GoryFranco
18th Jul 2009, 08:22 PM
First of all i would like to express my gratitude to all CC creators for making this possible.
This is my first story, of what hopefully will become a series.
Please leave your comments. I hope you enjoy it!
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_f768e124.jpg
1500 Hours, January 14, 2229 (Military Calendar) /
UNEF 'Gallaghal', on routine patrol on the Hercules
VIII System
---"Contact. Enemy vessel detected, bearing approach vectors three zero four," the voice of the AI announced. Captain Ilian Fox sighed, his gaze fixed on the viewport, eyes scanning for the approaching enemy ships, but everything was so dark. There. He managed to see three tiny dots thousands of kilometers away. His hands rested on his back, and with a serene tone, the one coming from a man with years of experience commanded. "Sound general quarters, change our course to heading zero three five. Arm missile bays D to K."
---"Aye aye sir, course change to heading zero three five, will be within weapons range in five minutes," the computerized female voice announced. The Captain took a deep breath. Would this ever end? Over the past fifty years or so, life had been like this, constant engagements, usually ending in defeats.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_17680fb8.jpg
---"Alert SPACECOM that we're about to engage the enemy, relay our coordinates to them," continued the Captain. The AI was one step ahead of him, without her on board, God knew how long would they survive. The ship came to life as the siren rang on all sections alerting all personnel of the upcoming engagement. The ships illumination was replaced by a dim greenish emergency light. The tacticals screens flared with tactical data.
---"Will be there within the minute Captain," the AI warned, everything was set, people had moved to their battle stations, hopefully SPACECOM would send reinforcements. Hopefully... The fleet was spread thin as it was, dozens of planets had fallen within the week. Captain Fox stood straight, his eyes piercing at the pitch dark space, where the enemy's sillohuetes increased in size.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_f7681368.jpg
---"Lieutenant. Status Report" he directed towards his helm officer, a young woman, yet with nerves of still and a strong personality, Captain Fox fully trusted her and knew that she was the best at what she did.
---"Ship is weapons hot. Fighters on standby. Missiles armed." she stated while tapping rapidly on her screen. "Contact in three...two...one..." The space beneath them illuminated as the missiles abandoned the Gallaghal. "Missiles away, sir." the Lieutenand added as she layed back.
---Seven missiles steered away from the ship, heading towards the enemy cluster, the Captain knew that they would cause but little damage. "Enemy is returning fire," the AI stated as the ship rocked from the impact. Their weapons were faster and much more effective than this onboard of the Gallaghal. "Sections four through six have been breached, hull on the lower aft at sixty-three percent."
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_17681726.jpg
---Captain Fox cursed as their missiles impacted agains the enemy ships but causing little damage, "Lieutenant, change our course to six three five." he ordered. "Military thrust."
---Lieutenant Akita input a series of commands on the console she was working, her fingers danced across the virtual keyboard. Her breathing was ragged, she was sort of 'green' on this kind of things, she had just been transferred from the Academy, and hadn't seen much actual combat.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_f7689c41.jpg
---The Captain walked to the main viewer, arms on hip, readiyng his next move. The AI was working hard, although it did not show on her features. She was awaiting patiently for the Captain's next order. "Captain, enemy weapons are building up energy, they're going to fire upon us again."
---Captain Fox knew very well that another salvo from the enemy's vessels would cause extensive damage, but he was left with little choice, he would need to sacrifice much of the ships integrity to try and keep his crew alive. "Give me a firing solution," he barked at the AI. "Lieutenant, arm tactical warheads and await for coordinates." A drop of sweat poured down the Captain's brow.
---The Gallaghal stirred on its new course, the thousand ton ship, although slow, could endure harsh punishment. And that's what the crew needed. To hold off the enemy's strikes.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_1768a11a.jpg
--The ship rocked once again, the personnel had to brace themselves with whatever they could, "Hull integrity down to fifty-five percent" the female robotized voice announced once again. Sparks came flying down upon them, originated from the superheated conductors. Several fires began burning.
---They were running out of time and luck. Would this be it? The Captain's screen filled with new data, "Lieutenant Akita, deploy warheads on new set of coordinates. Now." The Lieutenant nodded, complying the order. "Get us close to that star Lieutenant." he added. The Captain stood, serene as ever, secretly hoping that this would work.
