Asteroid Blues

Reports flashed across his screen, conflict had come to Novyy Bangkok. While the Hyperpowers had always jostled for dominance out in the Human Edge, eager to control it’s vast wealth of resources that could be strip mined from the belt, this was beyond that. Casualties would be high, and this would change the sphere.

Father-Knight Ferriera was interrupted, as new information was fed directly to him. PanOceanian forces were on the move already, trying to secure footholds into new territory, to expand their area of influence, and help secure a better future for those out on the edge. He however was to deploy to the Liberty Cargo logistics center, territory they already held. Hexas intelligence agents anticipated that large scale troop movements would be taken as a sign that there was weakness in the home territories, and PanOceania had to be strong in all areas, for they would be the ones to guide humanity to a better future. Infiltration teams from Yu Jing had been sighted, and it had been determined this is where they would strike.

He turned to his cadre of sergeants and fellow knights, two from Teutonic order, and several order sergeants, all battle hardened and ready to take up the cause.

“Fellows, war has come to Novyy Bangkok, but as soldiers and warriors of God we are are always prepared for this. We are not to be deployed to the front, but to guard our own territory, from those who would make us look weak at home. With our force of arms, and the will of God we will triumph, for nothing else will do. We are PanOceania, we are the Hyperpower, and with God as our protector we will triumph. Deo Vindice”.

The familiar sounds of weapons being checked, and swords being holstered filled his ears, as he carried out his own checks, all the while muttering a prayer under his breath, for he knew that soon these would be replaced with the familiar sounds of conflict. He placed his life into God’s hands, and prepared to move out.

Everything rushed by, the sounds of combi-rifles and other arms, of swords being drawn in anger, and at the end Father-Knight Ferreira was still standing, while the remaining forces from Yu Jing were either in retreat, or lay silent on the ground. He had personally taken down their lieutenant in hand to hand combat, though the bullet wound to his shoulder served as a reminder of the fight she had put up. Two of his men had been killed, a Teutonic knight by the name of Bors, and an Order Sergeant hacker by the name of Williams, who had been killed while engaging in an infowar that ended up in vain, unable to penetrate the BTS shield of their armour. They had been flanked while he himself led a fire team to dominate the central area, however they hadn’t died in vain. Enraged by this the remaining Teutonic knight, had drawn his sword, and commending his soul to God, charged their gun line. When the shooting stopped, two of them lay dead at his feet, while the other was wounded. The position was untenable, but the enemy knew this conflict had already been lost, and began their retreat. Their had been a cost in lives, but they had held their position.