NationStates Jolt Archive

Northport Military Shipyards

A handful of lonely grey ships were anchored in the foggy, early morning seas alongside their docks. From one of the amphibious assault ships came pairs of Felucan soldiers wearing their formal uniforms and carrying between them flag-draped coffins.

The honor guard moved slowly in procession towards rows of parked Armadillo HWMMVs which waited for them with their back hatches open.

One by one, the coffins were slid into the backs of the Armadillo HWMMVs, the hatches closed and then driven off into a convoy which was heading south, further into Feluca.

Feluca National Cemetary

The main road into the cemetary was lined with towering flagpoles bearing the Felucan flag alongside various unit banners. Each banner represented the unit from which the dead lay here. ( Felucan flag available HERE (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=10778940&postcount=1) )

These were the casulties of Feluca's most-recent conflict, a distant war waged for an island that most Felucans wouldn't have been able to find on a map.

It was a time of grief, a time of sorrow, a time of honor and respect.

And now some used it as a time for politics.

One sign read, "Thank God for enemy bullets!" another, "God hates faggots!". It was a group of humans standing outside the gates of the cemetary waving banners and signs. This was the 'Celestial Outreach Church', an out-spoken fundamentalist group which proclaimed that New Feluca was being punished by God with dead soldiers. God hated New Feluca because the government allowed gay and lesbian civil unions, and thus God would continue to strike down the nation's young men and women until they opened their eyes and cast the 'wicked homosexuals and queers' out of the country.

They cheered as each vehicle carrying a casket passed by, invariably followed by a line of civilian cars and trucks carrying friends and family, who stared out the windows in grief, outrage and anger.

Tiger Broadcasting

Anchorman Jon Lee stood across the street with his back to the crowd, the chants and jeers head in the backround as he spoke, "This is a tragic story. Our dead servicepeople have come home to rest, and the Celestial Outreach Church has taken the opportunity to shout their slogans and get their word out to the world."

In the backround a group of anthros wearing suits and dresses, obviously mourners, approached the demonstrators. A tall, older-looking wolf anthro stepped forward, appearently speaking to one of the church's leaders. The two traded words for a moment, while the anthro gestured back towards an open grave.

The conversation grew more and more heated, until at last the human churchman screamed, "At least my son didn't get his guts blown out!" The wolf's expression went very strange, then he lept at the human, tackling him and throwing punches. Members from both groups rushed in, trying to seperate the two.

An hour later..

The Celestial Church was still there but this time there was a line of Felucan soldiers wearing their combat armor and carrying AR-2 rifles seperating the crowd from the cemetary gates.

The crowd was getting bigger and bigger as more members of the church and anti-war protestors joined in. A few minutes later, someone threw a rock, which smashed into the face of a young, female anthro soldier who was looking the wrong way. She crumpled.

The soldiers dropped their visors down and moved forward, trying to find the rock thrower. They were soon enveloped by the crowd, who began to throw more and strike at the soldiers with their signs.

It wasn't clear who shot first, but within two seconds of the first burst, all of the Felucans began to open fire on the crowd around them. Within twenty seconds, the street was clear of standing protestors. There lay nearly a hundred dead and wounded on the ground and the soldiers moved back to form their line again after reloading their weapons.

Not one of the soldiers moved to help the wounded civilians.

OOC: tag for future play......and man that made my blood boil when those morons really did it at a feuneral for a real soldier.

Feluca National Cemetary

The bodycount was 67 dead and 12 wounded. Many had bled to death waiting for emergency services to arrive. The soldiers stood silent and intimidating at the gates of the cemetary, some of them splattered with the blood of humans.

A larger crowd was starting to assemble now. Some were merely there for the show, most of them were angered and wanted to vent. Not a few of them carried weapons, some makeshift clubs, others actually had sidearms now.

They were pretty much all human members of the Celestial Outreach Church and as the hours passed, there were more flooding to the site to honk horns or get out and join the demonstration.

Another Armadillo HWMMV rolled to the gates followed by a line of civilian vehicles. The crowd began to chant their slogans again but held back this time. Just inside the gates, the vehicles pulled into a side lane and the honor guard pulled the casket out, slowly carrying it towards the waiting grave as the friends and family gathered.

