STGOD 2K5 Main Game

[frigidmagi]

From: Grand Master of the Knights Templar, rightful overlord of the attendent orders, Lord Protector of the Wenasi Holds and Grand Admiral Talen

To: President of the Nashtar Republic and holdings.

To our neighbor Nashtar, happy greetings. It has come to my attention that currently the realm has no ambassdor assigned to represent us to your peoples. If you so desire I would like to make good the lack and send one to futher fair and open relations between our two peoples. I would also if you so permit accept an ambassdor from your nation.

In My Own Hand
Grand Master Talen

[White Haven]

BROAD-CHANNEL TRANSMISSION

Source: Moving-point, SCSS Purity, Sixth Cruiser Squadron

Code: Select all

As our forces are spread too thin to provide escort and transport for multiple foreign outreach missions simultaneously, any requests for ambassadorial exchange will be dealt with by a visit from the SCSS Purity in turn. Any nation that makes such a request should expect a visit within two standard weeks to delivera diplomatic staff and provide return transport for a reciprocation if needed.

[SirNitram]

"Lord Andrews. Uncle Phong. Care to join me for dinner, relaxation and perhaps a chat?" She smiled at that. Everyone -- including the ship's Mind -- knew it wasn't really a mere request. When Sailor Saturn asked you for dinner, you simply didn't say no.

Had their guest been limited to the reading of facial features, she'd never know Andrew was off-balance by her appearance. But even the psionic null that permeated the pirate leader wasn't immune to a being of her calibur.. And he nodded, trying to rally. "Of course, Miss Saturn. Will we be dining here, or were you hoping we could change course for somewhere you're familiar with?" The pirate leader tilted his head, trying to be unscrutable.. For whatever good that would do.

[frigidmagi]

From: Acheron Marik Vestal
To: Grand Master of the Knights Templar, Lord Protector of the Wenasi Holds and Grand Admiral Talen
Subject: Establishment of diplomatic relations

Esteemed Grand Master Talen:

The Sabai would be remiss in our duties both to ourselves and the memory of those that came before us to reject your offer of communication and the establishment of contact between our nations. Your request is immediately granted, an ambassador will be chosen and prepared for departure towards a world of your designation and choosing. Furthermore, we request an ambassador to be sent to us in order to cement the beginning of formal relations between our people. It is our hope that our nations will learn more about each other as time progresses and that the ties which will bind us will strengthen with each passing day.

Sincerely,
Acheron Marik Vestal

To:Acheron Marik Vestal
From: Grand Master of the Knights Templar, Lord Protector of the Wenasi Holds and Grand Admiral Talen

We will sent to you an ambassdor with all haste, Sir Kurick will be arriving amoung you shortly with escorts. I express my personnal hope that this is the beginning of a long, fair and open relation between our poeples and nations for the betterment of all. We eagerly await your ambassdor and his staff's arrival. We invite them to come to our capital system of Elenia, to the planet of Cimmura and abide has our esteamed guests. May all blessings be yours.

In My Own Hand
Grand Master Sir Talen

[Thirdfain]

Eastern Rim Broadcast News
-A wholly owned subsidiary of the Commonwealth News Network-
November 2, 272 AF

-:TRANSMISSIONSTART:-

"President Delacroix Announces New Initiatives"
"The President of the Three Suns Commonwealth gave a speech following yesterday's Senate meeting, delineating new Commonwealth policies in the ongoing efforts to stabilize the Galactic East, in particular around the vital Trans-Boyd Trade Lane. In his speech, the President emphasized two major initiatives.
'...Continued support of our allies in the region is vital. We must reach out to those nations which have risen head above the chaos of the area, and forge lasting, respectful relationships which can act in the future to enrich the entire quadrant through trade unhindered by piracy.'
Commonwealth embassadors were dispatched to the Republic of Nashtar, the Sixth Cruiser Squadron, the Quylthulg Confederation, and the Rpblksrpsk. In a more controvertial maneuver, President Delacroix also ordered the installation of an increased embassy staff on Krytos, a post which has atrophied greatly since the 222 invasion of the Commonwealth by Krytosian soldiers in the People's War. It is likely that this maneuver signals an interest in improved relations between the two nations.
"Additionally, our forces must be expanded. More civilians are applying for citizenship daily, as the integration of our broad colonies continues. The needs of merit-based democracy must be answered, and we must expand our ability to maintain peace and order along the trade lanes. This being the case, the Senate has authorised appropriations for a sororas of Dreadnoughts for deployment to Corneria Station, with the eventual goal of establishing a fourth Century of the Grand Fleet, to be stationed abroad."
It is estimated that with the continued influx of wealth from the foreign colonies, the Federal government should be able to support such a minor military build-up without major changes to the tax code."

