Faster Than Angels

[Jonny]

Thanks

Jennter can keep away from the affairs of Wyvern, Angelus and Crinale...yet.

[Snakenator1]

Oh if your posting in this fiction thread they'll end up in our situation
Also this is definitely the theme I want for my team, the unofficial Wyvern AR Theme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JJH0ilahuA
(not mine btw, copyrights and what not)

[Ace3000]

Glad you liked, it was tricky to make a part that was as suspenseful as yours. I think I did alright there
Things are taking a dark turn in these fictions, I hope your next part Ace can work with my part 2

The main plot for FTA Part 3 actually makes it easy for me to edit it, working your part 2 in with it.

[Snakenator1]

I'm actually completely rethinking the XAF-72 Wyverns appearance for when I do my drawing of it I hope it looks cool at the end

[Ace3000]

Neat! I just realised that I have to rethink a future part, as it tied in with your first part, but is now contradictory to your second. Part 3 has been edited and ties in with your 2nd part.

[Ace3000]

I've decided that all part titles from 2.0 onwards be based on album titles. Part 2.0 was based on David Bowie's "Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)" and Skrillex's "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites". I could make a little game of it, where you'd guess the album the title's based on, and I'd give the answer in the following part.

I don't know, what do you guys think of that?

We now return to your regularly scheduled program...

[Part 3.1] Rage Valley

---

<22091017>
Tuesday, October 17th, 2209

Gibraltar

08:25:09

BREAKING NEWS
"The Anti-Gravity Race Commission has approved of a new race track created along the Perth shoreline in Western Australia. Constructed by the RidgeTech Corporation, "Omega Harbour" is the longest track ever approved by the Race Commission, reaching a total length of 12479m. Omega Harbour is designed for endurance, containing a balance of speed and technical sections and is notable for its "Death Spiral" corner, a 900° right turn. This track will be the location of the final race in the 2209 season of the FX400."

"Wait, so that's what they were building?!" Brandon Smith exclaimed, "Also, who the hell is this RidgeTech Corporation?"

"No idea," said Gareth Ardos, second pilot for Angelus, "But I hear that everyone will be getting an update to the simulator at the end of the month, so we can practice and eventually qualify on the new track."

"That leaves us a month for us to get used it. At least everyone's in the same situation. But something's not right. I've never heard of this RidgeTech Corporation before they started work on 'Project OMEGA'. I don't know, maybe I'm just being paranoid, but... oh, never mind."

"No, it's not just you, I have a gut feeling that there's something sinister about that Corporation, I just don't know what. Either way, I can't afford to think about that, we need to prepare for the race tonight."

"Yes, we do. Fort Gale White, Night run. Quite the technical circuit, but nothing we can't handle. Let's go."

---

Fort Gale, Gibraltar

19:25:20

There were less than 5 minutes until the race started, Angelus knew this nervous feeling all too well, but it would eventually pass. The final preparations had been made to both the team and their ship, and the latter was ready to take its place at the starting grid. The qualifying race had put Angelus in 2nd position, behind Wyvern, who had taken pole position by 0.02 seconds, with Crinale bringing the rear of the top 3.

"ARGH! I'm so sorry! I knew I could have done so much better!" Tarah Andrews apologized.

"It's fine. It could have been a lot worse, be glad we are in the top 5," Brandon said, "It's not a time to worry, you need to focus on doing your best."

"Yes, thank you. Will do, boss!"

"Fantastic! Let's go."

As soon as the countdown screen lit up, a familiar engine sound filled the air. It was Crinale, their second pilot had a habit of flooring the engine as soon as the countdown screen turned on. As the engine was originally Angelus', it sounded similar to their KA-AGR1 racing craft, but Crinale's F0-RG7 sounded a bit more aggressive, with a noticeable grunt added to the sound. The countdown started, at 19:29:57.

"3, 2, 1-"

BANG!

Wait, what? The countdown usually says GO, not make a loud explosion-like noise.

