AN: Thank you all again for your feedback and suggestions. As always, I'm open to questions or requests.
Capture the Flag
1400 Hours, Early Fall 17th, 1994 (Local Time) Corneria City, CDSS
BLUE TEAM HAS THE FLAG
Miyu was sprinting across an open section of grassland, her breathing loud in the confines of her VR helmet, and the submachine gun held up as she pumped her legs.
A flurry of laser bolts impacted in the rock formation to her left, and the lynx rolled to cover in the recession of the riverbed.
She glanced at the minimap on her HUD, watching the red dot of an enemy contact veer off and engage one of her own pale yellow "friendly" contacts further off. Looking up to verify she could see a distant marker labeled 'F42' in that direction.
So Falco was on overwatch, took him long enough... she thought with a roll of her eyes.
Rising, Miyu jogged through the shallows towards the opposing side of the map, hearing the furious exchange of laser fire and the more unusual staccato report of human weaponry. The rev of an engine made her long ears twitch, and she picked up the pace.
Here we go.
There was a twisting of metal and a deafening bang as a Cornerian LAV skittered into view, just below the lip of some rocky outcrops overhanging the riverbed. The black smoke curling out of the rear of the hovercraft trying to regain stabilization was telling of the severity of that last rocket strike. 'S12' and 'F37' were blinking above the vehicle on her HUD.
The passenger hatch blew open, and Fay came bounding out with the brilliant Red banner of the opposing team held up triumphantly. The collie sprinted through the shallows as the LAV diverted back up to the grassy hills to draw enemy fire. Miyu idly thought that Slippy was doing surprisingly well with the vehicle, considering his rep as a screw up.
"Hey girl, get a move on!"
"Got it! The boys are doubling back with us!" Fay's rejoinder as she zipped by was amplified by the helmet's COM system, and hearing such on the team-wide net, Fox chimed in.
"Runners, head for the finish line. Falco, take care of the guy behind Slippy."
"Yeah yeah, I heard yah."
There was another clatter of human automatic weapons fire, and two kill reports scrolled across the lower right of the combatants HUDs.
Logan351 killed Ferral_owo
Logan351 killed Spyr0
"Base this is Logan," came the steady voice of the team's resident alien, "Five foot mobiles moving on runners position, over."
"Copy that," up on the blue team's outer defenses, Fox swung his rifle over the concrete bunker's lip to cover the incoming flag team. The Papetoon Armory Series IV "Sniper Rifle" was one of the deadlier weapons in the CDF's arsenal, and McCloud was no slouch when it came to sharpshooting with the crimson beams. The Cornerians had heard Logan mutter about "jackals" when he'd first seen the weapon.
"Hey Lo! Little help down here?"
Both of the Cornerian girls were taking cover as they crossed the last stretch, lasers impacting the shallow water around the rocks they crouched behind, throwing up steam and the scent of ozone. Miyu felt her heart hammering as she furiously debated making a run for the base with Fay. Bright red beams lanced out from McCloud's position towards the center of the map, but he wasn't able to provide them cover where they were. Peeking around the rim of her granite hiding spot, Miyu could see three of the enemy team advancing on them, two bulldogs leapfrogging from cover with their laser rifles trained on her and the rearmost husky pinning them down with his squad support gatling gun.
Then came the crack and clatter of an MA5C rifle once more.
Logan had doubled back in time to flank the anticipated enemy rush to reclaim their flag. From his position prone on a hillside he fired short, controlled bursts at the three accosting Fay and Miyu, and giving the runners a clear shot at the door to their base.
It was as Miyu splashed through the confusion with Fay lugging their captured flag, that she looked up briefly to throw a clever one liner at her roommate.
The look on his face killed that lighthearted comment dead.
A lot of people took the sims seriously, some wanted to emulate the hardcore specops types, others really got into the competitive nature of the leader boards... but Logan didn't look like he was scoring points. There was cold hatred in his eyes then, and for a moment Miyu felt a shiver go through her.
