Dark Hope: Season 2

[Choryo]

Previously on Dark Hope...
"Dammit, that means that someone's messing with the central core! We've got to get down there."
"Thats it? Board their most defended ship and begin firing on their own ships?"
"Basically," Clark said, looking at the controls. "Are you coming or not?" Clark said, turning around. As he turned around, he saw the twelve men, Oopenheimer, and Bray strapping theirselves in. Clark smiled, and the ship lurched forward.
"Prometheus Command, this is Clark. Requesting clearance of taking Foxtrot security to the Daikrenter."
"Prepping soliton cannon. Weapon is charged, locking onto enemy cruiser cluster. Five...four...three...two...one...mark."
Bray looked around nervously, something wasn't right. It wasn't the mysterious black panelling spreading throughout the floor, ceiling and walls. Was it? Suddenly the room was filled with distortions of light, coming out of the floor, the ceiling, the walls. six of the marines were dragged through the floor and ceiling, their screams telling of their gruesome fates. Two distortions came through each side of the wall, and one droped from the ceiling.
Above Clark, Bray and the now lone marine looked up at the inverted mass of flesh that was the other marine, hanging from some nerve cords. Shaking the fear of "what if's" the three readied their weapons and spread out through the core's circular chamber. The lone marine was unlucky to run into Shashint. The scream was cut short as the flesh-eating Praetor expanded his mandibles and ripped off the hapless marine's head. Clark and Bray came running, stopping at the other end of the chamber, each readying their weapons, staring with pools of malice towards the laughing monster, tensing for a fight. The marine head rolled across the floor in a tumbleweed like manner. The fates were set.
And now, the conclusion.
Oopenheimer looked over each console in the bridge, looking for a security feed to find his comrades, Clark and Bray. The three men only with a recently deceased team had boarded an invading Gasod craft, the Daikrenter, flagship of the alien armada. Succeeding in taking the bridge, the Praetor, Shashint, fled to the core of the ship in hopes of destroying it. Clark and Bray followed the Praetor into the core, leaving Oopenheimer on the bridge, who was now worried if his friends were alive. Finally, he found a security console, and fumbling over the controls, remembering his long forgotten special training, the colonel found the nerve feed for the core. Bringing up a display he saw that both of his friends were still alive, pointing their weapons at the creature that was the Praetor. Confident in the abilities of his comrades he set to work on another control panel, ensuring that no enemy reinforcements would come across the core or the bridge. “Decompress, or chill, decisions, decisions, decisions,” he sighed his he randomly hit one of the buttons.

--- In the Core ---

The creature reared its head in a battle roar that seemed to shake the circular chamber; a sheath of crackling light came from its gauntleted fist. Then it charged, mandibles dripping. Clark and Bray looked at each other, and then opened fire. Their bullets danced off of Shashint’s armor, dealing no visible damage as the unstoppable vehicle of destruction barreled forth. The two each dodged aside. The Praetor was only off balance for a second, this time charging at Bray with blade held high. Anticipating the down stroke of the instrument of death, Bray quickly spun to the opposite of the sword, bringing the butt of his gauss rifle into the side of his opponent. His was rewarded with a discomforted grunt and a quick counter, cutting a gash in his left arm. Trying to get a clear shot, Clark stood helpless, knowing that Bray would not last long against the fury of his foe. Again and again Bray dodged his oncoming doom, but each time he became more sluggish. Finally, he was too slow. The Praetor bowled into him, knocking the hapless terran flat of his back and pinning him. Shashint’s ruthless blade came high, stopped only by the desperate hold of Brey’s right arm. Clark was behind the beast in an instant, delivering a powerful blow to the alien’s head, only to be met with an angry growl. He was thrown back by a swipe of the Praetor’s unarmed hand. The vile creature looked back at his pitiful prey, maw wide open, eager for a feast, but he had made a mistake. In the delay that Clark brought, the Praetor released his grip on Bray’s left arm, allowing him to retrieve a small fist sized object that was now speeding for his open throat. Bray’s arm went elbow deep, ramming home his last frag grenade. Releasing his grip and withdrawing his arm, he was able to shove the stunned Praetor to the side, allowing him to roll away. “Fire in the hole!” screamed Bray. A second later a squelching blast came to the left, and a spray of a gooey substance came forth to shower the comrades. Exhausted, Bray sat himself up against a wall laughing, “Indigestion?”
Clark and Bray began laughing, as Bray wiped the Praetor off his suit. He grimmaced in pain.
"Oopenheimer, it's Clark," Clark said over the radio.
"You're alive? Good job!" Oopenheimer said, pressing buttons.
"Well, what do we do now?" Bray said.
"Much of the sublevels have been decompressed. Few more minutes and you guys would be dead. I'm going to try and teleport you back. Oopenheimer out," Oopenheimer said.
"Roger that," Clark said, and picked up his P90. He was teleported back to the command deck.
"So Oopenheimer, whats going on?" Clark said. Oopenheimer was silent, and pointed out the command deck's window. Much of the surviving Terran fleet was there.
"Thats quite the kick in the teeth they've got there..." Clark said. He picked up his radio. "This is Colonel Ryan Clark. Do not shoot, the ship is under our control, I repeat, the ship is under Terran control,"
"Roger that Colonel. We're going to tow you to Omega. Prepare for rapid acceleration,"
"Rapid acceleration?" was all Clark managed to say, as he flew back when the ship entered hyperspace. Just as he got up, the ship came to a stop, and he went flying forward. The ship began its descent to the surface.

