NTTP #Y10

Well, I just finished my second tour. This one was of the rather large bay we "inhibit." We’ve really got the place full. I think 10 Fusion Reactors, advanced sonar everywhere, defenders and stingrays everywhere. The rest of it is mostly storage for metal and energy. A couple shipyards, and several advanced. Currently have 20 millenniums, because long range is needed to protect the bay. I also found out today that the eight "perimeters" only control the main base. There is also a mountain region, which for back up have big berthas and advanced radar. It’s a really nice base.

We also were assigned bunks last night, and I’m right next to Jane. I really think I’m falling more in love with her each time I see her. When I’m around her I feel like I’m floating. I swear I would have to kill myself if she ever got hurt. I just feel so drawn to her recently. I can’t tell if she noticed, but she probably has. She picks up on little things real quick. Well, what time is it? 3.42? Well, I’ve got that placement flight at four, so I better go and get there. Later~

Elgin

NTTP #Y11

Well, wasn’t that interesting? I was ranked second, and Jane was first. I’m so glad I didn’t beat her; she’s such a perfectionist. That’s one of the many (I’ve been thinking if I can pick out anything I don’t like about her; I can’t) things I love about her. And I think she’s starting to draw close to me now. I was walking from mess, reading some poetry I wrote, kinda just playing with the words and stuff, and she comes up to me, puts her head on my shoulder, and kinda playfully asks what I’m doing, and I explain I’m reviewing a poem I wrote, and she snatches it from my hand, and just stops in her tracks.

"Oh my god. This is so good." She talks like she’s amazed.

"Ahh, that ones not that good. You should read some of my good ones sometime . . ."

"Oh! Would you?! Please? I’m so interested!"

"Ok, they’re all in the bunk. I’ll go get them." I start walking back towards the bunk.

"No wait! I’ll come too."

So were just walking back to the bunk, and get this, she puts her hand in mine . . .

NTTP #Y12

I found out today that we are to patrol an area that has had little activity for 24 hours. We launch in 3 hours. It’ll be our first ride at this base. No pressure, no pressure at all . . . There is also this river we are to put chemo bugs in. What the bugs do is test the water frequently for anything "out of the ordinary". Sounds like it’ll be a breeze, and hey, I’ll get to have a 2-hour conversation with Jane, can’t go wrong there . . .

Oh, about the poem, I showed her what I think is my favorite, Daydreams at Night. I showed her the original, because it looked the best. She absolutely fell in love with it. Made me feel great, she asked if she could keep it, and I said sure, because I had it backed up. She hugged me, and then ran off to put it on with her stuff. At this point, I’m so much in love with her, I can’t sleep at night, she is the only thing on my mind, and I simply float whenever I’m around her. She just has this radiance. I can’t explain it. Only someone truly in love could understand.

NTTP #Y13

Well, we’re sitting on the pad, waiting to be cleared for launch.

"Base tower to alpha 1. Come in alpha 1"

"Alpha 1 here beacon. Come in."

"You’re clear to launch alpha squad. Good hunting."

"Thank you tower. Out"

And with that were off. Jane is 1, I’m 2, Ken is 3 (On my wing), Thomas is 4, Kennedy is 5, and Joseph is 6. We’re the top pilots in the base, and that’s why we got the mission. We’re flying in V formation, with Kennedy in middle, because he has the rad link (radio that links the base to us, very vital for survival). We’re halfway to the distance all ready, due to our birds.

Unlike the old commander, this one is a technical genius. I was just commonly chatting with him the other day, and I showed him the new NTTP, cause I thought he might be interested. The dude was amazed. I lent him a copy of it, and he came to me the next day, and said he wanted to show me something in his bunker. I was really nervous, because it was against primary code (basic law) to enter the commander bunker under any circumstances. So, from what Jane told me later, I was shaking. He took me in there, and (the dudes actually human too, his desk was all messy and stuff) he grabbed a file off of his desk, sat next to me on the couch, and started showing me the designs for a new plane. The name was "Black Falcon," and it was a really advanced ship. I’ll give you the specs in a second. Anyway, the guy is going over a top-secret aircraft, with ME. He said that the prototypes worked well, but he needed a new enhanced version of the MQZ45, which is the standard for flight CPUs currently. And he gave ME the job of designing it. So that’s what I’m designing in my spare time, with the Commander. Testing and creating, then changing and repeating. It’s really fun, because the commander has a sense of humor. We sent this one prototype up, and it just swerved left and right, and he said it reminded him of a chicken with its head cut off. Anyway, I’ve really been around the commander a lot. If that’s not unnerving enough, he says I’m really creative. Not only and I working with the highest-ranking officer at the base, but he’s complimenting me too . . .

So we’re over the river now, and nothing in sight, but maybe –

"Alpha 2 to base, alpha 2 to base, I’ve got core . . . (static) all over . . . marker down, going down, need back up and rescue!"

AA was strafing us, and Kennedy was the first to go, along with the rad link, so we’re away from radio contact. When Kennedy saw it, he ejected, but was still killed in the ejection. At this point we’re all scared stiff, so I did what any guy with a crush would do. I went in front of Jane, took some strafe that was heading for her, and had to eject. Soon enough, everyone was down, and Jane was in the river. Of course, I was scared beyond belief, so I had grabbed the y cord (super strength wire) and wrapped it around my foot, in a knot, and jumped in. I see Jane, I get to her, and I tie the metal around her waist.

And then, I must have hit a rock or something, because the next thing I remember is I’m on shore, overhearing AA fire, and I think a KBOT patrol. That’s not good, especially when were here on foot. So, we did what any decent human would do. We ran into the water and hid like chickens, all 5 of us, since Kennedy was killed.

Well, I figure, we can’t just hide, so I grab the line, and run around a tree with it, wrapping it tight. Then, I ran to a tree just across the way, and repeated, creating a rough "trip line" of sorts. It worked like sketch work. There was only one KBOT, and it easily tripped over the trip line and exploded.

I guess you could call the explosion a signal flare of sorts, because after it exploded, the rescue plane arrived. We got in, and the guy said he couldn’t find us, but the explosion pointed us out quite well. Lucky I guess. On our way back, guess who not only sat next to me but fell asleep on me? None other but Jane . . . I think I maybe starting to get the guts to make a move . . .

NTTP #Y14

We’re back. Thank god. It was so awful. The water chilled us to the bone. I hope I don’t have to go through that again . . .

The Commander and I are almost done with the Black Falcon. Its changed so much since he first talked to me about it. I’m just now finishing up my final designs. This puppy’s gonna rule. I’ll give ya the specs.

-Reflective "skin" -the newest in camouflage, it simply reflects what’s around it

-Stealth missiles -I designed these. Missiles that can’t be seen on radar

-Mustang Generator -the engine

-DCS programming -this is what I did mostly. It’s the computer that runs the thing-

-(What I’m finishing now) A.L.L. (advanced light laser) –a super concentrated version of the original light laser.

Well, all done, best go give it to the Commander . . .

I caught him coming out of mess, and handed him the file, and he looked very pleased. It’s in his hands now . . .

This kid is a genius. Why has no one else noticed this?!?

He presses a button on his desk, which links him with the top ARM base.

"Get me the lead ARM Head Commander"

"Yes sir"

A few minutes later, "This is Commander. What do you need?"

"Well, first off I’ve got complete plans for a new plane, and second off, there’s someone you should check. Elgin Zebob. He’s really a genius. He basically designed the whole plane. Anyway, I’ll k-mail it to you. Goodbye Sir."

"Thank you, and goodbye."

NTTP #Y15

I walk out of mess and Jane is standing right there.

"Heard you scored with commander, slick!"

"What? What do you mean? I just gave him the designs."

"Exactly, and he gave them to the high commander!"

"Really? Wow." Just as I finish, the siren for attack comes. I’m thinking, we’d better get down there, because the C. (that’s what I’m going to use for commander from now on, because its easier to type) was in the middle of nanolathing a Vehicle plant.

So when we get there, we see these 30 brand spanking new planes, with our names printed on the side. We’re all like wow. Then a voice comes over the intercom and tells us, "It was supposed to be tomorrow’s surprise, but under the moment we have unidentified aircraft approaching. Find your plane, get in the air, identify the aircraft, and then wait for directions. Fire only if fired at. That is all. Good Hunting. Out."

And with that we were set loose.

NTTP #Y16

We’re off. Approaching target at Mach 4.2, (I told you these fly) and it’ll be another minute or two.

"Ok crew, lock oxygen masks." Jane comes over radio. She’s really good with authority. "Target in sight. Base; come in base, looks like we got a squad of Vamps, Titans, Shadows, Vapiers, Hurricanes, and some kind of radar-jammers. I’ll say they outnumber us by 2 or 3 to 1. We’ll need backup ASAP. Will take out jammers to reveal position. Out."

"Ok team, take out radar jammers, than fighters, than everything else. Good Hunting."

The Jammers were easy to take out, and we were told backup was coming. Must be the rookie squad, right out of training. This would be their first dogfight, we’ll get to see how they "tango".

"MAYDAY MAYDAY! Two vamps on my wing. I can’t shake ‘em, attempting bank!" That’s Jane! "Going to intercept Jane, I’m on his wing, try not to move, I’m getting flanked."

I guess I forgot to add our (Jane and I) codes. I’m getting flanked means to bank hard up, while I bank down, splitting the pursuit. It works really well in thought, and we’re just trying it for the first time now.

With the phrase I’m getting flanked, she makes a perfect vertical "leap", while I bank down, almost crashing into the ground. I kept inverted, making a complete circle. Jane shook her man off, and nailed him with a stealth missile, and went to find another. Around this time, a squad of Freedom fighters, Brawlers, and even our old Hawks (what I heard was that they were short on aircraft so they were borrowing out old ones) were closing in on the battle fast. We could use them, the battle was almost over. We were making short work of the force. I guess our pilots are just that skilled. Well, it’s over now, a rook taking out the last Rapier.

"Good Kill Alpha 1. Return to base. Rook squad, hang toward the back of the group, I’ve got some wounded men"

"10-4 Alpha hanging in back. Out"

Back at base, waiting to be called to land. We’re just joy riding around the base, checking to what the C. has done with the place. I see 10 more Fusion Reactors, and a couple more perimeters set up. I just got word on radio that we’d get to tour the mountain section of the base later today. Should be very interesting. I think they’re making offices and bunkers in there, from what I remember, because its better camouflage and overall armor. Just flying over mountain now. Really nifty.

"Alpha 1-5 you are cleared to land."

"Thank you base. Landing. Out."

NTTP #Y17
The C. is going to the monthly meeting on the ARM home planet, so for a week or so, we’re simply on call. The head of Ground maneuvering is in charge till he gets back. The commander’s leaving orders were to relax, sleep in, and calm down. I figure I can do this extremely well. I’ve recently been struck with the idea of a new kind of turret. It would have lasers and AA defenses. It’d be so much easier to have a 2 in 1 thing. Good against air and land. Anyway, I’m also working on the finishing touches for the Black Falcon. The dogfight served as a good test flight. I noticed a few bugs, and that’s what I’ve started working on.

The head of ARM walks in. Everyone stands at his arrival. "Ahh, sit down, sit down. Don’t stand up. Looks real stupid. Anyway, only a couple orders of business. We have a new Stealth Fighter class plane." He hands everyone a black folder with the specs of the plane. "It’s a really good plane. We advise you to start production. Commander Wallrich, Commander of the Gyicia project, designed it." Applause brings up throughout the room.

"Well, it wasn’t me that designed it, it was Elgin Stanbury. He’s really quite a technical genius." Wallrich spoke up.

"Thanks, that reminds me, see me after the meeting. I have something for you."

"Yes Sir."

"How is Project Gyicia going anyway?"

"Well sir, we are constantly under attack, and the construction has begun. The pilots are holding up well. They’ve really bonded."

"That’s good. Keep me posted. On to other matters . . ."

NTTP #Y18

So much for on call. Core must have some way of knowing when the commander is out. Maybe they intercepted a message or something. Anyway, We were under heavy attack. And we were to get into the air and defend as much as possible.

"Well than. We should get back to the issue of"- He was cut off my a siren. An admiral ran into the room, telling the head commander that Gyicia was under attack, and it was the worst attack yet. The room was silent. Than the head C. broke the silence with "Well than lets assemble strike teams and meet at the galactic gate!"

NTTP #Y18 (cont’d)

All sirens we going off. Everyone was to be at battle defense positions as fast as possible. This was a full attack. So much for the tour . . .

"All teams assembled?" The head C. barked.

"YES SIR!!!" A mountainous reply echoed.

"LETS GET THERE! FALL IN!"

NTTP #Y18 (cont’d)

A huge flash of bright white light blasts from the galactic gate. Everyone turned, at first thinking it was under attack. Then 3 Brawlers screech through the light, breaking the silence. The temporary commander looked, and when he saw, he fainted. All the ARM commanders had come. Battle was imminent.

NTTP #Y18 (cont’d)

The head commander took charge quick.

"Launch enough EMP missiles to freeze the enemy for 18 hours! Build Retaliators and begin creating as many nukes as possible! Then set up as many perimeters as possible, and protection for the mountain! Go now and do!" This was just his speech for construction units; I can’t wait to here what he has for us . . .

Roughly 300 EMP missiles headed out towards the sunset where we could see the massive invasion.

Good God, the commander thought. He had to react fast. "Launch EMP countermeasures!"

Then things started happening fast. A screeching came from behind and green smoke floated out to the area around the armada. Missiles went up, and there was a massive explosion in the sky. A voice came to him. It was his second in command.

"All EMP destroyed sir. Awaiting further orders."

"Good. Could I get an estimate as to how many EMPs there were?"

"Roughly 300 sir. Would have taken us out for 36 hours. Good you came up with the –"

"Don’t discuss that, this could be tapped. Anyway, if they had 300 EMP on hand, we really shouldn’t be screwing with these guys. Return to base, and the leader of each squad hit the back, so as not to be followed"

"WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED? WHAT WERE THEY TALKING ABOUT?!?"

