STGOD: DAS: Main Game Thread.

Thirdfain · Post by **Thirdfain** » 2007-07-06 01:12pm

Pretoria
South Africa

"HOW LONG CAN WE ACCEPT THIS INJUSTICE? HOW LONG CAN THIS HORROR CONTINUE? HOW LONG CAN WE BE CONTROLLED AND HELD BACK BY THE ENEMY? HOW MANY CITIES MUST BE KILLED BY THEIR TREACHERY?" The crowd outsidde the governmeny complex in Pretoria howled. One hundred thousand people were a small number compared to the entire population of the Trans-genetic Alliance, but packed into the public square, the discontented seemed an army. The ancient flags of the Afrikaaner Republic waved wildly, and the crowd surged forwards towards the police barricades again. "I DON'T BELIEVE THEIR LIES! THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES SO LONG AS THE ENEMY MURDERS OUR PEOPLE BY THE MILLIONS! AFRICA WILL BE RED WITH THEIR BLOOD!"

Unitl then, the riot had been largely a peaceful demonstration. That was when the first shot rang out, a hollow crack- and then another. Loyalist troops fell from the line, chests hollowed out by the horrid blasts of reactive-metal bullets.

Thirdfain · Post by **Thirdfain** » 2007-07-06 04:08pm

(3 part post- 1st is for Tannasinn, 2nd is for the Trans-Genetic Alliance, 3rd is for the Space Spaniards of Adrian Laguna.)

Presidential Palace
Warsaw
Poland, Earth
Sol System

The lights of the city of Warsaw turned night into day- the sun itself was rendered irrelevant by the grind and press of a billion human lives and their constant industry. Clouds hung low, made grey by factory emanations and lit to the point of beauty by a million bulbs in a rainbow of colors. Advertisements flickered and moved, projected from the ground below at considerable expense. The hive-towers of the arcologies seemed to stretch endlessly into the distance, each one surmounted by a crown of smokestacks, receiver/transmitter towers, and landing platforms. Poland was the most densely populated place on Earth without exception, its territory largely covered by the vast cityscapes of the megalopolis. Even the quaint structures of the Old City were alive with movement, cars and civilian EMVs, tourists and carousing locals filling the antique streets and sidewalks.

The Presidential Palace, with its security checkpoints and armed guards, was silent. Those who moved between the buildings of the complex were silent, or spoke in hushed tones. The bulky form of an Army EMV could be seen settling on a government landing platform.

Inside the Palace, Anton Wisniowiecki sat. The drawing room as calm and dark, lit by warm lights and a crackling fireplace. The President of the Polish Republic, Chairman of the Miedzymorze Federation, swished a bit of cognac in a deep glass before taking a sip.

The ambassador from the Glorious Republic took a seat across from the exhausted-looking statesman.

“Difficult speech, Mr. President?”

Wisniowiecki sighed.
“Always, Ambassador.” Five stories up, the reporters were still being herded out by alert security guards. “But it’s very good to see you. I’ve noticed your actions on the floor of the Coalition. I believe that nations should not base their relations upon pieces of paper- such ‘alliances’ tend to be insincere and dangerous, sources of contention and violence. This Republic learned that to it’s detriment a hundred times. Rather, I believe in mutual interests and respect. Poland and your Glorious Republic seem to have mutual interests insofar, and you have certainly garnered my respect. That being the case, I’d like to offer you these.”

He handed over a small sheaf of papers.

The Ambassador read through them briefly.

“Very generous. Most favored nation trading status, extradition treaties, and permission for the usage of Polish refueling and supply bases by Khurlassian vessels. But no defensive alliance…”

The President shrugged.

“I see no need for a binding contract on that matter. I’m sure your Republic will act accordingly when it’s interests are threatened. No need for official ties besides these signs of friendship. Will you accept?”

Warsaw International Airport #28
Warsaw
Poland, Earth
Sol System

The Uche and his family were escorted peaceably to a sumptuous apartment in one of the best hotels in the ‘polis. Waiting for them was a rather impressive feast and a tall, perpetually frowning Polish envoy.

“Welcome to the Warsaw Hilton, Your Majesty. Is there anything the Polish Republic can do for you, or your poor embattled nation?”

Aerospace Port
First Landing City
Wysoka
Roman System

The Spanish pinnace touched down practically in the center of the small city. Only a few hundred thousand lived in the low, colonial buildings and prefab habs of First Landing. A cathedral of the Reformed Catholic Church was the tallest visible structure, it’s spire carved from the native stone and set with a brace of deep-voiced sounding bells. The aerospace port was in the center of town, practically a commons, studded with the ugly shapes of landing craft and the covered pits of air defense nodes but shadowed on all sides by the quaint necessities of a colonial city.

The Spaniards disembarked to the sight of a hundred Regular Army soldiers in full battle-dress, armor set to parade colors, weapons gleaming at attention. The flags of Wysoka flew besides the tall standard of the Polish Republic, pure white and blood red with the blue sidebar of Miedzymorze and the White Eagle proudly displayed.

The Governor of Wysoka, a slender and stern looking woman with wrists and neck faintly blued by the anti-agapic effects of Poulson treatments, was at the fore of the grouping, dressed in her best and flanked by two men, one in the uniform of a Fleet Colonel and the other in Army dress blacks.

“Welcome to Wysoka.”

Redleader34 · Post by **Redleader34** » 2007-07-06 04:53pm

The trooper shot, the order would be called, fire the mary jane! The majiurana bombs would fly, the cooling scent of Dale class herb calming down even the wildest person with THC goodness. As a backup maneuver, the weapons of Soma, a snarkly named gas which was a mixture of opiates, caniboids, and other calming gasses would spread out through the crowd. A sector investigations sniper would fire a rifle in the heart of the gunner, while the Uche looked on in dismay, from his com sensors. "This will need the command of the Guard, and blockades will be given.. The submariner cor will be ordered to watch the waters, mine the coasts. New Mombasa Heights will be alerted to Scan." His direct link to the Station would be furious with activity, as a diplomat would speak with the (space bats). The Grey wolf would be furious "l am convinced that some other power is behind these Afrikaners. The Uche hasn't had to deal with them since the battle of the southern river! We must have a way of proving an link. They are powers at work here, they want us to collapse into chaos! Anarchy! We must have our intelligence orgisations investigate this." The wolf would look at the (space bats) and sigh, waiting for an answer.

At Laos, the fleet would be waiting, while a lone smuggling boat would try to sneak a shipment of guns into the country. A PT boat, equipped with side sweeping radars would note its position, and force the boat to stop. The Smugglers would try to fight, but their AKs were no match for the heavy armor of a Dragon Trooper. They had hit upon a GI boat. Guard Intelligence. The smugglers killed, the boat would be ripe for taking for investigation.

The Uche Directly off a transport from the negations to Warsaw would say "Yeah, help me with a blockade before global thermonuclear war is started, and
Tell the Poles I request a meeting on an international Peacekeeping force to sweep up the last of the Rebels, and I need a hanagar for the Royal Guard up there" He pointed to the Veritec flying in circles above the family.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2007-07-06 05:08pm

"This... Is GNN."

The Galactic News Network emblem flashed on the screen, followed by shots of the nuclear devastation that had been unleashed on Earth. A female voice took over. "This was the scene today on the ground today as, for the first time in decades, thermonuclear warheads detonated on a populated city on Earth. The destruction is unimaginable. Tens of thousands are confirmed dead, and the number is rising by the hour, with millions feared lost with this city. Relief organizations across the globe and across known space are organizing and petitioning for permission to try and assist in the recovery. We have the head of the Interstellar Red Cross on the line.."

A standardized image of the head of the IRC appeared. "Thank you, Miss Lucretia. While we are aware that this is an event on sovereign soil, we are hoping the TGA will allow us to reach the site with the utmost haste..."

