AER Venom Wars V
800*600





AER: Venom Wars V

What can I say? This is supposed to be a report of the KAG vessel IKV Melota and our exploits. What did we do? What have we done?

We went to the IKV Bayou Serpent's Venom Wars V and 10th Anniversary Bash. The IKV Melota put 5 into the mix at VWV. We lost another person at the last second due to sick call.

This pretty much ends the AER from the IKV Melota's perspective. We came. We saw. We played.

The bulk of this report really needs to be about the KAG vessel IKV Bayou Serpent. . .

DAMN!!! This was a serious, hard core event. The IKV Bayous Serpent had its best turnout ever. Normally the IKV Bayou Serpent is working with two teams of 5 or 6 for Venom Wars. This time the IKV Bayou Serpent had 6 orange non-combatants just watching for fun while two teams of 12 (or greater) were battling for supremacy. And on top of this there were two combat videographers working to bring you future videos. The IKV Bayou Serpent had about 25 Warriors (and guests) present at any one time. But, they also had a revolving door of Warriors and guests coming and going. I'm inclined to believe (and someone can later confirm the actual figure) that some thirty some-odd Warriors (and guests) were ultimately present at Venom Wars V.

There were five separate KAG ships present, a mundane paintball club, and a commercial/professional group all revolving through this weekend.

With so many players, the combat was heavy. With two videographers present, the IKV Bayou Serpent and the IKV Melota collected in one game more good footage than in a couple of years of prior Venom Wars events.
The IKV Bayou Serpent now boasts its own Combat Videographer (last year they introduced their own Ship's Brewer) with an armored camcorder. I'm not aware of any other KAG vessels with armored combat videocamcorders. Ripar and I are planning that future videos starting with VW5 shall become long distance collaborative efforts. We shall share footage and ideas to bring more and varied ideas to Internet for the benefit of KAG.

The Ceremonies were short, sweet, and to the point. There was our usual klingon prayer. Then we all Howled for the Dead and a regrettably long list that was. Awards were given out. Then the 10th Year Anniversary portion of the Ceremonies occured with Lt. Cdr. Kmok, representing the IKV Melota (CRQ's oldest ship) giving out 10th year Anniversary pins to the membership of the IKV Bayou Serpent.
Various stories were told on the stage to enlighten our guest Warriors of the traditions ensconced in IKV Bayou Serpent tradition. The story of the mini Bloodwine cup. The story of Ripar's first morning after the Bloodwine. Problems with inertial dampers after a few mugs of Bloodwine. These were all related with relish as well as the story of the 2008 Most Bruised Award and from whence it cometh.
On the stage it was noted that the Northern KAG ships really have the numbers. And, against this we cannot compete. But, here in Dixie, we have the activities! We may have small ships, but we really get around with driving distances that really mean complete states for others in order to fellowship with each other.
The Cold Revenge Quadrant Ships present (5) at Venom Wars V saluted the AERs and efforts of all of the Klingon Assault Group. To thee we say Qa'Pla!

Five KAG ships, and two mundance groups all gathered around the flares, firepits and lanterns to relate to one another. We of the IKV Melota had a grand time with all present. The distance and expense of days off and petrol for vehicles is prohibitive of doing this more often. However, we all state that this should be done more often.


Addendum:

I originally wrote this totally exhausted and completely forgot to give Torsha her glory due for cooking the awesome chili for the evening feed.

I was reminded by the others that this event had more failures of equipment and luck than any other event to which I have been. Could not get Friday off. Alternator crapped out as in "Klingons in the Mist, Revisited". My marker choked. My stove lost containment spewing petrol everywhere. Forgot to bring a spare marker. It rained like two bovinids pissing on a flat rock all the drive home.
And this kind of crap was visited in some form by nearly everybody there. Murphy had it in for us but the CRQ klingons were Grethor bent to proceed and to have a good time. Which we did.

Strength and Honor, Y'all

Cdr. Salek, Sutai
Ship's Brewer




Sucks when your marker jams.

On March 28-30, the IKV Bayou Serpent hosted it's 5th installment of Venom Wars, our annual Klingon paintball war. I addition to this, it was also our 10 year anniversary as a ship and this was celebrated as well.

