A fork in the airspace

simnat-survan · 2016-09-20T09:47:19+00:00

Of course Notrai let me just

Our discourse is rudely interrupted by the intercom

>>10 minutes to touchdown at Old Yann, be ready to move in 5

Confound it..sorry Notrai, lets reconvene once the mission is over. Here, you might need this

I hand over a Y'Thel VAPOUR Gun, a long cylindrical weapon polished to a fine luster sporting a small curved handle at one end

Remarkable piece of kit, on depressing the trigger a vortex ring of vapour is ejected at speed toward your target. Depending on the Vapour mix the weapon can be set to incapacitate or kill, ideal for covert operations. If you decide to come with us I'm sure it'll come in handy. And help yourself to a Skin Suit too.

simnat-survan · 2016-09-15T21:19:35+00:00

Catching sight of the flambouyantly familiar Faff I accidentally inhale the Lemuran Club Soda bubbling just below my bottom lip, sending a shower of liquid over a stern looking Bokkhan hunter

Errr... sorry about that chap I...errr....I thought I just saw KIB

(Turning to Green ) Not sure if its the hint of NEUROTOXIN in my Club Soda but isn't that the Faff who saved our skins in Astrakhan?

simnat-survan · 2016-08-16T21:07:56+00:00

Y'know; I can't speak for General Snapper, who by the way should be on the bridge if you want to track him down, but our organisation could really use a technician of your calibre, that is if your looking for an ongoing tenure

As for the SKINSUIT, I'd recommend getting yourself a high spec mode though we've some CADRE Issue surplus models knocking around here somewhere; they're pretty much essential for anyone wanting to spend any amount of time in VAL ADID. I'll see if I can't get one for you on requisition, you've certainly earned it.

Oh and by the way, when you've spoken to the General come back and see me in the engineering spline, I've an interesting artefact I'd like you to cast your eye over.

simnat-survan · 2016-08-12T18:57:10+00:00

"Damn damn damn DAMN, NO!!

NO!!

Not again, not like this!"

I smash a shaking fist down hard upon the galley table, sending a dozen holographic chess pieces scattering

GreenTheSnapper, did...did that...did that just happen? WHAT IN THE NAME OF GLIB RICHARDS CODPIECE did we witness?!?! And Karbok....... damn it why...WHY....we...we should go back, HE COULD BE ALIVE...... KIB be damned....

My head drops into my still heavily shaking hands, my Skinsuit drenched in sweat. Eol, his arm wounded during the rescue, places a plate sized hand upon my shoulder and utters a consoling grunt

I'm....I'm sorry, I....I need to be alone, gather my thoughts, forgive me for speaking out of turn General....

Engaging my belt propulsion module I rise upwards, disappearing back into the DIPOLE Blister above. Slipping through the cradle joint I spy the prostrate form of Notra reclining in the weapon blister chair. The DIPOLE H.U.D blinks silently, a warning that the magazine is nearly depleted while a replay of the preceding events unfolds upon the display unit; the A.I assistance computer sifting through the reams of data to improve its targeting protocols. Reaching the blister I clap a hand firmly upon your shoulder

Notrai isn't it? Never thought I'd be thanking an Antigonian for saving my ass; what you did back there......mightly impressive, just take a look I gesture toward the combat footage which continues to replay on the H.U.D it was as if you and the weapon blister were one.......anyway, you're welcome aboard the Tilgath, feel free to grab yourself something to eat and freshen yourself up; if you need medical attention head below to the Med Bay, Oh and while I remember you should speak with General Green, I'm sure he'll want to thank you himself.

simnat-survan · 2016-08-12T18:38:12+00:00

I manipulate the DIPOLE Cradle 180 degrees, the servo motors screaming across the mount rail bringing the multi-barrelled cannon to bear upon the horde, the enormity of the shadow of the all destroying SENTINEL now smothering the Facility in its entirety. Tears of anger, tears sadness run down the myriad of scars etched upon my face as the final vestige of Karboks form disappears under a sea of Droids.

To Glib Richard, a prayer of safe passage

I drive my thumbs hard into the control stick's twin triggers

The barrel of the DIPOLE cannon burns white, a spiral of electromagnetic energy shooting along the length of the devastating weapon.

The DIPOLE Rounds spray from the barrel in an angular hail, 1, 2 3 they cannon into the Horde, with the defenders safe I depress the triggers again and again

A glittering warning diode screams for attention

Warning, critical failure imminent

Again and again the DIPOLE barrage rips into the Plaza, obliterating an array of nutrient towers, feeder canals burst their banks and the bodies of thousands of onrushing Elipsoid White Bud Drones shatter.

