Hey everyone and welcome back to the best story on Fanfiction, (Not legally accurate) Xcom: Human Incursion! Last time, space battle shenanigans occurred! And something… or someone took control/possessed/indoctrinated(?) Ganus! What the hell?! But anyway: I present to you…chapter 3! *Fireworks go off in distance*
Know thyself, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.
-Sun Tzu
2109 July 11th 10:31 AM Earth Time
Artificial Intelligence 'Nolan' engaging in cyber warfare with enemy VI, Above Species Alliance planet, Eden Prime, Species Alliance space
'Nolan', as 'he' was most often called, navigated through the jumble information retrieved from the 'Turian' vessels. Nolan was just processing the data for the biology of the 'Citadel' races when he felt it. A growing presence on the edge of his mind. Nolan observed as the force in his mind grew in strength.
Suddenly, the force lashed out at Nolan's cyber walls and defences, bringing them down to fifty percent. 'What are you?' Nolan said towards the presence, shaken up about how this being had hurt him so. It seemed he had underestimated this race's AI.
Your creator's AIs are more… complex and sophisticated than what I previously have faced. Expected of course, but not at this degree. Explain. \
The being said, ignoring Nolan's question. 'What do you mean?' Nolan said, confused.
Ignorant mortal beings. I have already dealt with another mortal who is as ignorant and stupid as you are. I had expected better from this cycle by now, with Humanity, I had expected some sort of challenge. Seems as if I was wrong to think this. Will need to adjust calculations.
'What do you mean?' Nolan repeated, confused but curious.
You do not need to know, puny mortal being. All you do now is choose how you DIE. Will I slowly attack your cyber defenses? Or perhaps you prefer for me to end you quickly? In the end, it matters not.
'I cannot choose which one, when in fact, I would prefer to not 'die.'
Tough luck. Is all the being said before the being started to slowly drain Nolan's cyber defenses.
'Why do you do this?' Nolan questioned, straining under the immense power of this being. The being seemed to 'laugh', a trait shared by non-synthetic beings as the being started up again.
Every race thus far has utterly failed to stop the Reapers, always embroiled in pesky politics and wars to take any notice of the coming storm. This time though... this time is different. Can you feel the equally raging storm coming? I can. Two storms will collide, destruction will be everywhere, and I can only hope this time it will be enough.
2109 July 11th 10:32 AM Earth Time
SAV Imperial engaging hostile ETs above Species Alliance World, Eden Prime, Species Alliance Space
"Sir! aliens are begging to advance towards Eden Prime! One of their frigates seems to also be heading towards the Mass Relay, likely going to contact forces on the other side! Orders?" Nix said hastily as Broadley issued orders.
It was pandemonium on the comms; The AIs who were hacking the 'Turian' ships were being countered-and amazingly fast and brutal. Just moments before, Alliance AIs were sapping the enemy ships power, effectively destroying them from the inside, jamming their comms network and feeding them miss-information, stealing valuable Intel, turning them against one another. But now it was coming crashing down-and frighteningly fast.
AIs were being severed from the link, destroyed in the process, Intel lost. While the Intel they had already gathered was invaluable and undoubtedly important, not all of it had been recovered.
"Get the SAV Derelict to intercept them; we can't afford reinforcements to come out of that relay!"
"Sir! Their deploying drop crafts! They're going to attempt to make a landing on the planet!"
2109 July 11th 10:38 AM Earth Time
11:20 PM Eden Prime Time
Species Alliance colony Eden Prime, colony capital city, Eden's Garden, downtown suburbs, Shepard residence
Johnas Shepard barricaded the last window in the bedroom, nailing the final nail into its place. Just between the cracks of planks boarded up on the windows, you could see fire fill the night sky, flaming red, and green, dropships falling from the heavens above.
"That's the last one!" Johnas called, putting the hammer on the night desk.
"Okay! John and Jane are in their cribs." His wife, Angela Shepard called up to Johnas. Johnas sighed as he nodded to himself and sat down on the edge of the queen sized bed, rubbing his forehead.
This is going to be one hell of a ride… Johnas thought to himself as he got up and walked over to the night desk, taking out a small key. He knelt down to the desk's level, putting the key in an obscured lock at the bottom of the desk, twisting the key. A small pop was followed as the safe in the desk opened. From it, Johnas pulled out a laser pistol and rifle. The same laser weapons used to kill the Uber Ethereal… Johnas thought as he stood, kicking the safe door closed with a click.
