The sharp pain sent a shock wave though out his body. Never had he felt such immense pain in his life. One minute he was putting the sought after data in his pouch the next all the lights were out. Before he could program any kind of light the pain was there to inhibit any form of thought but the pain itself. Puck did not even know where it came from of what had hit him all he could do was grab at the base of his neck and roll in agony on the floor. Back in the real world the glassy eyed figure of Pucks body was gyrating and convulsing as the brain sent warning signs to his entire body. Ravage immediately jumps out of his sleeping state and peers at the wired form of Puck. "Drek what has the kid got himself into no? Wish I had paid attention to Shelob's and Drider's lessons on how to help a decker in need. Frag I'm a stomper not a techer." Not wanting to interfere, for fear of destroying Puck, Ravage decides to leave his faith up to Shiva. "The kids got spunk he'll figure a way out. He's got a better chance without me screwing his biz."

          Back in the Cyber world the lights in the room suddenly turn on and the figure of Puck in flat on his back and motionless. A wraith like figure seems to phase in from the surrounding wall and appear before Puck's fallen body. He is garbed in an all black Gi with a black, silk mask covering his head. Only his sharp, penetrating eyes can be seen and they stare at the fallen cyberwarrior. (following is translated from Japanese)
          "Good you are still alive. Your shield programs are good not many can take my Psychic Blades and survive." whispers the figure in a soft musical tone, almost girl-like. "I have to admit you have some skill to get by the initial barriers, but you went to far when you dared to take information from my sacred databanks. Now before I end your life do you have anything to say? I do so like to hear them beg before they die."
          Puck, still immobile finds that his voice has been given back to him. With a voice that is shaky from fear he says, " Please, master of the cyberways do not kill me. I am nothing to you but a rat scrounging for info to make some creds. If you save my life I can give you some valuable information on the new government that has taken over in Bangkok."
          "What would you know that I don't already know whelp." sneers the black clad figure.
          "I have several secret pass codes that the governing body uses for their personal logins. I got it during the revolution when mass confusion was tying up all of their programmers. Its all in my hip pouch, take a look and see. If you deem them worthy, then please I beg you, set me free." Even though Puck cannot move the tone of his voice displays his desperate mood.
          After staying silent for a moment the figure slowly and cautiously begins to move towards Puck's paralyzed body. With a delicate touch the figure slowly unravels the knot and opens the pouch.
          With the a burst of speed the rocks the senses an animal jumps out from the pouch and locks its powerful jaws into the jugular of its master's enemy. The figure struggles to pull the vampire bat from its throat, but to no avail. Steadily as Puck regains his strength and movement the figure struggles less and less until it has sunk to its knees with the bat making horrifying sucking noises all the time.
          "Lets cancel this channel Bat before the calvary arrives." says Puck in a casual voice that leads one to think that he was never really afraid.
          "I'm almost finish with this meat. Please let me finish, it tastes so good and it has so much energy." Pleads the bat.
          "We got what we came for now its time for us to leave. By the time you finish with this icon his pals will be on us like flies on drek. So lets go" With that he pulls bat into the pouch once more and salutes the fallen guardian. "Was fun pal, and you gave me a beating I wont soon forget, but I've got to jet. See ya around."
          In a stuttering voice the figure pulls itself up weakly and says "You have won this battle young one, but I will not be so easily tricked next time. You have no idea who you have dishonored do you? Your fate is sealed and I will await our next encounter and we shall see who will walk away alive and who will be left a husk at the terminal."
          Before Puck can reconsider his idea of leaving him alive he notices 20 icons of various oriental styles suddenly appear and decides it's time to disconnect...

======Puk Jacks out======

          Ravage is startled as Puck lets out a yell of relief. "Man that was a wild ride" Puck nearly falls over as he attempts to rise to his feet. Ravage gently picks up the weakened body and slowly carries him to the corner bed. As he lays his comrade on the bed, Puck weakly whispers " I got the info on the helo pilot, plus I was able to find out ..." before he can finish Puck passes out from exhaustion.
          "Sleep my friend I will guard your back. You have sacrificed much for me and I will not forget it. Ravage has little friends in this life and I keep the ones I have close to my heart and pity those who would take them away"

