In this story I really wanted to expand upon the storyline of Airforce Delta Strike, which I think has one the best storylines of any air combat game I've ever played. In particular I wanted to expand upon the story of Ken and Ellen, and the latter's capture and brainwashing. Please note I will be following Ken's ending in the game through this narrative (Ellen joins in space missions) with some alterations.
Please review and tell me what you think!
"ALERT! ALERT! All crew evacuate!"
Terror and surges of fear gripped her mind as she exited the briefing room with her boyfriend in tow. She dashed forward along the corridors toward the carrier bay, knowing instantly the alarm indicated an enemy attack. Loud booms echoed through the walls, and soon the air felt very hot, stinging against skin and flesh.
"Ellen! Hold up!"
Ken's shouts aroused Ellen from her mad run, and she slowed herself down until Ken caught up. Screams and cries filled the Space Station Seeker's interior, as intense explosions ripped up and down it's centre. Ken and Ellen were thrown about in the corridor as the orbiting station lurched downwards. It would soon start spiralling to earth.
Recovering fast, Ellen and Ken continued at a fast pace down an almost endless row of corridors. The lights were soon dimming with sparks and flashes dancing around the cramped walls. All around them, the self control of the other personnel aboard the EDAF station had evaporated, replaced by a red mist of chaos and confusion, people being thrown about and sucked out into space as enemy fighters closed in, their weaponry and numbers outpacing the station's defences. Every few seconds blinding blue and white lights filled the vacuum of space around the Space station Seeker as the one sided battle raged on.
Meanwhile, the couple had managed to reach the hangar deck where the SADF-005 Space fighters were kept. Normally these two seaters would be used to defend the station and attack enemies in space, an environment where the normal laws of air combat do not apply, and are overhauled by orbital dynamics. Many viewed it as a lot slower but it became more up close and personal as you practiced. Needless to say Ken Thomas and Ellen McNichol were both aces in space fighters.
However today was different. The Space fighters were mainly being used to evacuate surviving personnel. The lack of fighters on the torn up deck suggested some had either been destroyed or deployed already and the rest had been taken by pilots, mechanics, scientists-anyone who wanted to stay alive.
"Ellen! We'll take that one over there!" Ken pointed to a single space fighter already loaded and fuelled on the deck. Ellen nodded and they both ran towards the craft, strapping in and completing pre flight checks faster than they could walk. The HYDRA particle engines hummed into life on both fighters, whilst the explosions and noise got ever louder, almost deafening Ken and Ellen inside the SADF-005 cockpit.
"Don't wait for clearance! Just get off the deck!" Ellen shouted, her voice showing clear undertones of panic and fear as the hangar deck crumbled around them, the splinters revealing flames and spilt fluids.
"Stay with me Ellen!" Ken replied protectively. He had only met Ellen two years ago but they had reached peak rapport instantly, both sharing a passion for flight. Naturally she had followed him to the Space station seeker, and the expert prowess in spaceflight didn't go unnoticed, as well as their obvious relationship. It was not something they kept secret.
"Damn… I forgot to give her the engagement ring.." Ken was suddenly lost in thought as he twirled a small simple ring round in his hand. He had meant to give it to Ellen today, but…
"Ken! We gotta go!" Ellen's voice snapped him back to reality and he slammed the throttle forward, rocketing out of the hangar bay as explosions consumed it in a ball of white phosphorus fire.
Allowing himself to relax temporarily, Ken piloted the spacecraft down into a low re-entry orbit, watching carefully for any falling debris coming from the wrecked Space station.
Ellen watched as the smooth circle of the Earth filled the clear canopy of the SADF-005 fighter, a bright blue hue covering the instrument panel. The tranquil site brought a tear to her eye, as she realised just how many people weren't as lucky as her.
How many people did'nt get out of the station alive?
She felt dreadfully sorry for them. The only condolence was that she still had Ken with her. She still had a loved one to look out for.
Ellen decided that now was a good a time as any.
"Ken… I…"
"Ellen?"
Ellen was about to reply when a loud crash filled the air around them, and white light blinded her for a split second. She felt herself being pulled downward out of her seat. Her breathing quickened and then slowed as her sight returned.
And she saw the fighter tumbling away slowly, pieces flying off of it as it spiralled silently through space. She craned her head around carefully, and saw a grey spacesuit moving away from her.
"Ken!"
She tried to call out, but the vacuum drowned out any reply. She tried the radio, but it didn't seem to work. Shooting stars danced around her visor in the shadow of the beautiful blue planet, friction hiding the debris from the space station in a white light show.
Ellen began to take stock. She was floating with almost no control through space, where no one could hear you scream and certainly couldn't rescue you easily. As Ken drifted further away she started to sob under her helmet, not able to reach out, with sadness the only thing keeping her awake.
It was hopeless.
Her vision started to cloud over, the space in her visor darkening as the radio crackled faintly.
"Ellen…"
Ellen blacked out.