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#51
Fan Art & Fiction / Re: Sapient Plague ( All Comme...
Last post by cairn destop - Sep 24, 2018, 07:51 AMIt seems my first chapter was too long for the site. I had to break it into two segments. Anyway, part one is posted and I anticipate posting the other chapter around the same time.
As always, you can either post your comments, compliments, insults, or observations on this thread or via PM. I will answer any and all posts.
As always, you can either post your comments, compliments, insults, or observations on this thread or via PM. I will answer any and all posts.
#52
Fan Art & Fiction / Re: Sapient Plague ( No Commen...
Last post by cairn destop - Sep 24, 2018, 07:48 AMHe rushed down the central path, following a series of twists and turns until he came to a pair of thick black curtains. Captain Riven parted them and followed a short corridor deeper underground. A second pair of curtains blocked his path, which he pushed aside. Four red lanterns gave him just enough light to identify six rows of occupied bunk beds.
Once he removed his helmet, Captain Riven used it like a hammer on the nearest wooden support beam. The sound of thunder echoed through the room. Every dog tumbled out of their bunks. The nearest one recognized who had disturbed their slumber and called for attention. The soldiers stood by their bunks in various states of disarray as they wrestled with the idea of military protocol or a proper uniform.
"Alright mutts, without any of the usual alpha bragging, which of you is this company's best sniper?"
A dalmatian at the far end took one step forward. Captain Riven strolled up to the fellow and just stared, letting the tension build and the silence grow.
"Get our best spotter and whichever shooter would give you the most competition and report to Hanger Three in ten minutes. Draw a full load for each type of round. No way of telling what we'll encounter."
With that, he pivoted on one heel and made for the curtained exit. Just before he stepped past the inner curtains, he informed everyone that the camp was officially on condition yellow. As he departed, he heard the remaining soldiers preparing for the possibility of combat. At least those soldiers would be ready if things deteriorated fast to condition red.
His memory served him well. Though the path had many twists to it, it was the most direct one to Hanger Three. When he pushed pass the blackout curtains, he found a wide room bustling with activity as mechanics scrambled over the different vehicles. One cigar chewing boxer kept bellowing orders as he prowled the hanger. One private didn't respond fast enough and received the kind of tongue lashing soldiers believed only drill instructors possessed.
When the Sargent realized who had entered his hanger, he hustled to his side. Since they were in a combat area, the boxer abandoned the formality of saluting. Instead, the boxer took Riven by the elbow to a land zodiac. At present, the vehicle sat on four stubby legs, its hover engines disconnected. The land zodiac ran swift and silent on a cushion of air a full foot above the highest terrain within ten meters of their path, an ideal scouting platform.
A young private ran his paw across the exterior while he read through the prelaunch checklist. One look said it all, like the rat in communications, the young ferret must have arrived with the latest rotation of personnel. No doubt the Sargent guessed the reason for his discomfort and relayed the fellow's record and his personal assurance that Private Lewark was the best driver available. His mind kept fixating on the fact that all his accolades were achieved in a sterile training environment, not in combat.
Three dogs announced their presence just as the private started the engine. Captain Riven eyed the two who joined the dalmatian. Like the dalmatian, the shepherd carried his sniper rifle slung over his shoulder while holding onto a large backpack. Instead of the usual camouflage outfit, the two shooters wore a heat reflective dark suit. Uncomfortable for long missions since it didn't ventilate any body heat but it did leave them invisible to inferred detectors. A definite plus on any night mission.
The third dog, a small terrier carried no weapon but did have the same camouflage outfit. Instead of a weapon, he carried a tripod mounted scope. This had to be their spotter. All Captain Riven could do was hope the fellow competent in such adverse weather conditions. While the two shooters waited, their spotter packed his gear and mounted the back seat. The shooters took the middle seats leaving him the jump seat next to the driver.
The zodiac gave a slight hiss than tilted forward. Four running lights flashed as their driver crossed the hanger for the exit. The inner doors opened and the craft drifted forward. The attendant handed the driver his IFF code and the fellow punched it into the transponder. All running lights winked off and the hanger's outer doors slid open.
Everything appeared black. Both moons remained hidden by the clouds as the zodiac crept forward. The clang of the hanger doors shutting turned into a starter's pistol. Private Lewark tipped the bow down and their ride accelerated to full speed in mere seconds. Ground radar guided the driver as he followed a pre-plotted course over their mine field towards the first bend in the pass.
Captain Riven tried keeping calm in the featureless night. Snowflakes became stinging pebbles digging deep into his facial fur as they sped into the darkness. He knew the distances by heart but without any visual references, the first turn almost threw him from the zodiac. A glance behind him showed the three dogs not only secured their gear before departure but had strapped themselves down as well. He followed their example just before the driver executed a second turn that should have hurled him over the side.
It came more as a sensation than anything definitive. One moment their speed hovered near the upper end of the normal operational limits and the next it became a slow crawl. The vehicle gave a low whine and Captain Riven felt himself come to a full stop. The three dogs beat him out of the vehicle even though he traveled with little gear.
Their spotter pointed uphill and all fell in line behind the terrier. Captain Riven stayed with the spotter as the two shooters disappeared into the night. While the terrier attended to his equipment, Captain Riven pulled out a pair of high-powered night binoculars and allowed them to rest on his muzzle. The eerie greenish tint colored everything as he scanned the distance.
A quick check of the compass readings confirmed what he saw. Humans scurried like ants over the dragon teeth installed at their end of the pass. Other soldiers worked to establish makeshift bridges across the antivehicle trenches. Further back, a line of trucks extended to the first turn. On either side of the road, armored vehicles sat. Unlike the usual second quality vehicles used on raids, these were top grade armor. Captain Riven had his confirmation, the humans must be preparing for a major offensive drive.
The terrier interrupted his observations. "Orders, sir?"
Captain Riven considered his options. "Find two officers working on those obstructions."
The terrier muttered into the headset he wore while using his scope. A moment later he gave the command and two shots echoed as one. The results were spectacular. Soldiers dove for whatever cover could be found while others prepared for some defensive move.
