S1, 13 Ambushed! (FB) (November 15, 2014)

Corresponding text underneath each picture.

**2nd January 2095: Present Day**

After crash landing back on Earth, Tracks and I had used the cover of night to work on the Viper and try to repair the damage we had sustained in the fight with Colonel Ramson and his tank.

The crash itself had put a small hole in the lower hull of the ship and so that needed repairing too. Luckily we seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. We were in the middle of a grassy field but that’s all I could tell. I didn’t even know which continent we were on, my guess was somewhere in what used to be Europe though.

We worked through the night but when morning came, we still hadn’t finished and I was exhausted. I told Tracks to plug himself in to recharge and keep guard, while I myself climbed back into the cockpit and had a nap.

I didn’t know how long I’d been asleep but it was a good few hours because when I awoke, the sun was high in the sky; probably just gone midday. Tracks had obviously got bored of sitting around as he was already back at work on the wing of the ship, fusing a couple of wires together. It was then that I realised my holo-communicator was bleeping; probably the reason I’d woken up.

I keyed it on and an un-familiar figure appeared before me.

Tank: “Who are you?

Figure: “Am I speaking to Chain Rockwell?”

Tank: “Depends. Who’s asking?”

Figure: “Look, I don’t like playing games. Are you Chain Rockwell or not?”  The guy was wearing miss-matched armour and a helmet, concealing his face. He was clearly a bit agitated though.

Tank: “Yes. I’m Chain Rockwell.” I decided to answer honestly. “Now who are you, what do you want and how did you get my communicator channel?”

Figure: “Good. My name is Jakor and I am member of Aurelia.”

Oh great, an Aurellian. The Aurellians were at war with the Galactic Imperium. They had started out as a few protestors back on Earth before the Shift, but when the Shift occurred, it turned into a full scale war. The Aurelians grew in size until they themselves had a small army to oppose the rule of the Imperium. Now, as much as I hate the Imperium, the Aurellii are pesky and annoying and I have no idea how this one had managed to get hold of my communications channel.

Tank: “What do you want?”

Jakor: “We need your help.”

Well… T*hat* took me by surprise!

Tank: “*MY* help?”

Jakor: “Yes. Aurelia needs you…”

Tank: Listen,” I interrupted him. “If you’re trying to recruit me, it’s never going to happen…”

Jakor: “No, I’m not.” He cut me off. “But Aurellian command has been keeping an eye on you since you broke one of our leaders out of prison. I am in need of assistance and I believe that you are the man for the job.”

I paused, considering.

Tank: “Go on…”

Jakor: “I propose a meeting to fully explain the details.”

Tank: “When?”

Jaokr: “This afternoon. I am aware of your current location and as I am based here at the last Aurelian base on Earth, that will not be a problem. We will set up a secure meeting area and I will transmit the co-ordinates to you once it is done, but for now, head west.”

Tank: “Alright then. I’m interested.”

Jakor: “Good. We have a common enemy, Chain. Let us use it to our advantage.”

And with that he ended the transmission.

I sat back in the pilot’s seat, thinking for a few minutes. Could I trust this man, Jakor? I had no idea. He claimed to be Aurellian, yet he could quite possibly be an Imperial in disguise. There were many things that could go wrong if I decided to go along and yet, I found myself deciding that I would indeed honour my word and go to the meeting. I got the feeling that the call for aid was genuine and not in fact a setup.

Tank: “Tracks, stay here with the viper and see if you can get her fixed.”

Tracks: \**Whir, whir, bleep, growl, whir, whoosh*\*

Tank: “No, I don’t know if I can trust him, but I’ve got a feeling that he’s genuine.”

Tracks: \**Whir, whine, whir, grunt.*\*

Tank: “Yes, I’m sure I’ll be able to cope without you. Now, carry on fixing that wing. I want it done by the time I get back.”

Tracks grunted and bleeped a few times but continued working as I grabbed my weapons and hat from the cockpit and slung them on.

Tank: “If I’m not back by this evening, come and find me.”

Tracks nodded and then I turned my back on him and headed off through the field, aiming west.

**Elsewhere…**

Superior (Hologram): “You are useless Ramson! Even more so than we thought!”

Ramson: “I am sorry, sir. It will not happen again.”

Superior: “No, it will not. You are correct there. To make sure you do not fail again, we are sending someone to work with you. In fact, I believe that they are arriving at your location now.”

Superior: “Meet Wing Commander Nicholas Rocksholme, leader of our crack squad of flying aces. Better known as, The Wasps. They will be assisting you in your efforts to hunt down and kill Foster and the other escapees. *DO NOT* fail again. If you do, it will be the last thing you ever do.”

...................................

It was several hours after Chain had set off to the meeting site and just a short while ago, Jakor had transmitted the location co-ordinates through, so now he was headed in the right direction.

