STGOD2 Main Story thread

[Raxmei]

"So you are too busy to make the delivery, and the Aquarians are no longer in the market. How unfortunate. If you ever need anything feel free to ask. In the meantime, we are needed elsewhere."

Rakner signalled for the channel to be closed. "Tell the fleet to go to warp, set course for the Aquarian Union."

Code: Select all

To Allied High Command, or whatever the organization in charge of this campaign is called:

The transport deal fell through. Ships have been dispatched by conventional means, but will take longer to arrive. Feel free to start without us. 

The fleet arrived in Aquarian space a few days later.

[phongn]

Bohrmann was whisked to the Azef Explosives offices by a turbolift. The place was modest but more then sufficient for the companies needs. A young secretary looked up at him. Before he could say a word she spoke, "Mr. Sener can see you at once in his office." He entered. A large Beaver sat behind a desk, clipping his fingernails. He hastily shoved the clippers into a drawer. The Beaver then regained its composure "Greetings Mr. Bohrmann, please sit, I have been expecting you, now what is it Azef Explosives and Demolitions can supply you with?"

"As the commanding officer of the infantry aboard the Cat, I have found that conventional baradium-cored thermal detonators are far too unstable for my liking. In the heat of combat some prematurely detonated, and I have lost many men to the infernal devices. We tried alternatives to cut down on casualties - shaped-illudium charges, plasma-incineration wire - nothing worked as well. We did get some etheric demo charges, but those are far too expensive for people like us.

"We'd like to order some of your stabilized-baradium thermal detonators. It would be a modest order; I am not a large infantry force by any means. However, this can provide valuable combat testing for your company. Should they work as advertised, we'll spread the good word."

[Sea Skimmer]

To: All concerned nations
From: The Great Leader of the HAB
Subject: The xenomorph

Greeting leaders and citizens of the galaxy. As many of you are no doubt aware my great star empire, the HAB has made the mission of preventing the spread of the xenomorph by starship upon its self. We have searched countless thousands of vessels and continue to do so, and what we have found is shocking, and yet fully expected by all responsible nations. The xenomorph are spreading. One ship we might find a single warrior, on another eggs and even queens. Entire hives have sprung up within ships as they raced for the aid of the HAB, their crews slaughtered or used as hosts to die in agony. But now we have samples, and it is quite apparent that Aquarians are reckless incompetents who threaten the galaxy at the very best. The xenomorph are spreading, far beyond there control. Whatever intelligence or potential for it they have is irrelevant as these monsters turn it towards the task of slaughter and reproduction to create more slaughter.

There can be only one course of action, the xenomorph must be destroyed, the infested worlds burned from above. And as for the Aquarian. Perhaps, just maybe they honestly believed they could control their creation of terror. Perhaps. But it matters not; the Aquarian must never again be allowed to play with such a fire. They must be reduced to a point of impotence within the galaxy. I call for all nations which value there safety to cut off all trade and relations with the Aquarian, to bar there ships and people from there space. The same must be done to any who would aid the Aquarian.

*** Testimony from crewmen of Infested ships follows.

[Alyrium Denryle]

(ooc: I would remind you sea skimmer, the sentient xenomorphs are a sentient ace that ARE under my control. YOu are controling my forces and I do not appreciate it. Stop now)

[Alyrium Denryle]

Offical Statement: Aquarian Union

We can assure you that none of our Neoxenomorph friends have been responsible for any recent infestations of other nations. Only the queens lay egg, and only a few of those are in existence. We maintain a telepathc link with them, and can assure all nations that only a few exist, and they are all accounted for.

We are being used as scapegoats by hostile nations, used to focus attention away from their own expansionist and obviously xenophobic natures.

Perhaps such infestations are deliberate attempts b the givernments in question to increase hatred for our people.

Regardless of motivation, neither aquarians, nor our Neoxenomorph citizens have had anything to do with them. We are submitting the full and declassified reports of our uplifting project, as well as informational video depicting friendly and peacful interactions between Neoxenomorphs and our Aquarian citizens.

We hope you will find these informative. We have nothing to hide in this matter, be reasonable.

[Sea Skimmer]

"As the commanding officer of the infantry aboard the Cat, I have found that conventional baradium-cored thermal detonators are far too unstable for my liking. In the heat of combat some prematurely detonated, and I have lost many men to the infernal devices. We tried alternatives to cut down on casualties - shaped-illudium charges, plasma-incineration wire - nothing worked as well. We did get some etheric demo charges, but those are far too expensive for people like us.

