Life Force

Partial Draft, 20110109

Notes:

This is first an imaginative story for entertainment. Any statements or events that can be
directly or indirectly related to the real world are either unintentional or are secondary to
the main goal of expressing a fictional world for the purpose of entertainment. The desire
of writing this was to express this fictional experience which I have had parts of in mind
since childhood. This is not intended to be an allegory to any single specific real-world
event or scenario, or to express my personal views on any single specific real-world event
or scenario. It does represent an allegory and personal view of existence and life as a
whole, and the general battle between right and wrong.

One hope I have for this writing is that it would some day be adapted into an interactive
experience – like a video game by today’s standards. As of 2010, based on the state of
games today, the format would be that of a First-Person Shooter (FPS). Some games that
could be used as an inspiration and/or example of the game-play of this story include:
The Halo series
The Elder Scrolls series
Mirror’s Edge

Part of this hope is my wish that the game be made by a respectable game company. This
would be a company that treats employees fairly, provides the employees with proper
work-life balance; and has a goal of making entertaining games, rather than only business
goals such as maximizing profit; and a company that gamers can respect and appreciate.
Ideally the game itself would be critically viewed as very enjoyable. Another vision for
this game is that it would be a “launch” game or system-showcase game for a new
gaming system or new interactive capability.
Scenario 1

You have joined the Life Force – the military defense group of the galaxies. Life Force
currently acts as more of a police within the galaxies, as there is no other enemy against
which the Galactic Union fights. Life Force is large, however, and could protect the
entire Galactic Union if needed.

After some formalities and initiations, you have started your education necessary for Life
Force soldiers – history, science, physical training, etc.

One of the first classes for your group happens to be firearms training. You are in a large
training room, clean and white. The class steps into a shooting range. Each student is
given a handgun to train with. Following instructions, you pick up the weapon and begin
firing at a target. The gun is light and easy to use – you pull the trigger and white laser-
blasts are emitted, making small energy explosions on the target down-range.

After several minutes, your instructor tells the class to keep practicing for now, as she has
been asked to meet with other instructors temporarily. You wait for a while and practice.

Half an hour passes, and the instructor does not return. You have heard nothing from
outside - though the training rooms are soundproofed to minimize distractions. The class
starts talking amongst themselves: training should have continued, and someone should
be instructing them. Some of the class wants to investigate and see if other instructors
are in the area. Several members form a group and leave the firearms room. As they
leave you decide to join them, if only to see if anything else is happening outside.

The group opens the door and steps outside. The hallway is empty; nothing looks out of
place. Group moves towards the next classroom on the right side of the hall. Looking in,
you find it empty as well. Continue down the hall, to another intersecting corridor. As
you pass the corner you are shocked by the sight on your left. A hole has been blasted
through the wall, leading into the History classroom. The hole is large and several people
walk down the corridor and look in. A few step into the dark room. You look in, though
it is hard to see very much. Step in... eyes adjust… several others in your group move
towards the far side of the room near the feet of some stairs. Looking there, you see that
the desks nearest the stairs are overturned. Move closer - some of them are damaged or
broken. The stairs lead up to another door, through which more light shines in.

You consider looking into this doorway when you suddenly hear loud footsteps from the
hall outside the blasted hole. Turning back, you hear multiple footfalls, running. One of
your class members cries out; the next second several armed black-uniformed figures
rush in through the hole, pointing their weapons at the group. You hear a low filtered
voice from one of the uniforms: “Put your hands up; sit down where you are.” Some
more uniforms maneuver into the room.

You stand for a second, then sit, wondering if there is some way to leave through the
door at the top of the stairs. The other students sit down. In the dark of the room, one of
the students near the hole slowly reaches behind himself as he sits down. His hand
grasps something in the debris of the hole. There is a glint of reflected light – and the
student springs up and swings a piece of metal pipe against the dark soldier in front of
him, who falls to the ground. As the other soldiers whip around, the student leaps
towards the next one and swings. Taking your chance, you jump up and run up the stairs.
You hear weapon blasts behind you and the sound of scrambling feet. Run through the
doorway and the next room... Coming to another hallway, turn right, keep running. You
listen behind for any sounds of pursuit, but hear nothing. After a few moments, you see
someone emerge from a door into the hallway – and you realize it is your firearms
instructor, Ann.

