Madien Voyage

[Jake Snake]

Commodore Jake Snake stood at the center of the bridge, located at the center of the brand new cruiser, which was in turn located at the center of the vast Omerose shipyard, which itself was located at almost the center of the Federacy. As he stood there, with his hands clasped behind him a smile crept upside his mind. It was not everyday that you were trusted with such an important mission as the one he had recieved.

As the orders replayed inside his mind, Jake watched the monitors that covered the walls of the bridge. They showed everything from a system map, to what was going on inside the weapons storage room. Cameras throughout the ship could monitor everything and show every part of the surounding universe. With a simple thought, Jake called up the camera inside the loading dock and watched the crews pull in hover carts loaded down with everything the ship would need on its long voyage.

Soon everything would be stored and this magnificent ship could begin its first mission. Jake had flown to the yards months ago to get them ready for this order and to make sure everything went smoothly. With his supervision, the Opressor Class Cruiser was completed ahead of schedule. The hull had been painted a dark black color that would arise fear in all that saw it.

Jake was very fond of the new ship because in size it was a lightweight, but the armament that it packed put it well into the heavyweight class. This ship could pick on ship many times its size and still win. Anyone that was going to mess with this ship would be in for a frightening surprise.

Standing there, Jake felt someone approach. He looked head on toward a monitor and spoke, "What is it XO?"

The man straightened, "Sir, crew reports all ready. Everything is loaded and secured. We are ready to depart."

Jake turned around and look down at the shorter man. With a nod he issued the orders. "Very well. Have all lines and tractors release us. Take us out nice and slow, I don't want our fresh paint job to get scretch."

"Yes, Sir!!" The XO spun around and started to have the orders be carried out.

As Jake watched, the ship slowly backed out of the slipway. It was perfectly center, letting Jake know that the helmsman knew what he was doing. The cruiser moved out and turned around, moving toward a formation of 2 Fast Attack Frigates. The two ships parted and let the Opressor take up the center position. Within moments the course was plotted and the ships jumped out together.

[Jake Snake]

"Sir, shuttles should be docking in about ten minutes."

Jake sat at his command seat and watched the specks that were the Federacy shuttles move closer to the ship. Aboard those three shuttles would be his compliment of 250 Federal Marines. They were some of the most ruthless soldiers the Federacy had and Jake had always been impressed by them.

He often watched them training and had even, at time, fought with them to sharpen his skilled. They were some of the best warriors Jake had seen and they would do anything to complete their assigned mission. Their discpline was unsurpassed and their loyalty was unwavering. They would follow orders to the death and wouldn't think twice.

While he had been thinking, the shuttles had gotten closer and Jake stood up. He wanted to see the men as they landed and debarked, so he turned around and look at the XO, "You have the bridge, I'll be in the docking bay."

With that Jake left the bridge and stepped into the turbolift. The lift shot through the ship and in a moment stopped, the destination having been reached. As the doors quietly opened, they revieled the fullness of one of the hangers. Jake had stepped onto an obversation platform that hung at the top of the hanger bay. As to leaned against the railing he survayed the large area below him.

The center of the hanger had been cleared in preparation for the shuttles arrival. At the sides however, crews examined and worked on three fighter craft. These were some of the first of their kind and they would soon be tested. As Jake gazed upon them, he couldn't help but smile. The fighter was beautiful to him and from above looked like a dagger ready to strike. Like all Federacy craft, the ship didn't just look dangerous, it was.

Attention alarms range throughout the hanger and Jake looked around, watching people check their position and clear the center of the bay. In moments a sleek shuttle appeared at the front of the hanger, slowly moving into it. The shuttle passed through the shield layer separating the hanger from the coldness of space and manuevered to the side before landing. Just as it did, another shuttle passed through that same barrier and landed at the other side of the center. About the same amount of time passed again before the last one entered the bay and landed softly at the center of the formation, a little to the front.

The forward hatches hissed open, all at the same time, and troops clad in black, demonic armor rushed from them. The troops formed ranks and stood at attention in front of the shuttles. A tall figure, dressed in the same armor stepped in from of them. The man's helmet was in his hands as he stood there, looking over his men and women. Finally he issued orders and the ranks broke. The marines departed the hanger in order, as the commanding officer watched the hanger crew start to move behing the shuttles and open the cargo hatchs.

