System Wars

What's left of humanity live amongst space bases across planetary bodies.

The People of Mars left the desert world the same it has always been. Humans should've learned their lesson with Earth, once greenhouse gas took over, they couldn't stop the planet's downfall. Centuries of science and architecture leave occupants of Mars to burrow, live amongst tunnel dwellings, alongside remnants of old planetary corporations. Many knowing that life there isn't the answer for humanity's further existence.

The Federation, a Military Space-faring people, formed an alliance with the Martian population to create a peaceful unity to share resources and further the human population across their own solar system. The bulk of their space fleet protects Mars, its satellite stations, and the inhabitants below. The Federation in return, for providing defense of Mars, receive thirty percent of all manufactured oxygen tanks, and carbon dioxide filters. Also, they're free to do campaigning, and Federation propaganda to the Martian people, enticing more to join the Federation and their fight against the space pillaging space oppressors; known as the Confederacy. Protection and commitment of arms to the Martians left an obvious weakness in their own supply lines enemies will exploit. Safety efforts, and all the money Mars represents left the Titan and Enceladus outposts open for invasion.

Top generals were on leave with their families, getting drunk, and surfing the acid thunderstorms of Old LA when given reports that Saturn's Future Colonies fall. With the Federation's main fleet stationed in the inner region of the solar system, the Confederacy knew its only option was to occupy the outer planet’s moons and their resource rich bases.

The Confederation were the last to leave Earth. Some left others behind to mutate in the acid rains, some mutated came with. The confederation's technological prowess relies on acid's formed from Earth's runaway greenhouse water. High in Alkalinity now deadly to humans this water base substance cuts like glass. It's cloudy blue luminescent glow in the dark appearance is almost tantalizing, yet everyone knows its deadly capabilities.

Confederates use this element to line their steel staffs and sticks to form crude swords, knives, and clubs as steel's structure doesn't lose all strength and integrity. This leaves their weapons heavy and bulky at times but the Confederacy uses this to add to their terror. With an eerie luminescent presence and resembling Pirates these people are more ruthless and better organized. Glow paint is common decoration on their space suits, while in battle, not only for its terrifying appearance alongside Razor Weapons, but also it proves usefulness to deter accurate aim from arrow and harpoon fire. Space combat between the Federation and Confederacy is never desired because of its absurd gruesomeness in manor of death, but also the extreme high death numbers for either side at every battle.

Outside all this war, The Outer Rim science and research department have been working on system-to-system space travel, the Sling-Star Cannon. A Miner community surrounded by an abundance of metal from the Kuiper belt's asteroids. This group of space bound people have become amazing space masons and architects. Alongside their impressive space city, station M.A.-313, they've built a launching canon that can send matter to the next system over, Alpha Centauri, without matter deconstruction. They have been landing supplies, on a habitable planet circling its binary stars for one full earth year. Named Terrahope, said as one word to have the exact meaning. Two successful human launches consisting of adult couples have made the jump undergoing no significant changes aside from raging headaches from time to time. This small side effect has led the Outer-Rimian community to limit the cannon travel to adults only at the time being. The third trip less than one Earth hour away now launching five persons.

The absence of gravity, makes child prenatal development extremely difficult, so child birth on M.A-313 is rare and children scarce. This makes the Outer-Rimian's children’s health and security top priority. Only seven children under the age of thirteen live amongst the station. Sling-starring a child without knowing the safety behind it would be out of the options for these people. Under different circumstances more tests would be necessary but with the Confederacy approaching the Outer-Rimians see no other choice but to push more across the System's edge and push as many at a time possible.

For the Federation, the objective is to get all civilians not protecting their homes across the Geronimo Pass before the Confederacy arrives, hold off invaders from reaching the Sling-Star Cannon, and provide time for reinforcements to arrive and save the Outer Rim community. This job has been put on the Cosmic Marines Second Division and failure to do so results in objective ninety-nine. Complete destruction of the Geronimo Pass and the Sling-Star Canon. As gruesome and horrific the genocide of the Outer-Rimians would be the Federation deemed the Cannon unfit to be in enemy hands.

Commander Dibben will not let the same fate of Saturn fall upon the Mining Station community. Seeing reports of the fallen, mutilated from razor water, or ejected into the void of space, the Commander puts all propaganda of war aside to not allow worrying. The aggressors will meet the Best Combat unit in the Solar System face-to-face, The Cosmic Marine Expeditionary force. These Marines are equipped with lightweight aluminum Cross-bows, holding cartridges of dense plastic gold tipped arrows. Deadly accuracy is the Marines biggest attribute and always has been, the Marines look forward to battle when told of the invader’s intent. These Marine’s suits resemble the Spacesuits of Original Astronauts, geared with extra ammo, the back packs include lights off the top, and minor propulsion systems for quick maneuvering. Connected to the biceps of each Space Suit are dome lights to help increase optics and appear as extra numbers at distance. The iconic Jarhead term evolved into Chrome-Dome and in no different manor Cosmic Marines adopt it with open arms.

