Vigilance - Season Two

Season Two

Producer's Note:  True to our love for sci-fi, Bill and I borrow heavily from existing movies, tv shows, and video games in the genre. You'll see that this season rather shamelessly uses things from Transformers (the original animated series), which become our version of Haydonites; The Chronicles of Riddick; Doom and Final Doom (for PS1); Doom (the film); and again from the classic PC game Starcraft - namely, the Terran and Zerg units. I mean, come on, the Zerg practically begged to be made into the next version of Invid/Inorganics...

Episode 2.01/2.02 "2-hour Season Premier"

1/5/08

"Decisions"

20 Jan 2082-21 Jan 2082

Characters:  LT Anthony Loren, ENS Jessian Wetal, SSGT Marcus Daskar, CPL Nufae Podoppy; Col. Davin LaPlant, LCDR Devon Tanverr, SMAJ Len Dodds

Director:  Bill Anway

Synopsis:  Armistice Day has come around once more for the people of the New Unity Alliance, and particularly, the soldiers and pilots of the EDF. There is much to celebrate this year, much of which is done by several members of the new Dark Unit 02, aka, the Roughnecks. The festivities go long into the night on Epsilon, centered in the capital of Huntersville within "Pilot's Road", as thousands of eager people crowd the local establishments to celebrate, particularly Fokker's Tavern. Wetal goes slightly overboard in her...celebrating, and Loren has a brief run-in with the "social police" - a few members of Section 6.

The next day, back aboard the Stingray, Col. LaPlant calls in the Roughnecks to go over some rather...disturbing...footage. Recon satellites around Dhivnei Prime have picked up an image of a ship - the Moray - which was destroyed several weeks prior!*  The Roughnecks are launched to investigate, with the Stingray staying just within gun range of this "new" Moray. Repeated hails go unanswered, when suddenly, several unidentified fighters come screaming out of the launch bay. It is revealed that these are 'Decepticon' Haydonites, and even the "new" Moray is one as well, called Adeptus Titanicus, transforming into a large battloid mode. It is not long before the battle is joined by two 'Autobot' Haydonites, called Omega Supreme and Skylynx. AT launches several strange "fighters" that are actually giant anti-matter bombs, and they are headed straight for the wormhole! The Roughnecks are ordered to shoot these down at all costs, while the Autobots battle it out with the Decepticons (heh). Wetal asks Loren to chase one through the wormhole, but she is ordered by Loren to stay, and that the Stingray will take care of it. This proves to be a mistake, as one of the bombs explodes in a 15-mile radius, nearly taking out Loren and Daskar. Wetal isn't so lucky...

Once the Roughnecks are back on the Stingray, Loren rushes past everyone to grab his flight recorder, and then hooks it up in the Roughnecks briefing room. He replays the footage several times, and still doesn't seem to believe that Wetal is gone. He steps out to the edge of the flight deck to reflect silently, as Daskar offers a comforting hand, and salutes the dark sky.

* Producer's Note:  Jason, in his directorial debut, ran a small "training mission", which ended with the unexpected destruction of the U.A.S. Moray, a Northampton-class ship in the 3RF, at the hands of an unknown enemy...

Episode 2.03

1/19/08

"Disbelief"

22 Jan 2082

Characters:  LT Anthony Loren, ENS Jessian Wetal, SFC Marcus Daskar, SGT Nufae Podoppy; Col. Davin Laplant, CAPT Kenny Jackson, LCDR Devon Tanverr, SMAJ Len Dodds

Director:  Bill Anway

Synopsis:  The solemn members of Roughnecks begin the day with uncertainty. Wetal has been declared KIA, and Col. LaPlant has spent all night coming up with a replacement for Wetal, who then calls them to the ready room to discuss his decision. Just then, CAPT Jackson receives interesting news from Epsilon V - the wormhole has opened, and a lone Strega fighter is flying out from it - the one belonging to ENS Wetal! Due to all the recent events, Wetal is ordered to stand on station, as every nearby ship is trained on her position. The news and video feed is relayed to LaPlant and the ready room display. Loren insists at least he fly out to investigate. Loren launches shortly afterwards with Daskar and Podoppy on standby.

Once in space, Loren speaks privately with Wetal, and needless to say, there is a heated exchange as both sides are confused and emotionally charged. Loren seems to think it is really her, but can't be sure. A security detail and quarantine area is set up hastily on the flight deck, as Loren has her detach her RPC, and then attaches it to his Strurmvogel's arm.

Loren returns to the Stingray's flight deck and sets down the RPC. Wetal is quickly escorted under armed guard to the quarantine area where she undergoes an extremely clinical and unpleasant battery of tests, after which it is determine that she is actually herself. They also find that her Strega is genuine. Wetal is visibly shaken and upset, and has no kind words for Loren, who is still dumbstruck by the entire situation. LaPlant then orders everyone back to the ready room.

Back in the ready room, a debriefing commences, as many heated words are exchanged between Loren and Wetal:  Wetal feels betrayed, and thinks no one believes her, and accused Loren of not having any feelings; Loren tells Wetal she needs to grow up and act like a soldier, and to understand that due to the circumstances, this absolutely had to be done. After she calms down, she begins recounting her incredible trip...

Wetal recalls that she awoke inside of a large, softly lit oval room on a metal gurney that appeared to float above the floor. She only wore a silver gown. After calling out, a "door of light" opened along one of the walls, and out steps a strange alien humanoid, standing roughly 5'6" and wearing a silver close-fitting uniform of sorts.  The figure looks not unlike the 'grey' aliens of Earth mythos.  In a nutshell, it explains to her that the anti-matter explosion caused Wetal and her craft to be "pushed" into their dimension, where no time exists.  He (the alien) reveals they are a reace of observers and explorers that are over 6 billion years old by Earth reckoning, and that the wormhole they have recently discovered is but a part of their "roadway" system.  He also notes that he is returning a favor that is 135 years old - back to the 1947 Roswell incident, in which the United States government recovered one of their downed spacecraft and helped the alien recover.  A group of top minds was assembled, called the Majestic 12, to communicate with the alien, where they exchanged much in the way of theories, idealogies, and technology. He says that then, Majestic was very different. After other questions are exchanged, he shows Wetal towards another doorway, and together they view a huge expanse that looks similar to the inside of the wormhole, where hundreds of different vessels can be seen travelling back and forth - and two pieces of massive machinery are apparently creating a star - something he says "never gets old." After this, he leaves, and Wetal goes into another doorway that leads to her intact Strega and equipment. After she suits up and enters her Strega, sectional "bands" that comprise the walls begin rotating in alternating directions, and an increasing thrumming sound is heard as within momenths, the entire room flashes bright white, and Wetal finds herself within the wormhole, heading out to the Epsilon System.

LaPlant and the others aren't sure what to believe of all this. Tanverr is also brought in to offer his theories on how this could have happened, and everyone generally agrees that the combination of anti-matter (which had never been successfully tested and studied in lab conditions) and the proximity of the wormhole must have caused a unique event; this was backed up by the fact that Wetal's fighter appeared to simply vanish, not explode. Wetal's flight status is still in question.

Shortly afterwards, the Stingray receives a communication from an unexpected visitor - the Autobot Haydonite leader Optimus Prime, who is on his way there with a few others. They arrive at the flight deck, and Optimus tells them of an imminent threat - a killer planet called Deltacron, who is eating Luna! He has to be stopped, as he has allied himself with the Decepticons, and doing so will end the Decepticon threat. A plan is conceived:  the Autobots will destroy the rest of Luna before Deltacron can eat it and become fully-powered, while the Roughnecks will enter through one of its "Chicago-sized" exhaust shafts to make their way up to the central CPU and plant spidermines and C-10 charges.

The Stingray slipstreams near Luna, and the Roughnecks and Autobots launch, encountering Decepticon resistance almost immediately:  a 300' long vessel, resembling a WWII-era carrier - called Trypticon - and several old Earth-style fighters! The Autobots engage the fighters while Podoppy heads on towards Deltacron. Loren, Wetal, and Daskar engage Trypticon, taking the battle right to his face, destroying him! Loren is nearly destroyed when a transformed Trypticon performs a sword strike that lands right across the top of his fuselage.

After destroying Trypticon, Loren and co. catch up with Podoppy, and the enter the exhaust port, flying against hurrican-force winds the entire way. They manage to destroy a colossal exhaust fan, and then, with the help of Silverbolt, cut a whole in a set of thick doors. Silverbolt relays that Deltacron is now transforming, and the Roughnecks have to bob and weave to fly within a changing corridor before coming up into a large area that contains hundreds of computer banks. Everyone lands and disembarks, putting other their Cyclones (or AAS). Podoppy runs to the center to plant the charges and set her mines, while the rest lock on and release all their mines. She then takes control of all the mines and sets a 2 minute timer, as the Roughnecks are already on their way out. Silverbolt manages to hold of some 1,000 drones from attacking! Their way out - through one of Deltacron's eyes. Silverbolt tells them to fire everything they have to blast through - and Daskar manages to do just that by unloading his Beta's MM-60s. As they're flying out, everyone sees in horror that Deltacron is bringing his gun to bear - on Earth! Loren orders Podoppy to detonate the mines now, but loses the signal and has to make a hasty move backwards, to which end Silverbolt assists. She just manages to enter the code and detonate the mines as Deltacron begins charging his deadly anti-proton weapon. A spectacular implosion/explosion occurs that the Roughnecks and Autobots manage to avoid.

