Ch 1 - Flipping the switch
Location: Research Bunker Hiseaner
Time: Day/Year 248/687
Tag: KEPLER
“Another round of calculations completed” the ‘scientist’ said in satisfaction, leaning back in his chair and putting his hands behind his hand while kicking up his boots onto the worn control panel.
“Yeah and another 500 to go before tomorrow’s big test. speaking of don't you think you should start inserting those punches instead of kicking back in your chair?” i asked before he just looked at me and huffed causing the lenses in his white gas mask to fog.
“Fine. I'll go get the stack of punch cards” he sighed as he got up and dusted off his cyan flak jacket and straightened the gray rubber hazard suit underneath. Right after he repositioned his helmet before walking off to go grab the cards
Why is he even here, I knew we were short on staff because of project stim but come on. They take a logistics guy and give him a white gas mask and call it a day? It went from a research crew of 128 to me and a logi, all because of project stim
Shaking my head I scoot my chair over to a different panel the wheels squeaking as they roll over the concrete floors of the bunker. Glancing over the panel I then flipped several switches and the CRT came to life as a logo popped up “Hyper Corp” in nice yellow letters. The name of our country and homeland
After a few seconds of flipping switches and pressing buttons, i was left with a prompt “begin charging project Gate Y/N_” fuck it i hit Y on the terminal, It's going to take a couple of hours to charge for the first proper test. Well nothing else to do but check up on the logi guy with the punch cards.
I got up from my chair dusted my flak jacket, straightened my hazard suit, adjusted my helmet and then walked over to the metal blast door and made my way into the hallway. Making a left I then headed down to the supercomputer, as I walked in I could hear the sound of hundreds of clacks as the supercomputer worked away.
“You good in here? if so I'm heading to bed.” I asked
“Yeah I got it” he answered
“Alright then I'm off to bed” I told him before I left and headed to the barracks, after getting there I opened the airlock and headed inside after making it into the actual barracks. I then made my way to room 64 and entered it. After walking in and closing the door i began removing my equipment, Under my protective gear was a white tank top, light blue pants, and socks
Looking into the small mirror mounted on the wall i inspected myself. 27, bald, no facial hair, yellowed teeth, and tired eyes. I should realy get more sleep for tomorows big day, that of which will involve a squad doing recon if it works this time that is
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Location: Research Bunker Hiseaner
Time: Day/Year 249/687
“Special recon unit 1242-984 reporting for combat!” shouted the group of 14 troops all eager to get there hands dirty. noteing they have all cleaned there equipment and there orange arm bands seemed to be more tought then what would be normally.
“Good were almost ready to begin the test, you will have 18 seconds to make it to the other side before the portal shuts. And if im guessing correctly you have read your mission orders and not toss them?” i asked making sure they actually read it. Although judging on how there radio operator didnt bring a radio that was a given yes, looking at the radio operator closer. Even without facial expressions i knew that look it was one of excitement, even if he could not see though the mat black lenses.
“Yes sir, we are to set up a basic trench structure to act as a foward recon unit to asist in the establishment of further Hyper corp operations!” responded there radio operator further straightening his salute. Good thing too because i realy dont want to explain it to him or the others.
“Good. your experimental radio is in the armory, meet up outside the testing room in exactly an hour from now”
“Sir Yes Sir!” they saluted before marching to the armory. After they left i let myself slouch, making my way back upstairs i found my assistant walking down the hallway with a metal box full of printed papers pouring out.
“Umm sir i got the calculations for a stable location of the gate. But are we really about to punch a hole into another dimension with just the two of us!?” he questioned hesitantly
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“Yes we are and if this works im going to get a shit ton more funding!” i told him excitedly as i picked up the long piece of punched paper and running it over to the main control terminal.
“Right and what do you think will be on the other side?” he asked before continuing “Oh do you think those strange cat girl things will be there like in those old animated films?” he excitedly asked
“Hey, how did you get your hands on that material?”
“Ummm… dont worry about it” he responded in a worried tone
“Well just don't tell the higher ups i have old books or they might want to make bets” i told him reassuringly “i got my hands on some strange books detailing something about ‘fantisy races’ or something like that so something like that does sound familiar. On that note, you want to trade some material afterward?”
“Yeah sure” he said slightly confused
“Well we might as well get started”
i turned to the panel and began flipping tens of switches, nobs, and buttons. After going through all the procedures with the assistant i pressed a button and spoke into the PA system. “Testing testing” rang out through the bunker before i continued “we are beginning on the first tests on project Gate. everyone is required to get into brace positions” I turned and flipped up the protective on the rather large red button then pressed it with a satisfying click “5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Brace Brace Brace”
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Location: Cargo Train
Destination: Research Bunker Hiseaner
Time: Day/Year 249/687
Tag: RICKY
When I heard I would be taking part in experimental tests I got hyped. Mostly because I can't believe me and my squad made the cut. But most importantly from what it looks like I get to be one of the first to step on to a new front!
