SE V Balance Mod RP Thread

[brianeyci]

"Coming online in five, four, three, two, one..."

Trevalyen breathed a sigh of relief as the monitors flashed. The satellites fed their data in one by one. Apparently the Federation wasn't under attack. Andoria, Vulcan, sent the correct command codes. The colonies acknowledged one by one. Repairing all the damaged systems would take years at best, even with the help of the Hiigarans, Davion and Suran. If they even desired to help.

"Tell the President subspace communications is restored."

• =

Federation Council Chamber

"...and so, the tachyon wave was undetectable until it was almost on top of us. It caused widespread interference in all isolinear chip technology throughout the Federation. Had this been two or three generations ago, we could be looking at millions of casualties. Thankfully, few people died due to backup systems, but reports from the colonies are still arriving." Trevalyen pointed at the holographic display.

"The tachyon wave originated from Romulan space."

The chamber mumbled. Trevaylen waited for the Vice-President to slam his gavel and call order. It was several minutes until he could speak.

"These Romulans are not our Romulans, not the Romulans of several hundred years ago. These are Romulans... from another galaxy. This Praetor Arthurius ordered his scientists to use forbidden temporal technology to attempt to send his Romulans to a paradise galaxy. The technology malfunctioned, and transported his Romulans to our galaxy.

Unfortunately, as all reputable scientists know, this technology is unstable and dangerous. The resulting tachyon wave caused serious damage to all civilian and most military computers. For over five stardates, Earth was cut off from her colonies, and Starfleet vessels were disabled.

Praetor Arthurius must be stopped, before he commissions another insane attempt. The next time, the damage to the Federation could be fatal.

We must declare war on the Romulans."

The council chamber roared.

[Arthur_Tuxedo]

((Glad to have you back, Brian. SE games are not the same without you.))

"...who then finished with 'We must declare war on the Romulans'," the spy concluded.

"Thank you," Arthurius told the man. "Your crimes are pardoned, as agreed. You and your family may move back to Romulan territory whenever you wish."

The informant quickly bowed, and left before Arthurius could change his mind.

For a long time, the strategy chamber was silent, none of the admirals daring to be the ones to speak up. "I've always known this day would come," Arthurius finally stated. "I just didn't think it would be so soon." His mind quickly went into motion. "When the others find out about this, it will be like feeding time in the shark tank, with us as the meal. If we don't intend to be caught between the anvil of the Eris and the hammer of the Federation, we'll need to move with haste. Thanks to the efforts of many of those in this room, our fleet has grown mighty, but it alone will not be sufficient. We'll need skilled diplomacy and intelligence to back up our military if we're going to get out of this intact. Minister Tak, have the Federation war plans sent to my office at once. The rest of you, start talking to your staff, prepare them for the storm. Dismissed."

[brianeyci]

Prot System

The colony's command center was a spartan affair, usually manned by a single officer and a subordinate. Now however, the room was packed with colony administrators and the colony President. Unidentified vessels were a major occurence to border colonies like this, resupply ships not arriving for months or years, and there was always the risk of a hostile vessel capable of killing millions.

"The unidentified vessel is continuing course towards the planet."

"Continue attempts at communication on all channels."

"Don't do anything provoking."

"It could just have a broken transponder."

"Can someone please tell me what is going on here!"

"No response. Vessel nearing planetary defense perimeter--"

"--Red Alert, activate planetary defense grid."

"Vessel entering firing range--"

"Get that ship out of my space Lieutenant."

"Hold your fire--"

"The ship is destroyed."

"We just destroyed a starship? You could've thrown the Federation into a war you idiot!"

"Get these politicians out of here."

"I give the orders--"

Qornor System

At the same time, in a bridge far roomier, seven Starfleet officers manned their consoles and watched a ship approach their spacedock. This planet had a spacedock, and hence Starfleet funding. Commodore made an Aristotle pose, and tapped his chair. An overlay of the approaching vessel materialized on the viewscreen.

