I Had a Life, Once.
Xenet 71.43.1 System Msg
TTY31201.12.10
Network Connection Enabled
_____________________________
I had a life, once; family, friends. A fiance'. Then they came - The Bane, the Scourge. The Destroyers. Horror and panic went before them; pain, misery and death followed in their wake. They took everything from me and demanded more.
I watched them tear through my once quiet suburbs, vaporising buildings, immolating kids, laying waste to everything in their path. They didn't slow, they didn't tire, they didn't stop. Nothing we did made them stop.
I don't know why I lived and no one else did. Round these parts, it seems to be the question of the minute; Why me? Why'd I pull the short stick? Course, the next question usually is, So what're you going to do with it? Most fool themselves, pretend they're fighting for Humanity, for all Free Sentients, for survival or the ever popular 'Freedom.'
Me? I have one reason, and one reason alone. I had a life, once. I had desires, dreams I wanted to come true. Now, I only have hate. Now, I only want vengeance. Tabula Rasa.
- Rab Vines, 401st.
Knowledge is Power
Xenet 71.43.1 System Msg
TTY31201.12.07
Network Connection Enabled
_____________________________
Over the last week, Roland and Eaos have been busy adjusting to life on this new planet, so I've been exploring the Divide with Crichton. Deep in the trenches, we paved our way exploring the mucky dirty pits filled with Bane and grassy plateaus filled with strange native wildlife. Occasionally we were caught off guard by a convoy of predators. One at a time we can handle pretty well, but four of them can be overwhelming even with my medical skills. I had to resuscitate Crichton after she took some nearly terminal wounds on more than one occasion. We learned to listen for the high pitched squeal of their jet engines, so we could avoid them when in packs.
I learned that the power of the Logos is important in more ways than I imagined before. It seems Logos knowledge is needed to be able to access some of their most strongly kept secrets, including a Logos that I finally was able to access the other day. It seems the Bane's control of this planet is focused on gaining Logos information, although they don't seem to be as receptive to the knowledge within it. Even at the Pravus research facility which we raided two weeks ago, they didn't seem to be able to harness the power of Logos directly and instead required machines to be able to gain the information stored within it.
One of the most interesting landmarks within the Divide is the Hydro Electric Plant which generates power from the run off from Eloh Creek. I'm proud to see that even in the foreign land we're living in, we're learning from the mistakes we made on Earth by focusing on renewable energy like hydro electric power. It's why the Bane focus their attacks on the plant, they know that if they attack our power we could be crippled. This is why when I hear of a Bane attack on the plant, I'm right there defending it.
Tactics, Logos, and lessons of the past, knowing all these things gives us power. Knowledge we can share with each other. Power we can all gain. Power to defeat the Bane.
Doctor Victeonus
Browncoats Chief Medical Officer
Youth Lost
Xenet 71.43.1 System Msg
TTY31201.12.06
Network Connection Enabled
_____________________________
For years, me and Jimmy grew up together, playing, laughing, enjoying the childhood innocence. All that is a distant, hazy memory now. Even the photos I keep of us as kids doesn't seem real, it feel like I'm looking at pictures of someone else's life.
Now, 20 years later we are stationed neck deep in Bane, on some planet we can't pronounce, cowering in foxholes and fighting for the right to take our next breath. Me and Jimmy are scared half to death. More worried about loosing each other than loosing our own lives. Each day that goes by is just another that we must face the Bane, and pray our bullet his them before theirs hits us.
They say there is no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole. That may be true, but from what I can tell, there isn't a god either. This is about as far away from heaven as you could get. I'd be willing to wager the souls that the devil himself kicks out of hell come here for eternity.
Funny, how life changes. The things we took for granted; warm food, showers, eating at least once a day, are all luxuries here.
Now a canteen of warm rancid water, a meal that stops the growling, or a bath in the river while keeping your gun within arms reach and an eye open, all seem to mean something special these days, almost like gifts. Things we would scoff at in our old life, now are the best times of our days.
Riding bikes to the park to get ice-cream? Nope, not anymore. Now it's riding a medvac unite to get morphine. Those are long past events that seem alien to me. Isn't it strange that ice-cream would seem so alien to me, yet the aliens seem the norm?
Funny, how life changes
- Rip Studdwell
In This Together
Xenet 71.43.1 System Msg
TTY31201.12.05
Network Connection Enabled
_____________________________
Just so you folks know, I'm dictating this to a nurse called Beatrice who was nice enough to take five minutes out of her busy schedule to let me send this message out to you. Anyways, onto who I am and where I am. As for who I am, my name these days is Gash. Used to be a nickname of mine when I was a kid but now I use it as my "real" name. Currently I'm lying on my back in a hospital bed somewhere in Fort Defiant, with no eyes I might add. Lost both of them when a bane mortar went off in front of me. Fortunately I survived with only a handful of scars on my front, but my eyes, well they had to be removed when I got evac'd to a hospital.