Episode 2.04

1/26/08

"Hivebusters, Part 1"

3 Feb 2082

Characters:  LT Anthony Loren, ENS Jessian Wetal, ENS Kenny Lambert, SFC Marcus Daskar, SGT Nufae Podoppy; Col. Davin LaPlant, CDR Chekov (DoH), WO Marshall (DoH), 1st Sgt. Hershaw (DoH), SMAJ Len Dodds

Director:  Bill Anway

Synopsis:  It has been nearly 2 weeks since the fantastic events near Earth. The Regess has been successful at locating the "Super Regent" and goes to his location. She has sensed his growing weakness, and is able to "reabsorb" the last of her true essence that was set asunder so many years ago. In an enigmatic and unexpected move, the Regess announces her "ascension to a higher plane" now that she is whole again as the Invid All-Mother. She leaves her successor, her "last true daughter" behind, named Adonnia, who would be considered a Stage 7 Invid. It seems the Invid are now in control of their own destiny as a species...

As usual, the Roughnecks are called to a briefing. Col. LaPlant begins by stating that the Super Regent is gone, but they have to clean up his mess...namely the remaining Invid Brains that originally created the Super Regent, and their network of Hives and Hatcheries across the galaxy. Their first "hivebusting" mission will take place on the planet Drexden IV, where they will assault and infiltrate a Hatchery, rescue another Hivebuster squad (the six members of VC-104, "Skullfires"), and destroy the Overmind that controls it. The Roughnecks will be flying in with 2 DoH Dropships, commanded by WO Marshall. A DoH Battlecruiser, the Sergei, under the command of CDR Chekov is on standby in low orbit.

For this mission, Wetal and Daskar will be fielding 2 prototype Armor Augmentation System (AAS) units. These units were designed over the past 8 months with fighting the Inorganics and hivebusting in mind. Fitting in 3 large metal cases, and able to be transported by a Cyclone sidecare, the AAS is nearly a true power armor, consisting of 7 interlocking pieces of armor that attach to the standard CVR-5 worn by pilots. While not as heavily armored as most Cyclone, the AAS makes up for it in maneuvability, speed, and control systems.

DoH Wraith fighters are launched from the Sergei and make a bombing run to clear a path from the Roughnecks and dropships to land. Not everything is taken out though - the Roughnecks are attacked by Spore Launchers, which lay down a blanket of covering fire in the air. The strange Sunken Colonies on the ground attempt to strike upwards with huge, 40' spikes, but can't reach the Roughnecks. After some fancy maneuvering by the Roughnecks, they manage to destroy the Spore Launchers and land with the dropships.

Once on the ground, 1st Sgt. Hershaw, commander of the DoH Siege Tank Brigade, rolls out of the dropships. Loren orders Hershaw to set up a defensive perimeter for their VFs. Half of the tanks go into Siege Mode, and the other half stay mobile to patrol. The Siege Tanks lay down fire on the ground, clearing out the Sunken Colonies so the Roughnecks can move in on Cyclones. Daskar and Wetal get suited up in their AAS units. Loren then radios CDR Chekov, and tells him they are claar to fire. The Sergei charges its main weapon, essentially a giant destabilizer cannon, and fires at the Hatchery shield, destroying it.

As the Roughnecks make their way to the Hatchery entrance, Hershaw radios Loren and co., telling them that they have a seismic contact...5 targets closing in on their position, undergound. Just then, everyone receives an all-bands communication from the 5 targets...in unison, they yell, "FOR THE SWARM!" Loren then quickly takes to the air in his Cyclone, and sees a tunnel entrance not far from his position. He drops a spider mine into the hole, just in time for one of the targets (which appears to be 1 of the Skullfires they are supposed to rescue!) to run into it. The mine detonates, causing the target to detonate, which creates a chain-reaction back through the tunnel, destroying all 5 of these "Infested Terrans." The Roughnecks then proceed to the entrance of the Hatchery...

Episode 2.05

2/2/08

"Hivebusters, Part 2"

3 Feb 2082

Characters:  LT Anthony Loren, ENS Jessian Wetal, SFC Marcus Daskar; Col. Davin LaPlant, CDR Chekov (DoH), WO Marshall, (DoH), 1st Sgt. Hershaw (DoH), PVT Johnson (Skullfires), DoH Medic #1, DoH Medic #2, DoH Medic #3

Director:  Bill Anway

Synopsis:  The Roughnecks arrive at the Hatchery entrance, and Lambert and Podoppy are forced to retreat back to the Stingary due to strange malfunctions with their radar and FCS controls. Loren tosses a shield destabilizer grenade at the entrance, causing the shield to open. Loren, Wetal, and Daskar enter the hatchery, and immediately notice a long-range comm and radar "black-out." Loren has everyone switch to sonar to try and locate any hostiles. The first target that appears is a Disruptor, which releases an orange "cloud", which apparently begins heading towards the team! Loren targets the ground with a plasma mini-missile which successfully disperses the cloud. The team engages the Disruptor, and Daskar goes HTH with it, stabbing it in the eye with his energy sword, nearly killing it, but the Disruptor releases another cloud right on Daskar at point-blank range, then the Disruptor retreats into the ceiling again. The dense orange cloud is hovering around Daskar, and he then notices on-board ystems begin shutting down, one by one - radio, sonar, life support. Daskar and Loren exchange hand gestures, and Loren shoots a plasma mini-missile at Daskar's feet, which seems to get rid of the cloud, causing minimal damage to Daskar. But, a thick, orange residue is left behind, all over Daskar's AAS! The orange stuff begins to harden, and fuse together at the joints, rendering him unable to move. Loren attempts to help Daskar to no avail. As this is occurring, Wetal is holding off 4 Hellions from closing in. Loren and Daskar soon hear a large CRACK, which grows louder, and begins spidering all over his AAS. Horrified, Loren and Daskar just watch as the AAS shatters off of him in pieces, leaving Daskar in his CVR, and without a helmet. Loren sends back Daskar, who boards his Legios and takes to the air. Wetal takes out the Hellions, and the team makes it over and grabs the remaining Skullfires team member, PVT Johnson, carefully avoiding the Overmind that is within the central plexus of the Hatchery.

On the way out, Loren, Wetal, and Johnson are attacked by 2 Hydralisks. Wetal holds off the Hydralisks while Loren begins running out, with Johnson in tow. Wetal destroys 1 Hydralisk, but the other gets the drop on her, flinging several huge 'spikes' at her, which penetrate her armor and pin her to the wall. Loren runs over to assist, destroying the remaining Hydralisk. He quickly extracts the spikes, and slings Wetal's nearly lifeless body over one shoulder, and Johnson over the other, thrusting out of the Hatchery and back to the secure perimeter, where medics await to stabilize Wetal on Loren's orders. Miraculously, she is alive, but barely.

During this time, Daskar has been assiting the Wraith squadrons in destroying Overlords nearby, further crippling the Inorganics' ability to detect their mecha. With the only remaining Skullfires survivor out of there, the Siege Tanks blast away with their synchro cannons, leveling the hive, and destroying the Overmind. Daskar then returns as Hershaw's tanks are being picked up by the dropships. The Roughnecks, along with the Wraith fighters, fly escort out of the planet's atmosphere.

Episode 2.06

3/1/08

"Heroes"

24 Feb 2082

Characters:  LT Anthony Loren, ENS Jessian Wetal, SFC Marcus Daskar, SGT Nufae Podoppy; Col. Davin LaPlant, CDR Chekov (DoH), LCDR Devon Tanverr, WO Marshall (DoH), SMAJ Len Dodds, 1st Sgt. Hershaw (DoH), PVT McNabb (DoH), PVT Killian (DoH), Firebat #3 (DoH)

Director:  Bill Anway

Synopsis:  Three weeks have passed since the Roughnecks' first taste of hivebusting. ENS Wetal is nearly fully recovered from her injuries in battle. Since then, Tanverr was able to make it to EDF Headquarters back on Epsilon to meet with Dr. Stiller and determine what exactly the "orange cloud" substance was that has come from the Disruptor Inorganics, and what caused it to destroy the AAS' armor so easily. Tanverr returns to the Stingray, and briefs LaPlant, Loren, Wetal, Daskar, and Podoppy. It was found that the cloud contained "micro-inorganics", which were eating away at critical systems on the Roughnecks' mecha. They seemed to be drawn to any radar emissions, which is why the team suffered a radar blackout first. These micro-inorganics also were able to chemically alter the metal at the molecular level, rendering it a useless, brittle material. Incredibly, Daskar's energy sword and shield, gifts from the mysterious Covenant, were completely unaffected do the incredibly dense alloys used in their construction. Loren issues a standing order that all units will switch to sonar prior to entering any future Hives or Hatcheries.

