STGOD 4 Game Thread

[frigidmagi]

To: United Protecterates
From: The Union

The President of the Union requests a meeting between himself with a senior government official (preferably the Lord-Protector) of the United Protecterates. It involves a race we recently encountered in the trailing arm.

From: Lord Protector Sir Joshua Mattews
To: The Union

I would be delighted to meet with your president, do you have a time and place?

[frigidmagi]

Speaker:

"The embassy is very much to my liking, it is almost exactly how I would have wished it, in fact. And do not worry about the chair, I can see the use of it, even if it is somewhat unnerving. So, what have you brought me here to discuss?".

"I am sorry if the chair unnerves you. My specis and most other specis in know space function better if placed on equal footing with other speakers, it was my intent to place us on equal footing for this. But on to the subject at hand. I plan to introduce you to other ambassadors located here shortly, say the end of the week if convient for you? There is also a more serious issue. I must ask after the humans under your rule. It seems from the information we exchanged that they are treated... poorly. While I understand that your internal workings should be your and only your business alone. There are governments in known space that will not react well to humans in such a postion. Your government may wish to bring about some limited change or state it intent to in the future." The Lord Protector leaned back in his chair for a moment. This was going to be a tough one, but he had to clean this up before some of the more idealistic powers found out and raised a stink. Damnit, now was not the time for infighting amoung the alliance or known space at large.

[frigidmagi]

"I never thought I see this. But I agree with the Hajr in this. Also I dislike the idea of sending a fleet beyond easy reinforcement range. I must ask, if the Machine was so capable of destorying us all, why didn't it do so? Why has this programer chosen to speak to us? The United Protectrates will send probes to the systems in question and will aide any of the powers here that comes under machine assualt. But I like to point out what happened to the last power that threw the greater part of it's military into a offensive operation without looking to it's defense."

[InnocentBystander]

"I never thought I see this. But I agree with the Hajr in this. Also I dislike the idea of sending a fleet beyond easy reinforcement range. I must ask, if the Machine was so capable of destorying us all, why didn't it do so?

"Perhaps" replied the rear admiral, "they already have ships enroute. It is likely, though, that we may have years before they return, or they may simply be amassing fleets at the edge of known space, waiting until their numbers swell and they can obliterate us. The machine fleet was able to traverse the terran sphere virtually unnoticed and even got as far as the edge of sol before they were detected. Perhaps we should begin to build a network of early warning probes to place about the "edge" of known space. Enough so that we could detect a whole fleet, but not a single, or small group of ships. They could be left in discrete locations, and the next machine fleet to enter the region would be picked up withot their knowledge. Our fleets might fair better against them if we could engage them on our terms, not in lower orbit of a homeworld."

[Thirdfain]

Resurrection City
Ezekiel
Covenant of God Disputed Region

25 minutes.

It had seemed like hours- days, even, since the Protectorate had made it's ultimatum.

Soldiers, the finest trained Mujahdin, armed with modern weapons and linked by a second-rate but serviceable Chinese-designed command net, hunkered down in their prepared positions. Heavy anti-air missiles, in their 10-meter one shot tubes, were secreted across the city. Their active sensors off, the missiles would be almost impossible to detect in the warren of steel and concrete that was Resurrection City's slums. ECM and jamming stations were also secreted throughout the city, designed to flummox the first waves of enemy transports. Some were even shielded, those placed in the residential districts.

Anti-air guns, mostly jeep mounted but some in the form of shoulder-fired missiles, awaited enemy VTOL gunships or light dropships. With their modern equipment, prepared positions, and significant numbers, the Mujahdeen would make initial landings very expensive- it was commonly accepted that even a modern force would take 60-75% casualties in the initial wave of dropships. Planetary assaults were bloody actions for those who wished to take the planet's populace and industry in any condition resembling intact.

Outside the city, the bulk of the Mujahdeen spread out into the countryside, moving not in massed groups but in company strength. Some larger formations sat outside the city, under cover, hoping that not alll of their positions would be detected.

The armored vehicles remaind in the city- they would be easy to detect when on the move outside of the inhabited portions, and with enemy orbital superiority, massed armor formations were suicide. Light and medium tanks and IFVs of Minmatar manufacture, they were to be used as a fast-reaction force within the broad boulevardes of the city's Temple district.