-:ENDTRANSMISSION:-

[consequences]

OOC: Sorry, I'm lazy, so all interested parties get the same form letter, this is the KSE, the Vigoran Protectorate, Thaumaturgists, and Knights
Templar so far

From: Shi Galactic Affairs Office
To:<your government>
Re: Diplomatic relations
Enclosed are the coordinates for the Pardah system, our primary contact point. Please direct all delegations, embassies, trade missions, missionaries, etc., there. Any unauthorised entry to other Shi inhabited systems will be considered a hostile act, although mitigating circumstances will be considered. We apologise for the inconvenience, but precautions must be taken in these troubled times.

[Crayz9000]

[Location unknown]

"Sweetie, aren't you getting a little too old for this sort of work?"

A man, his face somewhat grizzled from battle scars and his hair just starting to lighten with streaks of gray, looked over his shoulder at his wife of fifteen years, and sighed. He had met her seventeen years ago, while he was fleeing the Kzin Patriarchy after narrowly pulling off a dangerous intel operation on the Triad leader. She had actually been on a transport that he'd hijacked, a stewardess if he remembered correctly. When he had ordered everyone aboard to bail out for their own safety, she had refused and insisted on helping him escape the Patriarchy. He smiled at the memory. She was a feisty girl with curly red hair and a very disarming face... Something inside of him had just melted when she confronted him, and he'd decided to let her come with him. They had married less than two years after that narrow escape, and now they had two children, who were almost into their teens already, and both of them were Force-sensitive...

"Johan?"

Johan Ragle snapped out of his reverie. "Yeah?"

"Did you hear what I said?"

Ragle looked back down at the datapads scattered across his work table. She was right, he thought. He was pushing seventy years now biologically (his "birthdate" -- if you could call it that for a clone -- was August 14, 1987 CE but he had completely lost track of his chronological age due to spurts in stasis fields and a number of hops through different dimensions), and even though he had gotten different treatments from many different places over the years -- magical treatments in the Star Kingdom (which nobody officially knew about), genetic enhancements from various places in the Corporate Sector and United Terran Republic, upgraded cybernetics in his arm and leg, he was still getting old and could feel the effects of it. Sure, he still looked as if he had just turned thirty, but perhaps, he thought, it was just that years of combat were taking their toll.

"Yes, dear, I did."

"Then when are you going to stop trying to compete with the rest of the mercenaries out there? You're just going to get yourself killed if you continue..."

Ragle stood up and walked over to his wife, then embraced her. "You don't live to be as old as I have without knowing a few tricks along the way. Don't worry about me."

"But I do..." She looked up at him. "You know, I just had an idea. You told me about an old acquaintance of yours, a Lt. Hit-Man... he had formed a group of mercenaries around him and ran it like a business. You could do the same thing!"

Johan looked down at his wife and chuckled. "Me, a businessman? That's a great one!"

She gently slapped him on the cheek. "I wasn't joking."

The two sat down on a chair in front of the work bench. "Well, what would we call it then? Johan asked rhetorically.

"You could call it... hmm... How about 'Johan's Legion'? Oh, and your tagline could be 'No job too hard'..."

"I like that... now let's see about finding some mercs who would be willing to work for me..."

"I'm sure they'd line right up. You're just about a legend."

"Oh, stop trying to boost my ego, honey. I have to keep it down, you know, professional reasons."

"I'm serious!"

[I'll post something in the OOC thread concerning this.]

[Darksider]

[Ragnar System, Krytos Star Empire]

"You're sure you got the coordinates right?"

"These are what they sent. If we're off course, it's because they want us to be"

"There's a refreshing thought"

"just hit the damnd ignition switch"

The Diplomatic transport leapt off the launch pad, carrying diplomats and trade negotiators bound for the Shi Combine

[Vohu Manah]

BEGIN TRANSMISSION

From: Shi Galactic Affairs Office
To:United Vigoran Protectorate
Re: Diplomatic relations
Enclosed are the coordinates for the Pardah system, our primary contact point. Please direct all delegations, embassies, trade missions, missionaries, etc., there. Any unauthorised entry to other Shi inhabited systems will be considered a hostile act, although mitigating circumstances will be considered. We apologise for the inconvenience, but precautions must be taken in these troubled times.

The Kamaitachi-class Battlecruiser designated Nerthus (Second Fleet) has been dispatched with diplomatic party in accordance with United Vigoran Protectorate protocol. The ship will be escorted by five Ferentina-class Escort Corvettes to your border, at which time we expect escort duties to be assumed by your forces (or permission granted for our ships to enter your territory).

Are these arrangements satisfactory?

