STGOD 2K5 Main Game

[Cabwi Desco]

Easterm Galactic Rim
Commodore Trevmin surveyed the scene, they had come to the place where the satilite was supposed to be, but there was nothing in sight. Could it have been totally destroyed? Impossible, there would have been debris, or at least partial radiation from its destruction.
"Sensors,"
"Yes Commodore?"
"Give me a full STL and FTL engine trail scan, leave out all allied and ANN vessels. If you find nothing restart the search with the ommited back in."
"Aye Sir."
The ANN force quickly made its scan of the area, nothing was coming up till they scanned the FTL range.
"It's pirates sir."
"Pirates? Impossible, this area of space is in an area of near zero pirate activity."
"Regardless of what the intelligence reports say, these FTL trails indicate pirates came into this sector, something happened with the satellite and then they jumped out. but there's something else here."
"what?"
"weapons fire."
"wait I thought that there were no signs of weapons fire."
"well, its not any weapons fire I've ever seen before, the energy readings are... passive."
"passive energy signatures on weapons? that is odd, I'll have to relay fleet command immediately."
"SIR!"
"what is it, whats going on?"
"I'm reading a FTL event off our port, its a Pirate group, I'm reading up to 40 ships, none in the capital ship range but I'm getting two in the Heavy Cruiser range, sir we're out numbered."
"Damnable hell spawn we've been had! Guns, get me a targeting solution on the lead heavy cruiser, I wan't a full torp launch ASAP. Navigation, coordinate the group to a spearhead formation, we're going to have to blast right though them if we're to jump out alive. Comm, give me the Togrovian and the Solemvium tell them to head up the maneuver with us. Get the corvettes to group up right behind and fire at will."
"Sir this isnt right."
"what isnt right lieutennant?"
"well sir theyre acting paniky like they weren't expecting us, theyre all breaking off to regroup."
"Sir, guns, we have a firing solution on the lead heavy cruiser."
"right, guns coordinate fire with the Togrovian and the Solemvium i want maximum effectiveness of the firing."
"Sir, guns are coordinated, all are coordinated, permission to fire?"
"Guns, Fire at will."
the three vessels heading up the spearhead formation fired off their ordinance at the lead enemy vessel and watched as their weapons fire streaked out at the vessel moving with deadly accuracy, and then they struck. First exploding against the shields of the large craft but they qickly overwhelmed the protective barrier. the tardy torpedoes then struck home against the enemies hull, smashing hull plates and causing secondary explosions further on in the hull. as more and more oxygen vented the enemy vessel started to list and instead cut off the rest of the enemy force from getting close to the ANN group. But the other pirate cruiser would not be deterred. rather than give up a kill, they merciliously (sp.) pummelled the other pirate cruiser with their guns causing it to break up large enough to allow the ship and some of its escorts through. But the ANN force was already well on its way to getting out of the system, but the pirates would have their blood. the slower corvettes at the back of the formation were caught in a wash of heavy weapons fire.
"Sir, we are clear of the enemy group. permission to jump?"
"You are go for jump, all ships go."
And the group jumped off into the darkness ahead of them.

[Cabwi Desco]

Somewhere on the eastern rim
"Damnit! helm, where the fuck are we?"
"Unknown sir, when we made that blind jump some of our systems were fried, including sensors and stellar cartography we also lost a few of the corvettes to core disruptions mid-jump."
"Hell, what else could go wrong."
"Sir,"
"Yes commander?"
"I'm getting master alarms on seventy-five percent of our systems, but I do have one piece of good news."
"And that is?"
"Sensors are back up."
"Commodore, sensors, I've got a FTL event coming up off our port. It's reading as the pirates who jumped on us back at the waypoint. I've got one Heavy cruiser, and 15 escort cruisers. theyre charging weapons."
"Guns, can you give me anything?"
"Negative sir, the weapon systems are shot, I can get shields and defense fields but thats it."
"Wing commander LeCroix."
"Yes, sir?"
"can you give me two battle ready squadrons?"
"I'll sure as hell try."
Twenty-four fighters shot from the bow hold of the Light Carrier, a number of others also came from the other vessels in the group. they formed a tight screen around the group fending off attack after attack.
"Sir, the engines aren't responding we can't maneuver we're dead in the water."
"Torpedoes INCOMING!"
Explosion after explosion rocked the smaller vessel smashing the shield down to 10%
"Communications, get me an all comm bands distress call, key this in, this is the ANS Thuringen we are under heavy pirate attack, our engines are dead and we're requesting assistance, any ships, please respond."
they didn't have long to wait before the possible became inevitable...

