Disclaimer: I don't own starocean
Karin: So let me get this straight... my name is not japanese or german...so what is it?
no clue. might be german.
Karin: ... hail hitler?
don't start.
He looked around at the men around him. All determined, fierce and ready to face combat. Yet, within their eyes, held fear. He looked towards his squad leader. The young girl kept her lips shut. She rarely showed any emotions, yet he knew better than to misjudge her. If the Admiral had placed his confidence in her for a dangerous task, then he wouldn't question it. His heart was racing.
The Vendeeni were fierce fighters. Even without a rifle, they were still pretty dangerous with close quarters combat. It was without a doubt that they were one of the most dangerous races, who boosted their economy through war and fighting. The young man sighed, looking down at the floor of the transport. He could not see what was going on outside, but it was certainly not pretty.
The shaky transport rattled and shook violently as a nearby blast nearly hit their engines. The next blast was harder, and caused the young man to hold his rifle tightly. A gentle, yet large hand rest itself on his shoulder.
"Chill. There's nothing to fret about. Is this your first time in combat?"
The guy next to him asked. The man was large, about twice in body mass than the young man himself, and he had dark skin, which was common on some planets in the Frontier Galactic system. Since he was so large, he carried two assault rifles under each arm and still had a portable Kindrek chain cannon on his back. His body was encased in the new combat suit, which added more protection that a body armour, though it was still in a test stage.
The young man himself was in a combat suit too, as well as the rest of the assault groups, and the built-in temperature regulator was setting in. The suit made the young man bigger, but still not as large as the guy next to him.
"Yes. I just got out of the academy, and i got posted immediately to here."
The young man nodded.
"Really? A freshie? I must say, i am impressed. How well did you do on your final test?"
"Not too well. I was the worst of my batch. I know why i got sent here, because i got bad grades."
The young man sighed to himself.
"Don't kid yourself. Being posted here is actually a great thing. Do you know who is our leader?"
"Minarf?"
"Not our system's president. I'm talking about the leader of this fleet! Do you know who you are serving and fighting for? the great Fayt Leingod! Be proud, boy, there isn't any greater reward than fighting side by side by the legend himself!"
"F-Fayt Leingod? H-he's commanding this fleet? Wow... I only heard stories about him. You mean i get to fight next to him?"
The young man's face lit up at the mention of Fayt.
"If you're lucky. But we'll be fighting to help him. I fought next to him once, on Vanguard III. It was amazing, i tell you. We were surrounded by the excutioners and-"
The large man started, while the young man nodded furiously while listening intently to his story.
"I thought we were goners! We were all entrenched in the ground in a circular formation, so the excutioners could get us anytime so-"
"Sargent, the story telling can wait."
Their squad's leader spoke up. The large man sighed.
"Yes, Ma'am, just trying to encourage this young freshie here."
"Freshie?"
Their squad leader got up and walked down the transport's walkway. Unlike her squad, the squad leaders never wear the combat suit, and some say they are already invincible without them. His squad leader was about his age, which made him wonder what made her his squad leader. The young girl looked at him closely, which made his cheeks burn. She was rather attractive.
"Hmm... what's your name, recruit?"
She asked, more like ordered.
"Er... Fordin Richer, ma'am."
He replied.
"Too soft and too wimpsical. What do you think you're doing in my squad?"
She demanded. Fordin nearly jumped back at her tone, but managed to stay seated. He didn't know she was this fierce. He always saw her seating by herself in the cafeteria, which made him think she was a more quiet type, but the person who stood before him at this moment, was not what he had in mind.
"I... er... got posted here?"
He replied weakly.
"Well, you're in the wrong squad. I don't need weaklings like you. What i need are men who are willing to jump into the line fire without a moment's hesitation, not sissy pants like you."
At this moment, everyone else was looking at the spectacle that was going on. This further pushed Fordin back. The sargent nudged him and winked. What sort of signal was that? Then he saw it. Some of the other men had taken up a communicator and brought an enlarged version of their screen. On it, it showed clearly a message:
"'She's only playing with you. Don't let it get to you. Fight back and she'll cool off.'"
Was that what it was happening? Their squad leader was testing him? He decided to take it on. If it was a challenge, he would never back down, no matter how he did it, he would win.
"I may be a sissy pants, but at least i know when to back down."
He suddenly spoke with more confidence. He never backs down from a fight, never. His squad leader did not look surprise, rather, she turned around and stared hard at the others, who managed to keep the message before she caught them. She turned back to Fordin.
"So, you've the nerve to talk back to your superior."
She crossed her arms. Fordin could see a slight smile at the coner of her mouth. So this was a test. No matter, he would tackle it hard.
