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Date: 15 MARCH 3008
Time: 0811hrs
Source: Extract from partially destroyed personal log
Any faint desire I’d harboured to join the IFN is completely gone now. As part of a militia formed from the civilians who hadn’t evacuated to orbit, I was conscripted to aid in the defence shortly after the first Oratan attack. With so many troops killed in the attacks, we were ordered to aid the remaining troops to retake the Firebases. Since then, I’ve been stuck defending Courageous Firebase with no idea when the Military will release us back to our actual jobs. I can’t stand it, even though I know it’s necessary, especially since the scouts have reported another build-up of Oratan. I didn’t join the Fleet to fight on the front lines.
‘Quit your tinkering and put that rifle back together, lad.’ The Sergeant murmured right next my ear. I hadn’t even heard him approach. ‘You never know when the enemy will hit us.’
‘Yes, Sergeant,’ I said, hastily starting to reassemble my weapon before he had a chance to take a closer look at the components. He watched me for a few moments before he slipped away. I kept methodically reassembling my weapon, knowing that he was probably still watching me from a distance. I knew the Sergeant was only doing his job, and that he treated the militia more leniently than the rest of the troops, but he had us under constant supervision. I hated the scrutiny, for no other reason than that it severely curtailed my more illicit pastime.
There is one good thing that has come out of my conscription and it’s not that we get to play at being soldiers and kill Oratan. No, I’m just glad I’ve been issued with a weapon. It was nothing fancy before I got to it, but I have been playing around with it when I’m off duty, altering and modifying components here and there. Even without testing I was sure I was going to be pleased with the results.
As I finished assembling the weapon, an alarm sounded and troops poured out of the buildings in the Firebase, running to their assigned positions. I looked around but couldn’t see what was going on. I hastily ran through my safety checks to ensure I’d got the assembly right and followed the troops until I found the rest of my squad by the northern wall. At first glance I saw that this was a relatively small attack—the Oratan only outnumbered us two to one.
‘Alright boys and girls, looks like we’re in for some target practise. Just remember these bastards play rough,’ The Sergeant said to the squad as he appeared behind us. ‘Remember your training, choose your targets and don’t hesitate.’
I don’t believe in the whole death or glory attitude like those in the military, so I just readied my weapon and took my place on the northern wall along with the bulk of our forces. I waited nervously with the other militia as the Oratan drew closer. I knew I was going to get a chance to try out my modifications.
The Oratan advanced quickly and soon I could see their features clearly, bringing back terrible memories of when they had attacked Celeste Harbour. They never slowed their pace as they continued to approach us. Then, with a bone chilling cry, they broke into a run, sprinting towards the walls. The turrets started firing and were soon joined by the troops, their weapons having a longer range than anything issued to the militia, and the Oratan fell in droves. As the Oratan rushed forward, I picked a target carefully and pulled the trigger, a full second before the enemy had come into range of the other civilians’ weapons.
Compared to how it felt when it was first issued to me, my weapon now felt like it was releasing a lightning bolt with each shot. I hit my target in the head and the creature went wheeling through the air. I fired again and another Oratan fell screaming with a hole through its abdomen. I could feel the sharper recoil of my weapon and hear the faster rate of fire compared to my counterparts. A fierce joy suffused me. My modifications were working!
The battle was over quickly, the Oratan barely making it to the wall before they were killed. Eventually the all clear was given and we were stood down. As I turned to leave, a trooper appeared before me and dragged me away from the rest of my squad.
‘Hand over your weapon,’ he said, abruptly.
I passed it over quickly, hoping in vain that he wouldn’t notice the changes.
‘What’s been done to this weapon?’
‘Nothing, it’s the one I was issued.’
‘Don’t play me for a fool; this is not standard issue. What is it? You’d better have a good explanation or I’ll be reporting you for making unauthorised alterations to military equipment.’
‘So I made some improvements, what’s so bad about that? I’m a technician, it’s what I do.’
The trooper turned the weapon over in his hands, as if considering what to do with it. A faint sheen of sweat gathered across my forehead as I wondered what I would have to do to keep my weapon.
‘Sounds like contraband to me, I think I’ll have to confiscate it.’
‘You can’t do that!’ I said, stalling for time while I considered my next move.
‘Oh really? Maybe I should hand it in to the Lieutenant right now? I wonder what she would have to say about civilians illegally modifying weapons?’
‘Come now, there’s no need to be so dramatic,’ I said casually, knowing my sudden confidence would put him off balance. ‘If you turned me in, who would modify your weapon? I could make certain adjustments that would improve its performance.’
‘Now that sounds interesting,’ he said, grinning greedily. I struggled to stop myself from smiling; he was hooked and now I just had to reel him in.
‘There’s a price. I need a new weapon; this one is going to draw too much attention in my hands. Get me a new rifle to use. Oh, and a knife. You should probably get yourself another weapon as well, to get through the inspections. Once you’ve done that, I’ll modify a weapon for you, as long as you keep your mouth shut.’
‘I can’t do that,’ the trooper scoffed. ‘I can’t just take weapons whenever I like.’
‘The price must be paid. If they won’t issue you with more weapons, then you’ll need to find some other way to… procure them.’
He considered for a second.
‘Alright, I’ll see what I can do. What’s your name?’
I hesitated for a moment before answering.
‘Call me Moonshine.’
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