$VER: 'Assemblers of infinity II' by LIMITED EDITION, 1993. WELCOME TO ASSEMBLERS OF INFINITY PART 2 BEFORE WE START, I WOULD LIKE TO KILL A RUMOUR. THE A.O.I-EPISODES ARE NOT, I REPEAT NOT TYPED IN FROM SOME BOOK OR SOMETHING! THEY ARE ALL WRITTEN ONLY FOR LIMITED EDITION! IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE FIRST EPISODE OF THE ASSEMBLERS OF INFINITY, SIMPLY CLICK ON THE BUTTON ON THE CONTROLPANEL MARKED ´1´ AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO. YOU CAN ALSO CONTROL ASSEMBLERS. BY USING LOGICAL KEYS!! TUESDAY 2045/06/14 JOHN ARCHER RAN TO HIS CONTROLS AND TRIED TO BREAK THE SHIP AS IT FELL DOWN AGAINST ATHAREIS. FALCONER TRIED OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO GET THE ENGINES GOING BUT TO LATE AS THE ´MARIAH´ ALREADY HAD ENTERED ATHAREIS' ATMOSPHERE. DYER ACTIVATED THE HEAT-SHIELDS MANUALLY AND HIS MOVE SAVED THE SHIP FROM BURNING UP DURING THE ENTRY. ´27000 KILOMETRES AND CLOSING´ REPORTED MILES AS THEY SAW THE PLANETS SURFACE APPROACHING SCARELY FAST UNDER THEM. ´DON'T WORRY! WE'LL BE DOING JUST FINE!´ IT WAS DYER WHO SAT BACK IN HIS CHAIR AND LOOKED LIKE NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. ´NOT IF OUR FRIEND ARCHER HERE WILL DO AS HE HAS LEARNED IN SCHOOL´ JOHN ARCHER DID NOT LIKE DYERS WAY TO EXPRESS HIMSELF, BUT SINCE THIS WAS NO TIME TO ARGUE HE DIDN'T BOTHER TO SAY SOMETHING. HE MADE THE SHIPS NOSE POINTING RIGHT DOWN AGAINST THE GROUND. ´LUCKY FOR US ARCHYBOY HAS DONE HIS HOMEWORK TODAY´ RESPONSED DYER TO ARCHERS MANOUVRE. ´STOP THAT OR I'LL REPORT YOU TO THE A.O.I-HEADQUARTERS´ PALMER SAID TIRED SICK ON DYERS COMMENTS. ´OK, CHIEF!´ CHRIS SAID WITH A SMILE. AS THEY APPROACHED THE SURFACE, JOHN ARCHER PREPARED TO DO A ADVANCED MANOUVRE IN ORDER TO SAVE THE SHIP FROM A SERIOUS CRASHLANDING. ´24000 KM´ SAID MILES TO NO USE AS EVERYONE WAS WATCHING THE INSTRUMENTS CLOSELY. ARCHER SHIFTED HIS HELMS IN A 90 DEGREE ANGLE AND THE SHIP GAINED SPEED AS IT TURNED IT'S NOSE POINTING AGAINST THE HORIZON. WITH NO ENGINES THOUGH, THE LANDING WOULD BE HARD. AS GROUND WAS APPROACHING, EVEN THE OTHERWISE SO CALM GARY MILES TOOK OF HIS HEADSET AND PREPARED FOR THE COLLISION. ´OK BOYS. TIME FOR 5.4 ON THE RICHTER- SCALE´ ARCHER SAID AS HE CHOOSED PLACE FOR TOUCH-DOWN. HE DIVED OVER THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN AND AS HE PUSHED EVERYTHING THE SHIP COULD GIVE AFTER THE SKY-DIVE AS THE PILOTS CALLED RE-ENTRY IN A ATMOSPHERE AND LANDING WITH NO ENGINES. ´HOW CAN THEY COMPETE IN A EVENT LIKE THIS´ HE SAID TO HIMSELF PROMISING THAT HE WOULD NEVER EVEN THINK ABOUT DOING A TRIP LIKE THIS AGAIN. HE HADN'T TIME TO THINK ANYMORE SINCE THE SHIP NOW BEGAN TO TOUCH THE SURFACE BELOW. HE NOW CHANGED HIS MIND ABOUT THE IDEA OF CHOOSING A DESERT FOR LANDING- PLACE. THE BRAKE WOULD BE SO INTENSE THAT HE PROBABLY WOULD FLY INTO HIS CONTROLS BUT THERE WAS NO CHOICE TO BE MADE NOW. AS THE SHIP CAME DOWN, HE THREW HIMSELF TO THE FLOOR. ´MARIAH´ SLID SOME 50 METRES AND THEN BUMPED INTO A SMALL ROCK. ´THAT WAS REAL FUN!