I.S.N. breaking news

[Jorge Silva]

A commercial comes on the television it shows a young man no older then twenty five in a suit and a tie. "Do you have what it takes to be a real man?" The camera zooms out to show him in a village on an outer colony world. Buildings behind him are destroyed. There are S.S. armed troops in the background helping people out of rubble. "If you wish to serve your star nation but don't want to join the regular U.C.H.D. then how would you like to get paid twice as nice?" he says smiling. "You'll get better food." The camera then switches to show a S.S. armored trooper eating a meal.


"How does it taste son?" the suited man asks with a smile. "Are you kidding me? This stuff is the worst. Hell I threw up last night trying to eat this slop." The man smiles. "It must be worth it with all the money we're paying you?" he says. The other man shakes his head. "Trust me you don't-" the camera then shows the man in the suit again back to the original place. "Well you heard it here, excellent food and a great pay check. Join the Special Security Armored Section today. 'Because going across the stars deserves a better pay check.'"

The TV then goes to the main program. "Hello this is Travis Knoll here with a special report from London tonight. We take you live to a news conference currently under way at the triangle in London." Knoll says. There are many reporters in a large room asking many questions to a general of some sort. "Please be seated ladies and gentleman." the general says. The screen then shows the information of Richard Starlite it shows where he was born and what battles he was in. "The Expeditionary Corps wishes to announce it's sincere apologies to all those lost in the New Oslo terrorist attack. Furthermore we have detailed information from Special Security's Special Investigation and Information branch. The terrorists came from the abandoned colonial world of Sisyphus of the Glaucus system. We will not give out detailed information at this time. However he said." and grabbed a small device in his hand and pushed a button. A large screen dropped down and showed the system. "The Expeditionary Corps, along with Special Security Armored Section." he cringed when he said that. "And of course our United Colonial Republican Navy will descend to the Glaucus star system. We will then invade the planet and capture General Sneer. This is where most if not all of the ARM is from." he said. "Questions." he asked


"Yes, General. How come the Army will not be used in this engagement, isn't this what they are meant for? To assault and invade planets?" he asked. "No Zach this is incorrect." the general said. "Let me clarify this. The United Republican Army of the United Colonies for Humanity's Defense is used against a large force. They are used for planetary invasions yes. However the Corps is better prepared to handle this since most of our forces are in the outer colonies and the Army is in the inner colonies. The Joint Chiefs had considered to use the Army but time is of the essence and decided that the Corps along with the Special Security Armored Section would be more then enough to handle this."


"General how can you justify allowing the Special Security Forces to engage the enemy on Sisyphus?" another reporter asked.

"Claire the reason the S.S. will be with us on this invasion is because they have offered us the help." he said. That was a lie of course, head of the S.S. and weapons division of Human Corporation Victor Cachet had argued that it was Special Security who gathered the information for them and therefore should be allowed to participate. Besides he argued that the Army would be slow in getting it's act together.


"What do you expect in defenses of the planet?" another reporter asked. " The general sighed. "Richard, our Intel suggests at least over twenty thousand ARM terrorists are on the planet. We do know that they posses a fleet somewhere within the range of fifteen to thirty capital ships. As for orbital forts, they possess two and those are near the warp point." he said. Starships much to a science fiction nerd's dismay did not have FTL drives. The only way a ship could go to another star system were through warp points....or in other words a worm hole. There were two kind of warp points....a open warp point and a closed warp point. A open warp point was easily detected in a system and a starship knew where it was.


A closed warp point was the same kind, the only difference was that it was very hard to detect but once a starship found it, ships could use it. However it was still hard to detect. Standard naval doctrine was simple. Send in your fleet thought he warp point one starship at a time and fight through the defenses which were usually enemy mines, space stations, fleets and starfurys'. Once you were clear of that then you could proceed to the planet or planets.


"We expect to disembark shortly." he said and walked off as many reporters asked questions.

[Michael Hobbar]

"Welcome to the morning hour here on Interstellar News. Our top story this morning on May 28 of 2758 is the sudden and swift invasion on the Anonymous Resistance Movement or ARM planet of Sisyphus in the Glaucus star system. For those of you that do not know the nearest outer colony to the Glaucus system is the Indra system. Our field reporter Craig Tanzig is on a starship that is currently orbiting the planet. We take you to a live feed right now to the Destroyer Nike."


