//------------------------------// // Epilogue : Apotheosis // Story: Life Giver // by Nightwatcher //------------------------------// / 1/26/8272 CE / Corporal John Maxwell / Alexandria / Two Hours Into The Second Fall Of Man -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- "This is UEGV-F-23, moving to intercept." "Th- UEGV-De- 1- massiv- damage, main reactor overloa-" "This is UEGV 'Badb', De-125 is dust, battle group 2-5, move to fill that hole." The radio ran through a symphony of voices before I found the frequency I needed. "This is the Ark-ship 'Odyssey' we are away." The voice of the ships Captain said. "This is the Chairman to all ground units, move to your exfil positions." I winced slightly as a round knocked a chip out of the cover I was behind. "Sniper, fifth floor, right window." One of my squad mates said. "1-2, launcher, on my mark." I said. I waited a moment before popping out of cover, and letting loose a hail of gunfire on said building, the rest of the squad following my lead. "Now!" There was a thump followed by an explosion as the launcher set its payload down range. "Clear?" I asked. "Clear." Responded the rest of my group. "Come on, we have got to move, civvies in the middle." I ordered. We surrounded the group of six ponies and began moving to the drop-ships. The battle over all was not going well. Our fleet got decimated right out of the gate, the Chairman made it clear that this was a 'no win' situation early on in the fight when he used half of our fleet in a suicide run on the HLF Dreadnought. They used a FENRIS warhead, a device with a yield of one and a half Petatons, to wipe out the majority of the HLF fleet.....and the small planet they were hiding behind. But we were still outnumbered two to one in space, and the moment we lose up there the ground operations are over. He had made it clear that we were just a delaying action for the Ark-ships. Now that they were away, my group was tasked with clearing this section of the city of VIPs that had not made it to the Ark-ship due to the HLF forces that had made it through the orbital defences. Sadly we had to turn a blind eye to anyone that wasn't on the list, there just was not enough space on the ships to bring everyone, some had to be left behind. I shifted the weight of my AR - 548 in my arms, giving the weapon a look over. I wouldn't leave anyone to the HLF, that would be cruel... inhumane. Least they didn't feel anything my way. At least that’s what I keep telling myself. A blip on my radar made me hold my fist up, signaling everyone to stop. The red dot was about ten meters away on the other side of a wall, and it was in our way. I activated my HUDs advanced detection mode, the HUD greyshifted a second later a red line shot out and swept across the battlefield. It passed through the wall and the wave bounced off what was revealed to be a baseline human. It then identified the many weapons that the baseline was carrying. “HLF scout, we can’t sneak passed, can’t risk it with the civvies. I’ll take him out, be right behind me and get across the street, his buddies will come running when his bios go dark.” I ordered. After a combination of “Copy that” from my squadmates and nods of affirmation from the ponies I put my AR - 548 in my back and ran at the wall. Just before I reached the wall I jumped at it hands out. My body slammed through it and into the baseline, I impacted him in the shoulder and I could feel it disconnect, then his shoulder blade shattered as he was thrown the the ground, his weapon flying through the air and landing a couple of feet away. I did a small flip so I could land on all fours, then I jumped at him as he tried to crawl to his assault rifle. He let out a gnarled scream as I landed on his back, crushing and breaking the bones in his ribcage with my weight, before I silenced him by grabbing him by his armored collar and pulling up, snapping his spine in multiple places before slamming his head down, turning it into a bloody divot in the ground. “Move, move, move!” I called into the hole I made in the wall before taking my AR - 548 of my back. The assembled about group made it about half way across before a round slammed into my shoulder, my shields flared up and rippled like water as more rounds began hitting me and the ground around me. I spun on my heel and began firing at the HLF squad that had rounded the corner, “MOVE!” I yelled over the hail of gunfire. One of the HLF appeared from his cover with a launcher and fired it right at me, “Fuck!” I said as I dived out of the way, the projectile hitting the building behind me. I got up just in time to see another coming at me, this one much too close to evade. I shifted my arms in an attempt to shield myself from the majority of the damage and pumped as much energy as a could into my shields. The missile suddenly jerked left as the missiles nose was bathed in a magenta glow, before slamming into a wall, giving me the chance to jump back to cover. My head