Five-Minute fiction - 00:21-00:26
… he made a note of the names, and hoped he would be able to file the necessary paperwork.
‘Shaw! Dalton! Sitrep!’ Thrope called into the mic.
Comm-chatter filled the frequency as he tried to sift through the stream of voices. His suit, adjusting for the voice-ids imprinted in its memory separated out the feeds from Shaw and Dalton.
‘A-okay,’ Dalton replied, and a quick glance at his overlay confirmed the status report for Thrope.
‘I’m a little singed, and the rig is completely wrecked. Whatever they’re using for dispersion is mighty powerful,’ Shaw added.
Shaw’s meter ticked up and down, wavering slightly near the higher end of the spectrum.
‘I need you to calm down, Shaw,’ Thrope said into the mic. ‘And I need everyone back in formation. We’re going to have to change the method,’ he said, the suit broadcasting the last part of the message to the rest of the team.
The blips fell back into formation, and reduced the gaps left by the three…
… he made a note of the names, and hoped he would be able to file the necessary paperwork.
‘Shaw! Dalton! Sitrep!’ Thrope called into the mic.
Comm-chatter filled the frequency as he tried to sift through the stream of voices. His suit, adjusting for the voice-ids imprinted in its memory separated out the feeds from Shaw and Dalton.
‘A-okay,’ Dalton replied, and a quick glance at his overlay confirmed the status report for Thrope.
‘I’m a little singed, and the rig is completely wrecked. Whatever they’re using for dispersion is mighty powerful,’ Shaw added.
Shaw’s meter ticked up and down, wavering slightly near the higher end of the spectrum.
‘I need you to calm down, Shaw,’ Thrope said into the mic. ‘And I need everyone back in formation. We’re going to have to change the method,’ he said, the suit broadcasting the last part of the message to the rest of the team.
The blips fell back into formation, and reduced the gaps left by the three…
Five-Minute fiction - 22:21-22:26
… scattering a group of blips, but he didn’t have time to take stock of the situation.
‘Break! Break!’ he said into the microphone as he rolled to one side and pulled himself tight into an arrow.
Thrope plunged on, the faint flickering of lights streaming past his visor as he plunged through the defensive grid. It wasn’t a defence grid, not in the strictest sense. It protected the planet from any threats the barrier could not, or failed to catch. The crate had simply seemed to be large enough for the ground sensors to register it as a comparable threat and the defence grid had been activated.
Slowly the flickering of lights died down and he threw his arms wide letting the GRId suit readjust and he felt his descent forward the planet slow to a more manageable speed. He took stock of the situation and registered the number of blips still active on his screen. Only three were missing…
… scattering a group of blips, but he didn’t have time to take stock of the situation.
‘Break! Break!’ he said into the microphone as he rolled to one side and pulled himself tight into an arrow.
Thrope plunged on, the faint flickering of lights streaming past his visor as he plunged through the defensive grid. It wasn’t a defence grid, not in the strictest sense. It protected the planet from any threats the barrier could not, or failed to catch. The crate had simply seemed to be large enough for the ground sensors to register it as a comparable threat and the defence grid had been activated.
Slowly the flickering of lights died down and he threw his arms wide letting the GRId suit readjust and he felt his descent forward the planet slow to a more manageable speed. He took stock of the situation and registered the number of blips still active on his screen. Only three were missing…
Five-minute fiction - 23:15-23:20
…
The world below glittered like a starscape. Lights dotted the surface of the fast approaching planet and Thrope could only marvel at it. Above him, the flickering fire that had consumed the remnants of the shuttle had been starved of oxygen and now only thick gouts of oily smoke filled the air, and beyond that the pale flickering of the energy field danced as it caught and distorted the sunlight glancing off of it.
He caught the flash, the momentary flicker off to his right, and before he could even turn his head he knew what had caused it. ‘Scatter!’ he barked into the internal mic, and he watched as the blips on his HUD broke apart forming seemingly random groupings. All that was left was to wait, and to pray.
