[Shrike]

First, a bit of reference:

The OOC (Out Of Character) thread.  Where you post new ships you've stolen from your friend's campaigns, stuff we should know OOC, random rants and gloats about your victories....

A handy thread with multiple node maps

Other than that, the rules:
Rule 1:  Have fun
Rule 2:  Blow stuff up

And try not to bring the Shivans in just yet.  I want to let everyone get at least one post in to introduce their ship/character/location before the chaos begins.

[Shrike]

Beta Aquilae
January 28th, 2385

Admiral Greenbridge stood at ease in the space bridge of the Vanguard, his new command, the cloud-covered globe of Beta Aquilae visible beyond the distant bow of his ship.  The ship was so new that the bridge still smelled of the solvents used in the manufacture of the plastics.  At the moment, the bridge was mostly deserted, the Vanguard's crew mostly on leave before she set off on her maiden voyage.

One of the screens was life feed from GTVN, showing the activation of the Charon portal.  Assuming everything went right, the prodigal sons and daughters of Earth would soon be reunited with their homeworld.


OOC:  Just a quick post.

It's been almost twenty years since Capella, and the GTVA has militarized to an incredible degree since.  It is groaning under the weight of arms.  However, the GTVA has also begun to come apart at the seams, under the strain.  At game start, there are no factions save the GTVA.

Yet.

The opening of the Charon portal is expected to send shockwaves through the GTVA and the whole deck of cards may just collapse, with unfortunate results for those caught in the shuffle.

[HeX]

Wolf 359
January 28th, 2385

Echelon City glittered and shone in the light of the distand star Wolf 359. Despite the bright light, the black of space and stars were all clearly visible giving an ominous yet somehow beautiful touch to the scene. Only the barest hint of the armored transparent dome above could be seen as it caught the reflected life of the nearby rocky world that was Wolf's second planet.

In a normal city, one would have expected to see  mountains or perhaps plains of rock or sand past the city limits rather then a 200 meter wall of metal with inset hatches and windows into control centers. However, Echelon City was no normal city. After all, what other metropolis was situated on the upper hull of the largest space-faring GTVA ship in existence?

The GTVA Echelon, 50km of metal and armor, filled with construction, manufacturing and processing bays, bristling with weapons and topped by an entire city. The first City Ship ever constructed. A center to GTVA activities..or it was to be.

Strolling across the golden-colored tiles that decorated the central plaza, GTVI Admiral Trellor admired the distant sky-scrapers. Some with their glass and metal frames of Human construction, others the organic fluid shapes of Vasudan design. He wore a black uniform, decorated with insignia and medels from past campaigns most of which were classified. A black cloak billowed about his heels as his booted feet clicked on the tiles. Atop his head was the standard Admiral's cap emblazoned with the GTVA symbol.

Sitting at a small cafe table he ordered a fizzy Vasudan beverage and relaxed. A GTVA officer, probably a greeter, spotted him and began moving towards the table.

"Admiral Trellor?" he asked with a crisp salute. Trellor returned the gesture without standing and studyed the young man. Obviously a new recruit, his uniform was too well kept to be a vetran. The insignia on his collar revealed him to be a Lieutenant. "Sir I am to welcome you aboard the Echelon. However I admit we were not expecting you for some time yet."

Trellor sipped his drink and smiled out from under the brim of his hat, "I like to make my own scheduals. Advantage to my position."

"Yes sir. Shall I fetch the captain for you sir?"

"No thank you Lieutenant...?"

"Kimsey sir."

Trellor nodded and set down his drink, "No thank you Lieutenant Kimsey. I will visit the bridge myself when I'm ready. Dismissed."

"Sir!" the young officer clicked his heels and snapped off another salue before headding off on probably yet another errand. Trellor continued to sip his drink for a minute or two more before he was joined at last by yet another visitor. This one was Vasudan, tall even for his species, wearing only a black sash denoting his GTVI position.

"Well Hishmal what say you?" motioning at the city around them Trellor smiled.

Hishmal squinted at the distant towers, "It is impressive. A marvel of construction."

Trellor placed his booted feet on the table and clasped his hands over his chest, "Indeed it is. Think it will do as a headquarters?"

The Vasudan nodded, "It will do I believe." Suddenly there was the sounds of an explosion, screams and a blaring alarm that echoed through the dome. Officers and civilians sprang into motions, running either to alert stations or for cover.

The young officer who had greeted Trellor came flying up in a panic, "Sirs! A large number of the crew have just attacked the command centers! They've taken over control of the vital areas of the ship!"

Trellor raised an eyebrow at Hishmal, "Your agents are rather timely today."

Hishmal nodded, "Indeed. I will have to remember to commend them."

"Sirs? What are you..." Lieutenant Kimsey's sentence was cut off in a gurgle. He sunk to the ground slowly, a red stain appearing on his now-crumpled uniform. With a last wet choke he slumped to the tiles and was still.

