5 minutes...... oldwrench tries story telling

[Hiki]

It's still a very nice story :3
<3
Can't wait for the next chapter :3

[oldwrench]

Next chapter, Will colonel Hellwind find out who did the shooting. Will they believe Chad? What about Georgianna, can she contain her temper, or is she still going to go after Chad. Will the techs find the proof Chad needs, in time?


Chapter 16

Greg got down from examining Georgianna’s mech. He looked over Bobs shoulder at the
weapons board from Chad’s Firefly. “Did you find out anything?” He asked.
Bob shook his head. “That’s one very strange Firefly,” he told Greg. “The electronics
look like they’re cobbled in there, but it’s top shelf stuff..... No, more like black box specials.
I’ve seen recon mechs before, but this thing has a lot more computer and sensors than anything
I’ve seen. It must have been a special, one off, unit. This was a new weapons board, but we
won’t be able to test it. The kid must have pounded on it, the screen and circuit board are
broken.”
“Darn,” Greg sighed, “If we can’t find something, that captain is going to kill that boy.
Did you check the weapons log file?”
“Yup,” Bob came back, “No luck, there is no file.”
“Did he erase it?” Greg asked
“No, there’s a problem with the OS, it’s not recording a log for it. Yuki’s doing a repair
on the file system,” Bob told him, “but that won’t help right now. I did find some odd things
though. You didn’t find much damage on that Thunderbird, did you.”
“No, just some scratches and dents. That seems pretty strange, seeing it got hit that many
times.” Greg answered.
“Not really,” Bob continued, “There’s nothing but tracers in the magazine, not an armor
piercing or high explosive in the box.”
“Damn, that’s odd,” Greg mused, “They don’t even use that for training. That’s useless
against armor.”
“Ya, and in a battle, you might as well put a neon bullseye on your mech,” Bob told him.
“There was a log for a hydraulic problem, seems someone hammered the main feed pipe half
shut. That thing would have been slower, in a fight, than a Lancer.”
Greg scratched his head, “That sounds like someone’s out to get Ross. Now I’m really
starting to wonder about that weapons problem. To many other things wrong.”
“The real kicker,” Bob concluded, “when I pulled out the weapons board, the main
connector fell off, it wasn’t secured, and I found these laying below the board.” Bob handed Greg
three short pieces of wire.
Greg let out a whistle as he took the wires from Bob, “that might be it, I have to check the
wiring diagrams.” Greg turned to his office.
“You think that might have caused the gun to go off?” Bob heard over his shoulder. He
turned and saw Rose standing there.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” He asked her.
“Well, Chad’s in my squad, and I wondered if you found anything.” Rose smiled sweetly
at him.
“Well,” He couldn’t resist that smile, “officially, we haven’t found anything, but between
you and me, I don’t think that those guns malfunctioning was an accident. I just hope Greg can
convince the colonel of that before that captain lady throws Chad out an airlock.”


Chad pounded on the inner airlock door. He screamed that he hadn’t done it, he hadn’t
pulled the trigger. They were wrong, he was innocent. He pounded in terror till the outer door
opened and he was blown, naked, into space. As the vacuum tore the breath from his lungs and
boiled his blood, he saw them in the ports, laughing at him, Captain McFairlane, Colonel Brooks,
Eileen, his mother, they were laughing........... Chad sat up, gasping for breath. He jerked the IV
line out of his arm and turned, sitting on the edge of the bed, his face in his hands, as the doctor
came in. “I didn’t do it,” Chad moaned, “they’ll blame me, they always do, but I swear I didn’t
do it.”
The doctor tried to push Chad back down. “Try to relax now son,” He said. “I’m sure the
colonel will straighten it out.”
“No, it’s to late,” Chad moaned, “They’re dead, and they think I did it. They’ll blame me
but I didn’t pull the trigger. The cannon was on safe, and I swear I didn’t pull the trigger. But
they’re dead, and they’ll kill me for it anyway.”
“They aren’t going to be killing anyone, so just relax,” the doctor said soothingly.
“Nobody’s dead. In fact, no one was injured that I know of.”
“But I shot them, no, my mech did, I know they were hit, I saw it.” Chad couldn’t believe
it.
“Yuki, could you give me a damage report on the Mechs please,” the doctor called on the
com.
“There was minor damage to the Thunderbird of Lieutenant Louis Herrman,” came the
reply.
“There,” the doctor told Chad, “just minor damage. Now sit back and relax, we need to
get you some food and something to drink. After that, the colonel wants to talk with you.”
Chad groaned, he could just imagine that talk. They were alive! At least, he might live
through this, then he had a chance to clear this up.