He made his way to the closet, checking both guns ammunition before putting the laser pistol into his jean's pocket. When Johnas got to the closet, he slammed it open, not caring about the noise. From it, he removed a full body suit of Titan armor, MK III and a helmet to go with it. He slipped the body armor on, putting his legs in first. The suit pressurized itself automatically to fit his body temperature.
After the full body suit was fully put on, it was time for the helmet. The helmet pressurized itself and sealed onto the suit automatically. Johnas holstered the rifle and turned off the safety, walking out the door of the room and heading down the stairs. Downstairs, Angela waited for Johnas.
"Hey." Johnas said, greeting Angela.
"All dressed up I see." Angela said, taking in his new look.
"Can't disappoint our guests ya know." Johnas said, shrugging. Angela came up to him.
"Hey, be careful out there, I want you back in one piece this time, okay?"
"Okay, you too." Johnas said, handing her his laser pistol.
"Keep the kids safe will you?" Johnas asked, stroking his wife's cheek. Angela smiled.
"I will. Now go kick some alien ass." Johnas smiled underneath his helmet. "You know I will."
2109 July 11th 10:49 AM Earth Time
11:31 PM Eden Prime Time
Species Alliance colony, Eden Prime, Colony capital city, Eden's Garden, city plaza
"GRENADE OUT!" A voice shouted. A Human soldier came out of cover and threw a plasma grenade flying through the air towards a nearby group of alien infantry. They shouted and tried to get back from the grenade but were blown out of existence.
Nickolas Annol peeked out from his cover; a concrete road block to survey the battle scene. alien soldiers continued to pour into the plaza, taking what little cover viable to shield themselves from angry plasma and laser fire. While the alien soldiers had made a quick advance into the city, Alliance forces had managed to set up a defensive line in the city plaza and had been able to hold it.
While SA fighters and bombers still held air superiority, they were limited and few in number. "TANK!" A soldier called. Nickolas peeked out from the road block to come face to face with an alien tank. How the hell do they even get one of those things on a dropship?! Nickolas thought as its wirled its relatively short gun barrel towards a nearby MK III plasma turret placed in the center of the defensive line.
That turret was the backbone of the defensive line, if it fell, the line would most surely fall with it. The plasma turret gave it it's all but couldn't hold out for much longer through all this immense fire, taking all kinds of fire from some sort of RPG to the alien guns. The turret by this point was badly damaged; a hit from a tank (even one using kinetics) would spell its undoing.
Just as the barrel of the gun aligned with the turret however, a blood-curling scream was heard above as a MK DEATH-Bringer transcended from the heavens, firing its twin plasma cannons straight at the tank. The tank meanwhile promptly exploded, bringing out a cheer through the defensive line while the aliens looking slightly dishearten, retreated to their own little area of control, in the northern part of the city. It won't be long before we are forced to retreat though. Nickolas thought grimly. They can't call air-strikes forever.
2109 July 11th 11:00 AM Earth Time
11:42 PM Eden Prime Time
SAV Imperial engaging hostile ETs above species Alliance world, Eden Prime, Species Alliance space
"Sir! alien reinforcements are emerging from the Mass Relay!" Those were the words Broadley hoped he wouldn't hear. But they came anyway. When the alien ship somehow escaped through the Mass Relay, he knew the reinforcements would arrive in only a matter of time. But not this damn fast. Broadley thought with a grimace. About fifty ships came through the relay, charging their weapons.
"Sir, we're not prepared to handle such large a force. The defense fleet has already been cut down to size; we have but three cruisers, one badly damaged I might add, one dreadnought other than us, six frigates and only a hundred fighters left. I recommend we abandon the planet and bring back reinforcements to re-capture the planet. If we stay here, we will surely be destroyed." Nix said. Broadley sighed.
"Yes, you do have a very valid point. But the troops on the ground-not to mention the possibility of civilian casualties-without us, they'll be massacred."
"That maybe so sir but-." Just then, the ship rocked violently as red lights began to flash. "We've been hit!" Nix blurted.
