruz
Is reassesing his career options as his eyes are opened to a new life of running from the law.

*Cmdr Maegil
Flew his ship, the Tenchu in the battle of rocky fields. Lead the Spartacus Brotherhood from near defeat to victory over the Imperials before his ship was destroyed

*Emu
Watches her boyfriend die in the battle of rocky fields. Heartbroken and lonely, she find solace in de Havilland, but she still grieves for her lost man.

*Kim Stenson
After his ambush goes horribly wrong on the '''Sunset''', he decides to escape. This too goes wrong. He loses consciousness as his ship goes out of control. He wakes up a prisoner in some unknown place.

== Links ==

[http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro] has Chapters 1 and 2 of the unfolding HPA3 drama. Keep checking back for the latest instalments...

[[Category:Fiction]]

The Huge Plasma Accelerator 3

2008-05-08T01:22:48Z

Jack Hamtilon:

Reality flooded back; he wasn’t going to get revenge. Not against them. Not if half the rumours he had heard in spacer bars were true. There was no hope in hell for him. They had unlimited resources, and he was just one man.

He was fucked.

"I’m going to cut to the chase," said Frantic. "Our organisation wants to take INRA out."

-Book 1, The HPA3 Saga

== Description ==

After escaping from the battle of rocky fields, the battered '''Azure Sunset''' must find refuge and repairs, while her fragmented crew must come to terms with what they lost, and what lays ahead.

Elsewhere in the galaxy, Mack Winston is on a collision course with his past.

==Story so far (SPOILERS)==

===Opening===

The '''Azure Sunset''' has limped to a drydock run by Frantic's secret organisation. Frantic indicates he wants to destroy INRA once and for all. But to do that, he needs an operational HPA.

de Havilland, Veruz and Emu set off for civilised space to find replacement parts, while Norman and Sam go looking for a replacement ship, as damage to the '''Sunset''' from its last battle was terminal.

===The Next Move===

The crew splits up, each with specific tasks:

Norman Mosser and Sam Kemper head for the New Rossyth Shipyards to bid for the decommisioned '''AJN Ajax''' and '''Repulse''' which are on sale. On the way, they have to make a few stops to cement their fake ID's.

de Havilland and Veruz take Emu back to her home in Beta Hydri before heading back to the now infamous Williamson Base for new parts for the damaged Huge Plasma Accelerator.

The rest of Norman's crew stay behind to repair the ship, but are they with friend or foe?

==Mosser's Crew & Major Characters==

*Sam Kemper
Norman Mosser's right hand man. The two have been friends for many years and Sam has diligently followed Norman everywhere. After the failure at Fort Donalds(See the [[HPA1]]), Mosser began to doubt himself. Knowing that Mosser required a jump start, he jettisoned Norman in an escape capsule.

Sam was captured by Alliance Intelligence and interrogated for several months before escaping and meeting up with Mosser.

After the death of Annalise Berihn, Sam became withdrawn.

*Benzedrine Moore (DECEASED)
An Engineer and mechanic, Moore suffers from slight space madness and alcoholism. His brain is slowly deteriorating.

He was imprisoned on the '''Sunset''' by Kim Stenson. He was killed in the battle of rocky fields when the section the ship he was in was destroyed.

*Annalise Berihn (DECEASED)
A weapon loving lady, Annalise was from Diso and worked with her aunty Jannah on the Long Haul Outpost. Tall, seductive and dangerous, she has the complete package. She was killed by Kim Stenson during his flight from Norman Mosser.

*Roj Warfturn
This man is worth 250,000C to the Imperials. He survived the battle of rocky fields in good shape. He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

*John Anders
He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

*'Lucky' Wal
He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

*Frantic
Less a member of Mosser's team than an equal that often works with him. Mosser's and Frantic's friendship goes back many years. Each has their own secrets, but they often have common goals and work together.

Frantic takes command of the '''Sunset''' once it arrives in his drydock. He has schemes for the HPA and needs the help of Mosser and his crew.

*de Havilland
Discovered who the mysterious enemy were. To defeat [[INRA]], he has to go back to inhabited space to source replacement parts for the damaged HPA

With Maegil's death, he finds himself drawing closer to Emu, though something inside holds him back, knowing it is wrong.

*Michael Veruz
Is reassesing his career options as his eyes are opened to a new life of running from the law.

*Cmdr Maegil
Flew his ship, the Tenchu in the battle of rocky fields. Lead the Spartacus Brotherhood from near defeat to victory over the Imperials before his ship was destroyed

*Emu
Watches her boyfriend die in the battle of rocky fields. Heartbroken and lonely, she find solace in de Havilland, but she still grieves for her lost man.

*Kim Stenson
After his ambush goes horribly wrong on the '''Sunset''', he decides to escape. This too goes wrong. He loses consciousness as his ship goes out of control. He wakes up a prisoner in some unknown place.

== Links ==

[http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro] has Chapters 1 and 2 of the unfolding HPA3 drama. Keep checking back for the latest instalments...

[[Category:Fiction]]

Mic Turner

2008-02-26T18:58:14Z

Jack Hamtilon:

== History ==

Mic Turner graduated with honours from the civilian pilot's school on the frontier world of Jones Colony (Essfafa). Mic's passion, even as an undergraduate, was long distance flight and the novice pilot was one of the few to discover a habitable (and later terra formed) world before passing the full explorer's grade exams. An early association with [[Meredith Argent]] grew into a life-long partnership that changed the political face of the Galaxy.

Meredith and Turner together first proposed the creation of a safe political unit for those who wished to exist out side the protection of the Federation or the constraints of the Empire and the pair were the main driving force behind the creation of the [[Alliance|Alliance of Independent Systems]].

Mic's explorations had always been in the Northern Edge zones and the development of a number of newly terra formed planets in the region provided the funding necessary for the creation of a Colonising Navy - with Mic, naturally, at the helm. The disputed system of Alioth was ripe for a stable government when the Colonists of the new embryonic state moved in and, despite a certain amount of resistance, the fledgling democracy grew and flourished.