"We'd like to order some of your stabilized-baradium thermal detonators. It would be a modest order; I am not a large infantry force by any means. However, this can provide valuable combat testing for your company. Should they work as advertised, we'll spread the good word."

"Procurement costs are always the bane of any military service. But your going to find a PBKN filled thermal detonator to be more then worth the cost. They've already been accepted into service with the Imperial Marines, to the tune of sixty million. The cost is slightly elevated and the burst radius a little less, but of those sixty million not a single one has suffered a spontaneous detonation.

Now if you'd like, we have a modest demonstration facility hear just in case you want proof of the effectiveness. If not, we can produce directly to the loading dock. I think our current stock will be sufficient to fill your order. We also have the bulk explosive in stock, ideal for making your own custom demolition charges."

[Sea Skimmer]

(ooc: I would remind you sea skimmer, the sentient xenomorphs are a sentient ace that ARE under my control. YOu are controling my forces and I do not appreciate it. Stop now)

OOC: What, you think the HAB would really care if it found any or not? But personally I think your power gaming with them in the first place. The things utterly suck in combat and would be quickly wiped out.

[phongn]

EMERGENCY SYMPOSIUM ON XENOMORPHIC ACTIVITIES
Johns Hopkins University, Maryland, Earth

Representatives From:
Center for Disease Control & Prevention, Atlanta, Earth
Terran Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Earth
Royal Institute for Disease Control, Enigma
[Kziniti Center for Biological Warfare] (translation), The Five Fangs

"The Aquarian Union has as of late asserted that the current infestation of offworld planets by the Xenomorphs has not been their doing. They have insisted that their program of genetic manipulation precludes this act. More specifically, the Xenomorphs that went 'rogue,' so to speak, were unable to reproduce as they were not Queens. At first glance, known xenomorphic biology suggests that their assertion would be true.

"However, it seems that other xenomorph queens had considered these workers as prime genetic stock in which to advance their infestation. It should be noted that Type I Xenomorphs - as opposed to the tenatively titled Type II as designed by the Union - are capable of mutations at a far higher rate than should be scientifically possible. It is likely that extreme radiation and magical fields have warped them to be aggressively selective in an evolutionary sense.

"As such, Type I Xenomorph Queens apparently were able to execute partial genetic crossover with the Type II Xenomorph. This process was exceptionlly unreliable: scouting teams have found scores of dead Xeno colonies from the attempt. However, it seems that perhaps one group was able to succesfully do so. This new Type III Xenomorph has dangerously increased intelligence levels over the Type I, if not matching the Type II. In particular, the population lacks the moral imperatives that the Type II Xenomorphs are imprinted with.

"It is believed that these moral imperatives were selected out over several rapidly-developing generations. More aggressive Type I and Type III Xenos simply were able to overwhelm them; the remaining aggressive Type III Xenomorphs are now overwhelmingly the majority of that population. In particular, it is believed that the Type III Xenomorph will displace the Type I Xenomorph to within 95% confidence within two years as they spread.

"It is the unanimous opinion of this board that the Aquarian Union had acted wholly irresponsibly in their biological wafare strike, making no effort to attempt containment of the Type II Infestation on their initial target or expansion by 'rogue' Type IIs not under control of their Queens. "

[phongn]

Now if you'd like, we have a modest demonstration facility hear just in case you want proof of the effectiveness. If not, we can produce directly to the loading dock. I think our current stock will be sufficient to fill your order. We also have the bulk explosive in stock, ideal for making your own custom demolition charges."

"Excellent, we'll make a purchase of the completed detonators for our infantry. Also, do you have a program for shipment? Despite your advertisement on Jane's, your weapons have not penetrated....other markets as of yet. We could ship them in bulk to various posts such as IMV Lucky Trader and sell them there to a vendor. You will find that penetration of such markets may be quite profitable."

[phongn]

(ooc: I would remind you sea skimmer, the sentient xenomorphs are a sentient ace that ARE under my control. You are controling my forces and I do not appreciate it. Stop now)

When someone releases a statement or press release or a news report, it doesn't have to be true. In fact, there's probably falsehoods sprinkled through them, or half-truths or the entire thing may be a fabrication.

[Sea Skimmer]

"Excellent, we'll make a purchase of the completed detonators for our infantry. Also, do you have a program for shipment? Despite your advertisement on Jane's, your weapons have not penetrated....other markets as of yet. We could ship them in bulk to various posts such as IMV Lucky Trader and sell them there to a vendor. You will find that penetration of such markets may be quite profitable."

