oops
December 8 6AE (military calendar)
December 8 2028 AC (global calendar)
Major griffin
Courtyard outside of the Kremlin
The four of us are gathered up waiting for the transport, me Barbosa wraith, and Jed. I almost feel sorry for Ivonich as he’s been interrogated by the general for at least an hour now. Hopefully, we can do this fast and get back before the main NATO force hits.
The ripple of multiple supersonic breaks is heard and shortly after a craft like I’ve never seen drops down, two landing struts lower from either side of the rear hatch. I pick up my gear and walk aboard. I drop it in front of a seat that’s attached to either wall then walk to the front and peek into the cockpit.
“All this for you four you guys must be good” I nod “You our driver? What’s your call sign” The pilot flips a few switches and the rear hatch begins to close “Foehammer I’m originally from the 23rd Air Cavalry… you might want to take a seat” I move back to the seat I picked only for Barbosa to have taken it. I punch him in the arm and grab another.
As soon as I’m strapped in my gut drops as we suddenly shoot straight up then I’m thrown into the side of the harness as the pilot punches it. “Next stop Elysium Prime then space” Foehammer calls back. I look over at Wraith “Wake me once we get over beachhead” he gives a slight nod and I close my eyes.
Some time later I’m shaken and wake up. I get out of my seat and walk to the back after I wake Jed. I should probably let him sleep more but if he passed basic he passed he’ll week so he’ll be fine. “Foehammer can you drop the ramp I want to look at the scenery” the ramp hisses then drops “Carful y’all I don’t want to explain how I lost two of you” I move to the end of the hull and sit looking out.
Jed sits next to me. “Impressive isn’t it? You would never guess it was invaded five years ago” he nods “It’s so different from what we were taught in school they just showed us mud huts and starving kids saying ‘they need our help, our pity and they can’t possibly help themselves”
Barbosa sits with us “Once we were like that but sometimes all you need is an outstretched hand which the republic gave” Jed shakes his head in disbelief “I understood the basics of the republic’s economy but still how can they pull this off Shouldn’t the people be taxed into poverty”
I let out a laugh “They should but that’s why we have two economies the federal and the citizenry. They can help each other but can’t hurt one another all our gear is mined refined and forged in government-owned and operated facilities either by machines or penal workers” Jed lets out a sound of surprise.
We pass over the ports and see several huge battleships and dozens of merchant vessels then we are over the sea. “Buckle up I imagine we’ll break soon” We get up and get seated. The hatch closes and a few minutes later we shed speed and land in one of the hundreds of landing tubes. The ramp drops and we walk out to be met by a cart of gear.
“Let’s be quick, change your armor into this it’s vacuum-rated I’ll explain while we go” We do as we’re told and I’m a little surprised that Jed actually has a set despite the short notice. “Pistol and the latest from Misriah Armories the m2 caseless sub-machine gun. It fires a 5x23mm shredder. It is designed to inflict maximum damage to flesh yet not breach a vessel operating in a vacuum”
I get in my new armor first and pick one up. It’s surprisingly light and can evidently hold a ton of ammo. Sixty rounds per stick mag. “Your armor as you may have noticed has full armor coverage and your backpack is much larger. Your maneuvering thrusters are in that as well as the front harness giving you complete freedom of mobility. Your boots and gloves have electromagnets in them to allow you to walk to crawl on structures”
Overall it’s bulker but not bad. You certainly don’t want to compromise in space. A man walks up and I recognize him as Spero “Gentlemen I’ve heard word of what happened in Russia so a slight change of plans on this mission. Get the cosmonauts off the station as well as anyone who wants to surrender then drop it into the atmosphere”
I nod then raise a hand after a nod from him I begin speaking “Sir anyplace in particular to have it land” he smirks “You're the boots on the ground I’ll defer to your judgment… just not on our territory or an ally’s” a brief pause “anything else major” I think for a second then get a dumb idea “spray can of red paint”
He smiles and nods and a technician rummages around “Well then gentleman the world will be watching you with bated breath so no pressure. I’ll leave you with a few words that I believe fit your operation and the war as a whole. As astra per aspera”
We climb back onto Foehammers drop ship and someone tosses in a spray can. I grab it and douse my legs making wraith and Barbosa face palm. “Major are you serious” I finish and throw the can at him “Shut up man”
Foehammer comes over the comm “Hey you guys want to beat the Saturn five's speed to orbit” I shrug “How long was it” the engines whine “bout twelve minutes but I reckon we can make it in five” I look at the men in the hold with me and grin. I think back to what Tanya called a passage and read out of a strange book to me a few other officers that have been in the 104th since its inception.
