The PacificBoard

Kolina Highlands, the granddaughter of the Master Corporal-General, sighed again. She had been trying to write a journal, but nothing interesting had happened since the assault on the failed anarchist revolution. After three more hours a blank mind, she gave up and went to go take care of Ilkonik and Ruby.

“I’ll never get anything in that dang journal. Grandpa’s lucky, he gets to do everything while I’m stuck in Patriam. At least I get to go skiing on Patriam Peak.”

A faint crying noise from down the hallway can be heard, most likely from the nursery. Kolina hurries up and reaches the two babies.

“Ilkonik, Ruby, calm down...”

At this moment, her father, Debeik Highlands, walked in, clearly annoyed

Debeik: “&@&$ it, I hate having to do this @-$&!?@ job while taking care of these $&?!€£¥ babies.”

Kolina: “Uh, dad?”

Debeik: “Yes?”

Kolina: “What’s wrong with them?”

Debeik: “I don’t know.”

Kolina leaves, wanting to spend some time with her grandfather, Falikan Highlands. At this point, she’s fed up and wants to do something dangerous...

15 Minutes later

Kolina: “And that’s why I should come with you during terrorist-murderings.”

Falikan: “No, no, no, and no. You haven’t been trained enough. You’re only 14, might I remind you.”

Kolina: “But you did this when you were 12!”

Falikan: “Technology wasn’t as good back then.”

Kolina: “It’s not fair!!!”

Falikan: “If you want to come, then you shou- hold on.”

He answers a call on his watch

“Hello?”

Navikis Patriam: “Sound the alarm! We’re under as-“

The comm gets cut off, and multiple loud explosions rattle the mansion

Falikan: “Well, Kolina, looks like you have a chance to do some slaughter.”

Kolina: “Horray!”

In a second, she’s gone to the Armory

So Falikan walks out the front door.

And outside, it’s already chaos. Gunfights, explosions, good ol sword fights, etc.

Falikan: “By Oteriazs’ will...”

He draws Finality, and then charges. He turns the enemy into a bloody mess. He then looks up... and sees someone familiar.

Falikan: “It’s him... RRRR. LAKISNIKIL, SHOW YOURSELF!”

Lakisnikil, a former Ottarenzian Champion who betrayed his people and joined the terrorist organization Killer Of Hope, turns around with a smile on his face.

Lakisnikil: “Falikan, my old friend. How a-“

Falikan: “You traitor! You were supposed to destroy them! Not join them!”

Lakisnikil: “Hey, it’s a lot better to be evil. The pay’s better and you get to wreck places like Patriam.”

He gestures toward the ruined streets and destroyed buildings

“Doesn’t sound bad, right?”

Falikan: “No... it sounds HIDEOUS!!!”

Lakisnikil: “Ok.”

He swings his blade at Falikan, who quickly parries and puts Finality right through his heart

Falikan: “Your lack of sword fighting skills disappoint me.”

Lakisnikil: Weakly “But I have fulfilled my task.... diverting you.”

Navikis Patriam: “Falikan... Nuclear lab alpha is under attack.”

Falikan: Pulls Finality out of Lakisnikil, killing him “Oh no, oh no! We need to get them! Before they reach sector Ω!”

Navikis: “Now...”

Little did they know, their enemy knew about Eclipse and Rampage.

Nuclear lab Alpha
Core temp: 1067 K
Status: Under Attack

The VTOL came down on the landing pad closest to the front of the lab. Falikan Highlands gets out, in a rush. He draws Finality and his trusty RW1 railpistol.

After a long time, He finally got past Reception (after killing a few terrorists). He walks past everything until he reaches a certain seemingly normal door blown open. More corridors. He leads his friend, Navikis Patriam, down; where they encounter a large group of enemies.

Falikan: “On three... Three.”

Navikis: “DIE SCUMBAGS FULLA $&@!”

Navikis massacres them while Falikan sneaks by, headed for sector Omega. He goes down the elevator... and much to his surprise, the enemy is already there. But not just any enemy...

???: “Well hello there... Daddy.”

Falikan: “Daughter.”

Ms. Slayer: “Precisely... but you can call me Ms. Slayer now.”

Falikan: “You dare return...?”

