STGOD mk II Main Thread

[Ohma]

-Undisclosed Location, Bara-

She spooled through the snippet of communications traffic again. The language the two beings used was quite different from anything the Imperial data spheres she had analyzed contained. In fact the language didn't sound like something human vocal chords could produce. The beings themselves were odd too, they seemed to be humanoid, but with feline features...not exactly what one would expect of aliens.

Jahil Nausicaa looked to the man seated across the small table from her. "You're sure you know nothing about these beings Sel?"

He scratched his chin. "...No I've got nothing. You could produce people that looked and sounded like that through gene engineering, but I doubt they'd be able to create their own language, or society, and conquer Makay in the time from Terra's destruction to now."

"No they probably wouldn't." She set the screen on replay again.

[Rogue 9]

Heavy Spacedock #5, Orodan

Admiral Carlton stood in the observation deck looking out over the nearly completed hull that was to be christened NRS Indomitable upon completion. The Dauntless class battleship, according to NRI intelligence estimates one of the heaviest warships remaining to any known power in the galaxy after the near-mutual destruction of the Enclave and the Empire's main battle fleets, would, along with the fleet carrier he could see in the distance at the next heavy spacedock, form the backbone of the new 5th Main Battle Fleet. The commissioning of a new fleet was partly designed to keep the shipyards busy and the workers employed, but the Provisional Senate was also concerned about genuine security threats.

The admiral turned his thoughts to the political leadership at that. A permanent constitution was being drafted on Nashtar even as he stood here overlooking the Republic's latest warship. The drafting convention was closed, and the entire Admiralty was nervously wondering what powers and limitations it would place on the military. Civilian control, of course, was a given, but beyond that...

Carlton shook his head. Democratic Labor didn't have more than a strong minority, but some of their members made him nervous, afraid that they would impose limitations on military buildup. It was unlikely; the labor faction liked the jobs the shipbuilding and fleet maintenance provided, and almost no one in the Republic was anything close to pacifist after the struggle for independence. But you never could tell.

[Raj Ahten]

The Melconian Diplomatic Mission

The AI and sensors officer aboard the Forest of the Dead had noticed something after screening the previous 48 hours of sensor logs. After conferring with the AI aboard their sister ship Spirit of the Forest, Lt. R'Yris called over the captain. It looked like they were being followed by stealth ships with an unknown signature. The contacts were extremely faint.

Captain K'Vaert immediately brought this to Admiral Drak N'Drak's attention. The Admiral immediately ordered the Lt. to show him the figures. With some trepidation told the admiral what she knew.

N'Drak was very pleased.
"Good work Lt R'Yris. Not many sensors operators would have noticed this."

With her ears folded back the Lt responded,
"Thank you sir. I must say Ripper, our AI, did most of the work though."

"The AI is only there to crunch the numbers. Lt. R’Yris it’s your job to show judgment and initiative. You did so to the highest standards of the Melconian Navy. Don't sell yourself short. You are dismissed Lieutenant."

"Sir."
The Lt. bowed deeply after receiving the praise, both embarrassed and proud. Most admirals had precious little time for a Lieutenants work and would have just asked the Captain for a summary.

N'Drak sat contemplating matters in his command chair.

The Captain interrupted his thoughts by asking,
"What do you want to do sir? We could put the reactor at a 125 percent and likely outrun them."

"No need to retreat yet" said N'Drak, “These are likely the Chamaran's we are looking for. Assemble the diplomatic team and drop from hyperspace."

The two Melconian Destroyers popped from hyperspace in deep space. Soon after they started transmitting a broadband message in all known human languages as well as in several different mathematical algorithms. It was thought the human languages would work as the Chamaran's were said to be holding several human planets and could apparently speak with them. The message was kept low power to keep anyone else from listening in.

The ships were in standard formation, with the Spirit of the Forest in the lead and the Forest of the dead somewhat behind and to the left of her talon mate. Force screens were placed up, but no active sensors were in use.

The message said the following:

"Greetings to our new neighbors the Chamaran's. The Emperor of the Melconian Empire welcomes you with a mission of peace. He sends a diplomatic delegation. We know you are at war with the humans. We share common enemies. Can we meet face to face to discuss matters of mutual interest and perhaps benefit?"

