Diary of a Dewiek Alpha I taste blood in my mouth and combined with the strong feelings of my pack are enough to fuel my rage. The floor is now slick, not just with my blood I am pleased to note. My opponent has taken a step back and is hunched. He is not letting me up, no, he is also badly winded and a rent above his eye is causing a fold of skin to droop, giving him poor field of vision down one side. This was a gift from the last of my proxies – now dead. He was my best friend and had served me loyally for years. I lunge forward but at the last instant roll to his blinded side though take a slash down the leg. The pain is intense and I feel the backlash from the pack as they too suffer the effects – relish it even. He turns to face, though I anticipate and carry on the roll, coming to my feet and still largely in beyond his field of vision. I slash twice, though this is incidental as my fangs sink deep into his neck and I immediately bite down choking him and swallowing back blood.

I have misjudged. The surprise is as much a shock to the pack as to me. Somehow he faked his weariness, offered his blindside and drew me in. His fist digs deep into my stomach, slashing muscle and tendons while he pivots, using his superior bulk to slam me into the ground. It is at this point I feel the pack withdrawing, the bond weakening as it becomes obvious to all that they have a new alpha. The pain of losing the pack is both deeper and longer lasting than any of the blows delivered in the fight.

Glassin could have ripped out my heart and feasted on it. He should have as I was unwilling to submit to being subordinate. Maybe it was his underhand tactic or maybe I have been hanging around humans too long. Either way I reject the call of the Nation until I have had my revenge

Recovery from the injuries and finding a ship with crew on Janth have kept me planet bound for longer than I have ever known. I have found a few willing to be my new pack. Back as captain on Darkbreath I would not have tolerated them, though I find that I cannot be choosy. Some are experienced and all have a great many scars, though I note that many are in the back or likely suffered in a submissive position.

It proves to be more than three years before I encounter Glassin again. During this time I have gained something of a reputation as a reiver, hitting the trade trails. While I prefer to strike against human ships, I will take the occasional Nation vessel. The boarding is always up close and personal even if no more challenging. The pack has grown both in experience and I have personally disembowelled five of them, three in the first year, the last, more than six months ago. They have finally accepted me as alpha. The crew complement also includes a few humans recruited on one of the fragmented ring sections where the Nation patrols very little.

I heard that the Blackbreath, still commanded by Glassin has been spotted in the system. This gives me that strong memory of his blood and I start to salivate in anticipation. The pack picks up on my emotions and I am able to drive them much harder than I have previously though the humans seem somewhat puzzled at the noticeable change in temperament amongst the pack.

At the last moment the pack dons their helmets, long after the humans and other aliens have fully sealed. This cuts of the bond, producing a hollow feeling at the back of the head and a palpable chill, smothering most of the rage.
It is a matter of pride that I lead the boarding against the Blackbreath – not for me the over viewing of the action from the bridge.

We quickly cross the gap and as we do I see the massive tears in my ship caused by the broadsides of Darkbreath. We hit the main cargo doors and a few lesser airlocks together, firing detonation charges when we are within a few metres. The defenders attempt to repel, firing through murder-holes surrounding the main hatch.
Sufficient entry points are made across the cargo bays that we are able to gain access, though the price is high. I leap over the bodies of three my pack that have died taking fire that would have ended me. I will mourn them later, for now revenge is on my mind. To this end, I make an open broadcast demanding Glassin face me. This also gives the defenders reason to pause. My presence has shaken them and helmeted they cannot gain strength from the rest of the pack. A few actually draw back into cover. Not retreating, but also not pressing us, simply waiting either for new orders or a change in the situation.

It does not take long for Glassin to arrive, bringing with him his veterans. Their arrival is like a tsunami crashing into our forces and ripping through them. That’s when I leap from the side, grappling Glassin, spinning him and slashing with my suit talons. They tear into his exo-armour and leave rents and even cut through in places as I see sealant bubbling out as we slide across the decking. His blaster has been knocked from his hands and though still attached by lanyard, he seems disinclined to use it, instead activating his own suit talons. We are again on our feet and charge, raking and clawing with brutality and no little skill. I quickly learn that he is slower, or at least I am faster, though this time I know it may be a trick and I keep slashing and clawing rather than going for the kill. Maybe he realises this as his frustration is clearly rising at the quantity of slashes that now cover his suit. His visor is also cracked in a few places. In desperation he grabs his blaster that by now has been auto-reeled back to his arm and mag-locked.

That’s when he goes down in a hail of fire. His pack, content to let us fight it out claw on claw do not tolerate him using ranged weapons. All I cam think was that even though he is alpha, he had not properly bonded with the pack. Maybe the edge he got in personal combat from keeping himself aloof meant that the pack were not as willing to die for him. My arrival and challenge made them realise what they were missing. I am angry that I didn’t tear his heart from his chest and consider charging the ones that have gunned him down. That’s when I see him move. They have not killed him, rather they have destroyed his gun and staggered him. I also note that pressure has returned to the bay as blood is flowing freely from a number of gashes in both our suits but not boiling. This is confirmed by an icon on my suit visor. I rip my helmet off and immediately feel my pack but also the slight tendrils of the old one as they recognise me and instinctively start to bond. I snarl and let out howl of triumph. Glassin is not finished yet as we grapple, slash and bite. Around us, the fight is quickly over and the pack – old and new gather to watch the outcome though few are in any doubt as to how it will end as both our suits are liberally covered in his blood. Finally I sink by fangs into Glassin’s throat, this time there is no trick and I feel his vertebrae crunch. I give a little, avoiding the bones and fully bite down while pulling away. I spit the bloody gobbet of flesh and again howl my triumph over his corpse. This is taken up throughout the ship - acknowledgement that the new captain is on board.