The demonstrators screamed louder, taunting those gathered for the fallen, and finally began to throw chunks of rock and half-empty soda bottles over the fence.

One chunk of concrete smashed against the casket, scarring the wood.

The Lieutenant in charge of the soldiers at the gate stepped forward, walking across the road and gesturing at the demonstrators. A shot rang out as one of the church members leveled his pistol and fired at almost point-blank range. The bullet mashed itself into the armor over the soldier's chest. He looked down at the silvery mark on his armor in dismay, then leveled his assault rifle and opened up on the crowd.

Those across the street did the same, and this time they didn't let up. Even those running were fired at, slaughtering the members of the Celestial Church.

ooc: can i join?

ooc: can i join?

OOC: Give it a shot.

Nicely done so far. TAG for future reading, etc.

Three weeks later...

National Command (Central)

"Yes sir, it would seem as if Star City is in an uproar. If you recall, it's one of the few cities dominated by humans," a Lieutenant was speaking to a group of high-level officers gathered around a table.

One of the officers spoke up, "We made a major mistake when we re-opened immigration to humans. I knew they'd cause trouble." Heads nodded around the table, "It isn't even a religious statement anymore, this 'Celestial Church' is just a front for a rebellious movement that's been brewing ever since we started letting them come back."

The Lieutenant checked his notes briefly before nodding, "Yes sir. Intelligence has reported elements of a heavily pro-Federation influence in Star City. This Celestial Church is supplying them with funding, even weapons. We've had reports of arms shipments reaching our ports, but due to a lack of law against owning firearms, there hasn't been much the Port Authority could do about it."

The commanding officer stood, "I want Star City cut off. No interaction with the outside world. I also want forces deployed nearby should something occur that needs a response."

Star City

Star City had been severed from the outside world for two weeks. Those governing the city still refused to negotiate in even the most-reasonable and basic of ways. No food had gone in, telephone and television services were cut off.

Water was still available, but food shortages were brewing, and the leadership of the Celestial Church had sent out their thugs and underlings to take over supermarkets and distribution depots. The common people had little choice other than to declare their loyalty to the Church and attend services where food was passed out twice per day along with anti-Anthro propaganda.

People were hungry, angry, desperate and willing to believe anything. Star City was quickly becoming a hive of activity as the newfound converts to the Celestial Church pledged their lives to God and promised that if they would die by Felucan hands, they would die fighting.


Camp Cally - Star City Outskirts

Camp Cally had been established straddling the major highway that lead into Star City, thus cutting it off other than minor side roads which could easily be monitored with patrols and UAV drones.

Camp Cally was a sprawling compound surrounded by a wire fence tipped with razor wire and ringed by a concrete block buffer. Inside were several pre-fab buildings which served as a mess hall, maintaince hangar/building, a storage depot and several large enclosures where the troops lived and had their cots set up.

Deployed were elements of the Air Force's Forward Combat Observervation Team or FCOT working alongside Alpha Team (Army) which served a role similar to America's Delta Force, and the Felucan Rangers. This of course meant that relatively small numbers of troops would make a major impact. These soldiers were the elite of the elite. They were also bored. It meant for some strange occurances, ranging from a sandlot baseball game that had turned into a mud fight when it started to rain, to a 'beauty pagent' where several unfortunate male members of the logicistical team (Cooks, mechanics, drivers) had been dressed up in women's garments and make-up while asleep and then photographed.

It was simply stress relief. The hammer would fall eventually, and then it would be time for the warfaces.

Deployments
FCOT: 340
Alpha Team: 200
Rangers: 600

ooc:holy crap this is awesome. its too good for me but i like reading it anyways.

To: The Government of New Feluca
From: The Liberal Democratic Republic of Brydog

Dear Sir or Madam,

We are offering to send a military task force and 45 men from our Federal Police's Emegency Services Unit to aid aganist this so called "church"

Signed,
Wolfgang Joepsf Lichtenburg
President of the Republic
The Liberal Democratic Republic of Brydog

OOC: Tag for reading as of right now.

