Freedom Over Opression

[Flameseeker]

Edit: Now longer, and better.

Chapter 1: Descent to Hell
Cyssor

Searo gasped. No...
"-attack began at-"
It couldn't be, it wasn't possible, was it?
"-massive Terran and Vanu forces-"
Soldiers around him were shocked as well, they had just returned from Solsar, and were trying to enjoy a rest at the base.
"-alliance, laying waste to all defenders-"

Someone flipped it off, Searo was glad. Shimmer was lying down in the Sunderer, her arm being mended as best as the medic could. Jenna was with her, telling her old war stories. Searo heard a snippet of the conversation,
"Yeah, this one time, I jumped up on a Reaver and rode it for a few miles."
Shimmer laughed, and then replied,
"That's nothing! Have you ever latched onto one... while it was at full throttle?"
Searo smiled, and then stood up. The troops were tired, but the sanctuary was under attack. They had to get back there and reinforce some of the FC troops that had already made it to the base. Searo yelled,
"10th-11th Air Wings! Get your butts in your planes!"
The pilots got up, and some of the other divisions began assembling as well. He heard other officers bringing their men together, and the FC force was quickly ready to attack. They rumbled through the gate, and it was like descending into hell.

Troops of all three factions were duking it out on the once-safe ground. Searo's aerial view of the field from his Reaver offered him the sight of massive craters dotting the landscape. Several enormous ships lay beached in the harbor, incinerating neaby troops. Red and Purple fought together, the pitifully few Blue and Gold falling like wheat before a scythe.
"Form on me, missile salvo to the front lines in 3, 2, 1."
The 10 or so Reavers opened up with their rockets, decimating the front lines of the purple and red juggernaut. The twelve Skeeters cut around from the back, and began their strafing run on the enemy.
Anti-Aircraft fire brought down some planes, but then the armored divison thundered in. They began shelling the now-retreating troops. The surviving Newcons on the ground let out a lusty cheer,
"Couldnta gotten here faster, Freedom Corp."
"Sword 'n starburst saves the day!"
Searo glanced at the insignia on his armor, a sword over a sunburst, signifying a bright future through force. It was becoming rather well-known...
Snake and Zenny were on his wings, blasting the ground troops. Suddenly, a squadron of TR craft warped into view from the gate. How the hell did that happen? That gate's supposed to only let in NC. Maybe MrVulcan should code something to secure the lock.
Searo's Reaver was hit in the Napalm tank, and he pulled the eject lever almost immediately, yelling over the comms,
"AWAY FROM MY REAVER!"
Zenny and snake veered off, away from the massive explosion. Searo saw the brilliant fireball in the sky falling to the ground, and he switched on his dampeners.

He made it to the ground, and landed in a friendly tank force. A hatch popped open,
"Searo?"
It was Masurao, he waved, and then rumbled onward.
Searo began jogging over to the fighting, and he jammed a magazine into his Gauss. The fight for Freedom had begun...

=============================================
Shimmer's arm was much better, she noticed. The cast was annoying, and she couldn't move her wrist, but the Cutter she had lashed to her hand helped a little. She stayed close to Jenna, who was picking off enemies with the Bolt Driver, and KrazyJester, who was also sniping. Anything red or purple nearby would find a new mouth on their throats.
SomeOneUncommon was causing havoc among enemy lines, and MrVulcan's Phoenix missiles were easily destroying the lightly armored hover-buggies. Jenna smiled,
"I'm OK, Shimmer, go out and kick some ass."
Shimmer nodded, and turned her cloaking device back on. She crept towards a stream of enemy troops, an AMS must be nearby. Shimmer cocked her MAG-Scatter, and entered the cloaking field.

Sure enough, an AMS stood in the small depression. She circled around to the driver's side, and spotted a Vanu soldier, listening to music. His head was bobbing up and down, in time with the beat. Easy kill, she moved in on the prey...

Spider was having a good day. Things hadn't gone so well, after he let that spy into the base, but after a demotion, and severe Iron Maiden torture, he was back in action. His AMS was well guarded, he has music, the NC was about to die, all in all a good time. Then something discharged into his brain, and he knew no more.

The Vanu soldier slumped over in his seat, blood splattering all over the truck. Shimmer pushed him out, and his body dematrixed into a small case, where his supplies would be stored until his body respawned and they were recovered. Shimmer climbed into the driver's seat, her suit giving the AMS a "no driver" effect. She slammed the petal, and hurried back to the FC front lines.