"The weapon was only approved for export a short time ago. If you can arrange for its sale beyond the boarders of the HAB I think we can have a very profitable deal" The beaver glanced at a data pad. "We have fifty thousand detonators here and a ton and a half of bulk explosive. Lets say you take half, plus what you want for your own requirements, and find a vendor for us? Azef will give you a contract to ship to any market you open. Provide you can ship or arrange to ship the needed volume of course."

[phongn]

Niels Bohrmann smiled. This would be most profitable for the crew - and especially him. Everyone knew the contract on the Cat, it was designed for crew initiative. The Cat could open up a new market, make some decent cash rather than live day-to-day. An operating income could be quite nice.

"Since it's only about 1.5 kay-tee of explosive plus the dets, I think we should have room on the ship for it. Once the markets are established, I'm sure you'll find other methods of getting delivery to your vendors. So we have a deal."

Bohrmann and the giant hamster bowed; handshakes being a bit awkward considering their comparative biology. He was escorted out and went back the the ship; a rather surprised Elissa Bane met him halfway. "What did you do, Neils? All of a sudden a bunch of workers handed me a manifest and started loading up the ship. A manifest with your signature key."

"I just arranged to take on one-and-a-half kay-tons of their new explosive and fifty-thousand dets, Class C. We've got a contract to open up some new markets for them. Lump sum per market we open; we should be able to get something on the Lucky Trader, the Errant Venture, maybe even some more."

Bane smiled. "Good work. This should raise our war chest nicely - and yours, I'd imagine."

[phongn]

To the trained eye, the Abaddas Greenwold looked just like any other bulk freighter cruising the spacelanes. Her hull panelling was faded, her paint a bit shabby and her engines pathetically weak. She apparently bore little armament other than some point-defense popguns. Certainly, if a pirate tried attacking her she'd stand little chance of winning a round of combat.

If one looked inside the nooks and crannies, however, they would be amazed at the amount of material packed into her hull. High-powered computers, passive sensor systems to snoop in on enemy sensors, decryption-analysis machines to try and decipher coded messages. She also had a supremely overpowered foldspace computer and fold drive. In short, an electronic wonder.

She also had numerous scuttling charges quite capable of blowing it and anything within to a fine ash. Of course, inspections of the ship rarely revealed anything than it to be Just Another Tramp Freighter.

In reality, this ship, like numerous others, were in the service of the Star Kingdom's National Security Agency. It was somewhat oddly named for the Kingdom, but the whole organization was odd. Every year the Senate authorized money, which disappeared into a black hole. Results would come, sometimes in a trickle, sometimes in a deluge, but the "oversight" comittee, however powerless it actually was, seemed to think it was worth it. And so, the NSA purchased some ships on the black market, equipped them with other material on the black market and sent them out with crews supposedly hired off on the black market.

The latter was hardly true, but they needed deniability and those crews were trained to be highly resistant to the sundry means of interrogation across the galaxy. What these ships did was nothing less than outright spying right under most nations' noses. They would go about their business, buying and selling commodities and goods and services all the while gathering signals and electronics intelligence. If they were caught - and some were - well, wasn't it a shame that their hypermatter core just decided to go boom?

This ship in particular was in a very busy spot. It seemed like half the galaxy finally decided to invade those religious nutballs called the Azgert, and that meant there would be a lot of signals traffic and sensor emissions being dumped straight into space. They'd hadn't been able to peek on telepathic conversations or the ansible - which might as well be telepathy, considering its roots - but most other things could be listened on. Not everything could be decrypted, or even understood even if decrypted, but the information was nevertheless valuable. Jamming, for one, became a lot easier when you could observe their primary frequencies.

And when some powers just couldn't be easily infiltrated with spies, like the HAB (the last five men were executed) or the Kzin (executed for the night's meal), well, signals and electronics intelligence was the best you'd get.

So as the crew snarfed down Mountain Dews from Old Terra (how they managed to import that stuff, the Captain never figured out) and frozen pizzas, they looked at transmissions incoming, recorded them, and then went to go check on their cargo. Bulk grain from some generic port A to be delivered to some generic port B in exchange for some credits totalling N. Boring work, nothing like what the holodramas said, but that's what got the job done.

[Dahak]

[ooc: sorry for the delay, but hadn't had too much time yesterday, so I'll post my sort-of battle report now]

An Azegart system

The fleet translated to the outer fringes of the Azegart system. They immediately deployed their fighters, some ten thousand fighter formed a defensive shell around the main fleet. The two Gate ships fell back and began preparing to open the Gate to Avalon system, protected by a small task force.

