"So Close, Yet So Far"
[Previous post: "Executive Confrontations"]
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Setting: VIPER Cockpit
Stardate: 60327.1545
Light-year away from the troubles of the ANUBIS or its CEO, the Hirogen was getting better acquainted with the systems found inside the cockpit of one of the VIPERs. To say that these little craft were high-tech would have been a grave understatement, but Uxtar did not complain, actually he enjoyed it.
The responsiveness of the ship and its tracking capabilities made the VIPER a perfect tool for a hunt, and it had not taken the Hirogen long to get into the spirit of things. Using all of the available tools at his disposal Uxtar had set out to test the fullest extent of the ship's speed and agility by going against the fastest opponents available to him. The four opposite ships looked strange, but the Hirogen never had the chance to see any of them for more than a few seconds at a time. The objective: to destroy them before they destroyed him.
It had taken a while for Uxtar to get used to the headpiece which allowed his thoughts to help guide and pilot the VIPER. As a hunter the Hirogen often thought one thing while he acted another way, but while piloting one of these ships Uxtar had to be mindful of his thoughts. Thinking about pursuing another target before the first was destroyed had already cost him a kill, and this was an error that he had not wanted to repeat a second time.
The asteroid field that surrounded the secret base of operations had been the perfect setting for this exercise, forcing the Hirogen to deal with moving rocks as well as ships bent on destroying him. Uxtar had come close to running into a few of the faster-moving asteroid but that had only increased his vigilance as the exercise progressed. Now instead of fighting against the erratic movements of those floating rocks, the hunter had learned to use them to his advantage by camouflaging his approach.
From behind one of the larger asteroids Uxtar kept an eye on the position of one of the other fighters that had and still was actively searching for him. Engaging it now would only reveal his presence allowing the fighter to respond and likely evade any incoming attack, so the Hirogen needed to be patient and wait for another asteroid to pass by to permit him to get closer undetected. This would have been difficult enough without having three other fighters searching the asteroid field for the VIPER, so the hunter needed to be vigilant.
Uxtar's patience was eventually rewarded with the perfect line of attack which would spell the quick demise of his first prey. Using the asteroids as a shield the hunter maneuvered the VIPER closer and by the time the fighter had seen him it had been too late. At least it would have been if the ANUBIS' Chief of Security had not distracted the Hirogen by interrupting the simulation.
=/\= Nico to Uxtar. =/\=
The bolts of energy fired from the VIPER's guns had been released too early and completely missed their intended target which caused the Hirogen to let out a growl of anger. By the time the hunter had been ready to reply to his friend, the other three fighters had already locked weapons on him and fired terminating the simulation.
"What?" Uxtar snarled, letting his friend know that he was a little upset.
=/\= It was only a simulation, =/\= Nico said clearly trying to contain his amusement. =/\= You'll get your chance to execute revenge on those holographic ships, but right now I need your help with something. =/\=
"Very well," Uxtar said as he opened the canopy, "I'm on my way," he added as the Hirogen removed his headpiece and placed it on the now empty seat vowing that he would get his revenge before the crew of the ANUBIS headed into their next mission.
### 2005 post #456
Mark Hutchings {h172mark16@fastmail.us}
Ensign Uxtar
VIPER Pilot
USS ANUBIS
