2045
| | Jan/Feb 2045 |
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Advanced Race Labs did however take 3 league titles: the major race league and deathrace league, and the Gateway Autumn league. The major combat league was taken by Wasteland Extravaganza, with other first time winners Initial Drift, Pestilence and Longo`s Merry Men winning the ladders. The Northern Semi-Pro combat league went to Advanced Research Labs, and the remaining two minor leagues Northern Summer and Elmsfield Autumn were taken by Black Rock and Harlequins Fortune. Well done to all, and especially to all the first-time winners! Here`s to a competitive 2045 season... Ever since Old One-Eye hit that wall at 90 in a Vampire, she always triple-checked the helmet. The medics said death was instantaneous. Because his straps were loose. `Amy, you dont have to do this you know.` Earl Hickey leaned in the window. `The lads all trust you.` `Thats not true and you know it, Earl,` Amy shot back. `They chose that hillbilly as their leader. He`s all testosterone and stupidity. He`ll get us all killed.` `If winning a few races is what it takes to convince these bozos that courage is not all you need to be a good leader, then goddamn it, I`ve got to win a few races.` Earl heard the resolution in Amy`s voice. `Well, you`re locked and loaded, and I`ve tweaked this baby as much as I can. Give `em hell, Banestorm`. His words were drowned out as the engines of fifteen cars surged with power. * * * * * `This is insane.` The words were spoken out loud, even if there was no one to hear them. The klaxon blared, declaring Weapons Free. Amy tightened her grip on the steering wheel as she accelerated, jockeying for position with the other Sunrises. The crackle of super-heated air startled her, and she jerked the wheel to the right. The foetid atmosphere in the car worsened, filled with the stench of burnt ozone and the acrid fumes of scorched paint. `Damn,` muttered Amy. `Thought he was further ahead. Well, its not just lasers on these babies.` She punched buttons on the dash and targeted. Her peripheral vision kept Dirge`s Sunrise, painted in its distinctive livery, lined up with the launching tube on her left side. Phssssssh-Bang. The rocket streaked out and slammed into Dirge`s right hand side. Cracks and splits appeared in the armour. `Alright, time to win this race. And show that bloody idiot hillbilly that being in the front may be brave, but it`s stupid, and it`s not how you win.` * * * * * One lap down, five entrants out, Time to make my play. Amy passed the lap marker and considered her position. Her armour was gone on the left, but otherwise strong. The pack was reduced, more than half the competitors had resigned. At least two of them were dead. She was at the back of the pack, five Sunrises all vying for the deathrace cash. But for Amy, the cash didn`t matter. She needed the kudos, to prove to the Vanguards that skill and tactics are what make a survivor, not sheer dumb bravery. The Somerset Rally Circuit was perfect for her tactics. With its figure eight loop and tight corners, she would have good sightlines to hit the paper-thin armour on the Sunrises, and ample opportunity for her laser to recharge between shots. She put her foot down hard as she approached the intersection. It would be dangerous as hell here, as the pack spun round the hairpin and headed back towards her. Sarsfield Grenadiers was in the lead. An arrogant youth, gangly and pimpled. She picked her spot carefully, waited three seconds. Pzow. The laser lanced out. Steam erupted from the engine as the coolant lines melted. Amy passed behind the slowing car on the crossroads. One down, three to go. `Christ!