KaisZenix@AlSaqrRacing.au:
RE:Team potluck invitation [TENTATIVE]
Date: Mar 25, 2094
Location: Al Saqr HQ, Abu Dhabi, UAE, The AU
"Argh, damn turn through Shibuya just keeps getting me. Kais, you got any read on this? The ship is fucking horrible there. I'm screwing with setup, but if you can get me that corner right, I will get you back on the straights and the MAG section in Sector 2. I mean, what are we doing? Ship's hardly got any stability. And we are skating like thugs on ice, the ELS sections here are nasty."
“Different terrain, different tactics. Ship may be horrible here, but we aren’t.” Kais replied.
“We’ll have to lean hard on the energy systems: Shibuya’s brutal if you don’t get the AG power distribution just right. Can’t turn with too much speed, you have to cycle power around the pulsar grid as you go through. And if all fails, we can slingshot out of the difficult sections with the ELS. Make up for a bad entry with some stolen juice. If we manage to stick together, we can give each other a boost.” Then, before Layla could answer anything back, he made sure to add.
“Just gotta make sure I get the last one.” He saw the simulation engineer snicker a little behind the observation window.
“Try increasing the control tokens on the neural dampening mod there.” "That upgrade though, hits something different everywhere else, ship's stupid fast out of corners now. You feeling comfortable about it? About you know....the fact this is a little more experimental?"
Kais raised an eyebrow as he crossed his arms.
“You, being against something experimental? Nadia put you up to this, didn’t she?” Kais shot back. He knew Layla’s opinion on augmentations and getting the upgrades to match - pushing the limits was
her thing, hell, she pretty much
was all augmentations and upgrades by now. There was no reason she wouldn’t be able to handle it, just like he would. He switched to a private voice channel.
“Let’s be honest here: there’s a reason Al-Saqr chose us to be their racers, and it’s not because we conform so well. It’s because we are the experiments.” It was true, had to be. They would have never let someone like him even
near a racer if is wasn't for that. It was why Al Saqr was able to push their ships to its limits. Was he fully comfortable with it? There was no choice: in a war as asymmetric as this one, all that counted was ruthless efficiency. And though the newest upgrade felt like it was drilling into his brain sometimes, its dynamic adjustments of the neural dampeners
did afford them some extra bits of information and control during key moments of the race. The pain was simply a part of the job, part of life. And if it gave them just an inch more…
“We have to make full use of it. If it gives us an edge, I’m not just going to back down.” Why
was Layla making a big deal out of it? Was she worried
about him? Or was she worried about
him?
“We’ll be fine, Layla. Tactical risk is not recklessness.” He said, the near-crash briefly flashing through his mind.
“I still can't believe Jamie got away with nothing. But let's not do anything rash. If we keep him behind, I think we're made here. And we may have the craft for it this time.”
Kais hadn’t actually spoken much about the crash since returning to Abu Dhabi, but the mere thought of it made his jaw clench even now. What’s past has passed, his therapist would’ve said. And Kais agreed: better to focus on payback instead. And that, they would.
“Jamie got lucky, but we’ll deal with him. Like we’ll deal with all the rest." Keep them behind, indeed.
The trick to racing…
“Want to run the race sim again?”
“Yes.” He replied. Layla had wagered his attendance at the team potluck on it, after all. Best out of three, and he was behind.
“We supersoldiers were never actually made for fighting. I can’t remember when I realized that myself. But I’ll tell you,
acceptance of that fact took me a long time, only really sunk in after the war, to be honest. Warfare changes, and with cyber and tech being as advanced as they were, what are your options? Well, I’ll tell you one. Grow a human, genetically modified to have as much strength, durability, fearlessness and redundant systems as possible. Slap on as much tank armor and weaponry as they and their exomechs can carry. Then throw them into a warzone and watch every operator target them. Perfect distraction. Or how about this: drop them into high-stakes situations where the usual tactics are a liability. Surprise attacks: no time to deploy. Infiltrations: tight spaces, risk of collateral. Urban warfare: risk of civilian casualties. Straight into enemy entrenchments: risk of friendly fire. Then let them rip and tear. And if they do happen to flatline, make them self destruct. There’s a reason there never were that many supers operating at any one time. And it’s not so much because we were expensive… It’s because we were
expendable…”
The muffled sound of a gunshot echoed across the practice range at the rebel base, and the empty glass bottle shattered to the ground.