"No clue sir. What you say we find out?" I told the commander. He knew I was into computers and such, so he made me hang around with him, in case of emergency.

"HOW EXACTLY DO YOU PLAN TO DO THAT?" The commander was furious.

"Well, I’ve been playing around with the design a little, and I upgraded the software in the Automatic radar targeting system, and it can now read into areas blocked by radar jammers."

"Wow. Do that. I want to see what those freaks are hiding."

I typed for a second on the keys, and uploaded the version. "Test 1, now"

"How much farther to base?"

"Roughly 7 trylotes (1 trylote = 7 miles). Should be there by nightfall."

"Increase speed. We need to get out of here. Something is not right"

A satellite rotates 720° . It shoots a flash of light at the planet Gyicia. A low rumbling comes from within the satellite, and a radar dish moves toward the ARM base below.

Several computer screens suddenly come on and Elgin goes to them. He types in a few passwords, and then waits. Radar coverage begins.

"Great job. Now what the heck is that?" The commander points at what looks like a massive transparent sphere. Inside the sphere is what looks like a GAAT gun, but is much larger and with different ammunition. Elgin types on the keyboard for a second as follows.

[INPUT COMMAND- ZOOM TO 350 AT POINT M1175]

(The computer screen zooms in on the missile. A label can be seen, but not interpreted)

[INPUT COMMAND- ZOOM AT POINT TO 700]

(The screen zooms in more on the missile, and the label can be read)

"Well. Looks like we’ve got a more defensive CORE going here. A missile containing a gas that deadens EMP. Looks like its code-named the SUBCRONIUM M5. The designer is a genius- if I just –

[INPUT COMMAND- ZOOM AT POINT TO 900]

Under the label is the name FURIOUS 5.

"Wow. This is new. I’m guessing they don’t have the personality barriers other CORE units’ do. Hey AJ, scan under CORE for anything pertaining to FURIOUS or FURIOUS 5." AJ was an "old-school" hacker, and could hack into any system. He’s done much for ARM spynet.

"Ok. Umm, gimme a sec. Nothing. Lemme check for possible abbreviations though. Nothing."

"Ok. Thanks anyway."

The commander walks into a small black room with five beds, one rather large table, and a couple decks of cards. The commander is greeted by five people, all wearing black, tall, and strong.

"So, how’d the run go?" The leader of the group questioned.

Great, but we didn’t get close enough to test the hyper jets. Heck, we didn’t get close enough to try anything we had planned."

"What!? No python tanks? No Iron Eagle? No Subcronium M5? NO RUSH CANNON!?!?!"

"We couldn’t get close enough for any. Except for the M5. We had to use that to shear through the EMP launched at us. Close call."

"And how did it do? I want to know how my creations are doing . . ."

"They did great. Tore right through the EMP. Saved our butts."

"Well that’s good. We still need to test the rest though."

"I can arrange it. Tomorrow morning we will test the prototypes. I have another man. See to it that you will be there. I don’t like playing middle man."

NTTP #Y20

Well, wasn’t that interesting. The Core has a new weapon assembled, and from the sounds of things, a group of designers that will keep them coming. Interesting.

I just found out we will be in the air later tonight. We will be destroying a base of a group known only as "Exodus". Should be pretty easy, just a takedown of some rebels. I might even get some fun out of it. It’ll feel good to be up in the air again. It feels like ages since I have seen the skies through bird’s eyes. I’m realizing how close Jane has been to me just the last couple days. Maybe it’s because she’s scared. I am too, and that alone scares me. What time is it now? Oh great, well I gotta go kill some rebels. Will write later.

Oh ya, I’m changing my call sign. I’m not sure exactly what to, but something different. Anyway, later ~

Elgin

NTTP #Y21

Well, I’m going to be writing this as I go along, and I’ll grab the controls only as needed. Anyway,

I walk in and there is this huge Hummer like vehicle. Its all camouflaged and all, but it’s huge! Our superior is telling us to get in, to take us to the site. Something about this isn’t right. I think Jane feels it too.

We are told the ride will be 30 minutes, and to rest. Something’s not right.

"You feel that?" I ask Jane.

"Ya. I feel like I had too many margaritas last night . . ."

"Ya, but not that, something doesn’t feel right."

"I don’t know. My senses are all thrown off. Could ya do me a favor and wake me up when we get there?"

"Sure. G’night."

Well, maybe I should explain. Last night, a swing band came to mess. It was so fun. We danced, and drank, and drank, and drank, and did I mention we had a couple drinks? She was so drunk I had to carry her back to the bunk. She still doesn’t remember much. I do though. It was great. The instruments called trombones were all moving the same way, and it was really funny to just watch.

Well, were here, and we walk out to be confronted by this huge launch pad. We see seven jets, one for each of us.

Suddenly, a squad or two of Vamps screech through the air. They stop, hover above us for a sec, and then land. Our superior draws a laser, and signals us to walk. We’ve been ambushed. I knew it.

Ken draws a laser, and kills the superior, The two timing-

"Let’s get in the planes! This isn’t over yet!"

We run to the planes, and the Vamps, seeing the threat, get airborne, and begin firing at us. I get in, and see this is the version of the Black Falcon. This baby really did turn out well, if I do say so myself.

I’m already up, and they’re all gunning for Jane. This isn’t good. I don’t care if I lose my plane. But I can’t lose Jane. I jet through the dogfight, trying to break it up.

"What are you trying to do? Get yourself killed?" Jane comes over my radio.

"No, watch your back!"

A Vamp screeches behind her, and I strafe it rapidly. Toast.

"Thanks, but these guys are good. Keep it coming."

After a couple more close calls, there is one left. I fly above him and intercept this message

"F9 to consciousness. I am the remainder and there is no more ammo. Will kamikaze into lead. Out"

THEY"RE AIMING FOR JANE!!!

He gets close to her. I wedge myself in between them, and eject, hoping he’ll hit my bird. I spin slowly downward, and hit I tree, knocking me out.

"Man down, man down, Mayday, Mayday! Elgin has been hit. Requesting backup ASAP."

"Copy you Alpha 1. Position?"

"Don’t have one. Send out scouts to find us. We need backup, a ground unit is approaching."

"Roger A1. Out."

"Commander, Commander! The Exodus raid was a bust. It was an ambush. The head was a double. The Alpha squad held off a squad of Vamps, but there is a man down and a ground unit is approaching."

"Who went down?"

"Elgin sir. They think he got out of it though."

"Ok then. Get squads out. We can’t afford to lose Alpha. Dismissed."

"Thomas, can you identify the ground unit?"
"I can see it, but I don’t recognize it at all. I think we’re in trouble here."

"Python Tank 1 to base, come in base."

"This is base. Go ahead PT1."

"Almost to target. They only lost one man. They still have no radar coverage on Rush Cannons or Iron Eagles approaching from east of target. Sounds like the remote radar jammer worked."

"Good. Keep us posted. Out."

"Alpha Squadron to base. Come in base."

"Reading you Alpha. Yes?"

"We’ve got trouble here. Unidentified Ground Unit approaching. They’re Core, but we haven’t seen this before. From the looks of it we are about to be run through a test of prototypes. We need orders."

"Copy Alpha. Will consult Commander."

"Commander, we’ve got trouble. Remember when they were talking about prototypes? We think this is when they’re going to test them, and Alpha is alone. They’re needing orders sir."

"Jesus. Tell them to hold position as long as possible. Re-inform them backup is on the way. Try to keep them calm. This could get ugly."

"Yes sir."

"Alpha squad?"

"Continue"

"Received orders from commander. Try to hold your position as long as possible. Backup is on the way. Try to stay calm."

"Thank you base. Out."

"What the heck?" I slowly awaken. I forgot where I am, and all I know is my squad is above me. Now I remember. I ejected right as my bird was hit. I think I saved Jane, 1,2,3,4,5,6, yup I saved her. Thank God. I’d have to kill myself if she didn’t make it.

"Alpha 5 to base, Alpha 5 to base, come in base."

"This is base. Go ahead A5."

"We’ve got trouble here. I’ve spotted a radar-jammed squad coming at us at 0900 a minute. New Stuff too. Never seen it before. They’re closing fast, and they look powerful."

"Good God. Hold on."

"Commander! We’re in it deep. We’ve got more unidentifiable core units closing fast. There is no telling what they are of what they can do."

"Tell them to hold on until the Rouge Squadron Reinforcements come in. If they are under fire before then, retreat."

"Yes Sir."

"Jane, Jane, come in Jane."

"Elgin?!"

"Ya, I made it. Listen. My radio is about to go out, so talk fast. I just intercepted a message. Core has units closing quick. You’ve got to get outta here."

"And what about you?"

"We’re not to far from base. I can get back by nightfall."

"We can’t just leave you."

"You (static) must (static) go!" Radio dies.

"Ok Alpha, I’ve got orders for you."

"Go ahead"

"Stay until Rouge Squadron gets there, or if you come under fire, whichever comes first."

"Ok. Will do. Out."

"Good Luck"

NTTP #Y22

Why did I agree to this? Because I’ve got balls? Maybe. Because I’m scared? Probably. Because I’m in love? Definitely. I better start now. Will NTTP.

I’ve got my laser, and thank God, because things may get hairy. I’m beginning to hear (and feel) the Core coming. Not much, but sounds like three squads, maybe four. I’m going to climb a tree to have a little look see.

Elgin climbs to the top, and the tree begins to shake. He attempts to hold one, but the shaking gets so bad, he cannot, and he falls, and lands on the ground, unconscious.

"Let’s head home boys. They’re too close. I’ll lead. Form V without Elgin."

"Affirmative."

"Well, they’re buggn’ out. I’ll notify consciousness. Yes sir, they’re heading home. Wait, I see something, there’s a body on the ground."

"I received a radio transmission from him. He told us to go, and that he would make it back by nightfall. Then the radio went out."

"That boys got guts. I hope he makes it. Look at this." He pointed at a computer screen, and it turned on, revealing a radar image. There were 10 red dots, and one blue. "The blue is Elgin. Now, watch this." The radar became alive, and several red dots came close to the blue one. Then, the blue dot disappeared. He pressed a couple keys on a keyboard, and another screen came up. This one much more close. Again, red dots surrounded the blue dot, but this time, several more red dots appeared, and the blue dot was "taken" to another red dot. Again, he pressed several keys, and the image was one in the forest. It showed Elgin lying on the ground unconscious, and several droid like things came out, picked up Elgin, and took him back into the ship.

"They’ve taken him. Most likely, by now they’ve patterned him."

Jane’s eyes swelled up, and a tear formed, and went slowly down her cheek. She turned, and ran out.

She went to her plane, and took off. She didn’t know where she was going, she didn’t know what she was thinking, and she didn’t know what she was doing. All she knew was she had to figure it all out.

"Wha . . ."

"Welcome" A dark raspy voice came to him. A figure stepped out of the corner. He knew at first sight, it was the Core commander.

Elgin notices his hands and arms are together, by nanocuffs, basically electric handcuffs.

"Glad you could make it. I’ve heard about you. The Black Falcon? Excellent ship. But let’s get down to business."
"What do you want?"

"Well, nothing from you, but yourself. You’ve been patterned." He held up three small domes, each containing computer chips. "What is this you may ask, well, in a nutshell, it’s your brain. Represented in computer chips of course. We’re going to use "you" to design units for us. You’ll help us out a great deal."

"You filthy freak."

"Oh, nonono, don’t make me kill you and not let you come back. As of now there is no use of you, so . . ." He draws a laser from his utility belt, and points it at Elgin’s head. Elgin jumps up, and catches the laser gun in his hand. He maneuvers his bare feet so the gun points at the commander. Using his big toe, he pulls the trigger. The commander is hit, right between the eyes.

He rolls over to the commander. He uses the remote on the Commander’s belt to turn off the nanocuffs. Much better, he thought. Now, how do I get out of here?!

Jane slowly circles the area, seeing if there is any movement. "Why am I doing this?" She thought out-loud.

What are the chances? The only way I’ll here from him again is if he’s a virus hacking into our system! Why did things always have to end this way?

Elgin is frantically pacing the room.

What am I supposed to do? I’m stuck here in the middle of a Core base, and I’ve just killed the commander! Darn it! He punched the wall. He noticed he felt great pain from this, but not from his fist. A trickle of liquid was now running down his arm. He looked over, and he had punched through the wall. Ha! He thought, aluminum walls! What morons. He peered through the hole, and saw a plane, the Iron Eagle.

He quickly busts through the walls. He slowly walks toward the plane, and gets in. He was going to escape!

Jane got out of her plane and slowly walked back to the bunk. She thought Why the whole way there. Why? She knew there was no getting over him. She went back to the bunk and cried herself to sleep.

Well, He had hoped they wouldn’t notice, but he should’ve known better. As soon as he takes off, people start running everywhere. Well, so much for the element of surprise he thought, and began strafing people running around below. Now we run. He punched it. He immediately noticed change. He was thrown back into the seat, and saw tree’s passing very fast. This isn’t so bad. I better radio base; I wouldn’t want to get shot down.

"Elgin to base, Elgin to base, come in base"

"ELGIN!?! What’s your position?"

"I stole the patterns of me, and an Iron Eagle. This puppy can fly!"

"You’re flying the Iron Eagle, I assume?"

"Yes, get me clearance. I don’t want to get shot down."

"With pleasure." He typed for a sec, and then replied, "Your clear, Welcome home."

"Great. Hey, could you do me a favor?"

"Sure."

"Tell Jane I’m alright. Could you also get me an escort? I think things could get hairy."

"Personally sir. I’ll also notify the Commander"

"Thank you."

It was the middle of the night, Jane was sleeping soundly, pillow still wet with tears.

"JANE 431 PLEASE REPORT TO COMMANDER ASAP."

