[STGOD] Primary Story Thread

[phongn]

It's close enough to 0000hr UTC, so I'll open up the thread here.

[Sea Skimmer]

System JDI-5368, Elugelab weapons test world, 1125 hours KEST

Three ships cut through the black expanse of space. There dark blue-black hulls indicated military craft, and indeed they where. The Pinguin led the procession. A modern cruiser of the Shenandoah class, she was the host ship for the weapons test and had a large rotary launched bolted inside of her hanger bay. The test weapon didn't fit in normal Mr-80 launchers. Behind her was frigate FS. 154, a security vessel to help cover the far side of the planet, though four other frigates, senor buoys and a number of National Guard patrol craft where in system. Bringing up the rear was an ugly but functional ship, range Instrumentation vessel Crossroads.

The vessel was covered with antennas, optronic systems and other sensors with which to record the test results. Data links also feed its computers with data from unmanned ground monitoring and tracking stations. At once data began to flow, providing a basis from which to compare the results.

FS.154 accelerated ahead to take up a position on the far side, while a shuttle rose from the surface, brining up a few personal who had landed to conduct hands on checks or to take photos of themselves at what was to become ground zero. The Shenandoah hung back while Crossroads moved out so that it would observe the impact of the over the horizon shots impact. As the vessel settled into their orbits preparations for the tests began.

The control room of the Crossroads began to clam as check list was run down.
"Radar?"
"Go."
"Seismic?"
"Go."
"Optical?"
"Go."
"Thermal?"
"Go."
"Ladar?"
"Go."
"Safety?"
"Go."

"Very well, all stations checked." Announced the chief of operations. He turned and looked down at his link to the Pinguins CIC. Captain Vega was waiting.
"Captain, we are go for deployment on the next pass."
"Good, where right on schedule with the automatic countdown."

Vega walked to a control consul, installed specifically for the test, the new programming for the combat systems wasn't ready yet. Hear his XO already waited. The two-man rule was in effect for high yield warheads in peace.

Both drew keys and inserted them as the countdown continued past the minus five minute mark. Two 100-degree turns armed the warhead and unlocked the launcher. The computer did the rest of the job, targeting data was already loaded as was the release time and point. A computer voice charter progress.

"T minus four minutes, HyStrike III live test round selected for computer firing. Missile armed."
"T minus ninety seconds, rotating launcher."
"T minus sixty seconds, missile gyros aligned."
"T minus thirty seconds, doors opening
"Launch, missile released."

The launch of such a missile was unimpressive, a hatch opened and the weapon was cold launched to activate its engine in space. A flash came from the ion drive and the missile leapt away from the ship, accelerating at an incredible rate. Simple electromagnetic thrust vectoring wasn't sufficient for it, the after section of the missile physically turned to guide it.

It sped just about the outer layer the planets thin atmosphere, but after only a few seconds made a sharp dive downward. There was a bright Incandescent glow as it sliced through the air, and a massive shockwave that accompanied it.

It took only a heartbeat for HyStrike to make its few finnal corrections before impact on the hard packed earth of the world's dry surface, just two meters from the aim point, a small concrete cone. But HyStrike has businesses well below the surface. It sliced through the earth, and then the hard rock just below, the missile skin melting from the massive friction even as a small beam lanced from its nose to disintegrate the rock in its path. The main engine segment was smashed away at once but a second motor activated to drive the main section deeper.

Finally at a depth of 2151 meters, short of its objective 2200-meter penetration but well below its 2000 meter requirement the warhead exploded, all 400 megatons of it. As the fireball expanded deep below the surface shockwaves raced outward in all directions. At a depth of 3500 and 5400 meters a series of heavily reinforced chambers had been constructed to simulate a hardened complex. All where crushed.

The fireball pushed out of the ground, throwing vast amounts of rock and up into the sky as a second sun rose over the planets surface. The shockwaves reached out dozens of miles to utterly destroy test equipment. The vast mushroom cloud rose, before being slowly carried away on the wind.

