Andromeda 8: Riders on the Storm (Closed)

[Dyelli Beybi]

Chapter One: The Nebuchadnezzar
Theme Music

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I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

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They were left for no more than twenty minutes before Cohen's voice echoed through the loading bay, where most of the crew were, "Hey! Hey everyone! Listen up!" Despite her small size, the Israeli woman was exceedingly loud when she wanted to be.

She hopped up onto an ammo crate, just to be sure that everyone could see her. She was still in her dust-stained combat armour, though she'd lost the helmet once she was onboard, "I know this is not exactly the news you would have hoped for, but you all heard that ... sound... when we fired the device at the wormhole, didn't you?"

There was a nod of assent amongst the Ragon contingent. They had heard it, but had assumed the other species had not, "We have limited information about what is going on, but the short story is that device we fired at the wormhole didn't do exactly what it was supposed to. We've opened something up that is allowing creatures from the outside into our reality." she paused, shook her head, then added flippantly, "Whoops!

"These things will devour and destroy everything in our universe, but the good news is we have a chance to fix it. So I need you all to gear up, one last time for a big fight. Bigger than the Battle of Saridat, for those of you who were there. The next time those doors open," she pointed at the rear loading bay, "Expect hostile fire. Our mission is to secure the landing ground and wait for reinforcements to arrive. We're going into the unknown, against an enemy who probably unguns us with little to know information on what we're facing. The fate of our Universe, the known bits and the bits beyond, hang in the balance, so fucking it up is not an option.

"If you've got any questions," she gave a wry half-smile, "I don't have any answers, so keep them to yourself.

"You know," she added finally, "If I was with any other group of people I'd say, we're all going to die and take my final bow. I don't know what effect you lot will have on the enemy, but, by God, you frighten me! We're Orphan Company! And if the Universe is looking for it's champion against whatever-it-is that is coming from outside, in my opinion they've made a pretty good choice... and who wants to live forever anyway?"

And a few moments later the doors dropped open, "Go! Go! Go!" Cohen called. And the first troops rushed out into a strange new world.

It was unlike anything anyone had ever experienced before, lit by a cool light that seemed to diffuse from all directions, laying a dim glow over the strange rocky landscape that was complimented by glowing artificial orbs that lit the path from where the Nebuchadnezzar had set down across a long bridge that led to some kind of ziggurat type of structure atop a steep rocky outcrop on the far side of a mist covered ravine. The ship itself seemed to be on another outcrop. How far down the ravine went was anyone's guess. Glancing up at the sky revealed a strange planet-scape that seemed to shift each time you looked at it, almost as if it were being ineffectively projected onto a dome of sky that were in fact, rather close, hiding the dark and terrible things that lay just on the other side...

Not that the crew of the Nebuchadnezzar had time to think about that for moments later a rapid whirring of heavy blaster fire came from the far end of the bridge, mowing down the first line of Orphan Company troopers who had stepped off the vessel. Cohen leaped for cover, scrambling behind a low rock as shards of rock exploded about her, "Snipers! Take care of... whatever that is!" she called.

Cohen risked a peek above the rock as the other Orphan Company troopers. She couldn't make much out, at the far end of the bridge... at least not in the time it took for another blast of fire to make her duck back behind her precarious cover. They'd need either a crack shot or someone who could move faster than the enemy could aim at them...

[Europa Undivided]

The Beginning of the End

Co-written by Europa Undivided and Nachfolgia

With the Nebuchadnezzar blasting off into the wormhole to fulfil what may as well be the final mission of the Orphan Company, Nikolai quietly sat beside Allison in the infirmary. The announcement had just come in: they were going to fight, again, this time to take a fortress that lay beyond the very universe itself. If they succeed, well, everything will be fixed. They will be returned to the moments before the breach as if nothing had happened.

As the engines quietly hummed underneath in a slow, rising crescendo, Nikolai silently nursed the wound on his shoulder. The doctor had given him an anaesthetic to dull the stinging pain, as well as a healing balm for the wound itself. Even so, they had very little time before they would be thrown into combat once again. He was certain that by the end of this, they'll be shot at even more.

"You know, Allison, I think, after all this mess is done, I'd like to be a pilot," Nikolai blurted out. He had just laid his head on his girlfriend's lap, trying to get some rest before they were to land to take that interdimensional fortress. "A galactic pilot, if you will. I'll fly us everywhere, anywhere.”

