The Beginning of the End (original)
Posted: 2006-11-13 10:44pm
This is something out of my little pet universe, this describes what's going on when the invaders have lost a major strategic battle over Earth, and are now suddenly on the defense after enjoying twenty years of dominion in space.
To clarify, this isn't close to done yet but it's a start, hence the title.
***
“This is unfair, Fiawe. Arlani has done nothing wrong, and you’re sending him back to Veranae anyway?”
“The public will want blood after this. Someone has to be cut or the war’s support is going to slip even further.”
“Then why Arlani? You’re the one who let them accrue an arsenal on Luna while you went on fool’s errands chasing the blockade runners all over the Inner System.”
“Why not Arlani? He refused to obey a direct order, and was unable to capture Pluto. Pluto’s been hanging on by the skin of its teeth for over a decade now, there’s no reason he shouldn’t have been able to seize it. He knows as well as anyone that we needed a foothold here.”
“A foothold? You cut the allotment to the base on Europa and you’re going to complain that Arlani lost a foothold?”
“That allotment remained in Europa, I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Yes, you squandered all of those resources building your miserable toys. Where is it now? Ah, yes-“
“You’re out of line, Admiral. You will not speak to the Lord Commander of the Fleet like that,” Fiawe snarled as he rose from his sitting position, eyes darkening ominously. When this war began, Admiral Actinv would have submitted immediately to the black stare, but nearly twenty years of constant warfare had weakened the Lord Commander and bolstered Actinv’s frustration with his leader.
“Yes, sir,” Actinv bit back angrily, gesturing at the Lord Commander with a tendril, “History will remember that you destroyed this campaign, I don’t need to remind you further of that.”
Fiawe stared, thunderstruck, as Actinv spun about and stormed onto to bridge unreprimanded. As the Lord Commander stared after him, another Veraner strolled into his quarters.
“What news?” Fiawe asked, his rage subsiding into a cold dread. This particular soldier was his personal courier relating to the disaster over Europa.
“Admiral Weaven reports that they’ve detected charged particles near Athena. It’s much too strong to be anything else.”
“What vector?”
“Almost a straight line to Veranae.” Fiawe seemed to deflate.
“This is the end, then. Thank you, Courier.” As the soldier left the room, Fiawe turned to his message system. A number of people were concerned about the loss over Earth, and what affect it would have on the war effort. But they had no idea that the end of the war had already happened, and six months time would bring that fact into clear view.
The Absolution was on the move.
To clarify, this isn't close to done yet but it's a start, hence the title.
***
“This is unfair, Fiawe. Arlani has done nothing wrong, and you’re sending him back to Veranae anyway?”
“The public will want blood after this. Someone has to be cut or the war’s support is going to slip even further.”
“Then why Arlani? You’re the one who let them accrue an arsenal on Luna while you went on fool’s errands chasing the blockade runners all over the Inner System.”
“Why not Arlani? He refused to obey a direct order, and was unable to capture Pluto. Pluto’s been hanging on by the skin of its teeth for over a decade now, there’s no reason he shouldn’t have been able to seize it. He knows as well as anyone that we needed a foothold here.”
“A foothold? You cut the allotment to the base on Europa and you’re going to complain that Arlani lost a foothold?”
“That allotment remained in Europa, I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Yes, you squandered all of those resources building your miserable toys. Where is it now? Ah, yes-“
“You’re out of line, Admiral. You will not speak to the Lord Commander of the Fleet like that,” Fiawe snarled as he rose from his sitting position, eyes darkening ominously. When this war began, Admiral Actinv would have submitted immediately to the black stare, but nearly twenty years of constant warfare had weakened the Lord Commander and bolstered Actinv’s frustration with his leader.
“Yes, sir,” Actinv bit back angrily, gesturing at the Lord Commander with a tendril, “History will remember that you destroyed this campaign, I don’t need to remind you further of that.”
Fiawe stared, thunderstruck, as Actinv spun about and stormed onto to bridge unreprimanded. As the Lord Commander stared after him, another Veraner strolled into his quarters.
“What news?” Fiawe asked, his rage subsiding into a cold dread. This particular soldier was his personal courier relating to the disaster over Europa.
“Admiral Weaven reports that they’ve detected charged particles near Athena. It’s much too strong to be anything else.”
“What vector?”
“Almost a straight line to Veranae.” Fiawe seemed to deflate.
“This is the end, then. Thank you, Courier.” As the soldier left the room, Fiawe turned to his message system. A number of people were concerned about the loss over Earth, and what affect it would have on the war effort. But they had no idea that the end of the war had already happened, and six months time would bring that fact into clear view.
The Absolution was on the move.