[Hiki]

Good job

[Zeratul2k]

Poor Chad... hopefully things will get better for him soon.

[oldwrench]

Well, the story continues. Will Chad get acquitted, or will he just get in deeper? How long will Georgianna be able to keep her temper? Here's chapter 17 for your enjoyment.

Chapter 17



Colonel Hellwind decided to talk to Captain Pryde first. Aiden didn’t have much to help
him, he’d seen the gunfire start, and had immediately turned to try to get Dominic to turn off his
radio jamming. No, he hadn’t seen who fired, there was debris between him and the gunner.
Next Dan brought in Lieutenant Harcourt. Jeff didn’t add much, he turned to get his rail
gun as soon as he saw gunfire. No, he didn’t see who fired. Strange thing, he said, He didn’t
remember seeing any mech where the gunfire originated.
Dan called in Arisa. He didn’t expect any more from her than the others. The colonel
asked her if she had seen the firing event.
“My mech was locked out,” Arisa answered, “but I was turned that direction. It was like a
bright line of fire came from empty space and reached out to captain McFairlane’s Thunderbird.
After a couple seconds the stream of tracers quickly turned to the side and arced away into
space.”
“Did you see who fired their cannons, Lieutenant?” Dan asked
“No, sir, there was no one there,” Arisa told the colonel, “but when the firing stopped,
Lieutenant Ross’s Firefly was drifting away from the point of origin.” Arisa fidgeted a few
seconds. “Sir, If Chad were trying to shoot the captain, why would he have turned away like that?
And why didn’t he stop firing? It must have been some kind of failure.”
The colonel smiled at the girl, “That’s what I’m trying to find out, Lieutenant.”


Megumi took a drink of her tea, “That must have been scary,” she said looking at Louis,
“to have someone shooting at you like that, during training.”
“Well, actually,” Louis replied, “It happens so fast that it’s only later that it gets to you.”
“Damn bastard,” Georgianna interjected. “Hellwind better lock him up the rest of this
mission,. If he sends Ross out when I’m out, I’ll make sure he doesn’t fire on anyone again.”
I don’t think he really would have tried to shoot you, captain. Why would he?” Megumi
asked.
“You don’t know his kind. I found him trying to mess with Arisa, and I chased him off.
That’s all it would take.” Georgianna growled.
“His fire seemed to odd to be a willful attack,” Louis said. “We all learn to fire in short
bursts, but I saw a continuous stream of fire. As I turned to see where the attack came from, I got
hit a couple times as the tracers raked across the station and away from everyone and continued
to fire out into space. The firing continued as my suit started to rotate. It must have been fifteen
seconds, probably half his amunition. Strange thing, I didn’t see Lieutenant Ross’s Firefly. The
stream of tracers seemed to come from empty space.”
“Who knows what was in his mind,” Georgianna snorted.
“What did you mean by “his kind”, captain? Megumi asked.
Georgianna looked at her empty tea cup, “He’s a sewer rat, a gang member from the
bottom of old Detroit. He shouldn’t have a commission, he doesn’t belong here with us.”