"I'm sorry, Administrator, but I have to interrupt you for a moment.. We're receiving word that TGA troops are unleashing chemical weapons against rioters and suspected rebels. We do not yet have confirmation of the type of chemicals used, they may just be crowd control... Administrator, would you care to weigh in?"

"If the TGA is moving to this level, it is becoming increasingly clear that basic law and order is breaking down. In this age, of small nuclear-yield weapons, of engineered plagues, and of a thousand other ways to kill too many people, the danger this represents to Earth's historic stability is dire."

"Thank you, Administrator. We certainly wish you and the IRC the best of luck in helping people in Johannesburg recover. After the break, we'll be bringing in our roundtable of military analysts to discuss the situation on the ground in Africa."

White Haven · Post by **White Haven** » 2007-07-06 05:21pm

Thirdfain wrote:"You clearly don't understand, do you? Here in the Polish Republic, we have rule of law. And those laws were broken. A trial was in order- a trial which your mad actions made quite impossible. A body tossed out an airlock is not a conviction, a single crewmember on an entire starship is not an answer for a hundred broken safety regulations and more importantly a dozen Polish corpses!"

Warshawski mopped his brow. The pudgy man was a little red.

"Don't pretend you don't understand that, Daniel. There was no justice in your actions, and your captain's half-hearted attempt at fixing the situation was a joke which no rational sentients would accept. The issue here is the blatant disregard for our sovereignity and lives your people have consitently displayed."

"Laws were broken. The guilty party was surrendered. Your military goons persisted in a blatant hostile seizure on twenty-three blameless individuals, did not signal anything but hostility and threats and vitriol, attempted to invade a Fury of the Void vessel, and, most telling of all, did not attempt to apprehend the guilty man, who was quite alive, and quite outside of League protection." The man's voice shivers with a psychic undercurrent at that last point, unconscious bleedover that even his relatively tight control fails to restrain.

"Our people did nothing, other than react to a hostile force attempting to attack them. One person committed a crime against you, and was surrendered in turn. Plural, versus singular. In the League, children learn this, before exile. Is that not true in Poland?"

Thirdfain · Post by **Thirdfain** » 2007-07-06 07:00pm

"Our people did nothing, other than react to a hostile force attempting to attack them. One person committed a crime against you, and was surrendered in turn. Plural, versus singular. In the League, children learn this, before exile. Is that not true in Poland?"

"I'm sure had there been a trial, the Republic would have been able to determine that. As of right now, however, we have nothing but the words of an arrogant blowhard. The second your vessel turned it's engine-burn on the station, it was in violation- ALL of it was in violation. Allow me to make the situation clear, Daniel. Your actions constitue an act of war against the Polish Republic and the Miedzymorze Federation. Unless you take further actions to rectify your... mistake, we will have to follow through with the strictest measures. This government is willing to accept a public apology and reparations equalling 10 trillion Polish zlotys."

Thirdfain · Post by **Thirdfain** » 2007-07-06 07:04pm

Pretoria
South Africa, TGA
Earth
Sol System

The sharp reports of gunfire and the roar of the crowd could be heard in the distance. Gideon watched the smoke from the firebombs billowing, saw the thick white clouds of the happy-gas roiling through the city streets around the Government building a mile away. Government aircraft were circling. One jerked to the side, spouting smoke, and began to fall suddenly. The shouts of the police and the crowd could be heard distinctly.

Gideon knew that the government would put the riot down quickly, even with the armed men with their erzatz gas-masks and one-shot AA tubes mixed in.

He drove his van around the front of the terminal of the Pretoria International Aerospace Port. Starships and aircraft crowded the tarmac.

A security checkpoint was right ahead. Gideon looked at his watch. Fourty seconds.

"Excuse me, sir. There are no unauthorized vehicles allowed beyond this point. May I see your ID?"

Gideon smiled broadly at the guard.

"Of course. Hold on a second." He fumbled purposely with his wallet.

Five seconds.

Inside the guard shack, an alarm went off. "HOLY shit! We're getting rad readings on that vehicle-"

Two seconds.

Gideon looked straight at the guard's suddenly raised weapon.

"Free South Africa."

The conflagration halfway across the city was made irrellevant then, as the 20-kiloton bomb stashed in the back of Gideon's van initiated, perfectly timed with the other three his associates had brought in to the airport that morning at different places.

Four new suns burned briefly in the city of Pretoria.

The Uche Directly off a transport from the negations to Warsaw would say "Yeah, help me with a blockade before global thermonuclear war is started, and
Tell the Poles I request a meeting on an international Peacekeeping force to sweep up the last of the Rebels, and I need a hanagar for the Royal Guard up there" He pointed to the Veritec flying in circles above the family.

An orderly entered the room, sweating. "My Lord Uche, a report from Pretoria. While our security forces were clashing with the armed mob, someone set of nuclear blasts at the Pretoria aerospace port. Four weapons of a yield around 20 kilotons each were used..."

White Haven · Post by **White Haven** » 2007-07-06 07:28pm

Thirdfain wrote:"I'm sure had there been a trial, the Republic would have been able to determine that. As of right now, however, we have nothing but the words of an arrogant blowhard. The second your vessel turned it's engine-burn on the station, it was in violation- ALL of it was in violation. Allow me to make the situation clear, Daniel. Your actions constitue an act of war against the Polish Republic and the Miedzymorze Federation. Unless you take further actions to rectify your... mistake, we will have to follow through with the strictest measures. This government is willing to accept a public apology and reparations equalling 10 trillion Polish zlotys."

The man's mouth twists, as if tasting something sour, "My my...advocating a doctrine of collective responsibility...I thought that went out of style with the...I believe it was the twentieth century, by Earth reckoning? And blackmail! I am disappointed, Mister Warshawski, I had expected more civility out of this meeting. Now, what say you rewind and try again, this time without the posturing and threats."

Thirdfain · Post by **Thirdfain** » 2007-07-06 07:38pm

White Haven wrote: The man's mouth twists, as if tasting something sour, "My my...advocating a doctrine of collective responsibility...I thought that went out of style with the...I believe it was the twentieth century, by Earth reckoning? And blackmail! I am disappointed, Mister Warshawski, I had expected more civility out of this meeting. Now, what say you rewind and try again, this time without the posturing and threats."

"A body tossed out an airlock is not responsibility. In fact, not a single action your nation's representitives have undertaken have had shown any degree of responsibility. Your entire crew was to be taken in because it was not your vessel's captain's right to make a judgement and administer a punishment for the crimes committed- it was ours. Every responsible power has a system of courts, where situations like this are evaluated. Every member of a ship's crew- particularly the command staff- would be arrested, the entire ship would be impounded for the duration of the trial, and then we would assign responsibility to those individuals who deserved it. Perhaps you are familiar with the concept of a fair trial?"

Warshawski smiled.

"Now, when can we expect to see justice for the crimes your nation has committed against the Polish Republic?"

Covenant · Post by **Covenant** » 2007-07-07 03:02am

Cretecean Confederation
Covert Listening Post P3X-219
Landing Cavern

Pete stood from the table, bowing his head as he slipped out the door, and dropped to all fours when out of sight. The chains of his station hung noosely around his neck as he plodded down the empty corridors of noise to the control room and shut the door. All the silence did was let the sound of his thoughts expand to fill the void, and his fingers spun at the wheels and knobs of the communications array.

It was not long before Tzi had a reply, and though the conversation was truly epic, it is omitted for the sake of brevity. The ambassadorial ambassador returned to the room, sat, and smoothed out the kinks in his chain.

"As expected, as moreover as previously stated, my initial response is to decline your offer invitation of formal alliance. The loud and noisy communications from Earth, much not like our quiet, and shall we say covert inter-peopleperson communications, seem to indicate that there is great trouble and danger to be had in too great a closeness.

