CHAPTER ONE:
'Transmission'
The Woofer: Alliance Republic Headquarters
[03:12 PM]
A large bank of immense grey mist was sweeping over the Woofer, strange creatures bleated into the early morning, and a sense of anticipation hung in the air. Within the relative warmth of the North watchtower sat an Alliance Marine Cadet, his uniform stained with mud. His name was was Fenir Herbst, grandson of the distinguished Alliance Admiral. Beside him, asleep, lay another Marine Cadet. The bags under his eyes told a story of sleepless fortnights. Fenir peered into the mist, trying to make out the main complex, or even the East watchtower, but the shifting grey and white mass was impenetrable; Suddenly, a blinding watch-light seared through the fog. Fenir swore angrily as the holder of the light emerged from the fog, clad in Alliance Marine Commander armour. He shook his friend urgently,
‘Jake! Jake wake up!’
Jake uttered a sleepy murmur but did not wake. ‘It’s commander Vasiliopita, get up, or we’ll both have another week on Watch duty!’
Jake’s eyes snapped open, attempting to look alert, he brushed his shirt down and made sure his rank slide was clearly visible.
‘Cadets Herbst and Large, get out.’
The two young men obeyed hastily; clambering out of the hatch.
‘Sit Rep.’
‘No activity, sir’
The marine Commander nodded thoughtfully.
‘Just to let you know, we have been hearing some odd noises by the tower, and people have…’ he paused slightly. ‘Seen… things’
‘What sort of things sir?’
For the first time since they had met him the Commander looked worried.
‘I don’t know.’ He replied honestly, before turning his back on the men and beginning his way back to the Complex.
Jake grinned cheekily, ‘Things, eh? My money is that it was old Karl who made the report…’
Fenir smiled, remembering the old Captain’s love of whisky. During the time while he was still a serving member of the Alliance he had often said ‘Whisky makes you alert, clears your head, and destroys pain’, though he was now retired from the job, he still lived on site and was known for minor eccentricities.
A shrill, unearthly scream echoed through the mist, bringing both of them back to their senses.
‘What was that…?’
Fenir shook his head and ushered towards the still open hatch. They hastily clambered in and gazed down at the radar.
‘Nothing’
Jake mumbled anxiously. ‘it could always be the NCOs’ having a laugh at our expense’
Fenir nodded.
‘I guess.’
The scream echoed through the darkness once more. The radio on the desk began to flash and whir urgently, and Jake’s hand strayed towards it. Fenir began to protest, ‘it’s meant only for emergencies…’
‘How do we know this isn’t one?’ Jake replied confidently, plucking the radio from it’s place on the desk and holding the receive button down.
‘…Crumbling Slowly. The red dragon is dead, over.’
A shrill bleeping sounded over the frequency, causing both Jake and Fenir to cover their ears.
‘This line is insecure Hand.’
‘Roger that.’
The communicator fell silent in Jake’s hand.
‘I think… we need to contact an Officer. Fast.’
Fenir and Jake were seated in the modestly comfortable sofa in Alliance Admiral Nanao Mahfouz’s office; After reaching the complex they had found a half asleep Mazer Ludd, awake only on a dose of tea in a Styrofoam cup that hung limply in his left hand, who had told them to find Nanao immediately. Now, 20 minutes later, thoroughly warmed up, they waited in silence for the Admiral to arrive. Fenir was wishing somehow he could make a new shirt appear out of thin air, his own though usually a dark green, now a blackish shade of brown. Jake, on the other hand, despite being slightly creased due to his earlier nap, sat up straight and tall, his uniform in pristine condition, and his rank slide freshly polished. How Fenir envied his friend. Despite being the grandson of the current leader of the Alliance, Fenir looked rather poor. His grandfather had been careful not to give him special treatment, to avoid criticism and unfairness, the result, however, was more a kind of accidental neglect.
