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Old March 10, 2004, 00:55   #331
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Unknown Location

In a nondescript gray metallic sideways corridor, a human hand reached out for a holo-panel set in a metallic wall. The fingers deftly touched the correct three dimensional sequence key codes required to raise another hidden holo-panel. However, another hand joined in the mid-air melee, adding its digits to the exquisite dancing on the second holo-panel. A click could be heard upon the shimmering holo-panel's dissipation back into its hidden position. The wall itself melted away as nanites opened a doorway for the unseen entity to enter a plain looking corridor. There were two slight differences, which were barely noticeable to the untrained eye. Along the entire length of the corridor, the middle of the walls were raised just a few millimeters above the upper and lower walls, while the fluorescent lighting was just a couple shades darker.

The unseen entity walked quickly down the corridor as the seemingly magical doorway sealed itself, creating the look of a standard sealed container. A holo-panel sprang up from the ground in the middle of the corridor, and the air dancing resumed on the holo-panel. The holo-panel faded just as quickly as it appeared.

After seventy-two heartbeats, the focus rotated 180 degrees, back towards the dead-end where the door sealed itself. Another click could be heard, as a holo-panel, identical to the one prior to the opening of the door, flared to life. The entity entered a key code, then did the same task over again as another hidden holo-panel, similar to the first hidden one, appeared. The doorway melted again, revealing a quite different area from where the entity entered the odd corridor. The doorway sealed itself again after the entity entered the new blue tinted corridor, which went in a straight direction from the doorway, rather than a sideways intersection like at the first corridor.

The entity reached the other end of the corridor, and underwent the exact same sequence of events, for the entire location required absolute and maximum security possible. Several corridors later, the entity arrived at an actual doorway. One can only wonder what secrets are held within the doors, for the doorways had interlacing armored neutronium plates fit for a battleship. As the doors opened, the entity had to walk four meters through the doorway, with two moderately armored and armed Mechanoid sentinels at both sides of the doorway. A disembodied voice droned after the doors grinded shut.

"Confirmed Identity at Checkpoint One."

Several minutes passed as the entity walked through the new area, with greenish tinted corridors now covered in basic armor plating set in a diamond pattern. The yet nameless and unknown entity reached a similar doorway to the one at Checkpoint One, with a major difference. There were four moderately armored and armed Mechanoids standing guard. The same artificial voice came out of nowhere.

"Confirmed Identity now entering restricted areas past Checkpoint Two."

The entity glanced at the wide new orange tinted corridors, covered in medium armor plating, with several diamond patterns overlapping each other.

The entity increased its walking speed, and after a short while, the final checkpoint known to it approached. This time, however, there were four heavily armored and armed Mechanoids guarding the doorway, as well as a Plato class hover-tank parked opposite the doorway. The doorway opened after a triple holo-panel within a holo-panel within a holo-panel code was entered. Two Plato tanks and eight heavily armored and armed Mechanoids were protecting the other side of the doorway. The corridor was in a gold tone, with battleship class interlaced heavy armor.

The entity chuckled.

Such fools! They underestimated us. We may not have the fleets or the firepower, but we have unparalleled subversion and spying abilities. We shall preserve, as we always have done so.

The chuckle faded as the entity's vision became dim within a few seconds. Another several seconds passed by and the entity fell to the ground. It didn't even have time to think or react.

Two men, clad in black uniforms with several objects attached to their belts. approached the now comatose spy.

"Phil, scan it for confirmation."

"Sir, the scan shows code green."

"Excellent. He fell for it. These creatures are so predictable."

"Sergei, you'd think they'd have learned their lesson a long time ago not to mess with us humans, or as they affectionately call us, the Tauri."

"Right. Deactivate code Alpha-Tango-Sigma-Alpha-Zeta-Zero-One-One."

The entire corridor, the Mechanoids, and the Plato tanks faded into white nothingness. The only remains of the whole base were the two men and the comatose spy.

A third man, in a black officer's uniform, entered the white void from a doorway that materialized on the opposite side of the comatose spy.

He approached the two men as the men picked up the spy.

"Status?"

"Good, sir. The holographics worked. The symbiote inside the spy is in a comatose state, ready for interrogation."

"Excellent. Bring the spy and its Goa'uld symbiote inside the true base. Prep the Bio-Genetics division for this one."

The two men snickered.

The officer arched an eyebrow.

"Pardon me?"

Phil stood at attention, as he replied.

"Sorry, sir. I find it funny that the Goa'uld, calling themselves gods and omniscient, fell for such a simple trap, as old as time itself. Dummy bases."

"Right. Carry on, men."


-----------------------------------------

Elsewhere, across the University Alliance's territory, all the Goa'uld spies were either captured, or fed false information. Little did the Goa'uld know that their own weapons would be used against them, due to the University Alliance's extensive security scanners and systems.

A report from the head of the University Alliance Intelligence Agency reached the Academician the next day.

11 Goa'uld symbiotes captured and are undergoing interrogation.

Thanks to new advances in scanning technology that you demanded two decades ago, not even the Goa'uld symbiotes or their brainwashed assassins are able to pass into University territory without us knowing about it.

The Jaffa Solution is nearing completion. Several issues are being resolved, but it will be finished within a month or two if things go well.

If everything goes as planned, the Goa'uld issue will be fixed permanently within the end of the year.
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Old March 10, 2004, 00:58   #332
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Ptah's Homeworld

A large flying reptile, resembling an ancient Terran Pteradon, hissed as it flew up from its large rocky nest near a cave. The cave is one of the reptile's prized hunting grounds, since several native rodent creatures and the occasional dogget, a wolf-like creature with armored plating on its back and a tail with quills, seek refuge in the cave.

Today was different.

Today, the hunter is the hunted.

An energy blast smashed into the reptile's nest, scattering its eggs, small boulders, and some half eaten carrion. The reptile roared in anger, then swiftly flipped sideways as another blast whizzed past. The reptile felt the urge for vengeance, as it dived into the forest, hoping to mislead its attacker. The trees were rather large, with trunks measuring several meters across. The reptile weaved through the trees by flipping sideways when spaces got too tight for it to fly normally. After a while, realizing there were no blasts following it, it became confident that it lost the attacker. It shot up, then in a loop, trying to catch the hunter by surprise.

A blast erupted from seemingly nowhere and hit the reptile in its left wing. As it plummeted to the ground, another blast hit the reptile square in its chest.

The reptile was no more.

A second later, a sleek triangular ship with two wings burst up from the treetops. One man could be seen piloting the ship through its viewport. The man was wearing a few metallic pieces of clothing, as well as a staff with large elongated spheres at both ends stored back of his piloting seat.

A voice chimed inside the aircraft.

"Flyer 743, return to base and prepare to be evaluated on your aerial performance."

Flyer 743 swerved around in a sharp banking turn to its new heading, nearly opposite from its original direction. It tilted upwards just slightly, to clear the looming mountain. The scattered remains of the now non-existent reptile's nest could still be seen smoldering to the right of Flyer 743. Upon passing the snow capped summit of the jagged mountain, Flyer 743 could see several huge pyramid structures next to a river, and a shield generator complex at the other side of the river, opposite the pyramids.

Flyer 743 switched a button to signal subspace communication.

"Flyer 743 now approaching. Request clearance on Platform 5."

"Clearance granted."

The glider type aircraft dipped its nose, made several slight turns, then lined up with a landing strip rapidly growing visible. Flyer 743 didn't feel any excitement or fear, for he had done this more times than he could keep track of. His god did not want him to understand numbers. Numbers were meant for the First Primes, and Jaffa Officers.

Flyer 743 exited his glider upon a flawless landing. Failures were not an option, for punishment for any sin was terrible, slow, and painful. He marched to the center of the platform, and waited several minutes for the troop signal to activate. Several returning Jaffa flyers marched to Flyer 743's position, then shortly thereafter, they marched towards the pyramid in front of them in a formation.

Upon entering the pyramid, the formation kept marching through several golden plated corridors with hieroglyphics and cuneiform writing on the walls. A Jaffa with full body armor, a force pike, and a full-face helmet that resembles a cobra, stood at the end of the fifth hallway, and shouted to the approaching Jaffa formation.

"Halt! Kree!"

The formation stopped as one, and saluted.

"Kree!"

"Glider Group 88, report to the Officer at the end of the hallway to my left."

"Kree!"

The formation turned smartly to the left, and marched towards the officer. The officer wore similar garb to the cobra-hood guard at the intersection, except facial armor or a helmet. He was holding a datapad in his left hand, and the force pike in his right hand.

"I am both pleased and disappointed in your performance, Glider Group 88. All of you performed at standard levels of expectation, and your god is pleased. However, one of you did not destroy your intended training target quick enough. Battle requires lighting fast reflexes, and quick thinking. The longer you allow the enemy to live, the more likely he will be able to kill you."

The officer walked right up to the formation, raised his force pike, and ran it through the Jaffa pilot standing to Flyer 743's right.

"Failure in any combat situation is penalized by death. Your god, Ptah, does not tolerate cowards, or weak warriors."

The rest of the Jaffa troop still stood at attention, despite the death of one of its troops. The officer spoke again.

"Your next assignment is to support several of our new Motherships in their counter-attack against the infidel University Alliance's invasion of our research planet, PX-973. Return to your gliders and meet up with the fleet in orbit."

"Kree! It shall be done!"

"Kree! Go with Ptah."

The Jaffa troop quickly returned to their gliders, because they knew Ptah's wrath would be severe if they were too slow, as proved by the death of Flyer 226 at the officer's hands. They took off the landing strip, and then assembled a wedge formation with their gliders.

Several hours later, the assembled Goa'uld fleet, consisting of ten of the newest Motherships, thirty of the obsolete Ha'tak Motherships, and five Asgard / Fraal engineered ships departed for PX-973.
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Old March 10, 2004, 01:02   #333
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PX-973 System

"Fighter Squadrons Eight and Fourteen, cover that damaged Einstein Battleship's flank!"

Grand Admiral Devlin Yezprach walked around the three dimensional battlemap situated in the bridge of the newly refit UAS Solaris.

Chief Tactical officer Lianna shouted to be heard over the shudders as the Solaris was taking fire from three Ha'tak Motherships.

"The Koenigsburg and Wales are reporting they are inflicting moderate damage upon the two remaining Super-Motherships. However, the two Terran Battlecruisers are taking heavy fire."

Yezprach took in that new information, and put it through the never-ending battle calculations going in inside his superior tactical mind.

"Divert twelve fighter squadrons to assist the Terran Battlecruisers."

Lianna looked slightly startled.

"Fighters? Against these two five kilometer monsters?"

"Yes. I want these Motherships intact. The Academician has standing orders to acquire any large Goa'uld ships by any means necessary."

"I know the General Order, but fighters? Wait a minute, you intend to distract most of the weapons with fighters, and have them tear up power conduits to the large cannons."

"Exactly."

Several brilliant explosions could be seen as several Ha'tak Motherships exploded under fire from three University Strike Cruisers and four Relativity class Battleships.

Lianna spoke up again.

"Four Ha'tak Motherships destroyed. Only five remain. Sir! One of our fighters reports a core build-up in one of the Super-Motherships. It looks like it's going to self-destruct."

"How's the other one?"

"Still firing, but our troop pods managed to get inside. It won't be lo-"

A huge fireball blossomed as the crippled Super-Mothership finally completed its self-destruction. The expanding debris obliterated several dozen fighters, as well as seriously damaging the Wales. Two University destroyers and a light cruiser were critically damaged as well, taking them out of the fight.

"Sir! The second Super-Mothership has a core build-up."

"Dammit."

"Hold on, sir. I'm now receiving updated telemetry. The core build-up seems to have reversed. I'm receiving a transmission from the ship."

"Admiral Yezprach, this is Marine Commander Stephen Policano. We have finally secured the Mothership, after considerable casualties. We have managed to capture several hundred Jaffa warriors, by stun and sleep gas."

"Excellent work, Commander."

"Thank you, sir. Policano out."

Yezprach breathed a sigh of relief. No doubt the Academician will be happy to acquire one of the Goa'uld's advanced and biggest warships.

"Finish off these remaining five Ha'tak Motherships."

"Yes, Sir."

"When are these new Titan class warships arriving?"

"Any minute now. This seems like overkill."

"We need these new warships to secure the captured Goa'uld planets."

"Understood. It looks like we fina- Holy hell!"

Yezprach arched an eyebrow.

"Swearing? You know Bridge conduct regulations."

"There are thirty Ha'tak Motherships, ten of these Super-Motherships, and five unidentified vessels approaching our position. Fast."

"Speak of the devil."

Yezprach studied the updated holographic battle sphere just for a moment. Then his face transformed into his infamous cold smile.

"We just might have a chance. Split the taskforce into three double-deep formations. Start charging up all our Yamato cannons on every ship that has one. The ships that doesn't have any, charge up all the main guns."

"Sir, I'm receiving an one-way transmission from the Titans."

"Put it on."

"This is Admiral Antonio Stravonich. My boys and I will arrive at your position in fifteen minutes."

Lianna barely restrained herself from grinding her teeth in frustration.

"Fifteen minutes is too long!"

"We will have to do with the time we are given. Signal the captured Mothership to make random hyper jumps around the system if possible."

"The fleet is ready to execute your orders."

"Execute."


The battleships seemed to retreat, flying backwards from the impending battle. Suddenly, the smaller ships sped up to maximum speed, trying to catch the battleships. The Goa'uld fired first, raking several ships with intense fire, destroying a couple of destroyers.

As the ships formed up, the tough neutronium armor on the University Alliance's ships kept taking a pounding, becoming scarred and scorched in multiple areas. But the armor held.

The Goa'uld decided to form the same pattern with their ships, as they believed they would do it better than the University, therefore humiliating the University.

"Lianna, fire."
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Old March 10, 2004, 01:07   #334
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PX-973 System

Several dozen Goa'uld gliders flew in a perfect formation, towards the heathen's fleet.

Flyer 743 flicked his communications channel on.

"Glider Group 88 leader to all gliders. Our savior, Ptah, has provided us with a target. Focus on the largest heathen ship in the middle of that line formation."

A chorus of "Kree!" signaled acknowledgement.

The squadron made a beeline towards the six-kilometer long ship that was apparently the heathen's flagship. However, several Jaffa started to notice something quite odd.

"Flyer 198 to Flyer 743. I don't see any heathen fighters at all."