Crossroads continued to make passes for sometime. The cameras recorded images of the awesome crater even as LADAR created a precision 3D image. It was a massive, a scare on the surface of the world that would take many years to disappear. The bomb was very efficient and thus relatively clean. But with such a yield it still produced and intense local fallout. Aboard Crossroads all of the data flowed into be combine in an overall model of the test. But a few officials and commanders move after the first full reports of success to meet.

"Impressive crater, not as big as the last one we blew in this rock though."
"That's because of the soil and rock conditions. Still tier three has been everything we expected."
"Yes, and tier four will begin flight testing with inert warheads within six weeks."
"Tier four, its merely a worst case weapon. I'm more concerned with us reaching IOC quickly, with only one failure and twelve successes I believe we are ready for it, we don't need another four test shots at this price."
"That didn't work real well for MGM three three five as I recall."
" MGM three three five fault was in the casing quality control on the production model."
"Good point. So where all agreed to cancel the last test shots as unnecessary."
"Yes."
"Yeah."
"Very well, High Yield Strike system three will be in the hands of our troops within three months and we all god a nice gold star for saving a couple billion on a project sixty percent over budget."




Tom Lee was on the grid, a vast interlinked network spanning the face of Kokand, and now reach out to new worlds and even civilizations throughout the known galaxy. Through its incredible bandwidth came most any form of information and data. But he wasn't interested in just anything; defence technology and construction for similar reasons. A few clicks took him to his favorite site, another brought up recent news articles, and he started reading.

Imperial Starfleet missile test successful, to be deployed early
-Armada Times
Military officials and spokesmen for Alliance Aerospace, developers of the new High Yield Strike System-3 missile, announced that the latest test was completely successful. In addition the Starfleet announced that it plans to cancel the finnal live test shots as unnecessary expenditures and move for an early deployment of the weapon. HyStrike III is a so-called burrowing or earth-penetrating missile, which digs into the ground before detonating to increase its effectiveness against buried targets. According to military officials the "High Yield Strike System can hold at risk all known and projected harden threats." When asked if this included Kokand Empire facilities the spokesperson declined comment. The Starfleet and Army plan to procure 3,600 HyStrike systems over the next six years in addition to the 530 units they already posses.

Some defence analysts have criticized the four-tier HyStrike program as an "over budget luxury" citing that the program is 60% over budget and three years behind schedule and that the higher tier systems unleash dangerous radioactivity, which limits when the weapons can be employed. The high per unit cost has often called the whole program into question.


Boring. HyStrike was over priced junk, and it wasn't like a few salvos from a capital ship couldn't blow some big craters in the ground he thought. What else is there?

FNSS wins record missile/launcher order from PIR
-Mahan Defense News
FNSS Defense systems has won a record order of its MGM-390 tactical missile system with he military of the Peoples Interplanetary Republic signing a contract for 95,020 launchers. 80,000 of the 40 round launchers will be modular, easily mounted on modified trucks or infantry carriers, 15,000 will be towed. In addition twenty systems mounted on the armored BXP-20 will be acquired for trials. According to Peter Kemal, President of FNSS, "This contract is a great boost for our corporation. The size of the order allows us to invest in new infrastructure, to help us meet this and future orders quickly and cheaply. We believe that this success will bring us many more contracts in the future."
Kemal is likely correct, the New nation of What's Left also has also recently contracted for one hundred units and has indicated that it is prepared to buy up to ten thousand more.

A popup announced his porn download was complete, the windows closed quickly.

[Pablo Sanchez]

PSR Awards Dam Construction Contract to Kokand Empire
--Moscow

The Pan-Slavic Republic's Ministry of the Interior has announced that it has granted a large construction project to the Kokand Empire. Kokand Construction firms have been contracted to rebuild the Volga Dam Complex, a project which has been under debate for five years.

The complex, which was almost completely destroyed by Royalist saboteurs in 2787, has been left off-line during the 13 years since. This was due to the minimal utility of the hydroelectric dams and the monetary pressures of securing control and safety over the large spaces of the Republic's territory. But, with tensions eased and a budget surplus apparent for the near future, the Ministry of the Interior has finally begun to rebuild the dams.