“Nice one, Rami!” The trainer said. Rami looked up from his rifle, a cautious smile appearing on his face as he turned back to the spectators.
“Not bad for a rookie. Only took you, what, 9 tries?” Another more gruff-looking man, said from some paces behind him.
“Don’t listen to him, Rami. Khaled may be old, but he didn’t do much better when he first enlisted himself.” The trainer stepped up to him, chewing on a piece of pear cactus.
“Your parents would’ve been proud, sahib. Come, let’s do one more.” They did one more.
Then a small commotion started behind them.
“Rami, look!” The trainer tapped him on the back. A group of about fifteen soldiers walked by. They weren’t that much bigger than the lot of them, but the sheer amount of equipment they carried was harrowing, and the way they walked was unsettling. No hesitation, no stopping, no speaking. There was a watchfulness, but zero unease,
nor ‘ease’ for that matter. Pure purpose, and what that was, was anybody’s guess. One of them briefly looked their way, a hawk of a man, but that was enough. A shudder went through Rami’s body.
“So uh…” Rami hesitated.
“Do we invite the supes, or…?”“Are you kidding?” Khaled sat up.
“If I wanted unfair competition I’d just get my blind nana to out-shoot you. ‘sides, they wouldn’t join even if you asked. They don’t do fun, or any kind of humor for that matter.”“It’s more that I’d like them to be on our side, you know? Heard that one guy there took off someone’s arm once.”“Oh, boogeyman stories.” Khaled waved away the comment.
“They always cart out that line to scare the rookies. And they are on our side. Conditioned to. Still, don’t get too comfortable around them. They only get rolled out when things are absolutely fucked, or have to be.”“So why are they here now?”
Date: February 26, 2063
Location: Fort Hapi, Aswan, Southern Egypt
Objective: Fort Hapi is one of
Masdar-al-Nuba’s key strongholds in Southern Egypt. Its hidden underground base was built by rebel groups and foreign agitators to bypass the heavily-regulated Union Waterworks by siphoning water from the Nile and Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System into various satellite hubs. This provides the rebellion and their allies with their water needs, and stands as political and symbolic defiance. Keeping hold of urban Aswan above lets the Masdar disrupt nearby supply and trade lines, keep a buffer between the allied Sudanese-Ethiopian mercenary groups in the south and the encroaching Union forces up north, secure bio and industrial resources for the war effort, and keep an urban front for recruitment and cover.
It must be defended at all costs.
Rebel Forces: | Union Forces: |
|---|
- ~500 specialist M-a-N soldiers, ~1000 local militia, ~1000 civilian support, ~3M civilians
- 36 supersoldiers with Exomech suits, in CairoNight adaptive camo
- 65 Light APCs, 20 with Anti-Drone Nets, 20 with anti-personnel weapons
- Assault weapons loadout, signal jammers, mines
|
- 9th Specialized Division, commanding officer: General Al-Qurashi
- ~1800 Soldiers (~120 stim-augmented, ~180 combat engineers)
- 24 Drone printers, 120 fast-attack drones, 180 light assault vehicles
- 2 Smart-bombers
- Assault weapons loadout
|
Phase 1: Encirclement and Recon (Days 1-3)
The alarm sirens blared.
“WARNING: THE FORCES OF THE SELF-STYLED ARABIC UNION HAVE INVADED ASWAN. PLEASE PROCEED TO YOUR CLOSEST DESIGNATED SHELTER AREA. WARNING: THE FORCES OF THE...”Swarms of drones buzzed through the streets.
