Self Defence

Mission Log

Author: Captain Nathan C. Jackson

Mission 5, Entry 2:

We have been warned. Asteri sent us the warning to expect possible contact within two hours. That was a while ago. The first thing we did was to set up all the turrets. Then we deactivated the drills and stored all collected resources into the core for take-off. We were not leaving anything behind, except for the turrets and ammo fabricator. They will probably be destroyed by the shock wave during launch anyway.

As it turned out, the warning was for the worst-case scenario. There is still time. I keep telling myself 'This is not a drill, this is not a drill.' The first mission was the first time I had ever been on the receiving end of live fire. Thinking back on it terrifies me. But it makes no difference. I am a soldier, this is the nature of conflict. This is the nature of war.

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Audio/Video Transcript

Location: Pod 472, Sector 36

Time: Mission Day 12, 1847 (Beta Day 8, 1347)

Cptn. Jackson walks up to the command console. Console lights up and projects Tara form.

Tara: Is something wrong Captain?

Cptn. Jackson: Tara, is the Hornet refuelled?

Tara: Yes. Why do you ask?

Cptn. Jackson: I'm going scouting. I can check for possible routes the enemy can take, maybe even scout out what is attacking.

Tara: (smiles)

Cptn. Jackson: What?

Tara: I knew you were going to ask for something like this.

Cptn. Jackson: I take it you are against this?

Tara: Yes, yes I am. There is no point in you unnecessarily risking your life to go peek at something that is coming this way anyway.

Cptn. Jackson: But you can't stop me, can you?

Tara: No, no I can't.

Cptn. Jackson: Prep the Hornet for launch.

Tara: I should mention the Hornet, currently, has no ejection modules. And even if you survive being shot down, there is no guarantee that we will be able to rescue you.

Cptn. Jackson: I understand.

Tara: ... I suggest you cruise at a higher altitude. Even if you are detected, you will be out of range or at least far enough to evade fire.

Cptn. Jackson: Understood.

Tara: Good luck, Captain.

Cptn. Jackson leaves the room.

Time: Mission Day 12, 1856 (Beta Day 8, 1356)

System: Hornet ship launched, bearing southeast.

Time: Mission Day 12, 1922 (Beta Day 8, 1422)

Hornet: Tara?

Base: Sir?

Hornet: What is my position relative to the last known position of the enemy force?

Base: You are currently 3 km away from them, ETA 5 mins.

Hornet: Roger, thank you.

Time: Mission Day 12, 1929 (Beta Day 8, 1429)

Hornet: Tara, come in.

Base: Receiving...

Hornet: I think I see them, I count ten... no, twelve hostiles. They appear to be mechanical, possibly drones.

Base: Copy, return to base.

Hornet: ...

System: Warning- altitude levels dropping, probability of detection rising

Base: Captain?

Hornet: I'm going to circle in closer, see if I can identify their weapons.

Base: Oh good, how about you check if they are bipedal or tank-treaded while you do that?

Hornet: Hmm, now you're talking.

Base: That was supposed to be a joke. Captain, return to base.

System: Warning- Hornet entering dive

Base: Captain? Cptn. Jackson? Cptn. Jackson?! What the hell are you doing!?

Hornet on nose dive

Hostiles diverting attention to Hornet

Warning- Target lock on Hornet detected

Hornet rising up out of dive, under enemy fire

No damage received

Enemy armament: Arm-mounted medium calibre auto-cannons

Shell type: High explosive

Hornet: Well, that wasn't so bad.

Base: Captain, I am advising you to disengage and fall back immediately!

Hornet: Oh come on now, they started this. Whatever I do now is self-defence, right?

Base: That is no reason to start doing something reckless.

System: Hornet on circular trajectory

Base: Captain?

System: Weapon safety disabled

Base: Captain?!

System: Speed increasing, Hornet on intercept course

Base: Captain!?

Warning- Target lock on Hornet detected.

Hornet conducting strafing, hostiles opening fire

Manoeuvre complete

Light damage received, all modules functional

3 out of 12 hostiles destroyed, 6 more hit

Hostiles scattering

Hornet: Damage to outer armour, disengaging and returning to base.

Location: Pod 472, Sector 36

Time: Mission Day 12, 1952 (Beta Day 8, 1452)

Cptn. Jackson steps out of the Hornet. Tara form projected in front of him, scowling

Cptn. Jackson: Ma'am.

Tara: ...

They lock eyes

Time: Mission Day 12, 1956 (Beta Day 8, 1456)

Cptn. Jackson: You remind me of my former CO.

Tara: How so?

Cptn. Jackson: Unless he was really impressed, he never commended us for a job well done, and he loved jobs well done. He'd just look in our general direction with a poker face.

Tara: ...

Cptn. Jackson: (shrugs) No worries, I'll get 'em all next time

Cptn. Jackson leaves the room

Tara: ... I hope there isn't a next time.

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Internal Log: Day 12

MasCon: /SYSTEM- Add to priorities- Ejection module, Vehicle fabricator