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Cotroneo
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Medford, NY, USA
Oct 1999
time: 05:13
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“Security Beta Patrol, reporting in, it’s quiet out here, get some Morgan coffee on the heater, we’ll be coming in soon.”
“No problem, beta patrol, we opened a fresh packet three minutes ago, it’ll be done by the time you get in. Remember to activate the sensor on your way in, although keep it low powered, the maintenance guys are working on the nuclear power-plant on base.”
“Command…we got something on the scope…its probably just some spreading fungus, but we don’t want any mindworms coming unnoticed.”
“Alright beta, we’ll keep the coffee on the heater, report back in 5. Confirm?”
“Roger, Command…in 5”
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These darn fungal fields, I hate walking through these accursed things. Their always trying to grab your foot or the rest of your leg… why in the heck was I assigned to this mission, and a specially with no number two with me.
Ouch…get the freak off me you stupid little wanna be vines. Theirs no way I can sneak up to the most heavily guarded base with all this fungal attacking me… heck I don’t even carry a flamer.
…What the heck was that… I can’t use my impact rifle….they will hear me…what the hell, looks like a rover…I hate knelling down in this stuff
Finally, they moved, the stalks were strangling me…come on legs, lets get the freak out of here…remain calm…only a few more meters till the sensor array…my photon suit looks good…power is stable…good…it can’t detect me this close…I need a better line of work.
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“Beta patrol, this is Command come in…”
“Beta here… we scouted the fungal fields… nothing on the resonance scanner, we are planning on coming back to the barn…is their a problem?”
“Confirm that you activated the sensor array… we have zero readings from it”
“Command, I sent a rover to flip it onto automatic, he should be arriving soon”
“Roger beta patrol, your authorized to come on in… the coffee is just about right now.”
---------------------------------------------
Shoot, the damn rover is coming back… I better get moving….what is next…the perimeter defense…this should be interesting.
What did sarge say, oh yes….keep your head down and pick off the guys quickly….great advice, although I think I should have learned more in three years of training.
Perfect, this little fissure in the rock, should be a perfect position, for me to do my little thing. A bit too small for my comfort though.
Finally… I get some rest…well if you call putting together a scoped impact rifle…rest.
Lets see, who do I pick off…there is about five guards by the entrance…a bit too many for a stealth mission…perhaps…perfect…that should do fine.
Image enhancement online… lock on upper torsos… pulse power online… discharge… and that’s all she wrote. I hate doing that… I joined this line of work hoping that I didn’t need to do that, but it seems I do it more than those infantry brats do.
Shoot, I didn’t think that these perimeters would be the new BF12s… guess I can’t blow my way in for that matter… guess I’ll charge the EMP.
5…4…3…2…1…discharge looks good on the eye scouter, the people know I’m hear for sure…but its to late for them to stop me…hear I come you university idiots.
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“What the heck…sound the alarm…reading all lasers defenses offline…get on the horn with beta and the base council, they will want to know what has happened”
“I’m reading your transmission command…just give beta a second…we will be outside in a heartbeat…activating quick startups on all the rovers.”
“Beta…hold position…all systems back online, were reading Electro magnetic signatures all over…while your out their, why don’t you take a look at that sensor. If something got by that thing, we may need to tell council that we got problems.”
[This message has been edited by Cotroneo (edited November 11, 1999).]
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Cotroneo
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Medford, NY, USA
Oct 1999
time: 05:13
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University Base was captivatingly beautiful, with its high rise buildings, and large parks, with thousands of people going about their daily business. The city, one of the largest on planet, stretched for kilometers in every direction with at least one large skyscraper every quarter of a kilometer. Zakharov had initiated this type of architecture for it’s inherent efficiency, because it kept all his scientists and engineers close by each other, with only several floors separating the various projects within these colossuses of buildings. But, for Paul Cotroneo, he was most concerned with the back alleys and broken down buildings that were left standing since the beginnings of the base.
“Cotroneo, I have the information you asked for, and it’ll cost you a lot.”
Cotroneo resisted the urge to turn around and acknowledge his contact standing behind him, because he new from training that someone who calls you by your real name, may be the enemy.
“Nice weather, were having, it seems to me that these mountains around University Base, really do a good job in keeping the wet and hot weather in this valley.” Cotroneo responded to his contact, still refusing to turn around and even acknowledge him.
“Although I prefer a dryer climate, I here Admiralty Base, on the fossil fuel ridge is quite nice this time of year, maybe I’ll spend my next vacation there.” Responded the man behind Cotroneo, with an almost evil smirk on his face.
Cotroneo finally turned around, after hearing the secondary code words, ‘Admiralty Base’.
“This is the third time, that you called me by my name… to you, I’m Raptor…is that clear!” clamored Cotroneo, to his inadequate contact.
“Sorry …Raptor… by the way, what kind of stupid name is Raptor… heck even my name is better than that, and you better be prepared to pay big time for this little disc.”
The sudden sound of a shredder powering up…. then….the sound of a dozen sirens roaring through the air… followed by the ere sound of silence griping the dark alley.
“Sinder Roze, herself gave me than name, and I kind of like it, you idiot. I guess three strikes and your out. Heck, he wouldn’t have survived the year with his own big mouth.”, Cotroneo walked over to the man’s body, which had a hole the size of a foot right threw it’s chest, and snatched the data disc from his hand. Cotroneo walked out of the alley, with the same smirk the guy had worn on his face a minute before.
“No, I kind of prefer the wet season more…”
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Sinder Roze sat quietly, sipping a tall glass of fungal vodka, which he had bought several years ago. She would always sit next to the window in the morning, just staring at the sun, remembering the times long ago, and how she had come to this chaotic world.
She almost jumped off her seat, as her eye contacts started to display data being transferred to her. It was amazing watching her sift through data by manipulating thought waves which told her eye piece to move data up, down, left or right. Many of her friends though she might be a latent telepath, but she kept to herself about things such as this. She had always been more interested in the data clouds of the worldwide network and faster computer systems.
“Beetle, get in here, I need you.” Sinder had gotten into the habit of calling all of her closest friends and contacts by different names, usually dealing with animals and other earth related topics.
“Yes Roze, is there a problem?” Responded Beetle, as he came almost running into the room from his adjacent chamber.
“It depends on what you call a problem, Beetle, is having an operative trapped in an enemy base…a problem?”
“Perhaps, a better question Sinder, is if that operative is worth the trouble getting out.”
“Why is it, that you only answer me in questions, and Beetle…its Raptor.”
“Don’t worry Sinder, he can take care of himself, he is the best, and how is it that he is even trapped. What happened?”
“It seems his contact got killed, who was supposed to escort him out, on the mag train. Now he doesn’t have the needed clearance to get out of the base.” Sinder explained, as a sudden urge of vitality rushed through her.
“I’m sure he will find a way out… but… you have that smile on your face, like you have an idea or something.”
“An idea… I may have one. Can you get on the line with Rex? We may need his expertise. I also need to call a friend.”
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Cotroneo
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Medford, NY, USA
Oct 1999
time: 05:13
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“Come on Richmond, I’ve saved your butt a hell of a lot of times. Now I’m calling in one of those favors, you say I have earned.”
“Sorry Raptor, this is a life or death favor your asking me, if I give you my retinal contacts and they find out that I gave them to you, they will hunt me down.”
David Richmond and Paul ‘Raptor’ Cotroneo had been part of the original landing crew with Morgan and his followers. They had both become good friends in the free market and democratic Morgan society. Both even went into probe training together, and were set up as a team due to their superior teamwork. They had lost contact with each other since the probe purification in New Jerusalem. They had been forced to separate, onto different transports, when they were evacuating the area. Both transports went in separate directions, taking Raptor home safe to Morgan held territory, and Richmond to University base. Richmond had barely survived the trip, hiding from University security forces, until settling down in the back alleys of University Base, barely making a living selling advanced tech to the smugglers and such. Although, Raptor had learned later where Richmond had gone, he had not risked going into the base until now, since he was ordered there.
“Don’t give me that bull, don’t you remember Sparta, I took a shredder shot for you.”
“And I would have done the same for you…then….times change Raptor….and hell I thought you were dead. Why in Hades did you come here?”
“Well, I was ordered to get this little disc… and you can bet your money I would stay away from this place if I had gotten my way.” Cotroneo replied, showing the disc to Richmond, who became more interested in the disc than what Cotroneo actually was saying.
“So…why does that rich bum Morgan want you here this time… what’s on the disk?”
“Well… times have changed…I’m not actually working for Morgan these days…. I’m working for Sinder now and trust me, this disc will change everything.”
“So Sinder is running the outfit, where you guys based…Morgan Universal…Morgan Interstellar?” Cotroneo let out a bit of a laugh to his old friend’s question.
“Boy, I need to get you out of this hell whole… we have actually set up our own little base outside the territories of the old factions. We can carry out our own agenda without those stupid Neanderthals getting in our way.”
“Well, I only get the Morgan news hear, Zakharov really doesn’t have a good news station. And what’s this old factions stuff.”
“For an old probe guy, you really don’t have a clue about anything. I’ll explain all that has happened over dinner. Anyway, back to the subject, if we can find a retinal sensor expert, we may be able to buy another pare of your contacts. Heck, maybe we can both get out of here, but it’ll take a little planning and some money. I had to shoot my way into here, and I guarantee they have beefed up their guards since I blasted in.”
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Data DeCentral was nothing of a work of art or beauty, yet Sinder Roze enjoyed its circular buildings, with their large satellite uplinks and network node connections sticking up from the tops, giving the appearance of poles sticking through wood barrels. She had gone outside to do some thinking, while her workers went around contacting separate contacts around the University territory, seeing if they could help with the crisis.
Since Morgan Industries and the Spartan Federation had started putting up several hydroponics satellites, she had learned to brake into their controls and communicate over vast differences with their communication sub-systems. She would need this over the horizon transmission if they hoped to contact Rex who still worked inside Morgan territory.
“Roze, we got Rex on the link, back at headquarters, I’ll link him to your optical contacts.” Beetle had come over the link, he had been hard at work tracking down, Rex, the renowned security system expert.
“Hello Rex, how goes the research, still trying to figure out what the Hive is using as its network firewalls.” Roze had already discovered the language the Hive was using a while back, yet she would many times let her underlings try to figure out the answer for themselves. It was her personal way of training her underlings.
“It’s surprisingly very hard… it’s a bit of an irony… I can brake into University codes… which are “supposed” to be “harder”…yet I can’t brake into these cheap police freaks.
“Well actually Rex, I need your help with the University.”
“What’s the problem Sinder, need to steal something juicy…perhaps a sabotage virus…I have just wrote this beautiful hunter/prey algorithm...” Rex was stopped short by Sinder.
“No…Rex, I need to send a message to someone inside University base, its important that nothing gets intercepted.”
“Must be important Roze, specially inside their capitol…. give me a day, and I’ll work out the problems with a new message code I’ve been working on in my spare time over lunch.”
“You have till 13:30…its important… sorry… its Raptor, he’s stuck there.”
“Well their goes my dinner brake, but I’ll do it…. anyway, it’s for Raptor.”
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Cotroneo
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Medford, NY, USA
Oct 1999
time: 05:13
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“Rex, I want her message to Cotroneo sent to my office… is that clear!” exclaimed a tall black man, who looked as if from royal descent. His face was slightly dimmed out of focus over the visual global portable phone, or global for short.
“Yes sir, but she may know what we are planning… she has that ere sense of knowing something is wrong by looking into your eyes.”
“Foolishness, just act normal, and this little ordeal will be over, and we will both have what we want. You will have a nice sum of energy credits stored at Morgan bank before you know it.” replied the royal figure.
“Anyway…why are after Cotroneo, if I recall right, you gave him a formal discharge from service, after he decided to leave.”
“Sometimes the smaller fish attracts a much larger fish, my dear friend, perhaps you can learn something from this ordeal.” The lavish man concluded before closing the comlink.
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Raptor and Richmond decided to make one more stop, before going for dinner. The store in front of both of them, was surprisingly well kept and unpolluted by the dreary surroundings of its residence. You could tell from the vacancy of the back streets, that none of the tourists found themselves in these streets. It almost seemed to epitomize the University life, meaning that they never questioned science as if morally right. This uncontrolled science made most University bases uniquely cut between the good parts and bad parts of an urban city. Perhaps this was the reason Miriam had gone to war with the University, although she seemed to forgotten that you need to be well equipped for war and that moral and devotion can’t destroy people you can’t even see killing you.
“Good evening gentleman, you seem to me, that you might need my services. I make the best optical data contacts in all of University Base.” Asserted the elderly technician behind a counter, to the two men walking into the shop.
”We weren’t sure that you were going to be open, at 1300 hours. I guess we got lucky today.” Responded Richmond with his typical lazy smile over his face.
“I was wondering if you could replicate two contact lenses, that my friend owns. We need another pair, for myself.” Interjected Raptor to the two men.
“Sure, it’s been a slow week, every since Zakharov started trading with Morgan Industries, we little guys can’t keep up with the larger conglomerates.” Replied the elderly man who seemed to drift off into deep thought.
The elderly man motioned for Richmond to bring closer the pairs of lenses. Although old, the man seemed to critique the lenses as if a young engineer right out of training.
“I’m guessing from this handy work, you want this done simple off the books, if you know what I’m saying” Both, Richmond and Raptor were taken back from the old man’s quick observations from the lenses. As if he could read the data on it without a computer and explain where it came from and who built it. “Don’t worry, I don’t care what you do with this, I have no love for the current government anyway…they definitely don’t care about me.” Responded the old tech noticing the heightened awareness of both individuals.
“Would you be able to have the work done by tomorrow evening…I know its short, but we need it in a hurry and we will pay a good price for it.” asked Richmond, as he came closer to the technician.
“Well, it’ll be tricky, but if you got the cash, I can get you the extra copy by this time tomorrow.”
Both men nodded in consensus, and walked out the door, leaving the older man with in all cases, their only way out of this base.
“Raptor, by the way… how are you planning on paying for this? Did you really bring a lot of extra cash for buying that disk?” asked Richmond as they walking to the café on the corner.
“Nope, I think I’ll take a stroll to the local bank tonight. I need to make a transaction. Know anyone who can help?” responded Raptor, as they walked into the old café.
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Jasonian
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Ruins of Jasonia Palace
Sep 1999
time: 00:13
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Ten years before, at The Hive
Kaili held his breath as he entered Chairman Yang's command room, the sweat noticeably dripping from his brow. 'Greater men then I have been summoned here to meet their death... it can't be my time. I'm not ready! Let the Chairman have mercy on me!'
But the Chairman wanted information instead of murder, at least for the moment. "Sit down Kaili. We have some things to discuss." He eyes burned with that cold fury that Yang was well known for.
Kaili took a seat on the simple stool before Yang's great command desk and the chairman continued, "It seems that my old friend Domai is once again becoming a problem. It's a shame that you didn't inform me of this situation earlier, but I'll give you this chance to save your life by telling me exactly what is going on at Social Artery"
Kaili scanned his memory for everything he knew about Domai. '3rd class engineer on the Unity... Yang himself sought him out and took him to their landing bay... built The Hive to the underground spender it is today... promoted to chief engineer and given regular longevity treatments... popular among all Hive citizens... recently transferred to Social Artery... what does he want me to say?!'