[Darkevilme]

The Thousand Guiles
Second stealth squadron
Deepspace
Makay sector

'Shipmistress. Shipmistress...VIRRL!' her second in command reaches up and flicks her on the ear quite hard which works to get Virrl up.
“What? Are we being attacked? Have they done something?” Virrl says as she wakes up, ah the nature of Chamarans that they make the command dais comfy enough for a shipmistress to nap on the bridge.
“No they've dropped into realspace and seem to want to talk.” her second says before helpfully replaying the translation of the Melconian message and then adding while Virrl looks thoughtfully at the screen “I've already run a check with the signal logs, Melconian doesnt come up once so they're not a well known human power. Do you want to speak with them?”

Virrl thinks, a human periphery power? Another non human group? Either are good cause for hope though unlike her counterpart aboard the Forest of the Dead she doesn't have diplomats. No matter.
A signal returns to the Melconian vessel in imperial basic, the only conclusive evidence the Chamaran ships are still with them now they're in deep space and there's not even an FTL wake around them.

“Greetings strangers of the Melconian empire, I am Virrl of house Doon, Shipmistress of the Thousand guiles and huntleader to the other two ships of this squadron. It is true we find ourselves beset by human aggression, just recently a great host of their vessels was repulsed from our territory by force of arms. I will agree to a face to face meeting in due time but you must forgive my caution as we know nothing of your empire or emperor.”

[Raj Ahten]

Deep Space, Makay Sector.

Several things were apparent immediately about the Chamarans. The first was they had fairly impressive stealth technology. At first the AI and sensor crews were baffled by the lack of drive signatures. Then they looked at their PK meters, colloquially called the spirit gauge. It was what the Melconian's called Psychic powers. As a race, they had very little talent in the field but they were very well aware of the phenomenon.

The Chamaran ships seemed to moving entirely based on such energy! The Priesthood was quite excited by this. Perhaps they had some sort of connection to the spirit world? Most of the team took this to be a good omen rather than associating the Chamaran's with demons.

Drak N'Drak understood the caution of the Chamaran's. He wouldn't want to meet immediately either. But he should at least show these strangers what they looked like.

The Admiral ordered his crew,
"I believe it is time to show the Chamfrains who we are."

The diplomatic team responded with the following message:

"We understand your caution Shipmistress Virrl. This sector of space is extremely unwelcoming to non-humans. Our task force is led by Admiral Drak N'Drak of the Melconian Imperial Navy. We ourselves have tasted the fury of the humans before. They have driven us from our homelands and killed billions. They will not be satisfied until everyone is subservient to their will."

Along with that message a packet of information was sent over. It contained historical documents about the destruction of the main Melconian Empire as well as some idealized cultural information about the Melconians. A recorded message (in Melcon with translations) from the Emperor started off the whole package.

[Darkevilme]

First contact
Deep space, Makay sector

Virrl ear perks in happyness as she reviews the data packet, letting it be distributed amongst her crew freely, we're not alone in this sea of humanity. They're kinda like us as well, even if the genders are equal and they're fuzzy they seem to worship their ancestors like we do and have trouble with human intolerance.

“Lower the dampeners on all ships. We don't need to sneak around these ones.”
Over the next minute or so the emissions from the Chamaran frigates climb rapidly up towards more normal readings as one third of their stealth system shuts down. The ships locations now determinable but other features eluding the sensors of the Melconian destroyers.

Then they transmit back to the Melconians.
“It's nice to know that non humans exist in this sector other than in the human history books. We ourselves have come beyond your stars, an Exodus fleeing a dying galaxy we have come this far in order to build ourselves a new home in this galaxy. Alas the great ships in which we made the crossing can travel no further leaving us with no choice as to neighbours. So it seems we suffer the same human human problem as you are burdened with. Perhaps our two peoples can aid eachother in the holding and claiming of homes once lost. But I cannot speak for our Queen, you must go to Newhome to meet with one of the greater clans.”

A datapacket follows, basic Chamaran physiology, the coordinates of newhome (AKA Godwin's hope) and a picture of Virrl herself added for some reason. The shipmistress on what seems to be a shipyards observation deck along with her crew. Dressed in the white formfitting skinsuit of the Chamaran navy with the bronze patches of a shipmistress, the bands of a noble and with her sword at one side of her belt and her mask on the other. Behind her and beyond the window glass is what's probably the Thousand Guiles, two broad black wings swept forward to make a twin pointed bow far ahead of the main hull that straddles the gap between the wings and behind and above the main hull is a broad expansive gull wing almost like a spoiler on a car.

[Ohma]

-Prometheus Station, Deep Space-

Code: Select all

Light: What the flying hell? There's a man standing on the outside of that thing!
Roy: And it's glowing on my sensors brighter than a star.
Light: This can't be good.
Astro: They could just be customers guys.
Wildstar: Could be, but i doubt it.
Light@unknown: Attention unknown craft. You have entered space claimed by Kraidnick Industries, please state your business.

