[IC] Shattered Stars - A Space Opera [Open for more players - Someone please join Karbana Kinnis... it's lonely there]

[DX3214]

Planet Boffzen in Saxonian controlled space
Idustrial outpost Girdenau, in the town square
Priest Jules (Citrix) Randvi

Jules surveyed the small gathering before him, his arms widely outstretched as if he was embracing the small crowd.

“ Brothers and sisters of the stars! lend me your ears, eyes and hearts for I bring the word of the solar truth! These beautiful, incandescent, heavenly bodies are the alpha and omega of the human species and we as humans are their chosen people. The solar warmth of love is given to all humans, not just those of the Solite faith.” he finished as he points up towards the partially obscured sun.

“ All of you feel its strength, even through the industrial progress of this land the stars still provide its love and warmth to all humankind! Who are we to refuse such unconditional love, who are we to reject to word of the solar truth!” he finished again, producing a book from a fold in his dingy robes before handing it to the priestess standing next to him.

“ My sister of the stars will give you today’s word as spoken by the high clerics of old, we shall hear the gospel of beginnings and discuss its meaning in this increasingly modern world.” He finished again with a nod towards his colleague

“ Beginnings, chapter three, verse one to thirteen” he said quietly before stepping down from the makeshift stage and walking through the small gathering to the other side of the dirt street.

Of the 10 priests that were sent to this world, only 6 remained, the rest were lost due to disease, exposure or other natural phenomena. He had been here for three years, watching the size and scale of this planets industry grow until is engulfed their formally isolated camp of shacks. Now they were one of many in the small slum community that existed around them, in between the foundries and smoke stacks of the planet.
Jules, dug into the folds of his robes again producing a small grey box, spackled with OD green chipped paint from years of use. Inside were two small reservoirs with what appeared to be contacts inside, floating weightlessly in a self cleaning fluid. Jules, quickly captured one of the contacts on his index finger and expertly placed it on his eye, blinking a few times before the contact found its proper place.
Code flashed across Jules’s vision as the contact booted up, before his vision cleared again, showing him multiple unread messages in the corner of his eye. Using the interface on the grey box in his hand, he slowly began reading through them, mentally taking notes of what was important and what was not as he sifted through a couple days of briefings and updates.

“Nothing here…” he said quietly to himself before his vision flashed again, flashing with a recently arrived urgent message.

Jules raised his eyebrow in concern, this was far outside of the norm. He knew that sending an urgent message was important, commonly mission critical to what he and the rest of his priests were doing. He scrolled to the message and selected it, taking note of the recipient list. Once again his eyebrow raised in concern as he realized it was only sent to him. ‘Why…’ he thought to himself before scrolling through the contents of the message.
As he continued to read his eyes became wider as the look on panic became increasingly evident on his face.

“ High Priest Barca was coming, accompanied by two complete carrier groups” he said under his breath, reading what was in the message verbatim.

With a shaky hand, Jules slowly removed the contact and placed it back in its reservoir before looking up towards the sermon in process.

“ As we were born we shall return to ash!” the priestess yelled to the now decently sized crowd before the pair locked eyes.

Jules quickly tilted his head to his left a few times before walking in that direction, indicating to his colleague that we needed to go, the panic on his face making it evident that something was not normal. As he began down the muddy street, his mind began racing, they had a lot to accomplish in a relatively short amount of time.

Cop sirens could be heard the planet was very urban but because of it crime was quite rampant due to a lack of planning on the development of the planet, riots were breaking out in news in televisions that could be seen in the streets a small group of individuals gathered in front of the priests blocking their way it was quite obvious who they were to then the Holy militia one of the gangs formed by the church to fight the spreading words of the Solar truth one man sticking out of the group a man wearing priests clothes he looked young too young to be a priest having black hair and a missing nose and equipped with a bat by the looks saying “look what we found in this place Heretics of all peoples”

“ We are all of the sun brother” Jules responded with a smile and a slight bow.

“Well let us see if your god favors you then” He says to the gang readying weapons.

Jules raised his eyebrow again, and stuck both hands in the air slightly. He was older than the man in front of him by at least 10 revolutions and slightly taller and more built. He was under strict orders not to cause trouble however and received extensive training in de escalation and diplomacy. The priests were trained of course, basic weapon handling, advanced combatives, use of blunt and edged weapons, but this was not a fight they could win. They were both outnumbered and out equipped.

“ Brother, please we are not all too different from your people. The gods do not like to see human fight human, their love is for all of us to share, and there is plenty of it” he said in a reassuring tone as he slowly backed away with his hands in the air.