The reason I wanted to write to you all though was this: Yesterday there was some guy in here who had taken some serious shrapnel wounds while attacking some Thrax, and instead of bitching about the wounds like a normal human would, he was bitching about the fact that he couldn't do it alone!
That just made me go "what the hell?". Everyone knows you can't just go kill Thrax patrols on your own unless you really know what your doing.
But this guy seemed to think that the universe was just built wrong and that he should be able to kill hundreds on his own. This naturally lead to the other troops having a few jokes at his expense, as well as a shrink talking to him at one stage to see if he'd gotten brain damage.
But all that is not the point.
The point is this: We are together in this. We are all together in this.
You may think you should be able to kill hundreds of Bane solo, but the truth is we're only human. If this war was that easy we would have won by now. But reality is as it is and therefore we have to work together to kick these Bane bastards back to whatever rock they came from. So quit your bitching and show me some damn teamwork! I'm getting some kinda goggles to replace my eyes soon and I'll be back out there soon, and I better be seeing some teamwork when I do!
Corporal Primus Gash
AFS 3rd infantry division
Color Blind
Xenet 71.43.1 System Msg
TTY31201.12.04
Network Connection Enabled
_____________________________
I don't know what the hell that dropship pilot was thinking. It was obvious the marker at Ortho Base was red, not blue like normal AFS markers. He's lucky he didn't get blown out of the sky and I'm lucky that the dropship didn't fall on my head, not that I call getting dropped off in the middle of a Bane controlled base "lucky".
I hid between some supply crates by the drop pad and started shouldering my torque shell rifle; took out 8 crusties before they sounded the alert, but by that time the area around the marker was clear. I sprinted to it and switched it to AFS blue. In all my life I've never been so happy to see the color blue. I grinned as dropships landed and AFS soldiers deployed to dispose of the remaining crusties.
Us snipers don't get looked at very closely, we can't decimate a whole battalion of crusties at once, and we certainly don't get much glory. But for today, that's just fine with me.
Inaba Izumi
Spearhead
Xenet 71.43.1 System Msg
TTY31201.12.03
Network Connection Enabled
_____________________________
Today I was told by my CO that my squad was going to be the lead element for the Company and was to initiate contact with the Bane.
For weeks now, my Company has had orders to take Crater Lake. Since the Bane took it from us, the high brass has been breathing down our necks. In our first attack, we were slaughtered. My squad alone took four casualties; Patrix, Max, Hans, and Dan. I sent them on a flanking mission to the left to give 3rd squad time to get into position. We don't know what killed them. The medic says something simply riped them apart, so that pretty much leaves every thing a possibility.
So I'm down to a six man squad, not including me. Carson was hit in the arm by a Light bender and he lost everything from elbow down. We are getting closer to our starting point, I don't have a good feeling this time. I was up all night watching the sky and drop ship after drop ship kept reinforcing the Bane. Our Company is at 45% fighting capacity, and Echo company that's attacking from the rear is only at 62% capacity. Some one up top just doesn't seem to care.
I have to leave now...I'll right back later If I'm still around.
Command
Xenet 71.43.1 System Msg
TTY31201.11.29
Network Connection Enabled
_____________________________
Today was another grind. One of the bad kinds, where nothing really seemed to get accomplished and a bunch of kids died just holding the line. There were a couple times when it looked like something good would happen today, like about noon, when a platoon of Sensitives assaulted the Purgas Hospital and nearly captured it. I was watching the video feeds and I was pretty impressed, not only by their abilities, but also by their discipline and good tactics. Reminds me of when I was a field lieutenant.
Things started to go sour for them, so I sent some air support and told them to get out of there. They apparently didn't realize how bad the situation was, so I had to yell at them to stop being heroes and order them out. They started their retreat when the damn Xanx burrowed up from underground and caught them in their webs and the Lightbenders cut them down. More manpower lost, and we can't even revive them until more miracle cocktail arrives. And after that happened, they started hitting the power plant and nearly took Emergency power makes everyone edgy and I just sent in yet another request for a real fusion reactor. Doesn't AFS Command read those? I swear, back on Earth we may have been old fashioned, but at least we had secure electricity in all our bases!
I still can't stop thinking about my old boys and girls. I know they're out there fighting the good fight, but I haven't been able to contact them for months now, and it really hasn't helped me focus on the fight here. I'm posting this entry on the public nets, and if any of my old crew reads this, you know how to get a hold of me. Send me something, any way you can.
-Vaeden
Well, isn't that a fine day...
Xenet 71.43.1 System Msg
TTY31201.11.28
Network Connection Enabled
_____________________________
Damn, I hate it being shot at.
I hate to be starving all day and night.
And for god’s sake I hate this war!