"Perhaps they don't have any. This proves their stupidity and inferiority to the grace of Ptah."

The flagship loomed larger and larger. Flyer 743 opened his communication channel once again.

"Punish them in the name of Ptah!"

The gliders scattered, hitting various targets on the topside of the flagship. To the frustration of Flyer 743 and his squadron, the energy blasts seemed to have little or no effect, due to the sheer number of targets to destroy, as well as the seemingly endless expanse of metal.

"Flyer 334 to Flyer 743. The infidel Tauri are supposed to fall easily. What demons possessed the Tauri to create such gigantic ships?"

"I don't know. No matter. We must cleanse them, so they may welcome Ptah."

As Flyer 743 closed his communication channel, several hundred small anti-fighter batteries opened fire upon the Jaffa squad in a blinding display of light.

Some gliders had several parts simply vaporized or blown cleanly off, while several others simply ceased to exist in any definitive form.

"Keep cleansing them! Ptah will provide us with victory!"

"Flyer 198 to Flyer 743. Are you alive?"

"Indeed."

"I don't believe this. Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"

"That looks like hellfire. May Ptah protect us!"

Several seconds later, the anti-fighter batteries opened fire again, but at a lower intensity compared to the previous salvo. The remaining gliders were either crippled or destroyed, leaving Flyer 743 the survivor.

A single barrel turret swiveled around, tracking Flyer 743 at its maximum range. If sounds could be heard through space, Flyer 743 would have heard a brief humming sound as the energy charged up inside the turret. Time seemed to slow down as a white globe of energy closed onto the remaining glider. All Flyer 743 saw before his world turned black was dozens of reddish hellfire beams slamming into the Goa'uld fleet.

--------------------------------------

Dozens of Yamato cannon beams tore the small Goa'uld Motherships apart. Their relatively minor shields could not sufficiently absorb terawatts upon terawatts of pure energy all at once. However, the Super-Motherships and the five unidentified ships withstood the energy assault with minor to moderate shield loss.

Likewise, the return Goa'uld fire was almost as devastating. Half of the remaining destroyers and cruisers were becoming expanding clouds of ice, metal, frozen flesh and blood, and energy.

Lianna was grinding her teeth.

"Cursed shielding!"

Yezprach kept his stony expression, despite Lianna's outburst.

"Lianna, there is always a way. If you have another outburst like that, consider yourself relieved of duty."

The communication console near Lianna beeped.

"Captain Mathias of the UAS Dragon to Grand Admiral Devlin Yezprach."

"Go ahead."

"Several of our fighters have breached the shielding of the nearest Super-Mothership and are assaulting its main guns."

"Thank you. That will be all."

The admiral walked to the opposite side of the floating holographic globe.

"Interesting. Shielding doesn't seem to deflect solid objects."

He turned towards Lianna.

"There is your answer. Inform the fleet to arm all of their Xaos missiles, and launch all fighters. If I am correct, the Goa'uld will have a rude surprise."

Several minutes later, a swarm erupted from the University fleet, seemingly like a swarm of very angry bees. Literally hundreds of missiles, along with several thousand fighters descended upon the Goa'uld super-ships.

The Goa'uld weren't equipped with missiles of their own, due to the fact that they favor their effective energy blasts. All the Goa'uld could do was attempt to shoot down as many of the missiles and fighters as possible. It didn't amount to much, thanks to the sheer numbers of projectiles being launched by the University.

As the first missiles slammed into the remaining Goa'uld ships, space ripped apart in a blue-white vortex, as three Titans roared out of the fissure. At nine kilometers, the largest class of Human ship to date, they cast an imposing shadow across the small Goa'uld Motherships. Each Titan had enough firepower and ordinance for a small fleet, and had heavier armor than the refit UAS Solaris. They were truly the flying fortresses of interstellar space.

"Admiral Antonio here. The UAS Athena, UAS Zeus, and UAS Apollo are ready for your instructions."

"Antonio, assist in attempting to capture these unidentified ships and the Super-Motherships."

"Roger that. My boys will get the job done, sir."

With the extreme firepower provided by the three Titans, as well as their massive missile and marine complements, the battle was a foregone conclusion.

---------------------------------------

Grand Admiral Devlin Yezprach reporting.

We have captured three additional Goa'uld Super-Motherships, as well as the one we captured prior to the reinforcements. We were able to capture one unidentified ship, since the others self destructed before we even got close. Apparently a missile hit an energy conduit or something to that effect, disabling the self-destruct of the single captured unidentified ship.

The Super-Motherships self-destructed, but it was the valor of our marines and several lucky shots by our fighters that prevented or slowed down the self-destruction of the ones we captured.

Also, several gliders were recovered, and the surviving Jaffa pilots were taken prisoner.

We have suffered considerable losses, losing two dozen destroyers, ten cruisers, and two battleships. Several ships were critically damaged, and will need to return to our territory for extensive repairs.

The Goa'uld's prime research and development world is now effectively in our hands. The only thing left to do is clean up the planetary ground forces, but they have no space support. We have space superiority.

Bombardment of several barrack complexes is now underway. As of this report, we have recovered several research files from the planet.

Within the next couple of weeks, we will have full control of the planet.


-----------------------------------------

The Academician smiled as he finished reading Yezprach's report.

Finally. New technologies.
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Old March 10, 2004, 03:58   #335
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New Management
Emergency Command Post, beneath Laekdaemon Central

"Menelas is dead."

The low hum of conversation among the gathered officers cut off as though slashed with a knife. The haggard-looking medical officer who had delivered the news cleared his throat, twice, before continuing hoarsely.

"We did our best to save him, but the wounds he suffered in the explosion were too great. He was pronounced dead a little over seven minutes ago, from massive fluid loss and shock. As we have not yet perfected our braintaping technology, we could not use that to save him. I hate to say it, ladies and gentlemen, but it seems we must choose a new leader."

The occupants of the room stared at one another. There were procedures, of course - far too many Cadre eladers had died unexpectedly for it to be otherwise - but no one had expected that they would have to be used now, after the Spartan threat was gone, in the midst of civil war. The silence dragged on, until someone spoke up.

"Very well, then. After that... ah... 'incident'... who are the highest-ranking officers left?"

There was some more silence, broken only by the sound of someone's fingers on a keyboard as they brought up the relevant data, before one of the officers spoke up.

"I believe that would Commander Michael Kane, currently in orbit organising patrols of the system. He will need to be informed of this, along with the rest of our forces, and we will need to begin planning for our retaliation..."

Now finally having something to do, the meeting picked up steam. Messages went out, information was called up, maps were plotted, and encoded notifications were sent out to the Spartan Federation and the Free Drone Republic.

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Old March 10, 2004, 04:23   #336
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The Derelict
An unnamed star system, approximately 6 light years from Laekdaemon:

The Cadre scout probe slid silently across the void of space, a small, bulbous shape consisting almost entirely of fuel tanks, engines, sensor arrays, and a computer AI. It had been in this system for weeks now, scanning, catalouging, and transmitting reports back to Laekdaemon Prime; the recent wars there meant little to it, a thing created solely to gather information. Had it been human, the ship might have called what it did boring beyond belief; indeed, it most certainly would have. As it was, the very concept of boredom, or any kind of dissatisfaction, was simply beyond it's grasp. It had been made to explore, and that was what it did, every second of every day as long as it was out exploring.

Having completed a survey of the system's two vaguely earth-sized inner planets, and found them both useless for any purpose save research, their surfaces airless, volcanic, and pitted with cracks running all the way down to the mantles, the probe swung around in a long loop and engaged a small FTL drive, taking it to the enxt item of interest: a massive gas cloud in the outer reaches of the system, suspected to be a gas giant in the process of formation. Any data gathered there could give great insight into the processes involved, and that knowledge could be valuable.

A few minutes later, the probe dropped out of FTL speed and put itself into a long loop around the cloud, intending to make a complete circuit before moving through the centre of the cloud itself. As it did so, it fed all the information gathered by it's sensors back to Laekdaemon in real time, though the signal would not arrive for another 14 hours.

Some hours later - 3 hours and 47 minutes, to be precise - the probe's sensors detected something that flooded it with something approximating shock. A metallic, clearly artificial object of massive proportions was sitting close to the middle of the cloud, almost obscured from sensors. Moreover, it's profile did not match that of any known ship class or spacefaring species.

The probe's artificial brain 'thought' furiously for a few moments as it processed this new information, before arriving at a decision: whatever the value of planetary formation data, the potential value of some new technology or other data that could be gleaned from the ship far outweighed that. Sending a top-priority transmission to Leakdaemon, it fired thrusters to adjust it's path directly toward the object.
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Old March 11, 2004, 05:26   #337
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Cadre Communications Centre, Laekdaemon Central

"Very well, gentlemen, as we are all here, let us begin. Dr. Mernok, you said you had something big to tell us."

At that, the officers and officials sitting around the meeting table leaned forward expectantly, and Mernok, head of the Cadre space program, stood and walked to the control panel for the holographic projector unit. After some fiddling with the controls, he turned toward the table and began to speak.

"Gentlemen, approximately two hours ago we received a transmission from our scout probe in the system currently designated Delta-323. After sending us some quite interesting data on the two inner planets in the system, it jumped into the outer system, to observe what appears to be a gas giant in the process of forming. While scanning it for research purposes, it detected this."

At that point, the doctor pressed a key on the control console, and an image shimmered into being in the centre of the table: an enhanced optical view of the object the probe had detected.

"Along with the report was a note that the probe would be moving further into the cloud to get a better look. Here's what it saw."

Mernok adjusted another control, and the image changed swiftly; evidently Mernok was speeding it up. It continued to show the object as the probe grew closer, and within a few minutes the probe was close enough to get a clear view. A collective gasp ran around the table as they got a good look at the ship, a long, stark black shape studded with weapons, landing bays, sensor arrays, and quite a lot of battle damage.

"Impressive, isn't it? the thing must be at least 12 kilometres long from end to end, and I'd wager it's even bigger than those new University ships we've been hearing rumours about, never mind anyone else's capships. We haven't had time to do a lot of analysis - the probe is doing that as we speak, and we've diverted another one to help it - but it's clearly in advance of our present technology, if not so spectacular as that of the University or the Protectorate.

"At first, we thought we had no records of this class of ship at al; our scout craft certainly carried none. However, after a lot of digging through our older ones, we found some Progenitor files we dug out of Spartan archives on Chiron and never had much use for until now. They mention a single ship of this time - a very old one, a thousand years at the very least - which belonged to some other, unnamed species from well outside Human Space.They don't say much, except that it was quite powerful a centrepiece for that race's fleet, and that it was lost during an engagement with an enemy they referred to as "the Destroyers". No information is given about this other species or force, either, leaving us with a lot of loose ends to chase down if we can.

"Anyway, we should have some more data within an hour or so; in the meantime, I'd like to request a significant diversion of forces to the area, so as to secure the ship and, hopefully, allow it to be converted for our use. Obviously, this would have to be kept secret, and it would detract from our fighting ability here, but if we can actually get control of that ship, we could end the war with ease. I call for a show of hands on this motion."

Every hand in the room went up immediately, and General Kane smiled.

"Motion carried. Mernok, do you have any other information about this ship?"

"None, sir."

"Then I want you to get to work planning the the expedition to hold the place. If any knew information comes through, tell us immediately. For now, get cracking."
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Old March 11, 2004, 13:52   #338
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Summit, Part Three.

Kelowna

The Grand Council hall was cavernous, and crammed with 3 dozen representitives and thier hangers-ons. This wasn't even a complete representation of the Assorted Faction leaders, just the ones with over a thousand capital ships. Shagrat was always awed by the sight of the chambers, but now even more so. For the first time in an age, the Grand Council of the Proginators had been called, and unity finally seemed to be in reach.

Off to the side were the Hferhin Entire Representatives (actually, they were thralls to the Usurpers), and Lord Ptah himself, in his strange body that he had genetically engineered as a host, looking much like a tall Fraal-Asgard with a smaller head. The only reason why the Go'auld were present was because their domain sat astride the routes any Proginator invasion force would take to the Orion arm.

"The Proginator Grand council is convened." The Presiding Officer said after the required ceremonies. "Is there any new buisness?"

A Faction Lord named Modren sat up and transmitted "I propose a new Supreme Leader be chosen!"

There was a roar of aproval. The chamber shook, Shagrat smiled to himself, Modren had always been one for getting to the point. Modren continued. "The Vedic Systems nominates Shagrat of the Usurpers!"

There was another thunder, with a hissing incoproated from the Caretakers. One of the Caretaker representitives, a pink carapaced female named Larel, stood up and quivered with rage.

"We will not follow such a madman! He would seize the manifolds for himself!"

"Honored Representitive, the nomination of Shagrat is on the table. A vote must be taken immediately."

Still quivering, Larel sat down.

"Cast your votes." the PO intoned.

"The Vote is....72 for, 14 againest. The Motion carries." The PO turned to Shagrat. "Command us, Supreme Leader."

There was a roar of dismay from the caretakers. for years they had been fighting againest reconveneing the Grand Council because the votes were binding, and they knew the Usurpers would be elevated to a position of command. Now, it had finally happen.

"Shagrat will lead us to ruin! He would be willing to destroy you all just to access a Manifold!" Larel shouted.

That's certainly true, Shagrat thought, but didn't transmitt. He spoke.


"Honored brothers and Sisters, thank you for having the faith to place our species in my hands. With our Race re-unified, we can restore our rightful place in the Cosmos! We can return to dominateing the Galaxy, and civilization the younger races! Too long we have searched for manifolds, when we know where one is! The Humans are insects to us, that shall be swept away! Godhood shall be Ours!!!"

The roar was deafening, A chant of "sha-grat! Sha-grat!" started, then died down.

Larel spoke again, "Oh yes! Seizing the Orion sector is such an easy means! There's only the little matter of the Sashianians being directly within our path from here to there...or perhaps you'd rather we fight a war with a supply route leading all over the Galaxy?"


There was some mmurmering of assent. Larel you fool, your day will come

"Honored Representitive, it is true that the Sashanians are stronger than any single Proginator faction, but we are united! We shall crush them and make them Thralls, make them the servitor race that they deserve to be. The Humans shall be the same! We shall be Gods!"

The Chamber was roaring again. And off to the side, behing Ptah, one of his servitors was fidgeting. He would have to pass this on the the Nautilus Pirates.
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Old March 11, 2004, 19:52   #339
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The Hiverian Fringe

"Hiverians closing fast, sir!"