"Hail the vessel again."

"No response. Vessel matches no known designs."

"Yellow alert. Launch all vessels."

"Vessels preparing to launch. Colony is following suit and arming its defense network. Vessel continuing to approach."

"Is the vessel armed?"

"Impossible to tell at this range. Visual detects what appears to be gun emplacements."

"Red Alert. Inform the colony--"

"Colony is opening fire. Vessel destroyed."

"Damn. Get me the colony governor, now."

Lapzooli System

Breaking news from your Federation station. Long range sensors in the Lapzooli system have detected a fleet of fifty warships of unknown design and origin entering Federation space. Riots have broken out on three colonies, and the fourth colony has declared martial law. The President's office has indicated they will make a statement, and we have an exclusive interview from the Suranian Ambassador. Keep it here on this channel for the latest developments.

[Luke Starkiller]

Imperial Briefing Chamber

"The Endeavor and Discovery were both lost with all hands my Lord"

"What were those fools thinking, taking their ships into the planetary defense envelope? They were supposed to make a sensor pass and pull out, not commit suicide and take their crews with them."

"Our standing orders to the Captains of the forward observers are apparently too vague my Lord, I have already updated the remaining units to prevent any similar misunderstandings. It also seems that the Federation has finally deigned to acknowledge Beta Squadron's presence in the Lapzooli system."

"Hmph, took them long enough; at least they gave us long enough to heavily reinforce them and shut the back door. Inform Admiral Chinook to begin preparations to move out."

"Yes my Lord, at once."

[brianeyci]

Lapzooli System

"...and the third stardate of the blockade by unknown warships. Civilian and Starfleet translators are having no success with their language. Medical and food supplies are low, and there are confirmed reports of riots in all major cities. Starfleet starships are nowhere in sight. The Suran are reportedly preparing a relief effort and are en route with a massive armada. They are reportedly having difficulty in the nebula clouds, unable to--"

[Uraniun235]

Federation Council Chambers - Closed Session

"Esteemed members of the Federation Council, today I have come to you to discuss matters of utmost urgency to this federation..."

John's off the ball, thought the Vice-President. Usually much more collected than this. Something's not right.

"... and although the riots are indeed troubling, we must continue to reach out to our fellow citizens. I have ordered Starfleet to confront the threat in the Lapzooli system... and it is my hope that a firm response will restore the confidence of our colonists."

Have the lights in the Council chambers always been this bright? Knew there was a reason I never liked coming here...

"... and although we face threats both from this unknown race and the Romulans, we shall prevail. However, I must urge a diplomatic approach to the Romulans until we can fully realize the scope of the threat from the Lapzoo-... I mean, the threat which has descended on the Lapzooli... the Lapzooli system..."

President Lecks took a heavy breath, and realized he was sweating very heavily. Oh god, what's going on?

"Ladies and gentlemen, I..."


Federation News Network

...several reports that the President collapsed during a closed session of the Federation Council, yet there is still no official word on what happened or his present condition. A member of one of the delegations, speaking anonymously, stated ...

[Arthur_Tuxedo]

The camera shows a peaceful looking planet. It zooms in on the empty surrounding space until it focuses on an Eris drone. It pulls back slightly to reveal dozens of the drones. They close on the planet, which starts firing energy beams. The drones each disgorge a full-sized capital ship missile which slams into the planet by the dozens. After a few seconds, they unleash another fusillade. The camera zooms into the planet as whole cities are consumed and the citizens run in panic. While the Romulan flag flies, the inhabitants of this planet are all Eris. Soon the planet lies silent and smoldering. In many languages, a message reads "Former Population: 1 Billion. Current Population: 0. Who will still stand with an empire that would kill a billion of its own people?"

* * *

"Broadcast it to everyone the Eris are on friendly terms with," Arthurius ordered. "I want them all to know what kind of people they really are."