She felt suddenly ashamed that they had dragged him out to this match. He'd actually done this before for real, and who could imagine what the memory was doing to him?
This was the make-or-break moment. Only a few dozen seconds left on the timer, and Miyu and Fay were fast approaching their base with the enemy flag. Both Falco and Fox were providing cover. The lynx and the collie ran, their shapely legs pumping as they dashed the final few meters.
Then the bulk of the enemy team crested the hillside and began to pour laser fire towards them.
Falco was cursing, as he'd missed a great opportunity right when the enemy team had crossed the peak because he was busy saving Slippy from the anti-armor. Now the angle they were heading down the incline meant he had to compensate for speed and direction.
Lombard69 killed Gr00t5
"Still got it..." He mused with a smirk.
Fox was likewise attempting support fire, although a gatling gun would have been more useful. Sadly, he'd expended the last of that weapon's armor piercing rounds on an earlier LAV rush.
FoxMC killed Davedave22
Ducking to avoid a stray rocket, McCloud grit his teeth as masonry pinged off his helmet.
"O'Donnell, shut the door!" he barked with urgency, hearing the shouts and clatter of the enemy team streaming in behind the girls. Eyeing the timer, Fox held his breath as he could almost taste how close the girls were to scoring with the enemy flag.
Then there were a few screams, and a furious scuffle from the walkway under Fox's perch, followed by several kill reports with the 'melee' symbol next to them
Wolf5 killed Bubs3
Wolf5 killed F3rr3T
Wolf5 killed Badger66
Wolf5 killed H6wk
Wolf5 killed sMegg88
FLAG CAPTURED
GAME OVER
There was a blip, and the overall score updated with another point for Blue Team. The timer ran out as the cheers over the COM system were coming in, and Fox lay back against the concrete wall with a smile on his muzzle.
"Damn it Wolf, give me the goddamn shotgun if you're not even going to use it."
"Piss off human," came the lupine's wry reply.
"Smashing people into the walls how they teach you CQB in Lylat?"
"On Macbeth at least."
"We sure whupped those losers!" A shrill avian cry mocked the other team from across the map, "Keep sending that hatemail ya morons, I nevah even check my inbox!"
The world glowed for a moment, and then the surrounding landscape dissolved into a wire grid as the simulation ended.
Down in the CDSS computer lab, the Cornerians plus one Human were removing their VR headsets, shaking off the disorientation, and playfully jostling as they congratulated each other.
The sim league had been an exciting competition. Teams from among the student populace got together to compete in the virtual reality training system normally used for CDF lessons and maneuvers. CTF, or "capture the flag" was one of the most popular ones due to the strategic nature of securing an objective and alternating both offence and defense. Even the UNSC had similar exercises, though Logan's claim that the recreational side had invented something called "griffball" raised some eyebrows when he described it as playing ball with a bomb.
Fox hummed to himself as the motley group filed out of the room, hoisting backpacks again and preparing to head home soon. Like many times before he'd assumed the position of team leader, and he couldn't help but critique himself in the after-action like he was in front of his father again.
It was a tall order to live up to the mantle of the Star Fox mercenary team, but James McCloud was a patient and thorough teacher. Above all he'd cautioned Fox to look out for his teammate's well being and to understand their strengths and shortcomings.
It was surprising what even mock-combat could tell you about a person. Looking back, he noticed several points about his friends:
Falco would invariably stick to sharpshooting, very proud of his marksmanship but sometimes ignoring the objective in favor of racking up his score.
Slippy always did as he was told, but he tended to choke under pressure and worked better when he was cooperating with someone else.
Miyu was aggressive in seeking out close quarters battle, and favored hand-to-hand, although she bristled at being ordered around too much.
Fay ironically kept her chatter during firefights to a minimum, and tagged along with Miyu covering her back.
Wolf, now that guy was a real terror. There wasn't much else you could say about a guy that actually considered smashing someone's helmet into the wall a valid tactic, but he tended to favor ambushes and overwhelming the enemy before slipping away. Fox felt it had something to do with the unspoken history the lupine had regarding Macbeth.