Greg knocked on the colonel’s door and was called in. Dan looked up expectantly at the
older man as Greg sat in a chair. “Well, What did you find, was there a fault in the board?” He
asked.
“We won’t be able to get anything from that board, The kid wrecked it by pounding on it.
And, no use asking about the log files, some kind of software problem, there’s no log file for the
weapons.
“That’s it then, I’ll have to lock him up.” Dan said.
“Now don’t get to hasty, Dan,” Greg replied, “don’t condemn him yet, he may not have
pulled the trigger.”
Dan shook his head and handed Greg Chad’s file. “Ross is trouble, he’s a gang member.
They’re only looking out for themselves. He’s been in the brig several times, and he has
problems with female commanding officers. It was a woman commander in that Lancer he
rammed.”
“I doubt he would have known who was piloting that Lancer.” Greg said as he looked at
the file, then put it down. “You were a bit of a hell raiser back when I was tech on your
Thunderbird, Dan. That doesn’t mean much. I wonder how he got his commission? ........ Before
you condemn him, there are a few pieces of circumstantial evidence. That Firebird isn’t the one
we were supposed to get. It’s some kind of very strange long range recon special. Clerical error?
Maybe, but the hydraulics were sabotaged. He wouldn’t have had a chance in a battle. Another
thing, the amo magazine was filled with tracer shells, nobody would send a mech out with that
kind of load.”
Dan frowned, “you think someone was out for revenge?”
“Well, looks like it,” Dan answered. “We found this though.” He laid the tree pieces of
wire on Dan’s desk. “The Main cable connector wasn’t secured to the weapons board, and when
Bob took the board out, he found these laying below the connector. Now, it isn’t proof, but, with
those wires, you could rig the board to fire when the targeting locked on, even with the cannon
on safe, and keep firing till you pulled the main power. Chad pulled the main power breaker,
that’s when it quit firing.”
“So, someone put in tracers, and rigged the firing panel, to make him a better target?”
Dan wondered.
“Maybe,” Dan came back, “but consider this. The trip to the mission point will take a few
days, during that time we check out the mechs. One check is to check the weapons designators
and lock on. Can you imagine what happens when a load of tracers starts firing in the hangar bay.
There would be hydraulic fluid, power packs, thruster fuel, and munitions laying around. If you
made it out of warpdrive, you wouldn’t have much of a ship left to fight with.
Dan was a bit pale, “I see your point.
”Talk to the boy first Dan.” Greg advised. “You’ve always been a good judge of people.
See what he has to say. Then make your decision.” Greg got up and went to the door. “Between
you and me, I don’t think he pulled the trigger.” Greg opened the door. “And you’re wrong about
gang members, they’re fiercely loyal to their gang, I know, and this is Chad’s gang now.”
Dan watched his old friend go. He was always glad to hear the older man’s sage
advice..... But why hadn’t anyone seen the mech firing the cannon? Dan turned to the
communicator. “Yuki, I’d like to see the video of the live fire incident. I’d also like to see
Lieutenant Ross’s bio readings, time synced to the video.”
“One moment while I prepare that for you sir.... It is on your terminal now, sir.” She
replied.

[oldwrench]

Well, time for the next chapter. Georgianna is having a bit of a time cooling down. Maybe the caffeine in that tea wasn't the best thing for her. Does she really think she can threaten Ben? He's twice her size..... The colonel is starting to put the picture together. And poor Arisa is getting into some problems of her own. This doesn't look good at all.

Chapter 18

Georgianna got up and walked over to Ben’s table. She leaned on it and looked down at
Ben. “How the hell did Ross disappear like that? I know I looked around just before he started
firing on me. I had the IR and radar sensors on, and there was nothing there. And when he was
firing, there was nothing there, Louis didn’t see him either. What’s going on?”
“Well,” Ben drawled, “I really don’t know.”
Georgianna slapped the table, “YES YOU DO! Now tell me.”
Ben backed his chair away and held his hands up, “Hey, it’s top secret, if I told you, I’d
have to kill you.” Ben smiled.
Georgianna pushed the table out of the way, “To hell with your stupid line. You’re going
to tell me, NOW, lieutenant.”
Ben backed up, shaking his head, “Can’t.” Georgianna took a step forward.
“Hey, ease up, I ordered him not to tell anyone,” Dominic said from the doorway.
“Chad’s mech had some kind of cloaking device. I told him to use it.”
Georgianna turned to face him, “So that’s it. That and your damned noise messed things
up for everyone.
“Hey,” Dom came back, “what if the enemy jammed communication, gotta be ready for
it. So just settle down.”
“Everything was messed up,” Georgianna said, “first all that noise, then Ross shot at me.”
“No he didn’t,” Rose said, from behind Dominic. “ The tech boys found some stuff.”