´ SAID DYER AND STOOD UP. HE WALKED AGAINST THE AIRLOCK BUT THEN SUDDENLY HE FELT UNEASY. ´ANYONE KNOWS IF WE CAN BREATH THE DAMN ATMOSPHERE IN THIS PROLE-HOLE?´ ´SURE YOU CAN! BUT DON'T THINK IT'S GOOD FOR YOUR LUNGS´ ANSWERED DOUG. DYER OPENED THE AIRLOCK AND THE OTHERS FOLLOWED HIM. THE WORLD OUTSIDE HAD A SMELL OF EVIL BUT NO ONE COULD TELL WHAT IT WAS. AFTER GATHERING SOME EQUIPMENT THEY STARTED TO WALK. NO ONE COULD TELL WHERE BUT EVERYONE REALISED THEY HAD TO GO SOMEWHERE. THURSDAY 2045/06/16 AFTER WALKING FOR TWO DAYS, FOOD AND WATER WAS RUNING OUT. EXCEPT FOR SOME BUSHES, ALL THEY HAD WALKED THROUGH WAS PURE DESERT. SUDDENLY ARCHER SAW A VEHICLE AT THE HORIZON. IT WAS MOVING VERY FAST AND CAME IN THEIR DIRECTION. ´SHALL WE RUN OR STAY HERE AND PRAY´ HE SAID. EVERYBODY FELT BOTH FEAR AND RELIEF AS THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF THEM. IT WAS A LSS-21 SAND VESSEL. A KIND OF CAR WICH WAS ONE OF THE MOST USED VEHICLES ON PLANETS CONTAINING DESERTS. IT IS A AVARAGE SIZED VEHICLE USING JET-ENGINES TO GAIN MAXIMUM SPEED. SIX ARMED GUARDS CAME OUT FROM THE VESSEL AND LOOKED AT THE A.O.I-MEN. ´PLEASE COME WITH US´ SAID THE MAN WHO APPEARED TO BE THE LEADER. ALL OF THE ASSEMBLERS STARTED TO WALK TOWARDS THE VESSEL. AFTER A LONG TRIP IN DISTANCE, BUT A SHORT ONE IN TIME THEY ARRIVED TO WHAT SEEMED TO BE A CITY. THEY WHERE TAKEN TO A ROOM AND THEN, WITHOUT A WORD THEIR GUARDS WENT OUT AND LOCKED THE DOOR. ´YOU THINK WE'VE BEEN FOOLED?´ SAID MILES. HE DIDN'T LIKE THIS AT ALL. ´NO, I THINK WE ARE PLAYING 'FIND THE KEY'´ DYER SAID ANGRY. ´OR MAYBE IT IS A SAFETYMEASURE´ HE ADDED. THEY HEARD SOMEONE PUTTING A KEY INTO THE DOOR AND OPEN IT. A TALL, RATHER FAT MAN CAME IN. HE WAS WEARING A UNIFORM AND HE SEEMED TO BE SOME KIND OF GENERAL OR SOMETHING. ´THE GREAT ASSEMBLERS OF INFINITY´ HE SAD WITH IRONY AND LAUGHED. ´MY FRIENDS, IS THIS THE END?´ HE SAID REALLY ENJOYING THE SITUATION. NONE OF THE ASSEMBLERS SAID ANYTHING. ´DON'T WORRY! I DON'T WANT ANY TROUBLE WITH THE U.S.P AND YOU KNOW THAT. ACTUALLY, I'M GOING TO FREE YOU.´ ARCHER LOOKED SUSPICIOUS AT THE MAN. ´HOW CAN WE TRUST THAT, WHEN WE DON'T EVEN KNOW YOUR NAME YET?´ HE SAID. AS IF HE HAD SAID SOMETHING FUNNY, THE MAN IN THE UNIFORM BEGAN TO LAUGH. ´YES! ACTUALLY YOU ARE RIGHT!´ HE SAD HAPPILY. ´I'M RAMANUS, LEADER OF THE PROUD PLANET OF ATHAREIS.´ HE STOPPED LAUGHING AND TURNED TO A YOUNGER SUB-LIEUTENANT. ´TAKE YOUR MEN AND GET OUT!´ ´BUT SIR, WHAT IF...´ ´NO NOTHING!!! IT'S AN ORDER!´ HE NEARLY SCREAMED. ´OK. BUT DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU SIR.´ HE SAID AND LEFT WITH HIS MEN. AFTER HE HAD GONE, RAMANUS LOOKED AT THE ASSEMBLERS. EVERYONE KNEW IT WAS A MOVE OF PRESTIGE AND POWER SO THEY WAITED FOR HIM TO SAY SOMETHING. ´NOW WHEN WE ARE ALONE, I THINK WE CAN USE A MORE PRIVATE CONVERSATION INSTEAD OF THE BUREAUCRATIC CRAP´ HE SAID IN A VERY FRIENDLY TONE. THEY WERE ALL SUPRISED OF THIS SUDDEN CHANGE. ´LET'S GET TO THE POINT, SHALL WE? AS YOU ALL PROBABLY KNOW, THE SITUATION BETWEEN US AND THE PEOPLE AT THE GELIAN II ISN'T THE BEST. THE