Signed,

Aji Saka
Prime Minister, United Vigoran Protectorate

END TRANSMISSION

Less than a day had passed since the barrage of communications from other star nations began flooding the office of the Prime Minister. He hadn't expected this level of contact so soon. Neither had the Lady Protector, who was already sick of his requests for military vessel reassignments. In preparation for the arrival of their first dignitaries, all four UVP fleets had been placed on high alert.

The Admiral in charge of the Fourth Fleet wasn't pleased with the Prime Minister, having been ordered to divert a Raktavija-class Fleet Battle Carrier, 2 Kamaitachi-class Battlecruisers, and a mix of 10 Scathach-class Planetary Assault Corvettes and Ferentina-class Escort Corvettes as a standing "diplomatic welcoming party." Apparently the Admiral forgot that it was a short hop to Vigora from Karttikeya Station, and that the First and Second Fleets take over protection duties in the Vigora Province.

A noise broke the Prime Minister's concentration. It was his phone, which he picked up, "Yes?"

"Sir, Sae-no-Kami reports Ningyo has departed our space under escort. No current estimate on time of arrival." stated the caller, the Prime Minister's Administrative Assistant.

"Has Nerthus put underway?"

"They acknowledge your authority and orders, and report they will be underway in two hours, with exit from our territory occurring one hour later."

"Reason?"

"Delays in assembling the diplomatic party."

"Thank you." the Prime Minister hung up the phone.

[Alyrium Denryle]

MNC 16

A small shuttlecraft opened up a gate and exploded out of the red tinted nightmare of hyperspace into orbit around the planet MNC 16. It was a green word, the lights from several cities and towns escaping the planets gravitation and marking their location n the eyes of Father Leonard Secilia cleric of Lathander, the MorningLord. The youthful cleric wore shning silver plate mail, and a mace hung at his side. A shield was strapped to his lseft arm. HIs armor, shield and mace glowed with an otherworldy light, and his shield was inset with a gem pattern depicting the rising sun, which shone with a light of its own, like a mini sun. His hair was blonde and he wore no helm, a medalion with an identical symbol around his neck.

Standing to his right side, was an older man, in his mid 40's with a greying beard andshoulder length hair, an ornatly carved staff in his right hand and a raven on his other shoulder. He was clad in utilitarian robes that seemed to be a bit otherworldy.

As the ship slipped through the atmosphere without so much as a heated hull and landed, the locals were already gathered around the landing site.

"Awefully happy to see us arent they Leo" the mage said
"The locals are always glad to see us Anonin, now, let's see what this is about"
With that the ships extended landing gear and the boarding plank.

The mayor of the small mining town stepped forward and went to one knee.
"In the name of Ilmatar, I beg you to help us"

"On your knees man there is no need to beg. " The cleric replied, with a compassionate smile. No matter how many times he saw this sort of thing, it never failed to bring warmth to his heart, at the chance to help someone so desperate that they call out to the god of martyrs and suffering.

Anonin merely looked on in amusement. Unlike his cleric friend, he did this to increase his own skill with magic, not for any sort of high ideals. In fact, he often thought the cleric was to idealistic, and many times accepted a job that was more than he could chew.

"Why have you called us here mayor Xin?" the cleric asked.

"Our mining efforts... they were to greedy, to deep. We awoke something terrible, a dracolich. Now our dead rise from their graves and refuse to permanantly fall... you must help us, or this entire world will be overrun with the forces of darkness!" the mayer exclaimed, almost in a panic.

The cleric turned to the mage, and they both nodded.

"we will do what we can" Anonin said

[phongn]

Had their guest been limited to the reading of facial features, she'd never know Andrew was off-balance by her appearance. But even the psionic null that permeated the pirate leader wasn't immune to a being of her calibur.. And he nodded, trying to rally. "Of course, Miss Saturn. Will we be dining here, or were you hoping we could change course for somewhere you're familiar with?" The pirate leader tilted his head, trying to be unscrutable.. For whatever good that would do.

"Oh, here will be fine. I just wanted to check up on my uncle and his ever-so-interesting companions. I brought some food" -- a wave of her gloved hand and the stasis boxes appeared -- "it should still be hot. They should be to your taste." Indeed, the meal was. Again, Andrews was slightly unnerved that she had selected a dish that he quite favored but made pains not to reveal to anyone. Persons in his position needed as many secrets as they could get to protect themselves. He also recognized the restaurant and estimated how much this meal had cost.

It certainly deserved more than a duraplast table and plastic utensils. But he travelled simply, along with his prisoner-companion.

"You really should leave, Uncle. Surroundings like this are not befitting of you. Doesn't your Kingdom need you?"

"I'll be fine; when it comes time to escape it'll be time to escape, not before or then. Besides, Lord Andrews has such ... interesting times. The Kingdom can get along without me. Or without you, for that matter. Times have changed, people like us are less needed. Even Naru was thinking of retiring when I was shanghi'ed."