Tanverr is dismissed, and LaPlant continues the briefing for their next hivebusting mission, which will take the team to the planet Clytross to assault a Hive. Recon reports sightings of a Scorpion Lander, Zenganic* dropships, and Zenganics on hover platforms, as well as the presence of an Invid Brain, which must be taken out quickly. LaPlant also reports that despite the problems that Daskar and Wetal suffered, the AAS has been put into limited production. Daskar receives the first production unit. The Roughnecks will be rescuing the surviving members of two other Hivebuster squads:  the VC-103 "Shadowpunks", and the VC-107 "Hell Eaters", believed to be located in roughly the same location as before. The briefing is concluded, and the Roughnecks move to the flight deck, where Loren has Dodds ready both Daskar and Podoppy's Legios to fly escort for the DoH dropships. Pre-flight checks are made while Loren and Wetal get suited up and take position in Marshall's dropship.

The team breaks atmosphere on Clytross, and before they can land, a repeating distress signal is received. It is of a downed civilian transport named Alegra, registry #4826, a new "Luxury Liner" owned and operated by PlezureLine Industries. The vessel went missing 3 weeks ago, and was presumed lost. Loren orders Daskar and Podoppy to go check it out, while Wetal and Loren get on the ground and head for the Hive entrance with 3 DoH Firebats to provide support.

At the Alegra wreckage, Daskar and Podoppy survey the damage. Through a docking hatch in the top, Daskar uses his spotlights to peer inside, and all he can see is a large cabin filled with a strange white, hardened material. He then does a thermal scan within the cabin, and detects several human-shaped readings - survivors of the wreck. He takes a rock and throws it at the material, and it cracks, through which an arm appears. He then throws another rock at the same area, causing it to shatter, releasing the passenger. Now free of what was found out to be a protective emergency crash foam, the passenger asphyxiates in the harsh atmosphere! Daskar radios Loren to inform him of their findings, and Loren has them remain to help the survivors. A DoH medical evac team is called in to retrieve the passengers from the hardened foam and get them to safety. Podoppy and Daskar provide cover for the evac team.

Back at the Hive, Loren, Wetal, and the Firebats enter the Hive, and without any resistance, make their way towards the central plexus, only to find no one there to rescue. Almost immediately afterwards, they receive several sonar contacts from outside the hive, all heading for the entrance at high speed, in a double-column. With a horrid realization, it is found that these are most of the Alegra passengers, having been transformed into living, screaming bombs! The intel was false - this was a trap laid by the Invid Brains. Loren calls in a Wraith bombing run, which is successful at taking out many of the targets. Loren has the Firebats take up positions at angles to the entrance, while he and Wetal line up straight on with the entrance opening, maximizing their crossfire. They begin taking out these "Infested Terrans", 2 at a time, creating large explosions each time that often take out the pair directly behind in line. This goes on for several seconds. Meanwhile, the Alegra passengers have been evacuated, and Daskar and Podoppy are on their way to assist Loren and co. Unfortunately, they arrive too late...

At the last seconds of the battle, a single "Infested Terran" makes it through the barrage, and the team is unable to stop it in time as it makes a bee-line to Loren. He can only manage a quick grin as his fate is sealed. Everything seems to move in slow motion. Wetal dives for cover, grabbing one of the Firebats to get him out of the blast. The explosions rips through the area, destroying two of the Firebats, PVT McNabb and PVT Killian, and LT Loren. And to add to all of this, a smoldering mechanical endoskeleton remains where Loren once stood...

Wetal rounds up the rest of the team and runs back to Marshall's dropship, not saying a word. Hershaw's tanks fire upon the Hive just to be sure, and reduce it to a pile of slag. The tanks are loaded up, and the entire group makes the solemn trip back to Epsilon.

Later, DoH Ghost Teams would go in to inspect the Hive wreckage for additional intel. Their report is...strange...to say the least:

"....some sort of eight-legged, well armed and armored crawler was discovered within the rubble of the central plexus. It had positions on it for a driver and a gunner, and appeared to be some form of battle transport for the [Invid] Brain itself. Besides an impressive aray of missile ports, it's main armament seemed to be a very large HV chaingun pointing forward from its base. This weapon appeared to have no ammo drum, or means for it to actually work....Be on the look out for this "Braincrawler", as we have labeled it, and proceed with extreme caution, we have no idea what this fucking thing can do.  Also, we found a strange shape, cut into the floor of the Hive....seems to be a huge pentagram, red in color, and glowing slightly. We aren't getting any readings from it of any kind, but we seem to pick up from it the screams of people that we can't locate anywhere in the area....it's damn unnerving."

For their actions in saving the passengers of the Alegra, Daskar and Podoppy are awarded the Gold Life Saving Medal. Wetal and Daskar are promoted for their combat actions.

On 27 February 2082, the funeral is held for LT Anthony Loren. He is awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for the second time to the solemn crowd that has gathered, which includes many of the top pilots in the EDF, and many of those that Loren personally trained. His tragic and memorable death marks the end of a career spanning over 20 years, and the end of an era. FADM Sterling declares an official week of mourning.

* Producer's Note:  This is another one of those bits of info that were discovered before I actually started recording the events of the 1st season. LT Loren (R.I.P. buddy!) gathered the intial intel on the new forces of the "Super Regent", who used cloned Zentraedi warriors as his foot soldiers, covering them and other various Zentraedi and Robotech Master's mecha with a sort of inorganic armor. The Robotech Masters actually coined the term "Zenganic" to describe the Zentraedi-Inorganic fusion, which was discovered in a derelict Mothership. These dropships are old Bioroid dropships modified with this same type of armor.

Episode 2.07

3/22/08

"Infestation, Part 1"

21 Mar 2082

Characters:  MSGT Marcus Daskar, SGT Nufae Podoppy, CPL Anthony Lewis; RADM Zolnik (Invid), CDR Kozat (Invid), LCDR Devon Tanverr, CDR Chekov (DoH), WO Marshall (DoH)

Director:  Bill Anway

Synopsis:  Daskar and Podoppy report to the briefing room to a waiting Tanverr. He begins to brief them on their new mission, noting that they have a new face transferring in, CPL Anthony Lewis, younger brother of William Lewis. CPL Lewis was formerly with the 73rd Timberwolves in Special Ops and is a Cyclone Cavalier with basic VF piloting skills. Lewis reports in, and Tanverr introduces him to the group. He is met with mixed reactions.

Tanverr continues with the briefing, explaining that they now have confirmed recon reports that the surviving members of the VC-105 "Death Dealers" and the VC-106 "Royal Flushes" (the last remaining "Hive-Busting" squads) are located on the planet Sulgarious. The recon was very difficult to retrieve, as nearly all attempts to gain intel were futile - probes were often destroyed, and manned vessels were overwhelmed and driven away. The problem has also been compounded by the presence of a large number of Space Scourges in the area that have been successful thus far at disrupting slipstream access in the area. Recon reports that it is believed there is a large force located at a Hive there, as well as 2 Invid Brains and an infestation of Disruptors. As a workaround for the slipstream problem, a Marduk landing ship will be folding us to the location. For this mission, our DoH dropship is taking additional ordnance for the team - enough for full ammo reloads. A small fleet has been assembled to attack any resistance on the way to the planet's surface, consisting of nearly 50 DoH vessels, mainly battlecruisers and some new destroyers, 2 dozen Marduk vessels, and 70 EDF vessels, including 1 Ikazuchi-class command ship and the Stingray. The fleet then folds to Sulgarious. Lewis vomits twice.

Upon folding into Sulgarious space, the fleet encounters something rather unexpected - a blockade of some 400 Invid Clam Ships! The fleet receives a transmision from the blockade - it is help sent from Adonnia, the new commander of the Invid forces! The Invid fleet is under the command of a RADM Zolnik, who merely says "shall we?" in his transmission, as he turns his Clam Ships towards the planet.

As expected, the now-combined fleet is met with heavy Inorganic resistance. Coming up from the planet are some 4,000 Mutalisks, 48 Zenganic dropships, and an incalculable number of Space Scourges. Zolnik unleashes his army against the Space Scourges, while the rest of the fleet takes on the Mutalisks and Zenganics. Zolnik also sends one of his pilots, Kozat (in an RCB-6) to assist the Roughnecks with the fighting, as they launch from the flight deck of the Stingray. Daskar, Podoppy, and Lewis, along with Kozat, almost immediately encounter Zenganic soldiers on their hover platforms, just launched from a nearby dropship. Podopy's Beta is destroyed by a Zenganic missile barage. Daskar unleashes 180 of his SRMs from his Legios...and misses completely. Lewis doesn't seem to be having any luck hitting any of his targets. CDR Chekov swoops in with the Sergei and, using a tractor beam, rescues them from overwhelming odds. Now aboard the Sergei, Dark Unit's techs, already in place for the mission, begin refitting their craft for the next encounter.

Dark Unit's assault team, consisting of 2 DoH Battlecruisers, and 2 Dropships (each carrying 24 Firebats) punches through to the upper atmosphere of Sulgarious. The team relaunches, and Daskar and Podoppy dispatch a group of 10 Air Scourges. While still in the air, they encounter a group of 2 Overlords and 5 Mutalisks. Daskar is able to take out the 2 Overlords, rendering the Mutalisks blind. They then proceed to the planet's surface...

