SHIPPER CORE
By PapaRoavatar (OMFG-Roach)
A/N: Guess who's back, back again; Shady's back; tell a friend…
Yes, I'm back! I do believe that I think my return shall be quite amazing, no?
Now, to business! I've been thinking about writing this story for quite some time, at least a few months. Then, it hit me:
Why not make a universe about it?
So…I thought I'd start it off by telling you what's in store first, before I get to the juicy bits:
This is a series of stories. No…make that a multiple series of stories. How many, you ask?
Here's the list:
SHIPPER CORE:
Shipper Core
Shipper Core A.E. ('A.E.' stands for 'Alternate Entrance,' a bridge between stories, if you will)
Shipper Core 2: Dark Echo
Shipper Core 2: Dark Echo A.E.
Shipper Core 3: Messiah
Shipper Core 3: Messiah A.E.
Shipper Core 4: Answer
Shipper Core 4: Answer A.X. ('A.X.' stands for 'Alternate Exit,' a bridge between series, if you will)
SHIPPER CORE WING
Shipper Core: Wing
Shipper Core: Wing A.E.
Shipper Core: Wing 2 Ravens
Shipper Core: Wing 2 Ravens A.E.
Shipper Core: Wing: 3 Kings
Shipper Core: Wing: 3 Kings A.E.
Shipper Core: Wing 4 Truth
Shipper Core: Wing 4 Truth A.X.
…And there'll be more as the story (as a whole) goes on, but for now I'd thought I'd tempt your palate with just the first two series. (A note: The final series will be titled 'Shipper Core D.S Al Coda.' Just thought I'd warn you.)
Now…seeing as this is going to be big, I'd best warn you that this is somewhat of a mild crossover with 'MechWarrior: Dark Age.' There are some 'MW: DA' elements in there, but not enough to derail the story.
Hm…I think I covered all the bases here…oh, wait, no I haven't!
O NOEZ IT'S A DISCLAIMAH! I don't own ASN (Avatar Spirit Network), nor do I own 'MechWarrior: Dark Age.' (HA! I bet you'd expect me to write about 'Avatar,' but nooooooo! This is ASN fiction!)
IT'S A CLAIMAH! I do, however, own the storyline, including all locations mentioned as well as character names (unless otherwise noted). If anyone is interested in joining me in this grand under taking, please, by all means, either email me or PM me (though I'd prefer if you would PM me so I can reply as soon as possible).
CHAPTER ONE: 'And Justice For All'
5 June, 2734
Delutha City, Rethfordsure
Saigon XII, Tango Sector
United Fanon Commonwealth
"Anyone mind telling me what the hell is going on?" A brisk, annoyed, bothered male voice asked over the comm.
"Star One, this is Fox One. Seems like the Canons got their eyes set on taking over the city," came the feminine toned reply. She seemed calm, cool, collected, despite the battle raging onwards all around.
"Alright, Fox. Is Baker in the area?"
"Negative; they've been radio dead for an hour now."
As the two conversed, the thundering explosions and the raging battle resounded throughout the area, as if it was one giant demonic symphony. There were sounds of 'Mechs firing their weapons, infantry running about, tanks roaring with the guns trained, artillery thumping softly…
"Is the channel open?"
"Yessir. Patching you through now."
As if on cue, a panicked voice filled the comm. "OH MY GOD! HOW MANY OF THESE BLEEPING TANKS ARE THERE?!"
"Baker One, this is Star One. What's it looking like?"
"PURE HELL! I've got NO air cover, no fuel, and no ammo to keep these tanks off me!"
"Fox, have your units support Baker. My boys will back you up."
"Yessir, moving to engage."
Then, the Saigon sun…disappeared under a black canopy of Canon DropShips and orbital units. Thousands of aerospace fighters zipped across the sky, darting to and fro with tracers and lasers dotting their targets. It seemed that night descended too early for the escaping civilians, with the menacing sound of thrusters booming all around. It was dark, it was eerie, and it was chaotic.
"This is Captain Roderick Falmouth of Star Group moving to support Fox Group at Baker's location, designated as navpoint Echo. Alright, people this is it! Time to earn our pay."
"Sir, this is Star Two. These Canons are gonna get what they deserve!" The second female voice was aggressive, bordering on bloodthirsty.
"Amen to that, Star Two. Amen to that…
"Alright, move in and engage—what the…? Are they—?"
"Star One, this is Fox One; Canons at the spaceport! Repeat, Canons at the spaceport!" Fox's voice was filled with panic and urgency. Her 'Mechs had to detour quickly, dodging missiles and lasers…
"Blasted little sonsva—! Dammit! Star Group, new orders! Fall back to cover the spaceport! Those damn Canons slipped behind us!"