Andrews silently ate, simply listening to the conversation. There were interesting clues. Lady Naru Osaka, president of The Osaka Group, purveyor of fine goods. Powerful enough to utterly destroy the De Beers Cartel a thousand years ago and she made it look easy. And she was thinking of retiring from the company she controlled for longer than most nations existed ... interesting. Very interesting.

"Lord Andrews, excuse us for a moment if you will, I need to talk to my uncle in private." With that, she touched her uncle's shoulder and both disappeared. The ship's Mind spoke out at that point. "That girl confounds me. So does your guest. He could easily escape at any time; the girl could rend the ship into its constiutant quarks. Yet he stays and all she does is come time-to-time to have dinner or lunch. Wholly illogical." Andrews simply nodded in assent, lost in his own thoughts.

---

The room was quite bright, a stark contrast to Saturn's usual dark and subtle personality. Pictures of family new and old adorned the room while a rather comfortable bed was in the corner. Both sat at a small table. "Uncle, what are you doing? You just gave him information that he really didn't need to know. It's like your have the Stockholm Syndrome, identifying with you captor. He's not such a good man as that and you can escape all too easily."

"Let me ask you a story. What happened to the Kzinti when they tried to invade?"

"They got stopped, of course. I remember the war was very bloody. The Kingdom and the Terrans barely stopped them."

"But what did it do to them?"

"Um ... "

"It wiped out the most agressive of their species. The remainder did not have the heart to continue the war. Now they can live in relative peace with everyone else, all told."

Enlightenment. "Ahhh."

"Yes. Andrews can civilize this lot of barbarians. He's the best chance to do it. I'm immune to telepathic interrogation so he can't read my motives too easily. I'm trying to steer him, ever so subtly, to the path of civilization. The barbarians amongst him will die out one way or another and a new, proud nation will stand amongst the stars. Piracy will drop like a stone once they become a real nation."

Saturn looked in understanding. "So why don't you settle down, kid? Detransform for once, get drunk w/ a few goddesses. Maybe you can find Halite and seduce her or something, start a family." Nguyen had said this in such a deadpan that Saturn nearly sputtered at his statements before he smiled. Saturn simply stuck her tongue out and touched him on the arm.

---

They were back barely thirty seconds after they left. Saturn's powers did not have to deal with such mundane things as the normal passage of time.

"So, Lord Andrews. What are you up to, hrm? The most wanted man in all of space in the Clouds around the galaxy. Surely you have such grandoise plans here." She suddenly gave a huge grin, sat down in Andrews' lap and wrapped her arms around the man. "Surely such a man like you can't think too small, hrm?" she purred. At that, Nguyen simply stared while Andrews' brain attempted to reconcile the fact that a beautiful young woman was currently embracing him with the fact that a walking Death Star had her arms around his neck.

"I'm a married man!" he sputtered out, holding up his finger. A simple gold ring, still shining as brightly as the day it he slipped it on. Saturn pouted. "Have it your way, my Lord," and she winked at him. "But what are your plans? Surely you know better than to keep a girl waiting." And now she gave her best innocent-girl pose.

If it wasn't for the fact that everyone knew just how un-innocent she was it might have worked.

[phongn]

RMS Curious Cat no longer had much of a resemblance to the Assault Dreadnought she once was. Oh, externally she looked like one but her internals were completely different. Banks of top-of-the-line Corsair Republic sensor banks (rebuilt by the Verpine techs to get rid of the tracking devices, of course), a pair of ethercannon found in the wastes. Multiple CIWS emplacements, heavy ion beam arrays and a good mix of turbolasers. Six fighters and a Valkyrie rounded out her parasite craft.

The crew was aging, though. Captain Elissa Bane had some years put on her; the years were getting to Bohr and Aino as well. Some of the eldest of thieir original crew had retired now or formed their own families. Others staked out for themselves. Strangely, time didn't seem to affect Kate Andrews much at all. She stayed the same excited kid she always was, flitting around in her Valkyrie busting up thugs. She wasn't a youma -- just a normal human -- and couldn't possibly afford the anti-aging treatments. So what was going on?

Andrews herself didn't think much of it. She lived life day-by-day. But one day when she was brushing her teeth in the mirror she thought she saw something on her forehead. A crescent? The next glance had it disappear. It must have been a trick of the light ... but speaking of crescents, it was time to head back to Enigma. The Cat had a scheduled appointment with Doohan to refit the various ships. He was a good man; rumour had it he had some ancient pre-diaspora spacecraft around. Other rumours said that Serenity herself entrusted him with her private spaceyacht.

Whatever the rumours, he was good. And they'd make port on the fast hyperlane in a few hours ... it would be good to see Enigma again.

