Following the unanimously positive response to the first and second excerpts from my upcoming mecha/Mil-SF novel Combat Frame XSeed, I’m pleased to present the third and final preview to further whet your appetite.
“Ritter!” Schwarze barked from the dirt path at the combat frame’s
feet. “Quit tinkering and prep that Grenzie for action. We’re moving out.”
feet. “Quit tinkering and prep that Grenzie for action. We’re moving out.”
Tod Ritter, soldier of the Black Reichswehr, closed the access panel in
his prized Grenzmark C’s cockpit and poked his head out into the sultry African
morning. Exotic birds and insects filled the air with song. He took in the lush
green carpet of jungle rolling away from the hill where the freedom fighters’
CFs were parked before lowering his eyes to Schwarze’s scrawny figure.
his prized Grenzmark C’s cockpit and poked his head out into the sultry African
morning. Exotic birds and insects filled the air with song. He took in the lush
green carpet of jungle rolling away from the hill where the freedom fighters’
CFs were parked before lowering his eyes to Schwarze’s scrawny figure.
“Already?” asked Ritter. “Is General Kopp sending us into a real battle
this time?”
this time?”
A scowl pinched Schwarze’s gaunt face. “Are you questioning the
general’s command decisions?”
general’s command decisions?”
Ritter hopped down from the cockpit, using the Grenzie’s olive drab
knee and foot as stepping stones to reach the muddy ground. He fixed his brown
eyes on Schwarze’s beady, slate gray irises and said, “I’m questioning how
raiding African settlements and caravans is supposed to help us restore Neue
Deutschland!”
knee and foot as stepping stones to reach the muddy ground. He fixed his brown
eyes on Schwarze’s beady, slate gray irises and said, “I’m questioning how
raiding African settlements and caravans is supposed to help us restore Neue
Deutschland!”
“Have some patience for once,” said Schwarze. “It took a hundred and
fifty years to drive the Caliphate from our lands. The Socs and their
lickspittles on earth only conquered us three years ago. Marshaling a proper
resistance takes time.”
fifty years to drive the Caliphate from our lands. The Socs and their
lickspittles on earth only conquered us three years ago. Marshaling a proper
resistance takes time.”
“What’s the target, then?”
“There’s a small village nearby. The general believes they have a cache
of parts, fuel, grain, and ammunition.”
of parts, fuel, grain, and ammunition.”
Fury welled in Ritter’s chest. “I joined up to liberate my homeland
from the Socs, not to terrorize innocent villagers!”
from the Socs, not to terrorize innocent villagers!”
The way Schwarze’s travel-stained fatigues hung from his lank frame
often deceived people into assuming he was weak. Ritter was reminded that
Kopp’s toady was made of lean ropy muscle when Schwarze’s hands darted out and
grabbed Ritter by his frayed green collar.
often deceived people into assuming he was weak. Ritter was reminded that
Kopp’s toady was made of lean ropy muscle when Schwarze’s hands darted out and
grabbed Ritter by his frayed green collar.
“You should know,” Schwarze spat in Ritter’s face, “that the caravan
leader you urged us to spare sold out this village. The battlefield is no place
for sentiment, boy! It will get you killed. Personally, I’m inclined to do the
job myself before you take anyone else down with you.”
leader you urged us to spare sold out this village. The battlefield is no place
for sentiment, boy! It will get you killed. Personally, I’m inclined to do the
job myself before you take anyone else down with you.”
Ritter grunted as Schwarze’s tightening grip constricted his throat. He
cocked back his arm to strike his superior, but his punch smacked into a firm
gloved hand.
cocked back his arm to strike his superior, but his punch smacked into a firm
gloved hand.
“Stand down,” said an even, male voice. Ritter glanced to his right and
saw the new recruit, known only a Blondie for his wild golden hair, gripping
his balled fist.
saw the new recruit, known only a Blondie for his wild golden hair, gripping
his balled fist.