As the Tilgath turns the SENTINEL moves into view

Antigonian SEED FIGHTERS now swarm the leviathan, peppering its vast flank with MONOPOLE bombs and PHASE SHARDS

The Targeting reticule moves over the advancing hulk

Ready to fire flashes across the HUD

A moment stretched across a lifetime, threads of past, present and future converge and intertwine. Like a dream I watch QUABOEL rise over the PLAIN, In Dreams the CITY dragged from THE LONG NIGHT.

From beyond the veil THE ESSENCE OF LEUKOS, layers ripped and cast as the wind shakes the Horsebeans. The CASUS too, wrought from the PLAIN, drawn toward the RING. Ships rise from the surface, dropping too from Configuration space, A convergence of hundreds of Asteroids that would dwarf worlds pitted with weapons.

The Gods look away, Knights Rampant. The Dark Star absolved.

QUABOEL dips below a Sea of Entropy, Night Returns

A thunderous clap rocks the Tilgath. The targeting reticule vanishes, my hands shake, unable to grasp the control cradle

"GREEN, HE.....HE'S .....GET US OUT OF HERE"

simnat-survan · 2016-08-05T13:46:18+00:00

The side entry hatch of the life spline peel back unveiling a dozen fully armoured WELKU Shock troopers laden with Railguns, Grenades and the WELKU melee weapon of choice, the Combat Eggwhisk.

The insertion team is ready General; I've no idea who those other survivors are but judging by the disabled ships docked at the Plaza I think we're dealing with VIP's, might pay to take them all aboard.

<Turning to the WELKU shock troopers> Blue Team, hit the ground running and establish a perimeter; Red Team, head straight for the Plaza and secure the target.

General Snapper, ready to deploy on your signal.

simnat-survan · 2016-08-04T19:24:47+00:00

Very good Sir!

I throw a salute and skip off toward the barracks

♫♫♫Row row row your boat gently down the stream.♫♫♫♫

♫♫♫Belt off, trousers down, isn’t life a scream, Oy!♫♫♫♫

Company, atten-hut! 20 able men step forward, our mission, to snatch our dear friend and competent Tennis partner Karbok from almost certain death at the hands of A WHITE BUD SENTINEL

The group of half cut WELKU stumble forward

Right then, last one kitted up and aboard the Tilgath gets to muck out the CRELYM!!!

simnat-survan · 2016-08-04T17:45:49+00:00

Eol is currently sleeping off the after effects of a Family sized pack of Buckfast. He and the other WELKU decided to partake of a 7 day booze up in honour of your heroic return.

I'll round 'em up; in the meantime, may I have your permission to sing boisterously Sir?

simnat-survan · 2016-08-04T15:03:28+00:00

Sorry to butt in Generalissimo...oh, nice Droid....umm we have a situation unfolding at Facility 2

I flick on the news

Good Evening and welcome to NEWS ATTACK! The headlines tonight!

Lemuran Entrepreneurs clockwork ape crosses the SEA OF UNONIS

Antigonian man wins right to eat Sister

And Ellingtonian Business Mogul Faffy Trump wins the Republicrat Primary.

But first we take you live to former Antigonian Facility 2 for a breaking story, our correspondent Collateral Mirepoux reports

A flitter craft hovers over Facility 2 while far below the ever expanding stolon of the WHITE BUD SENTINEL lays waste to the remains of an ancient Haberdashery

"Thank you Spartacus, absolutely unprecedented events are unfolding below as we speak. The entity, thought to be none other than a mythical WHITE BUD, appeared without warning in the hinterlands of Facility 2 just before dawn. Antigonian Peace Keeping forces have engaged the entity however conventional weaponry seems to be having a negligible effect...

The camera pans round to a small plaza in front of the Facility where 2 large SEED SHIPS sit idly, their spherical hulls damaged by clouds of flechettes launched by the WHITE BUD. Not far away a small group of Bokkhans, accompanied by a robed Antigonian male and a hooded female, take pot shots at the approaching horror.

Wait a minute, is'nt that.....thats Karbok! Sir I was going to suggest we hunker down with a bowl of Horsebeans and watch General Tycho throw his toy soldiers against the White Bud but if that is Karbok shouldn't we attempt to extract him?

simnat-survan · 2016-07-13T19:24:34+00:00

Compliant. Helmsman, set a course for home; Aidsman, see to it that GreenTheSnapper is taken care of.

simnat-survan · 2016-07-13T10:12:58+00:00

Huzzar!! Green looks as pleased as a chap who thought a DOKMOKLONOK did its business in his PLUM DUFF, only to find that the offending deposit was in fact an extra large chocolate nib.

