Nighthawk Chronicles - Playing God

Etienne Balzac headed up a scientist conspiracy within Clan Jade Falcon some years ago, and was found and dealt with through the vigilant efforts of Kael Pershaw and his Clan Watch. Efforts were taken to purge the clan of those underground workings, but only extended to rooting those involved out of positions of power. The investigations into the extent of the problem never bared any fruit, until now.

When a Goliath Scorpion cartographer vessel is shot down in uncharted space by organized military craft, Kael Pershaw sends his clandestine covert-ops unit in to investigate. His interest in this incident seemingly unimportant to Clan Jade Falcon uncovers truths that were best left buried. Though some secrets have their way of surfacing no matter how hard you try to push them down...

Following the 32nd Special Operations Unit (the Nighthawks) from their debut in The Madness Method, the secrets of an unknown settled planet close in in the most unexpected ways. What do you do when cut off from your clan in a hostile land full of ghosts from your past, and possibly the most deadly enemy of your future?

Prologue

The Red Aculeus, cartographer ship in service to clan Goliath Scorpion was returning from its latest voyage into sector 148. The trip itself was cut short due to the captain, Kelter, contracting Berusian Hepococcus, a new version of influenza that has yet to have a treatment developed. In the science arena, he is responsible for re-vamping the entire mapping protocol used by the Goliath Scorpions, which is why at this age, he is still commanding mapping missions. Sadly enough, his immune system couldn't take the new virus, and it seriously hampered the voyage. The military liaison, Star Captain Zoel, assumed command and made the call to return to a proper Goliath Scorpion medical facility. The path chosen took them through a patch of unmapped space, which would only prove more productive to its previous mission.

Star Captain Zoel entered the bridge with a sense of purpose and immediately asked for a situation report.

"Sir, we found several unmarked aerospace fighters in what appears to be training maneuvers. Their area does not interfere with our travel path, but we have attempted to raise them on comm and no answer came back yet. They are clan models in a mixed unit." The lead tech finished his report looking at the open view port, which had a pale blue planet in its main view. Several screens had the footage of unmarked aerospace fighters entering a formation and maneuvering in unison.

"Who do we know has territory around here?" Zoel asked to no one specific.

The lead tech came back at him, "No one, sir. This area is unmapped."

"Patch me through to them," Zoel commanded.

"You are through, sir."

"Unidentified aerospace units, this is Star Captain Zoel of Clan Goliath Scorpion from the cartographer vessel Red Aculeus. Identify yourselves at once." Though his tone was stern, Zoel's face reeked of deep thought with a hint of concern.

After several moments of silence, he continued. "Unidentified aerospace units, I say again. Identify yourselves."

Another minute went by. He decided he had no time to waste in investigating. The location was stored in the map system and will be brought to his commander's attention at home station upon his return. There was not much time to waste in concern to Kelter. Normally, a person would die in such a fashion in a deep voyage like this one, as the needs of the clan overrule the needs of the individual. But Kelter was held in high regard before his volunteer for cartographic duty. Though he survived to his old age, he wanted to continue his time in the Scorpion fleet rather than be assigned to archive research, and his superiors formed a good relationship with him. It is the least Zoel could do for a man who demanded such respect, and earned it.

The order was given to continue the course and monitor the fighter activity. Tensions eased slightly as everyone knew that the vessel had minimal defensive capability and aerospace escort for such a mission was not authorized.

But the state of slight relaxation was cut short when one of the techs sounded off, "Fighter units incoming!"

All eyes shot to the large display as the tech routed the image of the units flying toward the Red Aculeus in a combat formation. Star Captain Zoel was visibly angry. With limited weapons at his disposal, he ordered his men to do what he thought had top priority. "All defensive positions get prepped and get hot! We have incoming! Halls!"

One of the bridge techs responded, "Sir!"

"Prep the last thirty minutes of bridge surveillance footage for long range transmission. I want this message shot to command ASAP. Put the location and all pertaining information in!"

"Aye, sir!" was the response.

The intercom lit up, "Sir, defensive posts are up and running, orders for live defense…"

Star Commander Zoel pursed his lips as he hated what he knew could very well happen soon. But the fighters have attained target locks on the vessel, as a few blinking lights and panicked activity at the sensor stations conveyed. It was time to go down fighting. "Defend us at all costs. Do not stop firing until they are dead or you are out of ammo."

The first rounds of the small naval autocannons reverberated through the ship's walls, and the view of the fighters showed them evading. But the PPCs on each of them lit off one by one until each bolt hit the Red Aculeus in center mass. The damage reports came in, and one of them hit the engine outtake on the port side. More PPC bolts rocked the bridge as one of the fighters imploded when one of the autocannon rounds perforated its internal structure and pressure seals.

"Men, it pains me to tell you that we may go down like this. But—" the last PPC bolt rocked the bridge so hard that it cut his speech off. Several fires started in the stations as techs ran around frantically to get their areas under control.

Frantic shouts filled the room.

"Fire!"

"Get that hose over there!"

"I lost target tracking!"

"D-pods, report!"

"Engine room pressure seals blown!"

Zoel did not resume his dialogue when he regained his footing. He was too choked up as the fighters came in for another run. Their formation was noticeably different from any he had ever seen before, and it was working to great effect against his limited defense.

Another two hits, and the bridge was compromised. Pressure was lost and the entire bridge crew decompressed and flew out the open cavern into the emptiness of space, their only company was the destroyed equipment that followed them out.

Silence overwhelmed them despite the explosions around them, as it would for eternity.