Post by Zoidmagnite on Mar 30, 2007 21:56:59 GMT -5
Whoot!
This is my first posting of one of my fanfics (and the latest WIP). I hope you like it. And I hope it's not too repetitive of other attempts. It's kinda second drafty. I thought I'd put it up here and see if anyone thinks I should polish it up and continue, or just stay in my little corner of the world.
If a couple of people beg me to stop, then I will take it down immediately.
Please note that this is my take on Zoids and how they interact and exist with the humans of Planet Zee.
*************Warning***************
This story has strong language.
************End Warning*************
Liger Squad 009
Chapter 1: Taking a Stroll
First Lieutenant Conner Dennison keyed the mic. “Tigra. Status on the inbound targets?”
“Still showing two targets on direct course with Helic southeastern border, Conner. They’re at seven miles and closing.”
“Their Speed?”
Tigra shook her head. “Nothing that corresponds with Intel’s speed records . . . could be Sabers, could be Redhorns . . . definitely not Kongs.”
Conner rolled his eyes. Turning his vision to the left-mounted heads up display, he looked to the upper projected video where a twenty-four year old redhead was frowning at her equipment. Frustrated, Conner shook his head, “I’m sure we’re blipping the crap out of their long-range scanners. Dammit!"
Conner looked below the image of Second Lieutenant Tigra Mow to Second Lieutenant Mag Rolfson, his third in command.
"Mag, you're with me up front. Stay tight, Mag. You go that? I mean shoulder to shoulder. When we make visual on the targets, I want you to break right and unload that missile box! You copy?”
Mag nodded his twenty-six year old face. “Gotcha. Activating Missile platform. Confirmed, we got a happy box full of joy.”
“Tigra-,”
“I know. I'm extending the boosters now. Boosters are extended . . . status green. I'll be three Shield Ligers behind you."
Conner watched the video link of Tigra checking her instruments. He cleared his throat. “If those turbines go haywire I want you to jettison them. Got me Tigra? That crackpot scientist is half nuts and completely insane.”
The image of Tigra looked up on the monitor. “Look, I know he’s a kid, but the President gives him a lot of liberty, Conner. Remember what Colonel Kruger—uh . . . said…”
Conner frowned as a recent memory returned, a memory of having an unpleasant conversation with his commanding officer. Conner wasn’t sure what was worse, getting chewed out for yelling at a kid, or apologizing to a fourteen-year-old scientist for calling him a kid. “It’s because of that scientist that we got assigned to Neutral Zone Patrol!”
The image of Tigra rolled her eyes, “I’ve trained with Doctor D for over two weeks, now. I’ll be fine.” Tigra turned her attention as a warning indicator blipped frantically. She grimaced. "They're at five miles, Conner.”
The video link of Mag's image smiled at Conner, "Looks like were going for a stroll."
Conner sighed. "Let's mobilize." Conner disengaged the mic for the Comm as the mind link to his Black Shield Liger fuzzed to life. The sensation always made him a little light-headed.
It made any Zoid Pilot light-headed.
And Conner could care less about the scientific medium, which allowed two completely different life forms to link across a particle bridge. Conner had simplified his life to two things. They were piloting a Zoid and piloting a Zoid, or so he had convinced himself.
Three Republic Shield Ligers moved in unison out of the valley of Mount Devro heading southwest. A nose ahead of the rest, the Black Shield Liger was fitted with a 12mm gatling gun that loomed steadily over it's right shoulder, the barrel of the weapon ending just ahead of the left side of the orange canopy. Following closely to the right of the black Shield Liger was a dull green Shield Liger fitted with a rear-mounted missile pod and extra heavy armor on the front shoulders and legs. Falling three Shield Liger lengths behind the two leading Ligers was a dull red Shield Liger fitted with two large cylindrical engines mounted above it's mid-section.
Those engines, a new design by a young leading scientist in the Republic known as Doctor Dee, had been recently been fitted to this Shield Liger for field testing. The RB-23A Boosters, which allowed for a eighteen percent increase in the top speed of a Shield Liger, were the first of their kind. This was made visually apparent from the white prototype paint that still shown brightly along the eight-meter length of the nacelle cowling. The three Shield Ligers lumbered along solemnly making a direct path toward the Neutral Zone.
