(Posted on 10-21-2000)
Chapter 5 - Mosquito
My head buzzed with frustration. The past few days had been frustrating as heck. I sat down and looked at the serene New Taranto landscape. It was a great place to live. Even the imported mosquitoes had their perks. I lay back until a large buzz began to sound. I sighed and got up. I pressed a small button on a screen and I was greeted by Admiral McPhereson.
Good evening Anna. How are those ship designs going? he asked innocently enough. I sighed and answered.
Well not so good. I have an idea but the Voinian specs you gave me just dont give me much room to-
We dont have time to perfect it. I will give you two more days to hand me the spec for the fighter. No more no less. This may help you. Dr. Kutzuku Blaze has developed a sort of cannon that may be placed on the ship... A picture shows a sort of gatling gun that I presumed to be the cannon. ... And will make a welcome addition to the fighter. Any other designs that you think up would also be appreciated. Good night Anna. And good luck.
His face disappeared and I was left with my thoughts again. What should I do? I lay on my couch looking at the mosquitoes. I thought so much that I finally drifted to sleep...
The mosquitoes had infiltrated my dreams. Into my thoughts they went. I tried to stop them but something told me not to. They darted back and forth in the black mist of my mind. They appeared suddenly to greet large gray slugs. The red blasts fired out of the mosquitoes as the turrets took form on either side of their heads. The slugs melted into large hulking beasts spouting even more smaller slugs. The mosquitoes became red like blood and their head and nose pointed and molded into a black cockpit. They swarmed the large slug pummeling it with red blasts until it exploded in a flash of glory...
I woke up panting. The dream seamed surreal. But the strange mosquito stuck in my head. I started to make specs like crazy and when I finished it was a masterpiece. I pressed a button my screen and saw a groggy Admiral McPhereson staring back at me.
Ive done it.
Chapter 6 - Rocket
The mission was simple. The officer told me the details again, then he gave me the prototype ship. It was the new UE Fighter. Nicknamed the Mosquito. He shoved me towards it and I looked at it strangely. My past few days of training would be put to the test.
Jason Sikes. This is your ship. Name it now. I wasnt sure what to say so I blurted out my mothers name.
The Jasmine? Very well. Please step aboard. the officer said trying to hurry this along.
I stepped into the cockpit and strapped myself in. I shakily put the air mask over my face and gave him a thumbs up. I knew it would be my last time. This was a suicide mission. I had to engage a Voinian fighter and disable it. No one had even tried to challenge a Voinian. But I shook it off. I would have to do this. I flipped a switch and the engine hummed. I breathed deep and hit the hyper driver. The ship lurched then shot forward out of the space port. I pulled up on the stick and I zipped towards the stars.
Centauri looked so peaceful from here. It may have been my last look at the planet so I waited before shooting forward. Once a safe distance away I took a last look at First Centauri and the ships surrounding it. I targeted Bakka and took another deep breath.
The Gs kicked in quickly as the hum turned into a scream. My ship shot forward with a flash of white light. The planet there was indeed beautiful as mentioned by the man who had first seen it. I scanned the area and to my dismay, a small heavy fighter was present. I brought up my cannons and hit the afterburner.
I began the sneak attack with my cannons blazing. It soon became aware of me and decided to pursue. But I was too fast. The slow ship became stupefied as I flew circles around it. I kept firing and watched the shields be quickly depleted. The armor was all that remained. I kept firing even as it tried to fire back. The purple blasts would always be too slow however and I was surprised to see the status turn from hostile to disabled. I laughed hysterically to be the first one to actually defeat a Voinian in combat!
Hitting the thrust, I carefully docked. I pulled out my Blaze rifle and approached with caution. The Voinians responded with more purple blasts and unfamiliar chatter of their language. Thats when I made my move. I fired six shots and one went down and the other was injured. More purple blasts came and I responded with more Blaze fire. After several volleys, the other finally went down. I breathed a sigh of relief and went to work.
I walked inside the alien ship with caution. The two aliens lay dead with a strange blackish blood surging from their wounds. I walked over to a small panel on the floor and whipped out a drill. Bringing the panel up I could see it. The rocket launcher along with three rockets. I eventually pried it out but I couldnt lift it. It weighed at least 30 tons. I went into my ship and then came back with a newly developed device that fit in the palm of my hand. I pressed a small button and a large grappling hook sprang from it. I attached the device to the hull of my ship and went back into the cockpit.
I started up the engines and lifted off. The grappling hook strained under the pressure but it soon shot free. The captured missile launcher had been a success. I dragged in closer and expanded the shields around it to protect it on the way back. I flipped another switch and smiled at my small victory.
(This message has been edited by moderator (edited 10-21-2000).)