Sol
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"Do not misunderstand us, we are happy with our current forms, but there is a growing fear that lack of knowledge of our origins could lead to a disaster sometime in the future. One of the biggest concerns is that Straltoc genetic diversity is rather... narrow, shall we say. Record keeping was rather poor for the first several decades due to simple issues of survival, but we suspect that at most our gene pool stems from 500 individuals, a saddening fact considering that we suspect that the original ship that took us to the stars had a probable capacity of 5000. There are some extremist troublemakers that view this as a sign of the end of times for the Straltoc and will do anything to remedy the situation. Reassurances of our own origins will help these misguided radicals from gaining the kind of popular support needed to start trying to implement some of their more reprehensible ideas," Felsith explains, going quiet with contemplation for a moment.
"On a more practical note, we feel that our peoples have much to share with one another. Where you state that you have not explored many of the realms of the Beyond, we have. Eventually as our understanding grew we learned to fix the mistakes in the original drive system and we now use that inimical realm that so scarred our ancestors to travel faster than light routinely. It's strange alien mechanics are still much of a mystery to us, but we understand infinitely more than we once did. For example, the Lisbizif," Felsith then points to the large spheres of tar sitting quietly at the table, "and Arlisdarl like myself do not need to eat because the marks from our youth grow to the point where they imprint on a molecular level. Every cell in our bodies is like a tiny star, tapping energy directly from that realm. We do not need to eat, breathe, or sleep, and more so we can learn to consciously manipulate that strange energy to bend space and time to our will. Do such abilities not sound familiar to you?"
STGOD: DAS: Main Game Thread.
Moderator: Thanas
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Academia Nut
- Sith Devotee
- Posts: 2598
- Joined: 2005-08-23 10:44pm
- Location: Edmonton, Alberta
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Imperial Overlord
- Emperor's Hand
- Posts: 11978
- Joined: 2004-08-19 04:30am
- Location: The Tower at Charm
Sol
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"Five hundred is more than a large enough gene pool to establish a viable population," said Hale. "Lack of genetic diversity shouldn't be a threat to your species's survival. If you have been to the Beyond, yes we are very interested.
"Your abilities seem to be much more in line with psionics than ours. The Arcana is a formulaic alteration of reality, a Gnostic science not the simple application of the will and power flows. We do, however, have consider experience in studying such power flows."
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"Five hundred is more than a large enough gene pool to establish a viable population," said Hale. "Lack of genetic diversity shouldn't be a threat to your species's survival. If you have been to the Beyond, yes we are very interested.
"Your abilities seem to be much more in line with psionics than ours. The Arcana is a formulaic alteration of reality, a Gnostic science not the simple application of the will and power flows. We do, however, have consider experience in studying such power flows."
The Excellent Prismatic Spray. For when you absolutely, positively must kill a motherfucker. Accept no substitutions. Contact a magician of the later Aeons for details. Some conditions may apply.
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Academia Nut
- Sith Devotee
- Posts: 2598
- Joined: 2005-08-23 10:44pm
- Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Sol
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"Oh, I agree with you, but try telling that to the pigheaded demagoges that like to rile up the masses with doom and gloom statements. We have noticed several problems due to the bottleneck effect, but the genetic situation is not that bad and in another few hundred years our gene pool will be nice and diverse thanks to varying environmental conditions on the different planets. Still, the more we know about our origins the more we can stomp out those that would use uncertainty to their own advantage."
"And you see, this is why we have come to you. We know very little about the differences between psychic abilities and magic, and we do not even know if our capacities stem from either. Although our abilities are somewhat subtler than the raw application of power. For example, our children, the Korrillstav, the ones with the visible marks, they too are capable of some similar feats that they should not be capable of without such a font of power. This carries over into later life stages, and is in fact the reason why so many Arlisdarl choose forms with a profusion of tentacles and mouths, because they allow us to perform very complicated feats that would normally require many individuals working together."
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"Oh, I agree with you, but try telling that to the pigheaded demagoges that like to rile up the masses with doom and gloom statements. We have noticed several problems due to the bottleneck effect, but the genetic situation is not that bad and in another few hundred years our gene pool will be nice and diverse thanks to varying environmental conditions on the different planets. Still, the more we know about our origins the more we can stomp out those that would use uncertainty to their own advantage."
"And you see, this is why we have come to you. We know very little about the differences between psychic abilities and magic, and we do not even know if our capacities stem from either. Although our abilities are somewhat subtler than the raw application of power. For example, our children, the Korrillstav, the ones with the visible marks, they too are capable of some similar feats that they should not be capable of without such a font of power. This carries over into later life stages, and is in fact the reason why so many Arlisdarl choose forms with a profusion of tentacles and mouths, because they allow us to perform very complicated feats that would normally require many individuals working together."
I love learning. Teach me. I will listen.
You know, if Christian dogma included a ten-foot tall Jesus walking around in battle armor and smashing retarded cultists with a gaint mace, I might just convert - Noble Ire on Jesus smashing Scientologists
You know, if Christian dogma included a ten-foot tall Jesus walking around in battle armor and smashing retarded cultists with a gaint mace, I might just convert - Noble Ire on Jesus smashing Scientologists
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Imperial Overlord
- Emperor's Hand
- Posts: 11978
- Joined: 2004-08-19 04:30am
- Location: The Tower at Charm
Sol
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"Our categorizations don't distinguish between magical or psionic effects. We do distinguish between applications of the arcana and other abilities. The arcana is not the gift of a power from the Beyond or an inborn power, it is painstakingly developed craft and science. The effects your abilities or the arcana create may be similar, indeed the energies released could be identical, but everything you have said suggests they are radically different. One cannot utilize the Gnostic Arcana in ignorance. It's literally impossible."
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"Our categorizations don't distinguish between magical or psionic effects. We do distinguish between applications of the arcana and other abilities. The arcana is not the gift of a power from the Beyond or an inborn power, it is painstakingly developed craft and science. The effects your abilities or the arcana create may be similar, indeed the energies released could be identical, but everything you have said suggests they are radically different. One cannot utilize the Gnostic Arcana in ignorance. It's literally impossible."
The Excellent Prismatic Spray. For when you absolutely, positively must kill a motherfucker. Accept no substitutions. Contact a magician of the later Aeons for details. Some conditions may apply.
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Acidburns
- Padawan Learner
- Posts: 470
- Joined: 2005-07-11 08:02pm
- Location: Glasgow, Second City of the Empire
Ruin Station, Military Scape
Bachos floated in the virtual scape that represented the “control room” of the Nephilim strategic defences. The icons from nearly a dozen other citizens were present. There was no uniform, or even any common shape that their icons wore. While Bachos had an icon shaped like a silver skinned Oraphim, many of the others were considerably more surreal. Citizens were represented by anything from 8-legged insectoids, to collections of abstract geometry.
In front of Bachos a 3-Dimensional diagram showed the Nephilim and Oraphim territory, with military outposts marked by glowing lights. Each light had a tag that allowed Bachos access to any and all pertinent data on the military installations at that location. Far to the galactic west, a single tiny light began to wink rapidly. Bachos moved into the diagram, and it swelled to encompass ver. Now ve could now see a virtual representation of the trio of research outposts that sat right on the border of Nephilim space. Ve examined the tags, and was stunned to see that they were under attack. Ve checked the tag repeatedly in disbelief. When ve decided to examine the tag further, ve found the tag was incomprehensible; the outposts must have been destroyed almost instantly.
Ve immediately engaged a series of automated protocols that would transmit a tag containing a situation report to all military installations, ve activated the Strategic Jamming stations in that area and broadcasted a vector to all nearby military vessels. Ve had received the report detailing the unidentified contacts approaching Nephilim space; UISC forces were the nearest availble and were already responding. They should be on site at the moment, but it would be almost 20 minutes before their report would reach ver.
There were citizens stored aboard the research stations, while normally there would have been time to transfer any citizens to another location before it was too late, this was too fast even for that. Most likely they were dealing with actual casualties, something ve had never before experienced. There would be backups of any citizens on board of course, but for far out stations like that they could be gigatau out of date. Ve felt grief swell up inside ver.
Bachos floated in the virtual scape that represented the “control room” of the Nephilim strategic defences. The icons from nearly a dozen other citizens were present. There was no uniform, or even any common shape that their icons wore. While Bachos had an icon shaped like a silver skinned Oraphim, many of the others were considerably more surreal. Citizens were represented by anything from 8-legged insectoids, to collections of abstract geometry.
In front of Bachos a 3-Dimensional diagram showed the Nephilim and Oraphim territory, with military outposts marked by glowing lights. Each light had a tag that allowed Bachos access to any and all pertinent data on the military installations at that location. Far to the galactic west, a single tiny light began to wink rapidly. Bachos moved into the diagram, and it swelled to encompass ver. Now ve could now see a virtual representation of the trio of research outposts that sat right on the border of Nephilim space. Ve examined the tags, and was stunned to see that they were under attack. Ve checked the tag repeatedly in disbelief. When ve decided to examine the tag further, ve found the tag was incomprehensible; the outposts must have been destroyed almost instantly.
Ve immediately engaged a series of automated protocols that would transmit a tag containing a situation report to all military installations, ve activated the Strategic Jamming stations in that area and broadcasted a vector to all nearby military vessels. Ve had received the report detailing the unidentified contacts approaching Nephilim space; UISC forces were the nearest availble and were already responding. They should be on site at the moment, but it would be almost 20 minutes before their report would reach ver.
There were citizens stored aboard the research stations, while normally there would have been time to transfer any citizens to another location before it was too late, this was too fast even for that. Most likely they were dealing with actual casualties, something ve had never before experienced. There would be backups of any citizens on board of course, but for far out stations like that they could be gigatau out of date. Ve felt grief swell up inside ver.
