Post by Panzer on Aug 19, 2004 11:10:56 GMT -5
Pulling the trigger, James fires the shell at the second target. It hits in the center. He was expecting the next target to appear close to a tree to his far left. But, learning from his past experience, he had a gut feeling it wouldn't. And was he ever right! The next target appeared directly in front of his face. James was startled, he hadn't expected it to be this close. But, he was well prepared for it. Holding down a button on the controls, he fired a missile straight forward. He heard a muffled "swish", a BANG, and the target disappeared from his view.
-Too easy, he told himself.
But this time, he wasn't being cocky. He knew it was true. He had even heard it from some of his superiors. James had an incredible talent for adapting to a situating, even IF it was different that routine. And that was a talent that made James' skills some of the most reknown.
New targets surged everywhere, by the dozen. James knew that firing alone wouldn't keep up for long with this new mass of targets. So, he opted for a new strategy. Mixing firing the
50 mm cannons, shooting his missiles, and firing only two mortar shells, he eliminated the targets in record time. This came to no surprise to James, or to the officers supervising the exercises.
In a little building, close to the entrance of the woods, Captain Van Leeuwen, Lieutenant Mackay and Colonel Gignac sat in a circle around a holographic display set. The set was focused on James' performance during the drills. They were all amazed and had something to say, but the Colonel spoke first:
"What you have here is a rare kind of pilot. As you can see, his skills exceed even some of our finest officer's,"he said, looking at the Van Leeuwen. The Captain blushed and looked away, angry. Colonel Gignac continued: "I still cannot see why you don't move him up a few ranks. With his talent, he could easily become a Warrant Officer, if not higher."
To which Lieutenant Mackay replied:
"It's because of his character. This base needs talent, but this young man doesn't have the serious attitude or discipline required to maintain such a rank."
"Well, he's not going to gain discipline by remaining a Cadet forever. Put him in a teaching position. I expect him to start next Friday. Maybe you don't want him to move up in rank, Lieutenant, but I want to see to it that his talent is properly used. That is not a suggestion, it is an order."
Those being his last words, the Colonel left the room. But not before he saw the red light blaring, and the small sound of an alarm.
James heard it too. The alarm was represented in his cockpit as a little blue word on his status screen, which read "Alert!". It flashed repeatedly and started to annoy James. Only then did he realize that the drills had ended, and that trainees were rushing back to the base.
-What the hell!? Not now, I was at my BEST! yells an angry James.
-CDT SMITH!!!! RETURN TO THE BASE IMMEDIATELY!! WE NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE!!!! yelled a voice from the voice the video display. A second later, the face of Lieutenant Mackay appeared. James turned his Command Wolf around and darted towards the base.
-What's going on Lieutenant? asked a curious James.
-The base is under attack again. It's those damned bandits again. They slipped through the security measures using the stealth chip that they managed to take from us the last. They are 8 in all. And they've got new reinforcements, it's a Gaaaaaaiiiiiii.... The communication was cut of.
-They must've attacked the Officers HQ. Uh-oh, this could get ugly, said James.
This wasn't the first time this had happened. This was a clan of anti-military bandits and mercenaries. They occasionnaly attacked the base, stealing a few parts or small zoids in the process. Last attack, they had managed to steal a stealth chip, and had obviously made identical copies. This was not good, as they now had stealth on their side. Approaching the base, James saw a blazing white beam fly through a wall. The beam flies overhead of him, and away into the distance. James knows all too well what it is. A Charged Particle Cannon. Meaning that the bandits had gotten a quite a bit more weaponry since their last visit. And they obviously weren't going to be docile. James arrived at the main square, and is shocked. Now he understood what the Lieutenant had tried to say. Standing right in the middle of the square, wrecking havoc, was a Gairyuki. One of the most powerful Zoids around. and it was currently locked in battle with a Geno Saurer, a black and green one. James knew that it was Colonel Gignac's Zoid. He contacted the Colonel via video display.
-I'm here Colonel, can I help?
-No, Cdt. Smith, I'll handle him. Go find the other bandits that went to scavenge parts and Zoids.
-OK, take care.
Then, he cut the transmission. Quickly, James hurried to the hangar, where the Zoids were kept. His mind was in a state of worry. The Colonel was a friend of his dad's, and he knew that the Geno Saurer wouldn't last long against the Gairyuki. But still, he rushed to the hangar. Upon entering, he discovered six new Zoids, each belonging to a bandit. Two were Iguans, one was a Red Horn, one was a Lord Gale, a Helcat and a Hel Digunner. He also noticed a few of his comrades. Spencer, with his Shadow Fox, was dealing with the Red Horn. Stephanie's Molga had just finished with the enemy Helcat, and was heading towards the Lord Gale. Then, to his surprise, he saw Sgt. States' Demantis taking out the two Iguans. It was a stupefying sight, but nonetheless amazing. Then he received a message from the pilot of the allied Helcat:
"Cdt. Smith, forward to take the Hel Digunner, I'll start with the Red Horn. Then I could use your assistance. Be hasty," she had said. He noted that it was a female voice. He wondered how she knew his name.