[Thirdfain]

Monarchs and Fascists Fear The Revolution
Rally Point Alpha
Deep Space

Ekatrin der Anjivic, Comrade-Admiral of the Black Banner Fleet, had been beaten.

The Monarchs and Fascists Fear the Revolution hung in space, a sharklike, lethal form clad in charcoal grey and dried-blood red. She was a wounded beast- her hull was scored and burned in a hundred places. Two great rents had been cut in her hull by Chamaran warheads, shallow wounds contained by bulkheads and armour but costly all the same. There were fires, still, on a dozen ships across the fleet. A destroyer, nose half riven, tumbled slowly a hundred kilometers away, swarming with activity as her crew scurried to avoid disaster. Shuttles from the fleet train scurried to and fro, refueling and rearming the Ships of Force, dropping off repair platforms loaded with parts and replacement crew.

Inside hulls, medical teams worked frantically. Thousands were burned, cut, or frozen. There were lucky survivors whose suits had saved them, and many more who had been killed by radiation, fire, or exposure. In crowded surgeries, human medics and their robotic assistants worked ceaselessly in an atmosphere of intense concentration. People's Marines hurried about, assisting in a million minor tasks- cataloging losses, assisting repair crews, and carrying the wounded to safety.

None of that concerned the Comrade-Admiral. She was a fleet officer; the internal operations of ships were not her concern. XOs and Foremen handled the details. She was charged with the big picture.

Someone was reading over the fleet comm, intoning slowly but surely with almost religious reverence.
<<...Estaban Melcher. Stannis der Melcivic. Ylena Amboric. Enter Westisch. Pol Ambois. Anette der Borimov. Ophelia der Samborivic. Johanna Rechtersburg. Manuel Villalobos. Karsten der Salazar...>>

The rolls of the dead continued, reported constantly as more and more were confirmed lost to the black.

der Anjivic had long inured herself to the pain of all the young lives lost. If she did her job well and without reservations, the list would be shorter, the intonation more brief. She had to evaluate the state of the fleet as a whole- individual lives were nothing.

Eight battleships were dead. The two grand and powerful lead ships of the Caliphegian Naval Militia Union, the Union Secretary Alan Wykcz and the Chairman Istvan D'Armitage were gone. All six of the smaller Merciless-class battleships had been cut down, embroiled in a suicidal fight at knife ranges so the rest of the fleet could escape. Their escorts had died with them, ensuring their survival long enough to slow the enemy, to punish them for their treachery.

She had issued those orders. She did not let her mind stray too long towards the moment of hesitation Comrade-Underadmiral Zapatero had exhibited, that brief sliver of time in which he had realized what her orders meant for himself and for the rest of the 3rd Expeditionary's battle-line.

He had been a good soldier. He had done his job without looking back. She wanted to do the same, but it was hard not to remember the increasingly panicked communiques, the edge of terror filtering through the grim professionalism, the terrible little points of light, far in the distance, which were the end of a full Wall of Battle and it's escorts.

It had worked. They had taken out one more Tradeship, blasting it to shrapnel before the Chamaran missiles ended them all. The rest of the fleet had escaped in realspace, outrunning the FTL jammers and breaking for safety, for the deep black where they could not be found.

The fleet was torn and bloodied, but in good order. The precious Armoured Cruisers, swift and deadly, which made up the Naval Militia Union's primary striking force, were still alive. Twenty-one capital ships, a mix of the smaller Soaring Grace of Freedom export models, and the core- the six big Nordkaldian Triumph of Masterless Men Ships of Force- were undergoing field repairs. Their escorts had been torn and wounded, but were largely intact. One precious Assault Carrier, the Rise Against Your Masters, had died to a lucky Chamaran missile, her engines blown out. She had been left behind, and had died fighting.

The remaining vessels needed to be organized, but they could still fight. The raiding groups were still in the field- and were still reporting victories even now. The enemy had concentrated for his attack and had few resources to patrol his supply lines. Quixa was still being bombarded.

This was war, and der Anjivic's orders were clear- as was what she had seen on Teldus. This enemy could not be ignored. They had somehow subverted the Kushawni, which implied that their mastery of moral weaponry outstripped anything before seen. They were a foe too terrible to be allowed victory.

Nordkaldia had been clear- the diplomats would take care of the losses and the enemy numbers. It was her job to keep fighting.

Comrade-Admiral Ekatrin der Anjivic had been beaten in battle. She had not yet lost the war.

