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Unathi Pirates of the Spur - Issue #28 - The Ahzi Fleet


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Unathi Pirates of the Spur

Issue #28 - The Ahzi Fleet

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The fruit of deep investigations and knowledge of Unathi culture, Unathi Pirates of the Spur is an outlet set on discovering and explaining the nature and story behind individuals, ships, or entire fleets from such spheres. Narrated, then put to paper by some of the best Unathi orators of Tau Ceti, we provide stories and report that prove both educational and amazing to our dear readers.

Unathi Pirates of the Spur does not validate nor encourage the activities it discribes in its stories. Our outlet merely provides the result of investigations.

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Bolts of Lightning illuminate the night skies of Ha'zana. With each flash, the figure of small ships and crafts descending toward Iz'iz's periphery becomes clearer. A squadron of corvette-sized crafts and shuttles, bringing planetside their own crews, as well as those from their larger ships unfit to sail through the atmosphere, where affairs can be done, rest be found, and families be seen. To the usual inhabitant of the Pirate World, these are just ordinary crafts among many others, the cycle of ships landing and leaving over and over being nothing but a natural rhythm to the locals. But to a few, those are far from being just any ships. They bear unusual liveries, strange hull modifications, and a couple seem home-made as well, sporting unusually gracious shapes... These are the ships of the Ahzi. Out of the few that recognize them, most see them as a threat, a danger... Fellow Sinta that earned the right to land and live here, somewhat of course, but a threat nevertheless... The few stories and rumors carrying their name are very often told along tales of bloody boardings leaving none alive, of merciless, honorless murders... Of Sinta killers... Of pirate killers. Such rumors hardly tell the full story, but the full story is a thing that even the Ahzi do not tend to share... For anyone interested in learning about the Ahzi will sound find out that to discover them, they first have to cut through layers upon layers of mysteries...

The Ahzi are, if anything, a minor fleet. The precise composition of their fleet is unknown, though it has been told that its total tonnage cannot even compare to one-tenth of Izharshan's raiders. This small size gave the Ahzi some relative lack of exposure and fame, but it is not enough to justify how little is known about them. The Ahzi do not seek to remain unknown, though they do not seek to share their stories, or the glory they could've earned if they ever earn any. While most crewmen will boast about their adventures, and at times, make up some, the Ahzi will remain silent. Honor demands that they do not lie when asked about their ventures, but one has to ask for them in the first place, thus, stories about this fleet remain rare... And passing through the filters of often drunk fellow Sinta relaying such tales to each other, it quickly finds itself distorted to the point where one can never truly know if what is told is the truth... Some even question the very existence of the Ahzi...

Though they exist. A minor fleet they may be, but they remain a fleet. Their Fang Captain, Kuhri Ahzi, affectionately called "Admiral" by his people, meets with fellow Fangs, both to discuss matters internal and external to Ha'zana, though it is said that Kuhri speaks little of politics, and instead focuses on dealing with the ire of other fleets and their Fangs, for reasons that will be explained soon enough... Besides this, with a total crew of hundreds, it is only natural that quite a few Ahzi families reside on Ha'zana too, while their husbands or fathers leave for the void; families that crewmen get to visit, just like in most other fleets. The Ahzi presence is discreet, but it is here.

Thus, barring rumors and stories, the Ahzi look like yet another minor fleet, with nothing truly exceptional... That is until the matter of their doctrine and actions arises. Unathi fleets have a variety of options as far as "business" goes... Piracy for their own account, or as corsairs for the sake of proper powers, bolstering the forces of said powers in a more proper way along with a good contract, smuggling, exploration... And of all of these options, the Ahzi seem to take none. In their own words, or so it is told, the Ahzi are on a "mission", one that takes them all over the Spur, in long, costly trips... And for what purpose...

 

Ships of extravagant colors and livery tear through the void. Before them, a foe, greater than any of their ships, but isolated, the result of weeks, perhaps months of tracking, seeking the right opportunity. By now it is already over for them. There are no lines of communication to open, no hails, but the intent of the approaching fleet is clear, and so is their nature, for their bear the Ahzi colors, a standard displaying a Sinta slain by spears under an omniscient eye. Formations are tight and precise, and their maneuvers are swift and executed with perfect synchronicity. Small crafts act as support, taking care of fast threats that could then harm the approaching shuttles or frigates modified for boarding. Said boarding crafts, then, dock. An entrance is made, and from there begins an assault of unparalleled violence.

