Corrosion
ur lite fades awey
The interior of the Phoenix transport was dark, lit only by dimmed electronic lights, and the air was recycled and sterile. It was rocking slightly, not too rough, just gentle enough to fall asleep to. Of course, few of the craft's occupants were asleep. For the most part, they were prepping for their mission, running final checks on their gear and equipment, and all were suited up in a full set of powered armour. There were four in total in the dropship's troop compartment
Captain Forrest was seated down in one of the Phoenix's retracting seats, running a few checks on his SEMTAR autocarbine. Load in the magazine, pull back on the charging handle, and bring the weapon to bear within three seconds or less, then repeat with his sidearm. He'd already gone through the motions at least a dozen times already, but it didn't hurt to be sure. It was a ritual to him every time before a mission, and he'd been doing so years. Nothing was going to stop him from doing so, either.
Langford was sitting across him, seemingly far more relaxed than he was. He was slouched back, legs apart and arms folded, idly chewing a piece of gum as he absentmindedly bobbed his head to an inaudible rhythm. The squad's close combat specialist seemed to notice Forrest performing a weapons check for what was probably the thirteenth or fourteenth time. "Still going through the motions, huh, boss?" He asked, jovial in tone. "I'm pretty sure your carbine's going just fine."
Forrest rolled his eyes as he pulled out the magazine and prepared to go once more. "Old habits die hard," He said simply. "Besides, you can never be too prepared."
Langford seemed either somewhat satisfied with the answer, or decided that there was no use commenting further, and he simply went back to doing what he was doing before: nothing.
"Think we'll get some leave after this?" A new voice joined the conversation. Knox was standing by the supply cache, the demolitions technician grabbing a number of fragmentation grenades and attaching them to his belt slung across his shoulder. "I mean, we've been on what, five, six missions straight so far. Now, I'm not saying I wanna miss a chance to set of some booms, it's just that it'd be nice for some R&R. You know, grab a beer or two."
"I wouldn't count on it," Another voice responded, this one having a slight metallic filter to it. "Every mission's more high priority than before, and I predict the next one will be too. So, if I was a meatbag—sorry, organic like you, I'd focus on completing the mission and not dying than worrying about leave." Unlike the other members of the team, Jaeger wasn't human. His metallic and obviously mechanical appearance immediately marked him as a combat frame, a humanoid robot designed for combat and warfare. Jaeger was an odd one, however, as unlike his brethren he also possessed a more human personality, and also a rather deadpan and dry sense of humour. It was either because his programming had either grown advanced enough to actually understand sarcasm, or he was an Upload. The team's human members were betting on the latter. For his role in the squad, he was its designated marksman and tech specialist.
Knox frowned. "Darn." He muttered, making his way back to his seat. His primary weapon was leaning next to it, a rather large MT456 light machine gun, a weapon that could put out a truly terrifying volume of fire. It was customised by him, modified with multiple attachments and a custom, shark mouth paint job. Knox patted it lovingly, like a father would with his child.
Together, the four made up Zodiac Squad, one of many in Drop Force. Perhaps the most elite and distinguished special forces unit within the Federal Republic of Earth, they were the best of the best, elite in practically every way. They were feared and respected in the same way, and the envy of a great many regular units.
The pilot's voice came from the front of the Phoenix. "Entering realspace in three... two..."
There was a flash of light and then a rumble as the craft exited the confines of a faster-than-light tunnel and back into normal, non-physics-defying three-dimensional space. "Transition complete. Moving to drop zone."
Another flash of light, this time only on one side. And then another. And more and more all around them. It was obvious that it was from anti-air ordnance detonating in close proximity. The Phoenix vibrated slightly with each.
"Not exactly roses and confetti." Langford muttered.
"Halle-fucking-lujah." Muttered Knox.
"Coming into the drop zone in twenty seconds!" Came the voice of the pilot.
Forrest nodded and gestured to his squad, standing up. The rest of Zodiac did the same as the interior lighting went red. "Alright, boys. We've been through this a hundred times. You know what to do. Langford?"
"Music?"
"Yeah."
Knox interrupted before the close combat specialist could do anything. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. You've picked the music for the last two missions! It's my turn now."
"Your taste in music is shit." Langford shot back.
"It's better now! Come on!"
Forrest rolled his eyes. "Alright, Knox. You're up. But just this once."
Knox's eyes lit up as Langford was left to glower. He excitedly tapped on the tacpad mounted on his left wrist. The sound of guitars from a centuries old track filled their radios.
"Really?" Langford asked, incredulous. He turned to his superior, hoping he'd order Knox to stop playing whatever this was.