"Use explosive incendiary and light the night."
Again, the terrier muttered into his mike while keeping his scope focused on some distant target. It seemed to take a much longer time for him to coordinate with the shooters but when he gave the command, the effects proved spectacular. One truck filled with fuel drums and parked within a circle of battle tanks caught fire. Fifty-five-gallon drums of high octane fuel exploded like roman candles. Another truck turned into a fireball setting off a nearby munition stockpile.
The spotter folded his tripod and unscrewed the scope. His mike sat halfway in his shirt pocket. The laser comms he retrieved and packed in another pocket.
"I don't know where you're going soldier, but we have a job to do." Captain Riven snarled at the smaller terrier.
"Begging your pardon sir, but you don't understand snipers. First shot is always a surprise. Second shot gives those hairless moneys our general location. We take a third shot without moving at least half a mile and they will drop a dozen mortar shells right on top of us."
"Than you better hope our driver is as good as his reputation. Antipersonnel, target of opportunity, no officers. Everyone expects snipers to target the brass. You shoot a grunt and every soldier will wonder if the next bullet is for them."
It took longer reestablishing contact with the shooters while the spotter reset his equipment. Than started a series of contact reports that seemed to be identifying every soldier on the far end of the valley. These reports continued as shooter and spotter debated the value of each target. Agreement at last and the spotter gave the standby command.
The terrier covered the mike with his paw. "When I give the command to fire, get your furry butt to that zodiac, sir. We will have approximately ten to fifteen seconds before they get a firing solution and another five seconds for the ranging shells to land. Anticipate a full salvo after another five seconds. If any of us are still here, we'll be fertilizing the spring grass."
Private Lewark must have anticipated the hasty retreat as the vehicle no longer sat on its legs. The zodiac floated in place, its engines purring. All four of them jumped over the sides as they scrambled to safety. Forward thrust came just as the first two shells landed. One fell on the opposite side of the rise while the second shell landed a half dozen yards in front of them. Their driver applied maximum thrust even as the air filled with the banshee screech of shells on a downward trajectory. A series of explosions filled the area just vacated. Half exploded on contact while the rest detonated several meters above the ground.
They made it beyond the kill zone before a series of high caliber shells further churned the landscape. Everyone managed to secure themselves and their gear prior to the first turn. Their driver reduced speed to the normal operating range as he backtracked their course. All of them kept a watch on their rear, checking for any pursuit. Either the humans thought they killed the snipers or were not about to expend additional ordinance.
They made the final turn for base when the radio crackled. "Inbound zodiac, base has gone to condition red. Adjust transponder and Ident."
The driver reached for the code box and moved wheel one up a number, the second wheel two notches up, the third wheel three notches up, and the last wheel four notches down and pressed the transmit button.
"IFF verified. Automated defenses deactivate. You have thirty seconds to reach departure point."
The zodiac engines went to full power as they raced across the open field. As they roared across the field, Captain Riven tried locating the hanger. With eight seconds remaining on the countdown clock, Private Lewark killed thrust and allowed the zodiac to drift to a stop. The Captain thought the sound of the hanger doors closing behind them the sweetest sound he ever heard.
Once the craft came to a stop, Captain Riven darted through the hanger. He raced through each ring as he made his way back to the base's comm center. Soldiers passed him going in the opposite direction as they rushed to their assigned station. His second, Lieutenant Snarken, remained a pace behind him as he entered the innermost ring. By the time he found the comm center, he had been fully briefed on the status of all defenses.
The female rat still maintained her post. One glance at the security files showed them armed for self-destruction. Rice paper sat on a table above a bucket of water, its agitator churning and leaving a puddle on the cement floor. Captain Riven grabbed the stack of messages and scanned each before dropping them in the bucket. He hesitated on one that said when the commander of the Northern Pass Fortress last conducted a security sweep. The final message referred to an updated weather report.
He dug down a few pages and pulled up the weather forecast. All color drained from his face. He shouted for the secure laser relay line to HQ. Somebody had to be there from intelligence. It took him almost thirty minutes convincing the lower echelons his message important enough to relay to the next level of command. When a colonel responded, he figured either this guy listened or it wouldn't matter.
"Colonel, the humans are mounting a full-scale offense. Alert those guarding the main mountain pass of the attack. . .. They haven't conducted one for five days. . .. Yes sir, I said five days. . .. That's why they're attacking, sir. . .. This weather will ground all air for at least a week. Our air superiority is worthless. . .. The humans don't have the time to hunt down our gunships. . .. Tell him to try contacting us in an hour. . .. Well, one of us will look the fool."
Captain Riven couldn't believe this fellow's obstinance. All he kept saying is winter and heavy snows. Even mentioned the human's adherence to some ancient Earth holiday observance. At least he did pass the information to his immediate superior. The phone hummed for several moments before a new voice responded. He never got to confirm his orders before the line died. His first guess, the humans found their laser relay station and took it out with a hand-held missile.
"Our orders are to hold at all costs, no retreat."
He had to shout above the whine of incoming artillery. The lady rat grabbed her helmet and dove under her desk as the shelling commenced. None of those shells came anywhere near this bunker and yet she cringed as if the next one might land in her lap. He would have laughed but remembered his first battle when he was no more than a year older than her. Captain Riven grabbed her belt and pulled her from under the desk.
"A word of advice, cut off that name tag. Human spotters will shout out any name they see hoping you'll poke your head up for their snipers." Captain Riven exited the bunker, keeping his head below the rampart. "Too bad they don't teach ancient human history. We are about to become Malmedy or Bastogne."
Once he removed his helmet, Captain Riven used it like a hammer on the nearest wooden support beam. The sound of thunder echoed through the room. Every dog tumbled out of their bunks. The nearest one recognized who had disturbed their slumber and called for attention. The soldiers stood by their bunks in various states of disarray as they wrestled with the idea of military protocol or a proper uniform.
"Alright mutts, without any of the usual alpha bragging, which of you is this company's best sniper?"
