The Rearguard - a short continuation to Roguemason's "Resistance"

[VelocityPolaris]

Since their discovery, the "Kraken" have swarmed our few defenders. We have some good pilots, and the stiff resistance our military out up surprised them, but it won't be enough. The technology they have is years ahead of our time, and their numbers are far greater and increasing faster than anything our planet can produce. Already, our space force has lost more than half of their staff and fleet, and unopposed Kraken probes have ravaged the cities of Kouston and Eloppflia, killing hundreds. It would appear that we are fighting a losing battle.

But I haven't gathered you, citizens of Kerbin, to tell you that all hope is lost. Panic is already erupting, and It's not my job to increase the amount of civilians who have lost their wits. As you watch this from your televisions, computers, or various mobile devices, you are probably concerned about what you can do to help. I said that your taxes would be enough contribution, that my Government could protect you from the melee, but I'm afraid I have to ask. Will you enlist? "Heavy breathing" There, I said it. Now please don't kill me. We need all the help we can get. This organization, the Kerbin Defense Force, is faced with saving not just the ideals of a nation, but our very existence. Friends, this is our fight, and we need your help. This address will be put online, so type in the comments section if you wish to join us. State your name, where you live, occupation, and any other background information you think is important, and we'll put you into training straight away. We're relying on all of you.

~Admiral Hanson, KDF Chief Operating Officer

[VelocityPolaris]

Unfortunately, the Admiral only wants the names of your Kerbals so they will be in the upcoming story. If you can provide, perhaps the name I like best will die the least.

[RogueMason]

Nice introduction, I see

For those who are curious, the 'Resistance' story can be found in my signature; just follow the Mason Codex link and it'll be under the Kraken Saga section.

[VelocityPolaris]

Quick heads up to all viewers: The next chapter will be posted after at least four viewers post their Kerbal names!

[VelocityPolaris]

Oh come on - no name submissions? I can't write the next chapter without them, people!

[Yukon0009]

Kirrim Kerman. I don't care, just involve him somehow.

[Garibaldi2257]

Seefel Kerman

[FonVegen]

Neillan Kerman.

I'm a test pilot, or I have been until I prove a little bit too prone to crash the designs I was intended to test into expensive infrastructure. Wasn't my fault though, the designs were all crooked to the point of not being functioning at all. I am a good pilot. In fact, before testing impossible planes my task was recovering crashed crew members from all around Kerbin. Haven't given up my occupation that was granted to me since, thus I live quite close to the KSC.

Should this enlistment be used for nothing but spamming my inbox with advertisement and malware, expect me to come crashing through your window with the first supersonic vehicle I can get my hands on.

But if this really is a call to arms, then give me a plane, a rocket, or anything that is capable of leaving the ground. Whatever you want me to do with it, I'll get it done.

[RogueMason]

To: Admiral Hanson Kerman

Subject: Pilot recommendations

-----

Admiral,

As per your recent call to arms, we've acted to pull together a group of pilots from several different squadrons based around the country and other forward operating stations. I'm responsible for two of the choices, as is everyone else responsible for these recommendations.

Enlock Kerman: Commander of the 45^th Enduring Ronin. Top gun, aced his class in pilot school. 79 confirmed kills in the Kerssian Strife Conflict, and he knows his way around any jet you give him. As for starfighters, he's been interested in them but didn't think he'd get the chance. Prove him wrong by giving him that chance. Currently stationed at F.O.B. Bresnik.

Merzer Kerman: Commander of the 62^nd Longbows. Also an ace, passed his class with flying colours. 71 confirmed kills in the Kerssian Strife Conflict. He's been in starfighter simulators for the past year, so he knows what he's doing. Give him a Hawk and he'll be happy. Currently stationed at F.O.B. Faulcon.

You want the best; these two are amongst them.

Regards,

Base Chief Haley Kerman

F.O.B. Bresnik

-----

Thought you wouldn't mind if I made a contribution of my own

[VelocityPolaris]

Oh, wow, thanks everyone!

First chapter is in progress!

[Steambirds]

Sorry I am a late arrival, but I'd like my kerbal Hansey kerman included.

[Angelo Kerman]

Ahhh now I get it...

Colonel Lisa "Amazon" Kerman (ret) of the Kerbal Air Force had a distinguished career until a superior a$$hole made a pass at her that was highly inappropriate. When she refused, her boss made life difficult and she resigned her commission. She had dreams of becomming a kerbonaut that were nearly shattered by her resignation until she became one of the first commercial space pilots, flying for Kerbodyne and testing prototype hardware. One particularly nasty incident left her stranded in space without a way to get home. Sheer grit got Lisa through, and she brought the experimental K-15 orbiter home safely. Lisa's piloting skills are phenominal and just shy of the best of the best... Or so she lets people believe. She is savy enough to not rock the boat of the male centric space program, but if she ever does, Lisa could give Jeb a run for his money. Her natural personality is to be in charge, which frustrates her to be a follower while the boys are in charge. But to get ahead, Lisa knows to play ball. If she worked at it, Lisa could be a professional model, though her looks sometimes get in the way of her career. Lisa has 40 confirmed kills (the actual number is 72, but her peers didn't want to admit that). She is currently living just outside of Kirklen Federal Airfield, a local commercial spaceport.

hearing the call to arms, Lisa put her hat in the ring knowing that she could be reactivated anyway...

think: Ripley from Aliens meets Maverick from Top Gun

quirks: cute is her kryptonite.

