Sirius: Book Two - Battlefields: Chapter 5: Descent and Dissent
#5 of Sirius: Book Two - Battlefields
Sorry about making you guys wait so long.
The story decided it wanted to be difficult, and writer's block decided it wanted to exist. I hate writing... -.- (I don't really.)
Anyway, Sorry all! And I know this chapter sucks, but I had to put SOMETHING out.
Warning: This story contains gay relationships, mature situations, sexual innuendo, violence, a fight scene, coarse language, and various other shit that might offend some people.
Reader Discretion is advised.
Rated 18+
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Chapter 5: Descent and Dissent
The entire base shook. This wasn't uncommon, but this time it was direct impacts. The Craganii knew exactly where the rebels were. The ceiling was cracking in the hangar. Phillips was helping to load the refugees into the transports, while Axis and Jasyn were prepping Jasyn's MPN for launch. They had installed their new cloak on Jasyn's craft because he was one of the best pilots there. They didn't know if it was going to work, but they hoped it would.
"What's it going to be like, being cloaked?" asked Jasyn, looking to Axis with a curious gaze.
"Assuming the device works, it'll be just like flying, except you won't be able to see with your eyes. The imager we've constructed will let you see the lower end of the spectrum that we can't normally see. It'll give you some ability to see, but not much. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful Jayse..." explained the fox, looking back at him.
Jasyn nodded and grabbed Axis up in a hug. "Kit... I'll be right next to your transport the whole time. I will protect you understand?" said Jasyn determinedly.
Axis chuckled and the base shook again. "I understand. Now get out of here before the roof caves in around your ears," said Axis as he ran towards his transport.
Jasyn chuckled and climbed into his suit. 'This should prove interesting...' thought the wolf as he started up his engines. He was told that since the cloak was just a prototype it had a limited use. He prayed that it would be enough and started to "run" his MPN towards the tunnel. As soon as the armour was falling, after running off a small ledge, the jets kicked in, and Jasyn lead the way out.
The unprecedented danger of trying to navigate catacombs while they're collapsing around you was apparent to Axis suddenly as part of the ceiling slammed to the ground mere meters from Jasyn. "Jayse, watch yourself!" said the fox into the comm.
Phillips climbed into the cockpit along with Atlas and said, "We're ready. Get the engines started."
"You didn't notice?" asked Axis, "They've been ready since I got in here."
"Then Atlas, get us out of here!" said Phillips, as the elder fox climbed into the pilot's seat. He slid the neural band over his temples and pressed a few controls and suddenly they were airborne.
"Alright, Jasyn, stay on your toes. We don't want the roof caving in on us," said Axis into the comm. again.
Jasyn chuckled on the other end and turned his MPN to face them, shaking a "finger" mockingly. "You know I'm always on my toes... well, unless I'm on my back; but that's not happening!" said the wolf as he dodged a few falling rocks. They were only halfway out of the catacombs now.
Jasyn kicked his boosters once and shot a few metres ahead. The entire base shook again, the walls visibly straining. They were the last transport out of the base, and luckily that meant that they could be as slow as they wanted. They didn't want to be slow, however, and started to speed out of the caves.
The ungainly mass of the transport nearly caused a collision several times. There were several near misses from the rocks falling from the roof. Axis concentrated on keeping the engines cool while Phillips focused her energy on shoring up the shields. If anything was going to hit them, it'd have a hard time doing massive damage.
A large rush of air from behind them told them that the base had collapsed, and the cloud of dust that followed told them that the tunnel was soon to follow. They could see daylight, just around the corner. Atlas sped up as Jasyn rounded the corner and took the turn quickly, banging the right wing on the far wall as he shot out of the cavern.
Jasyn was already looking back by the time they made it out and he gasped into the comm. as they shot out of the opening. "Gods... you guys just made it out in time."
It was true, the tunnel had collapsed mere inches behind them, grazing the shields and causing them to go offline. "We don't have shields, Jayse," warned Axis, looking over at Phillips. "See what you can do to fix those shields," he added to her before turning back to the comm. "Jayse, stay close and cover us like-"
"-like a large fluffy quilt?" said Jasyn, who was flying immediately above them.
"I was going to say, like your life depended on it, but yours works too," said Axis, rolling his eyes, not that Jasyn could see.
A battery of Craganii Phase-cannons were set up three hundred metres to the landward side of the base, still firing away, and one of them spotted the transport. It angled itself slowly but managed to line the craft in its sights.
