Spring RTS Engine

Johns_Volition wrote:could someone... um compress this to a sentence or two so I dont have to read the whole thing?

How about NO?

Kixxe, thats like...the best response I've ever seen. Seriously, I put a LOT of work and time into this novel. Do I get paid? No. Do I get ANY real world profit or...well...anything off this? No. I do this because I love writing, and because other people seem to like reading my story's (But we all know they are lying ). Asking for a short cut like that is mildly insulting.

like this?

Zoombie wrote:... mildly insulting.

should i use bigger joke tags next time?

Anyhow, I actually did read it. And it is quite good actually. Keep it up!

Is it just me or is this getting a lot less views then Darkside. May hap less people read it. Or more likely its because views are related to how many posts I make. I make less posts cause my posts are longer, makeing it less nessisary to post as many and such. If I cut these episodes into like...one page things then I suppose I'd get more views, statisticaly.

Bah, screw it.



The shovel crunched. No one spoke. The dirt was pushed into a nearby pile. No one spoke. Helena sniffled. They had seen people die, in worse ways then that. But somehow this was unreal. The body bag was black. White sheets left red stains, an uncomfortable reminder of the mangled...thing inside. Mankowski and Mike, who still hadn't said a word after Lizzy had woken him up. July's...she's... Lizzy replayed it in her mind. She had been weak. It was her fault.

It was always her fault.

Mike and Mankowski let the bag fall into the grave. Then Lizzy started to shovel in the dirt. Her hands were blistered, rubbed raw from working nonstop for an hour. ├óÔé¼┼ôLet me├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôHe-├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFuck off├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said softly ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was my fault. I dig the grave├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike backed away slightly. Lizzy filled in the grave more, blood trickling down the shovel handle as she did so. Ten or so minuets later and they all stood around the roughly rectangular section of uneven ground. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat religion was she in?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mankowski asked softly. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe was a Trad. But...it seemed like she was more of a positivist, from how she...acted├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe was a Marine├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarge said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll bury her as such├óÔé¼┬Ø.

There was no argument. It was a simple marker, carved with a simple laser cutter found in a nearby hardware store.

Corporal July Simmons. 2169-2191.

Brave to the end. May she rest in peace

├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarge said, looking around at the others ├óÔé¼┼ôAnyone got anything to say?├óÔé¼┬Ø. There was silence. Then Lizzy stepped forward ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, kneeling down slowly before the grave. The others felt uncomfortable, as if watching something private meant only for Lizzy and July to see. Lizzy banged her head softly against the ground, her eyes screwed shut ├óÔé¼┼ôI..I'm so sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø she gasped ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's my fault├óÔé¼┬Ø. She looked up, tears already drying on her face. ├óÔé¼┼ôI failed her├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said, as if proclaiming it to the world. She stood up and walked away, holstering her pistol.

├óÔé¼┼ôLizzy├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike followed her ├óÔé¼┼ôWait├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh fuck off Mike├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy turned around ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you really want me with this group? Do you want another person to worry about, another life to protect! Do you want ME around!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike looked at the ground, as if not wanting to meet Lizzy's eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm...everyone I care about dies. Its better if I leave├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, turning around. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour daughter├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said softly ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat should we tell her? The daughter who's been waiting for one of her parents, for her father or her mother for who knows how long?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Lizzy's shoulders slumped as she turned away ├óÔé¼┼ôTell her I died or something. Something...heroic├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then she felt Mike's hands on her shoulders ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't want you to leave├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't want you to go off, vanish from our lives like smoke├óÔé¼┬Ø. He closed his eyes ├óÔé¼┼ôEvery thing has gone to hell├óÔé¼┬Ø A faint explosion in the distance underlined his words ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...I...├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe told me that...├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôJuly said, in the end, that she loved you├óÔé¼┬Ø. The hands clenched suddenly, a spasm that dug Mike's fingernail's into Lizzy's shoulders. She accepted, even welcomed the pain. Mike drew in a shuddering gasp, pulling his hands away.

├óÔé¼┼ôGod├óÔé¼┬Ø he murmured ├óÔé¼┼ôHow couldn't I have noticed?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts a comedy routine├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said, still not turning ├óÔé¼┼ôUntil the unrequited love becomes something truly unattainable. Till one of the pair dies├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike was silent. ├óÔé¼┼ôGo├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, finally ├óÔé¼┼ôif you must├óÔé¼┬Ø. He started to walk away. Lizzy looked over her shoulder and saw him walk around the corner, to the tank that Sarge had borrowed. She walked another few steps, feeling her pistol banging lightly against her hip. She pulled the thing out. It was high caliber, armor piercing rounds. She imagined the feel of the barrel as it slipped between her lips, kissing the back of her mouth. She tried to capture the feeling of release as the bullet smashed through her skull.