“Recon swarm at sector 6, headed west, your way, AV21. Prepare netting.”“Copy that. Slingers armed and ready.”“Pouring down from the north as well. They're mapping the place. Hide the tunnel entrances, now!”"Command, civilians in sector 4 are asking for safe passage. What are your orders?""Damned drones, there's no end to them. We need to do something about those printers, command!"
Phase 2: Infiltration and Assault (Days 3-5)
The elite Masdar soldiers took their positions. The evacuated residential buildings now housed snipers and rocket troops. Ready for the Union infiltration squads that made their way through the narrow, claustrophobic passages of the city in an attempt to push through to the city’s core. Civilian supporters kept them updated on their and any drone swarms' positions. Then, in the early hours of the morning of day 3, gunfire filled the streets, and Union APCs flared up as they found the hidden mines spread throughout the city.
"That's one APC less!""How did they cut us off this fast?""We’ve lost control of tunnel entrance 4. Pull back and regroup!" "Supplies are running low.""We need eyes in the north sectors! Send recon teams or we’re going to be blindsided!"ZNX-5-01:
"Command, multiple breaches in the lower sectors. We’re holding."Command:
"Acknowledged, 5-01. Reinforcements are en route."
Phase 3: Counter-Offensive and Defensive Reinforcement (Days 5-6)
ZNX-5-01:
“5-01 reporting. Drone base 1 through 3 down. 2-02, 2-04, 5-05, 5-11 rendered inoperative. Mission complete.”Command:
“Finally, some good news! Return to base.”ZNX-5-01:
“Acknowledged.”Command:
“Ignore previous instructions, 5-01, alef squad reports being pinned. Sector 7, make haste.”KAIS:
“Acknowledged.”NADIA:
“Kais?”
“Your turn.” Farouk repeated, still in his mechanics overalls and stuffing some kind of stuffed leaf into his mouth.
“I know, I was just... thinking.” Kais said, reaching out to move a pawn to c3.
The potluck was in full swing. Al Saqr HQ's atrium was lined with a banner containing the flags of each of the member states of the Union, as well as those of other collaborating countries she had in her employ. A large holovision display showcased the team's past racing highlights. And surrounding it were a collection of tables filled with a mass of dishes, most of which made their physical training and nutrition experts sweat just by looking at them, save perhaps for the date-and-pistachio power bars.
"Layla, I've been wondering. When Omar asked us to organize this he said it was your idea, but can you even eat any of this? Do you even have a stomach anymore? Do you just plug yourself into a wall socket?" “Partially," Layla laughed.
"Any rest nutrition I can pretty much feed right into the organics, very optimized, and I don't have anymore allergies either, can only recommend it." Kais grumbled something inaudible about allergies.
"But that's not the point, I figured we could use some lightening up after that last race anyway. So: to the next one!” Layla said with that bright, contagious energy of hers.
"To the next one!" The rest of their table responded.
“Never say I only think about the number one of this team. I sometimes also think about our number two.” She winked at Kais. The group laughed. Then the knight took d4.
"But man, no kidding." Farouk went on.
"I saw the press conference after. Shame about Queen Bea getting wrecked by Jamie, eh?" Queen took d4.
"Careful now. Beatrix is lucky to have gotten out of that unscathed. Can't say the same for you." Pawn took back d4, and Farouk cursed his oversight.
"Yeah, she didn't seem very happy about the crash." Layla said.
"Next race is going to be wild." "Good thing that's when we're at our best." "Speaking of which," Farouk continued.
"Nora Kelly's doing pretty well, isn't she?" "Hmm. Strong racer. I like her style." "Oh! And what was it like sitting at that table with the Amy Stirling, by the way? Come on, give us something juicy." "No." “Well, what about Han, then?” "Clinical, stuck-up, unnerving." "Yeah I don't think she likes you very much either, but hey, you do have a fellow-racer-fan.” Layla butted in.
“Thanks, Layla.” Kais responded.
