Resistance: The interplanetary struggle

[RogueMason]

Resistance: The interplanetary struggle

Ever since Kerbalkind first encountered the Kraken around Ike 17 and a half years ago, there has been speculation as to the scope of the threat posed by this seemingly omnipotent, omniscient force. The events on and around Eeloo have helped to realise the true scope of this terror that seeks now to wipe out every Kerbal as opposed to the original goal of isolation. The military has been preparing, the researchers have been working, and the space program has been planning. The only question that remains:

When?

Prologue

Chapter 1: Engagement

Chapter 2: Orbital Operations

Chapter 3: Silent Return

Chapter 4: Avenging the Revenant

Chapter 5: The rescue

Chapter 6: Odysseus

Chapter 7: Surprise Attack

Chapter 8: The crash site

Chapter 9: Reunion around Ike

Chapter 10: Recollection -- Part 1

Chapter 11: Reclamation

Chapter 12: Recollection -- Part 2

Chapter 13: Turning point

Chapter 14: Convoy at Duna

Chapter 15: New orders

Chapter 16: Endgame

Epilogue

Edited August 21, 2013 by RogueMason

[Scotius]

"Rudimentary creatures of blood and flesh. You touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding."

"Our numbers will darken the sky of every world"

"Your words are as empty as your future. I am the Vanguard of your destruction. This exchange is over."

*Smiling darkly, Jeb loads fresh power cell into laser cannon. 'Bring it, bitch'*

[Needles_10]

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Finally, my plans come into effect...

[RogueMason]

"Rudimentary creatures of blood and flesh. You touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding."

"Our numbers will darken the sky of every world"

"Your words are as empty as your future. I am the Vanguard of your destruction. This exchange is over."

Oh really? Well, we may need that certain Council Spectre after all!

[Scotius]

Let them come. There is no spaceship, sentient or not, that Jeb can't turn into a pile of scrap metal

[Needles_10]

Let them come. There is no spaceship, sentient or not, that Jeb can't turn into a pile of scrap metal

How can one be so sure? Consequences will come upon the Kerbal race for their actions.

[RogueMason]

Just a notification...

There will be considerably fewer pictures in the last few chapters, and more text in their place. I didn't take enough when I was doing stuff and with the amount that's happened, there's no way I can go back and get more

Just some fair warning

[Needles_10]

Ah. Understood. When is the prologue coming about?

[RogueMason]

The Prologue?

Soon^TM

It's ready to go, but I'm going to write up a few more chapters before I get started here, just so I don't run out of chapters to post

[Mr. Pseudonym]

Okay. I can respect a writer who likes consistency. Just keep writing, we can wait.

Also, in unrelated news, 100 Posts! Yay me!

[RogueMason]

PROLOGUE

Ike, several months after Lonestar LNS-038 transfer to Duna.

Bilnard: “Err, Odysseus? We've just lost our engine. We're stuck here.â€Â

Dilcott: “You're joking...â€Â

Rodrin: “Unfortunately not, the engine has completely broken off the base. There's no way we can repair it.â€Â

Dilcott: “Well, this is bad...â€Â

Rodrin: “We can still get our work done, plus we have more than enough supplies to last for as long as it takes to get help out here.â€Â

Bilnard: “But that doesn't mean we don't need rescue.â€Â

Dilcott: “I'll get control to prepare a recovery mission, that is if one can be readied before the Lonestar is in range.â€Â

Bilnard: “Alright then. Listen, once you're done with that, you're probably best heading home, there's nothing more you can do, surely?â€Â

Dilcott: “I can wait. Sure, I find it a bit creepy that Ike has become unusually dark, but when rescue gets here, I'll be here waiting to pick you up.â€Â

Rodrin: “If you insist.â€Â

Rodrin: “We're going to be here for a long time, aren't we?â€Â

Bilnard: “Yeah, we are. I really do hope our supplies last long enough.â€Â

Rodrin: “If we're careful, I think we'll be ok. I'm more concerned about space snakes, especially here on Ike now that it's darker.â€Â

Bilnard: “Ugh, space snakes; the bane of the cosmos. They probably made Ike darker so they could stay here.â€Â

Rodrin: “No doubt...â€Â

Meanwhile, at KSC...