“ Please tell me, what can I do what do you need, I will gladly give what I have” he said again, eying the young priest in front of him.

There was a tense standoff for a moment on what could happen in the next movements, before it was cut by the illumination of a light from a police car floating above the ground behind the Solar priests two cop cars landed officers leaving the car and pointing pistols a voice could be heard “everyone hands in the air this is a order!” In front the gang soon ran away, the leader screaming “scatter!”

The sudden noise made Jules jump slightly as they were spotlighted by the police car. The urge to run was nearly unbearable as he heard the commands from the officers. As Jules already had his hands up he just raised them further, quickly instructing his colleague to do so as well.

“ We mean no harm!” Jules yelled in the Saxonian language, his normally near perfect Saxon accent broken by hints of his mother tongue. “ We are but simple priests!”

Officers approached the priests while others at the same time runned after the gang after a moment Jules was grabbed by the hand and then said “You are under arrest sir anything said can and will be used against you” after being blinded by a device to avoid seeing things and possibly being a threat his eyes returned to seeing in the police station put in the interrogation room and left to wait for a moment.

Jules felt disoriented as he blinked his way back to where he could see again. The lights of the room seemed blinding for a moment, before returning to their normal glow. He was alone and still handcuffed yet unhurt, ‘a small blessing’ he thought to himself.
Almost instinctively, as a result of years of hard training, Jules began assessing his situation. Testing the strength of the cuffs and studying them for any structural weakness. Finding none, he began to look around the room, trying to find something he could use to escape or defend himself. A pained sigh passed through his lips as he realized there was none, he was resigned to his fate, and he knew what his fate will probably be.

Opening the door of the room came a detective seeing a file Johann was an experienced man in his 30 years on the job of policing had brown eyes and darkened hair seeing the priest he sighed looking quite tired or just annoyed by something and then he said to the priest “Riot or illegally entering a place?” taking a seat in front of him at the table.

Jules eyed the man as he walked in, sizing him up as he came to a stop in front of him. They looked to be the same age, maybe a little older, and of similar build. Jules’s expression hardened as the man pulled out the chair and sat, staring directly into the man’s eyes.

“ Neither” he said in a blunt fashion, his saxonian accent returning.
“ My colleague and I were preaching our faith and were accosted by a group of thugs as we left” he finished without breaking eye contact.

Jules was no stranger to staring down death. He gained prominence during the early days of the Mordant campaign and saw some of the hardest fighting of the rebellion. He had learned to face his end as all Solites should, with dignity, ferocity and rage.

Johann sighed reading the files he then rolled his eyes for a moment before saying “understood mister Jules from the Solia State emigrant non the less well the problem is...'' reading the file and seeing Jules partner he set it down saying leaning forward “Your so called colleague is a spy she was caught inside a place she shouldn't be i hope you know what that means right?” Johann was blunt during almost like he had dealt with that more times then someone could ever count.

Jules smirked as he sat back in his chair, adjusting the cuffs so they cut into his wrists less.

“ She is? I was not aware….as I said when you arrested us, we are simple priests.” he finished, his accent still stable.

“ Besides, she was with me when we were arrested...how could that be possible sir?”

A blank stare remained in johann face before pressing something in the table seeing a holographic display showing Jules partner literally invading a factory by jumping a fence followed by a cut straight towards a archive of sorts and a second cut of she leaving after which he raised a grey box inside it containing file after file of things made by her and putting on the table he then said “You know… when saying that make sure to hear everything the other persons says not just the beginning...” the image in the holographic system then cuts to her carrying the same grey box in the table seeming to have been converted to carry the files of the woman Johann then said “Would you like to say anything else sir?”

Jules was fuming internally, but maintained his friendly smile, his eyes betrayed him however as they resembled a caged animal more than a human. Either this is fake, or his partner broke one of the biggest rules they had, never….ever…..collect information yourself. Either way, the atmosphere in the interrogation changed suddenly as Jules began to speak again

“ Do as you must….officer” he said bluntly, his Saxonian accent fading almost completely to make way for a strong Solite accent. “ We are not spies….but simple priests…. Are you sure you have the right woman…”

Jules was far too loyal to sell out his comrade, and fellow Solite. Even if she was in the wrong, he would deal with it later, if there was a later.

“Yes we do…” He replied immediately he then sighed saying “well you know the situation but since you seem to not want to confess you can go to court after all you didnt commit much but you will be arrested for 5 years because of this at best unless the war rules declare longer your friend on the other hand will be deported back to your country” he reads the paper and then saying “but if you say it happend and admit you walking free obviously” he says with a smile he then sighs saying to himself “I wish this wasn't so common”

“ Your want me to confess to a crime that I have committed, or testify against my own people” he said incredulously, his smile slowly fading from his face. “ Eat shit and die….” he said in the Solite language “ I will not betray my people, and I will not confess to crimes I have not committed” he continued in Saxonian with a heavy accent. “ Do as you must..”

