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Prelude, Book 2[]
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Breaking News[]
The INN logo appears before the screen as an attractive man and woman appear behind the news desk adorned with a COMSTAR logo backlit behind them.
“Welcome to INN News. I am Dereck Haut.
“and Claire Donahue. We have a new report from the occupied world of Antares courtesy of the Two-Twenty-Second Division that is still resisting Adder occupation forces despite being cut off for months now.”
“Yes, Claire however we must warn everyone that the following footage is distressing.
You have been warned.”
Antares City lie in ruins, burned out remains of civilian vehicles and military equipment litter the street, along with shards of broken glass and feral animals. A sign shows ‘Free Fire Zone’ in five languages behind layers of concertina wire Battlemechs patrol through an area blasted flat to the foundations. In the distance three large DropShips tower over the empty horizon.
Citizens run through the streets as Adder Mechs crash through the village of Trifecta explosions bursting around them. A canal is filled with debris so much that it blocks the lock and causes flooding around it. Burned and splintered trees show the aftermath of a major battle on a formerly serene landscape.
A shantytown rises from the grasslands surrounding a darkened city clambering up the canyon like a desperate mountaineer. Smoke rises from makeshift chimneys as people struggle to assemble shelter while engulfed in a blizzard. Rioters charge into a line of dark blue Clad Adder Patrol, the line holds, as they are thrown back by giants or dispersed with tear gas and pyrotechnics.
Star Adder mechs fire into an industrial facility causing chemical explosions and geysers of water to erupt onto a concrete pad. Desperate people rush for safety clogging the streets for emergency vehicles. Soldiers wearing gas masks stand guard over a night sky filled with flames.
A blonde woman and two larger men engage in a brutal fight with Alba’s City Hall in the background. The fight ends with the larger of the men kicking the woman off the other before she tries to fight him too.
“That was distressing, Dereck. That poor woman.”
“Indeed Clair, truly these Clan Invaders are completely immoral. This is combined by numerous testimonies from victims of Clan Mongoose which is currently conducting terrifying raids on numerous Lyran worlds.”
“To think that those Adder’s bloodlust could not be sated even after tens of thousands dead from chlorine and other toxic gases when the Star Adders destroyed the Nashan Diversified Pulp Factory.”
“The largest mass casualty event since the Hiritsu massacres on No Return.”
“COMSTAR is doing its part to stop them.
Are you?”
“Please donate or volunteer for one of the local organizations that will play after this special report.
Any help will be appreciated. This fight belongs to all of us.”
“May the Peace of Blake prevail.
INN signing off.”