Jake watched as crates were pulled out of the shuttles and stored against the wall. He knew what they were. Some were weapons for the troops, but others were larger and held war machines. Mostly Hellcat droids. As the crews worked, Jake gave a little nod and turned back toward the lift. The door was already open for him as he stepped inside the empty turbolift. As before it rocketed off toward a destination it already knew.

Stepping onto the bridge he heard his XO call out, "Commodore has the bridge."

Jake acknowledged the man and sat down in his chair again. "Plot the course for Wor Tandell Captain and take us out."

With a "Yes Sir!!" the man started to issue orders. Instantly the bridge crew moved as one to carry out those orders. Jake looked around and admired the skill of the crew he had been assigned. Within moments, the formation of three ships jumped into hyperspace once again.

[Jake Snake]

Commodore Snake watched Wor Tandell slowly rotate under him. The planet and its orbiting shipyards spun together. Both had almost the same job, to make weapons of war. Even out of orbit, further away from the planet, missile launch platforms were being constructed. The war machine was rolling and there was no stopping it.

On the monitor Jake could see three massive frieghters coming into formation for Jake's task force. The frieghters had everything the mission would need and carried the droids and personel to make it work. They were packed to almost beyond capacity and this mission would need every kilo that they carried.

Once they lined up on their assigned spots, the ships linked up and jumped together. They were on their way to the Kalmona System and this was just the beginning.

[Jake Snake]

Jake looked out the monitor as they closed on their assigned planet. This system was like countless others through out the galaxy. It could not support life, but it did have many resources that would benifit anyone who wished to exploit them. Federacy probes had picked up this system some time ago and it was made use of. The systems location made it a perfect strategic area.

Situated close to both chiss space and Soveriegnty space, it was a great location. Jake's task force would now control this system and would complete their orders. After arriving, Jake had dispatched one of his punisher craft to jump out of the system and transmit a mission report to Headquarters. If the transmittion was somehow traced, it would be in a totally different system, far away from this one.

Having passed the first four outer planets, the group of ships closed on the forth planet from the sun. It was one of the biggest and it was the one with all the resources. As the ships got close enough, orders were sent toward the transports and in moments they started their decent. Upon touchdown, they would disgorge hoards of droids and works. These would start to dig an underground base, weapons stations, and power generation rooms. Using the planets core for power, they would have all they would ever need. While this happened, other teams went toward scouted locations and started drilling for resources.

As the ground teams did their work, Jake had a squardon to train and fighters to test. On his command dozens of small drones were lauched from the Oppressor's cargo bays. These had pretty much everything a real fighter would, but on a smaller scale. They were not as fast or as well armed and shielded, but they would maneuver like nothing else. These small drones would be good practice for his pilots.

Jake turned toward his XO, "Launch our fighters."

Without saying a word, the orders were passed down and 12 Diablo fighters rocketed out of the ships advanced fighter bays. They were launched at breakneck speed with magnetic accelerators. These allowed the pilots to reach full operating speed in seconds without the need to slowly exit a hanger bay.

[Jake Snake]

Jake watched the display panel as it showed a squadron of Diablo fighters racing toward his ship. In between the Oppressor and the fighters was a line of drones. The small droids seperated into flights according to the signals they recieved and went in to attack the diablos. The approaching fighters in return formed into a defensive formation, capable of firing in most directions. As the drones screamed in and fired, the diablos held formation and returned it.

In second 4 drones shut down, being hit, and the rest flew by the Diablo formation. One diablo fighter however, had taken a simulated hit and flew away from the formation, he was out of the fight. Five of the remained Diablos peeled away from the formation and went after the drones, keeping them away from the 6 remaining ones. These sped through and upon entering the firing range of their missiles fired twelve of them at the Oppressor.

These were live missiles, however, and the cruiser's defense banks rotated to track them. Once in range, the space to the starboard of the cruiser was filled with bolts of rapid laser fire. As they struck the missiles explosions filled the empty space. Most of the projectiles were shot down, but 2 slipped through and impacted the strong shields of the Oppressor. The ship held fast and the shields took the blast without a problem.