[Darkevilme]

Quixa
Makay sector

A narrow strip of spacetime peels apart to release the Chamaran cruiser squadron back into realspace. The five vessels making their long heralded arrival distant from the flying column and descending upon them at full speed. Missiles being launched already as they enter extreme guided munitions range.

(150 points of capital class warships have arrived)

Teldus Orbit

“We said we wouldn't let offer them surrender.”
“You said we wouldn't offer them surrender, i'm offering them surrender, now shush it's worth a try.”
Melusine breaks the connection and mutters “Tell that brat she has five minutes.”
Tia smiles and dictates, a signal soon be transmitted broadband to the world below “Syndicalist forces on the world of Teldus, your fleet has been repulsed. But you do not have to die today, if you surrender now you will be disarmed but you will not be harmed or controlled unless further resistance is met. You will be clothed and fed to the same standards as our human forces. You have five minutes to accept this offer or general bombardment of all areas under your control will commence and your death will swiftly and regrettably follow.”
Melusine meanwhile is letting that count tick down on her main display, she pretty much knows Tia's plan isn't going to work. She checks that they've targeted every visible Syndicalist asset in preparation for the alpha strike.

Homeship one.
Pyre
“Melusine reports victory oh Queen. The inferior beings have had their ships sent scurrying from your realm.”
“Excellent, how heavy were their losses?”
“Many of the inferiors vessels were burned by beam and cannon over the second Newhome, but alas the greater part of their host remains intact.”
“....I see, get me the file on what we know of these 'Syndicalists.'”
“At once glorious one.”
Kara sighs and looks towards the exquisite murals across the ceiling “What would you do now if you were here?” she says in thought to the faces looking down upon her, the silence pressing in on the room like the sheer magnitude of her responsibility, for a culture, for a nation, for a species.

Kara brings up the file on the Syndicalists, and proceeds to read in search of a solution.

[Thirdfain]

The Salient
Teldus
Makay

All along the edges of the Salient, the Syndicalist troops had been moving out. Since before the appearance of the enemy fleet, the two Mountain Armies had begun the task they had come to accomplish- the delay of a powerful orbiting fleet. Mountain Troops avoided general bombardments by moving often, keeping dispersed, and restricting their movements to areas the enemy would not willingly mass-bombard from orbit.

The two Mountain Armies had struck east from the Salient, towards the parts of the continent not yet bombed from orbit. There had been sporadic fighting all through the day; but no concentrated attacks yet.

When the call for surrender came, the 23rd Shock Army was also engaging in a similar tactic- mounting a full engagement with the enemy. The fourth city on the Northern Coast had resisted the initial Syndicalist strike. Now, the 23rd was hitting the fortified citadel with it's full forces. It was a risky maneuver, but if the enemy wanted to unleash a general bombardment, they'd harm themselves as well.

It was in that environment that the call for surrender sounded.

<<We have six thousand of yours captive. We have your cities and towns besieged. We will fight against your tyranny to the last breath.>>

------------------------------------------------------------------

Quixa
Makay

The stealthed scout cruiser Without Delay was deployed far from the system's center, on the path a reaction force from Teldus would require to arrive in the best time. Her warnings discharged; she fled into the aether. The Syndicalist main battle fleet had detected the group of capital ships leaving the furball at Teldus, and as such, the Flying Column was forwarned.

The powerful barrage fell into the very distant wake of the rapidly retreating fast cruisers.

[Spyder]

Kaldigrad

The Syndacalist offical, an associate of Genji Murasake made his way to the meeting room where he was to meet representatives from the Scolastic Union. There were always good meetings, the academics were nothing if not enthusiastic. Eager to listen, and eager to provide their own input which was always welcome, if somewhat off the record. Some things that are mentioned in Union meetings do not belong in security archives, thus for these sessions, the soundproof room would be effectively dead to the outside world.

He entered the meeting room to find a single man, about 6'2" with dark hair, solidly built, admiring the view.

Hmm, he's new.

"Hello there," the offical introduced himself by name and walked over to shake the man's hand.

The would-be representative turned around and the official's facial expression dropped and turned pale. This was not a member of the Scholastic Union.

"I'm afraid your 3 o'clock has been moved ahead." The man glanced over the official, these two had met before. "Cat got your tounge comrade? Perhaps I can help with that."

"I'm terribly sorry Cyrus," the man glared, "we don't see too many Imperial assassins through here."

"Imperial assassin?" Cyrus took a seat in one of the meeting room chairs, "One has to assassinate an Emperor to get that title. If I was an Imperial assassin, we'd still have the old third rock and you wouldn't have a kitty problem up north."

