STGOD 4 Game Thread

Murazor · Post by **Murazor** » 2004-09-08 05:10am

Deep Space.
White Sun Confederation territory.

The Sharing enabled trained Ethereals to communicate with their kin across the endless paths of space. The Masters had twisted their bodies and minds, but they had failed to break the will of the Ethereals and the powers that they gained as a result of the experimentation of which they had been unwilling test subjects turned out to be the undoing of the Masters.
The Sharing had allowed the Ethereals to coordinate their attacks against their enslavers that found themselves unable to disrupt in any fashion the mental communication among Ethereals in spite of their best efforts. The Ethereals had done later experimentation on their own that had allowed them to discover that a very strong and focused mentallic attack could isolate an individual from the collective or even completely sever the connection with the Sharing, with a high chance of damaging the attacked mind.
Although the Veithan telepaths that had so recently probed the Councilors and some of the higher ranking officers had touched the surface of the Sharing, they had kept their word and their scan had been limited to the minds of the individuals and they had searched only for those memories linked with the Hudson incident. Even if somehow they had discovered the weaknesses of the Sharing, they seemed to be among the more trustworthy humans that the Confederation had already met... at least for as long as it suited their interests. And the Council didn't believe that telling the Ousters about the vulnerability of the Sharing would suit in any conceivable way Veithan interests.
In conclusion, it had been decided to use the Sharing for coordination of White Sun forces in order to fool the Ousters for as long as possible. At least one MindWalker was now part of the crew of every White Sun warship and as the Constellation played a fundamental role in the plans of the Confederation it was completely natural to appoint as crewmembers several MindWalkers, all answering to an actual MindWarrior, Eretion, hero of the revolt against the Masters.
The message that he had just received was short and to the point and came from Verilon himself.
"Kincaid drive activity detected in several systems. Automated Ouster probe detected and destroyed while it scanned Home space. Enemy intelligence gathering will end soon and the High Command believes that their attack will happen shortly thereafter. In order to prevent Ouster discovery of your position, no additional evacuation convoys will be sent. Prepare for inmediate departure and start the travel to Haven Point. Those units not ready for departure within an standard day will be left behind and all information concerning Haven Point removed or destroyed. If the Ouster defeat us, you will ensure that our species don't disappear in the shadows of time and the new Confederation that will be born from you will destroy the Ouster vermin once and for all."
When the message ended, Eretion left his quarters and checked that his subordinates had been sent the same message. Minutes later, the five Ethereals were in the bridge of the unfinished cruiser, reporting the message from the Council. The captain of the cruiser, Orixel, an old Sixtra that was among the oldest officers in active duty in the fleet and with the biggest combat experience nodded after hearing the message.
"How many people has been evacuated?" asked Orixel to his first officer.
"Two billion four hundred sixty seven million, sir. Twenty four million Ethereals, two hundred and thirty nine million Grabians, five hundred and eighty three million Prextazsak and over one billion and six hundred million of our own."
"Has the evacuation of the Negative list been completed?"
"Almost completed, sir. All sensitive personnel is here, with the exception of the team currently helping the United Protectorates in the adaptation of our FTL torpedoes to their own technology."
"Are we awaiting any additional convoys?"
"No, sir. Those that were heading for this position will have been rerouted once Ouster activity and all future evacuation convoys will seek refuge in Veithan territory."
"Then open a channel with the commanders of the habitats. Tell them to get ready within an standard hour if they don't want to be left behind. Get ourselves ready to open a Portal at a moments notice, just in case those voidworms manage to track us. We don't have firepower to defend against anything bigger than a frigate and those orbitals are loaded with civilians."
"Aye, sir"
Fortunately, the space colonies didn't have serious problems and once the not so serious were solved, the Constellation employed all its energy in opening a Portal linking realspace with transpace. One by one, the Sixtra space colonies crossed the portal and disappeared. Finally, the Constellation crossed the portal, that closed behind the cruiser. The Constellation joined the orbitals in the other side and together, they started their travel. Their destination, Haven Point, an star system within an small pocket of stars in the middle of the void between the galactic arms, roughly four thousand light years away from the borders of Known Space.