Forrest said nothing at first, before nodding in appreciation. "I kind of like this song," He commented. "Is this classical music?"
"If you count a hip-hop rock song from the late twentieth century classical, then yes." Jaeger said.
"Drop zone reached!" Announced the pilot, turning to the squad. "Prepare to drop!"
The rear ramp of the Phoenix lowered slowly, allowing sunlight to pour in, and reveal the ongoing aerial battle in all his glory and all its chaos. Over a dozen ships quite obviously belonging to two factions or races with very different design philosophies in a brutal clash with each other.
On one side were ships that were blocky and bristling with guns and weaponry, painted either dark blue and white or dull grey with blue highlights. These were vessels of the Federal Republic of Earth, the sword and shield of humanity.
On the other were strange, smooth and almost organic-looking craft of muted colours. They were the vessels of the Foldran Empire, an alien empire that had conquered many other extraterrestrial races, and was intending for humanity to be next in line. It saw humanity as a young and weak race that would be easily subjugated.
Unfortunately for them, humanity wasn't going down without a fight. For years and years the war had raged on without any signs of stopping. Casualties on both sides were incredibly high, but neither was willing to simply lay down and die.
Weapons fire streaked across the skies as energy bolts and ballistic projectiles tore through the clouds and struck their targets. A crippled FRE frigate came plunging down trailing smoke and fire not too far away.
Forrest could see several other similar Phoenixes materialising in flashes of light around the craft, all also carrying Drop Force squads.
Their target was down below: a Foldran Adjudicator-class command cruiser. It was far larger than all the others, and surrounded by its fleet, protected from all sides.
Except the top, that is.
All they had to do was infiltrate it and destroy it from the inside out. Sounded easy enough.
Zodiac's commander cracked his neck and waited for the signal.
Not a second later, the lights flashed green. "Drop now!" The pilot cried.
Forrest complied immediately. "Alright, let's drop!" He sprinted forwards and then leapt out of the craft, followed by the rest of his squad. They were in a freefall, arms by their sides as they barrelled towards the command ship. Around him he could see the other Phoenixes depositing their complement before promptly vanishing in another flash. They were now falling towards their target at breakneck speed.
A shell suddenly detonated right in front of them, scattering them slightly. "Course correction," Forrest ordered. Tiny thusters located all over their armour lit up as they steered themselves towards each other and got back into formation. Down below, a Foldran Cyclops fighter screamed past, with a human Peregrine interceptor hot on its tail, its guns blazing.
The crew on the command ship seemed to have taken notice, as small arms discharge was sent towards them, poorly-aimed and woefully inaccurate.
Forrest wasn't phased in the slightest, and neither was his squad. "Retrograde now," He said, voice calm as he inverted himself into a standing position and engaged his thruster pack. Powerful thrusters extended and ignited, jets of high-powered propellant drastically slowing his descent. He didn't intend to stop completely, however.
He slammed into the craft's metal surface. A shockwave was sent outwards, created by seismic generators in his legs. Unfortunate Foldran crewmen were immediately thrown aside. The impact was effectively mitigated by inertia dampeners integrated into his armour. Behind him his squad landed.
Foldran troops charged forwards. There were odd creates, reptilian in nature with vaguely humanoid bodies but also having large, long heads with a carapace covering their forward, and two pairs of eyes and rows of sharp teeth. They held energy rifles in their hands.
Forrest drew his SEMTAR. In one smooth motion, he opened fire and instantly downed a handful of targets. He boosted forwards and swung his arm. A crewman was promptly punted aside, tumbling off the side of the ship. More fell around him, taken out by his squad.
There was an access hatch ahead. He gripped the handle and pulled, ripping it open using the enhanced strength his armour gave him. He tossed the hatch away and hopped down, into a hallway. For whatever reason, it was empty.
"You think they know we're here?" Knox asked.
Then alarms suddenly went off, along with a group of enemy troops rounding the corner, snarling.
"They do now!" Cried Jaeger, raising his D773 DMR. Before he could fire, Langford sprinted past, ignoring the fire directed his way. He expertly weaved past through bolts of energy. Once he neared the mass of troops, he suddenly disappeared in a flash of light.
Thoroughly confused, the Foldran troops stumbled slightly, only to notice a beeping metal sphere by their feet. Their eyes widened, but before they could scatter for cover, it detonated.
Instead of erupting into a great storm of metal shards, a strange, translucent blue dome enveloped all of them. Those caught in it suddenly seemed to be frozen in time, in the midst of diving for cover as the stasis grenade took effect. Langford reappeared where he was and opened fire with his U-17 shotgun. Upon entering the stasis field, the pellets all froze in place. After he expended his ammo, he spun around and snapped his fingers.
