Genesis evolution
Renegade
Old school Join Date: 2002-03-29 Member: 361Members
Old school Join Date: 2002-03-29 Member: 361Members
<div class="IPBDescription">Back by popular demand</div>The metallic structure of the station creaked and moaned as the shuttle settled along the port side of it and extended its robotic docking arm to the remote docking bay of the station. The lights within the airlock of the shuttle flickered and activated as a squad of TSA Marines walked into the claustrophobic space. Not one of the Marines uttered even a single syllable as they filed into the airlock and awaited proper pressurization for entering the station, unaware of what waited silently for them inside. As the bulky steel door closed behind them, there was a brief pause before the roof filled with an eerie hissing noise and the door in front of them slided open. The Marines moved forward like middle-aged men suffering from muscle cramps, which was given as they had spent the past 2 months in suspended animation, and were still waking up from their long slumbers. They stopped at the steel door leading to the docking airlock of the space station, the TSS Teuron, in a low decaying orbit over Beta Signi 4.
The Teuron was predominantly a civilian science lab; with one military research pod conducting classified research involving studying xenovolver hive behavior. The Teuron had been built 10 years before the FCMG [Fringe Colony Mining Guilds] had declared war on the TSA, and had seen its fair share of combat. Armed with experimental twin EMAP [Electro-Magnetically Accelerated Projectile] cannons, the Teuron had successfully fended off a rather large raiding party of FCMG ships. The civilian crew had all received compensation for voluntarily participating in a military operation, as well as commendations from the TSA military command. The military staff had received medals and commendations for their valorous defense of a civilian space installation without the assistance of military aid. Needless to say, the Teuron and its crew were distinguished individuals in the on-going war against the rebel FCMG, and had earned the eye of TSA citizens everywhere.
5 months ago however, all communications with the Teuron had mysteriously ceased, raising the collective eyebrows of TSA citizens across the spiral arm. A public call had been issued to TSA command to re-establish communications with the heroic station and its crew. After a week of failed attempts to re-establish communications with the station, TSA command finally decided to send a relief/rescue team to the Teuron and re-establish communications with the station. 2 months passed without word from the relief/rescue team or the Teuron, and it became clear to the TSA command that something had gone awry onboard the Teuron, something horribly awry. Initial suspicions marked raiding FCMG ships as the reason for the communications blackout, but those suspicions were dismissed when a transmission came from the Teuron. The transmission was blank for 3 minutes until a creature sped through the camera's view and disappeared. Fearing for the worst, TSA command decided it was time to call up their backup plan; a full military assault and rescue.
The first TSA Marine Corps battalion to be called up for a rescue mission had been the 741st "Death's Head Legionnaires", who had denied the request, stating that the recovery and rescue of the Teurons crew was a waste of valuable military resources. The next battalion to be called up was the 1098th "Wylde Kardes", who accepted the task of journeying to the Teuron and liberating her crew. Initially, they'd been issued only XLS-97's Sub-Machineguns, but a call to TSA command from the battalion commander warranted the Kardes XMA-85 Assault Rifles, XSM-109 Squad Assault Weapons, and 2 XHT-63 Hyper Torches. Needless to say, the addition of heavy weaponry was a welcome change from the usual light standard issue weaponry they had been issued first. Other battalions had poked fun at the Kardes, citing their embarrassing failure at Delta Serpentis 5 in which they had mistakenly terminate innocent diamondine miners they suspected to be FCMG spies. The mishap had destroyed their credibility and they had almost been disbanded by TSA command. But now here they stood at the threshold of the Teuron, despite the harassment, jokes, and cruelties, if they accomplished their objective here, their names would be cleared and remembered.
"Open the door Collins," Sgt. Briggs ordered over his comm-link, "It's f*cking freezing in this tube."
"Like being in f*cking cryo all over again," Crpl. Shephard grumbled, "cold <i>and</i> claustrophobic."