“Are you alright?” she asks. She quickly explains there has been an attack on the facility
– you inform her of the capture of the group of students. She is one of only a small group
of instructors that was attacked in the cafeteria – she believes that the attackers used a
strategy of isolating small groups of people throughout the facility. She and her group
had been captured and held for a while, but were able to organize a retaliation and had
fought back. The attackers fled, and the instructors decided to check areas outside the
room to see what else was going on. They had first checked the elevators but found them
guarded by a dozen of those soldiers. None of the instructors’ phones are receiving any
signals. She tells you it would be best to stay with her as she runs back into the cafeteria.
You follow her as she runs to another instructor in an adjacent room. She quickly
explains to him about the other students being held. They decide to try to move back to
the Firearms Training area quickly by another route, pick up some suitable arms for
defense there, and then return to the History room and other areas to fight the intruders.

Follow the instructors as they run through some other corridors… find yourself back in
the training room. The room is empty – the earlier students are no longer here. “It looks
like we’ll have to do with handguns,” Ann says. “All the other arms have been removed
for another class elsewhere.” You are instructed to grab the blaster you had been using
for training, as the instructors pick up similar arms.

You follow Ann back towards the History room. And as you turn one of the hall
corners…

Running feet, directly behind you. Turning around, you see one of the soldiers running
towards you, a weapon in his hand. He draws back the weapon as you draw up your gun.
You fire a blast, missing him as he jumps to the side. You fire again as he leaps at you.
The white bolt of light travels to his chest and hits him. Lean backward, dodging his
blow. Another white beam fires past you into the soldier, as your instructor fires on him;
he falls. You scramble to your feet and follow her to the entrance of the History room.

Ann approaches the door and attempts to peer inside while keeping herself hidden. She
describes the scene: a group of students sit at one end of the room. She counts eight
soldiers standing in front of the group. Looks at you: “We should be able to catch them
by surprise and take them out – can you attack with me?” You affirm her and ready your
gun. She opens the door and runs in, firing. She downs several as you run in behind her.
Aim and hit one; then aim at a second. The second falls, then a third. Ann takes down
the last one and runs towards the students.

Ann instructs the students to quickly take cover in the room, in case any more soldiers
come in. She explains that at this point she wants to take the group back to the Training
Room for defensive arms, before doing anything else. She and you go to the door, then
exit first with the others behind you. You make your way to the training room without
encountering anyone else. The rest of the students pick up handguns. Ann suggests
trying to make it to the elevators: “The group of us should be able to get past those
soldiers, and go up to the living quarters.” You all proceed out of the Training Room. In
less than a minute, several armed soldiers come around a corner, Ann immediately fires
on them; you and the rest of the group open fire. Several soldiers drop, a couple run off.
“Let’s go” says Ann and the group runs toward the retreating soldiers. Ann fires after
them as they retreat into another room.

You continue in the direction of the elevators, Ann checking rooms as you pass. At one
room she stops and the group prepares themselves – there are several students in the
room being guarded. Then - run into the room, firing on the soldiers and quickly
overpowering them. The students join your group and you leave again for the elevators.
You stop at the corner just before them; Ann peeks around the corner. Several dozen of
the soldiers have gathered in the atrium. “Stay behind cover” instructs Ann; from the
corner you aim and shoot. The soldiers fall as they’re caught off guard. The soldiers run
for cover as well and fire off shots, but miss. You lean out, fire, lean back as projectiles
fly past you. You lean again, fire and take down a soldier. Another one runs towards
you – you fire and he hits the ground. White blasts zip through the room from the rest of
the group. You fire again, run behind another pillar, fire on another soldier. You and
another student take down a few more. A few more blasts and the room is cleared. You,
Ann, and a few others get in elevators and press the button for the residential floor.

Scenario 2

The elevator arrives on the next floor. You slowly move off the elevator - and find other
Life Force members going about their work uninterrupted. Ann begins questioning – and
apparently no one noticed the attack below.
The networks are examined; after further discussion, Ann determines communications
were strategically cut off from the training area; no one else had known.
Ann relates that the intruders didn’t seem intent on killing.
A security investigation is started and you spend the next day sharing your experience
and filing a report.

After participating in the investigation, training resumes with heightened security in the
training area (and most areas, as a result of the ongoing investigation which has not yet
determined the nature of the attack). The laser handguns used for training have now been
issued to each trainee; in addition, you and the other trainees are each given a standard
issue laser rifle. The weapon is a little over half a meter long and lightweight. A button
activates the laser bayonet, extending another 15cm out of the black end of the barrel.
You aim at your target and pull the trigger; a stream of blue laser bullets fire with
incredible rapidity. The weapon gives no kick and stays very accurate. Each bullet gives
its own small explosion of light, as with the handgun. Training continues as you pair into
teams and use harmless lasers in a mock battle.

