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Background
...Sol
...PTMC
Pirate Factions
...Marauders
...TFA
Technology
...Fussion Drives
...Fission Drives
...Anderson Drive
...Hawking Drive
...Gravity Drive
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Ships
...IA Apollo M
...TAF Angel
...GTB Athena II
...GTB Eclipse
...GTCV Mercury
...GTMS Mercy
...GTPC Neptune
...TAD Independence
...TAD Freedom
...GTD Immortal
...Darkside Outpost
Weapons
Primary
...Rail Gun
...Fussion Cannon
...Vulcan Cannon
...ML-48
Secondary
...Eclipse
...ACS Morter
Capital
...TAMC
...AFRC
Campaign
System of Chaos
...Chapter One
...Chapter Two
...Chapter Three
Operation Blitzkrieg
Master of Darkness
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"Oh God!!! There it is!!!"
Gamma Two shook me from my trance. I couldn't feel my ship moving, but the widening Gateway told me it was.
"No more time!!! No more time!!! Goddamnit!!!"
I knew what was happening, but something kept me from feeling any emotion. Ahead lies Terra, our home, and beside me is her doom. I looked around the SubSpace tunnel. God, the Lucifer must have taken more than a dozen Harbingers, and she's still going strong! No more hatred, I almost admired a species with such determination.
We have conquered hundreds of planets, maybe this should be the end of us.
The sun now disipated, pixelizing into a widening hole of black. Beyond was an all to familiar star field, and right in the middle was our home.
It was so beautiful. I had never set foot on Terra, or anywhere in Sol for that matter. But seeing her now made me remember what we are fighting for.
I checked my loadout.
"It's not over yet. All armed fighters form up on my wing. Everyone else, give us some cover!"
Two from wing Gamma fell in behind me along with one of the Vasudans... a slim chance, but better than the alternative.
As we closed the gap between the Lucifer another wave of Shivans set in on an intercept course.
"Someone cover us Goddamnit! Anyone!"
"I'm on it Alpha One."
I think it was Morrison, a guy I met once on the Galatea. He bought it quick, not even a cry over the comms.
I couldn't feel sorry for him, I never felt much when I lost a wingman. But maybe Morrison was special... he gave us just enough to launch our last Harbingers.
We were at point blank range so we couldn't follow them through to target.
"Now everyone, clear out NOW!"
"Alpha One, some of us are still packing. Maybe we should come back around..."
"Negative Gamma One! Get out now! There's no time for another run! We have to get out of this Node..."
Gamma tried to say something but our comms went dead. We were caught in the Harbinger's shockwave.
"Direct hit!"
I couldn't believe my eyes. Our strike produced 4 more direct impacts but the Lucifer was still coming!
"Jesus Christ! What now Alpha One?"
Nothing... it was too late for another strike. I was 25 meters from the Gateway.
"I'm still armed... I'm taking these fucking bastards out!"
It was Gamma One. The shockwaves must have damaged his Ion drive, he had no real control over his ship.
As the Lucifer began to exit SubSpace the last reactor moved right in front of Gamma One. The rest of us exited right as Gamma hit his afterburners...
They told us the explosion was "beautiful" from Earth. I didn't have a chance to look.
No one back on Earth never really knew how close they were to the end. Must have been one of those grand GTI blunders, the kind where they forget to mention that 6 billion people are about to die.
It must have been the same kind of mistake where the guys in charge don't tell anyone that their System of Origin is close to dying out anyway.
When we got to Earth, we found out that Sol has been in pretty bad shape. All furtile planets are nearly stripped of everything; food, water, minerals, energy. It might not have made much difference destroying the Lucifer. The big hot shots on Terra estimate 18-20 months before we run dry. About half way through the 14 Year War the GTA started cracking down on Sol real hard. Some sectors have been under Martial Law for 6 damn years! 3 days ago, up there with the Lucifer, I knew what we were fighting for. Now... well, now I'm not too sure.
They promised me a long vacation for my service in the war. I was expecting a little more than 2 1/2 months.
I've been hiding out in a real dive, a few miles from the what True-Terrans call the Big Easy. At least here they don't seem to mind the fact that they are all dying from disease and hunger.
But, if the GTA wants you, the GTI can sure as hell find you. A messenger caught up to me the other day, said my presence is urgently requested at Darkside. I hadn't heard the name in a VERY long time.
Aparently I am back on active duty. The GTA and the R & D guys on Darkside say they have a few plans...
Whate the Hell... nothing better to do, right?