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What a great line. Running is not an option, until it became one. </div>
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<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size:11pt" color="#000000"><b>From:</b> illuminar-rpg <illuminar-rpg-bounces@startrekfreedom.com> on behalf of Charles Gatling via illuminar-rpg <illuminar-rpg@startrekfreedom.com><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, May 28, 2021 12:42 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Illuminar-rpg@startrekfreedom.com <Illuminar-rpg@startrekfreedom.com><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Charles Gatling <stsalekeco@gmail.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [EXTERNAL] ILLUMINARRPG: (3-1807)- Marauder Commander Hoto</font>
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<div dir="auto">Mission: Death in the Shadows</div>
<div dir="auto">Day: 3</div>
<div dir="auto">Stardate: 2446.02.02</div>
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<div dir="auto">(Keshak Predator- Bridge - Marauder Commander Hoto -1807)</div>
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<div dir="auto">If he could have spared the breath and mental focus necessary the Orion commander would have been filling the command center with colorful invectives. He did not so did not, his concentration was on the frightening panoply playing out before
him.</div>
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<div dir="auto">A dark purple stream of energy swept out from the ventral plane of the enemy ships saucer section and passed over the incoming swarm of missiles. As the energy touched each one it exploded. Hoto instinctively pushed forward hard on the flight
control stick sending the Predator in a steep downward trajectory as he fed it full power. The Predator nosed down and shot forward passing several hundred meters under the detonating missiles and beneath the Illuminar as it leaped forward and through the
area of space they had formerly occupied.</div>
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<div dir="auto">His brain was on cruise control as he leveled off then pulled back on the stick to get behind the starship. </div>
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<div dir="auto">"Stormhawk has been destroyed by one of our own missiles commander."</div>
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<div dir="auto">He didn't answer the report, none was necessary.</div>
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<div dir="auto">"Commander we may have bitten off more than we can chew. I say we withdraw."</div>
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<div dir="auto">"We have one tough battle and you want to throw away what we've worked for so far?" He spat through gritted teeth without turning his head to his communications officer. "I should kill you now and would if I wasn't busy flying. If you had jammed
the freighters comms when I told you to we wouldn't be in this fight!"</div>
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<div dir="auto">"They were calling for help before we even fired on them. How was i supposed to know?"</div>
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<div dir="auto">"You were supposed to follow orders!" Hoto shouted as he slowed and turned the ship into the Illuminar's wake. Having an instant of respite and mounting rage he turned toward the Ferengi, drew his weapon and fired in one smooth movement.</div>
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<div dir="auto">The being screamed shrilly as the spreading glow from its midsection began breaking it up into its component atoms causing extreme agony. The glow grew until the Ferengi was enveloped by it before disintegrating.</div>
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<div dir="auto">"Anyone else going to question my orders?"</div>
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<div dir="auto">The 3 other mixed crew on duty in the control cabin immediately greeted that with shouts of. "No Commander!"</div>
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<div dir="auto">"Get Jacobs up here to run communications." He barked then increased power to gain on the ship that had fixed its attention on Viper. He had 3 missiles left but needed to find a way to make them count. "And fire disruptors."</div>
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<div dir="auto">So far their weapons had little effect on the enemy shields but he needed to split their attention. At some point they would make a mistake and he would make them pay. If Viper went down though he would have to consider retreat. Running was
not an option until it became one.</div>
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<div dir="auto">(Reply: None)</div>
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<div dir="auto">(Posted by Charles G)</div>
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<div>Charles Gatling<br>
Commanding Officer<br>
USS Illuminar<br>
NCC 61240<br>
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"The light shines brightest amidst the deepest darkness."</div>
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