“Hey Ricky have you seen the technical manual for this experimental radio?” I look up from the floor and at Hank sitting on a metal crate. He was looking up a me with a brand new technical manual in his hands.
“not yet it's a little hard to see in this dimly lit cargo car, but i am disappointed we cant bring a tank through due to the whole 18-second thing. But anyhow what does it say about this new radio”
“Oh from what it sounds like its going to be ground breaking, although it doesn't explain how it works on the science side of things it explains what its capable of and how to operate it. According to the manual its capable of sending morse code through dimensions and get this it uses type C plutonium cells and a Calax chemical cell!” he said excitedly
“That sound heavy, does it require two men to carry or what?” he shook his head before continuing
“Since it's lacking a typical radio board its actually smaller, so for once i might be able to carry some of my equipment with me for once but yes its going to be heavy” he then turned to the two new guys “speaking of are thse two the replacements for the casualties we suffered?” he asked nonchalantly
I turned my head to look at the two recruits right as our strong ‘man’, our machinegunner Vicky wrapped her arms around both “Yeah these two are the new chumps i orgionaly planed on them holding on to my extra machine gun ammo but i dont think they could carry it” she chuckled
“I was planing the same thing with my auto cannon rounds” Tack said disapointed
“Ha you should make Hank carry the extra ammo since were always carrying his shit!” Fred stated causeing me to chuckle a bit.
Suddenly the train jolted a bit and the breaks began to squeal. “Well it seems like were here lets get ourselves unloaded” i stated sliding the cargo doors open after the train came to a stop.
“Oh hey its a actual station for once!” Hank said as we jumped off of the train onto the concrete ground “look at that no mud!” hank continued as the others teased his hate for mud
We then made our way to Research Bunker Hiseaner’s airlock on the left of its massive hanger doors, after making our way inside we were greeted by Dr. Kepler himself if it wasnt obvious by his white mask and capin hat. Ontop of that he also had a name tag on his flak jacket just in case you weren't able to tell somehow
He went over us quickly and asked a question to make sure we read our mission orders before coming here. Right after we headed over to the armory and as soon as we made it in that room we all slouched back over and the rest went over to the weapon racks. I on the other hand went with Hank to get a better look at this radio, of course i knew what it would look like there had been a picture of the thing on the front of the manual after all.
We made our way past the racks and into a back room and there it sat “the D.E.R.R. MK-4” Hank said in awe. Looking closer at the radio it had 1 headphone jack, 2 switches, and 3 buttons with a tiny one next to the headphone jack. It has a lot less buttons than a typical radio
“So Hank since i haven't read the manual yet how the hell do you operate it?” i asked after he strapped the thing onto his back
“Sure this switch is on off but im pretty sure you know that by its color, The other on was to determine if you wanted to record or send the message live, the red button here cleared the record info” he said as he pointed at each one as he explain what they did “oh and this one right here sent whatever you had recorded as for the last one its what you used to write the morse code. And as you probably already know this small button next to the jacks just send static through the headset so you know its plugged in correctly, although something to note is that the receiver never turns off like a regular radio”
“Hey you two stop gawking about the radio if you dont want a repeat of commander Logan” Tack said leaning in the doorway “come on go get your shovels and come on” before walking off
“Ass” i whispered under my breath as i got up and went over to the weapon racks and began packing ammo, my revolver, a submachine gun, and a array of tools. After grabing everything else i would need like bed rolls and more tools we went over to the blast door that went to the Testing room. “Wait are we bringing a sampling drill?” i asked
“Yep were bringing a -
The new guy was cut off as a warning sounded through the bunker and a alarm began blaring.
“As he was saying yes we are taking a sample drill one of the scientists said we should so we are, also if something were to go wrong it has type C plutonium batteries” the other new guy shouted over the alarm as everyone in the room got into brace positions
“5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Brace Brace Brace” then shortly the bunker shook as if we were hit directly by a nuclear warhead. Then the blast door alarm began blaring as it began opening the loudspeakers then gave them orders “the portal is fully open once you begin walking though the portal the 18-second countdown begins so i recommend you all walk through it at the same time”
Well thats nice. As the blast door made a bang as it finished opening giving way to a massive room that contained project gate, a massive purple spiraling thing contained by a masive metal ring hooked up to equally massive wires. We all walked towards it in unison stopping right where the cat walk as it began extending out to massive portal as bolts of electricity shot out from the thing as the catwalk smashed into it.
“Well this is it boys” Hank said before raising his bolt action rifle in a bayonet charge getting ready to charge into the thing as the others with rifles raised for a charge
“To the New Front!” we all shouted in unison as all 14 of us charged into the thing. Once i smashed into the thing i immediately tripped and felt nauseous as my face smashed into the ground, that was apparently covered in green strands? I just continued laying there as i then ran my hand across the ground it felt like a worn brush. Soon after i looked up and my god there were a lot of tall bits of wood that looked like they ran up 800 feet. with what seemed to be green things on it?