Episode 2.08

3/29/08

"Infestation, Part 2"

21 Mar 2082

Characters:  LCDR Devon Tanverr, LTJG Jessian Wetal, MSGT Marcus Daskar, SGT Nufae Podoppy, CPL Anthony Lewis; Col. Davin LaPlant, CDR Kozat (Invid), WO Marshall (DoH), WO Cogee (DoH, Vampire pilot)

Director:  Bill Anway

Synopsis:  In a last minute change to the operation, LaPlant orders the team back to the Stingray, where they will be loading onto a new DoH Assault Lander, Vampire-class. The Roughnecks and Firebats will be able to man gun control stations within this vessel while wearing their armor/Cyclones/AAS units. Wetal, now mostly recovered from the tragic events of a month ago, has been listening in to the team's 'TacNet' chatter, and begins suiting up to await their return.

The Roughnecks land along with the DoH dropships on the flight deck, where Wetal is standing along with LaPlant, who fills her in the operation. Lewis has a rather rough landing, which attracts Wetal's immediate attention and ire. Lewis and Wetal's first exchange is not pleasant, with Lewis giving attitude, and Wetal giving back PT. Daskar, Podoppy, and Lewis are ordered to grab their gear and board the Vampire. When Wetal sees that Lewis apparently forgot his Cyclone, she scrubs him from the mission, much to Lewis' dismay. Little did Wetal know that the Cyclones, which were still in everyone's Alphas, were already stored aboard the Vampire - a fact that Daskar passes on to Wetal. After a bit of logical discussion with Daskar, Wetal orders Lewis back on the mission, but not before Tanverr finds Lewis in the Roughnecks briefing room, and wonders what the hell he's doing there. Daskar has a strange encounter with his CVR's helmet radio. With everyone finally through the docking ring and loaded up, Wetal orders Cogee to take off and head back to Sulgarious. Before all the arguments stop, Podoppy quietly breaks down at her gunning station.

Zolnik's fleet of Clam Ships was able to beat back the Space Scourges rather well, which opened up a huge lane for the team to enter. Initial radar contacts with the Hive area are tremendous - thousands of Hydralisks, an unknown number of Overlords are everywhere, rendering Shadow Cloak useless, and a large number of Spore Launchers and Sunken Colonies litter the ground. The LZ is nearly 7 miles from the Hive entrance, but is the best tactical location to set down. The Vampire makes a run for the LZ, with Daskar, Podoppy, and co. firing upon numerous airborne targets, and taking fire in the process.

After the LZ is established, Wetal and Lewis stay at the command point. Ace's High and the Goliaths support the 24 Firebats in clearing a way to the Hive while Daskar and Podoppy clear out the Sunken Colonies. Kozat lands as well and assists the Roughnecks and Goliaths, taking on a large number of Hydralisks. 15 minutes into the mission the Sunken Colonies are cleared and the dropships take off. With the fighting leading away from the LZ, Wetal and Lewis assist the Firebats by pulling up the slack from two fallen Goliaths. Daskar and Podoppy are given orders to hold a straffing pattern in front of the Hive entrance. Podoppy also gets a fuzzy ID on where the remaining Hivebusters are being held - they are in the central plexus...

Episode 2.09

4/5/08

"Infestation, Part 3"

21 Mar 2082

Characters:  LTJG Jessian Wetal, MSGT Marcus Daskar, SGT Nufae Podoppy, CPL Anthony Lewis; CAPT Kenny Jackson, CDR Tommy Carter, Col. Davin LaPlant, CDR Chekov (DoH), WO Marshall (DoH), WO Cogee (DoH), "Dark Star" (Lead StarWing pilot), 1st Sgt. Hershaw (DoH), Sgt. Saunders (DoH), "8 Ball", Goliath Pilot, Bridge Comm. Officer, Marduk Doctor, Marduk Tech #1, Marduk Tech #2

Director:  Bill Anway

Synopsis:  The action starts right back up with Wetal and Lewis pushing forward, assisting Hershaw and his Firebats, and the Goliaths, in punching a hole in the Inorganics' defensive line. Wetal and Lewis launch barrages of SRMs from their VFs while in battloid mode, trying to clear out the Hydralisks in front of them. LaPlant then sends a communication to the Roughnecks...he is calling in a bombing run, utilizing the SB-12 StarWing, a non-transformable bomber. The team is told to move back some 50 miles from the target area. They fall back - dropships sweep in to pick up retreating Firebats and Goliaths. Podoppy and Daskar fly over and assist Wetal and Lewis in providing cover fire for the DoH forces by unleashing hell in the form of missiles. As the Roughnecks then pull back in fighter mode, they see 4 StarWings pass by, unloading their massive payload, decimating untold numbers of Overlords, with the rest of the bombs taking out nearly a 6-mile swath of Inorganics, making way for a new, closer LZ. Following up this action, the Sergei moves in, firing at the Hive shield, taking it down.

WO Cogee moves in with the Vampire, as well as WO Marshall and his dropship containing the Firebats and Goliaths, and Ace's High under command of 8 Ball. The team lands at their new LZ, 1 mile from the Hive entrance. Wetal takes command and orders everyone to assemble for a quick briefing. She divides tha assault force into 3 groups:  Daskar will head up the main Hive insertion team, consisting of the Roughnecks and 5 Firebats. The second team will be lead by 8 Ball and Ace's High with an additional 5 Firebats. Finally, protecting their entrance will be Hershaw with the remaining 13 Firebats, and 2 Goliaths, one of which is Sgt. Saunders. Everyone is outfitted with destablizer grenades and spider mines from Podoppy's Beta. The Roughnecks get suited up in their Cyclones/AAS units and proceed into the Hive. Just before they enter, the Sergei sends a transmission that they've spotted a group of Zenganic dropships heading towards the Hive.

The teams make their way into the central plexus without any problems, but are taken aback by the "menagerie" of "creatures" that they see within:  2 Invid Brains resting atop a strange spider-like "carrier" driven by 2 Zenganic pilots; a tall, horned creatured with some sort of cannon for an arm; and 2 brown-skinned humanoids with glowing red eyes and a bluish Zenganic-style armor. Along the walls, within strange "blisters", the 10 members of the Death Dealers and Royal Flushes can be seen, unmoving. Finally, on the floor is a large, red, slightly glowing pentagram. Daskar's team immediately engages the creatures while 8 Ball and the rest begin moving towards the Hivebusters on the walls to take them down. Lewis and Daskar release several spider mines at one of the Invid Brains, but it is seen that the explosion hits a powerful force field. The combat continues, and the remaining creatures are engaged in combat. Intead of dodging an oncoming assault, the 3 remaining humanoid creatures are surrounded by a red lightning, and then disappear, during which time the pentagram glows brighter in a split second flash. The team doesn't realize until after the shield has taken a lot of punishment that they can use their destabilizer grenades to take down the shields! The grenades are activated and tossed, then the team goes to work on the Invid Brains. The first Brain collapses from mine damage, and the 2 Zenganic drivers jump out, with one beginning a sort of organic transformation into a "gun" (its two arms stretch out in front, forming a sort of reflex cannon appearance). Lewis takes to the air to avoid them, but the "gun Zenganic" nearly destroys Podoppy and Wetal (both of which feel as if a mysterious force has pushed them out of the way at the last moment). Daskar and the Firebats are able to destroy the other Invid Brain and its Zenganic pilots, and turn to assist Lewis in blasting the last 2 Zenganics to pieces.

Aces's High has managed to take down the captured Hivebusters from the strange blisters, and they are covered in some sort of jelly-like material. To do so, the Firebats had to exit their armor, and they hear screams from everywhere, but with no identifiable source!

At this time, the Vampire lander has come around to receive the now-freed Death Dealers and Royal Flushes, who appear to be in a sort of suspended animation. WO Marshall pulls out Saunders' team from the entrance. Wetal tells Daskar and 8 Ball to man the guns in the Vampire, but says that Lewis is to sit. She puts Daskar in charge of the gun stations, who then tells Lewis to man a gun station, much to Wetal's dismay. At the same time, Podoppy is in the central plexus setting 60 pounds of C-10 charges to destroy the Hive. She then quickly boards the Vampire and it takes off. The Sergei is able to destroy on of the advancing Zenganic dropships (the group that was closing in on the Hive) and clear a lane for the Vampire to escape. Marshall and Cogee are able to fly back to the Stingray without further incident.

Back on the Stingray, a quarantine zone is set-up, and Marduk doctors and techs rush to check out the Hivebuster survivors and returning team members. Lewis, at his request, stays around to assist the doctors, where he finds that the survivors' blood cells have been altered on the genetic level. Podoppy realizes that she forgot to set off the C-10 charges! She talks to Daskar, who goes to the bridge of the Stingray and speaks to CDR Carter and a comm tech, and is able to boost Podoppy's P-14 signal to send the command to detonate. Wetal then calls for a quick debriefing. Lewis is able to avoid it for the time being. Wetal gives high praise to all assembled, then dismisses everyone except for Daskar, Saunders, Hershaw, and 8 Ball. They discuss all the strange things they saw and heard in the central plexus, as well as their tactics. Once the debriefing has nearly concluced, Lewis returns with news of the rescued Hivebusters. He shows his findings (the strange blood cell structure), and realizes right then that these haven't just been altered, but can't even be considered Human cells anymore...

