"But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
- Genesis 3:3-5
"Fire Away!"
A beam of light cut through a seed ship as it had desperately tried to evade the new force, but in vain. The once enegmatic ship was cracked apart by the blinding light, halting to a stop as it's engines dies. Another wreckage in this once bustling star system, now contested Lanky Space.
The shiny large ship who killed it wordlessly refocused its particle cannons to another seed ship, who had also tried to run away. It met the same unavoidable fate. Another scratch in the hull.
This scenario replayed again and again in the star system, the once feared enemy that had pushed humanity to the bleeding edge of extinction now dying enmass, the rest fleeing from the sight of the Battlegroup appearing after 10 years of their retreat.
The realization wasn't lost on the crew of the flagship, NACS Mexico, but jubilation didn't erupt in them as well. They had a job to do. To retake the old system for the North American Commonwealth, at any cost.
The CIC of the Battlecarrier was busy working overtime as they found themselves surrounded by enemy ships. A chorus of shouts arose from every station as everyone knew, for all Mexico's advantages, it was still vulnerable from Lanky piercing ammunition.
And the one controlling the chaotic symphony, was General Oakley.
"Tell Lieutenant Colonel Fredricks and Taylor to get their men and craft ready."Oakley informed the Comms Technician. "SI Forces are to prep to land planet side."
The technician nodded, and began to work as he turned to his screen. General Oakley still had his eye on him. He was just that technician's age one he heard Lankies attacking Willoughby all those years ago. And he watched defeat after defeat by combined Human forces as they tried to protect Human space from the lankies.
Now as his hair greyed, he finally watched as the lankies now being wiped out from existence, one by one. Yet no amount of lanky body would bring back his friends.
"Sir." The comms technician interjected the conversation. "Tokyo reports a lanky ship detected bearing oh-three seven, 45 degrees below, distance 1.5 AU from us and closing. Orders?"
The holotable revealed a large black cigar shaped seed ship, 5 kilometers long, and three times as wide. It was a rare type of seed ship. So rare in fact, that even the Joint Chiefs of Staff thought the scientists were pulling his leg.
The giant was resting in the orbit of a gas giant, heading towards the battlegroup in rapid pace.
Below him, the moon of Vinland was a moderately populated colony, totaling around two million, and was the Fleet's largest naval base west of Sol. How much of those unlucky souls were used to create that beast was a question Oakley didn't know, and did not want to know.
Oakley forced the thought down. He turned to the technician.
"Tell them we'll engage."
"Yes sir."
The holographic display in the middle of the CIC came to life, from the Wonderballs that were spread out from the binary system, feeding data to the hologram in real time. The set was in a grid-like formation, signifying the sensors established insystem.
Blue markers popped up first, signifying the NAC fleet. The two largest, BCV- 63 Mexico BCV-70 Tokyo, were currently in the thick of it, with the rest of the formation standing by to prepare to land in the former colony.
The Battlecarriers were the only ones suitable for offensives against the Lankies. Oakley knew that this current lopside status couldn't stand with only one type of ship, and expensive ones at that, were only capable to take on the Lanky seed ships head on. The new class of cruisers hadn't been built fast enough.
Yet the most interesting part were the dark spots in the hologram, with the sensor grid that surrounds them now dimming like old bulbs. These were possible Lanky ships, unknown variables spotted out in the open from the control data of the system.
It reminded him of that old table top game. And the largest one is just out there, in their sights.
And the two were heading to its maw.
"Sir, Tokyo wants to raise comms."
"Patch them through." He swiftly ordered.
A heavily accented English crept into the intercom.
"Mexico, this Tokyo. We've detected a large anomaly within the are surrounding Lima-1. It's possibly their alcubierre chute."
"Copy that. Tokyo, we'll be cautious. Lanky Bastards aren't going to get the chance to leave yet."
With speed being the essence, Mexico sailed towards the lanky ship, weapons prepped for battle.
"Prep the Orion missiles." Oakley ordered, as they closed the distance between them and the last known position of the lanky dreadnought. Oakley could see the ugly thing now. Harsh curves and long tendrils, coated in black, and dark colors that were in far contrast to the elegant shape and bright colors of the Avenger Battlecarrier. Oakley watched from the live video feed as the bememoth accelerated, preparing to leave the system.
Not on his watch.
"Lima 7 notices us. ETA to optimal Orion range 1 minute."
"Helmsman. Slow speed on approach. Weapons, Finger on the trigger. Fire in 3, 2 1-"
Suddenly, an large surge rattled across the ship, causing alarms rang on both of the sensor and astrogen officers, then a groan and a ripple swept through the ship, with the General almost losing his balance. It was if the ship was gabbed and pulled forcefully by an unseen hand. He saw the holotable try to adjust to real time in an attempt to give them data, but instead of a binary system, an error message flashed.