Jake stood on the bridge and frowned, the drones had almost taken out all of the fighters that stayed back and were now coming back toward the ones that made the attack. The squadron would have to work more at becoming a team and fighting together. With that Jake turned away from the screen and went toward his office to read reports from the surface and from the patroling Punisher craft that were flying over the system.

[Jake Snake]

Jake watched the video in his office and rubbing his eyes. It showed his engineers running toward the line of shuttles and taking off just as the ground started to shake and huge rifts started to open in the ground around the area. As he watched the whole drill site had turned upside down and all the success they had was nullified in moments.

As he watched, Jake swore under his breathe. This was a setback and he didnt like set backs. The scouts had failed to detect the fault line and so the engineers had no idea they were drilling themselves into trouble. Luckilly, when the dust had settled and the shuttles landed once more, most of the equipment was in one piece and broken equipment could be repaired. It would take time however. They would have to move their operation and start the whole process over again.

Jake looked at the chrono and switched off the recording when it was showing the engineers loading up the equipment into the shuttles for transport. He took a glass of ice water and drank the whole thing in one gulp. With that he undressed and hung his uniform in the proper fashion. He lay back in his bunk with his hands under his head and looked at the cieling. Soon he was asleep, after going over the next day's schedule.

[Jake Snake]

The engineer leader on the ground screamed orders at his men, urging them to move faster and move the equipment so that operations could start again. They had finally moved all their equipment and repairs had started on the broke parts. The ground still trembled even this far away as aftershocks ran through the ground. Teams of men had started to go over the whole area of the new site and had made sure that the earth under them was solid and no faults were detected.

Around the new camp, prefab shelters had been errected and a supply depot was set up. Food and water inside crates was shuttled down as well to replace that lost in the earthquack. To help with the set up and save time, Federal marines had gone down to the surface and were lending a hand.

however, there was good news as well. The mining teams had drilled day and night were now close their prize. Small building were starting to be built around those areas to process those resources that would be pulled out of the ground.

In space, the fighter squadron was still undergoing training and they were learning quickly from their mistakes. The men and women were starting to work together as a team. Jake was pleased with their progras as well as that of the gunner crews on his ship. They were quickly starting to shoot everything out of the sky and were working well with the gunners onboard the 2 Fast attack frigates that were with them. Jake nodded toward the screen as this time six fighters came back alive from their simulated engagement with the drones.

[Jake Snake]

Finally things had gotten better and the drilling team was having luck. They were almost at the planet's core and were getting ready to install the power converters and backup generators. Huge creates were starting to be brough over from the transports and opened. Since were huge chunks of defense weaponry. These were being installed inside fortification being dig inside surrounding mountains.

A shield generator room was almost finished as well and the shield was being essembled and projectors were being places around the location. Soon everything would have power and they could start.

The drilling and digging was going on all over the place, evertything was going to be kept underground and huge area was being dug into to make room for people, for training centers, and for fuel storage. As Jake read the reports, he wondered when this base would be used.

[Jake Snake]

The drone lerched up and to port, tearing away from the guidence lock and the laser system crosshairs. The laser beams fired at it missed by a good few meters and the drone started to turn quickly, coming around to try and get behing the fighter that shot at it. As it moved, the Diablo fighter followed it, but unknown to the logical control systems of the droid brain guiding the drone. This was all part of a plan.

Jake had watched his squadron fight against them for days now and they were getting better. From his obervations and computer sims, the Commodore knew his prey well. As he turned, he knew that he could never hope to out turn the drone, it was just too agile. Many a pilot figured that out when while turning, they were shot down when the drone came around quickly. This, Jake wouldn't allow to happen.

As he turned and say the drone complete half its arc, Jake reversed his turn quickly. The dampeners groaned and pushed him into the seat as the small Diablo shot in the other direction. The drone was still coming around when Jake's crosshairs lined up with the small craft from the other location. They were almost facing one another when the trigger was squeezed. In moments the whole cockpit vibrated as the gatling cannon spun quickly, releasing hundreds of bolts toward the drone.