[Thirdfain]

SHIPLOG:: CNS Idefatigable: CVL-15203
IDENTNO:: 189,231
DATE:: 2/20/273AF

-:RECORDSTART:-

Jessica de Neuville, Sous-Admiral of ResRon Beta of the Provincal Fleet, was writing reports in her cramped ship-side office when her implant chimed insistently.

"Madame Sous-Admiral, we have a general distress call from an ANN vessel, the Thuringen. She's under attack by a large raider force."

de Neuville sighed, and put down her pen. "I'll be on the flag deck. Have the Captain order the Squadron to readiness, and prepare to jump to-target." She smiled slightly. "Let's waste some Pirates."

-:ENDRECORD:-

[Nephtys]

Along a Hyperlane in the Western End of the Galaxy...

Lieutenant Commander Cardova hated these patrols. He sat at his command station, skulking and mulling over what greivous offense he could have committed to have been effectively exhiled from home. It was certainly a slap in the face, a bright young officer's first command... on the ancient EFS Ardoni, a nearly eighty year old Prometheus-Class Frigate. A bitter irony such an obsolescent and undesirable ship was named after a term for great Lords. He shook his head at the thought.

'This can is fracking older than I am!' he muttered under his breath, waiting still for system's edge of an otherwise unremarkable star on the patrol route. The train of thought is broken by the sudden alarm klaxon sounding throughout the ship, a reverberating buzz burning through his hears. He heard the voice of the Chief of the Boat clearing his throat, then his crisp voice sounding. "All hands, prepare to disengage from Tachyon Transit in Thirty."

Morgan Cardova sat up straighter in his seat, keying in his own personal holo-display. Another simple patrol. Look for raiders, dust 'em, report anything important home. Yes. The ship shuddered as it's tachyon-bubble dissipated, returning it to her pre-transit velocity. Coasting insystem at .4 cee, his eyes widen. "Exec, what is that?" he asks... watching his displays light up. A planet was clearly in sensor range, with large numbers of sensor contacts... undoubtably ships. He closed his eyes. Well. This wasn't quite expected. "Key in a TachCom channel, Alpha Band for command. Send first contact message and sensor data..." he murmurs, watching a ship approach. He took an anxious breath. Most certainly an escort by the size... "Open a broad band hyperwave channel, Comms. Em... Good Morning." he says into his display as it shows the channel opening.

"This is Leftenant Commander Cardova, Elysian Deep Space Fleet. We wish to.. open peaceful relations. Please respond." he says, then sending a simple language signal with the message. Standing off with the Thirteen Republic corvette, he waits... continuously forwarding sensor readings home. A diplomatic envoy should arrive in a few days... In the meantime, nothing to do but wait.

A tense, armed wait.

[Cabwi Desco]

Somewhere on the Eastern Rim
It had been six hours since the Three Suns Provincial Fleet blasted out of ante-space right on top of them and saved their asses from a pirate assault. Currently most of the crew on the ANN vessels are on maintenance and repair duty, trying to fix what has been done here.

"sir we have enough engine power to go to Jumpspeed and head home, that three suns squadron was nice enough not only to save us but also reload our stellar cartography enough so that we can plot a direct course out of here and get pretty close to Thirteen Republics space, we should be back home in a matter of hours."
"Excellent, what were our total casualties?"
"twelve corvettes and escort cruisers, 1500 men dead, on other ships totalling 2600 wounded."
"how awful, this is horrible, we lost a good chunk of this expeditionary force. Will crews still be able to effect repairs mid-transit?"
"I think so sir, alright, the groups forming up."
"Good, the sooner we get out of here the better. Comms, get me an open channel to the Idefatigable, tell them thank you and that we extend the most sincere of gratitude for their timely appearance, Trevmin out."
"Aye sir. message sent, We're ready to jump."
"All ships jump on my command, 3...2...1... Jump."
And off they went, back home.

