Tenshi
Sergeant Major
Reged: 05/27/03
Posts: 259
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The Flames of Eternal Conflict
#66235 - 07/01/03 08:59 PM (24.159.123.144)
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[Thank you for the positive reviews of my other writing. I have a tendancy to write emotionally, which is good I think. Speaking of emotional writing, it's time to introduce the antagonist to Draco's story...]
It was fast approaching the colder months, a time when new construction would become more difficult. The civilian life would become more dull, and in general the entire world would slow down. As Draco stared out the thin, tall window at the first flurry of winter he wondered idly as to the many problems that this world had.
It started in bloody conflict, and even since landing here the conflict continued, with new cast. During the summer, the lands east and north of their growing home had been attacked, and nearly decimated by the horrible savages that had taken control. In the months of conflict, they had assisted the former government in re-claiming their lands, only to find the effort was nearly wasted. The entire population, slain, and he was powerless to lift a finger.
Of course, that reminded him of all the times that the former leader had to deal with such loss. The man had only gone by the name "Ryuu", which was also his call-sign. Of course, bloody conflict had also claimed his life.
The overcast sky grew a bit darker, and the flurries turned to full snow. A bit early, but being in the mountains would do that. He rubbed at his stubble-covered chin lightly as he watched children playing in the streets. The command building was tall, five stories above the other small homes and businesses. It was quiet, for a change. Peace, even if it was only a temporary illusion, was enjoyed by all of them.
"Commander, we have a report from the search teams working with the Mycrosian crews," said a young woman over the intercom. Everyone was so young, in this military. He began to feel old, for a moment.
"Commander?"
"Yes, yes, sorry. Please send it through to my computer right away, Miss Johnson," he replied, moving back toward his desk and away from the window.
"Of course, Commander."
As he sat down at the desk, the blue and white light made everything look even more pale than it already was. Such a dreary day, this is. Maybe it'll be the last one for a while. Maybe there will be good news, for once. Of course, good news wasn't something he'd grown accustomed to, and it wasn't likely to be included in his daily life for some time. At least, he would learn that shortly.
A small icon popped up, alerting him to a new message. Opening it without checking first the sender he soon realized that it wasn't a report from the rescue crew...
Dear Commander Chastine,
I have taken great interest in your activities over the past year. First, with fighting the Phoenix Talon forces through the inner sphere. You were all but instrumental in keeping the military branch together, serving as Lord Mitsukai's right-hand-man for quite some time. You were, in essence, the military's leader during that time, and he took care of the civilian population. A futile effort, apparently. Now they are all dead, spare the few you managed to gather in the dropship before the fleet was destroyed.
The hair on the back of Draco's neck stood straight up, his blood seeming to run cold as he read the e-mail. For one thing, very few people new the second part to Ryuu's name, very few who'd survived, at least. And the second...calling the leader "Lord" was something that he knew only one group to do, and that group... Swallowing the lump of dread that had risen in his throat, he read onward.
Forgive me, though. I write to you not to bear you ill will, but only to warn you, Commander Chastine. For where Lord Mitsukai has failed, you must not. When the battle between yourself and the Phoenix Talon was at it's worst, both forces nearly decimated each other. Truly, having learned the same skills in the same combat for so long had only driven both sides to be as equally matched as they were. The only exceptions, of course, were you and Lucas. Do you remember Lucas, Commander Chastine?
Memories of those horrible conflicts filled his mind. He was taken back to a time where he lived battle-to-battle. One scene in particular, actually.
The planet was frigid, a constant winter encompassed it after the sun had gone supernova and briefly super-heated it. In the aftermath, a thin o-zone had formed and then the weather had become...unfriendly. A constant blizzard, all over the planet. It was one of the only places they thought they could hide from the Phoenix Talon.
"This is Recon Lance, no sign of anything but snow. Are you sure there was a sensor contact out this way, Nest Egg?" he said as he brought the Catapult to a stop. It's sensors were average, but since he was accompanied by a Raven it didn't matter much.
"That's affirmative, Recon Lance. Nest Egg re-confirms that an hour ago there was a large sensor contact. Even the trouble we've been having doesn't make that big of a blip. Keep looking!"