Lizzy looked at the sky, her hand still at her pistol's hilt. It was sunny, blue. She could be at Homeworld, for all she knew. Even the gunshots and explosions in the distance were easy to ignore, to dismiss. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt should be raining├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy muttered. Then she shouldered her pack, readying herself for...for what? Where would she go. What would she do. Her thoughts strayed to the pistol again. She had one clip. Twelve rounds.

Mike shoved his pack into the turret, trying to cram it as far back as he could. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll be ready to go in ten or so minutes├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarge said ├óÔé¼┼ôNo singe of looters, D.G or S-02....and did Lizzy say how long it would take her to go to the bathroom├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSarge├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôAbout...Lizzy├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarge lit his new cigar slowly. Mike opened his mouth to say the truth. Then he heard footsteps. ├óÔé¼┼ôIs there room in there├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôFor a fifth person?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou'll have to ride shotgun, on the outside of the tank├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarge said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I think so├óÔé¼┬Ø.

Lizzy smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôGood├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôLets stop fucking around. If there is a building, we blow through it. If there is an obstruction, we go over it. If there is a battle we fucking stop it!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sarge smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôI like this plan├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd when we get to the tac-con├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy continued ├óÔé¼┼ôWe can tell those fucks who sent you on this mission that there target...is dead├óÔé¼┬Ø she gently pressed her toe against the unconscious target. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's...├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy pulled her pistol out, cocking it as she did so. Mike felt like he should object, say something. Then the gun fired. A splatter of red appeared around the ground where the Target lay. Its head caved in slightly, the bullet tearing through it.

Lizzy fired again, and again and again and again. ├óÔé¼┼ôStop it!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike shouted, the head of the target already a pulp rather then anything solid. But Lizzy kept pulling the trigger, even when the gun clicked. The target's head no longer existed. Rather it was a slurry of red, bone and brains mixed in evenly with the rest of it. Lizzy slid her clip out and slapped a new one in. She looked at Mike, her eyes dead ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. Sarge had turned away, his teeth clenching on the cigar. ├óÔé¼┼ôHelena!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôMankowski, lets go!├óÔé¼┬Ø. They got into the tank, and Sarge revved it up. ├óÔé¼┼ôStraight to Parliament├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy whooped.

The tank could go at a pretty good pace, even over the damaged roads. It was a tank, after all. Another large chunk of wreckage was smashed away by the treads, sending smaller bits of wreckage flying everywhere. ├óÔé¼┼ôI like this thing├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarge muttered, holding the binoculars up to his face with his one hand. His cigar dangled from his lips, unlit. ├óÔé¼┼ôMike├óÔé¼┬Ø he muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôCan you get anything on that radio?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike shouted. For one of the tallest people in the group, why he was jammed into the smallest section of the tank was beyond him. The radio was not talking, on any bands that were written next to the radio. ├óÔé¼┼ôwhoever used this set was an idiot├óÔé¼┬Ø He muttered.

The tank rolled around another corner, jamming to a stop suddenly. Then it rotated ninety degrees, practically spinning around on its treads. Then it stopped jarringly and started up again. ├óÔé¼┼ôSmoother!├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarge shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôSMOOTHER DAMN IT!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena yanked on the controls, witch would have looked more in place with an ancient steam boiler then a modern tank ├óÔé¼┼ôThis takes a bit of getting used to for someone who only knows the rudiments of├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôStop! STOP!├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarge shouted, kicking at Helena. The tank ground to a stop, its barrels inch's from shattering the glass window of an untouched shop.

├óÔé¼┼ôYour off by a few feet├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarge said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe keep going to the left├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFuck├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena jerked around some more control leavers and the tank rumbled around ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm just lucky this thing is easy to use├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôeasy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mankowski asked ├óÔé¼┼ôThe way you drive, makes it look├óÔé¼┬Ø. Helena kicked him and Mankowski groaned, grabbing his knee. ├óÔé¼┼ôStow it!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike snapped. The tank started up again and roared forward, the sudden acceleration throwing Mike around in his little space. He banged his sore head against the celling and winced. Fresh blood matted his hair down. He was still in poor shape, but at least he didn't need to walk.

