"My Lord there is another matter that requires your attention," some unimportant minister who Naabal never took heed of said.
"It can wait," Naabal said striding towards the airlock.
"Respectfully it cannot. Three alien colonies have sprung up in the Choucu system."
"What?" Naabal said swiveling his head. "Beast?"
"We are unsure, but long range sensors have detected unique ship configurations." The minister bit his lip. "Living ships."
Just like before, thought Naabal. First the Beast established outposts to build refueling stations deep in Kiith space, and then they would attack.
"Divert ships to those planets to investigate." Naabal paused. "In case there are worker Kiith, send a message to the Choucu system warning them of the Beast incursion. Order them to abandon their prospecting. If they stay behind they risk holy cleansing."
"Yes, my lord."
Brian
SE:IV Adamant RP
Moderator: Thanas
Code: Select all
From the Kiith Somtaaw Ministry of Prospecting, Mining and Wealth to All Independent Operators :
Effective immediately, due to the Beast Invasion, independent prospecting must cease in all of the following systems.
Cucez
Chocu
Daruuo
Dodo
Daruuo
Ednarro
Giurgiu
Zahadin
As well, the Ckeuak system is off limits to independent mining operations at this time. Holders of the Malakari Prospecting License are exempt from this notice.
All unauthorized mining activity will be dealt with extreme prejudice. Prospectors have two stellar months to abandon or transfer control of unauthorized mining operations and settlements to the Office of Redistribution for the Defeat of the Beast Incursion (ORDBI).
Governments shall bear responsibility for the actions of their citizens in Kiith space if they are in non-compliance.
Fushai admired Haiifai lording over the bridge. For several days since the new orders from the homeworld, Haiifai had been restless. Fushai did not ask why, thinking he would better deal with the stress on his own. After all, how many Captains confided in fighter pilots?
"We are in position," the helmsman said.
"Good." Haiifai said. "Prepare the fleet for hyperspace jump."
So this was why. But Fushai had seen the tactical reports. The enemy had over one hundred vessels on the other side of the hyperspace conduit and had heavily fortified the conduit with mines and reinforcements from the Kryptonians, slave masters who apparently had as much if not more mastery of crystalline technology as the Somtaaw.
"Fighter Pilot Fushai, you are to board the shuttle and leave, now. You are not needed."
"I go into battle."
Haiifai turned to face Fushai. "It is clear this enemy is not the Beast. You cannot help us. You are useless here."
"I can follow with the shuttle."
"The shuttle is unarmed," Haiifai said. "You would merely provide another target for the enemy."
"Perhaps that would be enough."
Haiifai snorted. "Fighter pilots, always so eager to die. I will not be allowing the most decorated warrior in the history of the Kiith to waste her life in an unarmed craft. You will board the shuttle, scan the battle at a distance and relay the data to the homeworld."
"Then let me stay on your ship. I can contribute to damage control."
"No," Haiifai said, lowering his tone. "Fushai, Pilot Elite, you will follow my orders. Board the shuttle and stay at these coordinates monitoring the battle. You will watch for the Kiith."
Fushai saluted. She did as she was told and in several minutes was watching the Dervish formation stream through the hyperspace conduit from the cockpit of a shuttle. She patched the shuttle's HUD with long range sensors and watched the little blue dots stream from the hyperspace conduit on her side. The Dervishes were gone.
The enemy had to know the location of the hyperspace conduit. They had to have seen the Dervish formation enter the Ckeuak conduit and must know they would in seconds materialize in Viryanil. Why then, were their ships keeping such a distance from it?
Unless of course the enemy commander wanted to be at a distance.
The blue dots streamed out of the hyperspace conduit. As they did, from long range, the enemy fired missile volleys and launched swarms of fighter craft. The Somtaaw Dervishes turned to face them.
Something was wrong.