Though barter trade is extremely valuable, we would wish not to barter trade away our security safety for the sake of teas and silks. This, and that is to say this offer, does not seem advisable or desirable to us, and there are a great many ranks of Important Persons who do agree, and most wholeheartedly endorse, a policy of non-alliance at this time."

Pete pauses as he moves a claw through his guide, licking a finger with a raspy claw as he flips to the correct page.

"It appears you haven't been informed or explained our political represenatative structure format yet. As a Confederacy, each nation member group decides for it's own what it wishes and requires. As an Alliance would impact and effect all people persons of the Confederacy, it would need to be a highly aggreeable, and almost unanimous, measure to be considered. Needless to say, this is not the case nor the situation. Should the human person peoples of Earth come here and fire upon our most inoffensive and surely extremely harmless scout vessels, the Confederacy as a whole would reconsider. For now though, and that is to say at this moment, it seems more would be asked of us, and of me, than we are getting in return. Solitude, and seclusion, is it's own safety."

Tanasinn · Post by **Tanasinn** » 2007-07-07 04:18pm

Presidential Palace
Warsaw
Poland, Earth
Sol System

High Diplomat Chul gave the Polish President the Khurl equivilent of a smile: a curious wide-eyed expression that left the corner of each eye on the calm diplomat's "face" turned up.

"Mr. President, these offers are more than generous, and my nation will accept them with gratitude," he began, speaking through biological means, "naturally, I can guarantee that the Khurlassian Republic will reciprocate your gestures; I will have papers drafted up to this effect and sent to you personally, as well as to any secretaries or officials you also wish to receive them. Our Republic will also, I assure you, be willing to extend its own unique talents to your peoples, particularly in the field of medicine."

The Khurl "stood" from his sitting posture, extending a gloved hand from his spartan diplomat's robe towards President Wisniowiecki as he spoke, "I look forward to the friendship between our nations. No doubt we will both benefit from each others' kindnesses."

Post by **Beowulf** » 2007-07-07 05:08pm

Kitaka Message Buoy
far outside Kitaka Space

GS Tranquility dropped into realspace, decently close to the message buoy before decloaking. It updated the buoy with the message: "Three", before cloaking again and leaving in a different direction than it came.

---

Portugeuse Space

A shuttle from the Asura-class frigate in orbits lands. A environment suited figure walks out of the shuttle. After the hatch closed, it takes on a feeling of inertness -- as if the shuttle is dead. The figure walks down the street before turning into an alleyway. The figure speaks quietly, "Reinforce, suit off." Instantaneously, the suit appears to melt away, before being absorbed into a cross shaped necklace. It leaves a young woman in a smart business suit, though it's several hundred years out of fashion. "Thank you, Reinforce."

She then walks into the Polish embassy. "I am Colonel Yagami. I have important information to relay to your ambassador."

The embassy employee responds, "Certainly, do you have an appointment?"

"No, I don't have an appointment. But it is vital to your national security."

"Very well." The employee pushs on an intercom. "There's a Colonel Yagami, of the, pardon, where are you from?"

"The Kitaka."

"The Kitaka here to see the ambassador, does he have time free in his schedule?"
--

The ambassador welcomed her. "Colonel Yagami? You said you have some information for us?"

"It's a mostly audio recording, actually. Reinforce, play the recording."

Code: Select all

GS Autumn Petal decloaks before, in a flicker of pseudo-motion, she appears.

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "The UISC 'representative' is an artificial intelligence...."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Another ship decloaking. Unknown configuration."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Shiran? Is that your 'Kitaka' friends?"
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Co-ordinator, tightbeam to the unknown ship, now."

Shiran (Chamara)              : "They have played their cards close to their chests,"
Shiran (Chamara)              : "let them speak and verify their identity."

Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) : "This is Government Ship Autumn Petal."

Shiran (Chamara)              : Shiran smiles and inserts a disc into the computer, flashing one
Shiran (Chamara)              : side of the code sent to the kitaka with the invite to them,
Shiran (Chamara)              : waiting for them to send the other half and verify their legitimacy.

Anne (League of Thought)      : "I am Anne. I speak for the League of Thought, for the moment,"
Anne (League of Thought)      : is the clipped, brief introduction from the League envoy aboard
Anne (League of Thought)      : the second Overflock craft.

Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) : Autumn Petal transmits the correct response to the coded challenge.

Shiran (Chamara)              : "It's them" he says simply and nods, stepping back as one of his
Shiran (Chamara)              : bodyguards retrieves the disc from the computer.

A distant splash of colours and visual distortions, registered only by long-range sensors on the
four grouped ships, marks the appearance of the 'Black Earl'.

Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   : "Ah hell, you've put us over 1000 klicks off the co-ordinates,
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  and late by the look of it too!"

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : On the Apprehension: "External configuration confirmed, that's a
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  Kingdom 'Blackblade' ship. Adding them to the tightbeam network."

Anne (League of Thought)      : "My my, so many introductions. Are we up to 'a quorum of the senate'
Anne (League of Thought)      :  yet, or do I have to put the knives away again?"

Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   : "This is Captain Ivanovich of the Black Earl, what you have to say
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  to the Kindgom you can say to me."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Then that is everyone invited to this little roosting."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Copy the initial log to the later arrivals."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Who am I addressing on the Autumn Pearl?"

Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) : "I am Captain Shadow Heart."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : *another flock of xenos with a liking for theatrical names*
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Very well."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "The subject that concerns us here is the human 'Polish' nation,
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  and to a lesser extent the many allies they have gathered or
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  are gathering about themselves."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "I believe we are all aware of what the Polish did to a League
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  diplomatic ship in Earth space."

Anne (League of Thought)      : "Murderous Rage is not called that for nothing. Barring some
Anne (League of Thought)      :  amazing news from my counterpart on Earth, there will be blood."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Captain Ivanovich is doubtless still angry about their unprovoked
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  seizure of three ships of the Kingdom fleet."

Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   : "It would warm our hearts to see those Polish dogs put down, one
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  way or another."
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   : "All their talk of alliances against us, and their scouts trying
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  to find Blackmast, no we would be happy to see them gone."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "On our part, the Polish have disrupted our most critical operation
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  to ensure the security of our allies, they are protecting the
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  insane Heralds and they are clearly in the process of forging many
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  of the human factions into a force for conquest."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "We must act to sabotage this."

Root (FEA)                    : "We agree that the humans must not be allowed to form a unified
Root (FEA)                    :  power bloc," Root put in. "It would compromise the security of
Root (FEA)                    :  every other power in this space."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "The Kitaka are a mystery to us. All we know is that you have no
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  love for the idea of a resurgent Terran empire."

Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) : "We have no love for a hegemon of any sort."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "It hardly seems necessary to add that the Polish are close allies
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  with the 'Hegemony of the Heavens', who have demonstrated a clear
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  intent to attack the Kiroter'nah people by all covert and overt
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  means available to them."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "But they are not our concern here and now."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "They will be dealt with later."

Anne (League of Thought)      : "I'd say something dramatic about seeing you in Warsaw, but I
Anne (League of Thought)      :  rather doubt the city will exist if we succeed."

Root (FEA)                    : "I think we are in agreement, then."
Root (FEA)                    : "The Polish Empire must be broken."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "While it would take half the ships in the known galaxy to break
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  the current earth defences, the Polish colonies are spread out
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  across a long, vulnerable area of space, directly between the
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  League and the Kingdom."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "To my eyes this is a tempting target."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "But the NGTO does not have the will to strike first - or at least
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  some of its members do not."

Shiran (Chamara)              : "Due to our fleets being indisposed we will redirect our covert
Shiran (Chamara)              :  assets already enroute to the Kiiroterr'nah earth station to
Shiran (Chamara)              :  provide a little..."
Shiran (Chamara)              : "disruption, when we see what there is to work with."