Originally Posted By NinjaCombatAce

[Choryo]

--- Weeks later ---

"Colonel, we've managed to decode so much interesting stuff," a scientist said. His nametag said his name was Walter Cook, a senior scientist working on the Daikrenter data core.
"Amazing. What'd you find?" Colonel Clark said, tossing a part of the ship, playing catch with himself.
"Please don't do that, sir," Cook said. Colonel Clark stopped, the shippart shattering on the ground. Cook frowned. "We've found many Gasod bases, strongholds, battleplans, and a few worrisome things,"
"Worrisome?" Clark asked.
"They plan on taking Omega next. We also found mention of a research facility in a corner of the universe. It said something about the Bay-Le project. It was mysteriously shut down after many scientists were found missing. Its quite puzzling. We have the planets coordinates."
"Is this worth checking out?" Clark asked.
"I would say so," Cook said. "Tell me what you find?"
"Won't have to. You're coming," Clark said.
---
The X530 Equinox class cruiser bursted out of hyperspace, its weapons at the ready. After five minutes of nothing being fired at them, they deemed the sector all clear. In the combat bay, Colonel Clark was prepping a unit of fourty men, who would go down on the planet with him, Oopenheimer, newly promoted Lieutennant Bray, and Dr. Cook's science team.
"Okay, here's the breakdown. This lab is supposedly abandonned, so we're not expecting much resistance. Alpha unit, led by Lieutennant Bray is out on security detail, while Bravo unit will be protecting Dr. Cook's team with me and Oopenheimer. Lock and load," Clark said. The troops loaded up on the three Mk12 troop transports and descended towards the surface. There was only one structure, but it took up almost a quarter of the land mass of the planet.
"I'd check that out if I were you," Clark said to the pilot.
After landing, Alpha squad set up a perimeter, as the scientist team arrived in the central nerve center. Clark led the way, his P90 at the ready. A shadow was on the wall, and its head resembled a Gasod High Scientist. Clark rounded the corner, but found a dead Gasod, its body mutilated, hanging infront of a light.
"All units, listen up. We've reached the core, but we've found a few mutilated Gasod. Whatever did this, has some large claws, sharp teeth, and a hatred for Gasod. I wouln't want to stay and chat if I ran into this thing. Bray, keep alert," Clark said.
"Roger that, sir," Bray said over the radio. Cook and his scientist team set up, and began interfacing the nerve core with Terran computers. Oopenheimer was translating for them.
"Holy shit..." Oopenheimer said.
"What?" Bray, Clark, and Cook said in unison.
"That thing that got that Gasod? It was a Gasod," Oopenheimer said, his eyes not leaving the screen.
"What?! Was?!" Clark said.
"It was genetically altered. Some sort of super soldier. In Gasod, thats a Bay-Le. This thing runs faster, jumps higher, is stronger, and generally more deadly then any other Gasod. There was only one, and it killed much of the scientist team the Gasod had here. They reccomended closing the project down, after is flooded the entire bottom level. It seems to deflect plasma projectiles, and can use telekinesis and the likes. They continued experimenting, until it managed to activate the weapons system, and destroy the Gasod fleet orbitting the planet. This thing might not be killable..." Oopenheimer said, taking a deep breath.
"Damnit. All units listen up, we have a super Gasod out here. Stay ale-" Clark was cut off by a loud scream.

Originally Posted By NinjaCombatAce

[Choryo]

The now lieutenant Bray gripped his TRG-15 (gauss sub-machinegun) tightly. The appeal of a super-Gasod running rampant in the facility was not very comfortable. Bray had his scouts report back, expecting at least one not to return. The one that didn't, fortunately, was scouting the very fringes of the perimeter he had planned to set up. In the back of his mind, he kept on thinking, Hey, I saw this in a movie once! This is where everybody gets killed, one by one in the most horrible and excruciatingly painful deaths. Shaking the thoughts from his head he consulted a layout of the station, looking for some open area where numbers could prevail over a juggernaut. There was one about a half of a kilometer ahead, but there were many twists and turns in the way. Already feeling watched, Bray started the long march to sanctuary.

--- In The Core ---

Oopenheimer paced back and forth, M249 held tensely. The colonels already had the men deployed in a tight perimeter making sure that anything not friendly would come under fire in an instant. Clark tried to lighten the mood. "Know what’s one of my most hated clichés?" he said half heartedly.
"What?"
"When someone see something, and a guy starts firing madly, and everyone starts screaming and firing."
"Not fu..."
The room was filled with the sound of screaming and gun fire, but quickly subsided. A bewildered marine crouched back, "This time I swear I saw something! Honest! That corner looked like it was moving!"
"Relax," called Cook over his shoulder, "I've managed to reactivate some of the sensors around the area. If anything comes close, I'll let you know."
"Anyway, what are you doing now, you've been on that computer for a while." asked Oopenheimer.
"I'm accessing the Daikrenter's most recent archive, most likely a flagship has virtually everything you want to know. Maybe I can learn more about the Bay Le."
"OK," sighed Clark, doubting Cook would find anything.
A few tense moments pass.
"Well here's something," mumbled Cook.
"What," said the colonels simultaneously.
"Survivor log, subject scientist of Rak' Norosh facility, that's here. Looks like he's the lone survivor."
All three of them leaned over the screen, looking over the log.

Inquisitor Nelza'ak's log cycle 15536.402K
Subject: Only survivor of the Rak' Norosh
Subject refused to answer questions coherently, but only give a small hint of what happened. Relavent quotes follow.
"It knows, yes it knows, the darkness, it creeps, it sees. Must not close eyes lest it find me. It becomes strong, yes it has, the darkness it hungers, its fury blinds its thoughts with hunger. NO, must be awake, keep the darkness away. We had warriors, yes we did, but the darkness kills it! It kills it! It destroys, rips, tears and grinds! Then it feasts! Only the light bringer stops it, must find the light bringer! It's bars protect me yes it does. The darkness hates the light bringer it does! Glow ! The glow of the light bringer I must have it!"
Subject became hysterical. Termination of subject resulted .37 cycles from interrogation initiation.