To: The Government of New Feluca
From: The Liberal Democratic Republic of Brydog

Dear Sir or Madam,

We are offering to send a military task force and 45 men from our Federal Police's Emegency Services Unit to aid aganist this so called "church"

Signed,
Wolfgang Joepsf Lichtenburg
President of the Republic
The Liberal Democratic Republic of Brydog

(Sorry dude, but every RP of mine that you've been involved with, you've just gone idle.)

Reply,

This is an internal matter. We appreciate the offer to help, however.

Cyan Bobtail, Prime Minister of New Feluca

OOC: Im sorry about that.:(

Camp Cally, Star City Outskirts

Word has finally come down from National Command ordering an end to the stand-off. It was in the hands of the military at this point, and they were authorized to use deadly force if necessary.

Commanders and officers from the various military units deployed to Camp Cally gathered around a table set up near the western mess hall. Insect netting was strung around the pavillion and the officers looked down at color maps of Star City shot as of that morning and printed out just for this purpose.

A career intelligence officer was speaking, gesturing with her laser pointer down at the table and the maps. "These six buildings form a ring around an inner courtyard. According to recon and an informant, this courtyard is where the Celestial Church holds its high-end meetings. It's also appearently a staging area for operations in the city. According to the informant, the buildings are garrisoned by a company strength militia, heavily armed."

An aide flipped a button on a projector, and it cast the image of an older man with a beard against one wall of the pavillion. The intelligence officer continued, "This is Jacob Maddox, co-founder of the Celestial Church and a major behind-the-scenes supporter of the movement. He's responsible for organizing demonstrations, aquiring buildings for their churches and equipping their homegrown militia with arms. We've come to expect a large number of RPG-7s, AKs and PKM machine guns."

Click. The projector's image changed to show a satellite photo of a white pick-up truck with a heavy .50 caliber machine gun mounted on the back. "They've also modified civilian vehicles to serve as weapon platforms. We've seen fiftys for the most part with a scattering of recoiless rifles."

Click. The image changed, showing a ground-level photo of an old, beat-up Buick with sheets of metal spot-wielded to the sides. "These are probably roadblock vehicles. Expect them to be parked in the middle of the street and tires shot out. I expect an Armadillo can ram them out of the way, but the enemy may deploy multiple roadblocks."

Click. The building and courtyard again. "FCOT is going to be ferrying our forces in by air. UH-1 Ace helos mostly, fastrope deployment to the rooftops marked by the red circles. That'll be Alpha Team, who will penetrate the buildings from the roof."

"The Rangers will come in on the ground with a convoy of Armadillo HMMWVs as well as perimeter security via helicopter. The ground convoy is in charge of transporting prisoners back to Camp Cally. This should be an in-and-out mission, taking no longer than fourty minutes."

Cally City Outskirts

A dozen small, AH-6/OH-6 Little Bird helicopters descended out of the sky towards a cluster of medium-sized buildings near the center of the city. Sitting on the extended side seats of the helicopters were members of Feluca's 'Alpha Team' dressed in city pattern camo and their FSCA style, integrated armor.

As the choppers pulled up and then touched their skids onto the rooftops the Alpha Team members hopped off and headed towards the stairwells.

Meanwhile, SH-1 Ace (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=10211766&postcount=5) transport helos dipped downwards to allow Felucan Rangers to toss repelling ropes over the sides and begin sliding down them towards the streets below.

Building 6, Objective
Alpha Team Squad 7 pounded down the concrete stairs to the first floor, encountering no resistance. The courtyard door was kicked open just in time to see a stream of armed humans pouring into the courtyard from three of the other objective buildings.

Alpha 7 members shouted, "Stop there! Put down your arms! Drop them! Drop them!" towards the crowd and two of the Celestial Church militiamen turned with their AK-74s lifted, only to get dropped immedietly by aimed bursts from the Alpha Team squad.

The other humans began to throw down their weapons and lifted their hands. At about that time, other squads from Alpha Team were arriving from the surrounding buildings to help wrangle up the militia.