CONFLICT IS BASED ON THAT THE GELIANS ARE DISTRIBUTING A DRUG, THE 'ASTRORIDE', TO OUR PLANET. IT'S A TERRIBLE DRUG! YOU TAKE IT ONCE AND YOU NEED ONE PILL EVERY DAY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE! WE HAVE DEVELOPED A MASSIVE REHABILIT- ATION PLAN, BUT THE MORE PEOPLE WHO GETS CLEAN, THE MORE GARRAK AND HIS MEN DELIVER 'ASTRORIDE'. WE CAN'T PROVE ANYTHING SINCE THEY REFUSE US TO COME NEAR GELIAN II, BUT WE ARE 100 PERCENT SURE ABOUT THIS.´ HE MADE A SHORT BREAK TO SEE THE REACTION OF THE ASSEMBLERS. ´WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR SOMEONE LIKE YOU TO SHOW UP, AND WE ARE VERY HAPPY THAT YOU ARE HERE. IF YOU WANT TO, YOU ARE FREE TO GO, BUT WE BEG YOU, PLEASE! PLEASE HELP US!´ AND THE POWERFUL MAN WHO JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO WAS LAUGHING AT THEIR MISTAKE WAS NOW BEGGING THEM FOR HELP. ´WHY DON'T YOU GO THROUGH U.S.P?´ IT WAS 'ALWAYS-BY-THE-BOOK' PALMER WHO ASKED. RAMANUS LOOKED LIKE THE QUESTION WAS THE MOST STUPID HE HAD EVER HEARD. ´WE CAN'T! AS I SAID WE HAVE NOT A SINGLE EVIDENCE OF WHAT IS GOING ON.´ ´CAN YOU LEAVE THIS ROOM FOR A WHILE SO WE CAN DISCUSS THIS IN PRIVACY?´ ´YES. OFCOURSE. I'LL COME BACK IN 5 MINUTES´ SAID RAMANUS LOW-VOICED. HE CLOSED THE DOOR AND THEY WERE ALONE. ´THIS IS INSANE! I'M NOT GOING TO HELP THIS MANIAC, EVEN IF WE WERE ON MISSION BY U.S.P´ SAID DYER. ´COME ON! IN THE ASSEMBLERS OF INFINITY STATUTE, IT CLEARLY SAYS THAT 'A TEAM OF A.O.I SHALL ALWAYS HELP IF ANY SIGN OF EVIL, IMPROPER USE OF LEADERSHIP, OPPRESSION OR CRIMINALITY HAS OCCURED' AND THOSE RULES ARE MADE FOR US TO FOLLOW EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NOT HIRED BY THE U.S.P FOR THE MISSION.´ OFCOURSE IT WAS PALMER WHO HAD SPOKEN. HE WAS A LEGEND WHEN IT CAME TO KNOWING RULES, LIABILITIES AND OTHER BUREAUCRATIC BUSINESS. ´WELL, WHY NOT? IF WE CAN GET A SHIP TO GO HOME WITH, I SAY WE ACCEPT!´ AFTER A WHILE CAME RAMANUS BACK. ´SO? WHAT IS YOUR RESPONCE?´ HE SAID AND EVERYBODY COULD TELL THAT HE WAS VERY NERVOUS. ´WE ACCEPT, IF YOU WILL GIVE US A SHIP TO GO HOME WITH!´ ´OFCOURSE! OFCOURSE! YOU'LL GET EVERY- THING YOU NEED´ RAMANUS NEARLY SHOUTED. ´MY EXPERTS HAVE DEVELOPED A PLAN TO DESTROY THE FACTORY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR IT?´ ´LOOK, WE ARE AN ASSEMBLERS OF INFINITY TEAM OF THE 3RD GRADE, AND WE KNOW HOW TO DESTROY FACTORIES.´ DYER SAID. HE WAS NEARLY ANGRY BY THE FACT THAT RAMANUS DIDN'T TRUST THEM ON A MISSION OF SUCH IMPORTANCE. ´YOU CAN'T GET IN, BOMB THE BUILDING AND THEN GET OUT! THE FACTORY IS PROTECTED BY SEVERAL IN-AIR SPACECRAFTS AND IT'S ARMOUR IS IN INCREDIBLE. WHEN THEY WERE TESTING IT, THEY SHOOT A REC-1 MISSILE DIRECTLY AT THE FACTORY AND NOT A SINGLE JAR BROKE INSIDE.´ ´WHAT HAVE WE AGREED TO?´ SAID PETE SAARELAHT. ´DON'T WORRY! AS WE SAID, WE HAVE THE RIGHT PLAN AND YOU ARE THE RIGHT MEN TO DO IT.´ ARCHER WHO HAD BEEN SILENT UNTIL NOW SAT BACK IN HIS CHAIR AND SAID: ´LET'S HEAR IT!