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#Post#: 3452--------------------------------------------------
The First Phantom
By: Agent Lima Date: December 13, 2017, 6:48 pm
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Time, a precious commodity that can save or take life itself. In
cases it's measured in sand; in this case though, the sands of
time and a desert storm swirl towards the remote outpost.
Further ahead from this wrath of nature, Lima and Lina race to
catch The Chief Director of The 26, Yankee. The wheels of their
bike race along the landscape as the boom of the armored train’s
mortars resonate in the air. Lima looks ahead, Yankee’s cell was
well away from the outpost. Unfortunately, they would be victim
to the sandstorm first if they don't hurry. Two of the other
Directors, Juliet and Romeo, were already the victims to
something monstrous. Alpha. An anomaly from the past that seems
to haunt the struggling nation. There needs to be answers for
all this, they just need to get to Yankee; that’s all they need
to do. Lima has been pushing the machine to its limits. A trail
of dust kicked up behind them, her companion holding on tight.
It hasn’t been an easy trip for her either. Learning so much
about what’s going on with the Directors, it was a lot to take
in. What’s more daunting is what they don’t know yet. They just
need time, that’s all they need.
#Post#: 3453--------------------------------------------------
Re: The First Phantom
By: Samiel Sirocco Date: December 15, 2017, 8:55 pm
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Back at the main complex, soldiers and guards rush around to
their posts. Guns are loaded and orders are barked as the
armored locomotive steams towards them. Samiel pushes up his
glasses as he leads an envoy escorting Bravo and Zulu to their
cells. Surprisingly, the captives are compliant. A fear for
their life, perhaps? Knowing the fate of their former workers,
perhaps being surrounded by Saddle Arabia’s finest is their best
option for survival. Samiel looks towards the distance, eyeing
the sandstorm that rushes to them. “Take them to their cells and
man your positions. Expect a fight!” With that said, he splits
off and runs towards the small hangar located some distance
away. He’s got to get to the air to coordinate the battle; the
sooner he’s in his plane, the better. Lina and Lima are out
there, looking for the source of all of this madness. What sort
of being is set loose upon them? What force can compel what
remains of a defeated foe to fight once more? It’s not a
coincidence. As much as he hates to admit, there’s probably more
going on than a simple hijacking of a train and attack on an
outpost. And that’s a problem in it of itself. The train holds a
stockpile of high explosive shells; five times more powerful
than what’s being fired at them right now. Thankfully, they can
only be fired with a long range howitzer. That’s something the
stallion knows for sure they don’t have. Still, they are no less
threatening because of it.
“Shells incoming! Take cover!” A voice shouts out before its
drowned out in a chorus of whistling from the large rounds as
they arc into the air. A pause of silence grips the area before
erupting in a volley of explosions. Thunderous booming surround
the base as dirt, sand, debris, and whoever was unfortunate
enough to be hit, fly into the air in pieces. The stationary
guns swivel towards the train as it finally nears the outpost
with a horn that drowns out the chaos of the battle that has
begun. Boom! The whistles scream in the sky before thundering
off again. More detonations everywhere. Armed passengers get off
the train and start to engage the guards protecting the
facility. Machine guns and flak cannons on the armored beast
unleash a volley against the Saddle Arabian defenders. Buildings
crumble, nest fall apart, and the first line of defense is
pushed back. Most of the guards have been called to fight off
the main attack, leaving only a small entourage to watch over
the Directors.
#Post#: 3468--------------------------------------------------
Re: The First Phantom
By: The 26 Date: December 31, 2017, 11:08 am
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“So, what do we do?” Bravo whispers to the minotaur as they
finally reach the holding facility. They both hear the
engagement outside; the guns firing, the shouting, everything is
far enough, but too close for comfort. Even more so when they’re
just stuck inside of a cell.
Zulu remains silent, even ignoring the glare from his pegasus
counterpart. It’s only once the guards are called into the next
room that he looks over to him. “We need to ge out of here.
Steal a car, bike, anything we can get our mitts on and get as
far away from this place as possible.” His eyes narrow, grip
tensing as he nears the bars. “Alpha is still alive. It’s
already killed Romeo and Juliet. And right now, it’s on it’s way
here to kill us too.”
“Well of course,” Bravo paces back and forth around his cell as
sweat trickles down his brow, “Victor, Oscar, and Yankee
couldn’t finish it off, so I’d imagine it would be a bit ticked
off enough to waste whoever is still alive. Which is all the
more reason to get out of here!” The stallion then appears
puzzled as the minotaur firmly grasps the bars and presses his
back hooves against the stone floor. “What are you doing? You
going to bend the bars?”
A devious grin appears on Zulu’s face, “No need. I just need to
loosen the hinges.” Muscles tensing, the Director yanks the bars
back before lunging forward to slam against the door. The chaos
outside masks the loud shuttering echoing in the holding cells.
