Mankind's Story - RP

[Petroshka]

Lady Geleswintha, Sir Gwalter, Yirath.
​

As the Atlusian Strider walked over to the unknown aircraft the Knight that was on its hull jumped off and with Geleswintha ordering her knights to form a defensive circle around the craft both against and for the natives that were seemingly surrounding them, this normally wouldn't be too much of a problem, they could have Gwalther come in on his corvette for a quick pick up but she feared the inhabitants of the craft would either be less than protected or more than trigger happy. They watched as the large metal humanoid not too dissimilar from one of their Teknitcs rip open the craft to reveal the crew inside, they didnt look to jolly.

Axel The Englishman Wandering Grim Hollow KindlyPlagueDoctor

 

[Kokurai Gaisgeach]

-Somewhere in orbit above Morgawn B7R, aboard DS Rhongomyniad-
Admiral Nikolai A. Andersen
Kestrel Fleet Command

"Admiral sir, we're detecting multiple Slipspace Ruptures" Comms alerted the Crew of the only Capital Ship in orbit on B7R, her crew was on panic mode as multiple Atlus ships exits their Hyperspace.

"Put them on screen." Nikolai was calm, gently sipping on a cup of joe while as the Monitors show the Atlus investigation fleet popping out of Hyperspace. "Comms, relay this to High Command at once, Crew prepare for Launch. we're going to meet the... "Visitors" "

Its harpoon anchors detach from the rocky surface as the Ship fired its thrusters to half-power to escape the low gravity of B7R, its destination the Atlus Fleet.

"The Journey begins..." The Admiral was humming a tune, the same song that was sung during the Day of Silence in Karmerlaut after the Seven Atomic Detonations in Berka. despite the unknowns popping out of Hyperspace, he kept calm and hummed the tune, the Command crew shortly joined in the humming as the Supercarrier steered towards the arriving Atlus fleet.

Wandering Grim Hollow

-Near the Border-
Cypher, Garmr 1
66th Air Division, 6th Unit

Jet engines roar above the Border of Berka and the Dominion, they watched the radioactive scorched land of a once rebellious nation reduced to nothing but ash and embers from the Atomic Fire, its mushroom clouds dissipates in the atmosphere, leaving nothing by Radioactive soot that blanketed the land.

The Demon Lord circled the the area, his presence fills the Surviving Berkans and the Dominion forces with both fear and admiration, but it was a few short minutes before his disappeared through the clouds, landing on the Dominion Assault Carrier, Valais. which was ordered to position to B7R as DS Rhongomyniad has picked up Slipspace ruptures​

 

[RIPSaidCone]

Tios, Outer Colonies, Femian Space
Unidentified Vessel, 28th Fleet Blockade

The strange usage of lighting within the vessel itself was noted by the Femians who had arrived, it doing little to their vision as their helmet visors shielded their eyes from most potential injury. Though the sheer amount of troops that had their weapons pointed towards the boarding party was noted even more so, one of the naval infantrywomen behind the black cloaked figure speaking into her comms device on the side of her helmet, contacting the fleet and informing them of the less than welcoming posture of the unidentified soldiers. Captain Fayte wasting little time in ordering the fleet's weapons to turn on the largest of the group of ships, if their boarding party were to be attacked then the ship would be destroyed within moments depending on how strong its armor was, of course the Femians on-board it knew that and were more than content to go down with the potentially hostile vessel if need be. The cloaked figure staring at the armored man across from her for a few moments after he spoke clearly in English, or at least the closest he knew of it. Turning to the doors where he had pointed before proceeding towards them at a calm pace, the naval infantrywomen slowly then turning around where they stood and following her in formation, weapons still lowered in a professional manner, trained not to show any fear even if they felt it, though whether or not any of them actually did feel threatened was to be determined but it could be assumed that having such a powerful figure leading them into this unknown ship would certainly quell most worries given what the naval infantrywomen knew about their leader for this mission.

The doors shifted open automatically for the group as they proceeded down a long, dark hallway decorated with various different statues sharing a common theme, the subject of which they were made. Every statue had the same man present which was of interest not to the naval infantrywomen who kept their focus straight ahead as they usually did but to the cloaked figure at the front, who believed this man to be some kind of religiously or politically important figure to whoever these people were, perhaps even both. In-fact the more she took everything in the more and more this entire ship appeared to be centered around some kind of religious belief-at least more so than any other military vessel the Femians had seen, there were men wearing holy looking robes that strolled around going about their business although they were outnumbered by the more ordinary looking militaristic officers and enlisted, only stopping to see who those that had boarded their vessel make their way to the so called "Honor Room" whatever that was, the only sound emitting from the group being the ordered thundering of pure white boots marching along in line behind a set of rugged black ones and of course the NCO of the infantrywomen's voice ocassionally answering any questions on the status of the group from the Captain of the Varnarmaður although every member of the group minus their leader did have video and audio recorders placed into their helmets to keep track of the mission and the individual infantrywoman's activities throughout it usually in-order to ensure quality in the field of work and obedience but also to give the commanding officer, in this case Captain Fayte a constant stream of information.

However when the large group actually arrived at their destination, the contrast to the rest of the ship was quite vast. Where the rest of the ship was dark and dingy, industrial and very much centered around practicality and apparently cost-effectiveness, this room was the polar opposite. This room was very clearly built around its design, it held an important status to these people whoever they were and it was reflected as such in the way that it was decorated, it looked more like an art museum than part of a military vessel. Though the naval infantrywomen maintained their strict posture as they stood away from the black-robed figure that led them, now standing in a horizontal line on either side of her as opposed to the vertical line that they had been standing in before. The masked figure in the middle now speaking up to the man who was seemingly the Captain of the vessel standing across from her near the center of the room. "You have intruded on space belonging to the Femian Hierarchy. Who are you and why have you come here." She asked flatly, expectantly.
jole875

Bethan, Middle Colonies, Femian Space
Kax Terata Airspace

The uniformed woman smiled, it was to be expected that the Sednians of all people would be the most enthusiastic at such an offer, although stereotyping was never a suite of the Vice-Director's, it seemed that such conceptions were entirely accurate when it came to the people of Sedna, not that she was complaining of course. Though she did think that this kind of trade deal was something better suited to the higher-up's of both nations due to the unmatched secrecy of this construction project, in-fact the woman wasn't even sure on whether or not her boss even knew what these materials from Sedna would be used for. Those snobby Navy types were always so damn secretive about every little thing they did, it was infuriating for when any of the other branches ever tried to work with them. "Indeed. We need a various amount of materials, most of which our superiors can discuss with one another at a later date but for now, the resources we require the most of currently consist of Reinforced Dynasteel, Palaglass, Refined Lonalite, Stares Plastic and Rare Vesp Elements. What will your price be, reminder that we'll be purchasing these materials in the hundreds of millions of metric tons."
General Deth Glitch

Casos, Outer Colonies, Femian Space
Federation of the Defiant Headquarters, Ma Turan Territories

Casos, an out of the way, barely populated colony world of the Femian Hierarchy that's only notable feature was just how flat it was. Excluding the odd few hills or even mountains the small mineral extracting colony was as bland and uninteresting as a planet could be with a few exceptions. Which is what made it such a perfect location to house the Federation of the Defiant's headquarters, a massive underground complex built into one of the few mountain ranges on the planet, surrounded by a vastness of completely flat salt plains covered by a constantly growing and shrinking amount of shallow water overseen by an always bright blue sunny sky. It was a picturesque view to be sure but that wasn't the reason for the Defiants' choice as mentioned before. Although small, the rebel movement which had been formed a few decades ago consisted of a small amount of Femians who more than anything wanted to live a life without the normal pressures that were enacted on them by both their peers and their government and also who wanted to see an end to the military-centric culture and functioning of their people. People who wanted to see change brought about from a place other than the military who always seemed to be the dominant voice that was heard above all else in Femian space and people who wanted to see the Hierarchy's foreign policy shift to a more friendly nature, rather than one that was always in a state of constant readiness for a war that would probably never even come. Their tactics were mostly peaceful however they were not above engaging in conflict with government forces if it was for a justifiable cause, such as in self-defense for their own installations and members, alongside sympathisers. One could argue that this was the Federation's most promising feature, their utmost devotion to their moral code and the wellbeing of their sisters across the Hierarchy, even those who would serve in the military complex.

But today, what was most notable about Casos, to the Defiant troopers who stood guard outside the front entrance to their headquarters at least. Was the attention that it had brought, it having started as just a spot of black in the distance, only appearing over the horizon at first before approaching and growing larger and larger, one of the dumbfounded, casually-dressed but still uniformed troopers taking out a pair of binoculars and focusing in on the unknown figure, spotting a curious sight indeed as it appeared to be a young Femian--no two young Femians. Both in what was definitely civilian attire though attire that wasn't suited to the rather high temperature of Casos, so there was little doubt from that fact that these two young women in the distance were from another world. The two troopers looking towards one another curiously before the one of them took out their comms device and called in the potential disturbance to their command post below the plains they stood on just in-case these two civilians were to cause them any trouble. It would be a shock to say the least if this turned out to be some kind of deceit on the Hierarchy's part but that may not have been the case they bought thought as the women approached, one of the two smiling and both looking incredibly tired and worn out, no doubt due to their less than appropriate choice of clothing for such a hot planet. The other one not smiling due to the fact that she was downing a large bottle of water. "Can we.. Help you?" One of the Defiant troopers questioned, the nonchalant quality of the question stemming from the fact that it wasn't exactly a secret that most of the local natives to the colony knew of the HQ's existence, but not wanting to attract any government and therefore unwanted attention, didn't report it in.

"Yeah.. Yeah you can." One of the two spoke. "We have some information that's of vital importance, Nata Kelvek needs to hear what we--what my friend has to say." She finished, turning with a look of concern to the woman in question, her friend, who shared that same look in its entirety.

Spoiler: Defiant Trooper

 

[Petroshka]

Astarte System
Planet Hohenheim
Baron Cethegus
​

The old baron woke up from his bed, after a few weeks in FTL traveling to the unmarked system of Astarte he was getting annoyed with staying in the ship for so long. But the slight annoyance was worth it especially after it was a direct command from the Queen herself, although whether or not it was cause she wanted to get rid of him or not was still up in the air. Yawning the old man got up from his bed and went to do his usual daily routine, greeting his family, brushing his teeth, breakfast, etc. After the morning groom was done he got dressed up and walked outside into his colony ship, or well, the queens colony ship that he was tasked with governing and managing. it was very much a practical ship with the necessary grow engravings and what not. "B-Bzz-t" The intercom came on. "Arriving to Astarte system, in T-minus two minutes" The baron looked up somewhat surprised, he knew that the journey was at an end finally but he didnt expect it once he woke up.

Walking over to the ships bridge Cethegus watched as the crew and peasants run around getting their things ready it was truely abuzz, it reminded him of the start of the journey when ever was excited to be one of the first colonization plans in decades, even centuries! However the excitement died down when everyone got comfortable and realized that the length to get there is going to be a long one. Once he walked into the bridge the ship flew out of the wormhole, a truely amazing view when all the light went from a distorted view with stars flying all around them then slowly comes into focus before him. The entire crew of the bridge gasp once the sensor operator pulled up the planet previously named Hohenheim, it was a lush forestry planet with large tundras and ice caps on its poles, the equator was mostly oceans with its continents near the poles. It seemed like a colder planet than the long ranger sensors predicted, no matter, they were used to the cold.