Alioth developed a solid economy and became the site for the [[New Rossyth Shipyard]], destined to build the Galaxy's greatest ship: the [[Turner Class|Turner's Quest]]. The ship broke all the rules and opened new and greater space routes to the dedicated explorer. It was also the ship in which Mic was flying when he was ambushed by an [[INRA]] attack wing and killed.

== Turner and the Thargoids ==

[[Category:FFE]]
[[Category:Profile]]

Meredith Argent

2008-02-26T18:53:42Z

Jack Hamtilon:

== Current Situation ==

The Chair-elect of the Alliance of Independent States and co-owner of the [[New Rossyth Shipyards]] and [[Argent Aerodynamics Amalgamated INC]] and life long friend of infamous explorer [[Mic Turner]] (deceased)

== History ==

Little is known of Meredith Argent's history. She grew up in wealth (she was the money behind [[AAAI]]) and she was a life long friend of [[Mic Turner]].

== Turner's Death ==

The death of [[Mic Turner]] was at tragic blow for Meredith Argent. Not only was Mic her longest, closest friend, but he was killed by [[INRA]] doing what he loved best; exploring.

Meredith sent her aide, [[Jo Merion]] to retrieve Mic Turner's body and [[Stow master Capsule]], but her attempt was blunted by [[INRA]]

In the meantime, she and the board of the [[New Rossyth Shipyard]] organised a requiem for Mic Turner, which took place at Fortress Culloden on Argent's Claim.

Meredith could not let her old friend's memory end with an incomplete mission. She sent out her own '''Argent's Quest''' and an unknown pilot to complete Mic's mission to restablish contact with the [[Thargoid|Thargoids]] race.

[[Category:FFE]]
[[Category:Profile]]

User talk:Steve

2008-02-22T03:22:20Z

Jack Hamtilon:

The Azure Sunset issue should now be fixed. I have not deleted the Azure_sunset page. Deleting pages seems to be a Wiki no-no!

You're a star. how did you do it?

Talk:Vasquith de Havilland

2008-02-21T18:44:23Z

Jack Hamtilon: New page: I made the Azure sunset page instead of the Azure Sunset page. Can I change its title?

I made the Azure sunset page instead of the Azure Sunset page. Can I change its title?

Vasquith de Havilland

2008-02-21T18:43:30Z

Jack Hamtilon: /* The Return of the Azure Sunset */

== General ==

Vasquith de Havilland, or 'Dev' to his friends, considers himself to be a Drifter. Six feet tall, Total blue eyes and fiery orange hair, he nevertheless blends into a crowd, unknown and incognito. He was born and raised on Earth, and has a correspondingly tall and well built body. He currently travels the galaxy aboard his starship, ''Vagabond'', an [[Asp Explorer]]

== History ==
A regular childhood with regular middle class parents, Vasquith's was a regular youth: sports, then computers, girls then mischief. He showed a talent for mechanics and engineering, constantly tweaking his 3152 Cadillac Sprinter ground car. This, combined with an interest of leaving his home planet of Earth, allowed Vasquith to enrol as a field engineer in the Federal Army Corps. A talent with both a welder and a weapon, he quickly found himself within the almost mythical 301st Marines Company. Ten years of service, too many scars and too many hard decisions turned Vasquith from a happy go lucky youth into a hardened, almost cynical adult. Gone were the wisecracks and laughter: The new objective was to get through, one day at a time.

When his time was up, Vasquith jumped ship immediately and returned to Earth to complete his Bachelor of Engineering, started before he had left for the army. His engineering field experience became invaluable and he finished with first class honours. The Alliance of Independent States, now military secure, were looking for bright minds to lead them into the technological edge, beyond what the beaucracy of the Federation, or the slaves of the Empire, could produce. Vasquith got the job immediately and climbed the ladder until he was a project manager, working on exciting, state of the art jobs at the AAAI shipyards.

== The Cold Sea beckons ==

In the end though, the call of the galaxy whispered to Vasquith. He became continually unsettled, until he could no longer contain his wanderlust. He had swapped a life of following orders of using weapons to following orders of making weapons. He wanted to be his own man for a change; control his destiny and live his own life. He had a strong desire to see what the galaxy had to offer a civilian, especially before he was too old to appreciate it He resigned immediately, during a critical phase of the Nano Plasma Accelerator research, and using every last dollar he had, brought a rusted out Adder from the [[New Rossyth Shipyards]].

He left Alioth with no piloting experience - just a few hours in a simulator. He and his ships were unprepared for what faced them: de Havilland managed to make a little money, but spent most of it on upkeep of his recalcitrant Adder, which he named ''Mary Jane''. She was never a pretty ship, but was functional and always got the job done, ironically the opposite of her namesake.

Several months into his piloting life, Several pirates ambushed de Havilland. He escaped into hyperspace, but several bulkheads of the ''Mary Jane'' exceeded their stress limits and plastically deformed. They required urgent replacement. Stranded on the northern frontier, de Havilland found a junk dealer on New World in the Hoessbe system. While he was fixing his Adder, the colony of Jeffris' Luck was attacked by the [[Kildred Pirate Clan]] and the ''Mary Jane'' was stolen.

De Havilland initially had no interest in helping the defeated colony - it wasn't his problem - but he realised he needed their help to retrieve his ship. He took part in an assault on the [[Kildred Pirate Clan|Kildred Pirates]] base and calling on his old skills as a Marine, he was able to free his ship.