The dome collapsed, and time resumed. Those caught inside were all simultaneously struck by the projectiles and collapsed to the floor, dead. "That never gets old."
The four continued on their journey, coming to a rather large area. There was a bridge down below, stretching across a gaping artificial chasm. A rather large number of alien troops were on it, along with vehicles and supplies. Knox grinned and stepped forwards, extending his arm. A rocket launcher was deployed, and from it, a missile streaked out. It struck the middle and exploded into a huge fireball, consuming those caught in the blast radius and then collapsing the bridge itself. Those on it fell to their doom into the depths below.
"This way!" Said Forrest, rounding a corner. He was immediately greeted with the sight of Foldran troops hunkered in behind deployed cover, assisted by a pair of ceiling turrets. The turrets beeped as they detected him and swivelled and opened fire. The aliens did the same. "Ah, shit!" He grunted. "Jaeger!"
"On it!" The robot's single optic flashed green as he linked up with the turrets. They too flashed a similar green and ceased firing. Both then spun around in unison and promptly opened fire on the enemy troops, cutting them down in a swath of plasma fire.
The enemy soldiers had been defending a door, and given how hastily set up the defences were, it was obvious they weren't expecting human troops to actually manage to gain access to the most powerful ship in the fleet.
"Our objective's right though here." Jaeger waved his hand across the door controls. It beeped, and a moment later, the door slid open in two parts.
It lead to a rather massive room. At the other hand was what appeared to be a miniature sun contained within a cylindrical tower several storeys tall. That was their target: the ship's power cell. Overloading it could blow the vessel from the inside out.
And of course, between them was a massive number of enemy troops, all weapons on Zodiac. It seemed as if the ship's entire complement was all here.
"Aw, man!" Langford cried, dismayed. "There's no way I'm gonna keep score!"
A large shape suddenly dropped down from above. A massive creature several times the size of a human emerged, snarling and slobbering. It was hunched over, and resembled a gorilla back on Earth, if it had six arms and spikes on its back and covered in armour. It roared at the team.
Forrest shifted into a ready position. "Just another day at the office, huh?"
And with that, they charged.
This was written in one day. I'd been planning the whole thing since July, but I kind of procrastinated until now. It's also kind of a teaser for a possible future RP.
Captain Forrest was seated down in one of the Phoenix's retracting seats, running a few checks on his SEMTAR autocarbine. Load in the magazine, pull back on the charging handle, and bring the weapon to bear within three seconds or less, then repeat with his sidearm. He'd already gone through the motions at least a dozen times already, but it didn't hurt to be sure. It was a ritual to him every time before a mission, and he'd been doing so years. Nothing was going to stop him from doing so, either.
Langford was sitting across him, seemingly far more relaxed than he was. He was slouched back, legs apart and arms folded, idly chewing a piece of gum as he absentmindedly bobbed his head to an inaudible rhythm. The squad's close combat specialist seemed to notice Forrest performing a weapons check for what was probably the thirteenth or fourteenth time. "Still going through the motions, huh, boss?" He asked, jovial in tone. "I'm pretty sure your carbine's going just fine."
Forrest rolled his eyes as he pulled out the magazine and prepared to go once more. "Old habits die hard," He said simply. "Besides, you can never be too prepared."
Langford seemed either somewhat satisfied with the answer, or decided that there was no use commenting further, and he simply went back to doing what he was doing before: nothing.
"Think we'll get some leave after this?" A new voice joined the conversation. Knox was standing by the supply cache, the demolitions technician grabbing a number of fragmentation grenades and attaching them to his belt slung across his shoulder. "I mean, we've been on what, five, six missions straight so far. Now, I'm not saying I wanna miss a chance to set of some booms, it's just that it'd be nice for some R&R. You know, grab a beer or two."
"I wouldn't count on it," Another voice responded, this one having a slight metallic filter to it. "Every mission's more high priority than before, and I predict the next one will be too. So, if I was a meatbag—sorry, organic like you, I'd focus on completing the mission and not dying than worrying about leave." Unlike the other members of the team, Jaeger wasn't human. His metallic and obviously mechanical appearance immediately marked him as a combat frame, a humanoid robot designed for combat and warfare. Jaeger was an odd one, however, as unlike his brethren he also possessed a more human personality, and also a rather deadpan and dry sense of humour. It was either because his programming had either grown advanced enough to actually understand sarcasm, or he was an Upload. The team's human members were betting on the latter. For his role in the squad, he was its designated marksman and tech specialist.