Sherrey: “Umm, Gene? We've just lost all contact with the Duna system. Communications are being actively blocked, if I'm interpreting this right.â€Â

Gene: “All contact? Not even Outreach Colony is checking in?â€Â

Sherrey: “As far as I can tell, no.â€Â

Wilgan: “There has been that minor solar flare, remember?â€Â

Bobsey: “I doubt that would knock out much equipment, especially that of Odysseus.â€Â

Gene: “Alright, alright, keep trying to get through to whatever you can; Odysseus, Outreach, I don't care. Just re-establish contact.â€Â

Sherrey: “Hold on, we've got something... Blue Ice Base, Gene.â€Â

Gene: “Blue Ice? What could they want? They reported in two hours ago!â€Â

Bobsey: “Maybe something's wrong with the surface of Minmus?â€Â

Gene: “Put them through, Sherrey.â€Â

Sherrey: “Here we go...â€Â

Blue Ice Base: “Control, we have an urgent notification. We've just detected several hundred objects incoming, 500,000km away. Preliminary checks don't appear promising – we detected spacial distortions and some fragmented communications between each object.â€Â

Gene: “Well, it looks like we've got a bit of company. Thanks for the heads up, the military is getting this now.â€Â

Blue Ice Base: “Let's hope they make it count. Blue Ice out.â€Â

*Gene goes to intercom*

Gene: “Lemburry, get your guys over to the launch pad now, you're going back to the Libra ASAP.â€Â

Lemburry: “What? I thought we had another week on the ground?â€Â

Gene: “Change of plans; our old friends finally arrived.â€Â

Lemburry: “Frak, now?! Shepdon, Halemone, let's go!â€Â

Sherrey: “Gene, communications with Duna are clear again, but I'm not getting a response from Odysseus, at all.â€Â

Gene: “What about Outreach?â€Â

Lengun: “We're here, Gene. We had some comms blackout or something. Our sensors put the jammer somewhere in Ike orbit.â€Â

Bobsey: “Right on top of Odysseus...â€Â

Gene: “Keep trying to raise them, Sherrey.â€Â

Sherrey: “Alright... Odysseus, this is control, do you copy? Odysseus, respond, this is control.â€Â

[Mr. Pseudonym]

Woo! New chapter! Will Jebediah ride a booster and punch the Kraken in the face? Find out in the next chapter!

[Needles_10]

Woo! New chapter! Will Jebediah ride a booster and punch the Kraken in the face? Find out in the next chapter!

Nope.avi

Considering my...background on Kerbo-Krakenology, Jebediah isn't going to do that too soon.

[Scotius]

And so it begins. Tale of war, bloodshed, heroic deeds. And explosions. Many explosions. "Cry havoc, and let loose the dogs of war!"

[RocketPilot573]

That first picture, this is a great way to start. Can't wait for the first chapter!

[RogueMason]

Ever since Kerbalkind first encountered the Kraken around Ike 17 and a half years ago...

Just made a quick edit to the first post. I did some re-evaluating of my time-keeping and realised that it didn't work, so I fixed it

Edited August 6, 2013 by RogueMason

[RogueMason]

CHAPTER 1: ENGAGEMENT

3 weeks later, in MKO...

Sidwin: “Admiral Hanson, we've spotted a ship on fast approach and it doesn't look like one of ours.â€Â

Hanson: “Well, it looks like they finally got here... Revenant, take that ship out. Hanson out.â€Â

Sidwin: “You heard the man, arm torpedoes and target that ship!â€Â

Meroly: “Weapons ready, sir!â€Â

Sidwin: “Fire!â€Â

Maczon: “No impact.â€Â

Kraken Cruiser: "Mortal fools, you truly believe you can defeat us? You will soon learn the error of your ways."

Meroly: “Second torpedoes read--â€Â

*Impact alarms, sparks fly from a control panel*

Sidwin: “AGH!â€Â

Meroly: “Mother of...â€Â

Maczon: “Shields offline, hull integrity down to 62%!â€Â

Sidwin: “Second torpedoes, fire!â€Â

Maczon: “Direct hit, the cruiser has taken damage.â€Â

Meroly: “Not much damage, but it's something.â€Â

Kraken Cruiser: "This damage is no impairment to us. You will fail and your species will fall."

Sidwin: “Third torped--â€Â

*Major impact, capsule begins decompressing, fuel explosion*

Sidwin: “No!â€Â

Meroly: “ARRRGGGGH!â€Â

Hanson: “Revenant? Revenant?! Damn it!â€Â

At KSC...