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Starglider
- Miles Dyson
- Posts: 8709
- Joined: 2007-04-05 09:44pm
- Location: Isle of Dogs
- Contact:
Outer Defence Monitoring Centre 'Sky Eye',
Kuiper Belt (equivalent), Kiroter'nah Colony System Beta
The tension inside the control centre was electric. Every crew member worked frantically, refining sensor images, contacting fleet units, throwing together on computer simulations and firing off communiques to various groups, Kiroter'nah and xeno. The low babble of voices sounded vaguely like a 100-piece orchestra tuning up before a performance.
"Co-ordinator, tracks confirmed, five more unknown inbounds to Nephilim space, no flightplan, no beacons!"
Zakeraas gestured at the central holoprojector. Strictly the act of will, translated into a wireless network command by his shell, was enough. But like most of his kind he preferred to maintain a limited illusion of physical control.
"How did they get behind allied forces like that? Were there no detection reports from our units?"
"Nothing yet co-ordinator, but the communications lag..." Everyone in the room had become painfully aware of the 30 minute signal delay to the combat zone, even with the best available causal ripple communicators and sensors. Planned amplifier upgrades should have been in place kilochronons ago, decision failure on the part of defence planning no time for complaining now
"They were skirting the edge of anomaly field #4, it must have masked them from our sensors until they cleared it. Now on a course for Nephilim outpost in sector R14. Accounting for signal delay, they may have reached it already."
"Can any allied forces make the intercept?"
"Negative co-ordinator, Hailstorm group and the UISC and Nephilim fleets are too far out of position chasing the first group of contacts."
"How far are they from that intercept?"
"The UISC group should be making contact now... Hailstorm is trailing by 150 chronons."
"Divert Hailstorm to support the Nephilim outposts. The UISC will have to handle the first group. Flash all allied units, possible co-ordinated attack."
---
"Co-ordinator, it's no use, we've lost the first group."
"Anomaly interference again?"
"That isn't helping, but no, from the transition I'd say some sort of shroud." Gyer'kett's frustration was obvious in his voice.
Taxaahnis spoke before Zakeraas could respond. "Just received a relayed signal from Hailstorm, UISC fleet confirms losing the first group of contacts, they appear to have scattered and shrouded."
"A diversion?" It was a general question.
"Not necessarily. The anomaly field may interfered with their shrouds as well as their FTL. They may never have intended to have been detected." Gyer'kett was banking on a wingtip but his modelling seemed sound.
Taxaahnis suddenly spoke up again "Co-ordinator, second part of the message, relayed Nephilim report, they have lost contact with outposts in sectors R14, Q14 and Q13. Black Lightning picked up subspace flashes, possibly bleed from weapons fire. They are pursuing the second group of contacts, but the anomaly field is still affecting sensors."
Zakeraas barked a rapid succession of orders. "All forces in theatre to go to defence condition omega. Assume co-ordinated attack by unknown forces." as if their track leaves much doubt "Hailstorm to continue pursuit, but to keep scanning for more forces and retreat to fallback position echo on the first sign of something they can't handle. Revector Blizzard group to echo, advise strategic command that NGTO forces take up deep holding positions ready to intercept planetary strikes." though surely the machine minds will have their own plans for defending their nests "Render any necessary support as requested by NGTO allies."
----
"It's no use, we've lost the trail. The Nephilim heavy jamming was the final twig. Sorry co-ordinator."
"Don't blame yourself Gyer'kett. I can't blame the Nephilim either, sneak attack like that... Tell Hailstorm that unless they pick something up in the time it takes our signal to reach them, they are to break off and return to border patrol. We can't afford to let anything else through." Sensor inteference effects of strategic anomaly generation were not adequately modelled in advance. but that special ops flock just had to play with their toys still if those eight cloaked ships were the second half of an attack fleet we may have just dodged a plunging kar-zekel thanks to them
"Co-ordinator, we've got six command centres, nine flocks and fifteen xeno government groups all demanding to know what's happening... intership hyperwave is flooded... xeno relations sound like their fur is on fire... Co-ordinator?" Taxaahnis sounded like she was struggling to stay aloft in a sudden downpour.
Zakeraas exhaled a long, drawn out snort, the Kiroter'nah equivalent of a sigh. "Restore comms discipline by whatever means necessary. Run all the logs through security filtering and burst them raw to the non-defence nodes. They'll have to make sense of them on their own. Claws have been bared, our role is to ensure the xeno flock become the hunters rather than the hunted."
Kuiper Belt (equivalent), Kiroter'nah Colony System Beta
The tension inside the control centre was electric. Every crew member worked frantically, refining sensor images, contacting fleet units, throwing together on computer simulations and firing off communiques to various groups, Kiroter'nah and xeno. The low babble of voices sounded vaguely like a 100-piece orchestra tuning up before a performance.
"Co-ordinator, tracks confirmed, five more unknown inbounds to Nephilim space, no flightplan, no beacons!"
Zakeraas gestured at the central holoprojector. Strictly the act of will, translated into a wireless network command by his shell, was enough. But like most of his kind he preferred to maintain a limited illusion of physical control.
"How did they get behind allied forces like that? Were there no detection reports from our units?"
"Nothing yet co-ordinator, but the communications lag..." Everyone in the room had become painfully aware of the 30 minute signal delay to the combat zone, even with the best available causal ripple communicators and sensors. Planned amplifier upgrades should have been in place kilochronons ago, decision failure on the part of defence planning no time for complaining now
"They were skirting the edge of anomaly field #4, it must have masked them from our sensors until they cleared it. Now on a course for Nephilim outpost in sector R14. Accounting for signal delay, they may have reached it already."
"Can any allied forces make the intercept?"
"Negative co-ordinator, Hailstorm group and the UISC and Nephilim fleets are too far out of position chasing the first group of contacts."
"How far are they from that intercept?"
"The UISC group should be making contact now... Hailstorm is trailing by 150 chronons."
"Divert Hailstorm to support the Nephilim outposts. The UISC will have to handle the first group. Flash all allied units, possible co-ordinated attack."
---
"Co-ordinator, it's no use, we've lost the first group."
"Anomaly interference again?"
"That isn't helping, but no, from the transition I'd say some sort of shroud." Gyer'kett's frustration was obvious in his voice.
Taxaahnis spoke before Zakeraas could respond. "Just received a relayed signal from Hailstorm, UISC fleet confirms losing the first group of contacts, they appear to have scattered and shrouded."
"A diversion?" It was a general question.
"Not necessarily. The anomaly field may interfered with their shrouds as well as their FTL. They may never have intended to have been detected." Gyer'kett was banking on a wingtip but his modelling seemed sound.
Taxaahnis suddenly spoke up again "Co-ordinator, second part of the message, relayed Nephilim report, they have lost contact with outposts in sectors R14, Q14 and Q13. Black Lightning picked up subspace flashes, possibly bleed from weapons fire. They are pursuing the second group of contacts, but the anomaly field is still affecting sensors."
Zakeraas barked a rapid succession of orders. "All forces in theatre to go to defence condition omega. Assume co-ordinated attack by unknown forces." as if their track leaves much doubt "Hailstorm to continue pursuit, but to keep scanning for more forces and retreat to fallback position echo on the first sign of something they can't handle. Revector Blizzard group to echo, advise strategic command that NGTO forces take up deep holding positions ready to intercept planetary strikes." though surely the machine minds will have their own plans for defending their nests "Render any necessary support as requested by NGTO allies."
----
"It's no use, we've lost the trail. The Nephilim heavy jamming was the final twig. Sorry co-ordinator."
"Don't blame yourself Gyer'kett. I can't blame the Nephilim either, sneak attack like that... Tell Hailstorm that unless they pick something up in the time it takes our signal to reach them, they are to break off and return to border patrol. We can't afford to let anything else through." Sensor inteference effects of strategic anomaly generation were not adequately modelled in advance. but that special ops flock just had to play with their toys still if those eight cloaked ships were the second half of an attack fleet we may have just dodged a plunging kar-zekel thanks to them
"Co-ordinator, we've got six command centres, nine flocks and fifteen xeno government groups all demanding to know what's happening... intership hyperwave is flooded... xeno relations sound like their fur is on fire... Co-ordinator?" Taxaahnis sounded like she was struggling to stay aloft in a sudden downpour.
Zakeraas exhaled a long, drawn out snort, the Kiroter'nah equivalent of a sigh. "Restore comms discipline by whatever means necessary. Run all the logs through security filtering and burst them raw to the non-defence nodes. They'll have to make sense of them on their own. Claws have been bared, our role is to ensure the xeno flock become the hunters rather than the hunted."
Last edited by Starglider on 2007-09-06 09:37pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Academia Nut
- Sith Devotee
- Posts: 2598
- Joined: 2005-08-23 10:44pm
- Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Sol
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"Ah, excellent then, that is a relief. If in your expert opinion we utilize radically different mechanisms then it is unlikely that our citizens will discover anything radically outside of our understanding. This had been a minor fear of ours since we learned of your people, that we had related abilities and that someone could stumble across something so far beyond our paradigms that we could not control it."
"Of course, that is not to say that we cannot share some of the theory behind our abilities. From what you say, your magic is a well developed science, and while our abilities are innate we have taken a scientific rather than mystical approach to their study and development. So what say you to a little trade of knowledge? Perhaps as a prelude to the trading of other things?"
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"Ah, excellent then, that is a relief. If in your expert opinion we utilize radically different mechanisms then it is unlikely that our citizens will discover anything radically outside of our understanding. This had been a minor fear of ours since we learned of your people, that we had related abilities and that someone could stumble across something so far beyond our paradigms that we could not control it."
"Of course, that is not to say that we cannot share some of the theory behind our abilities. From what you say, your magic is a well developed science, and while our abilities are innate we have taken a scientific rather than mystical approach to their study and development. So what say you to a little trade of knowledge? Perhaps as a prelude to the trading of other things?"
I love learning. Teach me. I will listen.
