Battle Report - A touch of Flavor

Please find below a sample chapter for the upcoming novel based on the Battleforce Chronicles Universe entitled "Quest for the Dragon Stone". This chapter is a sample to give you a taste of the tone and flavor of the game. I must warn though it is quite mature and not for young children. I hope you enjoy it. Thankyou.

TRINITY DAM BUSTERS

New Earth

Township of Kuon

40 Miles outside New Washington

The year is 3320.

The Trinity dam was a majestic thing of wonder, and a testament to New Earth construction worker’s expertise.

Standing well over one hundred feet high, with numerous sub structures and a solid Masonite wall that was re-enforced with concrete and a naturally occurring black obsidian like rock found in the new earth soil. Some would speculate that this rock was infused with Shadowforce energy that gives it the unique black and grey texture, like a combination of marbled stone and coal.

The dam is located forty kilometers from New Washington, roughly about a weeks journey if conducted on foot, and overlooks a small township of settlers called Kuon. Kuon has the dam hold back the waters of the lake by the same name: Trinity, This lake is one of three that help supply hydroelectric plants in the region and fresh drinking water for some three thousand residents of the town.

On this morning, though, Jason STARK and his Battleforce squad have a much more pressing concern. Having received orders from Homebase, the huge orbiting space station, above New Earth, that there is credible intelligence that the Drakkon are going to be return. Tentative reports suggest they will use an artificially generated wormhole to bring a dreadnought class ship into this quadrant of the Dragon Galaxy, and renew an offensive on New Earth. There is nothing solid yet, but the contact allegedly has intercepted galactic communiques that detail the construction site of the wormhole. It poses a serious sense of foreboding dread in the pit of Jason’s stomach.

The contact Jason needs to see is currently in the township of Kuon, a rouge by the name of Jango Goldarm, sporting a gold plated cybernetic limb. There was a delay to this meeting however as reports had come in of Mutant-Rat Terrorists from the Broken-tooth Clan were milling at the dam and were causing trouble for the workers there, having taken several hostages.

Jason’s Battleforce squad were called and re-directed to end the threat before Jason could continue with his other mission. One of Jason’s close friends, Michael Dedunga, a practicing Druid, was helping out, as he was not officially part of Battleforce, he could continue to assist in seeking out the location of the contact while Jason took care of the ‘rat’ problem.

Jason and his Battleforce unit, comprising of Henry Foster, a Battleforce Scientist, Jake “Killer” Gallows, a fresh Battleforce Soldier recruit and his fiancé, Clarissa, moved into position of a sentry watchtower that was currently empty at the top of the dam. Ladders and walkways populated the wall, allowing slow access to the lower levels.

Jason glanced over the edge of the watchtower box, noting several Mutant-Rats milling about four feet down a ladder directly below the squad, on a walkway leading away around the edge of the dam wall. Having another quick glance, Jason further noted that way down towards the water line was another large group of ‘muties milling around the center of the dam. Well out of range currently of his teams GX10 12mm assault rifles.

Jason touched the mic activator on his tactical helmet:

"Michael, do you copy me? It’s Jason, we are in position, have you located Jango yet?”

A crackled response was quickly received:

“No mate, still searching, is he intentionally avoiding me or is this some kind of final test?”

“I would hope not, too much is residing on this, even for him” Jason replied

.

“Copy that, I will keep looking, apparently, there is a Yunti Merchant that may know something, I will be in touch”.

“Copy Michael, thank you. Jason out”. Jason flicked off the Tactical mic and took stock of his squad.

They were all dedicated to Battleforce, as Jason was, believing in the soul of what Battleforce stands for. Jason knew they all felt that way, and believed it in their heart of hearts. Isabolla was a fantastic medic and wonderful woman, whom Jason had quickly fallen for when they met two years prior.

That to him was fate and though he had complete confidence in her abilities, still couldn’t hide the twinge of concern to have her here in this perilous situation with him. Tell her to stay away? No chance of that being listened to, as Isabolla had to be in the thick of the action, just like Jason. I guess they were more similar than Jason would like to care for.

