STGOD 2K5 Main Game

[Alyrium Denryle]

encoded Ansible transmission
From: Alystarian Severail, CEO of Magicorp Industries and Corporate Representative , Council of Three, Federation of Thaumaturgists
To:Comission of the Eastern Rim Trading Compact
Re: Membership in the Trade Compact, and Anti-Pirate Actions.

Greetings and Salutations,

It has come to our attention that the Trade compact has been working dilligently in order to stem the tide of pirate attacks in the galactic east. Therefore would be mutually benificial for us to join, and lend ships to an organized effort that we are already engaged in on our own, and to gain the trade benefits of the compact.

I have been informed by my Helmite counterpart that an ambassador is en route to discuss the matter further, and is scheduled to be jumping out of hyperspace in 24 hours time, and the matter can be discussed in real time then. Thank you for your consideration

~Alystarian Severail

[frigidmagi]

To: Sabine Erfurter, Secretaire d'Etat de la Commonwealth Troix-Sols
From: Grand Master Talen

The Knight's Templar votes Yea to all 3 propositions.

[White Haven]

FROM: Admiral Cyrus Alwin, Senior Foreign Outreach Officer, Sixth Cruiser Squadron

TO: Comission of the Eastern Rim Trading Compact

RE: Eastern Rim Piracy

While we have previously only been peripherally aware of the existence of this organization, we wish to make it known that any vessels travelling the eastern reaches of the hyperlane network are under Sixth protection whenever possible. Any convoy distress calls will be answered by the nearest naval units, and cruiser escort is available for hire at a nominal fee if we are contacted in advance. Enclosed is a recording of a recent counterattack on a pirate band in the midst of a convoy raid, as well as a summary of recent activities of that nature to demonstrate our good faith. The true business of a cruiser is the supression of piracy, ladies and gentlemen, and the business of a cruiser squadron is its eradication.

Message ends.

[phongn]

The Vaygr Mercantile Fleet was one of the more well-known shipping corporations that had a presence in quite a few large nations as well as scattered independant systems and planets. They specialized in high-value, fast shipment; as a result all of their freighters were equipped with high-performance fold drives. Most ships were also heavily armed, armored and shielded. Curiously, the VMF did not actually have headquarters on any planet. They were operated out of large mobile shipyards that travelled the spacelanes.

The Emperor's Run was one such ship. While she carried massive amounts of precious cargo in her multikilometer-long holds, she also carried thirty heavily-upgraded X-Wing space-superiority fighters and multiple heavy plasma and turbolaser emplacements to defeat all but the most determined of attackers. Most pirates simply ran when they realized that they were facing one of the VMF's armed merchant cruisers.

Escorting her were two of the VMF's light escort carriers, each carrying nearly fifty fighters. They were armed with several medium-calibre twin turbolasers, two beam cannon and four heavy antiship missile box launchers. Finally, she carried a twin launcher for long-range area-defense missiles and multiple close-in weapons. They were fine designs if expensive -- but they could afford it. Their loss rates for cargo were by far the lowest in the industry and they could command a commensurately high price for it.

The fold transit would not take long, but it was interrupted. Interdictor field, ten pirate ships ahead. The enemy was trying to pin down a merchant convoy out of Enigma and not having too good a time of it; the RN's Anazai escort ships were managing to keep the pirates at arms' length while two of AT&T's light destroyers* pummelled them with long-range turbolaser fire. It really was a stalemate, neither side having success ... until now.

The VMF's two carriers immediately launch a salvo of antiship missiles and began scrambling fighters while charging the pirate line. It was apparently too much; the pirates shut down their interdictor fields and scattered after taking a few losses. Promises of ale were given to the VMF by the convoy and then everyone was on their way.



* 4x2 Twin Long-Range Light Turbolaser, 1 Heavy Plasma Box Gun, 6 Medium-Range Missile Railguns, 2 Heavy Antiship Missile Launchers, CIWS. Yes, even corporations have naval assets

[Thirdfain]

Aurora

-::-

The frigate dropped out of hyperspace in a flash of light, decellerating rapidly as she plunged in-system. A mere 400 meters long, she was a Commonwealth escort frigate, lightly armed and certainly not a threat to the world's defenses. She made a sharp contrast to the simple facts of the Commonwealth's strength in relation to the Auroran Imperium.