´ ´OK. WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS LOOK AS A BAD PLANNED TERRORIST-ATTACK. SINCE NO ONE ON GELIAN II WANTS THE FACTORY GONE, WE HAVE TO BLOW UP A WATER-RESERVOIR 7 KM ABOVE THE FACTORY. FIRST, IT'S A PERFECT PLACE FOR A TERRORISTACT AND SECOND, THE POWER OF THE WATER CAN DESTROY THE DRUG- CENTRAL BETTER THAN ANY OF YOUR GUNS. ANYWAY, SINCE NO AIRTRAFFIC IS ALLOWED IN A RANGE OF 10 MILES AROUND THE FACTORY, YOU HAVE TO LET OUR EXPERT AND ONE, MAYBE TWO, OF YOUR MEN OFF VERY FAST.´ HE PLACED A MAP ON THE TABLE. ´IF YOU COME IN FROM HERE, YOU CAN FLY TO THE LAKE HERE, DROP THE CREW OFF IN THE LAKE (YOU WILL GET A SHIP THAT CAN GO LOWER THAN 200 KM/H AND IN A TURN, I THINK THAT WOULD BE SLOW ENOUGH TO JUMP OUT OF A VESSEL INTO WATER. ON PICK-UP, YOU'LL DO THE SAME THING, BUT THIS TIME YOU HAVE TO HOVER ABOVE THE LAKE WHILE HOISTING UP YOUR MEN.´ THEY DISCUSSED AND PLANNED THE MISSION FOR A FEW HOURS AND THEY MET THE EXPERT WHO WOULD ADAPT THE EXPLOSIVES WHEN DESTROYING THE RESERVOIR. ACTUALLY, IT WAS A FEMALE WHO WERE THE EXPERT. DYER WAS OFCOURSE FULL OF CONTEMPTION, BUT SHE HAD FACED THAT PROBLEM MANY TIMES IN HER PROFFESION SO SHE DIDN'T CARE. AFTER GETTING A FAST VESSEL AND PLAN THE MISSION MANY TIMES OVER AGAIN THEY WERE FINALLY HEADING FOR GELIAN II. BOTH DYER AND PETE SAARELAHT HAD THE FEELING THAT SOMETHING FISHY WAS GOING ON, BUT AS SO MANY TIMES BEFORE, PALMER DIDN'T LISTEN TO THEIR NAGGING ABOUT IT. FRIDAY 2045/06/17 AS THE VESSEL WAS FLYING VERY LOW WITH A VERY HIGH SPEED, ALL OF THE ASSEMBLERS AND ALSO THE EXPLOSIVES-EXPERT, MEDINA, WERE CONCENTRATED ON THEIR MISSION. AS THEY APPROACHED THE LAKE WHERE MILES, FALCONER AND MEDINA WERE ABOUT TO JUMP. THEY ALL LOOKED AT THE EXPERT WHO HAD TO GO WITH THEM ON THIS MISSION. HER NAME DIDN'T COME FROM THE ATHAREIS, THEY WERE ALL SURE OF THAT BUT NO ONE COULD TELL WHAT WAS WRONG WITH HER. THEY ALL KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING MYSTERIOUS ABOUT HER BUT THEY DIDN'T BOTHER TO DISCUSS IT. SHE WAS RATHER TALL, DARK-HAIRED AND SHE LOOKED LIKE EVERYTHING EXCEPT AN EXPERT ON BLOWING UP WATER-RESEVOIRS. THEIR VESSEL BRAKED UNTIL THEY WERE DOWN TO 217 KM/H AND JOHN ARCHER DIDN'T WANT TO PUSH HER LIMITS ANYMORE SINCE HE ALREADY FELT THAT HE WAS LOOSING CONTROL OVER THE STEARING. THE THREE OF THEM JUMPED AT THE SAME TIME AND FLEW SOME HUNDRED METRES FORWARD BEFORE THEY HIT THE SURFACE. AFTER A BREATHTAKING SWIM AND A RATHER LONG WALK THEY FINALLY REACHED THEIR TARGET - THE IONA WATER-RESERVOIR. MEDINA STARTED ADAPTING THE EXPLOSIVES. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES SHE WAS FINISHED AND THEY STARTED TO TAKE OFF TOWARDS THE LAKE WHERE THEY WOULD BE PICKED UP. THEY WOULD ACTIVATE THE EXPLOSIVES BY REMOTE AND UNTIL NOW, EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE CALM. AS THEY RAN THROUGH THE FOREST MILES SUDDENLY HEARD VOICES AND STOPPED. DOUG FALCONER MADE HIS RIFLE READY TO FIRE AND MEDINA GRABBED HER REMOTE-CONTROL. THEY WERE ALL VERY TENSE AS THE VOICES CAME CLOSER. ´IF IT IS ONE OF THE GELIAN GUARDPATROLS WE ARE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE´ SAID MEDINA VERY UNNECESSARY