Anne (League of Thought)      : "Murderous Rage has no shortfall of anger, but the League is rather
Anne (League of Thought)      :  poorly positioned to spark things and not be annihilated."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "'Anne', in our analysis you have little choice."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "The Polish cannot attack the NGTO yet, unified it is too big a
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  target. But they wish to gain territory and consolidate their
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  alliance with successful joint military operations."

Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   : "The King has similar concerns. Don't think we'll throw our ships
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  or our lives away in a suicidal war, no matter how much we hate the
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  Polish dogs."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "The League and the Kingdom are both prime targets, unallied, and
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  with Polish propaganda turning Earth against you."

Root (FEA)                    : "The FEA is still largely unknown throughout the galaxy."
Root (FEA)                    : "Archon Grante willing is to offer a full fleet core to any
Root (FEA)                    :  operation to destabilize the Polish. We do not fear retaliation."

Anne (League of Thought)      : "We were born in fire, we have no desire to walk headlong into a
Anne (League of Thought)      :  furnace. How can you promise salvation when you all stand on the
Anne (League of Thought)      :  far side of Poland?"

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "I can assure you that the NGTO will move to support the Kingdom."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "The groundwork has been laid for your admission, the grand fleet
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  stands ready to assist in your defence against any Terran attack."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "As for the League, we can offer as much weapons and supplies as we
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  can ship to support your efforts against any Terran counterattack."

Root (FEA)                    : "The FEA will extend whatever forces are necessary to defend the
Root (FEA)                    :  enemies of Earth, should the need arise."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "But I do not think you will have to wait long before the Terrans
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  have bigger concerns to worry about."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "There are... other operations... underway that will make them very
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  disinclined to pull forces away from earth."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "The Terrans cannot simultaneously invade the League, defend the
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  smashed Polish territory from raiders and opportunists, and defend
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  earth against threats from the core."

Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   : "Tis true that we will have rich pickings in the colonies if no
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  replacement fleet moves in to defend them."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "If they try it, all the better, the disintigration of their fleets
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  and their power will be inevitable."

Anne (League of Thought)      : "I propose this, then. The League is supremely well-equipped to
Anne (League of Thought)      :  smash defenses, yet we do not possess the numbers to truly plague a
Anne (League of Thought)      :  system. The Kingdom does though, and we are in a similar position."
Anne (League of Thought)      : "I propose a two-fold attack...League elements will shatter defenses
Anne (League of Thought)      :  on as many worlds as possible, and then Kingdom forces can scourge
Anne (League of Thought)      :  them as League units fall back."
Anne (League of Thought)      : "The League should draw attention,
Anne (League of Thought)      :  then fall back to a defensive posture."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "How do you propose the defending fleet be dealt with?"

Anne (League of Thought)      : The woman bares her teeth in an expression that is anything but a
Anne (League of Thought)      : smile, "Murderous Rage /excels/ at destruction. I'm sure the
Anne (League of Thought)      : Kingdom can mop up the remnants."

Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   : *harsh, brief laugh*
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  "I'm sure we can, and mop up any supplies and disabled ships too."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "We regret that the Overflock can only send 9 cruisers; my faction
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  only has direct control of these, and the rest of the Overflock's
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  expeditionary fleet must be ready to attack the Heralds or the
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  'United States' if they come to the aid of the Polish"
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "However all of our ships are equipped with shroud devices, and can
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  go ahead to destroy sensors and warning stations if required."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Furthermore the experimental domination platform 'Destiny Star'
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  is under our control, and near Earth space; we will deploy it in
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  the aftermath if it can make a useful contribution."

Root (FEA)                    : "The FEA fleet core is more than capable of covering the withdrawal
Root (FEA)                    :  of the other raiding forces, should the Polish dispatch a large
Root (FEA)                    :  armada immediately. They will not expect our presence."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Root, you have our assurance of course that the NGTO grand fleet
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  will smash the Heralds if they make any move to attack your home
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  systems while your forces are engaged in the raid."

Root (FEA)                    : "Your assurances are well-recieved. The Heralds would be foolish to
Root (FEA)                    :  try, but I am eager for them to make that mistake."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "In fact we will smash them if they give us the slightest excuse."

Anne (League of Thought)      : "Excellent. How many systems would you estimate as required for this
Anne (League of Thought)      :  attack to have sufficient effect?"

Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   : "There are three big centers of population, wealth and power in
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  Polish space, aside from Earth: Nowy Podlasie, Solidarnosc and
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  Nowy Masovie and a mess of smaller colonies and outposts."

Anne (League of Thought)      : "A major system...do we have any information on how heavily defended
Anne (League of Thought)      :  the farthest one from Earth is?"

Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   : "We have spies throughout that space; I can tell you, none of their
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  world have signficant ground defences. The Poles keep plenty on
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  Earth, but out there they rely on their ships to keep us off."

Anne (League of Thought)      : "And fleet presence?"

Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   : "They move around a lot... but if we're unlucky, a carrier group
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  over each big colony, the last one at earth."

Anne (League of Thought)      : "I do believe we can afford to commit a force
Anne (League of Thought)      :  sufficient to annihilate any one of their
Anne (League of Thought)      :  carrier groups without too much bother..."

Root (FEA)                    : "How do you plan on wounding the worlds once they are laid bare?"

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "I see no reason to minimise casualties. Bombardment with
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  high-velocity inert masses released by our incoming ships,
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  followed by orbital strikes with many fusion devices."

Anne (League of Thought)      : "We will leave that mainly to the Kingdom, if they will shoulder
Anne (League of Thought)      :  it. Murderous Rage does not have the numbers to commit sufficient
Anne (League of Thought)      :  forces for long enough to reduce multiple worlds, not in the
Anne (League of Thought)      :  expectation of a counterattack."

Root (FEA)                    : "I would ask that the worlds be at least left inhabitable."
Root (FEA)                    : "The Preeminence will have designs for them, if no one else does."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Then we would suggest that the FEA and/or the Kitaka strike the
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  urban centers with megaton-class weaponary. No radioactive,
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  chemical or biological agents to be used."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "The genocide will be the responsibility of the powers least
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  vulnerable to counterattack."

Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   : "The Kindgom would not officially condone such slaugher in any
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  case... though for my part... well those dogs brought it on
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  themselves the moment they arrested our ships under a flag of
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  truce. No quarter I say."

Anne (League of Thought)      : "While I'm sure Fury of the Void will have its say, I envision a
Anne (League of Thought)      :  force of five And Hell Followed With Him groupings, eight Orangutan
Anne (League of Thought)      :  Death Squadron groupings, and lead by the Born of Ashes grouping."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "The Overflock will commit five of our six shrouded cruisers and all
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  four of our covert spatial destabilisers, which will litter the
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  combat zone with dangerous FTL-disrupting anomalies."

Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   : "It's up to the king of course, but I expect he'll commit four
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  Reefs and Krakens apiece, along with at least a dozen Blackblade
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  escorts. I expect he'll keep his bloated prize ship in reserve at
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  Blackmast though, won't want to risk his own hide, especially not
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  after... ah... recent events."

Root (FEA)                    : "If you wish, the FEA also has weapons in its arsenal that can
Root (FEA)                    :  preoccupy a world without the need of a sustained orbital
Root (FEA)                    :  bombardment, or large-scale loss of life."
Root (FEA)                    : "All that we would require would be a sufficiently heavy and
Root (FEA)                    :  wide-spread screen of projectile fire."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "That will greatly complicate any pursuit or rescue efforts."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "I only regret that we do not have more shrouded vessels."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Those idiot Contactiphiles refused to see the value of special
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  operations... but I digress."

Root (FEA)                    : "Overflock representative, I have learned that your government is
Root (FEA)                    :  constructing a small platform in Earth orbit. Does the faction you
Root (FEA)                    :  represent have any control over it?"