The main fleet advanced under stealth. As soon as they were in FTL missile range they opened fire. The volley tore through the Azegart fleet, destroying many ships in the first volley.

As they closed in the Azegart fired back, not as heavy as the Stuartian fleet did, but it was enough to hurt them.

The battle lasted for hours, the losses for the Azegart nearly total, his fleet was ravaged as well. What ships remained cleaned the orbits of the settled worlds clean of any remaining resistance, and settled into high orbit.

They opened fire on the planets and any other centre of civilization in the system. A volley of gravitonic warheads ripped apart the settled moons around one planet.

Sensor drones were sent into the atmosphere of the gas giant to ensure no one ever was to settle here again.

As they left all that remained of this system were glowing balls of molten rock.

Losses:
98% fighters lost
1 Battle carrier
5 Battle Cruiser
10 heavy cruiser
80 destroyers
35 Attack carrier
30 Light carrier

The remaining ships were damaged, needing some time in the yards.

***

Avalon Prime, Fleet Central

Fleet President Pavul Miller looked over the battle report and grimmly assessed the damage. Earlier that day he had watched the arrival of the remaining fleet. The Battleship Morgaine had to be serviced in orbit as she wasn't even able to enter the atmosphere.
"WHat do you project until we're full strength again?" he asked his Chief of Staff.
"We can replace the fighter and smaller units in short order, especially now that the Deep Cloud Yards are online again. FOr larger units we project 6 to 8 months. We can try to tweak it here and there a bit, but I can't promise anything."

[Darksider]

The KSN fleet advanced into the Valeth system and engaged it's defenders. Weapons fire lit up the blackness of space as people fought and died for their governments.

"Admiral, the Aquarian and Stuartian fleets are already engaged."

"Bring us up to aid them, all units advance on the enemy flagship."

The KSN fleets moved in on the 16 KM long vessel that served as the emperor's command vessel. Many Azegert ships moved to defend it.

"Sir, enemy vessels moving to defend the flagship."
"take them out."

Weapons fire lanced out from the KSN fleet and into the Azgert positions, and several ships were ripped apart. Point defense lasers destroyed incoming Azgert missiles, so the enemy closed in to use their beam weapons.

"Keep firing, we've got to hit that command ship."

The KSN fleets pressed foreward through the enemy fleet, and closed with the Azgert flagship.

"Fire all weapons."

The entire KSN fleet trained all it's weapons on the enemy flagship and brought down it's shields.

"Sir, the fleet reports all fusion cannons are charged and ready."

"Fire"

Reddish orange beams lanced out from the Krytosian warships and impacted the now shieldless command ship. they tore into it's hull and ripped the vessel apart.

"Sir, the Aquarians are moving in to BDZ valeth three, and the Stuartians are grav missiling everything else in the system, it looks like the fight is over."


Total KSN losses
20 patrol destroyers
15 frigates
6 cruisers
3 battleships
2 dreadnaughts.

Azgert losses are assumed to be near total.

[Darksider]

:::::KNN news broadcast::::::

::::::WAR OVER:::::::::::
The war is over. Reports from fleet command indicate that all Azgert resistance in the Valeth system has ceased and that a surrender may soon be forthcoming.

:::::::::::Bio-terror attack::::::::
Sadly, before the Azgert rampage could be stopped, they released a biological weapon on Krytos. the death toll is currently ten million, but is expected o continue rising.

[Alyrium Denryle]

Official Response to so-called Type III Xenomorphs

If such statements by the EMERGENCY SYMPOSIUM ON XENOMORPHIC ACTIVITIES are true, then we have no choice but to rectify the situation. WHile we do not know hw Type I xenomorphs made contact with our Neoxenomorphs, we have every intention of rectifyng this situation.

We formally apologize for this mess, this complication was completely unforseen.

We have discussed this mater with the Neoxenomorphs, and while i is sad that we must, all of us agree hat these new Type III Xenomorphs, if they trul do exist, are a continuing threat to galactic security, and must not be allowed to pose a hreat to the sentient people of the galaxy.

[Alyrium Denryle]

:::::KNN news broadcast::::::

::::::WAR OVER:::::::::::
The war is over. Reports from fleet command indicate that all Azgert resistance in the Valeth system has ceased and that a surrender may soon be forthcoming.

:::::::::::Bio-terror attack::::::::
Sadly, before the Azgert rampage could be stopped, they released a biological weapon on Krytos. the death toll is currently ten million, but is expected o continue rising.