As negotiated by the Cease-Fire Agreement, a ten-mile wide strip of land and river dividing the two nations was identified and recognized as the Neutral Zone. This stretch of land divided the newly formed nation of the Helic Republic from its former ruling nation that is the Guylos Empire. Officially sworn, decreed, and documented as belonging to neither nation, the neutral zone was defined as a land without rule, where each nation could enjoy a margin of safety from one another. However, in terms of agreements and contracts, having a strip of land without rule is the same as saying a strip of land without law.
The Neutral Zone was quickly becoming known as the land of the free war. A land that Captain Dennison's Liger Squad, squad 009 of the Southwest third land division, was entering to thwart a confrontation. It was those Neutral Zone confrontations that were earning a nickname among the Republic Zoid pilots as taking a stroll.
Conner looked out over the front nose of his black Shield Liger. The barrel of the 12mm Gatling gun loomed about ten feet to the right of the canopy and hung there patiently. “Mag, hold steady. I can see them on the horizon. Stay in my shadow.” Conner strained to identify the Zoids on the horizon leading a plume of billowing dust. Conner was almost sure he could see the canopies of two Saber Tigers bouncing in their strong strides. Conner thought something about that plume of dust didn’t look right.
“Conner!”
“What?”
“Four targets! I’ve got four Zoids! Confirming three Sabers Tigers and--Oh crap! It’s a Bird! It’s a *Watch your language!* Zabat!”
Conner felt the mind link fuzz as the canopy rose toward the sky. His Shield Liger let out a roar and Conner felt an incredible urge to charge forward. “Engage the enemy! Repeat, engage the enemy! Mag, empty that missile pod and dump it! You and I will engage the sabers in close combat. Tigra, Radio base for aerial support and keep that *Watch your language!*ed Zabat busy.” Conner barely waited for the acknowledgement from Mag and Tigra before releasing the metal restraint he had on the Shield Liger.
The Zoid lunged forward.
Conner felt himself press against the pilot chair as the entire cockpit buffeted violently with the Shield Liger’s stride. The acceleration was furious and the noise and clunking of several tons of metal striking the ground thundered in Conner’s ears. And just as intense as the noise, the mind link was humming with the exchange of information. Conner could tell the Shield Liger was up for a fight. And from the looks of the oncoming enemy, Conner assured it they were going to get one.
* * *
Tigra frantically readjusted her scanning equipment to survey for aerial and ground Zoids. With the equipment readied, she called out on the Republic command band via her long-range radio. “Mesolina Base, this Liger Squad 009, do you copy?”
Tigra’s radio squawked. “Copy Liger Squad 009, this is Mesolina Base.”
Tigra spoke into the mic as she scanned for aerial Zoids. “Mesolina Base, we are engaged in ground and aerial combat with four Zoids, repeat four Zoids.”
The sound of small bullets clanged against the Liger Canopy and Tigra cursed before letting her Liger move forward. “Targets confirmed as three Saber Tigers and one Zabat. Requesting Aerial support immediately, please advise.”
The Red Liger took a direct hit to the back shield, causing the stabilization feedback circuits for the giant walking beast to compensate which shook the cockpit and subsequently Tigra. Quickly she eyed the long-range monitor, which was now reconfigured for aerial attack. The long-range communicator beeped indicating an incoming transmission from Mesolina Headquarters.”
“Liger Squad 009, Moselina base transmitting, waiting for visual.”
Tigra smacked the acknowledge button with her right hand as she began to lean back into the mind-link field. An image of Colonel Kruger on screen and to his right was rounded figure of Major Poor.
Poor scoffed. “Liger squad 009, Mount Mesolina Base is dispatching Storm Sworders to your location. ETA ten minutes.”
“Ten minutes,” Tigra shouted, “This battle will be over in 2 minutes!”
Poor frowned. “Lieutenant, report to your commanding officer that your orders are to detain the enemy Zoids at all costs. Repeat all costs, that is an order.”
“Yes sir,” Tigra grumbled, “Liger squad out.” Tigra smacked the video disengage button and leaned back into the mind-link particle field. She keyed the cockpit mic. “Conner?