"Well that was real helpful," mumbled Clark.
"Actually it was," replied Cook. He pushed a few buttons on the computer and brought up what looked like a Gasod inventory.
"What are you thinking," asked Oopenheimer.
"That scientist might have been a raving lunatic, but he couldn't have been more helpful. He refers to the light bringer as the only weakness the Bay Le has, and that this 'light bringer' comes in bars. Fortunately, I know just what he was talking about," rambled Cook.
"And?"
"Well, a common material found in research stations is a substance know to the Gasod as Gaznilok. Its used as a catalyst for experiments be being shot into substances. This material happens to fit the bill, and there seems to be a wealth of it in this station."
"So what do we do with it," asked Clark impatiently. Cook shrugged. "Well I guess it acts as a repellent."
"Is there any near us or Bray?" asked Oopenheimer.
After a few more seconds of searching, Cook replied, "well, there is a storage chamber full of the stuff near Bray, but... oooo, its got injector guns for the rods too in that room. However, we aren't near any Gaznilok storage areas. I wouldn't wander out of the core."
"Right," said Clark. Turning on his radio, he said, "Lt. Bray, this Clark, we may have found a weakness to this Bay Le. There is a storage area that has a bar-like material that the Bay Le fears, and according to Cook they may be used as projectiles." Clark replied to in more screams.

Originally Posted By C480053

[Choryo]

"How'm I supposed to use this Gastra thing?! Toss it at it?!" Bray screamed. "This thing, the bullets...stop. They don't go through him. Its not like the Praetors shield. Holy shit, he just ripped Sergeant Malarky's chest into pieces. Holy shit. KEEP FIRING!" Bray's radio cut to gunfire and screams.
"Damnit," Clark said. He walked to a weapons crate, and pulled out an RGB6 grenade launcher. He slung it over his back. "Oopenheimer, come with me. Bring the M249." Oopenheimer obeyed, and walked next to Clark.
"You...can't be kidding! You said yourself that it isn't safe to leave the core! You'll be massacred! I'll be massacred!" Dr. Cook said. Clark looked at the weapons crate and tossed Dr. Cook a M8EP handgun. "I've never fired a gun in my life!" Dr. Cook screamed.
"Well learn to fire one, damnit," Oopenheimer said. With that, the two Colonels ran towards Bray.
"Bray, whats your status?" Clark said, over the radio. There was no response. "Bray, whats going on?" Clark said, trying again.
"Damnit Bray, answer," Oopenheimer screamed.
"This is Bray, there aren't too many of us left. The thing, I think we got it. Its like, he was looking at us, and he got shot from behind. Oh god! Here it comes! Detonate the C4! Claymores! Use your hand gre-" the radio cut into silence. Clark and Oopenheimer heard screams and gunfire coming from a room ahead of them. They looked at each other, and ran. Clark had his P90 at the ready, as Oopenheimer kicked down the door. The Bay-Le had Bray pinned down against the end of the corridor.
Clark fired his P90, hitting the Bay-Le's arm. It turned around, claws fully out. Bray got up, firing his TRG15. The Bay-Le turned around again. This was Clark and Oopenheimer's chance.
"GET DOWN!" Clark screamed. He took out his RGB6. In unison, Clark and Oopenheimer fired their RGB6 and M249. The creature was torn into pieces, but escaped up, into a vent.
"Son of a bitch!" Clark screamed, and helped Bray up.
"You okay?" Oopenheimer said.
"Just a few broken ribs, a few cuts. Can't say the rest about the others. Some got thrown into walls. And some got shredded.
"Can you walk?" Clark asked.
"Yeah, definetly. Just a few broken ribs.."
"OH GOD! OH GOD!" Dr. Cook screamed on the radio. "I can't kill it! I can't kill it! Someone please help! Please! Help me! Aaaagh!"
"Oh shit," Oopenheimer said, and the three ran back to the core.
"Bravo squad, Bravo squad, do you read me?" Clark said, as they raced across the facility.
"This is Bravo squad, we're all intact sir. The thing just ran by us. Its like it wanted to get to the central nerve,"
"I see..." Oopenheimer said.
"What is it?" Clark screamed.
"It wanted to delete all records of what happened. But its been backed up..." Oopenheimer said, as they got to the door. They heard a gun firing. The door opened automatically, and the three ran in, weapons at the ready.
Dr. Cook was firing his M8EP, but missing every shot.
"You're supposed to aim the goddamn thing at it!" Clark screamed. But it was too late. The Bay-Le impaled Dr. Cook with its claws and shoved him against a wall. It began ripping it to pieces with its fangs, its back turned towards the three.
"Hope this works," Clark said as the three waged a small war against the Bay-Le. It was ripped to tiny shreds, and fell back. Dr. Cook's remains slid down the wall, leaving a trail of blood.
Clark held his RGB6 down, aiming at the Bay-Le's remains. Much of it was missing.
"All security teams, this is Clark. Bay-Le is accounted for, and it is dead. Equinox, get those dropships down here for extraction," Clark said over the radio. He glanced over at Dr. Cook's body and his laptop. He picked the laptop up, and put it in his backpack.

Originally Posted By NinjaCombatAce

[Choryo]

Weeks had passed since the Bay-Le incident. Colonel Clark learned that some members of the Prometheus had survived, including the Security Commander Alex Solomon. Clark noticed that he had been acting strange, going out for days, coming back with mud from the north on his clothes. So one day, Clark decided to follow him, staying out of sight. Solomon made his way to Prominence Tower, the tallest building on Omega.
Solomon walked into the elevator, and pressed the top floor button. Clark got into the elevator parallel to Solomon's, and hit the top floor button after the first left. Clark walked out of the elevator, and saw a suitcase in the middle of the room.
"The hell..." Clark said, looking at the heavy, reflective surface. He walked towards it and opened it up. There was a mass of plutonium, behind a protective screen, and a time. "My god..." Clark said. He took out his radio from his jacket. "This is Colonel Ryan Clark. There is a nuclear warhead in Prominence Tower, I repeat, a nuke in Prom-" and he was cut off. He was knocked forward by Solomon, who was waiting.
"What are you doing?!" Clark screamed. His question was answered by swift punches. Clark grabbed Solomon's arm, and flipped him onto his back. Clark tried to pull out his Beretta 357, but Solomon grabbed his leg, flipping him. The 357 was sent across the room. Solomon kicked Clark on the ground. Clark got up, shaking. His radio went off.
"Clark, this is Oopenheimer. Bray is with me. We're coming up now!"
Clark stood there, trying to get a hold of what he was doing.
"You're defecting?" he asked.
"No! I'm living out my patriotic duties!" Solomon responded, bashing Clark over the head with a chair.Clark reached out for the Beretta 357, but Solomon smashed a second chair over his head. He tossed a third chair out a window, as a dropship opened up outside. Solomon picked Clark up, and put him over his shoulders, and walked to the dropship.
Oopenheimer and Bray rushed out of the elevator.
"Freeze!" they both said, Bray's SP22 and Oopenheimer's Beretta M9 aimed at Solomon. He didn't respond, putting Clark's unconscious body in the dropship. The two opened fire, but it was too late. The dropship closed up, and Clark was taken prisoner. Oopenheimer ran to the suitcase, and began fiddling with the detonator. He managed to shut it down, with moments left.
---Somewhere on Omega---
Clark's vision was black. He could feel he was hanging from his hands, but couldn't see anything. He figured he had a bag over his head. He took a deep breath. Clark coughed, figuring he had some broken ribs. The bag on top of him was removed, and aimed at his face was a M44 pistol. The operator pistol whipped Clark a few times, sending blood down his face.