Just then, emergency claxons sound on the flight deck. The Marduk doctor is on the intercom, yelling, "THIS IS A CONTAINMENT EMERGENCY!" Wetal is the first back to the flight deck, and witnesses a horror - the containtment "tents" are being clawed open by someone - or something - inside. One of the Hivebusters emerges, and some sort of silver "cannon" aperture has formed on one of his arms. He convulses, screams, and is literally sucked into the barrel, which hovers momentarily and releases a poweful blast of energy at the Stingray's bulkhead near the flight deck opening! It tears a 3' hole right through the plating, and hull breach alarms start going off. The emergency sequence has begun to seal off the flight deck from decompression, but Wetal is still in there! More Hivebusters begin clawing their way out, and the same thing happens each time, with the silver "cannon" dropping to the deck. Wetal begins firing like mad. One of the energy blasts hits Daskar's Alpha, destroying it all except for a pair of glowing wingtips! CAPT Jackson calls down over the PA and asks what the hell is going on. Lewis and Daskar are able to close down a portion of the corridor and override the bulkhead door blocking them from the flight deck. Now almost completely decompressed, and the holes slowly being covered by a massive emergency bulkhead, Daskar, Lewis, and Wetal open fire on the containment tent, riddling it with holes and plasma fire. With the situation finally under control, Lewis nudges one of the silver cannons, and it rolls lazily. Daskar goes over to inspect one, and he hears it actually speak to him - "pick me up"...

Episode 2.10

4/6/08

"Zombies!?"

24 Mar 2082

Characters:  LCDR Devon Tanverr, LTJG Jessian Wetal, SGT Nufae Podoppy, CPL Anthony Lewis; Col. Davin LaPlant, SMAJ Len Dodds, SGT Williams (M-600 Pilot), LT "Rico", SSGT "Noodles", CPL "Meat", Necromonger Soldier

Director:  Jason Shaffer

Synopsis:  Things continue to become even stranger for the Roughnecks, but such is the life of Dark Unit. At 0600 sharp, Col. LaPlant calls them for a briefing. Tanverr, who happens to be on a break from testing the YF-43, is on-board. The Roughnecks are assembled, and he begins by stating that at 0400 this morning, a deep space probe detected what appeared to be an inactive Hive on the planet Lithos, a small, reddish-orange planet with a non-breathable atmosphere. Ace's High was sent to recon the Hive. Contact was lost, but 8 Ball's last transmission showed them entering the Hive, and something very fast, appearing humanoid, came across his vision, then static. The Roughnecks are dispatched to assess what happened to Ace's High and bring them back. The team will be taking an M-600 transport, code name Mother Goose for this mission, as well as 2 techs and 2 medics. They are also instructed to capture dead or alive whatever it was that took down Ace's High and bring it back.

The M-600 transport arrives without incident, and already the team can see the Hive, as well as the dropship used by Ace's High, sitting near the entrance. No targets are seen on the ground or anywhere. Lewis does a fly-by of the Hive, peforming a full scan of the area, and picks up 5 warm targets inside - possibly Ace's High. Just then, Tanverr gets a very quick sonar ping from the back of the Ace's High dropship - something or someone appeared and looked at Tanver's Strega, then disappeared just as quickly! Tanverr then orders everyone to ascend to 900'. All attempts thus far to contact 8 Ball have failed. After not seeing any other activity, Wetal and Lewis set down, and put on their AAS and Cyclone, respectively. Wetal then gets the same quick sonar ping as Tanverr did just minutes before. Tanverr orders Wetal and Lewis to lock down their VFs, and then attempts to slave the Ace's High dropship, but gets no response at all. Tanverr then yells, "it's a trap!", and just as he says this, a humanoid wearing strange, gothic-style black armor and helmet appears in front of Wetal and Lewis, wielding some sort of halberd! At the back of the dropship, 5 others appear, moving to attack as well. The team is able to take out all but 2 targets remaining in the dropship. Then, from either side of the dropship, an ethereal black "fog", rolling from some unknown force. From this fog, 2 unknown fighter craft appear on either side (4 in total), bearing resemblance in style to the humanoids' armor. The fighters immediately move to attack Tanverr in his Strega, who orders Podoppy to escort Mother Goose back to the Stingray and gather reinforcements.

Meanwhile, Tanverr is being dogged by these new fighters, whose missiles confuse his radar and BCS/BDI systems due to the fact that they aren't "always there", appearing to phase in and out of reality - and to top it of, are highly maneuverable! However, Tanverr's skills prove better, and he is able to take out all 4 targets. Podoppy is able to contact the Stingray, and the Ghostriders are launched (now under the command of LT Richard "Rico" Casey) to assist the Roughnecks. Wetal engages one of the remaining 2 humanoid targets, and lets a full barrage of bullets loose from her HIVACs in the AAS, killing it. Lewis takes on 2 other fighters that have appeared, loosing missiles and knocking them down, and then shoots at the other humanoid, fatally wounding it. Podoppy then attempts to communicate with it, and "he" speaks to her, "The Lord Marshall will be at your doorstep soon....you will feel the full force of the Necromonger Empire!" He then somehow blows his own head off. Tanverr then orders Podoppy to check out the 2 downed fighters that Lewis shot, and Lewis accompanies her.

Wetal moves into the Hive to check on Ace's High when she sees yet another strange humanoid in similar armor, but has some sort of scope up to his face. She attempts to speak with it, as it simply walks towards her. She shoots its arm off, but it does not flinch and continues to walk right up to her, being stopped by her EP-42A barrells. She then destroys it, leaving it in the Hive to rot.

Outside the Hive, Lewis stops the Necromonger corpse from bleeding at the neck and stores it in Podoppy's Beta in one of the empty Cyclone compartments. The team then assists Wetal in pulling out Ace's High from the Hive's interior, who are injured but not badly. Tanverr orders Podoppy to place C-10 charges in the dropship and destroy it, but Wetal has walked in already and is sitting down at the front of the hold. Podoppy keeps trying to get Wetal out of there, and finally Lewis walks up, yelling at her to get out. He realizes that she is suffering from some sort of PTSD episode. He calmly approaches her, talking to her like nothing is wrong. He distracts her quickly, and tranquilizes her. They are then able to load her up on the M-600, and Podoppy detonates the charges.

Back aboard the Stingray, Dodds gets a suprise when he opens Podoppy's Beta. LaPlant conducts a rather heated debriefing, and Wetal can't help but vent. Things seem like they are coming to a head...

Episode 2.11/2.12 "2-hour Season Hiatus Special"

4/19/08, 4/21/08

"Fear Factory"

22 Apr 2082 - 23 Apr 2082

Characters:  LTJG Jessian Wetal, MSGT Marcus Daskar, SGT Nufae Podoppy, CPL William Lewis; MG Vincent La Guitiera, Col. Davin LaPlant, CDR Romanov (DoH), Sgt Melbourne ("Balrog"), Spc Murphy ("Loki"), Pvt Desootoe ("Uriki"), Pvt Valentine ("Zeus"), Pvt Lassater ("Gandalf")

Director:  Bill Anway

Synopsis:  After 30 well-earned days of R&R, the Roughnecks return to the Stingray. During that time, Wetal visits her sister on Epsilon to tell her the news that she is expecting a daughter; she also visits Dodds Racing (owned by SMAJ Len Dodds' brother Ronnie, whose racing label is RDR) to learn how to work on motorcyles, as well as purchase one and some gear. Lewis is also here, enjoying his favorite hobby - racing motorcycles. He runs against Wetal several times (under rival racing team Pro-ARC). Wetal is able to beat Lewis' record time by one-tenth of a second. Daskar and Podoppy have spent their time together on Epsilon as well, enjoying several types of physical recreation. Podoppy decides to buy special coffees for the squad, and Wetal buys coffee for LaPlant. Wetal returns to the ship 5 days earlier, and attempts to get to know LaPlant a little better, much to her dissatisfaction - it seems the man only lives to serve the EDF, and drinking coffee is the only "hobby" he indulges.

LaPlant orders the Roughnecks to the briefing room. The team receives a general report that recon teams have detected what can only be considered a Super Robotech Factory, located at the tip of the Orion Arm of the galaxy. Measuring some 20 miles across, these behemoth marvels of automation were constructed by the Robotech Masters untold years ago, of which only 2 were ever completed. Intel reports indicate the entire factory is covered in Inorganic material, and all attempts to make contact with it have failed. Command considers the factory unrecoverable. Destruction of the factory is top priority, but if the Roughnecks are able to take control of it, then do so. A large fleet is being assembled for this mission, which will include elements from all over the Alliance, namely the entire Invid Army, as well as the Alus! Podoppy gives Wetal a gift of new shiny pink flip-flops. This reminds Lewis of a time when Wetal was at Fokker's; in response to Wetal's comments about beating his race time, Lewis shows a couple of embarassing photos to Wetal, with her not wearing much of anything. She figures out that this was from Armistice Day in 2081, when she decided to put on an impromptu "stage show", and that it was Lewis who was up front, and his buddy was the one she punched! Lewis also reveals he is writing a "best-selling book of his memoirs." LaPlant then enters the briefing room, and the Roughnecks relay to him that they have all received strange "flash briefings" on their P-14s. The information shown was quite interesting...it would seem that this new threat that the Invid Brains are with (from what would seem to be "Hell") have sent an untraceable message to the Roughnecks. This transmission conveyed that they had captured some of our technology, namely the shield destabilizer grenades; the transmission also showed a Scorpion Lander firing upon a DoH vessel and knocking out its shield in one hit, all the Hivebuster teams that were captured had their hard drives wiped, and what would be discovered as fake footage of the EDF sending a probe through one of the pentagrams, and recording footage of a place that is completely ablaze, with strange humanoid creatures walking around. Podoppy attempts to dock her P-14 in the briefing room, and it literally pops out of the cradle! This prompts everyone to draw down on the P-14, and eventually Lewis gathers all their units and destroys them, tossing the remains in the garbage disposal. Besides the probe footage, everything else was classified above the Roughnecks' clearance - LaPlant is enfuriated that this was somehow transmitted; he also reveals that the probe footage must have been faked, as they were never able to get anything back from it. LaPlant then tells the team they will be leaving tomorrow at 0800. Wetal invites the squad to the O Club for some drinks; she orders a virgin daiquiri, which draws raised eyebrows from the team. Podoppy also notices Wetal's strange dark eyes...