[Rogue 9]

Somewhere, floating between the stars

Galactic

"Sir, we finshed repairing all damage, and several ships we ordered from the Imperium are here after all ship-worthyness trials."

"Good, set them to the Array battlegroup and we shall be on our way, set course for the outer borders of the Republic of Nashtar"

An hour later

The Hub jumps out, leaving only garbage in its wake...

NRS Hlondath Raider, on patrol near Barrier

"Conn, Sensors. Unidentified hyperspace-bound contacts, bearing 247 mark 47, aspect change rapid on vertical but not horizontal. Coming straight at us and a little above. Sir, the returns are huge; there's at least one massive ship in there."

"Sensors, Conn, aye. Comms, report contacts to fleet command at Joyous Gard. Shields up, arm weapons. Helm, all ahead two thirds, come to bearing 247 mark 270, take us below their projected path," ordered Commander Greer to various stations in rapid succession.

"Sir, they're slowing, I think they're going to emerge."

"General quarters," ordered Greer. Sirens began to sound throughout the frigate as the massive Hub dropped into realspace.

[Nieztchean Uber-Amoeba]

Contact with Colony 7 has been lost, my lord.

Nua's eyes narrowed. An odd action which he appeared to have assimilated from the species which had recently been added to the Collective.

In a moment, all information flowed through him like a stream. Reports of strange noises, strange organic slime on equipment, and then, collective nodes failed simultaneously. It was possible that the personalities of those people working at the colony had been able to save themselves to the hardware before all nodes shut down, but most likely all had been erased.

Activate the Amerigo and an escort of 3 Harmonies to investigate. Send all comms directly to me, do not send them through regular channels.

Nua sighed. Not another one. He would not be able to keep this secret from the Solidarity for much longer.

[White Haven]

Deep Space

"Cease fire!"

The command snaps across the quiet bridge, the Purity's tactical officer slapping the abort key on her fire-control console. The battlecruiser's guns go silent immediately, barrels still trained on the fleeing...formerly-fleeing...pirate vessels. "Tactical, get a plot started on the unknowns. Maneuvering, bring us around, clear the broadside. Sensors, get me all you can on passives, but keep the deep actives under wraps, transfer to my system. Commander Eisen, I want to know who these people are, start digging the database crosslink with the take from SigInt. Communications...find me a comm type and frequency, and open a channel."

The bridge bustles with activity as various sections turn to unexpected work, results streaming in before long. The ship's banks of particle accelerators remain trained on the raiders; retargetting them would be too overt. The ship's computers are quickly updated with revised fire-plans as the bridge tactical officer reports, "Battlecruiser-grade contact designated Sierra-Five, destroyers are Sierra-Six and Sierra-Seven. Aaah...according to preliminary returns, the drives seem a good deal lower-power than our equivalent ships...but they don't use the same technology, so that's just tentative. Fire-plans updated." Shortly afterwards, the comm section reports that a channel has been established, and the bridge hushes.

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Senior Captain Brentworth, Sixth Cruiser Squadron. My thanks for the assist, but they were still well within our missile envelope. Still, I can't quibble at dead pirates. I don't show any record of your emissions in our files...which is strange for somewhere this deep in our patrol zone.

[Nephtys]

Deep Space, as if ther was any other kind of space...

"Computers have the signal from bearing four-six mark two two analyzed, ma'am. Translation coming through Five by Five." The Communication Officer's eyes gaze upwards as a holographic flat-panel projection appears, showing text of the communication. "They say.. they were after our same boys." the small woman replies. She gives a nod, moving her hand up and giving a gesture towards the Captain's seat. The screen seems to float across the bridge in a quick move, stopping in front of Irina Rhys and her station.

Unwavering blue eyes move left to right, reading the entire message before her shoulders and form relaxes. "Direct channel, Lascom." she orders. "They may not have hyperwave recievers... send out language data immediately, Exec." She turns her head and watches. "No problem. They were our irritants as well..." she replies. "Sorry, but well. They chose to attack us two TachTrans ago. Excuse me for a moment. I just need to handle one thing."

The Captain steps along down the side of her elevated station, moving to her Comms Officer. "Send a signal to merchant fleet. Tell them long range sensors indicate their way is clean to the MacLaughlan System, and extra escorts will arrive with them on the other side during their way insys." she adds. "We've got first Contact situation here, so get me a priority Alpha-Band transmission back to Command.." she peers back then going to her station, arriving to see the several box-like freighters turning and then zooming off at inconceivable speeds to their destination system.