Spoiler: Planet Hohenheim

However, there was an anomaly emanating from the planet, a unusual purple looking, Haze that Cethegus couldn't figure out what it was it definitely looked suspicious but the sensors couldn't figure out what it was. After a while of confusion it was determined it was because of the planet's high electromagnetic field, the haze might've been a visual anomaly although it did look rather gaseous. The colony ship started to approach the planet cautiously at first to continue to monitor the planet, firing off probes and drones to find the best location to set up a city.

 

[adrian_]

Mercury, night side
The Unsettled Zone

Pvt. Spuran and Pvt. Reebin​

Two silhouettes are walking through a snowy landscape, both having minimal trouble walking, making hand movements and holding assault rifles. One with a cloth covered helmet and one with a heavy coat on.

​

"You believe that shit?" The man in the heavily insulated helmet spoke up, a light on the front of his helmet lighting up when he did.

"What shit?" The man next to him said, the snow making crunching sounds as they walk through it.

"The shit the Premier said, about life beyond this little solar system." He scoffed before he stated the words, like he was disgusted. Pulling out a device that looks to be a pocket watch, opening it the device gave off a faint yellow glow, like a neon resturant sign. "Sixty metres."

"Maybe, I don't know man, i mean why would humans try to get away from Earth? Theres still a chance we could all eventually go back, I know i wanna be able to see it one day." He pushed the other man slightly, trying to get him to speed up.

"Look, Molin, if we were able to go back in the next hundred years we would have been preparing by now. Stop being so positive, it'll just hurt you in the long run."

"Fuck man, i read that shit about what it was like back then and it seems so carefree. Before the bombs, i mean, and it's like, if my kids could just experience that, it would mean the world to me." He gave off a depressed tone, like Earth was lost yesterday.

"Kids? You? Who'd marry someone that looks like you?" The soldier with the insulated helmet stopped, and snickered while getting in a protective stance.

Molin automatically ran up and kicked him in the shin, making the soldier with the insulated helmet double over in pain. "Hey, fuck you, dog. Last time i checked you were still living in a trashed apartment in the Civitatem ghettos."

"Godamnit, I forgot to wear greaves, god I hate you, y'know sometimes I just..." He watched as Molin kept walking wincing as he got up and followed him.

"C'mon man, we need to get there as soon as possible!" Molin started to break off into a jog.

As the two men approached their objective they gazed in awe as the blizzard cleared and gave way to a military installation, six-hundred feet high, maybe higher, multiple AA guns on the outside of it, megaphones being blared, soldiers running around left and right in tight formations, and vehicles speeding to locations unknown.

"Well this is where we've been stationed, huh?" Molin shot a long gaze at the huge building.

"Yep, good ol' Fort Patriae."

Spoiler: Installation

 

[jole875]

Unknown Sector 185 Approaching Unknown Craft
Boarding Ship
"Then I said,"Do you know the difference between heresy and ignorance? Same difference between a spade and a shovel!" After a few quick laughs the younger man that had made the joke took a swig of some sort of mineral water. "Can you believe that some of the people in the genetics field haven't read every volume of Overlord's Reign? I know it's not a requirement but seriously, who doesn't own a copy?" The young man was named Yeron, due to protocols no Chosen could be spared from the ship for security purposes but, it just so happened that Yeron had once been through Chosen training. While he failed in the final physical exams of the program, he was still a very elite soldier in his own right. "Well.... better make sure may Traitor's Tongue is still up to speed, I haven't practiced since we had my seventh son a year ago," Yeron said while taking out a planning book and showing seven pictures of boys, teenagers to an infant. After those around him heard they all cheered and slapped his arm, seven was the perfect number for boys to have, all parents reached for it. "There's the vermin's ship, sir. Prepare yourself." The pilot of the ship announced as he engaged his reverse thrusters.

"Are you ready sir," a guard asked from behind Yeron. "More ready than I'll ever be, we're making contact with possibly hostile creatures.... For Overlord's sake stop pointing your rifle forward! Don't want to start an intergalactic war do ya? Purely a political analysis right now, no reason to slaughter the vermin." Yeron scolded a guard when he saw that the man had been pointing his rifle directly forward at the landing pad door, he knew that was the standard simulation procedure so he wouldn't report him. Yeron took a deep breath and pressed a green button beside the door, after a few automated clicks and clanks of the door locks and holds it began its quick dissent straight down. When Yeron got his eyes on those within the hangar his cybernetic reflexes kicked in forcing him to roll forward off the ramp and onto the hangar behind the ships landing gear. Through luck alone he wasn't caught in the first few shots, but he took hold of that luck and went running with it. While he felt a slight panic in the back of his mind years of subliminal sleep messages and implants made these thoughts into wet paper.

After Yeron had rolled to momentary safety he instinctively pulled up his wrist console to see the current damage. Out of the twelve men onboard the ship only four had been killed from the initial shots, three injured, and five were unharmed and returning fire. The pilot of the ship had requested permission to arm up, request denied. Three K-9 units were on board in their locked compartment, LOCKS DISENGAGED. Looking around at his surroundings for the first time he realized that they were vastly outnumbered and out positioned. After less than a second of pause his cybernetic implants kicked in again, "Right Flank Push, low armor identified, use solid fire, dogs deploy left side." Without a thought the remaining soldiers reached up and pressed a button on their weapons, alternating the firing form, and began moving quickly on the right side of the firing line. Right after the troops were off the ship's ramp three dogs, of a large but proportional size, began a dead out sprint for the left line. While most K9 units were Uplifted, these were not, these dogs had been specially bred for their speed and strength, they were not sentient. After seeing his orders had been taken in full he drew his pistol, but as he began to turn towards better cover he only saw the butt of a rifle coming toward his face.

Spoiler: Boarding Ship

Shireling

Unknown Sector 185
ISS Frigate Conrad

"Sir! Enemy ship has appeared in danger close proximity! Three klicks out, battle leaders are requesting permission to open fire, orders sir?" One of the deck hands questioned with a panicked tone. The captain looked down at a 3D screen displaying a handful of different statistics, ship locations, and battle readiness around the ship. "Order the main driver to switch to laser fire, I want a three second blast four hundred feet below that ship, make it apparent that we spared their life. Contact our gun boats tell them I want all wings prepared for departure." Captain Hemlock commanded with out even looking up from the screen. Without hesitation the hand began looked back at his own command screen,"It will be done sir."

The Conrad halted its advance and everything seemed quiet, as if time had stopped. At the head of the ship was a large, and seemingly deactivated, cannon. A few seconds after the ship halted in its advance the dormant cannon rotated into an aiming position towards the dangerously close ship. "Beginning charge!" Yelled out an ornery gunner. From the inside of the large cannon's barrel a purple glow emitted for an excruciatingly scary few seconds. "Fire!" The word hadn't even completely left the mouth of the sergeant before a deadly purple beam began streaming from the barrel. While the bolt of deadly purple light missed, it's deadly possibility was without a doubt, shown to the enemy.

Petroshka

Unknown Sector 518
ISS Dreadnought Crypt | Honor Room

"They've landed on the ship, my lord." The Captain muttered as he paced back and forth, his blood pumping furiously. "Calm yourself, all you have to do is repeat after me. I am resting my godly power upon you.... get those fucking priests out now... don't want them to start chanting." The Overlord said this in a jokingly manner but the captain still took it very seriously. "All of you out now! The Overlord demands this chamber to be barren of your presence, out!" The captain began yelling with a pointed finger. Atleast he's a patriotic one, maybe a new hero can be made of him. Thought the Overlord as he sipped at an empty glass, when he realized that it was empty he only looked disappointed.

"Captain, they are about to enter, stand in front of the Battle of Hemtide Statue." The Overlord ordered as he moved his microphone into position. Derron quickly walked in front of a large marble statue of the Overlord, flag in hand, it had been made after the Overlord "led" an army into battle. The captain watched with his burgundy eyes as the vermin entered the room. They were taller than he expected, a respectable height for their kind, and they obviously weren't foolish enough to come alone or unguarded. He found that they were a strange type of vermin, clean and healthy in size. When their apparent leader spoke he was completely unaware of anything they meant through their speech. After a long wait the Overlord spoke into the microphone and Derron repeated as best as he could. "We are the Servants of the Overlord. Unaware we are of your existences, under the hand of the godly Overlord we have come to this system to investigate the existence of space faring verm-.... peoples. My people were unaware of your existence, but the Overlord knew you were here, knew this was to be the place of meeting. The Overlord believes you are to be a valuable sla-... friend, so he granted you permissions to enter this holy place. In the presence of your mighty ships the Overlord holds back the thousands of war fleets, his mercy is spent on hoping you would return such.... friendliness." While the captain had no idea what these words meant he understood that they had to be godly in their creation.

RIPSaidCone

​

 

[KindlyPlagueDoctor]

Gar'shal Yutzelhup and Veezkus Tutzpochtlu-Yirath​

The group of hunters and warriors watched as more strange creatures arrived, one jumping from the back of a larger one and landing on the swamp floor. Some of the hunters turned their bows and spears to it before more appeared and began to form a circle. They hissed at the intruders, attempting to assert their dominance, they would attack if they needed to. They watched as the great bipedal creature ripped open the strange object, revealing those inside.

After a short exchange of hisses they decided to close in, not to much, but enough to show they where serious about defending their home turf. Even if it was against these strange seemingly almost magical beings. Veezkus pointed his spear at one the knights, signaling he was not be trifled with.
​

Petroshka Wandering Grim Hollow Axel The Englishman

 

[Shireling]

On-board the Chalcedon
​

The firefight was brief but intense, and by the end more than a half dozen attackers lay dead, with a few more injured. Some attack dogs lay against the metal floor, smelling of charred hair and flesh from a shot to the chest with a laser rifle.

Robert, the nurse, and the security officer he had spotted earlier were standing over the crumpled form of one of the unconscious boarders after Robert had struck him in the face with his combat rifle.

"Well, it's not xenobiologicals." The nurse chimed in. "But for the life of me I couldn't make out the emblems on the uniform."

Yeron awoke to a gloved hand snapping in his face. As he looked about the cargo bay he could see his attack had failed and some of his men were captured and being lined up against a wall by one of the armored security officer. To his left, he could say several medical personnel carrying men in black spacer coats off to the infirmary on stretchers. Meanwhile, a few armored security officers were poking around the landing vehicle they had come in as if trying to decipher the iconography.

"Hey," said the voice belonging to the gloved hand in English, it was a woman's voice, "follow this light."

Abruptly, a bright flashlight was stuck in Yeron's face and the shadow of a woman in medical fatigues appeared behind it. She waved the light back and forth before putting it away.

"Well," she turned to the man in the spacer coat that had hit Yeron in the face and spoke in High Speak, "he should be fine. He might need a dentist though. I don't know how hard you hit him in the face."

The armored security officer leaned in as if to pick him up, but was pushed away by the medic.

"Give him some space, Holt. Jesu Cristo."

"Fucker tried to shoot me."

"I'm going to shoot you if you don't back up."