Some citizens have donned the cloak of revolution to protest the Kokand Empire's involvement in the project, but the Ministry has so far deflected these concerns.

"The Kokand Empire won the contract because it gave the best price, and their nation has a history of success for such major operations as this will prove to be. This has nothing to do with politics, it is a business matter; it is expected that this operation will allow our people a new measure of security and comfort as they go about their lives," a Ministry spokesperson said.

Major shipments of equipment and materials are already arriving by starship.

[Alyrium Denryle]

Alyrium, Chief diplomat for the DE, and functional head of state, read over the most recent intelligence reports with a grim, worried look. Such weapons as these new High Yield Strike System-3 missiles threatened to unbalance the field of potential battle, counter-measures would have to be developed for the event that relations with the Kokand Empire went sour.

He pressed a button on his chair, and tapped i a few coor coded keys.

"Get me R&D"
"Sir?"
"You heard me"

[weemadando]

And so it began. Simply, and quietly and slowly. A few jingoistic films here, a couple of well placed scare stories in the news and then a small amount of hope. The kind of hope offered by a cause. And that cause was the defense of sentients from the troll threat. Of course, that is what people were told. It always took a while to get started, but once it did, there was no stopping it. Soon there would be chapels and then churches... Its wouldn't take long at all after that...

[Spyder]

[INN]

"You're watching the Interstellar News Network."

As the voice over clears, the two news anchors were sitting behind the desk, one a relatively tall male with slick hair, the other a blonde woman wearing a professional grey top.

"I'm Robert Scott."

"...and I'm Vanessa Smith."

"A few hours ago," Robert started, "the Interstellar Trade Alliance members voted against the mandatory legalization of recreational pharmaceuticals. The controversial Act failed to gain a majority among ITA member nations. Had it passed, all ITA members would have been required to legalize various narcotics that are banned in many nations as part of the ITA's ongoing effort to protect free trade. We questioned Dave Morris of the Minmatar about their decision to vote against the Act."

[Minmatar Foreign Office]

"We don't feel that forcing nations to legalize the trade of narcotics is in the best interests of the galactic community. While we ourselves have fairly relaxed laws reguarding recreational pharmaceuticals, it is not our place to force our point of view on other star nations."

[INN]

"All members of the ITA have experienced booming economies as a result of unrestricted trade between the major corporations. Minmatar Aerospace has reported a 6% increase over the projected profit margins over the past three weeks, the Monacoran Stock Exchange likewise reported record earnings. Thanks to UPK small business intiatives, small businesses across the ITA member nations have also been able to thrive in the interstellar economy in the face of larger competitors."

"While on the subject of the Minmatar," Vanessa began her address, "there has been growing support for the Minmatar nation from within several small New Zealand towns. Most of the Minmatar human population stem from many of the areas that later became part of the Oceana Union, as a result, many of the Minmatar have family members still living in towns such as Hamilton, Napier, Christchurch and many of the outer Auckland suburbs."

[Minmatar Foreign Office]

"New Zealand is now and probably will remain a member of the Oceana Union, they have never taken any action to restrict travel to or from the Island Nation and we have no plans to petition for a change of ownership. However, we are concerned about the number of people that would like to petition for Minmatar citizenship in order to be with their families, but do not wish to leave their homes. This is an issue that we will have to discusswith the OU at some point in the future but for now there is nothing to be alarmed about."

[INN]

"Minmatar holdings on Earth consist of a number of highly developed undersea colonies in the south pacific region, ideal for planetside space technology research and agriculture, a major Minmatar Industry. The majority of the Minmatar industrial base comes from their holdings on the alien world Kaz'morden."

[Alyrium Denryle]

[INN]
For immediate release

After years of development, the DE has announced the unvieling of the Swarmer Class Carrier. This 1.2 kilometer ship carries only slightly weaker weapons than the Sinful Class Frigate, and is capable of releasing 400 well armed fighters and bombers into space in less than a minute. The first ship off the shipyards has been chistened "ArrowsFlight" and will be entering into service after it's shakedown tour patroling the trade routes and assisting the ITA fleets in the Durandal system. This tour is expected to last one month.