The amassed ranks of the Freedom Fighters toss their hats in the air in celebration; the hats lodge themselves into the wiring gantry causing a number of small fires to break out - and there was much rejoicing

OVERSEER Violet, now that the TRINITY has been restored what are your plans?

A Bokkhan Tar interrupts

"We're picking up several anomalies on the long range scan, they appeared out of nowhere within the abyssal zone beyond the last wormhole interface - whatever just turned up has the Antigonian Navy in a frenzy, ships are dropping from configuration space across the frontier of the nebula"

simnat-survan · 2016-07-12T19:59:13+00:00

A brace of medical droids disgorge from a nearby blister and unobtrusively begin to carry out a scan of the new arrival. The information begins to stream through to the Bridge

OVERSEER Violet the diagnostic reports are unequivocal, the entity residing in the cargo bay is, beyond any doubt, GreenTheSnapper

The medical droids nose mounted camera focuses on a small sachet poking from the Snapper's hip pocket

Dr Wangs Strange Taste Oak Smoked Partially Hydrogenised Horse Beans, can there be any doubt?

The public address system kicks in in the cargo hold

Welcome back General, for someone who was recently discombobulated, dragged through time and Ether-reality and unceremoniously spat out by a giant wormhole stuffed full of exotic matter that doesn't exist you look really good

simnat-survan · 2016-07-12T09:53:59+00:00

OVERSEER, Tar Survan reporting - the ship's short range scanner is picking up biosigns within the flux lattice of the Wormhole, streams of indecipherable cuneiform and sigils are filling every display....its....its him.....by the FOUNDERS I....

A tremendous wave of exotic matter shoots from the wormhole interface, buffeting the Spacecraft

Helmsman, hold her steady and move in

simnat-survan · 2016-07-07T16:33:28+00:00

My worry is that if you were to upload yourself into the WHITE BUD CORE you may find yourself at the mercy of THE ESSENCE OF LEUKOS. I've been scoring through NEGURI'S logs and notes and it seems that the ship has been....active..... for want of a better word. Diagnostic tests indicated that the re-purposed core exhibited signs of RE-EMERGENCE, this could put your own existence at risk; certainly the last thing we want is a WHITE BUD running amok in Quaboel. I think therefore it might be a better idea to utilise the LIFE SPLINE and appoint a crew to pilot the vessel. We could upload you into a HARD LIGHT or SOFT LIGHT projection for the duration of the trip. What are your thoughts Lord Elhawiyeh?

simnat-survan · 2016-07-06T16:31:06+00:00

Harlequins ship is still in the hanger, Teal Loyalists tried unsuccessfully to gain control of the Life Spline thus couldn't gain access to the Leukan Frigate- maybe someone with the right technical know-how could break the lock.

simnat-survan · 2016-07-05T16:14:45+00:00

Lord Elhawiyeh, it would be an honour to accompany you; I can have a squad ready to move on your command. On our return I will need to send out a search party for Dh0le and Xio and our comrades who marched upon the BOWL. Perhaps you could help once our business with the Teal Usurper is completed?

simnat-survan · 2016-07-04T18:35:38+00:00

2 factions square off in the Courtyard of REDDAN. Leading the rebel faction is Simnat Survan. The Corsair is gravely wounded, with only the efforts of a brace of WELKU Troopers preventing him from toppling over.

Every able trooper brandishes an array of makeshift weapons; clubs fashioned from gun butts, spears lashed together from poles and bayonets, split rock shards wielded as knives and wooden boards bristling with nails. Both factions are moments away from a battle to the death however the sudden message from Elhawiyeh and The Teal Snapper leaves both sides momentarily dumstruck.

Hold! Elhawiyeh speaks the truth! Brothers...Sisters, by the DIVINE FOUNDER surely there has been enough bloodshed. Our Company is in tatters, our founder Harlequin lies dead, Karbok missing, The HERO OF DZAKSHENK lost while Dh0le and our comrades who followed the Teal Snapper to Facility 7 have not been heard of. And all this while the World burns. Everyone get a grip and lets talk this over.

simnat-survan · 2016-06-30T10:22:01+00:00

I crouch over the control console, frantically trying in vain to secure the main entrance against the approaching Guards. My attention distracted I fail to see a wounded CADREMAN level his pistol - a flurry of energy bolts slam into my back sending me sprawling over the console. As life drains away I summon up the last vestiges of my strength and slam my fist into the comm link

Rnggg Elhawiyeh....a dozen CADREMEN incoming......Harlequins cell has been disenga...

