Space Pirates








Prelude

The band of Foxes known as “The foxes of dark fire” struck fear throughout the entire universe. There was no place within known space that hadn’t heard of their capacity….The fennecs had been eradicated from the universe, only a civilian population remained to only be humiliated and serve the foxes of all economic posts. Tribute to fire, may shadows prevail. The armies of dark fire roamed the galaxy brandished from the Foxes’ abilities to summon their armies. None could contest, no force could recon, and nothing could ever surmount the dark fire, metal, ice, and shadows that engulfed the planets. The fox worlds of Trifon, Dashay, Jix-Ivor, and Centaury IV flew banners to honor the foxes of dark fire and established the charisma for the remainder of the galaxy.

Trifon was a world of war industry and machines. The planet was the base of the entire fox army’s war effort. Nothing but coldness and technology awaited there. Yet as desolate as this planet was, it churned out many capital ships in orbit, an infinite supply of artillery, fighter ships, armor, and other miscellaneous war supplies.

Dashay was a massive planet that was home to the majority of the fox population. There was a great city known as Dashay City comprised of towering skyscrapers that colored a quadrant of the planet. Dashay City was a residential foundation than it appeared. Foxes resided in large and comfortable apartments that were clean, secure, and luxurious. Of course there was entertainment to be found throughout the city. There was the Great Fox museum that told the history of the fox civilization and all the battles fought in honor of Dashay. There was the former palace where the emperor ruled on high. It was said to be the highest point of the city and overlooked the planet. Yet this structure will always stand for this was where the Fox’s of Dark Fire proclaimed their victory to foxes.

Obviously, the foxes of these worlds preserved traditions but had only improved life there wallowing in the riches of the fallen fennecs’ worlds. As the armies of darkness spread over the galaxy, destruction of fennec worlds and neutral worlds refusing to acknowledge and surrender to the foxes were destroyed. The fennec planet of desolrot, nissen, and Ioy was destroyed by the foxes main battle cruiser, ‘light killer’ in battle. Neutral planets that were underdeveloped were taken by simple ground crews. The neutral worlds that were filled of valor and would never submit their culture and lore to the foxes fought back to defend their homes, but only suffered defeat. ShadowFox forced all inhabitants of those worlds to watch in dismay as their deities, relics, and literature was destroyed. Then their armies enslaved the neutral worlds for harvesting raw materials and resources. Yet the destruction of the planet or its culture was a minor hardship opposed to something far worse… distortion.

Entire planet’s climates had been eradicated and wrought one or more of these elements. The beautiful land of Watralon, a world close to the solar existence covered with blue oceans and many tropical islands, was now home to Rifose and ?????? Half the planet was a molten sea of lava and inferno wrought islands. The other half was a world of ice fields, ice crystals and ice caves. The metropolis of Alkalore was destroyed into a wasteland of scrap metal yet there is some organization of structured caves beneath the metal. The clear sky is now a malicious haze of pale orange with black clouds swarming the sky. Many space ports had been destroyed or taken, yet the foxes were quick to fabricate their own stations for trading of valuables and goods. There were still few civilian ships that flew through space. Most civilian travel was restricted to massive passenger liners, for the dominant presence in the heavens were the fox battle cruisers patrolling their sectors….Society ran just as Fox, Rifose, Seraphin, ??????, and Black desired it to….Smoothly yet coldly, like a machine….

The foxes of Dark Fire were characterized by all as evil, yet to the foxes of their home worlds, they were the greatest champions to ever exist. Life existed in equilibrium as opposed to currency; the root of all corruptions. Services were performed for gratitude and returned services. The foxes supposed form of currency was gratitude and comradery to another. There was never unbalance in the equilibrium they exhibited, or greed to corrupt the balance. Nothing was ever given, it was earned. Be it physical possessions, errands, or supplies there was gratitude and a reimbursement. Since they were incapable of viewing this ‘currency’ as gluttony or being taken advantage of, any acknowledgement within a reasonable radius of the balance was necessary to keep the peace. Utilities were to be distributed evenly, yet when constructing a highway, a building, or any form of construction to their city; everyone banned together and could fabricate the most complex of configurations in a matter of days or shorter. The form of control that was exhibited over the foxes was that there was no form of government or law. Any decisions to construct were decided in a vote cast by the regional civilians; everyone was equal. Previously there was some ambition over military and being recruited. All foxes considered death in combat as the greatest honor in the galaxy. Though all wanted this honor, there was nothing more useless than an army of dead heroes, so those who lacked prowess to pilot crafts or stand in armed combat remained on the capital ships to prep ships, troops, and weaponry. The foxes won the war, for the armies were armed with entire planets in their corners cheering them to battle.