Kaili squirmed under Yang's awful stare, feeling as if his mind was being pierced. Finally, he managed, "Well... err... it seems that... I mean... umm... I don't... you shouldn't trust... I mean... he was there... and the drone riots... ahh..." Kaili collapsed. He didn't know.
But Yang almost smiled, "Not trust my good friend Domai? But many of my bases went into riots, and his was the first to regain control. No, I think that Domai is far too valuable alive and in some power, but still, those riots should have never occurred, at least not where Domai was. With our war against the Lal at almost a standstill, we can't afford to lose any edge we might have to some stupid rioting drones."
"Kaili!" Yang suddenly boomed. The young man jumped in his seat. "Kaili," Yang continued, "I want Domai to be transferred to our newest base on the far side of Mount Planet. Send Domai to The Drone Mound. And I do hope the irony of this name is not lost on such a small-minded individual. No go." Yang leaned back with a cruel smile on his face.
Kaili saluted smartly and hurried out of Yang's chamber with his life.
***
Present day
The horrid mind worm boils flowed over The Drone Mound, overwhelming the garrison, consuming Hive citizens, and destroying everything. Not a single building was left standing, nor one resident spared. The Drone Mound had simply ceased to exist.
The holovid report was cut off as the worms finally knocked over the Capital tower, smashing it to the ground, leaving nothing but static on the screen.
Domai smiled, "That was well done. I know he will believe it, and we're way out of the range of Hive sensors to be noticed. Contact Sinder Roze's people. I want that cleaned up and sent to The Hive right away.
Malcolm nodded to Domai and hurried out of the room, and Domai wandered over to his Capital Tower balcony. Below he could see his followers cleaning up the rest of the dead Hive troopers; those who foolishly thought that fear of death could contain the masses. Domai noticed that both the Hive citizens of The Drone Mound and his followers were mingling around, laughing, and celebrating.
'Have a good time, my citizens,' Domai thought to himself, and smiled. 'We are free at last.'
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Cotroneo
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Medford, NY, USA
Oct 1999
time: 05:13
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“So Domai finally got his little rebellion underway…it seems like we always have to clean up after these little insurrections.” Sinder laughed comically as she reviewed the day’s business over her optical contacts.
“Roze, we received the vid feed from Domai this morning, he wants us to place it some place, where it can be found by our friends at Morgan News or the Hive officials.” Beetle said as his picture came onto her left eye optical contact.
“Thank you, Beetle, I’ll clean in up a bit, maybe I can get someone downstairs to re-due the background colors… it looks a bit fake. Perhaps a bit more yellow to contrast the redness of the picture.” Sinder had started pacing, waiting for Rex’s call about contacting Raptor inside University Base.
Sinder Roze took off her contacts and data feed and placed both in a jelly-like substance on her desk. She had worked all day, and even her eyes were starting to feel the ware and tear. She thought to herself about the good times and the bad times….the wars and agreements that had helped shape her life. For she lived in the shadows, never receiving the admiration of the people she helped or the scorn from the enemies she had created all over Chiron. In many cases, people believed that she was only a myth or a specter, which she found surprisingly comforting.
“Good evening Roze, like you requested, completed at 1330 hundred hours. I guess you owe me one.” Rex’s picture had come onto a vidscreen she had placed to the left of her desk.
Sinder walked quietly to her desk, and took the optical contacts out of their jelly and flipped them onto her eyes. The optical contact had been one of the great inventions Morgan Industries had produced since landfall, increasing the amount of data able to be fed to an individual at a given time.
“Thank you Rex, we will need to get together sometime, I have to show you this place, maybe you’ll finally leave that urban wasteland.”
“Always the joker…Sinder…tell Raptor I said hi, and also tell him I saved his butt.” An evil smile had took over Rex’s face. Almost as if the devil itself had just entered into his body. “Anyway, how you going to rescue that bum? I here from contacts that the security police inside the University base are hunting for him.”
“Well, Rex, I’m not actually sure….anyway, thanks for the algorithm…if you could send it to my room, I would be in your debt.”
“No problem, data transfer commencing, take it easy Sinder, stay out of trouble” Rex closed the line before Sinder could even say goodbye.
Sinder took a seat from around her desk and almost fell into it. She was tired, but she new she had to think of what to say to Raptor, and how to get him out of their.
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Message Sent 13.7.235
Sender : Roze
Receiver address : 114.456.12 University net 4.67
Sent to : Raptor
I’ll meet you personally at the mag rail, I trust you got in touch with old Richmond. Use his special retinal redesigning contacts to get past the retinal and eye speck data feed checks. I’ll be waiting for you at mag rail 4, I’ll have my own rail train. Looking forward to seeing you 13.8.235 and Raptor …don’t trust anyone.
Message 123.456.23 complete
Terminate message
Data feed transfer : Location 183.123.11 Morgan net 5.78
Attach data feed : “My account is set up at Morgan Bank, I want the transfer done within the week.”
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Jasonian
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Ruins of Jasonia Palace
Sep 1999
time: 00:13
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The Drone Mound
Domai stood on the speaking platform of The Drone Mound's largest underground chamber. This was where the Hive's sinister agents would deliver the Word of Yang to the poor Hive citizens. But today the chamber was filled, and all over the Mound the base citizens were watching the upcoming speech by their new leader. The murmur in the cave died down as the crowd sensed that Domai was ready to begin.
"My fellow citizens, I am the one called Foreman Domai. Some of you may have heard of my work in The Hive. Indeed, I did a great service to Yang. My construction teams constructed the underground bunkers and horrific devices Yang used to torture his minions. A few of you may even know that I am the only 'drone' to ever get the new longevity treatment. But today, that will change, for we are free of the Hive forever."
The crowd roared up at that, and Domai smiled. After a pause, he continued, "Yang's nation has industrial might. He has great processing power, but at the expense of the workers. The other nations have nice living quarters but feeble industry. I will combine the two into a worker's paradise. My citizens, you are the most important part of the new Free Drone nation. We shall create a land of great industrial power and excellent working conditions. We will be the envy of Planet!"
Again the crowd broke into cheers. After it died down, Domai went on, "My citizens, the Free Drone nation will be have a planned democracy with emphasis on wealth. We highly encourage population growth, since we are far behind the other factions. Every new life brought into this world will help our cause and be a fulfilled individual. We will use our energy flow to help production and maintenance for your extensive living quarters. Also, the planned government and the wealth values will give us superb industry, unmatched anywhere on the planet!"
"I have instructed a few of the citizens that participated in the rebellion to get us organized. Some of you will start work on our aboveground factories. Others will modify your hab-cells to increase your living quarters until they too can be moved to the surface. A third group will destroy Yang's punishment sphere facilities and salvage anything possible from them. A final group will begin work on a large convoy of materials we will need to found our 2nd base."
"However, I want you to know that I will be joining on of the teams myself, so some of you will be working side-by-side with me. Also, once we get our facilities set up, every talent, citizen, and 'drone' will have access to the longevity treatments.
"In the name of freedom everywhere, I now rename this base 'Free Drone Central.' Thank you for listening. Please return to your quarters to get your assignments from my aids. And congratulations! You are finally free of Yang's tyranny. The Free Drones have been born!"
Domai nodded and walked off the stage. The crowd cheered for over 5 more minutes, then dispersed to get their assignments for their new life.
***
Free Drone Central, Domai's quarters.
"So Malcolm, did you make contact?"
"Of course Foreman. Sinder Roze now has the holovid. She'll clean it up for us, for a fee--"
Domai silenced him with a wave of his hand, "Of course. We have enough credits here to cover this expense for her, and soon our funds will start booming."
Malcolm nodded, "Yes... it seems we have our chance. Do you really think this scheme will work? What if Yang doesn't believe the tape, or wants to search the wreckage of the base?"
Domai smiled, "Have some faith in Sinder. She'll make the tape believable, and make sure that it appears it's in Yang's best interest to stay away. Besides, he's fighting Lal. He doesn't have time for recon missions in unimportant territory."
Malcolm only said, "This is our chance to make your dream come true, Foreman. Don't put too much faith in others to do your job."
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Cotroneo
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Medford, NY, USA
Oct 1999
time: 05:13
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“Their goes the last security guard Richmond, its time to show me your stuff. I wonder if you lost it over these past years.”
“Raptor, it’s like riding a bicycle, once you got it, you can never lose it.” Richmond replied as they advanced on the main doors of the University Base energy bank.
It was strange that any person would try to get inside, by going threw the front door of the facility. They had learned over their years of experience that sometimes the obvious answer is the best answer. Richmond’s friend Ortega Brown that they had met at the café had told them that the facility had a low energy frequency sensor net built into the laser grids that circumvented the whole of the building. They would need to be extremely quiet and only be able to use the slightest of electronically systems or the sensor net would pick up the energy buildup.
“What the hell is that…. A pocket knife? What are you planning on doing…scratching the synthmetal door down? Raptor asked as he busily disabled the two vidscreens watching the door.
“You high tech guys always forget the low tech solution.” Richmond comically responded.
Richmond gripped the knife in his mouth, and put two probe air suction gloves on, and started climbing up the door. Raptor couldn’t stop from noticing that he moved so swiftly and casually up the door. Richmond after reaching the apex of the large door, using his nose, hit a key on his right wrist pad, which was connected to his suction glove. The glove instantly released its attraction to door, freeing his right hand to grab the plasma steel knife from his mouth.
“Why don’t we just EMP the electronic lock or something, it worked in Sparta, and I think that’s the same type of lock and door.” Raptor replied from below after finishing his respective task.
“I see you haven’t worked much in University territory, even though their systems are very easy to brake into, they always have a secret waiting to get you from behind.” Richmond replied as he stuck his knife into a piece of metal over the door. Instantly causing a cloaking field to fall down, revealing a small compartment the university technicians had gone to great works trying to hide. He stuck his knife into a power line connecting to a data switchboard. He attached a small power source to the now frayed system, just below the power reading that would set off the alarm, and he started to probe the switchboard for the defenses off command.
Raptor was surprised to see in less than three minutes, the door automatically open, the whole sensor net down, and laser grid deactivated just from one switch board his friend had basically hot-wired and tapped into.
“See my old friend, if we would have used the EMP, all the electronics would have been offline, making our job a bit harder. In what rulebook did you ever read that says you can’t use their own safety protocols against them?
“You never stop amazing me Richmond, even for and old bum like yourself.” Raptor retorted as they strutted into the building and set up there own sensor net to alert them of incoming patrols at they tapped into the energy cores.
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“Here’s your money, and I even threw in some extra money for your speedy job.” Said Raptor to the old technician who had just completed their contact lenses.
“Thank you, those contacts should autofit themselves to your individual eyes. They also should get you past the checkpoints at the magrail station, if that’s where you’re planning on going.” Both men were stunned once again by the man’s intuitiveness into their affairs.
All three men talked a bit more about nothing particular, said their good-byes, and then Raptor and Richmond exited the store, quietly planning about the next days affair.
Raptor couldn’t stop thinking about the last sentience of Sinder Roze’s message…. “…don’t trust anyone”. He thought about how he had trusted people the whole time since he had gotten here. He trusted his contact to get him the disc, he also trusted Richmond to help him, and even after that, had trusted an old technician to keep their secrets and build a device neither men could check if it actually worked, like Richmond’s contacts.
“Perhaps its time, I took matters into my own hands.”
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Jasonian
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Ruins of Jasonia Palace
Sep 1999
time: 00:13
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Free Drone Central, underground hab-cell sector
Hain, a former Hive security chief, worked happily knocking down hab-cell walls in order to expand them. The basic rule was that every four hab cells would be converted into one larger cell for several citizens to share. This meant that everyone had more room and families could live together in larger quarters. Just one of Domai's improvements that had began in the week following their rebellion.
Hain was working now to eliminate several hab-cells altogether in order to expand a nearby passage into a main tunnel for transport rovers. Already he could hear the modified Impact rovers buzzing by, carrying minerals and energy batteries harvested from the Impact weapons, Punishment spheres, and torture and execution chambers. They would deliver their cargo to the teams hastily working on the 1st aboveground factory and the convoy, which Domai referred to as simply the 'colony pod.'
Several security teams wandered by, the ones that decided to take combat training instead of becoming a construction laborer. Domai referred to them as his 'Labor Mediation Teams.' They each had a datapad with the current assignments on them, and were completely unarmed. Domai wanted to keep his citizens on task, but not to intimidate them, never to make them live in fear again.
Hain smiled. 'Well, here I am. I'm working, as I worked under the Hive. But now, I have can go home at a nice hour to see my family in our new hab-cell. I know I'll have enough to eat tomorrow, and with the spheres gone, I won't have to live in fear,' he thought as he started work on another wall.
'Yet, this is too lenient. It's a good thing we were Hive citizens and haven't fully learned how to think or this place would be a madhouse. The security is unarmed. Nothing could stop me from going home right now. I would still get my food tomorrow. They would never really know,'
Hain wrinkled his brow. 'Domai is too trusting. This whole thing could fall apart. I have seen Yang's methods. They're cruel, but efficient.' As he thought this, the wall came down and Hain could see across the tunnel. He nearly fell backwards as he saw Domai himself laying some electrical cords in the flooring of the tunnel.
Hain decided now was the time to express his opinions. He cleaned up the remains of the hab wall and went over to talk to Domai, who was working up a sweat digging trenches in the floor for the cords. But when Domai looked up and saw Hain, he breathed a sign and walked over to greet his friend.
"Hain! How are you feeling, my friend? I see that shredder wound has almost healed!" Domai's eyes had the same glow of self-satisfaction that they always did.
"Yes... it was just a glancing shot. I should have taken out that Hive soldier before he even fired. I was careless, but I've paid my price." Hain stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked at the tunnel floor. 'How odd! He remembers me, and I barely even fought in the rebellion!'
Domai laughed; "Ha. Nothing like a little pain to keep you modest, eh Hain. So what's up? Did you want to talk to me?"
Hain faltered; "Err... well yes. Foreman, I--"
"Please, call me Domai!" Domai interrupted.
"Yes... of course. Well Domai, don't you think that... things are too lenient around here. The security is unarmed, and the workers know that the Punishment Spheres are almost completely destroyed. There's nothing to keep the workers... working!"
Domai frowned; "Oh, I think there is, Hain. They'll keep working, because if they don't, then we will never be ready for the war with Yang. They know it's coming. We're not done living in fear yet. Even I am afraid. If Yang finds out too soon what happened here, he will swiftly crush this base."
"Yes... well I know that. But, don't you think that you should at least arm the guards with something? Even some non-lethal method weapons would do the trick, and increase their efficiency many times."
Domai shook his head; "I will do that. But not now. We don't have the time to worry about it. We have to get our main factory set up and our hab facilities complete. We need to get the colony convoy moving. And we don't have time to build anything else. All we can do is hope fortune will keep is alive until we get established. You must understand this."
Hain did; "Very well Forem-- err... Domai. But I still think we're being a bit too careless."
He nodded to his leader, and went back to work.