But the prayer went unanswered. He heard the curse, and saw the two blips that were Shaw and Dalton break loose from the insertion package. The flicker of light past his visor was too fast to see but he knew it was there. Another explosion filled the air…
…
The world below glittered like a starscape. Lights dotted the surface of the fast approaching planet and Thrope could only marvel at it. Above him, the flickering fire that had consumed the remnants of the shuttle had been starved of oxygen and now only thick gouts of oily smoke filled the air, and beyond that the pale flickering of the energy field danced as it caught and distorted the sunlight glancing off of it.
He caught the flash, the momentary flicker off to his right, and before he could even turn his head he knew what had caused it. ‘Scatter!’ he barked into the internal mic, and he watched as the blips on his HUD broke apart forming seemingly random groupings. All that was left was to wait, and to pray.
But the prayer went unanswered. He heard the curse, and saw the two blips that were Shaw and Dalton break loose from the insertion package. The flicker of light past his visor was too fast to see but he knew it was there. Another explosion filled the air…
Five-minute fiction - 22:48-22:53
… in the field. Thrope’s operators had utilized this type of insertions on numerous occasions and had few difficulties.
… Thrope corrected his flight path and keyed over several of the mission parameters. The Union had established guidelines on how the facility was to be taken and what could, and/or should be left intact/dismantled. And as much as Thrope had not wanted to he was forced to go along with their restrictions. He had, on top of it all, imposed several of his own restrictions, the primary being no-unnecessary loss of life. Deaths were common enough in a war, but the facility in question was nestled in the middle of a city, and collateral damage was generally frowned upon. Plus, it often meant that the necessary personal to secure the facility were left alive to help make the transition easier in the end.
…
… in the field. Thrope’s operators had utilized this type of insertions on numerous occasions and had few difficulties.
… Thrope corrected his flight path and keyed over several of the mission parameters. The Union had established guidelines on how the facility was to be taken and what could, and/or should be left intact/dismantled. And as much as Thrope had not wanted to he was forced to go along with their restrictions. He had, on top of it all, imposed several of his own restrictions, the primary being no-unnecessary loss of life. Deaths were common enough in a war, but the facility in question was nestled in the middle of a city, and collateral damage was generally frowned upon. Plus, it often meant that the necessary personal to secure the facility were left alive to help make the transition easier in the end.
…
Five-minute fiction - 23:59-00:04
… with the series of green lights that marked out the target.
The Confederacy had done their best to protect their facilities. Many of them were situated in areas easily defensible, barren wastelands that made defending them easy, however Thrope’s operators had been assigned the task of capturing and controlling a facility in the heart of one of the planet’s larger cities. It was an unknown variable as the Confederacy had adhered to the rules of warfare the two nations had devised years ago, which included the disuse of civilian locations for military installations. But it seemed that this facility was the exception.
Radio static filled his ears and Thrope cursed as he adjusted the control volume. ‘How long until defence grid engagement?’ Sergeant Shaw said.
Shaw, along with Dalton were the two men responsible for the large entry package that had been pushed free of the shuttle prior to the shuttle’s destruction. It wasn’t entirely necessary but it provided resources otherwise unattainable…
… with the series of green lights that marked out the target.
The Confederacy had done their best to protect their facilities. Many of them were situated in areas easily defensible, barren wastelands that made defending them easy, however Thrope’s operators had been assigned the task of capturing and controlling a facility in the heart of one of the planet’s larger cities. It was an unknown variable as the Confederacy had adhered to the rules of warfare the two nations had devised years ago, which included the disuse of civilian locations for military installations. But it seemed that this facility was the exception.
Radio static filled his ears and Thrope cursed as he adjusted the control volume. ‘How long until defence grid engagement?’ Sergeant Shaw said.