The Dervishes launched their sentinels, protective craft which would encase every Dervish in a near impenetrable barrier. But the sentinels were moving sluggishly. The shields formed up and activated, but far too slow against the mass of enemy missiles and fighter craft. Fushai watched the red dots swarm and all at once every single blue dot vanished from existence.
Fushai raced through the possibilities in her mind. The fleet must have been low on fuel. Perhaps the enemy had discovered a way to bypass their shields. Fushai thought of Haiifai's last orders.
"You will watch for the Kiith," Haiifai had said. For the Kiith. The whole Kiith, he had meant. Dervishes were not mimics. Their crew's loved ones waited on the homeworlds. Thousands of families would be without brothers, sisters, fathers or mothers after today. Never in the history of the Kiith had Fushai heard of such a sacrifice. Haiifai had to know it was a suicide mission. Fushai felt the blood rise to her face as she strangled the joystick.
Why were thousands of crew sacrificed for no apparent military objective and minimal enemy casualties? Fushai activated her thrusters. She would return to the homeworld, and find out what lunatic ordered Haiifai and five thousand Somtaaw to their deaths.
Brian
"We are in position," the helmsman said.
"Good." Haiifai said. "Prepare the fleet for hyperspace jump."
So this was why. But Fushai had seen the tactical reports. The enemy had over one hundred vessels on the other side of the hyperspace conduit and had heavily fortified the conduit with mines and reinforcements from the Kryptonians, slave masters who apparently had as much if not more mastery of crystalline technology as the Somtaaw.
"Fighter Pilot Fushai, you are to board the shuttle and leave, now. You are not needed."
"I go into battle."
Haiifai turned to face Fushai. "It is clear this enemy is not the Beast. You cannot help us. You are useless here."
"I can follow with the shuttle."
"The shuttle is unarmed," Haiifai said. "You would merely provide another target for the enemy."
"Perhaps that would be enough."
Haiifai snorted. "Fighter pilots, always so eager to die. I will not be allowing the most decorated warrior in the history of the Kiith to waste her life in an unarmed craft. You will board the shuttle, scan the battle at a distance and relay the data to the homeworld."
"Then let me stay on your ship. I can contribute to damage control."
"No," Haiifai said, lowering his tone. "Fushai, Pilot Elite, you will follow my orders. Board the shuttle and stay at these coordinates monitoring the battle. You will watch for the Kiith."
Fushai saluted. She did as she was told and in several minutes was watching the Dervish formation stream through the hyperspace conduit from the cockpit of a shuttle. She patched the shuttle's HUD with long range sensors and watched the little blue dots stream from the hyperspace conduit on her side. The Dervishes were gone.
The enemy had to know the location of the hyperspace conduit. They had to have seen the Dervish formation enter the Ckeuak conduit and must know they would in seconds materialize in Viryanil. Why then, were their ships keeping such a distance from it?
Unless of course the enemy commander wanted to be at a distance.
The blue dots streamed out of the hyperspace conduit. As they did, from long range, the enemy fired missile volleys and launched swarms of fighter craft. The Somtaaw Dervishes turned to face them.
Something was wrong.
The Dervishes launched their sentinels, protective craft which would encase every Dervish in a near impenetrable barrier. But the sentinels were moving sluggishly. The shields formed up and activated, but far too slow against the mass of enemy missiles and fighter craft. Fushai watched the red dots swarm and all at once every single blue dot vanished from existence.
Fushai raced through the possibilities in her mind. The fleet must have been low on fuel. Perhaps the enemy had discovered a way to bypass their shields. Fushai thought of Haiifai's last orders.
"You will watch for the Kiith," Haiifai had said. For the Kiith. The whole Kiith, he had meant. Dervishes were not mimics. Their crew's loved ones waited on the homeworlds. Thousands of families would be without brothers, sisters, fathers or mothers after today. Never in the history of the Kiith had Fushai heard of such a sacrifice. Haiifai had to know it was a suicide mission. Fushai felt the blood rise to her face as she strangled the joystick.