A dalmatian at the far end took one step forward. Captain Riven strolled up to the fellow and just stared, letting the tension build and the silence grow.
"Get our best spotter and whichever shooter would give you the most competition and report to Hanger Three in ten minutes. Draw a full load for each type of round. No way of telling what we'll encounter."
With that, he pivoted on one heel and made for the curtained exit. Just before he stepped past the inner curtains, he informed everyone that the camp was officially on condition yellow. As he departed, he heard the remaining soldiers preparing for the possibility of combat. At least those soldiers would be ready if things deteriorated fast to condition red.
His memory served him well. Though the path had many twists to it, it was the most direct one to Hanger Three. When he pushed pass the blackout curtains, he found a wide room bustling with activity as mechanics scrambled over the different vehicles. One cigar chewing boxer kept bellowing orders as he prowled the hanger. One private didn't respond fast enough and received the kind of tongue lashing soldiers believed only drill instructors possessed.
When the Sargent realized who had entered his hanger, he hustled to his side. Since they were in a combat area, the boxer abandoned the formality of saluting. Instead, the boxer took Riven by the elbow to a land zodiac. At present, the vehicle sat on four stubby legs, its hover engines disconnected. The land zodiac ran swift and silent on a cushion of air a full foot above the highest terrain within ten meters of their path, an ideal scouting platform.
A young private ran his paw across the exterior while he read through the prelaunch checklist. One look said it all, like the rat in communications, the young ferret must have arrived with the latest rotation of personnel. No doubt the Sargent guessed the reason for his discomfort and relayed the fellow's record and his personal assurance that Private Lewark was the best driver available. His mind kept fixating on the fact that all his accolades were achieved in a sterile training environment, not in combat.
Three dogs announced their presence just as the private started the engine. Captain Riven eyed the two who joined the dalmatian. Like the dalmatian, the shepherd carried his sniper rifle slung over his shoulder while holding onto a large backpack. Instead of the usual camouflage outfit, the two shooters wore a heat reflective dark suit. Uncomfortable for long missions since it didn't ventilate any body heat but it did leave them invisible to inferred detectors. A definite plus on any night mission.
The third dog, a small terrier carried no weapon but did have the same camouflage outfit. Instead of a weapon, he carried a tripod mounted scope. This had to be their spotter. All Captain Riven could do was hope the fellow competent in such adverse weather conditions. While the two shooters waited, their spotter packed his gear and mounted the back seat. The shooters took the middle seats leaving him the jump seat next to the driver.
The zodiac gave a slight hiss than tilted forward. Four running lights flashed as their driver crossed the hanger for the exit. The inner doors opened and the craft drifted forward. The attendant handed the driver his IFF code and the fellow punched it into the transponder. All running lights winked off and the hanger's outer doors slid open.
Everything appeared black. Both moons remained hidden by the clouds as the zodiac crept forward. The clang of the hanger doors shutting turned into a starter's pistol. Private Lewark tipped the bow down and their ride accelerated to full speed in mere seconds. Ground radar guided the driver as he followed a pre-plotted course over their mine field towards the first bend in the pass.
Captain Riven tried keeping calm in the featureless night. Snowflakes became stinging pebbles digging deep into his facial fur as they sped into the darkness. He knew the distances by heart but without any visual references, the first turn almost threw him from the zodiac. A glance behind him showed the three dogs not only secured their gear before departure but had strapped themselves down as well. He followed their example just before the driver executed a second turn that should have hurled him over the side.
It came more as a sensation than anything definitive. One moment their speed hovered near the upper end of the normal operational limits and the next it became a slow crawl. The vehicle gave a low whine and Captain Riven felt himself come to a full stop. The three dogs beat him out of the vehicle even though he traveled with little gear.
Their spotter pointed uphill and all fell in line behind the terrier. Captain Riven stayed with the spotter as the two shooters disappeared into the night. While the terrier attended to his equipment, Captain Riven pulled out a pair of high-powered night binoculars and allowed them to rest on his muzzle. The eerie greenish tint colored everything as he scanned the distance.
A quick check of the compass readings confirmed what he saw. Humans scurried like ants over the dragon teeth installed at their end of the pass. Other soldiers worked to establish makeshift bridges across the antivehicle trenches. Further back, a line of trucks extended to the first turn. On either side of the road, armored vehicles sat. Unlike the usual second quality vehicles used on raids, these were top grade armor. Captain Riven had his confirmation, the humans must be preparing for a major offensive drive.
The terrier interrupted his observations. "Orders, sir?"
Captain Riven considered his options. "Find two officers working on those obstructions."
The terrier muttered into the headset he wore while using his scope. A moment later he gave the command and two shots echoed as one. The results were spectacular. Soldiers dove for whatever cover could be found while others prepared for some defensive move.
"Use explosive incendiary and light the night."
Again, the terrier muttered into his mike while keeping his scope focused on some distant target. It seemed to take a much longer time for him to coordinate with the shooters but when he gave the command, the effects proved spectacular. One truck filled with fuel drums and parked within a circle of battle tanks caught fire. Fifty-five-gallon drums of high octane fuel exploded like roman candles. Another truck turned into a fireball setting off a nearby munition stockpile.
The spotter folded his tripod and unscrewed the scope. His mike sat halfway in his shirt pocket. The laser comms he retrieved and packed in another pocket.
"I don't know where you're going soldier, but we have a job to do." Captain Riven snarled at the smaller terrier.
"Begging your pardon sir, but you don't understand snipers. First shot is always a surprise. Second shot gives those hairless moneys our general location. We take a third shot without moving at least half a mile and they will drop a dozen mortar shells right on top of us."
"Than you better hope our driver is as good as his reputation. Antipersonnel, target of opportunity, no officers. Everyone expects snipers to target the brass. You shoot a grunt and every soldier will wonder if the next bullet is for them."
It took longer reestablishing contact with the shooters while the spotter reset his equipment. Than started a series of contact reports that seemed to be identifying every soldier on the far end of the valley. These reports continued as shooter and spotter debated the value of each target. Agreement at last and the spotter gave the standby command.