"Ahem. Sixth Cruiser Squadron? Of where? We've only begun our operations in this sector two months ago. We've got a trade agreement with the planetary government of MacLaughlan IV..." she looks towards the analysis of the SCS Battlecruiser. "Well, if we haven't met you before... we would like to open peaceful relations. Since any other kind it seems would result in quite an amusing display of mutual destruction."

Almost as if on cue, the Oreithyia's weapon turrets whirring back to their original positions after dusting that pirate ship. Already, the Battlecruiser's side opens, a half squadron of strike fighters launching, moving for the stopped pirate frigate. Grappling on, they tow the deactivated ship closer to the relative behemoth that is the Aeolus-class Battlecruiser. Irina Rhys watches them perform crisply, and then to the ship before her. Clearly at least her equal in combat capability. "The Elysian Star Union has vested interests in the continued security of this region... something we perhaps have in common."

[White Haven]

Wide-Band Broadcast, Aquarian Union Region

Video-feed of a fit, older human, with uniform grey hair and a creased face, seated at a desk.

"I am Rear Admiral Julian Hallmeyer, commanding officer of the Sixth Cruiser Squadron's Third Battle Squadron, and with the departure of Vice Admiral Mandraki's First Battle Squadron, I will be in command of the Sixth Cruiser forces stationed in Union space. As such, I will also be responsible for the protection of the Union worlds that Sixth forces have liberated in recent actions here. As such, I have several announcements to make.

Firstly, I'd like to allay concerns that the Sixth, and by extension the Eastern Rim Trading Compact, are somehow 'conquering' the Union to add it to our respective spheres. While it is true that we will be exerting some degree of control over the systems we've liberated, our administration stops where local culture and government begins. We have no desire to dictate to local worlds how they may govern themselves, or how they may live, except insofar as we will impose a real, functioning rule of law into this area of space, where it has been sadly absent for far too long.

Many corsair vessels and other assets were siezed in our campaign to shatter their control over our assigned segment of the Union; those will be remaining here, in the Union, defending your homes, your tradelanes, and your industry. Initially, the Sixth Cruiser will crew these prizes, but only until sufficient Union citizens can be properly trained to command them. In addition, pirate vessels taken as prizes in Sixth operatiosn elsewhere will be transferred to the Union and added to the local defense forces here. We have freed this region for today, now we intend to ensure that it can never be taken advantage of in such a way again. In order to pay for this expediture and loss of revenue, we have taken control of captured shipyards, and will begin renting out construction slips shortly. The Aquarian Union and ERTC member states will receive preferred status in both costs and assignation of available construction slips, in order to stimulate local economic growth.

With the liberation of our final major targets in the Union, I have received authorization to extend the Sixth's amnesty program for an additional two weeks. Any pirate crews who elect to turn their vessels over to either local authorities or Sixth forces will receive amnesty for their past crimes in return. The Union is no longer a safe haven for such activity; we realize that in the past it has been very common, and we wish to offer any who choose the chance to leave that life behind. After the two-week period ends, however, Sixth forces will begin active pirate-hunting duties throughout the Union. The fate of any raider crews attempting to surrender thereafter will be in the hands of the local commander.

Lastly, while there is a hyperlane terminus in the Union, overall local hyperspace conditions are poor at best. Along with our other duties, Sixth Cruiser warships will be scouting local short-distance hyperlanes around major worlds. That data will be freely available in the interests of faster, smoother commerce.

The Sixth Cruiser Squadron is committed to changing the Union for the better, now that we are here. Please address any concerns to the temporary Sixth Cruiser command post on Nikitos.

Message Ends.

[White Haven]

"Fairly similar reactor output...basic directed-energy weapons, from all we can tell...first-run analysis, Purity could take all three, but it'd be pyrrhic, at best." is the tac officer's update, flashed across one of Brentworth's displays. He'd expected something of the sort -- after all, who COULD take out one of the Sixth's battlecruisers, one on one -- but having it backed up is comforting. He turns his attention back to the open comlink.

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I certainly think that's a possibility. It is, of course, not up to me to decide, however. The Purity has to get back to patrol, but I will pass along my report to my superiors, if you'll provide some method to contact your government to set up an exchange of represenatives?