Scwharze inclined his head to the newcomer. “Here to help me enforce
military discipline, Private?”
military discipline, Private?”
“I was talking to both of you,” Blondie said as he released Ritter’s
hand.
hand.
Schwarze’s brow furrowed. He shoved Ritter down and rounded on the
private. “I don’t care if you did bring your own combat frame,” Schwarze told
Blondie. “That’s the sort of contribution we’re all obliged to make for the
Fatherland. It doesn’t earn you extra privileges, and it sure as hell doesn’t
justify you giving me orders.”
private. “I don’t care if you did bring your own combat frame,” Schwarze told
Blondie. “That’s the sort of contribution we’re all obliged to make for the
Fatherland. It doesn’t earn you extra privileges, and it sure as hell doesn’t
justify you giving me orders.”
Ritter sprang to his feet and jabbed a finger at Schwarze. “It’s two
against one. That’s all the justification we need.”
against one. That’s all the justification we need.”
“Schwarze is right,” said Blondie.
Ritter’s jaw dropped. “But you’re the one who convinced them not to
slaughter the caravan. Now they want to massacre a whole village!”
slaughter the caravan. Now they want to massacre a whole village!”
Blondie removed his aviator sunglasses and fixed his gaze on the
younger soldier. On closer inspection, he was only a year or so older than
Ritter. But his sky blue eyes held more loss and sorrow than most men saw in a
lifetime. “Everyone in an outfit like this has two choices: fight or run.
What’s yours?”
younger soldier. On closer inspection, he was only a year or so older than
Ritter. But his sky blue eyes held more loss and sorrow than most men saw in a
lifetime. “Everyone in an outfit like this has two choices: fight or run.
What’s yours?”
Ritter clenched his teeth to contain the cry of frustration that
threatened to burst from his mouth. His white-knuckled fists fell to his sides.
threatened to burst from his mouth. His white-knuckled fists fell to his sides.
“I’ll take silence for assent,” said Schwarze, mussing Ritter’s shaggy
dark hair. “Be ready to roll out in ten minutes.” He turned and strolled down
the dirt path. After ten paces he looked back over his shoulder. “I was talking
to both of you.”
dark hair. “Be ready to roll out in ten minutes.” He turned and strolled down
the dirt path. After ten paces he looked back over his shoulder. “I was talking
to both of you.”
“I can’t believe you just folded like that,” Ritter shouted at Blondie
when Schwarze had disappeared around the curve of the hill. “Are you
bloodthirsty or just a coward?”
when Schwarze had disappeared around the curve of the hill. “Are you
bloodthirsty or just a coward?”
Blondie weathered the verbal assault. “There’s a difference between
surrender and picking your battles. Like I said, we all have a choice. Choose
well.” He replaced his shades, stuffed his hands in the pockets of his red and
black jacket, and strode down the path toward his Grenzie.
surrender and picking your battles. Like I said, we all have a choice. Choose
well.” He replaced his shades, stuffed his hands in the pockets of his red and
black jacket, and strode down the path toward his Grenzie.
“The only battle I want to fight is for my homeland,” Ritter said to
himself.
himself.
“This village is under the protection of the Black Reichswehr,” General
Kopp announced over his Grenzmark II’s PA. “You have no need of weapons.
Surrender your arms, along with your food, fuel, and equipment stores in
tribute.” The mostly Chinese villagers ignored his gruff German words and
continued their shrieking flight through the muddy roads between hovels.
Kopp announced over his Grenzmark II’s PA. “You have no need of weapons.
Surrender your arms, along with your food, fuel, and equipment stores in
tribute.” The mostly Chinese villagers ignored his gruff German words and
continued their shrieking flight through the muddy roads between hovels.