Ms. Slayer: “Precisely. Heheheh.”

Falikan: “Even after I defeated and exiled you, you still dare to challenge me?”

Ms. Slayer: “Yep. Oh, and DIE!!!”

Slayer leaps out at her father, swinging her sword. Falikan quickly draws Finality and parries. Slayer does some fancy footwork and cuts Falikan’s left shoulder. He retaliates, Cutting Slayer’s left foot off, sending her stumbling backward, then she falls.

Falikan: “Bad choice.”

Ms. Slayer: “Actually...”

A terrorist puts a tranq dart in Falikan’s head, knocking him out. He quickly takes Slayer into the stolen alien fighter; Eclipse. Both Eclipse and Rampage are taken by terrorists and leave the Ottarenzians in the dust. Ottarenzia failed - and they paid the price. Nuclear lab Alpha was in ruins. Eclipse and Rampage were stolen. It would take a miracle to save Ottarenzia.

27 hours later
Temple of Truth, deep within Mount Warwager

Falikan: “I’m sorry, my lord. I failed... I let them attack Patriam, steal alien tech, and take Ot Fo in the process. Please forgive-“

???: “You failed. You allowed them to take my birthplace. You took the bait. You disappoint me.”

Falikan: “But-“

Oteriazs’ Soul: “You allowed your daughter to escape, as well!!! I, Oteriazs, would have sliced her head off like a burning ax through wood!”

Falikan: “B-“

Oteriazs: “Retake Ot Fo. Do not fail me again.”

Falikan: “It will be done...”

20:57 MT
8:57 PM CT
OPERATION SHARK
5000 feet above Ot Fo

Sergeant: “Ready... DROP!”

Numerous paratroopers drop out of the plane on a dangerous deep-strike mission

Assault soldier: “Deploy chute at low altitude.”

Specialist soldier: “If you open high, you’re machine gun fodder.”

Falikan: “Does anyone copy?! Where are my men?”

Assault soldier II: “We’re coming in hot.”

The soldiers land - right in the middle of Ot Fo. They land at the little bit of ground the Ottarenzians gained - and immediately took cover. Bullet after bullet whizzes by.

Heavy soldier: “Cover me! I’m going to set u-“

A bullet hits him, severely wounding him

Heavy soldier: “G-guess not-t-t...”

Falikan: “Hold your ground!”

Hours later, the terrorists stop shooting, knowing they only had to wait the Ottarenzians out.

Falikan: “It looks like we might be here a lot longer than we thought.”

Medic: “I don’t have many supplies. Don’t do anything stupid.”

Scout soldier: “Can’t we surrender, escape, and go back home??”

Falikan: “If we surrender, they’ll win and be able to overrun Ottarenzia.”

Days later

Falikan: “I must face them. It is time.”

Soldiers: “Good luck.”

Falikan walks out into the open. He walks forward... until a certain person appears. His daughter, Slayer. And she has a robotic foot. She draws her sword, and Falikan draws Finality.

Slayer: “You are brave, old man.”

Falikan: “Indeed.”

Slayer: “Surrender.”

Falikan: “Never.”

Slayer: “Then die.”

Slayer charges and then slashes, which Falikan parries. He swings back, which misses. After a few more swings, parries, and sword fighting, anger consumes slayer and she suddenly cuts Falikan’s right arm off.

Slayer: “Surrender or we will massacre your people.”

Falikan: “I... I surrender.”

Which was a mistake. The terrorists overran Patriam. Then Vakisil. Then the Ottarenzian International Trading Hub. City after city. Ottarenzia is forced to surrender. The Killer of Hope won - Paving the way for world domination, and then the extermination of all opposition.

This is the end of the Colonial Union.

All Hope is lost...

For now.

2 Months later
Sometime around midnight
Patriam Prison

Kolina ran. Ran like the wind. Away from her attacker. Which is a WASP9 Sniper drone.

She kept running as railgun shells penetrated the ground next to her.

She kept glancing at the doors, hoping to find the Armory. It had military weapons in it.

After a while, it finally appeared. She ran inside and closed the door, hiding from the sniper drone.

Kolina: "Whew. Now... Aha!"