Edited January 5, 2015 by Angel-125

[VelocityPolaris]

Chapter I: Not a Kobayashi Miru

Sergeant Sidtree paced back and forth amongst the nervous recruits, doing their best to stand at attention while he inspected them carefully.

Sgt Sidtree: Recruits! You have volunteered for combat training because we need reinforcements if we want to win this war. Some of you are the best, recommended by officers from air force F.O.B's, some of you are skilled civilian pilots, but I'll be blunt. None of you have any experience with space defense. Pilots, be warned. Flying a spacecraft and an airplane are two completely different things. You are about as well-off as those of you here who have never flown a plane in your life. Now, camp Verdenburg has very tough training, and we will not go light on anyone, but in time you will - You! 2nd row, 4th column! Why do you have a pitchfork?

A tall Kerbal wearing a straw hat looks at him.

Pitchfork guy: Weeeel naow surr. Ah thoughts ah would have tah take on dem aliensk, and whaht bettah wahy thahn tah crawl outta mah spaceship ahnd put dat thang tah rest wit mah trusteh fahk?

Amongst smothered laughter from the recruits, the sergeant takes a deep breath.

Sgt Sidtree: Well, a uh... a full education period will encompass your training regimen. In the meantime, try not to stab anyone with that thing, okay?

Pitchfork guy: Ahye sah, shurr as raihn ah will nah -

Sgt Sidtree: Oh, give it a rest.

Pitchfork guy: sigh... yes sir.

Sgt Sidtree: Alright: Now who wants to start training?

Everyone: Yay! Okay! Yes sir. Finally! We get out of the rain! I WANNA GO HOME! Great!

Sgt Sidtree: Then follow me.

Sidtree trots to a small dome-shaped facility, knocks in a specific pattern, and enters as the door swings open, and the short line of recruits follows him inside.

Inside are rows of racks filled with computers. In the back of every row sits a monitor, keyboard, joystick, and chair. Dim lighting and stark blue LEDs convey a futuristic view, despite the dust.

Sgt Sidtree: Here are the simulators. You will learn basic spaceflight and combat here. I need four volunteers!

All twelve hands raise high, and the officer picks four recruits at random.

Sgt Sidtree: You four! What are your names?

Volunteers: Neillan Kerman sir. Seefel. Enlock, sir. Merzer Kerman reporting for duty.

Sgt Sidtree: Neillan, you are the pilot for the first simulation. Enlock, you are the gunnery officer. (Yay!) Seefel, you are the tracking officer. Merzer, you are the fighter pilot, seeing you have some experience with starfighter simulations, correct?

Merzer: Aye sir!

Neillan: When do we start, sir?

Sgt Sidtree: Now. Sit by those consoles over there.

Enlock: Sir, I might have missed something, but I don't think any of us know how to pilot a spacecraft.

Merzer: Except me.

Enlock: Except Merzer.

Sgt Sidtree: Then figure it out.

The volunteers reluctantly sit at their consoles as the simulation begins.

Sgt Sidtree: You are flying the MSW Bulwark, a modern solar-powered cruiser with a megawatt-infrared laser, 8 torpedoes, advanced shields, and a fission thermal thruster. You are currently on patrol.

Enlock: How much radiation are we getting?

Seefel: Umm, where's that panel, uhhh, 57 mrem.

Neillan: I think those are dangerous levels.

Merzer: Can we bring the shields online?

Enlock: With our current battery reserves, we can run it for... 'counts fingers on hands' ten minutes.

Neillan: We'll be on the dark side for another eight minutes, we can run it.

Enlock: Shields online. Power is draining. Merzer, where are you?

Merzer: One of the microfighters. These things are ridiculously small!

Seefel: Um, I'm reading an unidentified contact moving to intercept us from high orbit.

Enlock: Can we evade?

Neillan: Burning now, sir. No luck, it's keeping up with my course changes.

Seefel: It's hailing us.

Neillan: Put it through.

Unidentified contact: Kerbal vessel, lower your shields and prepare to be boarded.

Enlock: Kerbal vessel Bulwark, identify yourself.

Unidentified Contact: We don't have to lower ourselves to respond to your interrogations!

Merzer: That's a kraken vessel, alright.

Seefel: cutting transmission, one minute until closest approach.

Enlock: Weapons online.

Merzer: Fighter 1 is on internal power.

Enlock: Targeting systems online.

Seefel: enemy vessel is burning to slow.

Neillan: Angling towards them.

Enlock: I have a picture from the targeting systems. On screen.