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Cotroneo
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Medford, NY, USA
Oct 1999
time: 05:13
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Morgan Embassy, University Base 13.8.235 - 0600 hours
“Operative, I have a job for you.”
“Anything sir, is their something we need to talk to Zakharov about?” the embassy executive officer replied to Morgan over the embassy’s global.
“No, I need you to intercept a particular person trying to leave University Base.”
“Excuse me sir, but shouldn’t I contact University security, if theirs a problem.”
The officer replied as he started to feel perspiration forming on the back of his neck.
“I already have informed Zakharov about the situation, and he has agreed to loan his security to us….for a fee. The man I am looking for is being fed to you now…”
“Where do you want us to capture him, the airfield? Somewhere secret?” asked the officer to his own personal idol.
“Neither, he is leaving by mag rail, probably hoping to blend into the thousands of commuters. You will have the best chance of catching him at one of the retinal checkpoints where all the commuters most go threw.”
“We will get right on it, we will have this individual…..Cotroneo….by this afternoon.” The young officer gleamed to Morgan over the global only to receive an evil stare back.
“Don’t get over-confident, you will not be able to tell who is he by the retinal scanners or eye speck checkers. He seems to have bought or found a pare of artificial contacts that evade detection by submitting false information to the scanners.”
“Then how do you propose for us to find him, Sir?”
“Although those University idiots have never ‘seen’ this man, we have an informant who has given us the face of this probe member and we don’t believe he has a face array or gone through any surgery.”
“We will do our best Sir, we will get back to you write away, after he is captured.”
“Your best is not good enough…. I want results…. If you don’t, I here the infantry needs warriors to fight against Deirdre’s mindworms.” Morgan shut his global screen and turned around almost collapsing into his chair. He had grown tired from all this planning.
“I will use this man called ‘Raptor’ for bait, and Sinder will have to come to me for him.”
---------------------------------------------
The large black needlejet roared onto final for the runway at Mir Lab, the University’s southern most outpost. Its large flaps increased their angle, slowing the jet-black bird just enough to flare several feet off the runway. It touched smoothly and cleanly, as the pilot flipped the thrust reversers on, causing the plane to stop completely in a surprisingly short time.
Sinder Roze and Beetle, the only occupants except the two pilots and engineer, stepped down the ramp from the needlejet, both caring bags in both arms.
“I appreciate you coming Beetle, I could always use the extra set of eyes in University territory.” Sinder commented as they stopped at the bottom of the ramp.
“At least I get out of the office, even if this mission may kill me.” Beetle replied back to her.
Sinder had apparently become friends with the governor of this base, and had been aloud to land her personal aircraft without clearance or any checks of the kind. She was even aloud to use the governor’s personal mag train to reach University base several clicks north.
“Apparently, energy credits go a long way.” Sinder commented to Beetle as several ground crew men ran over to get both their bags.
As they were walking into the Aerospace Complex, Sinder stopped suddenly almost sending the row of personal behind her flying. Her optical data contacts were going crazy with un-deciphered data cycling through her lens. Sinder had the ere ability to read data un-deciphered, in its coded data.
“Rex confirmed that Raptor got the Message, it looks like all is going to plan.” Sinder Roze nodded to Beetle as they entered the facility.
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Jasonian
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Ruins of Jasonia Palace
Sep 1999
time: 00:13
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Free Drone Central
The huge cavern where Domai had made his historic speech would soon be trashed. Thousands of Free Drone citizens laughed, joked, and partied the night away. And they had good reason to be in such high spirits: the first aboveground factory complex and a temporary hab-center had been completed. Finally, the first of the citizens would leave the Hive caverns and live on the surface of Planet.
It was almost by chance that the two facilities had been completed on the very same day. Domai was so impressed by the progress that he declared a citywide holiday. Of course, anyone that wanted to go to work would be able to, but it was not required, nor would any excess pay be distributed for this labor.
Still, Domai was surprised that over 3500 citizens were hard at work on the 2nd colony convoy, hab facilities, and the new aboveground Capital Tower. Nearly 1/5th of the entire size of the base went to work that day. Granted, 20000 people isn't very large when compared to some of Lal or Santiago's bases, but the Children's Crèche had reported a major population surge. The government encouraging higher growth rates was drastically paying off, and hab-cells were being constructed at a feverish pace in order to make room for the expanding families.
***
Domai himself, along with some of his closest aides, were not enjoying the festivities, however. His Free Drone technicians had finally cracked the base's central core and initiated a program that Domai came up with the idea for. This program was taking the entire "Drone Mound" datalinks and compiling it into both a technology list and a history file. The results were starting to come up on the screen now.
Domai smiled at their find, "Wow... the Hive was nice enough to leave us all sorts of wonders in here... it appears we some very high technologies... some 'level 6's' as they call them in the biz... Photon/Wave Mechanics and Mind/Machine Interface will raise our odds of survival..."
Domai's expression quickly soured as the list ended, "Hmm... I don't see anything in here about Chaos weapons, except to hint of their possible development in the future. Gentlemen, we lack the Hive's Chaos gun. This will put us at a disadvantage in the upcoming war with Yang..."
He turned to Malcolm, "Malcolm, I need you to send another message to Sinder Roze. Tell her of our situation and our lack of the Chaos weapon. Tell her that we have nothing to give her except the Mind/Machine Interface and our highest gratitude."
Malcolm nodded and left the room. Domai went on, "Hain, as base governor of Free Drone Central, I want you to add a prototype of a missile needlejet to our base's production plan." Domai skimmed the report of the MMI technology, then added, "Ohh… now this is interesting. Cancel that Hain. Instead, I want you to begin work on a huge floating skybase, defended by the most skillful pilots available on Planet. This base will be a training station for our pilots. It will also reveal ourselves to the outside world... but we will be ready. Hain, I want you to being work on The Cloudbase Academy."
Hain looked worried, "Sir? Shouldn't we be improving our defenses instead of committing ourselves to a huge project that will take many decades?"
Domai laughed, "Again you question me, Hain? Don't worry. I got a little report from some citizens that had stumbled across a Hive storage warehouse deep within the base. Inside is something that will increase our production many times!"
Hain didn't look convinced, but said, "As you wish Foreman. I'll add the project to my production plan. Since the first colony left yesterday, we have just begun work on our second. By the time we finish it, our growing population will have more then covered for the loss of the citizens going with both colonies. Still, it will take quite a while to finish the second convoy."
Domai wrinkled his face, "That's no good... devote as much energy as needed to finish that within the month. Hey, we might as well keep our word to Sinder that we really don't have anything to give her!"
Hain laughed, and the two of them walked out of the stuffy room to join the festival.
[This message has been edited by Jasonian (edited October 28, 1999).]
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Cotroneo
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Medford, NY, USA
Oct 1999
time: 05:13
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“I guess it’s time to see if these contacts were worth paying for.” Raptor said, as both of them walked to the mag rail checkpoint.
“It’ll work, have I ever let you down before?” Richmond retorted back at Raptor.
“Good, about 15 meters past the checkpoint I can see the black mag-train Sinder had said would be there. Maybe we will actually get out of this hellhole alive.”
“Isn’t that Roze standing near that column, next to the train, boy, she’s still as beautiful as I remembered. “ Richmond commented as they approached two security guards and a man wearing a yellow military outfit.
“Hold up Richmond!” Raptor exclaimed, as he took a closer view with his new contacts. He focused in on a symbol, which was on the yellow military suit. “Darn, that’s what I was afraid of….”
“What Raptor, the contacts will work, you worry to much.”
“No Richmond, look closer at the beret, on the yellow suited man’s head. He’s a Morgan security guard.”
“Your point Raptor? They are both pact brothers. I’m sure it’s some kind of training exercise.”
“I have an ere feeling about this guy. It’s almost as if he’s looking for someone.”
“I think you might be loosing your nerve for this Raptor, perhaps you should retire when we get home. I here the daycare center at the children’s crèche, are hiring.”
“Hold Sir, please put your eye into the black cube to your right.” The young University officer asked to Richmond as they walked up to the checkpoint.
The much older Morgan security guard was not particularly interested in the two individuals and was busy typing something into a data pad connected to the wall.
“Thank you sir, you’re cleared to move on. If you could do the same Sir.” The guard said as he pointed to Raptor, for him to step up to the retinal scanner.
Raptor leaned his right eye into the black cube connected to the wall, and four large beams of red light circled his eyeball. He could feel the heat being generated by the retinal scanner on his eye, but it was perfectly normal for this type of scanner. At least he didn’t hear any alarms going off.
“Thank you Sir, enjoy your trip…..next?”
The two veteran probe members let loose a collective sigh of relief as they walked slowly to the now clearly visible Sinder Roze, next to her magtrain.
Then suddenly, both of them heard a large rustling behind them. There heads shot around to see all three of the security guards rushing to them, each with a shredder in their hands.
Both probe members knew instantly what was happening, as they turned again to look at each other, wondering what the other would do.
“Go Raptor….I’ll keep them busy!” Richmond exclaimed as he grabbed a homemade shredder from his inside coat pocket. Apparently he was also able to hide that weapon from the body scanner they had walked threw, or it was that weapon that had finally turned on the alarm.
“No Richmond….don’t….” Raptor cried to Richmond, as he started firing at the on-rushing security guards.
“Raptor, get to Sinder, the disc is more important…. Trust me!” Richmond responded as he pushed Raptor in Sinder’s incoming direction.
“Raptor, let’s get out of here, he knows what he is doing….Beetle start up the magtrain.” Sinder said as she almost carried Raptor into the sliding doors of the magtrain as shredder pellets peppered the whole room.
Raptor finally got his bearings, only to turn around, and see his old friend looking right at him. They said a hundred good-byes in that one-second, muttering a single word. Then Raptor cried out in agony as he saw his friend erupt into a hellfire of pellets and his friend’s blood splattering onto the very window Raptor had been looking from. Then, within a millisecond, he was away from University base, traveling at two times the speed of sound.
Trust........
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Raging Mouse
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Finland
Oct 1999
time: 07:13
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Lal stands in the heart of the former Hive's Communal Nexus, current UN Enforcement Base. The room is one of the biggest underground spaces he has seen, and there are literally thousands of monitors, all on, that bestow an aura of electric blue to every object in the room. He is resting his hands on the edges of the largest, indeed the main monitor: It is a flat rectangle roughly two metres across and one meter high, that is raised one meter above the floor. The labels flashing at edges of the screen say it all: "Main Strategic Display". I can only admire his ability to concentrate; the room is thronged with people, mainly officers and technicians, and the din is deafening, yet he is so deep in thought he could just as well be on pholus.
To my right stands Captain-General Steppleton, commander of the Peacecorps, who is called Lady Jane among friends and "Firemaiden" among enemies. I am lucky to belong to the former. It is her words that Lal is digesting currently, and I am not surprised. Few people have to hear so bad news.
I am still shocked. Here we are, at the heart of what recently was a hive base, at the heart of a really astounding feat of defensive design, the very showpiece of the Peacekeepers' recent conquests, and she claims we are about to take a hiding? But she ought to know what she is talking about. Silence is slowly spreading throughout the room, as the previous discussion was loud. Everybody is ceasing their work and gazing upon our little group.
Finally, in as near silence as you can get in this room, Lal speaks.
"How can we be losing? The Tunnel Fire -operation was a great success, as us being here proves. Our forces are fresh, and we have several infantry companies in new photon shielding guarding us, and the population is actually half-relieved to be free from the hive, even though two thousand inhabitants lost their lives in the corridor-to-corridor fighting."
"I'll say it again, Lal", Jane answers tiredly, "We cannot continue this assault without a drastically increased mortality rate. Yang has made his forces heavily entrenched along the entire front; any attempt by us to form a spearhed is met by air-raids and artillery bombardments, and you have forbidden me to sacrifice men to gain a tactical advantage. Therefore, I can no longer advance. Yang knows all this; he has psychoanalyzed your every move and knows exactly how you will act. Therefore, he is now conducting probing attacks designed to cause grievous losses -and preferably to your men. You know he doesn't give a microjoule for the lives of his own men -this was solidly proved by that needlejet that ran out of fuel seconds before it would have bombed one of our patrols. And now- and now Johan tells me it could get worse than that."
Lal turns his head to look at me. It is an annoyed look, from a man who clearly doesn't need more troubles. He is also clearly expecting me to give him a couple, so I clear my throat.
"Uh, Lad- uh, Captain-General Steppleton is referring to a preliminary report from the post-mortem of hive soldiers. Sir, we have found several individuals that have, uh, matching genetic makeups, as well as some with obvious induced mutations, meaning that -well, it means that the Hive is experimenting with human cloning and genemanipulation, sir."
Lal's eyes widen, as Lady Jane continues.
"And don't expect him to limit himself to nice ranks of equal height with brown hair and eyes, oh no. Knowing him, we are talking about something with fangs and claws. And that just might explode if it gets close enough to you. Not to mention all those lovely diseases he will be able to deliver. Would you like red, green or black boils before you die?"
Suddenly, Lal pushes himself up from the table, into a straight standing position, clearly ment to make him appear taller than he is. He looks furious.
"That was unnecessary sarcasm, general. It is understandable that he will use any means to reclaim our meager winnings which, I must admit, are entirely the result of you managing to convince me into an early assault. But I will absolutely not bend my principles just because Yang is trying to force me. A soldier is also a human, and therefore it is my duty to protect his right to live."
"But Lal, you have vetoed all designs not based on defense! Armored soldiers only get you this far, and unless we change tactics soon Yang's forces will trample us! You must let Johan commission some designs for new armed vehicles and strike craft!"
Lal hangs his head. "Very well. Doctor Kropotkin, draw up plans for new prototypes. Use our new photon shielding."
I gulp. "Sir, using photon shields on mechanized artillery will be very, very expensive."
"I don't care. I will not send anyone into war unprotected."
I take a deep breath. This is it. "Sir, there is one way to inflict heavy damage to the Hive army without risking your men. I am referring to some preliminary designs I have produced on, uh, missile systems. Especially using pre-sentient algorithms as a target recognition and guidance system, and a modified needlejet-engine, we can create a delivery system that could carry an enormous amount of conventional explosives. It could, of course, also carry nuclear payloads...." I shift nervously from one foot to another while Lal looks straight through me. Again that look of deep concentration, a mix of deep thought and a slight hint of wonder. Then he refocuses on the present.
"Allright. Research a delivery system. But let's make one thing clear. The next person to suggest loading the missiles with nuclear warheads will be dumped in the nearest fungal field in nothing but underwear. Understood?" He turns to General Steppleton. "General, what are your opinions on these missiles?"
Lady Jane thinks for a moment. "Well, if production on a prototype starts as soon as we have a basic design, I guess it might even help us relieve the pressure on our defensive units. They will be perfect for taking out Yang's artillery units. I guess we could hold on to this base for a while longer, giving us time to re-establish our defenses at the original border. Also, we could hope the first few missile strikes would bully Yang to open negotiations once more."
At this point I leave, as my presence was only required to lecture on how to crack the Hive's security systems. I will be heading back to U.N. Headquarters, to start planning this missile. The new vehicle designs have been ready for weeks, as Lady Jane knew this day would come and secretly requested them.