The three figures stood and the nurse held out her hand to help Yeron into a standing position.

jole875

 

[Petroshka]

Aquarii System
Lady Radegonda
Javian Prime
​

When the lazer shot missed the Crow's Draft Lady Radegonda Ordered a halt on all ship engines and guns. "Have the point defensive cannons looking out for any sneaky fighters! Have the main cannons aim at the enemy ships guns fire until they actually connect a shot. And tell those Legionaries to get off their asses and board those torpedos!" She was met with a rumble of footsteps all across the bridge with people rushing around and fingers typing furiously into various consoles and terminals, Radegonada herself was trying to keep calm. It was her first actual experience with any type of combat and she had no immediate backup, it was really a recruit captains worst nightmare, but if she could just stall them and let the main planetary fleet arrive to settle things she wouldn't have to loose crew or knights. "send them a transmission: Let them know they are in concordat controlled space and firing upon a patrol ship is an act of war. Any further acts of hostility will result in the destruction of their ship and we WILL find where they came from and retaliate with full force" The communications officer saluted and transfered her message to the unknown ship. "Ask the Curtorium ship if they are okay and what is their current situation, we'd have to Stall for the main fleet at best, at worst we'd have to fight them." May the Crow guide their way into a bloodless conflict.

Admiral Sunericus Radegonda
Aquarii Defense fleet
​

When Admiral Sunericus got the call of a unidentified fleet showing up near the Crows Draft and one of the Curatorium's ships he was busy relaxing at one of the beach heads at the tourist planet of Shal'horen sister planet of Javian. Instead of a quick whisper into his hear a Belvanti Transport ship flew right infront of him with knights rushing out informing him of the situation. Naturally he was displeased at the suddenness of it all plus he was rather, not dressed for the occasion, robes and all. But as he was informed further and of what ship was in danger he quicky shut up and stopped complaining about it all. The only thing going through his mind was of Amalindis, he quickly got dressed and when the ship finally boarded his flag ship the Alluvial Faith, A Calihorn Class Battleship, he rushed into the brig barking orders.
"What is the status of the fleet?!"
"35% ready, the others are still coming from around the system sir,"
"Tell them to hurry up, we dont want a war starting at our doorstep with our ships unprepared"
"Sir Lady Radegonda reported that the unidentified fleet is small in size however unknown in capability, if we go now we cou-"
"Don't underestimate our opponent Liliac, and dont underestimate... my daughter."
The comms officer simply nodded at the old Admiral afriad to really suggest anything else

With a heavy sigh Sunericus walked over to one of the holographs showing numbers, position of ships, and the status of the Crow's Draft. Hopefully Amalindis will get out unscathed, "hold on for me."
Without missing a beat, right as he said that Lilac got up from her seat barking out information again. "Sir! enemy fleet cloaked! the larger ship didn't!"
His eyes went from a weary concern to full on alert. "Status of the fleet!"
"45%!"
"Damnit, it'll have to do! Fleet into line formation! tell the rest of the fleet to converge on the Crows Draft!"
Sunericus ran to his Admiral's seat and sat down. "FTL on my command!"

Outside The Alluvial Faith Ships of varying classes, most of them, Clarent class frigates with a few cruisers and destroyers flew to their position, ready to meet this unknown enemy. The crews unsure of what to think about this situation they were all in, could this be the start of a war? or will this end in peace talks with a previously unmet faction in this already crowded galaxy they were in? Were there other aliens than the Axidat out there? Whatever it was, this could make Concordat history, or the others at the end of their cannons

jole875 Shireling

 

[doodleSM]

THE BATTLE ON VICTORIA
"Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war!" - Mark Antony in William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar
​

When the Tempus Concordat's knights left for the Victoria System after receiving the transmission, they'd be greeted by a blockade around the planet. Battle fleet November surrounded the planet of Prime Victoria. A message hailed, and allowed them transit to the planet side of Prime Victoria. Upon arrival they'd be sent coordinates to the military installation two hours drive away from Briggs-Villa, deep within the jungle. The Field-Commander, Mathew Collins greets them

"Welcome to the jungle, Knights." A small complement was behind the commander, as they looked up at the Knights. He'd motion them to follow them to the inside of the installation

Over head, several VTOL crafts are seen approaching the city of Briggs-Villa.

"We are deep within shit, Captain." The knights and various officers from the armed forces of the United Systems were around a holo-table. He points at various figures that are projected holographically. "Several insurgent bases surround the city of Briggs-Villa, and the city is in a current state of anarchy. They control the city currently. However it's a nightmare getting through this jungle to reach Briggs-Villa. We are hoping that your band could assist us in retaking the city."

Petroshka

RECEIVED PROPOSAL FROM VENERIANS
"Two hundred million guns are loaded. Satan cries take aim!" - Creedance Clearwater Revival
​

The military department head looks at the bot, intrigued and happy by the offer. He nods, looking at the machine, unsure if it was sentient. "Troops would be the most beneficial. We shall give your forces access to the system of Victoria. We will give you any supplies you require for any operation against insurgent forces."

The other department head sighed at the colleague's eagerness and lack of negotiation skills, but said nothing now.

Crumbli

 

[Axel The Englishman]

Magnificum Mare

Supreme Minister George Martin

The Supreme Minister sat directly at the centre of his office. It was yet another day of running through paper work regarding today’s federal issues. It was barely a significant transition from his military career, and everyday for five years he wondered why he even made the choice. But the Purview has made it’s choice, and it was his obligation to answer the call of duty. Though, he had hoped for more heroics.

He kept a cigar secured between two fingers as he autonomously laboured through the relentless files of digital paper work. From occasion he would bring it to his mouth to enjoy such primitive luxuries. It managed to make the process far easier. It seemed as if he would actually finish his bundles of work tonight.

Soon, a well-kept and highly decorated individual barged through the doors that concealed the Supreme Minister from his detail of personal guards. The man was Viktor Schulz; the newly-appointed Chief of Territorial Security.

“Schulz, I recall there being a specialised process before entering a room?”

“I do, but a tactical room breaching manoeuvre would have surely damaged the wall paper.” The man rebuked, ensuring a brief exchange of laughter between the two officials. The guest proceeded to bring up a chair to sit directly opposite to his superior, despite the lack of visual or audio authorisation to do so.

“Any reason why you nearly broke the locks on my door? Those are vintage, y’know.”

“I didn’t invite myself in for a simple exchange of pleasantries. We’d had reports regarding compromised infiltration of illegal munitions within our galactic territory.”

“Odd...” The Supreme Minister scratched away at his beard in contemplation. “And what reason is there for importing illegal arms?”

“We’re unsure as of now. The smugglers that were captured are quite uncooperative. They’ve refused to reveal where they’ve acquired these arms and aren’t willing to shed light on why they’re infiltrating their loads into our region of space.”

“Very well. I believe that you will use what you are provided to obtain this information?”

“Of course, sir.” Finishing the conversation, the uninvited intruder stood from his seat and left the office. The insertion of foreign illegal weapons worried the Supreme Minister. He could only wait to see what happened.

Yirath / Clides D3GP Surface

Chief Master Sergeant Ethan Bailey

Bailey and his crew were completely taken by surprise as the top of their craft was peeled off, exposing them to a potential exchange of munitions fire. The assembly of flight personnel brought their weapons about in the direction of their potential attacker. The armour would be too thick to pierce with simple small arms fire. Bailey would have to negotiate the situation with reason and compromise.

“Remain where you are, stranger. This is Purview property that you have damaged without good reason. I suggest you reframe from unreasonable actions, else willingly choose to face on the might of the Expeditionary Corps. Make your decision.”

Bailey may have just signed his death warrant with those words. He was unsure of who these people were, and was thus unaware of their protocol regarding unidentified targets.

“I suspect you shall make a decision that has been thought through properly.”
​

Wandering Grim Hollow

 

[Shireling]

Florida, Earth​

The hydraulic landing gear of the interatmospheric VTOL touched down on broken tarmac. From the extended stepladders, a small squad of researchers scurried down wearing hazmat suits and carrying bags with portable computers, notebooks, and diagnostic instruments. One of the researchers in a black suit with red trim seemed to be the leader and was holding a Geiger counter that was ticking wildly.

"We're sucking down a lot of rads out here," he muttered, "we'd better get in and out quickly."

They trudged over cracked concrete in the direction of a large set of buildings less than a mile away. The centuries-old ruins were creaking in the wind, and faraway lightning bolts flashed in the everpresent, greenish clouds. Radioactive ash and snow covered the ground in some places, and the reverberations of the approaching storm were ominous and filled the researchers with dread.

They reached the first of the blasted out buildings and one of the researchers wiped away ash and soot on a nearby metal sign to read, "Cape Canaveral Spaceport" in bold letters. The interior of the building contained an assortment of junk, mostly broken research equipment and what seemed to be parts for an archaic space vehicle. Everywhere were bones and partial skeletons, usually still contained in lab coats or fatigues with the NASA logo on the shoulder. Without finding anything they moved on to the next building.

"You know I've heard other researchers say there are people still living here, underground." One of the men said after a long silence.

"Probably not. Even if there were before the war, they would've run out of food by now. Nothing can live on the surface."

"Hey, at least we can't catch anything. Ionizing radiation is about the best sanitizer you can ask for."

"Watch that Geiger counter or it'll sanitize you, you lummox."

The leader researcher led them through a hall and into what appeared to be a security office. On the far side was a door marked "Traffic Command". Beside the door was a pile of bones with an almost-intact skeletal hand clutching an employee ID. The lead man picked up the card and tried the magnetic strip on the door which gave way with a hydraulic click.

They emerged into a ruined control room. Most of the large computer monitors were smashed, as they appeared to be nothing more than flimsy glass or plasma-glass in the case of the smaller terminals. The lights still worked on the power of a backup fusion generator that was beginning to flicker out judging by the dimming and brightening of the lights. The Lorekeepers fanned out and checked the nearby desks for useful information. One of the researchers found a working terminal and sat down at it, bringing up an old user interface.

"What is this, like Windows 10?" He muttered in frustration as he tried to parse the bootup sequence. When he finally got the computer online, he went trawling through the files on the computer. Most of what he found were old space flight logs from before the war. One C-27 cargo hauler from the ISS to Mars, one Russian Federation corvette from MIRR 34 to Moonbase Sigma. So on and so forth. He was about to give up on the terminal when he started stumbling over manifests. Then he noticed a column entitled "Interstellar Outbounds". Interesting, he had only heard of a few interstellar sublight vessels launched pre-war.

He scrolled through the column and found three entries. One on the 2nd of July, 2112 noting that the Gilgamesh had taken on a cargo of 34 fire extinguishers, one noting that the same ship had taken on thirty tons of foodstuffs and mining equipment, which was strange, and one a few days later that said:

The Agamemnon is now taking on forty-five passengers for transport to System 32e-3. The fusion generators have been outfitted with additional capacity to account for the power demand of the cryogenic containment units. The extension units should allow these same passengers to survive the journey and begin their mission upon their arrival. Captain April Sawyer has been briefed on the risks and has agreed to be frozen with the crew. The Agamemnon is cleared for interstellar travel and should be departing from the ISS July 29th, 2112. We will lose viable radio contact on October 13th, when the craft leaves the Oort Cloud.

"Hey guys, come look at--" the bullet had passed through the young researcher's brain before he could finish his sentence, splattering blood, brain matter, and plastic from his helmet all over the console. Hearing the shot, the other researchers turned to see one of their own standing over the dead body with a pistol aimed at them. They drew their emergency sidearms and began trading shots with their assailant. The cracks of gunshots and bullets impacting reverberated through the empty room, before finally a bullet struck the interloper who cried out in pain and emptied the last few rounds from the magazine of his gun to cover his retreat as he limped away. Most of the researchers gave chase while the leader went over to the terminal, wiping the blood away from the screen he read over the manifest log and his eyes went wide. Quickly, he put a datadrive in the side of the computer and extracted this log before following after his men and the sound of gunshots.