          "Drider, where the hell's Shelob?" Michael Stuart, or Sidewinder as he was known around the office, laid a slick black leather briefcase on the chrome table, next to the decker's computer.
          The decker didn't respond so Sidewinder tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey! Anybody in there," he asked waving his hand in front of Drider's unfocused eyes.
          That got his attention. "Oh, sorry Captain. I was decking the T$R system again to see what's new there," he said with a mischievous grin.
          "I swear," Sidewinder went to the counter to get a cup of soycaf. "What the frag is it with you and T$R? Never mind," he said stirring in some saccharine sweetener. "Where's Shelob?"
          Drider thought it over for a second. "You missed all the excitement didn't ya? Well, we got a message from Ravage."
          "No dreking? How's the trog doing and where is he?"
          "He's still in Bangkok, hiding from the Junta. He got into a jam and may have alerted them to his presence. We're not sure yet. His transmission was intercepted and we terminated prematurely. He doesn't know where we are yet. Shelob is arranging to have the sub meet him."
          Sidewinder sipped the hot soycaf. It scalded his tongue. Just the way he liked it. "Okay, where are they gonna meet and when?
          Drider shrugged his shoulders. "Don't know for sure, yet. We're working on it."
          Sidewinder shook his head. "I swear. I make a simple three day business trip to London and leave Shelob in charge and look what happens. Goes to figure," he says, dripping sarcasm. "How's the BBS I asked you to set up?" Drider got excited. Something in his area of expertise at last! "It's going pretty well. I have the actual program written. It'll be fragging amazing when I'm done. So far I have a photo realistic virtual mansion. The program is over 400,000Mp so far. The real trick will be later when..."
          Sidewinder shook his head and laid a hand on Drider's shoulder. "Please, you know I have no idea what you're talking about."
          "It'll be done soon, I think." Drider was decidedly crestfallen.
          "Okay, keep a look out for Ravage. Tell the mother fragger I said to keep his head down. Find Shelob. Tell her I need a detailed brief. Meanwhile I'll see if I can track Ravage down myself."
          "We done tried sorcery, sir."
          "I'll try again."

          Sidewinder laid the little glass specimen tray in the center of the six-meter circle on a small silver dais. The circle was drawn in white chalk and surrounded by several dozen smaller arcane symbols drawn in colored chalk, blood and even urine. Four candles marked the cardinal points; blue to the north, red to the east, brown to the south and west was marked by a white candle.
          The specimen tray contained a small hermetically preserved sample of Ravage's blood. The dais was marked with the twelve celestial signs. Over this was laid a simple white cotton handkerchief.
          Sidewinder was careful not to disturb any signs or sigils as he stepped out of the circle. Initially all was in place and the ceremony was ready to begin.
          "Begin the music," he ordered the two young men. They were clothed in a simple cotton loin cloth, their oiled and scented bodies glistening in the candlelight. They began a slow, steady and monotonous beat on the small drums.
          "Begin the dance," he commanded. Four young women, astrally scanned earlier to affirm their virginity, dropped their robes and began a crude dance. They were all nude though their bodies were painted with arcane sigil in the cardinal colors.
          These comprised his six Associates, assistants to his magical order who would give their very lives for him
          Sidewinder took his place in the triangle, positioned to the west of the circle at about six meters away. He raised his hands and opened himself to the astral energies being created.
          The room was filled with light, almost blindingly so. The four candles was great bonfires reaching up into the heavens. The four dancers spread a thin thread from their auras around the circles, and the drummers beat out a rhythm of power that commanded the attention of the elements themselves.
          But it was the dais that was most dramatic. From the cotton handkerchief thousands of silky strands of astral fabric was spat high into the ether. Sidewinder's astral form floated to the spewing matter and reached out to grab a single strand. He twisted it and turned it, wrapping other lines around it until after some time it began to take on the form of the one he sought: Ravage of Bangkok.
          Once the form had taken its shape Sidewinder returned to his body. The sigils on the dancers were smeared with sweat. Their steps were not as strong, but always as determined. The left hand of one drummer was bleeding slightly. He didn't know how long it had taken, but obviously it had been a long while.
          Sidewinder opened his senses again. "Come to me," he demanded and in front of him a shimmering form manifested. It was in essence formless, a mass of shifting, undulating gases that rose some seven meters high. "Find this man," Sidewinder pointed to the astral form of Ravage.
          The air elemental moved without a sign and merged into the shape of the ork. The ork rose and grew, then suddenly exploded as the spirit sped off on its errand. From the shattered image a single white line glowed, leading up into the ether toward his destination.
          One of the dancers fell to the ground with a groan. She grabbed at her leg, the calf frozen in an agonizing cramp. The other two dancers danced around her, their eyes uncomprehending and unaware of their friend's plight
          The air spirit returned then and Sidewinder returned his attention to the elemental. The spirit made what could have been a nod and then vanished, as if it never existed. The glowing trail remained. Sidewinder reached out his astral hand and took hold of the beacon. Then at blazing speeds he rose to follow the link.
          Sidewinder sped across the continent and blazed above the Pacific ocean and finally arrived at the peninsula of southern Asia and dived into a mass of glowing chaos and sin: Bangkok.
          The thread was brighter now and would soon draw unwanted attention from some astral traveler. There he was. Ravage was sitting alone in a small thatched hut.