SINCE THEY ALL UNDER- STOOD WHAT THE VOICES WERE. ´WE BETTER TAKE SOME COVER´ SAID MILES AND LOOKED FOR SOMETHING TO HIDE BEHIND. A BIG FALLEN TREE WAS THE PERFECT COVER AND AS THE VOICES CAME CLOSER, FALCONER AIMED AT THE DIRECTION WITH HIS RIFLE. SOMEHOW, THE PATROL HAD FOUND SOMETHING MORE INTERESTING TO LOOK FOR AS THEY SET OFF TO EAST. THEY HAD JUST REACHED THE LAKE AS THEY SAW THE ASSEMBLERS' VESSEL SWEEPING OVER THE TREES. MEDINA WALKED INTO THE WATER AND AS THE WATER REACHED HER THIGHS SHE PULLED OUT THE ANTENNA ON HER REMOTE. SHE PRESSED TWO BUTTONS AND AS A NOISE, A KIND OF THUNDER, SHIVERED THROUGH THE FOREST, SHE THREW AWAY THE CONTROL AND CONTINUED WADING OUT IN THE WATER. AS THE SHIP HOVERED 20 METRES OVER THE SURFACE, THE THREE OF THEM CLIMBED UP ON A ROPE. SINCE THE GUARDING TROUPS WAS TRYING TO SAVE THE DRUGFACTORY THEY MANAGED TO GET OUT OF THE GELIAN ATMOSPHERE WITHOUT CONFRONTATIONS. ´CAPTAIN, CAN I HAVE PERMISSION TO GO INTO THE SECURITY AREA AND GET MY HAIR FIXED AND CHANGE INTO SOME DRY CLOTHES´ SAID MEDINA AS IF NOTHING OF JUST HAD HAPPENED REALLY HAD HAPPENED. PALMER COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HER AT ALL. A FEW MINUTES AGO, SHE HAD BEEN PUTTING HER LIFE ON A LINE BLOWING A DRUGFACTORY OUT AND NOW SHE WANTED TO FIX HER HAIR!? ´EH... SURE. ANYTHING YOU WANT.´ HE SAID VERY CONFUSED. AS SHE HAD GONE DYER'S FACE SUDDENLY CHANGED FROM A SMILE TO A VERY SERIOUS EXPRESSION. ´SIR, YOU KNOW WHEN I TOLD YOU I THOUGHT THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG?´ ´YES. WHAT IS IT?´ ´ACCORDING TO THE U.S.P COMPUTER WICH I MANAGED TO ACCESS FROM HERE, IT'S NOT THE GELIANS, BUT THE PLANET ATHAREIS THAT EXPORT DRUGS.´ ´WHAT??? WHAT SHOULD THAT MEAN?´ ´THAT WE JUST HAVE BLEWN UP A FACTORY MAKING A CURE FOR THE DRUG.´ ´ARE YOU SURE?´ ´100 PERCENT SIR´ DYER SAID SADLY. A FLASHING LIGHT BLINDED THE ASSEMBLERS. ´SHIT! SHE TOOK THE EMERGENCY SHUTTLE!´ SAARELAHT YELLED. ´THAT MEANS, THAT THIS VESSEL IS ARMED AND READY TO EXPLODE ANY MINUTE!´ SAID DYER AND YOU COULD NEARLY SMELL THE HATE EVERYBODY FELT AGAINST RAMANUS AND HIS PLANET. ´THE GREAT ASSEMBLERS OF INFINITY´ SAID DYER BUT NO ONE LIKED HIS JOKE. ´WHAT SHALL WE DO SIR?´ SAID ARCHER. ´LET'S SET TOP SPEED OUT OF HERE!´ SAID PALMER NEARLY YELLING. AS THE SHIP SET OFF AWAY FROM THE ATHAREIS, RAMANUS MEN TYPED IN THE ACCESS CODE FOR THE EXPLOSIVES AND MADE THEM READY TO DETONATE... DON'T MISS NEXT EPISODE OF... - ASSEMBLERS OF INFINITY - ALSO PUSH THE ´INFO´ BUTTON ON THE CONTROLPANEL FOR SOME WORDS FROM THE AUTHORS! - ASSEMBLERS OF INFINITY - PART ONE MONDAY 2045/06/06 AS THE MORNING BROKE AT MARSPORT IV, CAPTAIN SIMMONS SAW THE A.O.I-BADGES ON HIS MEN SHINE IN THE SUNLIGHT AS THEY STOOD IN THEIR UNIFORMS AWAITING HIS COMMANDS. ´MEN´, HE SAID. ´WE HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY THE GOVERNMENT ON ALPHA MORESIA´ HE MADE A SHORT BREAK. ´ACCORDING TO WHAT I HEARD FROM THEM YESTERDAY EVENING, THEY HAD SOME TROUBLES WITH PIRATES STEALING THEIR VALUABLE GOODS WHEN TRANSPORTING THEM TO OUR PART OF THIS GALAXY.