"This is the Commonwealth Naval Ship Ardennes requesting berthing. We are carrying officials of the Commonwealth and the Eastern Rim Trading Compact, and cite diplomatic protection and protocols."

-::-

[Alyrium Denryle]

Anonin and Leo ran through the mine shaft at an unaturally fast pace. Stopping suddenly when they reached an opening in the caves. They opened into a big grassy field. The two men were surrounded by nymphs and beautiful dryads. The birds sang, and the sun, oh the glorious sun shone brightly down on the clerics visage. It was a veritable heaven on earth... But to both of them it seemed... hollow somehow. Like it was only haf real. Nevermind the logic of having this in a mine shaft, and the mayor not mentioning it.

"What in the nine hells?" Anonin half asked, half thought aloud

"I dont know... but it doesnt seem right... "

"Agreed on that"

"What could it be?" Leo asked

"Probably... yeah, it is an illusion. Smell, take a good breath"

"I dont smell anything"

"Exactly. Only the best illusionists can fool you into smelling things. Whoever did this is very good, but not as good as I am" Anonin said with a smirk.

"well, once we know it is an illusion, shouldnt it disappear?"

"Normally" Anonin said

"But this one is good enough that it will have to be dispelled. care to do the honors?"

The Cleric closed his eyes and prayed
"Lathander, Blessed God of the Rising Sun. Shine your light on this foul illusion and banish its evil back whence it came."

An unearthly light filled the air, as the sun symbol on hsi shield shone once more. The illusion seemd to fade, but when the sun stopped shining, it persisted.

"My faith was not enough to dispell the illusion Anonin, Can you do it?"

"I shall try"

Anonin went into a trance chanting faster and faster until his eyes opened. Glowing like incadescent lamps in the dark. Leo stepped back several meters as the mage cast his spell. The air crackled around him, and the still air of the cavern began to move, spiraling around him. As his words resonated and echoed throughout the entre system, small rocks fell from the cieling before Anonin finished his spell. A beam of light lanced forth from his hand into the center of the meadow, and from there it expanded to fill the room, banishing all magical effects in the area. The illusion was gone, and right where the dryads and nymphs were, was a chasm. A deep verticle chasm down into the depths.

"why wasnt that a nasty trick" Leo said
"Glad we werent stupid enough to fall for it"
"well Leo, that is why they hire adventurers rather than call the army for this sort of work"
The cleric chuckled, and nodded in he mage's general direction. In a flashy of a hand movement and the uttering of the word pfeatherfall they both lept from the edge of the chasm and floated gently downward for a while.

[Captain tycho]

(OOC: Negotiations took place over AIM, in case any of you are wondering)

Treaty of Nurnen

Point 1 : The Imperium will withdraw all military and merchant marine forces from the Crusade worlds within 72 hours, to be kept at a minimum distance of 4 light years from each invidual planetary body.

Point 2: The Imperium reserves the right to maintain a military prescence in the Crusade World hyperspace lanes, for anti-piracy duty and to insure border security.

Point 3: The Imperium will allow foreign military operations within it's borders to insure complete removal of Black Alliance ships and forces. Once this objective is accomplished, the above-stated foreign militaries will withdraw promptly. If prompt withdrawal is not met, Imperium forces will intiate self-defense protocols and forcefully expel them.

Point 4: Corporate Hegemony and Aglatarian Hub military forces and merchants will be granted unfettered trade and security access to the Crusade Worlds, without foreign interference in their economic and security policies. The Imperium will not provide military aid to the above-mentioned allied operations, due to Point 1, unless in cases of hyperlane security.

[Jaded Masses]

The United Vigoran Protectorate would be honored to welcome a diplomatic party from the Roma Republic. Our sovereign, the Lady Protector Armaiti II, has designated our base in the Tvashtri System to handle all diplomatic first contact situations. Upon your vessel's arrival at that base, the exchange of diplomatic parties will occur. The location of this base is attached to this document, as well as the designated border region for diplomatic arrivals.

Most sincerely,

Aji Saka
Prime Minister, United Vigoran Protectorate

ATTACHED FILE: Karttikeya_Station.pdf

The Arrowhead will be at Karttikeya with in three hours.