Staying put for a moment Johann sighed saying in Solite “I understand your language, you fuck” he then continue in Saxonian “I also follow your religion aswell” He does a very small smile before fading away he then continued by saying “Well i hope you like prison i shall…” a knock hited his door opening seeing a officer saying “Mister Johann someone is wants to speak with you…” Johann raised from his chair and left the room after a moment saying “excuse me”

“ In the end we all return to ash brother” He said in the Solite tongue, before his friendly smile returned with an evil tinge. He watched as the man left the room before dropping his smile again, as loud sigh escaping from his lips.

“ How fucked am I” he said under his breath as he looked up at the ceiling. This was catastrophic mission failure, if he left prison, or this room, alive he shouldnt even bother going back home. They would just kill him and those under his command anyway. He was probably better off dying here a hero than a disgrace back home.

Jules looked towards the door again with a raised eyebrow “ I wonder what they are doing out there….” he said in his mother tongue turning to looking towards what he thought was a mirrored glass window at the other end of the room.

“ Always watching...hmmm” he quipped.

After a time the door opened seeing Johann walking back to the seat he then said in Solite “You are free to go…”

“ What…” he responded in his Solite, his normally professional demeanor dropped for a moment, being replaced by genuine surprise.

“If you answer this man’s questions” He replied after the man said looking to the door seeing a man with medals entering the room he wasn't a cop a soldier or even a military officer he was a noble Frederick Von Zaschen one of the leaders of the current government and for all Jules knew the head of the Intelligence service he was a old man with grey hair he looked ot be in his 50´s or 60’s he had a very white looking beard he smiled saying “a pleasure to meet a man of god”

Jule’s face still exhibited his surprise as he turned to look towards the noble entering the room. His identity was only known to Jules through intelligence reports and pictures in passing, but he was a lot taller in person than the pictures let on.

“ It is a pleasure to meet someone of your status Lord Von Zaschen…” he said switching back to the Saxonian language and accent. “ What do I owe the pleasure sir?”

“The pleasure is mine is good saying a spy from Ecclesia reminds me of the times when i was a beginner infiltrated a ring of your group and dismantled it good times where those” he says sighing looking to the ceiling it could see it was a long time ago by how he says about then he then continues by saying and taking a seat next to Johann “Ironically that is a thing your people need to solve you have bad infiltration tactics” He soon smiled to see the response of the priest about his statement leaning back on the chair

Jules grinned, his eyebrow rising in intrigue as he listed to the man, he was clearly his senior in age, rank and status. Jules had knowledge of the events that Lord Von Zaschen was talking about, but it was before his time.

“ Yes, I have heard. We use that as a training lesson now, to remind us of the importance of good tradecraft. You Saxonians were on the cutting edge of intelligence and espionage…” he said with a nod

“ I will welcome any lessons you want to teach...but first, I was told that if I answer your questions I will be set free...is this true? he finished with a smile.

“It is true well free to go but it a but… and as a lesson i could give you right here and now actually” He says with a smile doing a small hold on gesture he then press something in the table making the holographic display in the wall show Jule and the entire missionaries he has been soon images changed this time showing a literal text of the plans of the operation they had soon followed by several images of agents images files and others some of him others of other Priests he didn't know looking forward seeing Johann looking shocked at that and Frederick looking bluntly to the screen a almost bored face constantly mashing the button showing you what feels like the entire operations of the Ecclesia in saxony after a moment he stops saying in the video of someone stealing something “You know your organisation might need some restructuring its not bad but somethings are easy to find once you know the pattern…” He coughed for a moment and then said “Well here is the question who is your boss?”

Jules sighed “ I report directly to the naval high command, the solar church and the minister of information, a high solar priest….” he finished in Saxonian. “ These are the only entities that know of my presence here” he quipped again, looking at the noble sitting across from him.

“I see well tell me if I were to ask would you be able to enter in contact with someone high in the politics of your country. I believe this would prove good to you and me” He says with a smile he looked quite happy with the man's response.

Jules tilted his head to the side slightly “ Yes...I suppose I can” he said quizzically “ Those in power ready my reports with great scrutiny” he finished before looking back at the holographic pictures.

