"Protecting the Supreme Chancellor's Daughter..." Hi, I'm Corporal Cody and this is my story. Twelve days ago, the great Dystopian Fleet returned successfully from their conquests. Supreme Chancellor Moebius had declared it a worldwide holiday, throwing a huge week long celebration, starting it off with a parade through the Capitol city's Main Street. Midway through the parade, the entire power grid suddenly shut down, as if on cue, orbital fire rained down from above a split second later, before the city's backup generators could come online. It all went downhill from there. The city was on fire, the city's defenses had been taken out. The great Dystopian Drone Troopers seemed to have their own master agenda, firing into the crowds with calculated precision, as if they were scanning for someone. The loud whines of Erinyes Mk5 shrieked over the city, swooping down like hawks, strafing the streets. The Chancellor and staff were nowheres in sight, as I prayed they had sought cover and safety. We, the city's own manned defense forces scrambled to action. We were a last resort task force that had become viewed by popular opinion as "antiquated and redundant" since the advent of Drone Troopers years ago. But I guess the Supreme Chancellor still saw our uses. "Antique" Memon war mechs stirred to life, stomping thunderously out of the perimeter wall Garrison hangers, while the meaty roar of the Brute engines growled ahead of them. The retaliation was short and limited. Several Erinyes had been taken out, and maybe a few dozen Drone Troopers, before the Memon's batteries fell silent; as some broadcasted command code rendered the Memon's weapons inert. We lost the last of our best Mech Jocks that day. Well... That was six days ago. Now, I'm the kind of guy who knows how to survive and hold my own. Take a risk when theres a good chance of winning. The rest of my squad mates would probably be calling me a coward by now, but hey- thats why I'm still counted among the living and they're not. Now, the question of how I'm surviving is a good one. I had early on honed my skills sneaking out of the barracks at night, to go visit those cute nurses. Nobody had been none the wiser. These days, the streets are too dangerous to move around in daylight, as the rhythmic footfalls of the Drone Troopers could be heard marching, no, patrolling down the burning streets. Transport One's and Heavy Lander LVX9 Basalisks could be heard and seen constantly dropping down from or lifting off to the fleet in orbit. Only the night time was marginally safer to move about, ducking under the shadows and firelight. Floater drones had been employed at night after a few Drone Troopers had been taken out by rebel survivors, using the night's cover for ambush. These floaters are a real threat - their basic programing would make you swear their sadistic in their semi-self intelligent sort of way as they excel at their hunter seeker roles. They're near silent, and seem to 'enjoy' stalking their prey before switching on the big'ol spotlight to let you know your caught and zap you unconscious while the Drone Troopers come and haul your body away. Thats how I had run across California, the Supreme Chancellor's Daughter. Now normally I'd try to save whoever I could as I came across in my travels- as long as I wasn't putting myself in danger. But this time it was different. Cali and I sorta had a past relationship. She pretty much fit the ditsy wild child rich girl stereo type right down to the letter. Deeply tanned designer skin and designer cut and colored blond hair. Always went to the biggest parties, or dared risk hitting the regular bars dressed in street cloths posing like a call girl. Until the one night a troupe of men in dressed black entered the bar and this cute street gal that I was trying to impress froze like a deer caught in headlights. Suffice to say, I saved her bacon, and got a hero's kiss instead of her number, but I gave her mine anyways. Somehow we seemed to keep on running into each other on occasion, usually involved evading her assigned escorts then parting ways for the night. There was a no denying a definite attraction between us that had arose from our chance encounters of cat and mouse. But our lives were vastly different, as we both acknowledged would forever be apart like night and day. Sadly, we had to resign to our fates that was to be, of Hero and damsel. Three days ago, thats when I found Cali- scared, shivering, but defiant standing caught in the spotlight of a floater drone. She Was looking worse for wear, but otherwise unharmed. I knew it was her the moment I saw her, reacting instantly drawing my pistol and blasted the floater's backside until it dropped into a pile of flaming junk. The floater had probably ID'd her or was probably receiving confirmation of her identity, hence the delay in zapping. The turncoat traitor powers that be probably needed her alive and unharmed. She was still a bit stunned from the moment as I tugged her arm, coercing her legs to get moving, since I knew there'd be more drones swarming in on the spot. We had managed to find cover in the rubble of a supermarket, the front half collapsed but the back half still upright. She was in need of a change of cloths, and a hot shower of all things, but we only found the former, as well as a few scraps of food. Food was becoming a problem. With the city's power disabled, the refrigerators and freezers were useless. Non perishables like canned goods was all that was left - as the store shelves were slowly being depleted by passing survivors like us. Everywheres we went- or fled, the air was a constant hazy grey from the lingering smoke from the smoldering fires, or as more buildings went up in flames from the occasional orbital strike. Usually that was enough to send a few dozen people taking refuge running out in the open where they'd be ambushed by the floaters. That was reason enough for Me and Cali to remain on our own. The days were long, arid and stifling hot, even in the darkest corners of shelter. Sometimes it was hard not giving into despair as hope was dwindling down like the places left to go or try on the list. Although at least we had each other, and that was the one bright spark worth fighting for. Who'd have thought we'd become like a Dystopian Bonnie and Clyde? Hunted like outlaw fugitives, and on the run. Except we had committed no crime, we were just trying to stay alive. Last night we visited Feng's, but Feng wasn't there; nor was there any food left in his stores. Running on empty isn't a pleasant thing. The hunger distracts you, makes your bones weary, and you start to get careless. We had had no choice but to move on. Daybreak would be upon us soon enough. We reached another outpost. It was a mess. The place already had been scavenged, and occupied but perhaps some supplies had been overlooked by the way some crates appeared untouched. At least if we could find some food, and some gear, we'd be alright to make it to the city walls. A lone cat must've had the same thoughts, its thin body checking out a stale half eaten donut and an open carton of Redi-Milk - that synthetic stuff never went stale. Cali felt sorry for the cat and that was our undoing. Or maybe it was my single minded determination to pry the top crate open. We didn't even see it - a floaterbot turned on its spot lamp on Cali. I stumbled to the ground, but managed to put the floaterbot down. My last clip was now spent and we were screwed. We really needed to checkout the crates, but a second floaterbot appeared, then another. We could only duck behind the crates, before the whole bay was lit up. The cat was in the spotlight and Cali held onto me for protection. But all I could do was hold her, and the pistol grip of my empty smoking gun...

Looks a very cool story and scene Dear Friend...bravissimo!V:DDD.Hugsxx

Very good composition and scene.

Fantastic scene and story,Wonderful work.

cool pic and great story - thank you

Great image, the texture and the lighting is fantastic... Happy New Year…

Awesome image! And I really like the storyline that goes with it. I enjoyed this the first time and I'm enjoying it again. How come you don't come visit us our forums over at team-dystopia.com?

Sorry Moebius, been busy. Major thanks for the comment and wake-up call, I just made a trip back there. I really need to visit there more often :)

Fantastic arrangement, composition and lighting!