/ Duel Universe
/ Author: The Cowboy of Oklahoma
/ Ch 4.1: Coronado attacked
/ word count: 1878
Since the start of the invasion, naval bases were moved inland for better protection. All sea going vessels, save for a few luxury cruisers and liners left for the elderly and those refusing to leave the planet, were dismantled in a speed and fashion unbefitting their honor and memories in service. But time was of the essence, and metal could not be made or shaped fast enough for the ships that needed to be built. So warships, commercial, and civilian boats alike, were gutted for their steel hull, girders, wiring, engines and other resources. Nothing was left of a ship as she was unceremoniously, yet carefully, ripped apart. The ships being built, needed these resources and metal for their own, if the human race was to survive. Only problem was, it took nearly two full ships worth of resources to make just one of the hovercrafts that the Earth needed. Steel Mills and construction crews worked 24/7 shifts just to make enough steel, shape them and build ships. It was a sight to see, what should have taken months to accomplish, took just a few weeks. The very computer driven engines were a whole other matter, computer and tech companies worked just as hard along scientists and engineers to construct and perfect the "Anti-Grav" engine and "Impulse" emitters to allow ship flight in zero gravity conditions. New space suits, smaller, lighter, but no less sturdy, were also designed. Since movement in space cannot be limited, the suits needed to be as close to human size as possible. First drafts were merely a wetsuit with an old divers helmet on it, total mobility and complete head coverage. The trick was connecting them so there wasn't any air loss from the tanks. Then the backpack was redesigned to be smaller but just as efficient at air scrubbing. Boots with electronic magnetic soles were implemented. Then for the battery usage, a component was attachable to the backpack so that it can be removed if needed, and since it was going to be used in space, weight wouldn't be an issue. The new suits now had helmets that would turn with the users head. Could function in multiple settings, in space, on the ground, and in the water. Materials were fairly thin, and easily adjustable for different body types.
Brethren Forces:
A group of two dozen individuals moved quickly and silently across the fields and open terran, staying low. Last night, there was a report of the goo about to reach Canada, and that the last base there was no longer a viable option. So instructions were sent and events set in motion for that bases destruction. Instead of the ship that was being built there, a different ship was selected as the new target of the Collective. Reaching the 200yrd range of the base, the group stopped and looked through binoculars at their destination.
"Looks like their personnel are packing up and headed for the transports." One of the infiltrators said.
"The call went out this morning for all their troops except the ones needed to complete the ship and to crew it, were ordered out. So we wait until most of those transports leave then the base will be mostly deserted, then we sweep in and catch them unawares." The leader said.
"How long will that take?" A young female asked.
"You just sit there and observe. You're not even supposed to be here." Another said.
She scowled, but stayed quiet. One of the men pulled a bag, then started assembling what looked like a gun.
"Hey! What's he gonna need that for!?" She asked, concern on her face.
"Don't worry, it's just a tranquilizer. One hit, and they won't cause us any trouble." The man said with a straight face.
The young female looked at him questionably, but took him at his word. Then she grabbed a pair of binoculars and watched the base slowly empty.
A few hours later, the leader of the group broke out the no camp fire survival packs. Told everyone to nestle in for the night because the base should be mostly empty by dawn. So they all used their MREs to eat then wrapped in the special blankets to rest till morning. The young female had been camping with her dad a few times, and he had taught her to use this gear and MREs, though she still preferred a tent and campfire. Of course, that was before he became such an important man to the rest of the world and they missed their camping trip together for the last four years. She had tried taking a couple friends on some short trips, but they refused to sleep outside, under the stars and clear skies. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep a little. The sniper quietly got the leaders attention and moved over to him to talk.
"Man! Why'd you bring the senators daughter!? She's not ready for this yet!" The sniper told the leader in a whisper.
"Don't blame me. She was going to go up the chain of command and then we would have been forced to take her. So I just told her to be a lookout and not to engage anyone if she can help it. Besides, she's been through our boot and has had some extensive hand to hand training, not to mention her dueling is well above any of us here. She may become useful in the end." The leader explained.
"Don't tell me you're planning to make her duel someone!?" He asked.