Outside, on the tarmac, several mercs had arrived in a separate aircraft. They were dressed in black armor and masks that gave no clue as to their national origin, and their rifles sprayed bullets in the chasing Lorekeepers' direction. Ducking behind cover, the researchers were pinned down and helpless as the craft took off and into the lightning storm that was now right on top of them. They raced to their VTOL only to see the pilot's body laying on the pavement. Panicking, the men selected a young researcher who had some flight experience to get them out of the atmosphere to rendezvous with the waiting research vessel. The hunt was on.

Outer Procyon System
​

When they had boarded this ancient hulk, Philip Tolan, otherwise known as Captain Irons, had expected to find perhaps some minor loot and a bunch of skeletons. Instead what he found was the literal motherlode. Searching the ship's computer logs, his crew had ascertained that the vessel was well over six hundred years old and was filled to the gunwales with frozen people who had never seen anything outside of Earth. The cryopods themselves, probably worth a fortune either to a small time government conducting cryogenic research or to a collector of pre-war junk. But the passengers? Who knows. Could sell them, could try to press them into the crew, a few of the female passengers already seemed to be peaking his crews' interest. But the first thing was first, he had to tow the Agamemnon back into port. Then he could decide what to do with the passengers, get the cryo pods, and then break the rest of the vessel down for scrap.

The pirate captain rested his hands on the railing of the bridge and looked out the window towards the dim light of the red dwarf star that was the epicenter of the Procyon system, then towards the far away twinkling of the main planet in the system, Procyonia, a den of murder and vice that he had called home all his life. The worn pirate had scars all over his face and a cybernetic left eye to prove that he was a scrapper, and his impressive, hand-crafted body armor was mainly for flair but also to signify that he could shoot or beat the shit out of any member of his crew. Turning towards his lieutenant, Olphas, he accosted the man for his tardiness as he slipped through the hydraulic pocket door.

"Have the men attached the tethers?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good, tell them to give us half thrust so we keep this thing in one piece. We're hauling her into the chopyards."

RIPSaidCone General Deth Glitch

​

 

[General Deth Glitch]

Bethan, Middle Colonies, Femian Space
Kax Terata Airspace
The secretary smiled, he felt he had survived the encounter with his terrifying neighbours. All he had to do was play merry until the discussion was completed. "I would price a deal like this close to a Trillion, I mean the resources you are asking for and the scale you want them, its not going to be cheap. Ofcourse, I suspect a project like this the payment arrangements will be spread over time, a fair way of ensuring that both of us hold up our ends for I am sure more assurances that we wont stiff you in anyway. I am sure none of those resources will prove to be problematic beyond the scale of them and the transportation. Depending on the scale and duration of the deal then we may want to look in strengthening the extending the transport infrastructure between our properties and your borders." He got a communication device out, "Mind if I update Pearlman of the current outlines of the deal?" he asked as he began to describe the vague sense of scale and investment of the project. "Now, I think we have managed to come to an amicable agreement. Let us leave this to our bosses to refine, unless there was something else?"

Ymir, Sedna, Sol
Sedna Trade Security Force HQ
"We are being told that this is going to be a grand Undertaking. It seems Millions, if not Billions of tons of resources, some rare. I vote now is the time to seize the location. By the time any of the Other Governments realise what we are up to the plan will have been made official and no one is going to stop the System that is supplying the Femians, to do so would either result in destruction or a deal where they provide what we are offering but cheaper, if not free, and that will cripple their economies." These were the words of Peter Deitrich, Chief of Trade Security, to the other Branch Chiefs.The response was a lot of talking and some of the Regional Chiefs that were in the area even made their voices heard. Eventually they were agreed. The majority of the Houses had already given the Sedna Trade Security Force the OK to enact the Plan but gave them the final say on when and how to achieve the goal. They agreed it was time. It would give them more access to trade Downstream of the Cent Route, give them a foothold and begin the enacting of a much larger plan.

Later

Ymir, Sedna, Sol
STSF HQ, Cheif of 'Private' Security's Office
"I see so there is definately Cryo'd Terrans from before the war at that location? I appreciate you coming to me first. I will need to discuss this with various people, of course. Please ensure you inform your employers but make sure you fix those com issues you just started having first." Came the words of the Chief of Private Security, Marxian Lunic. Marxian was the third son of the current leading house in the 'New Blood' camp of Politics and, like all people who were in positions of power in the STSF, had been given his position, not earned it. Despite that he has worked hard to prove his worth. The Response from the mercenary on the other side was a short chuckle followed by "We must ensure we can repair this new issue so that I can report to my employer" There was a sharp moment of static and then silence as the merc turned of his communication. Both men knew that what had just been agreed was to ensure the Femians were told everything but to delay it just a moment so that the STSF could muster their own people to get a slice of this very valuable pie. Marxian knew that this could strain Femian-Sednian relations but intended for everyone to win out. The Sednians would get one or two, perhaps use them as museum pieces or digitising their experiences to then sell on while the Femians would get the majority to use as they wished. Everyone would win out as far as Lunic was concerned and he felt the Femians would no doubt appreciate the added firepower in the possible conflict considering how he was informed the operation went down.
RIPSaidCone

Luyten IV, Luyten.
Bridge of the TSC Ingstrom
"Get those supplies off quickly, the sooner we set up a base of operations the better our leverage politically." Said Security Chief Haines, "We need to rush to set up the mines on this planet and on Luyten II. We want to get a scoop over to Luyten VI and begin mining the belt around Luyten VI and place a simple station over this planet and have one sitting in the system Belt between IV and V. The houses and the STSF are investing a lot into this plan. The larger scale our set up and the more crap we can place in the system the better." That was his address to his crew. He knew what was at stake. The Fact was the Sednian Holdings in and Around Sol were going to run out sooner then ideal and so they needed a new region of influence to strip of resources. That was to be Luyten. Too much Trade passed through Lelande to ensure any meaningful 'entrenchment' but Luyten was merely a station. Ships Jumped through it without a thought. With Tensions between the Institute and the Heirarchy being as they were very few chose to spend too long travelling the road between the two super powers. If they could secure it then they could secure the Femians access to the materials they wanted and influence over the stellar region. They would finally have a place, all be it a small one, on the Galactic Stage as a nation.

 

[Shireling]

Bridge of the HMS Charles Darwin
​

The Curatorium research vessel had been in orbit over Earth for about twelve Terran days, and had been sending research teams throughout North America to scavenge what were deemed "promising ruins" from the ground. The vessel was a frigate painted grey and black white white and gold-colored trim. On the sidewall was painted the emblem of the Lorekeepers Guild, an opened book with two crossed keys.

Captain Edward Fischer stood on the bridge, his long leather spacer coat nearly trailing the ground over his black and gold military fatigues. He was part of the Librorum, the Librarians. They were considered the paramilitary arm of the Guild; men and women who devoted their lives to becoming Renaissance people, skilled in art, literature, science, and some mode of combat.

Fischer looked out from his vantage point to the planet below, watching as another acidic storm of ionized particles danced across the southern half of North America. He had seen pictures of what the world had looked like before the war, blue oceans with powdery white clouds and green land. Now, it was a dull, dirt-colored sphere shrouded in a greenish haze of ionic dust.

"Captain," chimed one of his subordinates, saluting, "the Florida team reports hostile contact."

"What?" Fischer asked incredulously, his bow-shaped mouth drawing back in a scowl. "Hostile contact with what?"

"A spy, sir. An infiltrator was among the party. They suffered two casualties and the interloper was able to steal a piece of highly sensitive intelligence."

"What intelligence?"

"The team has discovered the existence of a pre-war sleeper ship, the Agamemnon that departed in 2112 for Procyon. Our records don't indicate the ship has ever been discovered, and the manifest has listed forty-five crew members in cryostasis."

Fischer looked stunned and amazed. A treasure trove of information could be locked within the brains of those passengers. The Lorekeepers would reward him handsomely, and furthermore he will have secured the testimony of real-life pre-war humans!

"Of the spy, do we know their origins?"

"No, but there are theories. Institute is a likely culprit, although this is more brazen than them, generally. There are also the Femians, the Purview, the Tempus,"

"I suppose it doesn't rightly matter. Whoever it is, we have to beat them to the Agamemnon. There is no telling what will befall of the ship of crew if we were not to secure it."

"Aye, I have radioed ahead to Philemon on the encrypted channels. They have given us the greenlight for this operation, and the corvette Jekyll and frigate Michael Faraday are set to rendezvous with us in Procyon. I have also been told that the High Curator is especially intrigued by this operation and has specifically requested we take the utmost care with the passengers."

"Excellent. Let's collect our researchers and then move out. Tell engineering to prepare the craft for warp."

"Aye aye, sir."

Aboard the Agamemnon
​

Pirates in leather coats toting laser rifles was not a scene that any of the designers of the ship would have imagined playing out aboard the Agamemnon. As the craft docked at the Procyon Chopyards, it was boarded by another crew. This one, a group of severe-faced scavengers. One of them, in a Curatorium-made suit, the others in leather coats and combat boots. The man in the suit casually lit a cigarette and let the smoke drift into the metal rafters above his head.

Coming to meet them, Captain Irons stood with Ophas beside him. The balding old lieutenant was visibly sweating, but the Captain just seemed annoyed. On either side of them were rows of cryogenic freezing banks, each one containing a six hundred year old person in an orange NASA jumpsuit. They had been checked over twice, all forty-five seemed to have made the journey which was unusual for a primitive sleeper ship.

"Alright, Irons, I'm thinking maybe... 10,000 credits?" Said the man in the suit.

"10,000 credits!" The pirate barked incredulous. "I wipe my ass with 10,000 credits. The salvage alone is 40,000, plus the popsicles. We're talking somewhere in the neighborhood of six or seven million credits."

The salvage man just laughed. "Apparently you haven't gotten wise, Irons. Sinjen Drive Yards is out of business. They had a uh, unfortunate incident with an old freighter colliding directly into Old Man Sinjen's office."

"Never liked that old Chinaman anyway, Rickets, what's your point?"

The suited man threw down his cigarette and stomped it out. "Nobody calls me fucking Rickets, Irons. Not even your punk ass. The name is Richard Evars. And what it means, smartass, is that there's only these Chopyards and the Golgotha Driveyards, and me and you both know that Golgotha hasn't got the credits for this hulk, and if they did we would be robbing them. The offer is 10,000, take it or leave it."

"You know, Rickets, I've got half a mind to shove my foot so far up your-"

"Captain," Olphas broke in, "I might suggest the Calticras Shipyards in Leonia. It's a trip, I don't know if the ship will make it but we could always try."

"Take a tethered ship through the gate? Fucking suicide. Go ahead and try." Rickets said, grinning with dirty stained teeth. Yet there was something off about his composure. He knew that Irons knew that he was about to outmaneuver him.

"I could always sell to the Hierarchy, or the Institute." Irons said coolly.

"The fucking lesbians and the goat fuckers? They'd be more likely to ice you than pay you."

"Maybe. Maybe not."

Silence.

"Okay, how about two million credits?"

Irons smiled. "Now we're getting somewhere, Dick. Olphas, grab that Indi Chardonay. We'll drink that while we discuss business."

The salvager was basically fuming. "I will get you one day, Irons. I'll fuck you over so bad---"

"Hey hey, now." Irons butted in, "I'm flattered, honestly, but my mother didn't raise a queer."

"She never raised you at all," Olphas whispered laughingly as they all walked back to the bridge to haggle over the price.

"Quite right, Olphas. Quite right."