"The Chamarrans? What are they to you?"

"Me? Nothing. However, your old pal Genji seems to think we'd benefit from providing assisstance with the Internationale's efforts to pacify the region. Now the old man does agree, however there's something we need from you."

"And that is?"

"A live speciman. I don't know why, I hear they make good pets. Deliver one or more healthy kittens to a facility of our choosing and we'll send in a few heavies to assist with your next venture into the region. Think about it."

[Thirdfain]

Black Banner Fleet
Deep Space
Outer Makayan Territory

A pair of lieutenants sat, sipping coffee, in the 3rd Esperansic Scout Regiment's squadron tactical developments center. Their was little to do now- the fleet was at rest, undergoing field repairs, and the movements of the colliers and such was out of their jurisdiction.

"That's odd."

"Hmmm?"

"Well, the His Last Vespers just took off towards Kaldigrad." An icon peeled off from one of the other units and began to spin up to C-plus.

"Wait, did FleetCom authorize it?"

"Hell, I've got orders direct from FleetCom on the very matter, almost no prep time, either."

"Why would the Admiral send off a destroyer at a time like this?"

One of the officers shrugged and took a big gulp of his coffee.

"It checks out with Regiment, I guess it's legit. Strange they're keeping so hush as to the reason..."

[Darkevilme]

Teldus, Makay
“I've heard enough, commence bombardment.”
In seconds beams of fusion fire, hails of relativistic shells and countless thermonuclear warheads are raining down onto the planet surface. Any remaining air and armour support for the Syndicalist forces savaged by the forces above before a fresh wave of drones is sent down from the Dominions to pick across the area of their incursion.

The citadel that still stands against Syndicalist aggressors readies its sheathe shield to maximum in preparation, the remaining Chamaran forces in the city in full and rapid withdrawal towards its safety. As fusion beams stab down at the city periphery, brighter than the sun as they tear through the atmosphere and melt buildings instantly. The cleansing quartet of beams spiralling in towards the citadel, leaving glowing scars on the ground where once the proud structures of a metropolis once stood. The beams stop just short of the Citadel itself, making the shields scream to keep the hideous heat at bay before the bombardment ends.

Conquest overpack
“We have received word, the battlemistress gives us permission to engage. Titan, air and orbital support is all available.”
The Packmistress smiles, good as they hadn't been able to move their own Titans by air “Excellent, all units commence advance.”

All through the day and all through the night the seventeen Conquest packs had been moved onto the southern continent by air. And now they were ready to engage the enemy, elite troops with the best equipment and a greater amount of powered armour and vehicles than the peacekeeping forces in the Citadels. Striking at the center of the Syndicalist advance into the rest of the southern continent with the benefit of liberal orbital support, air superiority and of course Titans. Metal cylinders sheathed in the fire of deceleration jets slamming down into the earth on the flanks of Syndicalist units, unfolding their four legs from about themselves and sweeping the deadly light of their lasercannons across the foe. Skimmers darting across the front as everywhere countless thousands of automa seeker spheres flit through the air in search of Syndicalist forces. columns of plasma marching along the horizon where Syndicalists are discovered and meet their end in a flash of fury from orbit.

[Thirdfain]

Teldus
Makay

They fought hard.

The 23rd Shock Army was engaged on three sides, hit from above and outgunned in every possible way. There could be no victory.

A full Shock Army was equipped with an arsenal of tactical and strategic nuclear weapons. The 23rd Shock used up three quarters of it's stockpile in just eight hours of pitched fighting.

Chemical and biological weapons were unleashed- the 23rd Shock had fifteen warheads loaded with Moax tailored plagues and a surprising quantity of simple combat gasses. The enemy was largely NBC protected, but not everyone could be saved.

Towards the end, they were driven in towards the Citadel. The enemy was held back with another wave of nuclear attacks, wrecking the outside of the city. The Citadel itself, shields already heavily damaged by the orbiting fire, fell soon after when a thermonuclear bomb went off under the shield's skirts.

The 23rd did not survive as a cohesive fighting force.

Elsewhere, towards the west of the continent, the combat was more fluid. Major concentrations of the mountain troops disappeared within the day, eliminated from orbit. The rest spread out in harassing bands, doing the jobs they had come here for- survive. Fight. Force the enemy to maintain a fleet in orbit; or risk allowing them to re-concentrate.

Their gear gave off almost no signals detectable from space, and they moved under cover, rarely appearing to the optical spy-eyes. When they did, they died.