Scared the heck out of Jane, and she quickly got on clothes and shoes, and went, still teary eyed.

"Jane, I’ve got some news for you"

"Yes sir?"

"You will be heading the escort of Elgin. He escaped, and is in need of an escort. Will you do it?"

She turned and ran, shouting yes sir on the way. She had to go back and wake everyone.

"WAKE UP!!!!" Jane yelled at the top of her lungs. It woke everyone quickly. "WE WILL BE FLYING INA FEW MINUTES TO ESCORT ELGIN BACK TO BASE. HE ESCAPED CORE AND IS FLYING BACK. WE NEED TO GO NOW."

"AFFIRMATIVE!!" The squads shout in reply.

I’m really surprised it’s this non-turbulent. It really was quite a nice night, an infinite number of stars out, clear sky, and best of all, no Core trailing me. Hopefully that escort will, hold on a sec, Yes! I can see them on radar.

"Jane, this is Elgin, do you read?"

"Good and clear Elgin! So, what happened?"

"Well, I fell out of a tree and when woke, the Core commander was holding me in a room. He told me he patterned me, and then he tried to shoot me, but I got it and shot him. I bust out, grabbed a bird, along with the patterns, and I high tailed it outta there. I was hoping to dissect the patterns when I get back."

"Well, commence landing sequence because we’re there."

It seemed as if the sky opened up, and the base seemed more beautiful than ever. He was back. He had escaped. He was really sleepy.

Elgin wakes to the smell of bacon, eggs, and orange juice.

"Hello . . ." He wake slowly.

"Hey, how’d ya sleep." Jane was reading in the bunk beside him, waiting for him to wake up.

"Oh, hey. Not bad. How long did I sleep?"

"Your official time is 12 hours. Are you sore?"

"Nope, not at -" He stands up, and falls, because his legs get out. "Scratch that. Very sore. I can’t even stand."

"Well in that case, I’ll have to get you a wheel chair. The Commander wants you to play around with the patterns, to see if anything was in them."

"Oh. Ok. Should be interesting."

"I’ll go get a chair."

"Thanks."

"How are we doing this morning, Elgin?" The Commander asked. A fool could see Elgin was back.

"Better. I think I may have to see a doctor about my legs. Anyway, how do you want me to do this?"

"Well, I was hoping you could tell me that."

"Ok, well, I’ll need a good computer, not connected to our computers, incase of virus or malfunction. I’ll also need A.J."

The Commander gave a scowl at this, but he figured it was worth it. The Commander never really did like A.J. He thought the boy was too rebellious and wild. He didn’t yet realize the use for his hacking abilities. The fact was that AJ was probably to best hacker, present, past, and future. A.J., and only AJ knew that he had been somewhere he shouldn’t have. He was bored one afternoon, and hacked into Core consciousness. It took him all of 12 hours. He knew he would either be in it deep, or be awarded, if anyone ever found out. He knew the chances were greater for con than pro. He thought he might tell someone one day, but he didn’t yet know who or when.

"Ok. I’ll summon him." He typed on a keyboard, and it could be heard in the distance "AJ THE COMMANDER NEEDS YOU"

AJ runs in, completely out of breath. The Commander had just finished nanolathing the computer needed.

"What, What?"

"Welcome AJ. You are going to help Elgin get into the Pattern."

"Awe, yes!" He walked over and gave Elgin a high five. "So, how do you want to do this?"

"Well, I can figure out how to upload it into the computer, and together we should be able to find it from there.

After five hours, we were stumped. We couldn’t crack the password. We had tried every tool, and every combination, in every language. I was getting rather frustrated, and I accidentally pressed the select key. Nothing was in the password blank. Suddenly, the computer started humming, and began starting up

"That’s it! The only thing we hadn’t tried was nothing!"

There were two files. A readme, and a unit file. I read the readme, and it said this:

Welcome to the Core. You have been assigned to the unit and structure design division. We have placed in your memory several units that are prototypes, and need to be improved.

"Wow, you think it’s the prototypes that were going to have a "test run" against us?" AJ questioned.

"Maybe. Let’s see." He opened the unit file.

CODENAME: PYTHON TANK

TYPE: FAST ATTACK TANK

WEAPON (S): PYTHON TUSK

SPEED: 400

DESIGNER: FURIOUS 5

OTHER: SELF-REPAIRING. PYTHON TUSK FIRES ADVNACED PLASMA, WHICH DESTROYS UP TO 300% FASTER THAN NORMAL PLASMA

ADVICE: FAST ATTACK/HARRASSMENT VEHICLE. USE IN SQUADS

SELECT FOR HERE NANOLATHING CODES

CODENAME: IRON EAGLE

TYPE: HEAVY FIGHTER/BOMBER

WEAPON (S): RAPID-FIRE LASER, HEATSEAK CANNON, HEATSINK LASER, HEATSINK MISSILES

SPEED: 90

DESIGNER: FURIOUS 5

OTHER: SELF-REPAIRING

ADVICE: GUARD HEAVILY. IMMPORTANT UNIT

SELECT HERE FOR NANOLATHING CODES

CODENAME: SUBCRONIUM M5

TYPE: MISSILE DEFENSE

WEAPON (S): MISSILE COUNTERMEASURES

SPEED: 50

DESIGNER: FURIOUS 5

OTHER: SELF-REPAIRING. AUTOMATICALLY COUNTERS NUKE/EMP. ALSO CAN TEAR THROUGH VEHICLES/STRUCTURES.

ADVICE: ESSENSIAL FOR ANY MISSION

SELECT HERE FOR NANOLATHING CODES

CODENAME: RUSH CANNON

TYPE: HEAVY HOVERCRAFT

WEAPON: LONG RANGE BALLISTIC CHARGE. HIGHLY DEVASTATING

SPEED: 110

DESIGNER: FURIOUS FIVE

OTHER: SELF-REPAIRING

ADVICE: RANGE SLIGHTLY LONGER THAN BIG BERTHA. BEST FOR USE IN BASE ATTACKS. GUARD HEAVILY

SELECT HERE FOR NANOLATHING CODES

CODENAME: KROGARTH GANTRY

TYPE: UNKNOWN

WEAPON (S): ANNIHILATOR LASER, DUAL ROCKET LAUNCHERS, TWIN PLASMA CANNONS

SPEED: 30

DESIGNER: FURIOUS 5

OTHER: ISN’T AMPHIBIOUS AND CAN’T BE TRANSPORTED

ADVICE: DEPLOY WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE KROGARTH TO WANT TO DEPLOY, BECAUSE IT CAN’T BE MOVED. GUARD HEAVILY, WITH AA AND ARTILLERY.

SELECT HERE FOR NANOLATHING CODES

"Holy Jesus! Is that what I think it is?!? Krogoth?!?!"

"We’ve lost him sir. Luckily he was patterned. He’ll have to live in the suit. Shall I transfer his consciousness?"

"Yes. We have no other choice." It was the second in command. The laser shot was a fatal one, killing the noble commander instantly. He was a great one, to be remembered by all. He had begun the Furious 5, and had many classified achievements in his "life". He would be missed.

"Shall I tell consciousness?"

"Yes, that would be best."

A small blue dome was placed in the huge work of technological art. Inside, the computer was reading the files and chips inside the dome. Almost immediately there was a response.

[SYSTEM REBOOT: FAILED]

[OPERATION: READ AND BOOT PATTERN CCM 1173]

[ATTEMPT: YES]

[REBOOT: AFFIRMATIVE]

[READING PATTERN]

[PATTERN LOCK]

[WELCOME BACK COMMANDER FREDRICKSON]

The commander can "feel" his new body. He can feel circuits activating, and his new brain forming. He doesn’t remember anything after he was patterned. A remote computer informs him of what has happened.

After you were patterned, you were moved to this planet, Gyicia, an uninhibited planet, with a mission of possible future Core headquarters. At 2300 hours, on October 13^th, 6379, Arm arrived with an arsenal. It was quickly destroyed, and the commander quickly went into hiding, for approximately 10 years.

[PROFILE OF COMMANDER WALLRICH OR CONTINUE]

{Continue}

[CONTINUE AFFIRMATIVE]

He built up a sizeable defense, and enough construction units to produce a Vulcan. It and the defense were all needed to fend off Core while other defenses came. No unit has ever entered the perimeter of the base. It is heavily guarded. Numerous unsuccessful flybys occurred.

The Furious 5 was formed in 6390, and was deemed highly classified. Furious 5 was a group that was in charge of new unit design. The current year is 6398, and Furious 5 has completed the first 5 units. They have not yet been tested. Now you are updated. Would you like to view the profile of Commander Wallrich?

{Yes}

[AFFIRMATIVE]

[FULL NAME: STEVEN NATHANIAL WALLRICH

DATE OF BIRTH: JULY 7, 5345

PLACE OF BIRTH: LUNAS

REASON OF JOIN: REVENGE; HE WAS ON PLANET IMPERION WHEN LUNAS WAS DEMOLISHED.

OTHER: CLOSE WITH HEAD OF ARM, AND A TECH. WIZARD.]

Lunas, Lunas, why does that name ring a bell? Search memory for Lunas.

[SEARCHING]

[1 ITEM FOUND]

[VIEW?]

[YES]

[IN MARCH (YEAR UNKNOWN) CORE LAUNCHED A MASSIVE COUNTERSTRIKE ON AN ARM CIVILIZATION PLANET. THE PLANET WAS DEMOLISHED. CIC (COMMANDER IN CHARGE) COMMANDER FREDRICKSON]

I see. Interesting. I destroyed the planet of an Arm Commander. How fun . . .

"Commander! We’ve got something!" AJ called the Commander over. He was asleep.

"What, what?"

"We’ve got something sir, you should see this."

"What is it?"

"’Lathing codes, for several units. Iron Eagle, Python Tanks, Subcronium M5, Rush cannon, and Krogarth Gantry."

"Holy. . ." His voice trailed off. This was all the new stuff, and more! Just this alone could be enough to tilt the scales in there side! This could be major. He had to inform the head of Arm.

"Wallrich to head of Arm, come in head. Emergency Situation"

"Head here. What is emergency?"

"We’ve got codes!"

"What?"

"Nanolathing codes for Core units! The new prototypes, and Krogarth!"

"Krogarth?!"

"Yes! Krogarth! They were in a pattern we stole!"

"Krogarth . . ."

So many things . . . his pattern did not remember anything about the Commander body, because his latest pattern was right before he was upgraded to Commander status. Everything was new to him. His thoughts were still adjusting to the fact that he was only a consciousness . . . a little voice inside someone’s head. His new brain was almost operational. It would take months to get used to this.

Luckily the Central Consciousness was informed. He sent another Commander to help with the base and show Fredrickson the ropes. He was due to be arriving in two days. It would be a learning experience, one to remember. He was also amazed with what he could now remember, and the rate at which he learns.

Sudden blackness, and then light again. He feels something new, like something inside of him is moving, active, and alive. He realizes his new brain is formed, and complete. He is slowly reacting to the new information. He gains knowledge on how to use the D-Gun, and to Nanolathe things. Points the D-Gun at a tree, and fires. He is blown back, not knowing that the blast would be so huge. He is flat on his back, and is now trying to figure out how to get back up. If someone was watching him, it would seem like it was a child learning to walk, and to roll, and to play with new toys.

The now rookie Commander was struggling to get up, furiously rolling from side to side.

"Think there is any hope?"

"Oh ya, he’s just inexperienced. It’ll come. It’ll all come, in good time."

They were looking over the comedy below them. A Commander furiously rolling, attempting to get back on his feet. How ironic, the most experienced unit, struggling to stand . . .

"So when is Orein due in?"

"Two days. Should be interesting. Orein has a reputation to keep."

"What’s he about?’

"He’s the former head of the Space division."

"Wow, what happened?"

"He got bored. He would fall asleep in the middle of the most important meetings. The Head of Arm quickly put him back in a Commander suit. He realized what a valuable asset he was. Now he is just in charge of all bases east of the planetary border, which is about 30, I think."

"Wow, so he was promoted?"

"Yup. Now he trains rookies too."

"Wow."

Gosh! How hard is this supposed to be! Is it just me, or a defective suit, or what! He had problems. Might as well try to ask my brain . . . how weird did that sound . . .

[COMMAND: GET UP]

[INVALID COMMAND]

[COMMAND: STAND]

[INVALID COMMAND]

Jeez, how was he supposed to do this? He thought, Jeez, I could use a transport right about now to pick me up. Just as he finished, he looked out, and a Valkyrie was picking him up. Amazing he thought. Then he remembered he was running this shanty.

"’Bout time he thought about it, jeez. What a moron. It going to be funny until Orein gets here."

"We should give him a call. This base needs to stay decent, we need this position. Notify him and tell him we need him more than expected."

NTTP #Y23

Remember when I was talking about going on the mountain tour, what seems like forever long ago? Well, I just got finished. Boy, was I in for a surprise. It’s not offices or anything at all; it’s a HUGE strategic fortification positioning station. Or atleast, that’s the long name for it. It’s actually a new branch of Arm, one for strategy, unit design, and fortifications. We need control of this planet to keep it safe. And that’s the first task, to remove all Core presence from this planet, because it’s the perfect set up. There isn’t anymore Core for 5 more systems. It would be a great future place for a new Arm headquarters. They’re starting off by constructing a couple galactic gates, for reinforcements, because Core presence has steadily grown, and the Head of Arm feels it is time to stop it. The operation is still in the making, but it is code-named Armageddon. I actually had a part in the plan. They’re consulting the top two people in each division to help out, because there is no way its going to be easy.

Anyway, That’s why all those fusion reactors are needed, because its so huge, and still under construction. So far, it reached 420 levels below the surface of the planet. That’s where all the super secret stuff goes on. The pressure is so much down there that the whole place has to be pressurized.