________
The Patrol ship reaches the Shi Combine diplomatic staging area, and a shuttle brings the ambassadors down to the planet. The escort ship remains, waiting to bring back delegates.
________

A Cruiser meets with the Stuart ship and they exchange ambassadors. The cruiser returns back to it base. The Stuart Corp. ambassadors are shone to some very comfortable quarters, and are given briefs with general information concerning the republic.

[frigidmagi]

Sabai Territory
Indas System, Indas

"Remember, the Sabai have no belief or knowledge of the divine. Speaking about such may disturb them, so we will not pursue such subjects with out host... Pretend you are sitting between a Wensai Reformed Jew, a muslum and a Neo Pentacostal. So Pray quietly and don't be surprised at whatever reaction they may have. However the embessay will have a chapeal for your spiritual needs." Kurik repeated. Most of the Templar's neighbors had regilious leaning of their own, this would be the first real dealing with an athiest power.

"Sir we are coming up on landing." Reported the Pilot of the large shuttle.

"Excellent. Thank you pilot." Kurik replied, and then had a thought hit him, how would they feel about the fact he had a priest, a rabbi and an iman has members of his staff...

[White Haven]

In each system to which it has been invited, the battlecruiser Purity, along with a pair of light cruisers, two landing craft, and a small carrier, gate down into normal space, delivering the first rounds of envoys to foreign governments. At each destination, they remain long enough to see the diplomatic mission safely arrived and to take on any return mission before gating back into hyperspace to continue her rounds. To any civilizations that refuse the offer of transit aboard the Purity, the envoys carry destination coordinates for reciprocal ambassador exchanges to be directed to: BFE-007 IV, the Sixth's capitol world.

Officers dropped off, as entirely too many posts require making otherwise:

-Vice Admiral Crystal Freeman, Three Suns Commonwealth Liason Officer
-Vice Admiral William Rankin, Federation of Thaumaturgists Liason Officer
-Vice Admiral Ashley Allison, Knights Templar Liason Officer
-Vice Admiral Talia MacGregor, Shi Combine Liason Officer
-Vice Admiral Albert Simon, Stuart Corporation Liason Officer

[OOC: PM me if I forgot anyone, ICly this is just the Purity's first run, so you weren't ICly forgotten. My player doesn't have a whole mess of subordinates to track such things for him Oh, and the Vigorans aren't forgotten, just all the way on the wrong side of the galaxy. The comm did specify /NEARBY/ powers]

[Ace Pace]

The Aglatarian Hub drops out of hyperspace 50 light-years out of Corporate Hegemony space, anyone with a listening outpost nearby would have been shocked to hear the mass of messages lighting up space around it.

This is Fleet command, all diplomatic vessals to return immdietly baring advance negotiations.

To: Sixth Cruiser Squadron
From: The Aglatarian Hub
Subject: Information and treaties

Since our gunboat was apprently too stealthy for you, we now send a formal message, requesting a pact of trade and information sharing, we wish it to be known that our actions are strictly peaceful and commerace-happy.

Hub Out.



To: Corporate Hegemony
From: The Aglatarian Hub
Subject: Berthing
This is an emergency broadcast, after departing the Imperium's space at high speed, we did not have time to stock up on supplies, our fuel reserves are running low for several craft, we require urgent supply run from your space.

Encrypted attachment:
My My, what a shitstorm, if you can carry over the Imperium's ambassador and yourself, we need to have a chat...\\

Hub Out.[/quote]

[InnocentBystander]

Deep space, enroute to UVP Escort
Edge of the waste

The destroyer tore ouf of hyperspace violently, the entire ship shuddered as internal dapeners worked overtime and sublight drives kicked in, stabilizing the ship.

The kilometer and a half destroyer was one of the few escort vessels the Blue Order owned and maintained, onboard waited Reverend Mother May Julliard, an old and well respected member of the order. Enroute to the UVP escort point they had run into an uncharted debris cloud from a nearby Waste cluster.

Sister Mary Catherine sat in her command chair, "Status report!" she yelled.
From one of the crew pits an officer replied, "Hyperdrive is out, M'am, we nearly collided with that debris field, and if I might say, we are lucky to be alive."
"Begin repairs on the hyperdrive, comm officer send out a general distress call, perhaps there are UVP ships in the region." she paused for a moment then added, "Power up the shields."
Sister Mary Catherine got up to leave the bridge, "M'am, engineering estimates we'll be able to jump to hyperspace again in a day and a half, possibly longer."