The next day, the Stingray departs with the rest of the assembled armada, headed to the Super Robotech Factory. Upon arriving near the factory's location, the fleet takes up a position several hundred miles away. A sizable force of Zenganic Dropships have mobilized around the factory. The Roughnecks launch, heading directly for a predetermined location to punch a hole in the hull of the factory and give them their quickest route to the computer core. On their way, the encounter several of the Zenganic Dropships, but drop below their position and come up high, with Podoppy releasing her payload of bombs, blasting a hole to the inside. The Roughnecks receive cover fire from the fleet, which manage to destroy all the team's immediate threats. The team sets down just inside the hole, and Daskar, Podoppy, and Lewis detach their Betas to leave them at the entrance. Lewis hot-loads all 3 Beta's missiles and programs them to explode should any non-NUA personnel attempt to gain control of them.

The team begins their trek to the computer core, several miles away. They proceed to the first elevator with no problems, and begin the descent to 4 levels below. Once inside, the team experiences occurrences that border on nightmarish - as they descend, the elevator stops at each level, opening the doors to reveal such horrors as screams and hallways of blood. The elevator stops, the lights flicker and go dark, and Wetal, Daskar, Podoppy, and Lewis each find themselves in completely dark "rooms", separated from one another. They do make out something else - the same types of strange "creatures" they saw back at the Hive on Sulgarious!

The team slowly gets their bearings and notices some sort of large organic-like "gun pod" on the floor. Lewis first receives a Morse code transmission, and accepts...it simply reads "energy". He gets an idea; leaving his cockpit, he pulls one of the omniculture cells from his Alpha and inserts it into a slot under the "gun pod", which it accepts with a robotic arm. The gun then actually speaks to Lewis through his radio! It states that they are what is left of a race called the Mulltarans, and they were invaded by the Trabe - the race of creatures from "hell" that they are fighting, and that have struck some sort of alliance with the Inorganics. Lewis' gunpod calls itself "BFG", and can attach to his Alpha's arm. It fires a large blast of energy, destroying all of the giant skeletal creatures coming towards him! Lewis then finds himself back in the elevator, but no one else is around.

[fight their way out, appear back in elevator (Lewis, Daskar, then Podoppy]

[Stormdragons cut hole in elevator, find Roughnecks...bring Podoppy, Lewis' Betas]

[teams catch each other up on status...Lewis says this about Wetal "...she is the biggest bitch I've ever met - there's no way she's gonna die!"]

[both teams move to next elevator...no lift in the tube]

[Gandalf shows Lewis how to override controls; Daskar and Lewis descend, open door, proceed over to main computer controls]

[Daskar goes over to the factory's main comm systems...attempts to establish comm with rest of unit]

Episode 2.13

4/26/08

"Surprises"

4 Dec 2082

Characters:  LCDR Devon Tanverr, LTJG Jessian Wetal, MSGT Marcus Daskar, SGT Nufae Podoppy; CDR Mileena "Black Widow" Nara, LCDR Stan "Mack" Mackie, LT Richard "Rico" Casey, LT Corinne "Lacey" McCordle, SMAJ Len Dodds, SSGT Justin "Noodles" Lindenham, CPL Omar "Meat" Mitzlekowski, PFC Lorena "Fury" Mackenzie, "Hellscreamers #2", SGT Frye (bartender at the O Club), "Officer In Bar"

Director:  Josh Grumble

Synopsis:  Tanverr finally returns to the Stingray, and he's brought something new with him - the VF-43 Raven! The whole flight deck is buzzing with excitement and Dodds and his crew can't seem to keep their hands off of it. CDR Nara addresses the squadrons, which have all assembled on the deck. They are going to do a little training exercise - the Roughnecks, vs. all three other squadrons! Wetal ups the ante, and suggests that whoever wins, the XO (or XOs) must buy the winner drinks in the O Club! Nara seems a bit hostile towards the Roughnecks in general; her VF-22 can be seen on the flight deck.

The Ghost Riders, Hellscreamers, and Star Furies launch first. The Roughnecks come out last, "guns" already blazing. Tanverr attempts to even up the odds quickly by attempting a Plasma Overload, and takes out Meat. Wetal and Daskar show exactly why they are Aces. As they tide starts turning in favor of the Roughnecks, Black Widow launches, but is QUICKLY smacked down by a one-two combo from Daskar's destabilizer, then a load of missiles from Podoppy!! Amazingly, Noodles is the only one left flying; several of the pilots have lined the flight deck to watch. He refuses to give up, even though Tanverr has him dead to rights. Daskar finally executes a bold physical move with his Veritech - transforming into Battloid mode and flipping up onto Noodle's fighter, ending the battle.

All pilots have now returned to the flight deck, and several taunts and congratulations are thrown around, especially towards Podoppy and Noodles. Nara walks over to Podoppy, and everyone expects her to get an ass-chewing. She begins that way, but actually tells her she is proud to have been "shot down by another woman." Daskar ends up getting chewed out by Nara for his "unecessary stunts." She doesn't seem to like him very well...

Later in the O Club, everyone is celebrating, but none more so that Tanverr, who is damn proud of Podoppy, and is just glad to be back for good. One of the officers in the bar asks something of Wetal, and she refuses, and the guy replies "aww, c'mon...you have weird eyes!" Tanverr asks in vane to have the footage of Podoppy taking out Nara put upon every screen in the bar. The, a GNN news bulletin comes across the screens:  a military transport carrying prisoners - which included former EDF COL Evan McKnight and John Loengard (two Majestic Operatives) was destroyed in what has been ruled an accident...

A well-dressed civilian enters the O Club, and approaches Wetal, who is already slightly intoxicated. He introduces himself as Ryan Reese, a representative of Shinsei Industries. He says for her to give his card to Tanverr for him (at this point, Tanverr has passed out at the bar). Rico makes an unwelcome advance towards Wetal.

Episode 2.14

5/03/08, 5/04/08

"Conscience"

23 Dec 2082 - 24 Dec 2082

Characters:  LTJG Jessian Wetal, MSGT Marcus Daskar, SGT Nufae Podoppy, CPL Anthony Lewis; GEN Lucas Smith, CAPT Kenny Jackson, CDR Mileena Nara, CDR Mathers (Chief of Security, UAS Stingray), CDR Dr. Bailey (CMO, UAS Stingray), LT Richard Casey, SSGT Justin Lindenham, CPL Omar Mitzlekowski, PFC Lorena Mackenzie, "Marduk EMT #1", "Marduk EMT #2", "Medical Tech", "M-300 Pilot", Kator, SECDEF Liaison Russo

Director:  Josh Grumble

Synopsis:  In response to Rico's behavior from a couple of weeks ago, Wetal files a sexual harrassment charge against him with CDR Nara. During lunch time in the mess hall, a rather nervous Noodles approaches Daskar, and talks to him away from the tables, letting Daskar know that their gaming group has stop playing. Wetal speak with Dodds, and he seems to know about an upcoming mission.

Wetal, Daskar, and Podoppy head back to the ready room, and find that Lewis is busy working on something at a computer, with stacks of reports next to him. He salutes Wetal, and quickly says he is finishing work for Nara, then leaves hastily.

Shortly afterwards, CDR Nara assembles the Roughnecks and Ghost Riders on the flight deck for a mission briefing. Upon entering the flight deck, Wetal notices CPL Lewis on CDR Nara's VF-22 - cleaning it with a tooth brush! Wetal becomes curious about Nara, and finds out she used to be in charge of a large force within the Zentraedi Detachment Fleet - an all-female group! Nara soon arrives on deck and addresses the pilots. Their orders are to inspect a heavily damaged Tirolian (Robotech Masters) Mothership that has been located adrift some 13 million miles from the Stingray's present location in deep space. Initial scans of the ship indicate that their are 43 humanoid lifeforms on-board. The ship is without main power or shields and is running on auxilliary life support only. All attempts to hail the vessel have failed. For this mission, the Roughnecks are to lead with Wetal in charge, and the Ghost Riders are to fly support and long-range recon. The Stingray goes to slipstream, moving closer to the adrift vessel. The two squadrons launch, one hour away from their target.

Half-way into their flight, Rico radios the squadrons, talking to Wetal. He issues a challenge to the Roughnecks - for some one-on-one mock combat! Wetal declines, even after being goaded by Rico, who eventually relents and continues on towards their target.