---A few seconds went by. Then a blinding white light filled the bridge. The warheads had impacted, the Captain looked throught the viewport. There was an explosion on one of the enemy's vessels. Then, it veered of course and finally exploded. Two others remained. But temporarily blinded by the EMP pulse the warhead had delivered, allowing the Gallaghal to slip unnoticed.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_9768a3f8.jpg
---This would only buy them but few minutes, and everyone was aware of that. But as to why did the Captain had ordered to head towards the sun was a mystery. But everyone aboard the Gallaghal trusted their captain blindly, the man was a seasoned UNEF officer, and had seen more battles than the whole crew together. He knew what he was doing.
---"We will be within gravitational pull in under two minutes. Enemy cruisers are pursuing." infromed the AI. Captain Fox knew very well that the enemy ships were faster and that they would be in reach in a minute. That's exactly on what the Captain counted.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_5768bd2e.jpg
---The crew at the bridge shot uneasy glances. But nevertheless they kept working on their standing orders. The Captain scratched his beard, he did that whenever he was nervous. Truthfully he didn't knew if this would work, but it was their only shot. "Enemy vessels firing upon us, they are growing ever closer. I think... I know what you're up to, Captain. Making calculations." stated the AI as it began working, its image flaring, as the sun's radiation was interfering slightly.
---The bridge grew warmer as they got closer. The ship rumbled as its engines fought the gravitational strain, trying to break loose. "Sir, we're being pulled towards the Sun." informed Lieutenant Akita as she cursed beneath her breath. "Enemy vessels are upon us." she informed, while typing frantically.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_1768c262.jpg
---The ship rocketed once more, as another volley reached the ship, most of the back hull section had been completely reduced. The increasing warmth began melting the outer hull, making it more prone to destruction, and although this close to the sun, their pursuiters still followed. The AI flickered on the console. "Calculations are done. It is now or never Captain," she said, her voice breaking. It could be felt that she was altered.
---"Fire them up." was all Captain Fox said. Everyone closed their eyes, and for a split second nothing happened.
---"Emergency thrusters firing." she announced. "Everybody hold on."
---The ship shook wildly as the emergency thrusters fired, setting the Gallagher on a new course, the impulse enough to steer them away from the gravitational pull. Fox held on tight to the brass railing, as the ship continued shaking.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_9768c4c6.jpg
---But the enemy ships weren't as lucky. They spinned out of control the minute they saw the complex turn made by the Gallaghal. They hadn't planned a way out. The sun's gravitational pull grew stronger, and even with maximum power on their engines they could not escape. They kept on spinning, approaching the sun. And finally exploding.
---Although the crew was pretty beaten up from the last turn, they were alive, and that's what mattered. "Nice job Captain." congratulated the digitalized voice of the Artifical Intelligence. The bridge was silent. Everyone layed still on the ground, Fox had taken a beating against the wall, blood slipped through his cheek. Sparks coming from the overheated console was the las thing he saw before drifting away.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_3768c8f0.jpg
1600 Hours, January 14, 2229 (Military Calendar) /
Hercules VIII System, En Route to Pegasus Docking
Faciity, planet Pegasus III
---A flashing red light impacted on the tree bark where Sergeant Harris's head had been minutes ago. The tree was instantly scorched, a thick flame engulfed it. That confirmed the enemy presence on the area.
---"Everybody get down!" he commanded. Dozens of sparking beams flew overhead them, they were on the worst spot for an ambush, the cover the trees offered was limited, and the running away option was cut off by the creek which passed feet away from where they were.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_57691b1b.jpg
---"We won't hold long here. We must get moving!" cried Lieutenant Green, as he fired blindly on the direction of the enemy fire. Hoping that he would manage to buy a second or two to get out of the tight spot his group was encountered. The first assault had claimed half the group's lives, from eight that they once had been, they were now reduced to four.
---The men who could still stand grouped near the Lieutenant, among them Sergeant Hayes, the Lieutenant fired another salvo and instructed the men to run past the creek, they needed to get to that ship. His orders had been clear, retrieve the fallen ship at any cost. Any cost, that meant the lifes of whomever fell, that ship must've hold something of great value, otherwise Command wouldn't be so eager to get their hands on it.