The doctor was pleased to see Chad feeling much better after he’d eaten. He looked at
Chad’s medical records, “You seem to have a real talent for finding trouble, young man.”
“Ya, I don’t try to. I should go find out what’s going on.” Chad answered
“No, you just stay here. As for what’s happening, half the pilots are down in the cafeteria,
arguing over why you shot Georgianna, and how you could just disappear, oh, and Dominics
radio jamming. The techs are scratching their heads over that old mech of yours. Your captain
got chewed out by the colonel, and the colonel’s trying to figure out what you were doing firing
your cannons. It hasn’t been this fun on board since the last war.

Colonel Hellwind scrolled through the video of the firing event, noting the bio signs of
Lieutenant Ross. The readings were up in the danger zone, during the time the cannon was firing.
He scrolled the time line back and noticed that Chad’s bio readings were a bit high, but not that
bad, till just after the tracer fire started, then they went ballistic. That was interesting. “Doctor,”
he called on the com, “When can I see lieutenant Ross.”
A few moments later he got a reply. “I can send him right away.”


Arisa wandered the hallway, not ready to face her captain. She’d messed up, she was the
first one out. It was that loud music, that wasn’t fair. Was it? But what if it had been real, not just
training.
“Well that proves it. You don’t belong with these low life’s.” Kirk smirked, standing in
the hallway ahead of her. “You couldn’t even last a few seconds.”
“It was just training,” Arisa told him, “I’ve always done alright before. I was just startled
by their loud music.”
“Ha,” Kirk laughed, “and if it had been real combat you’d be dead. I’m not going to let
that happen sweetheart. I won’t let you ruin my plans.”
“What plans?” Arisa questioned. “I’m not going along with any of your plans.”
Kirk grabbed her arm, “Oh yes you are. You’ll do just as I say. We’re going to take a
shuttle and get off of this death trap.”
“You can’t do that,” she said, “ they’ll court martial us. We’d be a deserters.”
“Oh, we can do it, my sweet little ticket. Your daddy will take care of it for us.” Kirk
grinned evilly as he pulled her along.
“NO, I won’t do it.” Arisa tried to pull away, but Kirk was bigger. “I won’t go with you,
let go”

[Zeratul2k]

Oh, poor Arisa! That's one character we didn't get to expand on the RP, I want to see how you play that one out.

[Raine]

Yay!!!go Arisa....thank you oldwrench i look forward to see how it goes....im glad u started it...she was a character i wanted to develop but never could.

[oldwrench]

I don't know if I'm playing Arisa the way you would Raine, but she's a good character. A girl who grew up in the sheltered life of a very rich and powerful family. Trying to break out of the mold of women from her society. She was top in her class but is having a hard time getting started. Time will tell what happens with that scheming sob Kirk. Some of Arisa's friends must wonder how her dad could agree to Kirk marrying her. Maybe more on that later.

[oldwrench]

Moving right along now. How is Arisa going to get out of her mess? And how is Chad going to convince the colonel he's innocent? Read on and things will start to become clear.

Chapter 19


At the Tycho moon base, a man used a long range communications system, hacked into
the bases main antenna system. “How was I supposed to know Hellwind would stop for some
training. I heard they had an incident, so I’m assuming they found the trap.” The man said. “I left
a few other surprises for them. If they make it through, you’ll have to use the backup plan.” He
listened a while. “Just deal with it. Their com will switch once they hit warp. I don’t care if you
need more time. You have a couple days to get her ready.”


“I thought you went to check on Chad.” Dominic said.
“Well, I did,” Rose answered, “but the doc wouldn’t let me see him. He did tell me
Chad’s just fine. Just got scared half to death. I went down to the hangar to see what was going
on....... Chad’s mech was sabotaged. The hydraulics were messed up, and the cannon was loaded
with tracers. He’d have been screwed in a fight.”
“That doesn’t mean a damn thing to me,” Georgianna broke in. “He still shot at me.”
“No he didn’t, “ Rose said sharply. “They found some pieces of wire under the weapons
panel. They think someone wired it to go off..”
“That’s no proof,” Georgianna laughed.