` A shot from the left, searing pain in her calf as the beam sliced flesh and burnt skin. She reflexively jerked the wheel right, moving out of line as another beam missed behind her. Then she was past the crossing, and turning the wheel to slide into the corner. As she straightened, she saw the good news. The wrecked Sarsfield Grenadiers was coasting to a stop, and one of the other contenders had driven smack into its rear. The driver was slumped over the steering wheel, not moving. She hoped he was just concussed, not dead, but either way, only two more cars stood between her and victory. She tightened her grip on the wheel, her fingers leaving indentations in the black leather covering. The chicane ahead was a strong opportunity, as the leaders would be forced to expose their weaker sides to her. The three of them were bunched together as they entered the chicane Battlefield Crew in the lead, the driver a red-headed novice; the Fighting Celts second, an grizzled veteran at the wheel; then Amy. And this chicane was going to win her the race. Beam after beam of laser fire lanced out. The Fighting Celts were taking chunks out of Battlefield Crew, and Amy held fire as the Celts softened up the armour of the leader for her. Then, as she swept through the turn, she pressed down on the firing stud. The pent up energy of the laser burst forth, showering sparks in the drivers compartment of the Celt`s Sunrise. The second beam hit the driver, and Amy saw a fountain of blood spray from his wounded forearm. The third beam severed the steering linkages, and Celts was out of the race. Amy blasted past, barely able to acknowledge the salute of the defeated driver of the Celts. She had lost time, and Battlefield Crew was out of sight at the hairpin. She threw the Sunrise into a powerslide, risking a wipeout as she battled to maximise the speed through the turn. Through the corner of her eye, she saw the rockface hurtle past. She blanched as she remembered her left side was unprotected, the memory of One-Eye slamming his damaged Asp into the concrete wall coming unbidden to her mind. I WILL NOT DIE TODAY. Not today, not any time soon. She accelerated through the corner, her left side scant inches from the protruding rock. Sweat gathered inside her helmet, blurring her vision as it dripped into her eyes. She shook her head to clear it and homed in our target. 50 metres. 45. Amy conserved the power in her laser. This driver was a rookie, a novice. She didn`t need to kill him. Just make him break his line on the final corner, steer left and wide, and she`d be past him to the winners circle. 40 metres, 35. Time. The crimson beam sizzled through the air, diffracting on the armoured glass by the drivers head. Amy saw the glass deform and crack, saw the driver flinch as megajoules of power fractured the flimsy protection on his left. She pressed the stud again. Flinch, damn you. Flinch. The second shot landed exactly on the first, and the glass shattered, shards of crystal spraying out, coruscating with the crimson energy from the laser. The driver cried out and jerked the wheel left, losing his racing line and veering into the grassy outfield. `Yes,` exulted Amy. She hugged the wall close, cut inside Battlefield Crew and crossed the line. *** `You did it!` Earl was the first to reach the car, to congratulate Amy on her win. And everyone was watching. Amy looked behind Earl to see the every member of the Vanguards crowding onto the track. Even Darrell was there, all 6 foot six inches of him, and Amy was surprised to see that he was sporting a grin. He pushed through the throng as she climbed out of the shattered door of the Sunrise. `Banestorm, maybe you got it right. You need brains, and you need balls to survive out there, to lead a gang. I knew you had the brains, and you just proved, you`ve sure as hell got the balls.` He reached out a massive hand. `I`d be honoured to follow you, Amy Banuelos.` Amy took his hand, and shook. Darrell`s smile broadened, and he enveloped Amy in a bearhug. `The Vanguards gonna be unbeatable now,` he said. |