No form of currency can surpass, no form of trade more reasonable, and no society greater than one based on gratuity and appreciation.

However there was one scripture that had been established millennia before the foxes of Dark Fire. A fox was to be pure of mind and body, any lost limbs were to be left unchecked, for any mechanical replacements would be deemed dishonorable and would be punished relentlessly.

The military was less organized before the Foxes brought about their armies of mindless drones that obeyed without question. Now they all existed without emotions or any deviance in a daily schedule. Rifose and Fox watched their armies closely; Fox’s shadow troops all were dressed in familiar green jumpsuits without the stripe he wore as well as full jackets as opposed to a vest. Their fur was black with white around the muzzles. They wore helmets that covered the top, sides, and back of the heads, but left the face exposed. Their eyes emitted a solid dark green glow. Rifose’s fire troops dressed in black and had black fur, white muzzles, with red glowing eyes and emitted a dark red haze. Both teams were even in attributes of all diversities. As smooth as this machine may function, it was as predictable and more or less, tedious…..

However, in this fleet of pilots there were some that were born and raised in an academy….Some were mercenaries recruited to command squads or fleets. Despite that fleets were comprised of the dark fire troops that lacked emotions and independence, some natural born foxes united under the dark banner. However, there number was less than nominal…..

Three years ago, during the final battle and the assertion of dark fire, destiny would establish a bond that would never be broken. A bond stronger than any in the universe that would last for life, even in death it would live on.

The final battle began in the center of the galaxy where the planet of Niov once flourished before this time. A battle between Rifose and Aquile, the water fox brought about its destruction. Niov was once believed to be the center of the system. The planet was comprised of every ecological terrain including a massive city. However, the satellites of this planet remained and revolved around the void. Now the final space battle was about to be fought.

Two armies had assembled two massive walls of star fighters, mother ships, capital ships, and a single icon ship.  Mother ships ranged from classes 1-3. Class 1 was the smallest, the size of the millennium falcon or ebon hawk. Class 2 being larger had a docking bay of 1-20 star ships this class could support a small crew of equal number. Class 3 mother ships were the largest class of ships allowed to be privately owned. These ships had a massive docking bay for 20-150 star ships, support a crew of 200 easily, and exceeded the size of some smaller capital ships. Capital ships were larger and could solely be used by the military, they had the same three classes only were ten times as large, and could house the same number of ships and crew proportional to this factor. These ships served in battle as fortresses of turrets, cannons, and bombs. The icon ships served as a base to the armies and were the size planets and were comprised of massive fleets.

Both fleets awaited the final battle to begin, Fox and Vox floated in space (technology protected them from the vacuum of pressure and oxygen). Both sides were prepared to engage the enemy. Claws were drawn followed by a staff as the two clashed…. A few seconds later two bright trails of light and darkness screamed across the heavens and beyond the eye. THE BATTLE HAD BEGUN. General Rifose shouted over the comms link, “ALL SHIPS ENGAGE THE ENEMY….ATTACK.” There were infinite comet tails of blue, green, yellow, and red painting the battle plane followed by a spectacular display of blaster fire and explosions. The capital ships slowly moved into attack position and engaged others and attempted to destroy as many starships along the way. Their massive size made their maneuvering capabilities rather clumsy and forced them to pass the opposing capital ship and come about for another pass. Explosions, laser fire, plasma trails from the engines, and the ships themselves illuminated sector with its destruction and beauty…