Then a shell bounced off the hull of the tank, landing about ten or so meters away from the tank, blowing the window that they had narrowly missed to shards. ├óÔé¼┼ôShit!├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarge ducked down, slamming the cover down. ├óÔé¼┼ôShell came in at├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena read the data flickering across the green displays next to her station ├óÔé¼┼ôat 92 by 441├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Mankowski typed in some keys and the turret spun around, barrels coming to rest on a building, where a tank had driven through the back and set itself up in there. ├óÔé¼┼ôAmbush├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarge muttered. Lizzy rolled off the hood of the tank, narrowly missing the exiting experince of getting skull crushed by a suddenly moving turret.

She ducked under the tank. She hoped it would be safer under here. ├óÔé¼┼ôFiring!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mankowski said, thumbing down one of the two triggers. The left barrel roared and the shell smashed into the side of the building, ripping it to shreds. The building collapsed onto the tank inside of it, but the tank just drove forward into the street. It was a single gun tank, but it apparently could reload fast. The second shell didn't bounce, but rather detonated on the upper left part of the hull, sending hunks of armorer flying. The jagged hole was not large enough to expose in the innards of the tank, but it was bad enough.

Helena tried to turn the tank around, to get the large bit of armor that was open away, but it was in vain, as Mankowski turned the turret the wrong way. The tank ended up facing in completely the wrong direction, leaving its backside open to the enemy tank. ├óÔé¼┼ôShit shit shit├óÔé¼┬Ø Mankowski started to spin the turret around, but then the radio crackled. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked, picking up the radio speaker. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø the voice piped through was definitely feminine ├óÔé¼┼ôthat you've gotten your paint job scratched and mooned us, why don't yall climb out of that tank├óÔé¼┬Ø.

Sarge ripped the speaker out of Mike's hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is Sargent Glickson, Colonial Marines├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôPlease repeat├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'd like yall to surrender├óÔé¼┬Ø the voice said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd get out of the stolen tank├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sarge covered the speaker with his hand, looking at Helena. She was reading the damage info, her eyes squinting at the green screen. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe can't survive another hit...anywhere, I think├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe armor is shot all to hell├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sarge uncovered the speaker ├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll be out in three seconds. Don't do anything funny├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôTell that to your friend├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike grabbed the speaker ├óÔé¼┼ôWho?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe chick under your tank├óÔé¼┬Ø the voice said.

├óÔé¼┼ôElizabeth Montoya├óÔé¼┬Ø the tank commander said, looking at the other woman with her eye brows raised ├óÔé¼┼ôNever thought you'd still be on this planet├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh god├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy raised her hands ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose you want to arrest me├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat was the general idea├óÔé¼┬Ø the tank commander pulled out an arrest warrant ├óÔé¼┼ôSeems a mite silly, but the Commander has passed out warrants for your arrest to each D.G unit sent out into this god damn city├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy dropped her hands ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. The Tank commander and her crew's guns snapped up. Lizzy put her hands back up ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôKeep this hands up├óÔé¼┬Ø the Tank Commander said.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is going on?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarge asked, climbing out of the tank as best he could missing an arm. He scrambled down the front of the tank and landed with a thump next to Lizzy. He brushed off some dirt off his shirt and looked at the guns aimed at Lizzy. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're friend here is wanted for the murder of Prime Minister G├óÔé¼┬Ø the Tank Commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd the desertion and dereliction of duty├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat's the sentence?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I didn't murder the Prime Minister. At least...I don't think I did├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBoth are punishable by death├óÔé¼┬Ø the Tank Commander said flatly. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat else is punishable by death?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôEverything├óÔé¼┬Ø The Tank Commender said.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is going on?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked, climbing out of the tank and landing next to Lizzy with far more grace then the others. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt seems that I'm wanted for murder and dereliction of duty├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, thinking. ├óÔé¼┼ôhey!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy elbowed him in the stomach ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm no murduer├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou did change sides quite suddenly├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike pointed out. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat's going on?├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena asked, climbing out of the tank. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm going to shoot├óÔé¼┬Ø The Tank Commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôthe next person who says that├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSays what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mankowski asked, climbing out of the tank. ├óÔé¼┼ôLucky you├óÔé¼┬Ø The Tank commander said. Her crew laughed.