---He and the rest of his squad managed to get past the creek, alive. Most in part due to their BlueLex powered assault armors.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_776920c7.jpg
---"Keep moving! Come on!" the Sergeant encouraged the rest of the men. But as they sped through the woods two more of the men fell prey to the enemy. Only two remained, the Lieutenant and the Sergeant. They both kept running, until they ran out of breath. They had been able to shoot some of their enemies which were hidden amongst the dense forest.
---Suddenly, the firing stopped. "Did we get them? Did we get all of them?" asked a gasping Lieutenant as he looked around, waiting to see a burning red bolt heading their way.
---The Sergeant looked around as well. "I think so... Why would they stop firing?" he shrugged. "God knows... Our objective is less than one hundred meters east of here. I suggest we keep moving."
---Lieutenant Green nodded apprehensively, something wasn't right about all this, this wasn't the way of fighting of the 'Shroud', the enemy they had bee fighting for 100 years. He took a deep breath, trying to ease the pain that was building up beneath his ribs. "Let's go..."
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_b769240b.jpg
---As they progressed the path became darker, the forest went darker. And colder as well. Trees were no longer green and full of live... But black and dead. The earth was moist here full of bugs, and the wind howled. Such a radical change was impressive.
--- The two men strode down the path anyways, eyes and ears alert for any sign of the enemy, but it seemed that indeed they had gotten all of the Shroud's opeartives down here. "This place is sure creepy... stated the Sergeant as they walked deeper into the forest.
---"Sure is..." countered the Lieutenant as they moved slowly.
---After what seemed hours of endless walking they arrived at what seemed to be a facility of some kind. "This is it," the Lieutenant pointed out, he clicked a button on his helmet and began speaking. "This Alpha Detachment, we have located the docking facility, proceeding to objective. Over." but all that could be heard on the other end was static. Damn. The eerie trees must've been blocking the signal. The Lieutenant cursed silently.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_376927ec.jpg
---Inside everything was dead silent. Their footsteps were hard against the metallic floor. "This is a UNEF ship alright," stated Lieutenant Green as he looked around. They had walked through several compartments of the ship, all empty, a dim blue emergency light was eberything they had to see. Green proposed on taking a visit to the bridge, maybe that would clear things up and enlighten him on the situation. Hayes seemed edgy, his assault rifle peering through every corner.
---At times a distant computarized voice could be hear, but neither of them could decipher what it was trying to say. As they neared the bridge, the Lieutenant noted that an barrier had been powered up, and precisely on the bridge. The Lieutenant managed to see a panel for operating the field, but it looked rigged as if someone had tried getting in by force. What the hell had happened aboard this ship?
---"Hayes, give me a hand over here, we need to get this field down." ordered the Lieutenant, as he dismantled the panel.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_f7692d1d.jpg
---The bridge was a mess. Bodies lay sprawling everywhere, the crew must've taken a beating. They appeared to be the only remaining crew, as to the rest, it had been a mystery what had happened to them. Sergeant Hayes hurried up and kneeled beside the Captain, he places a finger on his neck. "Pulse is weak. No serious external injuries." he informed while inspecting the uncounciouss body. "Sir. It appears that everyone here on the bridge seem alive, they're all knocked uncounciouss though."
---This thing was getting weirder by the minute, first the missing crew, and then the uncounciouss staff. And there was nothing to attribute to this events. "I'm going to check the logs, but from what I'm seeing, I don''t think that whatever is in there will please me," said Green with a sigh as he took a step towards the main console.
---He fumbled with the controls, and for a minute it seemed as the console was badly damaged as well. But wait. There was a recording of some kind. It was the ship's log.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_b76932dd.jpg
---The recording began playing. It was the same female voice they had heard moments earlier. "Crew do.n... ship's sys..ems fai..ng. Approa..ng Her..les III," the transmittion ended, and suddenly was replaced by another one. "Undergoing repairs. Planet seems clear. Wait. Got movement on restrictive secotrs of the ship. Energy signatures spiking up. It seems like weapons fire." screams followed the recording as well as some gunfire. It seemed that whoever was on this ship, were attacked after landing. "They've taken the crew... Sealing off bridge, Captain must remain... Valuable intel, must not fall..." the transmission began fading out.
--- More gunshots followed, "We can't stop them... There are too many, have hidden on the ventilation shafts. They have cut through our defenses. It's the Shroud." the scren went black and a message appeared. "END OF TRANSMISSION"
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_17693667.jpg
This is my first story, of what hopefully will become a series.