Franco spun towards the viewscreen. Sure enough, it showed three Hive ships with a generally cross-shaped design accelerating rapidly out of the unknown space. "Patch me the sensor readings," he ordered. "What astrometry have we got on those things?"

"Length, approximately 750 metres." Astrometry was several decks below the Command Center, so the voice was transmitted through the commlink to the command crews' earpieces. "The engine emissions are highly masked. I cannot estimate maximum speed."

"Red alert!" the commodore snapped. "Battle Group Northshire: engage the enemy. Repeat: Battle Group Northshire engage the enemy. The other groups are to adopt offensive formation Zero-Tau."

The DRS Emancipator and the four other ships of Battle Group Northshire broke from the diamond and rushed to meet the enemy. Franco stared impassively at his sensor readout, watching the group's two cruisers lead the assault.

Warning: Offensive Communications Jamming in Progress. Maintain Safe Distance From DRS Castillo and Blackburn.

The warning was necessary at this stage, as the offensive communications jamming procedure could affect friendly ships that strayed into the resonance field. As such, the Emancipator and her two frigates hung back.

The Hiverian ships slowed. This, said Franco to himself, was an encouraging sign, as it suggested they were unable to communicate with each other and hence to formulate an attack plan -

- it happened so fast the commodore almost missed it. The Hiverian ships abruptly broke formation and surged directly into the middle of Battle Group Northshire's formation, one between the two cruisers and one on each of the outer wings. At the same time, they unleashed a withering stream of impacted particles.

The cruisers never stood a chance. Huge chunks were blown off their superstructure from nose to tail. The Blackburn's main power conduit overloaded and it exploded in a silent crimson fireball. Castillo fared no better. Her hull integrity gone, Franco watched helplessly as her power readings dwindled to nothing.

All hell broke loose. Emancipator fired a barrage of torpedoes that sheared away part of the central Hiverian's underhull. It was not sufficient; the enemy's return volley struck, whether by design or luck, the destroyer's command center. Mission-killed, the ship slowly listed on its side.

Now it was three on two at the front line. As Franco ordered his flotilla forward, he wondered what other nasty surprises the Hive fleet had waiting for him . . .
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Old March 17, 2004, 17:10   #340
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Lubrecht Research Facility
500 Kilometers deep inside the planetary mantle of Nova Secundis VIII


“What is the progress on Subject 87,463?”

“The Subject has shown significant response to the experiment.”

“I was under the impression that the drug would cause severe brain damage, due to disruption of neural activity between the host’s brain and the symbiote.”

“The Subject has responded to several rudimentary commands, such as ‘sit’ and ‘raise arms’. However, there still are issues with higher brain functions.”

“Such as?”

“Subjects have failed to think for themselves. They cannot formulate solutions to problems, and they have shown no signs of creativity that is the sign of sentient species. Their communication is nonexistent. They do understand our commands, but fail to procure any verbal or intelligent response to any type of conversation.”

“We must have these Subjects retain their higher brain functions. Otherwise, the Academician will be quite upset by the loss of untapped resources.”

“The problem is our viral agent. It keeps attacking the Reasoning centers of the brain, instead of the Memory centers. The actual problem lies in that the Reasoning center cells seem to be, for a lack of a better word, more ‘delicious’ to the viral agent. One other problem is that the symbiote overcomes the virus, due to its regenerative abilities. Once the virus is eliminated, the symbiote ‘re-boots’ the Jaffa’s mentality.”

“Fix it. You know the price of failure.”

“I have been trying for the past few weeks!”

“This facility has the most advanced bio-genetic technology, tools, and devices in the Human Sector. There is no excuse for failure, given the circumstances and the tools at your disposal.”

The tall and slender officer in a pure black uniform latched his steely glare on the thin, pale skinned, and bald scientist.

“If you persist in making excuses for not making progress, we will have to make the effort to have you reassigned.”

The officer leaned across the comatose body of Subject 87,463 and drew out the syllables of the last word.

Two long heartbeats later, a plump scientist ran into the laboratory room, out of breath. His hair was slightly disheveled, eyes widened a little too much, and had several sweat drops forming on his forehead.

“The two new RNA strands did it! It has finally achieved the solution to our problems! With the addition of the strand, the virus rejects the ‘taste’ of the Reasoning centers in Subject 5,291’s brain. Instead, it flocks to the Memory centers, rewriting memories, and erasing the memories we do not want him to keep. In addition, the second RNA strand enables the virus to mutate into a secondary form, to purely focus on breaking down the symbiote into organic waste matter.”

The officer turned towards the plump scientist, with a genuine smile.

“You did what the Senior Scientist in charge of this project couldn’t do. You solved the problem, so I shall put you up for recommendation.”

The elder scientist shrank even further.

The younger scientist spoke up again.

“Test results in hundreds of other subjects should be arriving any minute now. If it proves successful, we can enter full production of the viral agent within the day. One gallon of the viral agent should be enough to affect an area the size of Australia on Earth.”

“Very good. Procure several thousand gallons of the viral agent, with a quarter-million gallons by the end of the next week.”

Three minutes later, a nondescript scientist arrived, full of exuberance.

“The test results are positive! The two RNA strands have aided the virus in its intended purpose. It is now able to congregate in the Memory centers of the brain, rewriting memory cells to become blank slates. We had successes using nanites to add memories and impulses. Examples of this include memories of being a citizen of the University Alliance, along with absolute loyalty. The symbiotes were broken down into waste matter far quicker than we anticipated.”

The officer scribbled several notes in his datapad.

“Excellent. Begin production immediately. I shall notify the Head of Intelligence that the Jaffa Solution has been completed.”

--------------------------------

Flyer 743 woke up to a tingling sensation throughout his body. He could not pinpoint the exact origin of the tingling, but he knew for certain that something had happened.

He thought he had died, for his world was black. He opened his eyes, and the surroundings did not change. A few minutes passed by, then a pinprick of light shimmered into view in the ceiling, directly above his stomach. He stared at it, as the pinprick grew in size. Several more minutes later, the light grew to the size of a human fist.

Flyer 743 could make out a man sitting in a chair to his left, in a black uniform.

The man spoke in clipped tones.

“What is your name?”

“Jas’tuh.”

“What is your planet of origin, and home region?”

“The planet Leftwyne, and I grew up in the village of Dadlos.”

“What is your occupation?”

“A fighter pilot.”

“What civilization does Leftwyne belong to?”

“The University Alliance.”

“Who is Ptah?”

“A monster that deserves to be destroyed.”

“Why?”

“Ptah is a evil creature bent on eliminating the free will of people, and the enslavement of the entire Human Race.”

“Whom do you serve?”

“The Academician.”

“Very well. You may return to duty, upon a final comphrensive examination to determine your health.”

Jas’tuh noticed the tingling sensation was gone. He slowly swung his legs over to the side of the cot, and tentatively stood up. His eyes had become accustomed to the lighting provided by the glowing sphere in the ceiling. He could make out a door several meters in the opposite direction from the seated man.

“Dismissed, Jas’tuh.”

As the door closed behind Jas’tuh, the officer opened a communication channel.

“Ronald Suverich reporting.

Subject 80,772 has proved that the viral agent was a success. The viral agent only attacks the Jaffa, due to the presence of the symbiote within. I am unaffected, because I am a pureblood Human, with no traces of any parasitic symbiotes inside myself.

The Subject, to all extents, has had a successful memory modification. He remembers some of his original history, but the roles of his leaders and loyalties have switched perfectly. He now is loyal to the Academician, and considers Ptah a monster.

In my interrogations of several dozen other subjects, similar patterns have emerged. They retain some of their original memories, such as their names and homelands. Some subjects have been able to recall their previous occupations. However, memories of the most questionable occupations such as advisers or personal Goa’uld bodyguards, appear to have been overwritten with less important ones, such as farmers or hunters.

It is my belief that the success of the Jaffa Solution is an absolute certainty. We will be able to transform the Goa’uld pet warriors into a civilized and loyal society, depriving the Goa’uld of approximately ninety to ninety-five percent of their Human fighting forces.

End Report.”
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Old March 28, 2004, 21:32   #341
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Kelowna Orbit

Larel Transported onboard her flagship, the Star Domniator Manifold Gaurdian. She was quivering with rage. It appeared as if the only Caretakers who would break with the Grand Council's Decision were the warships directly under her countrol.

This was not good.

Soon the Proginator Union, under that Madman Shagrat would go to war with the Sashanians, and then on to the Orion Arm. The Only power of note there were the Dosi, as it seemed the Gorn/Bree deathstruggle was finally ending. The Humans would be wiped out in a matter of months. If the Caretakers won't stand up to Shagrat, others would have to.

This would mean betraying my race to Humanity. Still, they must be told. Larel turned to the Astrogator.

"Set course to the Sixth Manifold. Even our Escorts to prepare for an interdiction."

The engines roared to life, and even 15 km away from the start of the main plant, she could feel the ship viberate. Her personal comm on the command chair chirp. She answered it, and Shagrat (no, Supreme Leader Shagrat, damn him!) appeared on the viewer. He had a look of barely contained glee.

"I don't recall giving your ship clearance to leave orbit, Larel."

"We're leaving Shagrat, I do not recognize this farce. Someone has to stop you." Larel was notcing about a dozen of other Proginator ships, some Shagrat's, some other's (all Shagrat's now!) were getting into attack postion.

"I'm sorry you feel that way." Shagrat said, with what he probably thought sounded like remorse. The Proginator vessles opened up on Larel's little flotilla. Her escorts started to explode, then the Manifold Guardian shook violently as the sin guns poured unto her. The Hull was screeching as it buckled, and the shields failed.

"Drive activating in five...four...three...two..."

Larel saw a flash of light, then nothing.
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Old March 28, 2004, 21:55   #342
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Chiron Space Command
Nessus Prime


It was a slow watch. It was always a slow watch. Technical Sergeant Pardeep of the Peacekeeprs for the UN Mission to Chiron watched the sensor screens lazily. The Even lazier orbits of the hundreds of Peacekeeper warships and 4 dozen or So Terran ships that had fled to Chiron in the aftermath of Earth's conquest made her sleepy.

She sighed and took another sip of her Slurm soda. Then she glanced at her chronomter for the 5 time in the last minute. Jesus, she was so bored! She heard footsteps walking up behind, and sighed again. Right on time.

"So, Pardeep, you doing anything Saturday?" Tech Sergeant Chan asked, the same damn thing he asked every watch.

"Yes. But not with you."

"Oh." And he walked away like a puppy again. Pardeep sighed and glanced back at the screen...and did a doubletack. There was an unusual elevation of Tachyon particles...and there wasn't any one scheduled to arrive in that particular sector for another hour...The number of tachyons grew and grew....Jesus it was big! She grabbed the Microphone.

"Alert! Alert! Large Inbound Sector 23-1!"

------------------------------------

UNS Calicut

Captain Bhutto leaned forward. By God it was big. And it was just sitting there, completely powered down, battered, and devoid of life if the sensors were reading it correctly.

It was the largest Progenitor ship he'd ever seen, but was it Caretaker of Usurper? The ship looked un salvable, they must have done evrything just to get here. Were they really that Obsessed with Chiron?

The Comm officer turned and spoke to Bhutto...

"Sir...we're getting a rather large data transmission, from the ship. It's addressed to Secretary-General Lal...and it's repeating."

Bhutto scratched his chin. "Inform the Joint Chiefs. Better yet, put them on the phone. This needs to get up as fast as possible."
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And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worth while, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: "I served in the United States Navy!"
"Well, the truth is, Brian, we can't solve global warming because I ****ing changed light bulbs in my house. It's because of something collective." --Barack Obama
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Old March 31, 2004, 15:00   #343
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Ptah’s Throneroom



A metallic clad human rushed up to a solitary figure sitting on an elaborate golden throne. Several other humans with heavier metallic armor stood to attention, while lowering their force staffs into attack position.

The human knelt before the figure on the throne, with head bowed towards the ground.

“My lord! I have news!”

The seated figure, clad in golden armor and a silk cloak spoke.

“Rise. And report.”

The human swallowed, for Ptah is an imposing individual, even more so being a God.

Ptah stood and glared at the human.

“Report!”

“My lord, as you might remember, your forces have valiantly attempted to defend several of your important worlds. The Heathens kept coming, despite your valiant warrior’s efforts.”

“These infidels! We will preserve. Gods are never defeated by infidels!”

“My lord, I have further news.”

“Continue.”

“All contact has been lost in several solar systems, including our major Nadquah mining facilities in the Erathia and Xeen systems. Worse still, our scout drones were able to get a glimpse of the Heathen fleet approaching the Yu system, Lord Yu’s home system. Before being destroyed, the drone sent information regarding the fleet.”

The human swallowed again before continuing.

“Data received indicates that the Heathens have managed to acquire several of our largest capital ships, as well as our recently developed hybrid vessels with Asgard and Fraal technologies. But that’s not the worst thing of all.”

Ptah became more and more livid as his subordinate reported every setback. He kept his face straight, yet it was all he could do not to strike down the subordinate before he finished his report.

The subordinate continued.

“Our three fleet shipyards has been overrun at the Ronvas system. In the final tranmission from there, your Fleet Prime reported that the Heathens have acquired even more ships, because the shipyards were caught completely off guard. They did not have time to initate the self destruct on the majority of the dry-docked ships and new ships under construction. Apparently, the Heathens risked staying in faster than light speeds until the very last millisecond, appearing right next to the shipyards. A small consolation is that several of the Heathen vessels exploded as their engines overloaded due to the gravitional fields emitted by Ronvas VI.

With the loss of our shipyards at Ronvas, we are limited to just two ship building systems. They are in this system and the other one is in the Lendrikas system.”

Ptah kept staring at the subordinate. After a long and uncomfortable silence, he growled out two words.

“Kill him.”

The guards jerked their force pikes slightly, causing the front end to flare to life with a orange energy hue. The four guards jerked their pikes towards the subordinate all at once. Two orange blasts of energy caused two neatly cauterized holes to appear squarely in the middle of the subordinate’s torso. The two other blasts drilled holes in the subordinate’s skull. The unfortunate human fell to the ground with a dull thud.

Ptah motioned to one of the guards.

“You are now my new First Prime. Do not fail me!”

The guard bowed his head, while kneeling in front of Ptah.

“Yes, my lord.”

Alarms began to blare throughout Ptah’s throne pyramid.