"Yeah, yeah. Quit your b*tching," Pvt. Collins mumbled, "I'm working as fast as I f*cking can, so shove it."
"...F*cking kick your a**," Crpl. Shephard grumbled in response, "lucky I don't f*cking kick your a** right here."
"Alright, alright, that's enough, just open the f*cking door." Sgt. Briggs retorted with obvious impatience, "It gets colder by the f*cking second in this d*mned tube."
"Yes sir."
Collins toiled meticulously at the console, occasionally mumbling profanities as he fiddled with the stubborn frozen controls. Different multi-colored wires protruded through the panel, each marked as to their purpose, but none appearing to be the wire to the doors controls. Finally the renegade wire appeared, well hidden in the back of the consoles exposed interior.
"Got it," Collins exclaimed as he grasped a black wire with a white stripe, "just gotta cut this and we're in."
"...Bout f*cking time," Shephard mumbled under his breath, "I feel like a f*cking Popsicle in here."
The heavy metal door creaked and moaned as the gears hidden within its steel frame began to turn and move the giant door out of the chilling air of the docking tube. The Marines stepped into the airlock apprehensively, their boots clanging rhythmically on the metal floor grating. Collins again moved forward to the access panel and began work on once again getting the Marines access to the station. No sooner had Collins taken a knee to begin his work on the access console to the interior of the Teuron, than the internal door groaned and mysteriously began to slide open. Startled, the Marines raised their weapons, caught off guard by the doors sudden and unexpected opening.
"Nice work Collins," Pvt. Kaplan said with concealed surprise, "quick and clean, just like a Marine."
"Thanks for the compliment," Collins replied, "but I didn't even touch the controls."
"Then who opened the door?" PFC Salvonivich inquired, "...Motion Tracker is clear."
"I don't know," Collins replied, obvious worry inflected in his voice, "but it wasn't me."
"Guess we got company after all," Kaplan said, raising his assault rifle, "this should be gooood."
The squad advanced forward into the Teuron slowly, none eager to be the victim of anyone or anything that may be lurking in the shadows. Collins, the scout and one of two techs, led point, followed by Kaplan, Salvonivich, the one of two Marines to be equipped with a Hyper Torch, Henrikson, the medic, Jacobson, one of two Marines equipped with a Squad Assault Weapon and the second of two techs, MacReady, the second of two Marines equipped with a Hyper Torch and the shuttles pilot, Maddox, Poe, Shephard, the second of two Marines equipped with a Squad Assault Weapon, and Briggs led the tail end. Each of the 10 Marines had seen active duty and had worked together, and 6 of them, Collins, Kaplan, Salvonivich, MacReady, Shephard, and Briggs had seen combat.
No sooner had the Marines left the airlock, than the sound of aching metal rose up behind them. The Marines turned in time to see their shuttle detatch itself from the docking tube and disembark.
"What the f*ck?! The shuttle," Kaplan cried, "why's it leaving, and where the f*ck is it going?!"
"I don't know, but I don't thinks it's coming back," Shephard said calmly, repressing his fear, "I think..."
"What? Think what?!" Kaplan cried anxiously, "Where the f*ck is it going?!"
"Home," Shephard replied calmly, "It's going home. Someone, or some<i>thing</i>, somehow got onboard, and they're taking it home..."
"That's just f*cking great! We're stranded on a f*cking haunted station and a f*cking ghost just stole our f*cking ship! This is just what we f*cking need!" Kaplan cried, now even more strained and anxious, "We're f*cked man! We are completely f*cked!!"
"Stow the belly-aching soldier," Briggs interjected.
"Sir," MacReady began, "there's-"
"Sergeant, you'd better come take a look at this," Poe intterupted over his comm-link, "I think I found one of the crew."
Briggs turned and advanced towards Poe with Shephard at his side, who was standing over the eviscerated corpse of a crewman.
"What the f*ck happen here?" Briggs thought out loud, "What happened on this station?"
"Sir," MacReady began again over his comm-link, "there is..."