Why were thousands of crew sacrificed for no apparent military objective and minimal enemy casualties? Fushai activated her thrusters. She would return to the homeworld, and find out what lunatic ordered Haiifai and five thousand Somtaaw to their deaths.
Brian
"Simulations predict low probability of success," the computer chimed. Naron lowered his head. The news from the Ckeuak system was grave. Not only had the attack failed, but it had failed catastrophically. The new data was no better. Attempting to contact Naabal, Naron tried to turn the grand master's fleet and suggested they retreat to the home systems, but Naabal would have none of that. "Let them come," Naabal had said.
And they were coming. Eighty vessels, many smaller strike craft that deftly danced through Somtaaw missiles and capital ships. New weapons were needed, ones on rotating turrets which would track and destroy this enemy that Naron now knew was not the Beast but an enemy far more cunning who exposed the weakness of Somtaaw warship design. Reliable weapons to destroy the enemy's strike craft would take months or years to develop, and the enemy was here now. It infuriated Naron that vessels so small could destroy Kiith warships, but on hindsight it made perfect sense. The Kiith's weapons were specialized to defeat their usual enemies, and in this new galaxy everything had to change, or suffer.
To make matters worse, the reinforcements expected from the Malakari were retreating back to their space.
And, several colonies had been destroyed by a new enemy, the Stellar Imperium Collective. Apparently the Somtaaw Mining Authority had taken the Beast rumors seriously and in their time honored way banned all foreign operators from Kiith space. But this was not Kiith space. In this galaxy the Somtaaw had a fraction of their firepower and the Mining Authority had no independeont fleet to back its threat. Naron had the Mining Authority's self-grandizing ministers arrested, but it was too late. The Kiith now had another enemy to contend with, one which according to the intelligence reports had vast manpower, unlimited resources and technology decades in advance of the Kiith's.
Naron ordered all colonies to prepare defenses and hoped Naabal would come home victorious. The fate of the Somtaaw had never depended so greatly on so few, not even in the dark days of the cataclysm.
Brian
And they were coming. Eighty vessels, many smaller strike craft that deftly danced through Somtaaw missiles and capital ships. New weapons were needed, ones on rotating turrets which would track and destroy this enemy that Naron now knew was not the Beast but an enemy far more cunning who exposed the weakness of Somtaaw warship design. Reliable weapons to destroy the enemy's strike craft would take months or years to develop, and the enemy was here now. It infuriated Naron that vessels so small could destroy Kiith warships, but on hindsight it made perfect sense. The Kiith's weapons were specialized to defeat their usual enemies, and in this new galaxy everything had to change, or suffer.
To make matters worse, the reinforcements expected from the Malakari were retreating back to their space.
And, several colonies had been destroyed by a new enemy, the Stellar Imperium Collective. Apparently the Somtaaw Mining Authority had taken the Beast rumors seriously and in their time honored way banned all foreign operators from Kiith space. But this was not Kiith space. In this galaxy the Somtaaw had a fraction of their firepower and the Mining Authority had no independeont fleet to back its threat. Naron had the Mining Authority's self-grandizing ministers arrested, but it was too late. The Kiith now had another enemy to contend with, one which according to the intelligence reports had vast manpower, unlimited resources and technology decades in advance of the Kiith's.
Naron ordered all colonies to prepare defenses and hoped Naabal would come home victorious. The fate of the Somtaaw had never depended so greatly on so few, not even in the dark days of the cataclysm.
Brian
High Office
"The galaxy is moving toward war," Director Ququat said.
He and Vevis were alone in the High Thinker's huge office. Ququat had a plan, Vevis knew, and the High Thinker wanted to hear it, if only to know Ququat's agenda.
"I know," Vevis said.
"It would best that we were friendly with the side that emerges victorious," Ququat said.
"Obviously," Vevis said. "But that would require knowing which side will win."