She picks up an Ameli LMG. She grabs and installs a Rapid Fire Module, Extended mags, a suppressor, a quickdraw grip, and a Thermal scope. Right before she leaves, she grabs a bunch of ammo and a missile launcher. She opens the door, takes aim, and fires the LMG, destroying the drone. Her next destination was the cells, so she could start a prison break. After hours of sneaking, assassinating, and moving, she finally reaches the cells and starts unlocking cells. More and more prisoners moved and broke out. Eventually, it began.

Prisoner 1: "Move, move, move! Come this way to take the Armory and the Exo suits!"

Prisoner 2: "This way to grab rations and supplies!"

Prisoner 3: "This way to get the transports!"

Prisoner 4: "This way to release our brothers and sisters!"

Prisoner 5: "Come with me to ward off the guards while our allies get stuff!"

It was well-organized. They had spent a month planning for it. If one group failed, all of them would.

In a little over 10 minutes, all the supplies were being loaded onto the Razorback VTOLs. They just had to get the rest of the prisoners out. And not die. Kolina led a gang of prisoners armed with Exos and big guns to break out the SSF and Falikan.

It seemed like they were walking forever before they finally reached max security. There were guards everywhere. It took an hour for them to get close. While using the Exo's mute device.

After a bit, Kolina used Ottarenzian Military Sign language, telling her gang commands.

Kolina: "YOU GO LEFT I WILL GO RIGHT DO NOT ATTACK UNTIL I GIVE A SIGNAL"

Prisoner 1: "UNDERSTOOD MOVING NOW"

Prisoner 2: "SETTING UP SILENCED MG 08/15 TO ENTRENCHED POSITION"

Prisoner 3: "REST OF US WILL FIRE ON COMMAND"

Kolina and her gang move. And soon enough...

Kolina: "PLANT X-MC Mk PROTO AND ATTACK ONCE ACTIVATED"

One of the prisoners takes a Mute Charge, plants it, and activates it. It silenced the non-suppressed gunfire, making it sound like whispers. Before the guards realized what was going on, they were all dead.

Kolina: "Perfect. Someone cover our tails, we're gonna open these cells."

She and her gang open the cells to find - Nothing but dust. The prisoners were gone.

Kolina: "What? Where are-"

???: "Right here."

The entire gang: "GAH!?"

Titanslayer: "Corporal-General Kolina Highlands, I am Titanslayer and I lead SSF teams Latitude and Longitude."

Kolina: "C-C-Corporal-General? Last I checked, I was only a Regular!"

Stormbreaker: "Your grandfather told us to promote you before he left for Mount Warwager. Your new force of prisoners should head there with us and set the base there up as our rebellion base."

Kolina: "Why?"

Stormbreaker: "The enemy abandoned the Kanikis O. Warwager base after a few... events."

Kolina: "Let's go."

The group runs back to the main force just as the last supplies are loaded up. They take a few Warbirds and Paladins to escort.

This is the birth of the New rebellion.

2 weeks later
Operation Storm
5286 feet above Patriam
Weather conditions: Thunderstorm with freezing rain
Time: Redacted

“This is V01, Mile squadron, copy.”

“Mile one, standby.”

“Mile two, standby.”

“Mile three.”

“Mile four.”

“Mile five.”

“Magenta squadron, check-in.”

“All on standby.”

“Fighters and interceptors, check-in.”

“All ready.”

“Be ready to set systems to combat. I don’t want anyone still on cruise mode.”

“This is AReRAR one, I see our target.”

They all were high above Patriam on a mission to eliminate the mega-airship OTA Rejector. Due to a lack of heavy missiles, they had to drop conventional bombs on a moving, flying target.

They began engaging, shooting bullets. The enemy fighter escorts started moving towards the Rebel planes. It ends up looking kinda like that one scene in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

The Vendetta bombers fired all their forward weapons, as do the fighters and interceptors. The battle had begun. Two Vendettas in Magenta squadron were shot down, going crashing down to the earth. The airship turned around and began trying to escape from the bombers, but it didn’t work too well.

Many enemy fighters went down at the hands of the rebel pilots. At this point, bullets, missiles, flares, and flaming debris were everywhere. It became even more chaotic once the AA from below in Patriam began firing. All of Mile squadron went down in flames.

Hilizna Lo: “Gah!!! We just lost an entire squadron!”