whipped around to see one of the unicorns, a fairly young female with a purple coat and two tone mane. Her horn stopped glowing and she gave me a quick nod before jumping into the building that the others were in. “Come on sir, lets take the rest of these fuckers out.” One of my squad members said. “Grenades on my mark......mark!” I said as the explosive left my hand. A couple of thumps reverberated through the ground and I swung out of cover. “Clear,” I said, “Lets move.” -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- ONE HOUR LATER After an hour of bobbing and weaving through buildings four short firefights we made it to the exfil location, a small clearing near the edge of the city. “This is Blue 1-1, requesting exfil of six VIPs, over.” I said into my helmets mic. “Blue 1-1, this is Phoenix Five, ETA to your location.... Ten minutes, over.” The pilot said back. I looked around and rested my eyes on an strong looking building, “Blue 1-3, move the civvies into that building, into the basement if it has one, then get to a window and set up. Blue 1-4, I want you on top of that two-story proved sniper support. Blue 1-2, you're with me.” As the others ran off to their positions as Blue 1-2 and I began setting up defensive positions. Just as I moved the last car into our makeshift barrier, Blue 1-4 spoke up, “I have multiple heat signatures, at least fifty, all coming down on this position.” “Thats it?” 1-3 quipped. “Looks like they’ve got a tank and CAS as well.” 1-4 said. “ You just had to open your mouth, didn't you?” I said back. “Piss poor odds for them.” 1-3 said. I chuckled as a round impacted the wall I was hiding behind, the mirth slowly spreading to the rest of the squad. I still can’t remember which was louder. The incoming fire. Or the last good laugh I ever had. -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- “Thats twenty!” 1-4 called out as another body hit the ground with a new hole in its head. “Cover that flank! Over by the black car!” I called. It took a moment to aim before squeezing the trigger in my rifle, hearing a scream as a HLF trooper dropped. A round impacted my helmet, making my head jerk back and my shields ripple, “Damnit!” I screamed as I ducked behind my potholed peace of cover. They had brought in their CAS, a drone the size of a small car, and it was proving to be a nuisance. We had long since run out of anything strong enough to take it down, and under its cover the HLF forces were able to slowly advance. “This is Blue 1-1 I need support now! I’ve got six VIPs here with an HLF drone bearing down on our position, someone, anyone please respond.” I called into my COM. “Blue 1-1, this is Hellbound 1-1, I’ve received your targeting data, payload in ten.” A voice said. “Hellbound 1-1, this is Blue 1-1, copy that. Everyone get to cover!” I yelled out as I ran to the building the VIPs were in. I jumped through a window and turned around just in time to see a joint strike fighter flyover the battlefield at a hypersonic speed, its roar coming a second later punctuated by the CAS drone turning into a ball of fire and crashing into the ground. “Their pulling back!” I called, “Open up!” From my vantage point I could see them retreating back from our position, taking casualties all the way. “Blue 1-1, this is Phoenix Five, ETA to your location thirty seconds.” “Copy that Phoenix Five. Blue squad move up!” I called. We slowly fanned out of the building, make sure to cover all possible ambush positions. I waved Phoenix Five down as the civilians came out of the building, filling into the dropship. “This is Blue 1-1 VIPs are secured. Can anyone hear me? Over.” I said into my COMs. “Don’t waste your breath Blue, fleet’s in shambles. Ark-ships are already out system except for the 'Odyssey'.” “Get us there Pilot.” As we lifted off just as a fifty kilometer fireball tore across the sky. “Holy shit..... it’s the 'Badb'! How in the hell did they take it down?!” I watched as the ship plowed into the ground, cutting a multi-kilometer trench across Edens surface before coming to a rest. “Pilot get is to that crash sight now!” “Sir?” “The Chairman was on that ship and according to his N-F feed he’s still alive.” -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- I looked down at the burning wreck of what was once one of the deadliest vessels in the UEG. “You got and hour, thats the most I can give you.” The pilot called. I jumped into the hanger, “Copy.” -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- I was close to the Chairman now, according to this his N-F feed was just passed this bulkhead. I looked up and read the words above the door. ‘ARMORY’ I forced open the doors, and quickly found the Chairman, who had a piece of metal through his shoulder, pinning him to the wall. “Chairman, sir!” I said as I ran up to him, he grunted in pain as I ripped the piece of metal out. “John......” “Don’t talk.” I said. He was losing blood fast, I popped a can of medical nanites onto the