Schwarze’s Grenzmark I, with its pointier bullet-shaped head and earth
tone desert paint scheme, pulled up alongside Kopp. “We’re wasting time,” he
broadcast on the reichswehr’s channel. His CF raised its machine gun. “Let’s
clear this place out.”
tone desert paint scheme, pulled up alongside Kopp. “We’re wasting time,” he
broadcast on the reichswehr’s channel. His CF raised its machine gun. “Let’s
clear this place out.”
Ritter urged his Grenzie forward from the tree line to confront his
superiors at the settlement’s edge. “They don’t understand us. Gunning them
down would be murder!”
superiors at the settlement’s edge. “They don’t understand us. Gunning them
down would be murder!”
The grill covering Schwarze’s sensor array swiveled toward Ritter’s CF.
“Do you speak Mandarin?”
“Do you speak Mandarin?”
Frustration burned Ritter’s blood. “No. But if we just kill these
people and take their property, we’ll be just like the Socs.”
people and take their property, we’ll be just like the Socs.”
“The Coalition took Deutschland,” said Kopp. The domed head of his
Grento, a backswept antenna mounted on its forehead, never turned from the
village. “We have the same objective. Why shouldn’t we emulate their methods?”
Grento, a backswept antenna mounted on its forehead, never turned from the
village. “We have the same objective. Why shouldn’t we emulate their methods?”
“Well said, Sir.” Schwarze’s Grenzmark I took an earthshaking step into
the village and angled its gun barrel toward the street. Like a school of fish,
the panicked mob retreated as one from the steel giant.
the village and angled its gun barrel toward the street. Like a school of fish,
the panicked mob retreated as one from the steel giant.
“That’s a language they understand,” said Blondie, who advanced his
standard olive drab Grenzie from the jungle to join his squadmates. The CF’s
metal hand pointed to each side of the roughly square settlement. “If we
position one CF at each side of the perimeter and have them all move in toward
the center, we can herd the villagers into that building there.”
standard olive drab Grenzie from the jungle to join his squadmates. The CF’s
metal hand pointed to each side of the roughly square settlement. “If we
position one CF at each side of the perimeter and have them all move in toward
the center, we can herd the villagers into that building there.”
Ritter studied the long, warehouse style structure Blondie indicated.
Made of whitewashed steel walls running east to west under a peaked wooden
roof, the building dominated the prefabricated huts and plywood shacks
surrounding it. Colorfully painted panes filled the small windows. Two simple
beams intersecting at right angles hung over the double door. It’s a church.
Made of whitewashed steel walls running east to west under a peaked wooden
roof, the building dominated the prefabricated huts and plywood shacks
surrounding it. Colorfully painted panes filled the small windows. Two simple
beams intersecting at right angles hung over the double door. It’s a church.
Kopp took only a moment to decide. “Schwarze, keep driving them from
the south.” His CF’s left arm swept in a westerly arc, taking in the
reichswehr’s other Grenzmark I. “Heinz, move in from the left. Blondie, the
right. Ritter, circle around and herd our sheep from the north. I’ll deal with
any stragglers.”
the south.” His CF’s left arm swept in a westerly arc, taking in the
reichswehr’s other Grenzmark I. “Heinz, move in from the left. Blondie, the
right. Ritter, circle around and herd our sheep from the north. I’ll deal with
any stragglers.”
Ritter breathed a sigh of relief. As the Black Reichswehr members broke
off to fulfill their assigned roles, Ritter’s Grenzie snapped a salute at
Blondie’s, which crisply returned it. Intimidating the frightened villagers
into taking refuge in their church pricked his conscience, but it beat the
alternative. He flinched whenever Kopp’s 110mm machine gun thundered from the
surrounding woods.
off to fulfill their assigned roles, Ritter’s Grenzie snapped a salute at
Blondie’s, which crisply returned it. Intimidating the frightened villagers
into taking refuge in their church pricked his conscience, but it beat the
alternative. He flinched whenever Kopp’s 110mm machine gun thundered from the
surrounding woods.