The new First Prime quickly made his way towards the console, next to a blank golden slate opposite of Ptah’s throne.

The golden slate took on a life of its own, as it became a viewscreen. The view zoomed past Ptah’s capital planet towards the next planet, Ptaha III.

The First Prime turned towards Ptah with a face of shock.

“My Lord, this simply is not possible.”

Ptah shouted out in frustration.

“What is it?!”

“My Lord, the Heathens are here.”

“What!”

“From the information provided by the sensors on Ptaha III, the Heathen fleet is quite large. My Lord, the sensors have just stopped transmitting data! However, I was able to ascertain the approximate size and numbers of the Heathens.

They appear to have over one hundred battleships, three hundred heavy cruisers, six hundred ships of destroyer to cruiser class, and several dozen of your ships, presumably captured. In addition, there are several six kilometer monsters, which is likely their carriers. However, there are also four of these unindentified nine kilometer behemoths.

I have a running inventory of your forces in this system and nearby ones. We have a total of about one hundred ziggurat vessels, two hundred Ha’tak vessels, several dozen hybrid vessels, and the planetary defenses. We are outnumbered by almost three to one.”


For the first time in as long as Ptah could remember, he felt one emotion. The forbidden emotion of the Goa’uld.


Fear.
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Old March 31, 2004, 19:34   #344
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Hive Fringe
Aboard the Hive Corvette People's Vigilance
Drone-Hive engagement in progress...


Alarm klaxon's blared throughout the bridge while the crew tried to get things in order. Captain Rubic grasped a railing with his right hand to brace himself to stand.

"Report! I want to know the integrity of the hull."

The last barrage to the ships underside did more damage that what it seemed. Power was failing and weapon systems were operating at minimal efficiency.

"Captain, that last barrage reduced us to 37% efficiency. The underside hull is cracked and we are sealing off the depressurized area's."

Rubic looked at the viewscreen and watched as one of the Drone ships drifted off away from the battle, effectively neutralized.

"What of the Humility and Workman's Dream?"

"Captain, both ships are reporting nominal damage. It seems we took most of the damage."

Captain Rubic shook his head. Ever since his patrol task force intercepted the Drone message, things seemed to spiral out of control. Estimating that the Drones would enter the system before being intercepted, Captain Rubic ordered his patrol task force to attack the Drone fleet in a suicidal attempt to buy Hive command time to organize a defence.

Rubic smirked. 3 Hive ships on Patrol against an entire Drone invasion fleet. Lovely odds.

He continued to watch as the entire Drone fleet advanced on his position and signaled the comm-officer.

"Begin wideban transmission to the Drone fleet."

The comm-officer checked the instruments and nodded, "Ready to begin sir."

Captain Rubic nodded. "After the message has been sent, tell the rest of our ships to target the closest Drone ship for our next attack run."

***********


Attention Drone Fleet

You are in violation of threatening sovereign territory held by the Greater Hive Empire. Your forces are ordered to withdraw from the Hive fringe immediately or you will be destroyed. Repeat withdraw or we will be forced to destroy you.


--------------
Hive Fringe inside Hive space

The three Corvettes from the Hive VII Fleet arrived at their destination without fanfare. The Unification, Tormentor, and Drone Taskmaster took up observational positions and scanned the location where the Drone message originated from.

Immediately, their sensors picked up that 3 additional Hive ships were already engaged with the Drone fleet.

The captain of the Drone Taskmaster picked up the transmission being sent out by the People's Vigilance.

".....you will be destroyed. Repeat withdraw or we will be forced to destroy you."


Captain Durek smiled as the rest of his crew listened to the People's Vigilance threaten the Drone fleet.

Durek spoke.

"Remeber the Emperor's decree. The Drones exist to serve the Hive. Any act of dissention is ordered to be crushed. These Drones think they can invade the Emperor's territory.....they must be taught a lesson."

The crew nodded in unison. No one questioned the fact that the Drones should be taught a lesson....their numerical superiority was not a factor.

"Signal the Unification and Tormentor. We will join our fellow brothers in suppressing the Drones."

The comm-officer nodded.

"Signal the Fleet. Tell them that hostilities between the Drones and Hive forces has begun."

Captain Durek glanced at the massed Drone ships, paused, then addressed the comm-officer one last time.

"And unmask our ships name so that the Drones can see who we are."
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Old March 31, 2004, 21:27   #345
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Beta Hydri 4


Once upon a time, Henry Pym had been the Proctor of this University. Everyday he felt his history stretching behind him farther and farther, and this visit, in many ways, inflicted pain on him. Of the original 17,000 members of the Endeavor mission, there were now less than 200 left. Much better than the number of Unity survivors, but it still made him feel like a fossil.


"...And we are honored to have his Excellancy, visit us today. Without any futher delay, the Lord Protector of Beta Hydri, Roving, Eoforwic, and Sluis Van!"

The University's Preseident's speach snapped him out of his revile. Smiling, Hank stood and walked to the podium. His Foriegn Minister, was off to the side, mouthed It's Done. Pym gave a small nod, and cleared his throat.

"Well I'm glad to be back here at the home of the Minutemen!"

The crowd roared their approval. Pym smiled, let the crowd of students cheer for a bit, and raised his arms. The great mass of soon-to-be graduates quieted.

" All you fine young men and women are here today to get what you worked so hard to achieve, a Diploma. All of you now have your framed pieces of paper, archaic in this day and age, I know, but it's one hard copy that will never crash."

There were a few chuckles, mostly from older faculty members, but even more blank looks. Computers didn't really crash these days in the Protectorate. Hank made a silent d'oh! and pressed on.

"I know what's on your mind today, because it was the same thing that was on my mind at Kyle Field, Texas A&M, lo those many years ago. You're done with your six years of schooling, and are now ready for the real world. Some of you will go on into the civilian sector, some, I see quite a few Cadet Uniforms here, will go on to serve and become citizens. Both are admirable goals...and both have uncertainties. The Cadets', who worked so hard to achieve their commissions, may be wondering if they're up to leading the finest soldiers in the galaxy. I can assure you, if you're anything like the previous classes of USA, there isn't any doubt. You will bring nothing but outstanding Quality to our ranks."

The Cadets cheered, and the civilian students looked mildly peeved. Pym continued.

"For civilians, you may be even more uncertain. In many ways, it is much more difficult to work and live in the private sector than in the citizen one. Work may be more difficult to attain, maintain, and, horrors of horrors, retire from if you find it enjoyable. This is nothing to be worried about, I was underemployed for the first 3 years after my graduation, while working on my first Ph.D. I can assure you, however grim your prospects are, nothing is grimmer than having a BS in Astrophysics and working at a McDonalds."

There was much more laughter now.

"This school, like so many in the Protectorate, produces some of the finest citizens, engineers, teachers, doctors, and just plain good people in the Galaxy. You have nothing to worry about, the future is yours for the taking."

Applause.

"I hope you'll forgive me if I move a bit away from graduation ceremony, and more onto the future. The Future concerns me as well. We were attacked, our beloved Lord Protector nearly killed," Many looked down at the ground, tears in their eyes at the memory, "And have avenged the insult, although at great cost. All the while, a war nearly broke out with those who should be our natural allies, our fellow humans.

"I am not denigating our beloved friendship with our clutch-brothers, the Dosi. Merely commenting on the sad state of affairs when our cousins and ourselves come to blows over trvial differences and misunderstandings.

"Well, no more! Today I am proposeing to Acadamecian Zakharov a new treaty of state. While he has been kind enough to grant us a consulate on Earth, I would like to treat him as we would any other nation; with a complete trade, and a embassy on the Univeristy Capital. The treaty, of course, would have the same terms for the University Alliance.

"Our two nations are both human, both know the immense value of knowledge, especially knowledge for knowledges' sake. I worked with his Father on the Unity project and, while I had many, many, many....," He paused, giving a look of exageratted exhasperation, whcih made a few people chuckle, "..many disagreements with him, he was still a good man. Like his son is. I suspect Prokhor Zakharov would be proud of what his son has accomplished.

"I only have one, minor quibble that might cause trouble for the treaty signing. I do not want to sign it here, on Beta Hydri 4. I do not want it signed on the UA's capital...I want it signed on Earth, in the city of Geneva, which has traditionally and historically been neutral. Mr. Zakharov, the people of the Protectorate are ready to walk into the future...will you join us?

There was a few moments of silence, then the crowd roared it's approval. Pym thought he was going to get his hearing damaged.
--------------------------------

The speech was broadcasted live to University Planets, it was exceedingly like Zakharov would view it soon.
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Old April 1, 2004, 01:41   #346
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Into the Valley of Death
Quote:

Attention Drone Fleet

You are in violation of threatening sovereign territory held by the Greater Hive Empire. Your forces are ordered to withdraw from the Hive fringe immediately or you will be destroyed. Repeat withdraw or we will be forced to destroy you.
“Get that off the intercom,” Franco spat. He pointed directly at the central Hive Corvette, whose name he could not have known was People’s Vigilance. “That,” he ordered, “is going to be the point of the attack. I need a pincer movement on that ship’s wingmen. And we, my hearties, are going straight through the middle.”

The numbers were overwhelmingly in his favor. Nonetheless, the command center crew glanced at each other nervously. These three ships had appeared so fast, and with the Hive’s deadly ability to hide its ships from scanning, no-one knew what might be lurking on the other side of the welcoming committee. Their training took over, however, and they put the plan into action.

The timing could not have been worse. Five ships outflanked the Hiverians on each wing, led by destroyers Righteousness and Carlos Santos. Just as Franco’s navigator put the Liberty Bell into high gear, propelling it towards the damaged Hive corvette, the proximity sensors triggered.

“What the hell is that?” Franco shouted. But it was too late.

Three more Hive Corvettes had appeared from above and behind the three that had destroyed the Emancipator. They were closing fast. And the Liberty Bell was hurtling towards them at almost four stellar travel units. And hitting the brakes now wouldn’t stop his ship for another half a light-year.

“Commodore! They’re firing!”

“Brace for impact!” The new Corvettes unleashed a wide-angle barrage on the onrushing Drone ships. Franco heard loud screams interspersed with crackling static. A frigate and a cruiser disappeared from his tactical readout. The lights flickered and all the computer readouts went haywire for a moment.

Then they were past them, gradually slowing to a stop. But the braking systems had clearly taken a direct hit, as there was practically no suspension and the command center jerked sickeningly.

“Damage report!” Franco ordered. The answer wasn’t good.

“Severe damage to braking system. Minor damage to weapons, and sensors. Power leak in tertiary conduit. The Hive leader is broadcasting a name. . .Drone Taskmaster.”

Some of the bridge crew turned pale. Surely this was an ill omen . . . Emancipator destroyed, and now the command ship hit by Drone Taskmaster?. The astrometry operator interrupted.

“Commodore! Gravity readings indicate . . . that we are just outside the Oort radius of a star system!”

A Hive system? This was something major. Once they got out of this, he would summon more ships from MI-135 and Station Insider. And they would pound the planet like the wrath of God. What a coup it would be, to put Drone Marines in the caverns of the Hive and disenchant Yang’s mind control! He imagined the headlines: “Slaves Yesterday, Free Drones Today”.

But first, there was much more fighting to be done. He calibrated his sensor readout and saw Righteousness and Carlos Santos’s battle groups engaging the Hiverians. Though they possessed a numerical advantage of ten against six, they were struggling against the enemy’s communal tactics. The corvettes worked in tightly-flown pairs, cutting off cruisers from the destroyer before inflicting heavy damage. For just a moment, Franco marvelled at the precision, the efficiency, the mutual support of the Hive commanders.

Then he ordered, “Order anyone who’s still alive to regroup and head back in there. And make sure someone stays facing the star system. We don’t want any surprises.”
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Old April 1, 2004, 04:40   #347
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The Kraken Wakes
Cadre frigate CSS Helot, currently hyperspace

Chiron Standard Time: 07:38:02

"Dr. Mernok, we are approaching the system now. FTL drive disengaging in five seconds."

Mernok nodded, and leaned forward eagerly towards the viewscreens as though it would make them show more. He hadn't moved from his seat on the bridge through the entire ten hours of the trip; he'd just been sitting, staring fixedly at the viewscreens, which, in the absence of anything outside, had been showing footage of the ship they were there to investigate.

Shortly afterwards, the images on the screens shifted to show a field of stars as the Helot dropped below lightspeed and into the system that had been designated Windfall. A minor course correction and a few minutes later, and the vast derelict ship cmae into view, dwarfing the Helot, it's two escorts, and the four transports they had brought along. For a few moments, the whole of the bridge crew simply stared in awe, before gradually remembering their jobs and getting back to them. Mernok, meanwhile, just kept watching, and when the Cadre ships entered what appeared to be one of the ship's docking bays, he smiled, a slow, ecstatic smile.

* * *

Encrypted Video Transmission:
To: General Kane, Laekdaemon Prime
From: Dr. Zacharias Mernok, Windfall System
Subject: Preliminary report
Time: Chiro Standard, 19:09:54

"General Kane, we've only been here about twelve hours, so we haven't had time to do a whole lot, but we've found out some quite interesting stuff.

"First of all, it appears that this ship was run mainly by automation; there are AI modules everywhere, seemingly where they could run nearly every major system on the ship. The computer networks themselves have a lot of similarities to Progenitor resonance computers; we haven't got the right equipment to operate them properly here, so I've requested some from Laekdaemon. Hopefully, once it gets here, we can activate some systems and see about taking this ship over.I don't think there's much risk of the ship turning on us; the Progenitors wrote that this race was very paranoid about that possibility, and hence placed strict limits on the capabilities of their AIs. They could only be instructed to attack whoever was operating them presently by feeding them some code that was over 6 billion digits long and known only to a very few among that race.

"Secondly, we have some more information as to the ship's capabilities. A surprisingly large quantity of the ship in fact consists of manufacturing facilities, presumably intended to build ships and ammunition. It's all very self-contained; you feed resources in at one end, plug in the design of whatever you want made, and it comes out the other end. Given the scale of this ship, that should prove very useful - we could produce capital ship segments with amazing speed, and the only limitation would be finding enough crew.

"In addition, the ship, as you have seen from the information we received previously, is quite literally covered in weapons; they have some interesting designs here, including some kind of four-stage anti-fighter system, which is capable of spreading lethal quantities of plasma over an area several hundred metres in diameter. It also has some big main guns, and when I say big, I mean really big. These things are energy beams capable of obliterating small ships in a single blast, or vapourising fortified cities.