I was also talking about the Krogarth prototype. We’ve constructed one, and it’s my main project right now, working out all the kinks. We are going to call the finished product Reinhart. We’ve also come up with names all of the other prototypes, which will be among my next projects. Baby Bertha will be the Rush Cannon, Shredder will be the M5, Nightwing will be the Iron Eagle, and the Python Tank will be Montag. Both Commanders are very excited about the new prototypes.

I’m off to a meeting now about operation Armageddon. Chat later

~ Elgin

"Delta Fighter 1, to echo post, Delta Fighter 1, to echo post, come in echo post."

"Echo post read you. Go ahead"

"I’ve got some incoming aircraft at sector 7461:92. It’s giving off signals like a transport."

"Is it guarded?"

"No sir. It’s giving off amazing energy sir, I think it’s a commander."

"Assemble team and fire at will, the last thing we need is another Commander on Gyicia."

"Affirmative sir. Out"

"Good Hunting"

"Delta 1, calling to delta Squadron, come in delta."

"We read you 1. What is it?"

"We’re to assemble strike team to take out possible Commander transport. Give me the top five on my left wing, and the others keep on patrol."

"Affirmative sir."

Delta Squad closes on the bleep on the radar. It begins to get visual coverage. Yup, it’s a Commander, and an important one too. He was twice the size, and had a blue stripe running down his back. There would be a reward in this for them.

"Switch to sidewinders, and fire at will. They began firing, careful not to hit the actual Commander, for fear of being atomized. They knew if they hit the transport, the Commander would die, but the nuke wouldn’t go off. Thank God.

Missiles slowly eat away at the transport, then suddenly, BOOM; it is destroyed, along with the Commander.

"I wonder who it was . . ."

"It was Orein, a commander trainer, I got the reading right before he became scrap. It’s still coming in."

"Contact Gyicia, the time to strike is now."

"What happened? Say that again?"

"He’s dead. He was taken out while on transport."

"No. It’s not true. We need leadership. The Arm has progressed just in the past few days, we need help."

"There is nothing we can do. I’m sorry."

"FREAK!"

"Echo post 1, to strategic positions, come in Gyicia."

"We read you. Go ahead."

"We’ve taken out the training Commander. That means the only Commander on the planet is fully new to the suit and all operations. The time to strike is now, while they are at a disadvantage. The Core has units on the way, and if you can take out the base, the reinforcements should be easy. Good Luck."

"Thank you Echo station. Out." The radio manager was having a busy day, and it didn’t sound like it was letting up. He should contact the head of Arm. It was going to be a long night.

"Yes Sir, we’ve gotten word reinforcements are on the way."

"That doesn’t make for good. Finish another Galactic Gate, and call me. This isn’t going to be easy."

"Affirmative."

"What do you mean he’s gone?! We need that position. This isn’t good. Its time to take action. Deploy Plan Revelation." CC was furious.

"Revelation Sir?! Are you sure?"

"Desperate times call for desperate measures. Kill or be killed. Real historic stuff. This will be your last transmission, if you don’t survive. Surrender is not an option. Give them a good fight, Reinforcements are on the way. Good Luck."

"Thank you Sir. Over and out."

[REVELATION PLAN]

[N A NUTSHELL, IF YOU KNOW THEY’RE COMING TO ATTACK YOU, AND YOUR GOING TO LOSE, WHY NOT DO A LITTLE DAMAGE FIRST? SIMPLY SNEAK AROUND THEY’RE ATTACK, AND MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO TAKE OUT THEY’RE BASE WHILE THEY’RE GONE. LIKE A KAMIKAZE MISSION. YOU KNOW YOUR GOING TO DIE, SO WHY NOT DO SOME DAMAGE FIRST. GOOD LUCK!]

Great, Fredrickson thought. I was hoping for genius, and I get suicide . . .

NTTP #Y24

I’m back from the meeting and they completely revamped the whole Armageddon plan. Maybe its because we’re going tonight. Anyway, We are going to have a triple flank. Squads of Campbells, and Bulldogs, Orcas, Anacondas, and plenty of radar jammers will be heading right into the center. Air support will be on the left, and naval support will happen on the left. We’re also bringing along the new prototypes, as well as the new Thief prototype. What it basically does is captures structures. We are due to be in our birds in 1800 hours. Above us there will be a space battle going on, with our troops stopping the reinforcements. I need to get some sleep. It’s going to be a long day.

"Lockheed to base, Lockheed to base, come in base":

"This is Core Base, Lockheed, go ahead"

"We’ve got trouble. This is going to be a big dogfight to get on the planet. They’re waiting for us."

"Great. Just great. Jesus. Go for it, and good hunting."

"Thank you, out."

NTTP #Y25

"Lets go over this on more time. This is big. We can’t afford to screw up. Ok. We leave in 30 minutes, and should hang sharp left. We should get to the base at 19:00, so be ready. It’s not going to be pretty. That’s all I can tell you. Its up to you from then on."

No pressure, Elgin thought. He was reading a really good book. It was by, who he was named after, Chris Elgin. He was a dignified philosopher, scientist, and mathematician. His book, Innocent Eye, was about the innocent during WWIII. He was an American, and fought in the War. Not counting this war, it was the single bloodiest war ever. It’s really good, and I’m almost done. He’s also got another one, which I hope to read next. I’m not exactly sure what it’s called though. Wow. 30 minutes has passed already. Just in case, if I don’t make it, and someone finds this, let Jane know I loved her.

Signing off ~

Elgin

"When do we leave, sir?"

"10 seconds. Get in your unit. Good Hunting."

"Yes Sir."

"I’ve gotten a last minute idea. All units get directly around me, to guard, and cover me."

"Yes Sir."

"Fine men, Your all fine men. Good Luck. Lets Move!

"Let’s go! Onward!" The Commander was excited. He would finally get a new assignment, either that or visit the big bunker in the sky . . .

We moved forward, and then took a sharp right. This was it. We were going to the final stand.

"Sir, I’m picking up heavy Core movement." It was a bertha officer.

"Use the advanced radar."

"Yes Sir. Here it comes, looks like every Core unit on the planet, with the Commander in the middle."

"The idiots! Are you in they’re range?"

"Yes sir. The entire bertha battery is."

"Fire for the Commander."

"Yes sir."

An echo can be heard in the distance, than another, and another, and eventually 30 echoes, than a screeching from above. Bertha fire! The first shot narrowly missed the Commander, taking out the Krogoth at his side. The next shot ripped though his side, he could feel a liquid slowly eating away at his metal frame. Three more shots rained down on him, direct hits.

The man was utterly stunned. There he was looking out with his binoculars, and suddenly, a massive light, followed by what seemed like 1,000 simultaneous explosions. He just stood there and said, "Get, Get, Get, m, m, m, me phone, to Commander"

"Speak slower, what happened?"

"Big light, than lots of explosions."

"Get me the bertha officer that contacted me earlier."

"Yes Sir."

"Sir, we took ‘em out! 4 shots sir! Took that freak out!"

"How many target’s remaining!?"

"None sir, they were all so tightly compact around the Commander; the explosion ripped them all to pieces!"

"Really! Well than! Notify the Head of Arm. We’ll capture all of the base! Great work, Captain!"

"Thank you sir. Out"

"I’ll be darned. Attention, all Aircraft, get up into space, the bertha’s have taken out the threat. They’ll need your help up there."

"Affirmative sir. Heading up!"

"Good Hunting."

NTTP #Y26

Well, how about that. I’ve already heard the whole story. A Bertha Commander hit the Core Commander, and killed the whole army! Amazing. We’re just exiting the Atmosphere now. Boy is it beautiful and vast too. It’s hard to notice your movement, because there’s nothing to compare yourself to. I’m beginning to see the fight. Oh, doesn’t look too pretty. It’s a big one, with Vamps, and everything. This isn’t going to be very fun.

"We’re closing now, echo post, we’ll be there in approx. 2 minutes. How are we doing?"

"Not bad, our ratio is 4 to 1. There is still a few. We need your help."

"Affirmative echo station. Out."

"Lock oxygen masks!"

"Yes Ma’am!"

"Let’s get in there, they need us. Good Hunting."

As soon as they enter, they begin firing. It seems there is a clump in the middle, and that’s where they head first. They fire, immediately taking out one, and two more with the explosion. Three remained, and Jane and Elgin tag up on the first one.

"C’mon, get in my gimble lock. C’mon, C’mon, C’mon!"

"I’ve got him." Jane fires a missile, and hits him right in the left wing. "So ya don’t wanna die, do ya punk. Huh, do ya? I know, you don’t want to get your but kicked to a girl, but get over it. Die Core SCUM!" She fires another missile, this one landing right in the cockpit. "That’s what I thought, punk!!"

A couple more remained, and were taken down quickly. Jane radioed to echo post, "All scum, err Core are now scrap metal."

"Congrats, people, you have removed any and all Core threat from Gyicia."

"How’d the ground do, capturing the base?"

"They got everything, including 400 LLT’s, 40 Fusion plants, and tons of other stuff. Complete success."

"Thank God."

"Great job, this is echo post 1, signing off."

"Thanks echo post, Out."

The Core threat was gone, from this planet atleast. What would come next?

Well, for starters, he would have to finish his book; it was slowly eating away at his mind.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE FAILED!?! WE’VE LOST GYICIA?! THAT WAS A NEEDED POSITION! JESUS!"

NTTP #Y26

I’ve been up here a while, waiting to be cleared to land. I’ve finished my book, and am now slowly circling the base, thinking about what could happen, and what will happen. It’s going to be exciting to leave, but I’m going to miss it. I’m not exactly sure why. Jane and I have really bonded. I hope we don’t get separated. AJ, too. I’d miss him, real bad, because he’s so much like me. So many new things. There is a meeting in a few that I have to go to. I hope they let me land.

"Alpha 2, your clear to land."

They read my mind . . .

"Thank you tower. Out."

"You have failed me."

"We were outnumbered sir, they were just too powerful. Besides, I didn’t even know how to work the suit."

"Get out of my face."

"I’m not in your face, I’m in your mind."

"GET OUT! OR I SHALL DESTORY YOUR PATTERN!"

"Yes Sir."

There were commanders everywhere. Old, new, they were all war-torn veterans. Their suits were lined up outside, and it looked like they were invading.

"We have come here today to celebrate. All Core presence has been eliminated from this planet. These are good times." The crowd gave a monstrous roar after the words of the Head of Arm. It was the first time to see him for most people.

"We have new placement for all of you." This scared a lot of people. They had become very attached to this planet, the animals, and especially all their friends.

"The lists will be posted in various areas. Thank you all so very much." Rather short speech, I mean, we did take out the Core from the planet. That didn’t matter though. He had to go find out where Jane is going.

A tall shadowy figure slowly moves out of the swamp. It signals to the others, and they slowly rise too. The figures are huge, when fully standing, over 40 meters tall. They peek over the treetops. The others see that it is clear, and signal to the final two, making a total of five. The maniacal machines are painted black, and are completely invisible at night. To top it off, they have stealth skin. Unless injured, they cannot be picked up on radar. They know they are the last hope, and they know the mission. Destroy all.

We are the vigilantes. Our mission is to seek out the Arm Base, and destroy all. We are armed with Double D-Guns, and are able to contact Central Consciousness. Before the revolt, we were the Furious 5. Our minds were transferred to the new Genesis KBOTs when the revolt ended, right before the explosion of the Commander. The fool. He should have known better than to sacrifice us. It was a rookie mistake. It was not our fault; we were just following orders. But that issue is over now, and why bring back the past, when you cannot fix it. We are now running at full speed through the forest. Approaching the Arm base. They will parish.

NTTP #Y27

That was a waste of time. Why did he even come in the first place?

I haven’t looked at my assignment yet. I’m too scared. I don’t think Jane has either. I don’t blame her one bit. I think I should go look. That’d give me more time to hang with the friends that aren’t going to be with me. Off I go!

The heinous creatures silently run rampant through the forest. The 4^th falls, causing a huge explosion, damaging all the others. They have been spotted on radar.

"What was that? Did you see that?"

"Ya. I thought we were alone."

"Apparently not." He reaches over and pulls a lever. The lever turns on the full alarm. The alarm screams though the base, alerting everyone inside.

It is now seen on radar that four huge creatures are approaching quickly on the base. Something was coming.

"What is the meaning of this!?"

"Look sir." He showed the Commander the radar screen, and the four objects approaching.

"Good God. What’s gone wrong?!"

Elgin is walking to the nearest post, when a huge explosion lights up the night sky. It is followed by a monstrous roar. The full alert sirens comes on, and people charge out of their bunks, running to their units. Something has gone terribly wrong.

The fool! He exposed us! We are now traceable on radar! I shall have his pattern for this. I D-Gunned the fool after he broke my cover. We are repairing ourselves now, to get cover back. There we go. Back into the night we go. We must move quickly though, for they know we are here. The fool blew our cover.

"Freak! They’re gone again! Sir, they’re gone!"

"Jeez. This isn’t good. How fast were they moving?"

"45 km sir."

"Get me the head of Bertha Operations."

"Affirmative sir." He punched a few keys and then the head of Bertha operations ran up the stairs.

"Ok. Listen and Listen good. Fire with a radius moving outward, at 45 km, enlarging the circle. If you get anything back on radar, continue fire and notify me. Follow me?"

"Yes sir. Brilliant."

"Stop sucking up and go kill some Core. This isn’t going to be easy."

"Affirmative Sir."

Bertha Shells screech though the air. They all miss, but they are close misses. More fire rains down on them, this time damaging number 3.

"AJ, can you hack into their systems?"

"Might as well try . . ."

"Ok. These guys could help in the final revolt against Core."

[SYSTEM COMMAND: SEARCH FOR 5 ON NETWORK]

[SYSTEM FOUND 3 DOCUMENTS]

[1. FURIOUS 5]

[2. 5, FURIOUS]

[3. GENESIS 5]

"What the heck is Genesis 5?"

"Them. That’s it! Try to get into it."