[Spyder]

The Minmatar applaud the DE's commitment to the ITASF. (Interstellar Trade Alliance Security Force).

The spirit of co-operation between all ITA members has been truely remarkable.

[Thirdfain]

subject: Re: Our time has come!
To: Jeffery Il Jong (BoMa/Za/130004578)- Executive Office: Free Republic of Zarathrustra
From: Hez Ben-Sayd (BoWo/Kh/00132056)- People's Movement for Peace

We of the People's Movement for Peace disagree most strongly with your assertions. Was not the entire purpose of the Unbinding to liberate us from the petty, violent "politics" of those who languish in the old ways, rotting at the center of their gravity wells? It is madness for you to call for the unification of our forces at this time. If we were to do as you suggest, if we were to appoint an Admiral of the Fleet, as we were forced to during the first Unbinding, it will be taken as a sign by the Heavies that the unbound are now not only interested in their policies and quibbles, but interested in creating policies and quibbles of our own! If that were to be the case, I can assure you that our neutrality would end. The heavies would see us as a threat to their dominions, and once again, we would have to fight for our right to stand apart from their petty rivalries.

As for your ridiculous statement that it is our "duty" to become intangled fro the sake of those "heavies" who languish in the chains of slavery, I laugh- Are not all heavies chained? Are not all heavies equally incapable of enjoying true freedom? Of course, such distastefulness should not sully the Mother Void, but we have no business interfereing with such things when they happen outside of our sight, deep in the gravity wells of the accursed planets.

So, we of the People's Movement for Peace stand united on this issue! We reject your proposition that the four Republics meet to elect a commander for the unified Navies, we reject your proposition that we send ambassadors to the Heavy powers, and most of all, we reject your assertion that Floaters risk their lives for the sake of closeminded Heavy politics!

We place this before the Great Cluster- Freemen/Bondmen/Lovebound alike, side with us, and side with the peace that has allowed us our freedom for so long!

Freewoman Hez Ben-Sayd, Kharam (Qul-Riyadh Cluster)
and the People's Movement for Peace

----------------------------------------------> Movement placed before Great Cluster. Final results:

Support Bondwoman Hez Ben Sayd and the People's Movement for Peace:
1.5 Mi 35 Th 1 Hu 21
Support Bondman Jeffery Il-Jong, Executive Office of the Free Republic of Zarathrustra:
2.2 Bi 120 Mi 576 Th 3 Hu 59

Legislature Passed, by vote of Great Cluster. Assignation of new Admiral of the Fleet to begin via Great Cluster meeting, 1 standard-day hence.

Legislature Passed, by vote of Great Cluster. Assignation of Ambassadors to Heavy powers to begin via Great Cluster meeting, 3 standard-days hence

Stand ready, Freemen/Bondmen/Lovebound- Our time has come!

[SirNitram]

The Troll Battlegroup wasn't terribly impressive by battlefleet standards, but as a Troll group, it was passable. The ships were ill-designed, poorly equipped, and seemed to continue operating largely on wishful thinking. Yet they were well armed enough to pose a threat to trading, so they had to hide from groups of patrols. Here, in deep space, perhaps they were safest..

"Sir! I'm reading a massive dimensional anomaly!"

"Is it a singularity?"

"No, sir. A wormhole."

"YUO = FAG0T!"

"wot"

"IDIOT! A SINGULARITY IS ALWAYS A WORMHOLE AND VICE VERSA!"

"Concession accepted!"

"No, sir, I really think it isn'-"

In fact, it was. The wormhole burst suddenly, becoming collosal. Thousands of fighters roared out, all manner of designs roaring out on ion engines. Invisible bursts of X-rays tore at the Troll ships, pecking at them as they scrambled to launch similar ships.

"Impossible! Lasers must be visible in a vacuum!"