Pilot 1: “Hold course. I repeat, hold c-“

They never finished their sentence, as their Vendetta got shot down. As did multiple fighters and interceptors.

Eventually, they got close enough to the airship.

Officer: “Open bomb bays! I repeat, open bo-“

Communication is lost and Hilizna’s bomber is the last one.

But the bomb bays won’t open.

Hilizna: “Bomb aimer! What’s going on down there?”

No response

Hilizna: “Hello?”

Still no response, as Hilizna realized her crew was gone. There was only one option left.

Hilizna: “This is Magenta two, I have intentions to Kamikaze.”

White leader: “What? Our orders were to return the bombers safely!”

Hilizna: “There is no other choice!”

White leader: “No, do no-“

Hilizna turns off the comms.

She slows down and gets some distance from the airship. She then throttles to maximum, activating the afterburners and rocket boosters. The plane gains incredible speed.

She closes her eyes

Hilizna: “I am Hilizna Lo. And I fight for Ottarenzia!”

The Vendetta goes right into the tail of the airship, going all through and making everything explode, starting at the back and advancing. A few seconds later, the burning fireball that was Hilizna’s Vendetta emerged out of the front of the airship, sending the entire thing down towards Patriam.

White Leader: “Mission Complete. With Kamikaze. All remaining aircraft, RTB for debriefing.”

Victory comes at a price. Many people will be remembered.

But it paved the way for the liberation of Patriam.

OPERATION EXTINCTION RECOVERY FAILURE

ATTEMPTING TO RETRIEVE PROJECT CYCLONE DATA...

DATA RECOVERED;

“Log day 467. Project: Cyclone. Date: March twelve, 1952. Security level: AX. We’ve finally developed the first form of the world-ender project, Cyclone. It can’t deal way to much physical damage, but it uses an experimental Cobalt Bomb to raise radiation levels to the extreme. We can’t confirm it works. As soon as we get clearance, we ca-“

END OF RECORDING. ARCHIVE?

Kinikia Highlands, AKA. The Slayer: “Archive.”

Scientist: “Why did you need this again?”

Kinikia: “In case our master plan fails, we must eliminate war by eliminating the race who wages war.”

Scientist: “Understood.”

Kinikia: “Now, we need Cobalt. Obviously, don’t bring that stuff here.”

Scientist: “Got it.”

Kinikia: “And begin ASAP.”

Operation Destroyer
Location: Patriam Outskirts

Kolina: "I don't know why I'm the Master Corporal-General now, but I lead you, soldiers, into battle now. Yep, a fourteen-year-old commanding an army. This totally makes sense."

Gravedigger: "I heard your grandpa commanded the earliest forms of the SSF when he was twelve, so it makes sense."

Kolina: "That does no-"

EXO trophy systems: "INCOMING. LAUNCHING COUNTER-PROJECTILE"

A small drone-like object is launched from Kolina's EXO suit. It collides with the incoming missile, making it explode.

Soldier: "TAKE COVER!"

Kolina: "Shots fired! Where's that T-600 that was following us!?"

Soldier: "It's coming. Hear that?"

CLANKCLANKCLANK...

Tank commander: "Firing!"

The enormous walking tank fires missiles, destroying the building where the rocket came from

Tank commander: "Target eliminated. Advance?"

Kolina: "Advance."

The tank switches to roll mode and moves

Kolina: "Anyways, we need to take Patriam so that its garrison can't do anything. Troops, wait for the RF37 squadron, then begin the battle."

Soldier: "Easy enough, right? How hard could it be?"

3 HOURS LATER
PATRIAM MARKET SQUARE

There's a lot of gunfire, a lot of blood, a lot of rubble, and a lot of other things.

Heavy soldier: "Really, really hard."

Sergeant: "Where's our fire support!? We were supposed to have airships supporting the attack!"

Titanslayer: "I don't know and we probably never will. Soldiers, show no mercy!"

Wyverian Medic: "God, this is chaotic as D-Day in World War two."

Kolina: "Which is NOT good!"

She speaks into the radio

Kolina: "Requesting Predator missile strike at sector 11374265."

Radio commander: "Confirmed. Deploying."

The light missile strikes, eliminating a terrorist squad

Commander: "Rain fire on GRID 563-ΓΞΩ!"

