Book of the Fallen

[monbvol]

[Author]  Blame Liam's Ghost.  [/Author]

Chapter 1-New Kid in Town

Robert adjusted his thermal blanket to help him hide in the snow without getting buried by it.

It was bad enough there was a rebellion going on but now all of a sudden another group had started raiding supply depots.

There were those who believed them to be a new rebel splinter group with better hardware than the main cells but Robert had read the intel reports and declared them idiots.  There was no way the main rebel cells could support the kind of hardware hitting them now.

So he had brought the Fallen Angels to the frozen wastelands they now occupied simply because it was one of the few supply depots not yet hit by either the rebels or these new players and he wanted to capture one of these new players alive to learn the truth.

"Fallen Angel 4 to Fallen Angel Actual.  Contact report.  Raider ship inbound.  I have confirmed visual."  The voice of Ramon Stonefish crackled over the comms.

"Actual to all callsigns, we are now going comm silent."  Robert answered.

As was typical once the vessel was detected it did not take long before the war machines these people used showed up and wrecked the garrison.

That they so easily out classed the hardware at their disposal was very worrying.  But again Robert read the intel reports and the Fallen Angels were known for their dirty tricks.

Robert waited.  It was hard watching the brave soldiers garrisoning the supply depot get slaughtered but for the plan to work and keep this from happening everywhere it was necessary.

Then the opening he had been waiting for happened.  They began deploying troops to actually collect supplies.

Lining up a shot with his sniper rifle Robert squeezed the trigger.

His target staggered and was smart enough to stay down.

The war machine standing watch moved towards Robert's position.

He had hoped the stealth measures he had taken would have worked a bit better but it just meant it walked into the trap they had prepared for it.

The explosives went off right on cue and the massive machine fell into what was effectively a giant pit trap and buried.

It would only delay the machine but that was all they needed.

"Fallen Angel 3 to Actual.  Target secured."  The snarled voice of Argon Viper was distinctive on the comms.

"Actual to all callsigns time to get out of dodge."  Robert said as he rolled from under his thermal blanket and yanked another off the bike he had secured for his getaway.

Throttling to maximum speed was his only hope.

The rally point was the ancient disused Fort Aurochs from some ancient forgotten conflict.

It was not a long ride by bike but enough that Robert hoped that these raiders would not pursue before reinforcements arrived.

Robert hurried down to where the rest of his squad awaited him with a prisoner in a uniform he did not recognize.

The burn where Robert had hit him was visible on the jacket.

The young man under the jacket did not seem all the worse for wear.

Robert nodded as Ramon administered a stimulant.

"Oh gods... I just want to go home..."  The young man spouted as soon as he came around.

"Yes, tell me about this home of yours.  And your name.  We have much to discuss."  Robert said as he got the young man's attention.

"I'm not sure I should..."  The young man answered.

"Well it is that or I let Argon have you for dinner.  He likes the taste of human."  Robert gestured to the large form that walked up to him.

"Technical Specialist Kevin Travis, Interstellar Expiditions NebCal 1 expedition."  The young man answered.

"Well Kevin, you are now a prisoner of the Galactic Empire.  Keep answering my questions and I won't feed you to the Whiphid."  Robert leaned in.

[Ttw1]

TAGed

[Giovanni Blasini]

Well, crap.  That's gonna be bad.

[monbvol]

An out of story post while I consider a few things.

Reading the Nebula California I actually question who i'd setup a colony with if stuck there.

Toreel would be very tempting on the surface of it but once casters figured out which spells would be most effective against Battletech characters and equipment, which should not take long at all, they could actually be quite dangerous.

Syberia is too close to parity and I'd have to choose a side as a result.

The superior humans are just too troublesome.

The Empire?  Well they are just technologically advanced enough to provide a good source of spare parts, except for weapons, and their ground arms are not that threatening really.  Space depends on how many Star Destroyers they have because those are rather dangerous to a jumpship but the TIE fighters should be really easily dealt with despite their numerical advantage by even a couple low end ASFs.  So maybe depending on if I can figure out a good way to deal with those Star Destroyers.

[HABeas2]

"Well Kevin, you are now a prisoner of the Galactic Empire.  Keep answering my questions and I won't feed you to the Whiphid."  Robert leaned in.

Pssst. They call themselves the Star Empire in the book. It's a multi-world binary. Assuming you're actually going from WttNC.

- Herb

[monbvol]

Pssst. They call themselves the Star Empire in the book. It's a multi-world binary. Assuming you're actually going from WttNC.

- Herb

Old habits die hard.