Trellor replaced the small pistol into the holster within his uniform, "Well then Hishmal, shall we go inspect our prize?" Stepping over the slowly forming blood-pool under the corpse of Lieutenant Kimsey, the GTVI Admiral and his Vasudan compatriot began striding towards the nearby tram center. Around them could be heard the music of gunfire and symphony of terrified screams. The concert of mutiny was in full swing.

[J.F.K.]

Delta Serpentis
January 28th, 2385

Adam braced his head carefully with his hands - left beneath his chin and right near his crown. *crack* A twist to the left. Reverse the hands. *craaack* A twist to the right. He flexed the powerful muscles in his arms and looked behind himself in the station's floor-to-ceiling windows. Here she came.

She walked with a swing in her hips. Lieutenant Lisa Tresston, floor commander. Adam gulped. He would be cool, he had to be cool... she came closer...

Of course, he wasn't cool at all. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple, and he was actually scared out of his wits. Then again, he didn't have a stunning figure either; he was a sickly-thin little boy, only nineteen years old. And his name wasn't Adam.

Lisa walked past, and Percival drew breath. He didn't realise he'd stopped breathing for a full minute as Lisa, twenty-five, had walked past. He coughed, breathed quickly, and half-curled over himself as he filled his lungs with GTVA-manufactured oxygen. "Are you alright?" Lisa had stopped to see how he was; just his luck.

"I'm fine, thanks," He said, but he kicked himself in his mind. He shuffled back to his terminal, his mandatory hourly stretch-session complete. The screensaver flicked off, and the news began sprawling down the page again. Percival sighed and scanned the words.

Breaking News: Pirate raids have become increasingle audacious in the past three weeks. Official Security Board members have refrained from comment, but our investigators have discovered that a compliment of four GTF Pegasus fighters, some of the newest ships in the fleet, went missing from a Naval convoy flying through the Beta Aquilae asteroid field. GTVI denies such reports. Updates at 2300 Galactic Standard tonight.

The screen lit up with an alert. !!Unknown Contact!! Percival looked up from his display and thought he saw, in the periphery of his vision, a flash like a subspace opening. But when he focused his attention, it was gone. And so was the contact.

[kasperl]

OOC: is it to late for me to join? i hope not
IC:
The GTI Arcadia class station in Dubbe, one of the outer GTVA systems. the best possible description for this place is: a junkyard. the station looks like an Arcadia on the outside, but that's it. inside, most area's can only be enterd in an EVA suit, and the station's fighter complement consists out of nothing but a few Myrmidons an a bunch of Herc 1's. the commandar of the station, captain Jonathan Adwin, an GTVA veteran from the second great war, is waked by the beeping of the console nezxt to his bed. he sits right op in bed, and immediatly reg=rets it, since he hits his head agains't a loose bulkhead. he curses, and pusahes a button on the console. "yes, this is captain Adwin, what is it?" "sir, we have an strange contact on radar, sir" replys the XO of the station, commander Sean O'Hannon, also an GTVA veteran, and the wingman of the captain for years. Adwin replies:"are you sure this isn't a piece of junk?", "yes, it's slowing down, and changing course, every 20 minutes." "i'm on my way to the bridge, prepare a wing of myrmidons" ends the transmission

OOC: sorry for spelling/grammar mistakes

[Nico]

Beta Aquilae
January 28th, 2385

Edward "Ed" Lewis was gazing at the huge ship in high orbit over Beta Aquilae. The new behemoth of the GTVA, the Vanguard. Ed admired the ship, which was trully a beauty, and thought that soon all his crew might contemplate how powerful the GTA... no, the GTVA had become. Soon the Charon gate would be open, and so would be the way to Earth. Ed wondered how that meeting between the new earth government and the GTVA would turn out.

He left his Pyro drift slowly under a corvette to avoid being spotted by a patrol wing that was coming a bit too close for his taste. The Pyro was too small to be regarded as more than some static on radars, but it was still quite visible to the eye, and Ed didn't want to be spotted in an area he supposed was restricted to civilians. And if he were caught, what could he possibly explain to those men?
Patrols were qiute numerous today, Ed thought. He didn't want troubles, and he knew that even if he was a good pilot, and the GX was an even more formidable fighter, he would stand little chance against a wing of highly trained military pilots. Fighting pirates and mercenaries was something, fighting militaries was another.
Taking a last glimpse at Beta Aquilae, he typed a few coordinates and pushed a button. The pyro started glowing bright yellow as the warp drive was charging up, then the ship vanished from the scene.

[Nico]

oups, double post

[Alikchi]

Laramis IV
January 28th, 2385

The protesters had surrounded the small millitary base on the outskirts of Hiute. They'd come out in force tonight - nearly a thousand of them, screaming, chanting, waving their signs. It was snowing hard, but they still came. They'd reached a fevered pitch - they weren't really protestors anymore. They were a mob.

Only 20 riflemen guarded the front gate. Riot shields and assault rifles ready, they stoicly endured the taunts and heckles of the teeming mass. At least until they starting moving.