The discussion continues inside the command room, as Lal turns to his bodyguard as well as information officer.
"What does Recon tell us, Zhu?"
Lieutenant-Captain Nguyen Zhu is head of Lal's small corps of covert operatives, also known as probe operatives. He is always smiling slightly, and looks at the world through nearly-closed eyelids. He is always slow to answer.
"Now that the technicians on your garden in space have finally gotten over the 'look, mom, up here' stage, they have paid attention to my list of requests," he sneers. "Therefore, we now have the satellite view of our continent, as well as every major installation and landmark on it. As we have feared, Yang has built bases like there was no tomorrow -in fact, the next one is merely a hundred and fifty klicks from us, which is bad- but there are only minimal signs of human impact on the landscape. Consequently, almost none of his bases are very large." He snorts. "You know, historically, the situation reminds me of an infamous war. And it ended with horrible losses on both sides." Now zhu's face is very serious. "You know, the war ended when the victors had enough -and nuked. "
For a tense moment, Lal just looks at him. Then, he nods. "I can see the similarities. Well, as I said, i will not advance, and I will definitely not nuke. Let's see if we can negotiate instead." He sighs. "But I doubt it. Yang may be insane, but he knows we can't push on. And he might not have much luck in an extended offensive, but he will definitely smoke us out of these tunnels. Anything else from the eye in the sky?"
"It's probably nothing, but the IR shows that Yang's most remote base -don't know the name yet- is not receiving power from the Hive cables anymore. It's a good way off his main cluster of bases, so it could be that mindworms have gnawed through the isolating material, but that shouldn't take two days to repair. It could also be a punishment for rioting drones. We have no way of telling, I'm afraid."
Lal smiles. "Well, seems like there are dark clouds on the home front for Yang also, but it is far too distant to be of any importance to us. Thank you for the news, though. Allright, let's call it a meeting. Good day, people."
[This message has been edited by Raging Mouse (edited October 29, 1999).]
[This message has been edited by Raging Mouse (edited November 07, 1999).]
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Jasonian
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Ruins of Jasonia Palace
Sep 1999
time: 00:13
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Free Drone Central, Hive catacombs
"What the heck are they?" Domai was stunned. He, Hain, and their guide stood in the entrance of the hidden Hive warehouse, deep in the most forgotten parts of the underground base. Not one of them could move a muscle; for the shock what that great.
Before them, in the low warehouse cavern, were three large objects. They were mostly blue with gold patches near the base. They were roughly cylindrical, and stood on three legs. A gold ring sat beneath it, attached to the legs. Plugs, holes, cords, panels, and circuitry littered the surface of them, and most of the surrounding floor.
Hain was less effected by their appearance, "We… we don't know. There are a lot of things in the Hive datalinks we've captured that the program didn't know what to do with. Some described large blocks of unbreakable metal. Others hinted toward things found out in the fungus that were scanned as Unity pods but actually were computers… that's probably what those… things are."
Domai looked shocked, "Computers? Left out in the fungus? These don't look like any computers I have ever seen. And where did they come from? Did they fall of the Unity before it crashed into Planet?"
Hain shook his head; "No… there are no records of these in the computers we found in the pods. These things didn't come from Earth, and humans didn't create them…"
Domai's eyes widened in surprise. He looked back at the things, "Well, the Planet we all know and have grown to hate didn't make them. It doesn't make anything besides those wretched mindworms. There's no way it could have built a computer like this!" Domai turned back to Hain, "I want our best researchers and technicians to mess with this thing. Maybe we can find some practical purpose for it in research or construction."
Hain nodded and typed an order into his datapad. He skimmed over some reports, then said, "Oh yes. The construction crews are ready to begin that cloudbase… thing. The plans call for it to be suspended in the air upon completion, but that would give us away. On the other hand, we need it to be floating to make sure we've done all the schematics right… the crews don't know where to put it."
Domai just smiled, "Ah, yes. I've been thinking about that. Tell me, are there any records of Mount Planet erupting while humans have been on Planet?"
Hain gave Domai a quizzical look, then checked his datapad to see. "Ahh… well… no. There is nothing on Mount Planet being active. Why?"
Domai kept smiling, "Because that's where you will build the cloudbase until we launch it into the sky."
Hain nearly fell back with shock, "INSIDE the volcano?!"
"Yes, yes. Inside the volcano. That way, no one will be able to spot it from orbit! The magma will mess up their scopes."
Hain considered it, "Hmm… but what if it doesn't float?"
Domai simply answered, "If it doesn't float, what good is it?" Hain knotted his brow, "Oh calm down Hain. It will be fine. Now, let's go. I want to see that second colony convoy off."
They left the warehouse.
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Raging Mouse
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Finland
Oct 1999
time: 07:13
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Location: U.N. Headquarters
"...Causing the chemicals to interact, in nanoseconds raising the temperature beyond the ionization-point of iron, creating a charged cloud of plasma. This cloud is held in place by the ball of iron encapsulated in the ceramic heat-shield, allowing the surrounding atmosphere to come in contact with the plasma for a long period of time without disrupting the cloud. This ignites the air, and sends it soaring, creating a vacuum into which cool air rushes from the sides, repeating the process. As shown in this simulation." By the light of the holovid I scan my audience of officers, with Captain-General Steppleton fidgeting in the closest row and Lieutenant-General Zhu nodding off in the farthest row of chairs. A whole range of expressions, rapt to disinterested, excited to disgusted, are watching the display of high-energy chemistry in it's most violent form.
"This stage lasts for roughly one and a half second. Then the plasma will have eaten through the ceramics and vaporized the iron. This cancels the magnetic field which bound the plasma in place, letting the cloud disperse. As there is a considerably denser tower of hot air above the plasma, it will expand to the sides in a toroidal shape, rather than a globe, or a shape dictated by Planet's natural magnetic fields. Therefore, the plasma will have a raised effect on the surrounding. We expect a ninety-nine per cent lethality within twelve hundred meters from impact. However, the damage drops very quickly thereafter; anything outside two kilometers is only mildly scorched." The holovid is ending, and the lamplight is slowly increasing in intensity, until the room is sufficiently lit. I scan the crowd again. "Any questions?"
A Major raises his hand. "Son, isn't that a nuke?"
I was afraid of that question. "No, you see, there is no actual fission or fusion. The chemicals used are, granted, quite radioactive, but the process is quantum-chemical rather than nuclear, and there is minimal radiation from the actual detonation. And, on a side note, if we fitted the missile with an actual nuclear device, the ensuing explosion would be much, much bigger."
"So why use this fancy stuff instead of, say, a fuel-air?"
"Because we can deliver this with enough accuracy to hit the actual unit in question, and this is much more effective against modern armor than a mere explosion. Even units in bunkers aren't safe; the plasma is hot enough to melt the ground underneath it all the way to the bedrock. As you know, conventional, kinesis-based weapons have to be very inventive to have a measurable effect on modern shielding. Bullets, even when tank sized, don't do the trick anymore. The same applies to the shock wave from an explosion. This cloud of plasma, however, will vaporize silksteel on contact, and a photon shield has enormous trouble containing the released energies from the cloud. We are finally entering the age of the energy-weapon."
The audience is satisfied, and the meeting is adjourned. There is a festive yet restrained buffet waiting for the officers, appropriate to celebrate this breakthrough in mass-destruction. There, Captain-General Steppleton approaches me.
"You realize, of course, that Lal would faint from the shock if he saw that simulation? What joker simulated the destruction of the military entrenchement? I swear I saw a dog tied to a tree being tossed by the shockwave!"
Embarrassed, I smile and look down into my drink. "I think one of the data-operators is a great admirer of Lal, and has similar views of the world. I think it was his way of showing disapproval."
Jane smiles wickedly. "Well, we certainly don't want fanatics on our hands do we? Maybe you should point him or her out, and let Zhu and his goons sort it out?"
"Ha, ha." My throat is suddenly dry and my cheeks are hot. A quick swig of this synthetic lager doesn't seem to help.
Lady Jane tilts her head to the side. "And where do you stand, Johan Kropotkin, all-round researcher? With us bloodthirsty murderers, or the civilians who think we should surrender to the hive"
Red in the face from embarrassment, I lunge for the chance to change conversation. "They never!" It is generally known by now that I get queasy around guns. Lady Jane sees that her needling was effective, so she is content to let the subject change.
"Well it was obvious that the Hive probe teams were to blame, but Zhu couldn't catch them in the act so he claims there wasn't any infiltration, the proud schemer that he is. Still, it did not do good to the morale here, and I hear rumours the students are planning a demonstration in favour of peace."
I study my drink again. "This new missile won't be very popular, will it?"
"Depends on who you are talking about. Us military types can look casual in an earthquake, so don't you for a moment think it wasn't appreciated. It will save the lives of many of peacecorps' soldiers." She changes her stance, a sign that her train of thought switches to a new track. "Therefore I want you to submit your current design to the assembly plant. Lal has agreed to test it live. ASAP."
I look up at her. "I know of a couple of bugs that remain in the guidance algorithms, so it won't be totally accurate yet."
"But that is pure programming isn't it? There should be nothing stopping us from building the thing, right? Then, when it is complete you can upload the finished algorithms."
"Yes. That will work. Is my security rating high enough so I can ask what the target will be?"
"Yes; It is high enough even so that I can answer! Yang's prototype chaos cruiser has bombarded our farms close to the coast, and is threatening to cause a famine unless it is stopped. Lal doesn't want to risk a needlejet since the cruiser has anti-aircraft guns, so your missile is the solution. Plus, it should be a thorn in Yang's buttocks to lose his cruiser on it's maiden voyage."
"Makes me feel better, knowing I will prevent a possible food-shortage. Thank you."
A holo-orchestra starts to play, and a dancefloor is cleared. Having never studied the art, I leave early.
[This message has been edited by Raging Mouse (edited October 29, 1999).]
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Jasonian
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Ruins of Jasonia Palace
Sep 1999
time: 00:13
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1st Colony Convoy, between Free Drone Central and the coast
Onya was bored. It was 3 in the morning, and she sat in the command room of the 35th passenger module of the convoy; idly watching the fungal fields roll by in the dim light from Nessus. 'What a drag… I'm an engineer, not a driver! I should be up front, planning the base out with the rest of them. Not back here watching over these drones. Hmph.'
She skimmed over the controls again. Everything was still on target. Fuel was above expected. Distance to target slowly counted down, ETA read slightly over 5 weeks. The course was at 95.8 accuracy due to having to avoid a large fungal patch that had been to their left for the last week or so. 'Why am I even here? These things drive themselves. I was asleep when the course correction had been made.'
The passenger module came to an abrupt stop. Onya cursed as she almost fell out of her seat. 'Wha?! Oh… oh no. Not again.'
Onya turned on the com; "Hey Gnimn! GNIMN! Wake up!"
***
Gnimn's team breached the Capital Tower of The Hive and made a quick infiltration. Blasting away at anything in blue, Gnimn finally reached Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang's inner sanctum. The Chairman turned around in surprise, then fell to Gnimn's feet, begging for mercy. Gnimn laughed and centered his Impact Riffle on Yang's head.
~ GNIMN! Wake up! ~
Before he could pull the trigger, the world started to melt before his eyes, swirling and blackening. Gnimn screamed, but no sound came out of his mouth. Things started to appear again before him.
Gnimn smashed his hand onto the com receiver, 'Ugh… how annoying. So close… so close,' he thought to himself, but instead said, "Gnimn here. Good morning."
"Nice of you to finally wake up. Listen, we've got a little problem. We're stuck again."
Gnimn cursed. This was the second time they had gotten stuck this week. The fungus was becoming thick as they moved toward the sea.
"Copy that. I'll wake my team and get you moving in two hours or so. Gnimn out."
Gnimn sighed and cut the com.
***
Just as he had suspected; the fungus had wound itself around their back tread. There was no way they could get moving again unless they cleared it off.
"OK people, you know the drill. Flame where you can, but use your synthknives near the treads. Let's cut this crap off so we can all get back to bed," Gnimn barked, but his team was in no better mood then he.
Cutting the fungus proved easier then before. They had it all off in an hour and had only scorched the tread once.
"Gnimn here. We got it off. Requesting permission to board the vehicle."
"Roger that Gnimn. The other crawlers are quite a bit ahead of us. They'll wait up at the next checkpoint, but it's a good thing you could handle that on your own."
"Copy. We're on our way."
"… Hey Gnimn? Sensors pick up something in the fungus nearby. Could be a Unity pod. Go check it out."
Gnimn rolled his eyes, "Negative Onya. We're a colony convoy, not an exploration team."
"… … … Hey Onya? You copy? Gnimn to Onya!"
"Gnimn! It's moving! It's heading right toward you! Get back in here!"
Nothing but static.
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Raging Mouse
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Finland
Oct 1999
time: 07:13
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Location: 50 Kilometers from U.N. Haven City, along the coast.
Jan Ulrich makes his rover spin to a halt. When it has completely stopped, it is easy to sense the vibrations emanating from the gargantuan vehicle he is circling, even though Jan can drive over rocks half a meter high without noticing. He lets the windscreen HUD magnify the awesome vision in front of him as his navigational instruments exactly record heading, atmospheric composition, temperature and tectonic soundings. After a few seconds a beep informs Jan that the readings are ready. With a twitch of an eye he brings them on-screen on a monitor to his right. He frowns, and flicks a switch on the dashboard. Instantly, a static hissing penetrates his cabin, and a steady metallic throbbing creates a sonic pressure on his ears. The HUD now displays a familiar face, and in the background can be seen the rear of a dark room; the control booth of the giant terraformer -UNTF 021- in front of his rover. The face smiles; it is illuminated only by the lights on the controls in front of it. Then it speaks.
"What's up, Jan?"
"Mom, you are straying by half a degree again."
"Blasted planet! The gyro must have shaken loose again. Ok.. Switching to auto. I'll go check it out."
"Call me when you're done, and we'll switch vehicles."
Jan starts the rover rolling again.
It isn't unusual for family members to work side by side; Commissioner Lal had initiated the policy during the first mad struggle to survive after planetfall. People had done fourteen hours of work a day, at least, so Lal decided that families should work together on the same task. This had greatly reduced stress and increased efficiency. Even though work wasn't assigned to people anymore -if you wanted a job you would apply for it instead- the policy was appreciated, and families could still work together on unusually time-consuming or heavy tasks, and both descriptions apply to terraforming. Jan's father Karl, and sister Anette, are working on a patch next to the one Jan is currently terraforming. In the evenings, the family usually gather around a virtual table; Father and daughter in their terraformer's control booth, mother and son in theirs, and holoprojectors give the illusion of proximity. The same holoprojectors allow Anette to receive tutelage by a professor in physics who lectures in an U.N. Haven City college for talents.
Jan steers his rover in another wide circle around the Former. Basically, it is a giant factory on threads. It gobbles up fungus, sand and rock in front of it, and spews out fertile land -farmland in this case- from the back. Jan's sister and father are currently planting a patch of forest.
Another beep sounds from Jan's control panel: the Former has received a message. Jan quickly tells the former to forward the message to his HUD.