A first line of fighters in heavy armor comes. They walk slowly, shields raised in one hand, unusual "boarding spears" in the other. Slowly but steadily, the cramped corridors of spaceships find themselves blocked by a marching wall of steel and clogged by threatening pikes of metal. If such is not enough to push back the defenders, a second line follows closely behind, properly armed with pistols and rifles, firing beam or lead, protected by their fellow Ahzi in front of them, offering them the opportunity to align precise shots with relative ease. An Ahzi boarding is at first, or so the stories say, an exemplary display of discipline and competency, very often used against disorganized and little-trained enemies. It is then, a show of absolute mercilessness... For once a ship is "marked", boarded after days upon days upon days of tracking, it means that none will walk out of it alive besides the Ahzi that assaulted it. Once a ship is boarded by Ahzi, there will be no survivors, for they come to kill. Such stories, such rumors, are the source of the Ahzi's despicable reputation to the few that know of their name... And perhaps the reason why there are so few stories about them; after all, dead men tell no tale... Though there are tales, even if rare, so one might be allowed to think that this doctrine of unconditional massacre might not be so devoid of mercy.

In any case, such tales do little to explain their missions, but they can offer clues, and lead to theories. Such acts offer little in the way of profit, hence why these can hardly be called acts of piracy; and their sparse nature do not indicate then a mere thirst for blood. Their assaults are targeted. Our research had us a pattern, however. Ships marked tend to have a history, and so do their captains and, or, crews... The Red Rage, a Hiskyn ship was known for taking part in particularly gruesome actions against civilian crafts, ones that even had the rest of the ruthless Hiskyn clan look at them with disdain. it was boarded and purged of its crew during the battle of Corot 1155... The Black Flight, a lone pirate ship that found itself eventually known for ravaging an independent settlement in the depths of the Badlands was found one day drifting in the dark, with nothing but corpses left within, something fitting the stories of Ahzi at work. And so on, and so on... It has become clear that the Ahzi seem to pick for targets ships and crews known for particularly dreadful acts... But why? A vendetta? Are they paid for such acts? For, after all, said targets always had quite a few enemies themselves... One will never know for sure, and in truth, to many, they remain what they are, pirates slaying pirates, the reasons behind it matter little.

 

Despite these stories of outstanding violence, the average Ahzi tends to be described as surprisingly well-mannered, for pirates, that is; and at times, does a lot to separate himself from other pirates, at least in their behavior. Even their habit of calling Kuhri Ahzi "Admiral" instead of Fang Captain is evidence of such a desire to distance themselves from their pirate nature. Surprisingly as well, the Ahzi have managed to avoid the ire or even attention of most nations and major corporations... And the few that know of them generally pay little attention to this fleet, for they seem to fight pirates and other unpopular targets only. The fact that they seek mostly unpopular targets has also allowed the Ahzi to keep an uneasy harmony, and respectable relations with other fleets, and the rest of Ha'zana's population in the case of the crewmen's families.

Another unusual part of the Ahzi might as also be the unique caste they created to allow their fleet to cope with their "mission". Obviously, their actions bring little profit their way, far from enough to maintain their fleet, no matter how small it may be. While smaller jobs done on their way to proper targets may be done, it will rarely ever pay for the entire fleet and its crew. There come the Transporters, trusted individuals, chosen by the Ahzi Fang Captain himself to act as independent agents, given their own shuttle and some funds to then venture the Spur. There, no matter the means, they seek to earn credits, find resources and goods, information, or create advantageous relationships for the sake of their fleet. For many, meeting a transporter is the only Ahzi they may see in their life- and for the better, perhaps...

 

The Ahzi fleet. A small fleet, yes but a fearsome one. Shrouded in mysteries, and surrounded by a threatening aura...

How true are these tales? Who are they truly? What is their mission? Perhaps we shall never know... But the Ahzi show to all something ever present in the realm of Unathi Piracy: mystery. There are no news outlets, no investigations, but tales and rumors shared between sailors over drinks and games. This is something strange, yet fascinating... A life surrounded by stories, tales... By legends.

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