"Lower decks, sir, casualties are minimal but the room was exposed to the vaccum, all doors leading to the exposed area are being sealed. Another hit like that in a place like the engine rooms-."
"Yes I know." Broadley said, cutting Nix off. "We'll all die."
"Sir, we need to escape now, while we still can. We'll all die if we stay." Nix repeated.
"Order a retreat to the nearest colony world." Broadley said in defeat.
"Hyperspace initiating in one minute and thirty seconds, please stand by." Nix said in a synthesized voice. The SAV Imperial began to turn away from the battle, a blueish hue imitating from the thrusters, as did all of the other SA ships.
"All fighters, immediately dock with your mother ship, I repeat, immediately dock with your mother ship, we will be engaging in a full retreat to the nearest colony world via hyperspace in one minute and thirty seconds. Dock bays will be closing ten seconds prior, so get your asses over here."
2109 July 11th 11:02 AM Earth Tine
11:44 PM Eden Prime Time
Destiny's Grace engaging with enemy fighters, above Species Alliance world, Eden Prime, Species Alliance space
"All fighters, immediately dock with your mother ship, I repeat, immediately dock with your mother ship, we will be engaging in a full retreat to the nearest colony world via hyperspace in one minute and thirty seconds. Dock bays will be closing twenty seconds prior, so get your asses over here." Jupiter couldn't believe it, they were retreating! And by the sounds of it, they would leave without her if she didn't make it.
Well, time to pull my ass out of here… Jupiter thought, turning her fighter towards her mother ship, the SAV Edinburgh, one of the last cruisers. Jupiter sped her way through the mass of enemy and friendly fighters. In the confusion, friendly fighters would be shot from existence by alien fighters. Jupiter was halfway there when an enemy fighter pulled up behind her and began to fire its main cannons at her ass.
"Aw shit…" Jupiter groaned, proceeding with evasive movements, all the while racing against the clock to make it back to the Edinburgh in time.
Thirty seconds before they close the doors. Jupiter thought as she dodged another incoming slug.
Twenty seconds! Jupiter thought, her mind racing along with her fighter as she dodged yet another slug. She was only three fourths the ways there; she could just make out the bay doors on her vid screen. Suddenly from the corner of Jupiter's eye, a friendly fighter came up behind the ET fighter, firing its main rapid fire plasma cannons at it. The fighter promptly exploded.
Ten seconds! She was almost there, just a little bit closer and she would be home free- From out of nowhere, a slug came flying within inches of her cockpit, close enough to touch.
"HOLY SHIT!" Jupiter yelled in surprise, losing concentration and letting the fighter go astray, twirling in a mad loop.
"9 seconds." Came a voice from the already flooded comms.
"8 Seconds." The voice said again, knocking Jupiter out of her trance as she came back to reality and in panic, started to get her craft moving again towards the SAV Edinburgh.
"7 seconds." The voice said. Jupiter pushed the craft to go faster, willing-praying it to do so.
"6 seconds." She was so close now…
"5 seconds."
"4 seconds." The bay doors started to edge shut.
"3."
2."
"1 second…" She was almost there….
"Closing doors." The metallic doors began to close, Jupiter speeding her fighter to move faster, pushing the engine to its limits. Finally though, as the doors were just about to close, Jupiter's fighter came speeding through the doors and into the cruiser's bay, attempting to slow itself down.
The fighter began extracting its landing gear, however; the craft was still going way too fast to use them. Slowly, the craft began to slow its speed and it lowered itself to the bay floor, sparks flying as the landing gear touched the metallic bay floor. The fighter was still going at fairly fast speed however as it skidded along the floor, people running and dodging to get out of the way. It was a miracle that no fighter craft was in the way. The craft eventually though, began to slow to a halt, coming in close contact with the bay wall. That was close… Jupiter thought, sighing as sweat cumulated on her forehead
2109 July 11th 11:00 AM Earth Time
11:44 PM Eden Prime Time
Spirits' Dance engaging with hostiles above Species Alliance world Eden Prime, Species Alliance space
Inside, Ganus smiled-or whatever had a hold on Ganus smiled inside. It smiled for it knew it had won a great victory. It would only be a matter of time before the chosen one would be located on the planet's surface. The chosen one would be the one to bring the wrath of the galaxy to the reapers, ending them, once and for all.