"Sir!" Collins cried, "Motion Sensor indicates multiple contacts coming in our direction!"
"What? How many?" Briggs inquired.
"Lots!" Collins replied, fear and panic inflected in his tone, "Lots of contanct! 10, no, 9 meters and closing!"
"What direction?!" Shephard demanded.
"Every direction!" Collins shouted, now even more paniced, "I can't pinpoint them!"
"Weapons up marines! We got company, and I don't think they're here to give us a warm welcome!"
The marines turned in circles tensely, their weapons drawn to their shoulders, eyes aligned to their sights. The sound of the approaching creatures now filled their ears and minds, pushing them farther and farther from calm thought. The first creature approached their proximity towards Shephard, who unleashed a volley of SAW fire upon the misfortunate thing. The second approached towards MacReady, who released a wall of blue fire upon the creature. Suddenly their numbers began to increase, approaching the paniced squad in two's and three's, some coming dangerously close before being gunned down or burned alive. The situation was becoming desperate now, the creatures showing no sign of letting up and the squad displaying signs of falling apart. The marines were breaking down now, the creatures' stampedeing roars and dying screams clouding their judgement. The siege suddenly intensified, as if the creatures were attempting to overrun the terrified squad before their numbers depleted completely.
Suddenly, as if the stampede were a rush of water from a dam, the creatures relented, as if the floodgates had been closed. The marines stood now in silence, visibley shaken from their brief but terrifying clash with the creatures. Minutes passed but none of the marines broke their cramped circular formation, uneager to be exposed and vunerable to further attack. After what seemed an millenium to the marines, but was merely 20 minutes, the creatures reason for ceasing their zealous attack revealed itself. The beast stepped out of the shadows and into plain sight, its two long cresent shaped claws inspiring fear in the paralized marines. It stood tall, a good deal taller than any of the marines, its pale yellow eyes piercing into their minds as if it were sinking its long cresent claws into their heads. The beast stopped away from the marines, barely out of reach of their hyper-tourches, and stood still in unsettling silence.
"Wh-what is it?!" Kaplan cried quietly.
"A xenovolver, like those small things," Poe replied calmly, "but this one's a 'Fade' class."
"A what?" Kaplan asked, fear visible in his voice.
"A Fade, a xenovolver that can blend into its surroundings, like a chameleon could." Shephard replied.
"Whatever it is, I don't think it's here to greet us with open arms." Briggs remarked, raising his assault rifle to his shoulder.
"I'd say more like claws in wide arc, eh?" Salvonivich offered with a slight smile.
The Fade stood still in its place, motionless and silent, seeming to study the marines. Slowly, the beast drew its large left cresent claw towards its torso, then moved it back out, parallel to its right claw. The Fade repeated this motion slowly, again and again, as if it wanted the marines to come to it. None of the marines moved, shaking very subtley silently with their weapons raised to their shoulders. Finally, Shephard moved forward towards the beast slowly, his SAW aimed at the Fade's head. The beast turned 180° slowly and trodded down the dark corridor, Shephard following at a distance. The Fade walked into the shadows, its figure now invisible but its steps still heard. Shephard paused apprehensively at the edge of darkness, turned his head for a quick glance at the marines, turned, and advanced into the shadows. A minute passed; nothing... 2 minutes passed; nothing... 3 minutes passed, nothing.The eerie silence disturbed the squad, in which no one had even moved slightly out from the circle. Another minute passed, and Shephards voice came in.
"Guys, you'd better come take a look at this," Shephard started.
"What is it, soldier?" Briggs inquired.
"The crew, sir." Shephard replied calmly. "I've found them. They're alive."
* * *
Please post your comments and thoughts.