The terrier covered the mike with his paw. "When I give the command to fire, get your furry butt to that zodiac, sir. We will have approximately ten to fifteen seconds before they get a firing solution and another five seconds for the ranging shells to land. Anticipate a full salvo after another five seconds. If any of us are still here, we'll be fertilizing the spring grass."
Private Lewark must have anticipated the hasty retreat as the vehicle no longer sat on its legs. The zodiac floated in place, its engines purring. All four of them jumped over the sides as they scrambled to safety. Forward thrust came just as the first two shells landed. One fell on the opposite side of the rise while the second shell landed a half dozen yards in front of them. Their driver applied maximum thrust even as the air filled with the banshee screech of shells on a downward trajectory. A series of explosions filled the area just vacated. Half exploded on contact while the rest detonated several meters above the ground.
They made it beyond the kill zone before a series of high caliber shells further churned the landscape. Everyone managed to secure themselves and their gear prior to the first turn. Their driver reduced speed to the normal operating range as he backtracked their course. All of them kept a watch on their rear, checking for any pursuit. Either the humans thought they killed the snipers or were not about to expend additional ordinance.
They made the final turn for base when the radio crackled. "Inbound zodiac, base has gone to condition red. Adjust transponder and Ident."
The driver reached for the code box and moved wheel one up a number, the second wheel two notches up, the third wheel three notches up, and the last wheel four notches down and pressed the transmit button.
"IFF verified. Automated defenses deactivate. You have thirty seconds to reach departure point."
The zodiac engines went to full power as they raced across the open field. As they roared across the field, Captain Riven tried locating the hanger. With eight seconds remaining on the countdown clock, Private Lewark killed thrust and allowed the zodiac to drift to a stop. The Captain thought the sound of the hanger doors closing behind them the sweetest sound he ever heard.
Once the craft came to a stop, Captain Riven darted through the hanger. He raced through each ring as he made his way back to the base's comm center. Soldiers passed him going in the opposite direction as they rushed to their assigned station. His second, Lieutenant Snarken, remained a pace behind him as he entered the innermost ring. By the time he found the comm center, he had been fully briefed on the status of all defenses.
The female rat still maintained her post. One glance at the security files showed them armed for self-destruction. Rice paper sat on a table above a bucket of water, its agitator churning and leaving a puddle on the cement floor. Captain Riven grabbed the stack of messages and scanned each before dropping them in the bucket. He hesitated on one that said when the commander of the Northern Pass Fortress last conducted a security sweep. The final message referred to an updated weather report.
He dug down a few pages and pulled up the weather forecast. All color drained from his face. He shouted for the secure laser relay line to HQ. Somebody had to be there from intelligence. It took him almost thirty minutes convincing the lower echelons his message important enough to relay to the next level of command. When a colonel responded, he figured either this guy listened or it wouldn't matter.
"Colonel, the humans are mounting a full-scale offense. Alert those guarding the main mountain pass of the attack. . .. They haven't conducted one for five days. . .. Yes sir, I said five days. . .. That's why they're attacking, sir. . .. This weather will ground all air for at least a week. Our air superiority is worthless. . .. The humans don't have the time to hunt down our gunships. . .. Tell him to try contacting us in an hour. . .. Well, one of us will look the fool."
Captain Riven couldn't believe this fellow's obstinance. All he kept saying is winter and heavy snows. Even mentioned the human's adherence to some ancient Earth holiday observance. At least he did pass the information to his immediate superior. The phone hummed for several moments before a new voice responded. He never got to confirm his orders before the line died. His first guess, the humans found their laser relay station and took it out with a hand-held missile.
"Our orders are to hold at all costs, no retreat."
He had to shout above the whine of incoming artillery. The lady rat grabbed her helmet and dove under her desk as the shelling commenced. None of those shells came anywhere near this bunker and yet she cringed as if the next one might land in her lap. He would have laughed but remembered his first battle when he was no more than a year older than her. Captain Riven grabbed her belt and pulled her from under the desk.
"A word of advice, cut off that name tag. Human spotters will shout out any name they see hoping you'll poke your head up for their snipers." Captain Riven exited the bunker, keeping his head below the rampart. "Too bad they don't teach ancient human history. We are about to become Malmedy or Bastogne."
#53
Fan Art & Fiction / Re: Sapient Plague ( No Commen...
Last post by cairn destop - Sep 24, 2018, 07:47 AMCaptain Riven exited the comm center and jogged to the command bunker. He slipped his helmet onto his head as he weaved his way through the trench system, making sure he stayed below the rim. Instead of entering the bunker, he followed a stairway to the observation post. The Terratwo sun had risen an hour ago but the surrounding mountains kept this base and the valley they guarded in deep shadows. A look up at the steel grey winter sky told him not to expect sunshine today.
A mixed terrier poked his head out of the bunker. "Morning Captain. All's quiet. Both seismic detectors and ground radar stayed green. Only activity overnight has been from our patrols. Sentries and scouts reported nothing."
Captain Riven acknowledged the report as he scanned the valley stretching beyond his defensive outpost. The mountains were too steep for climbing so he didn't worry about snipers. If any of those hairless monkeys tried it, the nightly patrols should have eliminated them before they became a threat.
His concern focused on an evening infantry or armored assault. At this time of year, the setting sun blinded them. Another ten days and the sun would shift far enough to remove any glare. Until then, they would have difficulties seeing their enemy if they slipped past the automated detectors.
"Corporal, hold a readiness drill for later today." He continued his inspection of the area.
"Captain," whined the terrier, "we can go from condition green to all weapons hot in five minutes. Those seismic detectors will give us at least a fifteen-minute warning. Why your insistence on these pointless drills?"
"I have confidence in our equipment but I'll not trust my life with it. Technology can be thwarted but not a pair of sharp eyes."