As the battle rages on, there is one who site idly by following orders yet rather disheartened by Fox, Rifose, Seraphin, and ???????, “Eh, final battle, prepare for the end bastard fennec, slash slash slash slash, you can’t win, I rule. Bah, is there ever a deviation in the way Fox’s battle’s progress? How tiresome watching the Zoze battles has become. SPACE is where the real action is.” Captain Shayo Bishop; an exceptional pilot and squad leader of Treta Squad, he could out maneuver any fighter and use that prowess to confuse and out maneuver an opponent to their demise. He was first recruited for his ability to race the asteroid belt and dethrone Fox and Rifose’s times through the field. He was position at an end of the fleet with a small squad in an asteroid belt to prevent advances from the sides. This prevented the star fennec fleet from encircling the Dark fire fox fleet. However at this time the main battle had been fought in the center of the plane and brought nothing to this small squad. Shayo desired the honor of the battle to be remembered for participating. He knew the glory that would live forever if he came home a hero…That appeared improbable, “AND WHY THE HELL ARE WE STATIONED ALL THE WAY OUT HERE,” Shayo shouted most dismayed and furious.
The entire squad of shadow troops answered in one monotonous voice, “Master said to.”  Shayo folded his arms and mocked the troops for their lack of independence, “Master Shadow said so? I’ll wager anything that if he said hurl yourselves into the canyon of a thousand souls, you’d do it.” Shayo continued to wave his hands about frustrated.
A while had passed as Shayo could only watch the great battle unfold before his eyes. As much as the desire to join his comrades in battle yearned within him, the fear of a dishonorable discharge kept him at bay. Suddenly there was a comms report, “Captain Shayo, we have detections of plasma trails in the asteroid belt….What is your status.”
Shayo’s ears perked many times as he quickly answered, “Stationary and waiting.” Shayo leaned forward and grabbed hold of the controls ready for battle. His body swayed in the cockpit ready humming a tune to himself ready to engage in combat.
The scouts voice returned over the comms link, “Be advised Treta Squad.”
The sound of lasers charging could be heard as the cannons core emitted a dim glow. Each ship was armed with a single laser, Shayo’s craft was equipped with a double blaster. The ship’s construct was fairly simple. There was a cockpit with two wings extended to the sides and at half length they arced back slightly. Shayo’s ship had 4 small mounts on the wings that were green. (It looks like an Arwing black and green instead of grey and blue) “Be ready boys.” As the team all remained lined up there was nothing to be heard or seen, “Hmm, I have a most unsettling feeling….hmm….Switch to thermal scan.”
A small lens folded from the pilots head gear and covered an eye…..Suddenly one shouted over the comms, “STAR GLARES.” Star glares were the fennec’s stealth squadrons, legend tells of how when they cloak there’s always a small glisten of light that can be seen, but usually fades away in space, especially with a sun behind them.
“LET’S ROOOOOOOCK,” Shayo’s 4 mounts served as engines as they all emitted a dark blast of energy when he tore off into the asteroids screaming in an upwards arc over a massive asteroid firing his lasers at blinding speeds. Every shot made an impact causing a chain of explosions since the other ships feared and crashed into neighboring asteroids, Shayo was taken for a moment, “Whoa, they’re gonna swarm us.” Shayo’s ship plowed through the small clearing as a large fleet of over 50 ships made their presence. The 20 fighters followed shortly after and held their position along the huge asteroid and fired into the swarm knowing if they missed, their shots could have impacted an asteroid causing a crash. The two fleets engaged each other as the laser fire lit up the asteroid field and became a tempest in the sea of rock.
Shayo picked up 3 fighters as he led them into the more dense areas of the belt, “That’s right fools. Right this way, follow me.” The three pilots matched Shayo’s speed for a short time until he used his lasers to cause the rocks to collapse and spiral in all sorts of directions. He fired forward as a rock rolled to the right. He followed it, keeping his ship in a constant barrel roll in a hard cornering maneuver. He stopped when the belly of his ship was feet from the rock on its side, he arced to the left around the rock. Then he killed the lower thrusts and let the ship spin around and he blasted off again firing his lasers taking out two of the three, “Ha ha ha, you’re space junk.” Shayo spotted the third ship and engaged it as the ship tried to flee. The pilot was eager to escape the asteroid field to possibly out maneuver the fox with some flashy somersaults or U-turns.