Gene: “Admiral, get some ships out to Duna now! The Kraken decided to attack as the transfer window opened up, the sneaky scum.â€Â

Hanson: “I can send a few ships, but that's it. We're being hammered and most of our ships need to remain here to protect the planet.â€Â

Gene: “As long as you send enough to protect the resupply vessels we're sending...â€Â

Hanson: “I'll have the Aegis lead the way. Hanson out.â€Â

Gene: “Sherrey, let every ship headed for Duna know that they're going now.â€Â

Sherrey: “All ships, this is control. If your mission requires it, head to Duna immediately, no questions asked. Military escort will lead the way.â€Â

Aegis: “This is the Aegis, we're beginning the burn.â€Â

Beluga 2: “This is Beluga 2, we're out of here.â€Â

*More comm chatter*

CURRENT MILITARY STATUS: SWARMED

[Mr. Pseudonym]

OH SNAP!

New chapter! Woo!

[Needles_10]

Muahahahaha...

[Scotius]

I swear, if you'll give us three colour-coded endings i will go Reaper on your a$$ But it was good opening chapter. Duna colonists will have their hands full soon.

[19spacepug]

Woah nice story can,t wait for the next one

[Specialist290]

Always a pleasure to see more from you, RogueMason. Hope the next chapter is coming along well!

[RogueMason]

CHAPTER 2: ORBITAL OPERATIONS

At KSC...

Sherrey: “Gene, all ships are on their way to Duna now.â€Â

Gene: “Alright, thanks Sherrey. Bobsey, how's the payload?â€Â

Bobsey: “It's commencing rendezvouz with the Libra right now.â€Â

In MKO...

Lemburry: “Steady as she goes, Shepdon...â€Â

Shepdon: “I know, I don't really want the reaction chamber to activate on that thing, even if it is just the prototype.â€Â

Lemburry: “I'd like to know why we're the ones being made to carry this torpedo around.â€Â

Halemone: “No other ships are available. They're either engaged or on their way to Duna.â€Â

Lemburry: “Fair point. Also, I don't remember it looking like that in the concept drawings...â€Â

Shepdon: “The initial design with the two Needle-prongs at the front didn't allow for transport, nor did it allow for a suitable reaction chamber to be fitted. Still, the turret version makes a good missile launcher.â€Â

Lemburry: “Hmm...â€Â

*Thump*

Shepdon: “There, the prototype Krakensbane torpedo is docked.â€Â

Lemburry: “When's the next Minmus transfer window?â€Â

Shepdon: “Just a few minutes. Don't worry, nothing will get to us before we go.â€Â

Lemburry: “I know that, I was just asking.â€Â

Shepdon: “Just making sure.â€Â

A few minutes later...

Lemburry: “Burn is under way. Contact control to let them know.â€Â

Halemone: “Control, this is Libra, we've started TMI, over.â€Â

KSC: “Roger that, Libra. Be safe out there, you've been lucky the last few times these things got to you.â€Â

Lemburry: “We plan to be safe, control. Libra out.â€Â

A few hours later...

Lemburry: “Inclination change is complete. Halemone, status report?â€Â

Halemone: “Everything is nominal. Looks like the retrofitting went well while we were on the surface.â€Â

Shepdon: “Thankfully...â€Â

Lemburry: “They really did a good job on the old girl. She's better than ever now.â€Â

Halemone: “Admittedly though, there was something nice about having a ship that was half patchwork and mid-flight repair jobs.â€Â

Shepdon: “Except for the risk of a capsule decompression.â€Â

Halemone: “Except for that, but it kept us occupied at the very least.â€Â

A few days later...

Lemburry: “Engine stop, we're in orbit.â€Â

Halemone: “Along with 2 military ships.â€Â

Shepdon: “They have to stay above a certain altitude, just like every other military ship, unless they're pursuing a ship below them.

Lemburry: “Something to do with not inconveniencing any science, exploratory, or civilian ships, isn't it?â€Â

Shepdon: “Exactly, which is definitely a good thing for us, even if we're pseudo-military carrying this damn torpedo.â€Â

Halemone: "Pseudo-military or not, we are a science vessel first."

Shepdon: "Of course we are, but we have been dragged into this fight."

Halemone: "We were in it the moment the first Mechani-Kraken attacked us around Ike."

Shepdon: "I suppose... anyway, Lemburry, what's the plan?"

Lemburry: “We'll circularise at 50km. I'd say that's a good orbit for Minmus.â€Â

Halemone: “It will certainly allow for good observations of Kerbin, Mun, and the space between, which is partially the reason we're out here. Our advanced sensors should give us an advantage against those wretched machines if we can keep a good eye on them.â€Â

A few hours later...

[Scotius]

Is situation so bad you have to use non-combattant ships as weapon carriers? And i can't wait to see what this torpedo can do - it looks ominous enough.