"Sir!" The XO yelled, but the only thing louder was what Oakley felt his hands and body electrifying him.
But his face completely fell pale as he realized what that meant.
The ship was in alcubierre. Oakley looked around, watching as the systems of the CIC wailed in confusion. How? A malfunction in the drives?
He felt a hole sink into his stomach.
Had they been within their bubble as well?
But contemplate as he could, the streaking stars brushing past the screen was a fact that they were at FTL. His heart sank with the realization. This was exactly what Washington had faced. But unlike the other Battlecarrier, it may be accompanied by Tokyo, if she ever got sucked in by the bubble as well. While it would mean she wouldn't be alone, it would mean that the Combined Forces of Earth had lost 1/6th of her Avenger Battlecarriers.
"Shit."
"Ship status?" The CO asked his second in command , voice raspy and quivering.
"Fully intact sir. No hull breaches or anything to threaten integrity." He reported.
"Sonar, Last known position and speed between us and the lanky ship?"
"0.25 AU. Well beyond any alcuberrie bubble from the lanky's position. But however we got into this mess, the lanky ship is well above us. We got lucky." The sensor technician answered, her voice shaky.
Easy for you to say. The CO swallowed that thought.
He stared at the timer. A few minutes in FTL transition. It would just be a dozen light months with their drives, but ever since NACS Washington, a few minutes could just well be a dozen light years.
"Supplies?"
XO looked up. "Fully accounted for. Emergency Rations for the invasion and Quickseeds are well stocked. Enough to last for a year."
Oakley turned to the Tactical Officer.
"Weapons. Prep particle mounts instead of the Orions. I want all weapons in this ship locked and loaded. They'll be waiting for us close by."
The weapons officer nodded, before going their controls.
The General sighed in resignation. "I suppose we wait and see where this one will take us again."
In the quarters of Spaceborne Infantry Force Recon, a lone lieutenant stared up from his chair as a burst of tingling flowed down his body, a run of that familiar electricity.
Alcubierre.
He turned on the false window, but instead showing the space outside the hull with live video feed, it flashed a message.
Error.
He sat up from his bunk, and walked down to the galley.
They were supposed to deploy troops planetside.
Vinland was about to be the fourth planet liberated by NAC forces. "Liberated", in which they meant ripping the Lankies on planet and below. But even with its liberation, real estate in the former interstellar territories would be low, seeing the previous viable planets in every system for humans now became toxic.
Fucking Lankies, ruining everything.
As he approaches the gallery, he watched at the mirror.
"You look just like your father." His mother would say. But silence only said an actual word.
But as much as he could imitate his father, he knew he'll never be the real thing.
"Earth to Issac. You there?"
A voice broke the stare. A dark-haired, Hispanic man came into view of the mirror.
"I'm fine Carlos. Aren't you supposed to hit the gym?"
"Cut short when we went Alcubierre. Why, you wanna bench press with me?"
"No thanks." I replied. "My body couldn't handle your tolerance."
"Figures." Carlos replied, walking to his berth. The man was seriously compensating for something, Isaac thought.
They felt the vibrations stopped completely.
"Well, we're here." Carlos mused, plopping down on his bunk. Isaac turned to face him, prodding on an itch he seemed to have.
"Why are we in alcubierre in the first place? Weren't we in..."
Both of their faces froze.
"You think..."
"No. Washington's was 30 minutes. It's been a few minutes into alcuberrie. We're probably at a closer distance." Carlos explained, keeping his cool.
A rumble then vibrated across the ship, with Isaac and Carlos feeling the hairs in their skin tingling.
The sign of a particle cannon firing.
"Looks like we found lankies."
"Fire at will!"
General Oakley looked at the menacing behemoth across the ship, orbiting over a planet.
Twice the size of the Avenger Battlecarrier, the dreadnought class lanky seed ship was a beast. And it was a beast that had teeth, despite its gaping wounds.
It swung at them with everything it had once Mexico exited the bubble, using surprise to its advantage. While Mexico was built to kill lankies, it was still unable to use its weapons immediately.
All around the CIC brewed chaos. With the Weapons and Sensor Technicians reporting the loudest. The astrogator officer had his face pressed against his screen, trying to find where the hell they were at.
Mexico now found itself right in front of the bastard. And was now firing at them with impunity.
Something rattled violently in the ship. The penetration rounds with the seed ship were puncturing the ship's hull with increasing success. The NAC only anticipated far range, not point blank.
"Hull breach! Decks seven and nine now have gaping holes everywhere!"The XO reported, her voice cracking in the wave of chaos.
"Turret B and A damaged. Fire control connection offline! Sir, we-"
"Fire the Orion Missiles!" The general ordered, cutting him off. The distance was too uncomfortable, but It was their Hail Mary, if they want to get out of this mess. After all, that missile saved Earth. Oakley could surely spare some comfort for survival.