Conner’s voice bellowed in Tigra’s Shield Liger cockpit. “Tell me we’re getting some support, Tigra.”
“Mesolina is sending Sworders, ETA ten minutes!” Tigra scoffed. “What the hell! Do they need to finish their damn lunch?”
Conner’s voice again boomed in Tigra’s cockpit. “Hang in there. The Sworders will be here in three. You just keep that Zabat busy, understood?”
Tigra huffed, “yes sir.” She felt her head get fuzzy as she leaned back into the particle field. “Let’s go, Fang.”
* * *
The black and green Shield Ligers continued to close the gap on the three Saber Tigers. Several mushroom clouds bounced around the approaching Sabers. Two struck the middle and left Saber, four struck the right causing it to slow.
Mag’s voice boomed in Conner’s cockpit. “Conner, the middle Saber has a long range rifle. Deploy Shields?”
“Save the shields. We get one use and that’s it.” Conner watched as tracer bullets streaked by the canopy. A couple of clangs could be heard in the cockpit and Conner felt the information stream into his mind from the Shield Liger before the status screens to his left displayed impact points. The Zoid told him in some way that Conner could never quite describe that the impacts were barely a scratch.
Conner shouted out into the canopy as he keyed the mic, “Mag! Were going right down the middle!”
The canopy boomed with the audio feedback from Mag’s reply. The voice sounded aggressive, “My favorite!”
Conner watched as the last quarter mile between the two groups of Zoids vanished in a split second. He braced for the impending impact of several tons of metal moving at a ridiculous speed. His Zoid went between middle and leftmost of the three Saber Tigers down a path that wasn’t wide enough. Conner winced. “Oh hell.”
The cockpit boomed and shook violently with the striking of the Shield Liger against the sides of the Sabers.
Conner waited for the mind link system to respond. There was some damage to the left shoulder. He glanced to the status screen. The screen displayed a ten percent drop in the joint strength. He ordered the Shield Liger into a tight turn. Cockpit leaned to the left as the Shield Liger went into a steep left turn. The G-force pushed against Conner as he felt the cockpit strain to stay on the Zoid’s body. The Desert landscape flashed long the Canopy as the Shield Liger completed the turn. Conner didn’t need to know where to look. The Shield Liger communicated it to him.
Mag’s voice boomed in Conner’s Liger. “One down and bailing out. Command system must have frozen on him.
Conner watched as Mag’s image became cocky on the screen.
“Wannabe Saber Tiger. Just leave it to me and old Shieldy. We got the shoulders for this kinda--”
Conner darted his eyes to the left to see Mag’s green Liger fall on its side. Over the top of the Liger came one of the Sabers. It was the one with the large canon. Conner watched the second Saber leap over the top of the Mag’s downed Liger. Conner could see Mag unconscious on the monitor. Conner thought frantically he was trying to communicate across the particle field to his Liger.
The Zoid responded and rolled into the approaching Sabers
Conner could see the energy for the shield come up, but he could tell that it wasn’t soon enough. The sparkle of a large shell penetrating the partially charged shield ended with a large ring on the left side of Conner’s Liger. He didn’t have time to look, instead he charged right at the Saber. Two more sparkles ended with the streak of shells being deflected to the sides of the shield. Conner thought across the particle link to his Liger.
The Zoid lunged hard trying to build speed.
Conner could see the rippled outlines of the Saber trying to turn tightly. He knew that huge canon would slow the Saber’s maneuverability.
The Shield Liger struck the mid section of the Saber Tiger with its shield. Fragments of the Saber mid-section fell away from Zoid in various directions from the center of the impact. Short-circuits could be seen on the joint sections of the right front leg. The beast lulled there for a moment before heading in the direction of the first retreating Saber Tiger.
Conner put his Shield Liger into a turn looking for the Last Saber Tiger. From the view panning across the canopy Conner could see the green Shield Liger still down. His eyes scanned the Shield Liger system monitor. The shell from the large cannon had impacted across the rear spine assembly for the Shield Liger. It impacted just above the stowed missile pods. They were now useless. Conner frowned as the right leg was showing stress damage. “One more hit there and I’m done for. He frowned and while he began looking for the remaining Saber Tiger, he keyed the mic. “Tigra, how you doing?”