Originally Posted By NinjaCombatAce

[Choryo]

12 sleepless hours had passed after Clark's kidnapping. Oopenheimer and Bray waited inside the intelligence center, eager for any news. Finally, a hardened man who looked like he knew the ways of the world, but had the youth to act, stepped out of the room. "Bray, Oopenheimer?" he asked curtly, in a commanding voice.
"Yes sir, that's us," replied Bray, eager for news.
"Major Grimsfeld of the Omega Security Force," the other said, holding out his hand, "we traced the transport to a deserted area 50 clicks up spin to the north. Satellite imagery managed to pick up some sort of underground structure. Where ever your friend is, I'd bet my ass that he's there."
"What about who took him?"
"I'll brief you enroute, report down to the quartermaster, you have 0015 hours to suit up."
"Thank you major," said colonel Oopenheimer, a bit intimidated by the lesser ranking officer's commanding aura.

--- Unknown Location ---

Another slap pounding into Clark's swelling cheek. He spit the blood back at his captors defiantly. He had been resolute, not to give in. Over the hours he had learned that Solomon was part of a rebel group called the Silent Hands of Truth, dedicated to ending the "corruption" of the Terran League, and of course, they wanted him to join, bombarding him with hours of made-up doctrine, always praising some mysterious leader, always in the shadows. Clark figured that no one knew who the leader was. Solomon came back in. "Well, still stubborn, and still in pain I see, said the traitor, slightly amused."
Clark spat back, "you do know there's a war going on right?"
"The war is no concern of ours," replied Solomon, nonchalantly, "the Gasod will see our righteous course of SHoT and stay their hands."
"Stupid. Dogmatic. Fool." Clark was greeted by another slap.
"How about we cut off one of your ears?"
"Go ahead, I have two."
Solomon turned away, frustrated

--- To the infiltration team ---

"You sure these things will work?" asked Bray dubiously, looking at Grimsfeld and the five other special forces.
"Yup, finest the Gasod reverse engineering program has to offer, “smiled Grimsfeld, "don't worry; we'll be back in no time."

The troop carriers dropped the eight infiltrators a mile away from the underground base. Fifteen minutes later they reached the base, and Grimsfeld and his team suddenly turned into nothingness. Hope this works, mumbled Oopenheimer, engaging his own cloak. The helmets they wore allowed them to see in the dark, and the other teammates, but Grimsfeld was missing. "Where's Grimsfeld?" asked Bray, worried.
"Oh, he went up ahead like he always does," replied a commando cheerfully.
"Like he always does?" echoed Bray.
"The Major lives for the field, nothing can touch him, practically just ghosts and shadows to the enemy till its too late."
Bray could now see Grimsfeld trotting back to the team, smiling. "They left the door open."
Moments later, Bray and Oopenheimer could see what Grimsfeld really meant. All around them they could see at least half a dozen dead or unconscious guards scattered around the area of the entrance. No alarm had been sounded.

Originally Posted By C480053

[Choryo]

The eightman team ran through the base, Grimsfeld, carrying his SR90SD/Mod5 Sniper Rifle, leading. They heard screams of pain coming from one of the rooms. They searched each room, finding noone.
"Damnit," Oopenheimer said, after the sixth room revealed noone.

---Inside the room---
"I don't think he's going to talk..." one of the men said.
"He's expended his usefullness," Solomon said, pulling out an M44 and aiming it at his face. Clark spit at Solomon. His defiance was greeted by a kick to the chest.


---The infiltrators---
"Last room. He has to be in here...if he already isn't dead," Grimsfeld said. The infiltrators bashed down the door, running in.

---Inside the room---

Clark saw the door fall down, and swung back, kicking Solomon. The force caused Solomon to misaim and pull the trigger, hitting Clark in the right eye. He screamed in pain. He swung again, kicking the gun out of Solomon's hand.
The eight men came in from the shadows. Solomon pulled out his second M44 and started firing wildly. He was met with SR90SD/Mod5 ammunition to his chest.
"Clear!" Bray said.
"Clear!" Oopenheimer said.
"Clear!" Grimsfeld said.
Clark was cut down from the rope. He was delirious, from the blood loss.
"Can you hear me Clark?" the medic said.
"Wha...t?" Clark replied, groggy.
"Your cornea has been burned from the gunshot. I don't think you'll be able to see out of that eye again. In the mean time, you can put this on," the medic said, giving Clark an eyepatch over his right eye.
"Don't I get one of those cloaks?" he said, sitting up.
"We only had eight. You'll have to make due," Grimsfeld said, already out the door. Clark walked, picking up an M44 pistol. He stopped at a loading dock, filled with containers.
"Bray? Oopenheimer?" he said, looking around. Out of nowhere, soldiers jumped down, surrounding him. He looked around, thinking to himself that he had no chance of escape. He ran forward, staying low, grabbing a GLA32 assault rifle, spinning it in the guards hands, so the rifle butt hit the guard in the jaw, knocking him down. He spun the rifle again, as the guard was falling down. He fired the guns 50 round clip over his head, hitting several of the guards in the chest. He proceded to do a backflip, as a guard charged at him. He grabbed the guards head, and flipped him to the ground. A loud crack broke the silence. Clark kicked the a guard into a container. The last guard dropped his weapon, and was shaking his hands. Clark ran, grabbed his neck, put his thumb on his trachea, and crushed his neck. The body went limp, and he dropped it, brushing the dust off.
"Clark! Are you okay!" Oopenheimer said, decloaking. "We got here as fast as we could! You got seperated from us!"
"You were cloaked, damnit," Clark said. Oopenheimer looked at the carnage.
"You...crushed a mans neck with your thumb...and tossed a man into a container..." Oopenheimer said.
"Where'd you go?" Clark asked.
"HQ radioed in an urgent message," Bray said.
"Whats that?" Clark asked.
"The Gasod are here," Oopenheimer said.