The Teuron was predominantly a civilian science lab; with one military research pod conducting classified research involving studying xenovolver hive behavior. The Teuron had been built 10 years before the FCMG [Fringe Colony Mining Guilds] had declared war on the TSA, and had seen its fair share of combat. Armed with experimental twin EMAP [Electro-Magnetically Accelerated Projectile] cannons, the Teuron had successfully fended off a rather large raiding party of FCMG ships. The civilian crew had all received compensation for voluntarily participating in a military operation, as well as commendations from the TSA military command. The military staff had received medals and commendations for their valorous defense of a civilian space installation without the assistance of military aid. Needless to say, the Teuron and its crew were distinguished individuals in the on-going war against the rebel FCMG, and had earned the eye of TSA citizens everywhere.
5 months ago however, all communications with the Teuron had mysteriously ceased, raising the collective eyebrows of TSA citizens across the spiral arm. A public call had been issued to TSA command to re-establish communications with the heroic station and its crew. After a week of failed attempts to re-establish communications with the station, TSA command finally decided to send a relief/rescue team to the Teuron and re-establish communications with the station. 2 months passed without word from the relief/rescue team or the Teuron, and it became clear to the TSA command that something had gone awry onboard the Teuron, something horribly awry. Initial suspicions marked raiding FCMG ships as the reason for the communications blackout, but those suspicions were dismissed when a transmission came from the Teuron. The transmission was blank for 3 minutes until a creature sped through the camera's view and disappeared. Fearing for the worst, TSA command decided it was time to call up their backup plan; a full military assault and rescue.
The first TSA Marine Corps battalion to be called up for a rescue mission had been the 741st "Death's Head Legionnaires", who had denied the request, stating that the recovery and rescue of the Teurons crew was a waste of valuable military resources. The next battalion to be called up was the 1098th "Wylde Kardes", who accepted the task of journeying to the Teuron and liberating her crew. Initially, they'd been issued only XLS-97's Sub-Machineguns, but a call to TSA command from the battalion commander warranted the Kardes XMA-85 Assault Rifles, XSM-109 Squad Assault Weapons, and 2 XHT-63 Hyper Torches. Needless to say, the addition of heavy weaponry was a welcome change from the usual light standard issue weaponry they had been issued first. Other battalions had poked fun at the Kardes, citing their embarrassing failure at Delta Serpentis 5 in which they had mistakenly terminate innocent diamondine miners they suspected to be FCMG spies. The mishap had destroyed their credibility and they had almost been disbanded by TSA command. But now here they stood at the threshold of the Teuron, despite the harassment, jokes, and cruelties, if they accomplished their objective here, their names would be cleared and remembered.
"Open the door Collins," Sgt. Briggs ordered over his comm-link, "It's f*cking freezing in this tube."
"Like being in f*cking cryo all over again," Crpl. Shephard grumbled, "cold <i>and</i> claustrophobic."
"Yeah, yeah. Quit your b*tching," Pvt. Collins mumbled, "I'm working as fast as I f*cking can, so shove it."
"...F*cking kick your a**," Crpl. Shephard grumbled in response, "lucky I don't f*cking kick your a** right here."
"Alright, alright, that's enough, just open the f*cking door." Sgt. Briggs retorted with obvious impatience, "It gets colder by the f*cking second in this d*mned tube."
"Yes sir."
Collins toiled meticulously at the console, occasionally mumbling profanities as he fiddled with the stubborn frozen controls. Different multi-colored wires protruded through the panel, each marked as to their purpose, but none appearing to be the wire to the doors controls. Finally the renegade wire appeared, well hidden in the back of the consoles exposed interior.
"Got it," Collins exclaimed as he grasped a black wire with a white stripe, "just gotta cut this and we're in."
"...Bout f*cking time," Shephard mumbled under his breath, "I feel like a f*cking Popsicle in here."
The heavy metal door creaked and moaned as the gears hidden within its steel frame began to turn and move the giant door out of the chilling air of the docking tube. The Marines stepped into the airlock apprehensively, their boots clanging rhythmically on the metal floor grating. Collins again moved forward to the access panel and began work on once again getting the Marines access to the station. No sooner had Collins taken a knee to begin his work on the access console to the interior of the Teuron, than the internal door groaned and mysteriously began to slide open. Startled, the Marines raised their weapons, caught off guard by the doors sudden and unexpected opening.