Scenario 3

You wake. Flight training today. You follow Ann and take an elevator straight into the
hull of a large freighter. You sleep as the freighter leaves the Life Force station and
jumps to near light speed for its short journey.

You rise as it slows, and looking out, you see the blue and white ball against the black of
space: Earth.

The freighter enters the atmosphere and slows. After a few minutes you are above the
ocean, a few clouds in the nearby sky. Following Ann’s instructions, you walk towards
the large hangar of the freighter. There you see your sleek fighter, in which you will be
trained. “This is the standard Life Force Class A fighter ship, nicknamed the Hawk”
explains Ann. It is smaller than you expected – only 4.5 meters in length, with a
wingspan of just over 3 meters. Further instructions are given to get you into the cockpit.
You are given a personal “key,” triangular in shape with a button in each corner. The
Hawks are attached to the hull through an amorphous adhesive dispersed from their
underbelly. You press a button and the engine of the Hawk assigned to you starts. The
second button; the adhesive is absorbed into the Hawk, which begins levitating a foot
above the floor of the hangar. The third button opens the cockpit visor and you climb in.

You begin following Ann’s instructions…

Press button; visor closes; look to your right and see the transport ship’s hangar hatch
moving beside you, opening down and to the right. Grip yoke stick in front of you; use
foot pedals to strafe right, and handle on your left to slowly lower your Hawk; exiting the
transport ship.

Bright sun; clouds not far away in the sky, surrounding you and the other Hawks which
glisten white in the light. You move into a formation with everyone else.

Your group begins following Ann in unison:

Test the foot pedals, strafing left and right. Altitude lever on left, which moves ship
straight up and down.

Slowly move the yoke back and forth, tilting you forward and back; left and right causes
the Hawk to roll.
Grip acceleration handle with left hand and pull it back slowly; your hawk accelerates
forward; accelerate a bit more and begin following Ann through simple maneuvers.
Left, right, up, down, up, left, up-down, spin left, level and pitch down, pitch up, strafe up
with altitude lever, pull up and fly through a cloud, emerge on top and level out.

Ann describes two buttons on the yoke; holding the first one and your Hawk boosts
forward, throwing you back into your seat. Hold the second one and your current speed
quickly slows.

After a while of testing, Ann speeds up. Suddenly she flips quickly and rockets past you,
barely missing you as she turns behind you. She instructs to follow her movements; you
turn to try to follow her. She heads east and down, dropping altitude. She rolls, strafes,
tilts, boosts left to right in front of you, while still generally heading in the same
direction, as if dodging enemy fire. You attempt to move with her, noticing the interior
of your Hawk somehow exerting counter-forces on the cockpit to minimize the pressure
and stress of inertial changes.

Continue to follow Ann; she boosts; you follow her as she descends; increase speed to
keep up with her; faster, as she is pointed almost straight down; quickly approaching the
ocean; not stopping; you watch her plunge underneath and you follow a split-second
later. You level out in the ocean and continue to follow her; the Hawk is still very
maneuverable underwater, albeit slower.

You slowly rise out and continue following her through a few more maneuvers:
Up, straight up, boost, pitch down, roll right, boost, brake and turn left, roll right, pitch
up to do a loop, boost forward again.

Ann moves on to the other controls: you squeeze the trigger on the yoke; five white lasers
shoot out from your hawk, one laser from each of the five laser cannon barrels; two from
the left wing, two from the right, and one from the nose.

Two additional buttons on the top of the yoke; you press the first and hear a whoosh
overhead as a yellow, triangular laser missile shoots out of the laser missile launcher just
behind your cockpit. It leaves a yellow trail of light and quickly vanishes into the
horizon. Flip a switch on the yoke; look over each shoulder and view four smaller white
laser missiles that have materialized, two on each wing. Press another button on top of
the yoke and one of the smaller missiles launches forward, a bit slower than the yellow
missile. Holding down the button and the smaller missiles fire one at a time; each is
quickly replaced on the wing with another missile. Then, holding down the large missile
button; the larger yellow missiles fire with incredible rapidity, giving a machine-gun
effect of yellow streaks through the sky. Ann explains that this method of fire can
quickly rip gaping holes through large ships.

Ann goes over the rest of the cockpit controls. Finally, you press a button below the
yoke, and another stick pops out below the yoke, with a trigger and five buttons.
Pressing the first button, you squeeze the trigger; a jet of water shoots out of the nose of
the Hawk. You use this stick to aim the stream of water. You press the second button
and pull the trigger; a jet of freezing liquid shoots out; Ann explains that this freezes into
ice on contact. You select the third button; squeeze trigger; a bolt of electricity fires.
The fourth button provides for a stream of dissolving acid. And the fifth, a flamethrower,
a red jet of fire.