Murazor · Post by **Murazor** » 2004-09-08 05:12am

Hall of the Council of Races.
Planet Home.
White Sun Confederation core territory.
-12 minutes after the destruction of the Ouster probe/5 hours before the attack against Talathrant

"As you already know, an Ouster probe has been destroyed in this very system minutes ago and other probes are being detected in most of our systems. The Ousters will be here soon. Very soon. Verolix and the Fleet Admirals have already put the fleet under Red Alert condition. A message has been sent to Orixel's expedition ordering them to leave within a day, but if the Captain lives to his reputation, he will start the journey sooner. Both things are good, but I suggest the inmediate activation of the Armaggedon protocols" said Verilon.
"Isn't it too soon? When they were written, it was agreed that they wouldn't be activated until the complete defeat of the fleet" asked Trek'rent'akar, one of the Prextazsak Councilors.
"The Ousters move too fast for that. We won't have time to activate then if the fleet is destroyed. It is now or never."
"I know, I know. It is only that..."
"We all know the ethical problems that the Armaggedon protocol mean for your species, but there is no easy solution against the great evil that are the Ousters."
Finally, the Prextazsak gave his consent and the Armaggedon protocols were activated. Millions of weapons (and units of ammo) were distributed among those able bodied civilians with the will to fight the evil voidworms that dared to attack the Confederation. Small antimatter warheads were placed in hidden spots at factories, research facilities and military installations and set for remote detonation. They would be destroyed only when the Ousters were about to take them, but that would ensure that the Hajr would gain nothing from the war. And, last but not least, the Caves were opened.
After their defeat at human hands a century ago, underground habitats had been built in the core worlds in order to protect their population from the human retaliation. They were like the underground cities built in Sixtrasis before its terraforming, but much deeper. Designed to survive anything but a full planetary bombardment or a direct strike with the more powerful weapons of the time. The shelters had been useful and had saved untold lives during the fifty years of regular human bombardment against Home, Prextazsa and Grabia. Now they would save them again. Caves had also been built in Talathrant, Bohica and Australis after their initial colonization, when the Confederation still feared Outside agression as a result of their attack on the Pervatia system. The Caves were large enough to house most of the population of their planets and food and air for billions of beings where stored there. When their gates were opened, multitudes of scared and enraged civilians started their descent with order, following the indications of the military. A cold fury had settled in the hearts of the population of the Confederation: those old enough remembered the human genocidal attacks and the young born during the last fifty years cried for the loss of the right that their ancestors had won for them with their blood, the right to walk without fear under the sky and see the stars.

admiral_danielsben · Post by **admiral_danielsben** » 2004-09-08 05:26am

"By a vote of 42-26, the Senate of the Union has declared that, if the Hajr do not withdraw from White Sun territory in 36 hours, a State of War shall be declared between the Hajr and the Union.

"We still ask that a peacable solution be found. However, our Alliance obligations require us to protect our allies."

Spyder · Post by **Spyder** » 2004-09-08 05:39am

Matar

"At this time the Minmatar do not possess sufficient intelligence to support the Hajr's war effort, however we do not possess sufficient intelligence to condemn it either. The loss of live will be regrettable but we cannot intervene at this time. We have no business with either the Hajr or White Sun. Any action we are in a position to consider could only result in an increased list of casualties. I know our position isn't ideal but given that we can't stop the Hajr the best we can hope for is the minimization of life lost needlessly."

Spyder · Post by **Spyder** » 2004-09-08 06:21am

Unity Station

Alex Dekhrynova addressed the delegates. "Fellow representatives, as tragic as this may be I'm sure that many of you have come to the realisation that the Hajr will be continuing with their attack despite many of your objections. We all knew this was going to happen, it has already fallen to inevitability. Trying to prevent the war at this stage will not yield any positive results for any of the people that will no doubt be caught in the ensuing crossfire. What I propose is that we focus our attention on ensuring that the loss of life is kept as minimal as possible. I propose that the Hajr and the allied forces consider a mutual code of conduct specifically stating that all combatants must focus on military targets and not deliberately target civilian population centres, and that transports be allowed to remove wounded and civilian personell from the theater without molestation by opposing forces. The Hajr may also wish to consider an agreement limiting the scope of the war so as to provide protection for some of the fledgeling civilian colonies and border worlds present within each nation."