[Nephtys]

"...dual stream matter/antimatter cannons, long range missile tubes.. broadside configuration. We could probably take 'em. But there's not much point in going home with holes through our ship." the Exec shakes his head, reading the latest message. They were the damned Elysian Deep Space Fleet, after all. Probably an even match for any space nation in the area.

Captain Rhys nods without comment. "Hrm, well. Let's get a response ready." she moves over, watching as her own hyperwave tranceivers detect an inbound signal. Command from base. "Invite them to Elysium... huh. Olympus wants to establish formal relations, it seems." she summarizes, turning to the comm officer. "Get this down..."

"Purity, we are instructed by our command to offer an invitation for an envoy to the Elysium system.. we will provide you the location of our star. Following this transmission will be communications frequencies for use with lascom, hyperwave or tachyon communications. Good hunting on your patrol, Purity. We'll see each other in the future..."

Irina hits the end function on her holographic panel, causing to suddenly disappear. She relaxes back in her chair. "Helm. Set heading two six six mark seven zero, spin up the TachDrive. Get ready to go home."

[Ace Pace]

NRS Hlondath Raider, on patrol near Barrier

"Conn, Sensors. Unidentified hyperspace-bound contacts, bearing 247 mark 47, aspect change rapid on vertical but not horizontal. Coming straight at us and a little above. Sir, the returns are huge; there's at least one massive ship in there."

"Sensors, Conn, aye. Comms, report contacts to fleet command at Joyous Gard. Shields up, arm weapons. Helm, all ahead two thirds, come to bearing 247 mark 270, take us below their projected path," ordered Commander Greer to various stations in rapid succession.

"Sir, they're slowing, I think they're going to emerge."

"General quarters," ordered Greer. Sirens began to sound throughout the frigate as the massive Hub dropped into realspace.

Galactic

The Fleet dropped into realspace, split into the usual 2 battlegroups.

This is The Aglatarian Hub, we are a peaceful trading fleet, we are intresting in opening diplomatic relations with the Nashtar Republic and would like to negotiate with someone with authority.

[Captain tycho]

((OOC: Running through a bunch of stuff I never got around to doing these last few weeks because of real life. This happened a month or so ago.))

Deep space

The Space Marines smashed through the hull of the alien vessel in a flurry of boarding pods, which disgorged violently into the midst of confused and stunned xenos. Most of them were killed by the tremendous impact, sucked out into space, or ripped apart by the Astartes buzzing chainswords. Moving with blinding speed, they sliced through the remaining aliens, furry insectoid creatures with dozens of limbs.

The outer deck was secured in seconds; within another 2 minutes the Astartes had blasted into the heart of the ship, capturing what they presumed to be the ship's commander. The vile, squirming beast was shoved into a holding pod and sealed inside, along side with one of his subordinates.

After the command deck was cleared, quick working AdMech servitors went to work slicing apart and analyzing the xenos computers and transmitting their findings. After a few minutes of digging, they hit gold: a hyperspace chart to the xenos homeworld. The Astartes commander verified it, then ordered the ship evacuated and destroyed. The Imperials clambered back into their boarding pods, servitors and captive xenos in tow.

[White Haven]

Many of the smaller vessels begun under Senior Admiral Dassault's military expansion program have already cleared their slips, to be replaced by the slowly-growing frameworks of fresh ships. Several of the new Guardian-class have already entered service in the ranks of the Commerce Defense Forces, and one of the newly-christened heavy cruisers has even seen action against a particulary daring -- and stupid -- pirate raid. That, however, is not the true attention-draw at the yards... Two massive, sleek hulls near completion, surrounded by the frameworks of two of the yard's largest strips. Flares of light crawl around its surface as crews 'armed' with modern welding gear go about finishing the last of the armor plating installation. One of the ships is slightly farther along, enough so that the nameplate has already been set into place: Avenger

[OOC: New builds from the beginning, using Buildup builds with a slight boost from Union resources. Most of the Union resources are being fed right back into bolster its economy, hence a lower boost than might have been possible.