Shayo laughed to himself, “Hehehe, I suppose you will now attempt the famous somersault….” The craft then tore upwards in an arc to somersault and gain position on the fox. Shayo was less than impressed, “Aw yeah, AW YEAH. Now I’m suppose to say something like ‘what the heck’ HELL NO.” Shayo’s ship had been equipped with a missile that would follow and cause a minor blast forcing the fennec out of his loop. Shayo had already began his somersault and while he was inverted he fired and destroyed the third ship. Shayo did a half barrel roll to get his ship upright, “This isn’t some video game…Besides, who do you think I am?” Shayo tore off back to the battle which was still near by, “STATUS REPORT,” Shayo demanded.
He received an answer quickly from one of the fighters, “Sir, our forces have been cut in half, but we’ve crushed them down to thirty fighters.” Shayo immediately fired on an asteroid and destroyed 2 more.
“Come on, we can still win,” Shayo shouted over his comms to the remainder of his squad.
“What do we do sir,” a squadmate asked?
Shayo had a strategy formed in an instant, “Let’s take them deeper into the belt, that’ll force them into a bottle neck, and the rocks just might take a few of them down, and I’ll have a surprise waiting for them.”
Suddenly there were 2 distant flashes in the distance, one dark and one light. The two remaining squadrons all noticed and watched for a few seconds….Suddenly one of Shayo’s squadmates hollered, “WATCH OUT.” There were two sudden blasts of light as two comet like structures blasted through and decimated Shayo’s fleet…”AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH…WHOAAAAAAAA.” ShadowFox and Vox flew by and the force destroyed the remainder of Treta squad. Yet the force cause Shayo’s ship to tumble out of control like paper in a hurricane. He was suddenly brought to a halt when his ship smashed into an asteroid, yet he was not destroyed, “Urrrrrrrr….ohhhhhh. Great, thanks for destroying my squad you flipping jerkoff.”
Shayo had just enough time to watch the last ship go down as the pilot shouted over his comms, “Get em(static)….uf me (static) Wuhhhhhhhhh..BOOOM.” The force and the fennecs finished him off……Shayo was alone and facing down 20 more fennec ships as they all focused their efforts on him.
The twenty quickly surrounded Shayo and presented him with an ultimatum, “Don’t move fox pilot….Surrender and we’ll spare your life.”
Shayo was not about to surrender to anyone in the known galaxy, “You little rat bastards. I’d rather die than give you the pleasure of capturing me,” Shayo was witty none the less and knew he would have more of a chance if he stalled a bit, “But I would rather live another day so I can get another squad and blow the living daylights out of you.” Shayo’s engine dimmed as he put his hands up and glared back with a false gaze of frustration concealing the wily fox’s nature. In the distance there was a red tail blazing around in a wide arc rushing towards the grouping of ships. Yet this red blaze was behind them. Shayo tilted his head, “Errrr???? Rifose????”
The ship performed a ‘fading barrel roll’ on an axis that was centered above the cockpit as it form a circle and fired three massive shots. The ship then faded to the side as it fired three more shots. The first three destroyed two ships as the next set destroyed another ship. Then he formed a figure 8 firing a massive barrage of laser fire destroying 3 more ships. 14 remained. Suddenly a voice came on the comms, it wasn’t Rifose but someone new, “GET OUT OF THERE MAN.”
Shayo had been charging his engine for a massive boost to escape and now was the time. As he blasted off he left a small bomb on a short fuse. A short instant later it exploded taking out 6 more fighters, Shayo studied the mystery ships design and noticed it was another captain’s ship, “I thought I had seen my end,” Shayo muttered as the two flew off.
“Not today….My name’s Drufin Marno,” Drufin said as he looked over Shayo’s ship, it wouldn’t last much longer.
Shayo feared the same. As he attempted to introduce himself just as he realized the two were being pursued, “Wait, let’s finish this first.”
“GLORY TO THE FOXES,” Drufin yelled as the two tore off again.
“We’ve got eight on our six,” Shayo shouted over the comms looking to the rear.
“I have an idea, if you’re who I think you are, this will work.”
The 8 ships followed the two foxes into the asteroid belt just as they rounded a larger rock, the two split off, Shayo performed a tight turn downwards and around an asteroid following below where he wouldn’t be seen. Drufin flew above where he could be seen and lure the fennec army to their doom, “Prepare yourself, they’re coming.”
