(Sorry had to go somewhere)
The ship glided through space, showing and giving the new recruits a taste of space.
"Measuring over 210 meters, a beam of 33 meters, with a sleek rectangular predator shape and more than a third of the length was occupied by seven bulbous engines and its warp drive. A huge mass of sensors and arrays stabbed out from the bow. Armed with two dual 155 mm rail cannons on the dorsal top and a single dual 155 mm on the ventral side, 16 dual 50 mm pulse laser point defense turrets, four on each side of the ship and 10 light missile launchers on the port and starboard side. Protected by a 200 mm armor belt and electro-magnetic pulse shield, a crew of over 840 men and women manned the ship, with berths, laboratories, and even a flight deck.
A ship with this potential is considered state of the art 80 years ago. As mankind ventured out in the unknown and colonized planets, they met the Swarm nine years ago. All attempts in communications failed, the Swarm attacked with mindless abandon. Creatures out of nightmares dropped from the skies of Himpra Prime, while the unsuspecting colonists watched the beautiful meteor shower rained down and later turned into death with claws and ichor."
The new recruit were calm, Listening to the orders.
Taking the tablet, Captain Blake scrolled through the list of drills his XO detailed out. "Alright, run the crew through the drills. But I want you to do it randomly, at all hours." He handed back the tablet.
"Aye Cap-," Ford replied halfway when a sudden blare of alert sounded in the bridge.
"CAPTAIN! XO! We are detecting gravitational anomalies ahead!" Sensor Officer 2nd Lieutenant Randy yelled excitedly. "Two… no five anomalies. Eh… 9,852 km away!" He added. "Wow! Mass of estimated 50,000 tons each!"
Captain Blake gripped his armrest as he swallowed the retort and counted to 10 to calm himself down. They are kids just fresh out of school. He glared at Commander Ford and signals with his eyes.
He then focused onto the incoming ships, sending a hail.
"This is USM Ship Singapore, we ask you to leave, this is a training site of the Unity Space Marines."
"No reply Captain!" Ford shouted.
"Si-r I mean Captain, the contacts are moving. Sensors are picking up ion emissions. Computer is analyzing the data reports 83.7% Swarm parasite cruisers!" Sensor Officer Randy reported.
Hearing that, the bridge crew started to get anxious. "Isn't this a safe zone?" someone muttered.
"SILENCE ON DECK!" Captain Blake yelled. 'Damn these newbies.' "This is not a market! Do your duty!"
The crew instantly quiet down. "Commander, set Condition Two!"
"Aye, set Condition Two throughout the ship!" echoed Ford. He pressed onto the ship-wide intercom. "
All hands, this is your Commander speaking. Set Condition Two throughout the ship. This is not a drill. I repeat set Condition Two. This is not a drill!"
Following that announcement, the ship alert system blares out.
Just then, the ships warped in a disgusting piece of mass, the swarm started firing swarms at the ship.
"Sir we have to retreat," Randy said in panic.
"Warp out of here, and do random coordinates, we don't want them to find the Gate."
"Bu-t Captain"
"I SAID DO IT!" Blake commanded.
The ship warped, appearing over a planet similar to Earth. It then started to fall, the only thing saving it from exploding was the emergency thrusters.
The last thing anyone saw was the ship crashing into the sandy beach…
(I rushed the ending so sorry…)
(It’s ok. You did good. Is it just you and me? I saw others asking to join but I didn’t see their characters.)
Elizabeth Harper woke up to a throbbing headache, groaning as she forced herself up.
Ok… that’s not a hangover.
Looking around, the ship didn't appear to be too badly damaged by the crash. Only one console was sparking.
What do you wanna bet that the comms station?
Liz wasn't usually a pessimistic person but getting attacked by the Swarm first day out and being warped to who knows where… Not the best start to a career, never mind starting a day.
Well aware she wasn't a medic, she started checking the crew for serious injuries.
James groaned, his body sore all over. From his viewpoint, all he could see was sand.
'Wait, the air? It's breathable
James tried getting up but the end result only ended up in him crashing back onto the metal deck.
You got to have been kidding me! James thought as he looked at the comms station.
He then grabbed onto the side and pulled himself. After that, he forced himself to go outside and what he saw brought him some relief.
I knew I should have paid more attention to first aid. Liz grumbled at her poor attempts. So far she hadn't been able to determine anything life-threatening. A couple of broken limbs, a few with cracked ribs, some had a lightly bleeding head injury but…
As soon as she heard a crash she turned toward the sound. Relief was immediately felt when she saw someone else had obviously survived. She couldn't make out his rank or anything at the moment, but when he started heading out of the ship…
”Hey!” she shouted, racing to him. ”Hold up, pal! You have no idea what’s out there!”