Now making visual contact with the Tirolian Mothership, Wetal orders the Ghost Riders to send their recon pods ahead. Nothing unusual is found, so the Roughnecks move in to land within one of the habitat areas that is open from damage. Podoppy notices that the damage appears to have been caused by large-bore plasma weaponry of some kind. The team moves to within app. 500 miles of the vessel, and they all receive a hail on an open frequency. Wetal answers, and an individual on-board the ship named Kator answers. Kator and Wetal have a brief exchange; Kator seems cautious as to who they are, but eventually gives them information:  their ship was badly damaged by some "thing", and with the last bit of main power they had left, they folded away from the battle. They presumed their sister ships were lost, as they have had no response from other ships in their fleet. They have been adrift for nearly 13 months now. Kator agrees to allow them to land in a smaller landing bay that still has power. Wetal, Daskar, and Rico make up the team that goes in.

The tree pilots land, and meet with a younger individual who is escorted by a few guards, and two Bioroids. The make their way up to the observation bubble, and meet Kator. He shows Wetal and the others what little footage they captured of their attacker - it was the Super Regent! Wetal mentions this name, and Kator is suprised at what it is. Kator and Wetal continue to discuss many things, particularly the Robotech Masters' and Zentraedi's past. Kator says that all the old Elders and Master have since died, and they are no longer "of those ways." He also says they would like to get back to Tirol, and Daskar blurts out that the planet was destroyed. Kator looks completely shocked and defeated by this news, but Wetal plays video for him of several NUA transports pulling out the 40,000 survivors, and that they are staying on Ishtar. Kator at first is reluctant to ask for help, but does finally request asylum. Wetal radios the Stingray, and after several minutes, CAPT Jackson replies that an M-300 transport is on the way to pick them up. Kator is assisted by the three pilots in readying his survivors. One of these survivors is special, and is in some sort of statis pod. Kator reveals this to be an actual clone of Zor!!

CAPT Jackson has the Stingray move in closer, feeling certain the danger has passed. More than 20 minutes later, the transport arrives. Everyone is boarded, and it starts to make the flight back to the Stingray. It is then that 4 EDF vessels are detected exiting slipstream, moving in towards the team's position. IFF information reveals the vessels to be the UAS Victor (a Lisborne-class PT Destroyer), the UAS Intrepid and UAS Pathfinder (a pair of Voyager-class Destroyer Escorts), and the UAS Pericles (a Macross-class Battleship, aka, the Macross Cannon). A communication is sent from the Pericles to the Ghost Riders/Roughnecks/M-300 tacnet, and Wetal answers. The person addressing Wetal is none other than GEN Lucas Smith, commander of the Special Operations Division! He tells her in no uncertain terms that the transport is to return to the Tirolian Mothership and return the 43 survivors, and that her, Daskar, and Rico are to pull out all of their equipment from the transport and return to the Stingray. Wetal attempts to argue this to no avail, even after mentioning that one of the survivors is a perfect Zor clone.

The squadrons, back on the Stingray's flight deck, watch helplessly as the M-300 moves behind the Mothership, and is persued by the Intrepid and the Pathfinder. About 15 minutes pass, and the Pathfinder comes into view, heading back towards the other two EDF vessels. Then, the M-300 appears, heading directly towards the Stingray, followed by the Intrepid pulling out and away from the Mothership. Both Destroyers then go to slipstream, leaving the area. After the transport lands, Wetal attempts to talk to the pilot, who looks at her and says he is not at liberty to talk about it. Wetal is not happy about this at all.

Several minutes later, the Victor and the Pericles begin moving away from the Stingray and the Mothership, while the Stingray starts pulling away quickly from the area. Those assembled at the flight deck notice a pinpoint of light race towards the Mothership, and then, just a flash of light that slowly fades where the Mothership was.

With the Stingray now travelling away from this sector of space, Wetal has a medical team and a security detail assemble on the flight deck. It seems that her and Daskar smuggled the Zor clone's stasis pod into Podoppy's Beta! Wetal has the pod moved to the med lab under Dr. Bailey's care, who will attempt to slowly bring "Zor" out of his deep sleep. Dr. Bailey reveals this process could take 5 or 6 hours.

Meanwhile, Wetal, Daskar, and Podoppy head back to their ready room and discuss what has happened. CDR Nara later enters to prepare for some sort of a debriefing, looking almost as stunned and puzzled as the rest of them. Just a few moments later, the ready room doors open, and two MPs enter, moving to the side to allow GEN Smith to come inside! He looks at Nara, and just says "you, get out"; she looks quite miffed, but hastily leaves the room. GEN Smith then locks the doors, and begins to address the group, starting by dressing down Wetal. He informs them that he knows that they took the Zor clone stasis pod, and calls down to Dr. Bailey's ordering him to put "Zor" back to sleep and to seal the pod. After several long minutes of harsh words from Smith, he reminds them that his is under Section 7 Black (10) clearance, and that this mission never took place. Smith does tell them that his ship detected an energy build-up from the Tirolian Mothership as he was leaving the area.

Later on, Daskar is able to pull up sensor data from the time frame that Smith's group was in the area. It shows readings from the Stingray's sensors, and that no surge of energy came from the Mothership, but in fact, a Reflex weapons discharge was detected just moments before the Mothership disappeared. It isn't long before this information is locked down, and Daskar is unable to see it again...

At 0800 the next day, Daskar gets a phone call from the mysterios Russo, asking if he "wants to know the truth." He wants Daskar to contact him in 1 hour on a "secure line." Wetal, Podoppy, and Daskar manage to get Noodles to set up the connection, but not before he trades in on Wetal dropping the harrassment case against Rico, and him scoring a date with Podoppy! Daskar is able to talk to Russo for 20 minutes; he reveals some very juicy bits of information* to Daskar as he refers once again to Daskar's "importance"...

* Producer's Note:  Ahh, well...exactly what juicy bits is a story I'll tell at another time...

Episode 2.15/2.16 "2-hour Season Finale"

5/10/08

"Endgame, Part 1"

25 Dec 2082

Characters:  LCDR Devon Tanverr, LTJG Jessian Wetal, MSGT Marcus Daskar, SGT Nufae Podoppy, CPL Anthony Lewis; ADM Owen Nordenbrock, Col. Davin LaPlant, CAPT Kenny Jackson, CDR Tommy Carter, CDR Ron-del Mathers, CDR Mileena "Black Widow" Nara, LCDR Lance Bereszky (Chief Flight Controller), LCDR Stan "Mack" Mackie, LT Corinne "Lacey" McCordle, LT Richard "Rico" Casey, SMAJ Len Dodds, SSGT Justin "Noodles" Lindenham, CPL Omar "Meat" Mitzlekowski, PFC Lorena "Fury" Mackenzie, "Star Fury #3", General Tassadar (The Covenant), "Clone Tanverr", "Clone Heller", "Clone Wetal", "Clone K'taun", "Clone Lambert", "Clone Daskar", "Clone Podoppy", "Clone Watson"

Director:  Josh Grumble

Synopsis:  It is Christmas, and many people aboard the Stingray choose to celebrate this tradition. Even Dodds and crew have added some decorations to the flight deck as they work to the sounds of holiday music. Several of the Roughnecks have bought appropriate gifts for one another; Podoppy "proposes" to Daskar by getting him and her rings! Tanverr has provided gifts to all the other pilots on board:  beginner's flight training passes!

Later, in the mess hall, a Christmas buffet is prepared for the troops. Tanverr gives Nara a pair of training wheels; she fails to get the joke, and Jackson and Carter have to fill her in. Only Mack seems to get the joke; everyone else seems somewhat upset at Tanverr's "gift"; Lacey continues to behave rather 'strangely' towards Podoppy.

The Roughnecks return to their ready room and carry on some more, having their own party of sorts. Jackson and Carter stop by to share stories and good times,and end up staying for a few hours. It isn't long before LaPlant enters the ready room, and addresses the team. Today of all days, the Roughnecks are being reactivated as Dark Unit 02. He tells them that the Majestic research facility on Dhivnei Prime has been positively located. Their mission (which comes directly from GEN Smith):  proceed through the Wormhole to Dhivnei Prime, destroy the facility, and nothing leaves. LaPlant forgets his hat in the ready room, and Podoppy returns it to him.

Still in the ready room, Wetal and Daskar fill in Tanverr via written notes what happened 2 days ago on the mission that officially never happened; they tell Tanverr that Russo said that he knew GEN Smith was on a mission to destroy the Tirolian Mothership, and that Smith lied to the Roughnecks. The entire team feels this mission is nothing more than a ploy to get the Roughnecks in one place...to destroy them...by Smith!

Podoppy exits the ready room earlier, heading to the flight deck to make sure her Legios is taken care of and C-10 is loaded. She sees Noodles near a shuttle talking to LaPlant, and Noodles appears to give him some sort of small box, salute, then leave hastily, heading back towards the Ghost Riders' ready room. Podoppy runs into him, and he seems very nervous. Later, Podoppy attempts to talk to him alone, and he tells her not to worry about the date he arranged for...and that he was nervous because of the whole "Rico lawsuit thing". Meanwhile, Tanverr meets with CDR Mathers, then CAPT Jackson, trusting in confidence a flash drive containing mission information from 2 days ago. Both Mathers and Jackson seem to be in agreement with Tanverr that something is definitely wrong...