The poorly organized masses the Psychopomp's clerics had risen were neither subservient to the organized will of the Hajr's agents, nor were they well armed. Most of the Covenant soldiers who were joining the newly formed Army of God chose to side with the Mujahdeen. Those who joined the Psychopomp's ranks found themselves disgusted with his poorly organized rabble- but numbers were a quiality all their own, and the invaders would find a surly, unruly, and well-armed city waiting for them if they accomplished the inital take-over. Teams of muhjadeen and Hajr agents had infiltrated the masses, and would do their best to make bombings and terrorism an everyday part of the lives of any successful invaders.

Ezekiel stood ready for the onslaught.

(ooc Yah, I'm getting a bit impatient )

[Straha]

To: The United Protectorates
Subj: Ezekial

Why don't you let us take control over Ezekial as we have over the other two Covenant planets? We would handle the situation there, and ensure that this never troubles you again.

[Stormbringer]

[Far Point Conference]

"I would like to point out something, and I dare say most of us have missed it up until now. Those of us were around might remember the attack on the New Roman planet of Imperator, which was destroyed by parties unknown nearly 106 years ago. It tends to be over shadowed by the violence of the later Floater Wars but it has all the hallmarks of Machine involvement. What happened was a single overwhelming strike of such magnitude and ferocity that the Roman defenses were totally overwhelmed and the world obliterated. In fact that damage was so great that no reliable recordings of the attackers survived. Surely this is indeed the MO of the machines. I

It certainly argues that this menance is something that needs to be dealt with immediately and will simply not go away. If they have attacked before, and it seems likely, then they might attack again. Do we really dare do nothing? Should we really wait in the vain hope of nice neat intel memos and safe, easy battles? Or should we do something now?"

[speaker-to-trolls]

Speaker:

"The embassy is very much to my liking, it is almost exactly how I would have wished it, in fact. And do not worry about the chair, I can see the use of it, even if it is somewhat unnerving. So, what have you brought me here to discuss?".

"I am sorry if the chair unnerves you. My specis and most other specis in know space function better if placed on equal footing with other speakers, it was my intent to place us on equal footing for this. But on to the subject at hand. I plan to introduce you to other ambassadors located here shortly, say the end of the week if convient for you? There is also a more serious issue. I must ask after the humans under your rule. It seems from the information we exchanged that they are treated... poorly. While I understand that your internal workings should be your and only your business alone. There are governments in known space that will not react well to humans in such a postion. Your government may wish to bring about some limited change or state it intent to in the future." The Lord Protector leaned back in his chair for a moment. This was going to be a tough one, but he had to clean this up before some of the more idealistic powers found out and raised a stink. Damnit, now was not the time for infighting amoung the alliance or known space at large.

"Well, that I was not expecting. What you must understand, Lord Protector, is that humans have been in this position for over a century in our nation, the government will be reluctant to change that". He sighed, a strangely human gesture coming from that seemingly perpetually smiling alien face "Many citizens still fear them, I'm afraid. Physical strength means little in this day and age, but instincts can still sometimes get the better of the mind. Still, I am sure we would respond similarly were we to find a nation that treated Jekin as second class citizens, and I am not denying that they are treated as such, but it is nessecary, you see, for the mental welfare of the majority, among other things. But maybe it will now be nessecary to change that". His nostrils flared, showing that he was deep in thought, if he had been human he would have frowned.

[Thirdfain]

New Beijing
People's Interplanetary Repulic of China
Asgard Occupied

Kyne su Elysium whistled to himself as he strode through the recently-conquered city, smiling cheerfully. The Basque Industrial Conglomorate's wholly owned subsidiary, Aberdeen Industries, had arranged for his presence here. He was well trained, and the portfolio by his side was all he would need to accomplish the business that agents such as himself were so experienced at.

New Beijing was, of course, in turmoil following the Asgard occupation. Kyne would take advantage of the situation. the group of men he was about to meet were VERY interested in the Asgard Empire, and Kyne would soon be helping them to ensure that the Hajr's enemies were stymied at every step.

He was lead into a basement in a large warehouse, presumably a Communist structure in the days before the invasion. The men he met with were probably intelligence types- no foolish rebellious Chinese they!