The feed suddenly showed Craig in a confined space, it looked like it was some sort of command center. There was a large holographic map of the planet that they were orbiting behind him "Hi there Alfred, I'm here on the bridge of the Destroyer Nike. If you'll turn your attention to the captain of the bridge, Captain Zhu. Captain Zhu can you please tell our audience what a destroyer is meant to do?" he asked the captain, who was in his best dressed uniform. "Why certainly. The Omega Class destroyer is a starship that's designed to help protect the rest of the battegroup."

"Our formation at the moment is a boxed formation, this is to help protect the troop transports and to see if there are any enemy starships that might try to attack us. A destroyer is almost always or usually on the very outside of that perimeter, sometimes a cruiser will also have this job. We are also one of the first called into an attack, behind of the starfurys' of course." he said. "Captain I also realized that there were quite a number of soldiers on board. Does this ship also land troops?" he asked.


"Uh, yes we can also double as a troop transport. However nine times out of ten we do not carry troops, but for this operation, the Republican navy decided to have the destroyers also carry a contingent of troops on board. Do you have any more questions?" he asked the reporter. "Ah yes actually one last question. There have been a few reports that detail that the navy will debut a new starfury dubbed the and I quote "SA-23 V Cachet-Starfury or as it has been nicked named the 'Thunderbolt'. Is any of this true?" he asked. "I'm sorry but I do not know anything about a new type of Starfury. The current Starfury that we have been using for the past fifty years has been modified to meet modern challenges." the captain said. The reporter seemed a little embarrassed to ask that question. "Well there you have it, no such thing. This is Craig Tanzig signing off from the destroyer Nike." he said.

[Michael Hobbar]

Fanfare music comes on and the ISN logo suddenly blazes into existence. The acronym turns a beautiful blue with a white background. "Interstellar Network News, giving you information across the galaxy with Travis Knoll." a background voice ensues. The camera zooms in on a large circular desk with a clean shaven reporter. He has on a red suit and tie with geled back brown hair and a very nice smile. "Hello this is Travis Knoll reporting. Tonight's top story is of course the invasion at the planet Sisyphus in the Glaucus star system. The fighting has become more intensified as the weeks have dragged on. The military estimates that within two months it will be cleared of the Anonymous Resistance Movement or ARM terrorist organization. ARM is a collection of people who oppose Human Corporation. Our reporter Craig Tanzig had the time to visit the planet's surface where he went on a patrol with the Army currently helping secure the main roads along the planet's surface. This is a live feed"

The camera suddenly switches to a reporter with a large jacket on in a confined vehicle. He has a blue helmet on to signify he is part of the press. "Good evening, this is Craig Tanzig on the surface of Sisyphus and we're heading towards an old power plant that the ARM has taken for themselves, the plant is a few miles away from the town of Toute however it's expected to be heavily guarded. I'm with the 7th Army Division of the 7th Corps. I'm with Able Company." The camera turned towards five soldiers sitting across from Craig who had on full battle armor. "Tell me what can we expect on this mission?" he asked one of them. "We expect heavy resistance and are preparing to take this place back in the name of the Republic. If you and your camera man stay with my squad we'll make sure you are safe." he said. "What's your name a rank?" Tanzig asked the man. "Jack Jackson Staff Sergeant. I know my name's a little strange but you'll make it out if you follow my-" suddenly a large ping was heard as it hit metal. "Here we go! Stay low and follow us!" Jackson said.


A large boom could be heard as something fired in the background it was very loud. A red light suddenly encased the entire APC. "Alright we'll stay with your people!" Tanzig said. Jackson nodded. "Sparks, Litvug, keep an eye on the reporter!" he yelled as an explosion was heard, the ramp suddenly went down and three soldiers ran outside. The camera followed them as fast as the cameraman could run. "Keep moving!" someone off screen yelled. The outside was very muddy they had stopped what looked like an entrance to the power plant. The camera quickly did a pan around to show viewers what was going on. There was a large gate with old barbed wire the APC's were in a lined formation their ramps facing away from the facility with their large cannons firing inside the complex. There was very little cover between the fence and the APC's. Three of the soldiers went down as a machine gun in the distance was heard. "Take out that gun! Get those bastards on the line!" someone else screamed. The camera man went behind a small guard house where five other soldiers were.