You know, if Christian dogma included a ten-foot tall Jesus walking around in battle armor and smashing retarded cultists with a gaint mace, I might just convert - Noble Ire on Jesus smashing Scientologists
You know, if Christian dogma included a ten-foot tall Jesus walking around in battle armor and smashing retarded cultists with a gaint mace, I might just convert - Noble Ire on Jesus smashing Scientologists
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Imperial Overlord
- Emperor's Hand
- Posts: 11978
- Joined: 2004-08-19 04:30am
- Location: The Tower at Charm
Sol
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"It would be possible in theory to exchange information regarding the metaphysical basis of the universe," said Hale. "Your people are not the first to manifest unusual abilities because of connections to certain parts of the Beyond. Our current theoretical framework may be of some use to your people. I hope you understand that revealing any of the secrets of the Gnostic Arcana is considered high treason under Centrality law. This will have to discussed by the Ruling Council."
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"It would be possible in theory to exchange information regarding the metaphysical basis of the universe," said Hale. "Your people are not the first to manifest unusual abilities because of connections to certain parts of the Beyond. Our current theoretical framework may be of some use to your people. I hope you understand that revealing any of the secrets of the Gnostic Arcana is considered high treason under Centrality law. This will have to discussed by the Ruling Council."
The Excellent Prismatic Spray. For when you absolutely, positively must kill a motherfucker. Accept no substitutions. Contact a magician of the later Aeons for details. Some conditions may apply.
-
Academia Nut
- Sith Devotee
- Posts: 2598
- Joined: 2005-08-23 10:44pm
- Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Sol
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"Oh, of course! For my own people, the selling or exchange of our technology outside of authorized government channels is also considered high treason. But there are minor, trivial things that can be revealed to 'wet the appetite', so to speak. For example, while I couldn't explain to you the mechanisms of travelling unhindered through the outer realms, not the least reason being that I don't personally know, but I can tell you that there are living things in there."
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"Oh, of course! For my own people, the selling or exchange of our technology outside of authorized government channels is also considered high treason. But there are minor, trivial things that can be revealed to 'wet the appetite', so to speak. For example, while I couldn't explain to you the mechanisms of travelling unhindered through the outer realms, not the least reason being that I don't personally know, but I can tell you that there are living things in there."
I love learning. Teach me. I will listen.
You know, if Christian dogma included a ten-foot tall Jesus walking around in battle armor and smashing retarded cultists with a gaint mace, I might just convert - Noble Ire on Jesus smashing Scientologists
You know, if Christian dogma included a ten-foot tall Jesus walking around in battle armor and smashing retarded cultists with a gaint mace, I might just convert - Noble Ire on Jesus smashing Scientologists
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Redleader34
- Jedi Knight
- Posts: 998
- Joined: 2005-10-03 03:30pm
- Location: Flowing through the Animated Ether, finding unsusual creations
- Contact:
Outer Heilosheith region, Kiroter'nah Colony System Beta
Rozzerbrazzle class ship Return Home
On board the bridge of the Ship Return home there was a great commotion as a small fleet group, consisting of just this ship and several escorting Otherkuns, saw the carnage before their eyes. "Look, its the Probe of the Heralds, its going to hit Opamari city!" the Ensign said, as the probe made its fatal journey. The Captain, a grizzled human shouted "Intercept!, activate Warp Drives and FTL to the planet!" the Ensign responded "Can't sir, the planet's Heilosheith is preventing the..." "Enough with your technobabble, and track the craft! NOW!". The ensign punched up a map, which would show the trajectory, as the missile entered the ISU space. The XO, an new transfer from Central Command would point out that "The Defense platforms are offline, probable to avoid friendly fire, or something of that nature!" "Ensign, count down impact time, and have the Master Cheif call out several ships to count the dead and help the wounded." the captain would wipe his brow "Ryand is going to have my head" he said, as the impact was seen on the sensors.
...
Several hours later, in orbit of the planet
"Sir, I was scanning our sensor logs, and we scanned an tractor impulse frequency frequency before the jamming messed with our sensors." The Ensign looked genunly confused on the issue. The Xo and Captan, as well as several other officers were in a room, discussing the events of the attack. The XO cut the young Kitsune off with is proclamation of "As the XO, I know that this ship couldn't have saned the tractor, because the em miter was faulty from the start. Wipe the sensor logs, and request a new forward. And Ensign, you are dismissed, I know your girl is down there talking, and you miss her, so Go, and ..Yiff.. or whatever you call it..."The Ensign would walk out of the room, while the other officers breathed a sigh of relf. "Now that that Kitsune is gone, we can concern ourself with this operation. This never happened. No one will ever know. the truth." The Captan nodded to the Xo's wise statement, as they adjourned the meeting quickly, officially classifying it as a "bridge reaction optimization class", on the official logs
On the ground, several Otherkun frigates were helping deliver medical aid, to the Opomari citizens. The craft landing was like mana from heaven. In the crew's hearts, as they looked upon the damage with shock and horror.. War was brewing and one could feel it.
((edit due to misreading))
Rozzerbrazzle class ship Return Home
On board the bridge of the Ship Return home there was a great commotion as a small fleet group, consisting of just this ship and several escorting Otherkuns, saw the carnage before their eyes. "Look, its the Probe of the Heralds, its going to hit Opamari city!" the Ensign said, as the probe made its fatal journey. The Captain, a grizzled human shouted "Intercept!, activate Warp Drives and FTL to the planet!" the Ensign responded "Can't sir, the planet's Heilosheith is preventing the..." "Enough with your technobabble, and track the craft! NOW!". The ensign punched up a map, which would show the trajectory, as the missile entered the ISU space. The XO, an new transfer from Central Command would point out that "The Defense platforms are offline, probable to avoid friendly fire, or something of that nature!" "Ensign, count down impact time, and have the Master Cheif call out several ships to count the dead and help the wounded." the captain would wipe his brow "Ryand is going to have my head" he said, as the impact was seen on the sensors.
...
Several hours later, in orbit of the planet
"Sir, I was scanning our sensor logs, and we scanned an tractor impulse frequency frequency before the jamming messed with our sensors." The Ensign looked genunly confused on the issue. The Xo and Captan, as well as several other officers were in a room, discussing the events of the attack. The XO cut the young Kitsune off with is proclamation of "As the XO, I know that this ship couldn't have saned the tractor, because the em miter was faulty from the start. Wipe the sensor logs, and request a new forward. And Ensign, you are dismissed, I know your girl is down there talking, and you miss her, so Go, and ..Yiff.. or whatever you call it..."The Ensign would walk out of the room, while the other officers breathed a sigh of relf. "Now that that Kitsune is gone, we can concern ourself with this operation. This never happened. No one will ever know. the truth." The Captan nodded to the Xo's wise statement, as they adjourned the meeting quickly, officially classifying it as a "bridge reaction optimization class", on the official logs
On the ground, several Otherkun frigates were helping deliver medical aid, to the Opomari citizens. The craft landing was like mana from heaven. In the crew's hearts, as they looked upon the damage with shock and horror.. War was brewing and one could feel it.
((edit due to misreading))
Last edited by Redleader34 on 2007-06-26 11:29pm, edited 1 time in total.
Dan's Art
Bounty on SDN's most annoying
"A spambot, a spambot who can't spell, a spambot who can't spell or spam properly and a spambot with tenure. Tough"choice."
Bounty on SDN's most annoying
"A spambot, a spambot who can't spell, a spambot who can't spell or spam properly and a spambot with tenure. Tough"choice."
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Imperial Overlord
- Emperor's Hand
- Posts: 11978
- Joined: 2004-08-19 04:30am
- Location: The Tower at Charm
Sol
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"The details will have to be hashed out and the exact nature of our exchange looked over by our various security apparatii," said Hale, "but I think we can manage an agreement in principle. We have a mutual interest in these areas and expertise the other lacks. My government will be very interested in this proposal."
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"The details will have to be hashed out and the exact nature of our exchange looked over by our various security apparatii," said Hale, "but I think we can manage an agreement in principle. We have a mutual interest in these areas and expertise the other lacks. My government will be very interested in this proposal."
The Excellent Prismatic Spray. For when you absolutely, positively must kill a motherfucker. Accept no substitutions. Contact a magician of the later Aeons for details. Some conditions may apply.
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Academia Nut
- Sith Devotee
- Posts: 2598
- Joined: 2005-08-23 10:44pm
- Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Sol
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"Excellent. I will send word on to my superiors as well and I'm sure some sort of mutually beneficial agreement can be reached. And while we are speaking of trading ideas, would you like to discuss the trading of more physical objects now, or after dinner?"
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"Excellent. I will send word on to my superiors as well and I'm sure some sort of mutually beneficial agreement can be reached. And while we are speaking of trading ideas, would you like to discuss the trading of more physical objects now, or after dinner?"
I love learning. Teach me. I will listen.
You know, if Christian dogma included a ten-foot tall Jesus walking around in battle armor and smashing retarded cultists with a gaint mace, I might just convert - Noble Ire on Jesus smashing Scientologists
You know, if Christian dogma included a ten-foot tall Jesus walking around in battle armor and smashing retarded cultists with a gaint mace, I might just convert - Noble Ire on Jesus smashing Scientologists
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Imperial Overlord
- Emperor's Hand
- Posts: 11978
- Joined: 2004-08-19 04:30am
- Location: The Tower at Charm
Sol
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"That is another matter entirely," said Hale with a smile. "The Centrality exports raw materials, agricultural products, and a wide variety of manufactured goods including civilian space craft and advanced electronics and cybernetics. I am sure we can come to a mutually beneficial trade agreement."
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"That is another matter entirely," said Hale with a smile. "The Centrality exports raw materials, agricultural products, and a wide variety of manufactured goods including civilian space craft and advanced electronics and cybernetics. I am sure we can come to a mutually beneficial trade agreement."