Capital: 2 2-point Avenger HBBs (4 total)
Cruiser: 1 4-point Majestic BC, 2 2-point Godhand CA (8 total)
Escort: 13 4-point Guardian CLV, 8 1-point Dagger LSPA (60 total)]

[White Haven]

"Receipt confirmed....data shunted to isolated storage core pending analysis."

Only after the report from Communications does Senior Captain Peter Brentworth nod his agreement and reply to the foreign vessel.

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I will certainly pass that information along, and the Purity will likely be sent to deliver a representative from Foreign Outreach. Clear stars to you.

Sensors, get a GOOD look at their FTL when they jump out, if it ever comes to a fight, we want to know more, earlier.

[Beowulf]

Aquarian Union
Fleet Resupply Station

"Task Force 1.2 incoming. Locations confirmed."

Three dozens vessels jumped into the system, ranging from a quartet of battleships, to a half dozen frigates. Some of them rather close to the station, others nearer to the fleet waiting nearby. The minor ships refueled, the major ones having enough fuel for quite a bit longer. Then most of the ships jumped out.

(ooc: combat ships remaining in system: 2 BB, 4 CVE, 1 DL, 11 DD, 4 CG
combat ships leaving the system: 8 BB, 4 BC, 3 CV, 8 CVE, 3 DL, 34 DD, 15 CG)

Aquarian Union
Cigni System

Part of the Rpblksrpsk fleet exited Tunnel Drive. 6 Battleships, formed up into 3 squadrons nearby each of the three habitable planets in the system.

"This system has been found to have been harboring, nay, supporting pirates. In accordance with the ERTC charter, we are taking control of this system to lessen the threat of piracy in this region of space. You have 1 minute to surrender before we blow the defenders of this system into plasma."

(OOC: 6 BB, 3 CV, 3 CVE, 3 DL, 12 CG, 24 DD)

Aquarian Union
Kiratals System

The rest of the Rpblksrpsk fleet exited TD. Made up of part of TF 1.2 and part of TF4, it was able to take on anything this relatively small system could have.

Another ultimatum was issued, the content similar to the others.

(OOC: 2 BB, 5 CVE, 4 BC, 3 CG, 10 DD)

Rpblksrpsk Naval Shipyards

Some of the recently authorized increase in naval strength had finished construction. Accordingly, the King was there to see the ships being launched. Elsewhere in the shipyard, a pair of battleships, a sextet of cruisers, 2 noticably smaller than the others, and a pair of escort cruisers could be seen, in various states of completion. Being comissioned today were 8 destroyers, and 8 frigates.

"Great! They look wonderful. And I'm sure they'll perform wonderfully as well. However, we'll soon be needing more ships to patrol the southern acquistions. Therefore we'll be adding even more ships to the rolls of our Navy."

(OOC: I'm not pulling the ships out of my ass...)

[InnocentBystander]

Deneb Accords

Draft Constitutional Proposal

Legislative Branch:
The Legislative branch will be composed of two house of equal power and authority. These will be the Councils of Citizens and Elders.

Council of Citizens;
To be elected by all non-Elder Gorn over 25 cycles of age. Members will serve terms of six cycles and will be eligible to serve up to four terms. Elections will be staggered so as to occur every two cycles.

Council of Elders;
To be elected by all Gorn Elders. Members will serve terms of ten cycles and elections will be staggered to occur every five years, there will be no term limits for those elected to the Council of Elders.

Executive Branch:
The Executive Branch will be made up of a new reconstituted High Council made up of five members. This Council will be made up of a Speaker to be elected by the general populace and will serve a term of four cycles. It will also consist of a First Citizen to be elected and sent by the Council of Citizens. The Council of Elders will also select a High Elder to sit on this council. The High Justice of the Supreme Judiciary will have a seat as well. The Supreme Commander of the Gorn Military will fill the final seat.

Judicial Branch:
The High Judicary will be the highest court of the Gorn Federation. Its eight Justices will be appointed by both Councils in joint session. Justices will serve a life term, and the Justices will select the High Justice from among themselves.

It was just another morning on Deneb. Today was just like any other day, several hours of morning review by the Commission, followed by a full day of arguing between the Gorn delegates, the debates had made little progress, but all agreed that eventually the Gorn would come to agree upon something.

Reverend Mother Ramallo sipped her morning tea as she read over the minutes from yesterday, it was nothing new. The day's new business was nothing to get excited over, more suggested compromises, proposed solutions and... Wait, what was this. She looked over the new constitution proposal once more.