Thirdfain · Post by **Thirdfain** » 2004-09-08 09:33am

Unity Station

"The Hajr has declared it's intentions. We will take one world from them of equal value to Hudson. We will destroy one station, of equal or greater worth than the Hudson Trade Fortress. We will slay six million of their people. An eye for an eye. We will destroy as much of their military infrastructure as is necessary to ensure the completion of our mission. At any time, the White Suns may cede one hundred thousand Krell credits per civilian they wish spared as wergild, and we will consider our blood-debt paid."

She then smiled.

"We will of course use every weapon in our arsenal to achieve these goals, but we will fight as we always have- against our enemy's armed personelle, not their innocent civilians. Of course, should their soldiers use civilians as cover, we will have no choice but to strike."

Straha · Post by **Straha** » 2004-09-08 10:24am

To: ALL NATIONS
From: Monacoran State Department
Subj: Hostilites

We are declaring Monacora neutral for the time being. However, if any United Protectorates Alliance ship crosses our collective border, or one of our protectorates borders, without express written, and oral consent we shall consider that a declaration of war.

Murazor · Post by **Murazor** » 2004-09-08 10:51am

Thirdfain wrote:“Sir, word from Fervestia. They picked up contacts on the edge of their early warning nets- Massed hyperspace disruption, it looks a lot like another Void Barb fleet, heading for the core systems. They were way out at the edge, this attack may be a feint.”

The commander made his species’ version of a smile.

“We’ll see about that. Alert all troops to stand ready. We’ll show these Void Barbarians how to fight.”

Inner Talathrant system.
White Sun Confederation territory.

Janus Tirelin, Minmatarian trader who operated in both sides of the law, dubbed the White Sun battle stations "Death Stars" when he first saw them. The Sixtra had liked the name and it had eventually became the official designation of the stations. Tirelin had been correct in several different ways, the first and more obvious being that the stations strikingly resembled the famous planet-destroying weapons from an ancient human filmation.

Of course, the battle stations didn't have the power needed to shatter a planet and they weren't hundreds of kilometers in diameter. However, while they were slightly over a kilometer in diameter, the main features of the original Death Star were there. An equatorial trench housing the hangars did cut in half the station and in the upper hemisphere a circular depression marked the location of its main weapon. Only close examination allowed to differentiate the planet destroyer from the protector of planets by its exterior appearance.

The second and not so obvious reason was that those stations had been the stars that had shined during the last moments of many pirates and mercenaries who had dared to test the strength of the White Sun. The Ousters were now making their try and the Sixtra crewing the station had the hope that the star would shine again very soon, over the dead corpses of the voidworms.

The cruiser swarms had launched FTL kincaid torpedoes against the closest battle station that had moved into a position over Talathrant's north pole in order to engage the Ouster forces coming from above the ecliptic. While it wasn’t the target it was in the way of the kinkaid missiles, that carried ECM warheads that would cause mayhem in the electronic systems of all the planet. However, the station used gravitic fields and one of the most useful features of that technology was its pernicious influence over the accuracy and efficience of FTL weaponry. Not all of the small kincaid drives were able to compensate the gravitic distortions and ten of the sixteen torpedoes dropped out of FTL far away from their target. That gave the station the oportunity to open fire with its point defense disruptors. Nine of those torpedoes were destroyed, their matter turned into harmless neutrinos, and the last one missed the station by kilometers and burned in the atmosphere of the planet below, while the six that had crossed the gravitic distortions reached their targets and launched their warheads. Large areas of the planet lost inmediately power and although the design safeties prevented explosions in the power plants, factories and civilian installations not hardened against electronic warfate suffered severe damage to their systems.