The source of the noise was quite obvious. Crinale's ship suddenly belched black smoke, its engine stalled, the purple neons illuminating the #2 ship flickered off and then, finally, gravity took over, making the ship crash to the ground. The countdown stopped, seemingly milliseconds before the GO signal. This was because Crinale was on the grid, yet they had been 'eliminated' before the race began.

A few minutes later, Crinale brought out their #1 ship, and the race was ready to begin proper.

"3, 2, 1... GO"

<19:33:28_>
<fort gale: white run_>
<phantom class_>
<lap 01_>
<uncrowned | celldweller_>

Immediately after the race started, Team Angelus knew that this would not be any regular race. Crinale seemed to have taken on a more aggressive racing style than usual, which of course meant bad news for their #1 target, Angelus. Brandon did not speak to Tarah about it, as she was experienced enough that she would have spotted the problem the second she saw Crinale. Also, Brandon felt like she needed to be more focused than ever, and talking to her would break that concentration.

The race started with Angelus barely making any ground over Wyvern, as they had around the same thrust power. However, due to Angelus' higher top speed, it slowly pulled closer to the repurposed jet fighter. The second corner, an outward banked right hander threw the ships into the air, due to the immense speed of Phantom class. Both Angelus and Wyvern took this advantage and performed a barrel roll. However, due to Angelus' advanced boost module, it pulled ahead upon landing, though not by much.

Suddenly, there was a flash of purple light to Angelus' rear. Wyvern had been hit with a Plasma, though they were not eliminated. Sure enough, when Tarah looked behind her, there was the unmistakeable sight of a black craft resembling that of Angelus', with deep yellow neons running around it.

"Huh, they seem more aggressive, better watch out." She thought. She ran over a weapon pickup, obtaining the Angelus Laser Cannon. She absorbed it, restoring the remaining shield energy lost to the initial barrel roll. Crinale weren't that far behind, picking up a set of rockets, which they promptly fired. Tarah strategically sideshifted out of the way of them, with two rockets shooting past either side of the craft.

As they passed out of the first tunnel and over the drop in the track, Tarah performed another barrel roll, hoping to lose Crinale. However, they barrel rolled too, so she didn't get as far away from them as she hoped. The only thing the audience saw were two glowing objects, one azure, one deep yellow.

As they entered the second tunnel, Crinale tried to make their move. They pulled alongside Angelus and sideshifted into them, attempting to run them into the wall, however, they were out of the second tunnel, entering the third, where a left hairpin impeded their progress. They pulled open their airbrakes to slow down, but Tarah continued at full speed. She sideshifted to the right, then opened her left airbrake, turning left sharply at the same time. The featherweight ship swung around the hairpin at an alarming rate, but had cleared the walls perfectly. Crinale soon came into view, their airbrakes open. The speed was too high for the heavy craft, however, and it ended up grinding into the right wall. An aggressive sideshift pulled them away from the wall and into a weapon pickup. They fired it.

"Missiles." the onboard computer warned. Upon hearing this, Tarah immediately activated the weapon she picked up: A shield, which promptly disintegrated the missiles. As she rounded the corner, Crinale attempted once more to run the sleek white ship off the track. It was then that Tarah performed a gutsy move. As Crinale were getting ready for another sideshift into her, she opened her airbrakes fully, slowing the craft down and bring it behind Crinale, just as they initiated the sideshift, which caused them to careen into the wall. Tarah took this chance and slipped by them, flowing through the chicane series, around the final corner and on the home straight for the second lap.

This vicious rivalry between Angelus and Crinale continued throughout the race, as it usually was in other races, but this time it seemed Crinale really had it out for Angelus, taking any and all chances to violently eliminate them. This continued until the very last lap...

<20:08:18_>
<lap 100_>
<final lap_>
<pursuit of the hunted | celldweller_>

At the beginning of the second corner of the final lap, Crinale took a unique racing line, not one that would be faster, but one that would lead them to force their ship to collide with Angelus', who was already in the air, preparing for a barrel roll. Just as Tarah executed it, Crinale smashed their ship into the side of Angelus', causing the barrel roll to fail. They then followed that up with an up-close missile hit, ensuring that all 3 missiles would have a direct hit.

