July 31, 3074
St Kathrinesgrad, Tikonov
Captain Piotr Novakowski snappily returned the sentry's salute with a smile.
"Busy night, Steve?"
The sentry shook his head as he eased his bulk back into his chair positioned behind a row of flickering monitors.
"No sir, just the same - although that cold is playing havoc with me joints," he said.
The officer grunted: "Same with our sensors. The bloody wind keeps knocking sensors offline and we spend half the time resetting them."
Taking in his reflection in the glass door of the Tikonov Protectorate Militia's headquarters building, Novakowski ran a critical eye over his dark grey duty uniform - peaked cap sitting at a slightly rakish angle, the two rows of decorations perfectly straight and dark pants bloused into boots buffed to a mirror shine.
"Heading home to the wife, sir?" The sentry asked, shooting a glance to the large digital clock display above his station.
It read 0108.
Satisfied with his reflection, the handsome captain ran a hand over his bearded jaw and shook his head.
"No, I'm going to grab a bite to eat and then wander home. These damn shifts make it just about impossible to see her."
With a final nod to the enlisted man, Novakowski left the building. The streets were dark, lit only by a handful of LED strips rigged up on building sides and traffic was almost nil as he crossed the road and headed deeper into the city. The surrounds changed quickly from steel and stone of the military enclave to garish graffiti, paper lanterns fluttering in the breeze and lurid electronic advertisements for bars and other pleasures.
An occasional stone guardian lion sat out incongruously in front of towering apartment blocks or run down department stores.
The darkened street he was wandering down was briefly lit up with false daylight as a pair of Nightshade VTOLs zoomed by, their rotary blades kicking up little tornadoes of rubbish and dirt. If you managed to squint past the harsh searchlights you could just make out the broadsword and planet symbol of the Protectorate Militia.
She found him about an hour later in a noodle shop that seemed to delight in forcing you to eat in almost total darkness. He was on his third beer.
"Looking for some fun, baby?"
He glanced back over his shoulder and took her in: all five-one of her - meaning she barely came up to his chin, even while he was sitting.
Her dark hair was piled up in a messy style affixed with a chopstick and she'd used something like kohl to show off her big almond eyes.
The cutaway mock-spacer's jumpsuit didn't do much to cover her up, only hugging her tiny frame and drawing the eye to her biggest assets.
"That depends," the Militia officer said, taking a swig of beer. "How much?"
"Only your heart and soul, sweetheart."
Every time a dropship took off from the sprawling Earthwerks plant nearby, the entire motel room shuddered, stark light briefly exploding through the askew blinds and illuminating everything in garish colour.
"How do you know they don't know you took it?" Linda asked, taking a long drag on her cigarette.
She was sitting up and had initially gathered the cheap print covers up around her neck but had lately let them fall away to reveal she was naked.
Novakowski was dressing hurriedly nearby. He'd managed to get his pants half on and was stumbling around trying to find his boots.
"Because I ordered a full reboot of the system - I'm just a concerned watch commander ensuring everything us up to scratch," he said.
"So, for close to 15 minutes while half of the system is offline and everyone is running out for a quick piss or coffee break, I was able to copy everything we need."
He'd finally found his boots under the bed and finished drinking.
Linda had finished smoking and was now looking sulky. "Are you sure you were safe?"
She looked up suddenly in alarm as Novakowski leap into the bed on all fours - the ancient and cheap plastic groaning in protest as he crawled toward her.
"You know I was," he said. He grabbed her roughly by the chin and drew her in tight, their foreheads touching before leaning down to kiss her long and deep.
"I'm just a Militia officer who knocked off his watch on time and headed into the seedy heart of the city afterwards for some fun. Nothing more.
"But the information on that data wafer, " he said, nodding towards the bedside table where the tiny electronic disc sat, "that information has the power to bring down the entire EarthWerks plant's defences."
Linda smiled. "And then we can kick those bastards off our home."
"STEADY! Steady! Squad leaders, dress your troops. Keep it steady!"
The flames rolled across the pavement, turning the inky black alive with dancing colours.
Each of the Protectorate Militia Nighthawk suits were immune to the effects of the Molotov cocktails that had just come whistling from the baying crowd of rioters - but that didn't stop the troopers inside from breaking formation on pure survival instinct.
Or in one case, raising an arm to ward off the flying projectile as it shattered on impact against his armoured carapace, sending oily flames licking along his side.
"Here they come lads!"
Sensing weakness, the crowd had grown brave - several were charging forward At the Militia suits.
The bulk kept back just across the road from the EarthWerks site, a cluster of faceless protesters armed with signs... and who knew what else.
"Lawrence, traq yours," the platoon Sergeant's voice barked. "Schultz, move up and help"
One of the Nighthawks unholstered his tranq pistol - each one tonne suit could easily heft a heavy machine gun one handed. Ironically, all of them carried nothing more threatening than tranquilliser pistols tonight.
The pistol coughed four times and three of the charging protesters dropped instantly. A fourth managed to keep running, before falling into the arms of the waiting Nighthawk.
"New kid! Your one is in to close - drop him!"
One attacker had broken through the cordon and charged towards a suit, machete held high over his head in both hands. Screaming he pelted forward.
The trooper waited until the last second, hunkering down slightly he then sprang forward as the giant blade descended - one armoured hand grabbing an ankle, while e other casually touched the torso and flicked.
The rioter somersaulted overhead, landing with a sickening crunch on the ground.
"Good work kid!"
VOICE OF TRUTH BROADCAST AUGUST 1, 3074 Tikonov metro edition
Following a wave of insurrection and violence carried out by terrorists, Word of Blake planetary governor Precentor Robert Havsy has implemented tough new curfews and counter terror laws for our own safety.
From today a 2300 curfew is in effect in all of Tikonov's cities, additionally police and Protectorate Militia will have new "stop and search laws" and the right to hold prisoners without charge for up to a month.
The new legislation was voted through Tikonov's parliament this morning unanimously, with the Tikonov Labour Party and Citizens for Tikonov shamelessly boycotting the vote.
"It's unfortunate that we have been forced to resort to these measures - I have always tried to run Tikonov with a fair and balanced hand," Precentor Havsy told reporters this afternoon.
"This planet has suffered from a wave of terrorism that has done little but harm innocent civilians and bring us to a halt. This ends now."
The sweeping new laws following a string of heinous crimes carried out terrorists, claiming to be acting for the Capellan state.
Last night a mob attacked Protectorate Militia outside the main EarthWerks plants, killing two soldiers, while earlier this week a bombing killed six civilians and injured 19.
Elements of the 1st Division Word of Blake Militia have now taken up key positions across the planet to back up Protectorate troops.
In related news, security forces tonight took 2000 citizens, including trade unionists, members of various clergy, politicians and business leaders into protective custody for their own safety.
And next up, all the goss from last night's red carpet event!