Truth Of The Vanu
Originally posted on PlanetSide Universe
Part 1: Tranquillity in a coffee cup
It's strange what nostalgia can do. The lengths that people will go just to get a sensation of being... well home for the want of a better word. Auraxis doesn't need coffee shops, cafés and restaurants and yet there are streets lined with bistros, diners, bars and fast food chains. Ironic to think that people who don't actually need food nor drink feel the need to pollute their bodies with caffeine, alcohol and fatty substances which often taste awful anyway. Of course, at the end of the day nobody gets hangovers or obese anymore. Rebirth technology can be used to remove alcohol from within the bloodstream in a matter of minutes for example. People don't need to work out either, they go to war instead. Even those who don't could just remove fat from the body as easily as we can now remove cancerous tumours from the deepest parts of the brain. That also goes for addictive substances such as tobacco. Smoking tobacco is now pretty rare. Not that they couldn't just create or grow it here on Auraxis but because it was just seen as disgusting and rude since addiction is no longer a viable excuse, which goes for almost anything really. Transplants are a thing of the past too, and whilst minor memory loss is still sometimes a problem with the oldest members of Auraxis, we all continue to live almost immortal lives. All because the human race has discovered the Vanu artefacts and its rebirthing technology. It is ironic to think that what many perceive as being their salvation, poses such a threat to their existence."Ironic indeed." muttered Dr. Venazu as he took a break from staring into his coffee cup to wipe froth from his mouth. Dr. John Venazu had the appearance of a man in his late 40s, but of course he was much older. Fascinated by the Vanu artefacts he had found as a child growing up on Auraxis, he studied them and earned himself a PhD in Advanced Physics before moving into Research and Development. He grinned, the icing on top of the irony cake is that it would be a scientist from the Vanu Sovereignty that was going to tell the world the truth behind their new found technology. Contrary to belief, Sovereignty scientists are a lot more cautious than propaganda would suggest. The Terran Republic make us out to be reckless while the New Conglomerate calls us mad. The Sovereignty are no better and hype us up to be "fearless and courageous adventurers delving deep into the secrets of the Vanu". "Too deep" he commented to himself. Dr. Venazu resumed staring into his coffee cup. He didn't know why, but staring at that brown liquid was somehow soothing. He was again lost in his thoughts.
Part 2: The deserter
Sergeant Grant Peterson wasn't a fan of escort assignments, no soldier is, but he had pulled the short straw for the worst kind of escort job, assisting deserters to join the New Conglomerate. Peterson was the model sergeant, straight out of an antique John Wayne movie. Naturally well-built with rugged facial features, he had been quickly promoted due to the lack of Non Commissioned officers in the NC when it started out. He was old school, a man with a solid grasp of tactics and not afraid to do the same dirty work that he ordered his soldiers to do. Grant hated meeting deserters, informants were bad enough but he hated deserters with a passion. He disliked them for two reasons. First of all it could be a trap. It wouldn't be the first time that they had turned up, sometimes in some force, to be ambushed. The second reason is that he knew all too well that desertion works both ways. Whenever you pick up a deserter, you can't help but think that the Vanu or Republic are doing the same for your own kind. What was more worrying about this assignment was the fact that they didn't know exactly why this particular person - doctor in fact - was deserting the Vanu Sovereignty. The Vanu keep their scientists quite close to their chest, like parents protecting their children. While that explains why the request to desert was so short, he probably couldn't have sent any more without the Vanu finding out, it also heightened his suspicions of it being a trap. There are few better people to use as bait. But whatever this guy had said, it had convinced the NC Generals to take the risk. Or rather, for him and his squad to take the risk.Sergeant Peterson stepped onto the pavement dressed in civilian clothes. This was a Terran Republic city, which made it a neutral meeting place for both the Vanu doctor and the Conglomerate soldiers. Whilst it reduced the chances of ambush, it didn't remove them completely. Grant adjusted his waistline again. To most people it would seem that his clothes didn't fit and kept falling down, but that wasn't the reason he looked uncomfortable every time he reached for his belt. Civilian clothing doesn't lend itself well to the concealment of weaponry (for that very reason in fact), and the Automatic Machine Pistol that he had tucked down the back of his belt kept rubbing uncomfortably against his lower back. Still, at least it wasn't a mag-scatter. He smiled at the thought of how you could conceal the bulky sidearm and began to cross the road. As he looked to his right he saw the cumbersome shape of a Prowler medium tank rolling up to a nearby junction. The Republic liked to show off its hardware and so Grant wasn't surprised that a Prowler tank was travelling down a street which obviously wasn't built for armoured vehicles the size of the Terran's main battle tank. He didn't bother looking left, it was a one way street.