Someone yelled, "Let's make 'em move!" and almost in unison they began creeping towards the guards, first cautiously, then with a brazen aggressiveness.

The lieutenant in command called out, "Halt! Halt, or we will open fire!" but it fell on deaf ears. The protestors came ever closer, some brandishing their signs as if they were weapons.

Private Johnston lost his cool. "Back! Back, damn you!" he cried.
A snowball slapped into his shoulder, knocking him off balance. He snapped. He took aim and opened fire on the jeering, tightly packed mob. His comrades followed suit..

3 hours later

Hundreds of bodies were strewn in front of the base. Blood ran through the streets like a river.
The news spread quickly. The people of Laramis had reached the breaking point...

[kasperl]

Alpha 1's cockpit:
the pilot looks at his engine status display and sees is main engine is slightly off balanced, he kicks the concolse, and ignores the warning. mutering: "darn peaces'o crap, half the ship hangs together by ductape!"
command: "alpha wing, check in for launch"
alpha 1: "alpha good to go!"
alpha 2: "let's fly!"
alpha 3: "rock 'n roll!"
alpha 4: "waddaya waiting for?"
command: "commenicng launch in 3, 2, 1"
BANG!!, an explosion rocks the station, when alpha 1 engages his burners, his engine core collapssed.
command: "alpha 1, come in please"
"alpha 1, respond"
nothing but static, wich is logical since the was completely blown to pieces.

command center, GTI Dubbe:
cpt Adwin: "what happened?"
the lt. at fighter command: "reactor core breach on Alpha 1, fighter destroyed, no eject dedected."
cpt Adwin: "Damn! report Alpha KIA, Alpha 2 leads the wing, let them continue with their mission, and start an investigation, i want to know what caused the breach."
cmdr O'Hannon: "aye sir!"

alpha 2's cockpit:
aplha 2: "****, we've lost Alpha 1, ok gys heads up, check your own engines, if it's ok, set a course for the unknown"
alpha 3: "roger, engines are fine"
alpha 4: "i copy, engine cehck's out ok, on my way now"


later, when the fighters reach the contact:

alpha 2: "i've got a visual on the ship, i can't recognise the class , it's at least 3,5 clicks long, and about as wide as an Orion, i can see sme nasty looking turets, and something that resemble's an fighter bay."
command:"has the target activated it's IFF beacon?"
alpha 2: "no sir,  no IFF, not even an sensor lock"
command: "hail them"
alpha 2: "unkonow vessel, this is Alpha 2, 309th fighter squadron, GTI Dubbe, respond please."
"......."
alpha 2: "no response, should we engage? "
command "negative, do not engage, w'll sent a transport out to dock"
alpha 2: "copy that, holding position"

[kasperl]

GTI Dubbe, marine briefing room:
CO: "Alright men, listen up, we have an un known vessel lieng about 30klicks of the station, and it isn't responding to hails. command wants us to dock and check it out. standard armanament, but take a hul cutting laser with us, i doubt that they'll roll out the red carpet for us"
the men slightly chuckle, but then prepare their equipment and board their transport.

GTT Dubbe 2

GTT Dubbe 2: "this is the transport, we're engaging docking procedure now, cover us alpha"
alpha 3: "roger, but there is not much to cover you from."

the transport docks, and after some time, the marines have cut throug the hull of the unkown ship.
Marine CO: "move out, 4 teams!"

the men spread to the ship, but find nothing but empty corridors, and abandond quarters, no conoles, no furniture, no lights, but life suport is operating.
suddenly internal weapons pop up everywhere, and open fire on the men.
"all units, fall back, fall back!!!" yells the CO of the squad, but right after his transmission he takes a bulet trough the head. the same thing happens to most marines, but two of them make it out.

meanwhile, chaos exists outside as well, at the same time the guns appeared, fighters appeared from nowhere, and attacked alpha wing. only alpha 4 made it out, by exedentially activatng his jumpdrive. the transport found a way to do the same.


GTI Dubbe, bridge

cpt "What the hell happened out there!?!?"
sience officer: "not sure sir, i detected weapons fire, but now it all stopped... wait a minute sir, i am detecting jump signatures, unknown configuration.
XO: "entering or leaving?"
sience officer: "leaving sir, the computer regognises two of the sgnatures now, one GTT Elysium, and one GTF Myrmidon, the rest, 25, are unknown."
cpt :"only one myrmidion, are you sure?"
SO:"yes sir, positive"
the captain rubs his eyes, and sighes.
"there is nothing you could have done captain, i'll take it from here if you want, Jonathan." replies the XO softly
"ok, i'll be in my quarters if you need me, contact GTVA command and inform them of the situation."