          Ravage was just finishing his prayers to Shiva the destroyer. His candle was fading down, indicating the mandatory time of prayer was nearly over. "I will bring you glory in the baptism of blood of the world," he growled. "Unto you shall I dedicate the slain and for your thirst shall I spill their blood."
          The candle suddenly blew out and a form materialized in the air. Ravage opened his eyes and growled defiance. He drew out his katana and slashed viscously at the form. The blade passed through the air without the slightest disturbance.
          The savage ork backed up and crouched, waiting for the form to make its attack. No attack ever came. Finally the ghostly form took on the appearance of his comrade, Sidewinder. "Ravage you fragging son of a slitch. How're doing ya ol' trog?"
          Ravage pursed his massive brows as realization sunk in. He did not sheath his blade though. "Sidewinder, about time you found me. Where are you?"
          "We're in Denver. We're sending a sub to you. Can you make it to Tokyo?"
          "Tokyo? Why the hell should I go to Tokyo," Ravage growled his curiosity.
          "Because I need you to go there if you can. I need a parchment," the shimmering ghost replied.
          "You want me to go get you a fraggin' paper? You're yanking my chain, right?" Ravage couldn't believe this.
          The astral form smiled. "It's not mandatory. It's just a favor. Nothing more. I wouldn't want you to put yourself at any more risk than you can handle." That, Sidewinder knew, was a subtle jab at Ravage's manhood, or orkhood, he corrected himself.
          "I'll do what I can."
          "Very good. Tell me," a sphere of crimson flame erupted around Sidewinder's form. He screamed in agony. "Call at the time of the feast," the captain cried and hoped Ravage would remember that tomorrow at sunset was the time of the sacred feast to Shiva. Of course he would. Ravage was Shiva incarnate, Sidewinder thought. That thought proved more urgent than even the next ball of astral energy that pounded his body.
          A giant fire elemental hovered over Sidewinder's pained spiritual body. Sidewinder reached into his tunic and pulled out a simple leaden cross and held it out toward the fire incarnate. The spiritual creature launched another attack, but instead was caught in the pull of the out held cross. Contact was made and the essence of the flame was sucked into the cross. Again the elemental reached struck at the astral mage, but again Sidewinder guided the elemental into the cross and soon it was done.
          It was time to leave.

          One drummer was collapsed over his drum, painfully beating it occasionally, each new beat eliciting a agonized grimace. The other drummer was locked in a trance and was unaware of his blood splattered over his drum.
          Only one dancer remained around the circle. The other two lay on the floor among bloody footprints. A blonde tried in vain to crawl around the circle, fulfilling the least possible required of her. One sat crying, her legs frozen in paralysis. The last was unconscious, her forehead bloodied from her fall to the ground.
          Sidewinder's body shook awake and spasmed with his return. He rose and felt the ache of guilt at what he'd asked of his followers. "It is over," he said loudly. The drumming ceased and the last dancer collapsed in a fit of tears. Now it was time for the healing to begin, yet again.