 

[Wandering Grim Hollow]

Atlus Space Force
Squadron Leader Astolfo 'Lancet' Davenport
Location: Near B7R​

"Woah... That is one big ship..." Hammer whistled as the unknown fleet and its large flagship came into view. Lancet carefully steered his fighter about to get a clear view with his targeting scope. The 4 interceptors were clearly outnumbered and outgunned in this situation. To make things worse, the enemy fleet seemed to be steering towards their own fleet.

"Command this is Warlock 1. We have visual on unknown fleet. And its a big one." Lancet reported as his squadron entered a holding pattern formation. Just skirting out of range of the unknown fleet. As he awaited orders, he kept his eye on the escorting planes and wondered about their capabilities. Will he be able to shoot them down? Are they easy pray or will they actually be a challenge? Even so, are they honorable pilots who value a good fight or bloodthirsty vultures who shoot down anyone without a care? Little things that just fall behind the scenes in the chaos of war.

"Warlock 1, this is Command. Maintain a holding position and attempt to hail the flagship. Tell them-" The Captain's orders perplexed Lancet and made him chuckle softly. So that's why they were here? An Investigative Force. That term had a nice ring to it. Still, he wonders what sort of Investigative Force that carries nukes have any use here.

"Copy that, Command. Executing the mission now. Over and out. Warlocks form up on me. We're about to do something crazy." Hammer whistled with joy as the planes entered contact formation. "Isn't crazy what we do best?"

"Watch that mouth, Hammer. Heh, we might not survive this. Opening communications link with unknown fleet. Here goes.... *Ehem* Attention Unknown Fleet. I am Squadron Leader Davenport of the Atlus RSF's 7th Fleet. We have orders to investigate an unknown energy spike detected within your region and seek your cooperation in our investigation."

Kokurai Gaisgeach

Atlus Spacey
1st Sergeant Lydia Carthwright
Location: Purview VTOL Crashsite​

"...... Pardon? Unreasonable you say?" Lydia parroted the Sergeant's words as the mech mimicked the confused head tilt she was doing. Still, Lydia was rather impressed by their steadfast attitude. Even if they are surrounded and have a 10 meter tall mech staring down at them.

"I... Apologize for my rash actions, Sir. I was given orders to check on the status of this craft and its occupants. Had I known you were still able to move I wouldn't have damaged your craft. ...... Or what's left of it." Lydia did a quick check on her biosensor and confirmed that they were still surrounded by the rather angry looking natives. That and they were coming closer.

"I have thought about the situation and now offer you a choice. Quietly come with me back to the Edelweiss for questioning or.... I simply leave you to the wrath of the natives. I'm sure your weapons are effective but I doubt you have enough ammunition to handle all of them. I'll give you a minute to think before I leave you to them."

Axel The Englishman Petroshka

2nd Lieutenant Hans Gregorovich
Location: ???​

"What have I gotten myself into now?" Hans hummed as he checked his situation. He was hoisted up by his leg, a good 2 meters above the ground. Simply put, he was ensnared by a rather active carnivorous plant of a sort. While the Doctor in him wants nothing more than to take a sample, the soldier in him is yelling for the thing's demise. Sadly, the soldier won and he quickly prepped his sole thermite grenade. The top of the cylinder began to spark as he dropped it into the plant's 'mouth'.

"Such a waste..." Hans grumbled as the thing began to thrash as the thermite ignited and burnt through its digestive sac. In its death throes, the plant threw him a good half meter away into the mud. Groaning slightly, he pushed himself up and watched as the plant became still. A good minute or so passed before he approached the remains, cut off a sample and sealed it in a specimen tube.

"Now... To find the ship.... Maybe that way?" Hans mused as he heard a distant explosion. Shouldering his rifle, he sighed before trudging his way through the mud.

 

[RIPSaidCone]

Tios, Outer Colonies, Femian Space
Unidentified Vessel, 28th Fleet Blockade

Back on the Varnarmaður, the Captain and the bridge crew were busy listening in on the conversation between their marines and the captain of the unknown intruding vessel. Everything that was happening obviously being recorded both visually and audibly through the helmets of the marines themselves, and as the captain of the unknown vessel spoke in response to the Femian question. The Naval Intelligence officers aboard the Varnarmaður who operated seperately from the main branch of the Navy had immediately gotten down to work trying to discover just who it was that they were talking to, going through their records in the data banks positioned on either side of the bridge's observation deck, black and white uniforms distinguishing them from their enlisted counterparts the FNI agents soon discovered that their records held no collection of the word 'Overlord' as any kind of title for a leader or faction that occupied Civilized Space. Usually the first assumption would be non-Human lifeforms but it had already been established that the men aboard these ships were very much human. So the second assumption had to be made that these humans were not from charted Civilized Space as every other known faction was, but that they must have been from some unknown region that was yet to be discovered by any major Human nation or third party organization. Which would certainly prove to be an interesting development, especially as these men claimed to not know anything about the Hierarchy either.

Fayte scoffed to herself at the other captain's remarks on the supposed 'thousands of war fleets' though she wasn't sure whether or not that was true she had an inclination to believe that the man's claims were false given the obviously delusional fervour that the people of this faction held for this so called 'Overlord' it gave off a strong indication that the populace was brainwashed and so it had to be assumed that any claims of military strength were either exaggerated or outright lies which the 'Servants' of this 'Overlord' character had been forced into believing. Captain Fayte of the Varnarmaður speaking into her own microphone to the black robed figure leading the Femian marines on-board the unknown vessel. "Call his bluff. And ask what exactly it is that they wish to become of this interaction." The leader of the marines recieving the order and expressing it swiftly. "We would be interested in seeing these thousands of war fleets, military strength is something which our people take great pleasure in witnessing. My superior asks what it is that you wish to become of our interaction. What does your 'Overlord' want."
jole875

Bethan, Middle Colonies, Femian Space
Kax Terata Airspace

"Excellent." Was the Sub-Director's first response, an approving nod following afterwards. "Feel free to update your superior, as I shall do the same with mine. I believe all will be arranged shortly as our department is under rather intense pressure to have this deal fulfilled within the coming days, the Board of Naval Superiors is most insistent on this project being completed as soon as physically possible so I suppose we should best get to it." Both subordinates in their respective fields would then proceed to inform their superiors of everything that had been rather informally agreed on and spoken about but that both sides had expressed their eagerness to get along with the deal. In the coming days several meetings would take place between Femian and Sednian representatives from various parties involved, on the Femian side it primarily being the Commerce and Naval Corps alongside the Corps of Engineers and various business and government leaders on the Sednian side. Bethan and Sedna would prove to be the two dominant locations of these meetings.
General Deth Glitch

Karvan, Outer Colonies, Femian Space
Elysium Genetics R&D Installation 72, Arvak Province

Karvan, a barely habited forest planet known primarily for its never-ending rain and storms that cover most if not all of the planet at any given time. Populated mostly by aquafarmers, hydrologists and loggers the planet really wasn't anyone's first choice of place to live unless they were either born there or had moved there for work opportunities which there were surprisingly a lot of given how miserable the planet's weather was. However like most scarcely populated outer colonies in Femian space, Karvan was a very suitable planet for both government and corporate interests that were not meant to be seen by the wider public, one prime example being Elysium Genetics' research and development installation, numbered 72. It wasn't their only facility on the planet but it was certainly their largest and most productive, being home to many of the genetic advances which further improved the Femian genome for future generations, of course it was top secret due to its importance, hidden well away as it was built into a mountain range surrounded by some of Karvan's thickest forests. One could only go there if they were invited and given directions needless to say, which the Terror Corps had been, a large jet-black shuttle descending down onto a landing platform that stuck out of the rocky formations of the mountains, it hit the artificial flat ground with a loud thump as the ramp at the front of the shuttle descended downwards just like the ship it belonged to had. A group of specialized looking troopers who's armor shared a similar tone of black to that of their shuttle marching out in formation before taking up positions of security around the ship.

From there a familiar looking figure would approach from down the ramp, that figure being Grand Admiral Aria, having been dispatched by her peers on the Board of Naval Superiors as she was seen as the right person for the job of supervising this matter of utmost state importance, behind the prestigiously dressed woman followed another one however, with a fully black uniform and cape, having to basically hold her cap on however due to the strong winds of Karvan. This was Grand Marshal Vexia, a member of the Board of Naval Superiors' equivelant in the Femian Terror Corps, the Board of Speciality Superiors given the specialized nature and role of the branch of military that they were in-charge of. She too having been dispatched by her peers of equal rank in her own branch due to her particular skillset and competance. She was smaller than Aria in stature but equally as imposing if not more due to the reputation of her branch and its considerable lack of ethics. The two high-ranking figures stepped off of their shuttle ramp and were almost immediately greeted with the salute of a hundred of more Army troopers who had been positioned at the entrance of the facility as a formal welcoming party, Elysium Genetics due to its importance to the Hierarchy was usually given a military security detail for its many facilities across Femian space. And from the rows of troopers holding their salute a similarly familiar figure would appear. Director Alfaderis, wearing a much more appropriate raincoat over her usual pure white lab one due to conditions as she smiled and nodded towards her military visitors.

"Grand Admiral. Grand Marshal." She greeted, coat blowing in the wind as the three stood across from one another. "I wasn't expecting the Naval and Terror Corps to take an interest in our work, isn't that usually the Ground Corps' area of responsibility?" She said with an air of confusion though all three women knew why they were all standing here, and so the Grand Admiral was the first to take the initative. "Yes, Director it usually is however you know why me and my friend are here and why it is our two branches and not the Ground Corps handling this... Situation." There was an emphasis on that last word which made the Director freeze momentarily before regaining her ground. "Of course, Grand Admiral. Its just that I'm a little perplexed as to why you're approaching me, I mean--didn't my suggestion work?" She asked, the Grand Marshal now speaking up quickly in response. "It did, the data was retrieved and has been delivered to our personnel on Bethan. However not only did your agent of choice alert House Skyre to the presence of a foreign state taking an interest in ancient NASA operations, losing the element of surprise for us but he also went to his own countrymen before he went to us. Did you really think we would trust a Sednian fully with a task as important as that, and with data as vital to our people as the data he retrieved? Needless to say our companions on the BNS and BSS are very displeased with you, Director." Alfaderis was stuck for words, opening her mouth before swiftly closing it again, only being able to reply with. "My most sincere apologies." She bowed a slight amount. "Whatever I can do to repay you for my mistake I will do, but I did have faith in his abilities to do it both discreetly and with loyalty to us."

"We're well aware of your naive trust in baselines, Director. But you must remember that they are not like your sisters in the Hierarchy." Alfaderis nodded with a quiet sigh. "Now, our peers expect us to track down the location of the Agamemnon and its passengers. We already know the system but that's about it. We will be able to handle this task, however what we need from you is for you to join the hunt for these Terrans with a team of your best personnel, we have very little time in this endeavor so we expect you to come with us today." Alfaderis nodded, quickly turning around to return back to her facility without another word. Efficient.
General Deth Glitch Shireling​

 

[Shireling]

Procyonia
​

The "capital" of the corporate bordello state governed by pirates and robber barons known colloquially as Procyonia Libertalis was a bustling metro of fifteen million people. While the planet itself was an Earthlike world with a slightly higher proportion of ocean, the city itself sat far inland. Hovercars lined the streets and the wealthy inhabitants lined the streets amidst shops selling illicit goods or gaudily-lit whorehouses.