Main Street
The Armadillo HMMWV convoy pulled up infront of the objective just as Alpha Team began to bring out the zip-cuffed prisoners. Rangers were deployed all over and reports of crowds forming began to relay over the radio network.

Major Tigh of the Rangers stood outside the objective as prisoners were loaded up, looking up and down the street to access the situation. The batallion-level channel crackled, "Major, we're seeing large crowds approaching your AOO (Area of Operations) from the north, east and south. Reccomend you use the western road to exit the city. Marking it now."

And the Colonel flying high over the battlefield in another UH-1 Ace used his laptop to mark the route on the combat mapping system, which was then wirelessly fed to all of the soldiers on the ground. On the HUDs of drivers and officers, the map overlay which had formally shown their route as green turned it to yellow, and a new green route was highlighted.

A second later, one of the OH-6 Little Birds circling overhead was targeted by a shoulder-fired Stinger missile from somewhere down below. The missile arched upwards and in less than a second, clipped the main rotor of the chopper. It began to lose altitude, and disappeared into the city, smashing down onto a street.

Star City, New Feluca

The helicopters circling over the city began to pull up out of the short range danger zone. One of the command choppers manuvered to a position where it could look down at the crashed OH/AH-6 Little Bird.

The radio network crackled, "Bird Fourteen is down. They landed at an intersection about thirty blocks south-east of the convoy. I don't see any movement from the cockpit. The Colonel sitting in the UH-1 was leaning out from his seat, peering down towards the smoking helicopter crashed far below with a set of binoculars.

Main Street

Major Tigh grunted behind his visor then opened the comm, "First Platoon, proceed on foot to crash site and secure it. Report condition of pilots and hold your position."

Soldiers who had been standing beside their vehicles began to move south in accordance to the gestures from a Lieutenant who lead the way. Soon, fifty Felucans were trotting down the sides of the street.

Two blocks south, gunfire errupted from windows and rooftops, shooting down on the Rangers. The Felucans scattered to cover and began returning the fire.

Back at the Objective area, Captain Dow of Alpha Team ducked behind an Armadillo HMMWV as bullets rained down from both sides of the street. The Felucans fought back viciously, still loading prisoners from the raid onto the trucks. Dow peered south, where he could see the Ranger's 1st Platoon manuvering while under fire, fighting back while pushing forward.

Dow opened the company-level link that Alpha Team used, "Third and Fourth Squads, move south-east and see if you can't get to the crash site. The Rangers are encountering moderate resistance."

Soon twenty members of Alpha Team were cutting through alleys towards the east before turning south to make their way towards the plume of black smoke near the center of the city.

Bird Fourteen Crash Site

The small, lightweight helicopter was upright at least, but its rotors torn away and the windshield smashed in. The co-pilot was unconscience, the pilot not much better. Through a haze of pain and tears he could look out the ruined front end of his chopper south down the intersection. And blocks away there they were, hundreds of humans walking towards the crash and carrying rifles.

With an arm bearing a broken wrist - the other just wouldn't move - he reached out to the radio and painfully pressed the intracom button, "Bird Fourteen... down.." wheezed. Then he too passed out.

City Center

The twenty members of Alpha Team were still making their way towards the crash when they came under fire from a building directly ahead. After they took cover, they began to look for ways to get around the building to the crash which had to be just another street or two over.

Corporal Ricks of Alpha 4 (Squad 4) peeked around the corner for a second before jerking his head back. "Looks like gunmen in the upper floors. Three story concrete structure. Our ARs won't punch through the walls probably."

Alpha 3's leader was across the street covering the way they had came.

Ricks grunted, "Damnit. We're running out of time. Okay. On three, I want full cover fire." He took a deep breath and counted over the comms. When he hit three, the members of Alpha 4 leaned out from their cover and unloaded their weapons at the concrete apartment building ahead. Ricks ran forward, sprinting down the street as his squad's ammunition zipped overhead. He lowered his shoulder and made towards the doors to the apartment building.

At the last second a large man with a beard stuck his gun around the doorway and opened up on Ricks. The first three shots hit, two of them shattering his AR-2, the last clipped his armor and stuck there.