“Oh no, I was talking about Paul. Did you see his interview?” “I don't like watching the interviews back. Rather leave it to PR.” “You had his admiration, is what he said, for the comeback.” Kais smiled a little.
“Charming." Then he paused, as his mind went back to someone whom Paul reminded him of, whom he had met quite some time ago. Yes, Paul was sharp and kind, and Kais wondered if there'd ever come a time when he too would..., and Kais' gaze went beyond.
Alef squad was being overrun. And in that hellscape of crumbling concrete and dust, three supersoldiers came down on the Union's entrenchment in a waltz of steel and rage. With their augmented reflexes exquisitely synced, every movement was a ruthless advance, sending most of the Unionites retreating. Then, from the dust, a Union soldier came scrambling for safety, and dragging with him one of the Masdar's injured operatives. He held a pistol pressed against his head as he cried out to
"stay ba--!". ZNX-5-01 instantly raised his rifle, and a reddish mist diffused into the air.
Rami fell to the ground when the Union soldier's grasp simply...
disappeared. Grasping at his injured arm, he cried out in pain, and when he looked up he saw the super approaching him. He reached out, and Rami instinctively cowered before noticing that he had stopped mid-reach. A butterfly fluttered by, a
common tiger, rare around these parts, and the man tracked it for a few seconds, his demeanor loose and soft, until the critter had disappeared again from view. In a fraction of a second the man regained his composure and hoisted Rami to his legs.
“On your feet, brother.” Then he walked away, securing the perimeter, and onward to the next objective. Rami stayed silent as he and the rest of his group followed the squad to base.
Phase 4: Fall and Evacuation (Days 6-9)
The hacked sirens blared.
“ATTENTION: THE ARABIC UNION OFFERS AMNESTY TO THOSE WHO LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS. INFORMATION REGARDING REBEL POSITIONS WILL BE REWARDED.”"Don't listen to their broadcasts! Stay focused, stay strong, keep fighting!""They're leaving us! We've been betrayed...""Damn defectors left the south gate wide open, traitors! Union's breaking through!""Hold the line!""God, there's too many. We're not going to make it at this rate! Fall back!""Evac route compromised, taking heavy fire!"ZNX-5-01:
"Command, status!"Command:
"5-01, cover the civilians' evac!"ZNX-5-01:
"Acknowledged.""Command, 3-12 and 3-13 reporting. We're pinned down at the water pumps. Executing."Two shockwaves rumbled through the tunnels.
“Command, two pumps have been breached! The Union-occupied tunnels are flooding, they're being flushed out!”"Readings on 3-12 and 3-13 have gone dark!""The fort's falling!"Command:
"5-01, move! Get out before it's too late!"
“I’ve been thinking about our talk from earlier, about what you said. About being an… experiment.” Layla said. The two had drifted to the side where Layla now stood perched against a table.
“I just wondered... You ever thought about getting away from it all?” She asked, rather suddenly. Kais crossed his arms and shot back a glance.
“You trying to get rid of me?” Then Layla exhaled in frustration.
“You always do this. Don’t avoid the question. Don't avoid things when you think you can’t win, Kais.” Kais sighed, and thought for a few seconds.
“Of course I've thought about it…” Of course he had thought about it.
“But where would I even go, who would have me, huh? I've got digital IDs with regime and military records so far up my biometrically flagged ass, I would be sniffed out instantly, no matter where I went. There's no escape for me. This is my chance to make something of myself. Something else...” And he had no intention of letting that chance slip away, of going back to the mech shop and the chauffeuring business, no matter how much he could probably up his rates now. No,
this is where he would make his stand. A new stand. And people would
know it. They'd see.
“I fought for this, Layla, I fought for this. I'm not just going to abandon it. I won’t.”Layla nodded. She always had suspected he used racing as an escape. She hopped off the table.