"Heck no. But if we ever get into a pinch, daddy won't be far behind with reinforcements. She's his precious child and that guarantees us an extraction." The leader grinned.
The sniper started to eye her through her blanket. "Hey, you know she's not half bad looking either."
"Don't even think about it!" The leader threatened. "If she has even so much as a hair out of place before we get back to base, I'll string you up just like that black boy that tried to join our outfit!" The leader explained, loud and clear.
The sniper, and a few close enough to hear them all got the picture.
"Okay, I get it. We'll look after her and keep her safe." The sniper declared.
"You'd better!" The leader looked around at the men closest to him.
The next morning, the group watched from afar and waited until only one transport was on the ground. Then the leader signaled for the device to be set up and gotten ready.
"Wait until there off the ground and on their way. That way they won't think about turning back if they're not getting a distress signal." The leader said.
Heads nodded in agreement and the device was assembled and set for max range. When the last transport took off, they listened in on the chatter via the jammer, and when the final word was spoken and the transport was headed south, the leader gave the signal and the entire area went completely radio silent. Nothing that wasn't strong enough or in line of sight with its intended receiver, could not get through. The group moved closer to the base gate and then the young female was told to lookout and call out any targets.
"Okay. So far the closest person is at the gate. Oh. He's cute too." She noted.
The sniper that was eyeing her last night, aimed the rifle. He didn't like to hear how someone else was better looking than him. So he leveled the gun at the soldier, and waited until he was told to fire. He knew better than to get the leader mad at him. He looked to the leader for the final signal. A Jeep drove by the gate, the soldier saluted then went back to his post after the Jeep left.
"Was that the base commander?" Someone asked.
"Sure was. He's a priority target. We get him, were guaranteed the keys to that hovercraft!" The leader noted. He looked to the sniper and gave the signal.
The sniper grinned, evil in his eyes, then he shot. The young female gasped suddenly as the soldier fell to the ground.
"What!? What was that!? He just fell down!" She almost shouted.
"Go! Go! Go!" The leader ordered.
The group got up and ran for the now defenseless gate, and right past the now dead soldier. The young female got close enough to see the pool of blood around the soldiers head.
"I thought you said those were tranqs!?" She asked
"They are." The sniper answered. "Permanent tranqs, now let's go!" He said pushing her onto the base.
Her eyes went wide with horror as the realization dawned on her. She was now part of a deadly game and she didn't want to be here anymore, but how does she get out of it. This guy wouldn't leave her alone or let her go. She was dragged along and told to keep watch as no less than three men surrounded her. She couldn't break free without causing a scene, and she couldn't stand up because the bullets were hitting way too close for her to make a run for it. She was stuck. The group pushed through the base, a few explosions rocked the area, and she screamed at the closest ones. Then more screams came and they weren't from her, or the group she was with. The more they moved, the more bodies she saw. On had a single hole in his chest, another was a fairly young female soldier, she was missing part of her face. She leaned down to look at the name tag, Jenkins, but she was pulled away before she could close the girls eyes. She was rattled, completely in shock of the situation.
"Come on! They're pulling back to the hangers! One of them has to have the craft!" The sniper said while looking down his scope.
He fired some rounds off and there was screaming as a response.
"Haha! Got my seventh!" He was so gleeful about it.
She just couldn't think of a way out, there was nothing she could do! She turned to look away and saw another body. She almost screamed again, turned and saw another, and another. The world began to swing a bit, then she was shoved and heard the order to pull back.
"Hovercraft!!" Someone shouted out loud.
She peeked over her shoulder, a new craft was descending down from the clouds and they were laying down fire at their heels. She was pushed until they were inside a building, and the bullets stopped raining down.
"Where'd that thing come from!? I thought we set up a signal jammer for this entire area!"
She was still in shock and didn't hear the rest of the words coming out of their mouths. She looked at the duel disk she was carrying and then turned to the others.
"How about we wager something for safe passage out of here?" She showed her disk to the others.
"And what makes you think we would be allowed to leave even if we could win a duel?" The sniper asked.
"Honor among duelists?" She questioned. "I'll do it." She volunteered.