Originally Posted By NinjaCombatAce

[Choryo]

The rescuers quickly fought their way out of the SHoT base, and were quickly scrambled into their transports. The coming of a new foe, sending adrenaline into every man's soul. After a few moments, Grimsfeld got off the comm, smiling. "We got 'em pinpointed in the shadow of one of our moons. They think that we don't know they are here. I'm sure our ODP's will tell them differently." As Grimsfeld finished his comment, the night sky was lit up with shooting stars of destruction, splashing against dark shapes in the sky. At first the shapes seemed to scatter in all directions, but then unified into a bloated mass of darkness, sending forth their own lights. "Will they make it past the defense stations?" asked Bray.
"Well, a number of the lighter craft might slip past, then the AA batteries will go to work, but I wouldn't say our defense of the sky is airtight."
"So they'll brerak through?" asked Oopenheimer.
"It will take some time, but when they do, we're gonna give their ground forces a screwing they'll never forget."

--- 2 hours later ---

"Alright men! There they are! Let's lay it on them!"
"Load one 60 auto, mark!"
"They're pouring out of that wreckage!"
"Hah! Gasod spacecraft were meant to be grounded!"

The four men were now charging the wreckage of a downed Gasod transport. In the two hours that the defense systems of Omega had given them, they had equipped themselves with the finest weapons that the Omega Security Force had to offer. Clark got his eye cleaned and looked at, but still wore an eyepatch. All were in black field fatigues, excellent for night fights, and their favorite weapons. Clark had his P90and an MGL (grenade launcher), Oopenheimer got the privilage of spiriting off an experimental energy rifle along with a OSS pistol as a side arm, and Bray again had a high yeild gauss rifle and an MP5A5. Grimsfeld still had his sniper rifle, but now had two SMG's strapped to his waist. Each had an elite fireteam of five men at their command.

Barreling into the shaken, surviving Gasod, they wasted no ammo on the hapless invaders, bashing them in the head with the butts of their weapons and sliting their throats, christening the battleground with the blood of the fallen. Flares lit the sky as even more dropships streaked towards the surface, most on fire. The four noted that some ships had blue lights coming off from them, zigging and zagging independantly. "Jump packs!" screamed Oopenheimer, recognizing the familar sound of the rush of air.

The new attackers came from above, taking one soldier under Clark's command by surprise. The poor commando was reduced to a burning corpse. Grimsfeld whipped up his sniper rifle and in a single motion planted a bullet in two of their heads. Clark herded another into slamming through a wall with fire from his P90, sending the alien hurtling to his doom. Bray and Oopenheimer played with the last one, decapitating it limb from limb with their rifles. Most of the blue streaks seemed to be headed off into another part of the city. "Where are they headed?" screamed Oopenheimer.
"Power plant, three blocks away! Let's go, the garrison there will need some back up!" replied Grimsfeld. The platoon rushed towards battle and the hopes of victory.

Originally Posted By C480053

[Choryo]

The men reached the powerplant's exterior. Inside, it was dark, despite it being a powerplant.
"Alright. Flashlights and NVGs people," Clark said, putting an ANV33 Nightvision unit.
"Sir, if this is a powerplant...why aren't there any lights?" Bray said, his AMP5 flashlight on.
"Thats because the EMP the Gasod are using damaged all the lights. I'm surprised the generators are still working," Oopenheimer said over the hum of the generators.
"I see," Bray said, opening the door. Instantly, his rifle was at the ready. Next was Grimsfeld, with a thermal scope on his SR90SD Mod. 5. Oopenheimer was after Grimsfeld, holding the prototype energy weapon. The platoon of men were next, equipped with Mk19 shotguns equipped with flashlights, AMP4/5 rifles, and M44 pistols. Last was Clark, his P90 at the ready.
"Get to the generator room first, make sure its secure," Clark said over the radio. The platoon walked slowly, the flashlights dancing around them. Colonel Clark was holding the rear end of the troops. So far, there had been no ecounters. Clark stopped, bringing his P90 up to his eyes.
"I'll be back with you guys in a bit," Clark whispered on his radio, tapping two men to follow him. They walked to a few containers that were stacked high.
"Sir, what are we looking for?" the first soldier said.
"I saw something move. Wheres Smith?" Clark said, looking around. The first soldier turned a corner, and saw Private Smith's body impaled on one of the containers.
"Sir, I found Smi-" was all the first soldier was able to say. Clark turned towards where he was, and ran. He turned the corner, and saw the soldiers body crumpled on the floor. Clark looked around nervously. He was unaware of the Gasod that jumped down behind him. Clark turned around, and right behind him was a High Templar Gasod. It swung at Clark, sending him a few feet back, knocking his P90 and MGL off him. The High Templar's retractable arm blades came out of their sheath, and it charged at Clark. Clark leaned to the side, grabbing one of the blades, ripping it off the Gasod. The Gasod tripped, as Clark swung the blade.
The Gasod got up, and grunted heavily.
"Human!" it said. "Why must you run from your destiny of being one of us!" Clark answered this with a swing of the blade. A sword fight began, Clark blocking the Gasod's arm. The Gasod kept swinging, and Clark tripped over one of the dead soldier's legs. The Gasod prepared to impale Clark, but he rolled over, while swinging the blade. It slashed the Gasod's leg. Clark got up, and went on the offensive. He proceded to kick the Gasod over, and impaled it.