├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarge said ├óÔé¼┼ôSo you want to arrest us for stealing the tank, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI would├óÔé¼┬Ø the Tank Commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut first we need some formal introduction's├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am Capitan Tipp Tapper├óÔé¼┬Ø she held out her hand ├óÔé¼┼ôFormerly of the Marines├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSon of a bitch!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy snapped ├óÔé¼┼ôWhen the fuck did you arrive├óÔé¼┬Ø. Tipp sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôAbout ten or so years ago├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI didn't cease existing just cause I left├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know this woman?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôVaguely├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe was my best friends lover for a bit├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd she was a fine woman├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said, looking away. ├óÔé¼┼ôLizzy├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked, looking at Lizzy ├óÔé¼┼ôAre we going to keep running into your old friends and acquaintances on this planet?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts not that unlikely. See Dantana is one of those few planets that is livable right off the bat. Something that attracts people who hate space suites, like me for example. Also Lizzy has made a lot of friends, acquaintances and enemy's├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy smiled for the first time she had sense they buried July ├óÔé¼┼ôThe nice thing is I've buried most of the enemy's├óÔé¼┬Ø. Tipp laughed ├óÔé¼┼ôYour still under arrest├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, pulling out some handcuffs. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't I know it├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy smiled. Then Tipp hand cuffed her and she stopped smiling.

And now drama! Action! Romance! And a mysterious new charicter. Another one that is.

Oh and don't worry about Tipp. Its just a cameo.


├óÔé¼┼ôWe didn't do anything, by the way├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said. The doors clanged shut and her words bounced off them. ├óÔé¼┼ôfuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy kicked the wall, emphasizing it with a curse ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't believe that my first meeting with that bitch in thirty odd years, and she throws me in prison!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôTo be fair├óÔé¼┬Ø Mankowski pointed out ├óÔé¼┼ôAt least we are safe in prison, surrounded by a platoon of D.G. And she was under orders├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't care├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôAfter all I let her get away with, you'd think a simple side switching would be all right by her├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell, actually├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôI wouldn't, no├óÔé¼┬Ø.

Tipp walked down the hall, her beret tilted a little farther then it was normal. She smiled as two D.G troopers walked past. They both saluted, looking very haggard and the worse for wear. Everyone in the D.G base, parliament and the buildings around it, looked haggard and the worse for wear. The D.G, the refugee's and the science teams. Everyone. Tipp got to the door and raped on it with her knuckle. ├óÔé¼┼ôCome in├óÔé¼┬Ø A muffled voice said. Tipp opened the door slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôCapitan Tipp's here├óÔé¼┬Ø a man said, not looking up from his microscope.

├óÔé¼┼ôGood├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria said, slowly pushing her chair away from her desk. She stood up, not saluting, her hand reaching out. Tipp realized she wanted to shake, and took her hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôHeard you got some anomalous readings off that hotel├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Five Star?├óÔé¼┬Ø Robson said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnomalous readings my ass. More like off the charts├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat does that mean?├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp asked ├óÔé¼┼ôAll I know is they are anomalous readings. Whats anomalous about them, and what the reading is is a mystery├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou are supposed to be our military adviser, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria asked, sitting down ├óÔé¼┼ôSo you should have paid attention to the freaken briefing!├óÔé¼┬Ø.

├óÔé¼┼ôFucking briefing, more like├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said ├óÔé¼┼ôJust give me the basics├óÔé¼┬Ø. Gloria sighed, calling up some images on her computer ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is our enemy, S-02├óÔé¼┬Ø she pointed at the black creature on the screen. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know this. In fact I knew that before the rest of you├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow and why that is you have yet to explain, by the way├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria said. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy life story is too long to go into at this point├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôSo what are these readings?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHigh Energy Partical Emission readings. HEPE's, for short├óÔé¼┬Ø Robson said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey spiked high enough to break one of our scanners computers at least five times in the last few hours├óÔé¼┬Ø.