### AUTOMATED BEACON REPORT ###
### VEHICLE UNTF 022 STATUS ###
### DESTROYED ###
### CONTACT NEAREST SUPPLY- ###
### DEPOT AND RELAY MESSAGE ###
Realization slowly dawns. That was -is- the Terraformer of his father and sister. His head wants to believe this is some sick prank, but he has seen this kind of message before, and he knows it is authentic. Yet, U.N. Haven City would have warned them about incoming mindworm boils; the perimeter sensors were among the first tasks assigned to the Formers. Jan calls up the datastream fom the sensor grid anyway, and is stunned. The entire network is screming with alarms; the sensor watching over Jan's sector has been destroyed -twenty-five seconds ago!
Half a second later an alarm goes off in Jan's Rover. He wrenches his head to the appropriate monitor and reads "Incoming..."
The world goes white.
Fifteen Seconds later, when Jan wakes up, it is as if his previous life has been a dream; it feels as if he has been born again. At least, the pain he is feeling presents this as a possible hypothesis. He opens his eyes, and sees that he is now lying under his rover. The rover has flipped on it's side, and Jan's legs are caught underneath it. He would probably scream, but he realizes the only oxygen in the vicinity is quickly turning to carbon dioxide in his lungs. Of course, there are emergency breathers in the rover; but they are out of reach with his legs pinned. Suddenly, a clear thought: The air.. it smells like cinnamon.
Then there is a tremendous shock, and the ground heaves. The rover sways, and falls away from Jan onto it's roof, and an emergency medical bag spills its contents, including a tube of compressed air, out onto his feet.. his feet are twisted; Jan's toes are facing backwards.
The pain is gone. Jan sits up, and is aware of the pink swirls that threaten to engulf his vision. Slowly, as in a dream, he picks up the tube and bites through the plug. His lungs are almost forcibly filled with fresh air. The pain rushes back and forces Jan to lie down again. His brief exposure to Planet's atmosphere has made him very sick, and the breather comes off for a moment, so that Jan can twist his head sideways and vomit. As he lies so, facing the coast, he sees the streaks in the air and realizes what has happened. There, out beyond the horizon, some gutless Hive Commodor has given orders to fire upon a defenseless target manned by civilians. He gulps more oxygen and looks to where the former.. was. Now, all that's left is a glowing crater. His family, gone.
He rips the breather out of his mouth and screams of rage and pain, eyes wide against the sky. And the sky answers by splitting apart in two in a keen and a boom that causes the dust around Jan to dance. A glowing tip screeches ahead, followed by a widening darkness.
Finally Jan realizes he is gazing in awe at an enormous tailflame that is heading out to sea. Seconds pass.. and the clouds on the horizon glow a brilliant blue for a moment, and then quickly fade through the spectrum to a neon red. One cloud suddenly seems to have a hole punched through it. Then, it seems as if the clouds are falling down onto the sea.
Jan is too tired to keep looking. He lets his head thud against the scorched earth, and he starts to hallucinate. He doesn't even notice the boom that arrives two minutes later. The scorching wind that blows over him fifteen minutes later is equally unnoticed. By the time the emergency rover arrives, Jan isn't aware of anything on Planet anymore.
(Out beyond the horizon, the sea is still cooking in places. There is nothing left of the Hive Chaos Cruiser.)
[This message has been edited by Raging Mouse (edited October 29, 1999).]
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Cotroneo
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Medford, NY, USA
Oct 1999
time: 05:13
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“Tell Domai that if he wants Chaos weaponry, he’ll have to give us something more than…what did he say…. mind /machine interface. We stole the pathetic technology from the Spartans last year, and we have advanced the tech far behind the other factions.” Sinder commented to Beetle as they went over the coming council meeting proceedings.
“Perhaps that’s not wise Sinder, he could prove valuable in the coming years. His industrial resources are unlimited being that he is in such a resource rich area.” Beetle replied to Sinder.
“Well, if you say so Beetle, it seems like you run this faction more than I, heck you would do a better job too. Send Domai the statistics on how to work the weaponry. Remember to make it simple, because he isn’t known for his brilliance.” Sinder comically told her assistant.
“Also Sinder, we got back a preliminary report on the data disk, it’s inconclusive, but you should be happy. I never new we could compress the whole University classified network into one small disc.”
“Anything we haven’t seen before, or was it a sham Beetle?”
“Far from, we have already seen signs of radical stuff, which Johnson will bring up at the meeting”
“Has Johnson said anything off the record to you about the disc? He always seems to have a loud mouth.”
“No, he’s pretty quiet about these things to me, although he seems to be recovering from the implant procedure last...” Beetle stopped short, his optical was going crazy with updated news and problems scrolling down his eye piece. “Sinder, the council is meeting early, it seems that we finally cracked the disc’s security codes.”
Eight people slowly walked into the oval shaped command room. It was a rare occurrence that all eight members were present, and not over the holo-simulator.
The differences between all the figures were quite notable, and each seemed to be following their own secret agendas.
Sinder took the seat at the head of a beautiful marble table, with Beetle a meter behind her at his personal desk, ready for any incoming messages that the council may need to know about. Around the table sat Raptor (Paul Cotroneo) the new head of probe actions, Zebra (Henry Johnson) head of science, Tomahawk (Larry Greenburg) head of conventional forces, Bronco (Frank Garland) head of construction and maintenance, Virus (Jen Dragnet) head of trade and economics, and finally Lighter (Tom Newton) who took care of all the mayor work of Data DeCentral.
“I believe you all have been looking forward to this meeting for quite sometime, specially with current happenings, around the world.” Sinder said to all the leaders, almost looking inside their minds and examining their thoughts. “We have acquired, thanks to Raptor’s personal work, a disc which has all classified data held by the University since its retrieval. We also have learned from this disc that we can tap into their classified networks quite easily. I think Zebra would like to go into more detail about his findings.” Sinder completed as she took her seat.
“Thank you Sinder. On the disc, we have found quite a lot of information about University radical science programs. A particular interesting one is fusion. The combining of atoms could produce insane amounts of clean energy. With the new tap into University network files, we should be able to follow its development quite efficiently, without needless probe actions.” Zebra paused to take a sip of water that he had brought to the meeting. “Also…..well we have……acquired something…..well lets just say….its of interesting origins.”
His nervous reaction didn’t seem to affect the leaders as much as Zebra had intended. Zebra had never really fit into the cool headed individuals of this council, yet his scientific mind was one of the best outside the actually University faction, which brought him respect from the others.
“Please Zebra, continue.” Sinder said to the now nervous Zebra.
“Well we think the university has found some particular alien constructs, and I’m not talking about the various monoliths around the world.” Zebra concluded as he nervously waited for the response of the council.
“So we finally found the hiding place of the little green men.” Retorted Tomahawk, as about half the council erupted into laughter.
Raptor, Sinder and Virus gave a cold stare to the now laughing council members.
“Please Zebra continue, and I would appreciate if we could keep our composure this time.” Sinder replied most directly to Tomahawk, who returned her gaze.
“Thank you Sinder, The University has been mapping the entirety of the planet with orbital satellites for the past several years. While doing this, they have come across many strange environmentally irregularities, which they have studied. But several weeks ago, a team who had been sent to study an irregularity, found what they are calling a Borehole cluster.” Zebra again broke to drink more from his now half-empty cup.
“Who made the borehole, the Spartans? Don’t they have several bases within several hundred clicks.” Virus asked.
“Apparently not, they have no settlements near the cluster of three boreholes, and even if they did, they signed a pact with Deirdre stopping borehole construction within Spartan boundaries. Also, these boreholes aren’t of any construction material found on planet.
A course you must remember that all this information is from University data networks, so if they know about our tap, they might have placed misleading information.” Zebra concluded, as he awaited their questions.
“Does Morgan know about the finding?” Raptor inserted into the conversation.
“We don’t think so, why do you ask.”
“If they get building rights for using the territory within Spartan boundaries, they may destroy any useful scientific or economic benefactors that the boreholes could produce. And knowing Morgan, he would use the borehole up, and then leave the area a barren waist land.” Raptor responded, showing hatred for the monopolistic bastard, which went far behind the ecological disasters he had caused.
“Perhaps we can send a team to check out the sight. Also, as much as I hate doing this, we should send several units into University territory and cause some havoc. We may be able to frame Santiago, and cause the Spartans to forcible remove all the scientific units from the University inside their territory. But the key is making sure that the only people who know about the sight are the University scientists. Even though it’s within Spartan borders, I have a feeling they have no knowledge of its existence, which is why the University was aloud there in the first place. If it spreads to the other factions, we may have a territorial fight for it. We don’t have the material resources to compete with them on a conventional scale. Is their any other news we need to concern ourselves with.” Sinder concluded.
“Yes, our team to the south has picked out a perfect sight for construction of a new base. I would like to get a vote on construction of a colony convoy to that area. It will take a while, but with our society growing bigger, we will need to compete with the other factions on a global base when we are finally choose to come out of hiding. Having another base would be a valuable safeguard.” Bronco asked the council.
All members raised their hands in consensus for the project, and the council meeting concluded with the various arrangements being made between the leaders for the construction of the new colony project.
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Raging Mouse
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Finland
Oct 1999
time: 07:13
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Location: U.N. Headquarters
I am exiting Auditorium 2042 with a slight headache. My Gaian colleauges have held another lecture on planetary economics; a technology with it's roots in almost every human and natural science known. The mix leads to a horrendous amount of technical definitions, and the lectures are therefore heavily reliant on scientists from different fields telling each other what the lecturer is talking about. Here is probably the best example so far of a science too complex for any one person to grasp. My part in this field is to understand the designs for a 'hybrid forest' that the Gaians have been kind enough to supply us with. They seem rather keen on us relying less on mines and boreholes, and more on the possibilities that mixing Earth and Planet flora and fauna offer us.
Still, the idea is marvellous. So marvellous that I, lost in my thoughts, walk into someone.
"Oh! Sorry about that... General Steppleton! Were you attending the lecture? I didn't see you."
She shakes her head. "No power on Planet could have gotten me into that room. Even you tend to be boring, And you are used to lecturing to the military. No, I am here to bring you some congratulations."
"Ahh, so you have tested the missile?"
"Yes. Lal himself gave the launch order, and I have been asked to convey his thanks. Naturally, we kept him from seeing the actual detonation, but even he was pleased when the investigating needlejet reported no sign of the Hive cruiser. Not even wreckage." She looks down. "We destroyed that cursed ship none too soon. It had destroyed a perimeter sensor, and was pulverizing a team of Terraformers when we nailed it. Two teams of four vehicles were bombarded, and three Formers were lost. Seven people got killed, and twelve were wounded. The forming teams are now on R&R in U.N. Haven City, and the remaining terraformers are being repaired. So far, no-one has applied for the vacant positions in the new ones, probably because they are scared this will happen again."
"Blasted planet! Well it will take a while for the hive to build a replacement. We should have a couple of missiles in store by then."
Lady Jane gives me a doubting look. "Not so. The Gaians reported being bombarded by two such cruisers, and latest news indicates that the one closest to us has been rerouted to our coast. It will be here in a matter of weeks. But by that time we should have a cruiser to match Yang's. In the meanwhile the destruction is being heralded by our PR -agency, with you and your team of researchers as the saviours of the day."
I sigh. "I know; only three hours ago some excited VIP-hunters asked for my palm-signature. I had to explain that I used my palm-chip for other things than to store personal trivia."
"Oh, how disappointed they must have been", Lady Jane laughs.
"Not really. I offered them a good old autograph instead, and you know what they said? They said, 'wow, a real signature! *No-one* can do that anymore!'"
We laugh for a while. Then Jane asks: "So, what will you work on now?"
"Now that the Gaian-Peacekeeper tech-exchange is nearing completion, I will look into the possibility of creating monopole magnets. The Superstring Theory states that such objects are at least theoretically possible. Also, just last week our satellite photos revealed that Morgan Industries is maintaining an extensive network of Mag Tubes, and monopole magnets are theoretically the key elements in large-scale and profitable mag-tube transportation. Since Nwabudike demands more energy-credits than what we produce in four years for the tech, Lal has decided we will research it instead."
Lady Jane nods. "Well, good luck. It was nice seeing you, and thanks again for that missile design. You should be proud."
I head for my appartment, feeling proud.
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Cotroneo
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Medford, NY, USA
Oct 1999
time: 05:13
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“Red, I’m going to climb up to that summit…. maybe I can get a good look at the whole perimeter. We also need to setup a few holo-cameras to show the council of what we have found.” Exclaimed Blue over the comlink.
“Take Green with you, he needs to get some experience under his belt.” Replied Red.
“Fine, why is that kid even here, you would think the council would want a full team of veterans to do this mission.”
“It seems almost all probe assets are working in University territory, some kind of framing mission going on, so we got stuck with the kid.”
“Do we actually need to penetrate the facility? I’m sure the council would like a good look inside the Borehole cluster.”
“Negative Blue, just get on top that mountain and set up the holos. After their set up, we can contact Council for further instructions. I’ll get the kid, he’ll meet you half way.” Red responded.
“Red and Blue, come in.”
“What do you want Green, we are very busy, and by the way, we need you for a little mountain climbing” Blue acknowledged with annoying hesitation in his voice.
“Um…Sir, we got some new commands direct from Sinder. I’ll forward them to your opticals.” Green concluded, who was still in the probe rover.
“Blue….what were you saying about wanting to go into the facility…. Its kind of ironic...” Red said almost stopping in her tracts as she got the data first before Blue.
“****, I hate climbing down, big long pits of endless nothing.” Blue said over the comlink as he finally got the data loaded into his optical.
“Boy Blue, so melodramatic. Perhaps we should send junior into the pit. Heck do we even have the stuff to go into the damn thing.”
---------------------------------------------
Data DeCentral Docks, 0600 hours
“It looks great Beetle, who did you get to do the paint job?” Sinder asked, looking at the glittering black colored skimship.
“The boat was originally planned to be part of Tomahawk’s new conventional navy, but I enlisted Captain Richards to make it a perfect replica of a Spartan missile skimship.
“He seems to be quite the painter, I even like the work on the large Spartan symbol. With some good luck on our side, this project might actually work.” Sinder responded as she moved closer to the ship.
“Sinder, we have never actually done something like this before, if the projects gets infiltrated by the wrong people, or the University doesn’t believe the decoy, we will have blown all the cover we have tried to keep secret.” Beetle said as he moved up to the ship also.
“I know the risks, but if the University believes the Spartans are the ones bombarding their coast, they will be forced to cancel their pact and move all their scientists off Spartan territory.”
“Is all this worth a few strange boreholes, heck with the amount of resources we have expended on this mission, we could have built ourselves double the amount of boreholes on this very island.”
“Beetle, if that cluster tells us something about the original owners or makers of this world, we will have information that no other faction knows. It will be a particular good bargaining tool.”
“But Sinder, you’re not looking at the obvious answer, we could wait for the University to find out who built the structure and then steal that information from one of their special networks.” Beetle could sense that Sinder was holding back something, but he had learned that she valued her secrets and that it wasn’t worth asking.
