(Please read the OOC thread before posting)
Allen Gray enjoyed the quiet moments. There weren't many, not when he was cooped up in close quarters with the rest of his unit. The nine people that made up his unit of Shock Infantry had to share an area that was smaller than a two bedroom apartment on Terrannannov, which meant privacy was a rare thing. But these moments, right before a drop when he was alone, that was the best times.
His entire company was now strapped into pressurized capsules, loaded into the bellies of a Carrierhawk Warship in orbit some three hundred kilometers above the planet Dereloc. The capsules blocked all signal, and communication wouldn't be reestablished until he burst forth from the capsule planetside. So he waited, strapped in so tight he could only move his fingers, and enjoyed the silence and waited for the sensation of free fall that would tell him he was planet bound.
He thought about home, back on Brovundy, where his parents farmed Ourish Rice. He thought about his younger sisters, who were now old enough to go off to academy. Sometimes he felt guilty for volunteering. His father had called it running away. The guilt came because it was the truth. He had never been satisfied at home. His mother had cried, but she had understood that he needed to leave, had to get off world and see the universe for himself.
His thoughts were interrupted by the unmistakable sensation of weightlessness that told him the ship had disgorged its occupants. His capsules display came on showing him a selection of numbers which represented his course and velocity relative to his target. He was thankful to see a perfect launch. There would be no course correction after leaving the ship. He moved a finger, flipped a switch, and brought up a display that showed the positions of his squad. Eight other capsules fell through the outer atmosphere, hurtling towards ground, their trajectories laid out. Or at least their trajectory if their launch had also been perfect. The capsules were invisible to all scanners, even those on the ship that was quickly disappearing behind them. They would show up for a quick few seconds as the entered the lower atmosphere, and then the capsule would flood the enemies sensors with static and false reads. He continued to wait, helpless, as his life was given to fate. The capsule fell through space and would only stop upon hitting the ground.
Allen watched the numbers change, count down towards their target. A loud pop filled the capsule and his ears plugged up as he punched through the atmosphere. His display showed the dummy signals were being sent out. From that point it only took seconds until the capsule released the first of it parachutes which was quickly torn away. Another second and then the next parachute was deployed lasting only three seconds. The third was deployed, lasting the longest so far, then the fourth which didn't tear away. He watched the display as the capsule crashed into the ground, the impact rattling his teeth and then the release was blown and the top of the capsule blasted away. He flicked a finger and his straps loosened. He quickly yanked himself out of the harness and pulled himself through the top, grabbing up his rifle which had been stowed behind his head.
He quickly scanned the area around him, checking for targets. He was greeted by dense jungle and brush, but he was alone as far as he could see. Then he noticed that his personal uplink was coming back up. He could hear Sergeant Boraskov calling role. His squad began calling out their names. He activated his com. 'Gray here,' he said. The rest of his squad had soon reported in. Allen used those few minutes to get his field pack out of the capsule, checking his weapons and equipment.
'Fantastic, we're all here,' the sergeant said. 'Some of you drifted a bit south but we're all inside the drop zone so make sure to thank those flyboys for aiming straight.' There was a short pause as the sergeant switched channels, likely reporting to the lieutenant. Allen checked the squads location and marked the sergeant's location. Baraskov came back on. 'All right killers, form up on me. Stay alert and don't do anything stupid. Remember, we've got an angel watching.'
The High Command had decided this mission was so important that it committed a good amount of resources to its success. Dereloc was the least defended world on the Allied Systems border, and yet was within striking distance of their capital, Calimund. Three regiments of Shock Infantry were dropped on the surface with the orders of creating a beachhead.
All involved were aware of just how important the Compact leaders considered the mission because they had chosen to send an Angel. Outfitted with the most advanced combat suit, the Angel was prepared to personally lead the fight.
They regrouped at a small village near their landing sites, driving off a small force of defenders, before securing the area. Soon more troops and equipment were landed. The army moved northward toward one of Dereloc's larger cities. Fighting erupted along the route as the defenders rallied together. The angel personally lead the fighting, throwing herself into the thickest of combat.
Plasma and pulse weapons ripped back and forth between the armies as the Compact's forces fought their way ahead driving the enemy back. To the soldiers of the Allied Systems, who had never encountered an Angel, she seemed invincible, dropping out of the sky with plasmablade in hand, her wings stretched out behind. They fired their weapons at her but with her armor and personal shield she shrugged them off.
The Battle of Dereloc lasted nine days, and ended with the complete withdrawal of the Allied System's forces.