“That’s most of them,” Schwarze reported when the Black Reichswehr
reconvened in the small unpaved square in front of the packed church. “Or at
least enough to let us search this shithole at our leisure.”
reconvened in the small unpaved square in front of the packed church. “Or at
least enough to let us search this shithole at our leisure.”
“Star searching, then,” said Kopp. “Don’t be bashful. Blondie, Ritter:
You stand guard here. If any of these church mice so much as set foot outside,
don’t hesitate to make an example.”
You stand guard here. If any of these church mice so much as set foot outside,
don’t hesitate to make an example.”
Kopp, Schwarze, and Heinz set to their task with gusto, tearing down
rickety dwellings and sifting through the wreckage.
rickety dwellings and sifting through the wreckage.
Ritter opened his cockpit to the humid, reeking air and turned his CF
to face Blondie, who did the same. “Thanks,” Ritter said over the racket of his
squadmates ransacking the village.
to face Blondie, who did the same. “Thanks,” Ritter said over the racket of his
squadmates ransacking the village.
Blondie nodded. His face was unreadable behind his tinted silver-rimmed
glasses.
glasses.
“You’re a hard guy to figure out,” said Ritter. “Why are you with this
third-rate outfit, anyway?”
third-rate outfit, anyway?”
“Have you ever failed in your responsibilities, Ritter?” His stony
expression never changed as he looked up past Ritter’s Grenzie to the cloudless
sky. “Did you ever let someone important to you down?”
expression never changed as he looked up past Ritter’s Grenzie to the cloudless
sky. “Did you ever let someone important to you down?”
Shame warmed Ritter’s face. “I was sixteen when the Socs overran my
town. More than old enough to fight back. My father said it was best to do
nothing; that if we kept our heads down, it would all sort itself out in the
morning. I listened to him. Now I’m the only member of my family left alive.”
town. More than old enough to fight back. My father said it was best to do
nothing; that if we kept our heads down, it would all sort itself out in the
morning. I listened to him. Now I’m the only member of my family left alive.”
Blondie’s deep but airy voice softened. “I bet you’d do anything to
make up for that mistake.”
make up for that mistake.”
“Nothing!” Schwarze’s Grenzmark I came stomping toward the church. “We
leveled this flyspeck to the ground, and we’ve nothing to show for it.”
leveled this flyspeck to the ground, and we’ve nothing to show for it.”
“Serves us right for terrorizing innocent people,” Ritter said.
“You’re so naïve it’s a wonder you’re still breathing,” said Schwarze.
“If these people are innocent, I’m Tesla Browning. They’re holding out on us,
and by process of elimination, there’s only one place they can be hiding their
stash.”
“If these people are innocent, I’m Tesla Browning. They’re holding out on us,
and by process of elimination, there’s only one place they can be hiding their
stash.”
Ritter sealed his cockpit and imposed his Grenzie between Schwarze and
the church. “These people have suffered enough. This church is all they have left.
I won’t let you destroy it!”
the church. “These people have suffered enough. This church is all they have left.
I won’t let you destroy it!”
“Does anyone else hear that?” asked Blondie. “It sounds like a jet, but
I’m not getting anything on radar.”
I’m not getting anything on radar.”
The Grenzmark I lunged. Its armored shoulder slammed into the Grenzie’s
chest and sent it reeling backwards. A jolt stabbed up Ritter’s spine as his CF
landed in a sitting position against the church doors.
chest and sent it reeling backwards. A jolt stabbed up Ritter’s spine as his CF
landed in a sitting position against the church doors.
Scwharze drew the curved axe from his Grenzmark I’s hip. The air around
its blade wavered with steel-melting heat. “Looks like I’ll have to cut through
you to crush that church and everyone inside. The smell of your charred corpse
will add savor to the work.”
its blade wavered with steel-melting heat. “Looks like I’ll have to cut through
you to crush that church and everyone inside. The smell of your charred corpse
will add savor to the work.”