Kirk dragged Arisa down the corridor. She tried to break his grip, but he was stronger.
“No,” She protested, “No, let go, I won’t go with you.”
“Yes you will,” Kirk growled, “I’ll teach you your place. You’ll do exactly what I say.”
“She said no, now let her go.”
Kirk stopped at the sound of the voice, and turned to look up at the tall figure blocking his
path. “Out of my way,’ Kirk snapped. “This is none of your business.”
“Then I’ll make it my business.” Chad said menacingly. “She said no, what part of that
don’t you understand? Now let her go.”
“No, I outrank you, pilot,” Kirk spit out, “now move aside, or I’ll report you.”
Chad’s laugh was bitter. What did it matter now. He balled his fists as he stepped
forward. “You’re just the controller’s gofer, you’ll outrank me when you can beat me.”
“Stay back....... I’m warning you,” Kirk’s voice almost squeaked. He backed up, but Chad
kept coming. Kirk let go of Arisa and turned to hurry down the hallway. “This isn’t over Arisa,”
he called over his shoulder. “I’ll send word to my father, he’ll get us off this wreck, Then I’ll fix
you, you’ll be sorry.”
Chad looked down at Arisa. “Are you ok.”
Arisa rubbed her wrist, “Ya.... thanks.”
Chad would have liked to stay with the girl. He wanted to know what was going on. He
would have liked to get to know her........ but now. “I have to go see the colonel,” he told her.
“You should go stay with the other pilots.”
“Ok, I guess so.” She answered looking down. “Chad...........” She looked up, but he was
walking away. There were things she wished she could ask him, but now, all she could do was
wish him luck.


Colonel Hellwind called for Chad to come in. He watched the boy enter his office. He
stood stiff, he looked, maybe determined? “Alright lieutenant, tell me what happened, from the
beginning, and none of this ghost foolishness.”
“Yes sir.” Chad replied. What difference did it make, the colonel wouldn’t believe him.
They never did. He’d tell him the truth, but it would still be a court martial for him. Chad told
him from the beginning, How he’d found the mech to have extra sensor systems and of Captain
Dominic’s plans.
“Your bio readings went in the red a couple times before the incident.” Dan stated, “What
caused that.”
“Sir, the mech has a special function, one I’d never seen,” Chad told him. “When you turn
it on, you can see everything around, like the mech just disappears. Can you imagine, sir, just
finding yourself in open space. It was really scary. I turned it off, but the captain said I should use
it for recon on the other groups.”
Dan was surprised, he’d never heard of that type of system, but it would explain the high
bio readings. It was frightening just thinking about it. “Go on then.”
Chad told him how he had linked with Ben and how he had run recon for the team.
Finally, he told the colonel how he had stalked the two Thunderbirds and turned on the targeting.
“I swear,” Chad told the colonel, “I checked the board before I set the designators, it was locked
on safe. The indicators were green. I didn’t even get a chance to touch the trigger, the cannon
fired as soon as the targeting locked on. I tried to shut it off, I pulled the mech off target, but it
kept firing. I had to pull the main power to make it stop. I heard everyone’s alright, I’m glad, but
I don’t know how I could have missed.”
Dan looked at the information on lieutenant Ross that Yuki had gotten for him. He
thought for a minute then asked. “Do you think you could wire the weapons board to fire like
that?”
“No sir, if it’s locked on safe the.............” Chad hesitated, thinking.
Dan looked up, he thought you could almost see the gears turning in Chad’s head.
“I think....... I’d have to see the wiring diagrams, sir,” Chad finally said, “but, I think I
could do that.”
Dan sat back and looked at the young man. There was no proof he was innocent,, but
then, there was no proof he was guilty. And the evidence seemed to lean in Ross’s favor. “You’re
dismissed, Lieutenant. Return to your duties”
Chad stood and stared. It couldn’t be that easy, they never believed him.
“Get going,” Dan told him. “And a bit of advice, steer clear of captain McFairlane. She
isn’t to happy with you right now.”