"Snake snake this is Tiger four! Target the building at four o clock fifty meters high!" The camera focused and zoomed in on a radio man asking for fire support. "Zhu get me some more fire support.” Jackson told the radio man. “Yes….Snake this is-“the camera zoomed out of the radioman and zoomed in on the reporter. “What is going on Jackson?” He asked the soldier. “Not now!” Jackson yelled in reply as a soldier took a round in the chest. A larger machine gun could be heard and the camera panned back around and saw all the APC’s firing into a similar spot. Tracers could be seen as the APC’s fired towards what looked like a large warehouse of some kind. They hit the roof of the building which had a large hole in it where the machine gun was. Large pecks of dust could be seen as the roof of the building was hit. The roof soon heaved and collapsed under the pressure. The entire building soon followed as it imploded. The camera moved back to where the APC’s were and could be seen moving up slowly firing at other small buildings inside the complex. Three soldiers passed the camera which soon followed them as one of the set a charge on the gate. “Fire in the hole!” Zhu yelled and a small charge went off which opened the gate. “Advance behind the APC’s!” Someone off screen shouted. The camera soon got up and went towards one of the APC’s which was the first at the head of the column.


Soon the camera man was behind an APC and he noticed that the other APC’s were still firing at targets of opportunity, soldiers soon got behind the APC’s as they entered the gate. The First APC was soon taking small arms fire and the camera man got a good shot of what was going on. It showed some ARM troopers behind some sandbags. “Are you getting this?” Tanzig said off camera. “Fourth platoon secure that position!” another voice yelled and soon Tanzig was running with the platoon behind the building that had collapsed. The camera man ran as well dodging some bullets and slid into the mud behind the cover of the building. Mud blocked the view but was soon wiped off, with small traces of it remaining. “Suppress it!” Jackson yelled as the camera showed him in a kneeling stance behind the rubble. He fired his carbine. And soon other soldiers were joining in firing at the trench. “Make sure you get a good shot.” Tanzig said to the camera man reminding him of his real job. The camera soon zoomed in to the trench the platoon was firing at; there couldn’t be more than at least ten people in it from what it showed. It slowly zoomed in and soon people could be made out, ARM troopers had a good firing position from where they were. Suddenly larger tracers fired towards the trench and the camera showed the other APC’s entering the yard firing onto the trench. They never had that much of a chance between the larger shells of the APC’s and the soldiers firing at them. A few of them got up out of the trench but the soldiers made quick work of them. “Be advised Walker Company is coming into the other side of the yard!” Jackson yelled.

The platoon waited to see if there was anyone left alive inside the small trench. There was a larger building behind the trench and four other small buildings throughout the yard. “Move up and secure that position!” the camera man ran with the platoon as they made their way into the now desolate trench….the ground was very wet and muddy. Three of the soldiers occupied the trench while the rest of the platoon went around the other side of the complex. Jackson and the squad sat prone inside the trench waiting for the APC’s to catch up with them. “This wasn’t expected. We were expecting much better resistance then this.” He was telling the camera. Suddenly one of the APC’s exploded in a fireball and small arms fire could be heard on the other side. “Here we go!” he said. The camera man ran up with Jackson as his squad. Hard breathing could be heard off camera and pings of bullets hitting the destroyed APC were becoming louder as they came to another APC. The column stopped and poured fire into the other direction of the yard, firing at multiple ARM troopers behind different places with good cover. Stacked piles of wood, metal small out houses, barrels were all used as cover. Jackson ran onto the other side of the APC and got behind three barrels. Other people in the squad followed him and started to return fire. The camera however stayed behind an APC where it caught the firefight. Thirty ARM troopers were scattered throughout the entire yard in that direction it was hard to tell who fired that rocket. “Our soldiers are currently taking rocket fire from that direction. One of the Lion APC’s got hit and exploded. It’s unclear where the vehicle was hit. This battle is becoming more intense. And-“but he was soon cut off as the larger turret on the roof of the APC turned and started to fire in that direction.