"The bastards! Those dirty little bastards! " Star Two roared over the comm, clearly annoyed at such an underhanded tactic, "How'd the hell get through?! We had the line secure! Bastards!"
"Baker, how you holding?"
"Oh, ha HA! Very funny, Capt. How the hell do you think?!"
"Fox is sending her tanks to help. See if you can fall back and cover the spaceport."
"Oh, yeah, sure, and how the hell am I supposed to move?! I have no fuel, remember?!"
"Sending an MRU to your location now. Just hang in there, alright? Have your boys cover you while you repair, rearm, and refuel."
"On it!"
"Star One, this is Eagle One. My flyboys are in the air, trying to regain superiority. We're sending gunships to support your units now. Sorry it took so long!" A suave, Latin male voice filled the comm.
"Damn right you're sorry! Get some of the gunships to support Baker at Echo! Have the rest cover the spaceport."
"Roger, Captain."
"CONTACT! 900 METRES!" Star Two yelled over the comm, indicating that the Canons were close.
"Hold them off! I'll try and get in touch with spaceport control!"
"I'm ten steps ahead! Alpha Lance, move in! Swarm 'em!"
"Control, this is Capt. Falmouth! What's the status of the DropShips?"
"The last civilian DropShip launched about three hours ago! We're starting to load the wounded soldiers next! Can you hold off the Canons while we try to load as many wounded as possible?"
"How much time do you need?"
"For one to fill? I'm estimating three-zero minutes."
"The fleet designated to carry them?"
"Hour, maybe two or three. These bastards are everywhere!"
"Shit…" Falmouth swore quietly, "Dammit…
"Hunter to Ice, Hunter to Ice!" he yelled into the comm.
"Black One here. Who's calling?" a sneering, snide voice replied.
"Star One to Black One, can you cover the DropShips as they load and power up?"
"Eh…I'll see."
"Hurry up and buy them time. Take the west flank; I'll have my boys take the east."
"Roger, Star One."
"Guard Lance, report!"
"Guard Two, ready!"
"Guard Three here. I'm itchin' to crack some Canon skulls…"
"Guard Four reporting weapons hot!"
"Ok, boys and girls, let's try and see if we can get enough time for the DropShips to launch! On my mark, we'll flank these scum from the eastern side.
"Ready…MARK!"
+O+
Five hours later
The lone Vulture was all that was left of the remaining Fanon defenders on Saigon in regards to who was left outside the DropShip. Its left leg was blackened and burned, with exposed wires hanging out and the metal armor almost ripped apart. The once mighty green and gold paint that adorned the 'Mech so heroically was now smudged with oil and ash; ugly black spots that gave the Vulture now a dirty, filthy look.
Did Falmouth care about this? No. He had a job to do:
Buy enough time for the DropShip to power up and takeoff. This was the last one, too, with the last of the surviving personnel. If the Canons took this one down, all was lost.
"Star One to DropShip, it was nice knowing you guys."
"Honor serving with you, sir. May God be with you, Captain."
"He's been with me up until this point; it'd be a shame to know He wasn't.
"Start 'er up."
"Bringing engines online…"
The looming Canon tanks and 'Mechs were now starting to enclose the spaceport, slowly choking the Vulture.
"Engines ignited and online. Thrusters at max; weapons are coming online now…"
The Canon Marksman tank now came into Falmouth's view; a warning sign of what was to come.
"Weapons online! Taking off in 5…"
Falmouth feathered the trigger for his Pulse lasers, destroying the tank in seconds.
"4…"
A Canon Wasp zipped towards Falmouth's Vulture, machine gun firing. Bullets nicked the 'Mech, but Falmouth was unfazed as he slammed the trigger for his AC/5's. Chunks of armor flew off the Wasp, metal shards ripping through the air.
"3…"
A missile slammed his 'Mech, hitting the left gun. Falmouth returned fire with a volley of his own, slamming the enemy gunship that hit him. Its rotors were sheered off, causing it to rotate slowly downwards as it sank like a stone toward the ground.
"2…"
His radar was suddenly filled with Canon signatures, causing him to almost regret his decision to stay behind and buy the DropShip time to takeoff.
But his index fingers lightly wrapped around the triggers. He knew what he had to do.
The rest was blurry. It all happened at once, the DropShip taking off, the following skirmish with the ungodly swarm of the remaining Canon forces…
His 'Mech was taking so much damage that even the onboard computer had advised him to "Eject…eject…eject…"
But he kept punching in the override code so much that the ejection rails might have well jammed. He didn't care at this point about surviving anymore; he only cared about taking down these Canon bastards.
He never saw the Canon Uziel fire its PPC's. He never saw the azure beams race towards his cockpit in time when he turned his head.
He never made it out as his Vulture exploded into a ball of flames.
+()+
A/N: Thoughts? Concerns? Ideas? Questions? Send 'em to me! Otherwise…
REVIEW!