[starrider]

nooooooooooo

[Phantom]

sweet

[Flameseeker]

Chapter 2: Pushed Back
NC Sanctuary

The MAX opened fire, grenades whizzed through the air. Searo hit the ground, his splints rattling. They were a little better now, but he better not have to do too much more running. He crouched behind a boulder, and waited for more grenades to fly by. Searo heard a clamp noise, and then a crash. He turned around, an AMS with its grill punched in was where the MAX was, Shimmer smiling through the windshield.
"Needed a lil help there, Flame?"
"Yeah, thanks for the assist."
Searo hopped in the passenger's seat, and smashed the glass in the door so he could fire out with the Gauss. The huge truck rumbled onward, and Searo took potshots at passing enemies. Everywhere NC troops were in full retreat, pulling back to bases and villas.
Nothing could seem to stop the combined might of the Vanu and Terrans, hope was nearly non-existant.

Finally, they reached the Freedom Corp encampment, and they too were in retreat. MrVulcan and JNVulcan were yelling orders, JN with a huge bandage over half of his face. He ran up to Searo, grinning,
"Damn you man! Your ship landed right on top of me!"
Searo was horrified,
"I'm so sorry, sir. I didn't mean to."
JN laughed, painfully,
"I know, it's fine. You're only losing three ranks because of this."
When he saw the shocked expression on Searo's face he laughed harder, and wheezed out,
"Just kidding!"
Shimmer threw them to the ground, and a "snail" flew over them, lasers splashing the ground.
"Pay attention you retards!"
MrVulcan's serious face appeared, he shouted,
"We're falling back to the base! Double-time!"
Shimmer got back in the AMS and waved good-bye to Searo. He limped off, and found Zenny and Snake, both with various wounds.
"You guys OK?"
"Your damn ship gave me a sunburn."
Searo frowned,
"You're the second one to complain."
They kept going, firing at the mass of troops running at them. Flights of aircraft buzzed overhead, and began chewing up the battered army. Searo fired a burst at a Skeeter, and it went down. He saw something in the air.
No.
It was just heat waves, right?
What had Sando said about the new Vanu craft...Cloakers.
Oh shit.
"GET DOWN!"
An Omega Lancer tore into the ground, and Zenny was hit. The ship briefly materialized, as though it was mocking them, and Searo saw the black and silver.
Aztec had mentioned an ace in black and silver.... Some star guy.
Another Lancer sizzled into them, and Searo's armor was fried. He raised his Gauss and opened fire, the ship disappeared.
Zenny croaked, his arm a mangled mess,
"You got 'im, Flame."
This time, missiles came from nowhere, and the three pilots got up and ran.
Snake unloaded a clip at the air, and something shimmered. The craft re-appeared, and let two lancers loose. They dodged the lasers, and kept going. Searo's comm crackled,
"So, you're the Ace Searo? I expected more than a crippled Major fleeing from my little toy."
Calmly, Searo knocked the 9mm bullets out of his Gauss.
"So pathetic, one little attack and you're all retreating."
The Skeeter flew over them, and carved a circle around them with its chaingun.
Searo pulled something out of his pack, Snake saw a red canister, but that's it.
"Leave the circle, and die. You're to be captured, all of you."
The Terrans were rapidly catching up, and Freedom Corp was fading into the distance.
Searo jammed the red canister to the end of his rifle. Snake looked at him, puzzled.
He aimed it at the Mosquito.
"Where's your ship? Shot down already?"
He steadied the shot, leading the target.
"Are you going to shoot me, with your Gauss? Oh my! I'm in sooo much danger."
Another round of chaingun fire, closer this time. A terran officer was not more than 50 feet away, leading his platoon.
Pwhoooomp!
The canister arced from the gun, magnets blasting it away. It slowed down, and dropped through the shields.
"What the-"
The Skeeter erupted in flames, but he saw two objects eject, a person, and a glowing thing.
"Run."
The three FC pilots dashed away from the Terrans, and began hurling grenades at them.
"Keep throwing."
"I know! I know!"
"Anyone got some ACEs?"
"Nope."
"Negatory."
"Damn."
An AMS swung into view, and they jumped onto it. Shimmer was inside, still smiling. She mashed the petal, and they zoomed off. The enemy platoon deployed Basilisks, and they quickly began overtaking the AMS.
Zenny stood up on the swaying vehicle, keeping a perfect balance. With his one arm, he raised a Jackhammer.
Kerpow!
A quad went down, rider missing a head.
Kerpow!
Another one exploded.
Kerpow!
The third rider slumped over, and the bike swerved into the fourth bike.
"NICE SHOOTIN'!"
Searo scanned the horizon, they were nearing the FC base. Maybe they could hold out...