The three in the cockpit were engulfed in a white light, which dissipated in front of them. The beam had missed the transport. They ducked behind a building and hit their thrusters, speeding away towards their next safe-haven.
--
It was daylight. The sky was blue. The clouds were no longer streaks of brown and small winged creatures flew all around them. They had landed on an island. It was deserted aside from the research base under the ground. Axis set foot on the natural ground, the first full grass he'd felt in his life. It was soft under foot, and rustled as he walked through it. Jasyn climbed out of his Mech and walked over aswell, smiling at the seemingly untouched paradise.
The truth was, the research being done here was Atmospheric Cleansing and Terraforming. The few scientists on the island had managed to clear a three hundred mile radius of pollutants and had restored paradise to the island, which was a desert when they'd come.
Neither of them knew that yet, but they, as well as Atlas, Daemon, Aries, and Orion, walked through the lush forests.
"There are no dangerous wildlife here," said one of the scientists.
Axis and Jasyn strolled in one-another's arms. Daemon and Atlas had their paws clasped. Aries was looking around as he walked, and Orion seemed to be fighting something inside of him.
Everyone in the group who was carrying a comm. unit heard a buzz and then the voice of Varu. "Everyone inside. The scientists have to close the doors in a half-hour because of some weather phenomenon so we want you back inside in fifteen, at the latest."
The units buzzed again and there was silence. Jasyn smiled and nuzzled Axis' neck gently, being awfully affectionate. Axis smirked and said, "Let's head back guys. I want to get some rest, and check out our new quarters."
The group agreed and they went inside.
--
"The Levi's, Emitt, Caprius and Orion were rather impressed with their quarters. The island had an entire underwater substructure, and despite the slight popping sensation from the pressurized air it was very pleasant. There were no leaks, it was kept in good maintenance.
Axis had never even seen an ocean before that day, let alone been underwater. Him and Jasyn reached their quarters and the panoramic view of sea life was astonishing. Every underwater organism that had survived the polluted waters elsewhere seemed to flock to this one island. Axis and Jasyn were told that there were three such facilities on the planet, but this was the first one built.
There was a computer with a pair of monitors, probably a status display of some sort, or an information directory. Neither could tell as it was facing away from them. The bed looked very comfortable, and as the two were finding out now, was.
Axis and Jasyn, upon reaching their room, had immediately opted for a long, well-deserved nap. Neither of them got any real sleep before they had to get up again, instead talking and cuddling, but they were rested by the time they had to go up to the main level for the briefing.
--
"There's hell to pay," said Roman, growling a bit at the troops.
Apparently there was hell to pay.
"We've been struck too many times by the Crag, and now I think it's about time we strike back!" he added, gaining an approving cheer from the Sirian military core.
"Commander!" shouted a young wolf from the audience.
"Yes?" asked the older wolf with, pleased to answer a question.
"If we've already diseased the Crag, wouldn't it be better to just wait it out?" asked the youth.
"I don't know about you, but all this waiting is driving me mad. They're going to strike again and we're going to lose more people. We should strike now and take them out, that way they can't continue to break us down," retorted the commander.
"That's suicide!" shouted another voice. Axis stood from the crowd and looked at the commanding Sirian. "If we go at them in a direct assault, then we'll be destroyed. We don't stand a chance in a head-on confrontation!"
"So you think, fox! For all we know, your disease bombs failed and we'll have to face them in a head-on confrontation anyway. If we fight now we'll have a better chance! By the time your planning to strike, we'll have lost half our current forces!-" came the response.
"-and if we strike now we'll lose all of our forces!" was the sharp retort.
Roman leapt at Axis and practically pinned him to the seat he was in as he growled low in his throat. "What do you know you little slu-" was all he managed before a kick was delivered to the intrusive wolf's side.
"Get off of him you hormone-driven jackass!" shouted Jasyn.
Roman stumbled a bit as he stood, having been kicked off of Axis and to the ground. He coughed once and glared at Jasyn. "You dare strike me?" growled the commander.
"Attacking an officer, Nevermind the fact that that officer is my mate, is reason enough for me to beat some sense into you!" sneered Jasyn, taking up a fighting stance.
Roman fumed, narrowing his eyes to slits. "You're challenging me?" he asked with a grin. "Well... this should be fun."
'That's IT!' thought Axis, realizing something. 'If one of us beats him in a fight then he loses his status as leader.' Just like in a wolf pack on Earth, if a Sirian Commander failed to hold his own against a subordinate, the commander would be relieved of his rank.