Logan worried him.
McCloud couldn't help but frown slightly as he ruminated on the alien transfer student. It had been an eye-opening revelation when Jones had confided in the group the truth of what happened over in Human space, although much as they wanted to believe him it was hard to really understand what that kind of struggle really meant.
The way Logan fought said much more than he ever did.
Fox noticed that his father, and many other veterans in the CDF tended to have a certain disposition, especially when on the firing range. Their handling of their weapons was practiced, movement urgent, and overall behavior oddly calm under fire. Regarding Logan however, it felt really abnormal seeing someone his own age with such a demeanor.
Logan tended to stick to any available cover he could, even if it meant prostrating himself in the dirt. He was constantly checking the skyline as if expecting a bombing run, and he never actually trash talked during the matches, or said much of anything outside radio procedure until the match was done. It wasn't unusual for people to take the VR fighting seriously for training purposes, but Logan had this look on his face when they were fighting as if he was looking at everything from very far away. A really haggard, hollow look in his eyes.
It creeped Fox out, to be honest.
He resolved to ask his father about it. Working with someone that had been through the wringer obviously needed to be handled carefully, he remembered that James had once lamented that the CDF didn't know how to handle their vets properly, that removing troops for at-risk behavior only separated them from their unit and further isolated them, leading to suicides. Admittedly Lylat didn't have too much conflict to produce as many vets affected by such things, but clearly the UNSC was a different story.
Maybe he would invite Logan over sometime to have a drink with him and his father. Things had been awkward since the incident with Pigma, and he was sure his father wanted to talk things out with the human.
Fox hefted his gear, and followed his friends out the door.
The sun had set, and the gang had congregated over at Falco's on the roof.
Wolf was hunched over a grill, the smell of stirfry filling the air as it sizzled under his careful paw. It had been explained to Logan once that Cornerians had some non-sentient creatures on their planet that they used for meat just like Humans did. Whatever it was, O'Donnell had added some bell peppers and chili spice from Macbeth, creating a wonderful aroma against the backdrop of music and conversation.
Falco had set up his stereo, playing some kind of local music that sounded a lot like old Earth "rock" that Jones heard some of the marines playing before. Silhouetted against the dying embers of the horizon and the inky night sky, Lombardi had an animated chat with Bill about hover cycles.
Logan was sitting with his back to a crate, with the others arrayed on a blanket they'd set out. The beer can was cold in his hands, and the taste of the lager was refreshing. The heat of the grill warded off the evening chill, and he couldn't help but choke on his drink and laugh as Fara finished her hilarious story about getting a customs official slapped by his wife for ogling her at a formal function.
"So what's the word on getting our paws on the flight sim room Foxy?" Katt's salacious behavior had only gotten worse as the night and drinks wore on. Currently she was teasing Falco as he tried to look unimpressed.
"This weekend, I figure it's time we pay back Jones for his help at the firing range. It certainly helped during our last ranked match." McCloud raised his can to the human who did likewise.
"Anytime."
"Aww, I left my optical chip back at my dad's," Slippy groaned, "Anybody got something else we can watch later?"
"Ooooh!" Miyu perked up and elbowed Logan's side, "I've got Star Trek on a chip in my bag, you've totally gotta check it out."
"Yeah?" The human quirked a brow at the feline.
"It's great, I always wanted to go kick tail with Captain Kirk all over the galaxy when I was a kitten."
"Sounds like a good show, I think it's cute how you've got some nerdy hobbies under that tough-girl look."
"I do not!"
"Oh yes you do."
Laughing, Jones kept Miyu back as she tried to brain him with a fist. By the grill, Fara was having a quiet conversation with Wolf, who looked oddly comfortable cooking there. With Fay telling another animated story to the group, it made for a nice evening.