          "Shelob, tell that drecking Sidewinder to get off my ass about the virtual mansion. It'll be ready soon enough. Frag, I even put in some fail safes that allow me to shift the entire mansion to another location, while it is in use. Users inside it wont even know it has shifted. Pretty neat trick, eh sis?
          "Yeah it is chummer, but just hurry up and finish the fragger." says Shelob. "You got other programs to update. The tech is moving too fast to keep up. Just you and me doing the brunt of the programming barely allows for development of new progs, me thinks we need some more new blood." -----------
          "So then Shelob says, 'Hey Sam you want to go sailin?'
          "I say, 'Radical! Sure that's totally cool!' I'm thinking she's finally gonna give me a little R&R after all the work I put in incorporating Scorpion Corps as a security firm, right? Fat chance chummer."
          She says, 'Good, ya just volunteered for sub duty.'
          "Drek! I can't believe she's saying this to me. Do you know what 2 weeks underwater in this tin can will do to my tan?? I'll be as pale as she is in no time!"
          Skitchy looks the massive dark brown form of Sunset Sam up and down slowly as he is reclining in his trademark golden speedos under a sunlamp.
          "Yeah you'll be just dicote," Skitchy says as he shakes his head. "Chummer, I don't even want to hear it. You just sit under that lamp all day long when you are working at the desk, what's gonna change, eh? Me, however, what am I fraggin supposed to do? Where am I gonna skate in this torpedo? Man, I need to stretch my legs and arms or I'll go crazy!" he says as the cybernetic chainsaw springs from the glistening steel cyber arm and starts to rip into the bench he is sitting in. Dust begins to fly everywhere. Within moments a nude figure of a women is carved into the wood. He then writes Shelob under it. "But hell, I'll let her order me around anytime!"
          "Yeah, she's not totally wacked out I guess." Sunset says as he brushes long golden hair out of his mirror shaded eyeglasses with one hand, and continues pumping a large barbell with the other overdeveloped arm. Sweat glistens off his body, under the heat of the lamp and his physical workout. "Hey chummer, why don't you go check in the back on that tech thingy while I make some moves on Harley."
          Skitchy looks over the form of the foxy lady rigged into the controls of the sub, wearing her typical lacy negligee and little else, and says, "Surfs up, biceps." Skitchy then gets up and leaves the cabin, leaving behind a small tridcamera disguised as a silver pen pointing directly at the curvacious body draped across the cushioned commander's chair. "Hang loose, bra." The great man with the body of Thor gives him a nod and a grin.
          Small inline wheels pop out of the feet of his cyberlegs as Skitchy then quickly skates the thin hallway to his room. Once inside the small compartment littered with technical devices and gadgets he quickly inserts a small chip into a socket in his leg. In a moment a panel opens on his thigh and a small trideo screen comes to life. "Let's see if we can tape somethin good on the Playboy channel tonight!" In moments the screen resolves into the picture of the front cabin where he just left Sam and Harley alone. He sees the stud walk over to the motionless form of Harley and put his hand on the silky smooth leg of the rigger. A small radar detector scans a silent circle in the background.
          "Harley, why don't you take a break? I'm done with my workout, now you need yours." The form of the sultry goddess slowly comes to life and looks up at the huge chest of the man standing over her.
          "You think you're man enough?
          "140 kilos of man meat for you baby." Sunset Sam then strikes a pose putting a massive bicep in front of her eyes. She pinches it hard with one hand, it feels like steel. The mood coloring on her long fingernails then changes from blue to fiery red.
          "Think so, huh? I plan on rattling that titanium frame right outta ya, meat boy!" She says with a tilt of her head and a raised eyebrow. There is fire in her eyes.
          "Wizzer! This is gonna be great!" says Skitchy as he increases the magnification on the couple. "It's about time. A week on this tin can and the big guy's had no action." A small blip then appears on the radar screen behind the two. "Come on ya big muscle head, let's see some shadowrunning!" The supple form of Harley then grabs the large form and slams him into the chair that was moments ago her resting place. Instantly the smart chair forms itself around the great figure, holding the body immobile.
          "Baby, come here and ride me like the rigger that you are!" Sam says, his voice even lower than usual."
          "Shoot the tube, Sam!" Skitchy says, almost yelling out in his room. "Go for it dude!" Again the radar sweep detects the blip in the background, and in horror Skitchy finally recognizes it as a group of bogies inbound on their position. "HOLY FRAK!!! WE GOT COMPANY!" He screams as he storms out of the room.
          "WHAT THE..." Harley screams as she sees the form of the skater flying down the hallway toward their forward cabin. She quickly jumps off the scratched heaving form reclining in the chair.
          "BOGIES ON THE GREEN DIAL!" he screams as he ducks through the portal.
          "Fragger, I said give me some time! We hadn't even started to rev the engines yet!" Sam says in anger at the thin form hurtling into the room.
          "Look at the dial!" Skitchy says as he skates to his attack position by a large collection of knobs and screens near the front of the cabin.
          "What dial?" the large form says, lying his arm over his eyes in disgust.
          Harley, seeing the radar screen, and instantly knowing what it meant screams, "GET OUTTA MY CHAIR, YA LUG!" She then yanks him by the speedos and he leaps out with a yelp. Instantly, she is hooked into the controls of the submarine and in the form fitting chair which expands tightly around her tense form.
          "I'm reading four boats, three coming in fast. One is breaking off to the front of the barge above us. Our ECM is holding just fine. They shouldn't know were here. I'll have theirs broken in a moment."
          "Thank you, Skitch. Sam, get on the comm and let Shelob know we have visitors." The computer simulated voice of Harley speaks over the speakers mounted on the walls. It sounded a lot like Harley, thanks to work by the tech, Skitch; however, the vocalization was calm and clearer then most people would be in this situation.
          "Confirmed, I'm on it." Sam gives the thumbs up to the camera mounted next to the speaker. Harley's electronic eyes in this room. Sam runs over to the comm center and quickly puts on the headset. "Control, this is barracuda. school is in session..."