Please leave your comments. I hope you enjoy it!
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_f768e124.jpg
1500 Hours, January 14, 2229 (Military Calendar) /
UNEF 'Gallaghal', on routine patrol on the Hercules
VIII System
---"Contact. Enemy vessel detected, bearing approach vectors three zero four," the voice of the AI announced. Captain Ilian Fox sighed, his gaze fixed on the viewport, eyes scanning for the approaching enemy ships, but everything was so dark. There. He managed to see three tiny dots thousands of kilometers away. His hands rested on his back, and with a serene tone, the one coming from a man with years of experience commanded. "Sound general quarters, change our course to heading zero three five. Arm missile bays D to K."
---"Aye aye sir, course change to heading zero three five, will be within weapons range in five minutes," the computerized female voice announced. The Captain took a deep breath. Would this ever end? Over the past fifty years or so, life had been like this, constant engagements, usually ending in defeats.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_17680fb8.jpg
---"Alert SPACECOM that we're about to engage the enemy, relay our coordinates to them," continued the Captain. The AI was one step ahead of him, without her on board, God knew how long would they survive. The ship came to life as the siren rang on all sections alerting all personnel of the upcoming engagement. The ships illumination was replaced by a dim greenish emergency light. The tacticals screens flared with tactical data.
---"Will be there within the minute Captain," the AI warned, everything was set, people had moved to their battle stations, hopefully SPACECOM would send reinforcements. Hopefully... The fleet was spread thin as it was, dozens of planets had fallen within the week. Captain Fox stood straight, his eyes piercing at the pitch dark space, where the enemy's sillohuetes increased in size.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_f7681368.jpg
---"Lieutenant. Status Report" he directed towards his helm officer, a young woman, yet with nerves of still and a strong personality, Captain Fox fully trusted her and knew that she was the best at what she did.
---"Ship is weapons hot. Fighters on standby. Missiles armed." she stated while tapping rapidly on her screen. "Contact in three...two...one..." The space beneath them illuminated as the missiles abandoned the Gallaghal. "Missiles away, sir." the Lieutenand added as she layed back.
---Seven missiles steered away from the ship, heading towards the enemy cluster, the Captain knew that they would cause but little damage. "Enemy is returning fire," the AI stated as the ship rocked from the impact. Their weapons were faster and much more effective than this onboard of the Gallaghal. "Sections four through six have been breached, hull on the lower aft at sixty-three percent."
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_17681726.jpg
---Captain Fox cursed as their missiles impacted agains the enemy ships but causing little damage, "Lieutenant, change our course to six three five." he ordered. "Military thrust."
---Lieutenant Akita input a series of commands on the console she was working, her fingers danced across the virtual keyboard. Her breathing was ragged, she was sort of 'green' on this kind of things, she had just been transferred from the Academy, and hadn't seen much actual combat.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_f7689c41.jpg
---The Captain walked to the main viewer, arms on hip, readiyng his next move. The AI was working hard, although it did not show on her features. She was awaiting patiently for the Captain's next order. "Captain, enemy weapons are building up energy, they're going to fire upon us again."
---Captain Fox knew very well that another salvo from the enemy's vessels would cause extensive damage, but he was left with little choice, he would need to sacrifice much of the ships integrity to try and keep his crew alive. "Give me a firing solution," he barked at the AI. "Lieutenant, arm tactical warheads and await for coordinates." A drop of sweat poured down the Captain's brow.
---The Gallaghal stirred on its new course, the thousand ton ship, although slow, could endure harsh punishment. And that's what the crew needed. To hold off the enemy's strikes.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_1768a11a.jpg
--The ship rocked once again, the personnel had to brace themselves with whatever they could, "Hull integrity down to fifty-five percent" the female robotized voice announced once again. Sparks came flying down upon them, originated from the superheated conductors. Several fires began burning.
---They were running out of time and luck. Would this be it? The Captain's screen filled with new data, "Lieutenant Akita, deploy warheads on new set of coordinates. Now." The Lieutenant nodded, complying the order. "Get us close to that star Lieutenant." he added. The Captain stood, serene as ever, secretly hoping that this would work.