The Stingray enters the wormhole, arriving safely near in the Dhivnei system, and proceeds to Dhivnei Prime and enters high orbit. Tanverr request an RCR-20 recon unit be sent ahead, and he controls it, finding nothing out of the ordinary besides intermittent 'spikes' of low-level gravitons. It also appears that there has been some kind of tectonic activity around the target area. Tanverr, Wetal, Daskar, and Podoppy then get ready to launch and head towards the surface, the RCR-20 on auto-pilot return. Tanverr notices that a pair of training wheels have been duct-taped to his Raven; Wetal guesses correctly that this was Lewis' work.

In atmosphere, the Roughnecks descend to around 2000' above the target area, performing a final sweep before landing. Just then, they begin seeing a strange off-again, on-again target on their radar. Tanverr finally gets visual confirmation of the target - it is a worse-for-wear old Zentraedi Female Power Armor (FPA), and it seems to be behaving somewhat erratically. Over the course of the next several minutes, the team encounters about a dozen of these FPAs; some attack the group, some don't seem to care they are there; still others appear to behave very strangely, shooting at one another! Tanverr takes one out along a fissure that is just above where the facility should be, and it continually disappears and reappears. He manages to open the canopy, and sees not a pilot, but a strange metallic disc with 3 snaking cables connected to 3 smaller discs. He reaches in a pulls one of the cables, and the FPA stops disappearing. He also checks and finds no transmissions to or from the unit. Daskar then destroys the FPA where it lay. Tanverr also has Wetal call Lewis and ready him to come down to the surface for additional help.

Podoppy looks over the thermal scan of the facility and places C-10 charges on the ground to make a hole. She blows several feet of soil and rock away, exposing a metallic ceiling, which she cuts open with her Alpha's head lasers. She then gets into her Cylone; Tanverr does the same, then helps Wetal suit up her AAS. Podoppy drops into the hole and begins looking around in the darkness. She finds that the places looks deserted and damaged from the tectonic movement. One room contains 9 broken stasis tubes of some kind; another larger room has smashed computer workstations, medical supplies, and several upturned hospital gurneys. A large "closet" contains an empty weapons rack and clothes hangers. She proceeds in further to a corridor, finding a heavy shielded bulkhead door in place, covered with radiations symbols and marked "To Quantum Lab." She turns and sees a standard-sized entry door that is closed, and attempts to peer through its dusty window. She then begins to set charges around the room, waiting for Daskar to enter.

With Daskar inside, Podoppy attempts to open the entry door. When it doesn't work, she uses her EP-37 to open it. Looking down a dark corridor, an oddly-familiar voice is heard, then the *TINK TINK.....BOOM!* of a cobalt grenade! More return fire follows from an M-37 Weasel pistol. Daskar records the voice...it's Tanverr! Lewis finally gets within range, and then Wetal and Tanverr suit up in their AAS and Cyclone, respectively. Wetal enters the facility to assist Daskar and Podoppy. Daskar is attempting to reason with the "Clone Tanverr", who continues to fire at them, a couple of rounds hitting Podoppy. Daskar gets fed up with it, and charges down the corridor, causing Clone Tanverr to retreat behind another entry door. Daskar uses his energy sword to cut open the door with ease, and it reveals another long corridor, with 5 separate rooms with closed doors along the right side. Podoppy notices a laser trip mine in the corridor, and sets it off accidentally while trying to disarm it; luckily, only minor damage is done to her Cyclone.

Eventually, the squad is able to talk some sense into Clone Tanverr, who begins to come out of his room at the far end of the corridor. The entire area here appears very lived in, almost post-apocalyptic. Slowly, the cloned Roughnecks begin exiting their rooms:  Tanverr and K'taun, then Daskar and a pregant Podoppy, Heller and Lambert, and finally Wetal and Watson. They all wear well-worn flight suits. Tanverr communicates back to CAPT Jackson..."we have survivors down here..." Jackson then tells him to standby, that the Stingray has company...the entire 3rd ADSEF* Fleet, comprised of 16 vessels! Jackson patches the Roughnecks in to the bridge comm system, so they can here what is going on in orbit. It seems that ADM Nordenbrock has personally arrived with this fleet! He reiterates to Jackson that the Roughnecks are to complete their mission and get out...and that NOTHING must leave...he doesn't care if their are survivors.

In the facility, the Roughnecks are scrambling to figure out what to do about this turn of events. Tanverr has Podoppy contact Noodles to attempt to set up a broadwave transmission...to let the Alliance see what is happening here. Noodles refuses, saying he can't help them anymore. It is then that everyone notices a strange, cloaked vessel pass between the Stingray and the 3rd ADSEF, heading over Dhivnei Prime...and it transmits a strange digital-like "voice" over all frequencies. At that moment, no one is ready for what they see next:  to the Stingray's port side, a lone ship de-cloaks...one that has been seen before. And with it, nearly 80 alien vessels appear out of a massive cloaking field...the Covenant has arrived.

General Tassadar addresses ADM Nordenbrock:

"Admiral Nordenbrock, the Centurion is on this planet...this was not part of our agreement!"

"Tassadar, I cannot accept you meddling in our military affairs.  You must stand down!"

"The Centurion MUST be protected!!  *long pause, as he looks over his shoulder, then back to the screen*  All vessels, prepare to fire!"

Producer's Note:  ADvanced StrikE Fleet; they are the "first responders" to any potential combat theatre.

Episode 0.03 (Bonus Episode, Robotech: Vigilance - Season Two DVD extras)

4/25/08

"If there must be trouble let it be in my day..."

23 Apr 2082 - 4 Dec 2082

Characters:  LCDR Devon Tanverr, LTJG Jessian Wetal, MSGT Marcus Daskar, SGT Nufae Podoppy, CPL Anthony Lewis; Col. Davin LaPlant, CAPT Kenny Jackson, CDR Tommy Carter, LT Richard "Rico" Casey, SSGT Justin "Noodles" Lindenham, CPL Omar "Meat" Mitzlekowski, PFC Lorena "Fury" Mackenzie

Director:  Josh Grumble

Synopsis:  This special episode concludes the events of the season hiatus "Fear Factory", and also fills in the blanks of the nearly 8 month-long gap between it and the episode "Surprises." After the Robotech Factory around Epsilon folds to a secret location and all non-essential personnel are evacuated, it is given a full shakedown and systems analysis over the next several hours. Nothing is found to be wrong, except it is discovered that all surveillance equipment and radar have been compromised...apparently by the same signal used by the creatures known as the Trabe! At nearly the same time, the assembled fleet meant to destroy the Super Robotech Factory (SRF) has pulled back to allow specialized teams to enter and perform the same tasks that are being done on the EDF's Factory. Besides the fact that the Fold System and all the Zentraedi statis pods are missing, the SRF is in perfect working order. Plans are made, and United Recovery Systems is brought in to "move" the largest single structure they have ever moved. Utilizing a unique system of synchronized Modular Fold Clusters, the massive SRF is able to be folded to the same location as the Epsilon Factory. It would seem that the Alliance has some adjustments to make in regards to their manufacturing capabilities, assuming everything goes forward okay. With that, theories have also been put forth by R&D groups on how to isolate the Trabe signal in the hopes of either developing an "early-warning system", or essentially blocking their entry into this dimension.

Fast-forward to late July. We find that the Robotech Factory is back in place around Epsilon, and the Stingray is currently in drydock at the Factory. The Stingray is one of the first vessels to have the new "Sensor Pallet Refit", giving it the ability to detect with greater precision EM, graviton, and tachyon emissions, as well as life-form analysis, among other things. The Roughnecks are officially off assignment as Dark Unit 02, and resume standard RECOM duties. Wetal, who is now 3 months pregnant, has been taken off flight status, and basically mopes around the ship with odd cravings. She delivers a healthy baby girl, Alanna, on 5 September. She sees LaPlant in the hospital, who gives her a rare grin before leaving. One thing...her daughter has the same dark eyes...

Moving on to 31 October, it's Halloween on Epsilon, and apparently Lewis can't wait to party! In the Roughnecks ready room, Daskar and Podoppy enter to find Lewis sprawled out on a sofa, changing channels absent-mindedly using his P-14 as a remote. Wetal then enters and speaks, but Lewis doesn't seem to notice or care. Wetal smacks his foot, and Lewis just gets out a "oh, hey" and angers Wetal. She starts to dress down Lewis, and he interrupts her, talking about the party in Huntersville, and that she should relax, because he knows how she 'really is.'  He has invited everyone to come with him during their 3-day leave, to board on a shuttle leaving in a few hours. This enfuriates Wetal, and causes Lewis to snap into a more serious mode, although he seems frustrated with her lack of...slack. She turns to talk to Daskar and Podoppy about the party, and Lewis lays right back down. Wetal sees this, and storms out of the ready room. Lewis silently adds another checkmark to his book...

Later, everyone is in their civilians clothes, and on the flight deck to board the shuttle. Even CAPT Jackson and CDR Carter are going, looking as if they have a music gig to go to. A few hours into the flight, alarm lights come on in the cabin, and two technicians are seen running to the cabin. Small explosions were heard to the starboard side, and Wetal notices a blue flash out the window on that side. Wetal sends a letter to her sister and daughter. A few minutes later, and the problem is cleared up...just some engine trouble.