"Orion 3 away!" The weapons officer shouted, completing the procedure in record time, before starting again.
"Orion 4 away!" He reported once again. The tubes were dry now. Oakley hoped they were enough.
The Commodore of the Battlegroup watched as the two missiles streaked at the threat, multi-kiloton nuclear weapons of death closing the distance between the two ships.
The weapons officer flipped the forbidden switch, and a split second later bright lights appeared in the feed threatened to blind the entire crew, as two new unholy suns were unleashed.
"Orion 3 confirmed hit! Orion 4 confirmed hit!"
Oakley could feel the spirits in the room lifted. The video footage showed the ship cracking under mankind's most dangerous weapons.
But the seed ship didn't stop, even with the damn thing breaking apart. Instead, what remained of its penetrative weapons systems began firing on the now orion dry ship. The damned thing still had cards to play, even with radiation in its bones.
This can't be it.
Oakley felt beads of sweat fall down him against the cool air of the CIC.
He fought them in Sirius, and this is his end? To be swallowed and spat out to God knows where with Lankies?
Then in a flash of light, his prayers were answered,
With pure hellfire.
Within a blink of an eye, Tokyo appeared out of nowhere, her white armor glinting off the starlight, like a cestial guardian angel, her particle cannons glowing in the cold emptiness of space.
Within seconds, Tokyo fired everything she had, causing further damage to the alien ship. Her Orions dealt the final blow, tearing the thing apart into pieces.
The crew of Mexico was elated with joy, finally able to see another day. Oakley found himself hugging his XO, a usually reserved man, but did that matter in that brief moment of relief? Oakley didn't know, didn't care.
But that brief respite was dashed as they remembered how they came here.
Oakley turned to the holotable, watching it take his breath.
The holotable rebooted during the fight, only it didn't show a binary system, rather, a single large white star, with multiple planets orbiting it. The planet they were in orbit of was a garden world like Earth, a rarity considering the lankies.
General Oakley turned to the astrogator officer.
"Get me data on how we got in this system."
The astrogator officer nodded right away, and glanced down his screen. For a few moments, silence hung above the room as Oakley caught the officer's confusion, then dread. This wouldn't be good.
He turned to the officers in the room.
"It appears sir, that we got sucked into a wormhole."
Oakley raised an eyebrow, confused.
"A wormhole? In that system? There wasn't any data mentioning a wormhole there."
Shown in the projector was a perfectly spherical bubble, suspended in space. Probably large enough to fit Luna if it could, which gives a conclusion on how Mexico and Tokyo ended up here.
But where exactly is here? Oakley thought. They were in orbit of a blue planet, which should be a rarity in human space. The system the found themselves in had a pale yellow star, just like Sol. It was too much like Sol.
"What does it say on the GPS?"
The Galactic Positioning System. A highly accurate system used to triangulate a position using 3D imagery in space. Oakley's heart soared with a bit of hope, as with the transition time being only a few minutes, they would avoid the fate of Washington.
The astro officer sucked in his breath, his demeanor hesitating.
"...the GPS isn't responding."
His heart crashed and burned. "…What?"
The Astrogrator transferred the data to the holo table. A large "ERROR" message flashed in red.
The Astrogator officer nodded, before turning to the general.
"Shall we return to the rest of the fleet?" He asked, childlike. It was an odd sight, seeing how green the kid was. "The video feed shows the wormhole appearing to be a two way network."
Oakley turned and stared at the shattered chunks of chitin from the former lanky seed ship. The once hulking mass was now like listless, crumbling debris, now being forced to submit to the gravity of the blue planet below. A lot of pieces were entering the planet's orbit. Most will burn up. But some won't, especially the compartments holding the pods.
Oakley knew that they were undying bastards. He was probably one of the remaining few in service who partook in the defensive battle of Earth, where everything mankind had left was being thrown at them, and it was mere luck that humanity survived.
Even then, some of the fuckers landed on Earth, and only cleared out after monts.
"No." Oakley turned to another side of the CIC.
"Communications. Raise Tokyo. Tell them Lankies have landed Planetside."
"How's the family back in San Diego?" Isaac asked. He knew Carlos had spent the last of his leave to his family.
He watched the Staff Sargeant tense, but immediately slackened.
"Folks are Still alive. The gangs in their PRCs are largely pacified now, but thank god the fires they set were contained."
Isaac nodded solemnly. Earth was just too overpopulated for comfort.
The 1MC called out from the speakers.
"Attention, all Force Recon Units report to the flight deck on the double."
Isaac and Carlos exchanged glances. The sudden warp transition, then this?
Fleet Command was weird as they always were, so Isaac and Carlos gingerly head to the Fleet Armorer, a bored Fleet Sargeant who perked up his desk two see the two men gingerly head towards his station in the nick of time.