End Chapter 1
EDIT: fixed a typo in character name...
This is my first posting of one of my fanfics (and the latest WIP). I hope you like it. And I hope it's not too repetitive of other attempts. It's kinda second drafty. I thought I'd put it up here and see if anyone thinks I should polish it up and continue, or just stay in my little corner of the world.
If a couple of people beg me to stop, then I will take it down immediately.
Please note that this is my take on Zoids and how they interact and exist with the humans of Planet Zee.
*************Warning***************
This story has strong language.
************End Warning*************
Liger Squad 009
Chapter 1: Taking a Stroll
First Lieutenant Conner Dennison keyed the mic. “Tigra. Status on the inbound targets?”
“Still showing two targets on direct course with Helic southeastern border, Conner. They’re at seven miles and closing.”
“Their Speed?”
Tigra shook her head. “Nothing that corresponds with Intel’s speed records . . . could be Sabers, could be Redhorns . . . definitely not Kongs.”
Conner rolled his eyes. Turning his vision to the left-mounted heads up display, he looked to the upper projected video where a twenty-four year old redhead was frowning at her equipment. Frustrated, Conner shook his head, “I’m sure we’re blipping the crap out of their long-range scanners. Dammit!"
Conner looked below the image of Second Lieutenant Tigra Mow to Second Lieutenant Mag Rolfson, his third in command.
"Mag, you're with me up front. Stay tight, Mag. You go that? I mean shoulder to shoulder. When we make visual on the targets, I want you to break right and unload that missile box! You copy?”
Mag nodded his twenty-six year old face. “Gotcha. Activating Missile platform. Confirmed, we got a happy box full of joy.”
“Tigra-,”
“I know. I'm extending the boosters now. Boosters are extended . . . status green. I'll be three Shield Ligers behind you."
Conner watched the video link of Tigra checking her instruments. He cleared his throat. “If those turbines go haywire I want you to jettison them. Got me Tigra? That crackpot scientist is half nuts and completely insane.”
The image of Tigra looked up on the monitor. “Look, I know he’s a kid, but the President gives him a lot of liberty, Conner. Remember what Colonel Kruger—uh . . . said…”
Conner frowned as a recent memory returned, a memory of having an unpleasant conversation with his commanding officer. Conner wasn’t sure what was worse, getting chewed out for yelling at a kid, or apologizing to a fourteen-year-old scientist for calling him a kid. “It’s because of that scientist that we got assigned to Neutral Zone Patrol!”
The image of Tigra rolled her eyes, “I’ve trained with Doctor D for over two weeks, now. I’ll be fine.” Tigra turned her attention as a warning indicator blipped frantically. She grimaced. "They're at five miles, Conner.”
The video link of Mag's image smiled at Conner, "Looks like were going for a stroll."
Conner sighed. "Let's mobilize." Conner disengaged the mic for the Comm as the mind link to his Black Shield Liger fuzzed to life. The sensation always made him a little light-headed.
It made any Zoid Pilot light-headed.
And Conner could care less about the scientific medium, which allowed two completely different life forms to link across a particle bridge. Conner had simplified his life to two things. They were piloting a Zoid and piloting a Zoid, or so he had convinced himself.
Three Republic Shield Ligers moved in unison out of the valley of Mount Devro heading southwest. A nose ahead of the rest, the Black Shield Liger was fitted with a 12mm gatling gun that loomed steadily over it's right shoulder, the barrel of the weapon ending just ahead of the left side of the orange canopy. Following closely to the right of the black Shield Liger was a dull green Shield Liger fitted with a rear-mounted missile pod and extra heavy armor on the front shoulders and legs. Falling three Shield Liger lengths behind the two leading Ligers was a dull red Shield Liger fitted with two large cylindrical engines mounted above it's mid-section.
Those engines, a new design by a young leading scientist in the Republic known as Doctor Dee, had been recently been fitted to this Shield Liger for field testing. The RB-23A Boosters, which allowed for a eighteen percent increase in the top speed of a Shield Liger, were the first of their kind. This was made visually apparent from the white prototype paint that still shown brightly along the eight-meter length of the nacelle cowling. The three Shield Ligers lumbered along solemnly making a direct path toward the Neutral Zone.