Foxtrot Battery Commander: "Negative, we're still cooling down from the last barrage."

Heavy soldier: "We're gonna die..."

Kolina: "Wait. Hear that?"

A loud horn can be heard, which can only mean one thing.

The airships had arrived.

Heavy soldier: "We're gonna live!"

Kolina: "Don't jinx yourself. The day is still young. And why the heck is Grandad not here?"

TEMPLE OF TRUTH

Falikan: "But-"

Oteriazs: "NO 'BUT'S! You have failed me twice. You're lucky that Kolina is leading the charge. And get a new arm."

BACK AT PATRIAM...

Titanslayer: "Nevermind him! We need support fro-"

He gets shot in the chest and starts bleeding.

Kolina: "Ah crap."

Medic: "I'll help him, you all push forward!"

Kolina: "Let's go!"

They shoot and push, moving a little bit forward. They keep going... until they see a trench.

Soldier: "Crap! How do we get past this!?"

Kolina: "How is there a trench in an asphalt road?"

Specialist Soldier: "I have an Idea! Does anyone have a grapple equipped?"

Everyone nods yes

Specialist soldier: "Grapple onto the fire exits, then keep grappling to other ledges until you get to the ruins of the Rejector! Then, we'll use our Stinger M7 launchers to eliminate the enemy!"

And so, everyone grapples. They keep grappling, from ledge to ledge.

Eventually, they all made it to the still-flaming ruins of the Rejector and took out their missile launchers.

They fired, destroying the entrenched terrorists and their tanks.

Kolina: "Forward! Patriam shall be ours!"

* * *

OT FO

* * *

Officer: "Sir, Operation Destroyer in Patriam, the Factory Yards, Vakisil, and most of the Archipelago is going quite well. On the contrary..."

General: "I know. Ot Fo isn't coming back to the Colonial Union any time soon."

The general looks out of his tent, which is on a high hill. He looks at the battle, it looks like the ones from modern space videogames. An AFS-6 Flies overhead, towards the main city.

General: "Let's see about those new recruits."

Officer: "Sir, yes, sir."

The officer exits. The General takes out five folders. But no one knew that Project Cyclone was being rebuilt in Ot Fo.

"Ma'am, Assistant Navigator reporting. We cannot see. The fog is too thick and our M-OT-GPS is damaged."

"Then use the sun."

"Ma'am, Most of us can't do that yet."

"I need you to try your best."

"Yes, ma'am."

The navigator runs off back to the navigator's deck, leaving the captain, Chief Corporal-General Jikzil, to her own business.

Jikzil was famous for her record 12 Oterizas' Diamond medals and 3 Hero of the World medals.

Her ship, the ONS Wildfire, was the single most important ship in the navy. Made with "Borrowed" tech from more advanced militaries, it had various weapons perfect for its job; Protect the Danger Sea from terrorists.

Jikzil: "I need a break from this."

A potted Gatling pea she put in her quarters: "Vvv haha dunn-dun-un-duuuun!" (Well, just return home and take a break, then.)

Jikzil: "No, I can't do that."

Potted Gatling Pea: "Hmm, ahha! Dunn-oohhh, dunn-ah!" (Oh, by the way, there's something on the horizon, look at the window.)

Jikzil: "Wait, what?"

Jikzil looks at the window anxiously, hoping for something small like a pirate dinghy. She saw something much larger visible through the thick fog.

She runs out to the deck and to the main bridge.

Sailor: "Ma'am, That thing is not broadcasting a naval code, marine code, or militia code. It's an enormous and potential bogey."

Sailor 2: "You reckon it'd be terrorist?"

Jikzil: "Let's wait and see."

The Wildfire sails on, toward the massive ship. It's huge. Twenty times the size of some of the largest battleships in history. No one can tell what it is because of the fog. It's eventually close enough to examine...

Jikzil: "Shine a light on it."

Sailor: "I see its naval ID."

Jikzil: "What is it?"

Sailor: "DST-1107... Gulp..."

Jikzil: "What?"

Sailor: "ONS Highlands."

Sunflower Medic: "Ah yousuagh!" (Take cover!!!)