Knox frowned. "Darn." He muttered, making his way back to his seat. His primary weapon was leaning next to it, a rather large MT456 light machine gun, a weapon that could put out a truly terrifying volume of fire. It was customised by him, modified with multiple attachments and a custom, shark mouth paint job. Knox patted it lovingly, like a father would with his child.
Together, the four made up Zodiac Squad, one of many in Drop Force. Perhaps the most elite and distinguished special forces unit within the Federal Republic of Earth, they were the best of the best, elite in practically every way. They were feared and respected in the same way, and the envy of a great many regular units.
The pilot's voice came from the front of the Phoenix. "Entering realspace in three... two..."
There was a flash of light and then a rumble as the craft exited the confines of a faster-than-light tunnel and back into normal, non-physics-defying three-dimensional space. "Transition complete. Moving to drop zone."
Another flash of light, this time only on one side. And then another. And more and more all around them. It was obvious that it was from anti-air ordnance detonating in close proximity. The Phoenix vibrated slightly with each.
"Not exactly roses and confetti." Langford muttered.
"Halle-fucking-lujah." Muttered Knox.
"Coming into the drop zone in twenty seconds!" Came the voice of the pilot.
Forrest nodded and gestured to his squad, standing up. The rest of Zodiac did the same as the interior lighting went red. "Alright, boys. We've been through this a hundred times. You know what to do. Langford?"
"Music?"
"Yeah."
Knox interrupted before the close combat specialist could do anything. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. You've picked the music for the last two missions! It's my turn now."
"Your taste in music is shit." Langford shot back.
"It's better now! Come on!"
Forrest rolled his eyes. "Alright, Knox. You're up. But just this once."
Knox's eyes lit up as Langford was left to glower. He excitedly tapped on the tacpad mounted on his left wrist. The sound of guitars from a centuries old track filled their radios.
"Really?" Langford asked, incredulous. He turned to his superior, hoping he'd order Knox to stop playing whatever this was.
Forrest said nothing at first, before nodding in appreciation. "I kind of like this song," He commented. "Is this classical music?"
"If you count a hip-hop rock song from the late twentieth century classical, then yes." Jaeger said.
"Drop zone reached!" Announced the pilot, turning to the squad. "Prepare to drop!"
The rear ramp of the Phoenix lowered slowly, allowing sunlight to pour in, and reveal the ongoing aerial battle in all his glory and all its chaos. Over a dozen ships quite obviously belonging to two factions or races with very different design philosophies in a brutal clash with each other.
On one side were ships that were blocky and bristling with guns and weaponry, painted either dark blue and white or dull grey with blue highlights. These were vessels of the Federal Republic of Earth, the sword and shield of humanity.
On the other were strange, smooth and almost organic-looking craft of muted colours. They were the vessels of the Foldran Empire, an alien empire that had conquered many other extraterrestrial races, and was intending for humanity to be next in line. It saw humanity as a young and weak race that would be easily subjugated.
Unfortunately for them, humanity wasn't going down without a fight. For years and years the war had raged on without any signs of stopping. Casualties on both sides were incredibly high, but neither was willing to simply lay down and die.
Weapons fire streaked across the skies as energy bolts and ballistic projectiles tore through the clouds and struck their targets. A crippled FRE frigate came plunging down trailing smoke and fire not too far away.
Forrest could see several other similar Phoenixes materialising in flashes of light around the craft, all also carrying Drop Force squads.
Their target was down below: a Foldran Adjudicator-class command cruiser. It was far larger than all the others, and surrounded by its fleet, protected from all sides.
Except the top, that is.
All they had to do was infiltrate it and destroy it from the inside out. Sounded easy enough.
Zodiac's commander cracked his neck and waited for the signal.
Not a second later, the lights flashed green. "Drop now!" The pilot cried.
Forrest complied immediately. "Alright, let's drop!" He sprinted forwards and then leapt out of the craft, followed by the rest of his squad. They were in a freefall, arms by their sides as they barrelled towards the command ship. Around him he could see the other Phoenixes depositing their complement before promptly vanishing in another flash. They were now falling towards their target at breakneck speed.
A shell suddenly detonated right in front of them, scattering them slightly. "Course correction," Forrest ordered. Tiny thusters located all over their armour lit up as they steered themselves towards each other and got back into formation. Down below, a Foldran Cyclops fighter screamed past, with a human Peregrine interceptor hot on its tail, its guns blazing.
The crew on the command ship seemed to have taken notice, as small arms discharge was sent towards them, poorly-aimed and woefully inaccurate.