Rhythmic tremors coursed through the ground as the other Grenzmark I
and the Grento tromped into the square. “We’ve coddled these peasants enough,”
said Kopp. Heinz, Blondie: Take down that church.”
and the Grento tromped into the square. “We’ve coddled these peasants enough,”
said Kopp. Heinz, Blondie: Take down that church.”
Not good, thought Ritter. His
Grenzie’s early warning system chirped an instant before he heard the roar of
jet engines approaching from the west.
Grenzie’s early warning system chirped an instant before he heard the roar of
jet engines approaching from the west.
“This is Captain Maximus Darving of the Earth Governments in Exile,” a
mellow tenor with a flippant edge announced over the radio. “Move away from the
building, exit your combat frames, and surrender.”
mellow tenor with a flippant edge announced over the radio. “Move away from the
building, exit your combat frames, and surrender.”
Ritter rotated his CF’s head to scan the sky behind him. A white,
hard-edged plane with white markings on its forward-swept wings screamed toward
the village. He couldn’t visually identify the aircraft, and there was no match
in the Grenzie’s admittedly outdated CSC database.
hard-edged plane with white markings on its forward-swept wings screamed toward
the village. He couldn’t visually identify the aircraft, and there was no match
in the Grenzie’s admittedly outdated CSC database.
Kopp pointed his oversized machine gun at the sky. “Shoot down that
plane!”
plane!”
Heinz obliged. His gun joined Kopp’s in splitting the air with bullets
as big as milk cans. The jet rolled between both streams of fire and answered
in kind with the twin Vulcans mounted in its nose. Kopp’s Grento danced aside
from the double row of divots spraying out of the ground, but the rotary
cannons’ fire chewed up Heinz’s CF like aluminum foil. The perforated Grenzmark
I crashed backwards into the ruined village and lay smoldering.
as big as milk cans. The jet rolled between both streams of fire and answered
in kind with the twin Vulcans mounted in its nose. Kopp’s Grento danced aside
from the double row of divots spraying out of the ground, but the rotary
cannons’ fire chewed up Heinz’s CF like aluminum foil. The perforated Grenzmark
I crashed backwards into the ruined village and lay smoldering.
Kopp’s Grento steadied itself, took aim, and fired a controlled burst
as the jet flew overhead. Smoke trailed from the aircraft’s port wing.
as the jet flew overhead. Smoke trailed from the aircraft’s port wing.
Ritter used the distraction to haul his Grenzie to its feet. He drew
his own heat axe and swung at the still functioning Grenzmark I’s head. But his
target’s grill swiveled toward the incoming axe, and Schwarze’s superheated
blade intercepted Ritter’s with a ringing clash. The Grenzie’s axe went
flipping from its hand to disappear in the wreckage.
his own heat axe and swung at the still functioning Grenzmark I’s head. But his
target’s grill swiveled toward the incoming axe, and Schwarze’s superheated
blade intercepted Ritter’s with a ringing clash. The Grenzie’s axe went
flipping from its hand to disappear in the wreckage.
“Still too weak, boy!” gloated Schwarze as he raised his CF’s heat axe
for a killing blow to Ritter’s cockpit. A staccato burst of thunder punctuated
his last word as a volley of 110mm slugs reduced his Grenzmark I to jagged
scrap.
for a killing blow to Ritter’s cockpit. A staccato burst of thunder punctuated
his last word as a volley of 110mm slugs reduced his Grenzmark I to jagged
scrap.
Ritter swept his main camera to the left. Blondie’s Grenzmark C stood;
smoke streaming from its rifle’s barrel, over the burning remains of Schwarze’s
CF. “Thanks, Blondie,” said Ritter between heaving breaths. “Better late than
never.”
smoke streaming from its rifle’s barrel, over the burning remains of Schwarze’s
CF. “Thanks, Blondie,” said Ritter between heaving breaths. “Better late than
never.”