The Highlands was the flagship of the National Colonial Union Navy before the war. Twenty times the size of most super-battleships and armed with hundreds, if not thousands of weapons, and even the aircraft capacity of a battlecarrier. The marvel of Ottarenzian engineering under terrorist control... Against the Wildfire, a small cruiser. A technologically advanced one, but still a cruiser.

The Machine guns on the Highlands' deck fire, nearly mowing down the crew of the Wildfire. Jikzil and her crewmates take cover behind some Tall-nuts to make communications.

Jikzil: "This is ONS Wildfire to the 1st Fleet! We have the Highlands attacking us! Requesting support! Now!"

1st Fleet Dispatch: "This is ONS Battlefortress. We're coming to help. Try to board it, that will be a fairer battle. Our Pirate-Class frigates will help with that operation."

Jikzil: "Roger."

Jikzil closes the communication and grabs a jetpack and guns from the bridge armory. The sailors do the same.

They all understand what to do, and whisper to each other just to make sure. The plants, who can't put on a jetpack, hold on to the sailors' legs.

Jikzil: "Everyone jump to the superstructure's top deck. We'll take the bridge and release any prisoners in the jail."

The sailors and Jikzil ignite their jetpacks and fly, bringing a lot of plants with them. They nearly get obliterated, but manage to reach the navigigator's hut on the Highlands. There is no time to rest, as there are terrorists.

The Plants fire their weapons, raining peas, seeds, lettuce, apples, and various other fruits and vegetables onto the terrorists. The sailors all fire their standard-issue AK47s, and before long the terrorists drop dead.

Jikzil: "Anyone bring any power mints?"

Power mints: "Kaksil!" (Need us?)

Jikzil: "I need an Enlighten-mint helping our sun plants. They're the only ones healing us and they are too valuable."

Enlighten-mint: "Yoyo-flom-toggle!" (It would be my pleasure!)

The Enlighten-mint activates its power, soaking up the sun and giving it to various sun-shrooms, sunflowers, and whatnot.

In the meantime, the sailors advance, dropping terrorists all over and navigating through the complex tunnels.

Eventually, they reach the bridge, where they find no other than... Kinikia Highlands. The Slayer. The leader of the Terrorist Republic. On the ship named after the family she betrayed.

Kinikia: "Well, well, well. The famous Jikzil. It's an honor. Let me a-"

Jikzil: "FIRE!"

The plants and sailors shoot at the terrorists, who try to fight back.

Kinikia: "Damn you, I was monologuing!"

The terrorists fall, leaving only Kinikia. Before she could be killed, she activates her own jetpack and flies through the window, destroying it and escaping. The sailors cheer as the 1st fleet arrives and boards the Highlands. After a short and extremely uneven encounter, the terrorists surrender, and the Highlands is liberated.

The seas of the world are safe again. The Colonial Union is one more step towards Formo Domidus Saltus, the terrorist headquarters.

"Sir, here are those recruits' folders. Each of them around their early teenage years, all accepted optional conscription into the military. All but one joined due to the ITR. One of them lost their family, one of them doesn't believe in the terrorists, and one is the son of Jikzil. Heard that the last one's a close friend of commander Kolina."

"Send them all to me. I must talk to them."

Meanwhile...

Falikan: "Life and death, no matter which, we must retake Ot Fo!"

Battleweed: "VVvvvvVVVrrrrRR!" (Grow, grow! GROW!!!)

Falikan throws a few more weed seeds on the ground, which grow to full-sized battleweeds in a matter of seconds.

His place as Master Corporal-General was extremely hard and he wished his wife was still there to help.

Falikan fires his weapons in his brand-new metal arm. The mini-rockets take out a squad of terrorists. He fires his trusty RW1-2 railpistol, taking out ten terrorists with one high-velocity shot.

A nearby T-600 fires its machine guns, gunning down half the nearby terrorists.

Falikan: "Move forward! This hell-above-hell must be liberated!"

An allied RSA10 fires its weapons, eliminating a lot of terrorists, which signals to a nearby Arma-mint to fire. It fires its high-explosive seeds, taking out even more terrorists.

Arma-mint: "Akkarmaminty-mint!" (Next target!)

Wyverian soldier: "Fire at the incoming tanks!"