"Or being friendly with all the factions," Ququat said.
So that was what he was getting at, Vevis realized.
"War is expensive, High Thinker," Ququat said. "We can give loans to the warring factions, all of them that want them. And we can sell our cloning technology, few of the other nations will ever be able to match it. And when the dust clears, whoever wins will be our ally."
"I will...think on this," the High Thinker said.
"That's all I ask, sir," Ququat said, nodding respectfully and then leaving.
"The galaxy is moving toward war," Director Ququat said.
He and Vevis were alone in the High Thinker's huge office. Ququat had a plan, Vevis knew, and the High Thinker wanted to hear it, if only to know Ququat's agenda.
"I know," Vevis said.
"It would best that we were friendly with the side that emerges victorious," Ququat said.
"Obviously," Vevis said. "But that would require knowing which side will win."
"Or being friendly with all the factions," Ququat said.
So that was what he was getting at, Vevis realized.
"War is expensive, High Thinker," Ququat said. "We can give loans to the warring factions, all of them that want them. And we can sell our cloning technology, few of the other nations will ever be able to match it. And when the dust clears, whoever wins will be our ally."
"I will...think on this," the High Thinker said.
"That's all I ask, sir," Ququat said, nodding respectfully and then leaving.
"I want to mow down a bunch of motherfuckers with absurdly large weapons and relative impunity - preferably in and around a skyscraper. Then I want to fight a grim battle against the unlikely duo of the Terminator and Robocop. The last level should involve (but not be limited to) multiple robo-Hitlers and a gorillasaurus rex."--Uraniun235 on his ideal FPS game
"The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant compared to the power of the Force."--Darth Vader
"The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant compared to the power of the Force."--Darth Vader
-
Nephtys
- Sith Acolyte
- Posts: 6227
- Joined: 2005-04-02 10:54pm
- Location: South Cali... where life is cheap!
"Reporting casualties.. zero, sir. Kobol defense cordon reports no losses. Kryptonian Squadron has lost two light craft, and one sustained moderate damage."
Cain smiled knowingly at the readouts, not paying a scrap of attention to the lieutenant reading the same screens. The woman's other features remained stoic and expressionless however, the smile dropping away. "Good. Order the fleet for immediate F-T-L transit into the contested system."
A pause.
"But.. Sir, President Adar has declared that we would halt our operations beyond the Red Line!" the lieutenant protested. Cain looked down upon him from her slightly elevated platform.
"Are you questioning my orders, Lieutenant?" she asked. "I never repeat myself."
He gulped. "No, sir. Sending signal now."
Surrounded by enemies in the unwelcome, hostile blackness of space... this wasn't the time for civilian leadership, thought Admiral Helena Cain. Fleet Admiral Nagamo be damned, this was her ETO, and she'd run it as she pleased. She watched silently as the markers from Kobol system DRADIS vanished one by one, indicating the fleet relocating to a new destination: Ckeuak.
***
*click* bzzzzzzt.
"...continues to assure us that the unknown race beyond Kobol are indeed contained, and their latest attempt to enter our systems has been wiped out without a loss. We have not however, learned much else of the enemy we may now face."
"Have we provoked a new war with our expansion, after finally ridding ourselves of the Cylon threat looming over a whole generation? Are these the remnants of their forces, or a wholly new aggressor? Already, religious groups across all twelve Colonies have sprung up declaring this new war a punishment from the Gods. In addition, the federal government continues to deny claims that humanoid bodies were recovered from the debris of the destroyed alien craft. This is Allied Press reporter L.H. Mencken, Reporting live, from the orbit of Kobol."
*click*
Cain smiled knowingly at the readouts, not paying a scrap of attention to the lieutenant reading the same screens. The woman's other features remained stoic and expressionless however, the smile dropping away. "Good. Order the fleet for immediate F-T-L transit into the contested system."
A pause.
