Consumed - Book 1: A Darkness Rises

/* EXPLANATION
The Consumed Stories are a group of collaborative stories that I have decided to start based around the background storyline of The Consumed, a sci-fi world I have been expanding on for several years with work on a novel, some short stories, a series of Source mods for Half-Life 2, and eventually a full PC game based on the main character in the novel.

I'm not looking to take full control of the flow of these stories. They are designed to be written collaboratively both to be an interesting sci-fi writing experiment, and to help flesh out The Consumed universe in ways I could not possibly do alone.

All of these stories will ultimately be in some form integrated into the Consumed universe.
*/

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--- BOOK 1: A DARKNESS RISES ---
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BACKGROUND & PROLOGUE

As the various independent countries were being swallowed up by a growing group of allied nations, a somewhat profound change was occurring--an inter-linked, unified government based in the US dubbed the United Administration (UA) was beginning to form. Democracy was spreading across the globe--at least they still called it democracy, as they always had.

Technology linked the world together like never before. Border wars between nations were nearly a thing of the past--nearly. Crime was incredibly low in the wealthy parts of the world, and overwhelmingly rampant in most of the rest. The unification of much of the world meant a pooling of resources and the launching of the biggest space project the world had ever seen--an immense habitable ship which could split off into an orbital space station and a large habitat which is designed to land on the surface of a planet and allow for easy expansion. Accompanying the colonization vessel was a large and experimental ship named Revolution designed for long-term exploration and discovery and equipped with some experimental laser and pulse-based weaponry.

Although on the surface the unified government appeared to be working, at least to some extent, as one on the outside looking in could plainly see, the system was wholly corrupt, conditions in third-world countries had hardly improved, areas not sustained financially by wealthy citizens became rampant with crime, the government found an infinite number of reasons to occupy and overtake any country or government not willing to join the Administration, and more opposing terrorist groups had become active than ever before, expressing open contempt for the UA and being met with fierce governmental opposition.

And so this story begins with the UA's occupation of one of the last free-standing major nations left--Russia. It had been the Administration's goal from the start to link with Russia as quickly as possible. It had taken much longer than expected, but this would mean wiping out one of the last and by far the largest opposition to the UA's control.

Although you wouldn't know it from watching the news, or listening to the President of the UA give an address, there was in fact a war being waged, and the Administration was determined not to give up until they had unified the globe. There were countless terrorist factions scattered throughout the remaining free countries. At this point Russia was in a state of anarchy, and its fighting force was a collection of militias and sympathizers fighting along-side of thousands of independent terrorist organizations, linked together by a common contempt for the UA's goal of attaining global power.

Danil Novo was a resistance fighter aiding the militia's efforts to push the UA back and regain control of the motherland. Although it was well-known that their efforts were ultimately futile, and UA control was imminent, the people were no less determined. Danil was one of a rag-tag group of about 30 men trying to hold back the UA's advance into the new Moscow.

A nearby explosion caused Danil to stop firing momentarily and drew his attention toward their leader, most of whom was lying on the ground near the explosion, screaming and bleeding profusely. A medic ran up from another wounded fighter he had been working on and immediately began tending to their leader. Danil got up and made his way toward them, still firing toward enemy lines to cover his movement while out of cover.

Isaak Rochev was kneeling next to the dying man, and appeared to be assuming leadership of the group--a natural progression since he had been closest to Mikkal, the former leader. As Danil approached them, Isaak called out, "Novo, I think this was cover while they advance the right flank past the road. Take three and garrison the church on the corner. Take out as many as you can, and get a sniper in the tower to spot the advance."

"Alright," Danil called back. Working with resistance fighters was much more informal than the state military he was used to working with while that still existed in Russia. "Sanshin, Grishkuv, Halbert--you're with me," he called out toward the three fighters firing from cover of a large blast pit in the ground.

They eagerly complied, and the four covered each others advances toward the church near the intersection to the north-east.