├óÔé¼┼ôSo the herpes are off the chart├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you wanted to drag me away from my men for this?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe thought that the Commander would want to be informed that there is a S-02 of incredible, almost impossible strength. It looks...smart.├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThese things are animal├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey don't DO smart├óÔé¼┬Ø. Gloria ran her fingers through her hair ├óÔé¼┼ôI pray to the Gods that your right├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI really really do├óÔé¼┬Ø. Tipp nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll report in on the next briefing├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria said ├óÔé¼┼ôTell the Commander now├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll report in now├óÔé¼┬Ø she walked out of the room. Gloria closed her eyes, wishing she wasn't so bone tired. Robson patted her shoulder ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll take these fucks down├óÔé¼┬Ø he looked back at the microscope. Small bits of black grit were in the slide, trembling slightly ├óÔé¼┼ôFor Alex├óÔé¼┬Ø he said.

Tipp knocked on the Commander's door ├óÔé¼┼ôSir├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe smart boys downstairs have some news you might want to hear about├óÔé¼┬Ø. There was a wait. Then ├óÔé¼┼ôCome in Capitan├óÔé¼┬Ø came through on the intercom. Tipp opened the door, walking in slowly. The room was dark, with a few bright red screens with blue words written across them. It looked like an eyesore, but the Commander seemed to like it. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat...is it, Capitan├óÔé¼┬Ø the Commander asked, not moving. He was sitting at his desk, staring intently ahead. His white gloves came together in front of his face, and all Tipp could see were two glasses. He never took those glasses off. They reflected herself back at her, a silent mask. Tipp was beginning to think that she had come in at a bad time.

├óÔé¼┼ôThere have been high HEPE readings from the Five Star Hotel├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said, standing at attention. ├óÔé¼┼ôBefore...or after?├óÔé¼┬Ø The Commander asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôBefore and After├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe think it may have been related. Its also possible that├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSend three squads and a tank├óÔé¼┬Ø The Commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôFind any survives and bring them back to this base. If they resist, even a little, retreat. Don't ask questions, don't try to destroy your target, just leave. We don't need casualty's├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôright, sir├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said, snapping a salute. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø the Commander slowly leaned back in his chair, putting his hands down ├óÔé¼┼ôLet Montoya out of prison and bring her here. Once you get back├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôy-Yes sir├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp turned around and walked out of the room.

├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman said, smiling. She draped the blanket over the girl. She couldn't be more then a teenager, eighteen at the oldest. Her black hair was matted to her head, and she had been found wandering around the ruin's of the Five Star hotel. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou'll be fine├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman smiled again. She was one of the civilians who had volunteered to beat about the city for more survives and supply's. She had a small SMG tucked under her jacket, a item not at odds with her gentle old lady appearance. The girl clung to her, looking around madly. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere is he?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere is he!├óÔé¼┬Ø.

├óÔé¼┼ôWho's that?├óÔé¼┬Ø the man asked. He was the woman's partner, and he was looking worried ├óÔé¼┼ôSoots are coming this way├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe must have hit her head or something├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø the girl said with a sudden vehemence ├óÔé¼┼ôShe did it, she shot me├óÔé¼┬Ø she tapped the side of her head ├óÔé¼┼ôRight here, again and again and again till it was click click and she thought I couldn't hear her, but I could├óÔé¼┬Ø. The woman, looking a bit worried now ├óÔé¼┼ôShhh├óÔé¼┬Ø she said softly ├óÔé¼┼ôShhh├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSHUT UP!├óÔé¼┬Ø The girl shoved her away. The woman flew backwards and landed in the middle of the street, moaning softly.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the fuck├óÔé¼┬Ø The man pulled for his gun. Then his neck slowly turned around. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can break it├óÔé¼┬Ø the girl said ├óÔé¼┼ôI could snap you like a twig├óÔé¼┬Ø. The man grabbed at his throat, feeling the invisible hands that grabbed him there. Then his head twisted around with a loud snap and he fell, gurgling. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh god├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman moaned, standing. She turned to run away, but then she tripped up, being dragged back to the girl. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not done with you├óÔé¼┬Ø The girl said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou simpering fool! You don't know that evolution is fed with blood. Your helping just sets us back!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The woman gibbered.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou...will be another cog in the machine of evolution├óÔé¼┬Ø the girl said. There was a sound of ripping flesh and the upper torso of the woman slammed into the far side of the street, splatting blood down the side of a building. The girl giggled. ├óÔé¼┼ôits so simple├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI kill Mike and he can never get away from me again├óÔé¼┬Ø. She looked up to parliament and started to walk towards it, one of her legs dragging. She looked down and saw a jagged piece of glass had sliced half her thigh off. She could see bone. She concentrated. But she couldn't get it to reform. The Target took another step and fell forward. She started to cry. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt hurts├óÔé¼┬Ø She moaned ├óÔé¼┼ôIt HURTS!├óÔé¼┬Ø. She pulled into herself, blood tricking into the ground around her. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy does it hurt?├óÔé¼┬Ø she sobbed.