[RogueMason]

CHAPTER 3: SILENT RETURN

Captain's log, entry 212: Duna nears. We can see it with the naked eye now. Most of us are anxious to get home proper, especially now that we're so close. That includes myself, but we all know we still have to rescue the Odysseus landing party from Ike. I'm concerned that we haven't heard more about that really; we just know that they're on the surface, but we don't know if they're injured or in a tough landing site. I'm also a bit concerned about the lack of communications from Kerbin in the last few weeks. The last we heard was that the Kraken had appeared and started hammering the fleet. I just hope things aren't too bad and that we'll have a home to return to.

Bill: “Jeb, come here, please.â€Â

Jeb: “Huh, what? What is it?â€Â

Bill: “We'll be needing that course correction now.â€Â

Jeb: “Oh, alright then. Lengas, make sure that valve doesn't blow open again.â€Â

Lengas: “On it, Jeb.â€Â

Malrick: “I'll help you out.â€Â

Handorf: “With that burn on your hand? I don't think so!â€Â

Malrick: “Look doc, my hand is fine, it's been three days since I touched that conduit.â€Â

Handorf: “It most certainly isn't fine! There is still major damage to the muscle at the core. Your hand needs to heal, and I will put it in bandages if your persist like this!â€Â

Malrick: “I can at least use my other hand...â€Â

Lengas: “Malrick, just keep an eye on the pressure on the console there. That's reasonable, isn't it?â€Â

Handorf: “Yes, I think that'll be ok.â€Â

Jeb: “Ok, the rest of you, strap in, the burn is about to commence. Ten seconds.â€Â

A few moments later...

Jeb: “Engine shutdown. Bill, how's the trajectory?â€Â

Bill: “We'll pass Duna at 400km and then slip into Ike's SOI, if we want to that is.â€Â

Jeb: “I think we'll do that. We need to get to Ike anyway, don't we? The Odysseus landing party has been stuck on the surface there for a few months now.â€Â

Bob: “What if they have already been rescued?â€Â

Bill: “I doubt it. Another Kerbin-to-Duna transfer window only opened up a few weeks ago, so anything that left Kerbin then still has a few months of travel time. We're closest, and we were closest from the moment we left Eeloo, remarkably.â€Â

Lengas: “I miss that place and it's endless ice...â€Â

Jeb: “It was peaceful up until those attacks, even with all those weird forces on the surface.â€Â

Bill: “And yet it was very lonely.â€Â

Bob: “Naturally, what with it being at the edge of the known system and all.â€Â

Handorf: "I wonder if any other planets lurk around out there..."

Jeb: "Who knows? Personally, I'd hope so."

Several days later...

Bill: “We are flying by Duna now. Roughly 30 minutes until Ike encounter.â€Â

Jeb: "Ok, thanks Bill."

Malrick: "It doesn't seem like such a long time ago that we were here and picking you up, Lengas."

Lengas: "I know, except there's something very different this time. We are very much alone at the moment..."

Jeb: "We'll have company soon enough."

Bob: “Looks like Ike is still unnecessarily dark.â€Â

Jeb: “Space snakes must've overrun the moon. Anyway, I'm beginning the deceleration burn, so strap in again.â€Â

A few minutes later...

Jeb: “All sorted, you can unbuckle now. Lengas, you feeling up to a rescue mission?â€Â

Lengas: “Absolutely, Jeb. I've always wanted to see Ike, and that's not the geologist side of me talking.â€Â

Jeb: “Well then, I think you'll be just fine. The coordinates are already plugged into the landing computer, so your should just be able to follow the path.â€Â

Lengas: “No problem.â€Â

Bob: “Hey, uh, Jeb? Take a look at this and tell me what you see.â€Â

Jeb: “Alright, let's have a look here... WHOA, what's with all that debris?!â€Â

Bob: “I haven't the foggiest. Lengas, really do be careful on both your ascent and descent.â€Â

Lengas: “I'll bear it in mind. Anyway, I'd best be off. Hopefully I'll be bringing two men up with me.â€Â

Jeb: “Good luck mate. Oh, try and raid the snacks from their lander.â€Â

Lengas: “I'll grab what I can.â€Â

Lengas: “I'm clear, beginning descent now.â€Â

*Beeping*

Bob: “Huh? Oh man...â€Â

Bill: “What is it, Bob?â€Â

Bob: “Jeb? JEB!â€Â

Jeb: “I'm here, I'm here, what is it now?â€Â

*Bob points to display*

Jeb: “Mother of Kerbin, this can't be right...â€Â

Bob: “One thing's for certain, that debris below us came from it.â€Â

Jeb: “Damn it... scan everything you can, see if you can determine what happened. Bill, help him out.â€Â

Bob: “Ok... man, how did this happen?â€Â