[Mr. Vega]

January 28th, 2385
Beta Cygni System, Asteroid Belt
35 Kilometers from Antares Jump Mode

     The man known only as Nyx stared out of the window, as his eyes recieved the light from Beta Cygni's yellow sun which the nearby asteroid field reflected. The base, the secret headquaters of the Noctis Organization where he lived and worked was situated just outside the outer edge of the field. There were no other bases beyond the asteroid belt whose line of sight to the Noctis base was not blocked by the belt. And so the base could hide itself with the asteroid belt without having to risk collisions, and the fact that the jump node to Antares was a mere 35 km away made it even better location. Just in case though, a wall of sentry guns protected Nyx and the 32 other inhabitants from a stray asteroid, and if need be, a stray fighter wing that got too nosy.
     But what did it matter. The bases greatest defense was the almost total lack of activity in the form of arrivals or departures. The base was merely for important communications and decisions. And I wouldn't be here if it weren't for those damned GTVA securitiy people, Nyx thought. And he knew that the GTVA was beginning to come apart. One did not need the kind of inside information he had to see that.
"Sir, it is almost time."
Nyx walked over to his viewscreen and turned it on to see a wide shot of the Charon.

[wEvil]

January 28th, 2385
Polaris


The day's functions concluded, the politicians shuffled out of the hall.

As their echoing footsteps faded, a lithe blond figure of a woman rose from her seat and approached a side door.  Entering the room she sat down and activated a terminal set into the desk.

'Hello?'
'Neal here - your encryption code had better work.'
'It's foolproof - unless you gave GTVI your key?'
'I think not.  Whats' the status of our little cell right now, then?'

The sound of a sigh came from the other end of the line
'always buisiness with you, isn't it?' and he continued without giving Neal time to reply 'the project is proceeding ahead of schedule, we've got more than what we need provided you can keep our arses covered at the political end.   There was one hiccup - we had to neutralise a couple of alliance patrol ships that were snooping around too close, made them look like busted reactors though.  For crying out loud get a mole into the fleet attache - if we have to kill any more ships things will start looking suspicious, if they dont' already!'

Neal leaned forward and smiled
'You'll be glad to know we won't have to go to the effort.  Things are nearly in place here and after we activate the third phase I doubt the alliance would even bother enforcing their sovreignity.'
'how much do you doubt they would?  You know very well we dont want a military coup on our hand here!'
'Just leave the politics to me and concentrate on getting that hardware ready in double quick time, Drekker - once we come out into the open we'll need something to back up our claims, that is the role you play here - I appreciate your concern but we've all got our parts to play in this, and we have to stick to them if we ever want to succeed.'

After a moment the sound of a shuffle came from the terminal

'Just take care of yourself, ok?  we'll be ready for a shakedown run in just under a week.  And keep those patrols off us - its hard enough trying to hide the drydock let alone four large ships.'

'I always take care - and the local sensor net appears to be exhibiting anomalies tomorrow' she said with a grin, and signed off.  So... the culmination of seventy years careful planning was coming into fruition.  She fervently hoped nothing went wrong at the last minute.

[l_MiG_l]

January 28, 2385
Luyten 726-BA

Here another nice day for the GTD Quetzalcoatl, another common day for the 201st Squadron a little patrol assignament near the jump node to Laramis.

Alpha 1: Carnales listos pal patrullaje? (Ready for the patrol guys?)
Alpha 2: Ready sir
Alpha 3: Why always you say the orders in spanish?
Alpha 4: Chale Alpha 3 tu nomas sigue ordenes (Shut up Alpha 3 only do the orders
Command: Well alpha wing stop your chatter
Alpha 1: Yes sir, escucharon bola de babosos (listen up people)
Command: Ready to launch in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, launch!!!
Alpha 2: yahoo!

Some minutes after.....
Alpha 1: Well people, only 5 minutes to return home
Alpha 4: This is the last minutes here, gracias a dios (thanks to god)
Alpha 2: Please not religion!!
Alpha 1: Ok people ready for the return?
Alpha 3: Yes sir!!
Command: Alpha, we receive unknown signatures!
Alpha 2: Oh my god
Alpha 4: Who says no religion here?
Alpha 2: Ok, ok
Command: Well people are only 3 unknown signatures, go to investigate.
Alpha 1: Yes sir, ready guys?
Rest of the alpha wing: Yes sir

250 meters to the unknown objects......

Alpha 4: Chale, que demonios es eso? (what the hell is that)
Alpha 2: I think they are freighters of some type
Alpha 3: yes i think that too
Alpha 1: Well scan the freighters
Alpha 3: nothing in the freighters, and they aren't terran freighters
Alpha 4: Yea, i think they are Vasudans but what they are do here?
Alpha 1: What the hell they are shooting me
Command: We can't know were are they origin, alpha destroy them or disable him.
Alpha 1: Yes sir, disabling now!!
Alpha 3: Freighter 3 disabled
Alpha 4: Ya le jodi los motores al freighter 1 (Freighter 1 disabled)
Alpha 2: Freighter 2 disabled and disarmed
Command: Well people we send Omega wing for docking with the freighters.
Omega 1: Right here sir.
Alpha 4: What??, i receive some message from the freighter 3, but isn't terran or vasudan.
Alpha 1: Chale estan explotando (what? they are exploding)
Command: Well people, Omega recover the fragments, Alpha cover Omega and return to base.