"How is it that you know me?" James asked.
"There'll be time to talk later, but now is not the time," was her reply.
She's right, James thought. And he moved towards the Hel Digunner, in a swift, fluid motion....
To be continued...
-Too easy, he told himself.
But this time, he wasn't being cocky. He knew it was true. He had even heard it from some of his superiors. James had an incredible talent for adapting to a situating, even IF it was different that routine. And that was a talent that made James' skills some of the most reknown.
New targets surged everywhere, by the dozen. James knew that firing alone wouldn't keep up for long with this new mass of targets. So, he opted for a new strategy. Mixing firing the
50 mm cannons, shooting his missiles, and firing only two mortar shells, he eliminated the targets in record time. This came to no surprise to James, or to the officers supervising the exercises.
In a little building, close to the entrance of the woods, Captain Van Leeuwen, Lieutenant Mackay and Colonel Gignac sat in a circle around a holographic display set. The set was focused on James' performance during the drills. They were all amazed and had something to say, but the Colonel spoke first:
"What you have here is a rare kind of pilot. As you can see, his skills exceed even some of our finest officer's,"he said, looking at the Van Leeuwen. The Captain blushed and looked away, angry. Colonel Gignac continued: "I still cannot see why you don't move him up a few ranks. With his talent, he could easily become a Warrant Officer, if not higher."
To which Lieutenant Mackay replied:
"It's because of his character. This base needs talent, but this young man doesn't have the serious attitude or discipline required to maintain such a rank."
"Well, he's not going to gain discipline by remaining a Cadet forever. Put him in a teaching position. I expect him to start next Friday. Maybe you don't want him to move up in rank, Lieutenant, but I want to see to it that his talent is properly used. That is not a suggestion, it is an order."
Those being his last words, the Colonel left the room. But not before he saw the red light blaring, and the small sound of an alarm.
James heard it too. The alarm was represented in his cockpit as a little blue word on his status screen, which read "Alert!". It flashed repeatedly and started to annoy James. Only then did he realize that the drills had ended, and that trainees were rushing back to the base.
-What the hell!? Not now, I was at my BEST! yells an angry James.
-CDT SMITH!!!! RETURN TO THE BASE IMMEDIATELY!! WE NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE!!!! yelled a voice from the voice the video display. A second later, the face of Lieutenant Mackay appeared. James turned his Command Wolf around and darted towards the base.
-What's going on Lieutenant? asked a curious James.
-The base is under attack again. It's those damned bandits again. They slipped through the security measures using the stealth chip that they managed to take from us the last. They are 8 in all. And they've got new reinforcements, it's a Gaaaaaaiiiiiii.... The communication was cut of.
-They must've attacked the Officers HQ. Uh-oh, this could get ugly, said James.
This wasn't the first time this had happened. This was a clan of anti-military bandits and mercenaries. They occasionnaly attacked the base, stealing a few parts or small zoids in the process. Last attack, they had managed to steal a stealth chip, and had obviously made identical copies. This was not good, as they now had stealth on their side. Approaching the base, James saw a blazing white beam fly through a wall. The beam flies overhead of him, and away into the distance. James knows all too well what it is. A Charged Particle Cannon. Meaning that the bandits had gotten a quite a bit more weaponry since their last visit. And they obviously weren't going to be docile. James arrived at the main square, and is shocked. Now he understood what the Lieutenant had tried to say. Standing right in the middle of the square, wrecking havoc, was a Gairyuki. One of the most powerful Zoids around. and it was currently locked in battle with a Geno Saurer, a black and green one. James knew that it was Colonel Gignac's Zoid. He contacted the Colonel via video display.
-I'm here Colonel, can I help?
-No, Cdt. Smith, I'll handle him. Go find the other bandits that went to scavenge parts and Zoids.
-OK, take care.
Then, he cut the transmission. Quickly, James hurried to the hangar, where the Zoids were kept. His mind was in a state of worry. The Colonel was a friend of his dad's, and he knew that the Geno Saurer wouldn't last long against the Gairyuki. But still, he rushed to the hangar. Upon entering, he discovered six new Zoids, each belonging to a bandit. Two were Iguans, one was a Red Horn, one was a Lord Gale, a Helcat and a Hel Digunner. He also noticed a few of his comrades. Spencer, with his Shadow Fox, was dealing with the Red Horn. Stephanie's Molga had just finished with the enemy Helcat, and was heading towards the Lord Gale. Then, to his surprise, he saw Sgt. States' Demantis taking out the two Iguans. It was a stupefying sight, but nonetheless amazing. Then he received a message from the pilot of the allied Helcat:
"Cdt. Smith, forward to take the Hel Digunner, I'll start with the Red Horn. Then I could use your assistance. Be hasty," she had said. He noted that it was a female voice. He wondered how she knew his name.
"How is it that you know me?" James asked.
"There'll be time to talk later, but now is not the time," was her reply.
She's right, James thought. And he moved towards the Hel Digunner, in a swift, fluid motion....
To be continued...