Shaw, along with Dalton were the two men responsible for the large entry package that had been pushed free of the shuttle prior to the shuttle’s destruction. It wasn’t entirely necessary but it provided resources otherwise unattainable…
Five-Minute fiction - 23:08-23:13
… A brilliant flash of light filled the sky, but Thrope did not turn to look, he wasn’t any need. Above him, on the edge of space the shuttle exploded. A field of energy, vibrant, effervescent sprang to life scything the shuttle in half. Below the shield, flames flashed into existence before being stifled by the thin air of the atmosphere. Above the shield, the remnants of the shuttle, propelled by the sudden out-gassing rocketed off into space.
Thrope watched the blips on his command console carefully, but none seemed to have been caught in the explosion, which meant things were going well.
‘Engage topographical interlay,’ he said speaking to the onboard computer. The display on his H.U.D. changed providing a complex map of the city below. Points of light flashed, some red, some yellow, some green, and Thrope adjusted his course to align himself…
… A brilliant flash of light filled the sky, but Thrope did not turn to look, he wasn’t any need. Above him, on the edge of space the shuttle exploded. A field of energy, vibrant, effervescent sprang to life scything the shuttle in half. Below the shield, flames flashed into existence before being stifled by the thin air of the atmosphere. Above the shield, the remnants of the shuttle, propelled by the sudden out-gassing rocketed off into space.
Thrope watched the blips on his command console carefully, but none seemed to have been caught in the explosion, which meant things were going well.
‘Engage topographical interlay,’ he said speaking to the onboard computer. The display on his H.U.D. changed providing a complex map of the city below. Points of light flashed, some red, some yellow, some green, and Thrope adjusted his course to align himself…
Five-minute fiction - 00:15-00:20
… glittered in the vast distance. Thrope closed his eyes, and counted down as the seconds ticked by. A buzzer cut through the silence but he was already running his boots clicking on the metal grating, and then he was falling the expanse of the sky opening up before him as he plunged toward the earth. He opened his eyes, and steadied his breathing. The lights on his H.U.D. Indicated all systems were nominal and he let the process run its course.
The H.U.D. transformed the signals and lights falling away to be replaced by a three-dimensional grid and tiny pin-pricks of light trailed by sequential numbers. He watched the lights, as one by they emerged from the rear of the shuttle and began their descent toward the planet.
Just within his view the timer passed negative thirty-seconds and he saw a larger blip appear. A string of smaller blips followed behind it in short succession…
… glittered in the vast distance. Thrope closed his eyes, and counted down as the seconds ticked by. A buzzer cut through the silence but he was already running his boots clicking on the metal grating, and then he was falling the expanse of the sky opening up before him as he plunged toward the earth. He opened his eyes, and steadied his breathing. The lights on his H.U.D. Indicated all systems were nominal and he let the process run its course.
The H.U.D. transformed the signals and lights falling away to be replaced by a three-dimensional grid and tiny pin-pricks of light trailed by sequential numbers. He watched the lights, as one by they emerged from the rear of the shuttle and began their descent toward the planet.
Just within his view the timer passed negative thirty-seconds and he saw a larger blip appear. A string of smaller blips followed behind it in short succession…
Five-Minute fiction - 00:35-00:40
… ‘Thirty seconds!’ the voice called out over the internal speakers. The digital H.U.D. on his helmet visor showed Thrope the ticking clock, the numbers quickly cycling down toward zero.
He felt the hand land on his shoulder and he spared it only a glance before moving forward toward the rear of the shuttle. The floor of the cargo bay shuddered and he felt the air around him change. Sensors registered the loss of gravity, they were in free fall.
A blast of air stirred the refuse as the cargo-bay doors began to slide open. ‘Twenty-seconds!’ the voice called again.
Thrope strode forward, the magnets in his boots clicking as they engaged and disengaged. Below him the yawning expanse of endless night stretched out before him. The sun, only a distant image was fading quickly, falling back below the horizon as night came on in its stead. Lights, tiny, insignificant…
… ‘Thirty seconds!’ the voice called out over the internal speakers. The digital H.U.D. on his helmet visor showed Thrope the ticking clock, the numbers quickly cycling down toward zero.