wound and thankfully the bleeding stopped. “Lets get you out of here sir.” I said as I bent down to pick him up, but before I could he rested a hand on my shoulder, stopping me. “No..... not this time.” He said. “What..... what are you talking about sir?” “I’m not coming with you....... my place is here. Its started John, the second Fall. I did everything I could to stop it..... but I didn't...... There's been a coup, the.....council is in shambles. The fleet is tearing itself apart..... I’ve failed......everyone. The least I can do is give you....them, a fighting chance. There is still a FENRIS warhead in this armory..... I need you to arm it for me, and link it to my lifesigns. Then you get off world and find somewhere safe. I told everything to Captain Del Marco, he knows what to do, he can keep them safe. They are...all of them, our children, make sure they're safe...... no matter what.” “Dammit Sir, we need you-” “No.....no you don’t.” “I........ Yes, sir.” I got up only to be stopped by his hand grabbing my wrist, “John..... would you be so kind as to leave me your sidearm.” I pulled my MOR - 94 at his side, in easy reach. “It has been an honor, Mr. Chairman.” -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- / 1/26/8272 CE / Captain Del Marco / Alexandria Orbit / Ark-ship 'Odyssey' -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- “Captain, Blue 1-1 in onboard, the Chairman..... didn't make it. Blue 1-1 says there's a FENRIS warhead about to detonate planetside any minute now!” My COMs officer said. “Helm, spin up the drives, get us out of here.” “Yes, Captain.” The Ship speed away from the planet, orbiting away so that they were on the dark side. “Sir, drives are spun up, but we’ve got HLF ships inbound.” “Jump now!” Just as the ship jumped a round impacted the ship, and due to the ships power being drawn by the drive, the shields had nowhere near the energy needed to stop the round, and the round struck the ship. The space around the ship warped and twisted, then unseen by the humans, but the ships AI saw it plain as day, the universe seemed to fall into itself and then ..... tare, there was a brighter than normal flash and the 'Odyssey' vanished. A second later a new sun appeared on Eden, the oceans boiled away, the ground turned to glass before shattering. Then, unable to take the stress, the planet itself shattered. Taking the remains of the HLF fleet with it. -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- / Doctor James Keyes / Ark-ship 'Odyssey' / Location Unknown -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- ONE WEEK LATER I sighed deeply as I attempted to rub the sleepiness out of my eyes as I walked to my cryopod, failing missibly. Being awake for a week strate would do that to a baseline like myself. We could quite honestly not be an a worse position. The ship had been hit just before we jumped, now wormhole physics are not my strong suit, but I know that kind of a force on the ship should have collapsed the wormhole and turned the ship, and everyone in it, into free floating particles. Yet, we're still here. Well even that's an objective point of view, we don’t even know where ‘here’ is. For right now all we know is that we are in a ‘dead zone’, a region of space with no stars, with the nearest being hundreds or even thousands of years away. The ship itself was damaged as well, whatever had happened fryed the drive, making it impossible to jump the ship, and we do not have the necessary tools to repair it. Leading us into our next problem. The three hundred and six thousand, three hundred and four individual VIPs, a mixed bag of unicorns, pegasi, Alicorns, and ‘baselines’ along with a couple thousand wyvern and púca, were a missive draw on our resources. Normally they would be placed into cryo with the rest of us to preserve resources, the problem being was time. With a trip with a potential time scale of thousands of years, we had to take wetwear degradation into account, cryo over long periods of time, could destroy the nerve connections in the brain, leading to mental retardation, loss of muscle control and death. So a plan was made. Over the past week we had been making modifications to the ships PODs, using them, we could preserve the VIPs and in turn monitor them for mental degradation while they eventually ‘live’ in the simulation for the duration of the trip. The main problem was the power draw that the POD mainframe had, so to save every Amp we could the simulation was..... simplified. Things like colors were changed, removing most hues, making them almost pop. Physics were greatly simplified to cut down the load on the CPU. It went from the hyper-real simulation that it normally was to something that looked like a damned cartoon. Not the perfect plan.... but it was the best we could do with what we have. With a another sigh I climbed into my Cryo-pod. Just before the blackness claimed my mind, on last thing shot through my mind. ‘This is all their fault.’