You then spend a while free flying and practicing maneuvers. The freighter eventually
returns; you re-enter and return to the main station.

-Parts of Scenario 3 were inspired by “Fly” (Sugar Ray)

Scenario 4

You and your class have been given leave; from the earth base, you are given a Life
Force modified civilian craft; a simple oval yellow personal ship; a bit taller than the
hawk, but still not much bigger; no wings, simply an egg-shaped air coupe. You use your
key, open the visor, and climb in. The controls are simple enough and similar to the
hawk; you rise and take off, traveling to an area on the West coast of what was once the
U.S.

Quickly fly quickly over a blue-and-green mountain range as the evening slowly starts to
deepen. Fly in and descend to the city, seeing a few other civilian coupes similar to
yours, with variations, and of course other transports and vehicles; some with sporty and
exotic body designs.

The group travels to a vehicle agency which provides free rentals to Life Force members.
You rent a black exotic hover-convertible, which functions similar to your coupe. Climb
in, start up, press accelerator and take to the air – noticing even more acceleration and
power than the coupe you had.

You and the rest of the group then meet at a social music club, which features karaoke
and interactive lighting and music.

Flashing lights on the street; crowds chatting pleasantly around the entrance.

The club designs are such that customers are able to move easily from inside the building
to the outside sidewalk and patios at leisure. After entering, you sit at an audio mixer and
attempt to play along with the current music. Some other patrons are doing the same -
you listen in to some of their channels, mixing and blending music, adding this channel,
removing that one…

A bit later – you hear loud noises from another room in the bar. Looking over, you see a
group of figures in dark suits - no faces visible – just like those in the attack on the
station. They are forcing their way into your area, and they spot your group. You all
start to move; they draw weapons…
Freeze!
Run!
Automatically start running for the exit.

You and the other members dive out the door.

Roll; scramble to feet and run to car; jump into front seat; push key and start engine; get
your legs in position, hit accelerator.

Zip by front door; a few shots fly over your head. Grab steering wheel soon enough to
turn right at the corner.

You see the rest of the group following you; you head towards the nearest Life Force
base. In a few seconds you see shots fly past you from behind; you are being chased.
Accelerate. Turn right. Left. Dodging other vehicles. Accelerate. Shots overhead
again. Left. Quick right. Blasts behind you. Use thrusters for a short vertical boost off
the ground.

You continue weaving through the streets and eventually close in on the base; other LF
members have caught up with you. You look around: your pursuers are gone. The group
enters the base and reports the attack.

-Parts of Scenario 4 were inspired by “Say You’ll Be There” (Spice Girls) and “Girl You
Really Got Me Now (Van Halen)”

Scenario 5

You wake as the freighter comes down from light speed. Move to viewing area; heading
towards a yellow dot, like a star, but slowly growing larger in view. Then you can see
the triangle shape; its size increasing as you draw closer. It is rotating slightly, and now
you see the full three dimensional tetrahedron of the main Life Force station.

After arriving, Life Force gives a report of a small station which has been damaged, and
you and Ann have been assigned to check it out. You quickly prepare, then follow Ann
to it in your Hawk. Half of the station has been blasted away. It had thankfully been
uninhabited during the reported time of the damage. From your ship, you can see a series
of neon light sticks set up inside the station wreckage, arranged to spell out the word
“Freedom”. Fly around the station; no present danger. Ship detects no dangerous gas
nor radioactivity nearby.

There is nothing more to do now; you leave the remains behind. An investigative team is
called in to attempt to determine the source and purpose of the neon light message.
You return with Ann and near the station; suddenly there is a message on your dashboard
– one of the hangars is being attacked. Ann speeds towards the area of attack; as you get
closer, you see several small dark ships shooting at a Life Force transport vessel. Several
other Hawks are flying towards the attackers as well. Ann relays that the dark ships have
already been warned and have refused to cease. You begin your attack:

Follow Ann; fire your laser cannons at one of the ships. It turns towards you then pulls
up; pull up to follow it.

Slow and turn to stay behind it; fire lasers again, hit it once; it accelerates away and you
try to keep up. You attempt to find it with laser missile tracking; eventually it shows on
radar; roll, turn; lock on and fire laser missile. It hits the ship and explodes in a yellow
blast. You turn to see one remaining black ship, which happens to be flying straight
towards you; it fires a large glowing black light beam from cannons on each of its wings.
You pitch forward and dodge the fire; roll right and turn; it turns and begins slowing to
follow; pull up to escape; it pulls up, but suddenly explodes and breaks apart as one of
your wingmen hits it with a laser volley.