This Adventure is detailed in '''Maiden Voyage''', which can be viewed at:
* [http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/Maiden_Voyage.pdf Maiden Voyage]

After a year of kicking around the cosmos, de Havilland sells the ''Mary Jane'' and buys a Cobra Mk I which he names ''[[Odysseus]]''. One of his first trips in the Cobra take him to a small anarchic world where he meets up with his old Sergeant from his days in the Marine, Sam Wagin. de Havilland gets caught up in Wagin's attempt to instill justice on the anarchy planet, but doesn't want any part of it. During a flight from the criminals, Wagin is wounded and killed. Before he dies, a selfish de Havilland promises to 'get involved' and help out the good guys.
de Havilland decides the best way to fulfill the promise is to rid the entire planet of criminals. He finds that Wagin had the blue prints for castle of the largest criminal family and gives this information to their competitors. During the attack on the castle, de Havilland sneaks in, kills the leader of the family and activates a hidden nuclear weapon. Having already called the Federation fleet in, de Havilland retreats to a safe distance to watched the Federation restore order and bring the planet into the Federal fold.

This Adventure is detailed in '''A call to duty''', which can be viewed at:
* [http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/A_Call_To_Duty.pdf A Call to Duty]

As time went by and de Havilland was able to fully enjoy life, his piloting skills increased, his insecurity dropped and he became less selfish. His engineering skills enabled him to modify and maintain his ship, even improving the engine and weapon systems beyond their original designs. He tried hand at many careers in space, although he never went flirted with the line of the law. He was haunted by a past of killing 'for the good of the people', that continued to give him nightmares. He knew he had to redeem himself by being a good a person as he could.

Within a few years, he amassed enough funds to purchase an [[Asp Explorer]]. He kitted her out as an Iron-Ass with a distinct explorer theme. He nicknamed her ''Vagabond'' and the christening stuck. He rigged the ship to work with only himself as a crew person.

de Havilland finally had a ship which could hold its own against the ravages of the ragged fringe of human space. He had time, space and a ship. He had everything he needed.

== Two to Tango ==

When it came to combat, this automation systems became noticably lacking. He also came to miss human contact that he had been shunning since he left [AAAI] for space. It was time to find a co-pilot.

He found Michael Veruz in some two-bit dump that claimed to be an Imperial Colony on the southern frontier. The young man had spunk and attitude, something Vasquith once had himself. Michael's youthful exuberance was infectious, and de Havilland hired him. The two made a good team, but protective as he was, Vasquith rarely allowed Michael to pilot, focusing him on weapons and ancilliary controls.

They kept a low profile as they explored the wilderness of space, clocking up numerous kills. As a two pilot ship, the Galactic Federation of Pilots split the kills between them. Vasquith was up to this third 'Right on Commander' message, while Veruz was on one, both of them a ranking of Competent, when a routine trip through an empty system turned out to be something completely different...

== The Return of the Azure Sunset ==

A hermit hired de Havilland to search through an empty system for his missing mining system. de Havilland and Veruz spent half a day searching the system before the stumbled upon a derelict [[Long Range Cruiser]]. But it was not just any LRC. It was the [[Azure sunset]].

de Havilland took the ''Vagabond'' in for a closer look and was ambushed by a group of elite pilots in one mand starships of unknown design. de Havilland blasted a hole in the side of the [[Azure sunset]] and flew into the ship, fleeing into the habitable zones. The pilots followed and a game of cat and mouse ensued. In the pandemonium that followed, de Havilland and Veruz managed to download that random hyperjump matrix from the onboard computer, allowing them to predict where it would jump to next. They escaped in a daring hyperspace manoeuvre.

They fled to [[Alioth]] where they met up with de Havilland's old work friends at [AAAI]. [[Kane Scott]] loaned de Havilland an experimental Saker Mk III carrying the Nano Plasma Accelerator.

What followed was a series of events which left them tagging along with the most infamous criminal in history: Norman Mosser. Together with Mossers sidekick, Sam, they reboarded the Azure Sunset to find it occupied by the leader of the Spartacus Brotherhood. A power struggle ensued with Norman the victor. The Federation and Imperial Navies were notified of where the Azure Sunset was laying low for repairs and together they surrounded and attacked the wounded ship.

The [[Azure sunset]] was able to escape the battle, but she was mortally wounded in the process.

This story is still active. For more information, see [[The Huge Plasma Accelerator 2]] and [[The Huge Plasma Accelerator 3]]

[[Category:Fiction]]
[[Category:FFE]]
[[Category:Profile]]
[[Category:The Huge Plasma Accelerator 2]]

Vasquith de Havilland

2008-02-21T18:43:13Z

Jack Hamtilon: /* The Return of the Azure Sunset */

== General ==

Vasquith de Havilland, or 'Dev' to his friends, considers himself to be a Drifter. Six feet tall, Total blue eyes and fiery orange hair, he nevertheless blends into a crowd, unknown and incognito. He was born and raised on Earth, and has a correspondingly tall and well built body. He currently travels the galaxy aboard his starship, ''Vagabond'', an [[Asp Explorer]]

== History ==
A regular childhood with regular middle class parents, Vasquith's was a regular youth: sports, then computers, girls then mischief. He showed a talent for mechanics and engineering, constantly tweaking his 3152 Cadillac Sprinter ground car. This, combined with an interest of leaving his home planet of Earth, allowed Vasquith to enrol as a field engineer in the Federal Army Corps. A talent with both a welder and a weapon, he quickly found himself within the almost mythical 301st Marines Company. Ten years of service, too many scars and too many hard decisions turned Vasquith from a happy go lucky youth into a hardened, almost cynical adult. Gone were the wisecracks and laughter: The new objective was to get through, one day at a time.

When his time was up, Vasquith jumped ship immediately and returned to Earth to complete his Bachelor of Engineering, started before he had left for the army. His engineering field experience became invaluable and he finished with first class honours. The Alliance of Independent States, now military secure, were looking for bright minds to lead them into the technological edge, beyond what the beaucracy of the Federation, or the slaves of the Empire, could produce. Vasquith got the job immediately and climbed the ladder until he was a project manager, working on exciting, state of the art jobs at the AAAI shipyards.