"Finally, and perhaps most intriguingly, the ship has some kind of energy shield generator on board; it appears to work as some kind of armour reinforcer, by taking part of the energy of a shot and dispersing it across an entire segment. Unfortunately, it's quite badly damaged, and certainly in no state to be used, but hopefully we'll be able to figure out how it works before too long. Further reports will be sent regularly. Mernok out."

*MESSAGE ENDS*
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Old April 4, 2004, 01:21   #348
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We interrupt this broadcast...
* Cue John Williamsesque theme*

* Gold Interstellar Networks Logo descends and centers on Screen*

Narrator: This is ISN, the date is June 4th, 2703. Tonight's top stories...

Lord Protector Henry Pym offered a major new Peace intiative today...
"Mr. Zakharov, the people of the Protectorate are ready to walk into the future...will you join us??

The Border War between the Hive and the Drones heated up...

And the Protectorate Cup, will Ross City beat it's 50 year slump?

*finish intro Music*

Cynthia Garcia: Good evening on this June 4th. Tonight's top story is the Lord Protector's ambitious new Peace intiative. During a speech today at the University of San Angelo's graduation ceremonies.

Pym: Today I am proposing to Acadamecian Zakharov a new treaty of state. While he has been kind enough to grant us a consulate on Earth, I would like to treat him as we would any other nation; with a complete trade, and a embassy on the Univeristy Capital.

Cynthia: With us tonight is Senate Minority Leader Edward Yoon. Thank you for joining us tonight Senator. What is your Opinion of the Lord Protector's new plan for peace?

Yoon: I think it's obvious, Cynthia, that Dr. Pym is trying to patch the perceptions that foriegn governments have of us. He pissed away the goodwill that came from His Late Excellancy's assaination attempt. The attack, I would even call it massacre, of Sab Abar has caused other nations to shun us. Dr. Pym has abused the power of the office, and is now trying to cover his idiocy up.

Cynthia: Idiocy? Senator, He has 7 PhDs, 4 of which he aquired before MM interfaces were introduced.

Yoon: Yes, forgive me...I did not mean to insult his intelligence. The office of Lord Protector was meant to have a Great Man fill it, Ian McDiarmid was such a man. Henry Pym...he isn't. He's a smart man, but not a great one. His policies have led to a foreign relations disaster. People like Yang end up looking better than us. This is what happens when so much power is concentrated in one man.

Cynthia: The Protectorate thrived for hundreds of years under this system Senator. Are you seriously suggesting to change it? Haven't you ever heard of the phrase "If it ain't broke..."

Yoon: "...don't fix it." Yes, I know. But the point is, we didn't thrive under a system, we thrived under a Great Man. Dr. Pym isn't a Ian McDiarmid, and he never will be. All he is is a man with a gaggle of degrees who happened to be best buds. The Country shouldn't be run on the "Good Ol Boys club" theory. That's why the Whigs will be proposing a Constitutional Amendment to eliminate the office of Lord Protector at the start of Senate tomorrow.

Cynthia: *shocked Silence*
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Old April 4, 2004, 03:45   #349
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Knives in the Dark
Rebel Command Complex, Iron Mountains

In the shadows cast by the dim, night-time lighting, something moved.

Private Adelphos Forakis, making his sixth circuit of the main storage area that night, jerked his head around to search the shadows not ten metres away.

Nothing.

Well, that wasn't all that surprising. He switched to IR vision.

Still nothing.

'What the-?'

"You saw something?"

That was Corporal Talos Mamalis, the other soldier assigned to this area. Adelphos glanced back at him before continuing to search for the source of that motion.

"I'm sure I did, sir, but there's nothing there, even on IR. I really wish they'd hurry up and get the security system finished here..."

"Well, that's strange. Let's have a closer-"

Before he could finish the sentence, the corporal's voice had cut off abruptly. For a second, the world seemed frozen, Adelphos standing still and no unusual sounds coming from anywhere.

That lasted for a single heartbeat before Adelphos heard the loud *clang* of a helmeted head striking the floor. He spun, bringing his rifle around, but before he could even try to open fire, something razor-sharp sliced across his throat, and the world spun crazily as darkness enveloped him. The last thing he ever saw was a visored figure in heavy combat armour the same colour as the cargo crates behind it, holding a long, thin blade in it's hand and standing over the headless corpse of Corporal Mamalis... and himself.

* * *

Peering through the door of the storage area, Sergeant Mandraphilias frowned worriedly. Corporal Mamalis should have reported in over 60 seconds ago, and he was a great one for punctuality. He activated his commlink and opened his mouth to request a report... but he got no further, because at that exact moment, two shadows detached themselves from the greater shadow inside, and something whirred through the air before striking him full in the face, slicing through his armoured visor with such force that his was hurled back almost a metre and his helmet was sliced in half.

* * *

"Captain Matsoukis, over the past ten minutes, we've lost contact with no fewer than eighteen guards and three security sensors. "

Matsoukis, the officer in command of security on this shift, swore under his breath as he absorbed this. 'Eighteen, and three sensor installations...? What could possibly have done this, and with raising an alarm?'

He swore more loudly as the trooper delivering the news continued.

"What's more, sir, we've plotted the lost guards onto a map of this complex, and they form a rough trail heading for Lord Lysander's quarters. At this rate, they'll be there in under five minutes."

Somewhere else in the security station, someone cursed, then turned and raised her voice.

"Captain, we've just lost two more sensors and five guards. Someone at least managed to get off a shot this time, but they're only a corridor away from LYsander's quarters."

Matsoukis didn't hesitate. "Sound the alarm!"

Someone did, and the entire complex was immediately lit to full daylight standards, while a blaring klaxon awakened everybody not already dead.

"Get me video feed of what's happening outside Lysander's quarters!" he shouted, trying to make himself heard over the klaxon. A few minutes later, one wall of the room swirled and turned into an image that simply defied belief. The two heavy-weapon emplacements outside the door to Lysander's quarters were smoldering wreckage, those manning them no better, and two looming figures in armour the same colour as the corridor walls were running for the door while spraying the corridor with rifle fire. Even as the stunned security officers watched, the last of the defender went down, and the intruders reached the door. One crouched opposite it, hefting a rifle in his right hand and a grenade in his left, while the other was planting something on the door. He appeared to finish whatever it was, stood back, and then to door was ripped clean out of the wall, torn into several pieces, and hurled inwards so hard that one of the pieces wedged itself into the plasma-steel wall. Both intruders ran into the room, the one behind reaching for his belt and hurling half a dozen grenades onto the floor along the corridor. They didn't go off; proximity-detonated, presumably.

* * *

Lysander had been asleep when the sirens began to blare, and was still half-so when he heard the loud blast of his outer door being blown apart. That brought him wide awake, and he snatched up the shredder pistol that he kept by his bed. Useless, perhaps, against something that could penetrate all the way here, but still better than nothing.

Keeping one eye on the main door to his bedroom, he felt along the wall behind him until he found the concealed sensor pad a few metres to the right of his bed. As he pressed his hand to it and waited for it to process his handprint and open the hidden door out of his room, he heard a series of explosions from outside, followed by loud screams, and then, as the door was hissing open, the inner door to his bedroom exploded inwards, immediately followed by a blizzard of rifle fire perforating the opposite wall. It all made Lysander very glad that the room had been designed so that the bed was not in the door's field of fire.

Relief faded, though, as the shooting cut off and a massively-armoured figure stepped through. Behind it, Lysander could hear more rifle fire, more explosions, and then the characteristic sound of a heavy rocket-launcher being fired. It struck something, exploded, and suddenly all fire cut off.

A heartbeat later, it seemed the whole outer part of Lysander's chambers had exploded, silhouetting the apparently unaffected intruder, who was now raising his own weapon and aiming it at Lysander.

He ducked as the first volley came, spraying across the wall; ducked rolled through the door, his own shredder pistol blazing back. A steady hail of fire struck the intruder, but it didn't even seem to notice as it pulled a grenade from it's belt prepared to hurl it.

As it's arm drew back to throw, however, another figure could be seen running through the flames behind it, a figure carrying a rocket-launcher. Before the grenade left the intruder's hand, one of the launcher's long, sleek projectiles left the barrel and slammed into it from behind, lifting it from it's feet and hurling it across the room and into the passage, and past him in a broken mess. Even before it had stopped moving, though, the figure with the rocket launcher was screaming at the top of her voice.

"GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE NOW, SIR!"

Without thinking, he dived back into his own room and to the side, and just as his foot cleared the door, something massive exploded in that passageway. A jet of flame surged out across his room and blackened the opposite wall, along with a few bits semi-molten, flying metal. Then it was over. No more shooting, no more explosions, no more sounds except the crackle of flames, the moans of the wounded, and heavy breathing from everyone.

Getting to his feet, Lysander could see that the outer part of his rooms were a ruin; much of it was still burning, and the rest was strewn with wreckage; the doorway into the corridor was completely gone, with a much larger hole in it's place, and through it he could see a number of charred corpses lying about, with a handful of wounded guards standing over them.

"What... what happened?" he asked, running the sequence of events through his mind. "What were they?"

"Myrmidons, sir," answered the woman with the rocket launcher, who, he could now see through a layer of blood and soot, was Captain Arete, who had arranged for the capture of Dienkes Base and made the entire uprising possible.

"What?" he asked, searching his brain. He was sure he had never heard of any military or intelligence unit by that name.

"You wouldn't have heard of them, sir," she replied, dropping the rocket launcher and holding herself up on the doorframe as she breathed heavily. "They were Dr. Graves' brainchild, a group of elite soldiers removed from their units, trained to perfection, and cybernetically enhanced to the point where they were barely human any longer. They received the best weapons and armour the Cadre could give them, and functioned as Menelas' bodyguard and elite hit-squad. There can't be more than a hundred at the moment; for two to have been sent was a pretty significant investment, although I shudder to think what might have happened if more had come.

"Regardless, they can be identified by one crucial feature: on missions like these, they explode when killed. One of the cybernetic enhancements they're given is some extremely powerful high explosive set to detonate as soon as they die, unless specifically disabled. It's meant to let them do some more damage, even in death, and it can kill the target right when he thinks he's escaped... and as you saw, it nearly killed you even after I blasted it."

"And why, Captain, would I not have heard of this unit?"

"The whole project was secret; it was known only to the very highest ranks and some members of the security forces. You certainly weren't eligible to know, but I was."

"I see. I want an investigation, Captain Arete. I want to know how they got in here, and I want to know what can be done to stop them if more are sent."

"Yes, sir. It will be done."
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Old April 4, 2004, 20:42   #350
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In Orbit above Omega IX
Planetary Bombardment in progress…



Admiral Trasssk split her attention from the variou viewscreens of the bombardment and the statistics that were scrolling on a nearby screen. Various survey probes were sent to gather data on the fleet’s progress. Satellites above the atmosphere gathered climate changes, counted the living organisms and their fast-dwindling numbers, and even monitored the progress on the ground.

One satellite image caught the Admiral’s eye. On that satellites viewscreen, it displayed a birds eye view of what was happening in one of the planet’s minor cities. Trasssk stepped forward to get a better view and chuckled softly.

The scene was one of utter chaos. The natives were rioting in the streets, fires were erupting sporadically among the buildings and looters were running with armfuls of stolen goods. She noticed some activity and wanted a better view.

“Zoom viewscreen 32’s image by 5.”

The image instantly magnified and confirmed what Trasssk suspected.

A group of natives was embroiled in an enormous brawl. She observed some natives carrying large sticks and waving them around threateningly. Others were obviously going mad from the Hive bombardments.

An officer from behind her broke her concentration.

"Sir, our three ships are requesting the order to commence the suicide attack on Omega IX."

Trasssk turned around and nodded.

The officer waved the confirmation order to the awaiting commofficer.

Trasssk immediately shifted her attention to the viewscreen displaying a broad picture of the planet. She watched as her ships fired their engines and began the suicidal bombardment.

"Impact in 5 standard seconds."

The Admiral watched intently, wondering what the destruction would be from the resulting impact. When the countdown ended. She leaned in closer.

As if on cue, three large explosions rocked the planet in pre-determined points. The flash of the ships explosions were so bright and large, the Hive fleet in orbit could clearly make them out. The atmospheric disturbance pushed the clouds far away from the blasts.

Trasssk looked at another viewscreen showing what the conditions on the planet were.

In one region, winds from the blasts tore the flora from the earth and flung them up into the atmosphere. Debris whipped around the air like earthly shrapnel.

In another region, the explosions created enormous tidal waves that washed up and over the land, submerging the earth underwater for miles inland. Whole cities were washed off the face of Omega IX.

The three cities that were designated as the final path for the three Hive ships were nothing more than charred, smoking craters. The kinetic energy from the collision of the ships, added with the Hive reactors breaching upon impact, resulted in devastation previously unseen on Omega IX.

Overall, the mission to eradicate life on Omega IX was a great success. The debris kicked up into the atmosphere would cause the temperature of the planet to drop substantially, killing off most of the surviving flora and without vegetation to eat, the native creatures would starve. A chain reaction of global proportion would wipe out the remaining survivors of Omega IX.

But Hive command would not wait until all the planetlife was destroyed, all they needed was 80% of the planet's life to be eradicated so they could start the mining of the precious ore in the earth.

Trasssk nodded in approval, not the least concerned of the global disaster she just witnessed. The planet would die a slow death, accelerated by Hive mining and it's eventual environmental destruction.

"Order the fleet to maintain orbit."

Trasssk paused.

"And check on the progress of our ships sent to the Fringe. I want to see how they are fairing."
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Old April 5, 2004, 05:23   #351
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False Dawn
Fringe of Omega IX system

Commodore Franco ordered two battle groups to assist cleaning up the Hive advance fleet, intending to cross the Oort radius of the unknown system with the other four. He tapped a note into the ship's black box via his handheld keypad.

Intention to scout / test planetary defenses of Hive system. After will request reinforcements from MI-135.

The bridge rocked as the Liberty Bell hurtled through a cluster of comets. None of the objects were large enough to damage the hull's integrity, but Franco felt clearly his ship's lack of suspension systems. He could stand it.

"Astrometry," he ordered. "What sort of planetary defenses are you seeing?"

"None yet, sir. I've got a couple of comets, and a planet . . . whoa! Lots of Hiverians!"