"Gentlemen." He said, opening his portfolio. "I think you'll find the shipments more than to your liking. We can discuss precise locations later, but I've found some ways to ensure that your equipment will arrive. Twenty units, and the personelle to use them. It will probably take even those with your expertise weeks to begin implementing them, but I assure you- they will work. You will even be able to replicate your own- assuming you fulfill your part of the bargain."

The men nodded. With the region as chaotic as it was, this was going to be easy.

[Alyrium Denryle]

"You miss the point. Suppose you are wrong, suppose they are that numerous, suppose they can crush us to a pulp, after listening to your advice and not deploying the fleets. Can you rectify that mistake? Now suppose you are right, and we deploy the fleets and we nothing. Can you redeploy the fleets or pull them back to fight less important threats? Yes, unless you feel that a threat that has leveled planets and killed billions is not a threat?"

That is just the problem, you are operating on a supposition. If they are large enough to obliterate us as you seem to think, they either would have already done so, or would be able to do so no matter what we do. If they have the resources your 'intelligence' thinks, then they could steamroll us in a protracted war no matter how much raiding we do.

The essential problem is that we are talking about trapsing across the entire galaxy in search of these machines. To get to the delta quadrant it will take decades, to return will take longer. And that is if we take a straight shot. there can b e no redeployment. If we want to search with ships, then we would literally be committing a massive portion of our fleet permentantly, beyond the lifespan of the crew.

It will take decades to get the very lon range scouts out to the fartherst reaches of the galaxy. Therefore, it would probably take decades for the machines to get here, unless they are faster than us by an order of magnitude, something they have not demonstrated.

We are on the edge of known space(when we showed up, we extended known space a bit) deploying ships on the edge of known space in order to respond quickly to finds in our region will not be much of a problem.

[admiral_danielsben]

To: United Protecterates
From: The Union

The President of the Union requests a meeting between himself with a senior government official (preferably the Lord-Protector) of the United Protecterates. It involves a race we recently encountered in the trailing arm.

From: Lord Protector Sir Joshua Mattews
To: The Union

I would be delighted to meet with your president, do you have a time and place?

From: The President of the Union
To: Lord Protector Sir Joshua Mattews

I suggest about 10 am, at the Union embassy for the United Protecterates. Do you have an alternate preferance?

[Alyrium Denryle]

It certainly argues that this menance is something that needs to be dealt with immediately and will simply not go away. If they have attacked before, and it seems likely, then they might attack again. Do we really dare do nothing? Should we really wait in the vain hope of nice neat intel memos and safe, easy battles? Or should we do something now?"

Looking through the files from the "Floater Wars" we found an interesting bit of information. During that war, an entire planet and its surrounding moons were attacked by a massive fleet, the planets surface was obliterated and the population totally destroyed. It was not the machines however. Your own nation did that, and it merely proves that a fleet of the time was capable of that level of destruction if given enough time and ships. A planetary bombardment is everyones MO and and having read through those files, a massive taskforce was formed to stop the New Roman's trade in sentient slaves. It would stand to reason that a planetary bombardment could have teken place, even if no clear recordings of the exact attackers survived.

[frigidmagi]

Speaker:

"Well, that I was not expecting. What you must understand, Lord Protector, is that humans have been in this position for over a century in our nation, the government will be reluctant to change that". He sighed, a strangely human gesture coming from that seemingly perpetually smiling alien face "Many citizens still fear them, I'm afraid. Physical strength means little in this day and age, but instincts can still sometimes get the better of the mind. Still, I am sure we would respond similarly were we to find a nation that treated Jekin as second class citizens, and I am not denying that they are treated as such, but it is nessecary, you see, for the mental welfare of the majority, among other things. But maybe it will now be nessecary to change that". His nostrils flared, showing that he was deep in thought, if he had been human he would have frowned.

"I understand and change is most hard. And I do not wish you to cause damage to yourselves, but something will have to be done to convince other powers to leave you be you understand. Perhaps a statement and a long term plan of gradually phasing your human citizens in? Nothing has to be done quicky as long has we can show your willing to act meaningfully. The United Protectrates would be willing to give you any aide you require in this. This is not something to taken lightly, but it might be needed to preserve your nation."