 `The Red Lady` Shannon Crowley of SD Rollers died at Road to Elmsfield. Corey `Two-Toes` Tyler of The Forsaken died at Somerset`s Junkyard, Race Track 3. Joseph Farnsworth of Lattes Raiders died at Gates of Badlands Truckstop. Bobby Braddy of Secret Agent Clan died at Lost Trail: Overland. Elvis Poon of Secret Agent Clan died at Lost Trail: Overland. Tara Smith of KLINGON GIRL SCOUTS died at Gates of Somerset. Robert Montoya of River Bandits died at Scattered Grounds. `Gunney` Kevin Colson of Marloks died at Scattered Grounds. Robert Miller of Marloks died at Scattered Grounds. Rita Miller of Marloks died at Scattered Grounds. Michelle `Fixit for me` Tovar of Riotous Assembly died at Forever Yellow Skies. Thomas Lacroix of Riotous Assembly died at Forever Yellow Skies. Tammy Paschal of Riotous Assembly died at Forever Yellow Skies. Freeman `Muad-Dib` Nelson of Mans Laughter died at Lost Trail: Broken Ground. James Williams of The Flying Hellfish died at Gates of Badlands Truckstop. Dirk `Speed` Kiss of Vigilante Knights died at Forever Yellow Skies. Jason Olson of Folled sturierien died at Somerset Arena. Greg `Blind Man` Pettit of PendCorp died at Highway to Hell. `Nurse` Nancy Ritter of PendCorp died at Highway to Hell. Bret `.50 Cal` Hopkins of PendCorp died at Highway to Hell. Christene Sherrill of Wrights Raiders died at Road to Somerset. Lawrence Clark of MainForcePatrol died at Gates of Gateway Truckstop. `Mr.` David Rogers of MainForcePatrol died at Gates of Gateway Truckstop. Martin `Bomber` Sullivan of Canis Lupus died at Scattered Hills. Peter `Howitzer` Hidalgo of Canis Lupus died at Scattered Hills. India Parton of PendCorp died at Forever Yellow Skies. Earl `Butt` Cheek of PendCorp died at Forever Yellow Skies. Gus Cobb of Produce_Vendors died at Blown With the Wind. Trevor Cron of Produce_Vendors died at Blown With the Wind. Jennifer `Arson` Hurt of Pestilence died at Northern Speedway. Celeste Samson of Jackknife Armada died at Gates of Somerset. Mary Costigan of Jackknife Armada died at Gates of Somerset. Richard Hutchison of the mad mad crushers died at Interstate Mythos. Gloria Osborn of the mad mad crushers died at Interstate Mythos. Mark Conner of the mad mad crushers died at Interstate Mythos. Peter McCane of The Forsaken died at Somerset Rally Circuit. Katie `Chinchilla` Hoyt of Undead Fish died at Gates of Somerset. Sam `BB` Bones of Undead Fish died at Gates of Somerset. Darrell Stark of Undead Fish died at Road to Elmsfield. Jennie Rambo of The Thug Matrix died at Road to Somerset. Dick `The Black Guy` Gregory of The Thug Matrix died at Road to Somerset. Demetrius `Chip` Smith of The Thug Matrix died at Road to Somerset. Irene George of Wrights Raiders died at Northern Farm Land. William `Oeil de lynx` Button of Folled sturierien died at Somerset Arena. Greg `Gunny` Lowell of Pestilence died at Serpentine Road. Kyla Rath of Vigilante Knights died at Serpentine Road. Annabel `Multi-Tasker` Adams of Longos Merry Men died at Blown With the Wind. `Dean of Mean` Keith Jardine of Longos Merry Men died at Blown With the Wind. Cole `Ocean` Odom of Longos Merry Men died at Blown With the Wind. Jason Demello of SplashandBurn died at Road to Somerset. Daniel Nunez of Evan Transit Authority died at Road to Somerset. Jodi Wilson of Batalln de San Patricio died at Somerset`s Junkyard, Race Track 1. Calvin Burnett of Comanche died at Gates of Somerset. Ann Warren of Comanche died at Gates of Somerset. Vincent Falk of CYBERPUNKS died at Scattered Grounds. `Saint` Patrick Brooks of PendCorp died at Northern Desert