Far above them, a wide space elevator led up to the Procyon Chopyards, the largest salvage operation in civilized space. A large field of space was bounded off and collected by gravity tethers and the long, thin access tubing of the Chopyards itself, which was a large space station organized around a central, massive scrap compactor and an adjacent fission furnace that melted the scrap down into metal to be separated and recast into new parts. Within the Chopyards rested about a hundred abandoned hulks of ships large and small. And within that cloud of debris, the old, dilapidated Agamemnon.

Then, like the flickering of a light, four ships came into view. Three of them, black with the Lorekeeper's livery. One of them, bearing the livery of the Militarium Solaris.

Aboard the Agamemnon
​

"So, three million and we keep five of the passengers. You have a deal." Captain Irons said, standing and shaking hands with the salvage merchant. The merchant blew a puff of smoke from his cigarette and grinned. "You drive a hard bargain, Irons. C'mon. Let's go draw up the paperwork."

Suddenly, a metallic chirp sounded in the bridge. The merchant stuck his hand down in his jacket pocket and found a small metal device that he put to his ear.

"What? He wants to speak with me? Stall him."

He closed the communicator and stuck it back in his pockets. "Apparently there's a Captain Fischer of the Curatorium here to talk to me."

Irons raised a brow. "What are they doing here?"

"Something tells me," the merchant paused as he turned to the door, "it's something concerning this rustbucket."

"You're selling to me, Rickets. We had a deal."

"I don't see any paperwork, Irons. And it is parked in my Chopyards."

"Fuckin' snake," the pirate snarled as he stepped towards the merchant, only to have the scavengers pull their guns from their holsters.

"Back off, Irons, if you know what's good for you."

The pirate captain glanced at his first mate, who sat gobsmacked with his wine goblet still held in his dumpy fingers. He went for his gun.

The bridge erupted in gunfire, triggering the pirates and scavengers inside the vessel to glance towards the door to the bridge, then at each other, and then fell to fighting one another. The whole ship was filled with fighting men shooting at one another or going hand-to-hand in some instances.

Chopyards Offices
​

"He'll be back soon." Said the secretary obstinately.

"When is soon?"

"Soon."

Captain Fischer crossed his arm in frustration. He, alongside a small squad of soldiers in combat armor were waiting for the junk merchant, to intimidate him into handing over the Agamemnon, which they had seen clearly resting in the confines of the salvage yards. Instead, they got a surly secretary.

Before long however, a muffled sound came up from the floor. It sounded like... Gunfire.

Fischer turned back to the secretary and brandished a pistol. "Ma'am, I don't want to shoot you but I need your security codes."

"Take them," she said, tossing a small laminated card across the desk, "they don't pay me enough."

Fischer snatched the card and he and his men crashed through the security door, running towards the scaffolding that led out to the Agamemnon.

General Deth Glitch RIPSaidCone

 

[Axel The Englishman]

Yirath / Clides D3GP Surface

Chief Master Sergeant Ethan Bailey

Bailey maintained an ever so watchful glare towards the stranger, expecting an attempt to launch an unexpected attack against the crew of airmen. He paid attention to the words this potential adversary carefully chose to deliver. The offer of sanctuary was quite suspicious given how these people were firing a cascade of bullets at him only moments ago. “Despite my attempts to reframe from being rude, I must decline your offer.” By now, most of the crew was taking up a defensive position with their weapons aimed towards the surrounding natives. “I find little sense in accepting an offer from strangers who almost cost the lives of me and my men.” The airman took a moment to think whether he had made the right decision to decline. He hoped so, for the lives of five other individuals were on the table right now.

“Chief, flares.” A member of the crew delivered a device shaped as a pistol, though it had no intention to act like one. Red smoke was secured within the piece of equipment; it was exactly what he needed. Bailey aimed the device towards the sky, squeezing had on the trigger before it deployed a trail of red travelling upwards with no thought of ever coming down again. “Soon, our men will arrive. I suggest you flee before they do.”
​

KindlyPlagueDoctor Wandering Grim Hollow Petroshka

Sergeant Wilhelm Krieg

“Flare! In the distance!” A soldier positioned his index finger in the direction of the red cloud in the background. Red was always a cry for help, and it was the duty of a man like Krieg to deliver that assistance.

“Alright, men. Surveying the area will have to come last. Our new primary objective is to make our way to that flare.” The unit of men scrambled their equipment together. In moments they began to march towards what had managed to catch their interest, weapons prepared to deal with the potential enemies they might stumbled upon.​

 

[Fishman Lord]

ARK-83-A
The laboratory on the planet's surface was silent and hidden, camouflaged into the surrounding marsh. Inside, it was cool but not cold, with microscopic robots working on a DNA strand from some creature. The head scientist looked it over. "It's an intelligent fucker, so uplifting should be done within the month. After that, we just send the template to the orbital bio-manufactory and we'll get a population going. These ones will make excellent soldiers, large and fast and vicious but we can make them quite obedient, Councillor Ajax." The man on the other side of the holocom nodded briefly. "Excellent. The Hierarchy grows hungrier every day. I'd call them wolves, but I've met wolves. Lovely people, these days. But Femians... there's an aggressiveness in them. Their leaders have been inserting it, breeding it in, using the knowledge they stole from us for dark purposes. The Femian people are sick. It is up to us to cure them, or remove the infection upon our world. Ajax out."

The head scientist, a lioness, looked back at the scan of the DNA of the creature they were working on. So complex, so beautiful. The creature itself was the size of an elephant, with vicious teeth and four eyes. With some graspers and intelligence added, it would become a reckoning on the battlefield.

Casos, Outer Colonies, Femian Space
The spy approached the mountain fortress. She was so conflicted she felt her body would literally rip apart, but as she looked at her companion she knew what had to be done. She had to betray her nation to save her people. She was brought down into the complex. Eventually, she was brought to somebody, a woman with blonde hair and green eyes. "So. I was told you have information that we need to hear." The spy nodded. "Well then? Spit it out, I don't have all day." The spy opened her mouth, but the instant she started to speak her heart felt like it exploded with pain. Her entire body started to feel inflamed and she started to choke and froth at the mouth. She collapsed to the ground, unable to speak or make any noise. Shaking on the ground, she eventually lost consciousness, and died very shortly after.

Several star systems away, Councillor Ajax noticed a blip on his visor and activated it. "TERMINATION NOTICE: A7FMSI. CODE: 9849304352942." Ajaz had memorized the codes and knew what that meant. A traitor. Fortunately, agents no longer relied on their own weak minds to prevent themselves from giving up valuable data; now, so-called "death packets" were built right in and automatically deployed whenever a betrayal was detected. How unfortunate for her. "May her next life be kind," whispered the general.
RIPSaidCone

Meeting with Sedna
"Oh, we are well aware of your business with the Hierarchy. What we are saying is that we can be an even greater customer." She pulled out a small holodoc. "This is what we'd like to buy from you. That's more mercenaries than many colonies have populations. That's enough weaponry bought to fund a small empire. We have a rather great budget, and a not quite as great military. The Femians, while surely good buyers, wouldn't ever purchase amounts like this from any outsider.
General Deth Glitch

 

[Petroshka]

Lady Geleswintha, Sir Gwalter, Count Ermelandus Yirath.
​

Lady Geleswintha put a hand up to her helmet, "Gwalter, how long until the fleet arrives?" All they had to do was stall long enough for the nearby fleet to arrive, then hopefully all of this will be settled fairly and peacefully. Although she has a sneaking suspicion the old count will have to vacate the planet, after all a high standing count out in the middle of nowhere wasn't exactly the safest thing. "They should be arriving in orbit in a twelve or so hours." Geleswintha gave an affirmative before resuming a defensive stance with the natives, perhaps she could attempt to reason with them?
"Patch me to Ermelandus" Gwalter responded with an Affirmative and soon enough Ermelandus's voice came through.
"Count Ermelandus, this is Geleswintha i need you to give be a brief rundown of gestures the natives might know"
"i'll look into that right away" Ermelandus from back at the research base pulled up his files from various stealth drones labeled 'communication' which showed various gestures the lizardfolk natives used and his interpretations of what they might mean.
"It looks like if you throw your weapon or maybe its supposed to be a ceremonial spear on the ground which apparently means you want to communicate and talk with them?"
"uh... Affirmative my liege"

She was taken aback by what she had to do, throwing her weapon on the ground would leave her somewhat vulnerable and plus she didn't want to clean the rifle afterwards. "Johannes, give me a stick" one of the knights slowly looked at Geleswintha his face utterly confused face hidden behind his helmet but it was very obvious as to what he was thinking. "Just, do it" He looked over to a tree branch and tore one out and handed it to his commander. Geleswintha looked at it then looked up toward the natives, looking around for a ornately dressed one that stood out in the crowd which would normally signify the chieftain of the group she raised the branch and threw it somewhat near the lizardmans foot about a meter away from him. "Knights lower your weapons." as she said it she did it as well. Hopefully she did what was accordingly lizardfolk culture of "i don't want to fight" It was quite odd to her honestly but with stone aged primitives one cant really predict much.

KindlyPlagueDoctor Wandering Grim Hollow

Sir Gaiseric
Victoria System, Prime Victoria
​

Sir Gaiseric was met with the sight of a massive conglomerate of ships surrounding the planet they were sent to "i see they've spared no expense with quelling the rebellion, i wonder why they requested assistance in the first place." with a hail telling them to go toward a certain location within the planet he commanded his pilots to do so, and soon the frigate flew within low orbit with three Belvanti transport shuttles flying down to the predetermined location with captain Gaiseric onboard. The knights saw a vast jungle expanse with a few clearings and destroyed trees no doubt from bombardments and warfare. Landing at what was assumed to be some sort of temporary base the commander was met with a man in uniform followed by a few soldiers, "your jungle, seems, lively." he cautiously joked, when the what was assumed some sort of leadership of these people finished talking about their situation all Sir Gaiseric could simply reply with was. "What is your plan to take the city then?" After all he couldnt devise some sort of plan without knowing what his "allies" were going to do.

doodleSM Axel The Englishman

 

[jole875]

Unknown Sector 518
ISS Dreadnought Crypt | Honor Room

The Overlord had been listening tentatively while the vermin spoke, its silver tongue was powerful. No doubt that they were a very intelligent strain of vermin, possibility for breeding was noted. When it asked to see the thousands of war fleets the Overlord laughed very hard. His people had been working around the clock ever since his speech but there were not thousands of fleets, an obvious lie from a mortal. As the Overlord scratched his beard he smiled and began typing at his console until a handful of displays came up,"Guess this movie won't be coming out anytime soon. Console, tell the director of propaganda to schedule this movie to come out in few more decades." Billions of chips had been poured into the production of the Burning Candle: The Final War for Our People. A film based around an inter dimensional empire on the verge of destroying the universe.

The captain heard in his ear the dark tone of the Overlord's words. His formidable look changed instantly, from a stout captain to a terrified man with his base instincts telling him to run and hide. "I understand my lord," the captain whispered as he pressed a button on his wrist console, deploying a holographic screen in front of him. After walking around to the side of the screen he pressed another button that brought up a playing video. "The Overlord will answer you," the captain mumbled as he peered at the screen with a bowed head. Appearing on the screen first was a charred, cracked, and molten planet surrounded by a ring of wreckage made up of ships and the bodies of aliens.

The image stayed on the screen for a few seconds until it changed to another picture of a charred, cracked, and now molten planet with a similar surrounding ring, this one obviously of children and women instead of ship crews mostly made up of male aliens. The screen changed instantly to another picture of a cracked planet, then to another, and another, the cycle growing faster as the number of destroyed planets grew. The cycle stopped when a planet, undamaged, appeared on the screen. A lush and green planet with blue seas, the planet grew dark as unseen shapes enveloped it. After a second of darkness a bright shine emitted from where the planet once had been, then it was clear that the lively planet had been destroyed in almost an instant. The planet blazed as the core cracked, then a ship of a very alien design, organic in its creation, appeared and destroyed what had been watching it.