== The Cold Sea beckons ==

In the end though, the call of the galaxy whispered to Vasquith. He became continually unsettled, until he could no longer contain his wanderlust. He had swapped a life of following orders of using weapons to following orders of making weapons. He wanted to be his own man for a change; control his destiny and live his own life. He had a strong desire to see what the galaxy had to offer a civilian, especially before he was too old to appreciate it He resigned immediately, during a critical phase of the Nano Plasma Accelerator research, and using every last dollar he had, brought a rusted out Adder from the [[New Rossyth Shipyards]].

He left Alioth with no piloting experience - just a few hours in a simulator. He and his ships were unprepared for what faced them: de Havilland managed to make a little money, but spent most of it on upkeep of his recalcitrant Adder, which he named ''Mary Jane''. She was never a pretty ship, but was functional and always got the job done, ironically the opposite of her namesake.

Several months into his piloting life, Several pirates ambushed de Havilland. He escaped into hyperspace, but several bulkheads of the ''Mary Jane'' exceeded their stress limits and plastically deformed. They required urgent replacement. Stranded on the northern frontier, de Havilland found a junk dealer on New World in the Hoessbe system. While he was fixing his Adder, the colony of Jeffris' Luck was attacked by the [[Kildred Pirate Clan]] and the ''Mary Jane'' was stolen.

De Havilland initially had no interest in helping the defeated colony - it wasn't his problem - but he realised he needed their help to retrieve his ship. He took part in an assault on the [[Kildred Pirate Clan|Kildred Pirates]] base and calling on his old skills as a Marine, he was able to free his ship.

This Adventure is detailed in '''Maiden Voyage''', which can be viewed at:
* [http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/Maiden_Voyage.pdf Maiden Voyage]

After a year of kicking around the cosmos, de Havilland sells the ''Mary Jane'' and buys a Cobra Mk I which he names ''[[Odysseus]]''. One of his first trips in the Cobra take him to a small anarchic world where he meets up with his old Sergeant from his days in the Marine, Sam Wagin. de Havilland gets caught up in Wagin's attempt to instill justice on the anarchy planet, but doesn't want any part of it. During a flight from the criminals, Wagin is wounded and killed. Before he dies, a selfish de Havilland promises to 'get involved' and help out the good guys.
de Havilland decides the best way to fulfill the promise is to rid the entire planet of criminals. He finds that Wagin had the blue prints for castle of the largest criminal family and gives this information to their competitors. During the attack on the castle, de Havilland sneaks in, kills the leader of the family and activates a hidden nuclear weapon. Having already called the Federation fleet in, de Havilland retreats to a safe distance to watched the Federation restore order and bring the planet into the Federal fold.

This Adventure is detailed in '''A call to duty''', which can be viewed at:
* [http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/A_Call_To_Duty.pdf A Call to Duty]

As time went by and de Havilland was able to fully enjoy life, his piloting skills increased, his insecurity dropped and he became less selfish. His engineering skills enabled him to modify and maintain his ship, even improving the engine and weapon systems beyond their original designs. He tried hand at many careers in space, although he never went flirted with the line of the law. He was haunted by a past of killing 'for the good of the people', that continued to give him nightmares. He knew he had to redeem himself by being a good a person as he could.

Within a few years, he amassed enough funds to purchase an [[Asp Explorer]]. He kitted her out as an Iron-Ass with a distinct explorer theme. He nicknamed her ''Vagabond'' and the christening stuck. He rigged the ship to work with only himself as a crew person.

de Havilland finally had a ship which could hold its own against the ravages of the ragged fringe of human space. He had time, space and a ship. He had everything he needed.

== Two to Tango ==

When it came to combat, this automation systems became noticably lacking. He also came to miss human contact that he had been shunning since he left [AAAI] for space. It was time to find a co-pilot.

He found Michael Veruz in some two-bit dump that claimed to be an Imperial Colony on the southern frontier. The young man had spunk and attitude, something Vasquith once had himself. Michael's youthful exuberance was infectious, and de Havilland hired him. The two made a good team, but protective as he was, Vasquith rarely allowed Michael to pilot, focusing him on weapons and ancilliary controls.

They kept a low profile as they explored the wilderness of space, clocking up numerous kills. As a two pilot ship, the Galactic Federation of Pilots split the kills between them. Vasquith was up to this third 'Right on Commander' message, while Veruz was on one, both of them a ranking of Competent, when a routine trip through an empty system turned out to be something completely different...

== The Return of the Azure Sunset ==

A hermit hired de Havilland to search through an empty system for his missing mining system. de Havilland and Veruz spent half a day searching the system before the stumbled upon a derelict [[Long Range Cruiser]]. But it was not just any LRC. It was the [[Azure sunset]].

de Havilland took the ''Vagabond'' in for a closer look and was ambushed by a group of elite pilots in one mand starships of unknown design. de Havilland blasted a hole in the side of the [[Azure Sunset]] and flew into the ship, fleeing into the habitable zones. The pilots followed and a game of cat and mouse ensued. In the pandemonium that followed, de Havilland and Veruz managed to download that random hyperjump matrix from the onboard computer, allowing them to predict where it would jump to next. They escaped in a daring hyperspace manoeuvre.

They fled to [[Alioth]] where they met up with de Havilland's old work friends at [AAAI]. [[Kane Scott]] loaned de Havilland an experimental Saker Mk III carrying the Nano Plasma Accelerator.

What followed was a series of events which left them tagging along with the most infamous criminal in history: Norman Mosser. Together with Mossers sidekick, Sam, they reboarded the Azure Sunset to find it occupied by the leader of the Spartacus Brotherhood. A power struggle ensued with Norman the victor. The Federation and Imperial Navies were notified of where the Azure Sunset was laying low for repairs and together they surrounded and attacked the wounded ship.

The [[Azure sunset]] was able to escape the battle, but she was mortally wounded in the process.