The small size of the opponent made a lot miss, but a good deal still impacted with the craft. The low powered shots triggered sensors on the small drone and registared the hitted, calculating if it was a kill or not. Jake's lips formed a grin when he saw the drone's hull turn a bright red and start blinking. As the drone stopped almost instantly and floated, Jake knew he had just made a kill. As he turned toward his other squadmates, he noticed that there were more blinking lights out there. His computer system told him that all of the twelve drones were now dead and his squadron had nine remaining pilots left.

"Good job squad, a lot better than last time." Jake called out as he turned back toward the Opperssor.

"Thank you sir." the XO called out, "You didn't do so bad yourself."

Jake smiled and keyed in landing control, getting clearance instantly for him squad. As he closed in, he looked around the cockpit. It felt good to be back in one. He had missed the excitment of fighter combat. His capital ships could never more this fast or turn so quick. In the fighter you felt...alive.

He looked at the planet below them, happy that everything was still going well. The drilling to the core had been completed and the system was in the final phase of completion. Soon they will have enough power to run everything and nothing will be able to destroy that power source. The weapons and shields would soon be in place as well and the underground barracks and headquarters were right on schedule. The mining teams had also started to bring up resources from the ground and were starting to make them into usuable materials for the completion of the building.

[Jake Snake]

Jake swore under his breath as the watched the sceen. Dirt and debris emerging from the mining tunnel, followed by a long line of worker droids. Some were carrying parts of other droids with them, droids that had, not so long ago, been dismantled by beasts that were awakened. Outside the tunnel, on both sides of the droid line, stood heavily armed Marines.

All the information wasn't known yet, at least not all of it, reports were still coming in from the ground. It looked as if the mining team had dug into a chamber of some sorts and had desturbed the creatures that were sleeping inside. They had awakened and destroyed ten droids before that part of the tunnel was collapsed to stop them. The last report had the beasts beinging to break through and marines were on the ground to stop them.
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Major Griffen smiled inside his armored helmet as the last of the droids flowed out. Now it would be time for his team of 12 to get in there and find out what happened. They would finally get to do something after all that time on the ship. It was time for his team to do what they did best...

"Lets rock and roll. Check your charges and get weapons ready." the major yelled out as he checks his own weapons, liking the feel of the large sevon rifle in his hands. "Night-vision on!! Lets move it."

With that, the eye filters switched to night vision and they all entered the tunnel with Monson at point. The tunnel was dark, but the suits eyes made them see with ease. As they moved deep inside, the team covered each wall with their guns, ready to strike back. When they were more than half way inside, noises started to filter through. They were growling, howling, noises, as well as, scretchs again the rock, getting closer....

"Weapons ready!!!!" the Major yelled, "They've broken through."

He kneeled down and aimed his rifle as the rest did the same. Now they waited, covering each other and every inch of the tunnel. They didn't have to wait long before a dark shape came running up the tunnel. It leaped at them and instantly Griffen pulled the trigger and yelled "fire!!!"

The first of his shots exploded against the wall behind the creature, but the next couple slammed into the head and torso of the beast. One sliced through the neck of the animal. Blasts from the other men also hit the large body, blackening it as it hit the ground dead. None had time to relax before the tunnel turned black, filling to the brim with the creaters. Each on four muscled legs, with hugs paws and razor claws. They were around 3 meters long and a meter around, with massive heads and sharp teeth.

Each man had never seen anything like these creatures before and didn't have much time think before the beasts were almost on top them. All at once, laser fire filled the tunnel as bodies started to pile up on the tunnel floor. The creatures kept on coming, getting closer and closer and some of the soldiers had to reload. As they did, the animals got even closer. The Major knew they would need help to contain this. He knew it would only be a matter of time before the beasts broke through. The team had already started to ease back up the tunnel.

[Jake Snake]

The creature lept into the air straight for him, but the Major didn't flinch. He knew how deadly the creatures were and knew what their claws and teeth could do. Already Private Jackson had fallen victim to the beast's teeth and claws. He now lay on the cold tunnel floor with his head smashed in from a blow to the helmet. The stength of these animals were utterly impressive, their teeth and claws could, if hit at the right spot, rip through the marines armor or smash it in. Private Yolkom stood to the left, firing into the mass of animals with his rifle in one hand, the other missing after it was bitten clean off.