From the corner of his eye, Ritter caught a blur of motion as Kopp’s
Grento spun at the waist and leveled its gun at Blondie’s CF. Ritter fired his
Grenzie’s rifle from the hip. The jungle ate most of the volley, but one round
grazed the Grento’s arm. Kopp’s burst flew wide of its target.
Grento spun at the waist and leveled its gun at Blondie’s CF. Ritter fired his
Grenzie’s rifle from the hip. The jungle ate most of the volley, but one round
grazed the Grento’s arm. Kopp’s burst flew wide of its target.
Blondie couched his gun’s stock against his Grenzie’s pauldron, aligned
the sights with the CF’s sensor grill, and squeezed the trigger. Six rounds
punched through the Grento’s chest in a pattern confined to the general’s
cockpit door. The idle Grenzmark II remained standing with a ragged hole
drilled straight through its torso.
the sights with the CF’s sensor grill, and squeezed the trigger. Six rounds
punched through the Grento’s chest in a pattern confined to the general’s
cockpit door. The idle Grenzmark II remained standing with a ragged hole
drilled straight through its torso.
“I didn’t expect pay you back that soon,” said Ritter.
“We’re not even yet,” Blondie reminded him. “You still owe me one.”
Ritter’s proximity alarm pinged again. This time a beat passed before
the whirring of what sounded like a giant weed trimmer echoed over the western
horizon.
the whirring of what sounded like a giant weed trimmer echoed over the western
horizon.
Blondie moved his Grenzie up against the church’s front wall and
propped his gun up on the long roof, aiming at the sky. He motioned for Ritter
to join him.
propped his gun up on the long roof, aiming at the sky. He motioned for Ritter
to join him.
“Inbound helo,” Blondie told Ritter when both men had positioned their
CFs facing the church’s east wall with their cockpits open. “She’s coming in
hot and heavy. Gunship, probably.”
CFs facing the church’s east wall with their cockpits open. “She’s coming in
hot and heavy. Gunship, probably.”
“No problem,” said Ritter. “Kopp sent that jet packing. We can take a
chopper down, easy.”
chopper down, easy.”
“That helicopter is more
maneuverable at low altitude, is probably carrying an arsenal of anti-armor ordnance,
and has a team of gunners that can scatter us across the surface of a smoking
crater faster than we can react. Just calm down, stay alert, and don’t do or
say anything till I give the word.”
maneuverable at low altitude, is probably carrying an arsenal of anti-armor ordnance,
and has a team of gunners that can scatter us across the surface of a smoking
crater faster than we can react. Just calm down, stay alert, and don’t do or
say anything till I give the word.”
The gunship hovered over the jungle canopy like an overfed green and
brown hornet. A pair of tiered transparent blisters swelled from its nose.
Ritter counted three Vulcans and a 120mm cannon mounted on turrets at the front
of the fuselage. A pair of missile pods dangled from its stubby wings.
brown hornet. A pair of tiered transparent blisters swelled from its nose.
Ritter counted three Vulcans and a 120mm cannon mounted on turrets at the front
of the fuselage. A pair of missile pods dangled from its stubby wings.
Ritter shut his cockpit against the lashing wind and piercing whine of
the rotors. A higher register male voice with a Received English accent spoke
over the radio. “This is Major Alan Collins of the EGE. Exit your combat frames
and surrender.”
the rotors. A higher register male voice with a Received English accent spoke
over the radio. “This is Major Alan Collins of the EGE. Exit your combat frames
and surrender.”
“That’s what the guy in the jet said,” Ritter replied. “Didn’t turn out
too well for him.”
too well for him.”
Blondie groaned.
“The guy in the jet is still on this channel and combat-capable,” said
the more laid-back, American English speaker whom Ritter recalled as Captain
Darving. “And trust me; you want to do what the Major says. He’s way less
gentle than me.”
the more laid-back, American English speaker whom Ritter recalled as Captain
Darving. “And trust me; you want to do what the Major says. He’s way less
gentle than me.”