He knew the location of the enemy's camp. The humans were at the eastern end of this mountain pass hiding behind a series of trenches and dragon teeth emplacements. Dismantling them would take too much time so Captain Riven didn't anticipate anything more than probing assaults. Those never consisted of anything stronger than a half dozen armored vehicles, perhaps a pair of second grade tanks, or a hundred soldiers.
As a forward base station, his mission was to hold and observe. Fortunately, High Command saw fit to upgrade their defensive capabilities. Since the last human offense stagnated, their camp expanded from a slit trench for a dozen soldiers to a viable defensive fortification occupied by almost five hundred morphs. Better weapons and communications made them a powerful defensive outpost.
"Everything all right commander," his second in command asked as he exited the command bunker.
"Everything is as it's been for over six months lieutenant," Captain Riven replied. "We are in a stalemate with the humans. This pass is what they would call temporizing land. Whichever side moves first will be at the greater disadvantage. If anything is going to happen, it will be through the mountain pass to our north."
He adjusted his chin strap to prevent the oversized helmet from slipping over his eyes. Every time their logistics division resupplied them, he searched for something to fit a ferret instead of the oversized dog ones they kept sending. Even the smaller rat helmet would be preferable. Riven understood why the rear echelons kept sending additional dog helmets. Most of his command consisted of dogs.
Riven likened his base to Dante's Divine Comedy, a human novel he obtained off the body of some dead soldier too many years ago. The trench system consisted of nine interconnected rings with each ring defending the outer ones. If an outer ring fell, the next one in could decimate the invaders while enjoying the protection of those rings behind them.
The enemy still sent sorties in force to test their resolve. So far, the humans hadn't gotten beyond the open field without heavy losses. Riven saw no reason for the humans to attack this particular pass. The only way through was along a single and very narrow road. His artillery had it ranged and he held drills daily to confirm that assumption. Nothing could go too far off road as you either encountered the sheer mountain wall or came within range of his base.
By the time he inspected the trenches, oversaw the multiple scheduled artillery drills, and checked in with his subordinates, he had little time remaining. As was his habit, he made a point of taking chow within the mess hall for a different ring each day.
Today he had the outermost ring, which delayed his return to the innermost circle of his personal hell. Riven missed his favorite event of the day, the officer's mess. One of the drawbacks of command. By the time he arrived at the innermost ring's security checkpoint, the setting Terratwo sun touched the eastern mountains where the humans camped.
"Lieutenant Snarken, anything to report?"
"Commander, replacements are delayed due to icy roads. They should arrive after nightfall. Those scheduled to go on R and R will have to wait until morning," replied the wildcat. "If we get the predicted snowfall, roads will become impassable for a few days. Expect a lot of complaints from those due to rotate out."
Captain Riven laughed. "The humans would call that a SNAFU. We'll call it bad karma."
A glance upward confirmed the lieutenant's comment. Grey clouds tumbled in slow motion like dice across the evening sky. Stars disappeared one by one as the weather system moved eastward. Even the air held the scent of impending precipitation, though what kind still appeared debatable. Not ideal conditions for replacements but it kept the humans quiet.
Captain Riven made his way along the switchbacks until he reached the blackout curtains to the post's communication's center. Officer quarters offered both privacy and comfort but the radio room would learn of anything needing his attention first. As he did every night, he slept on a simple cot in a storage room near whichever dog had the late shift. He left the door open and soon fell into a deep sleep.
Her voice intruded on his dream fantasy. Riven shifted on his cot and glanced at the clock mounted above the radio room's single entrance. The hour hand hadn't passed one yet so he slept less than four hours. His feet slipped into the boots he removed earlier. He dressed fast but left his weapons resting on the shipping crate he used as a night stand.
The female rat sat hunched over the radio switchboard, her voice fighting to remain calm.
"Resting . . . you don't have anything . . . of course I know the chain of command . . . yes sir, a corporal outranks a private but I have my orders . . . proper protocol is to give me your report and I'll pass it on to my superior before waking the commander."
Riven startled the rat when he came up behind her. He grabbed a second headset and plugged into the system. A somewhat frantic voice kept alternating between hurling insults and insisting he talk to somebody that knew more than regulations. He waited until the silence at his end had the unknown caller hesitate.
"Unless you've been promoted to major in the last few moments, you are speaking to your commanding officer. Give me a concise report and without the hysteria displayed earlier."
He wheeled a chair closer and pushed the female rat far enough to the side that he could access the nearby computer. A check on recent intelligence reports contradicted everything this soldier said. The pass to the north gave no indication of activity. Those back in HQ hadn't issued any advisories regarding human troop movements over the last two weeks.
"Corporal, gather your team and return to base."
Riven gave the female rat a long look as she placed all channels on standby. She made to say something but he held up his paw to silence her.
"You wanted to give me an accurate report and not the ravings of some front-line soldier, commendable and by the book. However, you're on the front lines and not back at boot camp. We do things differently here."
"How did you know I came from boot camp, sir?"
"Three things. When I went to bed, there were no rats under my command. Second, your uniform is pressed. Third, you smell of soap. Nobody can keep that clean under combat conditions."
Captain Riven ordered her to place the installation on condition yellow and advise Lieutenant Snarken of the situation. He than informed her of his intention of verifying the scout's report while gathering his gear. As he parted the blackout curtains, he heard the female rat relay orders to those officers on duty via the comm system.
A mixed terrier poked his head out of the bunker. "Morning Captain. All's quiet. Both seismic detectors and ground radar stayed green. Only activity overnight has been from our patrols. Sentries and scouts reported nothing."
Captain Riven acknowledged the report as he scanned the valley stretching beyond his defensive outpost. The mountains were too steep for climbing so he didn't worry about snipers. If any of those hairless monkeys tried it, the nightly patrols should have eliminated them before they became a threat.
His concern focused on an evening infantry or armored assault. At this time of year, the setting sun blinded them. Another ten days and the sun would shift far enough to remove any glare. Until then, they would have difficulties seeing their enemy if they slipped past the automated detectors.
"Corporal, hold a readiness drill for later today." He continued his inspection of the area.
