The FBT
From The Pardusian Chronicles
Contents |
Day 1
Alpha Centauri Station - East Arm 122-L45B
I looked at the message on my holo-vid. I was at the right place, but it didnt feel right.
Along the walls were pin-ups of starship specifications. It was more than the usual sales babble. Detailed information on robot-repair efficiency was on show and even survivability charts against armed space-platforms.
On raised pedestals were holograms of space creatures. I immediately recognised some of them: young space dragons, maggots and worms. There was a strange purple cloud with tentacles - a medusa.. I had yet to encounter one and hope I never would.
A figure stepped out from a darkened corner.
"Greetings Catliver, I am Admiral X. You may just call me Admiral. You may be wondering what you are doing here. Surely you must have thought we had another shipment of human intestines for you. Our prison population is now back under control, so Project Pasta has been put on hold.
Anyhow, you may have heard of the disturbances at the Federation borders. A general consensus revealed that our defenses are below par and we do not have enough trained fighter pilots should we need them.
Come come."
We went to the far end of the room and into a small elevator. It must have been about 15 levels deep, which should be the machinery area of the starbase. When the doors slid open we walked through a bright corridor, there were several military personnel milling around. We took a small flight of steps and came up onto a balcony overlooking ... a hanger bay.
There must have been more than a hundred ships, the complete range of Federation and Standard starships. I noticed that they were armed with Particle lasers and had the familiar disc-apparatus of shield-generators on all ships... All ships, even the trade ships.
I turned to the Admiral, puzzled. What was this all about? Why am I being shown this? What does he want with me, a full-time trader and part time smuggler?
"All will be known in time.
Just know that you are the first in many.
Your experience here will assist us to fine-tune
our procedures.
and before I forget, Welcome to the FBT."
~End of Day 1
Day 2
I had never dreamed of setting foot in a nighthawk. The Admiral gave me a quick run through of the maneuvering subsystems. There was the standard punch-in-and-go autonavigation controls, but this, I was told was taboo for Federation fighter pilots.
Brushing against 'Manual Controls' a panel slid out. I recognised the flightstick, it looked ancient, like those in old-earth holovids, but nevertheless, this apparently gave the most control.
"May I have my picture taken in this?" I asked.
The Admiral gave me a smirk - "... Tell you what, if you're as skilled as your records indicate you to be, you should be able to take this baby back to your den in less than a month.
But to start you off, you have clearance for the Sabre, and the Federation Wasp."
We went over to the Sabre. Armored, small shield and a single 1MW particle laser mounted. This ship meant business!
"We have an upgrade facility a little way away from the starbase. You may have passed it, and assumed it to be a low-level weapons manufacturing plant. In fact, it is the primary equipment manufacturer for all the ships you see here.
Learn to use it well. Upgrade whenever you are able to. Upgrading your weapons allows quicker kills. Upgrading missile mounts gives you a boost in damage potential. Upgrading your armor increases your survivability. Installing droids and orbiters may prove crucial in decisive battles.
What does this all mean? Yes, Catliver, this is a combat training facility. This used to be strictly military, but plans are underway to recruit traders with little or no combat experience, and to instruct them in the ways of combat as a precautionary measure.
FBT - The Federation Battle Trainer. "
~ End of Day 2
Day 3
The Admiral waved me over.
"This is the briefing area. You will be able to review most of the essential subsystems of our starships in fighter configuration. Come, there is more to see. You will be able to go through the briefings later.
The next area is the Simulator, which will most likely become your second home."
'The Simulator' was an amazing setup, similar to that of an old-earth amusement park thrill ride. The main difference was in its scale. Actual starships (and not mock-ups) were used, attached to a sturdy adamantium chassis, with myomer servo bundles providing 'muscles' used to simulate high-speed maneuvering forces.
I glanced at a vid-screen displaying a demonstration on the different scenarios available.
The Boxing Room - This is a training room that gradually tests your skills in accuracy and maneuvering against an armed training dummy. Your main goal is to survive, while scoring hits against the dummy.
Maggot Mania - Waves and waves of blocking maggots guaranteed to incite violent nightmares for all hard-core traders. Trader converts will have to overcome this crippling fear and harden their resolve.
Survival - This is another fear inducing scenario. When faced with overwhelming odds, a fighter pilot will need to keep his cool, and locate opportunities to attack while under heavy fire.
MO Defence - Some technician had installed an easter-egg that is now used as a game among pilots wishing to take manual control of an armed military outpost. Repulsor fields are turned off in this scenario, to allow targets to approch the Military Outpost and provide a more challenging scenario.
This was all quite overwhelming for me.
I shall do my duty and document all I have seen.
~ End of Day 3
Day 4
I took a Wasp for a spin.
Damage Display In the ships control panel, there was an OPTION to toggle 'estimated damage display'.
Basically, luminous red numerals appear in the heads-up-display. They indicate how much damage a weapon 'hit' has caused.
Higher forward velocity for more damage. I noticed that maggots blew apart more easily when I was flying directly towards them. The faster I flew, the more effective my lasers appeared to be. The damage-display confimed it with hard numbers. Fancy a high-stakes game of 'Chicken' anyone? Interesting.. Pilots could adjust their combat techniques for maximum damage potential at a tradeoff for increased collision risk.
Collisions I have to say that colliding with the smaller maggots was strangely satisfying. I could only imagine if I was in something more massive than a Wasp, it may have been even more spectacular.
I was actually having fun.
Maybe I should have installed some decent lasers on my old trader.
Maybe it would have made those long-haul flights more ... entertaining.
~ End of Day 4
Day 5
I have been told that my suggestions have been invaluable in determining the course structure of the FBT.
I have been authorized to release some edited footage of my experiences at the FBT.
That's me training in a combat Hercules.
This is the first time I've ever fired a full salvo of
missiles. (This just cost me a whole chunk of credits).
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Meeting a Space Dragon Queen in the Survival Simulator. I didn't last very long indeed. Unexpected Input: Sorry, illustrations is no priority as for now and are therefore not included.
Taking the Hercules through a wormhole jump. Unexpected Input: Sorry, illustrations is no priority as for now and are therefore not included.
A borrowed nighthawk. That's me in it! And I'm at my DAC waving to my employees inside They're waving back in jealousy. Oh wait, they're signalling me that they're out of radioactives again. Darn! Unexpected Input: Sorry, illustrations is no priority as for now and are therefore not included.
Its been a tiring day. Tomorrow , completed unedited footage of the Heads-Up-Display will be released. Stay tuned traders, and keep those Keldonese treats coming ^^
~ End of Day 5
Day 6
Secrets, hushed gossip in the Tavern, idle banter of side-scrolling shooters, tales of maggots and military outposts, tormenting frustrations of trading life.
We have convergence.
user posted image
user posted image
The course preparation is going well. The next report I make, will be to announce the launching of the FBT.
~ End of Day 6
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