No other attackers show on radar. As you regroup, you wait to hear some sort of
explanation or message – yet no one knows anymore than you do. The dark ships were
not identifiable with any known group; they gave no message, simply started attacking;
and no one seems to have any more information.

Scenario 6

A group of new Life Force recruits have finished introductory classes at a small
Transformation Society settlement; you prepare to travel there with a small LF group for
registration and escort. Transformation Society (TFS) is an autonomous governing body
– only subject to the Galactic Union via a few base laws. TFS was created to pursue
education and research, and has many inhabitants among its several Earth bases. TFS
also examines and suggests improvements for the government and society of the Galactic
Union. Several times a year, a number of individuals living in TFS establishments decide
to join Life Force.

You are with a small squad of Hawks, following the LF personnel carrier as it flies
towards the island where the TFS settlement is located.

Relaxing flight…

After a while you are instructed to return to formation, as you are now entering TFS
airspace.
And then, a light, happy voice over your radios... welcomes you to TFS... and from a
cloud above you, a green TFS single-pilot ship descends and joins your formation - now
flying right outside your window. Its about the same size as your Hawk, roughly same
kind of ship design, but with forward-swept wings. Parts of the bodywork are a bit more
liberally designed, even artistic. You follow the pilot.

Slowly descend. Island comes into view.

Landing: slow, almost stop, yaw ship to right. Grip VTOL control, descend. Landing
adhesive deployed. Shut down. Open visor.

You step out into the sun. Sound of waves on the beach. Tropical birds flying among the
trees.

Walk into the facility. The recruits have already come forward. Verification pictures and
scans are taken. You escort them to the main transport.

You and two other LF members are then instructed that you will not be returning in your
Hawks. You will instead be participating in a newly-verified method of transportation
via quantum field generators and space-time manipulation. Your Hawks are loaded onto
the transport.

You change out of the standard LF suits into comfortable summer clothing. Further
instructions provided: the procedure will take place while standing in water, as the launch
process is made easier with the use of hydrolysis reactions, as well as trace body static
electricity as points of contact on arms, legs, hands feet. Shoes are removed. The team is
barefoot.

Walk outside. You see several computer stations set up for the procedure, a few people
monitoring data.

Put on the field generator –

A small backpack - it runs up along your back, then splits into two, with two rectangular
receivers behind your shoulder blades. A rod hangs out the bottom of the pack,
extending down almost to the back of your knees. The apparatus itself is lightweight and
not encumbering. Apparently this is all that is needed.
Group then walks to the beach.

Sand.

Sound of waves crashing.

Walk into the ocean; water just over your feet; now up to your knees. Stand on a
designated metal plate, which has been placed just below the level of surf.
Each of you presses a button on your generators. You are instructed to simply wait while
calibrations are made. Commander walks back to the computer stations.
Sand…
Warmth…
You could imagine yourself swimming.

A minute goes by…

…
A tingle. Hairs on your arm are standing up, slightly.
…
You feel the sand as it washes, sliding over your feet.

Small waves. Rushing… Foam.

Swirling… shifting, at your feet. You can tell… the water and sand have shifted you the
slightest bit down shore. You relax. Can almost feel the waves moving you.

Look to waves. Up. Down. Roll back…

Can feel the heft of sand, around your feet. Can feel the slight shift…
shifting… more. Moving. Faster. Faster… This is not the
waves. Your feet… are moving up. You are risingLIFT - FORWARD –
WHUUUUUUUUUUUSHHHHHHHHHHHH your body is lifted just out of the water
and you have accelerated towards the horizon at an impossible rate.
You are flying over the water…

Across a sand bar… over an islet…

There must be some field surrounding you – you feel no wind nor pressure despite your
velocity.

A few more islets… traces and ribbons of sand poking through the coastal water.

Palm trees below… and the coast, on your left, flying by. And you continue to
accelerate…

Higher. You are lifting. And still accelerating forward, as though you had been in the pit
of a slingshot released which hasn’t yet realized its tension. Ocean, islands passing
below. And WHOOM another burst of acceleration. You imagine yourself as a particle
in an accelerator, boosting forward as you pass through each ring. Now more land below.
Land… mountain in the distance – and you pass over it. Higher still. Snow, ice below.
You must be nearing the North Pole – then WHOOM again. Faster – higher - you can
see the curvature of the earth.

Tundra still passes below. And now, more greenery - heading south again. Farther south
– the sun shifting on the horizon – nearing the equator.
Continuing…

And now the South Pole?