Without even stopping, Ricks continued his charge, ramming his shoulder into the man's chest and bowling him over. He whipped his broken AR around, smashing the rifle out of the man's grip, then drew his Felucan Combat Blade, a beautifully crafted katana and in a single motion slashed it through the big man. The human looked suprised until his upper torso sepperated from his midsection.

Ricks drew his AP-1 and holding his sword in the other hand made his way up the stairwell where he could hear the distinctive chatter of AK-47s.

Bird Fourteen Crash Site

The two squads from Alpha Team emerged from between buildings to the west of the downed Little Bird. Several soldiers moved in while the others fanned out. Gunfire was coming from the south and north, but the Celestial Church Militia for the most part kept off the streets due to the accurate firepower of the Felucan special forces.

City Center

Corporal Ricks was still in the big apartment building. He had slaughtered the six humans firing their rifles down into the street and now keyed into the radio network. "This is Ricks. Building 1021 secured. Report Squad Four situation." The radio was dead, however. Ricks couldn't see it, but one of the bullets fired originally at him had sheared off part of his antenna reciever.

"Damn." Muttered. From down below in the street, an AK-47 chattered and bullets smashed through the window he stood near. With just his pistol and sword, Ricks was in no condition for a stand-off.

He turned and trotted down the stairs, checking his helmet's HUD, only to see there was no overlay. It still contained a map of the city, but no vital information typically sent out and recieved by his comm system.

At the bottom of the stairs, a grenade bounced off the floor infront of Ricks. He dove back round the corner of the stairwell a quarter second before the grenade errupted, the concussion of it dazing him even through the helmet. A moment later, a man barged into the stairwell with a shotgun. Ricks' backhanded swing of the sword took the man's hand off, and a followup stroke pierced the human's chest.

Another figure appeared through the doorway, tackling Ricks to the ground. Unable to swing the sword, he jammed the pistol into the human's side and pulled the trigger, only to have two more men leap on him in an attempt to wrestle his gun away.

Question.

How do you begin to RP in this story? Take control of a rioter? A some one, or some people, or just the usually "Nation to nation message"?

OOC: dude you totaly ripped that off from black hawk down. but this might be fun so who cares.

IC:
TV cameras suddenly look up as the apointed speaker emerges from behind the curtain. The man steps up to the microphoned stand, he clears his throught and holds up his hands, red with blood.

"I have been cleansed, but those of Star city are not, nor any of New Feluca. We must go to them, spread the news of there uncleanliness. Tell them how to be clean, how to cleanse themselves. We must send an envoy of the most devouted to Star city, we must use all our ties to stop the slaying of the inocent..."



Official Letter
From the desk of Prime Minister Chris Charato
It has reached my ears that an envoy of followers from our most prominent church is heading into your nation. It is also believed that this envoy will atempt to enter a city your government has closed off to surpress an uprising. we wish that you release any prisoners to us and restrict your men from useing deadly force against them.

May you be with Anima
Chris Charato

Question.

How do you begin to RP in this story? Take control of a rioter? A some one, or some people, or just the usually "Nation to nation message"?

OOC: Take your pick, really.

OOC: dude you totaly ripped that off from black hawk down. but this might be fun so who cares.

IC:
TV cameras suddenly look up as the apointed speaker emerges from behind the curtain. The man steps up to the microphoned stand, he clears his throught and holds up his hands, red with blood.

"I have been cleansed, but those of Star city are not, nor any of New Feluca. We must go to them, spread the news of there uncleanliness. Tell them how to be clean, how to cleanse themselves. We must send an envoy of the most devouted to Star city, we must use all our ties to stop the slaying of the inocent..."



Official Letter
From the desk of Prime Minister Chris Charato
It has reached my ears that an envoy of followers from our most prominent church is heading into your nation. It is also believed that this envoy will atempt to enter a city your government has closed off to surpress an uprising. we wish that you release any prisoners to us and restrict your men from useing deadly force against them.

May you be with Anima
Chris Charato

Reply,
"The city has been closed down. No civilians of any nationality are allowed in or out. Further, we are not willing to discuss the issue of prisoners. As of currently, we are heavily engaged in combat operations following being fired upon by an insurgent militia force. It being the soverign right of our nation to defend itself, we will not discuss the use of deadly force against insurgent religious forces."