[frigidmagi]

Straha:

To: The United Protectorates
Subj: Ezekial

Why don't you let us take control over Ezekial as we have over the other two Covenant planets? We would handle the situation there, and ensure that this never troubles you again.

From:United Protectrates State Office
To: Monocora

As it would appear in the best interest of people of Ezekial the United Protectrates will hand over control of the planet to Monocora in hopes for a just ending to this.

[Rogue 9]

NRS Enterprise, former Arcane space

"Sir, new orders from Command. Our mission here is considered bust in light of the Arcane evacuation, and we have new orders. A Siliconoid base has been discovered at Gamma-3257. We are to jump there and establish space superiority until ground forces can be brought in to storm the planet."

"Set course. Those machines are going to pay for the Rape of Terra. Recover all fighters and jump as soon as possible. Signal the other fleets in the area, inform them of our intentions."

"Aye, Admiral."
___________________________________________________________________

The Nashtari fleet formed up and jumped to hyperspace as soon as the last of the fighters were taken in. They would spend eight days in transit.

NRS Enterprise, Fifth Main Battle Fleet, Gamma-3257

"Conn, Navigation. Emerging from hyperspace in fifteen seconds."

"Navigation, Conn, aye. All hands to battle stations, stand by shields and launch bays."

"Shields, aye."

"CAG, aye. Fighters staged, hangar doors prepped."

"Reversion in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, mark!"

The ships of Fifth Fleet dropped out of hyperspace in an inverted bowl formation, designed to envelope enemies in cruisers and destroyers. A bulge at the bottom of the "bowl" contained the carriers and missile cruisers, surrounded by escorts and paced further out by the fleet's three battleships. Fighters swarmed from the carrier bays, soon followed by strike fighters and bombers. The fleet formation advanced towards the Machine planet as globes of energy flared to life around the ships before fading to transparency.

"Conn, Sensors. Scans show three dreadnoughts under construction in orbital yards, and the large tower, just as reported. Data on defense strength is inconclusive at this time."

"Comms, Conn. Hail the Machine base."

"Aye, Admiral." The lieutenant manning the comms station flipped two switches and twisted the frequency knob to broadcast on all channels. "Channel open, sir."

"Siliconoid base, this is Admiral Fisher commanding the Fifth Fleet of the Republic of Nashtar. We are here concerning your recent attack on the planet Earth, to discover the reason behind it, and to ensure that no further assaults will be carried out. Stand down or we will respond with force. You have thirty seconds to comply." He waved his hand over his throat, and the comms officer cut the transmitters. "They won't do it, but Command wants a computer intact if possible. Signal the fleet, we move in thirty seconds. Fleet Encryption Protocol Theta on this and all fleet transmissions for the remainder of this engagement."

"Aye, sir."

NRS Warrior

The massive battleship trained railguns outward as torpedoes were rammed home into their tubes, their crews performing their tasks as efficiently and professionally as any in the fleet.

"All decks report cleared for action. Ship is cleared for action, Commodore," the XO reported.

"Very good. Wait for Admiral Fisher's signal to begin the maneuver."

"Aye, sir."

Commodore Kensington leaned forward in his command chair, fingers interlaced before him. "And so it begins..."

[Straha]

Ezekial Orbit

The lone shuttle craft puttered into the planet, and then called down a messgae to the warriors below.

"We wish to talk, where do you want to meet?"

[SirNitram]

The minefield the Asgards had cleared in their system loomed around the invading warships, active and waiting for a move that would activate their weaponry. The fleet of Destroyers formed up in defensive positions, as two of the Dreadnoughts vectored slowly free of the Ouster Wombs they been assembled in. It was clear which was the younger of the two vessels; it lacked some of it's weapons, and no shield glowed around it.

Dozens of railguns locked onto the invaders.

"Humanity's questions have been answered by the Master Programmer of the fallen tower. You are in violation of the Overseer's space. Power down your weaponry or face destruction of not only your fleet, but every homeworld you know."

[frigidmagi]

Admiral Tzu was known for many things, willingness to retreat was not one of them.

"You're giving the system to Monocora... Okay, who sleeping with who?" He demanded of Sir Reed.

"Admiral, this is sucking pit of resources for no gain, lets just leave and let them work it out among themselves."