The Major didn't stood still as the animal came closer and closer, flying through the air with its claws out and sharp teeth ready to bite down. As if in slow motion, the Major's rifle lowered and his right hand formed a fist. Using the suits power enhancements, the man slammed the fist into the creatures head as it was less than a meter away. The impact sent the beast into the nearby wall. As it fell to the ground, the major lifted his rifle and shot it twice in the head.

As he looked back toward the slaughter, he could see bodies all over the tunnel and still the animals kept coming. There seemed to be an endless supply and he lost count of how many had slipped by them and were now outside. Griffen fired again, killing two more of the creatures and swore under his breathe. They couldn't hold them off much longer.

"Plasma Grenades!!" He called out at last and reached into his armor to get one out as he fired with the other hand. The other 10 remaining men did the same and actived the trigger. Taking aim, they tossed the explosives inside the mass of beasts. Seconds seemed to take hours before the tunnel was filled with a blinding light as plasma broke out of the grenades containment fields. The superhot material vaporized everything in its path and the tunnel made it more concentrated.

As the Marines fired again and killed the beasts that had escaped the blast, a hole formed behind them as the other creatures ran to fill the gap. He was about to tell the marines to close the tunnel when a voice came through him secure com link. "This is Marine team Bravo One One. We're coming down, give us room and cover."

Major Griffen wondered what that was about, but held his ground and pointed his rifle toward the other end of the tunnel, waiting for the creatures to come. To buy more time, another round of grenades was tossed down the tunnel and the roars of the creature could be heard as they went off. After that there was nothing again and he saw a blip behind him. Turning the Major saw Bravo One One coming down. Two were carrying something in their arms and when they ran by to start setting it up, he knew instantly what it was. As he smiled to himself, the Major watched as the two men set it up and keyed in codes on a pad.

"Everyone, clear out, you got one minute!!" Screamed the other Major.

"Your heard him boys and girls. Get Jackson and move it." With that they all started to run up the tunnel as they heard growns and screams behind them as the beast struggled to get out.

As the beasts hit the area where the "container" had been set up, they smashed into an unseen wall. The invisible shield was something they had never seen before and started clawing and hit it up, but it held up. With no where to go, they stayed put as the Marine teams ran out of the tunnel. As they did, the Major yelled, "Take cover!!" And the counter hit zero.

The container was actually an advanced thermoboric devise. It generated an explosive fireball that filled the whole tunnel, vaporizing anything in its path, or killing with suffication and fumes as it ate up any oxygen that was present. Brilliant orange fire blossomed out of the tunnel as the ground shook violently. In second, the fire was sucked back inside the tunnel and only the blackened rock around the opening gave notice that anything had happened. From then on, no more creatures emerged from the tunnel.

[Jake Snake]

Jake read over the report again and sighed. He rubbed his eyes and wondered what else could go wrong. If it wasn't one thing, it was another. Who would have ever guessed that they would awoke some kind of beast on this barren planet, but they had. It had taken a whole squad to contain the ones that had gotten out of the tunnel. After three days, most of what was damaged had been repaired and new mines were being dug.

Things were going well on the other hand at the base site. Digging was still on going, but a lot of the underground rooms were starting to be completed. Shields had been installed and tested, the defensive weapons were for the most part fully operational. Barracks had been full completed and fernished, a mess hall had been dug and readied, a command and control center was also now fully operational.

Engineers worked hard to harden the facility and brace it against possible attacks. It wasn't like anyone knew they were there, but if people found out, it would be good to have this facility be able to take the hits. This reinforcement will be critical for the fuel storage rooms being dug out and installed into the center.

"Sir, shuttle SF-21 will be emerging within a few moments." Came the voice of the XO through Jake's neural implant.

The special operations group was right on time and the early warning sensor bouys at the edge of the system had picked their ship up. Getting up from his desk, Jake took the turbo lift to the bridge and walked out just as the shuttle came out into realspace.

"Send them landing coordinates." Jake called out as he took his seat and watched the shuttle descend toward the landing pad on the surface.