"Senator Wellton, I'm afraid that I do not believe it is wise for you to present your proposed constitution before the Gorn. You know the issues we are facing as well as anyone here today, but this constitution appears to blatantly ignore one of the key issues; this document, I fear, would be a harsh insult to the Gorn Loyalists, and I would like to recommend to the Comission that it not be brought before the Gorn for review. Each day we are one step closer to making a compromise between the Gorn Loyalists and the Gorn Provisional Government that will work for both sides, we should not upset this process by insulting either party." she glanced casually around the room as the other emissaries scrambled to look over the new proposal. Mother Ramallo took another sip of her tea, perhaps today would be different?

[Vanas]

Western edge of the Perseus Arm, 2 AU from the star Feronia

A circle of perfect darkness a metre wide seemed to open gently, the light warping around it's edge the only sign it was even there. Without warning, it suddenly burst to over a kilometer wide as, in a flare of blue light, a large vessel completed the transition back to real space. Moments later, a pair of other, smaller vessels burst in through their own portals, all with a gold hawk symbol emblazoned on thier sweeping 'wings'.

Aboard the Dieu et Mon Driot, Rear Admiral Tier Rin'Tao was not happy. Usually, when a signal went off from one of the many listening devices positioned in various systems near the Colonial Authority, a 'Bastion' cruiser and a pair of Resurgam frigates were sent to assess the threat. Unfortunately, this listening post was at the edge of monitored space and the high-ups in the Authority were getting nervous. Decrypted and translated logs from pirate ships had indicated something was making the pirates jumpy, and jumpy pirates were not considered a good thing.

The Dieu et Mon Driot was a truly first-rate warship and her escort cruisers were tough enough to discourage most of the local pirates. However, the possibility that there might be larger powers operating in the area was not a reassuring one, even to the crew of the large vessel. Hopefully, this was either a false positive or the average pirate incursion.

[Thirdfain]

Krytos

-:RECORDSTART:-

The Commonwealth troopships hung in space over the capital of the once-great Krytos Star Empire, each one a bloated ovoid kilometers in length. The hulls of the the Army warships were set to parade whites, each one proudly displaying the Sword-and-Suns of the Commonwealth. Inside the hulls of the ten transport ships, five million Legionnaires of the 8th Groupe Contintental prepared for combat, attached to the Krtyos task force dispatched on ERTC duty.

An entire Groupe Continental, the 7th was equipped to invade and control an entire continent on a heavily industrialised city-world. For a mission like this, they would suffice to completely smash all opposition.

The 8th GC's commanding officer, Potentiate Elsa von Buren, had already introduced herself to the Krytos fleet leaders. The Commonwealth contingent was fully prepared, and the Krytos fleet was free to commence when ever they pleased.

-:ENDRECORD:-

[Cabwi Desco]

The Perseus Arm
Captain Samuelson surveyed the scene. A single vessel in near uncharted space was a VERY BAD thing. Hell the news of a Republican Expeditionary Force being smashed on the eastern rim was bad enough and now Commodore, now Commander, Trevmin was simply commanding a civilian transport vessel to and from Borodin station. Samuelson feared for his very command, but for the moment he was only concerned with this scouting mission.
BING BING BING BNNINNGNG
"Sir we have a contact, mark 3-1-5, range 450km, shes a totally different vessel than anything we've ever seen. She's not matching any of our records."
"Sensors, Understood, Comms give me a variable transmission on wide band frequency."
"Transmission ready, what shall I say?"
"Transmit the usual diplomatic signal."
"Aye sir."

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This is the ANS Essen, forgive the cliche' but we come in peace.

[Nephtys]

A helluva long way from home...

Morgan Cordova swept a hand through his hair while the computer compared the message format to known languages and protocols... and gave a low sigh of relief as it comes back known. His own command console lights up with the simple peace message, and his head turns. "Hrmph. ANS Essen? Can't they come up with a more original opening than that?" he chuckles to himself.