Tank was fighting his way through the underbrush of a forest when he stopped, listening to something. There was an out of placed humming sound, like a quiet whirring. He knew he had heard it before, but couldn’t quite place the memory. He continued walking for a few meters and then remembered where he had heard the noise before – and just in time.

He cursed and threw himself onto the ground and the sound suddenly increased in both volume and pitch and a stun net flew over his head. If he had remained standing, the net would have enshrouded him and shocked him with several thousand volts. Suddenly he was surrounded by men, but he couldn’t see them clearly from where he lay.

He leapt to his feet, drawing his blasters and aimed them, looking all around him.

There was lots of shouting as the men told him to drop his weapons and lots of calls for him to remain calm. He moved his aim from person to person, depending on who was shouting at the time.

Man #1: “Wait a minute, you’re not GI!” one man suddenly called.

Tank: “Do I look like a bloody Imperial?” Chain shouted back angrily and slowly everybody stopped shouting but the air was tense as the stand-off continued.

Man #2: “Who are you then?” Another man shouted.

Tank: “That’s none of your business!” Tank shouted back. “Who are you?”

There was a slight pause and then somebody replied, “That’s none of your business.” Mocking Chain’s answer.

Man #3: “You’re not Imperial?”

Tank: “No.”

Man #4: “Are you with Aurellia?”

Tank: “No.”

Man #3: “So who are you?”

Tank: “I’m nobody.”

There was another pause and Tank saw two of the men exchanges glances and then nod at each other. Slowly, everybody put their weapons up. Tank glanced around and then cautiously did the same.

Man #5: “My name is Brataan. I am the leader of these men.” One of the men, a dark skinned man with big muscles, wearing a red leather jacket, stepped forward and introduced himself.

Brataan: “We are Marauders. We live in these woods and ambush any Imperial soldiers who come through.”

Tank: “That’s not much of a life.” He commented. “So you thought I was Imperial?”

Brataan: “Yes, but you are not. So who are you?”

Tank thought for a moment before replying.

Tank: “My name is Chain. Chain Rockwell. I guess I’m a Marauder too, but I didn’t used to be.”

There was a murmur of laughter around the circle and Tank frowned before Brataan explained.

Brataan: “What you *used* to be is irrelevant. We all *used* to be a lot of things. But it’s what we are *now* that matters. What are you doing in these parts?”

Tank: “I’m meeting someone. An Aurellian.”

Brataan: “For what purpose?”

Tank: “He needs my help.”

Brataan: “Ah! So you are a friend to the Aurellii?”

Tank: “No. Well, I mean… yes. Well, I’ve never aided them before. They’re annoying and petty but this guy sounded like he meant it and I’ll hopefully be able to get something out of it. I need supplies and credits.”

Brataan: “Don’t we all.” He muttered and several of his men laughed. “Do you know this man’s name?”

Tank: “Jakor I believe.”

There were a few “Ah!”’s from the circle at the name.

Tank: “You know him?”

Brataan: “We have heard of him, no more. He proved to be quite a foe to the GI a few months past apparently. What will you two be doing?”

Tank: “I don’t know yet, but I imagine it will have doing to do with the GI. Probably a small attack.”

At that, there were more murmurings around the circle and Tank glanced around.

Brataan rubbed his chin.

Brataan: “Hmm… “ he thought aloud.

Tank: “What?”

Brataan: “Well it just so happens that we ourselves have been planning something recently. We are bored of this forest. We want to get out there and fight the Imperials head on.”

Tank: “Wouldn’t that make you Aurellian?”

Brataan was silent, staring at Tank and then he announced.

Brataan: “I do not like you.” Before bursting out laughing and clapping Chain on the shoulder. “In truth, I do not care what people call us. But I *do* care for killing Imperials. And so, we shall accompany you.”

Tank: “What?”

Brataan: “Yes! It is decided! We will come with you to this meeting and then aid you in your fight against the Galactic Imperium!”

Tank was getting confused at the sudden turn of events now but didn’t really know what to do to stop them. Brataan turned and started barking orders to his men who began rushing around and collecting up equipment.

Brataan: “Come!” he called to Tank, who made his way over to him. “Let us walk. On the way, I will tell you as much as I know about this Jakor fellow.”

**BONUS PICTURES:**

The full moc of Colonel Ramson's base.

A (Slightly blurry, sorry about that.) look at the forest moc.

As this is a Cross-Over event, here is the link to the next part of the story, made by Toa Jaton.

Ep #13.5

N.B. This and the following episodes, are set BEFORE the Galactic Imperium wiped the last Aurelian base off of Earth.

Jakor created by Toa Jaton.

As my series is going to be jumping around though time, I will include a date on each episode and add it to the timeline at the end of each episode so that you can follow it.

TIMELINE