The office door opened, releasing Fenir from his thoughts, and Nanao Mahfouz strolled into the room. He had dark black hair with a bluish tinge, and shining green armour. His Grav-Pack was unblemished by soot, and bore the Alliance Admiralty Logo in the centre; He looked magnificent. Realising the effect his appearance was having on the two Cadets, Mahfouz broke the silence.
‘Mazer tells me you received some stray transmissions’
Jake nodded timidly.
‘Yes sir.’
‘Tell me exactly, what did you hear? Did you write it down?’
Fenir and Jake both cringed inwardly, realising their mistake.
‘No sir’
Nanao stared at them disbelievingly.
‘You of all people Fenir… Can you remember any of it?’
‘The Red dragon is dead, and a name.’
Nanao nodded encouragingly
‘What name?’
‘Hand.’
A look of shock, anger, and frustration flickered across Nanao’s face, his eyes flashing momentarily red, then the moment was gone.
‘I see. And was that all?’
‘Yes sir.’
‘Then you may go back to the Tower. Good Night.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
Downhearted, the two men trudged out of the office and into the fog. It was going to be a long day.
The Following Day:
12:06 PM
Trinity Heckroth, Commander of the Alliance Republic Air Division had relieved the two cadets of duty at 11:00, insisting that they catch some sleep and get a ‘well needed shower’. The fog had began to leave The Woofer at 9:00, now, at 12:06, after having showered, got changed, and had twenty minutes of sleep, the two Cadets arrived outside in a large courtyard to find a clear day; Alliance Razors buzzed by overhead, the tiny craft darting around the various towers that made up the complex in an attempt to impress the various medics that worked on site, while far in the distance, a large fleet ship circled the perimeter fence, an infra-red beam shooting from it’s hull to the ground.
Fenir blinked slightly, the light temporarily distorting his vision before gradually coming back into focus.
‘We need to get to Hall 2, we’re back on training!’
Jake Smiled widely, happy that their punishment was finally over, and the two men began to run towards a large dark green building, illuminated by bright yellow lighting.
When Fenir and Jake arrived in Hall two they were greeted with a fearful and quiet atmosphere, there was none of the usual backchat or shouting, no sound of young Cadets using ancient grav packs to try to make their way up the training tower; everyone stood in line in immaculate uniform, staring at a man who had his back to them.
‘Sorry we’re late…’
The man turned to face them, and Fenir recognised Jalon Raxman, an old member of the Marine Division who was known and feared for his prowess and brutality in battle.
‘Cadets Herbst and Large… why the ruddy hell are you late?’
The man’s eyes narrowed as one.
‘We had a meeting with Admiral Mahfouz, sir.’
‘Oh I see. And I take it that the two of you came straight here after?’
Jake hung his head.
‘No sir, we were told to get changed and have a shower’
Raxman’s eyes flashed.
‘Marine Training is crucial in your career, in your damned life; I know of mothers that beg the Alliance to take their sons, their daughters from those squalid little mountainside villages, so they can become AR Marines!’
Jake winced and Fenir glowered.
‘But oh… I forgot. You have no parents now do you Herbst? Because they, like you, did not have the sense to get any decent training, and they got themselves blown up!’
Fenir ran at Raxman, but the old man batted him away easily.
‘That’s a lie. My parents were trained Alliance Intelligence Officers, and you know it’
‘How dare you?! Herbst, I will be speaking with your grandfather about this ridiculous insubordination, you will continue this session in your own time, when you cannot disturb the others. You will come back at Lunch; dismissed.’
Fenir stalked angrily out of the building, glancing sadly at Jake for not defending him, before entering the courtyard. He was going to find Mazer, and talk to him about the name that had scared Nanao so much; Hand.
On his way towards Watchtower four, where he knew Mazer would be, Fenir noticed something unusual to the east of the compound. Several AN Intelligence vehicles were making their way back into the perimiter, along with an Alliance Medic craft. Fenir wanted to stop and see what was going on, but his priority lay with Mazer, so he continued towards Tower four.