          "Alpha 1 we have an unidentified vessel 3 clicks off our 2:00. Scans show it's a cargo ship, Funji class. Please advise. Alpha 3 out."
          "Alpha 3, report that info back to HQ and brief them on the situation. Alpha 2 break ranks and confront the UFO (unidentified floating object). Rest of you boys follow me on a trailing position. If this is trouble just eradicate the target and let's go home. If not, see what you can get from them and let them on their way. Oh, might as well check LRS (long range scanners) and Sonar so the tech boys can have some data. Your on that alpha 4."
          The sharp response of "Copy that Alpha 1" from the rest of the crew showed the discipline of a veteran crew.
          "Attention Unidentified vessel this is Nightrunner Alpha Squad of the Bangkok Coast Guard. Identify yourself and your cargo." said the Alpha 2 captain in cityspeak. "I repeat Identify yourself and be prepared to be boarded and scanned for illegal cargo."

          "Frag, we're too far out to be bothered by the naval defense yet. These gotta be pirates. Sam, send a telepacket to the Bangkok C.G. and ask them to confirm these boats." the calm electronic voice of Harley says.
          "On it!" says Sam. "Hey what's the name of the boat above us?"
          "The Sydney. It's an Aussie merchant marine cargo ship." reports the wiry figure of Skitchy.
          "Kinda far from home, eh? all right, it looks like the patrol boat's got a scrambler up and aren't letting any broadcasts out. I'm gonna need a high freq. pulse for a message I got zipped to the Coast Guard. You give me the window and I'll send it." "Gotcha, give me a nanosec."

          At this point one of the Aztec Nightrunner boats pulls up in front of the massive ship, matching its speed to that of the lumbering steel cargo carrier. The other two assume positions on the port side of the boat, one directly next the ship and the other further out.
          "Capn, are we gonna stop for these little wombats? They are transmitting proper codes for naval police, however, we are having some static interference and can't get with their Naval HQ to confirm." The Captain takes a deep draught on a silver flask. He then looks at the rigger jacked into the ships controls. "We also are still way out in non territorial waters. All our defense systems intact?"
          Instantly a screen lights up in front of the captain showing camera angles from several different perspectives on board. Each one is focused on a hemispherical gun turret mounted into the hull of the ship. Each view then has a status bar pop up underneath. They all read normal.
          "Perhaps it'd just be easier to pay the wankers off, I think they jus want some blasted creds, eh mate? No need for this to get messy -- hell we got bribe creds -- might as well use em." The captain pauses, "Roo, why don't you go out and lower a few slottin money sticks to the parasites. We'll give ya any backup ya need. And a . . . wear a protective vest."

          "Got your message off clear, chummer. Shot it right through a narrow ECM band freq. by synchronizing our broadcast to the . . ." Seeing no look of true understanding from the large tan man by the com station, Skitchy adds with a wink, "We got better tech than they do."
          "Wiz."
          "Now I'm gonna patch the Naval response to our query through to the Sydney, above us, by short-wave. It'll be scratchy and full of static, but it will get through to only them and us, and not the nightrunners."
          "Harley, can we get a view through the periscope so we can see what's going on up there?" asks Sam.
          Seconds later an image is patched through to a large 1 meter square liquid rhodopsin computer screen mounted on the far wall. Only moments before it had been the emblem of the Scorpion Corps Team, a large stylized red scorpion on a field of black.

          The shaking form of Roo walks to the side of the ship and prepares to peer over the edge at the threatening boats surrounding his large ship. "Why did I take this blasted cruise? If I wanted to interact with croc infested waters, I woulda stayed off the coast of Australia." Turning around and seeing the machine gun turret apparently coming to life and slightly moving gives the sailor a bit of confidence. He then looks over the edge of the port side.
          "Ahoy mates, how 'bout we pay your tariffs now, eh? We slide ya this and we call it even, yeah?"
          As he begins to lower the creds over the edge in a wire basket he notices the presence of several jet skis mounted on board the night runner vehicle. They appear to be mounted on a rail system that could allow riders to roll directly into the water at moments notice. He also notes the twin gun turret mounted on the front of the boat, and the large heavy machine gun manned by an unkempt man attached to the topside of the cabin. 'I hope this standoff stays chill.' he thinks to himself. The basket is then grabbed up by one of the hands of the other deck and the dirty sailor gives a greedy toothless grin and climbs back down into the hatch by the turret. 'That's a good sign,' he thinks.