Part 3: Just what the doctor ordered
"Ready?"Peterson turned to answer the question, "Yeah, let's get this over with" he replied. Corporal Thomas was leaning against the wall of a café and as Grant finished his reply, she stood up straight and walked over to where he was standing. Kim Thomas wasn't far off being a sergeant herself, often saying "Just a few more of these assignments and they'll just have to promote me". It was often followed by "else I'll desert to the Vanu" but she hadn't mentioned that part recently for obvious reasons. Meeting a deserter whilst threatening to desert yourself was taboo, even in jest. Young in appearance, her looks almost hid her talent as a soldier. She was a beautiful girl but for a scar down the left hand side of her cheek. Whilst reconstruction could easily remove the scar, she had chosen to keep it. Many soldiers do that, they're almost medals that they wear with pride just like the extra stripes on their arm or the decoration on their uniform. She could always have it removed or replaced at will using the technology available if she wanted. It was a luxury many soldiers before her did not have. For the time being it was concealed under her blonde hair which draped down the sides of her face. Whilst Grant could have had many scars of his own, he had chosen not to keep them, he didn't want to be reminded of the pain they had caused and actually preferred his natural rugged looks to that of a battle scarred soldier.
Grant checked a photo of their man one last time to make sure they contacted the correct person and led the way into the café. Amongst the social chatter and smell of freshly made coffee, the NC veterans easily picked out Dr. John Venazu on his own in the corner. He jumped when he noticed the two large figures standing over him. "Sorry, you startled me" he said.
"We like fresh beans" said Grant, which was the code phrase he had to use.
"I prefer instant.... follow me."
John rose from his seat, and led them into a back storeroom which containing a table, a couple of chairs and dozens of boxes containing various brands of coffee, tea and other beverages. Once they were all inside Dr. Venazu motioned for the young female soldier to close the door. Kim slowly closed the door, there was no need to draw attention to themselves by shutting it quickly.
Part 4: On patrol
Major Diaz cursed his urban surroundings. A man in his early thirties, he had always wanted to join the tank core and had worked his way up to being the commander and driver of his very own Prowler tank. He had a good crew, and had served with them for a good few months now. More at home with the open flat plains that cover Auraxis, he disliked driving through crowded streets in his tracked weapon of war. A large gap in traffic opened across the main road and he was able to get the red and black Prowler moving again. Whilst the Prowler's engines had recently been upgraded to give them more torque in the lower gears, the tracks would still slip on the tarmac roads and worse, spit gravel out the back if the road had been gritted or was a little loose. The Terran Republic had overlooked the inclusion of mud flaps on its tanks. There was little use in having a main battle tank in an urban environment. At best they were sitting ducks that could fire a 105mm shell in your general direction if you were in front of them. That's what bothered Diaz the most, the fact that the main turret could not turn in this cramped environment meant that they were extremely vulnerable despite being the largest vehicle on the road. Diaz had been ordered to stop his tank in a specific side road and wait for further orders. He crossed into the one way street as ordered, stopped and applied the handbrake before clambering out of the front of the tank. That was one advantage of the prowler in these narrow streets. Prowlers do two things well in an urban environment, the first is to quell riots. You'd be surprised at how many people go home when those dual 12mms get going, especially since anyone they mow down can be reconstructed inside a jail cell. It's a lot more efficient than making individual arrests using officers in riot gear. The other thing Prowlers do well, is block roads, and Diaz commented on this as he surveyed the mere inches of space he had on either side of the vehicle's tracks. He was granted a couple of comments from his gunners about his parking before switching the engine off.Diaz looked down the street he had found himself in. It was barely able to accommodate the prowler and contained a couple of shops along with some cafés and resturaunts. Another vehicle was parked near the far end. Diaz squinted and realised that it was a deliverer with police markings. He could tell that it was for law enforcement as it was missing its 20mm recoilless machine guns which are the normal armament of the amphibious APC. Instead, this deliverer only carried a smaller 12mm rotary chain gun with limited ammunition for emergency use only. The space taken up for the second gunner and the 20mm ammunition had been converted into a holding area for prisoner transport. A police officer was sat on a wheel cover on the drivers side, it was a hot day. Diaz advised his gunners to take a break too. Although the air conditioning systems on Republic vehicles was good, nothing beats fresh air, which for once wasn't invaded by the prowler's exhaust fumes.
Part 5: From the shadows
"So what makes a Vanu scientist want to join the New Conglomerate?" asked Grant as he placed his AMP on the table. Dr Venazu sat down and began. "I have information that Auraxis needs to know about. Things that concern our future, the future of the Human race and of the Vanu Technology. Information that both the Vanu Sovereignty and the Terran Republic would want to keep quiet."Grant had to ask as he leaned against a column of Nescafé, "Why?"