The Excellent Prismatic Spray. For when you absolutely, positively must kill a motherfucker. Accept no substitutions. Contact a magician of the later Aeons for details. Some conditions may apply.
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Academia Nut
- Sith Devotee
- Posts: 2598
- Joined: 2005-08-23 10:44pm
- Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Sol
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"Oh indeed I am sure we can. The Straltoc Federation is looking to secure a strategic reserve of foodstuffs to supplement the various colonial assets were are working on fully establishing them. While we are not hurting for want of food, we feel it best to ensure we have additional sources of supply. Cybernetics we have, but I'm sure once the protectionist lobbies are told to quiet down we can find niches in one another's markets that have yet to be exploited, and the competition will be good for business in general. Consumer goods... well, you're welcome to try, but I warn you that Straltoc aesthetics are markedly different from human ones just by comparing what I have seen since arriving at Earth and what the interiors of our ships look like. I suppose one area where we might have a non-competitive relationship is in the entertainment industry, although I strongly recommend your people stay the hell away from our porn industry, for reasons both obvious and hidden. In any case, we find that a strong variety of experiences are necessary for the development of our young, the Korrillstav, into adults, the Lisbizif, thus we would be very interested in seeing what the 'exotic' Logos Centrality calls entertainment. For our part, we have a kind of technology based on our empathic abilities that allows us to encode the emotional responses of the characters in a piece of fiction into the story, giving a more indepth experience that your people might enjoy."
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"Oh indeed I am sure we can. The Straltoc Federation is looking to secure a strategic reserve of foodstuffs to supplement the various colonial assets were are working on fully establishing them. While we are not hurting for want of food, we feel it best to ensure we have additional sources of supply. Cybernetics we have, but I'm sure once the protectionist lobbies are told to quiet down we can find niches in one another's markets that have yet to be exploited, and the competition will be good for business in general. Consumer goods... well, you're welcome to try, but I warn you that Straltoc aesthetics are markedly different from human ones just by comparing what I have seen since arriving at Earth and what the interiors of our ships look like. I suppose one area where we might have a non-competitive relationship is in the entertainment industry, although I strongly recommend your people stay the hell away from our porn industry, for reasons both obvious and hidden. In any case, we find that a strong variety of experiences are necessary for the development of our young, the Korrillstav, into adults, the Lisbizif, thus we would be very interested in seeing what the 'exotic' Logos Centrality calls entertainment. For our part, we have a kind of technology based on our empathic abilities that allows us to encode the emotional responses of the characters in a piece of fiction into the story, giving a more indepth experience that your people might enjoy."
I love learning. Teach me. I will listen.
You know, if Christian dogma included a ten-foot tall Jesus walking around in battle armor and smashing retarded cultists with a gaint mace, I might just convert - Noble Ire on Jesus smashing Scientologists
You know, if Christian dogma included a ten-foot tall Jesus walking around in battle armor and smashing retarded cultists with a gaint mace, I might just convert - Noble Ire on Jesus smashing Scientologists
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Imperial Overlord
- Emperor's Hand
- Posts: 11978
- Joined: 2004-08-19 04:30am
- Location: The Tower at Charm
Sol
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"Interiors can be modified and aesthetics are why companies pay designers," said Hale. "I'm sure there will be false starts and failures as well as unexpected successes. That is the nature of such things."
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"Interiors can be modified and aesthetics are why companies pay designers," said Hale. "I'm sure there will be false starts and failures as well as unexpected successes. That is the nature of such things."
The Excellent Prismatic Spray. For when you absolutely, positively must kill a motherfucker. Accept no substitutions. Contact a magician of the later Aeons for details. Some conditions may apply.
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Academia Nut
- Sith Devotee
- Posts: 2598
- Joined: 2005-08-23 10:44pm
- Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Sol
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"Very true, very true, it was more fair warning than anything else. But in any case, what do the people of the Centrality need? I seem to have been dominating this conversation, but surely you and your people have things you desire to have or know."
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy
"Very true, very true, it was more fair warning than anything else. But in any case, what do the people of the Centrality need? I seem to have been dominating this conversation, but surely you and your people have things you desire to have or know."
I love learning. Teach me. I will listen.
You know, if Christian dogma included a ten-foot tall Jesus walking around in battle armor and smashing retarded cultists with a gaint mace, I might just convert - Noble Ire on Jesus smashing Scientologists
You know, if Christian dogma included a ten-foot tall Jesus walking around in battle armor and smashing retarded cultists with a gaint mace, I might just convert - Noble Ire on Jesus smashing Scientologists
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Crossroads Inc.
- Emperor's Hand
- Posts: 9233
- Joined: 2005-03-20 06:26pm
- Location: Defending Sparkeling Bishonen
- Contact:
======================
Bridge of Battleship Tel’stellos
Telos Home Defence Fleet
======================
“Sir? Something is happening, I just got a strange energy reading from the ‘Heralds’ Probe.” A Qwintoni ensign spoke as the Captain looked up. He paused. its started
“Probe? That ‘thing’ is still in Orbit?”
“Was in Orbit sir! It-its beginning to descend! Its diving straight toward Opomari Tower!”
“BATTLESTATIONS! Bring weapons online NOW!”
"Captain, ground scanners have confirmed it! The Herald probe is diving towards Opomari! Tower! Targeting dead center!"
"Intercept! Target it with Primary Phasers!"
"It’s too quick, We're too far away already!... WAIT! I have incoming! Sensors indicate the Chamara ship is going after them, they're the only ones close enough!"
"Tracking?"
"They're entering the atmosphere now! Chamara ship is beginning to fire. Shots are going wild!"
“At that range? One stray bolt could cause untold devastations below! How long till Tower Defenses are up?
"Defence stations coming online... they're not firing, Extending shields only Sir... probably don't want to hit the Chamara ship..."
"They're nearly at the conference site. Ten seconds, eight, seven... it's a hit, the Chamara ship hit the probe, multi-kiloton explosion only!"
"Chamara ship is climbing. Must've been a hell of a bang down there."
"Contact our delegation! Ready a medical away team, they may have casualties. I have a Call to make!” The captain shouted, storming off of the bridge.
“Aye Sir!”
=============
Opomari Tower,
Main Computer Room
20minuts later
=============
A lone figured looked out at multiply screens in the now empty control room. The Central area having been cleared moments early due to unconfirmed reports of electrical fire.
“Well, That did not go exactly as planned… Yet, it shall have the desired outcome no doubt. I can only imagine what the response above ground is like right now. Injuries, a shattered sense of safety, growing outrage over such a blatant attack. No doubt I shall have to answere for a few things… Eventually…”
A computer screen beeped, indicating the finishing of several memory wipes to internal security as well a Charmara Ship Tractor beam records… The figured smiled.
“Ah, its about time, It will be good to get back home…” He said, moment later the robe collapsed, the figured vanished leaving a mobile Hollo emitter…
Bridge of Battleship Tel’stellos
Telos Home Defence Fleet
======================
“Sir? Something is happening, I just got a strange energy reading from the ‘Heralds’ Probe.” A Qwintoni ensign spoke as the Captain looked up. He paused. its started
“Probe? That ‘thing’ is still in Orbit?”
“Was in Orbit sir! It-its beginning to descend! Its diving straight toward Opomari Tower!”
“BATTLESTATIONS! Bring weapons online NOW!”
"Captain, ground scanners have confirmed it! The Herald probe is diving towards Opomari! Tower! Targeting dead center!"
"Intercept! Target it with Primary Phasers!"
"It’s too quick, We're too far away already!... WAIT! I have incoming! Sensors indicate the Chamara ship is going after them, they're the only ones close enough!"
"Tracking?"
"They're entering the atmosphere now! Chamara ship is beginning to fire. Shots are going wild!"
“At that range? One stray bolt could cause untold devastations below! How long till Tower Defenses are up?
"Defence stations coming online... they're not firing, Extending shields only Sir... probably don't want to hit the Chamara ship..."
"They're nearly at the conference site. Ten seconds, eight, seven... it's a hit, the Chamara ship hit the probe, multi-kiloton explosion only!"
"Chamara ship is climbing. Must've been a hell of a bang down there."
"Contact our delegation! Ready a medical away team, they may have casualties. I have a Call to make!” The captain shouted, storming off of the bridge.
“Aye Sir!”
=============
Opomari Tower,
Main Computer Room
20minuts later
=============
A lone figured looked out at multiply screens in the now empty control room. The Central area having been cleared moments early due to unconfirmed reports of electrical fire.
“Well, That did not go exactly as planned… Yet, it shall have the desired outcome no doubt. I can only imagine what the response above ground is like right now. Injuries, a shattered sense of safety, growing outrage over such a blatant attack. No doubt I shall have to answere for a few things… Eventually…”
A computer screen beeped, indicating the finishing of several memory wipes to internal security as well a Charmara Ship Tractor beam records… The figured smiled.
“Ah, its about time, It will be good to get back home…” He said, moment later the robe collapsed, the figured vanished leaving a mobile Hollo emitter…
Praying is another way of doing nothing helpful
"Congratulations, you get a cookie. You almost got a fundamental English word correct." Pick
"Outlaw star has spaceships that punch eachother" Joviwan
Read "Tales From The Crossroads"!
Read "One Wrong Turn"!
"Congratulations, you get a cookie. You almost got a fundamental English word correct." Pick
"Outlaw star has spaceships that punch eachother" Joviwan
Read "Tales From The Crossroads"!
Read "One Wrong Turn"!
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Dahak
- Emperor's Hand
- Posts: 7292
- Joined: 2002-10-29 12:08pm
- Location: Admiralty House, Landing, Manticore
- Contact:
Sol, Jupiter, Ganymede Fleet Base
"This emergency," Grand Admiral Therkov looked up from his report, "why didn't we react in time?"