Turnout this year was ASTOUNDING! We had representatives from FIVE KAG ships including the IKV Bayou Serpent, IKV Melota, IKV Qin Vagh, IKV Deliverance, and the IKV K'Vette plus the paintball group from Dallas/Fort Worth known as the Ghostwalkers. An estimated 25 people were in attendance. The guests started arriving Friday with the IKV Deliverance CO Mike Beyer arriving first. Weather was sunny and a little too warm but cooled off nicely as the sun went down. Guests trickled in all night and some arrived on Saturday.

Saturday was the actual combat day and started out chilly with light rain but the players endured and played anyway. The rain stopped pretty soon to sunny and a little too warm temperatures. First up was the "Ferengi treasure hunt" game that we play every year. The field was full of people, some playing, some filming, some just watching. The fighting was more intense than any previous year, probably due to the increased number of players. This was also the first year that the IKV Bayou Serpent had a camera of their own in the field. The camera was armored with the help of the Melota crew 2 months ago and that armor got tested in this first game, first taking a glancing blow from a paintball and then a full on shot from K'Mok of the Melota. I'm proud to say that the workmanship was excellent and the camera didnt suffer a scratch. With only minutes left in the game, K'Allen stormed the base and retrieved one of the containers only to be shot by Balrahg of the IKV Qin Vagh on the other team. Balrahg realized that he had fired in error due to adrenaline and walked under a white flag to the enemy base to give them the container, a very honorable thing to do. This wouldn't be the first time that Balrahg's honor was shown.

Second game up was speedball but not in the traditional "spray and pray" method. Combatants started out with no ammo and had to run to bunkers to retrieve pods containing 10 shots each. This was done one- on-one in a single elimination tournament. After some interesting matches, including Ni'Vek of the Bayou Serpent THROWING paintballs at an advancing enemy after getting pinned down, the game was won by K'Allen of the Bayou Serpent. I had to start work on the ceremonies so the group went out and played a couple more games without me, including a predator hunt and an ambush type game.

After everyone started getting tired and hungry, we sat down for a Trek trivia game with the prize being a collection of Trek VHS tapes, along with a few other movies. Ni'Vek walked away with this one easily. Dinner was then served by ship XO Torsha who didnt get to play due to both cooking the hearty chili and tending to Kahless, son of K'Allen. We very much appreciated her big role in the event.

Ceremonies started just after dark and the new "official" Bayou Serpent flag created by sQueezinart of the Melota made it's first stage appearance. We can't thank enough for it. It's amazing! The bloodwine was opened and the first dips were given to the QC and then the senior rep of each ship or group. Next was the Klingon prayer and death howl for a long list of fallen warriors. I took the stage, thanked everyone for showing such support for our ten years of service and passed out the trophies. Awards were given as such:

Least bruised: Bear of the Ghostwalkers with no bruises (sQueezinart of the Melota deserves recogition here as well since she wasn't bruised either but Bear played more games)

Worst single bruise: Balrahg with a nasty head shot (this would be re- examined later)

Speedball: K'Allen of the Bayou Serpent

Tournament Da'har: Mike Beyer of the Deliverance (tough choice!)

We then started the 10 year part of the ceremony with myself again thanking everyone for their help and support over the years to help make our ship great and gave a short history of our 10 years. It really touched us that so many of you came out to show your love! Don't ever forget that! Ten year pins were handed out to Bayou Serpent members and I asked the senior member of the only ship present that was older than us to do the honor. That honor fell to Lord K'Mok of the Melota. Thank you for your help with that. The ceremonies were then drawn to a close and the best part of all events began. . . the drinking and fellowship! I believe we would have stayed up til the wee hours but the rain had other plans and put us to bed around 11pm.

The next morning saw the soreness of combat and the sunburns showing their ugly faces. After having several hours to settle, the bruises were shown again with RotoQ of the Qin Vagh having one of the worst bruises I've ever seen from paintball. Balragh once again put his honor first. After asking my permission, he presented RotoQ with the "Worst single bruise" award. Slowly, everyone started to head out. This is always the worst part of any event. Once again, thanks to the Melota, Qin Vagh, Deliverance, K'Vette, and Ghostwalkers for our best tournament ever! Qapla!!!