As negotiated by the Cease-Fire Agreement, a ten-mile wide strip of land and river dividing the two nations was identified and recognized as the Neutral Zone. This stretch of land divided the newly formed nation of the Helic Republic from its former ruling nation that is the Guylos Empire. Officially sworn, decreed, and documented as belonging to neither nation, the neutral zone was defined as a land without rule, where each nation could enjoy a margin of safety from one another. However, in terms of agreements and contracts, having a strip of land without rule is the same as saying a strip of land without law.
The Neutral Zone was quickly becoming known as the land of the free war. A land that Captain Dennison's Liger Squad, squad 009 of the Southwest third land division, was entering to thwart a confrontation. It was those Neutral Zone confrontations that were earning a nickname among the Republic Zoid pilots as taking a stroll.
Conner looked out over the front nose of his black Shield Liger. The barrel of the 12mm Gatling gun loomed about ten feet to the right of the canopy and hung there patiently. “Mag, hold steady. I can see them on the horizon. Stay in my shadow.” Conner strained to identify the Zoids on the horizon leading a plume of billowing dust. Conner was almost sure he could see the canopies of two Saber Tigers bouncing in their strong strides. Conner thought something about that plume of dust didn’t look right.
“Conner!”
“What?”
“Four targets! I’ve got four Zoids! Confirming three Sabers Tigers and--Oh crap! It’s a Bird! It’s a *Watch your language!* Zabat!”
Conner felt the mind link fuzz as the canopy rose toward the sky. His Shield Liger let out a roar and Conner felt an incredible urge to charge forward. “Engage the enemy! Repeat, engage the enemy! Mag, empty that missile pod and dump it! You and I will engage the sabers in close combat. Tigra, Radio base for aerial support and keep that *Watch your language!*ed Zabat busy.” Conner barely waited for the acknowledgement from Mag and Tigra before releasing the metal restraint he had on the Shield Liger.
The Zoid lunged forward.
Conner felt himself press against the pilot chair as the entire cockpit buffeted violently with the Shield Liger’s stride. The acceleration was furious and the noise and clunking of several tons of metal striking the ground thundered in Conner’s ears. And just as intense as the noise, the mind link was humming with the exchange of information. Conner could tell the Shield Liger was up for a fight. And from the looks of the oncoming enemy, Conner assured it they were going to get one.
* * *
Tigra frantically readjusted her scanning equipment to survey for aerial and ground Zoids. With the equipment readied, she called out on the Republic command band via her long-range radio. “Mesolina Base, this Liger Squad 009, do you copy?”
Tigra’s radio squawked. “Copy Liger Squad 009, this is Mesolina Base.”
Tigra spoke into the mic as she scanned for aerial Zoids. “Mesolina Base, we are engaged in ground and aerial combat with four Zoids, repeat four Zoids.”
The sound of small bullets clanged against the Liger Canopy and Tigra cursed before letting her Liger move forward. “Targets confirmed as three Saber Tigers and one Zabat. Requesting Aerial support immediately, please advise.”
The Red Liger took a direct hit to the back shield, causing the stabilization feedback circuits for the giant walking beast to compensate which shook the cockpit and subsequently Tigra. Quickly she eyed the long-range monitor, which was now reconfigured for aerial attack. The long-range communicator beeped indicating an incoming transmission from Mesolina Headquarters.”
“Liger Squad 009, Moselina base transmitting, waiting for visual.”
Tigra smacked the acknowledge button with her right hand as she began to lean back into the mind-link field. An image of Colonel Kruger on screen and to his right was rounded figure of Major Poor.
Poor scoffed. “Liger squad 009, Mount Mesolina Base is dispatching Storm Sworders to your location. ETA ten minutes.”
“Ten minutes,” Tigra shouted, “This battle will be over in 2 minutes!”
Poor frowned. “Lieutenant, report to your commanding officer that your orders are to detain the enemy Zoids at all costs. Repeat all costs, that is an order.”
“Yes sir,” Tigra grumbled, “Liger squad out.” Tigra smacked the video disengage button and leaned back into the mind-link particle field. She keyed the cockpit mic. “Conner?
Conner’s voice bellowed in Tigra’s Shield Liger cockpit. “Tell me we’re getting some support, Tigra.”