´ HE STOPPED AND LOOKED ON THE MEN'S FACES. EVERYBODY SEEMED PLEASED WITH THE IDEA. BOTH GOING TO ALPHA MORESIA AND HUNTING PIRATES MADE THEM HAPPY. ´EVERYBODY ARE BORED WITH THIS PIRATE- NONSENS, BUT SINCE WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH U.S.P I THINK WE ARE FORCED TO DO THIS JOB. ANY QUESTIONS?´ ´YES SIR´, IT WAS PETE SAARELAHT, A YOUNG - BUT YET VERY TALENTED - SOLDIER WHOS PARENTS HAD BEEN BRUTALY KILLED BY GOB IN THE GREAT WARS. ´WHAT SHALL WE DO WHEN AND IF WE FIND THE PIRATES, AND HOW WILL WE DO THAT?´ ´YOU WILL FIND THEM BY TRANSPORTING IMPORTANT MINERALS IN A CAMOUFLAGED SIRVINA-20 ATTACK SHIP. WHEN YOU HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE PIRATES, YOUR ORDERS ARE TO FORCE THEM TO SURRENDER. IF THEY RESIST, JUST A LITTLE, YOU HAVE FULL AUTHORITY TO 'DELETE' THEM IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. AT 10:00 YOUR SHIP WILL BE READY FOR TAKE OFF! THAT'S ALL MEN, GOOD LUCK!´ AT 10:00. THE ´LUX ETERNA´, A.O.F'S ATTACKSHIP, WAS ROLLING OUT OF THE HANGAR AND ARCHER, FALCONER, MILES, SAARELAHT AND PALMER WALKED UP THE STAIRS TO THE BRIDGE WHERE OLD GUNNER DYER ALREADY WAS SITTING, RUNNING A TESTSEQUENCE FOR ALL MACHINERY HANDLING WITH FIREPOWER ON THE ´LUX ETERNA´. SHE WAS A BEAUTY WITH HER 30 METRE LONG CARCASS. SHE WAS FAST, EASY TO CONTROL AND SHE ALSO CARRIED FIREARMS THAT WERE FAR BEYOND HER NEEDS. IN SPACE, SHE WAS WHAT THE OLD NUCLEAR SUBMARINES WERE IN THE SEAS OF EARTH. STARTING UP THE ENGINES, JOHN ARCHER FELT THE POWER OF THIS SHIP - THE SHIP OF HIS DREAMS. WHEN TURNING HER ENGINES ON, THE SHIP STARTED TO SHIVER. HAS THEY LIFTED FROM THE GROUND, MILES AND SAARELAHT WERE DISCUSSING THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THIS MISSION. AFTER A WHILE, THEY BOOTH AGREED THAT IT WOULD BE A USUAL, YET VERY EXCITING MISSION. HAPPILY ENOUGH, ALL POSSIBILITIES OF TRAVELLING NOT ONLY IN SPACE, BUT IN TIME AND DIMENSIONS WAS LOST WHEN THE LABORATORIES ON STARBASE III BURNT TO DUST AFTER HEAVY ATTACKS FROM GOB AND HIS FOLLOWERS. WEDNESDAY 2045/06/08 ARRIVING AT THE ALPHA MORESIA, THE ASSEMBLERS OF INFINITY FACED A BIG SUN SHINING WARM ON THE FRIENDLY PLANET. AFTER NICE RIDE TO THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE, THEY WERE INSTRUCTED BY A MR.CALLAGAN. THEY GOT ALL INSTRUCTIONS THEY NEEDED TO SUCCEED IN THE MISSION. OFCOURSE, CHRIS DYER DIDN'T LIKE THE IDEA OF TAKING ANOTHER SPACESHIP THAN THE ´LUX ETERNA´. HE THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS THE ONLY SHIP IN WICH THEY COULD POSSIBLE FIGHT THE CRIMINALS IN THESE PARTS OF THE UNIVERSE. THURSDAY 2045/06/09 AFTER A NIGHT OF SLEEP AND DREAMING, THE A.O.F GATHERED IN FRONT OF THE ´MARIAH´. A SIRVINA-20 ATTACK SHIP WICH WAS CAMOUFLAGED TO LOOK AS MUCH AS A MINERAL TRANSPORTING SHIP AS POSSIBLE. ´I DON'T LIKE THIS´ DOUG FALCONER SAID. ´ME NEITHER´ YOUNG PETE SAARELAHT FILLED IN. THEY WERE ALL SILENT FOR A WHILE BUT THEN CHRIS DYER SUDDENLY SAID ´LET'S GO INSIDE AND GET TO KNOW THIS YOUNG LADY´ AND SO THEY DID. SHE WAS AN AVARAGE SHIP IN ALL MEANS. THEY WEREN'T TOO SURE IF THEY COULD HANDLE HER IN A CLOSE COMBAT, BUT AS DYER SAID ´THIS BITCH IS JUST AS EVERY WOMEN ARE, AND I SURE CAN HANDLE THEM!