(Sorry, I've been gone… is the prince still open?)
James took a look at the woman who had just shouted at him and stopped.
The usual no? he thought before saying.
"I have my guns and plus we going to have to do a reconnaissance no?"
He then jumped down onto the sandy beach and looked around. All he could see was the barely destroyed ship behind him, the sea, beach and the forest beside it. He then moved towards the cargo bay of the ship.
Liz bit her lip, hesitating for just a moment.
You’re acting like a civilian! Get yourself together!
She nodded to herself before jumping out to follow him. The guy did have a point… and seemed like a plan as well.
Make sure that the area was secure.
She didn't draw her gun yet, but she kept her senses on high alert.
”Mind if I tag along? Safety in numbers and all that. What's your name anyway, pretty boy?” Her usual playful smirk easily slid on her face.
"Commander Crawford, you" He answered with an eyebrow raised, bringing out the touchscreen on his wrist.
Looks like she hit her head…
He then typed on the screen and soon enough, the bay opened. He then walked in, turning on the lights as well.
"You coming?" He asked without turning back, trying to ignore her for the most part.
”Elizabeth Harper, but everyone calls me Liz.” She started with a salute but gave Crawford a wink at the end.
I’m probably going to get into a bit of trouble for that.
”Lead the way, Commander.” She half-joked, following him.
James inwardly rolled his eyes at Elizabeth's flirting capabilities before saying.
"Elizabeth, may I ask your rank?"
I take that back, she HAS hit her head.
He then moved towards the vehicle storage bay and sat in something that looked like a jeep/armoured car with a hell lot of weapons. He then turned on the engine.
"Get in."
Nice going, Lizzie. She mentally scolded herself, laughing a bit as she slid into the vehicle next to him. ”Sorry. It's been a hell of a day so far. I'm a Lieutenant. Hope you don't mind my being casual… It's something of a coping mechanism at times. Though I do usually act like this when I don't have to be at attention or on a battlefield.”
"Lieutenant, do you know why in such disorganisation I have gone into a vehicle and turned on the engine?"
Crawford said taking a glance at her while moving the vehicle into the storage section.
Liz gave him a disbelieving look, almost as if he had said that The Captain had purple skin.
”You did that so we can recon the area, make sure it's secure from attacks.” She paused when she saw the direction they were heading. ”Though it seems I may have misunderstood what you meant by area. You're either heading to check the engines to verify that there is no danger of explosions or leaks… Or you want to make sure none of the Swarm managed to get on board before we wrapped.” Her voice took on a more serious tone towards the end of her explanation.
"Your last answer is correct," James confirmed, stopping the vehicle right in front of a SAT. (Swarm Attractor trailer)
After getting off and attaching the trailer to the vehicle, he sat back in and said.
"Can you get the AMT (Automatic Machine Gun Tank) online?"
After that, he dropped her off at the vehicle section before heading to the armoury.
”Yes, sir.” She was definitely at attention now… Actually more like full alert. On her way to the AMT, her hand was almost hovering over the standard pistol she carried.
God, I hope we got away fast enough.
James pulled out his radio once he stopped and called into it.
"Blake, You there?"
The response, was some static and a groan of pain before finally.
"Yeah I'm here"
Crawford headed inside the ammunition stores and grabbed ammo for the rocket launchers he had just grabbed.
"I'm heading outside to see if there is any of those Swarm B'stards left."
"O-ok" Captain Blake responded in between the static.
He then put the cargo in the back of the car before driving outside about fifty meters away from the crash. He then, set everything up and set up a few robotic launchers. He then pulled out his radio.
"Lieutenant, Meet me outside."
Let's get this done…
Liz did feel a bit safer once she was in the AMT but didn't relax her guard even as it started up.
”Copy that, Commander.”
As she drove, she made sure that the sensors were active.
James turned on the robots and weapons and his finger currently hovered over the activation button.
(Since this is your RP, what do the tanks’ scanners pick up?)
(Scanners pick up signals which are not allies through an electromagnetic wave and can also pick up life forms and separate enemies and allies as well as races.
They will be adapted later for other uses later.)
(Ok. I guess I meant how many of the Swarm for now? ☺️)
(I'd say about sixty of them.)
(Yikes!)
Liz swore under her breath at the readings. ”Commander! We got incoming!” She followed the procedure to target and lock on. ”Looks to be about sixty, sir.”
How her voice didn't tremble, she didn't know. All she did know at the moment was to wait for the order to engage.