[White Haven]

Along the hyperlane south of the Azegart Empire

Code: Select all

...to anyone close enough to hear this, we're under atta<hiss of static>

Code: Select all

For god's sake, stop firing, we'll surrender! Stop firing! Please!

Code: Select all

We've already surrendered, please, you're killing us!

On the bridge of the battlecruiser SCSS Honor

The helmsman looks up from his display, glancing at the ELINT officer before reporting, "We're closing on the source of the transmissions, captain..estimate forty seconds to emergence." With a curt nod, the balding captain acknowledges the report, then calls out, "Lieutenant Edwards, we're close enough to get a read on the number of point-sources for those transmissions. How many?" The response is both quick and depressing, predictably, given the content of the intercepts, "Reading...eight, but the overall strength of the cluster-source has dropped since we first picked it up. Estimate that at least three sources have gone...make that four sources have gone off the air."

"Understood. Gate to normal space...NOW!"

Along the hyperlane south of the Azegart Empire

Flares of white light, accompanied by bursts of electromagnetic noise on all frequencies, blast into the pristine, star-speckled void. They are not, however, alone, not by a long shot. Seven heavy transports, two of them streaming oxygen into the void, are at a dead stop, along with the twisted hulks of three more coasting past the halted vessels. Several clouds of expanding debris and their attendent IR signatures mark the graves of six other ships, although which were freighters and which were escorts is by now impossible to say. Harrying the bloated freighters are a motley collection of ships, everything from a few corvettes, assorted frigates and destroyers, all the way up through a light cruiser and the strikegroup of a distant carrier. For whatever reason, these particular raiders seem more interested in destroying the convoy than actually reaving it of its cargo, although the selective targetting of the disabled, drifting hulks points to some desire to salvage them afterwards.

That desire, of course, will have to be put on hold.

As the storm of EM-band interference fades, it leaves behind a nightmare given form in battle-steel, or at least a nightmare if you're in a ricketty tin can caught in an act of piracy. The three battleships at the core of the formation draw the most attention, but the escorting cruisers and carriers are by no means to be ignored. Before the jump points even finish closing, attack fighters already begin to spill from the hangars of the three escort carriers accompanying the battlegroup, followed shortly by double-broadsides from every last warship, both batteries presented with targets on either side by expert astrogation that placed them directly in the center of the unfolding massacre. A lethal cocktail of antimatter-head missiles and railgun slugs sweeps out at the corsairs, balls of fire marching across shields and, briefly, armored hulls.

All but the cruiser and carrier are destroyed in the opening volley, but that is hardly by accident. Multiple wings of fighters streak by both ships, close-attack weapons tearing through shields ripped to tatters by a carefully-measured missile bombardment, engine pods blowing out into space, point-defense emplacements melting into slowly-expanding clouds of slag. Only then does the attacking force transmit anything openly, coming from one of the accompanying battlecruisers, a cold, harsh female voice.

Code: Select all

This is Vice Admiral Mandraki, Sixth Cruiser Squadron. You will surrender your ships to me or you will be destroyed. Any attempt to power any form of FTL transit system will be construed as hostile. You have fifteen seconds to comply. Mandraki clear.

The response takes a good deal less than fifteen seconds, and is followed by a pair of Marine boarding craft. As they close on the stricken ships, the same voice transmits on an open channel, this time with a far less wrathful tone.

Code: Select all

Vice Admiral Mandraki, Sixth Cruiser Squadron, to freighter convoy. I am detatching cruiser and carrier support to get you to your next waystation. I would take it as a favor if you would spread the word that this area of space is off limits to pirate activity henceforth.

Shortly following the transmission, four more gates open, depositting a pair of light cruisers and a pair of escort carriers into normal space, where they move to take up escort positions around the battered convoy.

[SirNitram]

If it wasn't for the fact that everyone knew just how un-innocent she was it might have worked.

"Always thinking big, but also simple. Before I can change the face of the galaxy, I must establish the Republic in the eyes of all. After the Entente drove us from the Galactic West and ended our operations in the Milky Way, thousands of minor pirate gangs were able to rally and begin causing trouble. This can't be allowed; we're going to wipe them out." Andrews spoke, shrugging. This was barely a secret; the Corsairs never took kindly to pirates not under their thumb. "After all. Those uncooth ruffians give piracy such a brutal name.. They even kill prisoners, can you imagine?"

As Andrews rallied from the shock and turned to the meal brought by the young woman, he shrugged. "After that.. I intend to gauge the army's effectiveness. They suffice in the Clouds, but the Clouds were never very threatening for combat opponents. The strongest opposition to the return of the Republic will be from the Entente.. And I expect the Kzin will be rattling the sabers. If war must come.. Well, I will ensure to bloody a few snouts."

"Enough for you, my lady? I'm afraid the rest would be terribly boring. Internal matters; violent little warlords to quash, social reforms to enforce."