"Energy Critical." exclaimed the computer, as a warning tone sounded. Tarah picked up a Turbo, thought for a moment, then used it, wanting to get as far away from Crinale as possible. She ran over another weapon pickup and absorbed it without a seconds hesitation, restoring her shield energy up to 47%. Crinale were still being relentless in their goals of Angelus' elimination, but Tarah persisted, right until the moment she cracked.

Upon entering the final tunnel, getting smashed by Crinale's ship at the hairpin and hearing "Energy Critical" for the second time, Tarah could no longer keep her cool, and finally snapped. The odds seemed to be in her favour, as she had picked up a Plasma before the chicane series. At that exact moment, she decided she was going to end it all, right there. She forced the airbrakes on completely, just as she had done the first lap, but she let Crinale pass. Then, with a yell which signified that she had had enough, charged the Plasma...


BOOM.

"......Contender Eliminated."

That sound emitting from the computer was the best sound she had heard all race. She opened the thrust all the way, accelerating around the final corner, past the eliminated Crinale ship, which no longer emitted yellow light from its neons. She did not let up from the thrust until the azure lit ship screamed past the finish line at top speed, where the computer spoke for the final time that night:

"First place."

That was the first time Angelus had come first in a race. Usually, they would rank high, but at most, 2nd place. Upon seeing that they had won, they were somewhat joyous, but not as much as they wanted to be. The elimination by Angelus was a bit of a buzzkill. But they had won nonetheless, and were through to the final round, held at Omega Harbour.

---

I created an image of Omega Harbour, now in 3 flavours: Angelus Blue, Crinale Yellow, and Crinale's alternate skin Purple!
OmegaHarbourA.pngOmegaHarbourC.pngOmegaHarbourP.png

[Snakenator1]

This is getting interesting now, very good that part was, definitely had me engaged and picturing every moment in my head
Time for Part 3 for flying with dragons then:

Part 3: Aftermath

FX-400 Fort Gale: White Run
Phantom class
Lap-01

The Early lead into the race brought promise to Falon's victory, but a all to familiar sight of Angelus in close tail showed they meant business this race. However a confident thought of the barrel roll at the outwards banked corner made Falon think he would pull ahead and take a significant lead. But to his amazement Angelus pull ahead after the manoeuvre. Crinale was now in third and unexpectedly the Wyvern computer yells "Plasma".
Falon tries to evade, but Crinale are to close, the plasma is right on him. Unable to evade the Wyvern takes a crippling blow. "ENERGY CRITICAL!" yells as sparks and smoke engulf the craft. A direct hit to the main engine brings the Wyvern to its knees, the slowing effect is so great it takes a whole 5 seconds before the thruster reactivates and controls are restored.

A costly blow, Falon falls to last place. But his adrenaline does not make him admit defeat, he slams his foot on the thrust and continues the race. He absorbs multiple pickups to restore his shields, but there is a problem. Falon noticed that his shields wouldn't go above 67%. The shield generator was damaged, but AGRC approved weapons shouldn't cause mechanical damage like that, something was up with that plasma. But Falon continues the race handicapped.

"Final Lap" exclaims the computer, Wyvern are in a healthy third place, only 2.13 seconds behind 2nd place Crinale. Trying to catch up Falon opts for his most precise but risky racing line in order to keep up. But a huge explosion occurs in front of Falon. "Contender eliminated" exclaims the computer, Crinale was eliminated by Angelus. Seizing the opportunity Falon navigates the last hairpin pulling the Wyvern as close as it can to the apex. All is going well, But.