With out pause another lush planet appeared and once more its destruction was brought by the unknown menace. One after another, more beautiful planets were destroyed and alien ships destroyed anything that had been watching the act of genocide. Then an image appeared from the perspective of an alien ship, in front of it was a huge wall of vessels of the same alien design as before. The murderers closed in quickly before the camera changed view to that of a person on the planet that the ship was apparently leaving for dead. Screams could be heard as everyone scrambled into hiding except the person that was watching the soon to begin slaughter, and a few gawking bystanders, the camera changed view once more to the inside of a bunker. In the bunker were thousands of strange but obviously sentient aliens, their language undecipherable, their looks unfamiliar, and their emotions obviously real.

The camera view changed quickly back to the person videoing the skies. Without any warning the hand full of ships that had been leaving the world disappeared, and in their place was the quickly closing in wall of death. As the alien videoing the scene began running desperately trying to get into the bunker he was stopped by a smaller alien who was pointing straight up at the sky. Turning the camera back towards the sky the screen showed what seemed to be a similar ship to that of the Crypt. Within seconds the screen turned black as more ships of the same design began appearing, blotting out the sky in their volume.

Changing camera views for the last time to the view of the flag ship, the camera panned left to right showing the hundreds of thousands of ships if not millions surrounding the planet like a shield. "Vah lu, machen teh!" A deep voice yelled, obviously a command to the greatest armada ever seen. Only half of a second spanned between the command and the millions of beams firing toward the wall of genocidal bent ships. After a few seconds of the enemies' vessels being turned to rubble and torn apart came the counter attack, absolute hell fire. A battle raged as thousands of ships on both sides were tuned to dust or blown in half by the pure power of each sides' attack. The battle seemed to drag on for hours until more and more ships resembling the design of the Crypt began appearing all around the enemy fleet, seemingly out of nothing. When the firing stopped on both sides a very small fraction of the original enemy fleet remained. It was probable that the attacking ships wanted to surrender but before any direct communications could be made, one last ship appeared from nothing above the surviving enemies. Its size easily a hundred times larger than any other ship that had been present, with a single huge beam of green light the huge ship vaporized the last of the fleet.

"The Overlord wants to protect our galaxy from the likes of those you just saw, they were eradicated by the greatest ship ever made, the Hand of God, for the crimes of mass genocide," the captain declared after the screen disappeared. "Defeating great enemies in the outreaches of our galaxy and even in Andromeda had been his goal, now he wishes to unite us all under a single ruler. That ruler is peace, he has watched the squabbling of a thousand races, and he wishes to see us all serving peace. He knows that many people will refuse him as their one true god, so he has and will never push that agenda. Almighty he is, and all loving, he is the servant of peace. Both he and my people hope to have your great power at his side if another great enemy comes," the captain had been speaking loudly, yet it slowly drifted into a mutter as he turned his eyes to the statue of the Overlord with the flag in hand, tears rolling down his cheeks. He had no idea what the words he spoke meant but the Overlord was great and the Overlord was speaking through him, the greatest privilege that any creature could have.

RIPSaidCone

Unknown Sector 185
ISS Frigate Conrad

"Sir, the ship has just sent us a message in Traitor's Tongue, our translation should be coming to your console now," a young woman said while busily typing at a console. The captain looked at his console and scoffed. "An act of war? What do you call warping into such close proximity, a trade deal? Threatening us in such a way is only reason to call upon the full force of the empire... but the Overlord trusts in us to deal with this situation on our own..... send them this message in text format," the captain ended while he began typing furiously at his console. After finishing the message he pulled up the ship's energy dispersion screen, a few seconds after looking it over he began another command,"I want fifty percent of the power diverted to the forward shields. Auxillary engines are to be halted and their power diverted to the front most guns, I want reactors two and three up to maximized proficiency," the captain paused as he pulled up another screen and grinned. "Tell our gunboats to divert ALL power to their shields and prepare for uncloaking, if the enemy won't attack us unreasonably we have no reason to hide our ships. Also.... tell them to start their auxiliary reactors and funnel ninety percent of that power to their shields and the last ten percent to their largest cannon."

After giving the order a few minutes passed until the six gunboats that had cloaked reappeared below the Conrad in a circular formation, their guns were not rotated or aimed at the unknown ship and they, like the Conrad, did not move or attempt to turn into an offensive pose towards the ship.

"Sending the message now sir," the console declared in a monotone and robotic voice. "Unaware we were that warning shots were declarations of war, unaware we are that you do not perceive your actions as hostile, we only meant to give you the benefit of the doubt. Translations are being attempted, please continue direct contact with our command ship, our smaller ships have been uncloaked to show your kind that we mean you no harm. Your ships will not be fired upon unless you force us to protect ourselves......... please do not threaten the safety of our children again."

Petroshka


Unknown Sector 185
Unknown Craft

Peering around him Yeron found that the counter attack had failed, although many enemies lie dead with his own men. A glorious fight for the Overlord is all that can be hoped for when one is approaching death, but it too fast he thought. After smirking at the thought of his brethren venturing into the eternal he found himself confused, why was he here to see this, was he alive? Yeron reached up to his face and felt it, he was alive. He hadn't seen it until now but he was surrounded by the vermin that his men had done battle with, the Overlord had spared him from death, his journey was not over. The vermin spoke in their disgusting language, the thought of their unnatural and taboo ways made his blood boil. To Yeron's dismay he understood nothing that these beasts spoke, uncivilized to the point that they spoke in tongues, until the female among them spoke in the Traitor's Tongue.

Yeron looked at the hand extended to him and frowned, now that they killed his friends they wanted to help? Strange creatures he thought as he put a hand behind him and pushed himself into a standing position. He towered over the vermin, but as soon as he stood and his blood began pumping he felt wobbly and his vision blurred. Putting his hand on the boarding ship he steadied himself and blinked several times to clear his blurry vision. After he had recomposed himself he sized up the three vermin in front of him, two males one female, medium size, deadly weapons, just before he was going to take a swing at the nearest vermin a thought popped into his mind. Did the Overlord really protect me from death just to die to these hordes of vermin? Yeron glared at the three vermin and his hot blood began to cool, his once blazing red eyes calmed as he looked down at his planning book that must have fallen out of his pocket. It had fallen to where it opened to the page with the pictures of his sons. With a grin he reached down and picked it up. Then he looked back up at the creatures and smiled, he was meant for more than exterminating a handful of vermin.

"I would tell your men to get away from the ship, the pilot is armed and has orders to disallow anything to commandeer the vessel, the on board weapons and armor is unusable by your kind so your natural thievery instincts will do no good. Also, before you continue your own initiated hostilities, keep in mind I was sent here to talk, not slaughter. I ordered my men to hold fire until fired upon, that's the only reason you're alive." Yeron spoke slowly as to make sure the vermin could understand his words, he knew it was harder for low IQ creatures to understand even their own language.

Shireling
​

​

 

[adrian_]

Mercury, Night Side
Fort Patriae

Pvt. Spuran and Pvt. Reebin
(Continued)
​

"Yep, good ol' Fort Patriae."

Molin stared at it in disbelief, it was huge. Most soldiers who were stationed there called it Maginot, after the French fort from the second World War. Two massively gauged AA guns stood at the entrance, and a bulkhead the size of three school buses blocked everything in it's path when closed.

"Damn... if it were any bigger i would think i was looking at a starship." Molin whistled afterwards, adding a bit of awkwardness to the sight.

"C'mon man we have to report." The quilted man was starting to get annoyed, and pretty clearly too.

Both of them broke off into a brisk jog towards the Fort.

☆ ☆ ☆
​

Once they both reached the Fort's outer bulkhead they witnessed massive amounts of construction equipment, strewn all about the main runway, forklifts, titanium alloy, etcetera.

"Damn, as if it needs to get bigger, huh?" Molin chuckled, staring up at the already massive building.

"Ha, lets see the inside then, maybe it does need to get bigger." The man in the quilted helmet took off the cloth on his helmet, revealing a name tag on his squama, mostly scratched out, closer analysis shows that it say 'Becker Spuran'.

Molin walked up to a microphone on the far side of the door, holding down a red button with a speaker printed on it.

"Uh, hello, this is Pvt. Reebin, serial number: 46W891 and Pvt. Spuran, serial number: 71F929, we have been stationed here according to one Lieutenant Commander Torris." He counted out the syllables in Torris, a nervous habit. Molin took his hand off of the button.

"How many additional?" A serious female voice crackled through the speaker next to the microphone.

Putting his hand back on the button he spoke, "Counted thirteen originally, still being shipped here. Transports being the UCM Belgorad and the UCM Trentino." He waited for the woman to speak.

"Standby." The door started to open slowly, giving Becker and Molin a strange feeling, like a mouse caught in a trap. As it opened it revealed a long hallway, multiple smaller doorways into barracks and other buildings, and multiple guards.

Becker decided to lighten the mood, "Comon man, you scared?" He smirked behind his helmet, and walked in.

"You better believe it, Beck." Saying that, Molin followed him to a nearby Barracks.

 

[Kokurai Gaisgeach]

-Somewhere in orbit near Morgawn B7R, aboard DS Rhongomyniad-
Admiral Nikolai A. Andersen
Kestrel Fleet Command​

"Sir. We got contact. A Small fleet of unknowns..." The Captain adjusted his hat after humming the climax of the tune. He's calmness and confidence beckoned the crew to not panic this time.

"Bring them on screen , open all channels. At least they're not hostile at first sight." The Captain bellowed his orders to the Officers. Leaning on his chair as his projection comes on every screen to those who were able to pick up. Showing an whitening Captain with a confident smile.

"I am Admiral Nikolai A. Anderson of the Kestrel Fleet and Captain of the Dominion Supercarrier Rhongomyiad. I ask you to stand down and lay down your arms, we wish to speak with you in peaceful resolution." The Captain smiled. there was truth in his words for peace but, just as everything was according to plan for the Captain, a slight wind of change blew, a change that will affect their path as a quiet faction.

"Contacts! Fast moving contacts on our starboard side! 5 Wait no 10 of them!" The Operator shouted in a sudden panic, their fateful meeting with the Atlus Fleet was disturbed by the remnants of their former enemy.

Wandering Grim Hollow

-Aboard the DS Valais-
Alberto Thompson
War Correspondent​

We were enroute to the Supercarrier of the Dominion, a massive ship said to house the Elite fighter squadrons of the Dominion. It is said that they were the first ones in battle when the Ultimatum was denied by the rouge nation of Berka, battling over its skies like Knights against Knights, they reigned the war torn air as they danced in a deadly battle of control of the skies.

But now... its as seems as the Mothership has called its flock to assemble in her resting grounds, B7R. They reported multiple slipspace ruptures, something that the Emperor has feared of happening. Are they friendly? or are they foes ready to invade us? i'd ask the opinions of this ship i was put on to by the Military but they were all on alert.

Few minutes has gone by and all of the Personel came rushing towards every windows and view ports that the Valais has to offer, managing to get a glimpse, it was what we have feared...

The Mothership was under attack.