"Yeah, I'm challenging you!" smirked Jasyn, glancing once at Axis before looking back at his opponent. "You as good a target as any to vent my frustrations on."
Varu was watching the entire time, as was captain Litman. The two of them were about to order Jasyn to stand down but Roman had just charged in.
Jasyn blocked the clawing and punching easily, dodging swipes and smirking. The crowd moved out of the way of the two fighters and Axis watched intently.
Roman delivered a successful kick to Jasyn's side and the wolf winced, falling to the ground. He quickly climbed to his feet and glared at the wolf. "Impressive display," he said with a chuckle. In something resembling a flurry of motion the Sirian commander was barraged with kicks and punches, taking steps backwards to block them.
"You- guh- fight- huh- well- hyah!" said Roman, blocking blows and delivering another kick to Jasyn, but this time the younger wolf was ready.
He grabbed the wolf's foot and grinned, before quickly twisting and pulling Roman off his feet. The wolf fell and Jasyn immediately leapt forward and pinned him, wrapping an arm under his neck and a paw to the back of his head.
The entire fight was over in a matter of one or two minutes, and Roman was growling low in his throat, trying to throw Jasyn off of him, to no avail.
"Shameful," said Jasyn into Roman's ear. "Beaten by a fox's bitch. That's a record low for you," he added in a whisper.
Roman growled and squirmed again, trying to get Jasyn to break hold. Jasyn willingly stood and walked away with a satisfied grin on his face.
The next three seconds seemed to go by in slow motion. Roman lunged at Jasyn, intent on ripping out the wolf's throat, and instead got shot in the gut. Everyone looked to Aries, who was holding a gun and aiming, but the gun itself had not been fired.
Jasyn turned around and shook his head. "You couldn't take being beaten by me, now could you?" he asked with a bit of a glare. He was holding a phase pistol, and it had been fired. "You couldn't just lie down and accept it? You just had to try and kill me? Seems you failed that too," said Jasyn, mocking the wolf.
"You son of a bitch..." growled Roman, and Jasyn scoffed.
"As ironic as that statement was, I'm not going to let you die. Someone get a doctor in here. He's going to live and learn to hate me," said Jasyn, looking around the room. He grabbed Roman's commander rank pin and added it to his uniform, on the other pocket. "Though I still answer to the Earth Captains, you answer to me," he said, and looked over at Varu and Litman.
The two of them nodded a bit and blinked, before Tavok arrived.
"Thank you doctor," said Jasyn, bowing his head a bit.
Jasyn looked out among the crowd and sighed. "While we may not be fighting the Crag in person, our spirit, and indeed our cause, is spreading among the prisoners. Our forces that have been captured are spreading word of the news discreetly. When the day comes that we activate the disease, the Crag won't know what hit them."
An uproarious cheer echoed through the briefing room, and Roman brooded over it. He'd lost a fight, and his honour, to a wolf that submitted to a fox. He felt low, and moreover he felt defeated. He couldn't commit suicide; it would shame his family name even more. He had to win back his honour because his slut of a brother couldn't possibly win back the family name.
He would get his revenge on that wolf.
--
"Lieutenant Emitt. That was completely out of line for an officer of the Earth forces. However, in light of the fact that you've not only taken command of the entire Sirian resistance on this part of the planet, and also taken a power-corrupted leader out of command, it is our judgement that you not be reprimanded," said Varu, sitting down.
"However, mister Emitt. We will require a detailed report on your motives, and your plans for this event. You've done a great thing for the Sirian people, however; even if they don't want to believe it."
Jasyn saluted and was dismissed. He went immediately down to his quarters and found Axis working away at the computer displays.
"Hey Kit," he said in passing as he went to lie on the bed.
Axis continued typing away, as though he hadn't heard Jasyn.
"Axis!" Jasyn said sharply, and the fox jumped and looked over his shoulder.
"Sorry hun! Didn't hear or see you come in. This place has an amazing blueprint system. I've designed the engine for a new model of fighter in the time it took you for that hearin- How did your hearing go?" asked Axis, interrupting himself.
Jasyn chuckled and smirked a bit. "They hanged me and this is my ghost come to haunt you."
Axis shook his head and grinned a bit, slowly walking over to Jasyn before slowly sliding himself onto the bed, pinning the wolf to the mattress. "I've never made love to a ghost before; and such a handsome ghost at that! Hmm, I'm lucky," he said, before leaning down to give Jasyn's nose a gentle lick.
