The Offworld Saga: The Rise of the Survivalist Federation Force

Ch.21:Loss and Recovery

Above is the reference for SIN

"Bunker Sky Traffic Control, this is Beraxis Flight Lead, Call Sign 69816699, requesting to land in Hangar 3, over. I am accompanied by what's left of Vengenace, Devastation, and Despair, . Our fuel charges are critically low and we need to make landfall as soon as possible. Once again, this is Beraxis Flight Lead requesting permission to touch down on Runway 33, over. Do you copy?"

After establishing contact with the Bunker's Sky Traffic Tower, Purhaena awaited the response to their appeal to land their aircraft at the nearest runway while the dark green vegetation below switched to the dark purple shapes of mountains and ridges that resembled shadowy beasts as the ravaged SFF air squads sent to retake Kithan made their way back to home base.  The reply came through the red Bat's vox system as the blue-purple peak of Mt. Dumme loomed over them from the northwest like a shadow, blocking out the early evening sky that was lit by dark gray storm clouds that gave the SFF's hideout an appropriate ambience. 

"Beraxis Flight, you and all your squads are clear to land."

"Copy." Beraxis Flight Leader flicked her voxx to relay the message to all the remaining aircraft under her. "Vengeance, Devastation, and Despair squads, we are clear to make landfall.  Prepare your landing sequence. "

In a matter of minutes, the Galagos range was cleared and the Watch Towers as well as the Sky Traffic Control building ,  both cream and metallic, came into view, glowing with blue lights. Beyond it, the Bunker's tarmac was lit by bright blue, red, and white lights.  It wasn't until Purhaena punched in the appropriate sequence and the aircraft shifted gears into landing mode that she realized how exhausted she was.

When was the last time my squad and I got a proper sleep or sufficient nourishment? Hopefully, S.I.N., father, and Skritsk make haste with dressing down the Kithan Liberation superintendents so we can get to our cots?

As soon as her aircraft's wheels made contact with the grayish  tarmac, the ramp hands directed her aircraft to the appropriate hangar. Once she powered down her flying machine, the fitters in their black protective suits and face coverings arrived with the Maintenance Bots to service the vehicle. As her hatch shot open, she slid past the fixers and hurried over to Targon and Saemon the leaders of  Devastation and Despair  flight respectively. 

"Good flying, boys. "

"Right back at you," Saemon replied as he undid the straps of his flight suit.  Shorty afterwards, the guards escorted the SFF aces inside the Bunker where they were to receive a brief rest and some hydration after long hours in the air before attending the reprimanding of Devolle and his fellow incompetent directors.  It would be preferable for S.I.N. and the rest of the High Command to execute them for their failure without beating around the bush with some pompous speech.

---

Here we are. Thank Narghus we made it back to headquarters unmolested by Fantine and Capitol forces.  Now all I have to do is explain to the Top Brass what happened and hopefully they grant me a chance to redeem myself. We can retake Kithan with the Kaneen's help after they count their losses and strike at anyone who so much as passively allowed the Capitol and Fantine forces to use their airspace or their territory. 

As he thought of a proposal to rectify his disastrous tenure as the Kithan Theater's Operations Chief, Sgt. Devolle kept his head down as the Marine MPV made its way over the bumpy terrain on their way to their destination. As he ruminated about how he'd pitch his bid to redeem himself and the organization he served, Ludd's voice derailed his train of thought.

"There's Corporal Maccarukt and the North Gate."

Sure enough, glancing out the window, Devolle glanced out and saw the northern entrance to the secretive Bunker, glowing bright blue and purple under the metallic clouds over the valley, and guarded by several machine gun nests to each sides. A modified seaweed-colored tank, its cannons replaced by four Gatling  emplacements, stood between the convoy and the North Gate. From the rear side of the vehicle, a white-furred Brunae donning a blue uniform of a commanding officer and spiked shoulder pads approached the vehicles, flanked by 2 Subjugators. As he exchanged some words with Corporal Mimring's Armadon, the translucent blue light of the watchtowers raked over the war machines from all around, illuminating the vehicle's interior for a brief moment. After a bit, Maccarukt waved the vehicles in.