´ AS HER ENGINES ROARED AND THEY SET OUT IN SPACE, GARY MILES GOT A FEELING THAT THIS VOYAGE WOULDN'T BE PRETTY AT ALL. SUNDAY 2045/06/12 THREE DAYS HAD PASTED AND THEY HAD NOT EVEN GOT A SIGHT OF ANY PIRATES. SINCE FRIDAY, DYER HAD SAID ´DAMN GHOST- STORIES, FUCK THEM ALL´ AND NOBODY GOT BETTER BY HIS TALKING. THEN SOMETHING HAPPENED. ´CAPTAIN PALMER´ DOUG SAID. ´I THINK WE HAVE COMPANY AT 5 O'CLOCK, DISTANCE 2 LIGHTMINUTES AND CLOSING.´ ´TYPE?´ ´I CANNOT SAY FOR SURE, BUT IT NAVIGATES LIKE A PV-322.´ ´GOOD. EVERYBODY STAND BY! MILES, TRY TO CONTACT THEM!´ ´YES SIR! UNKNOWN SHIP AT 24.217.5, ALPHA CRUISER 1286 HERE, PLEASE IDENTIFY OR WE'LL OPEN FIRE.´ EVERYONE WAS WAITING BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. ´UNKNOWN SHIP AT 24.217.5, ALPHA CRUISER 1286 HERE, PLEASE IDENTIFY OR WE'LL OPEN FIRE. THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE!´ MILES TRIED AGAIN. ´SON OF A BITCH WON'T ANSWER´ DOUG SAID TURNING OVER TO HIS COMBATSCREENS. SUDDENLY LIGHTS AND ALARMSOUNDS CAME ON IN THE SIRVINA-20 AND DYER SCREAMED ´WE HAVE A MISSILE OF UNKNOWN TYPE APPROACHING.´ ´LOCK RADARS ON TARGET´ PALMER ORDERED. ´RADARS LOCKED ON TARGET, TARGET ONLY THING BEEING TRACKED´ SAARELAHT RESPONDED. THE SHIP CAME CLOSER AND DYER MADE HIS CANNONS READY TO FIRE. ´UNIDENTYFIED SHIP AT 4 O'CLOCK, DISTANCE 8 LIGHTMINUTES´ DOUG VERIFIED. THE SHIP CAME CLOSER AND CLOSER AND WHEN THEY WERE ABLE TO SEE HIM THEY ONLY SAW THEIR OWN FAITH; TWO MATA- MISSILES BEEING LAUNCHED. THE BOTH PASSED VERY NEAR THE ´MARIAH´. THE PD-322 FLEW PAST THEM BUT TURNED AND CAME BACK FOR ANOTHER ROUND. THIS TIME WITH HEAVY MACHINEGUNS. THEY DIDN'T HIT ANY TIME, BUT NEITHER DID THE ´MARIAH´. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE UNKNOWN SHIP SET A COURSE AND DISAPPEARED AT 5 O'CLOCK FROM THE ´MARIAH´. ´STRANGE´ DYER SAID. ´HAHA! STRANGE? NO! THEY WERE SCARED TO DEATH THOSE UGLY BASTARDS´ SAARELAHT CHEERED. ´I DIDN'T MEAN THAT´ DYER SAID. ´THEY FIRED 4 MATA-MISSILES AND THEY HAD A REAL STATE-OF-THE-ART MACHINEGUN, BUT STILL, THEY DIDN'T PUT A SINGLE BULLET IN OUR SHIP.´ ´SO? THEY HAD A LOUSY MARKSMAN!´ SAARELAHT SCREAMED IN SURPRISEMENT OF DYERS DISAPPROVAL. DYER RAN UP FROM HIS CHAIR AND PUSHED SAARELAHT UP AGAINST THE WALL. SAARELAHT IMMIDIATELY REALISED THAT DYER HAD TIRED ON HIS HAPPINESS AND BECAME SERIOUS. ´I THOUGHT YOU WERE A REAL ASSEMBLER!´ DYER SCREAMED. ´I CAN HIT THE WINDMILL IN YOUR GARDEN BACK IN HOLLAND WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT MY CONTROLS WITH A MATA- MISSILE! A MARKSMAN AT A PIRATESHIP WOULD HAVE GOT US WITH HIS FIRST MISSILE AND IF WE HAD MANAGED THAT, HIS 3 OTHERS WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN BIGGER HITS! CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE PLAYING IN THE HIGH DIVISIONS HERE???´ DYER RELEASED PETE SAARELAHT AND WENT BACK TO HIS CONTROLS. ´TWO ENCOUNTERS AT 12 O'CLOCK. APPROACHING DANGEROUS FAST. DISTANCE 9 LIGHTSECONDS´ DOUG YELLED. ´THEY FOOLED US!