---A few seconds went by. Then a blinding white light filled the bridge. The warheads had impacted, the Captain looked throught the viewport. There was an explosion on one of the enemy's vessels. Then, it veered of course and finally exploded. Two others remained. But temporarily blinded by the EMP pulse the warhead had delivered, allowing the Gallaghal to slip unnoticed.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_9768a3f8.jpg
---This would only buy them but few minutes, and everyone was aware of that. But as to why did the Captain had ordered to head towards the sun was a mystery. But everyone aboard the Gallaghal trusted their captain blindly, the man was a seasoned UNEF officer, and had seen more battles than the whole crew together. He knew what he was doing.
---"We will be within gravitational pull in under two minutes. Enemy cruisers are pursuing." infromed the AI. Captain Fox knew very well that the enemy ships were faster and that they would be in reach in a minute. That's exactly on what the Captain counted.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_5768bd2e.jpg
---The crew at the bridge shot uneasy glances. But nevertheless they kept working on their standing orders. The Captain scratched his beard, he did that whenever he was nervous. Truthfully he didn't knew if this would work, but it was their only shot. "Enemy vessels firing upon us, they are growing ever closer. I think... I know what you're up to, Captain. Making calculations." stated the AI as it began working, its image flaring, as the sun's radiation was interfering slightly.
---The bridge grew warmer as they got closer. The ship rumbled as its engines fought the gravitational strain, trying to break loose. "Sir, we're being pulled towards the Sun." informed Lieutenant Akita as she cursed beneath her breath. "Enemy vessels are upon us." she informed, while typing frantically.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_1768c262.jpg
---The ship rocketed once more, as another volley reached the ship, most of the back hull section had been completely reduced. The increasing warmth began melting the outer hull, making it more prone to destruction, and although this close to the sun, their pursuiters still followed. The AI flickered on the console. "Calculations are done. It is now or never Captain," she said, her voice breaking. It could be felt that she was altered.
---"Fire them up." was all Captain Fox said. Everyone closed their eyes, and for a split second nothing happened.
---"Emergency thrusters firing." she announced. "Everybody hold on."
---The ship shook wildly as the emergency thrusters fired, setting the Gallagher on a new course, the impulse enough to steer them away from the gravitational pull. Fox held on tight to the brass railing, as the ship continued shaking.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_9768c4c6.jpg
---But the enemy ships weren't as lucky. They spinned out of control the minute they saw the complex turn made by the Gallaghal. They hadn't planned a way out. The sun's gravitational pull grew stronger, and even with maximum power on their engines they could not escape. They kept on spinning, approaching the sun. And finally exploding.
---Although the crew was pretty beaten up from the last turn, they were alive, and that's what mattered. "Nice job Captain." congratulated the digitalized voice of the Artifical Intelligence. The bridge was silent. Everyone layed still on the ground, Fox had taken a beating against the wall, blood slipped through his cheek. Sparks coming from the overheated console was the las thing he saw before drifting away.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_3768c8f0.jpg
1600 Hours, January 14, 2229 (Military Calendar) /
Hercules VIII System, En Route to Pegasus Docking
Faciity, planet Pegasus III
---A flashing red light impacted on the tree bark where Sergeant Harris's head had been minutes ago. The tree was instantly scorched, a thick flame engulfed it. That confirmed the enemy presence on the area.
---"Everybody get down!" he commanded. Dozens of sparking beams flew overhead them, they were on the worst spot for an ambush, the cover the trees offered was limited, and the running away option was cut off by the creek which passed feet away from where they were.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_57691b1b.jpg
---"We won't hold long here. We must get moving!" cried Lieutenant Green, as he fired blindly on the direction of the enemy fire. Hoping that he would manage to buy a second or two to get out of the tight spot his group was encountered. The first assault had claimed half the group's lives, from eight that they once had been, they were now reduced to four.
---The men who could still stand grouped near the Lieutenant, among them Sergeant Hayes, the Lieutenant fired another salvo and instructed the men to run past the creek, they needed to get to that ship. His orders had been clear, retrieve the fallen ship at any cost. Any cost, that meant the lifes of whomever fell, that ship must've hold something of great value, otherwise Command wouldn't be so eager to get their hands on it.