In any event, the Salient fell, leaving a vast, bloody scar on Teldus.

The captives were found, unmarked, dead. They had not been given NBC protection, and the gas had taken them all.

[Darkevilme]

A modest proposal. Several days later
Transmission to Syndicalist Internationale world of Kaldigrad.

Greetings High Syndicates of the Syndicalist Internationale.
This war will surely bleed us direly if it continues and we both possess greater foes than eachother, and so we bring an offer of peace for your consideration. We bear your people no more enmity than you give us and now seek only to make our new homes in the Makay sector without further human intervention. The proposed treaty is attached.
-Kara of House Chamara, Queen of the Chamaran exodus, Guiding light of the Chamaran people.
----
First treaty of Makay.

These are the requirements placed upon the Syndicalist Internationale by the Chamaran Exodus in this treaty.

1. Complete and binding cessation of Hostilities between both parties. No fleets, no guerrila action and no armies shall be used by either side against the other.

2. Removal of aforementioned armies and guerrila forces from the worlds of Teldus, Godwin's hope and Caldera.

3. An equal and binding treaty of nonaggression between any government established by Syndicalist agency in the Makay sector and the Chamaran Exodus.

These are the assets of the Makay sector which the Chamaran Exodus will retain full sovereignty over.
1. All asteroid mining and space based assets.
2. The worlds of Caldera, Du'marra, Teldus and Godwin's hope henceworth referred to as the Newhome worlds.

These are the concessions willing to be made by the Chamaran Exodus to the Syndicalist Internationale.

1. Gradual withdrawal and phasing out of Chamaran, Janissary presence and Mental domination of humans on all worlds in the Makay sector not declared as sovereign Chamaran territory. These worlds are henceforth termed the concession worlds.

2. Permit the establishment of Syndicalist agencies and agents on the concession worlds.

3. Complete removal of non Janissary human presence on the worlds of Caldera, Teldus and Godwin's hope without further loss of life.

4. Complete cessation of the harvesting of human lives as foodstock.

5. Permit and protect the presence of a Syndicalist diplomatic representative to Chamaran kind.

[Raj Ahten]

Deep Space, Makay Sector.

The Melconian Diplomatic team was quite pleased with how things were going. They had already been invited to the Chamaran capital. The details on Chamaran biology were useful, but they still hadn't given any cultural information though. The Chamaran's looked a lot like humans, which was somewhat suspicious. Their obvious psychic talents certainly set them apart though. Ultimately looks were immaterial anyway. The Chamarans had also given the location of a world which showed some good faith.

Drak N'Drak made the final call: they would go to the Chamaran's planet for further negotiations.

The team drafted the following message:

"We look forward very much to talking with your leader. We hope it will be the beginning of a long friendship between our peoples. Our ships are ready to leave on your command."

The Melconian ships also sent a heavily encrypted message back to fleet HQ. It detailed what had happened in the contact so far and had all the information on the Chamaran's N'Drak's ships had collected. If the Chamarans were up to no good, the fleet would at least know what happened.


The Capital

On New Melcon and across the Empire preparations continued for an offensive against the human powers. The militarists were confident that they would at long last get the war they wanted. The only problem was deciding what to target. Data was less than ideal on many human powers. The two Revenge Class ships were now being sent to investigate the close by human domains of the Saux Blackton and the so called Den of the Great Cubs, but their strategic survey would not be completed for some time.

Drak N'Drak's news of positive contact with the Chamaran's caused a great stir. The Militarists found themselves outflanked by the pragmatists and the clergy who wanted to see what happened with the Chamarans before launching any offensives. Many militarists were also willing to wait, as they needed more time to get their targeting information together. Certainly many of them thought the Melconian Empire didn't need any help from others to win, however.

[Darkevilme]

First contact with the Melconians
Deep space

Virrl smiles as she gets back from communicating with her superiors about the new aliens and sends a signal to the Melconian vessels Along with a composed first contact cultural datapacket they had just received from central command. The matriarchy, the clan structure and their history with its tales of the Magellanic war, the Null that devoured Magellan and the long long voyage through the dark to the Milky way Galaxy.

“You may fall into formation for the trip to Newhome, human raiders may still be present in our space. Our vessels have been given permission to return to dock for repairs and can provide escort.”

The stealth ships form an expansive triangle around the two Melconian destroyers and powering up their drives again to make the FTL jump towards Newhome, AKA Godwin's hope, with the Melconians in tow.