[monbvol]

[Author]  The distractions have been really out of hand lately.  And just to make Herb happy I'll try and make an effort to call them the Star Empire, Wedge ships, T Fighters, X fighters, and whatnot.  [/Author]

Star Empire Intelligence Report #1467241138


I must start this report with an official complaint against the Special Forces Squad known as the Fallen Angels.  They delivered another near useless intelligence source that required far too many special measures to make viable again.

This time they threatened the subject with being eaten by their pet Whiphid.  How they can stand that thing is beyond me.

After rendering special measures I was able to confirm a few things from Technical Specialist Kevin Travis.

They only have a few walkers left to his knowledge.  Four as far as he was able to confirm.

They have a term for the tactic the use against our assault walkers, 'Cow Tipping', that is far too effective against our current walker designs.  Our next priority should be to capture one of their walkers.

The subject was not able to provide us any details on how their FTL technology works beyond they have what he refers to as a Lithium Fusion Battery that allows them to jump more often than normal.

They cannot leave the nebula with their FTL technology.

We may have to take a risk and devote a portion of the fleet to capturing their ship as well.  I realize this will leave us vulnerable to the rebellion's growing star fleet but it could give us the edge we need if we can gain this FTL technology for ourselves that allows them to go system to system without having to plot hyperspace vectors as we do, thus rendering them untraceable.

Agent Premin

[HABeas2]

[Author]  The distractions have been really out of hand lately.  And just to make Herb happy I'll try and make an effort to call them the Star Empire, Wedge ships, T Fighters, X fighters, and whatnot.  [/Author]

Yay! I made a difference!

- Herb

[Liam's Ghost]

I must start this report with an official complaint against the Special Forces Squad known as the Fallen Angels.  They delivered another near useless intelligence source that required far too many special measures to make viable again.

This time they threatened the subject with being eaten by their pet Whiphid.  How they can stand that thing is beyond me.

Hey, it's a team building exercise, that means the whole team gets to participate!

[monbvol]

Hey, it's a team building exercise, that means the whole team gets to participate!

We actually had a couple standards.  Not many considering what we would do as an alternative to cannibalism.

One wonders how the hell anyone put up with our characters back in those days.

Which I suppose I should explain for those who don't know.

I got my start with fanfic writing for Star Wars many years back.  Late 90s, early 2000s long ago.

The Fallen Angels were the creation of several people in ultimately two different Star Wars groups, most of our exploits coming with the second.

Our character were completely overpowered headcases that really never should have lasted as long as they did but damn were some of our stories insane fun.  Most of those stories were a different style, called run on where one person would start and another would contribute.  Mixing and matching among the participants.  I doubt I still have any backed up with all the hard drives I've gone through since then.

I've lost touch with all the original members except for Liam's Ghost.

[monbvol]

Robert looked at the orders.

It took a lot of digging and a lot of luck to jest delay one of the war machines.  Actually capture one?  How the hell they could pull that off would be a small miracle.

The supply base they had setup on the ice world that the rebels had tried hiding on for cleanup operations had been picked clean by the raiders despite capturing one of their number.

The city world was too well defended for them to raid.  The Star Empire had to abandon the dessert world after the first Lasersphere was destroyed and pulling Imperial Star Destroyers to hunt for the raiding ship had left the star Empire vulnerable and the rebels managed to isolate and destroy one.

Unless they also raided the rebels these new foes only had one target left.  The forest moon.  If they knew of that supply depot though Star Empire Intelligence would have a lot of questions to answer.

That they knew of it was solely due to their special forces status.

"They're making another Lasersphere."  Robert sighed as he realized the only possible reason to put a supply depot on such an insignificant world.  Especially with how much capacity it had.

"That means he's going to try and lure the rebels there too."  Jocium Geist added as he studied the same reports.

"Knowing our luck that means they are going to launch their attacks at the same time."  Robert nodded.

"Maybe we can tangle up one of the war machines with log traps long enough to breach?"  Jocium read another report.

"Seems we have little choice.  Can't exactly use the same trick we did before."  Robert answered.

[monbvol]

Robert almost facepalmed.

Press ganging some of the locals had worked well enough to get the traps setup but the rebels somehow co-opted the locals and turned them against the Star Empire garrison.

As expected the new raiders showed up at the worst possible time and while Robert didn't believe they were actively supporting the rebels the timing was too perfect.

The Assault Transports had been tipped on their sides with no hope of getting back up.  The only remaining Scout Transport was in the hands of the rebels.

When the Lasersphere blew up Robert knew that there was only one hope of avoiding the firing squads.  They had made too many enemies in the Star Empire to avoid that fate after this debacle.  The rebels, well they had many reasons to put the Fallen Angels up against a wall if they caught up with them.

"Fallen Actual to all callsigns.  Rally position 7 ASAP."  Robert barked over his comms.

Not dressing as Storm Troopers proved quite helpful to getting through the running fire fight still raging.