Fortunately, the fleet was already in the moving and when the cruiser swarms appeared in the edge of the screens, the White Sun cruisers focused their targeting systems on their Ouster counterparts. Each cruiser fired two hunter-killer torpedoes, just as the station fired its own. After leaving behind the gravitic fields of the cruisers, the torpedoes activated their warp drives and advanced at many hundred times the speed of light, heading for the four Ouster cruisers. Seconds later, both the cruisers and escort frigates on the fleet activated their own warp drives and plotted a course that would allow them to intercept the cruiser swarms.

The Ouster ships had been hit a split second before being able to engage their Kinkaid drives and they had been seriously damaged. The weak Ouster shields had been unable to stop all the energy and two of their cruisers had lost shielding and were damaged, with the others having their shields in very low energy levels. The first rule when fighting a confused enemy is to keep the initiative and not allow him to recover from the shock and the Sixtra had that rule written in their very souls. The ten cruisers opened fire, two or three at a time against every Ouster vessel, and the thirty five Grabia class frigates started to attack with devastating effects the twelve frigates of the cruiser swarms.

The crews of the ships honoured their reputation giving the best of themselves in spite of being woefully outnumbered. The gunners of the cruisers and frigates realized soon that their high energy lasers were only partially stopped by the White Sun gravitic fields and in the hulls of the Confederate warships appeared the scars left by the Ouster weaponry. However, the attack had been intended to be a hit and fade movement and the Ouster forces retreated as soon as they were able to do so, leaving behind the adrift wrecks of two of their cruisers and four of their raiding frigates. The White Sun Confederation had lost so far in the battle one of its escort frigates and suffered moderate damage in one of its cruisers.

At the same time, the other ships of the 5th fleet had maneuvered in a position that would allow them to engage the rest of the Ouster forces once they dropped from FTL. The mothership had left the battle area after launching its fighters and the torpedo frigates were following the course of the Ousters with a very nasty surprise in their main tubes for the voidworms: strategic torpedoes set for proximity detonation.

In the bridge of the second battle station, the officers were enjoying the last instants of peace before the storm and using them to check their systems and make an evaluation of the situation as they headed for a position from where they would be able to engage the Ousters.

"Intelligence provided by the United Protectorates suggests that these units belong to the 3rd Ouster War Cluster, Commander. There are many more Kincaid drives heading for our position. We can't be sure of the exact number of ships, but our preliminary evaluation suggests that we won't be able to stop more than half the War Cluster. This means that..."

"This means that we are in very deep shit if they have brought all the family with them. How long will the reinforcements need to arrive?"

"The core worlds won't be left undefended. Not with another Ouster fleet heading for them. Reinforcements from Fertiakas will need an hour to arrive here and what might come from Bohica will need no less than three hours. By then, all might be over."

Thirdfain · Post by **Thirdfain** » 2004-09-08 11:05am

Talathrant

The Hajr's fast attack swarms had fired from the very edge of their weapon's effectiveness for a reason- the attack was a probe, and they had never intended the ridiculously small missile barrage to do anything more than force enemy to show their capabilities. The Hajr's vessels were at the outside edge of the enemy's ability ot counterattack, and the enemy hunter-killers were largely spoofed. Still, the enemy firepower was prodigous- even at these ranges.

Explosions rippled around the Ouster strikegroups. Explosions rippled, and the shields of many of the Ouster vessels flared. In two cases, they cut through the defenses, damaging the Ouster vessels heavily. As the rest of the squadrons skipped off into Kincaid-drive, the two damaged cruisers listed. The shrapnel from three raiding frigates and one escort frigate hung in space, victims of hunter-killer missile hits.

The two damaged Strike Cruisers limped along, and then desintegrated under the fire of the fast-moving enemy reaction force- the Sixtra were fine fighters, and their light craft had an advantage over the damaged Ouster strike cruisers, which died before even having time to discharge their Wave Motion cannon. No casualties were inflicted on the White Suns vessels, though the rest of the two Hajr squadrons were only lightly wounded.