"Sir," Admiral Sung, chief of observation - among other things - answered grumpily, "we had our eyes on it, but there seems to have been a lot of other shipping around. And with the recent incident with aliens around Earth, we thought it was the prudent way."
"You thought wrong," Therkov dryly observed. "Next time, I want to see a bit more action from our side. This was basically in front of our door. If there are pirates or whatnot around, I want to know. We will be sending a small group to observe those already present, but I don't want the same situation happen again, understood?"
The Admiral across his desk got quite red in his face, but swallowed his pride. Normally, your career didn't last that much longer after disappointing the Grand Admiral. And he didn't want to be the next victim.
***
The cloak-corvette Hungry Eyes had been equipped with the most modern sensor systems and detection mechanisms, though at the cost of a large portion of her armament. She got her signal and slid in line for the large jump gate looming above Io. She could jump into hyperspace herself of course, but using the gate was a way to save energy and life-time of the equipment. She set course around the nearby nations on a round-trip. Her main job was the detection of viable life-bearing planets that hadn't been taken. Her other duties were less publishable.
"This emergency," Grand Admiral Therkov looked up from his report, "why didn't we react in time?"
"Sir," Admiral Sung, chief of observation - among other things - answered grumpily, "we had our eyes on it, but there seems to have been a lot of other shipping around. And with the recent incident with aliens around Earth, we thought it was the prudent way."
"You thought wrong," Therkov dryly observed. "Next time, I want to see a bit more action from our side. This was basically in front of our door. If there are pirates or whatnot around, I want to know. We will be sending a small group to observe those already present, but I don't want the same situation happen again, understood?"
The Admiral across his desk got quite red in his face, but swallowed his pride. Normally, your career didn't last that much longer after disappointing the Grand Admiral. And he didn't want to be the next victim.
***
The cloak-corvette Hungry Eyes had been equipped with the most modern sensor systems and detection mechanisms, though at the cost of a large portion of her armament. She got her signal and slid in line for the large jump gate looming above Io. She could jump into hyperspace herself of course, but using the gate was a way to save energy and life-time of the equipment. She set course around the nearby nations on a round-trip. Her main job was the detection of viable life-bearing planets that hadn't been taken. Her other duties were less publishable.
Great Dolphin Conspiracy - Chatter box
"Implications: we have been intercepted deliberately by a means unknown, for a purpose unknown, and transferred to a place unknown by a form of intelligence unknown. Apart from the unknown, everything is obvious." ZORAC
GALE Force Euro Wimp
Human dignity shall be inviolable. To respect and protect it shall be the duty of all state authority.
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Academia Nut
- Sith Devotee
- Posts: 2598
- Joined: 2005-08-23 10:44pm
- Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Crulmax System
Crulmathi Orbit
Bursting out of the outer dimensions, the Straltoc task force returns to normal space, followed shortly thereafter by the ships of the Golden Sky Combine and the Grand Republic of the Sky Bear dropping out of their respective FTLs.
Orbitting serenely above the night side of the Blue Jewel of the Federation, it is easy to see where the name came from. The world is a deep, rich blue colour only occasionally interrupted by white clouds and accented by countless sparkling lights from cities far below. The space above the planet, while not quite as busy as Earth, is still busy with traffic and instructions are immediately relayed to the various ships as to what orbits they are to park in.
"Welcome to Crulmathi," Captain Jurloc announces.
Crulmathi Orbit
Bursting out of the outer dimensions, the Straltoc task force returns to normal space, followed shortly thereafter by the ships of the Golden Sky Combine and the Grand Republic of the Sky Bear dropping out of their respective FTLs.
Orbitting serenely above the night side of the Blue Jewel of the Federation, it is easy to see where the name came from. The world is a deep, rich blue colour only occasionally interrupted by white clouds and accented by countless sparkling lights from cities far below. The space above the planet, while not quite as busy as Earth, is still busy with traffic and instructions are immediately relayed to the various ships as to what orbits they are to park in.
"Welcome to Crulmathi," Captain Jurloc announces.
I love learning. Teach me. I will listen.
You know, if Christian dogma included a ten-foot tall Jesus walking around in battle armor and smashing retarded cultists with a gaint mace, I might just convert - Noble Ire on Jesus smashing Scientologists
You know, if Christian dogma included a ten-foot tall Jesus walking around in battle armor and smashing retarded cultists with a gaint mace, I might just convert - Noble Ire on Jesus smashing Scientologists
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InnocentBystander
- The Russian Circus
- Posts: 3466
- Joined: 2004-04-10 06:05am
- Location: Just across the mighty Hudson
Free Egypt
Cairo Archology
Of all the super-cities on Earth few are as corrupt and crime infested as Cairo. A true hive of scum and villainy, the black market of the Cairo under-city is a place where anything can be purchased… for a price . A Portuguese agent, dressed as a junkie made his way down into the depths of the city, seeking the informant, a man with information to sell. The informant took many forms, this week he was a drugged up seller, peddling both narcotics and information to those who knew how to ask and where to look. The agent spent hours wandering through the various levels of the under-city, travelling with the crowds to make tracking neigh impossible, until he reached his goal, a dirty looking man sitting in an alley smoking something or another.
“Got stuff? Ye?” the disguised agent asked in the local tongue, “I need the goods.”
The informant looked over, “You looking for a good time, or just need to relax a little?”
“I need the real deal here,” it wasn’t easy to find the code-phrase; this guy had better have something good, “can ya hook me up?” the informant nodded and began rustling through his bag. To even the most careful observer the scene was one of a man buying drugs. Even a high grade telepath would have trouble; both men had a lifetime of training in thought projection, even the keenest of minds wouldn’t be able to pick out the events going on here without knowing what to look for. The informant pulled out a small hand-made cigarette filled with god knows what, the agent handed over a handful of credits and the transaction was almost complete.
“This better be the stuff,” the informant nodded.
“Only the finest.” The informant grinned as the agent left. Strolling only briefly the agent ducked into an alley and lit up. As he smoked a small bead fell into his mouth, an instant later the reader on the roof of his mouth opened and scanned the little bead before it rolled down his throat, soon to be digested. Inside the bead was the information, it made its way through the agent’s neutral implant and into the directional transmitter above his left temple. Synced up with one of Portugal’s orbiting spy satellites, the beam sent an encrypted message, with the information attached, straight to the satellite and within minutes it had made its way to the highest desks of Portuguese intelligence.
“Major ship movement of ships within the NGTO, movements plotted to be somewhere near Nephilim Space.”
Portuguese agents working in un-aligned and pirate controlled regions near NGTO territory will be on the lookout.
Cairo Archology
Of all the super-cities on Earth few are as corrupt and crime infested as Cairo. A true hive of scum and villainy, the black market of the Cairo under-city is a place where anything can be purchased… for a price . A Portuguese agent, dressed as a junkie made his way down into the depths of the city, seeking the informant, a man with information to sell. The informant took many forms, this week he was a drugged up seller, peddling both narcotics and information to those who knew how to ask and where to look. The agent spent hours wandering through the various levels of the under-city, travelling with the crowds to make tracking neigh impossible, until he reached his goal, a dirty looking man sitting in an alley smoking something or another.
“Got stuff? Ye?” the disguised agent asked in the local tongue, “I need the goods.”
The informant looked over, “You looking for a good time, or just need to relax a little?”
“I need the real deal here,” it wasn’t easy to find the code-phrase; this guy had better have something good, “can ya hook me up?” the informant nodded and began rustling through his bag. To even the most careful observer the scene was one of a man buying drugs. Even a high grade telepath would have trouble; both men had a lifetime of training in thought projection, even the keenest of minds wouldn’t be able to pick out the events going on here without knowing what to look for. The informant pulled out a small hand-made cigarette filled with god knows what, the agent handed over a handful of credits and the transaction was almost complete.
“This better be the stuff,” the informant nodded.
“Only the finest.” The informant grinned as the agent left. Strolling only briefly the agent ducked into an alley and lit up. As he smoked a small bead fell into his mouth, an instant later the reader on the roof of his mouth opened and scanned the little bead before it rolled down his throat, soon to be digested. Inside the bead was the information, it made its way through the agent’s neutral implant and into the directional transmitter above his left temple. Synced up with one of Portugal’s orbiting spy satellites, the beam sent an encrypted message, with the information attached, straight to the satellite and within minutes it had made its way to the highest desks of Portuguese intelligence.
“Major ship movement of ships within the NGTO, movements plotted to be somewhere near Nephilim Space.”
Portuguese agents working in un-aligned and pirate controlled regions near NGTO territory will be on the lookout.
-
Nephtys
- Sith Acolyte
- Posts: 6227
- Joined: 2005-04-02 10:54pm
- Location: South Cali... where life is cheap!
Deep Space
Between Confederation, Oberin and the Sol Sector.
From the formless void’s gaping maw, there springs an entity. Not an entity such as any you can conceive of, nor I; an entity more primordial than the elements themselves, yet constantly coming into existence even as it is destroyed. It is the Child of Chaos, the Pathway to the Next.
The darkness shall swallow the land, and in its wake there will follow a storm, as the appetite of nothing expands over the world.
From the formless void’s gaping maw, there springs an entity.
Between Confederation, Oberin and the Sol Sector.
From the formless void’s gaping maw, there springs an entity. Not an entity such as any you can conceive of, nor I; an entity more primordial than the elements themselves, yet constantly coming into existence even as it is destroyed. It is the Child of Chaos, the Pathway to the Next.
The darkness shall swallow the land, and in its wake there will follow a storm, as the appetite of nothing expands over the world.
From the formless void’s gaping maw, there springs an entity.
Blackmast
A Watcher sitting at the edge of Blackmast's control zone marked the five incoming vessels and quickly confirmed their transponders and daily clearance codes. After a moment the operator sent the first query to the lead ship.
After another moment, the lead ship responded.
With a deft flick of his wrist, he opened a hailing channel to the Raven.