"You Force Recon Lieutenant?" He asked, grabbing his PDP.
"Yep." Isaac answered.
The Sargeant rose up for what must of been the first time since the Ships deployment. He fiddled with his device for a few seconds before looking up at the two.
"Alright, I've approved your access to your Battle Armor."
"What?" Carlos asked, bewildered. "Why not our bug suits?"
The supply clerk shrugged. "I thought you guys knew."
Before the two men could continue, Isaac gave Carlos a scolding glance. On the double.
With little resistance, the two men donned on their standard battle armor, one meant for worlds that weren't held by the Lankies, worlds that the Vinland that they were supposed to be deployed at.
Issac, now in rugged battle armor, looked at his helmet for a single moment, as a single phrase caught him again.
Above the visor, was a reminder.
Son of Mars.
A reminder of who he was, and what they took from him.
Getting their suits, they went back to the armory, grabbing their JMB rifles, MARS rockets, and ammunition. They arrived at the flight deck, only to be greeted by Corporal Iris, the squad's best marksman. Once a special role, now when the enemy is eighty foot long and larger than a small corvette, it meant that they were the last in losing their shit.
"Took you long enough. Let's go." She ran back to the curvy Blackfly drop ships they were sent with. The one assigned to them, highlighted in spectral yellow, was already in the catapult turntable, ready to be launched into space.
"SITREP Iris?" Issac asked over the squad channel. Isaac could hear her shrug.
"Dunno sir . CO was kept in the dark as well. Says they'll send the info via Taclink when we make planetfall."
"Classic Fleet Command." Isaac muttered. "Everyone accounted for?"
Isaac reached the Dragonfly's ramp as he heard the confirmation from his troops.
"Good, keep in mind, we're going in blind on this one, so you could take comfort in the fact that our glorious NAC has once again screwed us over."
Isaac got chuckles from that, but a chirp from the cockpit channel tore him away from the squad's usual banter.
"Zulu Two-One." The pilot called, in his slow, standard fleet issue drawl. "Buckle up, we leave now."
The bright lights of the flight deck were closed to the Isaac's squad, the red glowing IEDs inside the cabin only compensating the darkness inside.
"Copy Dragon Two-Four. Any idea on where we're heading? We're not in Vinland from the recent transition." Isaac asked.
The faint alarm of the airlock opening was heard. Showtime.
In the side of the HMD, Isaac could see the notification from the Section CO. A info dump. Before Isaac could read it, he felt his body being crushed against a Lanky, the immense force defeaning him, before it disappeared, replaced by the vaccum of space.
"I'll never get used to that, Christ." Isaac muttered to himself. He looked to his squad, their tinted visors hiding away any emotion they had.
It was then his HMD picked up an image from the pilot, stealing a shocked look from the Lieutenant.
Instead of revealing a cloudy, dark world decimated by the lankies, it was a lush, blue world, untainted by them, with three continents standing out.
The pilot chuckled.
"We're not in Kansas anymore Two-One."
Hardy sat on her throne in Bellehango, watching her domain. See watched as multiple legions were mobilizing in Alnus Hill, where a large portal was housed.
A portal to a new world.
She sighed. Sardea had been a pain in the ass, their insatiable conquest now threatening it's counterbalance. She couldn't let that happen
She'd held a meeting with the other Gods, who agreed on a controlled introduction.
But it wasn't enough for her.
The Japanese seemed promising, but she'd been bored with them for a while. Maybe the Americans?
Just before she pondered a large earthquake rumbled the ground.
Hardy looked at the Gate, shocked.
The connection to Japan, one meticulously planned was gone.
Instead, she flet the intense mana flow somewhere else, but this time more force, as if someone unplugged a drain.
She looked up, to what they called the heavens.
If Hardy had a human form, she would've definitely felt her heart dropped.
A large, Gate appeared above near the moon, this time swirling black as the night sky. It would take a large amount of mana, and not even the Gods had that much.
What happened after sent her into shock, as a large tear escaped the hole.
What were they?
As she pondered and pondered, the craft disintegrated by white craft that were smaller. Hardy noticed the human markings outside them.
Terrans
But before she could perceive the attack large chunks escaped the scraft, and landed straight at her.
For all her powers, Hardy was helpless as she could do nothing to stop them. They were large, and coming in fast.
She had nothing to offer her worshippers.
Until one landed near Alnus hill, destroying an army camp.
Hardy watched, unable to look away.
She watched as the chunk broke apart like a bird's egg, and a bunch of large, faceless creatures appeared out of it. Hardy couldn't move, eyes locked to them.
Until an inhuman roar came out of one, stunning Hardy, sending something shocking deep into her, something she hadn't felt in forever.
Made changes to Chapter one. Minor ones.