‘Though we ride fire into the blackest night to kill among the stars, we carry with us the hopes and aspirations of all of those we defend. One day we’ll ride high enough to meet our creator and finally be able to repay him’
Tanya was always strange. She told me she nearly washed out of basic. I guess her religious tastes would be no less strange. “Kick it Foehammer”
As we rise out of the tube he flips on kickstart my heart and pushes the drop ship to the max. I almost feel like my bones will rattle out of my body. Luckily the space-rated suits mitigate the other side effects.
Five minutes later he cuts the thrusters and orients the nose. “Hahaha, just like I said. Now major how close do you want me are we doing a hard dock or a spacewalk” I was making a plan on the way up and now it was time to share it “We’ll walk over, once we clear the station and secure all individuals then you’ll dock and we’ll transfer everyone over and drop the station. Put your votes in now on where to drop it otherwise, I’m picking”
I get lights of agreement and already Wraith put his vote in ‘England’ fair enough. We check our gear and wait for Foehammer to get us within a few kilometers of the ISS taking it relatively slow so they hopefully won’t see the flair of breaking thrust.
He flips us around and drops the ramp “Happy hunting” We ease out of the bay and glide silently over. I take this time to snap a few pictures of Earth and Luna and marvel at the view, the crisp outlines everything has from a vacuum. Then I have to reorient and my boots softly touch the hull and magnetize.
I checked around and everyone made it over just fine. “Wraith move to the lunar side and prep a charge the rest of us to the main airlock” We'll try to get through nicely but if anything weird happens then we can just vent them all.
I attach a periscope to my helmet and peek it around a window and look inside. Scientists restrained and soldiers in unmarked uniforms stood over them. “Bad new boys this just turned into a hostage rescue. They all seem sitting but it’s null gee so watch your fire. Wraith stay outside and keep watch the rest of us are going in”
I move back to the main airlock. Luckily for the occupants, it has external controls to cycle it. “Everyone out of sight triggering the airlock now” I wait and get the periscope ready and look around the edge once the door opens. A soldier is looking through the other door but he moves off.
“Looks clear get in quick” I use my mag gloves to pull me up and in and trigger the cycle to open the inside. I can hear voices now. One speaking broken English says “You must have damaged it when you came aboard it has always been a little finicky” Good the scientists are deflecting.
“Guns up drop anyone with a weapon if possible take the leader alive…ready move” The inside door opens and we flow in and open fire. I push off and flip so I’m walking on the ceiling shooting down over what little cover the enemy found. I spot an officer looking one and tap my trigger a few times and shred his knees.
In less than ten seconds the shooting stops. “Barbosa stabilize him” I point to the officer “Jed cover him I’m clearing the rest of the station” one of the scientists screams finally from the carnage. I ignore them and move on. I hear Jed talking to them “Calm down we’re here to help”
A short while later I come back from my sweep. “Wraith how are we looking out there” his response is terse “All clear” I look at the scientists “Anyone hurt” I get back a few nods and one catatonic. “How many suits do you all have is there enough for all of you”
A burly man speaks up with a thick Slavic accent “We have enough for the crew but that’s it” I nod thankful at least one learned Elysian “Foehammer come on over and make a hard seal” I gesture at the Eva suits “Are those universal size” the man nods “help this one into it then get in yours we’re going to cross deck and get out of here”
It takes some doing but we get the officer into the suit and at that time a loud clack reverberates through the hull. Five minutes later we are moving scientists through the airlock with Barbosa to get them strapped in.