After a few repeated attempts, the guards outside can be heard
trotting back to investigate. As if on queue, Zulu’s cell door
snaps off the hinges just before the guards enter. They only see
the metal door slam against them, knocking them out. Zulu
stretches his bulking arms and reaches down to grab the keys
from the fallen victims. “If Alpha wants our heads, it’ll have
to work for it.”
#Post#: 3623--------------------------------------------------
Re: The First Phantom
By: Samiel Sirocco Date: May 12, 2018, 10:48 am
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The stutter of the plane’s engine turns into a roar as Samiel
directs his aircraft out of the hangar. The runway has a couple
of craters, but he manages lift off. Armed with flares, two
heavy machine guns, and a set of small bombs, his main focus is
to provide support and direction against this assault. Boom!
Another machine gun nest explodes under the barrage from the
armored train. The earth underneath them is carved up with
craters and debris. Stationary guns return fire! Boom! But most
either ricochet off the armor, or fail to detonate. Everyone’s
attention is on this mechanized beast. But other monsters lurk
in the desert. The storm of sand inches ever closer to their
proximity. Samiel scoops up the on-board radio and dials in. “We
must push this train out of the area! Artillery, fire everything
you have at it!”
“Artillery is down sir” a voice replies. “Guns are disabled and
the crew looks to have been slaughtered! I have co- argh!” The
sound of a deathly roar echoes out before the transmission is
silent.
“Damn!” Samiel curses. He needs to get to work. The plane veers
a sharp right, machinery howling against the tide of battle. The
Pegasus lines up along the length of the train. The twin machine
guns rattle as a shower of bullets and tracers rain on the
opposing colossus. Some infantry still on the train succumb to
the barrage. Those who don’t fire back, but with little success.
A flak cannon on the back of the train pumps out shells which
explode near Samiel’s plane. He’s too fast and avoids them in
time to pull up out of range.
The radio pops back to life, another voice calling out, “This is
Major Sen Baku, 68th Armored Column! Samiel!? Do you copy?”
“Samiel here! Glad to hear my request went through for back up.
What do you have, Major?”
“I have eight tanks we’ve gotten from Prance. Four light and
four medium assault tanks. We’re on our way but the storm will
get to you first! Our vision will be limited.”
Samiel turns left and swings back around towards the train. “I’m
in the air! Tell me when you arrive and I’ll mark where to fire!
Just make sure your aim is true! Samiel out!” He targets the
flak cannon, which is focused on the ground troops. Nose diving,
he lines up directly over it. A small whistle is heard before
the cannon explodes from the bombs he drops on it. One less
thing to worry about.
#Post#: 3624--------------------------------------------------
Re: The First Phantom
By: The 26 Date: May 12, 2018, 3:53 pm
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Some distance from the battle, a solitary outpost readies itself
for any attack. Yankee, the Chief Director of The 26; one of the
masterminds behind The Phantom Initiative, sits idly in his
secluded cell. A bunk, toilet, desk and a chair are all that’s
inside. All that he really needs actually. A glass of water sits
on the desk, rippling with each large shell that explodes in the
distance. He knows they’re here. He knows it’s here. The
stallion lays on his bed, eyes closed with a relative calm
despite the action outside. It’s been so long since he last
spoke with it. Hopefully it still remembers what they talked
about, their special deal oh so long ago. Slowly but surely the
roar of the storm approaches. Sand and dust is already kicking
up, flying through any window, door, or crack it can get into.
Soon. Soon it will be here, and soon he will be free!
“Hurry it up, will ya!?” Bravo and Zulu had already embarked on
their escape. The guards had been knocked out and they’re
outside. Of course, that’s not as safe as they were before, but
risks are necessary. What vexes the Pegasus was his Director
counterpart wandering around looking for his weapon!
“I’m not going to leave Sasha here in this dump! The shelling
won’t be the only thing tearing this place apart!” The minotaur
kicks down another door to find the armory. Jackpot! Zulu
strolls in, ignoring the remaining sabers, rifles and pistols
that fill the shelves and walls. What draws him is a wooden
crate in the corner of the room. ‘RESTRICTED’, it reads. A
cheeky grin lines his face as he launches his fist into the
crate with ease. “HAHA! There you are my dear!” He gives his
dear weapon a kiss. “I’ve missed you so!”
“I’ve missed being free and not shot at while we’re sharing
here,” Bravo cuts in. He takes a pistol, a couple of grenades,
and a shotgun as well. Now armed, his nerves calm just a bit.
“Ok, so we have our stuff, where to now?”
“The garages,” Zulu answers as he walks past the stallion, “We
take whatever ride is left and intact. From there we head east.
Come, time is of t-” A bullet grazes him ad impacts the wall
behind him. The Directors take cover as the outposts guards take
shots at them. Things like this are never easy; but if freedom
is the reward, then it’s worth it.