Circuit. Timothy Savoy of Lattes Raiders died at Scattered Grounds. Susanne Collins of Mizcreantz died at Road to Somerset. Jean `Wheel Woman` Harris of Hand Gesture died at Gates of Somerset. Rose `I`ll get him` Heaton of Hand Gesture died at Gates of Somerset. `Bazuka` Mark Tidwell of SplashandBurn died at Blown With the Wind. Claude Chadbourne of Troubadours died at Somerset Rally Circuit. Nancy Stuber of Aristocrats died at Once Upon a Town. Paige `Blaster` Burleigh of Mambas Maniacs died at Pathway to Darkness. Latonya Mickle of Brain Damaged died at Road to Somerset. Charlene `BABY GIRL` Young of KLINGON GIRL SCOUTS died at Somerset`s Junkyard, Arena. Hilda Bacon of Mild Ones died at Northern Farm Land. Peter Matias of We B Right died at Scattered Hills. Jen `Poundin` Dinwiddie of We B Right died at Gates of Somerset. Richard Burger of Jackknife Armada died at Blown With the Wind. Douglas Marcotte of Midnight Marauders died at Somerset Arena. `Inspector` Bill Foley of Burntoast and Jelly died at Scattered Grounds. Charlie `Ground Hog` House of Burntoast and Jelly died at Scattered Grounds. Catrina `Can` Kincade of Riotous Assembly died at Forever Yellow Skies. `Sir` John Kittelson of Lattes Raiders died at Forever Yellow Skies. Susan Suttle of We B Right died at Road to Gateway Truck Stop. Kevin Sherman of We B Right died at Road to Gateway Truck Stop. Dustin Williams of The Flying Hellfish died at Road to Gateway Truck Stop. Ernest `Grill `em` Gill of The Flying Hellfish died at Road to Gateway Truck Stop. Albert Dickerson of We B Right died at Road to Gateway Truck Stop. Cyrus Paine of CYBERPUNKS died at Lost Trail: Broken Ground. Matt Zane of CYBERPUNKS died at Lost Trail: Broken Ground. Debbie Martin of Jackknife Armada died at Blown With the Wind. Charles Cross of Comanche died at Road to Somerset. `Commander` Darrell Matson of Comanche died at Road to Somerset. Amy `Banestorm` Banuelos of The Vanguards died at Gates of Gateway Truckstop. Darrell `Hillbilly` Jordan of The Vanguards died at Gates of Gateway Truckstop. Agnes `Polska` Thomas of The Vanguards died at Gates of Gateway Truckstop. Alfred Cobble of Gasserz died at Gates of Somerset. Michael `J-Fox` Cordova of -^-HellRazors-^- died at Highway to Hell. Twila `Circuit` Tester of Road Lords died at Under a Bloody Red Sky. John Kemp of Road Lords died at Under a Bloody Red Sky. Juan Stoneburner of We B Right died at Interstate Mythos. Naomi Hunt of Road Lords died at Somerset Arena. Clinton `Huntin` Peck of Mambas Maniacs died at Highway to Hell. Patricia Darnell of Delta 88s died at Lost Oasis. Julia Rambo of The Thug Matrix died at Blown With the Wind. David Stagg of Geriatric Anarchists died at Somerset`s Junkyard, Race Track 3. Jack `killer` Dyke of Brain Damaged died at Road to Elmsfield. `Icy` Winter Breeze of Wasteland Extravaganza died at Road to Somerset. Peter Brock of Collision Force died at Northern Desert Circuit. Denise Bryant of Mambas Maniacs died at Road to Somerset. Amber `Guilty` Crook of Toecutters died at Somerset Rally Circuit. Joy Hochstetler of Mambas Maniacs died at Somerset Rally Circuit. Laurie Barber of Delta 88s died at Road to Somerset. `Tweakin`` Cindy Bailey of SD Rollers died at Lost Oasis. Ron Morton of Lakeside Lions died at Gates of Somerset. `two bit` Cornelius Wisneski of Burnt Tree Security died at Road to Gateway Truck Stop. Fumiko Utz of Burnt Tree Security died at Scattered Hills. Jason Reynolds of Pariah Strike died at Northern Foothills Racetrack (at night). Ruby Slattery of Wasteland Extravaganza died at Once Upon a Town. Misti Riding of Wasteland Extravaganza died at Once Upon a Town. Laura Cruz of 88 MPH died at Maure Dore. We`re paying tribute to the legendary Lori 'Caracal' Benner, a renowned driver from Hungry Hyenas. |