The antiquated frigate floats in space, before the ship.. "Glad to hear that." Commander Cordova replies, hand on a small microphone along his obsolete console. "We're a scouting unit from the Elysium Star Union, and offer peaceful relations... I am not authorized to conduct negotiations.. but if you wish, we may meet in a neutral location. Perhaps... here?" he asks, transmitting the location of a rather unremarkable star near the eastern end of the galaxy. "I've been authorized to inform you that we'll send a diplomatic group there in a few days. Would that be.. satisfactory?" he asks, before clicking off his mic. A head turns.

"Alright, Sensors, I want all information you can get on that ship. I want her weapons specifications if any, cargo, shield type and strength, propulsion, favorite color... everything. Keep that going on Alpha Band Tachcom for home..." he then turns his head back to view the representation of the Essen... examining the wireframe on his VDU. It's apparently not even a threat for his ancient picket...

[Cabwi Desco]

Perseus Arm
Samuelson sat there motionles for a second.
"Well damn! that was quick, sensors get me a quick scan of that vessel, I want to know as much about that thing as possible."
"Comms, get me a transmission, say 'that will be acceptable', and 'that we await their visit'."
"Sir, this is highly irregular, I'm getting a SECOND unidentified vessel!"
"What in the name?.. comms resend first transmission to this second vessel. this is highly irregular."
"Sir, visual contact, I'm reading three letters in pan-galactic basic. S...C...A and a symbol of what looks like a bird and two inverted deltas, their markings do not match any vessel currently in our archives, including the one we just met."
"Right, get me command, this is two new peoples in as many hours, this is incredible!"

Code: Select all

 To ANN High Command. I am overjoyed to report contact with two new peoples sirs, during a routine charting mission of the perseus arm we've met two unidentified vessels, one has Identified itself as a vessels of the elysian star union, and another we don't yet have comms with. I plan to keep you updated as the situation develops. Samuelson Out.

he sat there examining the elysian vessel and sighed, oh well it's not like we couldn't block any blast if they tried... having the massive defensive shields typical of all ANN vessels did have its advantages. and my torpedoes would make short work of her shields. what fun, he didn't want an intergalactic incident but if they tried he would be forced into action.

not two hours later...
GHA Desco sat down in his command chair sipping his hot steaming mug of caf to read todays recent communiques from the outer reaches of ANN operations when he came across one from a captain samuelson... he promptly spat all over his datacard ina rather ungentlemanlike way... two new peoples in as many hours! this would be a major windfall in diplomatic relations for the 13. He immediately started thinking about who would take over the open position of commodore in the sector fleet and how samuelson could fill this position nicely, provided he didn't act like a junior officer and botch the job. This would definately prove to be interesting.

[Vanas]

Western Edge of the Perseus Arm, 2 AU from the star Feronia

"Admiral, we have gained contact with a pair of unidentifed vessels, range approximately 10,000km. They don't match with any known pirate ship we've seen before... from the designs, I'd guess we're either looking at a very small convoy or possibly a pair of ships passing in the night."

"They don't look too threatening. I don't think they'd appreciate us sending in the Dieu. Tell the Maka-Diyos to close with them to about 2000km, and open first-contact procedures. I doubt they'll speak our language, so add translation into the pirate language we've managed to translate. If they're from around here, hopefully they'll understand that"

"Aye, sir... and if they're not from around here?"

"Then we'll just sit around miming at each other, I suppose."

"Very good, sir"

Compared to the Dieu, the Maka-Diyos was a far more elegant sight than the large warship, as it cruised along as casually as a 700m long light cruiser can. Closing the 80 kilometers in a couple of minuites, it hung in space for a moment or two as the bridge crew readied the full comms suite.

"Admiral, we're in position. Broadcasting on 21-cm radio, subspace and hyperwave. Will then rotate through various other frequencies. Initiating transmission."

Code: Select all

Unidentified vessels, this is the Sani Colonial Authority vessel [i]Maka-Diyos[/i], on deep-space patrol. We hope to initiate peaceful communication between our races. 

[Darksider]

[Krytos Orbit]


Admiral James Winston surveyd the tactical display of his command dreadnaught malevolence.

"The Commonwealth troopships have arrived Admiral."

"Good, order the ships of the fifth imperial marine leigon to form on us, and have the commonwealth ships trail the rear. We're going in hot, and I want the Ground Pounders behind us when the shooting starts."

"The fleet is in formation."

"Make the jump."

The Krytosian fleet leapt into hyperspace, followed by the Commonwealth troopships