"Well boss that should have been a good plan but damn we are screwed now."  Jocium said as the squad gathered in a secluded spot away from the firefights.

"Put me down for a thousand credits that the rebels get us first."  Argon joked.

"I do have a stupid idea that might get us out of this.  At least long enough that we might be able actually survive this.  Remember Kevin?"  Ramon Stonefish spoke up.

"Long shot but that's still better than no shot.  Our transport should still be intact in sector 7.  Let's get to it and get the hell out of here."  Robert knew it was insane but it was their best shot.

[Elmoth]

I am waiting for them to say "I 've got a bad feeling about this"...

[monbvol]

Later in Deep Space between systems

"Okay with the chaos that is the destruction of the second Lasersphere and the Emperor being killed aboard it some places are still accepting out authentication codes but we can't count on that lasting forever.  Using this access I have learned that Technical Specialist Kevin Travis of Interstellar Expeditions is being held on the orbital prison station above the City World.  Ramon has suggested we rescue him and make contact with his people as our best shot of surviving the current state of affairs a bit longer and I am inclined to agree it is our best chance.  Being a station we should expect to be in close quarter combat at any moment."  Robert briefed.

He could see that he was not alone in his mixed feelings but they all seemed to understand this was their best shot at avoiding a firing squad.

Going up to the cockpit Robert plotted the hyperspace course for the City World and the prison and activated the hyperdrive.

"Automated defense perimeter coming up."  Jocium said as he joined Robert in the cockpit.

"If you say fly casual until you get the codes out..."  Robert said as he adjusted their course.

"As if."  Jocium snapped back.

The automated defenses of the prison seemed to still accept their authentication codes as they closed.

"Transport Gehenna to prison control.  Requesting docking clearance under protocol Able 459."  Robert commed gambling that the crew hadn't been co-opted by one of the various Moffs now vying for power.

"Transport Gehenna docking permission granted for bay 6."  Came the reply.

"Affirmative.  Transport Gehenna out."  Robert sighed but was glad that they had gotten this far.

As the transport docked in the bay Robert unbuckled the safety harness and entered the main compartment.

"No turning back now."  He muttered to himself.

Opening the hatch Robert was not surprised to see a welcoming commitee.

"It was rather kind of you to come here.  Did you really think we would not learn of your role in the debacle at the forest moon?"  The officer at the bottom of the ramp said.

"I had hoped but we wouldn't be special forces if we didn't plan for such eventualities."  Robert said as grenades were tossed down the ramp by Jocium.

The squad of troopers and the officer took cover as the grenades went off giving the Fallen Angels all the time they would need to get out of the transport and into superior fighting positions.

The exchange of blaster fire was short but intense.  The prison troops were no match for them of course and eliminating all the security devices was quickly accomplished as well.

"Okay time to split up.  Viper and Stonefish take care of their tractor beam.  Jocium command center to make sure they don't activate the defense perimeter.  Jingo you and the rest of the squad find us a better ride out of here and secure it."  Robert ordered.

Robert exited the hanger.  Eliminating the security devices as he went was slowing him down but it was necessary.

Another squad of guards moved into the corridor Robert was moving down.

Robert grabbed but did not activate a grenade from his belt and threw it.  As he expected the squad dove away from the grenade exposing themselves.

The lack of actual combat experience of the guards was obvious as Robert advanced on their position laying down rapid fire blaster bolts, hitting the guards one by one.

Retrieving his grenade Robert found the security office he was looking for.

Opening the door Robert snapped shots into each of the guards and technicians in the security office.

Taking out the security devices was again his next priority.

Activating the computer Robert scrolled through to find which cell Kevin Travis was in.

Going down the cell block Robert found the cell and opened it.

"YOU!  Have you come to feed me to that thing after all?"  Kevin cowered.

"We wouldn't have fed you to Argon.  Can't answer questions that way."  Robert somewhat lied.

"So what do you want?"  Kevin seemed to gain some courage.

"We're short on time for me to explain fully but things have happened in such a way it is in my interest to bust you out.  So what do you say?"  Robert answered.

"This all seems highly suspicious but alright I'll go with you just because I know it means getting out of here for even just a little while."  Kevin answered.

"Let's go."  Robert said as he led the way.

Fortunately the way back to the hanger was rather open.

"Jingo which bay is our new ride in?"  Robert commed.

"9 and I think you'll like it."  Jingo responded.

Entering bay 9 Robert saw what Jingo meant.  It was certainly an upgrade.

"That's what we're leaving on?  It looks rather beat up."  Kevin spoke up.

"Most YT series small freighters look that way.  But they are fast enough that we'll be able to hold our own against any T fighters that try to chase us down.  This one is a 2400 series.  More than able to get us out of here."  Robert said as they rejoined the rest of the squad.