Medium sized explosions were soon seen and soon the tracer of the other turret was seen as well. The camera panned to the right and saw four more APC’s coming inside and multiple soldiers joining them. Screams could be heard as people died in the background. “We’d love to get pictures for you but unfortunately the battlefield on this side is becoming too hot and I don’t want to risk taking fire or my cameraman taking fire!” Tanzig yelled. The fire only intensified for a short while before the APC’s stopped firing both their turrets. “We surrender!” one of the enemy troops shouted. The camera man soon got out from cover and ran towards the voice and saw multiple soldiers putting their arms up and into the air, dropping weapons. More calls of surrender could be heard. The camera zoomed in on the ARM troopers who looked to be no more than over the age of thirty. The camera soon panned out and went towards where Jackson was, he was still standing over by the barrel looking at the surrendering troops. Tanzig went up to him. “Staff Sergeant, is this a small group that has surrendered or is it for the entire yard?” he asked. “No it’s the entire yard, they had most of their force concentrated on us when Walker Company came in from the other side of the complex they were outnumbered and decided it’d be best to surrender now. This is our job.” He said in a gloomy voice. “This is Craig Tanzig reporting live from Sisyphus.” The live soon went black.

[Michael Hobbar]

6/13/2758 1845 Earth time

The music chimes on cue and the ISN logo appears. "This is breaking news." a neutral female voice says, the picture of the logo suddenly goes live to a reporter. "Hello, this is reporter Travis Knolls reporting from the information desk here in Fargo, North American Federation, Earth. We have live footage from an announcement from the speaker herself giving a press conference over something discovered on Mars. Patrica O'brian is at the scene for us."


The camera suddenly switched to a very pretty young reporter she was in a professional suit that was a bright yellow..a little too bright. She bad jet black hair that was perfectly straight, her eyes were a bright red. The reason her eyes were red was because of a still popular fashion trend with people who injected their iris with a different color other then the one they were born with...and it was permanent. She was in the press room, it was enormous and could hold a hundred people in total. The floor was a beautiful pine wood, and the chairs were very decorative. The stage was quite high, the podium at the moment was empty, on the podium was the official seal of the U.C.R. government. The room was packed with reporters and their camera people, mics and other devices.




"Hi there Knolls, as you know the press conference here in London is packed with other reporters from the local planetary, and city news organizations. We do not know what will be said and-" she began to say but was interrupted by someone on stage. She sat down in her seat and the Speaker approached the podium. The camera zoomed in on Andera Patel the current speaker. She was in her seventies but in reality she looked as if she were in her 30's. She had fiery red hair that went down below her shoulders and was extremely beautiful. "Good evening. At local time 7:45 A.M. martian time, a discovery was made in the mining area that Human Corporation operates. The mine was built to extract iron and nickle. The site has operated for over five years with minimal deaths to the miners." she let the air hang for a little while...Andera detested how Human Corporation used it's workers. "On May twenty seventh of this year miners discovered an underground facility. The area has been cordoned off with regards of the new site. We do not know when this structure was built but thermal imaging shows that it has at least fifteen underground levels maybe even more. This site will be of study, scientists, engineers, archaeologists are all converging on the site as I speak. We will do our utmost to preserve what we might find here. We will also try to minimize the damage to the surface of the structure and the surface of the planet as we attempt to open what has been discovered."


"This cavern suggests that.....other worldly beings constructed this facility. It has no framework of any human building and was not build during the Martian Revolution. Human Corporation with our cooperation is currently attempting to open this discovery. We do not know what we will discover...what we do know is that this will change our way of thinking and our way of life. Thank you." With that she suddenly turned around and started to leave with reporters asking her questions. Her press secretary however took her place as questions were shouted. "Well there you have it." Patrica said as she stood up. "The latter portion of this segment will be broadcast tonight." the screen then went back to the main desk. Knoll had his mouth hanging out. "Cut...cut to break." he said.