"This is Aren Sanson on the Spyglass, you are cleared for preliminary approach. Cut to fifty percent power so you can be scanned as you enter the first defensive ring. Relay these orders to your battle group."
"This is Raven comm, our captain confirms. Power will drop in thirty seconds."
The line closed and Aren turned the Spyglass' formidable scanning array on each of the ships in turn, checking them against both ship schematics and detailed scans taken as the ships had embarked on their mission. Scans for radio, hyper-relay, sub-ether, and a host of other communication and tracking devices came up negative and the deep scans showed no alterations in the ships wiring or mechanisms. Finally, a scan of the outer hull showed deformities and alterations to be well within the safety margins, making it impossible that a passive beacon of sufficient strength to broadcast outside of Blackmast's control zone had been attatched to the hull. Satisfied he sat back and watched as the five knife-like shapes slid past the heavy gun satellites which made up Blackmast's first line of defense.
The ships then entered the reefs, a cloaked minefield which surrounded the darkened world. The routes through were torturous and serpentine, secret, and known only to the captains of each major vessel. Worst of all, the mines were mobile, and every month Blackmast's defense control would shift the pattern of the minefield, forcing captains to relearn the routs, lest a slip of memory lead to a costly disaster. In the case of an emergency or a major fleet deployment, the mines could be moved to create a straight channel, but under normal procedures captains must trust to their reflexes and their memories.
The five ships wove their way through the treacherous field and came out into the clearing, entering docking orbit above the world. There, among the fleet hung the mighty red Atomsk, arrogant and terrifying in its silent vigil over the dead planet.
The ships slipped into their births and their crews were relieved to take shuttles down to the thriving, ever growing community which burrowed deep beneath the planets black and frozen surface.
However, one man, Robert Thuule, captain of the Raven did not follow his men down into the warren of spaceship corridors and modular cities. Instead he boarded a shuttle which boar him straight to the Atomsk.
The Atomsk
Aboard he was greeted by several members of the Bootswellington Royal Command. The group of officials quickly stepped aside at the approach of Vyres, Duke of Reichenwulf and Captain of the Red Devil.
Captain Thuule bowed sharply, "Your Grace, it is an honor to see you."
The Duke of Reichenwulf smiled thinly. "Are you ready to make your report to the King?"
Captain Thuule snapped to attention, "Yes, your Grace."
"Then follow me."
Soldiers, ratings, and officers all stepped aside in respectful deference as the Captain and the Noble made their way through the mighty vessel. Finally, they arrived at an ornately gilded lift guarded by four marines in white and gold shock armor.
The first stepped forward and was silently covered by the heavy pulse guns held at the ready by the other three. "Captain, please surrender any weapons you have on you."
Thuule nodded slowly and removed his service pistol, boot knife, belt blaster and a garrote spool hidden up his left sleeve.
The trooper nodded and turned to the Duke. "Your Grace, please remove all weapons but your court saber."
Reichenwulf gave the marine another of his thin smiles and spread his arms, "I am unarmed."
The trooper nodded and ran a scanner over both men. He stepped back and gestured towards the lift, which hissed open at his signal.
The two men stepped inside and as the door closed, the Duke turned to face the Captain. "We've had word from your son already. Apparently our new friends are pleased with the work you have done on their behalf."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"It must have been a bit of a disappointment for you."
Thuule turned to look at the Duke. "What are you talking about, your Grace?"
"Son of a Pirate, a captain at that, and he wants to be a paper pusher. You must have been disappointed to have him turn out soft."
Captain Thuule's eyes bulged at the naked insult but before he could respond, Reichenwulf was right in his fast, twisting him close by his collar and hissing in his ear.
"It doesn't run in the family does it? You're not soft are you?"
Forgetting decorum, Thuule shoved him away and glared at the hawklike figure of the Duke. "No I'm not soft, you can count on that." He raised his fists threateningly.
The count chuckled softly and turned towards the lift doors. "I'm glad to hear it. You're my witness."
"Wha-" The captain's question was cut off as the doors hissed open. Four more guards stood before the door to King Natan's throne but they stood aside as the Duke and Captain swept through.
Natan slouched on his throne with a furrowed brow. "Robert, good to see you. All went as planned?"
Captain Thuule was taken aback by the King's flouting of protocol, not to mention ignoring the Duke, but he nodded crisply. "There were no problems Your Majesty."
Natan nodded, "You have done excellant work, I'll expect to read the full report later."
"Very good, Your Majesty."
The King turned his eyes to the Duke. "Vyres, there was no need to collect him in person. Besides, shouldn't you be on your ship?" And far away from me...
Vyres stepped forward with a toothy grin. "I have some extra business with the good Captain and your Majesty."
There was a flicker in Natan's eyes and suddenly he was wrenching the stub pistol from the holster he had slung over his throne, bringing it to bear on the Duke...
Who was already upon him, saber flashing from its sheath to bury itself in the chest of the rising King. Blood flew from Natan's mouth and the gun flew from his spasming fingers to clatter across the deck.
Robert dove for the gun and shouted "Guards!" as he slid across the deck, swinging the pistol towards the Duke who was still hunched over the skewered monarch.
Vyre's grin grew wider, "Too soft," he whispered, as he stepped back, leaving Natan pinned to the throne by his quivering ceremonial sword.
The doors flew off their hinges as the Marines stormed in, heavy guns at the ready.
The first took in the scene and held up a hand. He slowly raised his visor.
"Who has killed the King?"
Robert rolled too his feet, "It was him, the Duke is the traitor."
Vyres smiled and stepped forward. "There you have it, a witness."
Robert's expression turned puzzled. "What?"
The lead trooper nodded. "As it is witnessed, so it is confirmed. For having killed the King in honorable combat, we recognize you as new King of Bootswellington. We shall inform the nobles at once."
There was a wet cough and a laugh from behind Vyres. "Too bad I'm not dead."
His eyes widened and his grin turned to a grimace as the guards all nodded. He opened his mouth to protest, or perhaps give an order, but before he could he was ripped to shreds and vaporized by four precision shots from the pulse guns which had just swung back towards him.
Thuule ran to the throne, "Your majesty, are you alright?"
Natan rolled hazy eyes towards him and hocked another gob of blood onto the deck, ignoring the priceless rug at his feet. He hatched a grin. "I think I might need a trip to the sawbones for this. But the arrogant prick only got my lung."
Thuule sighed in relief as medical personel rushed in and he stepped back as they began to check the King's vitals and begin first aid. He stood around uncertainly as they managed to remove the sword and get Natan onto a stretcher. He was surprised to see the still conscious King wave him over.
The medical team stepped back, but only for a moment.
"Your Majesty?"
"Come up with a name. Fictional, historical, your hometown, I don't give a damn."
"Why"
The king managed another grin as the medical team began to lift his stretcher and carry him towards the lift. "You're Duke of it now."
A Watcher sitting at the edge of Blackmast's control zone marked the five incoming vessels and quickly confirmed their transponders and daily clearance codes. After a moment the operator sent the first query to the lead ship.
As he waited for a response, his hand hovered over the scramble button. In the cockpit, the pilot kept a tight grip on throttle, ready to burn for the safety of Blackmast's outer defense cordon.Confirm battle group and route.
After another moment, the lead ship responded.
The operator nodded and thumbed his intercom, "Looks legit, I'm going to clear them for the gauntlet."Raven, Corsair, Laughing Bastard, Gold Thumb, and Elsa. Returning from classified raid. First jump was made uncloaked under allied shroud to 121-97-84. Cloaks then engaged for a blind jump to safe house four. After waiting two hours for signs of pursuit or tracking, group proceeded through a five jump scramble and a slingshot around the Kass system for approach vector.
With a deft flick of his wrist, he opened a hailing channel to the Raven.
"This is Aren Sanson on the Spyglass, you are cleared for preliminary approach. Cut to fifty percent power so you can be scanned as you enter the first defensive ring. Relay these orders to your battle group."
"This is Raven comm, our captain confirms. Power will drop in thirty seconds."
The line closed and Aren turned the Spyglass' formidable scanning array on each of the ships in turn, checking them against both ship schematics and detailed scans taken as the ships had embarked on their mission. Scans for radio, hyper-relay, sub-ether, and a host of other communication and tracking devices came up negative and the deep scans showed no alterations in the ships wiring or mechanisms. Finally, a scan of the outer hull showed deformities and alterations to be well within the safety margins, making it impossible that a passive beacon of sufficient strength to broadcast outside of Blackmast's control zone had been attatched to the hull. Satisfied he sat back and watched as the five knife-like shapes slid past the heavy gun satellites which made up Blackmast's first line of defense.
The ships then entered the reefs, a cloaked minefield which surrounded the darkened world. The routes through were torturous and serpentine, secret, and known only to the captains of each major vessel. Worst of all, the mines were mobile, and every month Blackmast's defense control would shift the pattern of the minefield, forcing captains to relearn the routs, lest a slip of memory lead to a costly disaster. In the case of an emergency or a major fleet deployment, the mines could be moved to create a straight channel, but under normal procedures captains must trust to their reflexes and their memories.
The five ships wove their way through the treacherous field and came out into the clearing, entering docking orbit above the world. There, among the fleet hung the mighty red Atomsk, arrogant and terrifying in its silent vigil over the dead planet.
The ships slipped into their births and their crews were relieved to take shuttles down to the thriving, ever growing community which burrowed deep beneath the planets black and frozen surface.
However, one man, Robert Thuule, captain of the Raven did not follow his men down into the warren of spaceship corridors and modular cities. Instead he boarded a shuttle which boar him straight to the Atomsk.
The Atomsk
Aboard he was greeted by several members of the Bootswellington Royal Command. The group of officials quickly stepped aside at the approach of Vyres, Duke of Reichenwulf and Captain of the Red Devil.
Captain Thuule bowed sharply, "Your Grace, it is an honor to see you."