"I would have enough nerve to talk to anyone. It doesn't matter what rank you are. We are all the same, so i can talk back to anyone i wish. Ma'am."
Fordin said back and smiled to himself. His squad leader nodded her head in approval.
"I see. Very well. As leader of this squad, i formally welcome you to the seventh assault squad of the 'Eternal Vengence', the 'black hounds'. I am your squad leader Yuin. This is my second in command, Sargent Jeremia Jones. What i need are men like you, with guts. That is why you were posted here not based on your final grades. Get it?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good. Now straighten up and you might just be lucky to meet Fayt Leingod."
Yuin smirked.
"F-Fayt?"
Fordin suddenly lost his cool when he heard Fayt's name.
"Ha, you're all the same, can't wait to meet him. Just pray and hope your luck holds, kid. You'll need it."
Yuin laughed and went back to her seat.
"Don't let her get to you. She's always like that. And don't worry, if it's not this battle, we would definately get to see him in action later."
Jeremia told Fordin. That did help him slightly. Then the pilot came through the intercom.
"Alright boys, we're docked. Hit them with all you've got!"
"Right gentlemen, let's get locked and loaded."
Yuin was first to get up, slamming a clip into her rifle.
"Boys, it's playtime, let's rock and roll!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inching close to the door, he crouched low on the floor. Things were a little off schedule, but everything was still ready. Checking the map once more, he made sure that they were in the correct section. For a flagship, it was strangely deserted. The other teams all reported the same thing, having almost no opposition at all. Fayt thought it was weird, but he waved it off having the fact that most of the Vendeei fighters were sent out. Though even security was missing. There was definately something wrong, but Fayt had gone too far to back out. If it was a trap, then he would try to counter it before his flagship was destroyed.
"Right, let's go."
Fayt held the rifle tight, aiming forward as he ran through the corridor. Larni and her two subordinates followed closely behind, with Karin and Fuin taking up the rear. Fayt checked the next section, finding the cost clear, as usual.
"There is definately something wrong here."
Fayt said.
"Well, thanks for noticing it now."
Karin grumbled.
"I noticed it the whole time, but now, this is getting weird."
"So what do you want to do about it?"
"... Fuin, try to contact Pyikon and the others."
"But we did that just five minutes ago."
"Just do it."
"Right."
Fuin mumbled something under his breath, but still took out his communicator. But after five times, he gave up.
"It's not connecting."
"Pass it to me."
Karin snatched the small device from Fuin and pressed a couple of keys, and soon, the communicator connected.
"See?"
"Pyikon here, what's up?"
"Fayt wants to know about your situation at your side."
Fuin said, not really caring as he'd expected the same answer.
"It's smooth. Nothing's wrong here."
"Right, we'll contact you later."
Karin shut the connection, though Fuin looked like he wanted to complain.
"Is that all?"
Fuin asked, outraged most likely by the fact that they just wasted time confirming something already known.
"Fayt."
Karin looked to him.
"So you figured it out too, huh?"
Fayt sighed, slinging his weapon.
"What's going on?"
Larni asked.
"It's simple. This is a trap. We have to get back and locate the others."
"But Pyikon said that everything was fine!"
Fuin said.
"I know, but that wasn't Pyikon. Most likely a holograph. Pyikon would never say that everything was 'smooth'. In fact, i never thought he would be that... that..."
"Cool?"
Karin offered.
"Yeah, cool. But that's besides the point. We need to find them. I doubt the locator will help. We just need a guide-"
"Shh, here comes someone."
Larni suddenly warned. Fayt looked around and found a small wall closet and forced everyone inside. It was a tight squeeze, but everyone managed to get inside, which was the main point. Fayt let the closest door slightly ajar, allowing him to see who was crossing. The footsteps were hard and heavy. It didn't sound at like a Vendeeni. Fayt cautiously peered a little further.
A bumbling figure stumbled through the corridor, a combat guass rifle under one large hand. Large? Not at all like the Vendeeni. Was it one of them? As the figure came closer, Fayt could see that the person was wearing a combat suit. That would explain the heavy footsteps. The Vendeeni never did like small and crammed spaces, and would refuse almost violently if forced to wear armour, so a vendeeni wearing a combat suit would be nearly out of the question. The chances of the person being an enemy was greatly reduced to nearly ten percent.
But still, the possibility was still present. Soon, the person was close enough for Fayt to see through the visor helmet. Human. A young man with brown short hair and dark eyes. Fayt nodded to the rest, signalling them to follow him out. Fayt emerged from the closest and accidently startled the young man. He immediately aimed his guass at Fayt. Immediate reaction, aimed at the head. He was good. But at this range, about two meters, it was a wrong move. Fayt could have dodged his first attack and strike him in five different ways, at twelve different points. But this was no enemy.