Darksider... they woudnt surrender, and we had to BDZ the planet.

[Darksider]

What do you think sounds better on an intergalactic news broadcast? "All resistance hase ceased" or "We had to wipe them all out and burn their homeworld to a cinder"?

Besides, all resistance has ceased. after a fasion

[Alyrium Denryle]

true

[Darksider]

From: KSN high command
To: All star nations
Re: Xeno-hunter task force

We are forming a specalized task force of marines and naval vessels to deal with these new "Type-3 Xenomorphs" they will not enter your borders, but any Xeno hive in international space is considered fair game for them. The Type-3 xenomorph's days are numbered.

[Thirdfain]

-: Commonwealth News Network :-

"War over Aquarius"
"Elements of the Commonwealth Army and Navy fought a brutal battle today over and on the former Aquarian capital-world of Aquarius. After nearly an hour of fighting in space, Commonwealth soldiers landed on Aquarius and, along with Aquarian resistance troops, liberated the capital. Over 100,000 Azegart civilian administrative personelle were captured in the operation.

"The soldiers of the Commonwealth fought with extreme bravery, in adherence with New Bushido. Immediate reviews for citizenship are being planned for all the soldiers who participated in the operation."

"Chef-Admiral Andreson of Poseidon Fleet met with Resistance leaders earlier today, and is in the process of negotiating the return to native rule of the Aquarian Union."

"Bio-Weapons Fears Yet To Come Through"
"Despite galaxywide panic over the usage of Xenomorph-derived combat forms, the latest news points to a distinct lack of a galaxywide plague. While there have been nearly 100 off-planet encounters with single stowaway "facehuggers" and "drones," there is no evidence that any Queens escaped the conflagration. Commonwealth officials said today that the act of releasing the Xenomorphs was "Abhorrant," but went on to say: "With the rash of recent brutal smash-and-grab operations by some of the Old Guard, and the displacement and murder of literally billions, it is curious tha so much attention is being placed on the comparatively minor bio-weapons attack on Valeth."

"Despite this good news, all Commonwealth citizens are to remember that vessels from Azegart territory could be infected. Steps are to be taken to ensure safety when dealing with such dangers.

"Alliance Leaders To Meet"
"President Von Braun called today for the first physical meeting of the leaders of the Alliance.
"We have worked together through back channels and agents for too long. Now is the time for the leadership of the alliance to meet face-to-face, and plan the future of the Azegart Empire. This shared experience with wartime has risen some important questions that must be answered. I propose a meeting of the leaders of the Allied powers a week from today on the Commonwealth world of Maralsartel in the former Aquarian Union."

This meeting is expected to tie up some major questions following the completion of the Azegart campaign.

-: ENTRANSMISSION :-

[Crayz9000]

From: KSN high command
To: All star nations
Re: Xeno-hunter task force

We are forming a specalized task force of marines and naval vessels to deal with these new "Type-3 Xenomorphs" they will not enter your borders, but any Xeno hive in international space is considered fair game for them. The Type-3 xenomorph's days are numbered.

Hirsch Defense Systems is willing to sell 620 acid-resistant PCS MK.XXI systems at a discount price for the use of marines in the Xeno-hunter task force.

[Darksider]

From: KSN high command
To: All star nations
Re: Xeno-hunter task force

We are forming a specalized task force of marines and naval vessels to deal with these new "Type-3 Xenomorphs" they will not enter your borders, but any Xeno hive in international space is considered fair game for them. The Type-3 xenomorph's days are numbered.

Hirsch Defense Systems is willing to sell 620 acid-resistant PCS MK.XXI systems at a discount price for the use of marines in the Xeno-hunter task force.

From: KSN high command
To: Hirsch defense systems
Re: Sales of equitment

Although we have an ample number of Acid resistant armor and weapons, it's always good to have spares. We'll take five hundred of them.

[phongn]

We have discussed this mater with the Neoxenomorphs, and while i is sad that we must, all of us agree hat these new Type III Xenomorphs, if they trul do exist, are a continuing threat to galactic security, and must not be allowed to pose a hreat to the sentient people of the galaxy.

"It was the Aquarian Union's direct incompetence and malice that allowed this to occur. The matter is now out of the Union's control. Pray to whatever Gods you may believe in that the infestation may be controlled, because now it may well be impossible to eradicate. "

Director Dr Sir Janus McGwiree, CS, MVU, KCAO, MD
Royal Institute of Disease Control