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Not directly, Root, but we have ways and means..."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "What is your intent?"

Root (FEA)                    : "If it could be arranged, one of these devices could also be an
Root (FEA)                    :  effective way of distracting all Earth-based powers for some time,
Root (FEA)                    :  without serious military commitment."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Go on."

Root (FEA)                    : "It is called the Telemetric Mass Inhibitor. Roughly the size of a
Root (FEA)                    :  small transport ship, it is a device, if deployed on a planet's
Root (FEA)                    :  surface, capable of completely disrupting all remote communcations
Root (FEA)                    :  within the planetary atmosphere, and limiting the effectiveness of
Root (FEA)                    :  orbital scans and instruments. If one could be deployed on Earth..."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Your suggestion has... potential. We could ship it in as 'embassy
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  construction supplies'. It would provide an option, at least."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "If you are willing, we shall make arrangements later. It could be
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  deployed if the Terrans look likely to stage a counter-attack."

Shiran (Chamara)              : "We were already planning to investigate supplying the insurgent
Shiran (Chamara)              :  forces in the Americas, we could take advantage of this
Shiran (Chamara)              :  communications blackout when the time comes."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Excellent."

Root (FEA)                    : "The device can self-activate after impacting a planetary surface,
Root (FEA)                    :  and is largely subterranean. If you can create cover for its
Root (FEA)                    :  landing through an unfortunate space station break-up, it may not
Root (FEA)                    :  be found for weeks or months."

Anne (League of Thought)      : "So it seems we have the germs of a plan. Now, scheduling...
Anne (League of Thought)      :  Murderous Rage is concentrated at Requiem, part of the benefit of
Anne (League of Thought)      :  having no permanent outlying territory to defend."

Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   : "We would travel 'beneath' the galactic disc to bypass the USA."
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   : "Fits well with your ships coming in from above, I would say."
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   : "If the King approves it... we can be in position within a week."

Anne (League of Thought)      : "All the better...if Polish reconaissance notices either of your
Anne (League of Thought)      :  contingents on the move, they'll deploy to block you...and the
Anne (League of Thought)      :  League is very, very close to Polish territory."

Root (FEA)                    : "Ah, and the FEA's military contribution. You can expect eight
Root (FEA)                    :  capital ships and twice that in support vessels."
Root (FEA)                    : "It will take some time for them to be in position however,
Root (FEA)                    :  I would estimate three weeks." 

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Some delay then. If your diplomats can take that time to ally
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  Polish fears with a pantomime of concessions and appeasement,
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  'Anne', all the better."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Certainly that is all diplomats are good for in my experience."

Anne (League of Thought)      : The woman barks a harsh laugh, "I am a member of Hot Needle of
Anne (League of Thought)      :  Inquiry, as is my Warsaw counterpart. Murderous Rage has no room
Anne (League of Thought)      :  for those who merely talk."

Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   : "So, a joint sneak attack, weapons to be sent to the League,
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  recognition for the Kingdom... but what of the Kitaka?"
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   : "This 'Captain Shadow Heart' has been very quiet."

Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) : "This planning is all well and good. However, this plan will have
Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) :  to go through the ARM. It's likely that they will allow one battle
Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) :  division in the attack, consisting of two battleships, with escorts."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "A token force?"

Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) : "They are large ships, and the ARM isn't likely to leave the
Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) :  homeworlds uncovered."

Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   : "What good is that when the rest of us are risking..."

Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) : "Perhaps they'll allow two divisions, however."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Any support is welcome, Captain, but if you would like to name terms
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  for your full support, do proceed."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Perhaps there is something more we can jointly offer than a chance to
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  forestall Polish hegemony."

Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) : "I am not a plenipotentiary representative, and do not have the
Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) :  ability to offer forces. I merely predict what the ARM will do."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Well, to give an example, the NGTO has done considerable planning
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  for operations against the Khurlassian Republic, given their
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  behaviour as Polish lapdogs and high likelihood of allying with
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  earth in any major conflict."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "You might note that only a trvial number of Sky Bear and Golden
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  Combine ships are present in our western fleet, and that
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  considerable diplomatic activity between those two powers and other
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  powers surrounding the Republic has taken place recently."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Should you desire territory, it is quite likely that if and when we
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  move against that particular lacky of Terra the governments
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  involved would be prepared to allow an ally to share in the spoils."

Root (FEA)                    : "How would your ARM likely deploy its forces?"

Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) : "ARM will require the divisions to stay concentrated, so as to make
Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) :  more probable that they will present overwhelming force."
Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) : "It is unlikely in the extreme that they will send more than two
Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) :  divisions. They are paranoid about leaving the homeworlds uncovered."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Two divisions it is then: do you wish to form up with the FEA force
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  above the galactic disc before making your attack run? Or come in
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  seperately?"
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "I suggest concentrating forces as early as possible to minimise the
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  possibility of losses on the way in."

Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) : "Tactical considerations contraindicate converging attacks from
Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) :  widely seperated places, done to a time schedule. What forces the
Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) :  Son of the Sun sends will almost certainly rendezvous with the FEA
Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) :  or other power first."

Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   : "Here, from what we know of their long range scanner network, these
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  are the closest safe staging areas for the League and the
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  FEA/ARM/Kiro fleets."

Anne (League of Thought)      : "While the issue of forces is debated, I nominate the world of Nowa
Anne (League of Thought)      :  Masovie for our initial target. It's a prime world, and not one
Anne (League of Thought)      :  immediately adjacent to Earth, as others are."
Anne (League of Thought)      : "We need to be clear on our target, as communication is...
Anne (League of Thought)      :  ill-advised."

Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   : "Yes, the Polish have many spy outposts and listening stations,
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  there can be no hyperwave use before we arrive at the target."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Certainly we can concentrate forces on it for the initial run,
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  and force a confrontation with the defending fleet."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "The other colonies can be smashed on the way our if they are
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  left undefended."

Root (FEA)                    : "I concur on the choice of target."

Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   : "Our smaller ships can handle the outposts if you tie up the
Captain Ivanovich (Kingdom)   :  Pole's main fleet."

Anne (League of Thought)      : "While it's an attractive Target, Alpha Centauri is entirely too
Anne (League of Thought)      :  close to Earth for a safe strike, so I'd suggest that be left for
Anne (League of Thought)      :  another day...unless of course you want to attempt a mousetrap."

Root (FEA)                    : "The FEA fleet will form a component of the main assault force,
Root (FEA)                    :  although ARM support would be requested in that role.
Root (FEA)                    : "Once the defending fleet is drawn out and engaged, League forces
Root (FEA)                    :  can jump in and assault their flank. When the planet's defenses
Root (FEA)                    :  are eliminated, the pirate fleet can begin targeting the planet."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "Very well. Three fleets, converging on one colony, with preeceeding
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  cloaked infiltration to disable sensors and reduce warning time."
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "With targets of opportunity to be engaged after the defending fleet
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  has been destroyed, as time permitts given that all forces are to
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  exit the area before reinforcements can arrive."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "If that is satisfactory, then I believe our business is done for
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  now. I will open communications when our fleet reaches the upper
Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        :  staging area."

Anne (League of Thought)      : "Agreed, although League forces should not require a staging ground,
Anne (League of Thought)      :  given the short distance to Polish space."

Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) : "I shall convey this information to the ARM."
Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) : "Where will we communicate with you as to the
Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) :  final fleet dispositions?"

Shiran (Chamara)              : "Send it to our comms relay, the closest to your space."
Shiran (Chamara)              : "Use this encryption scheme."
Shiran (Chamara)              : "We will see that it is sent to only the appropriate parties."

Root (FEA)                    : "The FEA force will rendevous at the designated coordinates in
Root (FEA)                    :  three weeks time, and await the Overflock and ARM units. Until then,"

Anne (League of Thought)      : "Murderous Rage will commit without communication at the appointed
Anne (League of Thought)      :  date. No communication, no warning."