[img=left]http://personal.stevens.edu/~dstier/distress.jpg[/img]General Distress Call
"This is Sister Mary Cathrine of the Blue Order Destroyer Fidelity to any friendly ships in the area, we have sustained critical damage to our hyperdrive and require immediate assistance."

[Jaded Masses]

"http://personal.stevens.edu/~dstier/distress.jpg"General Distress Call
"This is Sister Mary Cathrine of the Blue Order Destroyer Fidelity to any friendly ships in the area, we have sustained critical damage to our hyperdrive and require immediate assistance."

The Arrowhead, in the area on the way to UVP hears the broadcast. It diverts to the location to render assistance. It sends a reply to the distressed ship, and a general broadcast to alert people what it was doing to not step on anyones toes. It closes with in a light year in Hyperspace, then drops out and warps the rest of the way; conducting a through scan of the surrounding area. The Arrowhead opens a dialog with the ship, inquiring as to the problem and how it can assist. Then it sends a message to the UVP explaining why it will be late for the diplomatic exchange.

[Jaded Masses]

To 6th Cruiser
From RRS Ontario

We heard your broadcast, and have discretion to conduct a diplomatic run to your nation. After conducting a similar mission with other powers we will travel towards your borders

[Alyrium Denryle]

On the world of Largos IV an elderly man wearing grey robes and a simple carved wooden staff walked at a slow pace to the landing platform where Vice Admiral WIlliam Renkin was landing. His gait was slow, almost measured. As if he put up fascade of physical frailty. WHich he in fact did. His hair was white, and a well trimmed grey beard went down a few inches past his chin, with matching mustache.

He hobbled to the landing pad and awaited the arival of the Vice Admiral, patiently reading a small book.

[Thirdfain]

Osiris

-::-

Vice Admiral Crystal Freeman, of the Sixth Cruiser Squadron, straightened her uniform. She had hardly unpacked, and already, her liason on-planet had requested her presence at some sort of reception on one of the habitats that girded the planet like Saturn's mythic rings.

She stepped out onto the landing pad outside the embassy. Laborers still scurried to and from the landing craft, making all those preparations required. The night sky was brilliant with the glittering lights of thousands of starships in the skies above, and the thick ring of habitat clusters formed a bizzare arch, a second Milky Way of uncomparable brightness.

A pinnace awaited her, one of the sturdy-looking little birds the Commonwealth Navy preferred. A lean, middle-aged man in a conservative suit of faintly military lines waited at the foot of the vessel's boarding ramp. He bowed his head slightly as he extended a hand, exposing for a second the back of his neck, which bore a series of off parallel scars.

"Vice Admiral Crystal Freeman. Respect and Honor."

His accent was light. He straightened as she took his hand, smiling as they exchanged a firm handshake.

"I'm Marcus D'artagnan. I'll be your liason here in the Commonwealth."

She smiled back, and quickly searched her memort for the correct form of address.

"It's a pleasure, Citoyenne D'artagnan."

They exchanged minor pleasantries, and boarded the craft.


"Madame Vice Admiral, you are quite lucky to have arrived when you did. I assume your government has informed you of the treaty recently signed between the Commonwealth and the Auroran Imperium?"

She nodded.

"Of course, it's the talk of all the news-nets. Congratulations on defusing the situation so rapidly."

He smiled faintly.

"Of course, we always try to minimize conflict in those areas which effect us so directly."

Freeman hardly had a moment to start pondering how true that could be when the nation's very government ran on conflict and military service.

"But in any case, we are bound for the Andreson Naval Base, at the L-5. Tonight, we'll have quite an event, the likes of which I haven't seen in decades."

He chuckled, but before she could enquire further the vessel shook, and the boarding ramp swung open.

"Ah, we have arrived."

The first thing Freeman noticed when she disembarked was not the uniformed officer waiting at the foot of the ramp, or the expansive loading bay she had arrived in. Rather, it was the honor-guard- Two hulking forms in the strangely sleek power-armor of Commonwealth Cavalry. They were motionless ceramic statues, each one snow white and bedecked with the Sword and Suns across their breasts. Parade colors.