“Alright gents time to drop the station we have one vote for England” Jed clicks over the comm “Three Gorges Dam would be pretty funny” Barbosa seconds it. I grin “Wraith think we can make the shot” I’ve left through a different airlock and am standing next to him he shrugs “Sounds like we have our target me and wraith will drop the station, move the drop ship off a short distance”
We begin to pour over some calculations and check the station’s systems and eventually, everything is ready. We push off the station as it triggers its maneuvering thrusters and begins to drop and pick up speed.
Me and Wraith glide back to the drop ship and climb in through the back. “How’s everyone’s air” I get back replyies of a few hours “Foehammer get us a good view” We maneuver and I look out the back and watch the fireball that was the ISS plummet then break apart and land scattered throughout China with at least one hitting the dam causing a visible from here flow of water… and something else.
I use my helmet's zoom “fuck I need a second opinion look here” I mark where I was looking “Are those rocket plums” Barbosa asks we watch as they hit their apoapsis and descend on Japan who’s launching their own back. Already we see the flashes of nukes and the destruction of the flood water. Then just as it seemed it was settling down the Pacific seemed to crack and thousands of volcanoes all erupted at once.
We continue to watch for about a half hour then I notice the dust clouds heading west “shit Jed let the general know a pyroclastic wave is heading her way and Foehammer we should probably button up and head back… we were never here guys”
I wait until the ship begins to rattle from reentry “Jed bounce me to high” A few moments pass “High command this is Archangel actual mission successful and we have all the VIPs” the woman responds after a moment “Noted drop them at prime then return to your combat theater… major you didn’t have anything to do with the pacific theater did you” i mute myself to laugh. Of course, they would have watched through only a hundred different sats “No mam it was an American station so it’s an American problem”
“Right.. command out” I laugh as we burn a trail through the sky.
oops
December 8 6AE (military calendar)
December 8 2028 AC (global calendar)
Major griffin
Courtyard outside of the Kremlin
The four of us are gathered up waiting for the transport, me Barbosa wraith, and Jed. I almost feel sorry for Ivonich as he’s been interrogated by the general for at least an hour now. Hopefully, we can do this fast and get back before the main NATO force hits.
The ripple of multiple supersonic breaks is heard and shortly after a craft like I’ve never seen drops down, two landing struts lower from either side of the rear hatch. I pick up my gear and walk aboard. I drop it in front of a seat that’s attached to either wall then walk to the front and peek into the cockpit.
“All this for you four you guys must be good” I nod “You our driver? What’s your call sign” The pilot flips a few switches and the rear hatch begins to close “Foehammer I’m originally from the 23rd Air Cavalry… you might want to take a seat” I move back to the seat I picked only for Barbosa to have taken it. I punch him in the arm and grab another.
As soon as I’m strapped in my gut drops as we suddenly shoot straight up then I’m thrown into the side of the harness as the pilot punches it. “Next stop Elysium Prime then space” Foehammer calls back. I look over at Wraith “Wake me once we get over beachhead” he gives a slight nod and I close my eyes.
Some time later I’m shaken and wake up. I get out of my seat and walk to the back after I wake Jed. I should probably let him sleep more but if he passed basic he passed he’ll week so he’ll be fine. “Foehammer can you drop the ramp I want to look at the scenery” the ramp hisses then drops “Carful y’all I don’t want to explain how I lost two of you” I move to the end of the hull and sit looking out.
Jed sits next to me. “Impressive isn’t it? You would never guess it was invaded five years ago” he nods “It’s so different from what we were taught in school they just showed us mud huts and starving kids saying ‘they need our help, our pity and they can’t possibly help themselves”
Barbosa sits with us “Once we were like that but sometimes all you need is an outstretched hand which the republic gave” Jed shakes his head in disbelief “I understood the basics of the republic’s economy but still how can they pull this off Shouldn’t the people be taxed into poverty”
I let out a laugh “They should but that’s why we have two economies the federal and the citizenry. They can help each other but can’t hurt one another all our gear is mined refined and forged in government-owned and operated facilities either by machines or penal workers” Jed lets out a sound of surprise.