Shiran (Chamara)              : "Anne, our emissary ship is still on the way to your space, if there
Shiran (Chamara)              :  is an emergency you can relay anything vital through them."

Anne (League of Thought)      : "We would prefer no communication at all, for safety,
Anne (League of Thought)      :  but the option will be there."

Haaneera (Kiroter'nah)        : "See you at the upper staging area. Euthaniser out."

Haaneera nodded to a technician.
The Kiroter'nah ship cut communications and began to turn and move away.

Captain Shadow Heart (Kitaka) : "GS Autumn Petal signing off."

The ship flickered with pseudo-motion before leaving in a different
direction from that which she came in. She then cloaked.

The ambassador sat in shock, "This information is... quite spectacular. Plans such as these would constitute an act of war, plain and simple. Do you see any reason I shouldn't take this disc to the Coalition of Nations floor right now and call for a general mobilization?"

Yagami responded, "Yes. Public revelation will both tip off that you are aware of the attack, causing them to search for who revealed it, thereby putting my nation in danger, but will also prevent the ability to use this information to destroy at least 3 fleets of enemy ships. Revelation after the attack has been beaten prevents the last eventuality, and reduces the danger to my nation, because their fleets will have been harmed."

"Indeed. I will contact my allies on the matter, and make preparations. Might we have the co-ordinates of one of your systems, so an envoy could be sent?"

"We have embassies in Habsburg space. We can be contacted there. As far as the FEA and Kiroter'nah ships in the attack are concerned, the Sword of the Son of the Sun, and our allies will take care of them."

"As a precaution, I really must ask for the co-ordinates of your home system. Otherwise, I will have to treat this data with the greatest of consternation and disrespect, and could only assume you are attempting to fool the Republic into pre-emptive war with a peaceful NGTO. After all, we've made no military overtures against the NGTO. Why would they concoct a mad plan like this? And why would they work without the whole of the NGTO?"

"I am not authorized to divulge where my home system is, I can only tell you that it is in the far north. I reiterate that we can be contacted at our embassies in the Habsburg empire, which can be found at *rather large set of locations, approx NNW of sol*. Alternatively, you can contact our representative on Earth. I believe he's participating in the Council of Nations your country set up.

"I was sent here to warn you, such that your fleet could assemble to defend your world. We do not advocate pre-emptive war with those nations that will participate in the attack, merely that you prepare yourselves for the attack.

"As for why, some fear you are trying to start a Terran Empire, others are mad for your capture or destruction of their ships. Possibly they do not trust certain members of the NGTO, and hoped to avoid you receiving advance information of the attack."

"I'm not asking for the location of your home systems for purposes of contacting you. I'm asking for their location as a gesture of trust. If you are lying to Poland in order to spark a conflict between ourselves and an unsuspecting NGTO, then we'd be able to assert our displeasure. If you are honest, then we'd be able postwar to open peaceful trade relations. There would be no downside to informing us of your nation's whereabouts."

"I repeat, I am not authorized to divulge that information. I implement the policy of the Son of the Sun. I do not create it.

"If you believe us to be lying, then do nothing. If you believe us to telling the truth, you need only prepare your defenses. Now, my ship has meeting to make. If I'm lucky, I may live to see you again. Good day." With that, she stood to leave.

Starglider · Post by **Starglider** » 2007-07-07 06:12pm

on the K.O.H.I. Chronostorm

"Three Herald cruisers incoming on attack vector, delta quadrant."

"Being blanketing distortion fire!"

"Chamara missile wave launched. Twelve escorts coming behind the cruisers, peeling off now..."

"Switch to P/Ls as necessary to avoid taking out the missiles. Engines reverse slow, keep some space between us."

"FEA frigate coming in, beginning to exchange fire with the escorts. They need backup."

"HK turrets to salvo mode. Target those escorts. Keep the P/Ls on the cruisers. Any more distort targets?"

"Damaged Herald battleship at 21 mark 5, parallel course, friendly destroyers are trailing."

"How's the frigate doing?"

"Took serious hits to weapons and engines, withdrawing, USIC destroyers took down all remaining escorts in that group, now engaging cuisers."

"Move us and the Skyflash, course 18 mark 4, get us in range of the battleship. The USIC will finish the cruisers."

"Skyflash has propulsor damage..."

"Best speed. Signal those destroyers to stay clear of the distortion waves. Open fire when in range."

"Distortion projectors firing, extended range mode. Battleship is hit... replying with missiles. Lots of missiles."

"Reset point defences. All HKs and PLs, now!"

"Firing... getting most of them... still a few leakers. Forward shields pulsing... hits on forward weapons module, two, no three P/Ls out!"

"Hold position! The battleship?"

"Taking heavy damage... Skyflash is firing... TGA third squadron is adding phaser fire on the aft section... they're venting plasma from multiple breaches, looks like all their main reactors are down."

"Stand down distorters. All damage control teams to forward weapons module. Signal Skyflash to keep firing until that thing is scrap. The Chamara will run down any machines that try to flee in small craft."

--------

The simulation was over. Pekkaasa-Kominir#1-Ochpoe'ehka was pleased to see that the joint efficiency rating had risen to 74%, their best full-fleet exercise yet. But clearly they still had a lot of work to do. The combined NGTO defence fleet continued to drill, just inside the Nephilim border.

Nephtys · Post by **Nephtys** » 2007-07-08 12:31am

Sol Primary, Sol System
Approximately 11 light-seconds from Solar Corona

The life of a G-type star was typically a dull one, rotating and burning quitetly in it's own little galactic orbit, part of a spiral arm. Sol was no different really, even if several of it's planets were inhabited by miniscule apes and other creatures that did their little thing. You know, little gnats in space, puny fireworks that occasionally blew up teeny piles of metal sitting on a planet's surface. The sort of cosmic annoyance that stellar bodies tended to ignore.

Some occurances however, tend to be rather hard to just overlook. Merely 11 light-seconds, or some 3.3 million kilometers from the burning surface of the sun, space itself began to rend. Light distorted and bulged forward, as if the void was a sheet of rubber being pushed to the point of breaking. It was not one anomaly, but rather thousands. Tens of thousands.

Beckoned by the seed that now began it's long process of developing within the yellow star, they erupted like a flood of crimson and violet. Through each rupture in space emerged what one could approximate as a ship. Or a creature. Or perhaps Monster would be most appropriate. Adjusting themselves to their new system, they aggregated into the formations in which these beings operated.

The Custodians had arrived.

***

Small Rural Town, Earth.

Jebediah Brown had finally finished barn raising, brushing sweat off his head as he adjusted his dark black hat. It was noon now, and the new construction he and his luddite fellows had started when they woke up at 4 AM had finally finished.

He began to walk back for the town square to congratulate Abel Van Houten for his fine hand-carved iron nails, key components for making this barn-raising a success. He stopped along the way, pausing to smile at Little Isaac Abner, standing there in the open with a puppy at his feet. They both were looking up, shielding their eyes.

"Uncle Jebediah, what is that?"A little startled at the boy's intensity, Jebediah lifted the corner of his hat to gaze upwards as well. He shielded his eyes in time to realize that the open path was now well shaded.

The sun was in full eclipse.

Starglider · Post by **Starglider** » 2007-07-08 01:19am

K.O.S.C. Elucidate,
Geostationary Earth Orbit

The command space was filled with a frenzy of clipped reports and orders, delivered in a disbelieving tone, and fragments of comm transmissions the ship was picking up from the sheer chaos in near-earth space.

"Do we have any idea what they are yet?"

Kari'naha had been stalking across the deck, looking at one holo-station after another. Now she was hovering, almost literally, over Myaar'neth's.

