name = Graves email = mtg02@datasync.com title = Shadows Lengthen warnings = story = Shadows lengthen The station rotated slowly. Thunderbase was small, barely big enough for its 3 squadrons of fighters. The base was in the L4 position of Newton, the biggest gas giant in the Proxima system, and was intended to provide local protection for the Proxima jumpgate and harass any enemies attacking the Proxima system. There were no fighters out patrolling. The crew was assembled in the Lightning hangar deck, with the station commander preparing to speak to all hands. Commander Claibourne was a rather short, round man, who looked just too old for his rank, though that was genetic rather than chronological. He was worried about the new squadron, Ghostrider. A proud, old unit, it had just rotated in from carrier duty. Commander Claibourne looked at Lieutenant Belenge, to see that the platoon of marines had stationed themselves to cover the Ghostrider squadron if needed. "You’ve all heard the news by now. General Hague has revolted against President Clarke. All loyal forces have been ordered to engage Gen. Hague’s forces on sight." Commander Claibourne wiped his brow with a handkerchief. "We are all sworn to support and defend the constitution of the Earth Alliance. This is against any enemy, foreign or domestic. We are faced here with a domestic enemy. I’ve been in communication with the colonial government of Proxima, and they will declare their independence, pending the removal of President Clarke. " Claibourne looked at his staff, the one, an non-entity who had mastered the task of being invisible at all times, the two, tall and skinny, a former Gropo, and his three, an irritable man who was nonetheless very capable, and went on "I will join them. Any of you who do not feel comfortable in joining the forces opposing President Clarke and his band of murderers, will be sent to Proxima, and kept there until exchanged. You have my w! ! ord that there will be no blame attached, nor any ill treatment. Any of you wishing to take advantage of this will give your names to LtCdr Connor now." The crew looked around at each other, and waited for someone else to make the first move. The station had a smaller complement than normal, as the replacements for transferred and discharged personnel was almost two months behind, forcing everyone to do someone else’s job as well. The pause lengthened, and Cdr Claibourne decided that to wait further would give someone the chance to take advantage, so he resumed "I knew I could count on you all. We will begin a round the clock CSP on the jumpgate, with a full alpha strike ready at all times. Clarke will do something to bring Proxima back under the yoke, and we are all that is here to stop them for now. There are innocent Earth Alliance civilians to protect, and I know you will do whatever is needed to acomplish that." *Thunderbase, this is Lightning Five. I have , it looks like 18 bogies. Computer can’t ID them, what do you make of ‘em?* Lightning Five was the XO for his squadron, with a flight of 4 Starfuries. "Two, who are they?" Cdr Claibourne was slowly turning red, a sure sign of tension. The unknown ships were fighter sized, with a series of spike like protuberances from the rear. "I don’t recognize the readings sir." "Nonsense Two. You know everything up there." The Two had worked long and hard for a reputation that he knew every piece of equipment currently in use by everybody, and it galled him to fail to recognize this fighter. "Visual just came through. Nope, that’s nothing we’ve ever heard of. First Contact." Cdr Claibourne began unintelligible muttering. LtCdr Connor broke in "I recommend a scramble, while the Deuce tries to reach the Fleet." "Do it. Two, pull out the database, and tell me who or what we’re facing. Lighting Five, make no hostile moves, try to raise them." Lightning Five was staring out his canopy *I’m trying sir, but no response. They don’t answer, and they’re burning fast.* "Six, they’re on a direct course for us. I think they’re hostile.." The Two looked around the CIC, and caught Master Sergeant Luthor’s eye; They began quietly discussing defenses. Cdr Claibourne ignored them, "We can’t start another war by mistake. Lightning Five, what’s your status?" *Six this is Five, I’m going to get closer, and keep trying.* Cdr Claibourne was speaking quickly now "Three, what’s the status of the rest of the fighters?" "Storm Six has them forming up now. We have 22 Furies and 12 T-bolts, not counting Lightning Five’s element." *SIX, they’re shooting at …* Lightning Five’s transmission ceased. The CIC crew stared at the tactical display in agony, waiting for word. "Lightening Five, this is Six, what is your status, over….Any patrol element, respond, over." "Sir, we have no response to our IFF interrogation, and 1 distress beacon. Wait, I have jamming. We’ve lost everything on all freaks. Even the squadrons just outside." The two held his hand to his headset "We have a little info, there’s fighting between the bandits and our boys, but no BDA. We have some losses, estimate 25 or so fighters left." *They’re coming in through the hull, burning in through the floor!* "What section?" *Ghost-rider’s launch bay.* Pointing to his RTO, Cdr Claibourne called into his link "Green 6 this is 6. Intruders in Ghostrider, meet me there. Three, set up a hasty defense and wait for my call. Two, find out what’s going on." He was out of the room and headed down the corridor, face red, and looking vaguely like a bull elephant just before stepping on a poacher. Connor looked around, and ordered "Lightning and Storm Rear to CIC, arms and armor. Two, tell me what you know." "Nothing." The two was frustrated, with no reports making it back, and no observation left outside of the station. "Wait, I’m still trying to raise Ghost-rider, but nobody’s answering. Ghost-rider, this is CIC, respond. … Any Ghost-rider element, this is CIC, respond. … Sir, I think they’re all gone. The sector is still pressurized." "Two, keep working on it. Six will have something for us." *CIC, Green 6. Six is down, and I lost a squad. They opened up while we were bounding. We’re pinned down, and can’t see anything. Smoke, and lots of fire. We can’t move.