The Duke of Reichenwulf smiled thinly. "Are you ready to make your report to the King?"
Captain Thuule snapped to attention, "Yes, your Grace."
"Then follow me."
Soldiers, ratings, and officers all stepped aside in respectful deference as the Captain and the Noble made their way through the mighty vessel. Finally, they arrived at an ornately gilded lift guarded by four marines in white and gold shock armor.
The first stepped forward and was silently covered by the heavy pulse guns held at the ready by the other three. "Captain, please surrender any weapons you have on you."
Thuule nodded slowly and removed his service pistol, boot knife, belt blaster and a garrote spool hidden up his left sleeve.
The trooper nodded and turned to the Duke. "Your Grace, please remove all weapons but your court saber."
Reichenwulf gave the marine another of his thin smiles and spread his arms, "I am unarmed."
The trooper nodded and ran a scanner over both men. He stepped back and gestured towards the lift, which hissed open at his signal.
The two men stepped inside and as the door closed, the Duke turned to face the Captain. "We've had word from your son already. Apparently our new friends are pleased with the work you have done on their behalf."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"It must have been a bit of a disappointment for you."
Thuule turned to look at the Duke. "What are you talking about, your Grace?"
"Son of a Pirate, a captain at that, and he wants to be a paper pusher. You must have been disappointed to have him turn out soft."
Captain Thuule's eyes bulged at the naked insult but before he could respond, Reichenwulf was right in his fast, twisting him close by his collar and hissing in his ear.
"It doesn't run in the family does it? You're not soft are you?"
Forgetting decorum, Thuule shoved him away and glared at the hawklike figure of the Duke. "No I'm not soft, you can count on that." He raised his fists threateningly.
The count chuckled softly and turned towards the lift doors. "I'm glad to hear it. You're my witness."
"Wha-" The captain's question was cut off as the doors hissed open. Four more guards stood before the door to King Natan's throne but they stood aside as the Duke and Captain swept through.
Natan slouched on his throne with a furrowed brow. "Robert, good to see you. All went as planned?"
Captain Thuule was taken aback by the King's flouting of protocol, not to mention ignoring the Duke, but he nodded crisply. "There were no problems Your Majesty."
Natan nodded, "You have done excellant work, I'll expect to read the full report later."
"Very good, Your Majesty."
The King turned his eyes to the Duke. "Vyres, there was no need to collect him in person. Besides, shouldn't you be on your ship?" And far away from me...
Vyres stepped forward with a toothy grin. "I have some extra business with the good Captain and your Majesty."
There was a flicker in Natan's eyes and suddenly he was wrenching the stub pistol from the holster he had slung over his throne, bringing it to bear on the Duke...
Who was already upon him, saber flashing from its sheath to bury itself in the chest of the rising King. Blood flew from Natan's mouth and the gun flew from his spasming fingers to clatter across the deck.
Robert dove for the gun and shouted "Guards!" as he slid across the deck, swinging the pistol towards the Duke who was still hunched over the skewered monarch.
Vyre's grin grew wider, "Too soft," he whispered, as he stepped back, leaving Natan pinned to the throne by his quivering ceremonial sword.
The doors flew off their hinges as the Marines stormed in, heavy guns at the ready.
The first took in the scene and held up a hand. He slowly raised his visor.
"Who has killed the King?"
Robert rolled too his feet, "It was him, the Duke is the traitor."
Vyres smiled and stepped forward. "There you have it, a witness."
Robert's expression turned puzzled. "What?"
The lead trooper nodded. "As it is witnessed, so it is confirmed. For having killed the King in honorable combat, we recognize you as new King of Bootswellington. We shall inform the nobles at once."
There was a wet cough and a laugh from behind Vyres. "Too bad I'm not dead."
His eyes widened and his grin turned to a grimace as the guards all nodded. He opened his mouth to protest, or perhaps give an order, but before he could he was ripped to shreds and vaporized by four precision shots from the pulse guns which had just swung back towards him.
Thuule ran to the throne, "Your majesty, are you alright?"
Natan rolled hazy eyes towards him and hocked another gob of blood onto the deck, ignoring the priceless rug at his feet. He hatched a grin. "I think I might need a trip to the sawbones for this. But the arrogant prick only got my lung."
Thuule sighed in relief as medical personel rushed in and he stepped back as they began to check the King's vitals and begin first aid. He stood around uncertainly as they managed to remove the sword and get Natan onto a stretcher. He was surprised to see the still conscious King wave him over.
The medical team stepped back, but only for a moment.
"Your Majesty?"
"Come up with a name. Fictional, historical, your hometown, I don't give a damn."
"Why"
The king managed another grin as the medical team began to lift his stretcher and carry him towards the lift. "You're Duke of it now."
Post 666: Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 12:51 am
Post 777: Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 6:49 pm
Post 999: Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:19 am
-
Shinn Langley Soryu
- Jedi Council Member
- Posts: 1526
- Joined: 2006-08-18 11:27pm
- Location: COOBIE YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS
Sol
Just outside Earth orbit
Bridge of destroyer Char Aznable
"With all due respect, Madam President, I told you repeatly that we should've departed as soon as we intercepted that communique," Flag Admiral Hope Hernandez lectured. "I just hope we won't be too late to attend the festivities."
"Don't worry, Flag Admiral. We won't," President Elizabeth Mitsuishi shot back from atop the command chair, which she had wrested from Flag Admiral Hernandez a few moments earlier. "Granted, we just intercepted the transmission last week, and we sat on it for a few days before finally deciding to do something about it. Better late than never, I suppose."
"Even if we manage to get there on time, who there is going to take us seriously?" Marshal Vivian Nguyen queried. "We obviously didn't receive a formally addressed invitation, for one thing. Second, we've always been a small power; I'm quite positive that most of the Terran powers don't even know of our existence. Third, what kind of a president wears a French maid outfit to a diplomatic occasion?"
Marshal Nguyen glared at Elizabeth, who was wearing a variant on the quintessential French maid uniform: a short and clingy black satin long-sleeved dress with puffy shoulders and white lace cuffs and collar, a white apron, black fishnet stockings, black high heels, and a loaded Para Ordinance P14-45 in a belt holster. "You're one to talk, seeing as you and every other female in the military is wearing sailor fuku," Elizabeth retorted. "If I recall correctly, you were one of the people in favor of the uniform change."
"Hey, anything's better than those drab, boring Western-style uniforms," Marshal Nguyen shot back. "Besides, it's cute, and guys find it sexy. Why not?"
Elizabeth merely sighed as she straightened herself up in the command chair and switched on the comms. "Attention," she called out in as authoritative a tone as she could manage. "I am President Elizabeth Anne Mitsuishi of the Congress of Colonial Settlements. I understand that there is a diplomatic meeting in progress, and I am requesting permission for myself and my party to join. We require an approach vector and landing coordinates before we can proceed." A brief pause. "And yes, I am aware that I'm using a fully armed and operational destroyer as a courier ship. I'll explain later. Also, we'd like to know local regulations regarding firearms. President Mitsuishi, out."
Elizabeth switched off the comms, slumped back in her chair, and heaved another sigh. "Hold position here," she ordered. "We'll wait for a friendly response before proceeding."
Just outside Earth orbit
Bridge of destroyer Char Aznable
"With all due respect, Madam President, I told you repeatly that we should've departed as soon as we intercepted that communique," Flag Admiral Hope Hernandez lectured. "I just hope we won't be too late to attend the festivities."
"Don't worry, Flag Admiral. We won't," President Elizabeth Mitsuishi shot back from atop the command chair, which she had wrested from Flag Admiral Hernandez a few moments earlier. "Granted, we just intercepted the transmission last week, and we sat on it for a few days before finally deciding to do something about it. Better late than never, I suppose."
"Even if we manage to get there on time, who there is going to take us seriously?" Marshal Vivian Nguyen queried. "We obviously didn't receive a formally addressed invitation, for one thing. Second, we've always been a small power; I'm quite positive that most of the Terran powers don't even know of our existence. Third, what kind of a president wears a French maid outfit to a diplomatic occasion?"
Marshal Nguyen glared at Elizabeth, who was wearing a variant on the quintessential French maid uniform: a short and clingy black satin long-sleeved dress with puffy shoulders and white lace cuffs and collar, a white apron, black fishnet stockings, black high heels, and a loaded Para Ordinance P14-45 in a belt holster. "You're one to talk, seeing as you and every other female in the military is wearing sailor fuku," Elizabeth retorted. "If I recall correctly, you were one of the people in favor of the uniform change."
"Hey, anything's better than those drab, boring Western-style uniforms," Marshal Nguyen shot back. "Besides, it's cute, and guys find it sexy. Why not?"
Elizabeth merely sighed as she straightened herself up in the command chair and switched on the comms. "Attention," she called out in as authoritative a tone as she could manage. "I am President Elizabeth Anne Mitsuishi of the Congress of Colonial Settlements. I understand that there is a diplomatic meeting in progress, and I am requesting permission for myself and my party to join. We require an approach vector and landing coordinates before we can proceed." A brief pause. "And yes, I am aware that I'm using a fully armed and operational destroyer as a courier ship. I'll explain later. Also, we'd like to know local regulations regarding firearms. President Mitsuishi, out."
Elizabeth switched off the comms, slumped back in her chair, and heaved another sigh. "Hold position here," she ordered. "We'll wait for a friendly response before proceeding."
I ship Eino Ilmari Juutilainen x Lydia V. Litvyak.
Phantasee: Don't be a dick.
Stofsk: What are you, his mother?
The Yosemite Bear: Obviously, which means that he's grounded, and that she needs to go back to sucking Mr. Coffee's cock.
"d-did... did this thread just turn into Thanas/PeZook slash fiction?" - Ilya Muromets[/size]
Stofsk: What are you, his mother?