"Damn it all... 3rd Fleet head out."

Thrid fleet left orbit and leapt into Hyperspace.

[Rogue 9]

The minefield the Asgards had cleared in their system loomed around the invading warships, active and waiting for a move that would activate their weaponry. The fleet of Destroyers formed up in defensive positions, as two of the Dreadnoughts vectored slowly free of the Ouster Wombs they been assembled in. It was clear which was the younger of the two vessels; it lacked some of it's weapons, and no shield glowed around it.

Dozens of railguns locked onto the invaders.

"Humanity's questions have been answered by the Master Programmer of the fallen tower. You are in violation of the Overseer's space. Power down your weaponry or face destruction of not only your fleet, but every homeworld you know."

"If we're to talk of violations of space, allow me to remind you that you violated Monacora's first. And I know of no fallen tower."
__________________________________________________________________________

Let's have force declarations before I decide my next move, shall we?

Fifth Fleet:
2 Venture class carriers
3 Claymore class battleships
6 Carnegie class cruisers
4 Merovingian class carriers
3 Warhammer class cruisers
16 Starlight class destroyers
20 Dawn Raider class frigates
16 Sun Striker class carriers
14 Nova class destroyers
10 Solar Flare class destroyers

[speaker-to-trolls]

Frigidmagi:

"I understand and change is most hard. And I do not wish you to cause damage to yourselves, but something will have to be done to convince other powers to leave you be you understand. Perhaps a statement and a long term plan of gradually phasing your human citizens in? Nothing has to be done quicky as long has we can show your willing to act meaningfully. The United Protectrates would be willing to give you any aide you require in this. This is not something to taken lightly, but it might be needed to preserve your nation."

"Yes. Yes, I see. This will require some time, and I must send back to Itsilaar for the governments stance. I can see what you mean by this, I can see that it may be nessecary, but I still have some difficulty invisioning it. Not to insult you, of course, you and the Montezumans are two completely seperate cases. They are still very primitive, though that may well be our fault, they have a savage culture, warrior society, that sort of thing, much as we try to make them more refined it still persists."
Kitsek was surprised to find he was not lieing, these humans genuinely were different from the auxiliaries, they were so much more... refined. They were taller, as well, he realised, probably someting to do with nutriton, or gravity. "So, moving on. Who are these other ambassadors representing?".

[Stormbringer]

New Beijing
People's Interplanetary Repulic
Asgard Occupied

Kyne su Elysium whistled to himself as he strode through the recently-conquered city, smiling cheerfully. The Basque Industrial Conglomorate's wholly owned subsidiary, Aberdeen Industries, had arranged for his presence here. He was well trained, and the portfolio by his side was all he would need to accomplish the business that agents such as himself were so experienced at.

New Beijing was, of course, in turmoil following the Asgard occupation. Kyne would take advantage of the situation. the group of men he was about to meet were VERY interested in the Asgard Empire, and Kyne would soon be helping them to ensure that the Hajr's enemies were stymied at every step.

He was lead into a basement in a large warehouse, presumably a Communist structure in the days before the invasion. The men he met with were probably intelligence types- no foolish rebellious Chinese they!

"Gentlemen." He said, opening his portfolio. "I think you'll find the shipments more than to your liking. We can discuss precise locations later, but I've found some ways to ensure that your equipment will arrive. Twenty units, and the personelle to use them. It will probably take even those with your expertise weeks to begin implementing them, but I assure you- they will work. You will even be able to replicate your own- assuming you fulfill your part of the bargain."

The men nodded. With the region as chaotic as it was, this was going to be easy.

"We'll keep our end. " one of the silent figures. He slipped the Ouster agent a simple holo-block.

* * *

The PIR National Police had grown accustomed to looking the other way. More than a bit of illegal trade had run through their space and they simply turned a blind eye. That had changed with the Asgard arrival and they didn't like it. Some resented the lost income others the fact that they just plain had to work.

The young officer now spying on the gathering didn't. He had been alert and watching, just like he had been ordered. In fact the stake out he had invested so much time in was actually bearing fruit. Given the exchange that was apparently going down it was time to call it in.

"All units, suspects we have several unknowns in the warehouse districts. I need all units back up."