The fresh recruit, just out of Battleforce Training was called Jake “Killer” Gallows and Jason was quite concerned about him. Coming across as arrogant and a “know it all”, Jason worried that his hubris would ultimately be his undoing. Jason thought to himself that he would need to keep a close eye, and reign him in if needed.

The brains of the outfit would have to go to Henry, a four year Battleforce veteran and consultant to the Science division in New Washington. Henry was the opposite of the recruit, quite stoic and has a patience unheard of. Henry would never rush a situation, and when things got dicey, had his combat drone (nick name of Little Reaper) take care of most situations. This filled Jason with a sense of calm and confidence.

“Ok team, we need to be stealthy about this, lives are at stake. Switch to silenced weapons and let’s take out the group below quick and quiet.” Jason whispered with a desperate urgency, as he shouldered the rifle and drew out his .50 Pistol.

Removing from his webbing four suppressors, he handed them out and then attached one to his own. The suppressor couldn’t fully silence the .50, but with the roar of the churning water and high wind at their position should hopefully push away any errant sounds like a leaf caught in the breeze.

Switching to hand signals, Jason got into position, as did the other three. Glancing over the edge again, Jason could see three ‘rats’ chatting among themselves, sporting sub machine guns, they all appeared dirty and disheveled. Throwing nervous glances over the railing to the hundred-foot drop, they were clearly terrified to be up so high.

Another hand signal.Attack Now!.

The Battleforce unit, working as one exploded over the rim of the sentry box, all weapons spewing forth suppressed bullets. There was some noise, but nothing overt, and all three rats, caught completely by surprise didn’t even have time to raise their own weapons. The .50 caliber bullets ripped them apart. Not even having time to scream, they all perished in silence.

Had they just dropped where they stood, there would have been no issue. However, though the sound may have been suppressed, they were still getting pummeled with a high caliber bullet. The force of the impact has caused one of the rats to be propelled backward, and his cold corpse has blasted over the railing of the walkway they were on.The bullet riddled body of the dead mutant, fell the complete distance to the water.

Jason held his breath, a rising feeling of bile and dread in his throat.

The falling body was an obvious and fast moving object which caught the attention of the large group down near the waterline, who started to frantically gesticulate and point. Suddenly the air was filled with pings and zings. They were firing at the sentry box! Their weapons couldn’t reach them, as the Battleforce ones were in the same position, but now the element of surprise was gone and they knew they were there. This put the hostages in further peril, but what to do?

“Henry, can you get a look at what they are doing? Are they making their up here?”

Henry took out his macro-binoculars and looked through them over the edge, reporting what he saw.

“They have stopped firing, I think they realized we were too far away. I can see two breaking off, heading this way. The others…. The others are doing something to the dam wall itself. Let me zoom, something on the wall….” Henry’s eyes widened and his voice caught in his throat. Putting the binoculars down, Henry glanced around at all the walls and size of the dam. Panic in his eyes

.

“The dam. Sir, they are going to blow the dam, they have thermite charges and are setting them up now. We are too far away”.

Jason caught on quick, that feeling of bile almost making him retch, “If they blow the dam, the town is going to be destroyed and with it any hope of stopping the Drakkon”.

Acting fast, Jason activated his tactical helmet.

“Michael, are you there? Come in, over! Michael!” The urgency in his got a concerned response”.

“I’m here Jason, what’s going on?”

“The dam Michael. They are going to blow it! You need to start evacuating the town” Jason’s almost frantic reply.

“Are you serious? I will approach the Chief Mayor, but I don’t know how serious he is going to take me, how much time do I have to convince him?”

“I would say no time at all, just do your best as quickly as possible, I have an idea from this end. I will let you know how it goes. Jason out” .

Jason immediately switched frequencies on the helmet, the rest of the team busying themselves, Killer and Isabolla watching the approaching ‘rats while Henry continue to observe the explosive setters to get an idea on timing.

“Alpha Bravo squad to Homebase 1. Homebase 1, Homebase 1 do you copy, over?”

“Go for Homebase 1 Alpha Bravo. What is your situation?” Came the female reply.

“Homebase 1, we have a situation, the Mutant Terrorists are setting to blow the Trinity dam. Kuon is in catastrophic danger. I need assistance, over”.

“Solid copy, Alpha Bravo wait one.”