"WARNING" shouts the Wyvern's AI, "severe mechanical damage, engines critical". The rear of the craft belches out thick black smoke as a fire engulfs one of the engines. Falon is in grave danger "Warning, explosion imminent". David who was spectating from his VIP seat gasps in horror, Wyvern fans have their faces drained of colour as the craft slowly loses speed. But thankfully Falon crosses the line in 2nd place after Angelus, but the Wyvern soon veers into the wall and grinds to a halt. Emergency vehicles race to Falon as he emerges from the wreckage, unharmed to the eyes of the fans. David rushes out of the stands...

-2 days later-

David analyses the flight data collected from the Wyverns computer memory during the previous race, although the craft was severely damaged it was salvaged and is now under going repairs for the next events. The Wyvern was nearly destroyed by mechanical failure, something that has never occurred before in AGRC history. Concerned as to why it occurred, David analyses the damage data suffered during the plasma impact and noticed something odd.
The plasma had a mod added to it once was aboard Crinales craft, something illegal as well. It was KX-SI, it was designed to modify damage of plasma based via virus weaponry to cause mechanical failure in a vehicle. This then causes slow but long term damage to its target that could only be spotted until it was to late and the vehicle is destroyed. But thanks to the Wyverns advanced AI technology the virus was cleaned before it caused engine implosion, But not before it left a lasting impression.

David grows anxious, first the stolen XAF-72 CEFND warp, and now the use of virus based weaponry to cripple Wyvern shields and engines to destroy them. David sees the motive to redesign Wyvern shield technology to stop such a event from happening again. Crinale are taking seriously dangerous motives to destroy their opposition.

[Ace3000]

Woah, I never would have thought of something like that! That's awesome!

In my eyes, no-one really dies when they get eliminated, their ship just kinda shuts down, or suffers actual minimal damage to the craft when the shields fail.

Also, you may or may not find out what caused Crinale's secondary ship to blow up and fail at the start line in the next part, there's a reason why this part is 3.1, instead of 3.0.

[Jonny]

----Faster Than Angels----
A Mystic Life of Speed

Fort Gale
Gibraltar, United Kingdom, European Federation
16th October 2209

"We had no particular issues during the practise stints, the conservative approach of the craft is not falling too heavily into weight, due to the long straights." commented Nico as he left the craft and gave his feedback to the mechanics.
"Alright, is an offensive setup good for the race?" asked Louis Gilbert, his race engineer.
"I guess so, for once in a while." was Nico's response.

As Nico was about to exit the box, he met Jana "So how is it going?" she questioned her older brother.
"To the expectable, it is not too bad." he replied in a sharp tone that his sister did not expect.
"I see..." she sighted, bugged by his annoyed response.
"For the next season, we must come up with something good. These newcomers are turning circles around us!" his tone was still sharp, but it had a somewhat sad expression.
"Now, now, we just returned once again to the sport and wanted to play safe, it is not all that bad." she tried to calm him now.
Nico sighed "I guess...you are right." he smiled a bit at her and the departed to his room.
"Huh..." Jana let out as her brother vanished.


17th October 2209

It was another rainy day at Fort Gale, the qualification runs were almost all done, excepting the returning Jennter team.
Nico firmly hold the steering of his craft as it was started up and lifted out of the pits.
Unlike during practise, trackside servicing was not possible during the qualifying event. All crafts were allowed seven laps with a cold start from the first pitbox.

"Three, Two, One...Go!" was the quick starting sequence, played through recording.
Nico's craft took off with a rocket start, the orange light of the ion thrusters zoomed out of the spectator's view.
The simple design played out on the straights, allowing a high top speed before the young Bovier threw the craft into the sharp right hander after the high jump.
Back to full speed the craft vanished into the tunnel section, sharply took the hairpin and then quickly cleared the esses.

Every lap went like that and he managed to set the craft onto the eight and last starting position.
"Could be better, but at least we start for once!" commented Jana, maybe a bit overly excited at the rather thin result.
"Oh well, I gave it my best..." mumbled Nico into the radio.
"It is actually no bad result" said the trackside announcer "This year's Jennter craft is out of their usual art."

[Ace3000]

I think, there are some fatalities here and there, but we already had this discussion ^^

Yeah, I would have to agree with you there.