The next five minutes were a flurry of handshakes and polite greetings, mostly aimed at an assortment of officers, largely gene-modified naval officers with their queer gait, born of internal reconstruction designed to make them adept on board the zero-G conditions the Commonwealth preferred on it's combat starships. She found herself at a reception, where she met a number of other important and boring personages, senators and desk jockey officers from the upper ranks of the Commonwealth's federal beaurocracy. It stretched her training thin, though the canapes were excellent.

Just as she was beginning to wonder what event D'Artagnan had hinted at when one wall of the chamber flickered and went transparent. The Chef-Generale she'd been chatting with interrupted himself.

"Ah, yes- it's time, finally."

The picture window gave a fantastic view of the Osiris military jump-point. The view was rendered even more astounding when the shapes of a trio of behemoth warships snapped into existance in flashes of brilliance. Around them, the darting forms of dozens of escorts and cruisers fell in. It was a perfect example of a precision jump- the ships came out of hyperspace already in a ridiculously tight parade formation, far more close to one another than even her own Sixth would allow.

Then the entire formation reveresed direction almost instantly. The trio of Dreadnoughts flipped end-over-end with a precision that astounded. Their escorts kept perfect pace.

Freeman's eyes searched the hulls for identifying marks- she knew that Commonwealth parade colors included gaudy, kilometer-long standards unique to each vessel. These ships bore no such colors, and indeed, their hulls were slate grey rather than parade white.

"The Graiai. The elite of the Commonwealth Navy. Arguably the best-crewed warships this side of Tranquility."

D'artagnan had come to her side as she watched, spellbound.

"Yes." She replied. "Truly a sight to behold. I take it this is not just for my benefit?"

He chuckled.

"I'm afraid not. The Commonwealth now has treaty obligations to attend to around the Auroran Empire. It intends to do so with extreme prejudice."

She nodded.

"Make an example of the Black Alliance, then? Send your best to clear them out, tell Known Space that this Trade Commission of yours can live up to it's words?"

He grinned widely.

"Absolutely. If any sororas in the Fleet can hunt down a Psychopath, it's the Graiai. You know, I've seen those things in action before. Completely terrifying."

Freeman looked at him askance, and then let her eyes fall quickly to his wrists. They bore the blue tint of age-prolong treatments. This man was older than he looked.

"The Battle of Corneria, no?"

She recalled her briefings. At that engagement, Commonwealth vessels, aided by the Corsairs, had ended the People's Republic of Corneria and their scheme to conquer the Rim.

He nodded.

"I served under St. Juste, as a battery officer on the Uller. When she went up, I was one of the lucky few who escaped in the pods."

Freeman looked at the man with new respect. Apparantly, he was a little more than just a politico.

"I recall that in that engagement, you fought alongside the Corsairs, not against them."

He did a quick double-take, almost hidden, and then shrugged.

"Times change, though, don't they? Now, they are the enemy, more than ever. And they'll not resist our will."

Outside the window, followed by a swarm of transports, the Graiai lept for distant stars.

-:ENDRECORD:-

[InnocentBystander]

The Arrowhead, in the area on the way to UVP hears the broadcast. It diverts to the location to render assistance. It sends a reply to the distressed ship, and a general broadcast to alert people what it was doing to not step on anyones toes. It closes with in a light year in Hyperspace, then drops out and warps the rest of the way; conducting a through scan of the surrounding area. The Arrowhead opens a dialog with the ship, inquiring as to the problem and how it can assist. Then it sends a message to the UVP explaining why it will be late for the diplomatic exchange.

Deep Space
Edge of the Waste

The destroyer hung in space, essentially crippled, it's primary and secondary sublight drives at literally burnt out saving the ship as it plummeted out of hyperspace. The Fidelity was now at the very edge of the debris field, which seemed to be slowly flowing out into clear space.

Local Communication
"Are we glad to see you! This pocket of waste wasn't on our star-charts and we nearly got destroyed because of it. Our hyperdrive and sublight engies are out, and it'll be days before we can get moving again. We've been...[static]....trying to..[static]..contact...[static].....breaking up..[static]....
Signal Lost

According to the Arrowhead's sensors the Fidelity's communication tower was passing through a radiation cloud. The dense debris cloud continued to ooze it's way into clean space.