[phongn]

"You're such a romantic, you know that, Lord Andrews? Dead men tell no tales ... yet you merely enslave or release those you capture. As for the Entente, it is a matter of honor that you are opposed. It was well-known that your pirates liked to pick on the Star Kingdom's and Corporate Sector's liners; the Terrans do not like piracy and the Kzinti even less. You can't hide forever, you can't do more than bloody the Entente's nose."

She paused, as if someone was telling her something.

"Oh. Something that I was asked to pass onto you. Pay better attention to your daughter. Ignore your worthless wife if you must" -- Andrews made a protest merely to keep his image -- "oh, hush, my Lord. We both know how worthless she is. But I'd keep an eye on your daughter."

She then cleaned up the plates, simply touching each one to do the deed. "Thats rather convenient. Beats washing them yourself," remarked Andrews.

"It is indeed. Also, this packet might be interesting to you. I must leave. Fair travel to you, uncle, Lord Andrews, the Mind of this ship." And she disappeared.

Neartly typed on the front page of the packet were some warlords that were opposed to Andrews' massive reforms. Some of them were good men, others were bloodthirsty tyrants. But all of them were in the way. Next to each was a number -- a bounty, apparently. The rest of it seemed like a standard bounty contract. On the last page was the signature of the Star Kingdom's CNO, Calcite. It was countersigned in the perfect lettering of a stormtrooper.

It said, simply, "HIT-MAN." The timestamp was fifteen minutes ago.

A voice appeared in Andrews' head, something not very easily done to a P12. "I acquired this copy and thought you might find it interesting."

[Jaded Masses]

From: KSE Diplomatic Office
To: All Star Nations
Re: Diplomatic Relations

After a 50 year period of isolation, the Krytos Star Empire is again becoming an active force in the galaxy. we wish to send ambassadors to all of your governments, and allow your nations to set up embassys on Krytos

To: KSE
From: RR

The Roma Republic would like to take up the KSE on this opportunity. We will send the Heavy Cruiser Ontario with an ambassador and to return with an ambassador of the KSE. Please give us a location to rendezvous.

From: Shi Galactic Affairs Office
To: Roma Republic
Re: Diplomatic relations
Enclosed are the coordinates for the Pardah system, our primary contact point. Please direct all delegations, embassies, trade missions, missionaries, etc., there. Any unauthorised entry to other Shi inhabited systems will be considered a hostile act, although mitigating circumstances will be considered. We apologise for the inconvenience, but precautions must be taken in these troubled times.

]The Roma Republic will dispatch the Heavy Cruiser Ontario to Pardah after it completes a similar diplomatic mission. It will have ambassadors from our nation and ambassadors from another power. The Roma Republic is highly anticipating dealing with your nation.

_________________

To: All nations
From: Roma Republic
Re. Diplomatic relations

The Roma Republic would like to expand its contact with the galaxy at large. We invite all nations to send and receive diplomatic teams. A heavy cruiser, the Ontario is prepped for diplomatic uses. It will be making rounds to various nations for diplomatic exchanges. Please contact us if you would like to exchange ambassadors in this manner. Other arrangements can also be made.

[Chris OFarrell]

Sector 430-132.

This area of the Galaxy could best be described as desolate.

A little over 270 light years away from the site of the greatest known battle site in the history of civilisation, a ship drifted. Four and a half Kilometres long, she was somewhat angular, but curved at the same time. Her hull was a death black that shimmered as distant light caught her, a pattern that sent shivers up the spines of most beings.

Shadow bioarmour was a rare site these days.

Even more rare was the ship itself. Myth and legend surrounded its every move. Few credited her as anything more then superstitious nonsense. If anyone had managed today to get even a glimpse of her today, they would probably be laughed out of the bar they tried to tell the story in.

After all, a half drunk Captain claiming to have seen the 'Foundation of Iron' in the so called "Yarmuk Triangle" was the stuff of B grade fiction. Over the centuries everything had been seen drifting in the volatile region of space from Queen Serenities personal spacecraft to the Boyd Collective flagship "We are Legion". The radiation and spatial disruptions to the region were still massive, few of the younger races ships could have hopped to navigate even this close to the region.

And that’s truly a shame Chris O'Farrell thought as he silently looked out of his shielded ready room window. The massive floor to ceiling panorama was not actually a window. The ships command centre was buried deep within the ships primary hull and the attached commanders office was almost a kilometre deep inside. But the theory held true and huge holographic overlay covered one of the walls. With the rooms lighting set on minimal, it was a spectacular site from the ships forward visual sensors. Close to 300 light years away was the Yarmuk system. The dusty nebula that covered this whole region was gently illuminated by the orange and red shades from the battlegrounds. Flashes of light strobed from the distant system and Chris leaned forward slightly, sipping a vintage SKS wine, held in stasis for many years. Glancing at the timepiece in the corner, he leaned forward in anticipation.