[Thirdfain]

-::RECEIVING::-
Server Report:
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Webmaster:
<<The following is illegal in the following polities (LIST FOLLOWS). Please respect information security laws and distribution standards. Consolidated Communications does not take responsibility for legal penalties imposed. >>

The Worker's Voice
Ambient Audio File Follows

Victory!
Negotiations at Teldus save billions
Syndicalist forces secure independence for Makayan Periphery

After a mere week of fighting, forces of the Internationale brought the Cannibal leadership to the negotiation table. A multi-national coalition of Syndicalist forces engaged cannibal forces in space and on the ground, despite being heavily outnumbered. The tragic defeat of Internationale forces at Teldus did not dissuade them from their task, and filled with the righteous purpose of the working class, freedom-loving forces went on to convince the cannibal leadership, at the point of the bayonet, that further oppression of humans was impossible. Once again, it has been proven that no tyrant can remain paramount when the fists of the workers are raised in anger! Yesterday, representatives from Makay, Nordkaldia, Caliphon, and Esperance signed the Treaty of Teldus with Chamaran (as the cannibals style themselves) leaders.

"The Chamaran people have already been brutally chastised for their horrific treatment of humans- our forces have seen to that. The time for the virtue of zeal is past; now is the time for the virtue of brotherhood," said Foreman Anmriv from the Committee for External Policies. "It is our firm belief that there must e a transnational union for ALL peoples, for ALL species. Genocide of the Chamarans, regardless of their crimes, is out of the question. I call upon the unions everywhere to join the Council in helping to provide for the Makayan people in this time of reconstruction."

The Treaty of Teldus establishes protection for the humans in Makay, ending barbaric practices such as cannibalism and the usage of moral weapons to control the populace. Self-rule has been established for the entire Makayan Periphery; leaving a reservation for the Chamarans.

Once again, the transnational union of all workers has shown that through force and negotiation, a better life is possible for all.

Free elections in the Makayan Republic are scheduled for late next month.

-::FURTHER ARTICLES FOLLOW. DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE?::-

[Raj Ahten]

With the Chamaran Fleet in Makay Sector.

The Spirit of the Forest and Forest of the Dead were now traveling along with the Chamaran force. It appeared that the Chamaran's had good hyperdrive technology; the Melconian ships were not outpacing them.

It looked like an alliance might very well be possible. Many questions still needed to be answered. The Melconians knew almost nothing about the Chamaran's true capabilities and methods. The diplomatic mission had a few members with Psychic skills but it was unlikely they would be useful here. Most Melconian Psykers could only get vague feeling of the future or about others. With drug therapy and AI support, their abilities could be boosted enough to help in a battle or interrogation. The Chamarans were meanwhile moving their ships around with such energy, which indicated a much higher level of knowledge of such things.

Now though most of the concerns about possible treachery were abating. The force N'Drak's ships had run into could have easily ambushed the Melconians.

Elsewhere
The Revenge and Justice were now nearing the end of their mission to gather information on the two tiny interstellar players of the Saux Blackton and Den of the Great Cubs. The stealth ships had been mostly staying far out in systems gathering com traffic and other information, occasionally releasing stealthed spy drones to keep a long term eye on things. So far they hadn't been detected and the information that had been gathered would be highly valuable if it came to a fight between the Melconian Star Empire and these human powers. Soon the two ships would quietly leave the area and update the high command with the latest intel.

[Darkevilme]

Newhome/Godwin's Hope
Makay sector

The Melconian delegation and Chamaran stealth squadron drop into realspace. To the sight of first battlefleet clustering over the planet, a couple of cruisers resting in the lattice of orbiting drydocks but the rest of the fleet is on station. The melconian's escort of frigates slowly splits with a last message of Farewell as they head for the free docks for repairs.

"Farewell Melconians, it was nice meeting you. I hope I get to do so again someday."

A single dominion class splits from the squadron to go out to meet the Melconian destroyers, the menacing and graceful shape of the battleship gliding over on telekinetic force. Soon enough a channel is opened

"Welcome to Newhome Melconians, Shipmistress Virrl has already informed us of your coming. I am Battlemistress Melusine of first fleet. If you would wish to send your diplomatic team aboard my vessel we can commence negotiations. I'm sure that with time an arrangement can be reached to attain the longterm goals of both species."

Melusine settles on the Dais, at the very least the destruction these ones can inflict on the humans might move us closer to slaying the beast of the Imperial legacy.

[Raj Ahten]

Newhome/Godwin's Hope
Makay Sector

It appeared that the Chamaran's wished to conduct negotiations over the comms rather than in person. The negotiations began in earnest. The Melconian delegation sent over some proposals and tried to figure out exactly what the Chamarans were looking for out of an alliance.