The Yosemite Bear: Obviously, which means that he's grounded, and that she needs to go back to sucking Mr. Coffee's cock.
"d-did... did this thread just turn into Thanas/PeZook slash fiction?" - Ilya Muromets[/size]
Deep Space
Between Confederation, Oberin and the Sol Sector
Meteor-class Transport SSP-451
Lunchtime
"Oh boy, one of these again," the Utahraptor said, clacking it's claws on the monitor. The report was vague, but it wasn't hard to guess what it was about. Little squiggly pings of radar interference out in the middle of nowhere were usually caused by one of two things, and this wasn't anywhere near hazing time. Besides, this one wasn't wriggling.
"Wonnawot?" chirped the Velociraptor, peeking it's helmeted head over the back of the chair. The helmet was around the size of the Utahraptor's palm, and therefore far too big for the chicken-sized micro raptor, and because this was Chik, the helmet was also terribly askew and covered up one of it's beady eyes. "Wegotsa target!"
Juk the Utahraptor pivoted the chair to obscure the spastic feathered marine's view, but all that accomplished was piquing it's interest. The little thing lept over and landed feet first on the monitor, gripping it with tiny bladed hands.
"Ohoy, it's a whatzit! What izzit?"
Juk peeled Chik off and held him aloft, tossing him back as the other crew started to take notice. The big Rex in the back poked in half his snout, smelling of murder and peppermint. It could barely squeeze an eye in on the monitor, breathing all over the back of the chair in a disconcerting way.
"It's been a long time since we've been on dumpster duty," remarked the Tyrannosaur with jocular scarcasm. "It's a pod."
The tiny raptor squealed and pounced on the Tyrannosaur's nostril in feral delight. "Whazzapod?"
It's important to note that not all Velociraptors are this deranged, but many approach it. What puts Chik over the line into pure self-indulgent infantilism is the result of claustrophobia. As small, fast predators with two claws into the realm of flight, being cramped up longterm inside of a troop transport is biologically inadvisable. Generally the Velociraptors do not last long enough in boarding operations for this to be problematic, or are cycled out back into the general population. SSP-451 has been on E.L.P. however, making shoreleave impossible, and causing what little of the creature's brain that existed in the first place to turn rather much crazed.
"It's trouble," offered the Rex. "I can't remember exactly when it was we last saw one of these so far out this way... what does the report say?"
Juk doubletapped the report that contained the image, scrolling back to the orders and information, and turned back to talk.
"Drag and drop, off somewhere else. We've been given a few discretionary targets, but one of interest, assuming we can get to it before the pod does it's thing and is still quiet."
"That shouldn't be hard," the snout stated. "Any timetable?"
"We are a few sectors away... probably within the week. If we pull this off right, we might get off E.L.P."
The tiny raptor nearly burst into flames with excitement, feathers curled with anticipation as it hopped onto the back of the chair. It is also important to note that E.L.P. stands for Extremely Long Patrol, and is generally used as punishment for some past gross oversight of duty. It was better than being recycled into foodstuffs, but not by much. The tiny predator clawed affectionately at the monitor and chirped.
"Ahaaaz, Pod! I lovit, nyaahaaaah!"
Sanctuary
Cretacean Capitol
Saur Tagh knocked back a pint of vile, greasy-looking liquor as he sat down next to Catton. Tagh, as the head of the Army, had been informed at the same time as Catton about the space oddity they had discovered not too far from Oberon space, but not not too far enough for Dinosaur liking. The Confederacy had not survived unknown for this long by leaping at every opportunity to make headlines. The pock-marked Catton was showing his years, but his horns were still as sharp as ever, and his wits nearly so.
"Gah, I tell you, sometimes surviving can be its own death sentence," Tagh said in a voice that sounded like he'd been eating gravel. "You and I, we've lived too long to see us get all mixed up in things now."
Catton smirked, which was hard with a beak, and sat back in the chair, which was hard with four legs. His voice sounded like it had smouldered out long ago, and the two of them were nearly fossils in a very real sense of the word.
"They never asked us what we wanted. Welcome to the big leagues."
Saur smirked, and squinted his one eye down at the report, pouring himself another drink with his tiny little arms. "Bil, has our reconnaissance detected any outgoing communications since it straightened out its flight pattern?"
Catton shook it's frilled head. There was a piece missing in it from some previous disagreement with a senior officer back when Bil Catton had a senior officer to report to. "Just sitting there like they always do. We'll have it picked up and tucked away before the thing so much as blinks."
Tagh's face curled into something close to an annoyed smirk. It was hard for Tagh to smile either, but that was a psychological defect instead of a physiological one. "I just hope you're not out of your mind sending a Elp to move it. What made you come up with this scheme anyway?"
Catton just smiled. "I had a hunch."
Between Confederation, Oberin and the Sol Sector
Meteor-class Transport SSP-451
Lunchtime
"Oh boy, one of these again," the Utahraptor said, clacking it's claws on the monitor. The report was vague, but it wasn't hard to guess what it was about. Little squiggly pings of radar interference out in the middle of nowhere were usually caused by one of two things, and this wasn't anywhere near hazing time. Besides, this one wasn't wriggling.
"Wonnawot?" chirped the Velociraptor, peeking it's helmeted head over the back of the chair. The helmet was around the size of the Utahraptor's palm, and therefore far too big for the chicken-sized micro raptor, and because this was Chik, the helmet was also terribly askew and covered up one of it's beady eyes. "Wegotsa target!"
Juk the Utahraptor pivoted the chair to obscure the spastic feathered marine's view, but all that accomplished was piquing it's interest. The little thing lept over and landed feet first on the monitor, gripping it with tiny bladed hands.
"Ohoy, it's a whatzit! What izzit?"
Juk peeled Chik off and held him aloft, tossing him back as the other crew started to take notice. The big Rex in the back poked in half his snout, smelling of murder and peppermint. It could barely squeeze an eye in on the monitor, breathing all over the back of the chair in a disconcerting way.
"It's been a long time since we've been on dumpster duty," remarked the Tyrannosaur with jocular scarcasm. "It's a pod."
The tiny raptor squealed and pounced on the Tyrannosaur's nostril in feral delight. "Whazzapod?"
It's important to note that not all Velociraptors are this deranged, but many approach it. What puts Chik over the line into pure self-indulgent infantilism is the result of claustrophobia. As small, fast predators with two claws into the realm of flight, being cramped up longterm inside of a troop transport is biologically inadvisable. Generally the Velociraptors do not last long enough in boarding operations for this to be problematic, or are cycled out back into the general population. SSP-451 has been on E.L.P. however, making shoreleave impossible, and causing what little of the creature's brain that existed in the first place to turn rather much crazed.
"It's trouble," offered the Rex. "I can't remember exactly when it was we last saw one of these so far out this way... what does the report say?"
Juk doubletapped the report that contained the image, scrolling back to the orders and information, and turned back to talk.
"Drag and drop, off somewhere else. We've been given a few discretionary targets, but one of interest, assuming we can get to it before the pod does it's thing and is still quiet."
"That shouldn't be hard," the snout stated. "Any timetable?"
"We are a few sectors away... probably within the week. If we pull this off right, we might get off E.L.P."
The tiny raptor nearly burst into flames with excitement, feathers curled with anticipation as it hopped onto the back of the chair. It is also important to note that E.L.P. stands for Extremely Long Patrol, and is generally used as punishment for some past gross oversight of duty. It was better than being recycled into foodstuffs, but not by much. The tiny predator clawed affectionately at the monitor and chirped.
"Ahaaaz, Pod! I lovit, nyaahaaaah!"
Sanctuary
Cretacean Capitol
Saur Tagh knocked back a pint of vile, greasy-looking liquor as he sat down next to Catton. Tagh, as the head of the Army, had been informed at the same time as Catton about the space oddity they had discovered not too far from Oberon space, but not not too far enough for Dinosaur liking. The Confederacy had not survived unknown for this long by leaping at every opportunity to make headlines. The pock-marked Catton was showing his years, but his horns were still as sharp as ever, and his wits nearly so.
"Gah, I tell you, sometimes surviving can be its own death sentence," Tagh said in a voice that sounded like he'd been eating gravel. "You and I, we've lived too long to see us get all mixed up in things now."
Catton smirked, which was hard with a beak, and sat back in the chair, which was hard with four legs. His voice sounded like it had smouldered out long ago, and the two of them were nearly fossils in a very real sense of the word.
"They never asked us what we wanted. Welcome to the big leagues."
Saur smirked, and squinted his one eye down at the report, pouring himself another drink with his tiny little arms. "Bil, has our reconnaissance detected any outgoing communications since it straightened out its flight pattern?"
Catton shook it's frilled head. There was a piece missing in it from some previous disagreement with a senior officer back when Bil Catton had a senior officer to report to. "Just sitting there like they always do. We'll have it picked up and tucked away before the thing so much as blinks."
Tagh's face curled into something close to an annoyed smirk. It was hard for Tagh to smile either, but that was a psychological defect instead of a physiological one. "I just hope you're not out of your mind sending a Elp to move it. What made you come up with this scheme anyway?"
Catton just smiled. "I had a hunch."
Crulmax System
Crulmathi Orbit
After seeing their Archon's ship safely to Straltoc space, the larger, armed GSCN cruiser smoothly wheeled about, requested an exit vector, and was swiftly on its way back to Golden Sky Combine space with a shrinking, watery flash of light.
Archon Brea had her pilot follow the orbital parking procedures from Straltoc command, and then signaled Captain Jurloc their success.
Crulmathi Orbit
After seeing their Archon's ship safely to Straltoc space, the larger, armed GSCN cruiser smoothly wheeled about, requested an exit vector, and was swiftly on its way back to Golden Sky Combine space with a shrinking, watery flash of light.
Archon Brea had her pilot follow the orbital parking procedures from Straltoc command, and then signaled Captain Jurloc their success.