Recent content by J-Wash

Sukie heard the horn before the contact reports, and staring over her shoulder saw the cavalry charge coming towards them. Their alien forms came to her from dozens of orientation briefings and scouting reports, the gangling warriors depicted in tapestries and wall-paintings in Theed's palaces...

"Just keep us supported, Pierceson," she said, "I'll trust your judgement on where and how, alright?" Dust and ash kicked up as the speeders in Sukie's platoon sped forward, knocking aside burnt-out debris and rushing out on to the cleared land surrounding Hopewell. Karna's platoon broke cover...

Sukie saw the underside of the clouds light up before she heard Helia's warning, and she let out silent thanks that the Relient was far away by now. "Copy that, Helia, I'll keep an eye out." Ahead, the treeline thinned out, the last few stands consumed in fire. Gaps showed in the smoke...

Karen stood and skidded down the dune to meet Askin, head lowered as she faced him and tried not to be put off by the other initiate. She was tall and dark, and her ease with a sabre made her look competent and dangerous in a way that made Karen feel short, dull, and ordinary. She tried to put...

"Much appreciated," Sukie said, leaning back in her seat, "it's quiet down here. Resistance is, uh, minimal. We should be under decent cover until we reach Hopewell. Stay safe up there, alright?" Sukie looked along the line of advancing troopers, but smoke blown back obscured them. She radioed...

The filter mask dealt with the fumes and the smoke, but it did nothing for the smell. Woodsmoke mingled with the choking tang of burning fuel, and the occasional savoury whiff of flash-roasted animal. Sukie's speeder stayed behind the advancing line of infantry, mostly RNSF with Starborne...

"Alright, over and out," Sukie said, switching to the Relient's bridge channel. "Take her up." The deep bass roar of the Relient's takeoff filled Sukie with deep and abiding nervousness as the ship that had been her home for a year or more lifted up above a battleground filled with high...

Sukie strode across the staging grounds with her Lieutenants at her sides and a sinking feeling in her stomach. Her new RNSF insignia sat uncomfortably alongside the Starborne's own markings on her uniform, and made her feel like every eye watched her. For the sake of appearances, she'd managed...

Put me down for @Kaylon Neroka 's thread

Karen perched on a flat stone jutting from an ornamental rockery of some spiritual significance, but it never occurred to her to check before sitting down. She only had eyes for her master, bright and alert. "Yes!?" she said, her lips raised in a tense, nervous smile. "I mean, I would like to...

Sukie heaved the dead smuggler off and wiped some unnameable fluid off her face, stood up and took a couple of deep breaths, and finally picked up her carbine and hung it from her shoulder. She surveyed the mess further into the interior where the Starborne had cleared the rest of the defenders...

Karen's eyes went wide. A hundred and fifty! Sure, she'd had her share of ancient masters in her time, but a hundred and fifty. Even her last war occurred a century ago she was still a veteran. Karen found herself hastily reassessing Seshi. At least her question required no thought. "A warrior...

Something had knocked out one of the headlights, so every tree seemed to rush out of the dark. It kept Sukie so on-edge she barely noticed the king speaking to her, pleading her to stay, making a bid for solidarity. "That's right, your maj," she said, eyes forward, voice low, "stay with us...

Karen frowned as she listened to her master. By the end of the war? Her next question brewed in her head. She bit the inside of her cheek as she thought of a response. In terms of sheer shame, one moment stood out above any other, but master Seshi didn't need to know about that yet, especially...

Karen walked a step behind her master up to the counter, took her food and sat down without uttering so much as a word, maybe half-listening to her master make small talk as she chewed on her dinner. She was so engrossed that she almost choked when Seshi suggested they play the question game...