“Mesolina is sending Sworders, ETA ten minutes!” Tigra scoffed. “What the hell! Do they need to finish their damn lunch?”
Conner’s voice again boomed in Tigra’s cockpit. “Hang in there. The Sworders will be here in three. You just keep that Zabat busy, understood?”
Tigra huffed, “yes sir.” She felt her head get fuzzy as she leaned back into the particle field. “Let’s go, Fang.”
* * *
The black and green Shield Ligers continued to close the gap on the three Saber Tigers. Several mushroom clouds bounced around the approaching Sabers. Two struck the middle and left Saber, four struck the right causing it to slow.
Mag’s voice boomed in Conner’s cockpit. “Conner, the middle Saber has a long range rifle. Deploy Shields?”
“Save the shields. We get one use and that’s it.” Conner watched as tracer bullets streaked by the canopy. A couple of clangs could be heard in the cockpit and Conner felt the information stream into his mind from the Shield Liger before the status screens to his left displayed impact points. The Zoid told him in some way that Conner could never quite describe that the impacts were barely a scratch.
Conner shouted out into the canopy as he keyed the mic, “Mag! Were going right down the middle!”
The canopy boomed with the audio feedback from Mag’s reply. The voice sounded aggressive, “My favorite!”
Conner watched as the last quarter mile between the two groups of Zoids vanished in a split second. He braced for the impending impact of several tons of metal moving at a ridiculous speed. His Zoid went between middle and leftmost of the three Saber Tigers down a path that wasn’t wide enough. Conner winced. “Oh hell.”
The cockpit boomed and shook violently with the striking of the Shield Liger against the sides of the Sabers.
Conner waited for the mind link system to respond. There was some damage to the left shoulder. He glanced to the status screen. The screen displayed a ten percent drop in the joint strength. He ordered the Shield Liger into a tight turn. Cockpit leaned to the left as the Shield Liger went into a steep left turn. The G-force pushed against Conner as he felt the cockpit strain to stay on the Zoid’s body. The Desert landscape flashed long the Canopy as the Shield Liger completed the turn. Conner didn’t need to know where to look. The Shield Liger communicated it to him.
Mag’s voice boomed in Conner’s Liger. “One down and bailing out. Command system must have frozen on him.
Conner watched as Mag’s image became cocky on the screen.
“Wannabe Saber Tiger. Just leave it to me and old Shieldy. We got the shoulders for this kinda--”
Conner darted his eyes to the left to see Mag’s green Liger fall on its side. Over the top of the Liger came one of the Sabers. It was the one with the large canon. Conner watched the second Saber leap over the top of the Mag’s downed Liger. Conner could see Mag unconscious on the monitor. Conner thought frantically he was trying to communicate across the particle field to his Liger.
The Zoid responded and rolled into the approaching Sabers
Conner could see the energy for the shield come up, but he could tell that it wasn’t soon enough. The sparkle of a large shell penetrating the partially charged shield ended with a large ring on the left side of Conner’s Liger. He didn’t have time to look, instead he charged right at the Saber. Two more sparkles ended with the streak of shells being deflected to the sides of the shield. Conner thought across the particle link to his Liger.
The Zoid lunged hard trying to build speed.
Conner could see the rippled outlines of the Saber trying to turn tightly. He knew that huge canon would slow the Saber’s maneuverability.
The Shield Liger struck the mid section of the Saber Tiger with its shield. Fragments of the Saber mid-section fell away from Zoid in various directions from the center of the impact. Short-circuits could be seen on the joint sections of the right front leg. The beast lulled there for a moment before heading in the direction of the first retreating Saber Tiger.
Conner put his Shield Liger into a turn looking for the Last Saber Tiger. From the view panning across the canopy Conner could see the green Shield Liger still down. His eyes scanned the Shield Liger system monitor. The shell from the large cannon had impacted across the rear spine assembly for the Shield Liger. It impacted just above the stowed missile pods. They were now useless. Conner frowned as the right leg was showing stress damage. “One more hit there and I’m done for. He frowned and while he began looking for the remaining Saber Tiger, he keyed the mic. “Tigra, how you doing?”
End Chapter 1
EDIT: fixed a typo in character name...