Some hours after in the GTD Quetzalcoatl....

Command: well alpha and omega i call you for a debriefing.
Command: i this moments we send all the data recovered to the headquaters of the 11th fleet here in the system.
Alpha 1: what you konw in this moments?
Command: really?, nothing also the headquaters deploys the GTD Tlaloc near here if we need a reinforcement.
Command: alpha, omega dismissed, all other information send to you in some hours.

Out of the debriefing room...
Alpha 4: oye Alpha 1 que piensas que haya sido? (Alpha 1, what do you think of this?)
Alpha 1: No se, pero no se me hace nada bueno..... (I don't know, but i think this is bad......)
Alpha 3: Well who wants a beer?
Alpha 2: i want
Alpha 1: i want
Alpha 4: i want one chela hehe.......

[aldo_14]

Vega, 0300h local time

"Tango-Gamma-13, cleared for departure.  Have a good one."  The clipped military voice didn't sound particularly cheerful, but graveyard shift was always like that.  Beats the hell out of the garbage run, McGregor though.  He'd been hauling waste from the decomissioned GTD Arithmides for the last 2 years.  The old Orion wasn't supposed to hold people for that long, but resettling the Capellan refugees had went tits-up when they allocated the money to the Charon project. I guess, he though, giving humanity their home back is more important than giving Capellans a new home.  The freighter set on autopilot for the long trip to the outer rim refuse facility, he settled back in his seat and waited.

t-minus2 hours

The soft, insistant beep woke McGregor up immediately.  10 years of military service had taught him to wake quickly, and it didn't take him long to appraise the situation... it wasn't good.  He swore in disbelief, looking at the navigational warning.  He was far off course, and by the looks of it the engines had fried.

He quickly flicked switches, hit buttons, but no response.  The ship had already slumped into a drunken stupor, with only the barest reactor functions remaining.    Crap.  With the ship only barely alive, McGregor had to switch on the automatic distress signal - and wait.

t-minus 1 hour

The computer beeped on an automatic warning, signalling an incoming message.Thank god, though McGregor, stumbling over to the command console.

"This is refuse ship TG-13, I require immediate assitance.  Please respond"

The reply was swift... "TG-13, we recieve.  Are enroute, will arrive in approximately 1 hour.  Over."

t-minus 0

On cue, the screen lit up with the blue glow of an immenent ship arrival. But what came was far different from anything McGregor had seen, even in the military.  Giant, black and sleek, it looked almost a military vessel - but had no GTVA IFF codes.  As it drew closer, he began to see the scorch marks, the deep grooves in the hull... this ship had seen conflict, and a lot of it.

"TG-13, we have you on sensors.  Prepare for docking."
"Um, roger... not to be rude, but who are you?"
"Prepare for docking TG-13, and we'll explain everything"
.
.
.

[Eishtmo]

OOC:  And so it begins, for real.

Vega XII C
Hammer of Light Colony
January 28

The sand of the ancient colony spun up and around the low huts made of old metal.  They were once part of a series of transports, Terran and Vasudan alike, that were now worn by the desert sands of this long forgotten moon.

Da'id T'pl marched through the early morning hours toward one particular hut at the end of the the village's only road.  The light, and tattered cloak he wore fluttered as yet another light gust of wind wipped down the streets only to be forced into dust devils as it encountered the buildings.

The last hut, his destination, stood the largest out of the batch.  It had been, in a former lifetime, a Elysium transport, but now served as the community building.  It was temple, capitol, market and general common building, a busy place for something so small.  Da'id stopped a moment before the symbol of the Hammer of Light which sat to the right of the door.  He made a gesture of worship to it, then moved to a set of stares beyond it.

The rickety, rock cut steps led up the side and two the top of the transport.  Many days had been spent moving these few stones from the small quarry several kilometers away and bringing them here for this one purpose.  A waste?  No, for planted on top of the old transport was the observation platform and the few still functioning tracking devices, shielded from the elements by a simple stone shack.

Before this shack, and looking across the empty desert stood a figure.  He wore the same raggity clothing as Da'id, but it seemed more full, more vibrant in comparison.

"There you are," Da'id said as if surprised.  "They're waiting for you."

"I was just thinking father," the figure said.  "I will likely never see this place again."

"All for the better."

"So you say."  The figure, small compared to the broad shouldered Vasudan, stepped forward, nearer the edge of the transport.  "But this is my home, and will be forever and a day.  I don't want to leave."

"You must, it is your destiny."

"So you say."  The figure stepped back from the edge and faced his father.  "And I know you are right.  I must go, and face my fate, whatever comes."

The Vasudan grabbed the figure in a great bear hug.  "I will miss you, my son."

"And I you."  A few moments passed in embrace, then seperated as they should.  "I can go now.  You will always be with me."

"And you with me."  Da'id watched his son start down the stairs to the ground.  In the distance, he could just see the small ship waiting for him.

The figure stopped.  "One last thing.  Are you sure?"

"I've checked and double checked."