The rest of the 3rd War Cluster now knew what sort of defensive capabilities the world below had. The loss of two cruisers was a heavy price, but then, the Hajr had always suspected the White Suns would be dangerous opponents.

<< THIS SYSTEM HAS BEEN CLAIMED BY THE HAJR. BLOOD PRICE SHALL BE PAID. SURRENDER NOW, AND YOU WILL NOT BE HARMED. SUBMIT OR FACE RETRIBUTION.>>

The rest of the War Cluster continued it's advance. They would be outside of missile range of the planet in seconds.

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2004-09-08 11:13am

Chambers of Congress, Nashtar, Nashtar Star Cluster

"At 0500 hours local time this morning, vessels of the Hajr of the Diaspora attacked the Talathrant system in the White Sun Confederation, with the declared intent of slaughtering civilians to avenge an attack which the White Sun Confederation did not commit. Even if we were not bound by alliance, I would be before this august body now, saying mostly these same words." President Major took a deep breath before going on. "Both in light of the Hajr's attack against our ally and in recognition that such blood prices against innocents are barbaric and unacceptable, I ask that this body declare a state of war between the Diaspora of the White Floaters and the Republic of Nashtar until such time as they rescind their claim upon the White Sun Confederacy and withdraw their fleets." He stepped down, ceding the podium to the Speaker of the House.

"All in favor?"

A chorus of ayes flooded the chamber.

Murazor · Post by **Murazor** » 2004-09-08 11:29am

Thirdfain wrote: The rest of the 3rd War Cluster now knew what sort of defensive capabilities the world below had. The loss of two cruisers was a heavy price, but then, the Hajr had always suspected the White Suns would be dangerous opponents.

<< THIS SYSTEM HAS BEEN CLAIMED BY THE HAJR. BLOOD PRICE SHALL BE PAID. SURRENDER NOW, AND YOU WILL NOT BE HARMED. SUBMIT OR FACE RETRIBUTION.>>

The rest of the War Cluster continued it's advance. They would be outside of missile range of the planet in seconds.

<< YOUR CLAIMS ARE EMPTY AS THE BARE VOID THAT GAVE YOU BIRTH. TALATHRANT WILL NOT SURRENDER TO THE LIKES OF YOU. IF YOU WANT THIS PLANET, COME AND TAKE IT.>>

The cruisers returned to their position close to the bulk of the fleet in the brief moments before the arrival of a complete Ouster War Cluster and prepared for a much more protracted combat... One that would almost certainly end in total defeat.

Thirdfain · Post by **Thirdfain** » 2004-09-08 12:43pm

Talathrant

The Hajr had paid hard in blood for their information, but it had told Jerac what he needed to know- a missile duel would be excessively bloody if the Fleet attempted to engage both the enemy fleet and their defense stations. It would be necessary to commit as much damage as possible to the stationary defenses.

The presence of the Fleet Tender and her colliers gave the 3rd access to large magazines of missile reloads and specialist ammunition. Every vessel in the squadron had a handful of long-range bombardment torpedoes, and this would be the perfect opportunity to use them.

The weapons lept from their tubes- the full Cluster fired. Over a hundred of the devastating weapons rocketed towards Talathrant on kinetic plumes. They were weapons without guidance- the positions of their targets could be calculated. They split apart, dropping from Kincaid drive, and released their deadly payloads like stones from a ballista. Bundles of kinetic kill rods streaked towards a series of targets- the planet's orbital shipyards. They were inert projectiles, and would prove tough targets for enemy point defense.

(/ooc I didn't see any notices that the Talathrant shipyards had been removed, if they have been then I apologise, and the targets are the battlestations.)

Suspecting an enemy counter-attack, the handful of Hajr interdictors activated. There were only four of them, and the vessels were little more than converted freighter platforms, with only moderate shielding and poor point defense. Their fields would be unable to cover the whole fleet, so they activated, spreading "widenets" over the flanks and rear.

