Redliners: Difference between revisions

{{quote|"It was his plan to reintegrate you into society by showing civilians what soldiers did for them. Making them understand how helpless they were except for your lives pledged for them. They would see, and you would know they saw."}}

 

 

The human civilisation is at war with the Kalendru (nicknamed ''Spooks''), a race of aliens who "understand the concepts of 'master' and 'slave' but not of 'equals.'" Strike Force Company C41's veterans have all '''redlined''', become too dangerous to re-integrate into civilian society, after a mission goes disastrously wrong. However, the bureaucrat in charge of the Unity wants to run an experiment to give the redlined strikers a chance -- and some help -- to redeem themselves.

Can be found online for free [https://web.archive.org/web/20111216221826/http://www.baen.com/Library/067187733X/067187733X.htm here] or downloaded in a variety of formats [https://web.archive.org/web/20100215183101/http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/15-WhentheTideRisesCD/WhentheTideRisesCD/Redliners/index.htm here].

 

{{tropelist}}

* [[Alien Geometries]]: The Spooks don't like constant-radius curves or right angles.

** And these defences tailor themselves to the intruder. Blohm notes that the spikes are poisonous to the Kalendru who were there before them.

** {{spoiler|Justified, given that the world is actually an ancient Kalendru bioweapon, evolving constantly in response to the intruders. It's actually so dangerous that the Kalendru back down immediately after humanity captures it.}}

* [[Infant Immortality]]: Averted. The Kalendru have extremely fast reactions, so the strikers have learned to ''never'' hesitate. Caius Blohm, the point man for C41, hoses down a room of Spook women and children before he realizes his mistake. It affects him.

* [[Kinetic Weapons Are Just Better]]: The strikers use stingers, electromagnetic pellet rifles, as their primary weapons, while the Spooks use laser beams. The stingers are massively damaging at the close range that Strike Force missions take place at.

* [[No One Gets Left Behind]]: The strikers, especially Major Art Farrell, live and breathe this trope.

* [[Scarily Competent Tracker]]: Caius Blohm, the striker's best scout. He becomes attuned to the jungle in such a way that his commanding officer admits that he is the group's best chance of success.

* [[The Stoic]]: All Category Fours. Also Caius Blohm.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Military and Warfare Literature]]