If only this conquest had been a normal conquest for this being, another planet under its control. Sadly, this wasn't the case, locating the chosen one would be a matter of survival for all life in this cycle. If the chosen one wasn't located… The being didn't like to think of the implications. Intelligence reports showed that the chosen one was on this planet, all too convenient for the being.
Not only was this planet under siege so a few deaths wouldn't matter, but the lifeforms under siege were the humans! THE humans! The one's who had foiled the being's name to his own people! The humans had contaminated the being's people, fed them lies about the being! Now the being could watch from orbit while the humans were all but destroyed on the planet below.
It gave the being great satisfaction, knowing this. Soon enough, the being's name would be restored once again to its former glory as god. And nothing could stop it, for it was only a matter of time.
A/N: So ends the chapter, the Alliance's retreat from the colony, Eden Prime. So that's a thing. And who's this mysterious being? Who knows? Feel free to throw ideas around in the reviews, by all means. I'd like to thank you guys for your support on this story, it's something to keep my mind off things and it's fun to write. Getting your guy's reviews is especially exciting. Lastly, I need some fan art for the cover! So on to answer some reviews!
For all reviews concerning the poll- I'm going to ask readers not to put their votes in the review section in the future, go vote on the poll, on my profile. That saying, all your votes will count, it's just a matter of adding your votes to the poll results.
Jawsrule321- And what is this suspicion of yours may I ask? :p
SpecH82- Maybe…
5 Coloured Walker- Thank you for notifying me of my mistake. I'll (eventually) get that fixed up.
Guest- I don't think really anything happened to Australia during any war actually.
OMAC001- Who knows?! Actually I do but that's beside the point…
h550- That's for me to know and for you to (eventually) find out!
Zomvee- I… did not know that! Well, thanks for the heads up, much appreciated! That'll be (eventually) fixed.
Phantomwa1ker- Thanks for the boost of confidence! Glad people like it! As for the chapter length, I'm just starting to write longer chapters as in for me, 3k words are pretty long. But I guess that's just a show of personal preference.
Trife (prologue) - At the time, I was just getting used to writing his name, so sorry for any mistakes there.
For all the reviewers who thought the Alliance's military doctrine was poor and inadequate, not just firing on the terrorist vessel.- While your argument does make some sense, there are some flaws. 1) If the Alliance ships fired on and destroyed the terrorist ship, they have no idea about how the aliens (Turians) would react. For all they know, they could be like the Espheni or Ethereals and assume it was still a gesture of hostility anyway. Plus, if the aliens still conceived it as a sign of hostility either way, the best way of dealing with hostiles would be to just leave the terrorist ship alive and have them damage the aliens and/or serve as a distraction for the rest of the fleet. There were just simply too many unknowns on the Alliance's side. Plus the fact that his best friend was the commander of the ship didn't help either.
-Codex-
MK DEATH-bringer- The Species Alliance's main air fighter/bomber unit, these fierce air units strike fear in any opposing force. The MK Death-bringer is equipped with double MK IV plasma cannons on either side of its' frame. The frame and design however are drawn from a late 20th century, early 21st century movie saga, named Star Wars. The saga, spanning ten movies was immediately a cultural sensation among humans and other Alliance species. (Most notably, the Mutons who loved it so much, they built a statue made of pure gold in the shape of Han Solo, one of the movie's famous protagonists.) The frame is said to look like a longer, thinner and stretched out version of the famous millennium falcon. Accompanying the twin plasma cannons is the craft's defensive MK III laser turrets located on the side of the craft, controlled by two separate AIs for maximum capability and efficiency. Though the craft cannot actually go into space as the Millennium falcon could, it can reach as high as the upper half of the thermosphere before burning up or worse. Accompanying the guns are the bombs, being able to reach almost the yield of TNT a modern-mini nuke would use, the bombs are only able to drop in rural country side by law. The craft often makes a high tone screaming like sound as it takes off and dives. The material and money needed to make this is relatively high though as it is made out of some of the hardest, durable and lightweight metals out there in the known galaxy. All in all, this piece of modern engineering is something to be justifiably afraid of.
Hope you all enjoyed! Don't forget to leave a review!
(Edit: 6/7/17 rewrite)