"But.. Sir, President Adar has declared that we would halt our operations beyond the Red Line!" the lieutenant protested. Cain looked down upon him from her slightly elevated platform.
"Are you questioning my orders, Lieutenant?" she asked. "I never repeat myself."
He gulped. "No, sir. Sending signal now."
Surrounded by enemies in the unwelcome, hostile blackness of space... this wasn't the time for civilian leadership, thought Admiral Helena Cain. Fleet Admiral Nagamo be damned, this was her ETO, and she'd run it as she pleased. She watched silently as the markers from Kobol system DRADIS vanished one by one, indicating the fleet relocating to a new destination: Ckeuak.
***
*click* bzzzzzzt.
"...continues to assure us that the unknown race beyond Kobol are indeed contained, and their latest attempt to enter our systems has been wiped out without a loss. We have not however, learned much else of the enemy we may now face."
"Have we provoked a new war with our expansion, after finally ridding ourselves of the Cylon threat looming over a whole generation? Are these the remnants of their forces, or a wholly new aggressor? Already, religious groups across all twelve Colonies have sprung up declaring this new war a punishment from the Gods. In addition, the federal government continues to deny claims that humanoid bodies were recovered from the debris of the destroyed alien craft. This is Allied Press reporter L.H. Mencken, Reporting live, from the orbit of Kobol."
*click*
Cekuak VII A
"Secure the perimeter," Viishan said. His soldiers swifty surrounded the final remaining holdout of the enemy, a captured orbital weapons platform. The fighting had been brutal for months in the tunnels, and Viishan couldn't understand why the enemy didn't use nuclear warheads or explosives to collaspe the underground cities. They even left women and children unharmed.
The militia had mustered its forces capturing the weapons platforms seized by the invaders one by one. The enemy's weapons were potent but they lacked heavy weapons and numbers. So did the militia for that matter. But Viishan knew this planet well and over the past month the skirmishes had drawn nearer to the enemy positions until they retreated completely inside the weapons platforms, attrition whittling their numbers to fistfuls.
And they were humanoid. Over the past two months of intense fighting, Viishan had ordered the bodies buried instead of dissected as the scientists wished, hoping the enemy would do the same with the Kushan they found.
"We are in position," Yuro said.
"I want prisoners. Maintain fire discipline. They may have our people captive inside," Viishan said.
"Yes sir," Yuro said.
Viishan only hoped the Somtaaw fleet had been victorious and would soon bring relief. If they did not, the colony faced starvation. At least the planetary shield generator, buried and powered through geothermal energy, was still in working order and so far no more enemy dropships had been sighted.
"Attack," Viishan said simply ordering his poorly trained conscripts to breach the door of the captured facility with timed explosives. Viishan felt sorry for his enemy. They were abandoned on a foreign world far from their families and would die under a godless sun. He hoped the enemy commander would surrender and end this slaughter.
Brian
"Secure the perimeter," Viishan said. His soldiers swifty surrounded the final remaining holdout of the enemy, a captured orbital weapons platform. The fighting had been brutal for months in the tunnels, and Viishan couldn't understand why the enemy didn't use nuclear warheads or explosives to collaspe the underground cities. They even left women and children unharmed.
The militia had mustered its forces capturing the weapons platforms seized by the invaders one by one. The enemy's weapons were potent but they lacked heavy weapons and numbers. So did the militia for that matter. But Viishan knew this planet well and over the past month the skirmishes had drawn nearer to the enemy positions until they retreated completely inside the weapons platforms, attrition whittling their numbers to fistfuls.
And they were humanoid. Over the past two months of intense fighting, Viishan had ordered the bodies buried instead of dissected as the scientists wished, hoping the enemy would do the same with the Kushan they found.
"We are in position," Yuro said.
"I want prisoners. Maintain fire discipline. They may have our people captive inside," Viishan said.
"Yes sir," Yuro said.