We pass over the ports and see several huge battleships and dozens of merchant vessels then we are over the sea. “Buckle up I imagine we’ll break soon” We get up and get seated. The hatch closes and a few minutes later we shed speed and land in one of the hundreds of landing tubes. The ramp drops and we walk out to be met by a cart of gear.
“Let’s be quick, change your armor into this it’s vacuum-rated I’ll explain while we go” We do as we’re told and I’m a little surprised that Jed actually has a set despite the short notice. “Pistol and the latest from Misriah Armories the m2 caseless sub-machine gun. It fires a 5x23mm shredder. It is designed to inflict maximum damage to flesh yet not breach a vessel operating in a vacuum”
I get in my new armor first and pick one up. It’s surprisingly light and can evidently hold a ton of ammo. Sixty rounds per stick mag. “Your armor as you may have noticed has full armor coverage and your backpack is much larger. Your maneuvering thrusters are in that as well as the front harness giving you complete freedom of mobility. Your boots and gloves have electromagnets in them to allow you to walk to crawl on structures”
Overall it’s bulker but not bad. You certainly don’t want to compromise in space. A man walks up and I recognize him as Spero “Gentlemen I’ve heard word of what happened in Russia so a slight change of plans on this mission. Get the cosmonauts off the station as well as anyone who wants to surrender then drop it into the atmosphere”
I nod then raise a hand after a nod from him I begin speaking “Sir anyplace in particular to have it land” he smirks “You're the boots on the ground I’ll defer to your judgment… just not on our territory or an ally’s” a brief pause “anything else major” I think for a second then get a dumb idea “spray can of red paint”
He smiles and nods and a technician rummages around “Well then gentleman the world will be watching you with bated breath so no pressure. I’ll leave you with a few words that I believe fit your operation and the war as a whole. As astra per aspera”
We climb back onto Foehammers drop ship and someone tosses in a spray can. I grab it and douse my legs making wraith and Barbosa face palm. “Major are you serious” I finish and throw the can at him “Shut up man”
Foehammer comes over the comm “Hey you guys want to beat the Saturn five's speed to orbit” I shrug “How long was it” the engines whine “bout twelve minutes but I reckon we can make it in five” I look at the men in the hold with me and grin. I think back to what Tanya called a passage and read out of a strange book to me a few other officers that have been in the 104th since its inception.
‘Though we ride fire into the blackest night to kill among the stars, we carry with us the hopes and aspirations of all of those we defend. One day we’ll ride high enough to meet our creator and finally be able to repay him’
Tanya was always strange. She told me she nearly washed out of basic. I guess her religious tastes would be no less strange. “Kick it Foehammer”
As we rise out of the tube he flips on kickstart my heart and pushes the drop ship to the max. I almost feel like my bones will rattle out of my body. Luckily the space-rated suits mitigate the other side effects.
Five minutes later he cuts the thrusters and orients the nose. “Hahaha, just like I said. Now major how close do you want me are we doing a hard dock or a spacewalk” I was making a plan on the way up and now it was time to share it “We’ll walk over, once we clear the station and secure all individuals then you’ll dock and we’ll transfer everyone over and drop the station. Put your votes in now on where to drop it otherwise, I’m picking”
I get lights of agreement and already Wraith put his vote in ‘England’ fair enough. We check our gear and wait for Foehammer to get us within a few kilometers of the ISS taking it relatively slow so they hopefully won’t see the flair of breaking thrust.
He flips us around and drops the ramp “Happy hunting” We ease out of the bay and glide silently over. I take this time to snap a few pictures of Earth and Luna and marvel at the view, the crisp outlines everything has from a vacuum. Then I have to reorient and my boots softly touch the hull and magnetize.
I checked around and everyone made it over just fine. “Wraith move to the lunar side and prep a charge the rest of us to the main airlock” We'll try to get through nicely but if anything weird happens then we can just vent them all.
I attach a periscope to my helmet and peek it around a window and look inside. Scientists restrained and soldiers in unmarked uniforms stood over them. “Bad new boys this just turned into a hostage rescue. They all seem sitting but it’s null gee so watch your fire. Wraith stay outside and keep watch the rest of us are going in”
I move back to the main airlock. Luckily for the occupants, it has external controls to cycle it. “Everyone out of sight triggering the airlock now” I wait and get the periscope ready and look around the edge once the door opens. A soldier is looking through the other door but he moves off.
“Looks clear get in quick” I use my mag gloves to pull me up and in and trigger the cycle to open the inside. I can hear voices now. One speaking broken English says “You must have damaged it when you came aboard it has always been a little finicky” Good the scientists are deflecting.
“Guns up drop anyone with a weapon if possible take the leader alive…ready move” The inside door opens and we flow in and open fire. I push off and flip so I’m walking on the ceiling shooting down over what little cover the enemy found. I spot an officer looking one and tap my trigger a few times and shred his knees.
In less than ten seconds the shooting stops. “Barbosa stabilize him” I point to the officer “Jed cover him I’m clearing the rest of the station” one of the scientists screams finally from the carnage. I ignore them and move on. I hear Jed talking to them “Calm down we’re here to help”
A short while later I come back from my sweep. “Wraith how are we looking out there” his response is terse “All clear” I look at the scientists “Anyone hurt” I get back a few nods and one catatonic. “How many suits do you all have is there enough for all of you”
A burly man speaks up with a thick Slavic accent “We have enough for the crew but that’s it” I nod thankful at least one learned Elysian “Foehammer come on over and make a hard seal” I gesture at the Eva suits “Are those universal size” the man nods “help this one into it then get in yours we’re going to cross deck and get out of here”
It takes some doing but we get the officer into the suit and at that time a loud clack reverberates through the hull. Five minutes later we are moving scientists through the airlock with Barbosa to get them strapped in.
“Alright gents time to drop the station we have one vote for England” Jed clicks over the comm “Three Gorges Dam would be pretty funny” Barbosa seconds it. I grin “Wraith think we can make the shot” I’ve left through a different airlock and am standing next to him he shrugs “Sounds like we have our target me and wraith will drop the station, move the drop ship off a short distance”
We begin to pour over some calculations and check the station’s systems and eventually, everything is ready. We push off the station as it triggers its maneuvering thrusters and begins to drop and pick up speed.
Me and Wraith glide back to the drop ship and climb in through the back. “How’s everyone’s air” I get back replyies of a few hours “Foehammer get us a good view” We maneuver and I look out the back and watch the fireball that was the ISS plummet then break apart and land scattered throughout China with at least one hitting the dam causing a visible from here flow of water… and something else.
I use my helmet's zoom “fuck I need a second opinion look here” I mark where I was looking “Are those rocket plums” Barbosa asks we watch as they hit their apoapsis and descend on Japan who’s launching their own back. Already we see the flashes of nukes and the destruction of the flood water. Then just as it seemed it was settling down the Pacific seemed to crack and thousands of volcanoes all erupted at once.
We continue to watch for about a half hour then I notice the dust clouds heading west “shit Jed let the general know a pyroclastic wave is heading her way and Foehammer we should probably button up and head back… we were never here guys”
I wait until the ship begins to rattle from reentry “Jed bounce me to high” A few moments pass “High command this is Archangel actual mission successful and we have all the VIPs” the woman responds after a moment “Noted drop them at prime then return to your combat theater… major you didn’t have anything to do with the pacific theater did you” i mute myself to laugh. Of course, they would have watched through only a hundred different sats “No mam it was an American station so it’s an American problem”
“Right.. command out” I laugh as we burn a trail through the sky.