"Ok. I’ll try."

[LOGIN NAME: AJ-77423]

[PASSWORD: GEN. PROJECT]

[INVALID PASSWORD]

[PASSWORD: REVOLUTION]

[ACCESS GRANTED. WELCOME TO THE REVOLUTION]

He sat there speechless.

He knew what he could do though.

I feel a new presence. Something’s in here. Something is wrong.

[SYSTEM FAILURE: LOST D-GUNS]

What?

[SYSTEM FAILURE: LEG MOVEMENT]

Nooo!!

[SYSTEM FAILURE: COMPUTER]

Wha?

[ALL SYSTEMS LOST. PATTERN DESTROYED]

Then there was nothing. If they had been human, they would have been dead. Now there was nothing. Their KBOTs remained, but there was no mind controlling it.

"You know what’s going on?" Elgin questioned Jane. They both didn’t know what was going on.

"No clue. Have you, uh, checked your assignment yet?" She looked as if she was trying to hint something to him.

"No. You?"

"Ya. You, AJ, and I were all assigned to the base on T-4479. Heard of it?"

"No. What’s up with it?"

"Well, nothing really. I don’t know why they would want us to go there."

"That is weird. Well, at least we’ll be together." He smiled at her. It was now quite obvious they had fallen for each other. And they both knew it too. "Well, I’m going to go find out what’s going on. Talk to you later!" He gave her a kiss as he walked away. He, for the first time in his life, was truly happy.

"Elgin, good to see you. Could you and AJ control an "uninhabited" KBOT back to the base?"

"Ya, sure, what do you mean by uninhabited?"

"The mind, and soul is gone." He turned and gestured to AJ, who was asleep. "AJ hacked into the mind of it, and disabled all computers. The pattern was destroyed."

"Oh, neat." He walked over and woke AJ up.

"Hey, was up, dude?" He was utterly tired.

"Let’s guide that piece o’ junk back to base."

"Oh, ok."

[LOGIN NAME: AJ-77423]

[PASSWORD: REVOLUTION]

[NO PATTERN EXISTS. WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTROL FROM A REMOTE LOCATION?]

This was going to be easier than they thought.

[YES]

A screen came up, and it was a camera view. In the corner of the screen it had a map. AJ selected the map. Coordinates came up for three locations. The Core Base, the Arm Base, and the current position. He selected the Arm Base, and the camera began to move. They looked on radar and the whole remaining squad was coming for the base, but this time as Arm units.

"That was easy enough. Now can I get some sleep?" He looked toward the Commander for guidance.

The Commander smiled and nodded. His assets would one day prove useful, more than anyone knew.

"Thank you so much sir." He got up and slowly walked back to the bunk.

"Hey, AJ, I forgot to tell you! You, Jane, and I all were sent to the same location as our next assignment!"

He suddenly sprang awake. "Dude! This calls for a drink!" It was quite amazing. He had gone from barely awake to a party freak. How amusing . . .

The 4 KBOTs slowly made their way into the base. They stopped, right in front of the Commander.

Amazing, the Commander thought. He took a look at the giant beast, and felt a feeling of great wealth. This could be worth something. He aimed his series to ‘lathing gun at it and it shot out a stream of blue super-charged particles at Genesis. The particles traced the whole design of the KBOT, and then they went back into the gun. "Quite a marvel, this new gun," the Commander thought. He could pick up the ‘lathing codes for any none moving unit in a matter of seconds. He wished he could shake the hand of the designer, who ever it was. Anyway, he immediately built what would be a prototype of the unit, and again marveled at the ingenuity of the design. Genius, he thought. And then, no wait, Genesis . . .

He silently chuckled at his funny . . .

"It does not matter anymore, we shall just increase production. It was not your fault. Nothing close to your fault. There was nothing you could have done. So where are the other patterns?"

"I was the only one to escape, your Gratefulness. I was the only one to realize there was nothing good coming, so I shut down all systems, and jumped patterns, back into my old Reaper. Old piece of junk." It was the Leader of the Furious 5 speaking. He was a little shaken, but for the most part all right. After all, he had seen his closest friends taken over, from the inside.

"Oh well. Another creation, another loss. You really do get used to it after a while. You’ll see, it’ll come." No one really knew what good "friends" they were. They had gone to West Point together, back in 1999. They were patterned when the technology became available. Boy that was a long time ago. Every major school crashed after 2000, due to Y2K. The fools that designed all the computers should have planned for such a worldwide crash. But it was all over now, and they were back stronger than ever, in mind at least.

"I’ll be waiting. So, where am I assigned to?"

"That’s why I wanted you to come here. Your genius has proved me good. I’m promoting you to level 10."

He sat there for a moment, speechless. "Le, lele, vel, 10? Level 10?"

"Yup. You’ve proven yourself." He pointed behind him, and the walls opened up, revealing an amazingly shiny new Commander. He felt like an old game show host, and what’s behind door #2?

"Its, Its, beautiful. I couldn’t have imagined it better. Thank you, Sir."

"Oh, its really quite nothing. And look, it’s a series 2." He pressed a button and double heavy lasers came out of the shoulders.

"Wow. I can’t thank you enough."

"Actually, you can. After training, you can build a base, and kill some freaks . . ."

They both laughed aloud at this, realizing how true it was. No one besides the two of them really knew how bloodthirsty Central was.

"Well, when does my training begin?" As he finished, an old, veteran walked through the door. It was Orein.

"Long time no see!" He was glad to see the two of them.

"Great to see you again, George. We’ve got a mission for you, to train Simpleton." Only a few people knew the Leader of the Furious 5’s name. Bob Simpleton, it was.

"Shouldn’t be too hard. Let’s go!" And with that they were off.

"So, Wallrich, do you know what’s up with T-4479?" Elgin was still wondering about his assignment.

"Not really, but you’ll find out. Maybe the head just wants you to relax a little before getting you back into the Inferno."

"Oh. Ok, so it’ll pretty much is patrolling for a nuisance for a while. I could use a little R&R."

"When are you scheduled to leave?"

"No clue. Jane told me about T-4479, and that’s all I know."

"Oh. I see. So when are you two going to get hitched anyway?" The Commander sipped back in his daiquiri.

"What you mean?"

"Well, its quite obvious you’re both in love, so just get a ring."

He had a really good point, Elgin noted. Either that or he was hammered. Both were very likely.

"I’ve been thinking. It’s going to be next week. I’ll have the guts by then. I’ve already got the ring too." He reached into his pocket and brought out a black box. He opened it, and there it was, gold with a Fuby (fuby, a Florence ruby).

"Wow. That looks nice. Good Luck."

"Thanks. Well, it’s getting late, and I better head back. Have a good night!"

"You too." It was quite obvious now. He was in fact hammered, but he also meant what he had said.

"So Jane, when do we leave?"

"You didn’t hear? 10 Minutes!"

"Oh, Jeez! I better go pack."

Elgin leaves to go pack and finishes quickly. 3 minutes to spare. He goes to the shuttle (that’s what all aircraft made for space are called), and falls asleep on the plane. He wakes us two hours later.

"Hey, we’re here . . ." Jane is calling him. She feels so far away. He wakes up, and it is very bright. It was apparently mid-afternoon on T-4479.

"Oh. Ok." He grabs his gear and walks off. The base is a decent size, and well guarded. They are guided to an under ground facility, and its their bunk. It’s not too shabby either. "Welcome." A Commander walks through the door, and greets his new troops. There are 15 others in the room with them, and no one quite knows what’s going on. "Perhaps I should explain. You are here to be trained for a "hostile recovery" of sorts. You will be the team that will go back to the old "Earth," and recover a pattern. The pattern will help in the beginning of the revolution. Greet your bunkmates, and relax. Your first training session will begin in a week."

With that he was gone. Obviously a man of few words, but good words they were.

Within three hours of mingling, everyone was friends. As it turns out, all people were very advanced and smart. There were level 2 tank officers, hovercraft officers, and air officers. Elgin was planning on taking Jane to dinner, and then, popping the question. He was noticeably nervous. He was preparing for the event now.

"What’s going down tonight?" AJ had just finished checking out the base.

"Well, I’ve got a big dinner date with Jane, and I’m going to pop the question . . ."

"Wow. In that case, let me fix your tie!"

"You think they’ll be able to do it?" The Commander was asking the trainer.

"Oh ya. They’re the elite of the elite. It doesn’t get much better than this. You’ll see. They’ll end up impressing us all, along with the head of Arm." The trainer was confident with the young recruits.

"I hope you know what you’re talking about. I could use a little acknowledgment after setting up this base alone. 4 years of solitude can really screw with a man’s mind."

"You and I both man. You and me both."

"So, how’d ya like dinner?" It was becoming more and more obvious that Elgin was very nervous.

"It was really good. What’s on your mind?"

He slowly got out of his chair and knelt to one knee. "Jane, will you mar-" he was cut off by a monstrous alarm.

"WARNING! WARNING! UNIDENTIFIED AIRCRAFT APPROACHING! GET TO YOUR BATTLE STATIONS ASAP!"

"Of course . . ." They both got up and ran out the door.

On the way back to the bunk they could see AJ running to his assigned MERL. In the distance, they were beginning to hear the screech of some aircraft, but they weren’t exactly sure what kind.

"What were you going to ask me?"

"I’ll tell you in the air! Meet you there!" He climbed into his new Black Falcon. It really was nice to look at, especially at night. He closed the hatch and began his assent into the air. The vertical jump factor really helped for quick launches. Immediately, his superior came over the radio.

"WE’VE GOT INCOMING EXODUS FIGHTERS AND BOMBERS, STRAIGHT FROM SPACE. THERE ARE NO OTHERS, SO THIS IS IT. IF THEY BECOME THE LEAST BIT HOSTILE, TAKE ‘EM OUT. GOOD HUNTING." And that was it. And then,

"What were you going to ask me?" Jane came over the radio.

"Well, I was going to ask you to marry me. Will you?"

I guess it’s a jinx. Every time I get up the nerve to ask her, something happens. Of course, in this case, I ask her, but then well . . .

An enemy aircraft screeches through the air beside him, causing him to shake violently, and loose all radio contact.

"Jesus! Is some eternal force trying to tell me something?! Gosh! He was so close I could smell his engine." Elgin silently swore to himself. He was truly upset.

"All right, c’mon you freak, get in my gimble!" He made an aggressive move toward the craft, almost pulling a kamikaze on the dude. The enemy gives Elgin an insane look.

"Oh bite me! Get in there!" He began rapidly strafing the enemy, quickly taking him down. He didn’t explode in mid-air, so Elgin followed him all the way down (still firing) until he hit the ground. "The dirty freak. Who’s next?" He jumped onto another bird’s tail, and brought it down with a rocket. "Scratch 2!" That was it. There were no more. He got beside Jane, and attempted communication.

He tapped on his earpiece and then shook his head, meaning there was no radio. She nodded in return, and told him to land first though various hand motions. He signaled ok, and then went ahead.

Elgin walked out of the plane, and from a distance watched Jane land. She climbed out of the plane, and he walked to her, extremely nervous. She turned and saw him, and ran toward him. She tackled him, and said one word. Yes.

"There!" Orein pointed at a nearby tree. D-Gun fire quickly rained down on the shrub. It was simply target practice for The new Commander.

"Toast." He went over the pile of smoldering ashes. This suit was really neat.

"Now, pick a tree and use the lasers."

"Ok." He thought about it, and the pair of lasers came up. He aimed at the tree, and fired. Ashes.

"Now we teach you to hit moving targets." He raised his lasers, and shot behind a nearby animal, scaring it and causing it to run.

"Fire 1!" He hit it, killing it instantly, and leaving guts.

"That’s not too hard. Now comes the hard part. Construction."

The dark figure stood on the corner, leaning on a wall and smoking a cigarette. He snuffed it out, and walked forward. It was Lunas. The Lunas only he remembered. It was amazing. Mostly metal in populated areas, but utterly amazing. He glanced up at the offices far above him, nearly 700 stories up. It was a gloomy dusk, day and hovercrafts were quickly passing by. A black one pulled up beside him, and someone stepped out.

"Hey, What are you doing here Elgin? I thought you and Peyton were going to the movies?" It was his sister, Denise. She was always looking out for him.

"Well, he got called into the shop, some guy locked his pet in the hover, along with the keys. The vehicle needed a tune up, anyway." He was happy to see her. He needed a ride.

"Oh. So you still free?"

"Ya, wanna go see that new horror flick?"

"Sure! Hop in!" He really loved his older sister. She was always looking out for him.

A car rips through the crowded street. 5 people jump out, and pull some odd gun. They begin firing, and quickly kill Denise. Elgin saw it all. Her blood was all over him.

Elgin wakes up in a cold sweat. He screams, and then jerks his arms wildly.

"Elgin! Elgin! Calm down! What’s wrong?" Jane was beside him, awakening as he tore apart emotionally.

"They killed her . . ." He was crying now, tears rolling down fast. He now remembered, it was a Core assault gang, and they knew his sister was working secretly for Arm. She had to have been silenced; "the freaks really killed her. Her blood was on me. She was right there. I saw her killed . . ."

"Its ok. Its over now, lets go back to sleep. I’ll go get you some water. It’s alright, its over now." She slowly hugged him, and jogged to get water. "What had happened?" She thought to herself. What was going on?

"When I was on Lunas, I saw my sister killed, right in front of me. It was a Core Assault Gang, and she was right there. I was right there. Her blood was all over me. I’m lucky I wasn’t killed myself."

"Wow. I couldn’t imagine what that must have been like." She turned, and for an instant hated herself. For she really did know about the incident, and she really was there. She was part of the assault gang.

Sirens blazed through the base, alerting all. It was time for an emergency midnight patrol. It was rumored Core had landed, and were waging war on the base. They had to be stopped before the new weapons were in view.