LAst OOC spam message.

Check your TG's, will be sending one 5 minutes from now.

Fired upon or not killing any of my people after i specificly asked you not to would seem like an act of war. They are highly religious and i doubt fencing and a few patrols would stop them. They will be unarmed, and they will be easily destinguishable, and seeing as how your military have a slight tendancy to kill the inocent i would not take a casualty of my people as an acident. You have been asked politely to restrict the use of deadly force. And i shall ask it again, they have already entered your nation and i expect are nearly to the city.

May you be with Anima
Chris Charato

20 miles from star city, blue minivan.
As the last verse of the hymn was sung the van stoped. 5 men and 2 women got out. The first and posibly the oldest of the men pulled out a small radio.

"Van 2 this is van three we have reached the dead zone and are preparing to enter. 1 has yet to check in, they were schedualed to do so an hour ago. We will continue as planed. 3 out." The man noded as two more aproached.

"any word from 1 yet, Jeremey?" the shorter of the two asked.

"Two hasn't hasn't heard from them either. We continue on as planed though spread out incase there are patrols." The second man walked back to inform the others.

"Do you think we will be succesfull, Jeremey? Will i ever see my family again?"

"Lets not think about that until we have completed this first task tuck." Jeremey started forward. " Besides its not like they will shoot at us. were not even armed." The rest of the group started foward in solemn silence. some with there heads bowed others looking straight foward, not flinching at the wind.

Fired upon or not killing any of my people after i specificly asked you not to would seem like an act of war. They are highly religious and i doubt fencing and a few patrols would stop them. They will be unarmed, and they will be easily destinguishable, and seeing as how your military have a slight tendancy to kill the inocent i would not take a casualty of my people as an acident. You have been asked politely to restrict the use of deadly force. And i shall ask it again, they have already entered your nation and i expect are nearly to the city.

May you be with Anima
Chris Charato

20 miles from star city, blue minivan.
As the last verse of the hymn was sung the van stoped. 5 men and 2 women got out. The first and posibly the oldest of the men pulled out a small radio.

"Van 2 this is van three we have reached the dead zone and are preparing to enter. 1 has yet to check in, they were schedualed to do so an hour ago. We will continue as planed. 3 out." The man noded as two more aproached.

"any word from 1 yet, Jeremey?" the shorter of the two asked.

"Two hasn't hasn't heard from them either. We continue on as planed though spread out incase there are patrols." The second man walked back to inform the others.

"Do you think we will be succesfull, Jeremey? Will i ever see my family again?"

"Lets not think about that until we have completed this first task tuck." Jeremey started forward. " Besides its not like they will shoot at us. were not even armed." The rest of the group started foward in solemn silence. some with there heads bowed others looking straight foward, not flinching at the wind.

Reply,
"Entering a warzone, specificly without the permission of the Felucan government is to risk injury. Furthermore, your own government will be held responsible for the actions of its citizens."

Star City Outskirts
Approaching the city, one would note massive plumes of smoke and dust rising up from various points within the city itself. Helicopters of various types could be seen buzzing around over the rooftops and some hovered high up in the sky near the cloud cover.

At one point, a ball of white light (A shoulder-fired SAM) lept upwards, and one of the helicopters deployed a shower of flares. The SAM lost its tracking and spun off into the clouds.

At the five mile mark, the foreigners would see far up ahead a roadblock set up across the highway. It's a Redwood IFV parked sideways on the grass medium with a squad of soldiers standing around chatting in their faceless, city-camo body armor.

At the sight of the soilders Jeremey crouched motioning the others to follow suit. But tuck didn't listen, he picked up a rock and threw it at the soilders. it bounced off the vehicle behind them. Jeremey jumped up and ran the others behind him some were cursing tuck others were just panting.

Star City Outskirts

The commander of the Redwood ducked slightly when the rock bounced off the front of the vehicle. "We just took a hit." The infantry scattered, just incase the thrown object was an explosive.