Allen Gray enjoyed the quiet moments. There weren't many, not when he was cooped up in close quarters with the rest of his unit. The nine people that made up his unit of Shock Infantry had to share an area that was smaller than a two bedroom apartment on Terrannannov, which meant privacy was a rare thing. But these moments, right before a drop when he was alone, that was the best times.
His entire company was now strapped into pressurized capsules, loaded into the bellies of a Carrierhawk Warship in orbit some three hundred kilometers above the planet Dereloc. The capsules blocked all signal, and communication wouldn't be reestablished until he burst forth from the capsule planetside. So he waited, strapped in so tight he could only move his fingers, and enjoyed the silence and waited for the sensation of free fall that would tell him he was planet bound.
He thought about home, back on Brovundy, where his parents farmed Ourish Rice. He thought about his younger sisters, who were now old enough to go off to academy. Sometimes he felt guilty for volunteering. His father had called it running away. The guilt came because it was the truth. He had never been satisfied at home. His mother had cried, but she had understood that he needed to leave, had to get off world and see the universe for himself.
His thoughts were interrupted by the unmistakable sensation of weightlessness that told him the ship had disgorged its occupants. His capsules display came on showing him a selection of numbers which represented his course and velocity relative to his target. He was thankful to see a perfect launch. There would be no course correction after leaving the ship. He moved a finger, flipped a switch, and brought up a display that showed the positions of his squad. Eight other capsules fell through the outer atmosphere, hurtling towards ground, their trajectories laid out. Or at least their trajectory if their launch had also been perfect. The capsules were invisible to all scanners, even those on the ship that was quickly disappearing behind them. They would show up for a quick few seconds as the entered the lower atmosphere, and then the capsule would flood the enemies sensors with static and false reads. He continued to wait, helpless, as his life was given to fate. The capsule fell through space and would only stop upon hitting the ground.
Allen watched the numbers change, count down towards their target. A loud pop filled the capsule and his ears plugged up as he punched through the atmosphere. His display showed the dummy signals were being sent out. From that point it only took seconds until the capsule released the first of it parachutes which was quickly torn away. Another second and then the next parachute was deployed lasting only three seconds. The third was deployed, lasting the longest so far, then the fourth which didn't tear away. He watched the display as the capsule crashed into the ground, the impact rattling his teeth and then the release was blown and the top of the capsule blasted away. He flicked a finger and his straps loosened. He quickly yanked himself out of the harness and pulled himself through the top, grabbing up his rifle which had been stowed behind his head.
He quickly scanned the area around him, checking for targets. He was greeted by dense jungle and brush, but he was alone as far as he could see. Then he noticed that his personal uplink was coming back up. He could hear Sergeant Boraskov calling role. His squad began calling out their names. He activated his com. 'Gray here,' he said. The rest of his squad had soon reported in. Allen used those few minutes to get his field pack out of the capsule, checking his weapons and equipment.
'Fantastic, we're all here,' the sergeant said. 'Some of you drifted a bit south but we're all inside the drop zone so make sure to thank those flyboys for aiming straight.' There was a short pause as the sergeant switched channels, likely reporting to the lieutenant. Allen checked the squads location and marked the sergeant's location. Baraskov came back on. 'All right killers, form up on me. Stay alert and don't do anything stupid. Remember, we've got an angel watching.'
The High Command had decided this mission was so important that it committed a good amount of resources to its success. Dereloc was the least defended world on the Allied Systems border, and yet was within striking distance of their capital, Calimund. Three regiments of Shock Infantry were dropped on the surface with the orders of creating a beachhead.
All involved were aware of just how important the Compact leaders considered the mission because they had chosen to send an Angel. Outfitted with the most advanced combat suit, the Angel was prepared to personally lead the fight.
They regrouped at a small village near their landing sites, driving off a small force of defenders, before securing the area. Soon more troops and equipment were landed. The army moved northward toward one of Dereloc's larger cities. Fighting erupted along the route as the defenders rallied together. The angel personally lead the fighting, throwing herself into the thickest of combat.
Plasma and pulse weapons ripped back and forth between the armies as the Compact's forces fought their way ahead driving the enemy back. To the soldiers of the Allied Systems, who had never encountered an Angel, she seemed invincible, dropping out of the sky with plasmablade in hand, her wings stretched out behind. They fired their weapons at her but with her armor and personal shield she shrugged them off.
The Battle of Dereloc lasted nine days, and ended with the complete withdrawal of the Allied System's forces.