---The rest of the squad makes it to the generator room--
"Damnit! They're everywhere!" Bray said, firing his AMP5 everwhere. The fireteam had been pinned down on the first floor of the generator room, on a platform above the generators. A Gasod landed behind a soldier. The soldier turned around, and grabbed him, as the Gasod pushed him into the generator.
"Where the hell is Clark!?!" Oopenheimer said, firing the pulse cannon, ripping multiple Gasod's into pieces. The fighting went on for twenty minutes.
"Sir, much of us are out of ammo," one of the soldiers said. Grimsfeld fired his SR90SD Mod.5.
"Aaagh!" Oopenheimer said as the pulse cannon caught fire. He dropped it into the generator. "Okay, okay. Drop your weapons. We lost this one," he said. The men obeyed, putting their weapons down, and putting their hands in the air. The eighteen remaining Gasod walked forward, aiming their plasma rifles at them.

---Meanwhile, Clark gets his gear back, and tries to find the team--
"Damnit," he muttered, running up stairs.

---The Gasod continue approaching the disarmed platoon---
"Sorry guys," Oopenheimer said.
"Don't you always fight to the end?" one of the soldiers said.
"We had more ammo when we did," Bray said
"Where the hell are you," Grimsfeld said.
Grenades fell from the sky, killing multiple Gasods. The approaching Gasod aimed up, and fired their plasma rifles. Oopenheimer looked up, seeing the muzzle flash of a P90.

--Airborn...--
Clark jumped off the railing, doing a cartwheel in the air, the weapons he was firing keeping him in the air. He looked down, firing all eight of the MGL grenades, killing many of the Gasod. His P90 took out more. Clark landed, kicking a Gasod in the face. Oopenheimer fired a shot at Clark, hitting the Gasod behind him.
"Nice shot," Clark said.

Originally Posted By NinjaCombat Ace

[Choryo]

The break in combat was short-lived as a roar of fury from the other end of the room. A Gasod lowered its head in a blinding charge, wielding to short energy swords, its armor black as death. Two more came behind it, firing plasma rifles as they went. Caught flat footed, the commandos had little or no time to dodge. Most of them were able to find cover behind the massive turbine casings coming out of the floor, but one marine's face became a textbook case for plasma burns, while another had his entrails fall to the floor by the killing blades to the berserking Gasod. Clark and Oopenheimer opened up with their weapons, shooting into the creature's ill armored side while Grimsfeld and Bray tried for point blank head shots. The four only managed to stun the unyielding demon. Knowing that staying clumped together would mean certain death at the hands of the berserker, Grimsfeld ordered his men to take cover behind other turbine coverings and flank the incoming plasma Gasod. Out of the corner of his eye, Oopenheimer could see even more Gasod pouring in through the entrance that the original three Gasod came from. Turning his head, to count their numbers, he was greeted by the view of the ceiling and slobbering mandibles.
Grimsfeld saw his comrades peril, and quickly emptied a clip from his SMG into the beast's head. It still didn't die. It roared in pain, showing its glittering teeth, just enough to let Oopenheimer's bullet pass through its unarmored maw, entering its brain. The hulk fell, pinning Oopenheimer with its carcass. Grimsfeld still heard the muffled fire of his men’s rifles, now followed by the punctuated PATOMFS of Clark's MGL. They had the Gasod at the door way, an easy position to defend. That's when a commando's head mysteriously left his body.
The whole room was filled with light distortions, coming in from the upper entrances. The team was forced into a blazing circle of panicked fire. They couldn't miss, they room was full of cloaked Gasod. Death was imminent. Then, the sky rained fire and shrapnel. The scream of confused and dying Gasod filled the room. Flickering flames, spouting from another group of men, came from the entrances the cloaked elites had entered from. Cooked grenades detonated in the air, exposing the Gasod's positions, which then were blanketed in flame and fire. When all were dead and gone, Bray, Clark, Grimsfeld, Oopenheimer and the three remaining commandos looked up at the their rescuers. "Someone call for a barbecue," coughed a soot and blood stained sergeant.

Originally Posted By C480053

[Choryo]

"Damnit, I'm running out of ammo," Clark said, putting his last six grenades into the revolving chamber. More Gasod elites were pouring from every possible area.
"Damnit!" Oopenheimer screamed, as a Gasod grabbed him, and held him against a wall by the throat. Oopenheimer was a few feet off the ground, and his legs were kicking.
"Aaagh!" Clark said, screaming, as he wrestled with a Gasod. He tried to rip an armblade off, but to no avail. "You having fun, Oopenheimer?" Clark said, in a choke hold.
"I haven't seen this much meat in ages..." the Gasod holding Oopenheimer said, salivating.
"I'm...not...fat!" Oopenheimer screamed, kicking the Gasod where a male penis would be. It had no effect.
Clark continued to struggle, but it was useless. The Gasod ontop of him opened his mouth, revealing a large amount of sharp teeth.
"Fuck..." Clark screamed. The Gasod leaned forward. Clark began screaming.

---Somewhere else...---
Clark continued screaming and rolling, but stopped abruptly, and looked around. He wasn't in a Gasod's stomach.
"Oopenheimer?" Clark asked. "Bray? Grimsfeld?"
"We're okay," Bray said, dusting off the Gasod spit on him. They were onboard an ODP, Orbital Defense Platform.
"Greetings Colonel Clark! I am Admiral Pinace, of ODP sector Alpha! Welcome, welcome!" an old man said, in a decorated white jacket.
"ODP?" Bray asked.
"Orbital Defense Platform," Clark said. "Basically, its a part of an incredibly large defense satallite network. Each ODP unit is equipped with at least twenty SOLGs. The SOLG, or Strategic Orbital Linear Gun, is an anti-ship weapon, capabable of piercing the thickest armor the Gasod have to offer. The shells aren't radioactive, unlike previous anti-ship weaponry. They're 100% fallout free," he continued, giving a thumbs up and a wink.
"Why are we here, and not...digested?" Grimsfeld said, looking at the Gasod fleet approaching.
"Well, we needed to test our teleporter beams, and we felt you were the only people capable of doing this task..." the Admiral said.
"Task?" Oopenheimer and Clark said in unison.
"SOLG 25XB, one of our forward mounted SOLGs, was taken out by a biological weapon. We need you to get into space suits, and go out the airlock, and get across to the SOLG. Then, you'll have to fire the SOLG at the seven Gasod carriers inbound. We need you to do this. Suit up, ASAP," the Admiral said, as the station rocked with an impact.