"Captain," whined the terrier, "we can go from condition green to all weapons hot in five minutes. Those seismic detectors will give us at least a fifteen-minute warning. Why your insistence on these pointless drills?"
"I have confidence in our equipment but I'll not trust my life with it. Technology can be thwarted but not a pair of sharp eyes."
He knew the location of the enemy's camp. The humans were at the eastern end of this mountain pass hiding behind a series of trenches and dragon teeth emplacements. Dismantling them would take too much time so Captain Riven didn't anticipate anything more than probing assaults. Those never consisted of anything stronger than a half dozen armored vehicles, perhaps a pair of second grade tanks, or a hundred soldiers.
As a forward base station, his mission was to hold and observe. Fortunately, High Command saw fit to upgrade their defensive capabilities. Since the last human offense stagnated, their camp expanded from a slit trench for a dozen soldiers to a viable defensive fortification occupied by almost five hundred morphs. Better weapons and communications made them a powerful defensive outpost.
"Everything all right commander," his second in command asked as he exited the command bunker.
"Everything is as it's been for over six months lieutenant," Captain Riven replied. "We are in a stalemate with the humans. This pass is what they would call temporizing land. Whichever side moves first will be at the greater disadvantage. If anything is going to happen, it will be through the mountain pass to our north."
He adjusted his chin strap to prevent the oversized helmet from slipping over his eyes. Every time their logistics division resupplied them, he searched for something to fit a ferret instead of the oversized dog ones they kept sending. Even the smaller rat helmet would be preferable. Riven understood why the rear echelons kept sending additional dog helmets. Most of his command consisted of dogs.
Riven likened his base to Dante's Divine Comedy, a human novel he obtained off the body of some dead soldier too many years ago. The trench system consisted of nine interconnected rings with each ring defending the outer ones. If an outer ring fell, the next one in could decimate the invaders while enjoying the protection of those rings behind them.
The enemy still sent sorties in force to test their resolve. So far, the humans hadn't gotten beyond the open field without heavy losses. Riven saw no reason for the humans to attack this particular pass. The only way through was along a single and very narrow road. His artillery had it ranged and he held drills daily to confirm that assumption. Nothing could go too far off road as you either encountered the sheer mountain wall or came within range of his base.
By the time he inspected the trenches, oversaw the multiple scheduled artillery drills, and checked in with his subordinates, he had little time remaining. As was his habit, he made a point of taking chow within the mess hall for a different ring each day.
Today he had the outermost ring, which delayed his return to the innermost circle of his personal hell. Riven missed his favorite event of the day, the officer's mess. One of the drawbacks of command. By the time he arrived at the innermost ring's security checkpoint, the setting Terratwo sun touched the eastern mountains where the humans camped.
"Lieutenant Snarken, anything to report?"
"Commander, replacements are delayed due to icy roads. They should arrive after nightfall. Those scheduled to go on R and R will have to wait until morning," replied the wildcat. "If we get the predicted snowfall, roads will become impassable for a few days. Expect a lot of complaints from those due to rotate out."
Captain Riven laughed. "The humans would call that a SNAFU. We'll call it bad karma."
A glance upward confirmed the lieutenant's comment. Grey clouds tumbled in slow motion like dice across the evening sky. Stars disappeared one by one as the weather system moved eastward. Even the air held the scent of impending precipitation, though what kind still appeared debatable. Not ideal conditions for replacements but it kept the humans quiet.
Captain Riven made his way along the switchbacks until he reached the blackout curtains to the post's communication's center. Officer quarters offered both privacy and comfort but the radio room would learn of anything needing his attention first. As he did every night, he slept on a simple cot in a storage room near whichever dog had the late shift. He left the door open and soon fell into a deep sleep.
Her voice intruded on his dream fantasy. Riven shifted on his cot and glanced at the clock mounted above the radio room's single entrance. The hour hand hadn't passed one yet so he slept less than four hours. His feet slipped into the boots he removed earlier. He dressed fast but left his weapons resting on the shipping crate he used as a night stand.
The female rat sat hunched over the radio switchboard, her voice fighting to remain calm.
"Resting . . . you don't have anything . . . of course I know the chain of command . . . yes sir, a corporal outranks a private but I have my orders . . . proper protocol is to give me your report and I'll pass it on to my superior before waking the commander."
Riven startled the rat when he came up behind her. He grabbed a second headset and plugged into the system. A somewhat frantic voice kept alternating between hurling insults and insisting he talk to somebody that knew more than regulations. He waited until the silence at his end had the unknown caller hesitate.
"Unless you've been promoted to major in the last few moments, you are speaking to your commanding officer. Give me a concise report and without the hysteria displayed earlier."
He wheeled a chair closer and pushed the female rat far enough to the side that he could access the nearby computer. A check on recent intelligence reports contradicted everything this soldier said. The pass to the north gave no indication of activity. Those back in HQ hadn't issued any advisories regarding human troop movements over the last two weeks.
"Corporal, gather your team and return to base."
Riven gave the female rat a long look as she placed all channels on standby. She made to say something but he held up his paw to silence her.
"You wanted to give me an accurate report and not the ravings of some front-line soldier, commendable and by the book. However, you're on the front lines and not back at boot camp. We do things differently here."
"How did you know I came from boot camp, sir?"
"Three things. When I went to bed, there were no rats under my command. Second, your uniform is pressed. Third, you smell of soap. Nobody can keep that clean under combat conditions."
Captain Riven ordered her to place the installation on condition yellow and advise Lieutenant Snarken of the situation. He than informed her of his intention of verifying the scout's report while gathering his gear. As he parted the blackout curtains, he heard the female rat relay orders to those officers on duty via the comm system.
#54
Fan Art & Fiction / Ancient Chronicles. (Please Co...