Franco passed over the officer's lapse in verbal discipline. "Lots of Hiverians," he repeated, "but no planetary defenses? No sensor systems?"

"None that I can see, sir."

"Patch everyone into the tactical readings." A second later, the sensor schematics appeared on his readout. Sure enough, there were a horde of Hive ships orbiting the planet, more or less evenly distributed above most of its surface. Franco saw three of them lurch suddenly on a strange trajectory, directly into the planet's gravity well.

"What the . . . ? Put that on viewscreen and magnify."

The magnification at this range resulted in a slight loss of resolution, but the commodore could see the Hiverians' hulls reddening for just a moment before they vanished into the white clouds.

"What are they doing?" Franco mused. "Looks like some sort of self-sacrifice ritual."

He stood. "It doesn't matter. I want to wake those guys up a bit. Cast a torpedo spread adrift at our current position. Remote detonation. After we set it off, we're gonna loop around and come at them from that planet's south."

The torpedos went into space. When detonated, they would form a spectacular glowing chevron pattern. But Franco's moment of musing appeared to have cost him. His sensor readout clearly showed several Hive ships breaking formation and turning to face his direction . . .
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Old April 12, 2004, 18:31   #352
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Bridge of UAS Hercules
Approaching Ptaha III


Captain Sean Donnell tapped several touch-pad buttons on his armrest. Several displays materialized out of thin air in various spots in front of Sean. He took a deep breath to relieve the tension slowly building inside his guts.

My first major fleet command. This is so different from the Army.

The Academician recognized my command talent, from the Battle of Sol, and felt my talents would be best used in the Navy instead of the Army. In the Army, life was simple. You just follow orders, and shoot anything that isn’t friendly.

The Navy has a lot more greys than black and white clear-cut situations. I must prove to the Academician and Grand Admiral Devlin Yezprach my worth in a pivotal battle.

Eight years ago, I was a simple civilian, content to work as an engineer in the Memoria system, constructing a new class XII shipyard. After three years, I was transferred to Spira to oversee the construction of several new planetary to space defensive systems around Bevelle, Luca, and Zanarkand.

Then the terrorist attacks in Chronopolis occurred. I wanted to take a part in restoring the sense of security in the Alliance. I thought if I joined the Army, I’d be able to blow up some terrorists. I went into some grunt training, and used several exercising regiments to toughen up my body.

Then my infantry unit got sent to the offensive in North America during the Battle of Sol. Thus, began my fast track of promotions and heroism.

Funny, really.

In a short period of time, I changed from a senior engineer, to a grunt in the Alliance’s army, then a captain, commanding several units in the Mid-East. Then just as quickly, I am now a captain in the Navy, commanding this battle.

How times change.

I miss my beloved Lucentia, and my two daughters and my only son. I wonder how they are doing. After this campaign comes to a close after this battle, hopefully, I am definitely going to request some leave, so I can visit my family.

Without them, what is the point of fighting? What worth is freedom, security, and life without others to share it with?


Sean took another deep breath to calm his thoughts. He could still smell the fresh metallic tint in the air, mixed with several chemical and plastic odors.

A display floating a meter up and to the right of Sean displayed the status of the freshly built Titan class ship, the new flagship of the UA fleet, the Hercules.

The nine-kilometer Hercules comprised of a long cylinder that has been stretched along its two-kilometer diameter, while having a raised section resembling an Enterprise class arrowhead hull on the left and right sides. The raised sections snuggled perfectly on the stretched cylindrical superstructure. Another smaller arrowhead section rested directly on top of the first raised sections, in a somewhat double-layered arrowhead structure. The sections are perfectly mirrored in the front, rear, and bottom sections of the Titan, to create eight arrowhead formations on its hull.

Several statistics scrolled down the floating display, detailing the Hercules’s armaments, defensive systems, energy levels, among others.

Sean lapsed into another bout of deep thought.

Commanding a nine-kilometer Titan.

The Academician has put forth a program to produce the largest battleships ever conceived by Mankind. He feels that the aging Relativity and Einstein Battleships won’t be able to keep their edge much longer. These battleships could still keep their own with most Human ships, such as Drone, Hiverian, Spartan, and Morganite ships, in thirty years. However, the threat of the Protectorate and hostile aliens demand a technological and engineering supremacy.

The Relativity and Einstein battleships were designed in the 2640’s while the Enterprise Carriers were built in the 2690’s. They were the most advanced Human ships built at that time, with antimatter reactors, tachyon weaponry, and neutronium hulls.

The Titan class is the first pure battleship designed and produced by the Alliance within the past fifty years. It incorporates the very latest in the Alliance’s technology. It is the first standard class of ship that uses the new Quantum Reactors, which provides ten-fold more power than the old antimatter reactors. In addition, these new reactors take up less space than antimatter reactors, because it simply doesn’t need storage pods for antimatter / matter.

This allows larger ships to be built, because without the Quantum reactors, a Titan ship would require nearly half of its hull mass to be devoted to antimatter reactors. This is due to the huge energy requirements to run life support, lighting, artificial gravity, and essential systems throughout such a large ship. It wouldn’t be feasible or efficient to do so with antimatter reactors, with its extensive infrastructure. Hundreds of storage tanks would be required for the fuel to quant-space jump a ship with a mass numbering in the billions of metric tons.

The Titans employ the next generation of weapon technology, based on the recently developed Quantum technology. One Quantum cannon is capable of an energy discharge three to five times as potent as the old Tachyon cannons. One Quantum reactor exclusively powers all the Yamato super-cannons mounted on the Titan, increasing their destructive potential by four times over anti-matter powered Yamato cannons. This technology is being refined further. It is likely that upon the Titan’s first dry-dock stop, their weapons will be fine tuned to give even more power.

The Titan has unsurpassed amounts of firepower available. It has approximately five thousand anti-fighter and anti-missile flak cannons, one thousand standard cannons of upwards to one-meter diameter, one hundred cannons of five-meter diameter, while mounting twenty-four anti-battleship cannons of fifteen-meter diameter. The Titan has eight fifty-meter Yamato cannons, one for each arrowhead formation, providing ample fire to cover its approach and retreat vectors.

In addition to the Titan’s energy-based cannons, it is the first Alliance ship to mount projectile cannons. Using the Xaos Principle, the basis for the infamous Alliance’s Xaos Swordfish missiles, the projectile cannons use dense Neutronium “bullets” as ammunition, firing them at 70 percent light speed. Due to such dense matter being fired at high velocities, the kinetic energy released upon impact, as well as the projectile itself, is guaranteed to rip through any material known to Mankind, even the Alliance’s unique Neutronium hulls. The standard name and type of these projectile cannons is known as Xaos Gauss Cannons.

The Titan possesses missile banks capable of firing thirty-six missiles per salvo per missile bank. The ship has seventy-two standard missile mounts with a complement of one-meter missiles, twenty-four heavy missile mounts with a complement of five-meter missiles, and eight ultra-heavy mounts with a complement of twenty-meter missiles. The banks can fire a full standard salvo every ten seconds, heavy salvo every twenty seconds, and ultra-heavy salvos every 45 seconds. In doing so, it creates a large cloud of missiles that is designed to overwhelm enemy point defense weapons.

The Titan’s defensive systems are quite formidable, in comparison to the Alliance’s most fortified ship class, the Enterprise Carriers. The Titan employs a completely revolutionary hull design, using newly developed materials with the Smart-Material and nanotechnology enhancements. The ship class employs five hulls, divided in two areas, the Outer Hull and the Inner Hull. The outer hull comprises of the outer, middle, and inner hulls, while the inner hull comprises of the outer and inner hulls.

The Outer-outer hull is the first hull to employ materials impossible to fabricate a mere decade earlier. In addition, it has an ability to self-seal hull breaches, given that the hull breaches do not exceed more than ten meters in diameter, thanks to rudimentary nanites and sufficient metal reserves. The self-sealing technology isn’t as efficient or quick as the Protectorate or the Dosi, but it’s a step in the right direction.

The material that comprises this very hull consists of enhanced Admantium, which is ten times lighter than Neutronium while providing an increase of thirty percent toughness over standard Neutronium. This enhanced Admantium metal was developed by arranging Admantium atoms in interlocking patterns, then compressing several dozen sheets of the interlocked Admantium into a single sheet.

The Outer-middle and Outer-inner hulls are comprised of Neutronium, due to the fact that the new Admantium metal, termed Admantia, is in short supply. Metal fabrication plants are rapidly developing equipment to create Admantia, which will ensure plenty of Admantia production within the next few years. Finally, the Inner-outer and Inner-inner hulls are comprised of Admantia, due to the smaller area it must cover and protect.

The three Outer hulls are layered in a diamond pattern to provide stronger resiliency towards hull buckling. The hulls are located right on top of each other, and cover the entire Titan superstructure. The Inner hull follows the same pattern, but only covers the Command Bridge, Main Engineering, several dozen decks in-between, and several weapon emplacements enclosed inside the ship.

The Titan is also the first Alliance warship to have the Outer-Ship and Inner-Ship system. In case the Outer ship takes grievous damage, the Inner-ship activates. It blows off the ruined Outer-ship hull, then either fights as a smaller and weaker version of the Titan, or flees the battle with most of its command staff and valuable data intact. Essentially, the ship has two “lives” giving it a further edge in combat.

Such firepower, redundancy, size, and strength of the Titan was demanded by the Academician to ensure that the Alliance will have the most modern warships. Also, it was designed in mind to ensure there wouldn’t be any Sab Abar’s happening in Alliance territory. The destruction of entire planets, with billions of lives at stake, is a sobering reality after the Protectorate’s attack on Sab Abar. Countermeasures must be taken to ensure that such destruction doesn’t rain upon innocent Alliance citizens.

The Titan, the paradigm of the University Alliance’s engineering skills. I am indeed proud to be commanding one of the only four Titans in service. I will do the Academician proud.


Captain Sean Donnell snapped back to reality upon the blaring of the alarm klaxons.

Sean’s tactical officer, Jack, sat at the Tactical station to the front and left of the Captain’s chair. Jack tapped several touch panels quickly, then spoke up over the din of the bridge preparing for war.

“Captain, Goa’uld sensors have detected our approach, before being destroyed as per standing orders. Several dozen Goa’uld motherships are already getting battle-ready, as well as several of these hybrid ships. They are forming up in a X-Y square formation directly in front of their apparent homeworld. Our sensors detect several large orbital batteries and space fortresses powering up.”

“Remember, all Goa’uld ships are equipped with these infernal shields that reduce our energy weapon effectiveness considerably. Have the [I]Athena, Zeus,[/] and Apollo form up in a triangular formation with the Hercules at the center.

Upon completion of the formation, fire all our missiles for several minutes directed at the orbitals and fortresses. This will provide tens of thousands of missiles for the Goa’uld to try and shoot down. Their shields cannot block our missiles at all, as proven at the engagement at the PX-973 system. Hopefully this tactic will take out several of these larger ships as well.

Have the rest of the fleet form up right behind us, adding their missile fire with ours. Once we’re in range, we shall give the Goa’uld a nice surprise with our Xaos Gauss Cannons. In the meantime, power up our Quantum Cannons and the upgraded Yamato super-cannons.”

“Your orders shall be carried out, Captain Sean.”

----------------------------------------------------------
Several minutes later


The four Titans wasted little time maneuvering into a triangular position directly ahead of the main battle fleet.

Several minutes passed as the Titans readied their potent missile armaments to unleash upon the unsuspecting Goa’uld. The rest of the fleet formed up directly behind the Titans in a circular formation to provide maximum missile dispersal, as well as support fire against fighters and any incoming enemy vessels.

Large missile banks, supplemented with smaller missile pods began their song of death. Multiple explosions could be seen throughout the missile bearing ships, creating the illusion of self-destruction. Several minutes would pass before the true nature of the explosions would be revealed to the enemy.

A cloud slowly formed in front of the University armada, as thousands of missiles were forcibly expelled from their homes on the ships.

---------------------------------------------------------------

“Begin Phase Two.

Begin at T minus ten minutes. Upon T minus zero, initiate Phase Three.”

---------------------------------------------------------------
T Minus 9:40

The armada matched the missile cloud’s speed and trajectory, which created the illusion of a gigantic shimmering ice field. Thousands of cannons began gathering terawatts upon terawatts of energy, enough to power a small star. Armor on hundreds of ships began to deploy over docking hatches and fighter bays to provide solid protection against penetration of weak spots.

---------------------------------------------------------------
T Minus 8:57

The Goa’uld fleet maintained their position, under the watchful eyes and teeth of their planetary defenses. Several thousand Alkesh bombers and Death Glider fighters spewed forth from the huge ziggurat vessels, in an attempt to probe the incoming University armada. Huge shields shimmered to life around the large orbital battle stations and the largest Goa’uld warships. Smaller glimmers could be seen as the fighters activated their weaker shielding.

---------------------------------------------------------------
T Minus 7:32

The energy output of the University armada spiked as the dreaded Yamato Cannons began charging up. A slight warping of space could be seen around the muzzle of each enhanced Yamato Cannon mounted on the Titans. A white glow could be seen forming inside the muzzles, while the older anti-matter powered Yamato Cannons glowed with a reddish hue.
The fleet and missile cloud continued towards their final destination. The Enterprise Carriers began launching their fighters and bombers in waves. Instead of charging forward to engage the approaching Goa’uld fighters, the University fighters veered away. It appeared to the Goa’uld that the fighters were conducting a mutiny, fleeing the battle.

---------------------------------------------------------------
T Minus 6:25

The Goa’uld fighters and bombers formed up into rigid formations, preparing to do attack runs upon the approaching armada. Four Death Gliders formed a square around each Alkesh bomber, to provide support and to cover the bomber as it made its bombing run.

The shields around the planetary orbitals and Goa’uld motherships became fully charged, and the energy emitters began to power up to maximum.

---------------------------------------------------------------
T Minus 5:55

The University armada drew first blood of the engagement. Several long-range cannons began tracking and firing upon the initial wave of Alkesh bombers and their escorts. Several squadrons were transformed into free-floating energy and atoms as the energy bolts rained from the fast approaching University armada.

The University fighters and bombers swung around the planet Ptaha III, increasing their speed considerably. They established a course straight at the large motherships sitting in Ptaha II’s orbit. The fighter and bomber squadrons expected to arrive in roughly several minutes, within the final couple of minutes of Phase Two.