Originally Posted By NinjaCombatAce

[Choryo]

"Pompous Navy brass," muttered Clark, "I had that damn blue bastard right where I wanted him."
"Talk all you walk, we've got a job to do," replied Oopenheimer.
"And why the hell were WE chosen?"
"Possibly because most of the personnel were killed," guess Oopenheimer, looking down at the battered station. Many of its sections were missing.
The two were in an Gando 5 fighter craft. Actually, calling it a fighter craft would have been an insult to antiques. The craft was a low budget spitwad, making Clark very eneasy as he piloted it close to the SOLG's massive magnetic coils, avoiding the attention of any enemies. Bray and Grimsfeld were at the fire control center, waiting for Clark and Oopenheimer to repair the SOLG's main power conduit.

Finding a maintenance hatch, they docked the ship and entered. The inside was filled with a green mist, but their suits protected them from harm. Bodies lay strewn over control panels, some still convulsing to the bioweapon's toxins. "Emerald Mistress," guessed Oopenheimer, "I've heard of this toxin. The victim's skin feels as if its ripping apart ... which it does since the victim is clawing at themselves, but that's after their kidneys implode and their lymph nodes break off, along with the seperation of the tendons in the leg. Nasty stuff." Clark found control panel and initiated a venting cycle, then found the reactivation sequence for the coils. "Five minutes till polarization of coils complete," reported Clark.
"That's to slow, override the drip systems and burn the mag charges."
"Wouldn't that be bad?"
"Maybe, just do it, we don't have the time."
"OK, magnetic coil operation levels now holding at 87%, Bray, that's as much as I can give you for now, your range and power might be a little limited," said Clark over the comm.
"Acknowledged," replied Bray.
After a few moments Clark and Oopenheimer felt a dull thud under their feet, followed by a huge roar as death streaked from the SOLG. Flipping on a viewscreen the pair saw the projectile punch a hole through a carrier's shields, and ripping through the front manifold. The first shot was followed by another and another, but then a sickening shriek came from the consoles. Looking over them, Oopenheimer saw that a power surge had knocked out a mag relay in coil number 42, possibly causing a small amount of the EMP from the nuclear detonation to fry the coil. "Aw shit," he exclaimed into the comm, "Bray, immediately cease firing, the SOLG's down again, standby for repairs."
"Make it quick, those carriers are closing in," replied Bray anxiously.

Clark and Oopenheimer arrived at coil 42, or what was supposed to be coil 42. Its entirety was blackened, with no sign of operating ever again. "Shit, this may take a while," muttered Oopenheimer. He thrusted over in his spacesuit and popped open a casing to another coil, accessing it's routine computer. Clark kept watch in the Gando 5, a Manakee scout spotted him and engaged. Fortunately Clark also noticed the scout and swore under his breath, the Gando 5 was definitely no match for the Manakee. Pulling off in a wide arc, Clark hoped to drive the scout away from Oopenheimer, which it did with great success, only now Clark had a overpowered foe on his six. Hoping to stall for more time, he pulled up, trying to shake the Gasod. In a freak accident, has fighter flipped nose over tail, catching the scout by surprise and ending up on his foe's six. Not wasting this gift from chance, Clark engaged his guass cannons, which subsequently ran out of ammo, leaving only a slightly wounded scout fleeing back to the carrier group.
"Got it," commed in Oopenheimer, "I managed to overlap the mag fields, should be safe to fire now."
"Get your ass in here," screamed a frustrated Clark, "we're getting a better fighter!"
Behind them the stars were covered in a blot of Gasod fighters.

Originally Posted By C480053

[Choryo]

Clark landed the Gando 5 at the landing dock on the SOLG. Oopenheimer was waiting for him, still in his space suit. Clark walked, determined towards one of the surviving F/S 22 Raptor advanced combat aircraft. The cockpit was open, and a body was lieing at the base of the steps up. Clark ran up, and strapped himself in, without saying a word. Oopenheimer ran up the stairs, and jumped in, strapping himself in. He instantly regretted that decision.
"Uh...Ryan?" Oopenheimer asked.
"Yeah?" Clark said, turning the turbines on. The engines began whirring.
"Did I tell you that I hate flying in enclosed little aircraft?" Oopenheimer asked.
"Not really," Clark answered, turning the Advanced Scanning Radar Array (ASRA) on.
"Well...I kinda am..." Oopenheimer said.
"Do me a favor. Turn the inertia dampners on," Clark said. The F/S 22 began wheeling towards the bay. Manakee's flew by.
"This is Bray, we destroyed a carrier!" the radio crackled.
"Damnit Bray, I said not to!" Oopenheimer said, cursing under his breath. The SOLG began shaking.
"Whats going on?!" Grimsfeld screamed.
"The coils detonated the remaining shells. They're gonna take the SOLG out..." Clark said. "I'd begin running. Theres an empty Gando 5 in here, though its empty, and...uh...a damaged F/S 22."
The F/S 22 raced out of the docking bay, immediately pulling up.
"Hey, uh...Clark. Have you...ever...flown one of these?" Oopenheimer asked.
"For a few years," Clark said, flipping the aircraft.
"Great," Oopenheimer muttered. The F/S 22 came behind a Manakee threesome. As soon as the ASRA got a lock on, Clark fired three Multi Launch Air to Air Missiles (MLAAR). The three hit their mark, and the F/S 22 flew through the explosion. The SOLG began breaking off from the ODP. Clark flew by the bay, to see if the F/S 22 was still there. He saw what looked like Bray and Grimsfeld running towards it. But by the time Clark made the connection in his mind, he was far away from the bay, and the SOLG began to explode.