"Then I will go," the figure said.  "And be the Eishtmo."

[wEvil]

Polaris-Deneb node

The two fighter wings and antiquated Fenris class cruiser didn't know what hit them as half of the communications satellites in the system dropped offline and four capital-class vessels jumped in and maneouvered to secure the node itself.

At the other two nodes, a similar story rolled out as the Polarians executed their long-awated coup of the system.

A mere ten hours later, with an estimated eighteen skirmishes against loyalist forces resulting in no casualties for either side, the final GTVA Military vessel departed from the system.

Neal walked out onto the promenade of the local govornment building where a large party had broken out on the lawns - the smoke from a few barbeques at the foot of the building, tempting her to go down and enjoy the revelrie.  Unfortunately she had work to do - pulling of a bloodless coup was one thing, the installation of a planned social structure was probably going to be a great deal more painful.

Meanwhile, across the system, shielded from sensors by the flux caused by an almost pure-iron asteroid passing very close to the gas giants' upper cloud layer, the one thing that could keep the fledgeling nation safe from reabsorption was undergoing pre-flight testing....

[Styxx]

Tavern on the Green, Central Park, New York City, Earth, Sol System
January 24th, 2385

The Admiral smiled at the waiter as he poured the crystaline Moscato Giallo, Giacomin, 2384 vintage, into the equally crystalline goblet. A sweet and rosy scent rose from the glass as Julius stirred it – perfectly fresh, just as such wine should be served. He motioned to the waiter, and more wine was poured into both goblets standing at the otherwise empty table. The Admiral inhaled deeply from the goblet, seeped some of the wine, and rested the glass on the table again. The man before him didn’t seem to be at all concerned about the wine, yet a persistent smile clung to his face.

“So, it is almost completed then. I take we can schedule the first full inspection for next monday?” The smile on the other man’s face widened.

“That would be perfect, sir. I’ll have the crew ready for it.” He reached for his goblet for the first time, and drank a generous amount of wine from it. That ship was his greatest achievement, the soon-to-be pride of the fleet, and he was eager to show it to his superiors – and to his friend, who had trusted him from the beginning, who had pushed the project through the council so long ago. He was also eager to rub it in the face of everyone who had doubted him.

“Excellent, Ron, excellent.”

And their conversation drifted back to the small talk of friends who had not seen each other for a long time.



***



Belisama Drydock Installations, Earth Orbit, Sol System
January 28th, 2385

Admiral Julius Moschel walked briskly through the wide, windowless corridors of the gigantic installation, sided by Doctor Tracey and followed by an entourage of staff officers and assistants. Julius and the Doctor, a Commodore in his own right, chatted about trivial matters, as if extending the conversation from the previous thrusday. It was the first official inspection of the project, but it wasn’t a public one, so there was no need to show off for the reporters – or for the opposition at the council. They were about to reach the airlock to the transfer tube when one of the staff lieutenants sprinted forward, brandishing a tablet terminal, and calling for the Admiral’s attention.

“What is it, Lieutenant?”

“Sir, this just came from Jericho C&C, it’s marked as extremely urgent.”

The Admiral had previously addressed the lieutenant with a smile on his face and a jovial tone, both of which promtly vanished as he keyed in his personal security code at the tablet.

“Perfect timing,” he muttered.

Something was happening at the Delta Serpentis node.

[StratComm]

Uncharted system (Delta Pavonis), 3 jumps distant from Tau Ceti
0248 hours, Galactic Standard Time
January 27th, 2385

Commodore Greshan stared out the bridge viewport of his ship, the FWD Avalon, watching the empty void of space for signs of activity.  "Hell," he said aloud, "I hate these expeditions.  It isn't like we have anything to gain from being out here."  Greshan was not ordinarily critical of his missions, but this was the fifth time in as many months that he had been leading expeditionary missions to chart worthless and empty systems on the edges of Free World Alliance space.  The last four had turned up nothing aside from a few comets and one unusually dense dust field, and this mission was beginning to have the same prospects.  He had dismissed most of his bridge crew for the night; it was obvious that this system was vacant, and he was only awake to debrief the recon wings when they returned.  Just as he turned from the window, a small beeping began sounding from the comms console.  Greshan approached the console, and flipped a switch to open the channel.  He knew it was one of his recon wings making a report, as they were the only craft in system, but no check-ins were scheduled for another ten minutes.

"Recon Wing Delta to Avalon, over..." the message chattered out.

"This is the Avalon, pilot.  What's your status?" replied Greshan.  Usually the pilots on these graveyard recon watches just needed someone to talk to, and Greshan was not opposed to a bit of idle chat himself.  After all, he was well liked among the crew for his friendly attitude in non-combat situations.

"Avalon, I hate to raise you at this late hour," came the reply.  Delta 1 knew how Greshan ran his ship, and that he would be manning the comm alone this late at night.  "We've located an unknown object that we thought you might like to know about.  Transmitting video feed now..."