It started slowly. Light started to roll and dance. The purple and blue haze of the nebula started to glow brighter as the distance light became more harsh, turning a brilliant white. Then exactly at 23:34 hours on the clock, the glow increased a hundred fold. The holographic screen went white, though the brightness was kept well under the true levels so as not to blind anyone sitting in the room. It would be an hour before the lighting returned to normal levels outside, the computer simply filtered it out.


He knew he could have had the ships EM sensors, which were just as much state of the art as the more sophisticated units, zoom in on the distant system. He would have been able to watch the titanic battle raging for the last few minutes. His last command, NOFR Omega, the first of her class (and the last of her class) with a pair of Heraclese class platforms methodically pumping out superlaser and Quantum Discharge cannon shots that cracked Battleships and vaporised planetoids. He probably would have even been able to see Halite and Saturn as they 'tap-danced' their way across his flagship, leaving it a burning wreck, but still firing and fighting as they kept her massive interdiction units alive...until the detonation of uncounted strategic weapons finally brought the 'victory', 270 years ago.

He couldn't help but scoff at the word. Victory? He knew that there had been no other choice. That if Halite hadn't been she would have enslaved the Galaxy a short time later without any qualms. But the destruction that flowed across the universe, was it that much better? To this day there was not an exact casualty count. Empires had been solar clusters ignited and fleets of mighty warships vaporised. The official death count stood at roughly 55% of the Galactic population pre war, such a number was simply impossible to comprehend.

But victory it was and survive the Galaxy did he reminded himself forcefully. Now YOU have to make sure the children don't complete the parents work.

Sighing as he killed the projection, he started to get up when the ships intercom chimed for attention. Leaning over his desk he searched for and pressed a stud built into the desk.

"O'Farrell, go"
"Sir. Passive sensors have just detected a small group of SKS Starships inbound at warp speeds from the hyper lane"
"Identification?"
"Contacts read as one Imperator class ship, the Procurator according to our sensor profiles, two smaller Cruiser sized ships and a half dozen Destroyers. ETA is Fifteen minuets present speed"

So. The game was afoot. For hundreds of years he had been a long dead ruler of a long vanished power. He smiled slightly. Time to return to the land of the living.

"They probably won't be able to see us until they drop to sublight speeds thanks to the radiation wave sweeping over us right now. Set yellow alert. I'll be on the bridge momentarily. Out"

[Ace Pace]

BROAD-CHANNEL TRANSMISSION

Source: Moving-point, SCSS Purity, Sixth Cruiser Squadron

Code: Select all

As our forces are spread too thin to provide escort and transport for multiple foreign outreach missions simultaneously, any requests for ambassadorial exchange will be dealt with by a visit from the SCSS Purity in turn. Any nation that makes such a request should expect a visit within two standard weeks to delivera diplomatic staff and provide return transport for a reciprocation if needed.

Diplomatic gunboat number 035, responding:
Confirmed Purity, holding position and awaiting your response.



Aboard the Galactic.
A cloaked man moves next to the deck officer.

"Plot a course for the corporate hegemony sector, the fastest you have"

The deck officer, in suprise, acidently argues with the man,"But sir, the entire fleet? what if they refuse to berth us?"

"I have delt with that"

"Yes Sir! Transmit a message to the fleet, preper to full speed hyperspace jump!"


And so, The Aglatarian Hub prepered for its first jump far out of Imperium space.

[SirNitram]

A voice appeared in Andrews' head, something not very easily done to a P12. "I acquired this copy and thought you might find it interesting."

"There are legends of the HIT-MAN, deep in the history of the less pleasant of the galaxy. A bounty hunter that, they say, could take down the Gods themselves. I wonder if your neice arranged this?" Andrews mused quietly as he looked at the packet. A shrug was given. He wasn't going to get involved.

"She is right, though. If we can't avoid battle, and we can't hide, and we can't win, we die. But we'll fight back. We rather have to; the Entente has such barbaric ideas about warfare, they'd kill our civilians if we didn't fight. Probably will if we do, but we'll have been able to try and stop it." Andrews shrugged. "On the upside, Admiral, you'll be able to leave by then... But these are such depressing matters. We come up on Nemesis Gateway in twenty minutes. I beleive the new transit station has a wonderful restaurant."

[Captain tycho]

The scene on Nurnen was being played out across another half dozen worlds, with varying results. A few worlds opened fire on the Imperial landing vessels with primitive nuclear ordinance; selected cities were torched in retribution rapidly. These worlds knew that the Imperium would come again. They had no excuse to resist the Second Coming.