Viishan only hoped the Somtaaw fleet had been victorious and would soon bring relief. If they did not, the colony faced starvation. At least the planetary shield generator, buried and powered through geothermal energy, was still in working order and so far no more enemy dropships had been sighted.
"Attack," Viishan said simply ordering his poorly trained conscripts to breach the door of the captured facility with timed explosives. Viishan felt sorry for his enemy. They were abandoned on a foreign world far from their families and would die under a godless sun. He hoped the enemy commander would surrender and end this slaughter.
Brian
-
Nova Andromeda
- Jedi Master
- Posts: 1404
- Joined: 2002-07-03 03:38am
- Location: Boston, Ma., U.S.A.
-The strategic coordiantor for the Stellar Imperium reviewed the latest news from the outlying colonies. The Kiith continued their wars of agression. While they were being slowly eradicated in areas where the Stellar Imperium had influence they were also causing a great deal of trouble for a lost colony of humanity. The Stellar Imperium simply didn't have the ships to stop it. In fact, the Stellar Imperium had a great deal of its resources engaged in a new war with the Malakari (yet another lost human colony). The Malakari were allies of the Kiith and had moved a war fleet to begin the conquest of the Reiji. The Stellar Imperium would not allow this to happen and had recently crippled that fleet and destroyed a large number of Malakari colonies. The Malakari were well armed, but in the end couldn not compete with Imperium firepower. The whole region appeared ready to go to war and countless lives would be lost, but it was the strategic coordiantor's job to minimize the suffering.
-The solution appeared clear to the coordiantor. A regional government between the empires would have to be created. It probably wouldn't be too difficult since most of the empires were friendly if not terribly reliable. Thankfully, their nearest neighbors, the Perequin, proved friendly and very reliable. However, the Kiith were xenophobic expansionists and would have to be erradicated. In addition, the Malakari and Jovians would need to be subdued. This presented a major problem. The s. coordiantor called the research coordinator, "How long will construction of the new weapons system take?"
-The r. coor. responded "Unfortunately, its size and complexity ensure it will require over a year to build."
-"Are there other options?", questioned the s. coor.
-"Yes, we're developing them now, however, it will be very costly and the new systems will still require a sig. fraction of a year to complete." informed r. coor.
-"How expensive?", inquired s. coor.
-The r. coor. sent the estimates.
-The s. coor. read the data. It would cost more than a small fleet of the latest ships. "Understood, carry on. There is no other choice."
-The s. coor. ended the comm. and began the delicate task of formulating updated war plans for the Kiith and Malakari wars. It would still be a while before the Stellar Imperium could deploy strategic weapons, but that only meant it would take a bit more work to crack the fortress worlds of the Kiith.
-The solution appeared clear to the coordiantor. A regional government between the empires would have to be created. It probably wouldn't be too difficult since most of the empires were friendly if not terribly reliable. Thankfully, their nearest neighbors, the Perequin, proved friendly and very reliable. However, the Kiith were xenophobic expansionists and would have to be erradicated. In addition, the Malakari and Jovians would need to be subdued. This presented a major problem. The s. coordiantor called the research coordinator, "How long will construction of the new weapons system take?"
-The r. coor. responded "Unfortunately, its size and complexity ensure it will require over a year to build."
-"Are there other options?", questioned the s. coor.
-"Yes, we're developing them now, however, it will be very costly and the new systems will still require a sig. fraction of a year to complete." informed r. coor.
-"How expensive?", inquired s. coor.
-The r. coor. sent the estimates.
-The s. coor. read the data. It would cost more than a small fleet of the latest ships. "Understood, carry on. There is no other choice."
-The s. coor. ended the comm. and began the delicate task of formulating updated war plans for the Kiith and Malakari wars. It would still be a while before the Stellar Imperium could deploy strategic weapons, but that only meant it would take a bit more work to crack the fortress worlds of the Kiith.
Nova Andromeda