Originally Posted By NinjaCombatAce

[Choryo]

Grimsfeld slapped Bray in the back of the head again, "I told you not to shoot, but NO, the damn thing's broken again." The last salvo of shots from the SOLG had ruptured the ammo containment stores. Grimsfeld and Bray were headed to the docking bay, escaping the now useless station. "So which one do you want, the broken POS or the regular POS?" asked Grimsfeld, looking at the damaged S/F 22 and the Gando 5.
"Let's take our chances with the 22," hastily replied Bray, "I call pilot."
The two settled in, Bray began hitting random switches.
"You know how to fly this thing?" asked Grimsfeld.
"Fly, yes. Land, no." Bray replied.
"Better than I can do," replied the captain grimly.
The S/F 22 hesistantly lifted off the ground, then thundered obliquly out of the bay at an unsteady angle.
"Uh, lets see here, gears, flaps... uh got it."
"We're dead."
"What's all those flashing red blips on the pan..., HOLY SHIT!"
In front of them the blackness of space was covered in dozens of Manakee fighters. The comm crackled, "Bray, this is Clark! Pull up and break off, you can't engage a force that size. Evade until we come with reinforcements!"
"Copy that," replied Bray unsteadily.
Clark had gathered a flight of F/S 22 and 18's. He was just a minute away from helping Bray and Grimsfeld. He watched helpless as the damaged fighter danced for a desperate bid for survival against the Manakee fighters, toying with their prey. With only ten seconds within range to engage, the Gasod decided to end the game. A plasma blot lanced silently towards the damaged fighter's right dorsal wing. "NO!" screamed Clark as he saw the fighter spin out of control. "Pull up! Come on damnit, pull up!"
A weak defeated voice cut through the static, "I'm...gonna miss that voice. We'll be waiting for you Colonel." A burst of flame lit up like a funeral pyre, marking the hole Bray and Grimsfeld's fighter had made as it crashed into one of the ODP's SOLG's. "Bray? Grimsfeld? Come in, come in dammit come in," choked Oopenheimer. Silence and static filled the empty grave of space. Clark's nuckles whitened, a death grip on the stick, "they're dead," he grimaced, "and so are those Gasod. We're gonna kill every last one of them! TO DEATH AND VENGEANCE!"

Originally Posted By C480053

[Choryo]

It was reminiscent of an old western standoff. The Terran forces, in their F/S 22 and F/S 18 fighters were racing towards a wall of Manakees.
"This is Clark. Guys, we all know whats at stake here. Keep cool, and keep your wingman covered. Hopefully we'll get some cruiser support from the First fleet. Other then that, we're pretty much on our own," Clark said, the two forces inching closer together. "How're you doing Oopenheimer?" Clark asked.
"I"m doing just fine," Oopenheimer said, gritting his teeth. "I think I figured out how to fire the secondary CIWS (Close In Weapon System. Pronounced See-wizz)"
"Good, good. I'd like you to keep it going, and not hitting any friendlies," Clark said.
"Easier said then done..." Oopenheimer responded. The threat detection began ringing.
"Alright. This is Clark. All aircraft, cleared to engage," Clark said. The wall of Terran ships crossed over, firing the gatling cannons. From an ODP, the engagement zone looked like fireworks going off. Blue and purple plasma bolts crossed with yellow and green and red tracers.
"Clark, we got a bandit on our six!" Oopenheimer screamed, trying to aim using the CIWS eyepiece.
"Shoot it down!" Clark screamed, pulling up, skimming a Gasod carrier. The CIWS began firing at four thousand rounds per second. The Manakee exploded, its wreckage plowing into the deck. The F/S 22 rolled to the left, and the ASRA picked up several Manakees. Within moments, the radar was locked, and missiles were fired. Moments later, the radar blips disappeared.
"Splash five!" Clark screamed.
"Sir, they keep coming!" a voice said over the radio.
"Enemy aircraft at Four O'Clock!"
"Four O'Clock from who?! You're not helping us over here!"
"I'm hit, I can't pull up! I repeat, I can't pull up! I'm going do-"
"Clark, they're right. There are way too many aircraft aboard the carriers for us to deal with. We're going to get run down," Oopenheimer said.
"You're right," Clark said, bringing the F/S 22's nose in line with the take off bay on the carrier.
"Uh, Clark, thats a Gasod carrier..." Oopenheimer said. Clark didn't answer. "Thats also where they're taking off from..." Multiple Manakees left the bay. The F/S 22 continued forward. "Damnit, whats the plan?"
"Thats more like it. You're going to man the CIWS, and hit the Manakee fuel tanks. I'll try and get us out of there before the secondary explosions rip us apart,"
"You're fucking crazy," Oopenheimer said with a grin.
The F/S 22 entered the bay, and Clark immediately pulled up. They were going straight up, to the top of the carrier, where the fuel tanks are.
"Ready?" Clark asked.
"Not at all," Oopenheimer responded.
"We're there, open fire!" Clark screamed. Oopenheimer began firing the CIWS, puncturing several fuel tanks. They began spitting out fuel, and the fuel caught fire. But it was too late, as the F/S 22 was already out in the bay as the ship exploded. The F/S 22 just made it out, exploding Manakees sending debris everywhere.
"This is Second squadron, we're heading back to Omega to rearm! Anyone else coming?" a voice crackled on the radio.
"Roger, this is Colonel Clark and Colonel Oopenheimer. We'll regroup,"
The F/S 22 and F/S 18s flew in a formation, heading towards the surface.
"Now, Oopenheimer, you're going to feel a slight bump, as we switch to atmosphere combat mode," Clark said. "Look at the other aircraft to see how easy it is."
Oopenheimer turned his head, and watched an F/S 18. Its wing was ripped off, and it collided with a second F/S 18.
"Holy shit!" Oopenheimer exclaimed.
"Damnit, Gasods! They must've used the sun to evade our radar!" Clark said. "We're unarmed. Damnit!" Clark rolled the F/S 22 multiple times. A Gasod plasma bolt hit the left engine. The fighter spewed smoke, as a military base came into view.

Originally Posted By NinjaCombatAce