“I repeat,” said Major Collins.
“Exit the combat frames. I won’t warn you again.”
“Exit the combat frames. I won’t warn you again.”
Blondie kept his Grenzie’s rifle trained on the chopper. “Negative.
Your weapons are still locked on to us. Tell your gunners to stand down, and
we’ll accept your terms.”
Your weapons are still locked on to us. Tell your gunners to stand down, and
we’ll accept your terms.”
“I’m not blind,” said Collins. “Or daft. My gunners won’t stand down
while you’re pointing a 110mm autocannon at my aircraft. And it’s no good using
that warehouse as cover. I will shoot your cockpit right through it unless you
stand down.”
while you’re pointing a 110mm autocannon at my aircraft. And it’s no good using
that warehouse as cover. I will shoot your cockpit right through it unless you
stand down.”
“This is a church,” said Ritter. “It’s full of people!”
“I know,” the Major said flatly.
“Collins!” said Darving. “Have you gone apeshit? You’re not firing on a
church.”
church.”
“I will use any means necessary to protect the men and equipment in my
command, Captain,” said Collins. “Contradict me again, and I’ll have you in the
brig for insubordination. Is that clear?”
command, Captain,” said Collins. “Contradict me again, and I’ll have you in the
brig for insubordination. Is that clear?”
The gunship was close enough for Ritter’s main camera to get a good
shot of Collins’ face. The Major looked to be in his mid-twenties with short
brown hair and green eyes with a scar bisecting his left eyebrow. He wore a
bulky headset and a khaki uniform. Nothing in his demeanor hinted that he was a
man used to bluffing.
shot of Collins’ face. The Major looked to be in his mid-twenties with short
brown hair and green eyes with a scar bisecting his left eyebrow. He wore a
bulky headset and a khaki uniform. Nothing in his demeanor hinted that he was a
man used to bluffing.
“Listen,” said Blondie. “I can respect your devotion to your crew, but
I’m on an important errand that can’t wait. My friend and I didn’t destroy this
village. We helped take down the cretins who did. Why don’t we end this
standoff and go our separate ways?
I’m on an important errand that can’t wait. My friend and I didn’t destroy this
village. We helped take down the cretins who did. Why don’t we end this
standoff and go our separate ways?
“I don’t give a toss about your itinerary,” Collins snapped. “Whether
or not you took part in the carnage here is for a military tribunal to decide.
Now put down your guns and exit your bloody CFs!”
or not you took part in the carnage here is for a military tribunal to decide.
Now put down your guns and exit your bloody CFs!”
Ritter’s screen flashed red, indicating a missile lock on his Grenzie. He’s serious!
To be Continued in Combat Frame XSeed, coming soon!
Can’t wait for XSeed? Get your first fix of Niemeierian fiction for just $0.99 with Nethereal, the first book in my award-winning Soul Cycle!
Ah, nice.
Action, drama, the morality of war, both in its practice, and then when to question and when to obey in a group.
And then Player 3 suddenly joins the game.
This is going to be a wild and crazy ride.
I'm delighted you're enjoying the story thus far. The first draft is almost done, and in its own way, XSeed's wildness surpasses the Soul Cycle's at points.
Brian,
f
Well the story's so intriguing that you've piqued my curiosity that I have to buy the first installment just to figure out what's going on. 🙂
The story is a lot of fun and I can't wait to get the whole picture.
xavier
I’m liking this story, and I’m not a mecha or general anime fan at all. I know I’ll enjoy the world building though. The Socs need to go down, in a hail of bullets and ordinance.
The fact that you're wishing death on the Coalition after reading an excerpt no Soc characters appear in tells me I've done my job.
Voluntary socialism and capitalism is fine, and an ideal to aspire towards that will never work in this fallen world barring divine intervention.