WHUUUUM.

And now

– stars.

You are launched out of the atmosphere and into space.

And you are rotating – rolling – a bit right. Yet heading straight forward. What speed?
No frame of reference except – goodness, the stars. You can tell you are moving past
some. Suddenly, right turn. And passing the stars it seems you are going even faster.
Now, rolling to the left. Now, turning left, yet heading in the same direction. Stars are
passing from your right to left, scrolling sideways. You look to your left and they are
heading – away. Away into space…

Now suddenly rolling right, turn right facing forward roll right fully all the way around
then WHUUUM again. WHUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMM it hasn’t stopped…

Rolling – and still accelerating. And now – the stars are – more. Numerous. Where are
you? Stop rolling, straight forward now, WHUUUMMMMM Still faster. Turning right
- Sideways again – rotating. Pitching forward like tadpoles, or tears, shooting down past
WHUMMMMMMMMM then WHUM Speed. Stars - faster. Right; left; pitch up; roll;
up; faster roll left right no spinning like a top pitch faster, the stars are like bullets…
Roll, roll, pitch, roll, faster you look left and… you see… as if you just saw this part?
The disc skipped look back forward and WHUMP back where you were, catch up now
like being pulled with a hook across a stream of greatest size. Faster-bullets-heading
where-down-left-across your eyes-straight-spin-into density-they’re all forward-sucking
you in.

Streaking now – trails of light. Many – many stars STARstars.Everywhere – more in

front a bunch over here. Look if I turn there’s a cluster, issued from creation

kaleido flash of light

Stop.

You are now stationary. Stars all around. Look down; look right. You begin rolling to
the right again, slowly – not of your own movement. Stars rotating.

Nothing.

Nothing else...
Star?LIGHT; FFFFFFOOOM with another flash of light you are again hurtling through
space; LEFT sideways slow rotate back to front constant light stream rolling again tilt
forward rolling all around your head now upside down WHUMM again and – color –
some blue streaks out from the rushing stars (particles) now red, yellow, green, bright,
neon, and blinding white go for a spin kaleidoscope again

WHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
FLASHstopped
WHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHH
FLASH a planet
WHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHH
FLASH are we stopped?
WHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhh…

Slowww… yet now moving closer towards a planet. Yet you must still be flying as you
are closing in at a rapid pace WHOOSH over the horizon and you are now circling
WHIPWHIPWHIP you rapidly pass some large source of light below as you circle
several times. Then you slow. Water. Land. And on the dark side, a landmass lit up
with civilization. WHOOOOOO deceleration this time. You pass the land of light again,
slower. Still slower. And now you descend. Still flying over the surface – to the
backside of the planet again - darkness most everywhere. Light in the distance. That
land. And you finally seem to be stopping – down you go. City lights. WHOOSH as
you decelerate; down; stopping; streets; a platform.

Stopped. Your bare feet rest on the concrete surface. You sit, almost collapsing.

-Part of Scenario 6 was inspired by “Ray of Light” (Madonna)

Scenario 7
The quantum transportation was a success. After your equipment was submitted for
record you returned to earth (by regular transport ship). But just as you land…

You wake. Hospital. Button near your hand. Press it. In a minute an aide comes.

You have been unconscious for about a week. The docking station you landed at was
destroyed. You were rescued and taken to this remote life force station, still on Earth.

The Infiltrator resistance has spread farther and faster than anticipated. The local data
networks, including Life Force, have been compromised. Many core networks on earth
have been shut down completely. You learn that this base is still in danger – Infiltrator
search parties will find it eventually.
After another day of rest you are verified as healthy. Report for strategy – need to restore
a secure communications channel to LF transports, to call in a rescue without alerting
Infiltrator forces. You and a few others will drop encrypted scanners at several locations
to triangulate the nearest Life Force fleet.

Scenario 8
You accelerate your hoverbike across the desert. The sun not quite noon.

Begin by heading east, towards the sun. You have been given a series of signal
transmitters to drop off at key locations.

Now on a straightaway, you activate the bike’s velocity formation: the body of the bike
elongates a bit and lifts your lower half; you are now laying mostly horizontal to the
ground, the bike supporting your legs behind you on either side, arms on either side of the
bike body, hands gripping the controls – you rocket forward.
You follow the main road; see the first marked location blinking on your computer map.
Curve left, taking a shortcut to the marker.

Dodge cacti, rocks – left, right. Reduce speed to keep from hitting anything.

You arrive and drop off the first transmitter. Take off east again. The next drop is right
on the main road; you turn towards it.

