Code Red by MarkHirst
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Description
When they talk about the stench of death, you think of it as something putrid and sickening.
The smell of death on Illaria is something different.
It took the best part of a day to make the transit from the Nike Atlas to the surface. The commander took no chances when he set us adrift in our re-entry suits and parachuted payloads. We coasted in our armour for hours, listening to the silence of space and wondering what would greet us on the rapidly advancing surface.
You can recognise a rotten fruit by its colour. The lush and bright surface is pock marked with shades of brown and when it has gone far, marred by the slow colonisation of green and white spreading throughout its structure.
Where we expected fields and forests, there was grey. Where we expected oceans and lakes, a hazy murk. Even the clouds took on a dark and ominous hue. All this we could see from space as we hurtled into re-entry.
We landed at night in driving rain and storms, scattered by strong winds and lighting. Little wonder that the Sansica science team disappeared from our sensors, frakking civilians.
As dawn broke, a desolate scene out of a nightmare greeted us. The roads and surrounding terrain was coated with a grey sludge. There was not a tree, bird, animal, insect or blade of grass as far as the eye could see.
Mile upon mile we travelled, gathering up the members of our recon team. In that time, we saw no living thing of any kind.
The sun came out and soon baked the sludge into a hard shell that then broke up into dust. It pervaded everything clogging up engine vents and our suits with its dry, burning smell.
Our medic ran the dust through an analyser. It used to be organic matter, he said, the residue of degraded organic matter; grass, trees, bugs, worms, crops, cows, cotton, leather and humans.
It was what remained of every living thing, man, woman and child for miles around, broken down, reduced and destroyed. The remains of a whole civilisation had invaded our lungs and engines and now covered every inch of our bodies.
We’ve established a base in a spaceport freight yard and are investigating the outskirts of the nearby town. Obstructions and crashed vehicles have forced us to explore on foot. In homes and offices, we find the faint outlines of bodies and their clothes arranged around them. Our comms link is jammed by strange sounds, like the wailing and jabbering of lost souls. When we try and answer, the sound stops for a while, before resuming again.
One my team is feeling ill, don’t know if it’s the smell or something else. Night’s falling soon and that damn howling on the radio never frakking stops.
-- Mission log of Lieutenant Ara Mercator, Recon Group
-- Mission Clock: 16 hours, 23 minutes, 47 seconds
Stephanie Petite figures with Chico, Wedge and Sassy Hair from DAZ.
The XM-5 AARV is an original model created by me in Hexagon 1.21.
Fighting Armour System Mobile is an original conforming outfit model created in Hexagon 1.21, consisting of a body suit, helmet and bullpup Railgun.
Scenery elements such as the ISO containers, cables and supply boxes created in Hexagon.
All meshes UV mapped using UVMapper Professional and textured with Photoshop CS2.
Figures created in Poser 6 and the scene was rendered in Vue Esprit 5 Studio.
Thanks for looking and for any comments
Comments (28)
Tom-Noddy
I need a cigarette after reading and viewing your renders, Mark. It's getting to the point where I become livid with excitement everytime I see an email pop up in my inbox stating that you posted another installment to this series. The XM-5 AARV looks looks very good here. I knew you would use it well. My favorite line in this render: "Weve established a base in a spaceport freight yard and are investigating the outskirts of the nearby town. Obstructions and crashed vehicles have forced us to explore on foot. In homes and offices, we find the faint outlines of bodies and their clothes arranged around them. Our comms link is jammed by strange sounds, like the wailing and jabbering of lost souls. When we try and answer, the sound stops for a while, before resuming again." Genius, Mark. Pure, dark genius.
Eromanric
Great art and storyline as always Mark. Excellent!
cornelp
Really owesome story line and amazing works of art. I like the view, very owesome and spectacular. Owesome works, just owesome. -V-
fabriced
fantastic work!!! cheer!
vncnt9663
Good story. Over all I like your images. Good lighting, nice depth of field. However, your shot is too static. I feel like you're trying to sell me something. It feels like an ad. Like youre selling the vehicle in the scene. Instead of the story you're trying to sell. I think it needs some more action. Play God put some life into your scenes. Its missing life.
GSGALAXY
Yep - i've seen your pre-renders of your XM-5 during construction phase - and it really looks marvelous in this scene !
Terreinconnue
Excellent render and modeling !!!
BAR-CODE
i remember the XM-5 wip images you did a hell of a job... if i was you i sent it to DAZ or so for selling it :}
divon68
Excellent render, good lighting, it is very really.
meselfr
this is freakin' cool...
thefixer
Wow! Terrific image and story!
kjer_99
Oddly, what I really like are the wheels! Go figure! Your stories are fantastic, but I have to agree with rjay9663 a bit; I often find little connection between the written story and the picture. Both are always excellent, one often gets the notion that the illustrator has not read the story. Since you are both, that strikes me as a bit odd. However, this one comes closer to having a connection than many of them. The modeling, texturing, and attention to details is fantastic. (I enjoy looking at both picture and story, but I just don't connect them together very often.)
Ourias3D
Absolument gial comme tout votre travail. J'admire.
LadyLisa
Outstanding work!! Excellent modeling and textures. Your work is facinating to look at...:)
Syrup
An excellent POV and a great atmosphere.Oh and a interesting story too! :B eaver !
Sylvv
Most of the Vue pictures come too colored. Not this one - giving the scene a real photolike touch. Vote!
kjpweb
Hmm - first things first. Very good modelling job in every aspect - cool render as well - but I have to agree with some comments in regard to the connection of image to story. I usually am not a fan of long stories so I don't read 'em right away. So I look at the image and give it my 5 cents. And it looks to me as if your troops have just arrived from a long journey and are stretching and relaxing and don't appear in imminent danger. Your story however draws a completely different picture - hence the critique of a disconnect. It does however not take anything away from a very good render and a good story....just encouragement to synchronize both a tad better next time.
Bea
I don't see any relaxing. I love the figure at the back sort of kicking at the dust. I do see people waiting for others to appear with their reports. I love the work you do. This is excellent.
Odessey
Love the aged effect on the cargo bins in the background UV mapping turned out pretty cool on the suit and your modeled vehicle looks very plausible.
Danceswithroos
This is mind blowing Mark! The props and characters are fantastic and the story brilliant too! V
Darthmagus
Superb scene, excellent models!
PoserHobbit
This is so cool! Excellent work!
garyandcatherine
There we go, now you are back to your signature images. Super cool. Lighting and atmosphere really play a strong role in making the characters come alive.
regaltwo
Beautiful job of modeling!!
cermit
at least something oryginal and creative at vue gallery.. great story and render superb modeling
hoskins78
Great to see the elements of your recent work come together here Mark - and I love the feel of the image you've created and the widescreen image format! AWESOME V
Denger
Super scene render, Mark! I am curious about the cylinders above the rear wheels -- are they for cargo, fuel, explosives or ?? Story line is as intriguing as ever!
fran_joel
I like your vehicle (XM-5 AARV ). Great design !.. and thanks for your comment on my Robotic tank !