"Nice work Collins," Pvt. Kaplan said with concealed surprise, "quick and clean, just like a Marine."
"Thanks for the compliment," Collins replied, "but I didn't even touch the controls."
"Then who opened the door?" PFC Salvonivich inquired, "...Motion Tracker is clear."
"I don't know," Collins replied, obvious worry inflected in his voice, "but it wasn't me."
"Guess we got company after all," Kaplan said, raising his assault rifle, "this should be gooood."
The squad advanced forward into the Teuron slowly, none eager to be the victim of anyone or anything that may be lurking in the shadows. Collins, the scout and one of two techs, led point, followed by Kaplan, Salvonivich, the one of two Marines to be equipped with a Hyper Torch, Henrikson, the medic, Jacobson, one of two Marines equipped with a Squad Assault Weapon and the second of two techs, MacReady, the second of two Marines equipped with a Hyper Torch and the shuttles pilot, Maddox, Poe, Shephard, the second of two Marines equipped with a Squad Assault Weapon, and Briggs led the tail end. Each of the 10 Marines had seen active duty and had worked together, and 6 of them, Collins, Kaplan, Salvonivich, MacReady, Shephard, and Briggs had seen combat.
No sooner had the Marines left the airlock, than the sound of aching metal rose up behind them. The Marines turned in time to see their shuttle detatch itself from the docking tube and disembark.
"What the f*ck?! The shuttle," Kaplan cried, "why's it leaving, and where the f*ck is it going?!"
"I don't know, but I don't thinks it's coming back," Shephard said calmly, repressing his fear, "I think..."
"What? Think what?!" Kaplan cried anxiously, "Where the f*ck is it going?!"
"Home," Shephard replied calmly, "It's going home. Someone, or some<i>thing</i>, somehow got onboard, and they're taking it home..."
"That's just f*cking great! We're stranded on a f*cking haunted station and a f*cking ghost just stole our f*cking ship! This is just what we f*cking need!" Kaplan cried, now even more strained and anxious, "We're f*cked man! We are completely f*cked!!"
"Stow the belly-aching soldier," Briggs interjected.
"Sir," MacReady began, "there's-"
"Sergeant, you'd better come take a look at this," Poe intterupted over his comm-link, "I think I found one of the crew."
Briggs turned and advanced towards Poe with Shephard at his side, who was standing over the eviscerated corpse of a crewman.
"What the f*ck happen here?" Briggs thought out loud, "What happened on this station?"
"Sir," MacReady began again over his comm-link, "there is..."
"Sir!" Collins cried, "Motion Sensor indicates multiple contacts coming in our direction!"
"What? How many?" Briggs inquired.
"Lots!" Collins replied, fear and panic inflected in his tone, "Lots of contanct! 10, no, 9 meters and closing!"
"What direction?!" Shephard demanded.
"Every direction!" Collins shouted, now even more paniced, "I can't pinpoint them!"
"Weapons up marines! We got company, and I don't think they're here to give us a warm welcome!"
The marines turned in circles tensely, their weapons drawn to their shoulders, eyes aligned to their sights. The sound of the approaching creatures now filled their ears and minds, pushing them farther and farther from calm thought. The first creature approached their proximity towards Shephard, who unleashed a volley of SAW fire upon the misfortunate thing. The second approached towards MacReady, who released a wall of blue fire upon the creature. Suddenly their numbers began to increase, approaching the paniced squad in two's and three's, some coming dangerously close before being gunned down or burned alive. The situation was becoming desperate now, the creatures showing no sign of letting up and the squad displaying signs of falling apart. The marines were breaking down now, the creatures' stampedeing roars and dying screams clouding their judgement. The siege suddenly intensified, as if the creatures were attempting to overrun the terrified squad before their numbers depleted completely.