This story is still active. For more information, see [[The Huge Plasma Accelerator 2]] and [[The Huge Plasma Accelerator 3]]

[[Category:Fiction]]
[[Category:FFE]]
[[Category:Profile]]
[[Category:The Huge Plasma Accelerator 2]]

The Huge Plasma Accelerator

2008-02-21T18:41:46Z

Jack Hamtilon: /* Azure Sunset */

'' 'The leader spoke, an aquaphone taped to his throat. His voice echoed over the commlink in Norman's helmet. ''

'' 'Ssso Norman, you sseek to make a deal with ussss?' ''

'' 'Indeed. I wish to obtain a weapon' ''

'' 'What isss the nature of the weapon that you sssseek?' ''

'' 'A Huge Plasma Accelerator' ''

- Extract from "Side Project from Book 1 of the HPA Saga

== Description ==

A fan-fiction story set in the FFE universe around the year 3307. The main story arc involves the theft of a Huge Plasma Accelerator (HPA) and Imperial politics. Various side stories occur along the way, involving fringe characters and stories.

It is written through the point of view of its multiple authors, whose own characters unwittingly get caught up in what was to become known as the "HPA sarrghhaa"

== Participants ==
*[[Norman Mosser]] (and crew)
*[[Jake Sommersby]] (and Jecht)
*[[Leif Ericsen]] (and crew)
*[[Nomura]]
*[[Red Ravens]] (and Bec, Dreyfus, Marcus etc.)
*[[Frantic]] (and some mysterious organisation)
*[[James K. Winston]] (and Mack)
*[[Jannah Berrinh]] (and Leila Berrinh)
*[[Rowan Weston]]
*[[Ocker]] (and a band of tyrants)
*Probably a couple more small contributors

== Norman's Crew ==

== Azure Sunset ==

A [[Long Range Cruiser]] owned by Norman Mosser and equipped with a recalcitant Huge Plasma Accelerator. [[Azure sunset|Click Here]] for the main article.

== External Links ==

[http://www.galnet.org/index.php GalNET_Terminal]
Select -Fiction- and HPA for an uncompiled linklist.

[http://hughesd.co.uk/elite/fiction.asp Elite BTF] has a PDF version of the HPA and HPA2 sagas, along with the "Past Prologue" compilations of what some of the participants did in the between.

[http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro] has a mirror of the entire HPA 1 and 2 sagas in pdf format.

[[Category:Fiction]]

Azure Sunset

2008-02-21T04:56:01Z

Jack Hamtilon:

== Overview ==

The Azure Sunset is a [[Long Range Cruiser]] owned by [[Norman Mosser]]. It is infamous throughout the Galaxy as the only non military ship to house a [[Huge Plasma Accelerator]] and having played the starring role in the Fort Donaldson Debacle (although [[First Encounters/Journals#Random Intergalactic Gossip|R.I.G]] used the phrase "HPA Sarrgggaaa" which caught on with the majority of the population).

== Origins ==

The ship which became the Azure Sunset was first christened as the ''Abraham's Son''. The ship had a long and successful career as a cargo hauler until Mosser purchased it through several front companies.

== Transformation ==

Mosser immediately began alterations to the ship. First on the list was adding a weapon mount capable of holding the Huge Plasma Accelerator he had just stolen. The systems and wiring to support the weapon were next in line. Standard armament was also added, as well as several Mosser-esque additions such as clone vats and specialist medical facilities.

During the build phase, his second in command [[Mary Darkes]] ran the ship, as Mosser and his co-conspirator [[Marcus]] had business elsewhere.

The ships armaments when she was ready for her first flight were:

1 x Huge Plasma Accelerator

? x Beam Lasers

? x Small Plasma Accelerators

== The HPA Sarrgggaaa ==

The Azure Sunset was the critical component in an attempt to kill the Crown Prince of the [[Empire]] to allow Marcus, a bastard royal, to assume the position of next in line for the throne. The ship was intended to destroy the Fort Donalds space station orbiting Capitol in the [[Achenar]] system. The plot was ultimately a failure, due to both the courage of Alliance intelligence agents and a pair of bounty hunters, and the axiom 'no honour among thieves'. Marcus tried to dispose of Mosser but this resulted in a malfunction of the HPA. When the Imperial Navy arrived, the Azure Sunset engaged in battle and barely managed to escape.

== Hiding in the Darkness ==

The Azure Sunset found refuge with a secret organisation who fixed the ship and repaired the HPA. Norman ultimately abandoned the ship, leaving it on an automated jump sequence to keep it hidden. He went in search of Raxxla while the Azure Sunset hid in the dark. . .

== The Return of the Sunset ==

Norman returned to known space, needing the Azure Sunset back. As he searched for the ship, an independent commander, [[Vasquith de Havilland]] and his co-pilot stumbled upon it. As he collected information on the ship, he was ambushed by an unknown type of ship. In the ensuing battle, they managed to escape.

Eventually, [[Vasquith de Havilland|de Havilland]] teamed up with Norman Mosser to reclaim the ship. At the same time, a federal officer, [[Maegil]] with [[Mack Winston]] gained access to the ships coordinates and boarded the ship.

Norman and his crew engaged [[Maegil]] and took command of the ship. They hyperspaced to a secret dry dock, but were ambushed by both Imperial and Federal forces. After a huge space battle, the mortally wounded Azure Sunset escaped into hyperspace to [[Frantic|Frantic's]] hidden base.

Azure Sunset

2008-02-20T07:05:57Z

Jack Hamtilon:

Azure Sunset

2008-02-19T04:51:48Z

Jack Hamtilon: New page: == Overview == The Azure Sunset is a Large Range Cruiser owned by Norman Mosser. It is infamous throughout the Galaxy as the only non military ship to house a [[Huge Plasma Accel...