The Melconian Empire wanted mutual support in case of attack to be the cornerstone of any alliance. When engaging in offensive actions, the Melconian diplomats proposed aid to the other nation would be determined on a case by case basis. All of this would require a lot of trust and sharing of information and military attaches.

While negotiations were underway, the diplomats received a surprising invitation from the Emperor himself. He was inviting the leader of the Chamarans to come to New Melcon for a talk and to sign any treaty that was worked out. They passed the invitation on to the Chamarans.

[Darkevilme]

Newhome/Godwin's hope
Makay

“The queen travelling to Melcon, and if she dies Tia ends up in charge...Wonderful.” Melusine muses quietly in her private room off the bridge, mulling over the proposals so far and reflecting on how much damage Tia would cause in charge of the Exodus.
“Still would show we'd trust them.”

The chamaran viewpoint seems simple enough as negotiations progress. The Chamarans are ultimately working to ensure nothing more than their longterm survival which requires both defence at home and a more xeno friendly human race most likely to be realized via force of arms. The mutual defence pact is quickly agreed to though the Chamarans have reservations about sending anything more than a single battlefleet and thereby leaving their own territories with drastically weakened defences, the negotiations for the establishment of military laisons take up much more time. The Chamarans believe that anything much more than a military alliance can wait until after Humanity has been brought to heel. Though oddly the reservations and information withholding seems to change midway through the negotiations coinciding with the acceptance of their emperor's invitation by the Queen of the Exodus. The establishment of a laison to each of the chamaran battlefleets and their opposite Melconian counterparts agreed to along with details on overral Chamaran fleet strength being revealed. The Chamarans agreeing to keep the Melconian's aware of their ships movements and missions in the spirit of cooperation.

[Raj Ahten]

Newhome/Godwin's Hope
Makay

The Chamaran's were being very open about their armed forces now. The janissaries stirred some debate among the Melconians, but ultimately humans didn't have full souls so using them in such a way was not considered a big problem, even if many found such widespread use of mind control disturbing. Others meanwhile were very interested in such ideas. Pretty much everyone in the Navy was impressed by the sheer power of the largest Chamaran ship designs. Likewise there was widespread interest in beam cannon technology.

As a defense pact was now worked out, with signing being a mere formality, the Melconians gave the Chamarans a run down of their fleet and its basic capabilities along with some defense plans for the commanders to work on. Only highly sensitive details such as the specifications on the Ancestors Wrath missile system were left out of the report.

A tentative schedule for the Queen’s visit was also sent, which included a grand fleet review, a formal reception at the palace and a meeting with the executive council.

[Darkevilme]

Newhome/Godwin's hope
Makay

The schedule takes some time to be fine tuned in minor ways before being sent back while informing the Melconian's that the queen is most enthusiastic about this trip. The light of the Chamaran people of course requiring an escorted Chamaran battleship for her trip to Melconian space.

The Chamarans see little reason to with hold the mind control technology plans as the felines themselves are pretty much immune to the human specialized system and would if requested agree to send a detachment of specialist Philosophers and the schematics for the array with the Queen's delegation. The Technology behind beamcannons however hits the snag that all the later incarnations of the technology as it matured are, like many things the Chamarans make, reliant on the felines psionic nature. In this case the fields used to manipulate and focus the beam are entirely psionic in origin and therefore off axis shooting and tip fire beamcannons are impossible without a cadre of highly trained Chamaran weapon operators.

[Crossroads Inc.]

Kushawni Province

It has been almost a Month now since the monument shift in the lives of Province humans and cyberhumans across Kushawni. Crime had dropped off to almost nothing as a euphoric state of new purpose and industry had gripped the Kushawni. From the MegaCities of Bentus, to the smaller colony worlds and systems.

The Ground work for the CityMinds assertion of will upon the populace had been years in the making, at the time of the battle of Makay, almost 90% of transhumans over the age of 18 had some form of cyberimplant in thier bran that allowed easy acess. In the month since his great assertion, much was standardized and normalized.

Yet, despite what at first seemed like a form of enslavement, the people found themselves 'free' as never before. The worst traits of humanity were slowly purged, leaving a people that would never need fear distruction by thier own hand. They felt reborn, the world was new to them. The price for this new world however had been high. In the ferocious battle that had begun thier new revolution, they had lost much

Almost a third of the Armada, much of it older National gaurd ships had been lost. But with loss came new hope, the new line of Imperial ships were finally coming out of production.