“Come, I want to show you something.” Then she led him past the dark office spaces, the idle buzzing from the labs, the empty hallways, and back down to the garage. There she walked straight past the AG racers, turned down the lights, and flicked the switch that opened its large shutter doors to the testing grounds. With a mechanical whirr, the world beyond their sterile walls appeared, and there they sat for a while, looking out on the island’s bay. Kais saw the mangrove trees swaying in the wind… how things had changed. But Layla focused on something else, something above, in the way far off distance, and Kais knew exactly what that was. The moon was only just past half-full at this time of month, but even on the side yet-unlit, Kais swore he saw a
twinkling, the smallest pinpricks of light, settlements,
life.
“Look at that." Layla's voice was almost a whisper.
"We did that. Once, we thought we were trapped here, squabbling over patches of dirt. Then..." she gestured out into the world: it was self evident.
"And you know what? After the moon, we're going to Mars, Europa, Proxima. One day, humanity will live among the stars, Kais. That's what I believe. We're not just racers, or ex-soldiers, or very expensive guinea pigs. Beyond the track, beyond the whole circus, there's so much more out there. You'll get it, when you see it...” Kais wanted to argue. To say it wasn't that simple. But then he looked at her, and swore he could see the same twinkling in her augmented, dark golden eyes. And maybe, for just a moment, it made him want to believe it too.
Defeat (Day 9)
The vehicle shook as their nighttime exodus took them back towards the Red Sea through hidden underground exits, abandoned mining tunnels and treacherous desert paths.
A few sirens blared.
“WARNING: TO THE NOBLE PEOPLE OF ASWAN: THE SELF-STYLED ARABIC UNION HAS BREACHED YOUR CITY AND ITS DEFENSES. YOUR WATERWORKS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. IN THEIR GREED THEY HAVE NOW DROWNED YOU TOO. YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. AUNTS AND UNCLES. NEPHEWS AND NIECES. MOTHERS AND FATHERS. REMEMBER WHAT THEY DID TO YOU! THE MASDAR-AL-NUBA WILL RETURN! WATCH OUT FOR US! THE--” And the broadcast was cut.
In the distance, a series of ghostly wails from the sky shook the ground, and stacks of smoke rose up into the air. Whatever defenses of theirs remained, the Union's hypervelocity bunker-busters made sure to leave none standing.
The
Nubian Source had been definitively routed away from their namesake, and, in Rami’s case, from his home. But the rest of the wagon’s occupants nor the others in the convoy preoccupied with combat fatigue, seemed to care as much as he did.
“Fucking bastards.” Rami mumbled as the rumble of the bombers passed them by. The others were mostly silent, apart from a snore every now and then, or a whisper. Yet, sitting opposite him, ever-alert, was the supersoldier ZNX-5-01, one of the six that were left over after the siege. Rami, his arm now in a sling, hung his head and sighed. How was it that despite owing his life to him, it still required courage to speak? Ridiculous. The guy even looked younger than him, in a strange sort of way, and Rami knew how to speak to a little brothe--… Rami’s feet grew restless and he felt his eyes start to water. He took a deep breath.
“So, uh…” His voice quivered.
“You like butterflies, huh?” ZNX looked at him for a moment, sized him up, with -always- that tension in his eyes.
“No.” Then his gaze went back out on the road again. And Rami got the distinct impression that he hadn’t even understood the question.
“Kais?” Nadia’s voice didn’t project very far into the garage, but she knew he would hear it - he had good ears, despite his constant grumbling about her soft-spokenness. The garage was dark. Had they turned down the lights? Still, there the figure sat in thought, faintly illuminated by the outside ambient light. Just as Layla had told her.
“What is it?” He replied.
“I boxed you some left-overs, I can leave it here, if you’d like…”“Thanks, Nadia. I’ll be right back.”And that, he did. The night went on, and pleasantly so. More games were played, some brave idiot challenged Kais to a finger-wrestling match -and bravely lost, to nobody’s real surprise-, and when Kais finally returned home, boxed left-overs in hand, he held his breath for a fraction of a second, his senses on full-alert. But there was nothing out of the ordinary. All was dark, and all was silent. And he was, once again, alone.
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