The stirfry was doled out steaming onto paper plates, and for a few moments there was only the sound of eating from the varied species and some laughs as the slightly drunk teenagers noticed how funny they looked ravenously eating. More drink was passed around, and then Falco broke out a bottle of hard liquor and some shotglasses.
"Aight, everybody gather round an don't make me ask twice!"
Logan soon found himself side by side with Falco and Wolf, all of them in a circle as they raised their glasses filled with amber.
"Now I ain't a guy make a big deal a' things, but I just wanted to say I'm glad we're all here and for every one a' you I got your back. So, to stickin' with your crew, forever." The blue avian called out solemnly.
Katt smiled with something other than her usual saucy grin at Lombardi, and then lifted her own glass, "To being there for each other when times are tough."
Fox took his cue and spoke next, "Some of us have been friends longer than others, but you're all part of the team, and part of our family. To all the fights we've been through and all the fights to come."
Slippy lifted his glass to the same height as the others, "I promise I'll never let any of you down when you need me. To building a future with our own hands!"
Bill and Fay rubbed shoulders and raised their glasses together, "To all our friendships and all our love lives!" Cheers and chuckles followed.
Miyu winked at Logan and flicked her tail, "To all of you dorks, I wouldn't give you up for the whole world."
Fara stared into her shot, "To facing our futures together, whatever they may bring."
Next to her, Wolf had a somber look across his muzzle, "To protecting what's important to us."
Finally, Logan raised his glass. He paused for a moment, about to speak, and then tapped his glass on the top of a crate, "To the fallen."
As one, the group of varied teenagers from all walks of life knocked back their glasses, and gave a rowdy cheers. The burn of the spirit matched their own, as more than one blinked back sudden tears, though not unwelcome.
The night wore on, and they spoke and sang and shouted together. All at once the feelings of being young and just at the cusp of adulthood, coming into their own for the first time. It felt like there was so much hope in that frontier they called their future, and with each other by their side they could take on anything.
They eventually came inside, and amongst Falco's half-nude avian girl posters and general mess, arrayed themselves over the large couch, easy chair and cushions as sleeping bags and popcorn was broken out. The vidscreen blinked on, and after fiddling with the chip, Star Trek began to play. Jones thought it was interesting how the canines on the show were in some retro-futuristic getup with those yellow, blue and red suits.
As the alcohol haze began to wear off and sleep started to claim them, Logan looked around the dark living room to see the gang arrayed in a haphazard pile while the episodes quietly played out on the screen. Bill and Fay were cuddled up by one side, and amusingly Wolf and Fara had somehow ended up beside each other as they leaned together amid the blankets. Falco's beak was hanging open, and Katt rested her head beneath it already deep in slumber. Blinking, Logan looked to his right and found Miyu curled up on his side, purring slightly in her sleep. He felt something in him melt, and let his arm drape over her shoulders as he settled back and closed his eyes amidst the warmth. Drifting to sleep as he heard the audio track still playing.
Where no man has gone before...
Beside the sleeping teenagers, inside Logan's backpack, his TACPAD screen flashed to life, and text began to scroll across it in a message unnoticed by the unaware dreamers.
United Nations Space Command Priority Transmission
09872H-99
Encryption Code: Red
Public Key: file/Truman-Doctrine-Matrix/
From: Fleet Admiral Lord Terrance Hood, Chief of Naval Operations, UNSC Marathon/ (UNSC Service Number: 07960-48392-TH)
To: /fwd/Jones, Logan (Civilian Identification Number: 10141-026-SRB4694)
Subject: WARNING ORDER
Classification: RESTRICTED (BGX Directive)
/start file/
As of 22:00 GMT the UNSC is formally at war with the Venomian Empire. All civilian attachés involved with diplomatic, scientific, and military liaison are required to familiarize themselves with evacuation procedure to the nearest UNSC military asset in-system: Battlegroup MYRMIDON via Cornerian Orbital Gate BT-X.
Addendum: assets involved with Op HELMS DEEP
Additional briefing and security codes to be issued via ONI prowler at 13:00 hrs 18th Local Time.