The call went out over the radio and soon plenty of unmarked cars were converging on the neighborhood.

[frigidmagi]

Speaker:

Yes. Yes, I see. This will require some time, and I must send back to Itsilaar for the governments stance. I can see what you mean by this, I can see that it may be nessecary, but I still have some difficulty invisioning it. Not to insult you, of course, you and the Montezumans are two completely seperate cases. They are still very primitive, though that may well be our fault, they have a savage culture, warrior society, that sort of thing, much as we try to make them more refined it still persists."
Kitsek was surprised to find he was not lieing, these humans genuinely were different from the auxiliaries, they were so much more... refined. They were taller, as well, he realised, probably someting to do with nutriton, or gravity. "So, moving on. Who are these other ambassadors representing?".

"Quite understandable no one would expect overnight results. Has for the ambassadors, well there will the Republic and the K.S.E as well has the Altantians and the Drack Republic, which are both non human. As well has a ambassador from the Union and maybe the Shi and Asgard, which is one of the bigger and older human states. Quite impressive for a first meeting. I hope to arrange meeting with some of the other states like Ravenlock soon as well."

[Stormbringer]

Looking through the files from the "Floater Wars" we found an interesting bit of information. During that war, an entire planet and its surrounding moons were attacked by a massive fleet, the planets surface was obliterated and the population totally destroyed. It was not the machines however. Your own nation did that, and it merely proves that a fleet of the time was capable of that level of destruction if given enough time and ships. A planetary bombardment is everyones MO and and having read through those files, a massive taskforce was formed to stop the New Roman's trade in sentient slaves. It would stand to reason that a planetary bombardment could have teken place, even if no clear recordings of the exact attackers survived.

"It seems your grasp of history is as poor as ever." The Admiral barely concealed a sneer, "Spring time for Hitler" indeed. "Operation Bright Star, the liberation of the Roman slaves, took place nearly half a year before the totaly destruction of Imperator. Considering that Bright Star lasted for a matter of hours only and involved no planetary bombardment you're records are obviously deficient."

"As for the desctruction of Durandalia, we never did make a secret of that. Nor any of the other such attacks that followed. However you will note that those attacks don't even begin to compare to the attack on Imperator. Had we been able to do that, rest assured known space would be very different. No, Imperator was destroyed and by a force that was able to consume them far more swiftly than we could have. Rest assuared, he we been able to, the culprits would not have been unknown. As it is, we never got more than some lunatic stories out of the Fenari and Conglomo Corp. I dare say that whoever did it, is still out there. And we know the Machines are both capable and willing to do just that."

[SirNitram]

The minefield the Asgards had cleared in their system loomed around the invading warships, active and waiting for a move that would activate their weaponry. The fleet of Destroyers formed up in defensive positions, as two of the Dreadnoughts vectored slowly free of the Ouster Wombs they been assembled in. It was clear which was the younger of the two vessels; it lacked some of it's weapons, and no shield glowed around it.

Dozens of railguns locked onto the invaders.

"Humanity's questions have been answered by the Master Programmer of the fallen tower. You are in violation of the Overseer's space. Power down your weaponry or face destruction of not only your fleet, but every homeworld you know."

"If we're to talk of violations of space, allow me to remind you that you violated Monacora's first. And I know of no fallen tower."

"A legitimate military move, required to preserve the Overseer. If you are here for battle, you will find the reprecussions most.. Unpleasant."

__________________________________________________________________________

Let's have force declarations before I decide my next move, shall we?

Fifth Fleet:
2 Venture class carriers
3 Claymore class battleships
6 Carnegie class cruisers
4 Merovingian class carriers
3 Warhammer class cruisers
16 Starlight class destroyers
20 Dawn Raider class frigates
16 Sun Striker class carriers
14 Nova class destroyers
10 Solar Flare class destroyers

2 Operational Dreadnoughts(One without shielding or fusion cannons)
1 Battleship.
3 Battlecruisers.
2 Heavy Cruisers.
25 Destroyers.
1 Space Elevator.

[Beowulf]

Asgard Space:

"Sir, we're picking up a decidedly odd signal. It appears to be a transmission utilizing one of the OU's old military codes. We're having trouble locating the source, but it's definently in system."