The only thing that keeps me up and going is this beautiful planet Foreas. It reminds me of Earth in so many sweet…ah, forget it, the only thing that keeps me up and going are painkillers. I don’t know if any of you had a Xanx tooth sticking in your lower leg – it’s my first time too and I can only tell you: never ever try it! It hurts like hell. I wouldn’t have reached Foreas Base without injecting two or three painkiller doses. I can’t even remember the correct amount, I’m desperately exhausted, you know. The Med-Pak’s didn’t help much, so I’m sitting here at the MASH, reading Sarah’s blog and trying to share my thoughts with you. At least it shortens the waiting time…can’t wait for the Doc to show up…hang on, he’s coming…more coming soon!
Cheers!
Ruben Plinius
AFS Ranger
Feelings
Xenet 71.43.1 System Msg
TTY31201.11.28
Network Connection Enabled
_____________________________
Back on earth I used to think I knew what it was to have deep feelings. But it was not until I've started fighting that I really understood what those feelings were.
I thought I knew fear when a spider landed on my arm or I had to go to the hospital for a chest X Ray or when I was in a car crash. But that fear couldn't compare to my shot gun jamming with a Howler standing 3 feet away from me. I didn't know gratitude until another AFS Solider blew the Howler to pieces saving my life. I didn't know horror until I saw a Kael crush that very solider under his feet. Nor did I know anger until I unjammed my gun and unloaded into that beast.
I never felt more tired then I did that night. And when I woke up that morning I never felt as guilty as I did then. That solider would've lived had he seen the Kael coming, but he was busy saving me because that morning I FELT too lazy to clean my gun. Back on earth, I thought I really knew what feelings were, and I really had no idea. But I would give anything to go back and feel those feelings again. And after this war, if I live through it, I doubt ill ever feel anything again.
And for the record, I would rather lay in bed with 100 earth spiders then to ever have to see a Xanx again...
- Pugh
Disjointed
Xenet 71.43.1 System Msg
TTY31201.11.27
Network Connection Enabled
_____________________________
I thought it would be another ordinary day. You know, you wake up, you go to work, you sleep. Most everyday is like that now. It's funny really. I never would have thought about it like that a year ago. And now?
Today I defended Hydro and Purgas from a Bane incursion. My CO tells me that if I get a hundred kills, I get a prize. I thought for a moment that he was joking; what kind of a sick joke is it to tell someone that they get a prize for killing things? Even Bane. Their right to live is no less than ours. The Cormans have got it correct there. Who are we to decide who lives and who dies on a cosmic scale. We're fighting for our survival, not for the Bane's defeat.
Today I took back the Hydro station from the Bane. It was a long fight, but my fellow AFS soldiers made it bearable. After we won, we took a waypoint back to Foreas Base, and I bought everyone a round at the bar. It felt nice to be appreciated. I haven't felt that since I was back on Earth, and was fixing people's $200 computers. I don't attach myself to people though. Yeah sure, our suits get us sent back to a base if we die, but what use is a resuscitation squad if you've been blown to tiny bits?
As usual, I woke up, I went to work, I slept.
~ Shishire Maiga
Hill 538
Xenet 71.43.1 System Msg
TTY31201.11.26
Network Connection Enabled
_____________________________
Today I will never forget. We took Hill 538, yes, but at what cost. All my higher ups are congratulating me, saying I'm a credit to my uniform and I'm up for promotion, but we lost a lot of good people. Hell I'm thrilled, all my squad mates threw a little party when I got back to my cubicle and we got completely smashed on a bottle of whiskey that I had know idea were Dermon was keeping it, but damn it was good and brought back some memories of times long gone.
What I hate about the after affects of being in a heated defensive engagement for the period of 4 days straight with no sleep, is that you reconnect with the world when you get back to base and sit down on your bunk. You stop hearing the bells, you stop hearing the cries, the screams for medic, the steady thump of Crustie's long-range mortars, and the bellowed orders of my CO.
Today we took Hill 538. Today is a day I will never forget.
— Sargent Alistar Robinson
Thanksgiving
Xenet 71.43.1 System Msg
TTY31201.11.22
Network Connection Enabled
_____________________________
It's about mid day here in Imperial Valley. One of the sentry's patrolling the wall said it was Thanksgiving today. Heh, I'd forgotten it was even November. Thanksgiving...yea right. I remember we used to dress up in our "Sunday best", sit around a table big enough to seat a platoon and visit with family we were somehow related to. We'd give thanks for corny things like a new job, or a new house with a backyard. Then we'd stuff ourselves until our belts felt way to tight, and promptly fall asleep in front of the big 52" screen TV watching a football game.
That was before the Bane and the big Evac of Earth. Now the only things I give thanks for is my reflective armor, my ChiTek shotgun, 24 hour R&R at Alias Das, and the soldier in the foxhole next to me. Yea I guess the AFS is kinda like family, so yea I am thankful for my family. Guess when it's put that way it doesn't sound so corny. Happy Thanksgiving.
