Chapter 4:
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With a massive departure from the previous chapters, I've decided to switch to the first person narrative from Wolf's perspective. This change was perhaps inspired by a novel that I've recently read, titled "Call it Sleep." Hope you like it ^_^.
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I can smell it. I can taste it. I can hear it. I can feel it. I can see it. I can… I am in it – in this whole chaotic procession, like a swarm of locusts waiting to consume a plot of farm. A large plot, that is, in this case. I have never imaged this day to come so quickly.
It has been two weeks since the establishment of my alliance with General Scales. I've received message that Fox has been wounded critically and was escorted back to the Cornerian Academy. Scales' fleet proved to be more skilled than expected. They came close to claiming the best Cornerian pilot's life – but not quite. After all, Fox is my prey; let no one meddle in our affairs. The matter is between the two of us. But soon our feuds will come to an end.
Corneria glowed and rippled in all its pristine glory, like an azure and emerald-green jewel set on the infinite dark canvas of space. Stars shone from all directions, strewn across my field of vision, like tiny, burning wisps – wisps of hatred. Yes, I am in this. I am in this whole grand procession, relishing the sound of engines murmuring and the sight of thousands upon thousands of imperial spacecrafts floating above the planet, poised to strike. It was a spectacular swarm that General Scales has called upon. The metal hulls of each ship gleamed with cold steel, like the tips of bloodied blades. All was silent, except for the engines, of course, and my own heavy breathing and my heart racing. I can almost sense blood surging through every part of my body, and taste the tension in the air. Together, these sights and sounds orchestrated the prelude of war. I sat in the cockpit of my new Wolfen III with my wingmen by my side, watching the rest of the fleet shuffling beneath me and gradually file into organized formations.
"We await your orders, General Scales," a reptilian lieutenant reported through the intercom. Though it was not directly addressed to me, I could still receive messages from the general's fleet, in case there were emergencies.
"Ready, O'Donnell?" Scales inquired through the transmitter, his ominous features appearing before me on the panel screen. I looked to the sides. In their cockpits, Leon, Pigma, and Andrew all looked towards me and nodded apprehensively.
"Team Starwolf in position," I reported.
"Very well, the invasion of Corneria will commence in ten minutes. Await your cue, and remember our plans, Wolf. I expect some results."
"And I expect no less from you, General Scales. Remember the oath of the alliance – we are equals in this cause."
"Hah – yes, yes… of course. Now we shall wait before the final preparations are complete. Good luck."
The panel screen went static and shut down briefly afterwards. Silence returned, and the roaring of engines swelled around me. It was music to my ears – it was the symphony of vengeance. Ah, sweet vengeance... I have waited for this moment, for my eventual return to Corneria, to make them – every single one of them, pay for their misdeeds. Licking my fangs anxiously, I leaned forward in my seat, gazing down upon Corneria in anticipation. Soon, they will know…
I cannot bear to wait any longer. The moment stretched on like the tension of a bowstring. In the infinite space, our capital ships floated silently in impenetrable formations, awaiting possible assaults. Surely, the Cornerian Federation has noticed our forces gathering above its capital planet. While Scales' fleet prepared for reception, I sat in the cockpit, rehearsing the mission in my head. Scales will be in charge of the main invasion, creating distraction while our team sneaks into the Cornerian Military Academy – into General Pepper's office, and take him hostage. Corneria will most likely not have a price to pay for the old hostage anyway; General Scales will take heed to thoroughly destroy all the strategic military monuments in the city. In that case I will have no choice but to assassinate Pepper. Not that I mind – I still owe the sightlessness in my left eye to that old dictator-in-disguise. Most of all, he betrayed father… that worthless, treacherous bastard. I shall never forget…
The panel screen buzzed once again, and Scales' face gradually came in focus.
"Well, looks like the Federation is waiting for us to make the first move," the reptilian general spoke in mockery.
"Let them have what they want." I replied.
"Very well. All lieutenants - let the invasion begin!"
Below me, the enormous swarm of imperial ships flashed with jets of flames as engines roared into life, flowing ever closer to Corneria, like a blazing river of glittering metal. I glanced at my wingmen once more, a cruel grin creeping upon my face. All of their eyes were fixed intently upon the planet, excited, but sharing a lesser degree of interest; they had nothing personal against Corneria, after all. What more can I expect? My hands trembled as I flicked on the switches. The engine blasted with streaming blue flames, sending jolts across my Wolfen III.
"Get 'em boys," I howled in excitement through the transmitter.
My hands settled over the booster, and with a firm pull, I jerked the black handle backwards. A burst of speed, and my Wolfen III was sent screeching across the infinite fabric of space, slamming me back against the seat as stars and meteorites zoomed by. Surely, General Scales had made significant upgrades. Inertia seemed to tug at every corner of the cockpit. I shot a glance backwards; Leon, Pigma, and Andrew all trailed behind me with equal acceleration, engines gleaming with pale blue jets. As I look towards the fleet below me, the tip of the procession has already prodded into the delicate atmosphere of the planet. With a hint of brimstone in the air, each and every invading ship was engulfed in flames as they sliced through the air. Immediately, volleys of gunfire could be seen flashing eerily at the frontier. There is no time to waste. I have an important mission that I must fulfill, one that must not fail – one that I shall willingly give my life for.