Last post by Kaijugod - Sep 12, 2018, 08:24 PMChapter 1: The Halo Observatory
Hajmoul Fluge sat, staring at Earth from the small porthole. The blue sphere floated there, floating free. He sighed. He had been away from Earth for five long years. Well, technically, he was only a few thousand miles away. The space station Halo was his home, and would be, his home. He didn't like it, but it was the hard truth. His family, his friends, his son and daughter, all on Earth. Sure, they sent him cards. Sure, he spoke to them via VidPhone. And, of course, his good friend, Vlad snuck him cigarettes and beer, accompanied with a joke to lift the spirits. But it didn't help. His term was over in ten more years, and he was scratching of the days on his calendar until then. He hated the station. He hated the taste of the artificial air. He hated the knowledge that if the power generators failed, they'd all die from lack of oxygen. He hated the notion that only a few feet of titanium separated a habitable environment from a deadly vacuum. Hajmoul hated his sorry excuse for an apartment, his dingy shower, his food (Except the food his wife sent). He hated everything on the damn station, including himself for volunteering. Hajmoul unbuckled himself out of the chair and allowed himself to float in the zero gravity. He was tired, but he had work to do. He grabbed the handrails one by one and pulled himself to the observation deck. It was really tiring. The circular shape of the station made it worse. The central hallway made one big loop. He had just left the crew quarters. 135 handrails away was the cafeteria. 170 was the marker for the engineering room. 200 was the lounge and casino. And 250 waste observation deck, and it wasn't even a quarter of the way around. The station was immense. Hajmoul knew a man who once took an entire day to go from the medical room to the crew quarters. At least it was a good exercise. After about 20 minutes, he was at the observation deck. Now his work began.
Hajmoul pulled himself in the zero gravity to his work chair, and buckled himself in. The observation deck was empty except for him, so it was a really deathly quiet. Hajmoul opened the main shutters and a huge window appeared. He switched on the computer at his desk, as well. Then, he did his job. He observed earth. The Halo Station was, in short, an earth observatory. It was constructed and put into commission by earth's first ruler, Rian Adamska, in 2368. Ever since WWIII, earth put down its weapons, the people became one. Earth was now one big democratic world, a calm, peaceful place. A new, universal language was set into place. Those of the 21st century would describe it as a mix of German, Spanish, Japanese, and French. This station was set into place to signify the unification of earth. This of course, was a long time ago. About a thousand years ago. Ancient history, as far as Fluge was concerned. As Hajmoul made a log of all the star positions and meteorites, he sang to himself an ancient song, a song sang in the original English language. Apparently, it was sung by a group called "The Beatles", but he couldn't be sure. Even the words did not make sense. His mother, who taught him it, his grandmother, his great grandmother, even his great-great grandmother, did not know not what the lyrics meant, but it still flowed nicely. Suddenly, a beeping sound came from the computer. Vlad was calling him! Happy to take a break from this tedious work, he accepted the message. Vlad's face appeared. "Hey, Haj!" he said with a big grin. "Hello Vlad" Hajmoul answered. "How are things on your end?"
Vlad answered smiling "It's great here, real water, air, good food. I bet it's way better than at the station."
"Don't push it."
"Okay, I'm done. Yeah, so how's it up there?"
"Same as usual."
"Sorry about that."
"Don't be, I signed up."
"Ah well. You here about the uprising in North Africa?"
"No, I didn't." Hajmoul had heard of the uprisings, groups of people that wished for separate governments. The sometimes revolted violently, killing all in their way. "Well, a Communistic party bombed a school in North Africa. All children were killed."
"All of them?"
"Not a single survivor from that school."
"My God."
"Yeah, it's terrible."
"How's Molly?"
"She's fine. She said the kids are good as well."
"Good. Y'know, I really miss her. Can you tell her to come up to the station in a few days? I need to see her."
"Sure. Y'know? What the hell, I'll come too."
"See you buddy."
Please tell me what you think.
Hajmoul Fluge sat, staring at Earth from the small porthole. The blue sphere floated there, floating free. He sighed. He had been away from Earth for five long years. Well, technically, he was only a few thousand miles away. The space station Halo was his home, and would be, his home. He didn't like it, but it was the hard truth. His family, his friends, his son and daughter, all on Earth. Sure, they sent him cards. Sure, he spoke to them via VidPhone. And, of course, his good friend, Vlad snuck him cigarettes and beer, accompanied with a joke to lift the spirits. But it didn't help. His term was over in ten more years, and he was scratching of the days on his calendar until then. He hated the station. He hated the taste of the artificial air. He hated the knowledge that if the power generators failed, they'd all die from lack of oxygen. He hated the notion that only a few feet of titanium separated a habitable environment from a deadly vacuum. Hajmoul hated his sorry excuse for an apartment, his dingy shower, his food (Except the food his wife sent). He hated everything on the damn station, including himself for volunteering. Hajmoul unbuckled himself out of the chair and allowed himself to float in the zero gravity. He was tired, but he had work to do. He grabbed the handrails one by one and pulled himself to the observation deck. It was really tiring. The circular shape of the station made it worse. The central hallway made one big loop. He had just left the crew quarters. 135 handrails away was the cafeteria. 170 was the marker for the engineering room. 200 was the lounge and casino. And 250 waste observation deck, and it wasn't even a quarter of the way around. The station was immense. Hajmoul knew a man who once took an entire day to go from the medical room to the crew quarters. At least it was a good exercise. After about 20 minutes, he was at the observation deck. Now his work began.
Hajmoul pulled himself in the zero gravity to his work chair, and buckled himself in. The observation deck was empty except for him, so it was a really deathly quiet. Hajmoul opened the main shutters and a huge window appeared. He switched on the computer at his desk, as well. Then, he did his job. He observed earth. The Halo Station was, in short, an earth observatory. It was constructed and put into commission by earth's first ruler, Rian Adamska, in 2368. Ever since WWIII, earth put down its weapons, the people became one. Earth was now one big democratic world, a calm, peaceful place. A new, universal language was set into place. Those of the 21st century would describe it as a mix of German, Spanish, Japanese, and French. This station was set into place to signify the unification of earth. This of course, was a long time ago. About a thousand years ago. Ancient history, as far as Fluge was concerned. As Hajmoul made a log of all the star positions and meteorites, he sang to himself an ancient song, a song sang in the original English language. Apparently, it was sung by a group called "The Beatles", but he couldn't be sure. Even the words did not make sense. His mother, who taught him it, his grandmother, his great grandmother, even his great-great grandmother, did not know not what the lyrics meant, but it still flowed nicely. Suddenly, a beeping sound came from the computer. Vlad was calling him! Happy to take a break from this tedious work, he accepted the message. Vlad's face appeared. "Hey, Haj!" he said with a big grin. "Hello Vlad" Hajmoul answered. "How are things on your end?"