#Post#: 3753--------------------------------------------------
Re: The First Phantom
By: Agent Lima Date: December 17, 2018, 4:30 pm
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The storm was getting closer, the rising wall of sand and dust
crashed over the landscape like a plague. Lima and Lina speed
down the thin strip of road leading to Yankee. It would all be
over soon. Answers, conclusions, all of it is within their
grasp. It’s not that easy of course. An entity as ferocious as
it is mysterious also is hunting the Directors. The motorbike
roars in defiance of the storm and explosions of artillery
raining from the armored train. Suddenly, over the horizon it
appears, Yankee’s holding cell. But something is wrong; it’s
smoking, damaged. “Oh no…” Lima’s heart drops, “Lina! It looks
like someone got there first! We-”
CRACK!
As if they had driven into a solid wall, the bike flips into the
air as the engine bursts into flames. Both mares are tossed out
and ragdoll onto the hot sand with a thud. Lima is still for a
moment, still trying to process what happened. Her left wing is
numb; the rest of her body is sore all over. “L-Lina?” Lina is
also on the ground, motionless but breathing. Lima struggles to
get up, her wing is unresponsive. Suddenly, the roars get
louder. The agent lifts her head to see the storm arrive. It
envelops them both like a tsunami. “Fu-ah!” She has to lift up
her hoof just to protect her eyes. Step by step she nears her
companion. The train’s horn gets closer, the train is getting
closer. “Lina! Lina!” She flips her over to find her battered,
but alive. A sigh of relief exits the agent as she drags her
over to the remains of the bike.
“My my, Lima, long time no see,” a familiar voice sounds behind
her, Yankee. Turning around, she is met with a daunting sight.
Yankee, decked out in prison garb and armed with a pistol isn’t
what scares her. Behind him is a figure thrice his height; a
head higher than her former boss Zulu and with matching girth to
boot. In its claws is a large anti-armor rifle, the tool that
destroyed their bike with ease. Bronze in color with green
spots, a massive bipedal dragon with piercing red eyes and armor
fastened together with red rope stands looming with the look of
a devoid machine. This… is Alpha. The monster that Yankee had
spent so much many years perfecting. The Chief Director himself
looks over to Lina, still motionless and limp. He steps over,
“Another one bites the dust huh,” he chuckles but it becomes a
cough with all the sand still swirling around. “We uh, need to
have a little talk about your behavior, handler.” With a nod of
his head, Yankee gives the green light for Alpha. The brute
stomps forward at a rapid pace and sends its fist right into
Lima’s cheek, instantly knocking her out. Reaching down, it
picks her up and slings her over its shoulder. The roar of the
train is closer than it’s ever been. “Let’s go!” Yankee shouts
as he spots the silhouette of their escape vehicle, “Our ride is
here.”
(Picture of Alpha: [attachurl=3])
#Post#: 3754--------------------------------------------------
Re: The First Phantom
By: Samiel Sirocco Date: December 17, 2018, 4:32 pm
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A burst of static pops into Samiel’s radio as he makes a pass
around the base. Smoke is the only thing rising against the
raging sandstorm below. The train is on the move again, leaving
a swath of destruction in its wake. The chatter in the radio is
blurry, cutting in and out; however, he’s able to decipher the
noise to confirm that the tanks have reached their destination.
“All armored units, this is Samiel. I’m making a pass by the
train, look for the red flares!” Propellers at full spin, the
stallion dives down into the fray. Finding the train was easy,
but pinning down which part to hit is the hard part. A section
of the train houses explosives that could level a city. The
canons, that’s what he’s after. He curses under his breath as he
waits for the train to launch another volley. But no shots go
off, not even the machine guns, why? “Oh no…” Samiel curses to
himself before pulling up the radio again, “All armored units,
the train has ceased fire! I’m dropping the flares now!” Evening
out his biplane, Sirocco flies along the entire length of the
train. Once he spots the cannons, he releases the flares and
pulls up. “Target marked! Fire at will!” In the distance, he can
hear the thumps of the tanks unleashing everything they have.
#Post#: 3755--------------------------------------------------
Re: The First Phantom
By: The 26 Date: December 17, 2018, 4:34 pm
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“Come on, let’s go!” Zulu shouts as he runs through the sandy
mist towards the parked train nearby. Bravo trails right behind;
unable to fly, he’s grounded to his hoofs as he mutters insults
and curses at his companion. The two had been running and
dodging bullets for half an hour before finally finding their
big break. “About time we lucked out!” After a few minutes, the
two manage to climb onboard. There’s no one around; a few dead,
but that’s about it. “Huh, looks like a skeleton crew’s been
running this gig. Let’s make our way to the front; see if we can
get this thing running again.”