[starrider]

YOU BLEW ME UP!!!!!!!!!!

[Flameseeker]

You blew up Zenny's arm.
Build a new one, the artifact is OK.

[Flameseeker]

Chapter 3: Dragon's Fury
FC Base
NC Sanctuary

Searo spawned a new FireBat Reaver, but things looked pretty bleak. The large Terran army sat outside their base, and they only had around a platoon to defend the FC compound. Zenny was in the hospital wing, probably chatting up nurses, but Snake was spawning a Reaver too. A pitiful three tanks prepared to roll out the door, and a squad of grunts were right behind them. Searo heard a far-off cry,
"FEEL THE LIGHT OF A NEW DAAAAAAWN!"
Two ND platoons slammed into the Terran flank, and FC troops poured from the door, catching the enemy in a pincer movement. Searo jumped into the cockpit, and zipped into the sky. He began firing his incendiary missiles at the Prowlers, and his extended-range chaingun rounds pierced the redneck's armor. Several enemy craft took off, and circled around them. Snake warned,
"Bogeys on your 6, Flame!"
"Roger that, I'll take 'em down,"
Searo cut engines and spun the Reaver around while strafing to the left. He cut down a Mosquito, and bullets riddled another one, bringing hull integrity down. Searo flipped the safety switch on his big weapon. He lead an enemy Reaver a little bit, and pressed the button.
A stream of flame spread out from the Napalm flinging nozzle. It smashed into the red and black Reaver, touching off it's rockets and frying the whole thing. A Skyguard began unloading on him, and stripped his hull down to 65% strength. Searo fired the fiery missiles into the light tank, and quickly dispatched it.
By now, the scarlet menace had been quashed, and Searo circled around the battleground. His commlink beeped,
"We need reinforcements at New Conglomerate City, Vanu aircraft are attempting to blow the town up. All friendly craft report to the city, now."
Searo swung the Reaver around, and called his wing in behind him.
Skyscraping civilian complexes appeared in the distance, and office buildings shined in the setting sun. From here he could see tiny dots zipping round, some firing thread like beams at the other. He switched on Range Magnifier, and could tell the Red and Purple outnumbered any Blue in the sky. Even worse though, was the beams coming from nowhere.
A Phantasm was in the sky.
"Everyone be alert, we got a big bad ship up there. It WILL kick your ass without you knowing where it is."
Searo engaged a blur in the air, the high speeds distorting the Skeeter's cloaking device. His comm crackled,
"Ahhh, the familiar flames, could it be the Searo I saw earlier today?"
Starrider, that bastard.
"And what's this? Our "Ace of Aces" flying a decrepit old FireBat? Pah, even a Shadow could run circles around your ship."
Searo felt rage inside, and he blasted a stream of napalm at the blur, causing the rear shields to slightly glow.
"Nice try, but your puny stream doesn't bug me in the slightest."
Omega Lancers blasted the FireBat, stripping his left engine off. Searo fought for control as the aircraft spun wildly.
"That could have been placed on your forehead, but I felt generous."
Another beam lanced into his other engine, and the crippled Bat began to fall.
"Good-bye, Major, your pathetic ship is now rubble."
Searo heard chainguns rattling, and cracking plexiglass, and he knew no more.
==============================================
He awoke in the tubes, again. Searo glanced down at the gaping holes in his chest, and sighed. Those Phantasms were too tough. Shimmer stood outside, waiting for the respawn.
The holes began closing, tissue repairing itself. He felt his heart mend, and begin pumping once more. The fluid drained, and he walked out and grabbed an Agile Suit.
"You're back."
"Yeah, new Vanu craft blasted me. How's NC City?"
Shimmer shook her head.
"Not great, the squadron FC dispatched was taken apart by that new ship."
"Snake?"
Shimmer pointed a thumb to nearby tube, where Snake floated with his lower half missing. Searo winced, and turned away.
"I need to design a new ship, I'll talk to you later."
Shimmer nodded,
"Yeah, I've got some unfinished business to take care of as well."
She kissed him on the cheek, but he pulled her back, and they kissed on the lips.
"Bye."
Searo light-heartedly strode to the Hangar. Shimmer always made him feel better, just being around her was stress-relieving. He couldn't find Commandobax, but he sat down at the computers, and began designing. When he finished, the schematics looked like this,
NCR-Drg15 (For you curious readers, NCR=NewConReaver, VSM=Vanu Skeeter, get it?)
Base Design Type: Reaver
Role: All-Purpose Superiority Fighter
Armor Ratio to Normal Craft: 3.0 (3 times better)
Speed Ratio to Normal Craft: 2.25 (2 times better)
Armament:
4 x Incendiary Rocket Tubes
2 x ER (extended range) MAGs (Magnetic Accelerator Gun)
2 x Side mounted long range Flamethrowers
1 x Forward mounted "Dragon's Breath" short range nuclear blast