´ JOHN ARCHER SAID AND RUSHED TO HIS CHAIR IN THE BATTLE- NAVIGATION ROOM. THEY SET FULL SPEED AWAY FROM THE ATTACKING SHIPS, THEN TURNED 180 DEGREES AND FIRED TWO M-321 MISSILES AND FLEW TOWARDS THE SHIPS IN FULL SPEED. AS THE MISSILES MISSED THEIR TARGETS, SHIP NUMBER 1 LAUNCHED ONE OF THEM TOO. AS A GOOD MARKSMAN, DYER READ THEIR MOVE AND FIRED A SLOW AHG-ROCKET TO LEAD THE MISSILE AWAY FROM THE SHIP. INSTEAD OF GOING AROUND THE SHIPS, ´MARIAH´ DIVED UNDER THE TWO AND TOTALLY FOOLED THEM. COMING UP BEHIND THEM, DYER FIRED ANOTHER M-321'ER AND HIT ONE OF THE ATTACKING SHIPS RIGHT IN IT'S SIDE. WITH THE OTHER SHIP PERFECTLY IN RANGE OF ANOTHER LAUNCH, ARCHER MADE A MISTAKE AND ´MARIAH´ GOT UNCONTROLLABLE FOR A FEW SECONDS, AND THAT MADE HER AN EASY TARGET. THE OTHER SHIP MUST HAVE GOT HIT BY SOME DEBRIS FROM THE EXPLOTION AND DIDN'T FIRE A MISSILE. INSTEAD, THEY USED MACHINEGUNS AND THEY HIT THE FRONT OF ´MARIAH´. JOHN ARCHER GAVE HER FULL SPEED AND ACCELERATED AS FAST AS THE LADY COULD DO, AND THE ENEMY SHIP WENT AFTER THEM. USING EVERY POSSIBLE HORSEPOWER, ARCHER REVERSED THE ENGINES INTO A BREAK AND CAME BEHIND THE SECOND ENCOUNTER. DYER DIDN'T MISS AND SANK HER WITH A ´GOOD OL' TERRINGER´ AS HE CALLED THE T-05 MISSILE. ´GIVE ME DAMAGEREPORT!´ PALMER ORDERED AND AFTER A FULL DAMAGESCAN, THEY FOUND OUT THAT THE MACHINEGUN DAMAGE AND ARCHERS DIVERSION HAD GONE FAR BEYOND WHAT THE OLD ´MARIAH´ COULD HANDLE. THEY WERE NOW FLOATING AROUND IN SPACE WITH NO CONTROL OF THE SHIP. TUESDAY 2045/06/14 AFTER TWO DAYS OF NO CONTROL, THE ´MARIAH´ WAS AN UNSAFE PLACE TO BE. WITH NO POWER LEFT, THEY COULDN'T USE THE ENGINE OR THE FIREPOWER. EVERYONE WAS ASLEEP WHEN MILES SUDDENLY WOKE UP TO THE SOUND OF THE COLLISION ALARM. ´HOLY SHIIIIT!!!´ HE SCREAMED AND ALL THE OTHER WOKE UP. ´GUYS! WE ARE FALLING DOWN TOWARDS THE ATHAREIS!´ HE SAID WITH PANIC IN HIS VOICE. EVERYBODY STRUGGLED WITH THE CONTROLS BUT TO NO USE. ´MARIAH´ WAS HELPLESSLY FALLING DOWN TO CRASH ON THE UNFRIENDLY WORLD OF ATHAREIS... NOW READ PART 2 !!!!! MESSAGE FROM EGONONE (THE WRITER): THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE RESPONDED WITH COMPLIMENTS AND IDEAS FOR THE AOI!! I REALLY APPRICIATE IT AND I HOPE YOU LIKE THIS ONE TO. ---------------------------------------- GET IN TOUCH WITH THE ASSEMBLERS! WRITE TO ´LIMITED EDITION´ AT FIDONET ADDRESS 2:201/417. WE GUARANTEE YOU 100 PERCENT RESPONSE WHEN LEAVING A NETMAIL! FOR SWAPPING, WRITE TO: TBM LARARV.11 197 30 BRO ---------------------------------------- (LEFT MOUSE/SPACE) ASSEMBLERS OF INFINITY PART TWO PROGRAMMING BY.............PH00KEY GRAPHICS BY....................TBM MUSIC BY...................EPITHAL STORY BY...................EGONONE ---------------------------------------- TO ALL YOU WAITING FOR ASSEMBLERS OF INFINITY PART 3, YOU WON'T HAVE TO WAIT AS LONG AS YOU WAITED FOR THIS ONE! WE WILL TRY TO RELEASE PART 3 WITHIN 1 MONTH (BUT WE DON'T PROMISE ANYTHING) ---------------------------------------- (LEFT MOUSE/SPACE)