---------------------------------------------------------------
T Minus 5:43 - 3:19

Several Goa’uld squadrons managed to breach the anti-fighter defenses, and made attack runs upon several Battleships, Heavy Cruisers, and Strike Cruisers. The Alkeshs launched their payloads, expecting dazzling explosions as the enemy ships were destroyed. However, their expectations were half dashed, as the trademark University neutronium armor absorbed a considerable amount of explosive energy.

The Alkeshs had more success against the lighter ships of the armada. The cruisers, frigates, and destroyers were much lighter armored than their heavier brothers. Several destroyers and frigates exploded as dozens of Alkesh squadrons managed to concentrate their bombing runs at the center points of the warships.

The next several waves of Alkeshs and Death Gliders attempted to destroy as many missiles in the missile cloud as they could. Long-range cannons kept up their challenge, pounding more and more Goa’uld fighters into oblivion.

More destroyers, frigates, and cruisers were either destroyed or crippled as the Alkesh squadrons kept swarming around the fleet. Eventually the sheer number of anti-fighter batteries mounted on the Titans and the Enterprise Carriers, backed up by surrounding battleships managed to cut down the majority of the fighters.

---------------------------------------------------------------
T Minus 2:50 – 1:15

Both fleets achieved energy weapon range just as the last several dozen Goa’uld fighters and bombers were eliminated. The Goa’uld ships fired wildly, attempting to shoot down as many incoming missiles as they could. The orbitals added their long-range firepower in shooting the missiles down.

The University armada held back their fire, so not to vaporize their own missiles. Several University sips on the fringes of the circular formation were targeted by Goa’uld motherships and orbitals not directly in the path of the approaching missiles. The Goa’uld shielding deflected a considerable amount of energy from the counter-fire from the targeted University ships. Several University ships suffered various states of damage, ranging from moderate to critical.

---------------------------------------------------------------
T Minus 1:14 - 0:01

The Goa’uld ships became more and more frantic as thousands of remaining missiles kept coming like a swarm of angry locusts. Several ships began firing in random directions, in hopes of hitting more than one missile at a time. Two ships accidentally fired upon friendly Goa’uld ships, as panic began to set in.

A second swarm, of a different kind, arrived from behind the Goa’uld fleet. The fighters and bombers disengaged their cloaking devices, catching the Goa’uld main fleet between the incoming missiles, and the stings of angry fighters and bombers.

---------------------------------------------------------------
T Minus 0:00

Impact.
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Old April 12, 2004, 18:32   #353
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Goa’uld designed their shields to withstand as much energy as possible from energy-based weapons such as laser-types, laser-analogs, particle weapons, and similar weapons. They had virtually no projectile weapons, therefore they did not foresee the need for ship armor or tighter shielding.

The outcome was never in doubt.

Waves upon waves of missiles tore through the Goa’uld shields like tissue paper. Multiple hull breaches spread throughout the massed motherships, causing thousands of Jaffa warriors to suffer an excruciating death due to decompression.

More than a hundred ships flared into miniature supernovas as their reactors lost containment, were breached by missiles, or became overloaded with the release of missile kinetic energy.

The missiles kept coming, even through the collapsing superstructures of ruined Goa’uld ships. The remaining orbitals and motherships kept firing, but to no avail. The University fighter and bomber swarm engulfed the remaining motherships.

The Titans closed to Gauss Cannon range of the orbital fortresses and weapon platforms. Suddenly several orbitals appeared to shatter into hundreds of chunky fragments as the Gauss shells impacted their hulls at nearly the speed of light.

The remaining missiles plowed straight into Ptah’s homeworld at incredible speeds. Trillions of tons of rock and seawater were vaporized upon the release of terawatts of kinetic energy upon the planet. Dozens of bright flares and mushroom clouds could be seen erupting all across the surface and ocean of the planet facing the armada’s vector. Several shattered Goa’uld hulls became fiery balls as their superstructure disintegrated in Ptaha II’s orbit, wreaking even further destruction upon cities, factories, pyramid bases, and Goa’uld hatcheries.

Armageddon.

---------------------------------------------------------

Captain Sean Donnell smiled.

“Flawless victory.”



-------------------------------------------------------
Battlestation Alpha
Orbiting Earth


The lights flared to life as the Academician tapped a panel on his maghony table.

He was smiling.

The Goa'uld finally conquered.

The Protectorate asking for peace.

The Titans proving their worth in battle.

Project Forge coming along nicely.

The University is finally a super-power, and no longer a nation that can be bullied.


-------------------------------------------------------
Transmission to Lord Protector Henry Pym

Your terms are accepted. We shall proceed with the peace treaty, establishment of embassies, and opening trade.

I am willing to meet you in person, and then make the treaty official on Earth within the next several weeks if possible.

Hopefully we'll be able to see eye to eye, and perhaps in time, our people may be able to call each other friends.

Live well.
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Old April 13, 2004, 19:46   #354
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Somewhere in Hyperspace.

After considerable debate, the new Super-Heavy Battleship Riothamus had been chosen to carry Lord Protector Pym to Earth. The Riothamus was the third of the troubled Harbringer program. Although the Prototype had done exceedingly well testing the advanced Matter/antimatter plant, construction on the other ships had temporally ceased as the Protectorate tried to back-engineer the Bree Hypermatter drives and plants. Now, after a delay of over a year, the Riothamus had finally been accepted by the Protectorate Navy. It's engines allowed it to move over 50% faster than the Alchemax-49 Antimatter Drive that was the mainstay of the fleet. The fact that the Harbringer class was the first to be designed from the keel up incorporating Dosi Technology increased it's Lethality and capabilities to points unheard of amoung Human nations.

Too bad we're only going to have 8 by the end of the year Pym thought, sitting in the Royal Stateroom onboard the Riothamus. He glanced at the intricate model of the ship, a Nano-neutronium beast stretching over 5 km, with a "wingspan" almost as long. The UA's "super terraformer" test had lit a fire under the Protectorate's Advanced Research Project's Agency, but Intial production of such a new warship had been slow.

Pym sighed again, the thoughts turning in his mind. That bastard Yoon is trying to undo everything that's been accomplished over the last several hundred years. And he was in charge of the Defense Committee. Getting rid of him would be tricky. Pym didn't have Ian's amazing mental abilities; the ability to just influence someone to do whatever he damned well pleased.

Even worse was one of the Intel reports lying on his desk. A Massive Proginator starship had arrived at Chiron recently, and the Peacekeepers had actually made an effort to keep it quiet. That Lal would try to deny anyone information was a poor omen. If he didn't cooperate with Protectorate Inquiries, he might have to be dealt with.

The other Intel report was disturbing. Ranger ships had picked up increased Military chatter from the UA. It was clear they were fighting someone, but who? He'd have to bring it up at the summit.

The comm clicked. Commodore West's voice came over.

"Sir, we'll be entering realspace shortly." Pym nodded, knew his advisors would be upset he wasn't preparing a speach, some empty words.

"Thank you Mr. West."

The ship shuddered and Pym looked at the viewscreen, which was set to immitate a window. A blue marble was approaching the ship rapidly. For the first time in Hundreds of years, he was returning to Earth.
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Old April 23, 2004, 23:47   #355
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Senate Building
Nuevo San Antonio



Senator Edward Yoon was young, as far as senators went. Most politicos were dinosaurs who were content rubber-stamp the Lord Protector's decisions, while he was a vigorous, "idealistic" 150 yr old. He had ran on a platform for reform in the government, and won the seat from Ross city 20 years ago. For most of his career, he'd been thwarted whenever he tried to bring more democracy to Beta Hydri. For some reason...whenever he seemed to make progress Ian McDiarmid would call him in for a private meeting and convince him to drop the matter. He never knew why, but it was comforting talking to him.

Now, with Ian gone, he was finally making strides. Many, many senators were (as well as Provincial Governor-Generals) still in favor of keeping the office of Lord Protector exactly as it was. They didn't care this wasn't a real democracy, but a fascist state with an authoritarian figurehead. Sure, there were more personal freedoms in the Protectorate than in most human worlds, but the people didn't have real power.


Besides, without reforms he would never get to occupy that highest post. Even with Ian gone, it was difficult, and he had to get aid from outside agencies. His comm chirped. Senator John Werner, the leader of the Federalists was on the viewer, and his face was blotchy with rage.

Yoon smiled.

"Hello John. I see you got my email file?"

Werner's face was twisted in disgust.

"You...you...how did you you..." Werner took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself. Another breath. " I...I don't respond to blackmail."

Yoon smiled and glanced at the device on his desk. It indicated Werner was not recording this conversation. Probably. But his friends had been more or less truthful so far...

"You didn't really give me too many options John. Here's there deal, convince your boys to vote for the amendment and ISN won't find out you like 'em young. Very young. Do you understand? This has to be a honest effort on your part. I'll know if you try to pull a fast one. Also, can you be a dear and talk to your Governor-General friends? I would appreciate it."

"You...bastard.." Werner's voice was almost a whisper. Yoon remained silent. "Alright, Damn you. I'll do it. I'll do it." The comm went blank. Yoon leaned back with a self-satisfied grin.

"It appears you were correct."

The large figure step out of the shadow. He had a blurry quality, with red eyes and a skull like face. He almost seemed not real. But then, the Hferhin were like that. At least, around humans.

"We are always right. We believe that your ascension is immient."

Yoon inclined his head at that.

"Thank you, my friend. Do you think that..."

The Hferhin chuckled.

We are not your friends. Remember, we had an agreement, about what concessions you will grant once you've attained the Office.

Yoon smiled.

"Of course. The Protectorate will withhold it's forces when the Progenitor attack on Chiron commences. I will even make like recommendations to foriegn governments." I'll do no such thing you pig. You think I'll sell out humanity for your masters' dreams of GodHood? If you can't get close to the current Lord Protector, what makes you think you can get close to me?

The Hferhin chuckled again.

Of course you will.

The Hferhin seemed to open up his chest, peeling back one of the large scales. He lifted out a small, black organic object. A yellow eye opened up, and wild, whip like tentacles extended.

Yoon's smile dropped.

"What's that?"

Your keeper. She will ensure you hold up your end of the agreement. It won't actually control you, but it can influence you. And if she has to influence you, it will not be enjoyable. Do not worry, it is exceedingly unlikely she'll be detectable by your sensors, optical or otherwise.

"You...aren't serious. You know I'll honor our agreement..."

The Hferhin was silent, then lowered the Keeper onto the ground. For a second it stared at the Hferhin, as if apprehensive about Yoon, then it it scurried over to Yoon. It's long, black whip-tentacles latched onto him. Soon, it was on the small of his back. The whip-tentacles stabbed into his central nervous system.


We're sure you will.
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And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worth while, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: "I served in the United States Navy!"
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Old April 28, 2004, 15:43   #356
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Sol

Several of the University Alliance's most advanced sensor arrays had just been built in the Sol system to detect incoming invaders long before they got within three light years of Sol. The advance warning would give the University forces in Sol ample time to achieve battle ready status, drastically reducing any advantanges the enemy might achieve through the element of surprise.

The sensor arrays were comprised of six spheres surrounding a larger central sphere. The six spheres were mounted on cylinders extending out from the central sphere, arrayed in the six cardinal directions. The entire sensor array measures at just one meter across, from end to end. The four original cardinal directions follow the flat disk of the Milky Way Galaxy, while the two additional cardinal directions, called Upper and Lower, follows the Z axis through the spherical center of the Milky Way Galaxy.

The sheer volume of data relayed by the sensor arrays would overwhelm a human being. The arrays gathered terabytes of data every minute, which was unheard of for human sensors. Data ranging from atomic compistions, wafting interstellar gases, solar winds several years old, the subtle gravitional forces being exerted by Sol upon surrounding light years of space, several errant asteroids knocked out of Sol's Oort cloud millions of years in the past, cataloguing the speeds of all the particles around the Sol system, scanning of the quantum space surrounding Sol, monitoring communication channels, and a multiude of space phenomena were gathered, and sorted by powerful scanner Artifical Intelligence entities.

Any deviations were double checked and then triple checked to confirm any presence of cloaked vessels. Most deviances are resolved by several scans from multiple sensor arrays focused on the location of the deviations. If subtle or unusual deviances follows a linear path, such as a ship's probable vector, the artificial intelligence entities calcuate the amount of deviance, and promptly send an alert to the Bastion battlestations orbiting Earth.

One such array detected a very slight ballooning of quantum particles, which would have been undetected by less sophisicated sensors, in a vector path. The artificial intelligence housed inside the sensor array's central sphere focused the Upper Sphere on the incoming anomaly.

QUANTUM EMISSIONS INCREASED BY 0.22 PERCENT OVER NORMAL QUANTUM EMISSION LEVELS.

QUANTUM EMISSIONS IS FOLLOWING A VECTOR PATTERN.

CALCULATING BOTH ENDS OF THE VECTOR.

THE DESTINATION IS CALCULATED AT 99.002863 PERCENT PROBABLITY AS BEING THE SOL SYSTEM. 97.836278 PERCENT PROBABILITY THAT EARTH IS THE INTENDED TARGET.

THE VECTOR'S ORIGIN IS CALCULATED AT 88.366527 PERCENT AS ORIGINATING FROM THE GALACTIC NORTH, BEYOND THE SPARTAN FEDERATION AND FREE DRONE REPUBLIC TERRITORIES.

THE QUANTUM ANOMALY IS MAINTAINING ITS 0.22 PERCENT INCREASE IN EMISSIONS, WHILE FOLLOWING THE CALCULATED VECTOR PATH.

FURTHER ANALYSIS IS IN PROGRESS. ADDITIONAL SENSOR ARRAYS ARE ALERTED TO THE PRESENCE OF THE ANOMALY.

MONITORING OF THE ANOMALY WILL COMMENCE.

ALERTING COMMAND NEXUS IN BASTION ALPHA ONE.


--------------------------------------------------------

Alarms began blaring throughout the massive Bastion battlestation holding postion at Earth, several thousand kilometers above the Arctic.

Crews scurried to their stations and cannon emplacements. Blast doors slammed down throughout the station, reinforcing it aganist marine assault. Battle Mechanoids took up station at each major intersection, while the lighting throughout the battlestation dimmed. Thousands of cannons began charging up to battle ready status, as armor began to deploy over airlocks, spacedocks, and hangars.

The same actions were being repeated throughout the newly completed Bastion Battlestations Beta, Gamma, and Delta. The unfinished Bastion Battlestations Epilson and Zeta were charging up their completed weapons while construction crews took shelter behind armored bulkheads.