"You are the first counter offensive. You will be known only as Dark Angels, and if you are hit you are to fight to the end, and not to eject." The pilot training Commander was highly nervous. The subject was to close. They would have to leave soon.

"You will be flying the series 2 Iron Eagle, with twice the top speed and acceleration speed, with strategic bombing ability." This caused a murmur in the audience of pilots. Everyone was interested in the new Iron Eagle, because they all had fallen in love with the first series. They couldn’t wait.

"Your objective is to scout at 6788 to 2899. If anything out of the ordinary is noticed, report the disturbance to base, and fire at will. Is anything unclear?"

"NO SIR"

"Fine then. Good Hunting."

His arms hurt like they had never hurt before. Or his artificial arms, at least. He had been constructing units, and D-Gunning trees all day. He was wiped out. And the only thing he had learned to construct was a blasted LLT. What a waste. Hopefully something better would come tomorrow. A KBOT lab at least. He had also heard of his next assignment. A planet called Mars. It was the second planet colonized by the early civilizations, and was abandoned after a nuclear water spill. He was simply to construct an outpost once his training was complete. The base would eventually be used as a rest stop of sorts for CORE troops galaxy jumping. Didn’t sound to fun, but any assignment would sound great to a rookie. It was time to get some "sleep" now. He was wiped.

They silently cruised over the lush treecover and night. The 5 moons shimmering over the dew cast a lonesome glow over the planet.

"I’ve got multiple bogies at 4551. Looks like 15 Instigators. They can’t touch us. Good thing we have bombing capacity."

"Good. Take ‘em out quick. We’ve got work to do."

"Will do. Out."

NTTP #Y28

We took them out in five minutes. I got to take 5 runs at them. It really is fun diving like that. Like an old roller coaster. You sweep down than rise quickly, with an explosion following you. Nice fireworks show. I’m now circling the base, waiting landing. We’ll begin our training. We’ll be trained in military tactics mainly, because there is no telling what ever became of the earth after the nuclear war of 2500 as well as all the pollution.

"Dark Angel 2 to landing bay. You are clear to land."

"Thank you bay."

"Report directly to the training facility after landing. Out."

Well, nothing he didn’t know about. Time to land. Thank god, he was starting to cramp. It would feel good to get up and walk.

"Training is about to start. What do you plan on doing for the first meeting?" The Commander of the Base was nervous about the first meeting.

"Well, I was going to tell them a little about the mission, and tell them the latest. The real training will start tomorrow. This is more of a briefing than anything." He wasn’t worried at all. They were fine troops, and he was looking forward to it.

It is said that it is better to get everything at once. It certainly wasn’t true, in this situation atleast. He had received all the nanolathing codes in an instant. He FELT his brain create a new section. It hurt like the devil. He would much rather had gotten it in pieces, but no. It was over now, and he was on the transport to Mars. It turned out that the LLT is the most basic unit, and if I can build that, I can build anything. So, I’m headed to Mars. Bye-bye Orein, hello life. He would have to build defenses quick; it was unknown what would come at him early. He had 48 more hours until he would land. It would not be easy.

"Your mission will be to obtain the pattern of Elize Gudrino, the inventor of patterning. Yes, Yuko?"

"What will the pattern be used for? Aren’t we against patterning?" The trainee questioned.

"That information is strictly classified, but what I can tell you is that it is part of a theory by the Head of Arm that could lead to the decimation of Core."

This caused a murmur. No one had ever conceived what life would be like without a war. A life without waking up in the morning and thinking, who will die today? Could this be my last day? Or the guy next to me? Or the guy next to him? No one had even considered the possibility.

"Now. You will be trained in high-energy hand held weaponry, as well as tactics for battle on foot. You will not be in units of any kind, except getting to the planet. There will be a MBU (Mobile Base Unit) to serve as your base, but that is it. There is no telling what will remain on the planet. You will be using Series 4 ACDU Lasers." He held up a large, shiny gun, which looked like an energy rifle on steroids. "An ACDU is an acronym, meaning Acid Central Disintegration Unit. In a nutshell, it’s a laser that would have the effect of level 1 acid, Kytone acid. It will literally burn through whatever it is fired at. In essence, acid light. Are there any questions?"

No hands raised. Everyone was too caught up with thoughts of the future and what the ACDU could really do.

"Fine then. We’ll meet tomorrow at 9:00. You are dismissed."

There was nothing. Nothing. Just a big red planet with one heck of a bad smell. There was civilization sure enough, but no life. Just ruins of a past on. He would have to reclaim lots of metal to make room for a decent base. It would be a long task. What a shame. He had built up a building strategy on the transport, and he wouldn’t even get to sue it at first. Pity. It would all come in time though. All good things come in time. Then this would be great, because it would be a while before he got anything worth while done.

"What is that, Jennie?" The two mutants stared at the large creature, from 50 miles away. They had developed an amazing sight over the mutations. That’s what 5000 years of drinking radioactive water will do to you.

They’re race had also adapted to the harsh conditions of Mars too. The gravity, and the gas to breathe. They could now breathe oxygen or nitrogen. They had also adapted to the radioactive water. They were known as the Gulag, or the Forgotten. They were neglected in the emergency evacuation of Mars. The Government of the Planet Earth had neglected them, for they were the ones that had not done anything great in society. They were the leftover scum in the world. Their bodies looked mostly the same (in comparison to humans), with greenish skin tone and no hair. They’re technology was limited, due to having to start civilization from scratch, and they lived underground, due to frequent meteor showers, which started when Mars spun out of orbit and into the remaining asteroid belt.

"I don’t know, but it’s not good. We need to awaken Goliath."

The mammoth machine immediately woke after sensing the two creatures coming. He slowly stood up, his black silhouette shinning in the night sky.

"Why do you awaken Goliath?" The voice was deep and mourning.

"There are others, sir. They got here a few minutes ago. Actually, it is only one, but it is huge, and looks mean."

"Let me have a look." The monster sat back down and put his left arm into a sort of socket. They began to hear noises inside the head of Goliath. Inside, Goliath saw the creature. It was big, but not as big as him, or his army. One of the arms was shooting out what looked like green jello, and it slowly engulfed a structure. When it was done, it moved on. There was also a symbol on its arm. Core.

"Well, I’ll be." He started to remember the past. They had begun patterning, so he was technically 5000 years old. He remembered how the rebels had left, neglecting them. It was what was now the Arm, he knew. He had intercepted transmissions from both sides. Arm and Core, though he didn’t know what either meant. Now it did make sense. Core was against Arm. It was all so clear now.

"Get me the lead hacker."

A smaller machine slowly walked in. "What is thy bidding, Master?"

"Hack into the new ones brain. Deliver this message." He handed the machine a piece of paper, and it read:

[GREETINGS NEWCOMER:]

[DO NOT BE ALARMED, BUT YOU ARE NOT ALONE ON MARS. WE ARE A PEACEFUL TRIBE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A STRONG ARMY. WE CAN UNITE, AND FIGHT ARM TOGETHER OR WE COULD DESTROY YOU. THOSE ARE YOUR TWO CHOICES.]

[WE KNOW THE PLANET VERY WELL. WE COULD HELP YOU BUILD A MASSIVE BASE TO DESTROY WHAT IS REMAINING OF THE ARM.

WE WILL HELP YOU, IF YOU WILL HELP US.]

[DEAL?]

"Yes sir. Will deliver momentarily."

"Thank you."

How did they live in such a vile atmosphere? It probably wasn’t that bad, until the water contamination. But why all the wreckage?

[MEMORY SCAN: MARS]

[414 REFERENCES FOUND DEFINE SEARCH.]

[MEMORY SCAN: MARS, CONTAMINATION]

[1 ITEM FOUND]

[IN 2500, THE WORLD GOVERNMENT WENT TO WAR. ON EARTH, ALL REMAINING WATER WAS STORED, IMMUNE FROM THE RADIATION. BUT ON MARS, ALL WATER WAS CONTAMINATED, AND RADIOACTIVITY SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE. THE PLANET WAS IMMEDIATELY ABBANDONED.]

Wow. So that’s why everything is so screwed up. I thought the war was only on Earth. I had never considered it as being anywhere else. That’s what years of thinking the Core way will get you.

[INCOMING MESSAGE- SOURCE UNKNOWN]

[GREETINGS NEWCOMER:]

[DO NOT BE ALARMED, BUT YOU ARE NOT ALONE ON MARS. WE ARE A

PEACEFUL TRIBE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A STRONG ARMY. WE CAN UNITE, AND FIGHT ARM TOGETHER OR WE COULD DESTROY YOU. THOSE ARE YOUR TWO CHOICES.]

[WE KNOW THE PLANET VERY WELL. WE COULD HELP YOU BUILD A MASSIVE BASE TO DESTROY WHAT IS REMAINING OF THE ARM.

WE WILL HELP YOU, IF YOU WILL HELP US.

DEAL?]

What the heck?

Where could they be? WHAT could they be?

[INCOMING MESSAGE: SOURCE UNKNOWN]

[IF YOU WISH TO UNITE WITH US, WAVE YOUR LEFT ARM IN THE AIR.]

[DO NOT BE AFRAID, WE ARE THE LEI, THE PEACEFUL TRIBE.]

The Commander slowly paced around the room, around the trainees. His assistants were handing out the bulky guns, because they were about to begin training with them.

"This isn’t exactly brain surgery. You point, shoot, and if your anywhere close you’ll hit it. Not to hard. Now lets go outside and test."

They began to walk out of the room, and into a large field, surrounded by trees. The Commander picked up his weapon, and aimed it at a tree. A large amount of light came out, and sliced the tree. It toppled over, and the bright light continued to eat through the tree, slowly, like acid would. In a matter of 30 seconds, the entire tree was gone. All that was left was a rather large burn mark on the ground.

"Now, form a circle, facing outward. Pick a tree ahead of you, and fire." In an instant, they raised their guns, and fired. Bolts of extremely bright light shot out of the guns, and all hit trees.

"Not bad. Not bad at all . . ."

3 vehicles proceeded out of the darkness. They moved toward the tall figure ahead of them, the Commander. They reached a point of 30 feet before the Commander, and one of the vehicles opened, splitting in half.

"Welcome, friend. We are the Forgotten of the Mars evacuation. Do not be afraid, we have come to welcome you back to our base. You will be taken care of, and you will tell us what has gone on the past 5000 years . . ." The figure smiled, and the Commander followed them back to the base.

NTTP #Y29

That was amazing. The guns are amazingly powerful. I wonder why we need something so powerful? What exactly are they expecting? Anyway, Jane just walked in, and she seems sad.

"It was the summer of 5385. In the middle of the night, a bright light shown into my window. It was broken, and three men came in. The first two grabbed me, and held me up. The third hit me over the head, knocking me out. I woke up in a white room, with a bunch of wires on my head. I realized I was being controlled. I was thinking one thing, and doing another. I was later told I was part of an experiment for Core, attempting to remotely control a human. My first mission was to assassinate an Arm secret agent. That agent, would be, your sister. I was in no control. I was merely a vehicle with no mind. I just saw what was going on. A week later I was in a laser-fight with an Arm Special Forces gang, and was hit in the head. It was a surface would, but it regained my control. My head was severely bleeding, and I reached up, and could feel the cables I gave a sharp tug and they came out. Didn’t even hurt. I don’t know why. I had regained control, and that same day I joined Arm. Well, that’s it. I’m sorry. What are you thinking?"

"The Core has done too much; played with our minds, destroying our lives, and the ones we love. They must be stopped."

"I agree, whole heatedly."

He was lowered into a monstrous room. People were cheering, and applauding. For the first time in 5000 years, they had hope. Hope to get back to civilization, and normal life. Of course, none of them knew what normal would be like; the way they had lived their lives was what they considered normal. They had never even considered that they were missing something, that there was something else, something completely different.

He reached the floor, and opened his suit. He was one of the officers of Core that could keep their body. And, the second they died, they would go into their pattern, and it would activate. It was a foolproof plan, great for those who needed their body around.

He jumped out of the suit, and was confronted by a startled crowd. It could be called racism, because they didn’t expect someone with a different color skin. They were once again thinking primitively, only noticing the color of his skin, and not his true self. It was this that messed everything up in the beginning, racism and prejudice.

All that night he told the story of the last 5000 years, and the historians of society recorded it. They also exchanged scientific data. The Commander gave the Lei the technology of patterning, and the Commander was taught hacking, because this is what the Lei specialized in. They were so specialized in one thing; there was no need to think of other things. The tribe even gave him a name, Thorne. Thorne was the name of the last remaining person that tried to save them. It was a name not to be forgotten, and to be known as royalty, because now, he was their only hope.

New times were coming upon them. An all-powerful Army was uniting with a small abandoned tribe. From that point on, all Core would be kind with any Lei, for now they were brothers. Not physically, but in mind. They truly were, because the Lei once were the Core, only having their named changed after the catastrophe. A Lei could be family with a Core and never know it. All due to milleniums of lies, and forgotten lives. The Lei were forgotten by Core, and all hope was forgotten for the Lei until now. They now had hope.

"Zeta 1 to Delta Base. Zeta 1 to Delta base. Spot-check needed."

"Go ahead with spot-check."

"Thank you Delta. Out."

The pilot grazed the tops of the trees in his Peeper. They had just run an area scan, and it had come up positive, meaning that there were enemy units in the area. No they were just on a routine sweep to find out what. He slowly went below treeline, and the 4 pilots behind him following. He could see nothing. That was the problem with forest planets; once you dropped below treeline you could see nothing. He switched on his Advanced Infrared (AI) and could see again. He could make out trees, and lots of vegetation. The area check had probably just found some new animal.

He ran lower, within 20 meters of the ground. He took a look back, and all his boys were still there. That’s always a good sign. He ran lower, now at 15 meters, and at cruise speed. He took a turn, and there stood a small metallic structure stood. He slowed his scout, to a hover, and the structure opened. A massive gun came out, and shot a red laser. It tore through his plane, as well as the others, and that was it. All in less than a second.