A screen on the comms panel flickered to life, and after a few seconds of blackness Greshan could make out a starfield through the scanlines of the recon fighter's small gun-camera.  "Pilot, is this some kind of joke?" Greshan lightheartedly asked.

"No sir, can't you see it?  Wait, here we go..."  The image began panning out, as the recon pilot adjusted his camera to take in a wider angle.  Greshan's tired smile faded to a blank stare as the image expanded to reveal a massive blue ring.  All he could do was quietly mumble "What the hell..."


Low Orbit
Sigma Draconis II
1330 hours Galactic Standard Time
January 28th, 2385

Admiral Davis was sitting in his ready room, high up on the conning tower of the Archangel, looking out the viewport at Sigma Draconis II, the seat of Terran government beyond Sol and Admiral Davis's home planet.  For an instant he was cought up by the beauty of his homeworld as Sigma Draconis rose over its surface, glinting blue from the vast oceans below.  He had work to do though, and he could ill afford to daydream today.  He looked over his desk, news reports filtering in from across the alliance and a large stack of recommendations for the upcoming round of upper-level promotion applicants nearly covered what most officers would consider a luxuriously large briefing table.  Davis sorted through a stack of reports from various parts of the alliance, pulling out one labeled "Sol Briefs."  Though it had been over 70 years since contact was lost with Sol and the GTA, and over 30 years since any long-range radio messages had been picked up from that system, convention still dictated that all information regarding the rest of the human race beyond the now-defunct Sigma Draconis - Sol node be referenced by Sol itself.  Opening the document, he looked over page after page of radio messages, mostly random chatter, intercepted from Terran systems by listening posts set up throughout the Free World Alliance for this purpose.  The news he was reading was history for the GTVA, having taken at least 10 years to reach FWA space, but he nonetheless could not resist reading over them.  The transmissions were from Sirius this time, and Davis let out a long sigh as he glanced through the report.  News from that system had been growing troubling of late, with battle chatter taking an increasing role in the system communication record.  It appeared that the GTVA had found itself on the verge of civil war.  One passage stood out to Davis as he read:

'Today we stand against the tyranny of the great "alliance" that has opressed our fellow terrans for a decade.  Let us, with one fell swoop, cleanse our worlds of the Vasudan menace, and take back for humanity our one true destiny.  Today Sirius, Regulus, and Polaris are free under the leadership of the Neo-Terran Front.'

~source unconfirmed, trace indicates an Admiral Aken Bosch

"So it did happen again" Davis said to himself.  For the seventy years since cutoff from earth, there had been no major violence in the systems of the FWA.  How could these once backwater and forgotten colonies grow into prospering and powerful worlds in so short a time, while the seat of humanity was engaged in one brutal civil war after another?  Davis could find no answers among the garbeled messages that made up the rest of the report.  He set it back on his desk and reached for the top promotion recommendation on the pile closest to him.

Before he could scan past the name on the form, a comm tone sounded across the ready-room.  The voice of the Archangel's chief communications officer, Leiutenent Belle, rang out over the comm, "Admiral Davis, we are recieving a priority one transmission from Commodore Greshan, FWD Avalon.  Your presence is requested on the bridge."  "On my way," Davis automatically responded as he stood from his chair.  As he left his ready room, Admiral Davis could not help but feel a sense of urgency in responding to this message; he knew all to well that it would have taken the Avalon at least a day to manuver within communications range of the FWA.

[3 minutes later]
The bridge of the Archangel was busteling with activity.  Officers were coming and going with orders to transmit to the fleet, comms chatter was being interpreted by over a dozen personel in a console pit just below the main viewports, and combat officers were conducting targeting excercises for the weapons crews.  Davis immediately made his way to Leiutenent Belle's console, as it was not often that an officer of Greshan's independence made a priority one transmission.  He knew that whatever it was, it was worth his attention.  "What's going on, Leiutenent?" Davis asked in that serious though compassionate tone that many believed had earned him the position as head of Alliance Fleet Command.  He commanded respect, but did not put fear into his subordinates.  One of the greatest strengths of Davis, and of the FWA as a whole, was the quality and loyalty of his personnel.

"Sir!" Belle fired off a quick salute as she looked up from her console, "Greshan is getting impatient.  He keeps insisting that he speak directly with you.  He would not let me record the message either.  Shall I put it through to your ready room?"

"Thank you Leiutenent, this console will be fine.  You have security clearance, and about as private a spot as one can get on this bridge.  I don't have to tell you that whatever said will be confidential."

"Yes sir.  Connecting now, audiovisual link established."

The communications panel switched immediately to an image of Commodore Greshan.  Greshan was obviously excited, and didnt wait for Admiral Davis to prompt a response.  "Sir," he said, "we've found something."  Davis could see Greshan noding to an officer off screen, and there was a flicker as the video transmission switched to a scout camera.  Davis's eyes widened, and all he could hear Greshan say was "Something big..."

[Eishtmo]

Vega System
Former GVD Vengence

Another thud.  The sound of voices seeped their way into the box, muffled by the lid.  Then a sharp shove snapped the side of the box followed by a low creek as a prybar forced open the lid.  The Eishtmo covered his eyes as light poured into the black box.

