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LBT Fanfiction / Nietzche's Soldiers 2
« on: June 30, 2010, 06:07:49 PM »
After way too long, I've finally decided to start posting this story. It takes place before Disruptive Selection, and, like Nietzsche's Soldiers 1, stars Dragonstorm personnel.
For those who aren't privvy to the Darwin's Soldiers universe but still want to read, all you really need to know is that Dragonstorm is an illegal organization holed out in the forests of Oregon, with branches extending throughout the country. And that Darwin's Soldiers is a mixed anthro-human world.
This story will be updated every other day, alternating with Ship of State.
Hope you enjoy!
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<If we have to wait five more minutes, I’m leaving.>
<Protes,> Amphinomus sighed, <this is not a combat situation, and we’re right here. You can just talk.>
<I mean, this is their stupid meeting, and here we’ve had to sit for like ten minutes waiting on them.>
<Is someone thought-speaking to someone else? Why wasn’t I invited?>
<Achates, don’t encourage him.>
<Will the three of ye just be quiet? Ah’m trying to relax here and I cannae do it with yer yappin’!>
Four men and a woman were sitting in an otherwise empty office. All were dressed in identical black uniforms. Amphinomus, the leader, also wore a black wingband. To an outside observer, nothing appeared to be happening, certainly not a full-fledged conversation.
But an outside observer wouldn’t know about the Dragonstorm thought network, a radio connection which worked with cranial chips that could broadcast electronic “thoughts” to one or more people, allowing silent communication.
These five were among the first members of the Dragonstorm organization to receive the chips. Officially the First Dragonstorm Reconnaissance Team, but known better as DS-1, these five were often sent out on missions for Dragonstorm. And, despite what someone listening in on their thought conversation would think, they were a close-knit team who trusted each other completely.
<All right,> said Achates finally, <someone break the ice. Who’s going to speak first?>
<Sounds to me like Achates just volunteered,> Protesilaus, a platypus, cackled.
<Both of you,> Amphinomus sighed again, <please stop thought-conversing.>
<Okay, then, Ampy, you say something,> challenged Achates.
<Yeah,> nodded Protesilaus.
Amphinomus rolled his eyes. <If it’ll get you to shut up.>
A few moments of silence.
<We’re waiting.>
“All right, fine!” snapped Amphinomus, just as Drs. Branston and Zenarchis walked into the room.
“Did you have something to say, commander?” asked Dr. Branston.
“No, sir.” Amphinomus ignored the two stifling laughter next to him.
“All right, then.” The doctors had been followed by a younger Siamese cat, who looked nervously at the other men. “This is your new recruit to DS-1. He was assistant to Dr. Winters and proved himself at scouting. He has been given the codename Dolon.”
The team looked less than thrilled.
“We’ve got another teammate?” complained Protesilaus. “I thought we were pushing it with five!”
“In Cmdr. Amphinomus’ report on your failed mission at the Zzyzyx Desert Studies Center, it was made abundantly clear that none of you are adequately specialized in stealth and surveillance! I speak mainly of Camilla knocking over an entire rack of cooking equipment, and you setting off a round of explosives in the middle of the solar panel array you were supposed to be stealing!”
Camilla, a lean jaguar, averted her eyes, but Protesilaus defiantly crossed his arms and glared at Amphinomus.
“For that reason,” Dr. Branston continued, Dolon is now on your team.” He motioned for Dolon to take a seat with the others. “Feel free to introduce yourselves.”
Dolon looked at the short African-American man. “You must be the leader, Amphinomus. I recognize you from the briefing pamphlet.”
Amphinomus nodded.
“We call him Ampy,” offered Achates.
“Like ëEll we do, it’s what you call him!” Hippolytes, a burly Snowshoe Hare, interjected.
“You’re just jealous because your nickname is Hippo.”
Amphinomus introduced the others.
“Camilla is second in command. She’s our medic, and provides backup to whoever needs it.”
The jaguar raised her eyebrows, but otherwise coolly ignored Dolon.
“Achates is the team hacker and technician.”
Achates grinned.
“Protesilaus is the demolitions expert.”
The platypus’ expression registered neither positive nor negative feelings towards Dolon.
“And Hippolytes is the sniper.”
“Ah do more’n that!” grunted Hippolytes in protest.
“Yes, well, back to the assignment at hand.” Dr. Branston shuffled some papers. “Since you and several other DS teams have failed to acquire alternate power sources, we are getting desperate for power. The lesser projects have been put on energy rations starting five hours ago, and the most important ones will be likewise in a matter of weeks. As you can tell, this is a serious issue.”
He looked up. “Our current problem deals with SORA Gas & Electric. Are any of you familiar with it?”
“I am,” said Camilla. “It’s an Alaskan-based energy provider and Dragonstorm-controlled affiliate. I’ve been there once.”
“A month ago SORA stopped sending its weekly deliveries, so we sent DS-4 to investigate. That was two weeks ago, and they haven’t checked in yet.”
“Could they be delayed?” asked Amphinomus.
“For two weeks? Commander Turnus has never taken so long. We fear something has happened to the factory, and we can’t afford to lose it, so we’re sending you, our best team. Finds out what has happened to SORA, try to reestablish contact with DS-4, and above all, guarantee our energy supply. Can you do this?”