The Troll fleet disgorged Shuttlecraft, the sluggish orbital craft failing to keep pace with the quick Lost starfighters. One of them, however, got lucky, locking onto a sleek shape that looked like an atmospheric jet fighter. A shoddily-made faux-Photon torpedo burst towards it.. And the jet vanished.

"What, they can't do tha-"

"Hahaha! Behold, the powers of Skywarp, you pathetic insects!"

A dumbfire missile burst through the shuttlecraft a heartbeat later.

The Troll fleet, disorganized and disarrayed, was no match when the larger ships came through the wormhole. The Generation Ships, near immune to their token fire, cut through the formation like a hot knife through butter. Slowly, the Lost formed up on the battlefield, before their portal into the region winked out. Communications slowly started and spread. Nitram Tahalshia sighed softly, and nodded. The fleet was underway.

The Lost locked onto a beacon somewhere deep inside civilized space, and engines ignited. FTL drives engaged. They were underway once again.

[Alyrium Denryle]

ATTN: New Roman Empire
FROM: Department of State, DE
RE: Economic sanctions

Due to your continued trade in slaves, we are forced due to our collective ethics and moral principles, to impose tarrifs that shall not exceed 100% of the value of the products you wish to ship to our system. We shall also detain and inspect any ship who's port of origin lies within the NRE for slaves. We will not allow slaves to be traded using our ports and docking areas as a stoping point. Any slaves that are captured during such inspections will be freed and given asylum within the DE.

~Alyrium Denryle, DE head of State.

[HemlockGrey]

ATTN: Department of State, DE
FROM: The Senate of Rome
RE: Economic Sanctions

The caesar and the Senate must regret your foolish decision; however, they have decreed that no vessel carrying slaves may enter your space. However, they have also decreed 100% tariffs against your empire, though they are saddened by the necessity.

Know this! Any attack on Roman citizens will be considered a valid casus belli. It would be wise on both our parts for neither of us to escalate this disagreement.

[Alyrium Denryle]

ATTN: The Senate of Rome
FROM: Department of State, DE
RE: Economic Sanctions

Then we have reached an agreement. We regret this course of action had to be taken but no sentient should be held in bondage.

[Thirdfain]

ATTN: Department of State, DE
FROM: Office of Diplomacy and War, Free Republic of Zarathrustra
SUB: Sanctions against Slaveholders

The Freemen/Bondmen/Lovebound of the Free Republic of Zarathrustra, and indeed, all Floater Republics, salute you for your actions. We too know that it can be hard to make the correct decision in times of strife, such as these, and we now that even the right path may seem the rockiest.

Never the less, we are glad to see that some powers are able to make the tough decisions, and are glad to tell you that changes in our current political climate will allow us to expand our relationship, and to support you should any power find your willingness to stand by your principles offensive.

May the Peace of the Void be with you, Brothers and Sisters of Durandel's Empire, and may our weapons be with you as well.

[Raxmei]

Ambassadorial Quarters New Beijing-

Under seer Quirrik kneeled on the floor in the center of the apartment as he finished setting up the altar. Ambassador Iftir was at the desk in the corner, trying unsuccessfully to get comfortable in a chair not designed with Skaven tails in mind. Hural shook his head at the sight. Fool that he was, the ambassador had done his job. Not it was his turn.

Quirrik lit the incense. The sour, searing scent of burning warpstone hit his nose instantly. Only long years of training to build a tolerance kept the seer from falling to the ground gasping for breath. Warpstone was a gift from the Horned Rat. It fueled the Skaven war machines, propelled Skaven to the stars, and let the seer speak to the home world from light years away. Like as not it would kill him some day.

The seer concentrated, chanting the Canticle of Pain to focus his thought. His consciousness expanded to fill all of space. He could feel the Warp churning for hundreds of light years around. He found his target, clear as day. The Beacon of Morrslieb, located on the moon of the same name and powered by seers much like himself. Having found his target, Hural sent his message, similar to those sent by seers at the League of Princely States and the Fenari. "Infiltration successful. Praise to our allies in New Beijing." The seer slumped down, fatigued from the effort yet slightly euphoric. He panted and wiped the foam from his lips with his sleeve.