John stared at Grant, then at Kim and then looked at the floor almost ashamed,
"The Vanu Sovereignty works on the principle that the Vanu Technology is there to be the saviour of humankind. This information seriously undermines that belief. The Soverignty would rapidly lose support and sympathy from the people of Auraxis." A grin crept across his face as he looked back up at the NC soldiers. "The Terran Republic on the other hand, would deny the existence of the sky if it would benefit them." Grant laughed at the last part, it was a sterotypical trait of the Terran Republic. "What kind of Information?" asked Kim, who despite appreciating the humour, kept a serious tone to the conversation which was rapidly turning into interrogation.
"I'm going to ask you two questions, if you can answer them then you don't need me. The first is why all of the continents on Auraxis resemble the climates on Earth. The second is how humans can so easily be adapted using the Vanu technology." There was no reply. The doctor continued,
"The Vanu...."
The air behind sergeant Grant Peterson seemed to shift around before a massive cut appeared across his throat and blood rushed from the fresh wound into the open air. As he fell limp to the ground, corporal Kim Thomas reached for the AMP lying on the table, grabbing it firmly with her right hand she spun to face the new danger. Her chest exploded as muzzle flashes appeared from thin air while 9mm rounds easily penetrated the civilian clothing she was wearing. Kim slumped over the table. Doctor John Venazu was terrified.
Everything had gone quiet. Sweat began streaming down the doctor's face as it leaked from his forehead. His muscles were shivering uncontrollably. He was too afraid to run. "The Vanu must have followed me" he thought and raised his head to admit defeat. To accept his execution. Instead of a beamer being planted against his forehead, the figure of a human male glowed in the centre of the room. Venazu swallowed hard, still in shock. Eventually he recognised the markings of a Terran Republic infiltrator who kicked the AMP across the floor away from Venazu before holstering his repeater. He removed his hood revealing a greying black haired veteran. "You're under arrest" the infiltrator barked as the police officer from the deliverer burst into the room, pistol drawn.
Part 6: End of the Line
A buggy screamed around the corner a few blocks down from the café. Hearing the gun shots from the wiretap on the NC soldiers, the remnant of the squad assigned to escort the doctor raced to the café.Diaz heard gunfire and the policeman ran into the café. He ordered his gunners to man their positions just in case this was what they were waiting for. Bending into the open front of the Prowler to retrieve his cycler, he pushed the ignition switch and the Prowler's engine burst into action. Diaz turned his attention back to watching the café, flicking the safety catch of his assault rifle to the off position.
The driver of the buggy saw the Prowler too late and as he power slid into the one way street he had little chance of applying the brakes in time. The buggy slammed into the large rear end of the Prowler, rocking the Terran main battle tank as it came to an instant halt. Diaz jumped on top of the tank as the 12mm gunner swung her guns around to take a look at what had happened. Diaz shouted at an NC passenger who had managed to get out of the crumpled buggy. "You're under arrest! Get on the Ground.... NOW!"
The trooper produced a gauss rifle from inside the buggy and began firing at the Major, catching him in the shoulder. The 12mm rotary chain guns roared into life, first cutting down the NC trooper before riddling the buggy with bullets to be sure that there wasn't anyone else alive. Diaz scrambled down the front of the tank, and had just enough time to see the deliverer speed off. He wasn't distracted for long. Jumping into the drivers seat Diaz revved up the powerful tank engines, the tracks slipping on the now fuel covered tarmac. The mangled buggy held onto the Prowler preventing its escape, its bumper and bent chassis acting like claws against the far larger Prowler. Diaz put the tank into reverse and slowly began edging backwards, pushing the buggy back into the main road. Sparks flew as the body frame scraped against the road surface. Eventually the chassis gave in, and the claws gave up their prey. Diaz shifted back to forward gears and gently brought up the clutch as the tank eased forward. Convinced that he had enough traction he released the clutch. The Prowler lurched forward. The left track slipped momentarily and the prowler veered sharply hitting the narrow street wall, smashing a headlight before Diaz was able to counter. Once the Prowler had a good 10 meters distance the 12mm chain guns turned their attention into the buggy's engine. The fuel tank exploded with fire and the buggy flew into the air. The 12mm continued to pound the buggy until it came crashing back to the ground.
The left 12mm cannon clicked as the final round was propelled out of the barrel, finding it's way into the heart of the smoking wreck of the NC buggy.
When Diaz had asked why he was told to stop where he did, he was told by his Colonel that it had been to support the arrest of armed hijackers inside of the restaruant which, he went on to explain, was the reason for the buggy's resulting appearance. Diaz accepted the excuse, he knew that arguing with the Colonel would more likely get him thrown into jail than achieve a straight and truthful answer. Either the policeman he had seen in that sidestreet was rambo, able to take down an entire terrorist force by himself. Or the man they arrested was too important to tell a tank commander about. "He'd deny the existance of the sky if it was classified." he thought as he climbed back into the driver's seat. "Good to see the republic is doing what it does best"
"And what's that sir?" A gunner asked.
Diaz started the engine, covering his answer to anybody else who was listening.
"Lying until Death"