A few agonizing moments of deafening silence creep by, which seemed like an eternity.

“Homebase 1 to Alpha Bravo, Come in”.

“Go for Alpha Bravo!” Jason yelled back into the mic.

“Alpha Bravo, I have two Scorpion attack craft performing manoeuvres ten clicks from your position. I will reroute them to your position with new orders. They are on frequency 22.3 and call signs are Tango Zulu 1 and Tango Zulu 2.”

“ Get them, I will brief them on their way here”

Ten Kilometers away…

The two Scorpions blasted over the landscape. They were majestic ships, with backward sweeping wings and sporting twin curved tailfins, which is where they derive their name from. The Scorpions are adept in both space and atmosphere flight. Turning, swooping and diving in perfect formation the squad of two continued to perform barrel rolls and pushing the ships supersonic.

The pilots at the helm are the elite of the best the Galactic Armada had to offer. The Scorpions were developed by the renowned ship builder Blaine Overskeet, and they have gone through several models already. Currently in the Mark III version they are the latest to be manufactured on one of New Earth’s three moons.

"Tango Zulu 1, Tango Zulu 2, this is Homebase 1, come in”.

“Tango Zulu squad on channel and awaiting” The pilot, in Tango Zulu 1 responded.

“There is a situation in your area, Mutant Terrorists are set to blow Trinity dam. Battleforce Alpha Bravo squad need assistance and are on scene, Officer in Charge is Jason STARK and will brief you on the way. Please change to bearing 3 – 3 – 4 - 3 and expedite. Do you copy? Over.”

“Tango Squad that is a solid copy. Proceeding there now. Out”.

The Scorpions sweeped around in unison to the new heading and thrust forward, pushing the planes as fast as they were designed to be flown. Hopefully it would be fast enough.

Trinity Dam.

The two terrorists that were making their way to the high sentry box were drawing ever closer with Isabolle and Jake keeping a watchful eye, Assault rifles at the ready. One of the features of the GX10 scope is the rangefinder ability, giving a HUD readout through their tactical helmets to let them know when the target was in range. All they had to do was keep the terrorists in their crosshairs. The others main group, according to the running commentary from Henry, had just finished setting the final explosive.

Switching the tactical helmet to frequency 22.3 Jason keyed the mic.

‘Tango Zulu 1, Tango Zulu2, this is Alpha Bravo, do you copy me?”

“This is Tango Zulu 1, solid copy Alpha Bravo, what’s the situation?”

“Tango Zulu, we have approximately twelve hostiles at the center bottom of the dam, just above the waterline, on an administrative walkways following the dam wall, and inside the administration building fifty feet above them they are holding four workers as hostages, copy that?”

“Copy that Alpha Bravo, our time on targets is 1 minute. What explosives are they using?”

“Thermite Charges according to my spotter”

Jake and Isobelle opened fire with their assault rifles at the approaching terrorists which had just come into range. They ducked behind a walkway ballistae and returned fire, automatic gunfire barking and causing Jason to have to shout.

“Listen up squad, Calvary is almost here, less than a minute!”

“They had better hurry, one of the rats is gesticulating that they we are dead. They must have finished planting the last charge, we are out of time.’

40 seconds out.

The firefight continued, Jake ejecting a spend magazine and slapping a fresh one in from behind cover. Grabbing a HR grenade off his webbing, Jake takes a step back and with all his strength hurls the grenade at their cover position. A good throw, it lands within twenty feet and explodes. The explosion rock the walkway and causes one of them hiding behind cover to stumble out. Jake seized the advantage, quickly sighting his rifle and takes a single, well aimed shot. It penetrates the terrorist’s skull and explodes his brains over his companion who was using him as a shield from the explosive.

30 seconds out.

Isabolle having spent her rifle magazine has re-drawn her pistol, and using the surprise of the terrorist’s companions brutal death, unloads her clip at the remaining mutant. Still in shock and covered in brains, the mutant did not duck back behind cover and was riddled with the incoming gunfire, his body twitching in morbid dance of death.

20 seconds out.

“Jason, they are getting ready to blow the dam, we are out of time! We need to stall them somehow!”