"That stuff will kill you, you know."

Quirrik looked over at the speaker, His Excellency the Skaven Ambassador. "I know." Shaking his head once more, the seer set about putting away the altar. The incense, he saw, had barely burned down at all. The message had taken mere seconds to send. Odd, it seemed longer. It always did.

[weemadando]

*snip TROLLS!*

"Sir?"

"Yes?" Ye Olde Grand Filthy Poobah For Life Barclay looks up a the young Knight of Logic.

"We are hearing reports on the communications frequencies of a contact with what sounds like troll forces. Maurice asked me to bring this information to you immediately."

"Trolls?"

"It would appear so."

"Excellent. Begin the mobilisation. And prepare to let the phoenix rise once more."

[Alyrium Denryle]

ATTN: Office of Diplomacy and War, Free Republic of Zarathrustra
FROM: Department of State, DE
SUB: Sanctions against Slaveholders

We are glad that the Floater Republics stand with us. We hold you dear to our hearts and minds

We wish you luck in all you endevor to achieve, and offer our assistance as both brother in arms, partners in trade, and as a team in science.

May the peace of the void be with you our brothers and sisters of the Floater Republics.

[Spyder]

ATTN: Department of State, DE
FROM: Office of Diplomacy and War, Free Republic of Zarathrustra
SUB: Sanctions against Slaveholders

The Freemen/Bondmen/Lovebound of the Free Republic of Zarathrustra, and indeed, all Floater Republics, salute you for your actions. We too know that it can be hard to make the correct decision in times of strife, such as these, and we now that even the right path may seem the rockiest.

Never the less, we are glad to see that some powers are able to make the tough decisions, and are glad to tell you that changes in our current political climate will allow us to expand our relationship, and to support you should any power find your willingness to stand by your principles offensive.

May the Peace of the Void be with you, Brothers and Sisters of Durandel's Empire, and may our weapons be with you as well.

The Minmatar propose that the ITASF be granted provisional responsibility to detain suspected slave carriers.

List of voters

[OOC - If someone seconds this motion PM me your votes so we don't choke up this thread, I'll post the results in 48 hours (including who voted for what to provide evidence that there is no vote fixing)]

[Alyrium Denryle]

The DE seconds the motion.

[Beowulf]

2 lightyears from Sol:

A lone OU frigate chases a large freighter through hyperspace. The freighter is broadcasting a New Roman Empire ID code. The frigate demands that the freighter halt and prepare for boarding for inspection. The freighter sails on heedless to the demand. It doesn't slow until after a missile is launched as a warning shot. On board the freighter are 30 slaves. They are taken off by the frigate to be released on Gryphon. The freighter is then released to go on it merry way...

[HemlockGrey]

The New Roman Empire is outraged at this violation of our sovereignty by the Oceania Union. The boarding of a vessel not in their territory and the theft of Roman property is absolutely inexcusable.

The Empire calls upon it's allies the Monacoran Nation and all members of the League of Princely States to impose complete economic sanctions against the Oceania Union until a public apology is delievered and compensation made.

[Alyrium Denryle]

ATTN: All
FROM: Department of State, DE
RE: Recent Barding action by Oceania Union

The DE stands by the decision of The OU frigate to board the afformentioned freighter. And objects to the NRE refering to living sentients as property.

[HemlockGrey]

The Empire demands to know why a seperate power can board the ship of a private Roman citizen when he is not in territory subject to that power's jurisdiction. Such an action is mere piracy. We demand both an apology and monetary compensation.

[Sea Skimmer]

Bright Star joint military exercise announced

Today authorities from the Kokand War Department, Pan Slavic Republic embassy to Kokand and the Asgard Stellar Empire embassy to Kokand confirmed that this years Bright Star military exercise will include naval and ground forces from all three star nation. The exercise will be held in the restricted training worlds and space ranges of the Osalon system over the course of two weeks.

[Alyrium Denryle]

Why should monetary compensation be paid? No legitimate cargo was taken.