 

[RIPSaidCone]

Casos, Outer Colonies, Femian Space
Federation of the Defiant Headquarters, Ma Turan Territories

Nata Kelvek had seen many things in her time as leader of the Defiant, but an Institute turncoat dying right in-front of her for seemingly no reason and then consequently having her consciousness rescued by what was very clearly government technology was.. Something new to say the least of it. Folding her arms and pacing back and forth worriedly as her best doctors and tech experts worked tirelessly to find out just what had been put inside the spy to cause that reaction upon the reveal of any information. It was a new technology from what she could tell, technology that she hadn't ever seen before--though for all she knew maybe the Hierarchy was already aware of its existence. Not that she could care less at the moment, turning round to face Raych, the woman who had brought the Institute spy to the Defiant headquarters as she was busy speaking to the turncoat herself. Who had now taken on a name that she'd come up of her own intuition, Kara but who was unfortunately for the time being constricted to holographic form whilst a new physical form was grown for her. Nata wished that it wouldn't take as long as it was going to but they were a small rebel movement, it wasn't as if they had access to the same state of the art biotech that the Hierarchy or those that had sent Kara did. So they would have to wait for their new friend to get a body, but that didn't stop them from asking the questions that they needed to ask. And oh had they asked questions--but unfortunately there hadn't been many answers so it had turned out to be fortunate that the two women had chosen to go to the rebels with their information instead of their government counterparts.

"I never said it before and I was wrong in not saying it, but thank you. Both of you for having the courage to come and tell us about all of this, especially you, Kara. Considering what would've happened if your friend hadn't come prepared." Nata said with a warm and welcoming nod, pulling out a chair and resting down onto it with a sigh, rubbing her forehead. "Fortunately your DNA was half a century out of date by the standards of Femian genetics so that would imply that your former employers do not have up to date information on our people. Which would make sense of why they would be sending you in to learn more. I fear we may have to inform the Hierarchy of this discovery as it concerns all Femians not just us and we hardly have the resources to conduct a hunt across dozens of systems for potentially dangerous spies." It was unfortunately a dark reality that they had to face and not just that but embrace, despite the long list of major greviances that both Nata and her followers had with the Hierarchy, Nata knew that both parties given the right circumstances such as this would put the safety of all Femians above their comparatively petty differences. Though the other two seemed to disagree. Raych being the one to speak up first. "The sole reason that we chose to come here was so that we didn't have to face the Hierarchy. Do you know what they could do to Kara? Or the rest of Civilized Space if they found out that someone was spying on them?" Nata nodded understandingly. "Yes, Ms. Avios I am well aware of the reprecussions of my decision. But rest assured we will keep both you and Kara safe from any potential action on the part of the military. Once Kara is put into her new body we can focus more on finding out what the Institute put into her original one--"

"And what then? Once all that's said and done, and the Hierarchy knows about the other spies. What happens then?" Nata turned to focus more on Raych, who still seemed to be somewhat cautious and even protective over the whole situation. "What happens then, Ms. Avios is we provide you and Kara with new identities and drop you off on the nearest inhabited world in the outer colonies. Far from all the action, where you can live safely from both the Hierarchy and the Institute. But for now we need to keep our eyes on the ball lest we risk losing it. Now get some rest, I know you've had a long journey here, Kara, your new body should be ready by the end of the week, till then if you can assist us any further that would be wonderful. And again, I thank both of you for coming here in the first place." And with that, Nata stood up, pushed her chair back in and departed from the room. Leaving the two women to their own devices as the communications room of the Defiant HQ begun busying themselves with the task of passing along the information they had learned from Kara to the nearest Hierarchy fleet without alerting them to their presence, which would certainly prove to be a daunting task but one that wasn't entirely impossible given enough time and effort.
Fishman Lord

Procyonia, Procyonia Libertalis Space
Proycon Chopyards

"All personnel prepare for immediate deployment. Be advised, target zone is hot. Set weapon safeties off. Be prepared for potential crowd control." A voice from the slim transport vessel's interior speaker called out to the two lines of Ground Corps assault troopers who stood orderly alongside one another, weapons held tightly in their hands as they lightly shook back and forth from the weight of the ship shifting from side to side as it approached its location, two other ships of the same class following closely behind with a small fighter escort keeping close by. Originally this recovery operation had been intended for either the Naval Corps infantry or those of the Terror Corps, however at the last second the Ground Corps had stepped in to claim their jurisdiction over the situation due to the fact that it involved matters important to genetic engineering, the realm of national security that they were responsible for. As such that was how it came to be that the three inbound Hermes-class transport shuttles were carrying their load of assault troopers over marines or their terror counterparts. Praetus. Vessa being one of the troopers on-board those shuttles, though of course Praetus wasn't her first name but her rank, which was the Femian equivelant to a private of other nations. She was a young woman of 5'10 who had only recently joined the Ground Corps as a volunteer over being conscripted for her mandatory two year period and it was safe to say that this was her first operation in foreign space, gripping tightly onto her rifle as her armored feet shifted to the left slightly at a sudden jolt in the shuttle. "All personnel, thirty seconds to deployment." Vessa let out a long, controlled breath, shaking her head momentarily as she felt the shuttle shake.

They had landed. The ramp at the front of the shuttle lowered and the two rows of troopers begun spilling out in an orderly fashion into one of the many crowded courtyard entrances to the large space station complex known as the Procyon Chopyards, the two additional transport shuttles docking beside the first one as even more troopers loaded off. Marching towards their objective as the crowds of unsavory and lowly characters regardless of how wealthy they were parted for them like the red sea. And those that wouldn't step aside facing the harsh reality of a rough push to the ground or for those that chose to be aggressive even being hit over the head with the butt of a rifle. It had caused a disturbance to be sure and the bystanders clearly weren't very happy with the presence of such a uniformed, organized force in what was usually their mostly lawless playground but what else could they do? A Femian fleet of multiple battlecruisers of varying classes, even more frigates and corvettes and two entire Siege Dreadnoughts had essentially occupied this part of the system, their destructive weapons eyeing up all potential threats with a stone-gaze as squadrons of Nerio fighters screeched back and forth, surrounding the Chopyards. The Hierarchy had never before expressed such a display of military prowess outside of their own territory before and so to any outsider it was clear how valuable whatever was hidden away in those Chopyards was to the Femians. The platoons of troopers that had stormed into the Chopyards being led by a Caeptus by the second name of Handor, her dark green formal uniform distinguishing her quite massively from her fully white-armored subordinates.

"Troopers, secure all entrances to the Agamemnon, I don't want anything or anyone getting in or out without me knowing about it." She ordered fiercely, a vocoded barrage of "Yes ma'am." being her response as the troopers spread out, pulling large crates and other containers from the side and using them as impromptu cover with some setting up their heavy automated blasters on tripods behind said cover. Ready to ensure that nothing left the vessel without their permission. Fortifying their position at the entrance to the long section of tubing that connected the Agamemnon to the Chopyards, even setting up positions behind them in the event that other potential threats emerged from their rear guard.
Shireling General Deth Glitch

Tios, Outer Colonies, Femian Space
Unidentified Vessel, 28th Fleet Blockade

Captain Fayte watched through the live feed of what was going on aboard the unidentified vessel with a look of confusion. The numerous intelligence agents who had formerly been working behind her having stopped their work to view what was being shown to their marines as well, the entire bridge seemingly going quiet as what was very clearly a film was played. Fayte's lips moved but no words were emitted, she was at a loss frankly. In all her years of naval service she had never seen someone try to pose a movie off as a real show of military strength. And it wasn't as if the effects were a give away, no computer generated graphics had universally grown to become virtually indistinguishable from real life unless one used a program to determine the difference, but it was the presentation that was the blatant give away. These cinematic angles and shots being shown made it clear that it was all a movie, one that was very clearly to be used as propaganda for the citizens of whatever this nation was. To undoubtedly further glorify this so-called 'Overlord' that they'd been hearing so much of ever since her marines had come aboard that vessel. Even Femian war movies didn't have this much propaganda in them and that was admittedly saying something.Besides even when they did it wasn't this obviously shown and was hardly this unbelievable. If such a nation of alien life forms existed then surely the Hierarchy would have already found out about them, but no it was staged, faked for dramatic purposes. But now that left her with the burden of finding an appropriate response, how did one respond to such an occurance? She certainly hadn't been taught how to respond to being shown a movie in the academy.

She sighed, closing her eyes momentarily as her counterpart on the unknown side finished with what he was saying. "Ensaesus. Inform the boarding party I require an open comms link with their captain." She ordered a low-ranking ensaesus, the Femian equivelant of an ensign who was sitting in one of the two data pits on either side of Fayte. The Ensaesus nodding as she went to work with the console in-front of her. Suddenly the black-robe donning figure at the front of the party of marines on-board the unknown vessel felt a buzzing from the closest thing she had to a pocket--Knowing immediately what it was as she pulled out a small circular looking device, holding it up for the captain of the unknown vessel to see as a holographic form of Captain Fayte appeared in-uniform, hands behind her back as she nodded in greeting to her counterpart on the other ship. "Greetings. I am Captain Fayte of the FSV Varnarmaður, flagship of the 28th Fleet of the Femian Naval Corps. And as much of a well-made production that was, I'm afraid we haven't quite exactly fallen for it though I do genuinely appreciate the effort to impress us. Unfortunately I do not have the authority to make official declarations on behalf of the Femian Hierarchy however I do have the authority and the confidence to state that I do not believe the Femian people would be at all interested in being brainwashed by your leader. However if your leader wishes to engage in further diplomacy with us, I can safely assure you that we would be most open to that however a word of note would be not to attempt to push any more propaganda onto us. Now if your Overlord desires to end this conversation then so be it, we would order you to leave our space as soon as possible. However if he does wish to continue then I'm sure we can arrange something more official."
jole875​

 

[Axel The Englishman]

Magnificum Mare

Agent Liam Chadwick

Deep within the darker regions of the city world, Chadwick had just been dispatched by his superiors - along with many other of his follow agents - to investigate the rise of illegal weapon imports. The task itself was withheld from the public authorities. Discretion was essential, and media coverage wouldn’t gift such a necessary tool.

Chadwick was already trailing a potential suspect. A tall and brooding man, he was. The agent had noticed a series of exchanges concerning a single item of interest. The object itself was a secure case: digital security and all the other goodies. Normal people don’t swap their property around like this, obviously.

Their little game was approaching an end, as the suspicious figure stopped just before the back door of a tap house. Chadwick soon became cautious as time passed and nothing else happened. He was prepared to engage the target.

Out of nowhere, the man brought his case around and hurled it straight towards the agent. By instinct, he raised his arms to repel the surprise attack. When he brought his arms to a fighting stance, he noticed he was now looking down the barrel of a pistol of foreign origin. By luck the gap between the two combatants was thankfully short enough for Chadwick to charge and launch his elbow into his opponent’s rib cage. He then brought his attacker’s gun arm over his shoulder and applied an uncomfortable amount of pressure until he could finally hear the sound of bones cracking and a gun smacking the floor. For a finishing move, Chadwick briefly retreated before then sending his elbow directly into the temple of his opponent and acquainting their head with the door.

The case was free to take, and so the agent took. It was locked. That special kind of touch was needed. “Agent B6. I have acquired something of interest.”

Yirath / Clides D3GP Surface

Sergeant Wilhelm Krieg

Krieg and his men battered the native vegetation as they charged the location of origin of the flare. Manoeuvring across the terrain was a difficult task itself, but nothing that the Expeditionary Corps wasn’t prepared to handle. “Approaching the target zone. Prepare to engage potential hostiles.”
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KindlyPlagueDoctor Petroshka Wandering Grim Hollow