          "The transmission is coming through," says Skitchy.
          "Attention, ship Sydney, you have a negative confirmation on those ID numbers. Those were only valid 3 days ago. Anyone using those stolen digits is under violation of multi-national naval law--likely pirates--and thus can be treated with extreme prejudice, over."

          "WHAT? I THOUGHT YOU SAID WE COULD'N GIT THROUGH TO THE NAVAL HQ IN BANGKOK?" says the captain incredulously.
          "I've been trying captn, but didn't think I had any success, som'tin musa got through!" says the radio technician at his side.

          At this point the turret on the small nightrunner comes to life and fires! "RAT-A TAT-TAT!" Roo, the young Australian sailor dives for cover but is hit in the shoulder by one of the large, high caliber rounds. His body is sent twirling, feet over his head and launched 3 meters from where he had been standing. A large bloody hole in his armored vest attests to the fact he'd been hit. The greasy man at the second gun, the HMG, then swings the mounted weapon upward at the Sydney's turret and takes aim.
          At this point the turret on the side of the Sydney opens fire, full auto at the nightrunner. The pirate gunner's reactions are too slow compared to the rigger commanding the cargo ship, and he is torn to pieces by the large bullets as they pierce and shred his body. Chunks of flesh are blown overboard only to become fish food for creatures of the deep, and the severed hand only now begins to pull the trigger aimlessly. The turret on the small boat then quickly rotates from shooting at the Australian sailor and aims at the larger turret of the barge and returns fire.
          Moments later, a hatch opens up near the HMG and another pirate assumes control of the large mounted weapon. He fires at the turret as well. The turret of the Sydney begins to show some wear, large dents and punctures riddle its surface, but still it fires on at the attackers. In seconds, the 2nd gunner at the HMG is shredded by the hot lead being rained down on the ship.
          The nightrunner engine then revs, and the speedy boat pulls away at full speed from the ship. The other turrets of the Sydney then come to life now that the boat is within view. But it quickly escapes out of range.
          A pop up box then emerges from the top of the ship and a missile is fired. However it flies off randomly as it is jammed by the electronic scrambling devices of the pirates.           "I thought you said they wouldn't be able to hear the response from the authorities Skitch, they're opening up on the ship!" says Sam angrily at the slim skate punk.
          "They didn't fragger, our encryption's too good. Must been the plan to get in close. Now git off my back!" he snarls.
          "Close range gives maximum attack power if it is a surprise." says the calm electronic voice of the rigger Harley over the speaker. "I assume they intended to take out the turret all at once."
          "Sorry chummers, I'm getting adrenalized by the action, we all know our jobs" says Sam apologetically.

          A loud 'SHHOOWWBBOOMM!' is heard as a rocket is fired and slams into the turret of the Sydney, shredding it to pieces. A large ork is seen holding a bazooka type rocket launcher on the second nightrunner off the port side. He smiles a fanged grin at the damage he has wrought. A small portion of the cargo ship now is defenseless.
          Then the boat in front begins pushing large barrel shaped objects over its edge and in the path of the large cargo vessel. A tremendous shock wave jolt is felt and within moments a huge uprising blast of water explodes from the surface.
          "Attention, cargo ship Sydney. Those depth charges will be exploded directly at the surface if you do not slow down." The large figure of the ork is now seen holding a loud speaker in his hand.

          "BBLLOOMM!" the crew of the sub is knocked onto their asses as the shock wave shakes their sub.
          "Holy dreg. That was a depth charge." the electronic voice of Harley says way too calmly.
          "NO SHIT!" screams Skitchy quickly righting himself.
          "BBLLAAAAMMMM!" a second explosion is felt at the front of the sub. Skitchy covers his ears at the painfully loud sound.
          Harley's body jerks and lurches at the same time as the explosion is felt. Her body registering the information provide by the somatic sensors placed all over the submarine. She actually feels the explosion and what it does to her extended body. "I've taken a hit to my front starboard section in the torpedo room. My nonreflec armor skin has been torn away. Skitchy get up there and assess further, I've been blinded in that region."
          Skitchy skates forward and checks ahead in the front prow of the sub. In moments he returns and looks up at the camera in the wall above Harley. "A portion of the wall is cracked and we're taking water. I had to seal off the forward section, it looks under control for now, but we can't take much more. Also, I wasn't able to load the torpedoes in time.
          "This boat is made for stealth, not combat, we'll have to take that position!" Sam says.