Frantically looking about, Henry’s eyes beam “I have an idea!”

Grabbing out “Little Reaper”, Henry backs up a step and hauls the drown out and over the sentry box. Quickly opening his armband control pad, Henry initiates the drone and takes command. The Drones engine come online and allow it to gain altitude and flight momentum. Henry directs the drone, using the video display on his arm control to have the drone fly straight for the gesticulating Mutant far below. When Little Reaper gets closer, Henry can see through the monitor the surprised look on the mutant’s rat face. Even though it’s still out of range, Henry lets rip with the 10mm cannons, causing the terrorist to instinctively duck.

10 seconds out.

Flying the drone closer and closer, the 10mm cannons rip apart one terrorist. Realising the danger from the flying contraption, the rats return fire and Henry makes an evasive manoeuvre.

A slow rumbling could be heard in the distance.

5 seconds out.

“Hear that Henry? They are here, get Little Reaper out of there!”

3 seconds out.

“Ok, I’m out, heading back” Henry replied.

2 seconds out.

“You are all going to die, pathetic human scum!” Juka Thornswallow, a zealot of the Brokentooth clan and secret Drakkon Cult member screams at the retreating drone. The Battleforce Squsd let out a cheer as the Scorpions thundered overhesd.

1 second out.

“Now you d-‘ Juka Thorswallow, about to push the detonator, glances east. Eyes going wide just before he is turned into a red and green mist from the 50mm armour piecing rounds that rips him apart, the detonator dropping from his now non-existent appendages, from the hovering Mark III Scorpion attack craft.

All hell breaks loose.

The Scorpion continues the assault, the Gatling guns churning out the rounds, and tearing through five mutants, six, seven, eight. Scrambling for cover, some attempt to run only to be tracked and cut down by the relentless barrage of automatic cannons from the craft.

A bold Mutant who has not yet tasted the hot lead of death manages to scramble into a turret they had set up and trains the turrets cannons on the hovering plane.

“Tango Zulu 1, this is Tango Zulu 2, you have a bogey south west in a turret that has you in his sights. I have him in mine thought, watch your six. Fox 3. Fire”. The second Scorpion, has hammered in and let loose a Mark IV Hades missile which streaks away pluming smoke and hones in on the turret.

The mutant in the turret had moved it into position with the first plane dead to rights. The mutant squeezed the cannons triggers. The turret explodes from a direct missile strike, as the Scorpion that was the target peels away and manoeuvre for another strafing one.

‘Tango Zulu 1 , this is 2, a direct hit and your clear” Switching to Thermals for the Hostage locations”.

The second Scorpion moved out for a better angle and then swooped back in, tracking and finding three remaining mutants hiding behind a durasteel barrier. The Scorpion churned out more Gatling fire that struck the barrier sending sparks flying. Given the armour piercing nature of the rounds, the Scorpion continued firing in the same spot and in short order the round burst through the durasteel sand annihilated the three remaining mutants.

“Alpha Bravo, this is Tango Zulu 1, your dam is clear of bogeys now and we are sending to your tactical helmet the thermal locations of the hostages. We are withdrawing and will maintain a perimeter for you. Good luck with the rest of your mission.”

“Tango Zulu 1, solid copy from Alpha Bravo, Love your work. Thanks for the assist. The next synth-ale round is on us”.

“Roger that Alpha Bravo, I’ll hold you to that, Tango Zulu squad out”.

The two Scorpions, leaving behind a mess of devastation and smoking rubble, turned and proceeded out of the immediate vicinity.

"Ok, guys, I just let Michael know the situation, we start moving now and need to breach that admin building. Let’s get down there”

The squad moves, out making their way down the ladder and towards the Administration building.

****

The detonator lay where it fell, amidst gore and smoke. A small shaking hand reaches out to the detonator. A mutant rat survivor! Almost there, almost have it….

The bullet shot rings out and the hand twitches, clenches and falls slack.

Jason STARK reaches down and picks up the Detonator. “Nice try buddy, but not today. Today, freedom and justice are the victors”. Turning and looking up, squinting in the sunlight, the administration building loomed above them, the entrance on this level at the dam wall.

“Now…. about those hostages….”

TO BE CONTINUED>