"What the heck was that?" The radar manager was puzzled. They were there a second ago, in flight formation, and then the red dot appeared, and in an instant they were all gone. This little planet was supposed to be Core free. It didn’t seem so any more.

"Get me the Commander. We’ve got trouble."

"This is the MBU you will use on the Earth mission. It is big, but not as complex as it looks. It can fend for itself, but not for long." They were inside the massive unit. It had 3 main complexes, including a bunk area, a war center, and a communications and strategy center.

"We will being touring it shortly." As he finished his sentence, a phone beside him rang, and an officer picked it up.

"It’s for you sir. It’s the Commander on T-4480, the planet right next to us."

"Thank you."

"We’ve got trouble. I had 5 scouts running a spot-check after the area check proved positive. A red dot came up on radar, and then nothing. They just disappeared."

"You don’t think they got the old SHLTs (Super Heavy Laser Towers) going again, do you?"

"Lemme check."

"Johnson, give me a history scan of the positioning of the SHLTs."

"Here they are sir." Three dots in a line on a map, the first where the pilots had disappeared.

"Jeez."

"Yup, that’s them all right. How did they get them back online without us noticing?"

"That doesn’t matter. You’ve got a problem. If they get more up, the base would be totally unreachable. I’m sending teams over."

"Thank you so much. I’ll be waiting."

"Don’t mention it. Out." He hung up the phone, and looked to his trainees.

"Well, new mission. The Earth mission is postponed due to emergency situation on T-4480. You’ll be leaving in 1 hour and will be briefed on the way over."

"I must inform my superior. He will be worried I have not contacted."

"Go ahead. We will wait."

"Thank you." He got up and walked out of the room.

[CONTACT: CC]

[CONTACTING]

[CONNECTION READY]

"ABOUT TIME. WHAT IS GOING ON?"

"I’VE DISCOVERED A PEOPLE, SIR. THEY ARE THE FORGOTTEN FROM WHEN EARTH ABANDONED MARS. THEY’VE MUTATED, BUT THEY’RE STILL HUMAN. THEY HATE ARM AS MUCH AS WE DO, AND I HAVE UNITED WITH THEM."

"REALLY? THIS COULD BE GOOD. SHALL I SEND TROOPS?"

"NO, NOT YET ATLEAST. THEY ALSO HAVE ADVANCED HACKING TECHNOLOGY. I HAVE GIVEN THEM THE PATTERN, AND THEY HAVE TOUGHT ME TO HACK. WE ARE NOW RECLAIMING ALL THE WRECKAGE OF THE PAST CIVILIZATION, TO MAKE ROOM FOR A MASSIVE CORE BASE."

"GOOD, GOOD. KEEP ME POSTED."

"I WILL. OUT."

NTTP #Y30

We’re on the transport now. Here comes the Commander now, to brief us.

"You’re going to T-4480 now, and will be there in 2 hours. You are going to provide support in a raid on an advanced Core base. You’ll be seeing some stuff you’ve never seen before. The SHLT is just one of the many things. Yes, Jaworski?"

"Why are they so far ahead of other bases?"

"They are the head of research and development. If we were able to take out the base, it would put a serious dent in Core systems management. Our mission here isn’t to take out the base, but to take out the SHLTs, because they alone could stop any attacks on the base at all. There are three SHLTs all together, and they simply look like a small metal dome. Inside is the series 3 Bing laser. It is the most powerful laser known. It can tear through a Bulldog like butter. Imagine what it could do to a base, if it was made mobile. Now, they are placed here." He shows us an image on the projector next to him. Three red dots in a vertical line. 18 blue dots came up, in no particular order. 9 had the letter A on them and the other nine had the letter L on them.

"Now, kinda simple, A for air, and L for land. You will be broken up into 9 squads of your class. These are your attack squads. You will be attacking in a battle plan known as Red 7." His assistants hand out small booklets labeled Red 7. I open mine, and see it’s not very complex. It identifies the fact that the lasers can only fire at one point at a time, and shows the teams making various passes at the subject.

"Now. This isn’t exactly brain surgery. We’re using its flaws against it. Not to hard, and should be easy to take out. We’ll be landing in an hour. Get some rest, and be ready to go once we get there. That’s all."

We have cleared 7000 square miles of space in a week. This should do just great for a base. So far I’ve only constructed a KBOT lab, along with a couple solar collectors and a metal extractors. I figure there is no need for lots of Solar Collectors and Wind Generators, and I should just wait for level three structures. The Construction KBOT and I are busy lathing an Advanced KBOT lab.

The planet was lush and huge. At least 4 times the size of T-4479. The transport lands, and the troops get off. They look around, amazed at the size of the trees. An officer directs them to their planes, revised Iron Eagles, and then to their bunks. They are not as nice as T-4479, but they are pretty good. They set down their gear, and alarms screech through the base. An air strike is approaching. They’re coming to welcome the reinforcements.

"Vector 1 to Dark Angel captain. This is captain of home squad, welcome to T-4480!"

"Thanks Vector 1. You lead the way."

"Will do, DA 1. Out."

"Jane, I think he’s trying to put the moves on you . . . he doesn’t know you’re married."

"Well then he’ll just get a rude awakening, Elgin . . ." They chuckled at this.

"I can hardly wait. Whoa, I’ve got 3 teams of 15 on my radar, in full triangle position. Vector 1, what’s our bird count?"

"We’ve got 45, Elgin. Same as them."

"Good. Jane, where you want us?"

"Ok. Lemme have a bird line of 9. We’ll flank on 3, than turn the dogfight."

"Sounds good, DA 1."

"Ok. Lets move. Fall in."

The planes moved into a V formation, with 5 teams. The end two would curve around, and start the dogfight. It would be a good one.

"Can anyone see what we’re up against?"

"I can, DA 2. I see 45 Rapiers and it looks like they’re just out to make room for the 30 Hurricanes 5 miles back."

"Thanks."

"No prob."

"Ok, left and right teams flank on 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . NOW!"

They began the flank, and the Rapiers countered. The made a dive, and then spread. They were smooth. It was going to be a bloody battle.

"Ok boys, break now!" The lead Rapier dove, with his squad on his wings. They got within 15 meters of the tree line and then spread.

"Pick a man and bug him. We’ve got to make room quick, for the Hurricanes. Lets move! Move! Move!"

"This isn’t good! Get me the head of aerial operations!"

"This is the head. Go ahead Vector 1."

"We’ve in it deep! Send in Jethros and all AA! We’ve lost nearly half our fighters!"

"Should I deploy the prototypes of Leech?"

"That would be great, just get it done! We’re dropping like flies!"
"Hey V1! What the heck is s Leech?" Elgin questioned. He thought it was something he had worked on earlier.

"A high speed fighter that shoots a small bug that attaches itself to the aircraft, and then the bug explodes."

"Ha. Just as I had planned . . ."

"What?"

"Those are my designs! I never thought they’d be put into production. Have you seen any Fever?"

"No, not yet. Heard about one though. Is that you too?"

"Ya. Let’s talk later and kill now."

"Good idea, out"

Elgin was being tailed, and made a hard bank right. The Core fighter kept going, and Elgin tailed him. He had the shot, and was taking it. 1 down, what looked like 30 to go. They were short on birds, or atleast the vectors where. There were 4 remaining Vectors, and all of the Dark Angels left. Just then, two squads of Leeches came in, under call sign Imperial.

"Imperial 1 to DA 1. Come in DA 1"

"This is DA 1. What can I do for y-" Her left wing was sliced, causing her to go into complete downward spiral. She had to eject.

"You unruly . . ." Elgin began tailing the fighter that had hit Jane. He tailed him, and took out both his engines. The enemy’s plane fell, and the pilot ejected. Elgin strafed him until he hit the ground. There was nothing remaining besides his parachute.

The ground was a mess. Chunks of aircraft scattered all over, and men trying to get out of their planes. Jane managed to find what remained of her bird, went into the cockpit. She found her flares, so that the incoming Jethros wouldn’t make her out for a Core. She also found her series 4 ACDU. It was time to end some patterns.

She went to what remained of a Rapier. She could hear the pilot trying to get out. She found the soldier, or what remained atleast. He was missing his right leg, and his face had multiple wounds. He was bleeding profusely. He looked up, and saw the figure with his left eye; his right was bloodstained. He tried to scream, but it was too late. Jane had pulled the trigger. The remaining mass of metal began to melt, and within 3 minutes there was nothing left. She went on to the next plane, and repeated the process. The pilot this time was hardly injured, he just couldn’t get out. He saw her and made a move to get out of the way, narrowly escaping the round of the ACDU. The shot did widen the space though, and she repositioned the gun, and fired. Direct hit, right in the chest.

She was beginning to here a rumble in the distance. It was the Jethros. She lit a flare, and it gave off green smoke.

"What’s that?" The Jethro saw the green smoke, and got his zoom scan on. He aimed it at the smoke, at saw it was a downed pilot. He examined the jumpsuit, and saw it was Arm.

"Jethro 1 to DA head."

"DA head downed. This is DA 2. Go ahead."

"I’ve got an Arm pilot giving off green flares. Do you know who this pilot is?"

"Yes, I believe it’s the head of DA. I’ll check." He opened his zoom scan at the smoke, and saw Jane’s face.

"Yes, that’s the DA head. Pick her up and take her into base PDQ." He gave a sigh of relief. It was a miracle, a true miracle.

"And these, are the designs for the Fever." Elgin handed the head of Vector, who he found out was named Johnson, the information on the Fever.

"I re-designed the engine on the Hawk, and played around with things, and overclocked it to 14.2 Mach. It can deliver a nuclear payload, and that’s what it’s designed for. It hits and runs."

"Wow. This is amazing. How did you get it to 14.2?"

"I crossed the polarity of the fission engine with that of a nuclear generator. The result was fast."

"That’s so cool. Could I borrow these?"

"Sure. The counter offensive is tomorrow, right?"

"Yes. We leave at 0900 hours. You can keep them until we get back."

"Thanks a ton. I gotta run, my briefing is in a few."

"Now prob. Later."

"This is what we recovered from the last spy op." The Commander briefs the second group. He projects an image, the same image with the SHLTs on them, and the attack maneuver.

"We hit right, than left, than right again, making various sweeps at the units. Should be taken out with no problem, unless we encounter fighters. We’ll have to take out the fighters, while dodging the SHLT slugs. Is that clear?"

"Yes Sir!"

"Than get some rest, and meet at 0900 here. Dismissed."

"Alpha 1 to DA captain. Welcome again." Vector had switched their call sign to Alpha.

"You too, Alpha 1. Are your birds clear on the objective?"

"Very. I reminded them twice just now."

"Good. Let’s move!" She hit the jump accelerator, and her jet jumped in front of the rest. They followed.

"I’ve got target at M1174. Proceed?"

"Go ahead. FORM ATTACK FORMATIONS!" The planes formed nine V’s, and the ground units the same. The formation M1 made the first sweep. They dropped their bombs and ran. One was hit, and immediately taken out.

Sirens roar through the Core base.

"ALL PILOTS TO BAY! ALL PILOTS TO BAY! SHLT UNDER ATTACK! ALL PILOTS TO BAY!" The pilots grabbed their gear and ran. Those towers were vital. They reach the bay to see some pilots already taking off. The loudspeaker is repeating "GET INTO AIR AND FLY TO SECTOR M1174. TAKE OUT ALL AIRCRAFT. KEEP SHLTs ONLINE!"

"We’ve got trouble! 200 incoming Core aircraft! Repeat, 200 incoming Core aircraft!"

"Freak! Alpha 1, what’s our count?"

"We’re at 45! I’m calling in Fever reinforcements!"

"Whoa whoa, Fever?"

"We began production just incase, last night. Looks like we’ll need them too."

"I’ll also call in Leeches." Johnson makes a click on his radio, and says, "Alpha 1 to base, Alpha 1 to base! 200 incoming Core aircraft! "Request all available Fever and Leech aircraft!"

"Affirmative Alpha 1. Sending all 90 Leech prototypes, but we only have 5 Fever. Still deploy?"

"Yes! We need all the air power we can get!"

"Will do Alpha 1. Aircraft launching."

"Thank you." He clicked back to the other radio frequency.

"I’ve got 90 incoming Leech and 5 Fever. Here’s the new plan. Listen up. We head for intercept at M1169. We’ll hold them off with the Leeches until the Fever get in and take out the SHLT. Is that clear?"

"Yes Sir!"

"Good. Let’s go!"

The Commander was startled by the sound of distant sirens.

"We’ve got trouble sir. Core got word of the counter offensive and launched 200 fighters. They are headed for the SHLT. We’ve gotten the operation our pilots are attempting. They are heading for the intercept, while the Fever get in and take out the SHLT. The 90 Leeches were deployed to assist the pilots in holding the position."

"Jesus. 135 to 200. Jesus. Deploy Jethros. Get them out there quick. I don’t care if you have to fly them in. Get them out there. And also set up multiple Defenders and Flakkers. We can’t let anything get through."

"Fever, you are to wait until Leeches are out of range before deploying Nukes. Is that clear?"

"Yes Sir!"

"Good. Good hunting."

"Target approaching at 3.4 Mach. They’re going for the intercept."

"Ha. Ok. On my mark split in half. Go right by them."

"Sounds good."

"Mark on 0. 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . MARK!"

"HOLY JESUS! They came within 5 feet of me!"

"Recover and come after them, they’re getting to the target! Stop them!"

"Leeches to base, Leeches to base, we’ve got trouble."

"Go ahead, Leeches."

"We can’t launch. It looks like all Leech systems were corrupted last night."

"JESUS!" He leans over to the air traffic controller. "LAUNCH FEVER!"

"Yes sir." He clicks his radio once. "Fever, you are to deploy immediately. Leeches cannot launch. Here’s the plan."

He tells them the plan, and they take off. It would be a squeeze.