Seefel: That looks nothing like a kraken spaceship. I've seen mostly intact wrecks on the news.

Sgt. Sidtree: WE TRIED OKAY!?

Seefel: They are twenty kilometers away.

Neillan: I'm detecting course alterations!

Enlock: Weapons online, full power to shields.

Five minutes later...

Enlock: They are moving to attack. Powering up lasers. I think - hold on, it's not working!

Seefel: Enemy closing to two kilometers. They are firing.

Neillan: firing engine.

Seefel: They missed!

Enlock: It was a bit of a potshot at this range.

Neillan: Enlock, we need lasers!

Enlock: Um, it says we don't have enough power.

Merzer: Try a torpedo!

Seefel: Also, we're on the light side of Kerbin now.

Enlock: Torpedo no 1 is away!

Enlock: Torpedo no 2 is away!

Seefel: One direct hit!

Merzer: Can we see the results?

Enlock: Here they are.

Merzer: Awesome.

Neillan: The magic of telescopic sensors and satellite imagery.

Merzer: Don't ruin it!

Enlock: Correct me if I'm wrong, but THEY'RE FIRING AGAIN.

Merzer: OH uh... OH SHIV.

Enlock: Come on... we can do this...

Neillan: Starting evasive maneuvers... Now.

Enlock: Dang.

Neillan: oops.

Recruits in back: Can we leave now?

Sgt Sidtree: No!

Seefel: How did they survive?

Enlock: According to the game, we severed their propulsion stage with the torpedo, but the probe is still attached to the guns.

Merzer: Guys? My controller is still on.

Sgt Sidtree: Looks like a bug... Nope.

Merzer: Sir?

Sgt Sidtree: You were blown clear in the fighter while the Bulwark was destroyed. This isn't your Kobayashi Keru, salvage the mission.

Merzer: Aye sir!

Neillan: How'd they get past the shields?

Enlock: Those things can only absorb EM, like a planets magnetosphere. The Kraken had to have used a railgun.

Sgt Sidtree: Good job recruit. You get a cookie.

Enlock: Yay!

Sgt Sidtree: I'm kidding.

Enlock: Aww...

Merzer: I've managed to get the fighter's engine and weapons online... but only one solar panel will respond. I don't know why!

Seefel: That explains it.

Merzer: I guess it does. Enemy relative velocity 9 m/s... 9.5... 10...

Neillan: They've spotted you!

Merzer: How can you tell?

Merzer: Oh.

Seefel: They're within 800 meters!

Merzer: I see them. Fire! Fire... where's the button?

Sgt Sidtree: Really?

Neillan: He came this far...

Seefel: 200 meters!

Merzer: FOUND IT!

Neillan: Make sure they don't pull the same trick.

Merzer: Right! Gotta slow down...

Seefel: Distance 80 meters.

Merzer: YEAH!

Enlock: Ya did it!

Merzer: WOOHOOHOO!

Seefel: Why was Merzer on the night side already?

Sgt Sidtree: Nice job, Merzer. You three, not that bad.

Neillan: I don't know if you saw sir, but we blew up.

Sgt Sidtree: None of you had any knowledge of the tactical systems of these spacecraft. You four are all licensed pilots, but this environment was completely unfamiliar to everyone but Merzer, and he was flying a fighter he had no experience with. You still managed to disable the Kraken engine and power generation before going down. Even if Merzer had died, you were effective enough to deal damage while completely green. And the shields? The kraken have highly adaptive tactics, they rely on them. It's unlikely a fake magnetosphere will save you in real life. Everyone is dismissed to bunk block C, Corporal Billy-Bobwell will show you your beds. Report here first thing tomorrow, there's a group of tougher soldiers and the dodgerooball set is all warmed up. Dismissed!

As the rabble of volunteers wander off to their bunk, a corporal approaches the sergeant.

Corporal: Sir, recruit squad beta is just as inexperienced.

Sgt Sidtree: I know. They'll be on a team. Against the military staff here. Hope you've been exercising.

Corporal: woohoo...

Edited January 16, 2015 by VelocityPolaris

[RogueMason]

Use imgur. It's free unless you opt for premium. Other than the lack of images, nice work.

[VelocityPolaris]

Um, sorry everyone. Turns out one of the pipes burst in my house - the computer room pooled with water and we had to shut off the water to the house. So that's my excuse for not fixing the screenshot issue. The issue will be resolved and you WILL have screenshots, but I can't give you an ETA yet. Uh, bye.

[VelocityPolaris]

Um, quick update of funnies. The computer got a bit wet, I think, we took it to get looked at - but some of you Muricans might have heard that a water main burst in Dekalb County, Georgia. It just seems a bit ironic. My house has horrible piping, but so does the rest of the county. As for a chapter, I will see if Imgur works on Kindle. Thanks for the tip, Mason.

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks a bunch for the suggestion, Mason. I'll call it a night and wait for the computer to be back up.

- - - Updated - - -

P.S. Imgur, YOU'RE MEAN.