The 8 remaining fennecs shot up over the asteroid and into the asteroids. They obviously noticed Drufin dive below the a few asteroids and vanish. They raced forwards….Suddenly, SHOOM SHOOM KAPOW. Shayo shot up and blasted 2 more to scrap and flew at dangerous speeds into a nearby cluster of asteroids. The fennecs were quick, yet foolish to follow. “I’ll throw them off and it’s all yours ace,” Shayo yelled over the comms. Smaller stones deflected off his ship as his wings left twin trails of plasma from the engines as well as one main one from the center. There was massive fire on the young vulpines ship as he performed barrel rolls, figure 8’s, fading barrel rolls, Yet the massive cloud of laser was tough to avoid as he took on damage, “Arrrrrrrgh, COME GET ME FUCKERS.” When he was far enough, he fishtailed the ship and blasted into the 6 only doing minor damage as he used the boost to accelerate past them. They all did U-turns and followed.
Drufin waited and saw Shayo coming for where he was stationed and waiting. He saw Shayo’s heavily damaged ship scorched with laser burn and exposed hull plates as Shayo fought to elude the fennecs and control his ship. Just as Shayo passed over, there was a slight glisten from his ship as he rolled on to the roof of his ship and shouted gave Drufin a salute and continued to dash off. Suddenly, Drufin fired a bomb forward that had a proximity charge, “Chase THIS YOU SON OF A BITCH.” There was a mild explosive, “AHHHH HA HA HA HAHAHAHAHA. You never stood an ion of a chance,” Drufin laughed as he joined Shayo in his escape.
“We’re invincible,” Shayo shouted as the two flew off……
POW. A laser blast took off Shayo’s right wing, “What the hell?”
“Errr, I must have missed one….Unacceptable. Let’s finish this,” Drufin shouted as they both turned about to find the last ship….The fennec squadron’s captain.
“We’re not done here yet fox army,” the captain shouted to the two foxes.
Shayo was quick to smirk and respond with a witty comment, in spite of his damaged ship, “If you even think for a second that you’ll win, you’re lying to yourself.”
Drufin quickly devised a strategy, “This time I will lure him away and you gun. Your ship has exceeded damage safety degree.”
Shayo nodded and performed a forward somersault and began firing, however with the loss of his wing meant the loss of his starboard engines and fought even harder to control the ship. His laser shots were close yet missing by nominal distances. Yet he finally landed a hit when the three approached the asteroid belt.
Drufin understood that Shayo had great difficulty aiming. When they neared the belt again, Drufin began a somersault and knew the fennec would follow giving Shayo a clear shot. Shayo hit and forced the fennec captain out of the somersault. Drufin came around and drove the nose of his ship into an area just in front of the fennec’s cockpit and raced for the nearby massive asteroid, “This will finish you…FOR GOOD.”
The fennec knew his fate and responded, “You too you fool.”
Shayo had strategically positioned his ship just ahead of the two, “I don’t think so.” Shayo performed a faded barrel roll to the right and crashed into Drufin’s ship causing the two to break away and send the fennec smashing into the asteroid, “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.” There was an explosion as the fennec star glare squadron fell.
Meanwhile, the right side of Shayo’s ship had already lost its wing and now was resting Drufin’s ship nose down and minus the right wing as well. The two were stuck together since the crash disabled their primary engines. The force of the collision could be felt in the whiplash effect….
The two knew they had owed each other their lives. Shayo looked up to Drufins cockpit to see him nodding back at him, “Very well done pilot, you are an inspiration,” Drufin said.
Shayo smile back and winked, “You saved my tail, I would have been floating through the asteroid field if failed to appear.”
Drufin waved back at him, “No man, I would have been decomposing in a creator had you not been so crafty with your wings. Well done ace.”
The two softly nodded their heads as their ears folded forward and allowed a moment to reflect upon the other’s deed and softly muttered, “Thank you.”
As they sat idly by and watched the space battle in the distance, Drufin suddenly realized something, “Oh I forgot, but….Who are you?”
Shayo answered, “I’m Shayonos Bishop, captain of Treta squadron first class…..Shayo for short.”
The two sat back again and watched knowing that their adventures would be infinite and they would continue to watch over one another forever…..Wingmates for the rest of their days, and fox brothers for ever……

Sheyo Bishop and Drufin Marno