Allison sat in the infirmary, deep in thought. The announcement had come, they were being thrown into the fray again. One final fight in the hopes that all would be fixed. Allison was always a fighter, but this one weighed on her. Would they even make it out alive this time?

They had been lucky in the past, but now she was doubting herself. Sure she was strong and durable as titanium, but the others weren't. Even now, with Nikolai nursing an injury, the thought of losing him was too much. Allison could shrug off blows, but the blow of losing a loved one would be too much for her.

Allison was only shook out of this train of thought when Nikolai rested his head on her lap. She looked down at him and smiled, rubbing his head. She chuckled at his words before commenting. " And I'd like to never fight again. Kickboxing was one thing, but this...this is something I never want to do again. “

"I do like my powers over ice, actually," Nikolai responded. "And the message said that we'll be returned to the moments before the breach... so that's about..." He checked his watch. "Ten minutes ago. So, still with powers. Not in school. We'll simply be heading to a new peace after everything we've been through. It's just... I wish there was a way to take off these powers, either way. Not for my own sake, but for his."

It was no secret that Nikita's technomancy and enhanced mind were a double edged sword. Because he remembered everything so perfectly, all the bad things that have happened don't get "buried over time." Instead, they're always vivid whenever they cross his mind.

"If anything," Nikolai continued, "I will always enjoy making cute ice sculptures for your viewing pleasure.”

Allison smirked. " I could definitely use some peace. I've been the one to carry the load and protect you guys, but now I want to rest. " Allison sighed and looked up at the neon white lights of the infirmary.

" Do...do you think things will go back to the way they were? Back in school...no powers… no memories of what happened?”

"I do like my powers over ice, actually," Nikolai responded. "And the message said that we'll be returned to the moments before the breach... so that's about..." He checked his watch. "Ten minutes ago. So, still with powers. Not in school. We'll simply be heading to a new peace after everything we've been through. It's just... I wish there was a way to take off these powers, either way. Not for my own sake, but for his."

It was no secret that Nikita's technomancy and enhanced mind were a double edged sword. Because he remembered everything so perfectly, all the bad things that have happened don't get "buried over time." Instead, they're always vivid whenever they cross his mind.

"If anything," Nikolai continued, "I will always enjoy making cute ice sculptures for your viewing pleasure.”

Allison scoffed. "Yeah well super strength is great and taking damage is cool, but I don't particularly like weighing nearly half a ton. Not really a confidence booster on the scales. And sitting is tough when chairs aren't built for me.”

"I suppose we all have pros and cons," Nikolai laughed. "Well... I suppose we just have to live with it. And to live with it, we'll keep on living. That's a pinky promise, m'kay?”

Allison smirked. "Okay.”

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From the fire to the flame.

Ivan could almost the violence in the air. Ah, he slid into cover after the first wave of Orphan Company soldiers were immediately gunned down right after they had come out of the Nebuchadnezzar's landing ramp. He instinctively ducked as incoming blaster bolts whizzed over his head towards other, less fortunate Orphans. More were shot down; he could hear some of them screaming in pain as those advanced weapons tore through their body armor like it was made out of paper.

They were all tired, exhausted, and sorely frightened, but the Orphans kept advancing. Ivan was proud of them, just as Cohen was earlier.

Who are the coming reinforcements, anyway?

Cohen leaped for cover, scrambling behind a low rock as shards of rock exploded about her, "Snipers! Take care of... whatever that is!" she called.

Cohen risked a peek above the rock as the other Orphan Company troopers. She couldn't make much out, at the far end of the bridge... at least not in the time it took for another blast of fire to make her duck back behind her precarious cover. They'd need either a crack shot or someone who could move faster than the enemy could aim at them…

Three drones, new ones, floated forward from within the Nebuchadnezzar's cargo bay as Nikita used his technomancy to good effect. “Nikolai, give me cover!” He called out to his brother through the communications.

“On it,” the cryokinetic replied. He removed his gauntlets, flexing his fingers as the cold winds within him clamored to be released upon this strange new world. Calling upon his metahuman ability, a cloud of ice crystals and mist burst out from the rear of the Orphans, obscuring the sky above them.

With that cover, the drones rushed forward, Nikita intending to surprise the snipers by shooting at them from above.