“Beetle, sooner or later, Sparta will want to know what the University is doing in their territory for such a long time. If Sparta realizes what the University is actually researching, in their territory, they will certainly force a research exchange. The Spartans will force the University out of their territory when they feel they have found everything they need to know about the constructs with the University’s scientist’s help. And like Raptor said, last week at the council meeting, Sparta will sell the construct and area after they have found all useful tech from it, to the Morgans who will intern use the natural boreholes to increase their energy and minerals ten fold. It may be a long shot, but it’s a risk we have to take.”
“Your joking, a few boreholes aren’t going to do anything for the behemoth Morgan energy Industry.”
“I’m sorry Beetle, but I haven’t told you everything about the boreholes. The probe team we sent to monitor the Boreholes has found some interesting things since they have been there. I even ordered one of them, to scale the borehole to the bottom and see what particular resources are within the hole.”
“What things? The report said it was a strange Borehole, but nothing really fundamentally different then normal boreholes.” Beetle said as he took a few steps away from the boat, and motioning to Sinder to sit down with him on a bench.
“Those particular Boreholes are almost endlessly filled with the most extreme raw materials. I’m not talking about your basic fossil fuels or anything like that, I’m referring to pure neutronium and crystallized Chiron stone. The Spartans and the University both don’t have the available deep surface penetration devices like the Morgan do and I’m sure those brown noses won’t have the guts to travel down the hole to the bottom to see what’s actually down their. In all probability, the University and Spartans will dismiss the borehole as anything interesting besides the strange writings on the walls. Only when the Spartans sell the site to the Morgans, and they bring in their deep equipment will the real treasure be known. And by then, it will be to late.” Sinder finished as she rose off the bench to look at the small ship again.
“And if your project works, and the University is forced off their territory without revealing the location to the Spartans or Morgans, what then?” asked Beetle, now scanning Sinder for any visible signs of hiding anything.
“Well my old friend….then its time for the phantom….to come into the light.”
“The council will be hesitant to do it, old friend.”
“Who says the council has any say in the matter.”
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Raging Mouse
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Finland
Oct 1999
time: 07:13
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Location: U.N. Temple of Sol
Captain Welles, internal security, checks his watch. Lieutenant-General Zhu is late. Probably on purpose. Now there is a man who probably knows more about how to make an impression on people than the Morganite holovid-star Welles is currently assigned to observe (or 'escort', as it says on the budget plans). He shifts impatiently from one foot to another. He is standing in front of the side entrance to the 'Colosseum', the Peacekeepers' largest recreational dome (with 30,000 seats), when his every instincts tells him he should be paying close attention to what the subject of the surveillance is doing, and it is beginning to get on his nerves.
A moment later an unmarked van parks in front of him. The side door opens and General Zhu is revealed, sitting comfortably in a chair, surrounded by keyboards and monitors showing datafeeds scrolling at varying speeds. Zhu smiles. "Well, Captain Welles! How goes the surveillance?" Welles, in a foul mood but trying not to show it, answers dryly: "The subject is slick, as he knows how to move in a crowd. But I and my operatives should have managed to cover his every move." Zhu nods. "Good. Very good. My schedule required me to pass this place, so I thought I could bring you some news." Welles gets interested. What could be going on? Zhu notes the change of attitude easily, and smiles again. "You have my congratulations, Captain. I have been recommended, and have approved, your promotion to Major, effective as soon as your current operation ends. Your uncovering this Morganite VIP as a probe-operative even before his arrival was an excellent performance and the item that convinced your superiors to approach me. This, of course, qualifies you for Probe training, and I understand you have expressed an interest."
Welles has severe difficulties in remaining calm now. "That is good news indeed. Thank you, sir. I will not let you down." Zhu nods. "But I have some bad news as well, though you have probably expected them for some time now. As you know, now that you have confirmed the subject belongs to a probe team, this operation falls under the jurisdiction of counterinsurgency, and therefore, directly under me. I know you probably would have liked to stay on and attempt to figure out how he communicates with his contacts, but unfortunately I cannot allow this. It is too important. Still, as you and your team are officially working as his technicians, you will of course remain in his presence until he leaves Temple of Sol. So who knows? Maybe you will find out anyway, even though you won't be actively trying anymore."
Welles nods. "I understand, sir." Zhu frowns. "One more thing. When you get to probe training, you will be told that I hate being called 'sir'. And it's true. So it's 'boss', 'Zhu' or even 'cap'n' to you. Just so you know." Welles grins. "Yes, sir cap'n!" Zhu grins back. "Right. Good luck.. Major." The door slides shut, and the van continues. Welles walks back inside the Rec-Dome to tell his men the news.
***
StarChild, Morgan holovid star and probe operative lets his gaze wander over the audience. Another full house. "Jack's Misadventures While Firebombing Drone Cafeterias In Morgan Transport" is certainly a very popular holovid, and the audience is deeply immersed in the action. So he rises quietly from his seat, and walks casually out the back door. This brings him to a small corridor behind the projector-stage, and two of his assigned technicians, carrying a crate, nod at him on their way past. He ignores them and heads towards an elevator. The door opens on his approach, and he enters. (As the elevator starts moving upwards, the two technicians dig out their comsets.)
On the roof of the Rec-Dome is a glass cupola, so that visitors can admire the view without breathing gear. Currently it is reserved exclusively for StarChild. No-one else is around. He walks to a locked briefcase and opens it. Inside are a large pair of binoculars, a compact battery and a tripod. He attaches the tripod and the battery to the binoculars, and sets it up on the edge of the roof, just in front of the glass. He looks into it. The opposite archology.. floor fifty-three... seventeenth window from the right... there! Another pair of binoculars, and a fellow probe operative who is waving. Allright.. aligning microwave pencil-beams.. initiate handshake procedure.. transferring data.. finished! The binoculars are disassembled, and returned to the briefcase. Nothing external would distinguish it from a popular brand of Morgan recreational binoculars. Job well done, Starchild sneaks back into his seat to receive a standing ovation at the end of the holovid.
***
Zhu turns to a monitor. "Did you manage to observe the transaction, Number Fifteen?"
A satisfied face looks back at him. "Yes. Using the binoculars was clever, but not too clever. We are now in position to apprehend the probe operative in Arcology Three. Shall we proceed?"
Zhu thinks for a moment. "No. Tail the rat to it's nest here in the city. Then you will strike."
"Received. Number Fifteen out."
Zhu closes the comm-channel and smiles.
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Jasonian
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Ruins of Jasonia Palace
Sep 1999
time: 00:13
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1st Free Drone colony convoy, passenger module 35
"Atrus! ATRUS! Wake up! Atrus!"
"… Wha...? Onya? What time is it?"
"Never mind that Atrus. Listen up! We got stuck and Gnimn took some guys out to clear off the fungus. But there's something out there, and I've lost contact with them!"
Atrus jumped out of bed at that. He scrambled into his work outfit and started to wake some of his nearby security crew. "Atrus!" the com continued to wail on the wall.
Atrus ran back over to it, "We're on our way Onya. See ya in a few minutes."
The com was silent for a moment, "Atrus… be careful. Come back to me, okay?"
But Atrus and his men were already gone.
***
"Gnimn! It's mov--"
"What? Onya?! I didn't copy that! Repeat!! ONYA!!"
Gnimn cursed. What a rotten time for the transmitter to go out. His men were now stuck outside with something that was mov--. How perfect.
Then the song began. Gnimn had heard this before. The wind blowing over the fungus created a noise that sounded almost like a divine being's singing. Or maybe it was coming out of the ground, the sound of Planet itself. It was sweet, soothing, and dangerous. That sound could only mean one thing:
Planet was active, and mindworms would be arriving soon.
"All right people! It looks like Planet has decided to make a surprise attack. Shut that noise out of your head! Throw your synthknives aside and arm the flameguns. Get ready!"
Gnimn and his troop sat like statues, heads darting around like a paranoid schizophrenic, ready to fire at anything that came out of that fungus, be it human or worm. Then Planet made her move.
It came out of the fungus all right, but it wasn't the worms everyone was expecting. Instead, it was spores, clouds of them. They infiltrated into their breathing masks, causing men to fall down in choking fits. Gnimn managed to escape unharmed, and flamed randomly at the cursed fungus, setting most of it ablaze.
Atrus and his security team arrived in time to see a bunch of crazed men coughing and flaming anything in sight. Then it hit them too: the PSI terror that warped their minds and made them do pretty much anything to try to blast it away. Soon they too were firing their shredders into the sky, ground, fungus, and the colony module itself.
Gnimn looked around at this chaos, 'What the heck? All these men are worthless! No morale at all! They'll kill us all if I don't do something…' Then Gnimn noticed one man not blasting away. His name was Taron, and he was new to Gnimn's team. He had been transferred to The Drone Mound because of family ties in The Hive. Yang made sure that no two people from the same family were ever in the same base, so his workers didn't have any reason to leave work. A nice example of Yang's tyranny.
Taron seemed to be in complete control of himself, despite the waves of PSI energy bouncing around. He studied the fungus carefully, letting out a controlled flame blast every few seconds. That was unusual. Colony crews were mostly engineers and such, not trained military personnel.
"Hey Taron! On three, I'm going to charge into that patch of fungus over there that hasn't been burned. Follow me!" Taron nodded, "One…two…THREE!"
Gnimn and Taron charged into the fungus, ducking stray shredder fire as they went. The fungus seemed to protest to the invasion, but some well-aimed shredder blasts took care of them.
Finally, they emerged into a small clearing, and nearly fell back in shock. In this clearing, some tube-like plant was spewing spores into the air. Gnimn fought the PSI waves and flamed it, turning it into a steaming pile of burnt fungus.
Before Gnimn could figure out what that thing was, he realized that the PSI terror had not stopped. Chaos continued back at the colony module, which would probably never move again. Gnimn checked his datapad. It showed a Unity pod nearby, but no life forms. That was disturbing.
Gnimn was vaguely aware of Taron pulling on his sleeve. Finally, he fought of the PSI energy and turned to him. Taron could only point. Gnimn turned to see what he was pointing at.
Something huge was towering over them, pulsating with life and humming the Song of Planet.
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Cotroneo
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Medford, NY, USA
Oct 1999
time: 05:13
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“All ahead full!”
“All ahead full!”
The chain of command wasn’t much different on a naval vessel then it was within the governmental halls of Data DeCentral. Each interconnected piece of government checking and balancing the other, which was similar to the twin conformation of orders on the vessel.
“Approaching target, baring 270 mark 10.” The young ensign yelled over the large hum of the nuclear reactor.
“Arm all missile racks, chemical weaponry stabilizers online!”
“Arm all missile racks, chemical weaponry stabilizers online!”
Captain Richards and his first officer Asheron made an excellent team. They seemed to understand each other without even communicating or looking at each other. This fluid teamwork made the crew of the P 141 one of the most highly motivated crews within the fast growing secret Data Angel fleets. Sinder had specially requested this crew, to man this vessel on its first combat mission against the University.
“Firing Solution 270 at 10!”
“Firing Solution 270 at 10!”
“All weapons ready sure-fire status, safeties offline, on your mark.” The weapons ensign called from his station.
The look on the faces of all those on the bridge was as cold as ice, as they awaited their leaders order to fire the illegal weapon.
“May God help us….Fire all Missile Batteries.” Richards said in a low tone, which was unusual for such a flamboyant officer. He had pleaded with Sinder not to use chemical weapons, but he could not disobey an order. He remembered back on Earth, learning about how the twentieth century nazis generals had been ordered to the death at the trials because they had just followed….orders.
“Fire all Missile Batteries.” His first officer repeated, which confirmed the order to fire. Richards had hoped that his second in command would disobey him but, he had taught his second to well.
The quiet day on the deck of this ship was shattered by the insane crying of a thousand souls as the missiles ripped from their holding racks and flew off. The sound slowly faded away as the mock Spartan version 3.1 missiles cruised to their assigned civilian targets inside University territory.
---------------------------------------------
“University Base, this is Jackrabbit air patrol, confirm.”
“Go ahead Jackrabbit patrol.”
“Command, several fast moving contrails located twelve kilometers from current position…. Computer reads there heading your way…please advise.”
“Roger Jackrabbit, we’re tracking the fast movers, you have authority to intercept fast movers and use of force is aloud if needed.”
“Roger Base, we have already started our vector. We may not catch up to these fast movers.”
“Confirm Jackrabbit, we will scramble all assets. Please identify fast movers if you get a visual. Command out.”
---------------------------------------------
“Captain, we have two planes vectoring to intercept the missiles!” The young weapon’s ensign said which shattered the ere silence on the bridge.
“Will they make the intercept in time ensign.” Richards asked to the tense ensign.
“No Sir, the missiles are to fast. My computer is reading minimal air to air weaponry on either of the needlejets.”
“Alright, our job is done here, we got their attention. Lets get the hell out of here.” Richards cursed his ignorant following of Sinder’s orders inside his mind. He had hoped that University air defense would have been better.
---------------------------------------------
“Base, we have a problem. We are closing on the fast movers. We read six missiles. We don’t have the firepower to bring them down. Are those aircraft scrambled yet?”
“Not yet Jackrabbit, we will deploy the phalanx system until they are airborne, we need you for another mission.”
“Alright Command, disengaging. What’s your orders.”
“Follow the missile’s trajectory back to its source. Our long range sensors seem to be malfunctioning or are being jammed.”
“Roger Command, our computers are plotting the course now.”
---------------------------------------------
“Sir, we have problems, those aircraft have broken off their pursuit, and their vectoring to us.” Every soldier’s head shot up inside the bridge, as they became aware of the situation.
“Red Alert, Auto-guns online.”
“Red Alert, Auto-guns online.”
The sirens inside the ship started screaming as the lights inside the bridge dimmed to a reddish glow. Each soldier was checking systems and rechecking them, trying to remember what their instructors had said during this situation.
“Gentlemen, we have embarked on a quest, to further help our faction survive in this world. History will put us down as cold hearted Spartan soldiers, yet to our country, we will be heroes. Lets just make sure we get home to tell this story to our grandchildren.” The stern speech from Captain Richards ignited the fire within the crew.
---------------------------------------------
“Command this is Jackrabbit.”
“Roger Jackrabbit we read you….Holy ****”
“We have tracked the missiles back to their ship several clicks off shore. Awaiting orders. Command is there a problem?”
All the pilots heard, was static over their coms. Flight Leader Bucaria ordered her wingman to call base, but they also could only pick up static.
“Jimmy, where are those missiles. What’s their impact time?”
“****…..I got bad news…..the missiles already landed.”
“Location?” Bucaria screamed on the coms causing Jimmy to recoil in agony.
“University Base….sir….I’m not reading anything from the airfield or headquarters. Those ****ing bastards blew up headquarters.”
“Those bastards will pay….. do we still have the harpoon mark 4s onboard?”
“Yes Sir, we both have one harpoon but we are going to have to get close to them, there jamming so we need a visual lock-on.” Jimmy said as he cycled through have a dozen checks.
---------------------------------------------
“There they are, a few clicks off, coming in at 80 degrees at 1000 meters high…..orders sir?”
“Weapons Com, use our stingers until they come in range for our autos. Navigation 30 degrees right rudder.” The captain blurted out in one long breath.