          Another barrel is rolled overboard from the front nightrunner directly in the path of the large cargo ship. In moments an explosion breaks the surface, this time underneath the cargo ship's forward bow.
          "Next one is at surface level! Stop or we'll sink ya fraggers" warns the hideous ork.
          Soon after the great lumbering beast begins to slow down.
          At this point several pirates come onto the deck of each of the three nightrunners and climb onto the seats of the jetskis mounted on rails on each of the ships. The skis are started up and slide down into the water and immediately charge the side of the ship damaged by the ork's rocket blast.

          "We still got some surprises for em, eh Max?" says the captain taking another swig from his hip flask as he looks at the various camera angles shown around the ship. The black haired figure in the riggers seat next to him appears to show a subtle grin response despite being jacked into the controls of the helm.

          Roo slowly opens his eyes to the wet of blood on his face that has dripped down from his shoulder. His body has been thrown up against a steel tool box, legs draped over the top, above his head. He is still on the deck of the ship some four meters from the edge where he remembers lowering the creds to the pirate. However, he feels little pain. He finds that odd, and finds his mind wandering to the subject of how warm the blood feels on his face. Truth be known he feels very little else right now, including his arm. If he had been more experienced he would know that it is surprising it is still attached despite the ability of the armored coat to disperse the energy of projectiles over a larger portion of his body.
          "Must focus -- concentrate to stay conscious." He slowly rights himself up against the tool box and then and watches in horror as 3 grappling hooks are launched from below and catch hold of the side of the ship at his position. He sees the tug of rope signaling buccaneers climbing the side in order to board his ship.
          "If I'm gonna buy it chummers, your gonna pay as well!" the young Aussie grimaces quietly as he draws forth his Walther palm pistol and a small grenade.
          A moment later a large grimy arm grabs hold of the edge and a toothless head peers onto the deck at the young sailor. It is the sailor who took the cred sticks. "I meant to shoot you in the shoulder, boy." A perverse grin spreads across his filthy face as he thinks of the joys to come.
          "Die pirate scum!" Roo screams in anguish. "This is all your gonna get from me!" He flips a switch on the side of the gun and pulls the trigger all the way back, firing both barrels of the over/under design of the weapon simultaneously. The man's head explodes as both bullets pound through his skull. For a moment, there are two empty sockets staring at him in astonishment, then fear, then finally the face goes slack and the body falls backwards into the water.

          "BBLLAAMM!" another jolt rocks the sub.
          "The air tank stabilizers are taking water, we have to surface now or we will never surface again." the speaker voice of Harley states rather matter of factly. "Prepare for combat, its time we get involved."
          At that the veteran battle group of Skitchy and Sunset Sam prepare themselves for the confrontation.
          "Its about time I get outta this thing." Skitchy says as a small flechette pistol pops out of a secret compartment in his cyber leg near his calf.
          "Time for some sun," Sam replies as he picks up a large fold down crossbow with undermounted laser, and top mounted magnification site. The weapon also has several bolts of various types attached to the side of the stock for easy access. He then wraps the shoulder strap over his brawny arm. Standing there in his gold Speedos and weight lifter's gloves he appears like an add out of Muscletek magazine.
          "Let me know when you go on your next hunting trip, chummer, I want a chance," he says as he holds up his flechette gun and pops his cyber saw out and gives it a little rev.
          "You want to take a Piasma like the big dog, right? Well there'd be nothing left of you." he says with a wink and smile. "And if there was, what kinda trophy would be left after using those blood sprayers?" he laughs. "Besides I only take animals that have taken a (meta)human life. The others are too shy and are best left in their own environs."
          "Well you can always use bait then right?" Skitchy adds with a laugh. "Let me know chummer," he pauses. "Hey Harley when ya gonna let me out?" he says as he looks straight up at the hatch sealed above him.