Commander Ri'Par sutai-bortaS
IKV Bayou Serpent commander and ship's brewer



Hello Everyone MY ISP has been down since the bad weather moved through our area .Were to start . After dealing with the mean paint ball gremlins . I put up my 2 high paint ball guns , an Autococker and a Defiant . I pulled out a tried and tested marker. My Tippmann 98 ebolt and decided that I was going to go full tilt and have some fun . I went at lest 800 rounds of paint and shot at anything that had a blue arm band . Second game was of speed ball which I fell down and twisted my knee .The 3rd game was the Predator game which I was the Predator. The last game was a game of the captured the flag variation . I decided it was time to make up for lost time and torment Salek for a couple of hours . All in all it was one of my better paint ball experiences . That night the blood wine flowed and war stories were told .

Mike CO IKV Deliverance




The "sliding" bruise.

Venom Wars 5
Combat Tournament

28-30 March 2008
Choudrant, LA

Venom Wars 5 will forever be remembered as the Tournament of Malfunctions. While getting ready for the trip out K'Mok had a fuel pump go out. On the trip out Salek lost his alternator. Mike Beyer almost didn't get to make the trip after multiple ride-share plans fell through. As the combat began multiple markers failed (many seriously) and through the coarse of the day several CO2 tanks suffered containment failure. Add to the mix the cold nights, the warm day, and the surprise rain showers and one has the potential for a miserable weekend. Instead the warriors present pushed on and had a glorious time.

Representing KAG were five ships: the IKV Bayou Serpent (Louisiana), IKV Melota (Texas), IKV Qin Vagh (Texas), IKV Deliverance (Arkansas), and the IKV K'Vette (Louisiana) plus the Texas Ghostwalkers (a paintball group).

Throughout Friday night and into the wee hours of Saturday the warriors trickled in. The sun rose Saturday on a cold group of shivering campers. The morning drizzle promised an interesting day. sQweezinart made a new flag for the Bayou Serpent. Since Ri'Par didn't bother to mention it... (you in trouble, brother)

Shortly before the first event the sun came out and the temperature started to rise quickly. The sudden heat caused most of the visors to fog over and many spent the morning half blind. The early combat was fast and vicious. Welts and bruises were common.

More warriors arrived.

The heat of the day was past casually with a "Speedball" competition. A curious form of one-on-one personal combat, this event gave each warrior the opportunity to display their prowess.

More warriors arrived bringing the final headcount to 31 (according to the e-mail from Ri'Par).

Only a handful opted for the Predator game. I observed. As it was explained to me - one shooter is selected as the "Predator". The rest are "Human". The Predator has a smaller kill zone and is thus harder to take down. Each person shot by the Predator becomes a Predator also. The most difficult positions in this game are those of the first Predator and the last Human.

The last event was an ambush event. An ambush team placed four "trophies" throughout the woods. These were to be collected by the target team and placed at a designated receiving area. The combat was fierce. The target team had retrieved all four trophies and three had been placed in the receiving area when game time ran out.

We all limped back to base for a chili dinner graciously provided by Torsha of the I.K.V. Bayou Serpent (as if she didn't have enough to do...with that new baby and all). - Qapla'

The banners were gathered around the stage and the awards ceremony began. Kudos and trophies were given out to those that deserved them. New members of the Black Fleet were named, remembered and howled for. Special mention was made of the 10th Anniversary of the Bayou Serpent. As XO of the Melota (THE oldest Klingon ship in the region) the honor fell to me to preside over this part of the ceremony. Each current member of the Bayou Serpent was called forward and recognized.

The torches blazed, the blood wine was poured, and the stories were shared generously. One warrior was heard to say that the comradery after the ceremonies was the part of these gatherings that he liked best. It was a glorious end to a glorious day...until the cloud-burst forced everyone to take cover.

Lt. Cmdr. K'Mok
1st Officer - I.K.V. Melota


                 


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