Amphinomus nodded, then looked at his team. “Yes, sir.”
For those who aren't privvy to the Darwin's Soldiers universe but still want to read, all you really need to know is that Dragonstorm is an illegal organization holed out in the forests of Oregon, with branches extending throughout the country. And that Darwin's Soldiers is a mixed anthro-human world.
This story will be updated every other day, alternating with Ship of State.
Hope you enjoy!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<If we have to wait five more minutes, I’m leaving.>
<Protes,> Amphinomus sighed, <this is not a combat situation, and we’re right here. You can just talk.>
<I mean, this is their stupid meeting, and here we’ve had to sit for like ten minutes waiting on them.>
<Is someone thought-speaking to someone else? Why wasn’t I invited?>
<Achates, don’t encourage him.>
<Will the three of ye just be quiet? Ah’m trying to relax here and I cannae do it with yer yappin’!>
Four men and a woman were sitting in an otherwise empty office. All were dressed in identical black uniforms. Amphinomus, the leader, also wore a black wingband. To an outside observer, nothing appeared to be happening, certainly not a full-fledged conversation.
But an outside observer wouldn’t know about the Dragonstorm thought network, a radio connection which worked with cranial chips that could broadcast electronic “thoughts” to one or more people, allowing silent communication.
These five were among the first members of the Dragonstorm organization to receive the chips. Officially the First Dragonstorm Reconnaissance Team, but known better as DS-1, these five were often sent out on missions for Dragonstorm. And, despite what someone listening in on their thought conversation would think, they were a close-knit team who trusted each other completely.
<All right,> said Achates finally, <someone break the ice. Who’s going to speak first?>
<Sounds to me like Achates just volunteered,> Protesilaus, a platypus, cackled.
<Both of you,> Amphinomus sighed again, <please stop thought-conversing.>
<Okay, then, Ampy, you say something,> challenged Achates.
<Yeah,> nodded Protesilaus.
Amphinomus rolled his eyes. <If it’ll get you to shut up.>
A few moments of silence.
<We’re waiting.>
“All right, fine!” snapped Amphinomus, just as Drs. Branston and Zenarchis walked into the room.
“Did you have something to say, commander?” asked Dr. Branston.
“No, sir.” Amphinomus ignored the two stifling laughter next to him.
“All right, then.” The doctors had been followed by a younger Siamese cat, who looked nervously at the other men. “This is your new recruit to DS-1. He was assistant to Dr. Winters and proved himself at scouting. He has been given the codename Dolon.”
The team looked less than thrilled.
“We’ve got another teammate?” complained Protesilaus. “I thought we were pushing it with five!”
“In Cmdr. Amphinomus’ report on your failed mission at the Zzyzyx Desert Studies Center, it was made abundantly clear that none of you are adequately specialized in stealth and surveillance! I speak mainly of Camilla knocking over an entire rack of cooking equipment, and you setting off a round of explosives in the middle of the solar panel array you were supposed to be stealing!”
Camilla, a lean jaguar, averted her eyes, but Protesilaus defiantly crossed his arms and glared at Amphinomus.
“For that reason,” Dr. Branston continued, Dolon is now on your team.” He motioned for Dolon to take a seat with the others. “Feel free to introduce yourselves.”
Dolon looked at the short African-American man. “You must be the leader, Amphinomus. I recognize you from the briefing pamphlet.”
Amphinomus nodded.
“We call him Ampy,” offered Achates.
“Like ëEll we do, it’s what you call him!” Hippolytes, a burly Snowshoe Hare, interjected.
“You’re just jealous because your nickname is Hippo.”
Amphinomus introduced the others.
“Camilla is second in command. She’s our medic, and provides backup to whoever needs it.”
The jaguar raised her eyebrows, but otherwise coolly ignored Dolon.
“Achates is the team hacker and technician.”
Achates grinned.
“Protesilaus is the demolitions expert.”
The platypus’ expression registered neither positive nor negative feelings towards Dolon.
“And Hippolytes is the sniper.”
“Ah do more’n that!” grunted Hippolytes in protest.
“Yes, well, back to the assignment at hand.” Dr. Branston shuffled some papers. “Since you and several other DS teams have failed to acquire alternate power sources, we are getting desperate for power. The lesser projects have been put on energy rations starting five hours ago, and the most important ones will be likewise in a matter of weeks. As you can tell, this is a serious issue.”
He looked up. “Our current problem deals with SORA Gas & Electric. Are any of you familiar with it?”
“I am,” said Camilla. “It’s an Alaskan-based energy provider and Dragonstorm-controlled affiliate. I’ve been there once.”
“A month ago SORA stopped sending its weekly deliveries, so we sent DS-4 to investigate. That was two weeks ago, and they haven’t checked in yet.”
“Could they be delayed?” asked Amphinomus.
“For two weeks? Commander Turnus has never taken so long. We fear something has happened to the factory, and we can’t afford to lose it, so we’re sending you, our best team. Finds out what has happened to SORA, try to reestablish contact with DS-4, and above all, guarantee our energy supply. Can you do this?”
Amphinomus nodded, then looked at his team. “Yes, sir.”