Suddenly, as if the stampede were a rush of water from a dam, the creatures relented, as if the floodgates had been closed. The marines stood now in silence, visibley shaken from their brief but terrifying clash with the creatures. Minutes passed but none of the marines broke their cramped circular formation, uneager to be exposed and vunerable to further attack. After what seemed an millenium to the marines, but was merely 20 minutes, the creatures reason for ceasing their zealous attack revealed itself. The beast stepped out of the shadows and into plain sight, its two long cresent shaped claws inspiring fear in the paralized marines. It stood tall, a good deal taller than any of the marines, its pale yellow eyes piercing into their minds as if it were sinking its long cresent claws into their heads. The beast stopped away from the marines, barely out of reach of their hyper-tourches, and stood still in unsettling silence.
"Wh-what is it?!" Kaplan cried quietly.
"A xenovolver, like those small things," Poe replied calmly, "but this one's a 'Fade' class."
"A what?" Kaplan asked, fear visible in his voice.
"A Fade, a xenovolver that can blend into its surroundings, like a chameleon could." Shephard replied.
"Whatever it is, I don't think it's here to greet us with open arms." Briggs remarked, raising his assault rifle to his shoulder.
"I'd say more like claws in wide arc, eh?" Salvonivich offered with a slight smile.
The Fade stood still in its place, motionless and silent, seeming to study the marines. Slowly, the beast drew its large left cresent claw towards its torso, then moved it back out, parallel to its right claw. The Fade repeated this motion slowly, again and again, as if it wanted the marines to come to it. None of the marines moved, shaking very subtley silently with their weapons raised to their shoulders. Finally, Shephard moved forward towards the beast slowly, his SAW aimed at the Fade's head. The beast turned 180° slowly and trodded down the dark corridor, Shephard following at a distance. The Fade walked into the shadows, its figure now invisible but its steps still heard. Shephard paused apprehensively at the edge of darkness, turned his head for a quick glance at the marines, turned, and advanced into the shadows. A minute passed; nothing... 2 minutes passed; nothing... 3 minutes passed, nothing.The eerie silence disturbed the squad, in which no one had even moved slightly out from the circle. Another minute passed, and Shephards voice came in.
"Guys, you'd better come take a look at this," Shephard started.
"What is it, soldier?" Briggs inquired.
"The crew, sir." Shephard replied calmly. "I've found them. They're alive."
* * *
Please post your comments and thoughts.
Comments
Although I did find the radio communication a unique perspective, it's a rough transition, especially after you left us on a cliff edge with the first post.
It has quite a bit of naughty language. I understand that this is the "outlaw" outfit, and so on, and cursing is fine, I'm not one to censor anyone's writing, but I wouldn't imagine that it would be necessary in any moments except those of extreme stress. But, if that's how the characters sound in your head, there's not a whole lot one can do to change it, I know that as well as anyone.
LlamaKiller pointed out the other big issue; the TSA is a ragtag group of elite marines, with no nation, citizens, or even a city. There are, in fact, certain nations and corporations that would love to see the TSA fail, though they pledge their support now. Think of the TSA as the UN's army (if they had an army). Not eveyone likes them, not everyone wants them, but they're here.
Aside from that, this story is pretty good. It reads just like an action film, moreso than most. The plot and action is all there. Details in the midst of battle would be a great addition...
-Ryan!
"The important thing is not to stop questioning."
-- Albert Einstein
P.S. H'B, loved your story man. Top notch.
Yeah, I would classify that as a high-stress situation. I have little problem with it there. But what about the scene when they are coming through the airlock? They can curse all they want, but when their ship flies off, their cursing will lose its impact, because we've seen it all before. You know what I mean?
And the document you uploaded didn't have the complete story that you has in the post...you might want to look at that...
Other than that, I'm interested to see what the ambassador wanted to show us...
Keep it up!
-Ryan!
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."
-- Dr. Spock