Appoximately fifteen minutes later, space erupted into a cascade of white and green light as an unknown five kilometer long vessel emerged from qunatum space.

The identity of the ship was revealed after several scans, as the Riothamus of Protectorate design.

--------------------------------------------------------

The Academician was in an odd mood. He was elated that his sensor arrays were able to warn his forces at Earth of the incoming unknown vessel.

However, he was caught slightly off guard by the size and new class that the Riothamus was. The Academician relaxed after learning that it was a Protectorate ship, but not by much.

He decided to open hailing frequencies from his private office.

---------------------------------------------------------

"Protectorate Vessel Riothamus, welcome to Earth.

Is Henry Pym onboard? I would desire to speak with him, regarding arrangements to be made in Geneva.

I am now ordering my battlestations and forces in Earth to stand down from alert status as a gesture of good faith."
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Old April 28, 2004, 18:49   #357
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Riothamus

Pym stepped into the sparkling CIC of the Riothamus. Compared to the Endeavor's CIC, it was large, quiet, and tidy. Also, there were many holographic interfaces, with a large viewer on the forward bulkhead. It struck Pym once again how long, long ago it was when he left Earth. Commodore West was talking to the Master Chief Operations Specialist.

"You sure?"

The Master Chief nodded, and Commodre turned to the TAO. "Set General Quarters. "

The GQ siren began to blare, and Pym strode over to West. Damn it, what now?

Without waiting for Pym to ask, West spoke.

"Sir, upon our exit from hyperspace the HOLMES-5 tactical A.I. pickedup that the UA's orbital battlestations were energized and launching their fighters. The new drive is exotic enough that they should not have picked up our entry into the solar system this quickly, even without being cloaked. I'll begin deploying Valkyries..."

"Negative Commodore. Secure from General quarters. You can deploy the Valkries, but only as a honor guard. Order the HOLMES-5 to begin gathering data...we need to know how they saw us coming, but secure from GQ. We're hear to sign a treaty, not start a war." Pym looked at the tactical display. " I guess they chose exotic sensors over exotic defenses. The Gravity wells we have set up all around Beta Hydri would have stopped cold intruders if they tried to waltz in. We transmitting our ID?"


West looked nervous. "No sir..."

Pym groaned inwardly. Years and years of isolationism had caused most officers to make sure the transponders were off. It wasn't his fault, just the enviroment he was trained and advanced in. At least the Riothamus had the Protectorate's Sword and Star over it's named on the Hull, hopefully the UA's finest would visually sight it and not try to blow them out of space.

The HOLMES-5 chirped. " We are recieving an intensive scan from several sensor relays. The Scans include all spectrums, X-rays, Quantum viewing, A trace pattern of tachyon..." It droned on for a while more. Pym frowned. It wasn't likely they'd get a detailed look at the interior of the ship, but their sensors were far more advanced than he thought. They'd be able to pick up the Hypermatter drive if they new what signs to look for.


The HOLMES-5 interrupted itself. "Incoming transmission."

"Play it."



"Protectorate Vessel Riothamus, welcome to Earth.


Is Henry Pym onboard? I would desire to speak with him, regarding arrangements to be made in Geneva.

I am now ordering my battlestations and forces in Earth to stand down from alert status as a gesture of good faith."



Hank looked at West, then waved at the comm system. "May I, Commodore?"

"Yes Sir."

Pym spoke into the comm.

"Mr. Zakharov! I greatly appreciate you not blowing us out of space. This is Dr. Pym. Respectfully resquesting permission to have a shuttle land with escort at Geneva spaceport."

There was a silence. Pym noticed the tactical display was indicating the Battlestations were de-energizing. Still no word on whether or not they'd icked up the Ranging ship Oakenshield, which was parked in the Oort Cloud cloaked 'just in case'.

"Dr. Pym, we're pleased to have you visit. Permission granted."
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Old May 7, 2004, 15:31   #358
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A small emerald colored transport landed smoothly at the outskirts of the ancient and historical city. The landing pads were devoid of other shuttles, for security precautions, due to the importance of the two arriving shuttles.

Several minutes later, a shuttle clad in Admanta armor landed on an adjacent landing pad. Once the Admanta shuttle landed, the landing doors opened on both shuttles.

Twenty marines in full power armor, wielding particle rifles, marched out of the emerald shuttle, in a perfect rectangular formation. They took up station at the bottom of the extended ramp.

Two Mechas, the latest in the University Alliance’s long line of robotic infantry, slowly made their way out of the silvery shuttle. A dozen space-troopers clad in full Admanta armor, with complete faceplates, a quantum rifle, and a shoulder mounted Xaos rocket mini-launcher, followed the exiting Mechas.

Once the assembled troops checked the perimeter for any external threats, the all clear sounded on both shuttles.

Henry Pym exited from the emerald shuttle at the exact same time Academician Zakharov exited his silvery shuttle. Both leaders locked gazes upon each other, while closing the distance between the two of them.

The Academician was the first to speak.

“Welcome to Earth, Henry Pym. I am glad that we are able to meet today, in what could be the first step in the right direction for both of our people.

Arrangements have already been made in Geneva to host our historic conference.”

“Thank you, Academician Zakharov. It is a pleasure to finally set foot on Earth after what seems to be an eternity.”

The two leaders made their way to a waiting hover-limousine at the base of the landing pad. The soldiers followed in hover-trucks, to provide bi-lateral security for both leaders.

After fifteen minutes of traveling through the maze-like roads of Geneva, the vehicles reached the Geneva Coliseum. Both leaders exited the limousine and then they entered the Coliseum. The troops took up station at each entrance of the Coliseum.

Two hours later, the historic conference between the University Alliance and the Protectorate of Man began.
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Old May 10, 2004, 21:38   #359
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Hank Whistled.

The UA shuttle had a silvery hull that could only be, for a person of this importance, Admanta. Harder than Diamond, right up there with Neutronium or a Nano-Hull.

Showing off your Wealth Young Zakharov? One admantine shuttle does not a superpower make...

Pym's thoughts trailed off as the doors opend and what looked to be University equilivants to Cybers exited. Then, 12 troopers in polished, unpainted Power walked out. They had the same shine that the Shuttle did.

Damn it. I hope the Riothamus is recording all this. They have Cybers...and Admantine-armored soldiers. Why dragged these out? To show us what potential allies we can be...or a 'don't mess with us' indication? I don't know... Pym swallowed. The treatment to resist casual scans from P14's down the Dosi gave us has been a Godsend. I have a good poker face, but if there are any Teeps in Zakharov's they'd detect my broadcasting of emotions immediately.


Once the assembled troops checked the perimeter for any external threats, the all clear sounded on both shuttles.

Henry Pym exited from the emerald shuttle at the exact same time Academician Zakharov exited his silvery shuttle. Both leaders locked gazes upon each other, while closing the distance between the two of them.

The Academician was the first to speak.

“Welcome to Earth, Henry Pym. I am glad that we are able to meet today, in what could be the first step in the right direction for both of our people.

Arrangements have already been made in Geneva to host our historic conference.”

“Thank you, Academician Zakharov. It is a pleasure to finally set foot on Earth after what seems to be an eternity.”


The two leaders made their way to a waiting hover-limousine at the base of the landing pad. The soldiers followed in hover-trucks, to provide bi-lateral security for both leaders.

Hank sat down on one of the seats facing Zakharov. His security people would throw a fit that he was alone...but so was Zakharov. Zakharov was watching Pym, waiting for something for him to say. Pym remained slent, finally Zakharov spoke.

"I must confess Mr. Pym, I was a bit surprised to have recieved your transmission. Given our Past history, I was sure we were headed for a major war. You know, we were even approached by the GHE about 'containing' your nations' aggression. I am glad it never came to that. " Zakharov took a sip of Vodka. Pym thought it was probably synthetic, the Academician would be a full to drink at a time like this. Zakharov continued. " On a personal note....thank you for the media you sent about my Father..."

Pym studied Zakharov's face for a moment, trying to discern the hidden meaning. Then it struck him. My God, he really means it!

"Academician, First off....don't call me Mister, or Henry, or Lord Protector...if you're going to call me by a title, call me Dr. Pym. I worked hard for my Ph.Ds. You can also call me Hank, if you prefer. Second, I think we both know a war between our two peoples would have been cataclysmic at best. While I'm confident we can stomp you...sorry, I'm not threatening you...., We'd end up open to conquest by some other, not very nice people. I...we're tired of War Academician. I saw enough of it on Earth, then during the civil war on Beta Hydri with the New Spartans..." Pym took a deep breath. "We couldn't allow the Bree to retain Sab Abar, but we didn't have the numbers to simply land and pacifiy the planet. Our Decision to reduce it was...our only guarentee."

Zakharov looked at Pym strangely.

"You know, I think I may even believe you. Thank you...Hank. You may call me Randius. I think, someday soon, you should make a state visit to Zakurnia."

"And I extend a similiar invitation for Beta Hydri 4. I..." Pym looked out at the grand Coliseum. There were hundreds of Alliance troopers crawling around the grounds. Almost as many of the Cyber-knockoffs. "Tight security." Pym commented.

"We have had several Terrorist attacks of late...both at Home and here on Earth. It seems many Terrens are ungrateful for our emancipation of the world from Believer rule." Randius shrugged. "A pity. We've had to be heavy-handed in our responses, but most of the resistence fighters are only hicks fanatics."

Was that the reasoning of your bombarding of Southern California? Pym wondered.

The Limo came to a stop, and an aide opened the door from outside. Randius stepped out, and Pym slid out the door on the other side, and walked up to stand beside him. Randius grinned.

"Well, Dr. Pym...are you read to give the Galaxy a good shake-up?"
__________________
With such viral bias, you're opinion is thus rendered useless. -Shrapnel12, on my "bias" against the SS.
And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worth while, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: "I served in the United States Navy!"
"Well, the truth is, Brian, we can't solve global warming because I ****ing changed light bulbs in my house. It's because of something collective." --Barack Obama
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Old May 15, 2004, 22:19   #360
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A Midnight Sun
Control room of the CSS Kraken, Windfall System, approximately four days after discovery

"Dr. Mernok, the Kraken is now fully operational. All systems are active and useable, all weapon batteries charged, and we've even managed to get the shield generator working to some extent. It won't make us invulnerable, but it's more than doubled the effective resilience of the armour."

Mernok nodded, not looking up from the various technical reports he was reading but waving a hand in the general direction of the speaker.

"Well done, Engineer. Communicate that to Laekdaemon Central at once. They've been getting impatient, and they should be delighted to hear that our secret weapon is ready for use."

"At once, sir."

29 hours later

Mernok was sleeping when the reply came, but the loud chime announcing it's arrival woke him immediately.

Encrypted Text Transmission:
To:
Dr. Zacharias Mernok, Windfall System
From: General Kane, Laekdaemon Prime
Subject: Re: Kraken Operational
Time: Chiron Standard, 08:12:23

*MESSAGE BEGINS*

Dr. Mernok, we are exceedingly prleased to hear of your success. You shall be rewarded when you return, and we will be very glad when you do, because we have been making little progress against the rebels - their assaults have been beaten back, but we have not launched a successful offensive since Dienkes Base. The ship upon which you stand will change all that.

You are instructed to make an FTL jump to the following co-ordiantes, approximately half a light-year from Laekdaemon. There, you will turn the ship over to myself and a proper naval crew, and we will use it to end this madness.

*MESSAGE ENDS*

Ten hours later

It was a small, unremarkable patch of space that General Kane had chosen in which to board his superweapon. Bare even of comets, it was empty, cold, and far from any route any ship might take to an inhabited system.

To Kane, though, it was the most important bit of space in all the universe right now. He'd been on his way there with a significant part of the Cadre fleet only hours after sending the message to Mernok, and though he knew theKraken would not be here for hours yet, he could not help pacing up and down on the bridge, mentally reviewing every aspect of his plans, every security measure taken, every single thing that might go wrong.

He was jolted out of his thoughts when an alarm began beeping loudly and shrilly.

"Sir, massive FTL signature approaching from the Windfall system! It's-"

The sensor officer was cut off as, on the forward viewscreen, the vast and unmistakable bulk of the Kraken dropped into realspace, escorted by three Cadre warships. A few seconds later, Mernok's smiling face replaced it on the viewscreen.

"Surprised, General?"

Kane opened his mouth, but nothing came out. How could they be here so soon?

"I have to admit," Mernok continued, still grinning, "I was rather shocked myself. This thing is over 50% faster in FTL than any of our other ships... and what's more, it's capable of pulling other ships along with it, hence the presence of our escorts. Could be quite a nice advantage, even if we can't duplicate the drive.

"Anyway, she's ready for you to take command. I'm rather looking forward to seeing it in action; we didn't get much in the way of live-fire practise in Windfall."

Kane nodded.

"The crew and I will be transferring over shortly. You've done very well, Mernok."

48 minutes later

"General Kane, we will be entering realspace in five... four... three... two... one... now."

As the words left the helmsman's mouth, the ship shuddered slightly, and the viewscreens abruptly showed the night-side of the cloudstreaked rocky world of Laekdaemon Prime, only a few planetary diameters below.

"Very well. Commander Alexis, you may fire when ready."

A few switches and buttons later, the decks of the Kraken began vibrating softly, and a blinding white beam lanced from the front of the ship, down through the atmosphere of Laekdaemon. On the viewscreen, Kane could it as it sliced downwards and into the mountain that held the priamry rebel command centre, which was immediately obscured by the resulting explosion.

At a gesture from Kane, the viewscreen changed, now showing footage from a Cadre satellite in low orbit. Kane smiled, watching in slow motion as the vast column of light struck the mountains and reduced it to vapour.

Looking up from various sensor readings, Mernok gave Kane a thumbs-up.

"General, our first firing was a omplete success. The mountain has been vapourised totally and a hole at least a kilometre deep has been gouged into the crust. There is no possibility of anyone surviving that, and the main gun should be ready for another firing within sixty seconds."

Kane nodded absently, staring down at the white-hot, slowly cooling remains of his enemy's heart.

"So perishes Lysander, greatest among traitors. Send whatever rebels remain a simple ultimatum: they will surrender now and hand themselves ove rto justice, or we will continue to destroy them until they do. Either way, we win."

Last edited by GeneralTacticus; May 16, 2004 at 02:33.
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