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To Bell the Belle - Chapter 9
Time: Day 7Location: Winnipeg Drift
In the outer reaches of the solar system Winnipeg Drift called home a slipstream portal opened. Large numbers of spacecraft, both combat craft and troop transports, came through the rift and began to head towards Winnipeg. Aboard the spacecraft the crews were alert but unworried. There was no hurry the drift wasn't going anywhere. It was possible the inhabitants of the drift had acquired outside help, possible but unlikely, but the crews of the approaching spacecraft were too professional to relax their vigilance. As they approached the drift a single fighter craft blocked their approach. It emptied its missile tubes at the invaders then turned tail and retreated back towards the drift. The fighter was allowed to retreat unmolested. Token resistance was to be expected and tolerated. The inhabitants of the drift had engaged their enemy in combat and could now surrender with honor. As the invasion fleet approached the drift the majority of the troop transports fell back leaving one solitary transport to accompany the combat craft. As the fleet drew nearer it sent its ultimatum. The drift would allow the troop transport to land and permit the troops aboard the transport to deactivate the drift's defenses, after which the rest of the troop transports would arrive and disgorge their cargo . Failure to comply would result in the drift being occupied by force. The troop transport was allowed to land without resistance and its troops disembarked. The majority of the troops were technicians tasked to deactivate the stations defenses and take control of critical life support and communication systems. The other members of the troop were insurance against treachery by the drift. They were carrying backpack nuclear weapons. Should the inhabitants of the drift attempt any resistance they would detonate their weapons. There was no resistance. With the deactivation of the drift's defenses the rest of the transports arrived. The drift's militia and police forces were disarmed and hostages were taken. The drift was now in the hands of the invaders, and their paymasters the FTA
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