“Arm Stingers…..Navigation 30 degrees right rudder.” His youthful first officer repeated. Richards couldn’t understand how his young officer could stay focused in such a dreadful environment.
“Sir, there in range for our forward stingers.”
Throughout the bridge, the screeching sound of lock-on echoed on the walls. All eyes were on Richards, who had to make the firing solution. But unlike his decision before, this was for his own crew’s safety, although he perfectly understood why the pilots of the needlejets were attacking him, so he felt no regrets.
“Fire”
“Fire”
“Time to impact…. 5…. 4…. 3…. their launching decoys sir… 2…. 1…. Shoot, no impact. The stingers never tracked.”
Richards was breathing hard, yet he maintain his composure, he knew he had survived worse situations. His mind couldn’t focus, he kept drifting off thinking about Sinder’s orders to fire at the city.
“Autos, Fire if you have a lock.” Richards finally said.
“Auto-guns, fire at will!” his officer repeated.
As the weapons officer typed in the right orders to the ship’s cpu, four huge guns moved and swerved into position, moving in unison with the oncoming planes. Then suddenly they, fired, causing the whole Bridge staff to grab their ears in agony.
“Impact Sir, one is braking away, it lost its whole horizontal and vertical stabilizer assembly. Although the lead aircraft is still coming.”
“Sir, what is that…..” a petty officer who was staring out the window said.
“Sir, harpoon class anti-ship missile incoming!” the radar operator called out.
“Orders Sir?”
“Countermeasures…..all tubes launch!” Richards was drenched in sweat, as he looked out the window to see this fireball approaching his ship as it flew right over the water.
“Countermeasure…….launch.” Richards finally noticed his first officer feeling nervous. He admired him greatly how he had hid his fear for so long.
The official University report was that a Spartan naval vessel, which was never recovered, attacked six targets within the University territory. The six chemical missiles destroyed the University Base’s Airbase, Headquarters, Children’s crèche, Energy Bank, and two large housing districts. The ensuing bio-chemical gas spread throughout the base causing further fatalities. Zakharov and his command staff were unarmed due to the fact that they were investigating a new technology at Mir Lab. All University scientists and military units were called back from Spartan held territory, until further information is discovered about who attacked the University. Officially, Santiago denies any knowledge of this attack. The University has asked the Peacekeepers to look into the matter, to get a war crimes trial established if needed. One of the two patrolling aircraft around University Base was able to destroy the vessel before further launches could have took place. These three crewmen later were awarded medals of honor for their bravery.
Orders....
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Raging Mouse
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Finland
Oct 1999
time: 07:13
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Location: U.N. Pillar of Rights
"Allright.. now push away my hand.. good.. ok, twist that bar.. fine.. Allright, Jan, your neural paths are completely healed, and your musculature is also recovering quickly. Well done! You have regained your strength in record time, and from a physical point of view you are now in top condition." Jan manages to smile to the nurse. She continues. "As soon as doctor Roztoj has had her talk with you, you can check out from the hospital."
Jan grimaces. "Do I really have to talk to an empath? I think they're.. well, creepy as mindworms, to tell you the truth!" The nurse smiles. Only the absence of a nametag distinguishes her from the actual human nurses; she even gets paid. "They give that impression to almost everyone the first time. Don't worry; a more understanding group of people would be extremely hard to come by, and you will benefit greatly by talking to one; trust me on this." Jan smiles meekly. "Okay. Tell him I'm ready. And Anette.. thanks. You've been a great help." Anette smiles. It is not her real name; the synthetic nurses are named individually by each patient; Anette has revealed to Jan that one particularly difficult patient called her 'Wingnut'.
Two minutes later, doctor Vladimir Roztoj arrives. Jan doesn't know what to expect, so he simply nods as a greeting. Doctor roztoj grabs a chair, shoves it to the side of Jan's bed and sits down. "Right, Jan, I am doctor Vladimir Roztoj. I just want to talk." He looks down into an electronic notepad he is carrying, and taps a few times on it's screen. "You suffered a trauma so intense that few soldiers experience anything similar during their career; actually dying is less shocking. Yet, only by looking at your medical records, we can see that it doesn't seem to have broken your spirit." Jan is silent; his head hung. Vladimir continues. "It's allright to feel sad. I'd be quite happy to provide you with a room full of breakables that you can vent your despair on, but I sense your feelings are targeted, and that you yearn to face them. Am I right?"
"Yes...."
"Right. So what are your plans? How will you deal with your emotions?"
"I was thinking.. maybe.. to join.. the army.."
Roztoj nods. "I won't tell you not to, as you would expect. But I will warn you. Whatever you do, don't become lonely. If someone wants to be your friend, give him or her a chance. Otherwise you will have nothing but your anger, and that is lethal -not only for you, but for your fellow soldiers. Allright?"
"Yes. Sure."
"Good. Now, I can tell you would like to make a clean break and join the army with an empty past, but that is also bad. Always remember why you are in the army. In fact, I will tell you how to inform the recruitment officer of your history if you don't object; that way you will receive a more suitable military career. Don't worry; they won't treat you as a freak, or go any easier on you, or reject you. It's to do with what kind of people you will be teamed up with, and who your commanding officers will be. You should also know, that only those who reveal their entire medical and psychological record to the army can advance past sergeant."
Roztoj waits a while. "How do you feel? Want to go for it?"
"Yes. I want to.. pay back."
Roztoj nods again. "Right. And I recommend you send them your records, even though it might feel uncomfortable. How about it?"
"Well.. okay.. yes."
"Good. I will have to add a comment stating that you are unreliable as a POW -escort. You probably realize why."
"Ha. Yeah."
"Allright! Let's get you your belongings and checked out, and I'll tell you more about the army and other, less lethal solutions. Who knows? Maybe you will prefer another way when you get to hear about it."
***
Location: U.N. High Commission.
The captain shakes Jan's hand. "Congratulations, Jan Ulrich! You are now Recruit Ulrich, assigned to the 51st Training Division. It is my pleasure to inform you that 'Payback' will occur fifteen to thirty months from now, depending on your career choices. Welcome to the Peacecorps!"
Jan Ulrich, Recruit, smiles. "Thank you, sir."
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Raging Mouse
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Finland
Oct 1999
time: 07:13
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Location: U.N. Headquarters
I am inside a large room. It is almost on the topmost floor of the slightly cone-shaped Central Admin -building, and has windows in two directions. Outside is an unrivalled view of the north and west sections of the capital; I can even see the Fungus Marshes; a very damp field of xenofungus twenty-five kilometers north-west of the city limits. The scene is worth remembering; not only is it breathtaking, but it is vanishing. In another five years, nothing but forest and fields will surround U.N. Headquarters. At least, if we don't lose another team of formers.
But back to the room. It is decorated with frescoes on every surface. On the floor is a picture of the original U.N. Headquarters, back on Earth. The walls show various conflicts that the U.N. helped resolve, before that final period of anarchy that destroyed everything. The roof shows a picture of the Unity, on it's final approach to planet.
I am currently pacing back and forth, even though there are two sofas present. They are the only furniture in this room. There are two pairs of doors; one leading to an elevator, and one pair of fake mahogany-doors, bearing a brass plate reading 'Commissioner Pravin Lal'. Who wouldn't be nervous? Especially as I don't have any idea why I am here. The officer who brought me here only said "Commissioner Lal will require your expertise, enter when summoned" before he took up station beside the elevator.
Finally, the door opens and Lal's secretary steps into the room. "Mr. Kropotkin, the Commissioner wishes your presence." I walk through the doors, into Lal's office, and see him seated at his desk. He rises. "Good evening, Johan! I hope I didn't interrupt something important." He looks genuinely concerned.
"Uh, no, sir, nothing that important."
"Good. I have need of your scientific knowledge, and your opinions on some data that doctor Zakharov will show you. Doctor?"
I turn around, wide-eyed. What is going on? There, inside the shimmering sphere outlining a holo-projection, stands Zakharov's image, with a strained smile and impatiently fiddling with his hands. He speaks. "Good evening, professor Kropotkin. You probably know that no-one on Planet can claim to come close to the University's scientific knowledge, but only as an average. You yourself have made sure the Peacekeepers aren't far behind us, and that adds some motivation to my scientists" He puts on an annoyed frown. "But we are only ahead on average. For instance, you have a staff of forensic experts that are the best on Planet, and thanks to all the research that you have done since you landed, they are also the best in history."
Lal continues. "And you yourself have done some forensic investigations, right?"
I nod, still at a loss about what I'm doing here. "Well yes; there was that terraforming accident in '62, and so on..."
"Good. You see, we have need of that part of your skills here today. Doctor Zakharov wishes to gather evidence of chemical warfare being conducted by the Spartans, possibly to be presented at a trial."
I turn towards the image of doctor Zakharov. "You probably understand that the Spartans wouldn't even let me near a toy gun of theirs, if they knew why I was there."
Zakharov's face goes wooden. "You won't be investigating spartan territory. I will deliver full spectroscopic analysis of soil, water and atmosphere in and around University Base, as well as several flight histories and recordings, and some long-range observation images."
"What.. are you saying, that someone, probably the spartans, have attacked a CITY with chemical weapons?"
Zakharow nearly growls. "Not any city, but our blasted capital for this blasted planet's sake!"
Lal, his face sad, turns to me. "You see why this must be confidential? The University believes the Spartans are responsible, but until they are certain they won't retaliate. Santiago denies ever having deployed chemical weapons, and is accusing the University of cancelling their cooperation-treaty on false charges. She has placed several of her units along the border in anticipation of University hostilities. Yang and Morgan would love to interfere with your investigation if they found out about it."
"Yes, I understand. I will pull some of my colleauges off researching monopole magnets, and instruct them to keep their new assignment secret." I turn towards Zakharov. "Doctor, shall we discuss the transfer of data?" He nods. "Yes. And know, that if your work is good, I will more than compensate for the lost work in your research."
We then set up a timetable for the investigation, and the transfer of data is prepared.
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Jasonian
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Ruins of Jasonia Palace
Sep 1999
time: 00:13
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Free Drone Central
Domai sat his newly finished command chamber, high on the top floor of the 30 story Capital Tower. He gazed out of his huge silkglass window at the nearby factory complex, growing larger each day. Even from this altitude he could make out some of the larger parts of the Cloudbase Academy being assembled in the fields around the factory.
Next to the complex was the new Prototype Workhouse, or Skunkworks, as it was being called. There his technicians messed with the new Chaos weaponry that had been recently delivered from Sinder Roze. The repairs from last week's 'chaotic' accident were proceeding smoothly, and most of the outer walls had been rebuilt.
Domai shook his head, 'My people are builders, not technicians. This is why we're working with Sinder, is it not? She does the technical stuff, and we turn it into something useful.'
Still, Domai knew that he could not rely on Sinder for everything. Already the newly formed 'Drone Intelligence Network,' DIN, was collecting available data on satellite orbits. Every week or so they would shut down their machinery in order to minimize heat readings from space. Since no one had showed up to see what was going on, they're efforts must have paid off.
Domai clicked back to the present. Slightly behind the Skunkworks was the aboveground Recreation Commons. Most of the citizens had added several trips there to their busy schedule. Domai himself showed up occasionally. Even leaders needed to relax and have some fun every now and then. And his citizens were used to seeing their leader appear in public. He never took any security, since there wasn't a Free Drone citizen that didn't threat Domai like a demigod for freeing them from Yang's tyranny.
The com chirped, and Domai turned from his sightseeing to answer it, "Domai here."
"Salutations Domai. This is Hain. I have some… interesting news for you, sir."
"Very well. What do you have to report?"
"Actually, they're several unrelated events. But I figured you would want to know about all of them directly from me."
"Out with it Hain."
"Yes, sir. The first is a report from the colony convoy. Colony module did not report in at the checkpoint, and they find it highly unlikely that it would have gone on ahead."
"That's disturbing."
"Indeed, sir. The colony convoy reports scanning something that could possibly be a Unity pod nearby. However, they have record of that or any other module asking permission to investigate."
"Hmm… that is troubling. If it's just a broken tread, why haven't they radioed? I want a scout team dispatched to that Unity pod location to investigate."
"Yes sir. I'll key in the order…"
"Later. What else do you have for me?"
"Oh… oh! Of course, sir. The second is a bit more unusual. It seems that the artifact being stored in the Sku… err… Prototype Workhouse… had… fused to one of the computers there."
"Fused? So we have a computer with an artifact stuck to it?" Domai had to laugh at that, for the mental picture of one of his computers jammed into that mess of cords and cables was a funny mental picture indeed.
"Well… kinda. It hooked itself to an input cable and started to do something."
"… What?"
"It sounds weird, I know. But the workers say that it downloaded all this stuff into the computer terminal. Every last thing we would need to know about making Chaos guns is in there right now."
"Interesting…"
"It gets weirder. After doing that, the artifact fell apart and formed itself into 100 chaos guns, all mounted on standard weapon treads. It did the whole construction job for us!"
Domai's mind swam at that. 'These artifacts can download information AND be used to build things? The power!' "Wow! Hain, I want the remaining two artifacts sent to the Cloudbase factory. See if we can maybe do the same thing there."
"Yes, sir. Oh, the final piece of news. Scouts have found a University Impact foil and a transport foil on the eastern coast of Mount Planet."
"What luck! Have they found anything useful for us in there?"
"Some useful stuff… some satellite tracking programs that could aid us if we ever launch one of those things. But…"
"Don't hold out on me Hain!"
"… Both were completely empty of human bodies. And both were used recently. Whoever was on them… must be on our island."
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Cotroneo
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Medford, NY, USA
Oct 1999
time: 05:13
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“I’m sorry to wake you all this early in the morning, but we finally got confirmation at 0630 that our mission to frame Santiago was accomplished to an extent. Although the total mission was successful, it was at the cost of over twenty naval soldiers.” As Sinder finished, the council in unison bowed their heads.
“Are all University scientists out of Spartan territory, especially around the boreholes?” Virus asked directly to Sinder.
“It seems that their research and trade pact was put off, till the attack on University Base is further examined. The University chose to remove all research teams inside Spartan territory until the crisis is over and await some form of Peacekeeper investigation. This is a critical time for us, we can stand on the side lines like we have for years, or we can finally seize this opportunity!” Sinder said in the most commanding voice the council had ever heard, which even startled Tomahawk.
“What is this opportunity you speak off?” Zebra injected braking the silence of the room.
“We must take the Borehole cluster.” The other council members didn’t take the response very well.
“What do you suggest we do…. Tell Sparta that we want their land or else. Heck, even if they gave us the land, what do we do with it, and that would also make all the factions aware of our presence. This strategically unimportant island that we live on is the only reason they haven’t found out about us. If they found us or know about us, they will definitely not be friendly do to our reputation.” As Tomahawk finished he looked square into the eyes of Sinder.
“Beetle, punch up the holo camera at the airbase. Gentlemen, what do you notice?” Sinder returned the gaze back to Tomahawk.
“A couple of obsolete impact aircraft and a few old transports on the flight line.” Bronco answered. He hardly ever talked about anything during council meetings except when asked about his construction efforts.
“Beetle, could you zoom closer to the T-4 transport at the end of the flight line?”