Jasyn smirked and looked up into his lover's dominant lilac eyes. He blushed a bit and smiled. "Okay, I'm not a ghost. I am, however, extremely horny all of a sudden."
Axis snickered and shook his head. "Not right now, wolfy. Your lovable fox needs to finish working on his fighter. They've got a built in armour unit, cloaking device, and shield emitters. They'll completely bury the Craganii warships."
Jasyn pouted and whimpered a bit. "But Ki~it -"
"No buts, for either of us. Not tonight anyway. This is important; and besides, you don't want to ruin the bed this soon, do you?" smirked the fox. Jasyn grumbled and shook his head. It was true, he was actually more tired than horny. He conceded that and sighed.
"All right Kit... but tomorrow we're having sex whether you like it or not," ordered Jasyn.
"You know... I think that's why commanding officers aren't allowed to fraternise with their subordinates..." Axis said thoughtfully, before getting up and going back to work.
--
By the time morning came around, Axis had finished the designs for the main systems of the craft. Life-support, power systems. The fighter was a two-person craft. It had to be. The pilot couldn't muck about doing cloak-field mechanics while trying to dodge enemy fire.
Jasyn awoke to the sound of typing and the click of a mouse-like navigational instrument. It was more like a tablet than anything. A touch-screen with a stylus, if that, but it was a very effective tool. Axis was working away, and from the look of it he hadn't even slept.
"Axis?" called the wolf.
"O-oh, you're awake!" said Axis with a grin, pouncing onto Jasyn with a smile. The fox had slept, and in fact was entwined with Jasyn at one point during the night. He awoke and decided not to wake Jasyn.
Jasyn smiled and hugged the fox with a murr. "Axis? Have I told you lately that I love you?" asked Jasyn, murring softly.
"Not today anyway..." said Axis with a smile. "I love you too, Jayse."
The two shared a quick kiss before an alarm sounded.
"Gah... what is it this time?" grumbled the fox, before getting up with a sigh.
Jasyn stood aswell and re-did his head fur. It had come undone during the night. He'd grown it a bit longer and had started sleeping with it in a ponytail.
The two headed immediately up to the command centre of the base.
"What's the situation?" asked Jasyn, looking to the Captains and the Sirian officers.
"A ship has crashed... or rather plunged into the ocean. It's in one piece, and it's circling the base," said a young husky girl who was working the sensors.
"Hail it," said Jasyn, looking over at the Comm. controller.
After a hail was sent, the officer waited a moment before he said, "No reply sir."
Another alarm sounded and an explosion was heard elsewhere in the base.
"We've been fired on sir!" said the husky.
"Jasyn! The MPN armour can function well underwater. In fact, it's equipped to work underwater. I suggest we deploy the Armour Pilots," said Axis, immediately taking over directing repairs.
"Base-wide announcement," ordered Jasyn. When the internal PA was activated he said, "All Armour Pilots to their craft. This is not a drill. Message Repeats: All Armour Pilots to their craft. This is not a drill."
Jasyn started out, before realizing he should leave someone in command. "Aries, you've got command," he said, nodding at the wolf. Axis understood why it was Aries, not him. They'd listen to a wolf, but Axis was another story. Aries, however, would listen to Axis' suggestions.
"Good luck Commander," said Axis with a smirk.
Jasyn jogged backward down the hallway. "What? No kiss?" he said with a smirk, and Axis blew him a kiss.
Jasyn snickered and said, "We'll be done in no time."
--
There was only the one ship. It just circled the base and fired every once and awhile. The shots weren't to any vital areas of the base. They seemed directed at the island itself, probably some sort of means of communication. Maybe their communications systems had been damaged.
When Jasyn's MPN came up beside it, the craft didn't fire at him. There was a long window along either side of the ship, and Jasyn flew, or rather drove, his craft over to the window to gaze inside. There were people inside; males, all of them. All of them were nude, and at least a third were foxes. They waved at the MPN and Jasyn suddenly gave the order for the rest of them to stand down.
"They appear to be civilians."
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There yah go folks. Sorry again for keeping you waiting for so long...
Anyway, Comments are nice and such.
I really want to just skip ahead and write the final book, cause this one is getting somewhat stagnant to me... Meh...
Love yahs.
All characters are (c) 2006 Arctic Fox Studios. Unauthorized redistribution will result in spaying and/or neutering with a rusty grapefruit spoon.