Four common space shuttles have their backs toward the Kuiper belt putting themselves in between the Belt, the inner system, and the enemy approaching nearby. The Marines take last minute checks and prayers while standing in the main hulls. Sixty men in each shuttle, the Commander comes on screen. "Long before us, long before we walked the stars. An idea that we can live without tyranny. Live without oppression came upon settlers and common folk. That when confronted by evil they would stand together and resist its tainted woe. No storm be big enough nor wave of dust be to overwhelming. Know what life we protect and let these pieces of shit know the hand of death that comes with our blows. One Shot One Kill."

The screen cuts out and the Cosmic Marines begin cheering, barking, and screaming at the top of their lungs. Adrenaline runs high as the lights of the hulls cut out and the main doors above open slowly to the Solar System’s skies. The men cheer with joy as they free float upwards above the craft and face towards their enemy. Some correct their stances using the propulsion from the back packs, others flip on their back pack's overhead lights. This is the moment every Cosmic Marine prepares for. They float above their assigned vessels pumping their fists screaming as though sound traveled through their helmets and to their enemies’ ears.

Closing in the distance, ten Confederacy Infantry ships approach. This is easily the biggest infantry space unit ever amassed. The Spacecraft, rectangular in shape, have small cock pits but their hulls are massive holding over a hundred fighters in each. Unlike the well-funded Federation, the Confederacy’s small budget relied on simpler methods of warfare. These Infantry ships, nicknamed Jelly-Ships, were iconic for the wired lines coming out the top at different lengths looking similar to tentacles of jelly-fish. Glowing with war paint, tethered to the end of each wire; a Confederate warrior. This force was ready to take casualties and the Cosmic Marines were ready to make some.

Both forces glide through space violently approaching one another, preparing to collide. The Cosmic Marines take shots a far, and land hits, the aluminum crossbows provided excellent and accurate fire for the Marines. As they get closer to one another the Confederacy can use their ranged weapons, Razor Water grenades. When landing on victim's gear it slices through their space suits exposing them to the vacuum of space. First few men are hit but many are able to avoid grenade splash using propulsion systems to maneuver around and close in.

No vacant space is left as the both groups of warriors collide. Cosmic marines continue to fire Crossbows and land hits, but hand to hand combat is quickly becoming the only option. Confederate Warriors begin brutal hacks and swings as chaos over takes the area. Dominate hands of Cosmic Marine’s spacesuits come attached with nine-inch retractable K-bar blades. Many leave the blades in the locked outwards position to avoid fumbling in battle. Enemies swing glowing sticks as Cosmic Marines use jets to move out of the way in parrying motions, some would not be quick enough, others gaining enough distance to take more shots. Confederate attacks shine with light stream trails from swinging their Razor Weapons. Many lose their lives in a battle of five to one the cosmic Marines deal heavy damage, but eventually succumb to the numbers leaving only three hundred of the twelve hundred originally attacking. The confederates gather into three remain ships and begin invasion of M.A-313.

“Looking on one would be a daze seeing the lights this fighting creates. The glow from the luminescent paints and the gleam of the gold from the lights on the arrow tips is almost beautiful. Until you’re brought back to reality to the fact a thousand men are dying in space above you.” This was Gunnery Seargent Coster’s thoughts as he glanced above now and then.

His squad is running as fast as they can through M.A-313 to get back to the Sling-Shot cannon and take the Geronimo Pass before objective ninety-nine can be executed. With Confederates chasing behind, they make it thru and slammed the gates behind; using torches to weld the handles closed. “Load up and we’re sitting laps, nuts to butts boys.” Gunny exclaims as they men start cheering, their plans are to maroon all efforts and start a new life in Alpha Centauri. All hope was lost in their eyes, they secretly planned if everything went to hell this was how they were going to get out, steal the last sling-star cannon vessel and run away.

With Confederates pounding on the gate, and the men in glee for escape, a group of women walk in from behind a hallway pass. “These children must go! These children must go!” The gunny rolls his eyes and looks upset.

“How in the Bermuda Triangle did you-” The Gunny stalls for a moment because he notices around both of the children's necks, they're wearing heart shaped lockets. He looks confused, as no one has seen that symbol as its use is no longer in common use. “Romerez, Hicks. Get these two in the cannon.”

“But Searg-” Hicks tried.

“I didn’t stutter and you shouldn’t either!” The Gunny interrupted.

The privates immediately picked both kids up and walked them over. “You sure are lucky kid, these seats had our name on em,” said Hicks. His quick remark fell short, as sorrow hit his eyes followed by cold lifelessness. A Razor staff flew through the air as the Confederates breached the door, a warrior threw it impaling Hicks and stabbing one child through the heart.

“Hicks!” Yelled other squad members as they all return fire towards the door. Romerez leaps into action pressing the nearby launch button, grabbing the child into the vessel as it glows yellow, Sling-Starring the last chance of human survival to Alpha Centauri. The shaken child stares as Romerez loses consciousness, “Don’t. Forget. This.” He holds out her sister’s broken off heart necklace and dies.