He felt the hand land on his shoulder and he spared it only a glance before moving forward toward the rear of the shuttle. The floor of the cargo bay shuddered and he felt the air around him change. Sensors registered the loss of gravity, they were in free fall.
A blast of air stirred the refuse as the cargo-bay doors began to slide open. ‘Twenty-seconds!’ the voice called again.
Thrope strode forward, the magnets in his boots clicking as they engaged and disengaged. Below him the yawning expanse of endless night stretched out before him. The sun, only a distant image was fading quickly, falling back below the horizon as night came on in its stead. Lights, tiny, insignificant…
Five-Minute fiction - 00:39-00:44
… ‘Three minutes!’ Thrope heard someone shout and he check the digital readout on his wrist to confirm.
The shuttle bay erupted into a flurry of activity as all the last minute preparations were made. Weapons were checked readied, and flight suits were checked one last time. Thrope scooped his helmet up from his seat and slotted it over his head. He waited patiently as the seals processed their checks. One by one the red lights turned green. The wait was agonizingly slow, and Thrope always wondered what the point was. This long left exposed to the void of a vacuum and you’d be dead for sure. But finally the lights turned green and he turned to see the rest of the team slotting their helmets on as well.
Insertion into a planetary system was no mean feat. Many planets took precautions against such daring attacks, and Pendol was no different. An immense power field could be erected to surround the planet. Wreathing it in a cloak of almost impenetrable energy. Thrope didn’t know much about the physics of such things, but he’d seen them in practice and knew how critical they could be…
… ‘Three minutes!’ Thrope heard someone shout and he check the digital readout on his wrist to confirm.
The shuttle bay erupted into a flurry of activity as all the last minute preparations were made. Weapons were checked readied, and flight suits were checked one last time. Thrope scooped his helmet up from his seat and slotted it over his head. He waited patiently as the seals processed their checks. One by one the red lights turned green. The wait was agonizingly slow, and Thrope always wondered what the point was. This long left exposed to the void of a vacuum and you’d be dead for sure. But finally the lights turned green and he turned to see the rest of the team slotting their helmets on as well.
Insertion into a planetary system was no mean feat. Many planets took precautions against such daring attacks, and Pendol was no different. An immense power field could be erected to surround the planet. Wreathing it in a cloak of almost impenetrable energy. Thrope didn’t know much about the physics of such things, but he’d seen them in practice and knew how critical they could be…
Five-Minute fiction - 23:40-23:45
… the most economical when it comes to these kind of things.’
Thrope tried not to laught. Hawk was one of the team’s younger operators and while he was somewhat of a wizard when it came to matters of the technical, he tended to think he knew better than those who had experience. But he took the comment in stride, and smiled.
‘I think I can handle the Union, if push comes to shove that is.’
That seemed to placate the man and he turned and strode off his magboots clicking softly as they engaged, and disengaged. Thrope glanced around the small cargo bay.
The majority of the team were busying themselves with last minute preparations, while others reclined waiting for the ready-signal. He checked the digital band on his wrist and sighed as the time counter slowly ticked down passing the one-hour mark. The Union, despite their urgent desire to capture the planet were sure taking their time, and Thrope was beginning to wonder if anyone knew what they were doing. But that was the way the Union operated….
… the most economical when it comes to these kind of things.’
Thrope tried not to laught. Hawk was one of the team’s younger operators and while he was somewhat of a wizard when it came to matters of the technical, he tended to think he knew better than those who had experience. But he took the comment in stride, and smiled.
‘I think I can handle the Union, if push comes to shove that is.’
That seemed to placate the man and he turned and strode off his magboots clicking softly as they engaged, and disengaged. Thrope glanced around the small cargo bay.
The majority of the team were busying themselves with last minute preparations, while others reclined waiting for the ready-signal. He checked the digital band on his wrist and sighed as the time counter slowly ticked down passing the one-hour mark. The Union, despite their urgent desire to capture the planet were sure taking their time, and Thrope was beginning to wonder if anyone knew what they were doing. But that was the way the Union operated….