*****************************
With a massive departure from the previous chapters, I've decided to switch to the first person narrative from Wolf's perspective. This change was perhaps inspired by a novel that I've recently read, titled "Call it Sleep." Hope you like it ^_^.
*****************************
I can smell it. I can taste it. I can hear it. I can feel it. I can see it. I can… I am in it – in this whole chaotic procession, like a swarm of locusts waiting to consume a plot of farm. A large plot, that is, in this case. I have never imaged this day to come so quickly.
It has been two weeks since the establishment of my alliance with General Scales. I've received message that Fox has been wounded critically and was escorted back to the Cornerian Academy. Scales' fleet proved to be more skilled than expected. They came close to claiming the best Cornerian pilot's life – but not quite. After all, Fox is my prey; let no one meddle in our affairs. The matter is between the two of us. But soon our feuds will come to an end.
Corneria glowed and rippled in all its pristine glory, like an azure and emerald-green jewel set on the infinite dark canvas of space. Stars shone from all directions, strewn across my field of vision, like tiny, burning wisps – wisps of hatred. Yes, I am in this. I am in this whole grand procession, relishing the sound of engines murmuring and the sight of thousands upon thousands of imperial spacecrafts floating above the planet, poised to strike. It was a spectacular swarm that General Scales has called upon. The metal hulls of each ship gleamed with cold steel, like the tips of bloodied blades. All was silent, except for the engines, of course, and my own heavy breathing and my heart racing. I can almost sense blood surging through every part of my body, and taste the tension in the air. Together, these sights and sounds orchestrated the prelude of war. I sat in the cockpit of my new Wolfen III with my wingmen by my side, watching the rest of the fleet shuffling beneath me and gradually file into organized formations.
"We await your orders, General Scales," a reptilian lieutenant reported through the intercom. Though it was not directly addressed to me, I could still receive messages from the general's fleet, in case there were emergencies.
"Ready, O'Donnell?" Scales inquired through the transmitter, his ominous features appearing before me on the panel screen. I looked to the sides. In their cockpits, Leon, Pigma, and Andrew all looked towards me and nodded apprehensively.
"Team Starwolf in position," I reported.
"Very well, the invasion of Corneria will commence in ten minutes. Await your cue, and remember our plans, Wolf. I expect some results."
"And I expect no less from you, General Scales. Remember the oath of the alliance – we are equals in this cause."
"Hah – yes, yes… of course. Now we shall wait before the final preparations are complete. Good luck."
The panel screen went static and shut down briefly afterwards. Silence returned, and the roaring of engines swelled around me. It was music to my ears – it was the symphony of vengeance. Ah, sweet vengeance... I have waited for this moment, for my eventual return to Corneria, to make them – every single one of them, pay for their misdeeds. Licking my fangs anxiously, I leaned forward in my seat, gazing down upon Corneria in anticipation. Soon, they will know…
I cannot bear to wait any longer. The moment stretched on like the tension of a bowstring. In the infinite space, our capital ships floated silently in impenetrable formations, awaiting possible assaults. Surely, the Cornerian Federation has noticed our forces gathering above its capital planet. While Scales' fleet prepared for reception, I sat in the cockpit, rehearsing the mission in my head. Scales will be in charge of the main invasion, creating distraction while our team sneaks into the Cornerian Military Academy – into General Pepper's office, and take him hostage. Corneria will most likely not have a price to pay for the old hostage anyway; General Scales will take heed to thoroughly destroy all the strategic military monuments in the city. In that case I will have no choice but to assassinate Pepper. Not that I mind – I still owe the sightlessness in my left eye to that old dictator-in-disguise. Most of all, he betrayed father… that worthless, treacherous bastard. I shall never forget…
The panel screen buzzed once again, and Scales' face gradually came in focus.
"Well, looks like the Federation is waiting for us to make the first move," the reptilian general spoke in mockery.
"Let them have what they want." I replied.
"Very well. All lieutenants - let the invasion begin!"
Below me, the enormous swarm of imperial ships flashed with jets of flames as engines roared into life, flowing ever closer to Corneria, like a blazing river of glittering metal. I glanced at my wingmen once more, a cruel grin creeping upon my face. All of their eyes were fixed intently upon the planet, excited, but sharing a lesser degree of interest; they had nothing personal against Corneria, after all. What more can I expect? My hands trembled as I flicked on the switches. The engine blasted with streaming blue flames, sending jolts across my Wolfen III.
"Get 'em boys," I howled in excitement through the transmitter.
My hands settled over the booster, and with a firm pull, I jerked the black handle backwards. A burst of speed, and my Wolfen III was sent screeching across the infinite fabric of space, slamming me back against the seat as stars and meteorites zoomed by. Surely, General Scales had made significant upgrades. Inertia seemed to tug at every corner of the cockpit. I shot a glance backwards; Leon, Pigma, and Andrew all trailed behind me with equal acceleration, engines gleaming with pale blue jets. As I look towards the fleet below me, the tip of the procession has already prodded into the delicate atmosphere of the planet. With a hint of brimstone in the air, each and every invading ship was engulfed in flames as they sliced through the air. Immediately, volleys of gunfire could be seen flashing eerily at the frontier. There is no time to waste. I have an important mission that I must fulfill, one that must not fail – one that I shall willingly give my life for.