The turret on the IFV cranked over, and the gunner put his eyes to his perisocope (It's not an actual periscope..) sights, the HUD outlining the running figures in grey boxes representing unidentified contacts. "I see them. Two.. no, three.. maybe more contacts moving away. Humans."

The Redwood's commander grunted, "Hit 'em."

A second later, the Redwood's 25mm chaingun spat a handful of explosive rounds out among the running figures.

The infantry swept to the sides to clear a firing lane for the Redwood, and began to advance at a run towards the fleeing humans, their AR-2 rifles held ready to fire.

Star City-Inner City

I was sitting, reading the latest periodacle. Antwerp was at the counter, finishing up an order, and passing it out to the friendly human waiting patiently for her food. I was suprised to see any sane humans about, besides me and Antwerp, with all the latest ruckus.

It was all petty bull crap to me. What mattered most would soon become apparant.

Then I heard them. The steady, deep thump-thump-thump of helicopter blades. First thought that came to my mind was, things were getting out of hand.

Soon after the arrival of the helicopters, I heard from a distance the sounds of gunshots, and then the sound of an explosion. I looked back at the counter, the woman already long gone with her food. Antwerp was attempting to flip through the channels on the out of date television set. Not a whole lot of luck, it seemed the news was also affected by these turns of events.

I stood up from my table, leaving the newspaper on it. "Anty, see if you can get a hold of the boys. I'm going to go check this out." I said, as I picked up my black, yet cheap, leather jacket and tossed it on.

"Right away, boss," was the reply I heard as I walked out of the restaurant into the light.

Star City

The city was in absolute chaos by now. Representitives from the Celestial Church had driven trucks into the street and were passing out rifles and RPGs now to whomever would take them. Even young boys were taking weapons and following fathers, uncles and brothers off towards the sound of gunfire, where the Felucans were struggling to get their convoy out of the city and cut pilots free of their downed helicopter.

Alpha Team was working with hands and combat swords to hack away at the crumpled helicopter of the Little Bird. Both co-pilot and pilot were dead now, but the elite Felucans refused to leave their dead behind.

Finally, the last body was pulled free and the Felucans began to carry the two dead FCOT aviators to the north. One Alpha Team member tossed a canister into the Little Bird. Ten seconds later, it errupted in a ball of plasma-thermite. "Alpha Team 3 and 4, crash site secured. Moving north now."

I didn't have to walk for to see the extent of the damage. Ignorance was all I saw, plain belligerent ignorance. But ofcourse, from ignorance comes wealth, in my world.

I had started to calmly walk up to a supply truck that was handing out weapons to anyone that groped. This was indeed turning into a full scale conflict. Anty had ran up behind me now, with three other of my chronies.

"'Ey boss, what the hell is going on?" Asked Anty, who's voice seemed uncharactistacly nervous, and shakey. It was not like my main enforcer to be nervous.

Slowly, I turned around to face him. "The hell is going on, is our pay day. It seems the sun shines on us today, my friends. Screw this petty crime crap, and small time extortion racket which barely rakes in the credits to pay for the restaurant. It is time we make ourselves known. We're going to help these fanatics."

All I got was dumbstruck faces. Anty and another were about to pipe up their objections, but my stern face, and their memories told them otherwise. "What ever you say, boss."

Again, I turned around, and walked towards the truck. I began to shove people out of my way, Anty and the other three began to make their way to the truck aswell.

When I made it, I threw my hands into the air, and made my voice loud, and convincing. "Hail brother! Where's the action, and how can we help?"

I already had a small-arm tucked away into my jacket, but these men were handing out the big guns, big guns that I wanted for me and my gang. Indeed, it was time to make ourselves known among these fanatics, and maybe then there will be a payday.

I didn't have to walk for to see the extent of the damage. Ignorance was all I saw, plain belligerent ignorance. But ofcourse, from ignorance comes wealth, in my world.

I had started to calmly walk up to a supply truck that was handing out weapons to anyone that groped. This was indeed turning into a full scale conflict. Anty had ran up behind me now, with three other of my chronies.

"'Ey boss, what the hell is going on?" Asked Anty, who's voice seemed uncharactistacly nervous, and shakey. It was not like my main enforcer to be nervous.