"Roger that. Sweeping sector H-27 now," he replied. The fact that there was a sensor contact that close to base put everyone on alert. They'd been hidden for a few months now, and had almost gotten used to being able to stop fighting...
"Recon One I've got multiple contacts, vector 170. Five of them, coming in hot."
Responding to the Raven's call he turned and faced vector 170, but by the time he'd looked their way the explosion the Raven's reactor going critical turned the world momentarily yellow. Flipping on his heat tracking gear, the whole place went dark. His view-screen showed only blackness, even deep into the tundra. Sitting, waiting, he watched for any glimpse of color. Anything that would show him there were enemies. The more still he stayed, the less heat he made, which made him harder to track.
A bright flash, a streak of white lighting up his viewscreen, followed by nearly a dozen more. The sudden action sent him onto his back, knocking out the heat tracking system. As he lay there, struggling with a fried engine and gyro, he realized he was staring into the face of the enemy. Towering above him was a Mad Cat, signature of only one person in the Phoenix Talon's forces. The marking were clear, bright red and black stripes in claw-like patterns across the entire "flesh" of the Mad Cat. With a sigh, he thumbed the comms to open channels and gave up on the shredded Catapult.
"Lucas..." he said, numbly.
"Hello, my brother. How are you doing? When they told me I could find you on this planet I jumped at the chance to be the first lance on-planet. It looks like they sent their best and brightest out to investigate. Unfortunately, that wasn't quite good enough."
The white soon turned to red, as entire cities were layed to waste. Buildings to rubble, snow to blood. The only heat through that horrible winter was the laser pulses of the Phoenix Talon. A battered force of survivors and military units fled the planet shortly thereafter, heading back toward the Inner Sphere. That was the one place they thought the Phoenix Talon had an aversion to.
Shaking his head, he continued reading.
Of course you remember, how could you forget? What with that incident on DT8016. The snow planet, remember? Of course you do. Anyhow, when our forces were fighting through the Inner Sphere I told you I would hunt you down. Well, Draconis, now I have. We are already on Neveron. That battle above this rock took both of our forces to a planetary life. Well, now that we have both settled I bid you well, for soon we will come and show you what true military might is. Do not worry, Draconis. I will make sure to finish you off before I kill everyone else, this time.
-Lord Lucas Swiftflame-
-Phoenix Talon Command-
Draco was numb again. The icon flashed at him idly, blinking on and off to notify him of the new mail. The report from the rescue team wasn't nearly as pressing an issue, as he sorted through the possibilities. If Lucas already knew how to contact him, then Lucas had the coordinates of the Empire of the Two Moons. Time was probably short...he just didn't know what to do.
"Miss Johnson, please hold all calls, and re-schedule all appearances for the evening. I have something that needs some thought," he said into the intercom, closing his eyes.
"Yes, Commander. I'm sorry about their results...I know they're dissapointing."
"It's alright, Miss Johnson. You can take the rest of the evening off once you've re-scheduled things."
"Thank you, Commander."
Leaning back in his chair, he listened to a gust of snow-filled wind gust against the sides of the building, plastering it with wet flakes of fading white. The cycle of blood and death had begun again, and this time it was going to hit even more closely to home. This time, there was nowhere to run to.
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It's when you start wishing you had a cool sig that you come up with something this bad...
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Someone
Sergeant Major
Reged: 01/05/03
Posts: 389
Loc: Sweden
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Re: The Flames of Eternal Conflict
#66260 - 07/02/03 06:14 AM (62.20.162.158)
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I wish I could write like you. can't wait for the next story 
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Travel to the end of world and take one footstep into the oblivion and you shall find me there.
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StephenJD4
Recruit
Reged: 06/27/03
Posts: 33
Loc: Somewhere outside of Derp....
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Re: The Flames of Eternal Conflict
#66270 - 07/02/03 09:09 AM (64.12.96.167)
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*Sob* It's so beautiful! What a poet!  hehe Great story! 
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This annoying message is brought to you by the proud members of Derp inc. enjoy your Derp! Also by the glorious empire of Vive'Le France!(don't hurt me!)
SJD
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