It was clear that unless challenged, the Hajr fleet would be able to use it's euperior missile throw weight to smash down the planet's immobile targets from outside the envelope in which ranged guided missiles were useful.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2004-09-08 12:44pm

Unity Station.

The Etern's ambassador was restless; this was shown by the fact he stood up, and leaned against his battle-axe... A weapon that was probably just for show. Hopefully. Anyway, the security guards had ranged weapons, it'd not be a problem.

"So." He spoke, his heavy accent tinging his words. "Vhen vill the Veithans be furnishing this council vith the evidence for their wild theories? I am as suspicious as the next man, but it seems.. voolish to say that a man seen at a crime must be ignored because he has a brother two systems over."

Jaded Masses · Post by **Jaded Masses** » 2004-09-08 01:29pm

The Psilon Emperor had spoken with his advisors, and had issued a decree. the Hajr war of aggression was unjust and the Imperium would fight for it's allies. A formal declaration of war was sent to the Hajr. At home, the assembled fleet left towards Hajr space, sealing the war declaration.

OOC:
13 BS & carriers
57 cruisers/escort carriers
155 destroyers
8 million troops w/support (in dedicated transports)
1000 long range interceptors
2000 big missiles on warp sleds
250 armored freighters (just cause I should show some logistics)

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2004-09-08 01:41pm

Unity Station

Having arrived previously, Duke Nethington reclined in a comfortable chair, and smiled.
"It seems that evidence, at this point, will be completely irrelevant. The shooting already started, and I doubt it will end soon enough. That the Hajr and White Suns are at war is bad enough. But that almost everyone else seems to be all too eager to get in the shooting as well is just hilarious. But then it is not our choice to make..."

Gladsheim Prime, Imperial Plaza

<<Well, Well, Well,>> the Empress mused as her mind scanned through the reports. <<The Veithans did what they could, given the time. But in the end, I doubt that this war would have been avoided even if they had absolute proof. This whole situation was hell-bent from the beginning.>>
<<Yes,>> Silas Orvold nodded. <<And no everyone and their mothers are scurrying to this little shoot-out, as well. And all that over dead people?>>
<<Hilarious, really, but still, they cling to their physical selves. Rather pathetic, but it seems to be their way. And if they're so bent on mutual destruction, who are we to stop them? I think it is best to lay back and enjoy the fireworks.>>

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2004-09-08 01:59pm

Dahak wrote:Unity Station

Having arrived previously, Duke Nethington reclined in a comfortable chair, and smiled.
"It seems that evidence, at this point, will be completely irrelevant. The shooting already started, and I doubt it will end soon enough. That the Hajr and White Suns are at war is bad enough. But that almost everyone else seems to be all too eager to get in the shooting as well is just hilarious. But then it is not our choice to make..."

"There is an old saying, I think, from Earth. The avalanche has started, it is too late for the pebbles to vote." The Etern diplomat shrugged slowly. "It matters little. If the Etern's obligations are called in, we will act. In the meantime, we will continue our own investigations, without telepaths who suggest wild conspiracies while admitting they cannot clear the accused."

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2004-09-08 02:08pm

NRS Enterprise, Pinnacle, Nashtar Star Cluster. Four days ago.

Admiral Fisher strode onto the bridge of the Enterprise from the officers' briefing room, the rest of the fleet command staff behind him. All the officers fanned out to their stations as the admiral took his command chair. "Comms, Conn. Order the fleet to form up. Recover all fighters. We're moving out."

"Aye, sir."

NRS Explorer, Orodan, Nashtar Star Cluster

Vice Admiral Granger looked up from his orders, displayed on the datapad in his hand. "Helm, set course for Pinnacle. Comms, get Second Battle Group organized. Fifth Fleet is moving out, and we're to cover Pinnacle until their return."

"Aye, sir," responded the helmsman, as the communications officer began relaying the orders.

Joyous Gard, Nashtar Republic

Second Battle Group, Sixth Fleet, the freighters they were escorting, and the escort destroyers emerged from hyperspace at Joyous Gard for replenishment before returning to their respective home ports. But Command had other ideas.