* Lieutenant Belenge’s voice was strained and the signal was full of static. "Green 6 this is Three. I’ll work my way around behind them. Keep ‘em pinned, and I’ll get you." LtCdr Connor looked at his men, mostly maintenance crews for the two squadron’s who had been stationed at the base for the past year. He shook his head and led them down the corridor towards the firing. "Green 6, CIC. Can you tell us who they are, or how many of them there are?" *CIC, this is Green 5. Six is down, and I can’t see anything but a hell of a lot of fire. Its worse than the Minbari.* "Three, this is CIC, you copy?" *CIC, this is Three. I copy. ETA 2 minutes.* The two looked down at his uniform, noticing the small shiny spots where equipment rubbed against the fabric, and turned to the on-looking NCO’s "Sgt Luthor, I want everyone left to rally here, arms and armor. We’ll set up a hasty defense just in case. Sgt Hanson, what heavy weapons are left? We have an LMG with the section, and what else?" "Sir, we have the LMG, and 2 vipers. " "OK. I want Meadows to take the hall outside of Sensors, use the off shift CIC crew, and you take the hall outside of log, with everyone that isn’t CIC. Who do we have left qualified with vipers other than me?" "Me sir, and Beck." Looking at Sgt Hanson, his jaw twitched. Everyone knew how Hanson felt about vipers since the war, but what must be done…"Taylor, take your LMG, Beck, you have a viper. Sgt Hanson, you take the other viper, and I’ll keep the on shift as a reserve. When we know what direction they’re using, I’ll bring my crew, and either you or Meadows will be the reserve. Sgt Luthor, any response from the fleet?" "No sir, I think the antennas are down." Two nodded and continued to try to raise anyone. "Three, this is Two, what’s your status, over. …Three, this is two, over…Any Green element, this is Two, over." The remaining soldiers crouched behind makeshift obstacles to wait for the unknown. The men were placed far enough back from the pressure doors so that when they were burned through, the explosion wouldn’t reach them, but as close as possible to bear on the enemy as soon as they were through. Sgt Meadows looked at his men, and worried that there wasn’t enough room to spread out. "Grenades would slaughter us." He thought to himself. " And look at how young these kids are. What if this is the Minbari again? Trying to take us when we’re divided. Gotta stay focused." He looked back, and saw a flame appear on the pressure doors. "Here they come! Sir, you copy?" The Two looked at his team, and saw the flight controllers, electricians, and staff experts wearing unaccustomed combat armor, looking awkwardly at their weapons. "Its about to hit Meadows. We’re going in. Sgt Hanson, work your team around the spinward side while we fix them. Follow me!" thinking to himself "I fought the Minbari as a rifleman, was the best damn spook in this sector, and now I’m going to die with people that look goofier in this stuff than I do." The corridor was filled with smoke. Nothing could be seen but the flashing of weapons fire. The sounds were PPG’s, explosions, and screams, some not human. The Two sighted down his PPG rifle, and remembered to use breath control as something moved in the smoke. "Meadows, are any of your people moving?" No response. "Hanson, are you in position? … Beck Fire! Fire at will!" Fire poured into the motion, and the soldiers were rewarded by an unearthly scream. *Sir* It was Hanson *we hit ‘em, and we’re firing, but I can’t see them. They’re invisible. I don’t think we can turn the flank. What do you want me to do?* Looking around, the Two was shocked to see that only half of the men were left. The fire through the corridor was so thick it looked to leave no room for the air. The smoke burned in the nostrils… "Hanson, we’re fixed. If I move, they’ll cut us to pieces. Can you make the escape pods?" *I think we can sir. Good luck.* Beck gave a twitch and made an unintelligible sound as he fell, the viper falling from his shoulder. The two lunged across the corridor, grabbed the viper, fitting it into position over his right shoulder, and looked up to pick a target. There was a flash, and everything seemed far away. He was laying on his bask. "How did I get here?" he thought groggily. Looking down, he saw a dark stain on the flak vest. "That should hurt, I must be in shock. What’s going on? The men. They need me, I’m the only grunt left." He reached for his PPG in the holster, but it seemed to be miles away. The weapons fire continued, but there were fewer screams now. A shape moved out of the smoke. The two had time to notice that the knees were backwards, and up near the roof, on the head, was that horns? The pistol was so heavy… Captain Hall of the Heracles looked into the monitor. "Lieutenant, report." *Sir, we’ve checked the base. There are no survivors, and all of the life pods are still here. There is evidence suggesting that the SOF team that cleared this place may have killed prisoners. That might be why they wouldn’t wait around for us to arrive. Do you want to send over an officer for the investigation?* The young Lieutenant actually sounded outraged, Cpt Hall thought with amusement. "No. Return to your ship. Leave nobody behind on the base. Was the entire crew accounted for?" *Yes sir, no survivors, and the SOF team left no bodies behind either.* "Very good, we’ll handle it form here." Captain Hall looked pleased as he thought to himself, no losses and the jumpgate is secured. We can send through the troopships with no escorts, freeing up ships to chase that traitor Hague. Soon this little revolt would be crushed, and mankind would take its proper place in the stars. A creature with a name thousands of syllables long digested the reports. Things were going well, and soon this delay to the Great Path would be eliminated. It would have smiled if it were physically capable. -----------------------------------------------