Tipp looked at the woman's corpse and felt a little sick. She had seen Soots eat a man in half in a few seconds. But this was different. More anatomical and precise then anything she had seen. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe found a surviver├óÔé¼┬Ø a D.G said ├óÔé¼┼ôA eighteen year old girl. Whatever killed the man and the woman just left her alive with a big chunk taken out of her leg├óÔé¼┬Ø. Two D.G were walking past behind the man, carrying a stretcher between them. The girl in the stretcher was moaning softly, her veins bulging, her mouth clenched.

├óÔé¼┼ôShe's a luck one├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said. ├óÔé¼┼ôOdd orders├óÔé¼┬Ø the D.G said, looking at the girl. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Commander's kept us alive the last few days├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot much of us├óÔé¼┬Ø the D.G frowned. Tipp looked at the sky. She was one of the few that knew about the Agamemnon. She was one of the few who knew they had been abandoned down here. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll get out soon├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôCapitan!├óÔé¼┬Ø someone shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôA huge bunch of Soots are coming down here fast!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said ├óÔé¼┼ôGet flamers and lasers ready, lets move out├óÔé¼┬Ø.

Tipp expected a pitched battle mixed with a retreat, falling back as the Soots attacked. But instead the Soots stopped about a hundred meters off and followed the convoy until they got to the perimeter. Then they left. ├óÔé¼┼ôCreepy├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp muttered. She looked at the girl. The girl moaned in her sleep, the sedatives not having much effect on her as Tipp had hoped. Then the girl flinched, as if under attack. The handle of the tank turret's exit snapped off. Tipp dodged it. She looked at it in amazement. It wasn't rusted, damaged or in any other way weakened. It has been ripped off the thing. By what?

The air lock finally finished cycling. Keller panted softly, worried sick. His bridge crew stayed at the ship. All he took was a single low caliber pistol. If shit came down he would be cut to pieces by the Agamemnon's defense system. So as the door opened he prayed one last time. Then the prayer died on his lips. Sarris was sitting in a chair opposite him, her head lolling to the side slightly. She wasn't restrained. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh my god├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller ran forward and grabbed Sarris, hugging her tight. She felt solid and real, as alive as him. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour alive├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller hugged her tighter ├óÔé¼┼ôYour alive!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow touching├óÔé¼┬Ø A voice said.

Keller jerked away from Sarris and looked at the door that the voice had come from. The room had three doors. Two into the ship and the air lock. And in one of those doors stood Joseph Kelly. Keller remembered an ancient television show Sarris had forced him to watch, to better understand their position in the cosmos. This man sprung to mind one of the characters from the show, a incredibly unrealistic portrayal of a Capitan. It was also a incredibly unrealistic portrayal of space flight. Joseph's head was bald, aside from a thin strip that ran across the back. His face was elderly, older then Keller would have guessed.

├óÔé¼┼ôJoseph Kelly├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph reached out with his hand ├óÔé¼┼ôYou must be Capitan Keller├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat have you done to my General├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour lover from how Ron tells it├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I won't report that when I turn in your crew over to the Colonials├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAbout that├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe really need to work out the terms of this surrender├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôTrue├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph said ├óÔé¼┼ôOr we could split up and kill each other in a verity of ways. Or we can haggle over the terms of the surrender. Or...there is a third option├óÔé¼┬Ø. Keller swallowed, looking at the unconscious Sarris ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat's the third option?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôThe third option...├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph said ├óÔé¼┼ôI've been offered quadruple pay to not tell you what I'm about to. But if we pull this off right we can be rich beyond all dreams of avarice├óÔé¼┬Ø. Keller looked at Joseph. Something in his eyes was chilling. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you don't want to take a risk and would rather walk your crew into freezer vats and face military tribunal as the Navy feeds you to the dogs to make up the scandle your defeat will cause├óÔé¼┬Ø. Keller sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôVery well├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø.