Vlad answered smiling "It's great here, real water, air, good food. I bet it's way better than at the station."
"Don't push it."
"Okay, I'm done. Yeah, so how's it up there?"
"Same as usual."
"Sorry about that."
"Don't be, I signed up."
"Ah well. You here about the uprising in North Africa?"
"No, I didn't." Hajmoul had heard of the uprisings, groups of people that wished for separate governments. The sometimes revolted violently, killing all in their way. "Well, a Communistic party bombed a school in North Africa. All children were killed."
"All of them?"
"Not a single survivor from that school."
"My God."
"Yeah, it's terrible."
"How's Molly?"
"She's fine. She said the kids are good as well."
"Good. Y'know, I really miss her. Can you tell her to come up to the station in a few days? I need to see her."
"Sure. Y'know? What the hell, I'll come too."
"See you buddy."
Please tell me what you think.
#55
Inherit the Earth Comic Strip Forum / Re: New story comic strip : Fi...
Last post by cairn destop - Aug 31, 2018, 07:51 AMAnd the story ends. Or does it? Our writers have left us with a double cliffhanger. Number one is obvious. Will our lady ever be tempted to accept the title of chief? Number two is the fate of our departing wolf. Will he find whatever he seeks or will those he wishes to evade be drawn to him like a magnet?
Now we wait for the next adventure.
Looking back it saddens me that nobody thought the story worthy of comment. Let's hope for more reader input with the next one.
Now we wait for the next adventure.
Looking back it saddens me that nobody thought the story worthy of comment. Let's hope for more reader input with the next one.
#56
Inherit the Earth Comic Strip Forum / Re: New story comic strip : Fi...
Last post by cairn destop - Jul 13, 2018, 08:28 AMRegarding the strip of 7/11/18
Looks like our guy just got shot down. Bad enough she said no, but than to laugh at him. Can you say humiliation? Quick exit stage left.
Looks like our guy just got shot down. Bad enough she said no, but than to laugh at him. Can you say humiliation? Quick exit stage left.
#57
Inherit the Earth Comic Strip Forum / Re: New story comic strip : Fi...
Last post by cairn destop - May 26, 2018, 07:58 PMDidn't I say that sooner or later the secret regarding the orb's fate would become known? Will now wait to see the repercussions.
Will our two wolves spread the secret beyond North Island?
Would our high priestess be willing to kill to maintain the illusion that she has the orb?
Will somebody try to recover the orb?
Will any of the morph leaders seek vengeance for the extortion paid to the priestess?
Will our two wolves spread the secret beyond North Island?
Would our high priestess be willing to kill to maintain the illusion that she has the orb?
Will somebody try to recover the orb?
Will any of the morph leaders seek vengeance for the extortion paid to the priestess?
#58
Inherit the Earth Comic Strip Forum / Re: New story comic strip : Fi...
Last post by cairn destop - May 18, 2018, 03:13 PMQuote
Hum. You might be right there. I may have given the artist the wrong image from ITE:QTFO to work with. Let me see about fixing that if it's wrong.
Ah the bane of any series writer, continuety. Saw the note about the strip of 5/17/18. There are observant readers and they do call you out on such things.
#59
Inherit the Earth Comic Strip Forum / Re: New story comic strip : Fi...
Last post by WyrmMaster - May 09, 2018, 02:50 PMQuote from: light wolf on Apr 27, 2018, 11:37 PM
Seems to me there is just a little mistake...
The Orb of Storm is blue. Purple is for the Orb of Hands, isn'it ?
Hum. You might be right there. I may have given the artist the wrong image from ITE:QTFO to work with. Let me see about fixing that if it's wrong.
#60
Fan Art & Fiction / Fanmade Lore: Lunarians (Pleas...
Last post by Kaijugod - May 01, 2018, 02:33 PMThe Lunarians, also known as Moon People are the people living on the Moon. Despite being called Lunarians they are actually the modern day descendants of Humans who fled to the Moon over a thousand years ago to escape the Great Plague which wiped out most of their ancestors.
Technology: In terms of technology the Lunarians are far more advanced than their ancestors. Having over a thousand years to improve their ancestors already advanced technology. Having drones that are capable of traveling from the Moon to Earth and back again, as well as many other technological marvels.
Why don't they return: The reason why the Lunarians haven't returned to Earth yet is because they believe that the plague that nearly destroyed their ancestors is still on the planet and they fear that if they returned to Earth they could end up bringing the plague back to the Moon where it would finish what it started.
Knowledge on the Morphs: Apparently the Lunarians are well informed about the Morphs currently living on Earth. Having sent many automated drones down to the planet and have been observing the Morph's daily lives for years now.
For now this is all I could make. But this will be updated in the future. Please tell me what you think of this and feel free to ask me any questions.
Technology: In terms of technology the Lunarians are far more advanced than their ancestors. Having over a thousand years to improve their ancestors already advanced technology. Having drones that are capable of traveling from the Moon to Earth and back again, as well as many other technological marvels.
Why don't they return: The reason why the Lunarians haven't returned to Earth yet is because they believe that the plague that nearly destroyed their ancestors is still on the planet and they fear that if they returned to Earth they could end up bringing the plague back to the Moon where it would finish what it started.
Knowledge on the Morphs: Apparently the Lunarians are well informed about the Morphs currently living on Earth. Having sent many automated drones down to the planet and have been observing the Morph's daily lives for years now.
For now this is all I could make. But this will be updated in the future. Please tell me what you think of this and feel free to ask me any questions.