"My brother, welcome."  The Eishtmo uncovered his eyes and took the hand of his brother who helped lift him from the container.

"Je'ph, my brother, I am honored to be here."  He stood up and examined the room.  It wasn't exceptionally large, but had at least two rooms, the larger one he was now in held a single bed and desk, the other doors were closed.

"We should be honored my lord," a Vasudan in the corner said.  He stepped forward and gave a simple salute.

"Ma'thon, I see you are well."

"And at your service as always."  Ma'thon would have bowed had it been Vasudan tradition, but the awe and respect he had for the Eishtmo could be seen by anyone who had witnessed the scene.  Though no one did save Je'ph.

"All went well in bringing you here.  They know you are aboard, but do not know who you are," Je'ph assured him.

"Very good, very good indeed."  The Eishtmo moved to the desk and sat down, examining a collection of files and letters that littered it.  "I take it all is ready."

"Yes milord," Ma'thon replied.  "The Ice Heart awaits the order to reenter GTVA space.  The Keef is currently hiding amongst the Unbelievers, his ships ready to strike at a moment's notice."

"And the ships?"

"Two are ready," Je'ph replied.  "Aside from Ice Heart's fleet, which has been ready for several years now."

"He's quite eager isn't he?"  The Eishtmo smiled.  "I shall have to meet this 'Ice Heart' one day."

"Yes my broth," Je'ph caught himself.  "My lord."

"I shall always be your brother, never forget that.  Let us get under way, we have much to do."

"The Hammer of Light shall rise again," Je'ph said.

"No my brother," The Eishtmo said.  "The Hammer of Light is dead.  We are the Neo-Hammer of Light, and we shall survive."

The Vengence, and ancient Typhon destroyer, threw open a subspace portal and made its way to leave the system.

[StratComm]

FWDn Archangel
Low Orbit
Sigma Draconis II
1445 hours Galactic Standard Time
Jaunary 29th, 2385

Admiral Davis was sitting in a briefing room just off of the bridge.  For the past six hours his bridge crew had seen him in virtually the same position, sealed behind a soundproof glass wall and staring into a monitor on the desk in front of him.  As the second watch duty officer, Captain McCoy, stepped on to the bridge, he saw the Admiral and motioned for Leitenent Belle.  "What is he so busy at?" asked the Captain.  "He is in conference with the President and the Assembly.  He must not be disturbed," was Belle's reply.  She knew all too well why the conference was called into session, but also knew that only the Admiral could that information to the rest of the crew.

Shortly Admiral Davis flipped off the monitor and stood up.  He walked out on to the bridge, glancing at the officers at their posts.  "The watch has changed," he thought to himself.  "How long did that conference take?"  Six hours, and the longest conference he could remember having before took a little over 15 minutes.  As he entered the bridge, Admiral Davis turned to his communications officer.  "Leiutenent Belle, I need to transmit a message to the fleet."  "Yes sir, I will open a channel," she said, typing in the advanced commands for multiple ship communication.  "Go ahead"

"To all commandig officers of the FWA:  Yesterday at 1330 hours, we recieved an unexpected communication from the FWD Avalon.  This ship was conducting a routine mapping and exploration mission in the Delta Pavonis system when it encountered an object the likes of which we have never before seen.  After careful deliberation with President Kerr and the Free World Assembly, it has been decided that secrecy on this issue is not necessary or productive, and therefore the following information can be shared with your crews at your own discression.

"The object encountered by the Avalon is not a ship or station by Terran standards, as it has no propulsion system or internal compartments for habitation.  However, this structure (as it is plainly not of natural origin) is of tremendous importance.  For those of you aware of the archeological excavations throughout our space, the origins of this object should appear clear; it is apparently some device constructed by an ancient subspace-faring race, whose technological prowess was superior to our own current levels.  We are as of yet unaware of this structures importance or capabilities, but the science crews aboard the Avalon believe it to be a subspace device of some kind.  It is unarmed (the Avalon's researchers are unable to locate so much as a power source) and bears no threat to our ships.  The scientists are, however, unable to analyze the structure further due to equipment limitations.  It has therefore been decided to recover the object and move it to Sigma Draconis for further study.

"The importance of this discovery cannot be understated.  The full resources of the FWA are being committed to understanding this device and its potential for furthering of our own capabilities.  A flight of transports has already been dispatched to Delta Pavonis for recovery, and it is essential that no harm, natural or man-made, come to these vessels.  Many of you will recieve new orders within the hour."

Davis nodded to Leiutenent Belle, and she flipped a switch to cut the feed.  "Now transmit all incoming reports to the fleet, on the same channel.  Repeat the message at half-hour intervals throughout the afternoon."

As he turned from the communications panel, Davis could see the proflile of a wing of transports cruising up from the surface of Sigma Draconis II.  "Helm," he said, "Break orbit.  Set your course for the Tau Ceti node.