---He and the rest of his squad managed to get past the creek, alive. Most in part due to their BlueLex powered assault armors.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_776920c7.jpg
---"Keep moving! Come on!" the Sergeant encouraged the rest of the men. But as they sped through the woods two more of the men fell prey to the enemy. Only two remained, the Lieutenant and the Sergeant. They both kept running, until they ran out of breath. They had been able to shoot some of their enemies which were hidden amongst the dense forest.
---Suddenly, the firing stopped. "Did we get them? Did we get all of them?" asked a gasping Lieutenant as he looked around, waiting to see a burning red bolt heading their way.
---The Sergeant looked around as well. "I think so... Why would they stop firing?" he shrugged. "God knows... Our objective is less than one hundred meters east of here. I suggest we keep moving."
---Lieutenant Green nodded apprehensively, something wasn't right about all this, this wasn't the way of fighting of the 'Shroud', the enemy they had bee fighting for 100 years. He took a deep breath, trying to ease the pain that was building up beneath his ribs. "Let's go..."
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_b769240b.jpg
---As they progressed the path became darker, the forest went darker. And colder as well. Trees were no longer green and full of live... But black and dead. The earth was moist here full of bugs, and the wind howled. Such a radical change was impressive.
--- The two men strode down the path anyways, eyes and ears alert for any sign of the enemy, but it seemed that indeed they had gotten all of the Shroud's opeartives down here. "This place is sure creepy... stated the Sergeant as they walked deeper into the forest.
---"Sure is..." countered the Lieutenant as they moved slowly.
---After what seemed hours of endless walking they arrived at what seemed to be a facility of some kind. "This is it," the Lieutenant pointed out, he clicked a button on his helmet and began speaking. "This Alpha Detachment, we have located the docking facility, proceeding to objective. Over." but all that could be heard on the other end was static. Damn. The eerie trees must've been blocking the signal. The Lieutenant cursed silently.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_376927ec.jpg
---Inside everything was dead silent. Their footsteps were hard against the metallic floor. "This is a UNEF ship alright," stated Lieutenant Green as he looked around. They had walked through several compartments of the ship, all empty, a dim blue emergency light was eberything they had to see. Green proposed on taking a visit to the bridge, maybe that would clear things up and enlighten him on the situation. Hayes seemed edgy, his assault rifle peering through every corner.
---At times a distant computarized voice could be hear, but neither of them could decipher what it was trying to say. As they neared the bridge, the Lieutenant noted that an barrier had been powered up, and precisely on the bridge. The Lieutenant managed to see a panel for operating the field, but it looked rigged as if someone had tried getting in by force. What the hell had happened aboard this ship?
---"Hayes, give me a hand over here, we need to get this field down." ordered the Lieutenant, as he dismantled the panel.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_f7692d1d.jpg
---The bridge was a mess. Bodies lay sprawling everywhere, the crew must've taken a beating. They appeared to be the only remaining crew, as to the rest, it had been a mystery what had happened to them. Sergeant Hayes hurried up and kneeled beside the Captain, he places a finger on his neck. "Pulse is weak. No serious external injuries." he informed while inspecting the uncounciouss body. "Sir. It appears that everyone here on the bridge seem alive, they're all knocked uncounciouss though."
---This thing was getting weirder by the minute, first the missing crew, and then the uncounciouss staff. And there was nothing to attribute to this events. "I'm going to check the logs, but from what I'm seeing, I don''t think that whatever is in there will please me," said Green with a sigh as he took a step towards the main console.
---He fumbled with the controls, and for a minute it seemed as the console was badly damaged as well. But wait. There was a recording of some kind. It was the ship's log.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_b76932dd.jpg
---The recording began playing. It was the same female voice they had heard moments earlier. "Crew do.n... ship's sys..ems fai..ng. Approa..ng Her..les III," the transmittion ended, and suddenly was replaced by another one. "Undergoing repairs. Planet seems clear. Wait. Got movement on restrictive secotrs of the ship. Energy signatures spiking up. It seems like weapons fire." screams followed the recording as well as some gunfire. It seemed that whoever was on this ship, were attacked after landing. "They've taken the crew... Sealing off bridge, Captain must remain... Valuable intel, must not fall..." the transmission began fading out.
--- More gunshots followed, "We can't stop them... There are too many, have hidden on the ventilation shafts. They have cut through our defenses. It's the Shroud." the scren went black and a message appeared. "END OF TRANSMISSION"
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g86/GoryFranco/snapshot_97680413_17693667.jpg