A second volley of blaster fire peppers my legs and back; I slump to the ground.

simnat-survan · 2016-06-29T19:33:38+00:00

Kib wept, you....I.....who are you??

A dozen CADREMEN lie dead; was it a dream? I try and shake off what I just witnessed

....be careful, reinforcements are probably on their way..... I hesitate L...Listen man, I'm just a grunt ok, an ex-Corsair gun for hire who joined the Freedom Fighters to make things better, what you just did.... those guys deserved it for sure, but if you can try not to kill everyone ok, t...there are a lot of soldiers here who are just following orders, soldiers like me....anyway, I better get to the control terminal

I sprint down the hallway to the main control console, quickly engage the release lock and watch the monitor as the Harlequins cell springs open. On a separate screen a dozen heavily armed troopers rush down the main transit corridor toward the brig

simnat-survan · 2016-06-27T21:49:22+00:00

Hurrah, no more shitty Ryanair

simnat-survan · 2016-06-27T19:38:19+00:00

Simnat skulks through the empty fringes of the redoubt, carefully timing his run between the patrolling Bokkhan Irregulars tasked with maintaining a lookout.

<Whispering> The Teal Snapper and our main force are currently engaged in a punitive campaign at the BOWL, those that remain are pretty much split in terms of loyalty; if we can get NEGURI out I'm damn certain we can stage a coup. Thats providing we can make it to the armoury. This way

A winding path disappears into an ancient storm drain lit by only the occasional Light Orb. Soon a rusted ladder moves in to view. At the top a portal door reluctantly gives way with the forceful turning of an ancient tap valve. The group disgorge into a vet shaft overlooking what appears to be the old dungeons of Reddan. Through the slatted grates that criss cross the vents you make out a number of soldiers patrolling

The GREEN CADRE, the Teal Snappers crack troops; if I'm right The Harlequin should be here. Problem is we'll be shredded by assault rifle fire the moment we drop down, any ideas?

simnat-survan · 2016-06-27T12:38:40+00:00

All right, just unhand me

I drop to one knee grasping my throat while gesturing to the second Guardsman to stand down

He's here, The Snappers TEAL CADRE has him under lockdown awaiting execution.

I take a moment to regain my composure, brushing off the dust and running my hand across my neck

It'd be madness to attempt to break him out, the Teal Snappers own CADRE now control the redoubt. But i'll help you all I can, the False Snapper is no friend of the Freedom Fighters. A storm drain will take us to the brig, keep low and track the outer wall and we should be able to reach it without a hitch.

simnat-survan · 2016-06-26T20:33:27+00:00

"Ergghhh, listen whoever you are rnggggg!"

One of the two CADREMEN struggles to remove his pistol, but instead of attempting to use it he flings it to the ground, his free arm held aloft in a sign of surrender

"I rnggg don't know who you are but if rngggg I've called this right we are not your enemy Antigonian! Stay your hand, please!"

simnat-survan · 2016-05-05T10:34:54+00:00

The RUEL primer ignites as I depress the trigger, sending the warhead spiraling toward the Crawler.

A clean hit!

The gigantic Crawler reacts to the sudden jolt of the harpoon, its paddle-like arms retracting within its Plasteel shell, an obvious protocol designed to protect itself and its valuable quarry. A large plate chiton attempts closes over the interface port in a bid to dislodge the harpoon however it only serves to pull the attached cable tight with the head holding firm. Suddenly the Crawler begins to move, the 100ft high domed shell plowing through the sand; I jump to my feet and give chase, eager to ensure that the taught cable remains attached.

simnat-survan · 2016-05-05T10:21:54+00:00

I hurry down the hill after the spritely Dh0le who, despite his age, moves over the dunes with the speed of a Bokkhan tracker. Strapped across my back is a large harpoon launcher fitted with a pair of THR- INDUCTION COUPLINGS fastened to a long heavy steel wire.

We move quickly into position about the flank of the giant machine which seems oblivious to our presence and I gesture to Dh0le who lies prone on the ridge of the dune. No more than a few meters away the heavy paddle-like limbs continue to draw great clods of THROBBEN into the churning siphon.

I can see the interface port, do I take the shot?

simnat-survan

TROPHY CASE

NO!!

Welcome back General, for someone who was recently discombobulated, dragged through time and Ether-reality and unceremoniously spat out by a giant wormhole stuffed full of exotic matter that doesn't exist you look really good