Once they pass a few cars of the train, Bravo looks up to find
red flares floating overhead, “Uh… Zulu? Maybe we should be
heading up a bit faster! Like… now!” He doesn’t even wait for
Zulu to react before he’s speeding past him along the train. The
Minotaur starts to follow when explosions begin to go off all
over the train. The two fight past the concussive waves, flames,
sand and smoke as the train starts to slowly start back up
again. It lurches its way forward. The whole machine stutters as
the tanks keep pounding it with shells. Suddenly, one of the
main guns erupts in flames and pops off. The twisted steel
weighing tons soars into the air like a pebble, splashing into
the ocean of sand below. Now, the train is retreating; back to
full speed and much lighter, it moves swiftly as the sandstorm
begins to slow down. Bravo and Zulu are now three fourths of the
way to the front of the train. The cars at this point are
storage and personnel cabins. Freedom is so close, but their
final obstacle still awaits them.
#Post#: 3757--------------------------------------------------
Re: The First Phantom
By: Agent Lima Date: February 24, 2019, 4:56 pm
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Lima rolls over on the ground. Her head aches, stomach churning,
nausea and dizziness. She opens her eyes to find herself in the
front cabin of the train. It's just her, a few crates and boxes,
and doors leading to the front and rear of the train. Explosions
echo as the locomotive rattles and shakes from the impacts. It's
temporary. Once the train is out of range of the tanks,
everything becomes still and silent. Back on her hoofs, she
nears to the front of the cabin before stopping still. The door
itself slams open; the dragon, head nearly bristling against the
ceiling, stomps in. With each step forward, ther mare steps
back. Soon, she almost has her back against the wall. It doesn't
do anything, it just stands there, menacingly. Hoofsteps are
heard behind it, then Yankee appears before her. "Well, looks
like our Handler finally woke up." His grin widens, "I suppose
introductions are in order. This is Alpha." The dragon lets
loose a frightening roar, causing Lima to flinch. Yankee nods
his head to the beast, and it steps away to the other end of the
cabin. "Now, I've heard you've been snoopin round these parts
asking questions you shouldn't be asking. Creating loose ends
that needed to be tied."
Lima still tries to catch her breath, "Y-you had them killed!
Why!? Why do any of this!? The train, Alpha, everything!?" The
was so much going through the mare's mind. She takes a deep
breath and stills her nerves. "What is the purpose of The
Phantom Initiative? The REAL purpose? I've seen the records. The
Initiative isn't just a sleeper agent program. Magical
constructs, artificial learning..." her hoof points to the
creature in the distance,"that!? What is all this!?" Lima's
ocean blue eyes slightly tear up. It's the moment she's been
waiting for, so why is she so afraid?
Yankee trots over to the dragon, then nods to the door behind
them. The beast makes its exit, leaving the two alone. "I'm
surprised you didn't figure it out. I'm guessing you hit up all
of the Director's safe houses?"
Lima nods, "I did. Found they were all ransacked. Only scraps
left behind. I couldn't even find yours."
"Thank your buddy Fox for that. Cole Protocol dictates all
agents and Handlers seize all resources and documents at their
disposal. Reallocation or destruction of such items falls to the
agent themselves." The Chief Director trots over to the window,
"You really think all of our agents care about what we did? Heh,
you'd be surprised how many cared about their paychecks than
doing the "right thing", Lima. No, they took care of all that.
The only loose ends were the ones you were visiting and a few
agents still stuck to The 26's old ways. Handlers like you, and
agents like Foxtrot."
"S-so what's your plan now?" Lima asks; she is met with
laughter.
"Do you really think I'm going to spill the beans on what I'm
going to do? What the Phantom Initiative really was? Nah. You
know that's not how it really works."
#Post#: 3758--------------------------------------------------
Re: The First Phantom
By: The 26 Date: March 5, 2019, 4:59 pm
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"Damn it!" Bravo strolls past the large, mechanical equipment.
Gears, barrels, racks, everything needed to construct artillery
sit around them. They get to the front of the cabin to be met
with signs warning of high explosives. "So this is where the
good stuff is, eh?" The stallion turns to Zulu, "Hey, we can't
let Yankee get all this stuff. Can you use your hammer thing to
bust the connectors here?"
Zulu chuckles at the opportunity to hit something with his large
hammer, "Step aside, pony." Given enough clearance, the minotaur
raises his weapon. Before he drops it, the doe in front of them
slams open. Alpha storms out and tackles Zulu into the previous
cabin. The hammer clanks down and nearly falls off the train,
only top be barely saved by Bravo. A flurry of slurs and curses
exits the pegasus's mouth as he struggles to drag Sasha back on
board. Back in the cabin, the two powerhouses exchange
publishing blows to the face and torso. Whatever isn't nailed
down its grabbed and used as a blunt weapon against each other.
It's a fight of titanic proportions.
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