[InnocentBystander]

Edge of Three Suns Commonwealth Space

The Blue Order destroyer Piety dropped out of hyperspace at the north-western edge of Commonwealth space, a common courtesy was, of course, to announce one's arrival.

Open Transmission
"This is the Blue Order Destoryer, Piety requesting clearance to enter Commonwealth space, we are carrying ACIN representitves to the capital."

[Dahak]

Outside Stuartian space, unknown system

It was a normal day at the base, stressful but profitable. Several transports with loot and slaves were incoming, anf one captured freighter. Times were nice to them. Many worlds were just about to stumble into space, having no clue what they were expecting in the great nothingness of space. Many knew now: pirates.
The base commander grinned as he ran down the profit they're going to make with the last one, when suddenly alarm klaxons whooped.
"What is it, damn it?" he shouted over the klaxons to his sensor tech.
He didn't answer immediately, but stared at his screen for several more seconds before he tore loose. "Sir," he stammered, "several Stuart vessels just dropped in, and they're not even trying to be stealthy or something."
"What-" but he was interrupted by the com tech.
"Incomming com," he shouted.
"Put it on," the commander just said.
A slightly female, undistinguishable voice came over the com. "This is the Stuart Corporation Shareholder Security Naval Arm Vessel Armageddon and escorts. By order of the High Directorate of Strategy and Warfare and CEO Gladstone your presence here is no longer acceptable and you will be exterminated. Prepare to die."
He just stared ahead, not capable of saying something. He was dead, he knew it. Nothing they had could stand up to...this.

***

<<Fire,>> the command sub-consensus gave the order and a volley of FTL missiles shot from their launchers, each equipped with gravitonic warheads, and made the short hop to the planetoid the base was based on. The impace and ensuing destruction of said planetoid was rather anticlimactic.
Their fighters cleared the rest of the few pirate ships with ease.
After recovering them, they jumped back home.

***

Avalon System, Avalon Prime

Vice Admiral Albert Simon was welcomed as his ship docked at Orbital One, a vast orbital base around the even larger vastness of the gas giant it orbited.
"Welcome to Stuart Space, Ambassador," Ling Tiang, the dedicated counterpart from Stuart Corporation welcomed him. "Your belongings will be brought to your new quarters. We have set aside sufficient quarters and office space in Orbital One's diplomatic quarters and we hope you find them acceptable." She started walking out of the docking area, escorting the ambassador to his new home. "I was also told you have the designated coordinates for the reciprocal ambassadorial exchange with you?"
"Yes, yes," the VIce Admiral answered and handed her a data sheet.
Ling Tiang quickly scanned it and after quickly veryfing the position, a diplomatic vessel left orbit for BFE-007 IV.
"Thank you, our diplomat has been sent." Trying to strike up a conversation as they walked, she went on. "A curious social concept your nation has. Military-stlye designation for planets, admirals for ambassadors... You must have quite an interesting founding..."

[Vohu Manah]

The Arrowhead opens a dialog with the ship, inquiring as to the problem and how it can assist. Then it sends a message to the UVP explaining why it will be late for the diplomatic exchange.

The UVP stands ready to deploy vessels to your location to assist your ship, having also received the distress signal.

[Rogue 9]

Office of the President, Nashtar

"President Harrison?"

"Yes, Minister Russell, what is it?"

"The Auroran Imperium. Imperialism is rearing it's head again; they're moving on independent worlds. Here's a full report," said the Minister of Defense, sliding a datapad across the desk.

President Andrea Harrison slid her long hair behind her ear as she picked up the report and quickly read the opening summary. "We need to know more. Order the RSC and intelligence bureaus to find out just what the hell is going on, and order Fifth Fleet to stand by for military operations should intervention prove necessary."

"Yes, Madam President." The minister turned on his heel and marched out like the former soldier he was.

Joyous Gard

The Shadow class frigate Blackstar broke orbit and pulled out of the colonial military center's gravity field. Once well clear of other ships and system traffic, she engaged her cloak and Slipstream drive, leaving the system in a white flash.