== Overview ==

The Azure Sunset is a [[Large Range Cruiser]] owned by [[Norman Mosser]]. It is infamous throughout the Galaxy as the only non military ship to house a [[Huge Plasma Accelerator]] and having played the starring role in the Fort Donaldson Debacle (although [[R.I.G]] used the phrase "HPA Sarrgggaaa" which caught on with the majority of the population).

== Origins ==

The ship which became the Azure Sunset was first christened as the ''Abraham's Son''. The ship had a long and successful career as a cargo hauler until Mosser purchased it through several front companies.

== Transformation ==

Mosser immediately began alterations to the ship. First on the list was adding a weapon mount capable of holding the Huge Plasma Accelerator he had just stolen. The systems and wiring to support the weapon were next in line. Standard armament was also added, as well as several Mosser-esque additions such as clone vats and specialist medical facilities.

During the build phase, his second in command ______ Darkes ran the ship, as Mosser and his co-conspirator [[Marcus]] had business elsewhere.

The ships armaments when she was ready for her first flight were:

1 x Huge Plasma Accelerator
? x Beam Lasers
? x Small Plasma Accelerators

== The HPA Sarrgggaaa ==

== Hiding in the Darkness ==

== The Return of the Sunset ==

The Huge Plasma Accelerator 3

2008-02-19T04:30:00Z

Jack Hamtilon:

Reality flooded back; he wasn’t going to get revenge. Not against them. Not if half the rumours he had heard in spacer bars were true. There was no hope in hell for him. They had unlimited resources, and he was just one man.

He was fucked.

"I’m going to cut to the chase," said Frantic. "Our organisation wants to take INRA out."

-Book 1, The HPA3 Saga

== Description ==

The escape from rocky fields isn't the end of the story. A battered '''Azure Sunset''' must find refuge and repairs, while the fragmented crew of the Norman Mosser have to come to terms with everything they have lost.

Elsewhere in the galaxy, Mack Winston is on a collision course with his past.

==Story so far (SPOILERS)==

===Opening===

The '''Azure Sunset''' has limped to a drydock run by Frantic's secret organisation. Frantic indicates he wants to destroy INRA once and for all. But to do that, he needs the HPA working.

de Havilland, Veruz and Emu set off for civilised space to find replacement parts, while Norman and Sam go looking for a replacement ship, as damage to the '''Sunset''' from its last battle was terminal.

===The Next Move===

The teams split up:

Norman Mosser and Sam Kemper head for the New Rossyth Shipyards to bid for the decommisioned '''AJN Ajax''' and '''Repulse''' which are on sale. On the way, they have to make a few stops to cement their fake ID's.

de Havilland and Veruz take Emu back to her home in Beta Hydri before heading back to the now infamous Williamson Base for new parts for the damaged Huge Plasma Accelerator.

The rest of Norman's crew stay behind to repair the ship, but are they with friend or foe?

==Mosser's Crew & Major Characters==

*Sam Kemper
Norman Mosser's right hand man. The two have been friends for many years and Sam has diligently followed Norman everywhere. After the failure at Fort Donalds, Mosser grew doubts and Sam jettisoned him in an escape capsule to jump start him again. Unfortunately he was captured by Alliance Intelligence before he could reclaim Mosser.

He escaped somehow and managed to meet up with Mosser on a distant planet, after Mosser had returned from Raxxla.

After the events of HPA2, Sam has become withdrawn, shattered by the death of Annalise Berihn.

*Benzedrine Moore (DECEASED)
An Engineer and mechanic, Moore suffers from slight space madness and alcoholism. His brain is slowly deteriorating.

He was imprisoned on the '''Sunset''' by Kim Stenson. He was killed in the battle of rocky fields when the section the ship he was in was destroyed.

*Annalise Berihn (DECEASED)
A weapon loving lady, Annalise is from Diso and has worked with her aunty Jannah on the Long Haul Outpost. Tall, seductive and dangerous, she has the complete package. She was killed by Kim Stenson whilst fleeing from Norman Mosser.

*Roj Warfturn
This man is worth 250,000C to the Imperials. He survived the battle of rocky fields in good shape. He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

*John Anders
He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

*'Lucky' Wal
He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

*Frantic
Less a member of Mosser's team than an equal that often works with him. Mosser's and Frantic's friendship goes back many years. Each has their own secrets, but they often have common goals and work together.

Frantic takes command of the '''Sunset''' once it arrives in his drydock. He has schemes for the HPA and needs the help of Mosser and his crew.

*de Havilland
Has now discovered who the mysterious enemy are. He know the only place he is safe is with Mosser, until they defeat NERA. To this end, he goes back to inhabited space to source repairs for the HPA.

With Maegil's death, he finds himself drawing closer to Emu, though something inside holds him back, knowing it is wrong.

*Michael Veruz
Is reassesing his career options as his eyes are opened to a new life of running from the law.

*Cmdr Maegil
Flew his ship, the Tenchu in the battle of rocky fields. Lead the Spartacus Brotherhood from near defeat to victory over the Imperials before his ship was destroyed

*Emu
Watches her boyfriend die in the battle of rocky fields. Heartbroken and lonely, she find solace in de Havilland, but she still grieves for her lost man.

*Kim Stenson
After his ambush goes horribly wrong on the '''Sunset''', he decides to escape. This too goes wrong. He loses consciousness as his ship goes out of control. He wakes up a prisoner in some unknown place.

== Links ==

[http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro] has Chapter 1 and the beginning of Chapter 2 of HPA3. Keep checking back for the latest instalments...

[[Category:Fiction]]

The Huge Plasma Accelerator 3

2008-02-19T04:27:43Z

Jack Hamtilon:

Reality flooded back; he wasn’t going to get revenge. Not against them. Not if half the rumours he had heard in spacer bars were true. There was no hope in hell for him. They had unlimited resources, and he was just one man.

He was fucked.

"I’m going to cut to the chase," said Frantic. "Our organisation wants to take INRA out."