"He wants us to do what?!?!"

"Yup that’s it. It should work, if all goes exactly right."

"A lot of things work on paper, but when tested, they don’t exactly work."

"It’ll be close. Just hold on. If we hit Mach 14 we’ll make it. Let’s punch it!" He slammed on the throttle, and the aircraft went from 3.2 to 14. Some little jump.

"What the heck is going on?" Elgin noticed the 5 Fever taking off without the Leeches.

"The Leeches couldn’t take off. They’ve got some kind of plan. I haven’t heard it."

"What are they trying to do? Are they trying to die? That plane wasn’t made to dogfight!"

"I don’t know. It’ll be good though."

"Fever 1 to base, approaching fire in 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . Deploy nuke! Nuke down! Nuke down! Get to rendezvous point 1!" The jets were now cruising at Mach 14. The nuclear explosion came, and took out the back 4 bombers. The front bomber cranked it to 14.2, and eluded the blast. He quickly flew under the fog of Core jets.

"What the heck was that? Oh my, PULL UP!"

It was too late. All 200 fighters had been incinerated along with all 4 SHLTs.

"IT WORKED! IT WORKED! I DON’T BELIEVE IT!" The radio operator was shouting at the top of his lungs. The Commander came over, stunned.

"What? What happened?"

"The fighters went into the nuke blast, and were incinerated! All 200 of them!"

"Thank God."

"DA 2 to base, DA 2 to base. I have lost all incoming radio contact and can only tell you what is going on, all due to the blast. I also cannot fly my plane. I have no bearing over what it’s doing. It is aimed directly towards the center of the Core base."

"Dear God. That’s Elgin. We’ve got trouble sir . . ."

[PERSONAL LOG OF CORE COMMANDER 88891]

[PASSWORD *****]

[LOG-IN ACCEPTED. WELCOME THORNE.]

Log # 1

This is my first entry into this new dairy thing of sorts I have just found. The Lei helped me hack into my brain to create one.

The Lei have now accepted me as one of their own. I am part of their tribe and am known only as Thorne. It is nice to be accepted.

We now have a KBOT Lab, an Advanced KBOT Lab, a Vehicle Plant, an Advanced Vehicle Plant, an Aircraft Plant, and an Advanced Aircraft Plant. I have a construction VTOL producing a square of energy storage and another with metal. I also have construction KBOTs placed in various areas to set up roads. I have several advanced units constructing Intimidators, Doomsday Machines, Silencers, and Buzzsaws. We are also planning a huge perimeter of walls of some kind, although we are not yet sure what kind.

That is really all for my first entry. I wish I had more. But that’s all for now.

THORNE

[LOG OFF]

"I’m in trouble here. I’ve got ½ mile visibility, and I’m heading into enemy territory. Wait, it seems to be clearing up. Wow. A huge Core structure, with four openings at top. It’s giving off huge amounts of energy and it’s got a reddish glow. My plane is heavily damaged and I don’t think they’re picking me up on radar. I’m flying right over Cobra’s and am unnoticed. I can see now that my path is directly into the structure. It will be a kamikaze. I will have to eject now. EJECT!"

"He did WHAT?" The Commander was furious. He couldn’t risk loosing Elgin. He was too vital.

"He ejected though, look. His radar beacon is on screen." He pointed at a blinking dot on the screen. His plane was still headed at the structure. Than they met.

The radar manager stares out the window, completely bored. Suddenly, a huge flash and a mushroom cloud rise. His cigarette hangs loosely from his mouth.

"What was that?"

He examines the radar and only sees a blinking radar beacon. An entire Core base has been wiped out.

"And what the heck would that be?" The Commander was very confused.

"Whoa. Jesus. I’m guessing Elgin’s plane went into some kind of nuclear reactor. It cleaned out the whole base. Wow. My only question is, where’s Elgin?"

He woke up in the smoldering rubble once known as the Core base. He slowly got up, and turned on his signal beacon. He was a little confused, but he regained senses momentarily. He realized he was standing in the middle of a destroyed Core base. Nothing was left standing. He remember ejecting, and than a huge blast. It knocked him completely sideways, and flying debris knocked him out. He than woke what seemed like 20 minutes later. Now he just had to sit and wait. Waiting to be rescued.

"Son of a . . ." He stood up. Something was moving in the ruble. It looked like a body, but was it? He had to investigate.

He moved toward the movement, and was less than a foot away. He gently tapped it with his foot, laser pistol drawn. It suddenly sprung alive, screaming, and grabbing his ankle. Elgin shot it mid-forearm. He than shot what looked like its "head," or what remained atleast. The thing died, although it’s hand was still clutching Elgin’s ankle. He kicked it off, and investigated it. It looked like it had been underground during the blast. He was missing the left side of his body, and was very burnt. Who wouldn’t be after a nuclear bomb blast . . .

[PERSONAL LOG OF CORE COMMANDER 88891]

[PASSWORD *****]

[LOG-IN ACCEPTED. WELCOME THORNE.]

Log # 2

We now are moving right along. We have 20 Intimidators, 4 Buzzsaws, several Doomsday Machines, and 3 Silencers. It is amazing. I am running my own base, I’ve gone from a janitor to a Commander. It is utterly amazing.

We have been hearing things about an Arm mission to Earth. Well, there won’t be any mission as long as I am here. I have to leave; a trainee is goofing off.

THORNE

[LOGOFF]

An Atlas slowly hovered above Elgin, and then landed. Two men jumped out, and brought him into the plane. They took off, and went to base.

"So tell us, what happened?"

"Well, I was on a course with whatever that thing was, and my systems locked. I ejected, and the plane pulled a kamikaze into it. I would have died, but a huge chunk of metal stopped all radiation and such. Than, I was hit with something. I woke up, and had to kill a scorched human."

"Wow. How long were you there?"

"I’d say about a half an hour. It wasn’t bad."

"We got here as quick as we could. These things don’t exactly fast. So, you think you’ll be headed back to T-4479 now?"

"Probably. There is no longer any threat here." And with that he fell asleep. When he next awoke, he was back on T-4479.

"This will pretty much be your last training session. You’ll be taught how to use your Combat Suits, and than you will be off. The MBU you will be using is pretty much a mobile combination of a mess hall, bunker, and comm. center., so you won’t really need much instruction on that. Now. These Combat Suits are the latest in Arm tech. The outside is composed of a series 5 alloy, and it flexible yet tough. This along with your ACDU should be all you need. This suit can keep you fed and hydrated for 3 days without a recharge. To recharge, you just need to turn your suit off and it will charge itself. It takes about 1/2 an hour to recharge. Are there any questions?"

"No sir."

"Good. Now." He passed out a folder to everyone. The contents of the folder were the floorplan of the MBU and general perimeters for the mission.

"You will set out tomorrow at 0600 hours. You are to be in your unit at 0545. Is that clear?"

"Crystal, sir."

"Your objective is to obtain the pattern of Elize Gudrino. It will be used to find a cure for the disease known as patterning. If this mission is successful, it will mean the total demise of Core. We have a beacon lock on the pattern, and it is in sector 354. There is no telling what kind of life will be on earth. If ANYTHING becomes the least bit hostile, destroy it. Is all this clear?"

"Crystal, sir."

"Good. I can hear the cries of joy now, for when you return with the pattern. Nations will cry that an end is near. An end to the war that has killed innumerable amounts of the innocent. Peace will finally be known!"

The trainees gave a loud cheer. They knew that the end of an era was close. They could here the fat lady stepping to the microphone.

[PERSONAL LOG OF CORE COMMANDER 88891]

[PASSWORD *****]

[LOG-IN ACCEPTED. WELCOME THORNE.]

Log # 3

Core intelligence has confirmed an Arm recovery mission to earth. All of my troops have been put on full alert, and full scale production of bombers, fighters, and all other heavy machinery is at it’s peak. We now have a rather large Intimidator battery, a Buzzsaw kill zone, and many other surprises. We also have adequate power for these weapons.

The Lei have heard of the incoming Arm threat, and most have volunteered to become troops at my disposal. They will be needed, especially due to the fact I have no true Core troops of my own at this point. I have watchtowers and radar personal remaining vigilant throughout the nights now, awaiting the revenge that have never received. It is good to have hate and vengeance on your side.

The trooper that was screwing around yesterday was properly, how should I say this, notified that I was watching him. Just to scare him, I shot 3 D-Gun rounds at near his feet. I have never seen a man so scared in all my life. I have also never seen a man work so hard in my life. He literally stopped in his tracks, and ran as fast as the legs of his KBOT could take him, and I haven’t seen or heard of him since. I can now see the rewards of proper discipline. I also let him no that if I ever heard or saw of him doing the slightest thing wrong, I would have him tied to a tree and have an anti-matter grenade shoved down his throat, without the pin. It quickly taught him that I meant business.

That is all for now. I have duties I must fill other than keeping track of my life.

THORNE

[LOGOFF]

NTTP #Y31

I have only suffered light burns from the past experience. I still do not believe my luck. The odds of me merely surviving, much less coming off with so little injuries. It is now 0507, and I am next for the showers. We will be leaving shortly thereafter. I have heard little worries from anyone, and for the most part everyone seems generally excited about the mission. It will be utterly interesting to find out what remains of the once magnificent earth. Our mission will be fully documented and lots of samples will be taken, to fill in the gap in history between the de-colonization and now. History, as in the history of Earth, that is. It will be a mission to remember.

[Shuttle Rouge 411]

[History File]

[Opening]

[File Open]

[User Name:]

{Elgin72}

[Password:]

{********}

[Log-On Accepted. Welcome]

Entry #1

I have been chosen as the shuttle log keeper. It turns out someone hacked into my NTTP files, and discovered how up-to-date they are. I think it was AJ, but I’m not exactly sure. It could have been anyone.

So this is day 1. We have crossed 2 galaxies, and have just entered the galaxy formerly known as the "Milky Way," but was renamed System 387Q. There are now 422 planets discovered, and all are flourishing with life, except for Mars and Earth, due to the Nuclear War of 2500. Now what remains of those planets is unknown. Our first "stop" will be Mars, and we are to document all life forms, and give a brief description of each, as well as take various samples for study. We have just past planet 403, and it’s as blue as ever. The ocean world has always been my favorite vacation spot, at least until I joined the Arm. Now I don’t have a favorite. Just a collection of memories of planets we have saved or destroyed. The lush world of Gyicia, and the smallness of T-4479, versus the size of T-4480. Amazing what someone can go through in so little time. I've gone from a straight A student, to the leader of a gang, to an Arm officer. Amazing.
We have now cleared 402, and are moving fast. We plan to be in the center nine by tomorrow evening. It will be interesting to learn of what people used to have to live in. We're heading through a meteor shower now, and have to shut down. Ah! We're hit!

[Log-Off]

[Done]

"We're tracking something, sir." The private was shocked. First the radar was black, and than there was a huge convoy of sorts, and than nothing again. "Or, atleast we WERE tracking something, sir. It's gone now."

"Why is it gone?"

"I don't know, sir. I'm assuming they, IT, was hit by a meteor, and radar jammers were temporarily downed."

"I think you've guessed right. Looks like we've got company. Think it's the Arm Earth mission?"

"That's what I think, but why would it be so big?"

"That's the Arm alright, always unpredictable. Deploy scout squads 3, 4, and 5, and alert the rest."

"Affirmative, sir."

[Shuttle Rouge 411]

[History File]

[Opening]

[File Open]

[User Name:]

{Elgin72}

[Password:]

{********}

[Log-On Accepted. Welcome]

Entry #2

A meteor hit our left radar jammers, and we temporarily lost all radar cover. Could someone have seen us? Who could have seen us? Just a glitch like that on radar could ruin our whole mission. If any scouts come within radar range, we'll have to test our new "skin" of the ships. What it does is it "looks" at what should be seen if the ship wasn't there, and it copies that to that side. Sounds complicated, but it's really not. It simply creates a double mirror effect. Anyway, all radar systems have been turned to maximum range, to identify any incoming scouts, before they see us and relay the word. We have been put on full alert, and I am to get to my bunk to rest. Why? Beats me, but who can argue with rest?

-Elgin

[Log-Off]

[Done]

"Commander to scouts. Anything unusual yet?"

"No sir. Nothing has happened at all."

The Commander silently swore to himself. "Ok. Here's what you do. Begin rapidly strafing. If anything out of the ordinary happens, anything at all, inform me ASAP. This priority is critical. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal, sir."

"Good. Out."

"You heard him, begin randomly strafing!" At once lasers became active. At first there was nothing. Nothing at all. Than, red fire explodes from the barrel of the laser. The laser began moving, randomly firing into the air. Nothing happened.

"Sir, Sir, Sir! We've got trouble!" The private was shaking with fear. The Commander awoke, and came over to the trembling private.

"What is it?" The Commander saw the glowing radar. 15 red dots were strafing laser-fire at an amazing rate. It was almost as if it was a rain-shower, but a shower of fire. The Commander's mouth dropped, his cigarette hanging only by his lip. It fell, sizzling out on the ground below.

"All, Ale, Alert, Alert the troops. Tell them to hang on." He turned to the private controlling the ship. "Point the ship straight down. We need to get out of the fire."

"Yes sir."

With that the veteran Commander began to pray for the first time in his life. He didn't know what to say; he just knew there was somebody out there listening. "May God be at our side, and keep us afloat in troubled waters. Amen." With that he sat down, and began dripping sweat, and shaking violently with fear.

'What the heck was this guy thinking?' Fink 7C silently said to himself. 'What is the point of us strafing nothing? Is he hoping to get lucky? It was just a glitch. When will he learn?' He hit the control stick with his fist, completely mad for this waist of his time. He jerked sharply downward, still firing. He saw the red stream in front of him also move downward, and than something happened. A gigantic transport ship appeared in front of him. It began to blink, and than stayed visible.

"My God almighty . . ."

"Tell the troops to get to battle stations. May God help us."