[Vohu Manah]

Secure Point-to-Point Communication (Excerpt)
To: Lady Protector Armaiti II
From: Office of the Prime Minister

The Lady Protector played with her simple wedding band on her left hand, "I understand your concerns, Mr. Saka, but I feel there is little I can do in my situation."

"Surely you can spare more ships than that?" asked the Prime Minister, "The First Fleet can't be that overburdened that a redeployment of a quarter of it's ships will cause problems?"

The Lady Protector chuckled, "Our military, in its current configuration, is simply not equipped to devote a large section of our forces outside our areas of control or interest."

"But.."

"That is enough," The Lady Protector was easy to annoy, "You will have the forces I've specified assigned as a quick-reaction force. They should be sufficient to deal with the situation you described."

"And my other request?"

"I will meet with the ex-Protector's Conference and military leaders tomorrow to discuss a possible fleet reconfiguration. I warn you though, any measure we likely pass will require new ship construction, not to mention take time."

The Lady Protector clearly broadcasted that move. Prime Minister Saka wasn't surprised, "I'll somehow push any reasonable measure through the Houses, despite the clear objections my party will have."

The Lady Protector smiled, "I'm sure you will." In here position, she knew, pacifism gets you killed.

DEPLOYMENT ORDERS
Encrypted Transmission - High Priority

TO: "Shi Tenno" Admiralty
CC: "Manas" Admiralty

By the order of Lady Protector Armaiti II, Commander-in-Chief of the United Vigoran Protectorate Armed Forces, the following First Fleet ships are to be taken off current duties and placed on standby status in the Beta Rusalka star system. They are to be temporarily designated "Calchas" for the duration of their operations and attached to the First Fleet.

Raktavija-class Fleet Battle Carrier designated "Idisi"
2 Kamaitachi-class Battlecruisers (ships not specified)
4 Scathach-class Planetary Assault Corvettes (ships not specified)
8 Ferentina-class Escort Corvettes (ships not specified)

Command authority for group "Calchas" is granted to Vice-Admiral Geus Urvan III. Third Fleet is to step up it's patrols in their area of control to offset this redeployment.

[Alyrium Denryle]

Three Suns Commonwealth, agreed upon coordinates(talked to thirdfain, he did accept an ambassador)

A small shuttlecraft shifted seemlessly out of hyperspace, it was red, sporting the symbol of helm.
"This is diplomatic SHuttle Bernard of the Federation of Thaumaturgists, citing diplomatic protocals. We carry Abbot Estrian Jarin the new ambassador to your illustrious nation, and seek landing clearance"

[White Haven]

On the world of Largos IV an elderly man wearing grey robes and a simple carved wooden staff walked at a slow pace to the landing platform where Vice Admiral William Rankin was landing. His gait was slow, almost measured. As if he put up fascade of physical frailty. WHich he in fact did. His hair was white, and a well trimmed grey beard went down a few inches past his chin, with matching mustache.

He hobbled to the landing pad and awaited the arival of the Vice Admiral, patiently reading a small book.

'Shuttle' is perhaps something of a euphamism to describe the craft that settles onto the landing pad. While it does indeed serve that purpose, it's a good deal larger than most, and while the hardpoints under its backswept, angular wings are empty, a pair of magnetically-accelerated vulcan cannons hug the hull on either side. With a descending whine of turbines powering down, the fleet pinnace settles onto its landing skids, and the entire back of the craft folds down to the tarmac below.

Flanked by a few armored Marines as an honor guard and accompanied by a small staff, Rankin steps down the rough-coated ramp, the aft antipersonnel turrets lying dormant as he walks past and below them. The single man awaiting the mission, of course, draws attention, the Vice Admiral and his party crossing the tarmac towards him. As they leave it behind, the pinnace's aft ramp swings back up to lock into place.

[White Haven]

FROM: Vice Admiral Diego Montoya, Roma Republic Liason Officer

TO: RRS Ontario, Roma Republic

RE: Diplomatic Run

While the Sixth Cruiser Squadron normally prefers to deliver our own diplomatic staff, our forces are as was previously noted stretched thin at the moment, and the battlecruiser Purity is out of range at the moment. Accordingly, we agree to your proposal, and will have the necessary personnel and equipment loaded into pinnaces and awaiting your arrival. I look foreward to working with you in the future.

Message ends.