-Book 1, The HPA3 Saga

== Description ==

The escape from rocky fields isn't the end of the story. A battered '''Azure Sunset''' must find refuge and repairs, while the fragmented crew of the Norman Mosser have to come to terms with everything they have lost.

Elsewhere in the galaxy, Mack Winston is on a collision course with his past.

==Story so far (SPOILERS)==

===Opening===

The '''Azure Sunset''' has limped to a drydock run by Frantic's secret organisation. Frantic indicates he wants to destroy INRA once and for all. But to do that, he needs the HPA working.

de Havilland, Veruz and Emu set off for civilised space to find replacement parts, while Norman and Sam go looking for a replacement ship, as damage to the '''Sunset''' from its last battle was terminal.

===The Next Move===

The teams split up:

Norman Mosser and Sam Kemper head for the New Rossyth Shipyards to bid for the decommisioned '''AJN Ajax''' and '''Repulse''' which are on sale. On the way, they have to make a few stops to cement their fake ID's.

de Havilland and Veruz take Emu back to her home in Beta Hydri before heading back to the now infamous Williamson Base for new parts for the damaged Huge Plasma Accelerator.

The rest of Norman's crew stay behind to repair the ship, but are they with friend or foe?

==Mosser's Crew & Major Characters==

*Sam Kemper
Norman Mosser's right hand man. The two have been friends for many years and Sam has diligently followed Norman everywhere. After the failure at Fort Donalds, Mosser grew doubts and Sam jettisoned him in an escape capsule to jump start him again. Unfortunately he was captured by Alliance Intelligence before he could reclaim Mosser.

He escaped somehow and managed to meet up with Mosser on a distant planet, after Mosser had returned from Raxxla.

After the events of HPA2, Sam has become withdrawn, shattered by the death of Annalise Berihn.

*Benzedrine Moore
An Engineer and mechanic, Moore suffers from slight space madness and alcoholism. His brain is slowly deteriorating.

He was imprisoned on the '''Sunset''' by Kim Stenson. He was killed in the battle of rocky fields.

*Annalise Berihn
A weapon loving lady, Annalise is from Diso and has worked with her aunty Jannah on the Long Haul Outpost. Tall, seductive and dangerous, she has the complete package. Unfortunately, Kim Stenson killed her while fleeing from Norman Mosser.

*Roj Warfturn
This man is worth 250,000C to the Imperials. He survived the battle of rocky fields in good shape. He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

*John Anders
He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

*'Lucky' Wal
He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

*Frantic
Less a member of Mosser's team than an equal that often works with him. Mosser's and Frantic's friendship goes back many years. Each has their own secrets, but they often have common goals and work together.

Frantic takes command of the '''Sunset''' once it arrives in his drydock. He has schemes for the HPA and needs the help of Mosser and his crew.

*de Havilland
Has now discovered who the mysterious enemy are. He know the only place he is safe is with Mosser, until they defeat NERA. To this end, he goes back to inhabited space to source repairs for the HPA.

With Maegil's death, he finds himself drawing closer to Emu, though something inside holds him back, knowing it is wrong.

*Michael Veruz
Is reassesing his career options as his eyes are opened to a new life of running from the law.

*Cmdr Maegil
Flew his ship, the Tenchu in the battle of rocky fields. Lead the Spartacus Brotherhood from near defeat to victory over the Imperials before his ship was destroyed

*Emu
Watches her boyfriend die in the battle of rocky fields. Heartbroken and lonely, she find solace in de Havilland, but she still grieves for her lost man.

*Kim Stenson
After his ambush goes horribly wrong on the '''Sunset''', he decides to escape. This too goes wrong. He loses consciousness as his ship goes out of control. He wakes up a prisoner in some unknown place.

== Links ==

[http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro] has Chapter 1 and the beginning of Chapter 2 of HPA3. Keep checking back for the latest instalments...

[[Category:Fiction]]

The Huge Plasma Accelerator 3

2008-02-19T01:16:42Z

Jack Hamtilon:

Reality flooded back; he wasn’t going to get revenge. Not against them. Not if half the rumours he had heard in spacer bars were true. There was no hope in hell for him. They had unlimited resources, and he was just one man.

He was fucked.

"I’m going to cut to the chase," said Frantic. "Our organisation wants to take INRA out."

-Book 1, The HPA3 Saga

== Description ==

The escape from rocky fields isn't the end of the story. A battered '''Azure Sunset''' must find refuge and repairs, while the fragmented crew of the Norman Mosser have to come to terms with everything they have lost.

Elsewhere in the galaxy, Mack Winston is on a collision course with his past.

==Story so far (SPOILERS)==

===Opening===

The '''Azure Sunset''' has limped to a drydock run by Frantic's secret organisation. Frantic indicates he wants to destroy INRA once and for all. But to do that, he needs the HPA working.

de Havilland, Veruz and Emu set off for civilised space to find replacement parts, while Norman and Sam go looking for a replacement ship, as damage to the '''Sunset''' from its last battle was terminal.

===The Next Move===

The teams split up:

Norman Mosser and Sam Kemper head for the New Rossyth Shipyards to bid for the decommisioned '''AJN Ajax''' and '''Repulse''' which are on sale. On the way, they have to make a few stops to cement their fake ID's.

de Havilland and Veruz take Emu back to her home in Beta Hydri before heading back to the now infamous Williamson Base for new parts for the damaged Huge Plasma Accelerator.

The rest of Norman's crew stay behind to repair the ship, but are they with friend or foe?

==Mosser's Crew & Major Characters==

*Sam Kemper
Norman Mosser's right hand man. The two have been friends for many years and Sam has diligently followed Norman everywhere. After the failure at Fort Donalds, Mosser grew doubts and Sam jettisoned him in an escape capsule to jump start him again. Unfortunately he was captured by Alliance Intelligence before he could reclaim Mosser.

He escaped somehow and managed to meet up with Mosser on a distant planet, after Mosser had returned from Raxxla.