The camera on the airbase’s control tower, which was being fed into the holo projector in the middle of the council’s table, zoomed closer to the old coal black transport aircraft. Tomahawk let out a bit of a chuckle at the sight of the old aircraft.
“Yes I understand that we need to replace the aging aircraft, but how can that piece of junk help us now. I hope your not implying that we attack the Spartans with this junk.” Tomahawk said directly to Sinder.
“How long would it take for you to upgrade the T-4 aircraft Tomahawk?”
“A few days, but I don’t think we can do much with it. Where are you going with this Sinder?” The rest of the council whispered to each other as the two headstrong individuals when back and forth.
“This plan I'm about to describe will be nothing more than a miracle if it actually works, but the benefits would be outstanding and just what we need at this critical time.”
“I’m breathless with anticipation.” Tomahawk replied. The rest of the council stopped talking, and looked at Sinder.
“My plan is to fly a colony convoy or a small group of colonists into the borehole site and establish a base. This plan requires three parts…” Sinder was interrupted by the laughing Tomahawk.
“And this aircraft which is going to fly these people in, is that the aircraft which is going to do it.” Tomahawk pointed to the old aircraft on the holo projector then erupted into laughter.
Sinder continued as if Tomahawk hadn’t even spoke. “The first part of the operation, is to reconfigure the colony convoy, that we are building for down south, to fit into the transport aircraft. The transport isn't that large so we will need to cut down the convoy to the bare minimum to fit into the beast.”
Bronco acknowledged Sinder that it could be done merely with a nod.
“Second, we will need to modernize the aircraft to evade Spartan sensors and be able to VTOL into the small clearing around the cluster.”
“Are you crazy Sinder, a transport of even that small size can’t VTOL. Heck most fighters which are about twice as light as transports can’t even VTOL. Theirs just not enough available power to generate the force needed inside a needlejet. ” Tomahawk interjected.
“That’s not true Tomahawk, we have something that no other faction then the University has….. Fusion. I have watched its development for a while inside University territory through our little network tap, and I feel I could produce a prototype within a few weeks and the stealth should be no problem.” Zebra countered Tomahawk, which Tomahawk replied with a sick stare that went straight to Zebra’s soul.
“Has the tech matured that fast Zebra?” Virus asked.
“The university has a working prototype, which I think I can emulate.” Zebra acknowledged hesitantly, still feeling the affects of Tomahawk’s stare.
“If we do manage to get to the site, we will need to hide the site totally from all faction sensors and satellites. But we have an advantage. I believe the Spartans who own the territory, have yet to adequately search the area, which is the reason the University were aloud to research the site without Spartan knowledge of the particulars of their research. The Spartans may know nothing about the particular area. We may be able to hide our base forever by concealing the base within a large stealth generator the Morgans have been using a lot lately. A course this depends on if we can produce a generator that could cover such a large area which is no small order.”
She finished and walked over to a refreshment table to her right. She took a red glass and filled it with some dark substance. She was letting the council decide if the plan was worth spending the resources, as if she cared about the council’s decision in reality, but having the council permission made it that much easier. She felt that democracy was good but democracy could never give her the power she needed, so when she established this separate faction, she established more of a limited monarchy than a true democracy for lack of a better term. Telling her citizens that they live in a democracy is a lot different then really having a full democratic system.
“Sinder we will vote.” Lighter, the Data DeCentral governor, simply replied.
The room slightly dimmed as the holo projector displayed two columns. One green column, which was for the project while the red column meant against. Each council member touched their datapad, which instantly sent their votes to the projector. One by one, the columns rose.
Yes : Sinder Roze
No : Tomahawk
Yes : Virus
Yes : Zebra
No : Lighter
No : Bronco
Yes : Raptor
The red column dissolved on the projector leaving the green column, the winner.
“I understand how you may object to the way I’ve been conducting this faction’s affairs over the last few weeks, but you must understand that I will do anything for this faction.” Sinder stopped short when Tomahawk rose from his seat and left the room without saying a word. “The coming weeks will be hard, but I just ask for all your trust.” She finished.
---------------------------------------------
“I think we need to curtail her power, Lighter.”
“That may be wise Tomahawk, but the people respect her.”
“If we do not, she may be unstoppable in the future, just look what she is willing to do now. She ordered the chemical weaponry used on University Base without our knowledge and she was the only one who could have taken down the base’s phalanx anti-air system with an outside virus.”
“That is true, but we must win more support within the council to have a majority. We must find the weak link.”
“You are right, and I think I know who is the weak link. Raptor is the key.”
“Sinder and Raptor are old friends, it will be hard.”
“I know.”
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dante^
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Singapore
Oct 1999
time: 05:13
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A New Beginning
Mission Year 2108
It was the gulls, decided Ulrik Svensgaard as he leant against the steel railing of the Unity gunship. Alpha Centauri Prime was setting, making the Chronian sea shine gold instead of blue.
His father had hated the gulls. There were literally thousands of them, and they rained their droppings down on the ship. They would swoop down to the deck to steal the catch if they got the chance, tearing the fish to pieces in the air as they fought for the choice bits. Fish had gotten pretty scarce during the mid 21st century, and Svensgaard had abandoned being a fisherman and joined the Navy.
He suddenly realized that he had not spoken to his family for 70 years, 110 if he counted the 40 years of cryo-sleep. He wondered if there were any longevity treatments available on the old Earth, if there was one left at all. His parents had not even known of the Unity project, Ulrik hadn't even told them about it, just left there and then.
Svensgaard was thirsty. He contemplated getting a tankard of rum from kitchens. He decided in the negative. They just didn't know how to brew rum they way they did on the old Earth. The rum they served up in the Recreation Commons tasted like... swill.
No birds here, either. A drunk seaman down at the Recreation Commons had rambled on and on about mindworms sprouting wings and flying all over the place, but Svensgaard had dismissed that as drunken ravings.
"Captain!" A voice interrupted Svensgaard's train of thoughts. "Sensors have picked up a foreign object two klicks west, probably a pod from the Unity. Request permission to investigate, Sir."
Svensgaard turned from the railing. Nessus and Pholus were beginning to rise above the horizon. He decided that it was definitely the gulls he missed most.
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Jasonian
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Ruins of Jasonia Palace
Sep 1999
time: 00:13
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Present day (M.Y. 2235)
Near the 35th Colony Module of Free Drone colony convoy one
Gnimn and Taron were starting to despair. They had been constantly flaming the huge Fungal Tower for almost five minutes now, but it didn't seem fazed at all. Now they were beginning to run low of flamer fuel. Both of them knew that if they didn't stop that thing soon, their crazed coworkers back at the module would cripple it for good, leaving them stranded out in the fungus.
Gnimn knew that he was partially immune to the maddening PSI effects the native life had because of his intense training and combat experience. But Taron was just a green security guard. He'd never received training, nor been in battle. Yet he was shielding his mind like a veteran, leaving himself in full control of his actions despite the PSI assault.
As if to prove this, Taron flamed an incoming hatchling mindworm boil that had tried to paralyze him. Instead, the mindworm shuttered in terror before Taron eliminated it. Taron was sweating a salty sea, but he continued his attack.
~~ HEY OVER THERE! ~~
Both Gnimn and Taron jumped. The voice seemed to come right out of the fungus behind the tower. Gnimn was sure none of his people were over in that area.
~~ Hey! Do you hear me? Answer! HEY! ~~
Gnimn recovered from his shock, "Hey! We hear you!"
~~ Great! We're going to flame this thing with everything we have! Ready? ~~
"Yeah! Let's do it!"
~~ OK! NOW! ~~
Gnimn and Taron let loose a combined blast directly on the tower itself, and several other blasts came out of a spot several meters away, joined by some Impact Rifle fire. The tower shuttered and collapsed in a flaming pile of burnt pink goo. Immediately the PSI energy stopped bouncing around, and then there was silence.
Gnimn nearly fell to the ground with fatigue, but Taron seemed perfectly fine. He calmly reloaded his flamer and put it back in its holster, 'My… god… how is that kid… not falling over… I'm dead tired… whoo…'
But Gnimn needed to know who was over in the fungus. And he didn't have to wait long, for he was approached by about ten troops in white.
"Thanks for the help. I'm Commander Achenar of the University of Planet."
"Thank you... as well. I am chief technician...*cough*... Gnimn."
"Nice to meet you Gnimn. And which faction are you with?"
Gnimn paused. Although he did not want to reveal the Free Drones to the rest of Planet, saying he was Hive would probably just get him killed on the spot. These men were armed, there were more of them then him, and pretty much everyone hated the Hive.
"I am with... the Free Drones. We rebelled from a... Hive base out here far from the rest of the Hive. Our very existence...*gasp cough*... is known by only a select few... not with our faction."
"…Drones? You guys made your own faction?"
Gnimn sighed. Clearly Achenar wasn't going to take a short explanation, "Come... with me. Our colony module was... damaged in the attack. I'll explain everything."
[This message has been edited by Jasonian (edited November 07, 1999).]
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Raging Mouse
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Finland
Oct 1999
time: 07:13
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Location: U.N. Enforcement Base (Hive Communal Nexus)
Premier Lieutenant Manuel Cormora taps the antenna-link on his helmet while scanning his troops. Some flying debris has hit it, and he isn't sure if the link is operational anymore. The noise generated by the Hive's numerous artillery-units bombarding the surface is so loud that he can't even hear the background static with the volume turned to max. He surveys his team of infantry. They are two-hundred meters underground, yet the furious pounding on the surface creates a meter-high cloud of dust in every room and corridor. It is even hard to run due to the constant shocks. The tunnels are very wide and can be three stories high, so the Hive has constructed large arch-like titanium supports that protrude from the wall every tenth meter. A soldier could easily be hiding behind any of them, so everyone is wary and nervous.
What is ironic is that his team has yet to see fighting, even though radio-traffic has previously indicated the loss of at least two companies. The Hive soldiers have, of course, first-hand knowledge of the layout of the base; the datalinks are already in their hands and operating, even though the central communications-core has been detonated by the Peacecorps. Manuel privately suspects that the Hive bases were designed to be easily reconquered by the original owners; Yang could certainly be in the right frame of mind to plan a counteroffensive before the base was even built.
There is a welcome pause in the artillery-barrage, and Manuel turns his attention back to the commset.
"...ing all remaining troops underground; fall back, I repeat, fall back. Evacuate along alpha routes, and destroy all intersections marked by your HUD. I repeat, this is King One to all remaining troops..." Cormora silently swears as new information floods his HUD. Five major intersections, all unsecure at the moment, to pass through and destroy. Just what he doesn't need. He signals his men to gather round.
"Right, we are getting outta this rathole. I want two points, and three rears. You four, secure any intersections we get to. And demolitions; once we are through these five intersections, you will blow them up. Okay? Then move!"
The two 'points' are soldiers wearing special armor suits: They will automatically assume the same texture as the closest vertical surface, so that anyone observing in front of the soldiers will have extreme difficulies in spotting them. Also, all body heat is absorbed by the suit. Together with the near-total darkness, and the dust, it renders the wearer nearly invisible.
The team slows down as it nears the first intersection. The points let the four soldiers that will secure the intersection take lead. These soldiers wear heavy-duty image-enhancement binoculars designed to counter the stealth-suits worn by the points. One short whisper, and the four soldiers rush nearly soundlessly into the intersection. A very tense five seconds passes; then Manuel hears 'all clear' from all four soldiers. He signals the rest of the team to continue. The demolitions-man positions small radio-controlled charges at key supports in the intersections, and covers them with dust.
When the group nears the second intersection the right point, Sergeant Storgard, suddenly stops and signals everybody to hide. Manuel quickly moves to the nearest support, and tries to detect what has alerted the man. Storgard is also trying to find out just that; suddenly he simply sensed something was out of place. His psi-screen at the medical checkup did show he has an abnormally powerful intuition, but this is the first time he has sensed anything like this.
An especially hard blast on the surface causes the entire tunnel to vibrate, and flakes of paint and plaster snow from the ceiling. There and then Storgard detects what's wrong: the flakes, as well as the dust, are being disturbed by something moving quickly towards him. It can only be a Hive point, wearing a similar stealth-suit, that is securing the intersection. The man would probably detect Storgard if he was to dive for cover. Instead, Storgard raises his rifle and tries to spot the Hive soldier's outline.
Five seconds pass with extreme slowness. Then the disturbances halt, and Storgard still can't see anyone. Oh, well. The blast from Storgard's particle blaster ionizes the air along it's path, bathing the corridor in a blue flash of light, and illuminating the Hive point as it misses her by a hair's breadth. She is facing Storgard and has only time to be afraid before storgard fires a second, more accurate shot. Her torso explodes.
In the next moment Storgard feels as if a bus has hit his left side, as another Hive point fires a close miss with a chaos rifle. Shrapnel from the wall bites into his back, and he dives for cover in the cloud of dust. By then, Manuel has found his voice and screams, "Fire, for Planet's sake!" The corridor erupts in detonations as the blue streaks of Peacekeeper impact-rifles are answered by the strange black ripples emanating from the Hive's chaos rifles.
Suddenly Manuel is knocked to the ground, with a searing pain in his left leg. He blinks in confusion, and gazes at the support he was using in cover. It is still twisting, the energies that hit it trying to make it explode and implode at the same time. After half a second, the balance is ruptured, and a large chunk of the arch disintegrates in a thick cloud of white-hot metal, showering over Manuel's silksteel leggings, and into the crater in his left thigh. As a column of black smoke starts to rise from the wound Manuel decides to faint, and rides into unconsciousness on a wave of agony.
Up ahead, Storgard wildly scans the dust for anywhere to take cover when he spots the welcome boots of Corporal McDougal running past. Mcdougal is carrying one of the team's two heavy weapons, a minigyro, that fires an enormous volley of small self-accelerating projectiles that explode on contact. He is also protected by a photon-shield, but it is already flickering from absorbing numerous hits by the Hive soldiers. Mcdougal drops down in the middle of the corridor, and half a second later Storgard hears the loud motorsaw-like noise of the minigyro in action. A swarm of small white stars zoom into the next intersection, and the ensuing explosions are so close to each other that the intersection is lit by a steady light. With it's help storgard blasts the head off the other Hive point, and shoots the legs off another soldier further down the corridor. He can also see the carnage that McDougal is successfully creating.
Manuel is wrenched back into consciousness, and concludes that his pain-centre must have gone on strike. The team's medic, who is already inspecting him, shouts: "Sir, I neuro-blocked the pain and splinted the leg for you, but I can't do anything about the wound with all that metal residue in it. You need a med-evac a.s.a.p, sir!" Manuel uses the wall as support, and stands up. "Thanks, Smith! Let's finish them off -hey wait a minute..." On his HUD is a flashing message. It is text rather than a radio-message, probably so that it would get noticed easier in all the noise:
"*** PRIORITY * Seek cover immediately, and brace for impact. Very large detonation expected in:" Followed by a blinking box containing the number nine. Eight. Seven.
Manuel shouts. "EVERYBODY DOWN NOW!" He flings himself to the floor, and feels a stab of pain from the leg, despite the neural blocks. Four. Three. Two. One...
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25-10-1999 07:39
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