Drop; continue on road; nothing to dodge, so you speed up. Slow as you pull up to empty
crossroad.

Map instructs the fastest route is to take a left. Pull bike up and speed down crossroad.

Drop made. Few more to go.

You continue with the last transmitters. On your screen you notice their scans start to
show the Infiltrator blockade in the atmosphere above you. The LF computers will
analyze the blockade movements for a weak point to break through.

A local scan is picked up. Check screen. Several mechanical objects near your area –
more than just debris – moving - and they do not show to be part of LF.

Stay? Flee?

You quickly map out a course back to your outpost that avoids the objects – then
WHAM. Acceleration. Follow the course. Slow; curve left; accelerate again. Curve
right… right… hold.

Arriving at camp – slow. Stop Check screen – it shows nothing in pursuit.

- Scenario 8 was inspired by “Wishing I was there” (Natalie Imbruglia)

Scenario 9

A squad of ten takes hovercars to large rural area. Follow gravel road for a ways until it
slopes down a hill, and you see your target – an old silo.

Had been used by local farm, but was bought by Life Force and used as a secret
emergency communications tower. The secret seems to be kept; the area looks
untouched. There is also a LF bunker hidden underground, outside the silo, with supplies
and equipment.

Climb silo. Find equipment as expected; make connections, enter information and the
network comes online. You send your encrypted distress signal.

You begin to descend to ground level - but radar picks up motion over the fields in the
east – moving quickly to your location. They must have had picked up the radio signals.
Not enough time to escape; your group stays low under the windows; use a mirror to look
outside; see two small transports approaching.

“Don’t use radar, they might pick up on the new signal” you’re instructed. Turn on
acoustic motion sensing; pick up multiple figures getting out of transports and moving
toward silo. A group stops and stay outside; two move towards entrance. You’re rifle is
lit, ready. Prepare to snipe the stationary ones from the window; the other two move
inside.

Pop up; aim towards figures outside; fire, first one drops; some return fire; others
around the side, out of view. You turn, group has fired on the entrance. Back to window
- fire. Your helmet and suit armor absorb several shots. Battle continues for a minute.

Most of the enemies are downed. You check the motion sensor – you see two
movements around the side of the silo, which then stop, out of your line of site. Wait a
few seconds. Still no motion. Pull out grenade; toss outside window to the right; it falls
around the building; movement – two others in your group rush outside and fire on the
last two. You descend; the threat is neutralized. You examine the enemy vehicles; no
movement - empty.

“There will probably be more of them on the way; we should get inside the bunker.” You
follow the group to the secret entrance; descend.
Inside you find a store of weapons. You and others gather a few mines and set them
outside; then you try to re-cover the entrance. There are hidden bunker turrets for
defense; you man one of the turret controls.

Watch the bunker detectors and cameras; soon there are more transports moving to your
position. One of the cameras shows a transport fire on the silo; the base gives, and it
crumbles. Some figures exit transports and move towards entrance:

Mines go off; turrets rise; you open fire. Some transports begin firing on the bunker area;
you fire on the transports. They begin retreat. You then see your signal has been
answered: laser blasts through the clouds, as LF ships descend into view. Clouds of
glowing dust; then silence, save for the ship engines.

The loading bay descends from one of the craft – you board.

Scenario 10

Back among the security of the main fleet. LF continues to investigate the threat.
Despite the current calm, TFS has voiced concerns about an attack, since they are not
relatively well-armed. TFS has formally requested LF support.

To ensure secure communications, LF will provide a series of state of the art quantum
signal transmitters, through which official communications will be filtered. The
transmitters themselves are small enough to be physically delivered by a LF squad. This
is also preferable for TFS - due to heightened security, their city is on lockdown – their
defenses, while meager, are set to fire upon any intruders. Not even standard LF ships
will be allowed in, due to their destructive capabilities, until secure communications are
established.

Thus, your team has been assigned to deliver the secure transmitters to TFS via parachute
gliders, dropped off just out of range of TFS no-fly zone, at which point you will glide in
to the TFS headquarters city.

Wearing thermal suit. You view the camera from inside Bertha, one of the standard class
B defensive transports. Ocean, clouds outside. Due to the long gliding distance, the last
part of the flight will require the squad to utilize the active propulsion on the gliders –
once you have been verified by TFS.

Bay opens up. The long line of your team in front of you begins to fall out into the air,
one by one – then you join them.
Acceleration; chest squinches against the rush. FOOM, foom foom foom foom the
parachutes just below you – colorful fabric fills the air. Pull your cord and join the slow-
falling parade. You then adjust the simple controls on your belt – your chute moves,
changing form a bit. Adjust your arms into the handles and glide towards the faint rising
sun.