After the events of HPA2, Sam has become withdrawn, shattered by the death of Annalise Berihn.

*Benzedrine Moore
An Engineer and mechanic, Moore suffers from slight space madness and alcoholism. His brain is slowly deteriorating.

He was imprisoned on the '''Sunset''' by Kim Stenson. He was killed in the battle of rocky fields.

*Annalise Berihn
A weapon loving lady, Annalise is from Diso and has worked with her aunty Jannah on the Long Haul Outpost. Tall, seductive and dangerous, she has the complete package. Unfortunately, Kim Stenson killed her while fleeing from Norman Mosser.

*Roj Warfturn
This man is worth 250,000C to the Imperials. He survived the battle of rocky fields in good shape. He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

*John Anders
He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

*'Lucky' Wal
He remains behind on the '''Sunset''' while a new ship and HPA parts are found.

*Frantic
Less a member of Mosser's team than an equal that often works with him. Mosser's and Frantic's friendship goes back many years. Each has their own secrets, but they often have common goals and work together.

Frantic takes command of the '''Sunset''' once it arrives in his drydock. He has schemes for the HPA and needs the help of Mosser and his crew.

*de Havilland
Has now discovered who the mysterious enemy are. He know the only place he is safe is with Mosser, until they defeat NERA. To this end, he goes back to inhabited space to source repairs for the HPA.

With Maegil's death, he finds himself drawing closer to Emu, though something inside holds him back, knowing it is wrong.

*Michael Veruz
Is reassesing his career options as his eyes are opened to a new life of running from the law.

*Cmdr Maegil
Flew his ship, the Tenchu in the battle of rocky fields. Lead the Spartacus Brotherhood from near defeat to victory over the Imperials before his ship was destroyed

*Emu
Watches her boyfriend die in the battle of rocky fields. Heartbroken and lonely, she find solace in de Havilland, but she still grieves for her lost man.

*Kim Stenson
After his ambush goes horribly wrong on the '''Sunset''', he decides to escape. This too goes wrong. He loses consciousness as his ship goes out of control. He wakes up a prisoner in some unknown place.

== Links ==

[http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/FEU/feu.html FrontierAstro] has Chapter 1 and the beginning of Chapter 2 of HPA3. Keep checking back for the latest instalments...

[[Category:Fiction]]

Eagle Long Range Fighter Mk 2

2008-01-15T19:02:09Z

Jack Hamtilon:

{{Infobox ShipStats Frontier| title = Eagle Mk II
|image = [[Image:Eagle2.gif]]
|ladenmass = 6t
|hullmass = 28t
|capacity = 22t
|mainaccel = 28.2g
|retroaccel = 4g
|gunmountings = 1
|missiles = 2
|crew = 1
|hyperrange = '''Class 1''':10.71 '''Class 2''':42.85 '''Class 3''':96.42
|standarddrive = '''Class 1'''
|fuelscoop = no
}}

== Overview ==
the Eagle Mk 2, produced by the Federal Military Research Directorate, was an upgrade to the ubiquitous Mk 1 Long Range Fighter. Although there was much hype at its launch, this was quickly overshadowed by controversy when the extent of the poor design became public.

== Controversy ==
The Mk 2 involved seven years of design work. The released product was slightly larger and faster with debatably improved looks. However the retro thrusters were poor by even shuttle standards at four gees.

Other deficiencies and inadequacies were found quickly. After a Mk 2 imploded on liftoff, killing the pilot, an inquisition was launched into the design. Although no 'smoking guns' were found, the Federal Military Research Directorate never fully recovered from the incident.

== Notable Features ==
The Mk II remains one of the faster small ships on the market, and has decent capacity for outfitting as a fighter. It's also highly manoeuvrable, making it hard to target in combat. Due to this small size however, it can't take much punishment.

== Disadvantages ==
The retro rockets are inexcuscably weak at four gees. Most pilots will forgo the autopilot and do a manual flip at the centrepoint of their journey.

== Verdict ==
A ship for the pilot who enjoys a challenge. Any pilot worth their salt will keep a wide berth.

[[Category:FE2]][[Category:FFE]]

Eagle Long Range Fighter Mk 2

2008-01-15T19:01:49Z

Jack Hamtilon:

{{Infobox ShipStats Frontier| title = Eagle Mk II
|image = [[Image:Eagle2.gif]]
|ladenmass = 6t
|hullmass = 28t
|capacity = 22t
|mainaccel = 28.2g
|retroaccel = 4g
|gunmountings = 1
|missiles = 2
|crew = 1
|hyperrange = '''Class 1''':10.71 '''Class 2''':42.85 '''Class 3''':96.42
|standarddrive = '''Class 1'''
|fuelscoop = no
}}

== Overview ==
the Eagle Mk 2, produced by the Federal Military Research Directorate, was an upgrade to the ubiquitous Mk 1 Long Range Fighter. Although there was much hype at its launch, this was quickly overshadowed by controvery when the extent of the poor design became public.

== Controversy ==
The Mk 2 involved seven years of design work. The released product was slightly larger and faster with debatably improved looks. However the retro thrusters were poor by even shuttle standards at four gees.

Other deficiencies and inadequacies were found quickly. After a Mk 2 imploded on liftoff, killing the pilot, an inquisition was launched into the design. Although no 'smoking guns' were found, the Federal Military Research Directorate never fully recovered from the incident.

== Notable Features ==
The Mk II remains one of the faster small ships on the market, and has decent capacity for outfitting as a fighter. It's also highly manoeuvrable, making it hard to target in combat. Due to this small size however, it can't take much punishment.

== Disadvantages ==
The retro rockets are inexcuscably weak at four gees. Most pilots will forgo the autopilot and do a manual flip at the centrepoint of their journey.

== Verdict ==
A ship for the pilot who enjoys a challenge. Any pilot worth their salt will keep a wide berth.

[[Category:FE2]][[Category:FFE]]