├óÔé¼┼ôFirst a history lesson├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph said, running a hand over his bald plate ├óÔé¼┼ôIn the 2160's the Quarantine zone was created. Why?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Keller thought back to his history class ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause of the war viruses. They infested that area of space, and if they got back into human├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWRONG!├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph slammed his hand down on the desk ├óÔé¼┼ôWrong!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Quarantine Zone was created because a star ship, owned and operated by the Bio-War Cooperation, the self same corp that owns and operates THIS ship, came back from Darkside├óÔé¼┬Ø.

Keller laughed ├óÔé¼┼ôYou don't really expect me to believe in Darkside, do you?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause its true├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph said ├óÔé¼┼ôI've seen records, kept alive through World War Four and the crash. I've seen the things that that ship brought out of Darkside├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIn the ship computers├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph said ├óÔé¼┼ôOnce cretin parameters are met the ship computer on every single Bio-War ship tells the Capitan and tells them what to do in the situation├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat parameters?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph slid a piece of paper over the table and Keller picked it up. It was a HEPE chart. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf this├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph continued ├óÔé¼┼ôGets above this├óÔé¼┬Ø.

├óÔé¼┼ôBut├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôHEPE's never get this high. I know that much about physics├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôUnless├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph said ├óÔé¼┼ôThere's something creating them├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo...├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe something that was found by the Bio-War ship causes HEPE emissions to go through the roof├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd If we bring some back to SOL then we can sell it to the highest bidder├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph said. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...but who would buy it? And why!├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph slid a picture over the table ├óÔé¼┼ôthis is what happens when it hits a planet├óÔé¼┬Ø.

It took some time for Keller to make sense of the picture. It looked like a flat plane with a black horizon, speckled with stars. Below those stars was blackness, striped through with massive veins of deep blue. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats this?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis was a picture, taken from remote probe, from the surface of Corriala├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôCorriala?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked. Then he remembered. The reason for the Extermination. The planet that had been hit by...the bio-weapon. ├óÔé¼┼ôDid you say that Corriala has been turned into a ball of black sand?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked.

├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph said ├óÔé¼┼ôThere never was a biological weapon! Dantana never attacked anything. Corriala was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. And think of what the cooperation, what the colonials would pay for a weapon this complete and deadly!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Keller was aghast ├óÔé¼┼ôYour insane├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is exactly what the Colonial government is trying to prevent!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBullshit!├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph said, standing ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Colonials have just as many nukes, bioweapons and mass drivers as anyone else. Thats why Exterminations are so important. Not to preserve humanity from its own weapons, but to keep the Colonials in power├óÔé¼┬Ø.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat if I refuse to help├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said. Joseph's face constricted slightly, a tremor of anger slipping through. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you don't help├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, pulling out his pistol and pressing it against Sarris's head ├óÔé¼┼ôThen she dies├óÔé¼┬Ø. Keller stood up, but Joseph pulled the trigger back, enough to bring the hammer on his gun back. ├óÔé¼┼ôA second more├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd your girlfriend dies├óÔé¼┬Ø. Keller slowly sat down and Joseph released the trigger. The hammer slid back to its normal position. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph said ├óÔé¼┼ôI need you for the most important job of our new operation. Your marines need to go onto the planet and capture a very special S-02...her name is Eve├óÔé¼┬Ø.

Trailer for the next episode!

"b-but your...your dead!".

"Thats true...but death really isn't exactly the handicap that it used to be"

Zoombie wrote:Trailer for the next episode!

"b-but your...your dead!".

"Thats true...but death really isn't exactly the handicap that it used to be"

Way of blowing eve's "ressurection" into proportion!

Or?

WRONG!

Gah, it can be ANYONE from the old Darkside... but it must be someone lizzy knows, i know it. Or it's like a totaly NEW charater for the super extra peperoni plot twist!


Well, you know who IM rooting for! :D

I bet your hoping that its yourself.

Yes! Kixxie in Darkside!

Pops up, says hi, gets trodden on by the Target. Or a suitably large mech

Zoombie wrote:I bet your hoping that its yourself.

Peter, you fool! don't you reamber how i whined in Darkside?

Your still wrong.

I thought Tapp's commander sounded a lot like Peter or the Marshall - except that the Marshall is dead - and so is Peter come to think of it - his ship got hit by several hundred nukes... of the two, most likely to be the Marshall then

Still wrong. Tapp is the brother. Tipp is the sister. Tipp is on Dantana. Tapp is elsewhere.

Oops. They're easy to get mixed up. And where is 'Elsewhere'?

A place not defined by any charicters in the story.

why do you always type captain as capitan?