Involuntary socialism and communism is inherently evil and those who suffer from it need massive amounts of freedom delivered. BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRT!
Brian,
Later on will you commission an artist to create the illustration of the different mechas? It'd be neat to have web page with the model and its stats like a D&D character.
O and a modest suggestion: how about the mechas guns be updated versions of the L7 105 mm NATO tank cannon as well as the NATO 120 mm version.
Might as well as have some fun with the weaponry even if it's not Larry Correa expertise level(tm) 🙂
xavier
Or something like the GAU-8. I want a gun so awesome they built the mech around it.
"Voluntary socialism and capitalism is fine, and an ideal to aspire towards that will never work in this fallen world barring divine intervention."
Well said. Having descended from current year tech oligarchs, the Systems Overterrestrial Coalition practices what can best be called a form of soft socialist crony capitalism–the worst of both worlds.
NB: The slur "Soc" is derived from the acronym S.O.C. and is pronounced "sock" like the article of clothing.
"Later on will you commission an artist to create the illustration of the different mechas?"
Already commissioned. Just waiting for concept sketches.
"I want a gun so awesome they built the mech around it."
It's like you're telepathic or something! Wait till you see the actual XSeed.
"[S]oft socialist crony capitalism…" The economic situation you are describing sounds an awful lot like an extension of the modern day…
That depressing bit aside, the snippet is really interesting. And the heat axe sounds awesome. Back when I was younger, and could stand to watch mecha shows, the heat blades always struck me as making more sense than the beam blades; I like both, but I have a special fondness for heat blades.
"The economic situation you are describing sounds an awful lot like an extension of the modern day…"
It is. I have the whole XSeed timeline drawn up starting from the present. The resurgence of nationalism drives tech oligarchs like Branson, Cook, Gates, etc. to stage economic takeovers of Ecuador and the DRC. They partner with ousted European elites to build space launch facilities. Before they can face Nuremberg style prosecution from the victorious populist/nationalists, the technocrat/globalist/socialist cabal flees to outer space, taking most of earth's precious and rare earth metal reserves with them as a giant middle finger to the people left behind.
"And the heat axe sounds awesome."
Thanks. I dig heat weapons, too. One flaw specific to Gundam is that they'd show heat hawks and heat sabers glowing red, which any metallurgist can tell you means the blade's structural integrity is already compromised. Heat weapons in XSeed don't glow, but they do give off a heat haze.
As for energy weapons, Gundam's beam sabers are fictional Minovsky particles contained by an i-field. In XSeed, they use plasma contained by a magnetic field.
It sounded like that was what you meant, background-wise. I'm really starting to dig the setting, even if it is a little depressingly close to home.
That's pretty cool about the heat axes, and more like what I'd have guessed was realistic than what I've seen out of any anime.
I think I'm supposed to be a bit confused about Goldie's motivations… is that right?
I have to say I'm excited to get the stats for the mechs too, especially if, as you say, there are pictures to go with them.
I cut off this chapter's ending to avoid a pretty big spoiler. If you go back and read the very first excerpt (linked above), then reread this one, you should be able to figure him out.
P.S. This post's header image is an unfinished concept sketch of a Grenzmark C (Grenzie).
Ah, I wondered if there was a connection between the first and the third excerpts.
Cool! I wondered. I'm in, sign me up!
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Ist Tod Ritter ein Name oder ein Spitzname?
Or, is the German meaning intentional?
Combat Frame XSeed takes place in a world shaken by economic, social, and political upheaval where individuals not only have more colorful given names, they're more cavalier about taking pseudonyms to better define themselves.
For example, Sekaino Megami and Tesla Browning are not those characters' real names.
Tesla Browning? The John Moses Browning of electrical weapons?
Pretty much. He bolted a rotary cannon to a work frame and presto! Combat frames.
XSeed. I'm in!
*salutes*