After the initial resistance on the more troublesome worlds had been quelched, huge supply fleets towing Adeptus Mechanicus workers and equipment set out from various fleet bases towards what had now been dubbed the Crusade Worlds. If all went according to plan, Imperial citizens would arrive within a few months for resettlement.

[InnocentBystander]

Transmission
Hyperspace Channel 5095327

To: United Vigoran Protectorate
From: The Blue Order Parish of ACIN Affiars

The Blue Order, on behalf of the ACIN, wishes to extend it's hand in friendship. The Blue Order has always worked to maintain peace and prosperity in the galaxy, and with this in mind we would like to offer a trade of Embassies between our most honorable nations.

Respectfully - The Blue Order Parish of ACIN Affairs

The Very Reverend Mother Helena Sabinaria

[Darksider]

To: Roma Republic
From: KSE Diplomatic Office
Re: Diplomatic Relations

Enclosed in this secure communication packet are coordinates for the Ragnar system. Please direct your ambassadors there.

We ask that your warship does not enter Krytosian space. It will be met by an escorted shuttle carrying our own ambassadors. We will switch ambassadors in neutral space, and our shuttle will bring them back to Krytos

[Alyrium Denryle]

The scene on Nurnen was being played out across another half dozen worlds, with varying results. A few worlds opened fire on the Imperial landing vessels with primitive nuclear ordinance; selected cities were torched in retribution rapidly. These worlds knew that the Imperium would come again. They had no excuse to resist the Second Coming.

After the initial resistance on the more troublesome worlds had been quelched, huge supply fleets towing Adeptus Mechanicus workers and equipment set out from various fleet bases towards what had now been dubbed the Crusade Worlds. If all went according to plan, Imperial citizens would arrive within a few months for resettlement.

VGIN Exclusive Report!

We are sorry to interrupt the regular broadcast, but the shape of the galaxy is changing. As you, our viewers, may already know, in recent days our neighbor the Auroran Imperium has launched invasions of seven sovereign worlds, all of which at least in the Nuclear Age. We have just receved amateur footage of the events in question, on the planet Duran Six. Smuggled off word by a daring freighter polot by the name of Guage Endal, who brok eht eImperium blockade of the world

....Begin FIle......

The picture is shaky, not professionally done. Imperium Landing craft fll the sky streaming weapons fire into civilian population., AA fire being innefective against their shields. A missile was fired at a group of incoming landing craft and exploded in a mini sun, utterly destroying the craft. However, the IMperium would not be injured lightly. In a matter of seconds the nuclear fire that used to be the city of Johanesburg could be seen in the distance. Destroyed by Imperium weapons. Its population was 8 million. All fo them ceasing to be.
<STATIC>

....END FILE......

The Invasion of Duran Six, the destuction of worlds, on VGIN; your source for galactic news. Now, back to your regularly scheduled program.

[phongn]

"Idiots, all of them. Their choice of worlds for resources, all easily teraformed, and they have to go invade some old worlds barely scratching a living." Gurio Umino was at a meeting with other top Intelligence heads from the Quadruple Entente and the Corporate Sector's Vice President for Intelligence Operations had just spoken. "Labor is cheap, war is not, even if they're just crushing those poor people. This isn't good for stability of the galaxy, either."

"I concur," noted his Kzinti counterpart. "But this is opportunity. Arm the resistance, make the aggressive ones bleed both blood and treasure. They will be weakened and our hegemony shall be guarunteed. The cost is trifling to us and the support can be made untraceable. These cubs amongst nations think they the hunter, but weak prey is no prey at all. There is no honour in fighting those who are crushed like fruit in the fist."

[Darksider]

[Imperial Palace, Krytos]

The emperor walked into the meeting room to speak with his advisor

"So Kahleb, what's your take on this whole Auroran situation?"

"They have no right to attack those worlds Volga. They're independant, so they aren't protected by any other nations, and they're barely into the neuclear age. It pisses me off to see those jackbooted scum victimizing helpless worlds"

"And I agree. But there isn't anything we can do about it. We could launch an RRF to stop them, but that would mean war, and we cannot defeat them alone. Not as overstretched as we are. come my friend, walk with me"

The Emperor and his advisor walked into the next room. Volga paused a moment, and waved his hand. The doors opend before them.

"Your force talents and magic skills aren't for parlor tricks old friend."

"Use 'em or lose 'em. So what do you think we should do?"

"We could lodge a formal complaint, but would those fanatics listin to it?"

"No, not unless it came from many nations."

"But who do we even know anymore? We're just starting relations with most of the nations out there, and the Entente powers won't care."

"There is the Commonwealth."

"Those butchers? You would trust them to..."

"Be silent. I am the Emperor, and I am giving the order. Contact the Commonwealth, tell them we wish to discuss the Auroran situation"

"Yes m'lord"