"Negative co-ordinator. Massive cloud of... vessels of some sort, they're definitely maneuvering... there's far too much interference to distinguish individual contacts. Planetary defence networks are going wild, our active tracking is completely overwhelmed by the Terran stations."

"You must be able to get something from optical tracking!"

"From the occlusion patterns... on the order of 2^16, maybe 2^17 ships.. multiple sizes... average diameter somewhere around 512 isons."

if those are ships that's a bigger fleet than the rest of known space put together The approach vector indicates either an FTL jump into direct proximity of a star, or cloaking technology sufficient to slip 2^17 ships past the combined human tracking networks, both capabilities beyond any know extant species.

"Zaahneesh, are you getting any sense out of earth?"

The communications specialist was frantically issuing commands, trying to extract useful information from the jammed EM and hyperwave spectrums.

"No one has time to talk to us. Torrential civilian comms traffic as well as more military signals than I can register. There appears to be a mass exodus underway from at least some of their main population centres. Observe."

The central holoprojector had been showing the massive fleet movements in surrounding space, but now it was replaced by a human holonews channel. A 'reporter' was talking over aerial images of a large human city; rivers of ground vehicles were crawling out of it while the air was filled with buzzing personal transports. The signal kept cutting to filtered images of the Terran star, against which a prominent black blot was visible.

"Most nations have attempted to ground civilian space traffic, but large numbers of private craft are still attempting to flee the planet. For the most part the human fleet seems too busy to stop them."

if those are warships the entire space flock could not even make a noticeable wound in them

"Displace all our flockmates back here now. Strongly advise all NGTO delegates to accept our offer to displace them onto their own ships or this ship. We will pack them in somehow."

Kari'naha lifted herself back onto her central command perch with a couple of wingbeats, buffeting everyone with gusts of air. Bad form in such an enclosed space; a symptom of the stress she was under.

"Myaar'neth, warm up all systems, for flight or fight. If those things start shooting we'll loiter as long as we can to observe then fly from here under shroud as fast as we can. Can we get a signal to the Overflock?"

Zaahneesh looked uncertain. "Our own transmitter... doubtful co-ordinator... but we can bring the embassy station's long range transmitters online. They're functional, they just haven't been inspected for compliance with human regulations yet. They should be able to punch through."

"Ha. At least that station will be good for something. Program the computer for continuous telemetry relay, all sensors. The Overflock will see what it sees until it is destroyed."

Shinn Langley Soryu · Post by **Shinn Langley Soryu** » 2007-07-08 01:47am

Sol
Terra
Sant Tomas
Coalition Conference Hall, Main Meeting Room

Fleet Admiral Hernandez and Marshal Nguyen were getting bored fast during the Coalition negotiations; they were soldiers, not diplomats. When a recess was called, the two took the opportunity to vacate the premises, taking four of the honor guards with them. "You think President Mitsuishi's gonna miss us?" Fleet Admiral Hernandez asked somewhat worriedly.

"She's probably taking a nap or something like that," Marshal Nguyen shot back. "We'll be back long before she realizes anything amiss."

As the two Joint Chiefs and their escorts made their way through the hallways of the conference building, they stumbled upon the Straltoc emmisary, Ambassador Felsith. "HOLY SHIT! WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT...THING?!" Marshal Nguyen blurted out as her eyes were fixed on his decidedly alien form. However, what truly got her and the others wasn't Felsith's serpentine lower body, his massive arms, or the face-like growths on his torso; it was the dozen or so tentacles sprouting out of his shoulders. The reality of the situation finally dawned on the sailor fuku mafia.

"IT'S A TENTACLE MONSTER!" one of the honor guards, Sergeant Michiko Amane, cried out as she brought up her P90. "You won't be raping any of us today, you abomination!"

"Stand down, Michiko!" another honor guard, Sergeant Sayaka Yoshikawa, called out as she drew her Five-seveN from its holster and pointed it at her twitchy comrade. "Don't go pointing guns at the alien diplomats! We don't want to start any incidents here!"

"That's enough, both of you!" Fleet Admiral Hernandez snapped back in as authoritative a tone as she could muster, immediately silencing Sergeants Amane and Yoshikawa. "Despite what hentai has taught you, girls, not all tentacle monsters are lecherous fiends whose sole motivation in life is to violate human females. An apology to the Straltoc emissary would be well in order, Sergeant Amane."

While all this was going on, Marshal Nguyen had gotten over the inital shock of encountering Felsith and was now silent as the embarassing incident played itself out. "Note to self: remove all tentacle porn from the military required viewing list until further notice," she muttered to herself.

White Haven · Post by **White Haven** » 2007-07-08 02:10am

The League man had many things he was about to say. Things that were no doubt worth saying, and that he'll probably say in the future...but what he says now is, "Bloody hell..." as his own psychic senses start to scream at him. "Excuse me, Mister Warshawski, but it seems your star system's gone mad. You don't mind if I have a look around, do you? Good."

Without waiting for an answer, the Leaguer's mind widens, searching, listening, seeing...not probing anything, not anything invasing, simply acting as a particularly eldritch form of sensor array to watch the frantic activity engulfing Earth...and the artificial eclipse causing it.

"It seems our meeting is ending early, Mister Warshawski," the man speaks again, his voice echoed in and out of harmony with his outward thoughts 'speaking' the same words, "Your world has visitors. Several million of them."

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2007-07-08 02:15am

Contacts within Sol orbit, my lord. Off the charts. Possible interference. The psionic voice of the local Gestalt whispered into the Ambassador's mind as he waited for a response from one of the local powers.

"I don't think they'll be acknowledging us, given what just happened." He sighed absently. "I am sorry, my wife, but it seems we are going to be delayed."

The other non-Wanderer within the Dart shook her head, smiling. "It doesn't matter. Just have them try and find out how much of that is interference and whether there will be death soon."

The psionic presense at the edge of the system expanded powerfully, sweeping a scan deep towards Sol and the massive armada now clustering near the star.

Noble Ire · Post by **Noble Ire** » 2007-07-08 02:28am

Sol System, C-0205
Main Asteroid Belt

Some 200 million kilometers from the blue-green globe that had long served as center of known space, a lone machine waited. Nestled in one of the more prominent ravines that were etched across the surface of a lump of rock little more than half a kilometer in diameter, positively diminutive compared to some of the colossi that drifted lazily in the same orbital formation, the Preeminence probe was quite well hidden. The three-meter half sphere of matte-black metal was virtually inert, just another jut of glossy rock or mineral-laden ice attached to an utterly unremarkable fragment of interplanetary debris, an artifact from the rowdy millennia when the solar system was still young. What did it matter if the formation had only been there for two standard months rather than billions of years typical of the surrounding stratum?

The probe’s active scanning equipment was completely silent, as it had been since the automaton emerged from the extra-dimensional Void into the Terran Kuiper Belt, but it still maintained a sizeable cluster of highly-acute, multi-spectrum cameras, which were currently extended from a port on the side of its dome-like shell. The information the sensors could pick up was quite limited, inhibited all the more by the asteroid’s uncooperative and irregular rotation, but was quite undetectable as well, and it had collected some data. Hours upon hours of footage of distant vessels of all make and affiliation flitting up, down, and around Earth’s gravity well filled its memory banks; the digitized fragments of information meant nothing to the non-sapient processors that drove the probe, but the analysts waiting at its home Rampart observational outpost might be able to glean something useful from the mute reels.

Slowly, the asteroid turned away from Earth, depriving the ensconced drone the view of its prime target. The narrow ribbon of space left exposed by the ravine drifted over the comparatively vacant space of the Sol system’s inner planets. Aside from a few mining colonies and research platforms, the area was ill-populated and travelled; most of the local population was concentrated around the system’s third planet and the cooler regions beyond. As its cameras focused on the brownish globe that was Mercury, the probe’s maintenance circuits prepared to send it into power-conservation mode until the asteroid’s movement allowed observation of one of a set of pre-programmed targets once more.