"Welcome back, Commodore. Bring in your command for replenishment and reassignment. You're going back out."

"Excuse me?"

"The Ousters have declared war on the White Sun Confederation and attacked. You are to come planetside to meet with Admiral Ossilege to receive orders."

"Understood." Drayson clenched his fists. He had a pretty good idea of what his command's assignment was likely to be.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2004-09-08 02:23pm

Rogue 9 wrote:NRS Explorer, Orodan, Nashtar Star Cluster

Vice Admiral Granger looked up from his orders, displayed on the datapad in his hand. "Helm, set course for Pinnacle. Comms, get Second Battle Group organized. Fifth Fleet is moving out, and we're to cover Pinnacle until their return."

"Aye, sir," responded the helmsman, as the communications officer began relaying the orders.

Pinnacle.

The two Etern spies were doing their best. The Nashtar's counterintelligence had already set up microphones, radio catchers, and scanners to watch their every move. Getting any useful data was a massive uphill climb, but they knew it would be; any Power in existance could locate them from orbit, thanks to the need for pocket antimatter power cells. Still, they were on to something tonight the old fashioned way.

The telescope was originally for the actually innocent purpose of some stargazing, but the Fifth Fleet taking on supplies and preparing to leave orbit was observable. The two spies spoke only in hand-signals, the only means they had left that wasn't immediately picked up on. They resolved to get the information to their leaders as fast as they could.

Thirdfain · Post by **Thirdfain** » 2004-09-08 02:34pm

Etern

Bondwoman Alexandra su Jahar, voice of the Hajr, sat in langour across from the Etern representative, a small, white-haired man with comically oversized robotic legs.

"You want neutrality, I see. You'd like to see this go by without your having to lift a finger. Distressing at the most, freind. Distressing at the most. Such cowardice would make you mad, and would you then not fall beneath the hand of the Four Faces you so profess to fear?"

The little man's ridiculous religion amused her to no end.

"I think not. We have the means to crush your society in a single moment. We still have it, you know- the Red Eye. The Gaze of Destruction. If you do not do as we say, you will find your little provincal world crumbling beneath your feet."

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2004-09-08 02:44pm

Thirdfain wrote:"I think not. We have the means to crush your society in a single moment. We still have it, you know- the Red Eye. The Gaze of Destruction. If you do not do as we say, you will find your little provincal world crumbling beneath your feet."

The little man's eyes bulged. "You wouldn't..." He said softly. "Not even you. Not even you could think you could command It! You'd unleash a plague on these people that would destroy them all! You can't be that insane!"

The little man saw, however, the answer in the Bondswoman's eyes. He shivered; knowing fear for the first time.

"...We will head to the worlds you identified. May the Four Faces gaze on our enemies in the coming storm."

Captain tycho · Post by **Captain tycho** » 2004-09-08 02:55pm

Manticore, Security Station 398.
The United Protectorate diplomat was kept waiting for hours, inside a small spartan room, before the door slid open. A pair of guards cradling pulsers stepped aside to let in an aging man, dressed in the regalery of the Royal Manticoran Navy. "Ah, Mr...?" He held out his hand.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2004-09-08 03:07pm

[Imperial Senate - Joint Session]

The decree passed with a crushing superiority. It was only the second time such power had been ceded to the Emperor. He had been formally granted emergency powers of Dictator, in the old Rome sense. His word would be law until such time as the crisis had passed.

Thirdfain · Post by **Thirdfain** » 2004-09-08 03:09pm

Talathrant

The two Strike Cruiser squadrons, shields damaged and numbers depleted, began looping around towards the assembled Cluster. They would be a few minutes, and would be arriving from both flanks.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2004-09-08 03:23pm

To: Minmatar
From: Asgard Imperial Palace
Re: Closing your space

We are wondering it might be possible to negotiate a deal by which you close your space to Alliance warships for the duration of hostilities?

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2004-09-08 03:23pm

To: UPA Powers

Unification Space is now closed to you. Your vessels will not be permitted to transit our space.