Searo smiled, the "Dragon" would perform well, its Breath a focused nuclear explosion directed into a short range cone effect. Effective at around 50 feet, it could fry a man in MAX armor within 4 seconds. The drawback was the tremendous heat associated with it, allowing it to be fired roughly every 2-3 minutes due to the cooling period.
Canisters of coolant were stored within the nose, and the napalm flamethrower canisters were stored next to the engines in the wings.
The Dragon was able to absorb shots much easier due to it's advanced scale absorption technology. Instead of a square block, shots were absorbed by the slightly curved interlocked "scales." Lasers were also reflected more.
The engines were doubled in size as well, doubling the speed.
Another drawback to the Dragon was the fact that after the Breath had been fired, engines had to be cut back during the cooling period as well, making the ship more vulnerable then.

[starrider]

takes notes on weaknesses....

[Flameseeker]

/uses Dragon's Breath on notes

Also, I hate myself for misspelling the title of this story. Wow. Very stupid indeed. I would just like to spread the word that yes, I know it's "Oppression" now leave me alone.

[starrider]

you misspelled the title.

:takes more note on non-burn paper:

hehe

[Flameseeker]

Chapter 4: Experiment
En Route to Classified Vanu Location

The Galaxy's bulky engines thrummed, flying at the maximum altitude its engines could reach. Shimmer was alone in the passenger bay, and the pilot was silent. She wasn't exactly sure where she was, but it seemed to be a desert like location. Shimmer checked her weapons, a Scatter, a Cutter, and some ammo. She also carried a REK in her pack.
This mission would end the threat of alien Vanu invaders for good. Eliminating the last three artifacts would shut down "Guerrilla Gorrilla" for good. Shimmer knew the name meant nothing, it was usually two random words strung together, this time resulting in an almost humorous combination.
Almost, but too dangerous to be funny in the slightest.
The pilot actually spoke, "Two minutes 'til I drop you off, lil lady."

He seemed to have affected a drawl, which many flyboys in the aircraft industry have. She clicked on her infil suit, and the cargo bay door slid open. A bunkerish looking object contrasted sharply with the sand, and that was her target. The pilot nodded, and she jumped, free-falling for several seconds until the dampeners switched on. She landed lightly on the arid wasteland, and scouted the base for an entrance.

==============================================
"Is it ready?"
"Yes, even with the minor setbacks. We're keeping it on Oshur in a tightly guarded bunker-compound."
"Good, how will the destruction of four artifacts affect it?"
"We hooked the artifacts up to a powerful particle accelerator which should be able assist in opening the warp. What's this?"

A view screen registered a glowing red dot in the middle of a desert. Infra-fred captured a blurry outline of a person.

"We've found our guinea pig, the test will begin shortly."

==============================================
Shimmer crouched behind a small dune, and watched a defenseless transport truck pull into the bunker. She crept up behind it, and watched some sloppy looking Vanu civilians unload crates from the truck. Closely following one, she slipped inside the dark, cool complex. It was starting to get hot in the suit, which had very little AC.
"Freeze."
Shimmer whirled, drawing her knife and gun at the same time, cocking the weapon, and aiming it at the sound. A Reinforced grunt was watching her, a Pulsar trained on her head. She heard the hum of Darklight, and noticed the visor was darkened.
"Drop the weapons."
Shimmer lowered the knife, and then whipped it into his face while bringing the Scatter up. A blast of superheated energy smashed into her chest, and her suit flickered off. She blasted the guard, and another beam fried her in the same spot.
"Nice try."
Shimmer had been smashed against the wall, and lay crumpled. She passed out, and the guard picked her up, and carried her to the Room. The guard had never seen a non-Vanu come out of the Room after going in. He laughed, he would be glad to see this bitch go.
He pulled a knife out of his helmet, and tapped in a keycode on the door. Roughly, he threw her inside, leaving her for the techs in there to deal with.