First Wyverian: "[Gibberish]" (May Oteriazs help us!!!)

Heavy soldier: "Ahhhg!"

The Colonial Union forces push forward, firing their weapons, and eliminating terrorists. The battle in the air begins calming as terrorist aircraft come crashing down in unholy flame.

After a solid two hours of rinse and repeat, the terrorists begin retreating, as they cannot afford to be eliminated.

Cruisers fire their cannons at the retreating forces, killing many.

Falikan and his squadron move fast to intercept the terrorists. Eventually, they reach the enemy rendezvous point.

They gun down many opposing forces.

The enemy generals run like cowards.

The battle of Ot Fo is won.

It had all come down to this. Today is the day that this war ends. A year of blood, struggle, and loss.

Zalivosk sat in the MK2 landing ship’s passenger bay. His division’s job was to strike at targets deep within enemy lines. Not that there were many lines. It was just an island. Sure, an island that had the firepower to take out a whole navy, but that was another thing to deal with.

Zalivosk’s division had its job because they were the 387th Special Operations Legion. He was a jetpacker, equipped with experimental technology that made Weapons Development crawl into a hole and curl up into a ball.

“Hey, wake up. We’re almost here.”

Zalivosk: “Nggghhhh?”

Shelia: “You didn’t kiss me before you fell asleep.”

Zavilosk: “Argh, I’m awake. Are we really here already? It’s only been like fifteen minutes...”

Shelia: “It’s been an hour!”

Zavilosk: “Hmph.”

Shelia was Zavilosk’s girlfriend. They met during the battle of Patriam. They never thought they would be in the biggest offensive in history together a year before. And now...

Zavilosk: “Alright, I’m up. Anyone got a c-“

The Highlands, which was sailing right next to their ship, rang its bells as a missile came down and splashed into the water, making it rain and signaling the start to the final battle. The battleships and cruisers fired into the fog while the landing ships sped ahead and began taking heavy fire.

Sergeant G: “Everyone, once we are on that beach, there is no going back! All of you can die out there. If you want to wimp out and go back this is your only chance. Who here’s a coward?!”

Silence.

Sergeant G: “Good. I want all of you to grab your ESARs and AKs and feed them bullets for breakfast! Stand! Walk to that door! Be ready to die for the greater good!”

A nearby landing ship is hit and goes up in flames. Zavilosk fails to hide his scared expression and is thankful for his helmet.

The ship suddenly lurches upward as it hits the beach, making scraping noises.

Sgt. G: “Welcome to the battle, everyone.”

The door opens and machine gun fire instantly hits them all, killing a few before the supporters get their shields out. They all run out to some cover, namely a log, a Czech hedgehog, and a burning tank.

Zavilosk: “Tell me again why we’re going into this D-Day style?”

Shelia: “Mmph.”

Tracers flying through the air make the island all more menacing.

The island’s name? Domum Malitiae. The Palace of Malice.

Soldier: “I hate this. How many are dead?”

Lighthouse (Field command): “About seventy casualties so far. “

Shelia and Zavilosk both look into the beach for one second, and they can see it. Their dead brothers and sisters, each bloody.

The terrorists would never run out of ammo. This was their headquarters.

It all looked hopeless...

Until the tanks arrived.

A single T-600 came out of a nearby boat and fired its missiles, destroying one of the bunkers. The others direct their fire on it.

Sgt. G: “Now’s our chance! Move forward!”

The soldiers all run from cover, shouting battle cries and dodging bullets. Shelia and Zavilosk nod to each other and join the charge. A salvo of shots fire Friday m the battleships, supporting the charge. The first drop pods fall into the city, beginning the true fight. It rains fire as airships arrive.

Zavilosk runs up to the back of a terrorist bunker. He looks at a nearby demo and nods. The demo plants a charge and a few sticks of dynamite and a nearby squad arrives as the doors are blown off.

They run into the bunker, each going a different corridor. Zavilosk grasps his AK47 firmly... and reaches the mortar room. He shoots the four before they fire back and he quickly retreats to meet up with the others.

Zavilosk: “I think everyone’s good. The beach is clear.”

An anti-tank cannon from another bunker fired, damaging one of the T-600’s legs and killing a dozen nearby soldiers

Zavilosk: “I spoke too soon...”