There is cloud cover in the sky, and high-rising fog on the ocean below. Your group
continues to glide to the east. You bank around a cloud, dive under another. The glider
structure allows for natural arm and leg movements to control your flight.
After a minute you begin to near the ocean surface.

The fog begins to get noticeably thicker. You notice it moving across the water, and
rising. Then it surrounds - envelopes.

Only a few squad mates visible. Look down - your standard radio is dead. No lights on
your equipment. You can no longer see the water below or how close you are.

After a few seconds – you hear the squad leader – the backup radios are working.
“Squad, this is part of their defense – they are verifying us now. Prepare to ignite
propulsion.”

“Hold.” Followed by open static on the radio.

Straight in front of you, you see a source of light, a dot. Faint. Growing. White. Now,
with a green hue.

static

Growing. The fog around you glows dimly green from the light. Brighter. Brighter –
now you are surrounded by green luminescence, flying straight towards the semi-blinding
source.

static

Then you are through the fog – straight into a yellow-green sun ray. In a split second the
ray shifts out of your eyes, revealing the glinting spire through which it had prizmed – the
spire topping a glorious green shining city, an incredible display on the surface of the
ocean in the morning light.

You are just above the water.

“Engage!”

Boosters on the leader’s glider light up - he rockets forward. Squad follows suit. Then
you – horrRRRRRMMMMMMM – thrust forward – and lift into the air. Rush of wind.
Flying

The Green City continues to glint and shine as you move. A castle on a metropolis scale.
Parts in gold color.

Flying. Closer.

Then a sound above; look up; through the clouds, flying fast, a stream of green aircraft –
a straight line – WHOOOOSHHHHH as they rocket overhead – then they split into two
curves, circling the city on either side – and rocket past again.

Flying

Then below - white patches of seagulls, perched on small islets of land above the water.
Some rise with you – a forming white sheet. And other birds – swans, albatross – cries,
screeches in the air.

Flying…

Leader begins to descend on landing area. Squad follows suit. Let go of thrust; glide;
land. Glider retracts into pack. Welcoming party approaches.

Scenario 10 was inspired by: "That's the Way It Is" (Celine Dion)

Scenario 11

Back at the main station –

The Infiltrators have issued a threat. They were able to capture a LF satellite station and
will destroy it – with the inhabitants still trapped inside. They have opened an audio
channel; Several LF Judges listen as an Infiltrator leader speaks.

“We desire the freedoms you have taken from us. We will take them back.”

A Judge replies. “So freedoms have been taken from you? I ask you, what freedoms? I
also ask, has this been caused by the nature of Intergalactic Government structure, or by
individuals? If individuals, why have you not communicated your griefs to be judged? If
the structure of government has brought you pain, why have you resorted to these hostile
actions? There have been many changes in our government, all peacefully allowed and
effective, due to the nature of communication and representation that is provided in our
system. This is the first communication you have allowed us, yet we have been assaulted
by a dozen hostile actions with no reasonable purpose other than to cause pain. How can
you justify your actions?”

“You do not give anyone true freedom; freedom to do as we please.”

“If you do as you please, with abandon, with no restraint, you will interfere with
another’s freedoms. That is why we put basic, logical restrictions in place – such laws
are required, for no human or society is perfect. And that is why we allow open
communication on decisions and allow for changes. Do you desire anarchy?”

The line is cut off. A typed notification is then sent from the Infiltrators: the hostage
station will continued to be held for leverage – and for experimentation. No other
information is given.

A few minutes later, you listen as another Judge addresses Life Force:

“You have heard our adversary’s communication – or lack thereof – and you have seen
their actions. I cannot see their point of view as valid, and they are continuing their
attack. Their aim seems to be to simply hurt IG society, to break apart the structure and
functioning of our system, and I see no good in their purpose. As always, communication
is encouraged - if there are agreements with their cause, I should like to hear opinions and
be able to understand their grief, for at present I cannot. “

“But if you see as we do, if you wish to protect the society and system that we have –
then this is the charge I give you soldiers. Ideally you would have lived a relatively
comfortable life. You would have acted mostly as a police force; would have upheld our
current society, and its healthy structure.

“But our society and its citizens are now in danger. We are now broken. I ask you to
examine the commitment you have made, and decide whether to continue in your roles.
Your service and defense are needed. We cannot simply exist according to the path of
least resistance. We do not have the luxury. We are at war.”

“We have work to do.”

To be continued