The automated visual sweep left the innermost planet’s surface and moved quickly towards the system’s yellow primary as the observational drivers prepared to terminate the feed and power down. Then, unexpectedly, the star’s relative luminosity decreased. A subroutine immediately delayed the shut-down protocol and engaged the cameras to locate the object that must have passed into visual range. It was not an uncommon occurrence, and the central processor usually identified another asteroidal body or corporate cargo hauler as the culprit within a second.

Another minute change in luminosity registered. Two immediately subsequent occurrences were also fairly normal; the space around Sol was unusually crowded.

Within a millisecond, a third fluctuation manifested itself. Then a fourth and fifth. Then the primary’s relative light-output dropped by an appreciable percentage. That was distinctly abnormal.

The visual scanning devices swiftly localized the source of the luminal aberration. A mass roughly equivalent in size and shape to a small, irregular planetoid had appeared within close solar orbit.

As the probe watched, the mass began to move.

Covenant · Post by **Covenant** » 2007-07-08 04:02am

Sol Sector
Cloaked outside of the solar radius
Meteor-class Transport SSP-451

"Whoops. That sure didn't take long," Juk commented. The Meteor-class drifted along on it's own, spinning off into the void for a while longer, though the sudden appearence of the Custodian forces expedites matters some.

"Whoops," Chik repeated.

"Kinda a dud though," Rus the Tyrannosaur remarked. "I was expecting a bigger turnout. Hopefully this is just the welcoming committee, it's barely a fraction of their number."

Juk was happy enough just to head out of Sol soon.

"FTL should be safe once we spin away on the other side, off away from Earth. Something might get a glimpse of us, but I doubt they'll be able to tell a different between us and all of that."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2007-07-08 04:35am

Sol
Outsystem

"This is the Logos Centrality cruiser Gorgon. Wanderer vessel, you are cleared to proceed along the following flightpaths." <data burst> "We are here to act as diplomatic escort, should you desire."

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2007-07-08 05:00am

Somewhere in deep space South-West-Up of the Straltoc Borders

"Our interdictors are pretty fast in real space. We'll send them up behind a screen of Talons with our cruisers behind as back up."

Adrian Laguna · Post by **Adrian Laguna** » 2007-07-08 05:16am

Aerospace Port
First Landing City
Wysoka
Roman System

Ten people disembarked the pinnance.

Eight of them were imposing figures in dull, light gray power-armour. Only the insignia of the Spanish Naval Infantry interrupted the uniform greyness. Even their faces offered no break, as below their combed morion helmets a featureless plate of rounded armour stared stared out into space. The suits as a whole resembled 16th century Spanish armour, like that won by the Conquistadors who brought the Aztecs and Incas to their knees. The first two soldiers out carried fat, mean-looking, heavy weapons; they moved aside and stood guard by the pinnance's entrance. The next four carried more maneuverable and compact, but still brutish, arms; they came-out forming the corners of a square inside which were the two unarmoured figures. The last two carried long elegant weapons; they fell in step behind the square.

The two unarmored figures were as different from each other as they were from the Naval Infantry. One was presumably the Captain, he was dressed in a richly decorated outfit that looked like it wasn't really a uniform, ceremonial or otherwise, as much as his personal wardrobe. His hat and clothes did, however, have regulation insignia. The hat had his rank and the emblem of the Spanish Navy, his shirt the same and the ship's crest. A saber hanging from his belt completed the outfit. The other was was a young woman with not a single hair visible anywhere on her body. She wore the black uniform of a Catholic priest and carried a silver staff topped by a sizable cross. Very faint wrinkles betrayed that she may not be as young as she appeared to be. The priest would be by far the most interesting figure to Polish security out of the ten, as the psonar was registering latent arcane energies coursing through her.

Upon receiving the Governor's welcome, the Captain took off his hat and bowed. Putting it back on, he introduced himself again. "I am Alfonso de la Vega, heir to the title of Marques de las Torres de la Pressa, and captain of His Imperial Majesty's Ship Don Juan de Austria. It is a true pleasure that I can participate in this historic occasion, and I deeply appreciate you warm welcome."

The priest bowed slightly, a mere nodding of the head and faint bend of the back. She smiled and said with a voice that somehow carried warth, humility, and authority at the same time, "I am Mother Helena Ruiz Villanueva, a servant of the Lord first and foremost, and the Church of the Lord second and last."

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2007-07-08 06:09am

Sol System, Earth, Bejing

From: Hegemony of Heavens, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
To: All Earth-powers
Subject: Revolution

All borders to the TGA are closed until such a time the stability of that region has been restored. Any and all weapons smuggling or transfer of other materials of all kind will be dealt with harshly.

Sol System, Ganymede, Ganymede Fleet Base

Deep within the massive installations of the Fleet Base, alarms went off. A lot of them.
Grand Admiral Therkov looked fascinated at the huge hologram hovering over the Pit, the central command and control facility. Nearly 50 meters in diameter, it showed anything the user wanted in extremely high detail. What it showed now, was something extraordinary.
"Status," he asked, his controlled voice cutting through the low-level hubbub around him with practiced ease.
"We detect around 115,000 ships of unknown origin or design, closely orbiting Sol itself at eleven light-seconds," the voice of the young lieutenant didn't even sound scared, which was showing the excellence of training they received. At least no one panicked. Psychological profiling and deep-scanning brain analysis made certain. And what this didn't cut out, the Kempetai would. Still, it left Earth.
"Our status back on Earth?"
"So far, the panic is kept down. The Ministry of Information and the Kempetai are publishing reports about solar experiments conducted causing the eclipse. Other media are filtered accordingly. The Kempetai should be able to control this until the army is in position to assert stability. The Daughter of Heavens so far has not taken to the shelters. Her aides are trying, but she does not want to run away."
"Very well," the small admiral rumbled. "Step up all levels of emergency, set Condition One throughout the fleet."

All throughout the solar system, military installations awoke to full readiness, scanners lighting up, shields coming into existance, weapons ready to fire. They would be ready. At least the Admiral hoped. Earth was no easy place to invade. Still, he needed information.

"I want a much clearer picture what we're up against. Full sensor sweep, and launch probes into a safe distance to that...thing there."

Darkevilme · Post by **Darkevilme** » 2007-07-08 09:33am

Earth solar system
And the evacuation was swift, the crew of the station and the diplomats on earth taking up the offer of their allies and being displaced up to the K.O.S.C Elucidate.

Edge of solar system

There's a flash of light in the darkness which quickly expands into shimmering and swirling hyperspace vortex. A pair of ships emerging from this disturbance, bronze hulls seemingly stretched like taffy for a second before snapping back into proper form outside the boundary as the portal winks shut.

A freighter and Hunter aligning themselves beyond pluto.

"Location checked, realspace norrmalized"
"Excellent, align for earrth apprroach and inform trraffic contrrol" Carrus turned slowly in the command pit of her frigate the 'Windsummer' looking over the crew of the bridge stacked in tiers around her.

"Shipmistrres, you might want to see this" says a feline at one of the sensor stations, who had been staring numbly at her screen these past few seconds.

"on screens" Carrus turns her gaze up to the ring of monitors, then she and everyone in the bridge goes silent in shock, looking at the vision of the Sun. The screens showing a closeup vision, countless points occluding the fiery orb, and even worse some of them can be seen to move and change position in their swirling orbit of the star.

Code: Select all

To: K.O.S.C Elucidate
From: Carrus, shipmistress 'Windsummer' Hunter
subject: !!!!
What's going on? what in the curse of Morn are those things around the sun? Where are our sisters?

The Hunter stays in place for the moment to guard the freighter and its cargo of personnel and material for the embassy station, all the while aboard it the crew can't stop glancing nervously at that image of the sun still on the main four screens.