Brotherblaze's War Journal
14 Oct 2024Brotherblaze
War Journal
The quiet hum of Stuart Base was a rare reprieve from the constant rumble of war. I had been on Icarian Hold (Mebech C 2) for a short refuel, some minor repairs, and to check on the latest ground deployment logistics. The war between the Federalist Ice Storm Squadron and the Imperial Monarchy of Votama had been dragging on far longer than expected, and Shadow Heaven had seen its share of bloodshed across the system. Between the orbital strikes, ground skirmishes, and covert ops, it felt like we were stuck in an endless loop of violence. But that’s war in Imperial space—never simple, never clean.
I was standing at the terminal, reviewing a list of ground operations, when I overheard a conversation near the enlistment booth. I turned, and there he was—CMDR Fizzlefest, talking to one of the ground forces officers about the ongoing planetary engagements. His voice carried the tone of a pilot looking for more than just another job. It was the tone of someone eager to make a difference.
I approached him, offering a nod in greeting. “You looking to make a bigger splash?” I asked with a half-grin, and he chuckled.
"Something like that. Heard there's no shortage of battles out here."
We exchanged introductions, nothing too formal, but the spark of mutual respect was immediate. I could tell this guy had grit, the kind of determination that could thrive in the chaos of the Mebech War. After a light conversation about our recent operations, I convinced him that if he really wanted to make a mark, he'd be better off enlisting with the Federation. The Ice Storm Squadron needed every capable pilot they could get, and Fizzlefest seemed more than capable.
Within a few days, we were flying together. Nalyvaiko's Installation was our first real test. The battle was labeled “medium intensity,” but if you’d been there, you’d have thought it was anything but. We were up to our necks in the fight, ground units calling for air support, while Mosessith soared above in his Anaconda, *Spear of Sol,* raining down fire on the Imperial forces. The flashes of plasma fire illuminated the ice-covered world beneath us, a grim reflection of how relentless this war had become.
Amaike Metallurgic Exploration was even worse. The high-intensity battle that raged there was nothing short of madness. The Monarchy of Votama threw everything they had at us, and the bodies piled up faster than we could count. Still, Fizzlefest and I stuck together, pushing through the chaos, fighting tooth and nail for every inch of ground. Mosessith’s air cover bought us the time we needed to dig in and hold key positions. The Imperials never knew what hit them.
After two successful campaigns, I could feel the squadron’s morale rising, but there was a different war brewing—one closer to home. Mebech Netcoms Limited was experiencing a state of economic boom, the commodities market was on fire, and their influence was growing rapidly. At the same time, the system was under siege by pirates, specifically the Carini Silver Drug Empire. With the war dragging on and Mebech Netcoms needing more attention, I made the call to put the squadron’s participation in the larger conflict on standby. The war could wait; profits couldn’t.
Fizzlefest stuck around, eager for more action. Alongside Mosessith, we launched a series of pirate hunts directly into Carini’s airspace. Their ships were faster than your typical pirate fleet, but they weren’t ready for the combined firepower we brought. One by one, we wiped them out. The satisfaction of watching their hulls disintegrate in the void never got old.
In between the firefights, I started taking on transportation contracts for Mebech Netcoms Limited. The economic boom meant goods were in high demand, and the credits rolling in were something I couldn’t ignore. We visited stations across surrounding systems, moving everything from high-grade alloys to delicate machinery. Each haul brought in more money, and with every credit earned, my dream of expanding Shadow Heaven into something greater grew closer.
But while we were busy stacking credits, the war continued to rage in the backdrop. Ice Storm Squadron had hit a rough patch—defeats stacking up as the Monarchy of Votama launched a ruthless new campaign. Their grip on key systems tightened, and each passing day made it clear that our break from the battlefield had been noticed.
It wasn’t long before the Monarchy started taking things personally. After news of my return to the battlefield reached them, they marked me as a permanent hostile. I guess they didn’t like how I disrupted their perfect little plans, nor did they appreciate how we turned the tide at Amaike and Nalyvaiko. Now, they wanted blood. Mine, to be exact.
Mosessith laughed when I told him. “We've pissed off royalty, Brotherblaze,” he said with a grin, “Maybe they’ll send us a crown when this is over.”. Mosessith has also left a bad taste in the Monarch's mouth.
I shrugged, half-smiling. “Crown or no crown, there’s credits to be made. But mark my words—they’re not stopping us. They can put all the targets on my back they want. We’re Shadow Heaven. We fight when we need to, and we profit when the time’s right.”
And so the war continues, but this time, it’s different. For the Monarchy of Votama, it’s personal. For me, it’s business. Either way, I know one thing: Shadow Heaven doesn’t back down. We’ll be back in the fight soon enough.