          Seven pirates then proceed to scale the ropes grappled to the side of the great cargo ship Sydney. Roo seeing the ropes tighten from boarders backs up to the tool box to steady himself and reload his weapon. His upper arm strength helps little so he holds the pistol between his legs and cracks the barrel with his usable hand. Once opened, he takes his necklace holding one more Walther sized bullet from out of its decorative chain. He had bought the charm for fun. It was a mercury filled expansive bullet. The gun dealer told him the slug enters the body and shatters once inside sending the kinetic energy of the mercury in a multitude of directions destroying flesh as it goes. Sounded like a good time, he only wish he had had more creds and bought a box.
          "One shot, and too many pirates." he decidedly readies the grenade in his lap. "Least I bought this!"
          No sooner said then two pirate's upper bodies clear the edge of the deck and rapidly pull themselves onboard. Seeing the prostrate form of Roo sprawled on the deck but holding a weapon, they quickly turn their weapons on him. The first, an ugly wind blasted chummer with a large tattoo of a shark on his chest lifts a poorly kept TMP SMG at the young sailor. Roo pulls the trigger of his gun and the man's chest instantly has a large hole in the center of the shark's mouth. The man screams in agony as the mercury rips through his innards, liquefying them in a moment. His weapon discharges into the air, narrowly missing his comrade.
          "You want some too?" the boy yells an empty threat as he aims his gun at the second raider. The pirate seeing his friend blown away before him, unflinchingly fires his hand held harpoon. The young mate instinctively draws his legs up to guard himself and is skewered by the biting steel as it passes through his shin and them imbeds in his thigh. He lets out a scream that takes up most of the rest of his energy. In mere seconds several other pirates board the deck from his location and run to various positions on the deck assigned for their assault.
          "That was my chummer, boy. Now you'll give your life with his weapon." the pirate then reaches for his fallen comrade's TMP gun laying on the deck and takes aim. The boy forgetting his grenade in the fear of the moment merely accepts his fate and closes his eyes.
          Elsewhere on the deck the rigger has offered a few surprises versus the invaders. Once they board the vessel several pop up turrets not normally included in this ship's design rise up from hidden portals and begin spraying the buccaneers with bullets. Tracers fly everywhere, and most of the seven are mowed down in moments. But near the young man, most of the defenses have been lost and he is relatively defenseless. However, a large cargo loading crane swings silently along its tracks towards the Aussie and the pirate gloating over him.

          "We got 'em on the run!" the captain shouts as he looks at the vidcam screens on his bridge and sees the carnage the hidden pop-up turrets have done to the invaders. "Chew 'em up Max!"

          "Prepare to meet Shiva." the pirate says as he looks down the barrel of his weapon. "Heard that once when I was a go-ganger in Bangkok as a youth. Thought it was the baddest thing I ever heard. . . " As his finger tightens on the trigger, the large arm of the crane swings towards the pirate with great force. The square shaped girder hits him clean and neatly decapitates him, sending his body flying.
          "Yeah, it fragged you up good." the young man then looks down into his sweaty hand and remembers his grenade. Just in time, as three more bucs start to climb aboard. Roo lifts the lid of the large tool box and painfully drags his fractured body into it. The crane is swinging madly trying to knock off the invaders but to little avail. They deftly dive underneath the large swinging arm and lie down on the deck. This time one of them is carrying a small laser, and all of them have fighting knives in their teeth, but little else. One seems to notice Roo but seeing he is little threat watches the leader aim the laser at the command helm where the Captain and the Rigger are at the controls to the ship behind bullet proof glass.
          'They're gonna try to burn through with that small laser,' thinks Roo to himself. He then pulls the pin from the grenade and drops it and rolls it towards his foes in a last desperate attempt to defend his ship. He then collapses from the accumulated pain and loss of blood.
          A loud "FFOOMM!" is heard as a rocket is launched from the second nightrunner off the cargo ship's port side. It comes again from the great ork's shoulder bazooka, and is angled upward at the large cargo ship. Far from being an offensive weapon, the laser only guides this missile unerringly to its target. The missile soars high into the sky and then turns downward and flies directly towards the command cabin. The three raiders grin as they see the rocket in flight knowing they have accomplished their goal.
          One of the evil raiders then feels cold steel roll up against his barefooted ankle and looks down to see the hard angular form of an Ares frag grenade. He stares at it in horror and opens his mouth to scream, but instead his body and that of his friends is blown apart without a word. Shards of steel tear through delicate flesh and their evil lives are extinguished in a poof a red mist and shredded meat.
          The flight of the missile has already been adjusted however, and it follows it's course and slams into the building. "KAABBLLAAM!" and the cabin is left in shards. Most of the turrets on the ship immediately stop their firing and the weapons droop. A few continue firing in a specific direction that was given as part of an auto - repeat order. Once the canisters run out within a few minutes all would be quiet.
          "I am the man! Soy Ka?" the large ork screams with the speaker in one hand and the other hand held high. His men give out a cheer as the cargo ship falls silent. But their time has come as well, the huge form of a submarine breaks the surface, and all hell will break loose once the heavy auto-cannon on the deck of the sub opens fire!