"Put your weapon down, soldier. We're not your enemy."
Fayt said calmly. The young man did not put away his weapon at first, but slowly lowered it.
"Which unit are you from? I don't recognize you."
The young man asked, pulling his visor up.
"Me? I don't have a unit. I'm Fayt Leingod, admiral of the 'Eternal Vengence', and these are my comrades, if you think of them as such."
Fayt introduced himself. He did not remember seeing such a face on his ship before. The moment the young man heard Fayt's name, he immediately dropped his weapon and stood there, mouth hanging open and eyes large and wide.
"F-Fayt?"
"What are you so surprised about?"
Fuin asked, obviously being sub-consciously jealous.
"I-i can't believe i'm seeing THE Fayt Leingod! Sir, this is such an honour."
The young man bowed. Fayt felt slightly embarrassed but he was used to it already. With Kanai and the rest of his crew doing to samething every single day to him, it was obvious he would be use to it.
"That's alright. What's your rank and where's the rest of your squad?"
"S-sorry. I'm Private Fordin Richer, with lieutenant Yuin's black hounds."
"Yuin! Did something happen to her?"
Fuin asked.
"Oho? Fuin's worried?"
Karin smirked.
"Mind your own business. Private, spit it out, where is she?"
"S-she got captured! With the rest of the squad. We were ambushed in the engines room. I was the only one who managed to escape."
"So left your comrades? Is that it?"
Fuin suddenly snapped.
"Fuin, calm down, he is a realiable souce of information right now. Private, do you know where they are held?"
Fayt interjected before Fuin could do any harm to the poor guy.
"Well, i followed them to the prison cell block about five sections away from here. After that, i went out to find any remaining squads. So far no luck till i met you guys."
"Hmm... this is bad."
Fayt considered the factors. This was a definately problem that needed to be dealt with immediately. Though he may use this to his advantage.
"Fordin, i want you to lead me to where the prisoners are. I have a plan."
"Huh? er... sure. This way."
Fordin turned around and lead Fayt and the others down the corridor. There was something about this ship, that made Fayt feel uncomfortable. It was too quiet. Way too quiet.
"You hear that?"
Karin asked.
"Hear what? I don't hear anything."
Fuin said.
"That's my point. Nothing."
"You have no point? Then why ask?"
"That's not it! Why do i even bother?"
Karin sighed.
"Cut it out guys, we're nearly there. Right, here's my plan, Fordin, distract the guards, pull them towards us. Larni, Klo and Mino, go free the prisoners. Karin, get ready to pull the power. Fuin and i will get the guards."
Fayt explained as they reached the next section, which ironically had the sign 'Prison deck' in Vendeeni language written on the side. Though Fayt could not understand Vendeeni, there were obvious tell-tale signs that showed that it was the prison area.
"Loads of guards, high security door and-"
"Screaming prisoners..."
Karin finished Fayt's sentence for him.
"You know, i wonder how they managed to hide from us all this time."
"And why haven't they pulled on us yet."
Fuin added.
"Maybe they were waiting for us on the bridge, anyway, let's not push our luck. Fordin, you're on."
Fayt signaled him. Fordin nodded and stepped out from the corner they were hiding. The Vendeeni guards, about all ten of them, saw him, and shouted something incoherent, really. All charged, firing their disrupter rifles at him. With the suit, most of the shots would be deflected, but even the toughest of armours had their limits. By using this opportunity, Larni and her two subordinates snuck around the distracted guards and snuck into the holding block.
"Right, Fordin, pull back. Fuin, you ready?"
"I was born ready!"
"Good."
Fayt took out his communicator and connected to Karin.
"Karin, go for it."
"Roger, cutting powers... now."
The entire ship was plunged into darkness at that moment, but Fayt and Fuin placed their head band visors down, which was a new product by Fuin, and had night vision in place. Fordin stumbled back to where they were and primmed his rifle. Fayt looked on and the visor's auto-detection sensor located the enemy forms in the dark for him, having a red cross aiming at them. Fayt fired a couple of rounds into the first guard, but had to dodge a few rounds from a second. He connected to Fuin and Fordin.
"These guys have damn good hearing. We're going hand-to-hand combat. Fuin, you're coming with me. Fordin, stay back, watch our back and do some damage as you see fit."
"Got it."
"Understood, sir."
Fayt dropped his gun and pulled out his mythril sword. Fuin brought out a small stick the size of his palm and pressed a button, letting the stick extend into a pole.
"Let's go."
AN: I got reminded of starcraft and saw the trailer for Starcraft Ghost, so i sort of decided to place something similar in this fic.