Slowly, I turned around to face him. "The hell is going on, is our pay day. It seems the sun shines on us today, my friends. Screw this petty crime crap, and small time extortion racket which barely rakes in the credits to pay for the restaurant. It is time we make ourselves known. We're going to help these fanatics."

All I got was dumbstruck faces. Anty and another were about to pipe up their objections, but my stern face, and their memories told them otherwise. "What ever you say, boss."

Again, I turned around, and walked towards the truck. I began to shove people out of my way, Anty and the other three began to make their way to the truck aswell.

When I made it, I threw my hands into the air, and made my voice loud, and convincing. "Hail brother! Where's the action, and how can we help?"

I already had a small-arm tucked away into my jacket, but these men were handing out the big guns, big guns that I wanted for me and my gang. Indeed, it was time to make ourselves known among these fanatics, and maybe then there will be a payday.

Central Star City

One of the men on the back of the truck offered a brand new AK-101 and a handful of clips. "They're mostly to the north right now, over about ten blocks. Someone rammed a truck into the front of their convoy and they're pinned down. Careful though, they fight like the demons of hell itself."

Another human also on the truck turned, "About an hour ago we had some of our guys come in from the east side of the city. We shot down a helicopter, but those .. monsters got there first. Ain't heard from that side since."

Star City Outskirts
An A-1 Alpha ground-attack aircraft skimmed over the city at very low altitude near the western suburbs. From under the wings fell long, glittering silver canisters which tumbled through the air before hitting rooftops and streets below, errupting into waves of liquid fire.

The jetwash of the Alpha curled the edges of the fireballs, forming horn-like tendrils of black smoke and orange flame as it continued through, turning north.

The man closest to Jeremey fell down in a spurt of blood. Not bothering to look back Jeremey could tell he was all alone. The 40 year old was panting heavily now, he hadn't run this fast since his days in the military. His side felt like it was going to expload and his throat was burning. The pounding boots behind him was the only thing keeping him moveing. He could see some brush in front of him that he might be able hide in. A sharp pain ran through his foot as the ground came rushing up. He bounced off the ground then layed there moaning in pain.

Star City Outskirts

The Felucan soldiers were only seconds behind the human, and when he collapsed they drew to a cautious trot and lifted their rifles, pointing them at him. One of the soldiers wearing Lieutenant's insignia on the brow of his helmet stood over the human, looking down at him with the blank visor.

The Lieutenant had a wolf's tail. He stared down at the human, voice slightly muffled through the helmet's filters, "Who are you and why have you come here?"

In the backround other soldiers were checking the bodies of the human's comrades.

Jeremey looked up at the man pain showing in his face.

"I am Jeremey Fisher, and we came to spread our religeon, to support those supressed by other churches, by other government." Jeremey layed back down, passing out in pain.

Jeremey looked up at the man pain showing in his face.

"I am Jeremey Fisher, and we came to spread our religeon, to support those supressed by other churches, by other government." Jeremey layed back down, passing out in pain.

The Felucans looked at each other. "Must be Celestial." The Lieutenant pointed his rifle at the man and pulled the trigger, sending a burst into the human's chest.

The Felucans then turned and walked back to their checkpoint after making sure the group hit by 25mm fire were dead.

The second group stoped at the sound of gunfire. "I dont think group 3 made it. Lets get off the highway." The group clustered together as they continued trying to keep as hiden as posible.

I hefted the large rifle in my hands. It felt quite good. The most powerful weapon I had ever handled was a shotgun. I felt like a god... well, I guess that wasn't anything special since everyone around me toted the same thing.

"Come on boys," I loaded in a fresh mag, searched for the cocking mechanism for a moment, and finally armed it. "Let's go make us some fame."

We headed due east, towards where the bird was shot down. I told Anty and the other three to split up, and fan out slightly as he approached closer to the area where these 'monsters' may be. "First and foremost, don't shoot at them, and hide your pistols, stay inconspicuous for as long as possible. Phone the rest of us and wait for us to get there before you do anything." Was the last thing I told them.

It wouldn't be long now before we got some real action.