Forrest wasn't phased in the slightest, and neither was his squad. "Retrograde now," He said, voice calm as he inverted himself into a standing position and engaged his thruster pack. Powerful thrusters extended and ignited, jets of high-powered propellant drastically slowing his descent. He didn't intend to stop completely, however.
He slammed into the craft's metal surface. A shockwave was sent outwards, created by seismic generators in his legs. Unfortunate Foldran crewmen were immediately thrown aside. The impact was effectively mitigated by inertia dampeners integrated into his armour. Behind him his squad landed.
Foldran troops charged forwards. There were odd creates, reptilian in nature with vaguely humanoid bodies but also having large, long heads with a carapace covering their forward, and two pairs of eyes and rows of sharp teeth. They held energy rifles in their hands.
Forrest drew his SEMTAR. In one smooth motion, he opened fire and instantly downed a handful of targets. He boosted forwards and swung his arm. A crewman was promptly punted aside, tumbling off the side of the ship. More fell around him, taken out by his squad.
There was an access hatch ahead. He gripped the handle and pulled, ripping it open using the enhanced strength his armour gave him. He tossed the hatch away and hopped down, into a hallway. For whatever reason, it was empty.
"You think they know we're here?" Knox asked.
Then alarms suddenly went off, along with a group of enemy troops rounding the corner, snarling.
"They do now!" Cried Jaeger, raising his D773 DMR. Before he could fire, Langford sprinted past, ignoring the fire directed his way. He expertly weaved past through bolts of energy. Once he neared the mass of troops, he suddenly disappeared in a flash of light.
Thoroughly confused, the Foldran troops stumbled slightly, only to notice a beeping metal sphere by their feet. Their eyes widened, but before they could scatter for cover, it detonated.
Instead of erupting into a great storm of metal shards, a strange, translucent blue dome enveloped all of them. Those caught in it suddenly seemed to be frozen in time, in the midst of diving for cover as the stasis grenade took effect. Langford reappeared where he was and opened fire with his U-17 shotgun. Upon entering the stasis field, the pellets all froze in place. After he expended his ammo, he spun around and snapped his fingers.
The dome collapsed, and time resumed. Those caught inside were all simultaneously struck by the projectiles and collapsed to the floor, dead. "That never gets old."
The four continued on their journey, coming to a rather large area. There was a bridge down below, stretching across a gaping artificial chasm. A rather large number of alien troops were on it, along with vehicles and supplies. Knox grinned and stepped forwards, extending his arm. A rocket launcher was deployed, and from it, a missile streaked out. It struck the middle and exploded into a huge fireball, consuming those caught in the blast radius and then collapsing the bridge itself. Those on it fell to their doom into the depths below.
"This way!" Said Forrest, rounding a corner. He was immediately greeted with the sight of Foldran troops hunkered in behind deployed cover, assisted by a pair of ceiling turrets. The turrets beeped as they detected him and swivelled and opened fire. The aliens did the same. "Ah, shit!" He grunted. "Jaeger!"
"On it!" The robot's single optic flashed green as he linked up with the turrets. They too flashed a similar green and ceased firing. Both then spun around in unison and promptly opened fire on the enemy troops, cutting them down in a swath of plasma fire.
The enemy soldiers had been defending a door, and given how hastily set up the defences were, it was obvious they weren't expecting human troops to actually manage to gain access to the most powerful ship in the fleet.
"Our objective's right though here." Jaeger waved his hand across the door controls. It beeped, and a moment later, the door slid open in two parts.
It lead to a rather massive room. At the other hand was what appeared to be a miniature sun contained within a cylindrical tower several storeys tall. That was their target: the ship's power cell. Overloading it could blow the vessel from the inside out.
And of course, between them was a massive number of enemy troops, all weapons on Zodiac. It seemed as if the ship's entire complement was all here.
"Aw, man!" Langford cried, dismayed. "There's no way I'm gonna keep score!"
A large shape suddenly dropped down from above. A massive creature several times the size of a human emerged, snarling and slobbering. It was hunched over, and resembled a gorilla back on Earth, if it had six arms and spikes on its back and covered in armour. It roared at the team.
Forrest shifted into a ready position. "Just another day at the office, huh?"
And with that, they charged.
This was written in one day. I'd been planning the whole thing since July, but I kind of procrastinated until now. It's also kind of a teaser for a possible future RP.
TOTAL WORDS:
2,284
(yes, the word count just so happens to match up with the year the setting takes place in)
2,284
(yes, the word count just so happens to match up with the year the setting takes place in)
Last edited: