Competition: [GJW XIV Phase II] Fiction and Audiobook - The Front Lines

[Option 1] SW-ThePathToTomorrow.pdf

Placeholder, and uploading so I can show my work. The distance between the Shadow Academy and the Dark Ascent is based on the Wiki entry for Arx listing its diameter as 13,000km and the diagonal measurement of the map of Arx (which I assume is the circumference of the planet) being 2203 px, converting to 18.54km/pixel. The distance between the centres of the two icons was 375.6px, or 6963.624km. Note: I don't expect this to have any impact whatsoever on judging, but since I put the work in to figure all this out, I was damn well going to share it. :P

Option 1 chosen

https://www.darkjedibrotherhood.com/members/15689/snapshots/2921/5183

OPTION 1

Major Hector Ricmore
Clan Vizsla
Eos City, Arx

Eos City was filled with pure and utter chaos. Soldiers moved to their assigned points, medics and volunteers carried the injured to field hospitals, while others carried munitions to defensive positions. The air was filled with flashes of blaster cannon fire and the occasional explosion when one of the anti air weapons managed to shoot down a Collective fighter. With the sheer amount of ships fielded by The Collective keeping the ships from performing bombing runs was the best the AA could do.

Within one of the few designated landing zones sat a GX1 Diplomatic Short Hauler named Ship. The ship lowered its ramp allowing a red armored figure to emerge. The figure exited the ship before waving and calling to one of the passing soldiers.

“Thank you for coming. Major Ricmore here with a few crates of medical supplies, ammunition, and several E Web emplacements. Where do you want them?”

“Bring the medical supplies to the nearest field hospital. You can find it if you take the left exit out of the landing zone and make a right. Bring the E Web and ammo to wherever you were posted.”

“Are you sure that’s the best place to put it? We could-”

“I need to get going. It’ll be fine.”

The soldier left in a hurry, no doubt moving to his assigned post.

Hector walked back into the Ship and picked up one of the medical crates. He began moving towards the field hospital. Pausing a moment, he activated his commlink and contacted the Deathwatch Artillery Battalion.

“Major Ricmore checking in, how’s everyone holding up?”

“Got tired of hanging with the flyboys major?”

“Ha! You wish. Nah figured I could do more good planetside than against the Collective fleet. Besides I’ve got a plan that I could use your help with.”

The comm unit crackled with a variety of responses from the men and women of the Battalion.

“Count me in major.”

“Are we going to blow something up again?”

“Getting back at the Collective? You don’t need to even ask.”

The Zygerrian let out a pleased smirk. “Happy to hear the approval. Now I’m certain you all have realized that the Collective lacks any proper transports for their infantry, they need to land capital ships in order to offload any of their troops.”

He paused for a minute as he dropped off the crate of medical supplies.

“Landing their capital ships puts them at risk from our artillery and heavy weapons platforms. Many of which are currently occupied with the swarms of fighters above the city but I have a plan to deal with them.”

“Is it dangerous or stupid?”

“I’m hurt that you would jump to that conclusion.”

“Is it dangerous or stupid?”

Hector let out a huff. “Dangerous, but only to me. Normally it would also affect allied pilots but the Iron Legion’s orders to keep the skies clear still stands.”

“What could possibly be a risk to all allied fighters?”

“Massive Emp detonation.”

“Are you mad? You could cripple our entire comm network!”

“As long as the transmitters are outside the range it should be fine. The ships should be high enough to ensure that happens. If not, the Collective will be just as hampered as we are and we can deal with it then. I’ll need some volunteers to help unload my ship and load the emp devices onboard.”

Some of the battalion agreed. The supplies were offloaded, the E Webs set up in strategic positions, and the emp devices brought onto the ship.

As some of the volunteers were returning to their positions Hector noticed a short Pantoran walking towards him.

“Hello there! Major Ricmore right?”
“Yes, can I help you?”

“Ah, you can call me Sei. Bossman heard about your plan and sent me in case things go wrong. I’m a scout, I’ll be your eyes and ears on the Collective.”

The Strategist nodded. “A bit of insurance couldn’t hurt. I want you with the Deathwatch Artillery Battalion by the Proton artillery. The vantage point will allow you to have eyes and the Collective and you can act as a spotter if needed.”

The Pantoran was practically vibrating with excitement. “Yessir, I’ll be on my ways now.”
He turned and bolted towards his assigned position.

Hector shook his head mirthfully before climbing onto the Diplomatic Short Hauler. Strapping himself in, he turned on the ship before lifting off into the air.

The Collective fighters were on him in moments, blaster fire ripping through the light armor of his ship.

Unbuckling his harness, Hector quickly ran towards the small hangar within his ship. Opening the cockpit of the escape craft, the Zygerrian all but threw himself into his V wing, Ship within a Ship.

The pilot opened the hangar doors and flew out into the atmosphere.

Some of the Collective fighters broke formation to chase. He couldn’t allow that.

Activating his commlink, Hector contacted his Deathwatch allies. “Activate the EMP now.”

“We can’t. You aren’t clear of the blast radius!”

“Just activate it now!” The Zygerrian yelled.

A distant explosion alerted Hector that his order had been followed. His descent towards the planet's surface became a chaotic death spiral as he lost all control over his ship.

“Son of a Kath Hound.”

Beep beep beep beep

Alarms sounded throughout the ship as the pilot struggled to regain any semblance of control over his vessel. Rebooting the system, Hector was able to nudge the ship just enough to avoid smash into a building, instead the V wing clipped the side and began to spin out of control.

The Zygerrian wrestled with the controls, desperately trying to end the spinning and fix the ships descent. The ship continued to spin until it smashed into the ground and everything went black.

Some time later

Hector awoke to the bright red light of a flare shining above the crash site. Blinking his eyes at the harsh light he attempted to get up, only to collapse as a sharp pain ripped through his chest.

“You doing okay down there buddy?”

Raising his head towards the voice Hector saw a head of purple hair and pale blue skin illuminated by the flare.

Sei reached down and pried open the cockpit. Placing his arms under Hector’s armpits, he lifted him up and out of the ship. As he lifted Hector, the Zygerrian’s boot caught the edge of the ship, causing them both to tumble to the ground.

“Aaargh” He shouted in pain.

The Pantoran got up and rushed over. “Kriff, sorry man. You really aren’t looking so good.”

The pair heard footsteps and voices growing closer. Sei got up and called “Oi! We’re over here”

Hector’s eyes widened in alarm. “Wait! We don’t know if their friendly”

Sei crouched down and patted Hector on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about it big guy. You crashed closer to our lines. Besides, your plan seemed to have worked out perfectly. With the fighters blown straight to the afterlife our cannons were able to focus on their ground forces. Their armor can’t get near our lines and we’re holding quite well thanks to the E Webs you brought.”

The footsteps grew even closer and revealed a strike team of Vizsla troops. They gathered around the pair and lifted Hector up before carrying him to a field hospital.

Zentru'la is used with permission from Zentru'la

Option 1

Callsign Q-tip = Yumni