Raum Schiefer
AFS Soldier
Imperial Valley
The Distant Assassin
Xenet 71.43.1 System Msg
TTY31201.11.21
Network Connection Enabled
_____________________________
I am quietly waiting under some overgrowth for two days and I have yet to see my target. My rations are running low, so I am forced to skip meals. I feel cramped staying prone at my current position. I would love to get up and stretch; however, risking the possibility of being spotted by some Thrax soldier is not worth it. And the only thing keeping me from boredom is quietly writing down my logs.
My commanding officer told me it would be a quick and straightforward mission: kill the Thrax officer. Instead, it has been a discomforting two days of playing the waiting game. Perhaps the boys from intel received some bad info or maybe I missed my target. Actually, these bloody Thrax look all the same, so it is hard to cap the right target. The only information about the Thrax officer was rather obvious: he's the big shot at the nearby Bane fort. Nothing about a missing eye, a distinct scar or whatever body markings that would at least give me something to work with.
With this sketchy information, I concluded to shoot any Thrax yapping out orders.
I still do not know why I became a sniper. Maybe the brass were impressed that I could hit my targets with the first shot or maybe it was my conservative nature, since I always had two or three extra magazines after an end of a fight; however, I honestly saved up my ammo so I could have some leftover cash to buy extra rations.
Anyways, I think I should give up being a... hold on. There's a Thrax barking orders like my commanding officer, which is enough for me to take the shot.
Shadow “the White Dingo” Hapi
AFS Sniper Division
Nothing is as it seems...
Xenet 71.43.1 System Msg
TTY31201.11.20
Network Connection Enabled
_____________________________
I don't know why I am writing this. It's not like there is anyone left that has the time to read it. Maybe it's for my own sanity; Like if I don't get it out I will never be normal again. Whatever passes for normal now a days. Today I saw 2 of my remaining friends devoured by a flower… no a worm. Whatever it is or was, I don't care, as long as I never see another one.
Sgt. Pavlov says that these monsters are called Maw's. But I am sure that is something he made that up. Yet on this planet, nothing is as it seems. Aliens with ravenous packs of even more vicious aliens run through the wild vegetation hunting for our blood. (Pavlov calls them hunters. (He thinks he is a walking wiki or something…) And some of the veterans have incredible abilities that no human should have. I guess this is Darwin's vision coming to reality, the strongest DO adapt, and they WILL survive. I just hope I am one of the strongest, but at this point I just want to go home, not the burning carcass of Earth, but to the memories of Earth an hour before the Attack…
- Max Sledge
Grenadier Class 1
Advancing the Ranks
Xenet 71.43.1 System Msg
TTY31201.11.19
Network Connection Enabled
_____________________________
The "coffee" at Foreas Base this morning was crappy as usual, but as the base loudmouth always says, it's better to have stuff that's "like coffee" than no coffee at all. Meh, at least we got decent crap to put it in to make it taste less like dirt.
Yesterday I received my promotion to Biotechnician and tried on my newly certified Bio suit, forever putting away that Hazmat junk. Let the Exobilogists play with that stuff, they need it. HA!
Roland, Eaos, and I have been doing our part to keep the bane forces at bay in the Wilderness. Constant attacks at the landing zone have proven to be dangerous at times, they have even taken us by force temporarily only to be taken back. I think both Roland and I have done a good job completing the required missions AFS has for us within the Wilderness, but Eaos still has some work to do. I might help her along later today after I'm done with my daily paperwork.
Oddly enough it seems like these days I'm spending a lot more time acting like an engineer than a medic. I spend most of my time on AFS missions repairing shields and only occasionally tending to people's wounds. Maybe it's just that I'm that good at what I do that noone gets hurt. Maybe as we start exploring the Foreas areas or some of the other Allied Planets that we'll face bigger nasties that will have armor penetration or virulent attacks. That's when my actual medical skills will kick in and keep my boys (and girls) alive, huh?
Well for now I'm really enjoying the new Injection gun that I was recently certified in. Not only am I certified, but I'm really working hard on my advanced training. My tutor is telling me that I should have the ins and outs of the injection gun mastered in only a few more days, then I'll have the skill to find holes in any kind of armor even without a virulent needle. Hmmmm, I wonder what other kinds of injection guns are out there? I'm sure my teacher will give me a better one one when I'm fully certified.
Crichton also tought me a bit more about the crafting stations and how they work. I didn't know you could break down bits of gear you didn't need to be able to make new stuff. It's still a bit odd. I wonder where all my genetic engineering training is going toward. I really hope that I'll be able to create some interesting experiments though genetic engineering... Hmmm who to test on?
Doctor Victeonus
Browncoats Chief Medical Officer