“ Why?” he quipped

Smiling with the answer Frederick then said “Oh nothing special i just want to know if you would like a small in field promotion from Spy to… Diplomat” once frederick said Johann stared at him for a moment Frederick then said “You see our people are war with the Dominion and your people are also at war with then but we were first the Dominion made sure that contact between its protectorates was always small and relative to just leaders visiting each other…” Frederick then sighed saying “well i wish you to talk to your leaders that saxony wants to make a pact…”

A large smile stretched across Jule’s face, suddenly it all made sense. The message, the coming crusade, all of it. He didn't know this was a galactic effort however.

“ The galaxy never felt so small” he said quietly in the Solite language before nodding affirmatively towards the noble.

“ Lord Von Zaschen I can do this with great joy and purpose” He said, switching back to Saxonian. “ I must inform you that our people have answered your call and are currently en-route with two carrier groups and a number of strike forces. It is a vanguard force, but certainly more will come” he finished, as he shimmied in his seat slightly, attempting to regain feeling in his hands.

“ They are commanded by a high priest, Lord Barca, I am sure he will be very grateful to hear from a Saxonian Lord, they set off Maybe three weeks ago, and are making best speed to this system.”

Continuing with his smile Frederick knew everything would be good from now on he then said “well good to know that mr Jules… mind taking the chains off” he said to the officer he raised and soon took off the cuffs this soon led to Frederick saying “It would be good if our states could establish diplomatic lines between our peoples after all is better to be organised rather then chaotic don't you agree?”

Jules nodded “ Until our vessels get into range, communication can flow through me and my team, we have direct links to communicate with those in command and these messages will get to Lord Barca. There will be a delay of a week between sending a receiving, but they will be looked at…..I am assured of this”. he finished with a curt nod.

“ah this is truly marvelous i will warn about when your team gets released albeit there is a small catch in there since your group hasn't had much of a good history on our nation i am afraid you will be kept under observation you know how politics go hope you don't mind that small thing” He says his smile retaining the officer Johann leaving whispering “...time for bureaucracy”

Jules chuckled and looked at the noble with a slight grin “ Do I have a choice” he said in the Solite language before nodding towards Lord Von Zaschen. “ These terms are acceptable sir, I am sure my team and I are truly blessed to leave with our lives”

Frederick relaxed on his chair saying in Solite language “Good to know i hope you like the staying for now” he then raised from his seat continuing saying in his language “by the will of the sun it will be a fruitful deal don't you agree?”

Jules nodded curtly with a small grin “ The will of the stars was fulfilled by these actions and their warmth shines bright on us today. I'm sure the gods will look down on this moment favorably”. he finished, eyeing the man as he stood

Frederick nodded saying “Well let me take you to your friends you might want to speak with then” He says you notice a small chuckle in his voice like he knew what it might happen next.
13 days later

The priests where given a small apartment to live not a very good one by their requests of their faith while better then living in shacks there was observation every day by cops and sometimes the feeling of been watched when walking outside due to making sure after in a moment 13 days after the talking with Frederick someone knocked on the door of the small apartment.

The priests were not unaccustomed to being watched, but the surveillance machine of the Saxonians were immense. The solar priests noticed surveillance tools and techniques at all times no matter whether they were inside their new apartments or out preaching on the street. They did so with a renewed sense of duty however, their focus now on providing information to the oncoming crusade force and strengthening diplomatic ties with the Confederation.

A tablet was soon delivered to Jules in his apartment it contained instructions on read me when dealing with information inside was the number of contact of someone.

Jules, received the delivery of the tablet and studied it for a moment. his training had instilled in him a permanent paranoia of traps and assassination, something that is a common practices for elite solar priests and naval recon platoons. Tablets could contain bombs, lethal doses of radiation or worse some biological agent or poison. With a sigh, he slowly opened the container containing the tablet and sighed in relief.

“ Im still here”, he thought to himself, before reading the contents of the tablet.

The tablet only contained a singular number, without any supporting information, raising his eyebrow quizzically, he tapped the number of the screen and it began a video feed call.

A holographic display of Frederick immediately appeared after tapping it saying “took you long enough well now that i you answered here is the thing” a map of the region was displayed showing saxony their neighbors, the dominion and the obviously far Ecclesia frederick then said “we are ready to start the situation the army provided by the information your government and your group gave us is currently ongoing towards the union our plans according to our high command for Ecclesia are simple” the map soon showed the forces going and attack the dominion through the gap between the Union of Oros and the OPAO the targets majorly being industrial planets and fortress areas displayed on the map Frederick then said “this areas are believed to be good zones for initial conquest splitting the dominion into two fronts allowing us to slowly and steadily win trough attrition over a long period of time” the map displayed the Dominions armies or better what it is believed to be splitted up and losing ground over the passage of time victory believed to be achieved in a year in a best case scenario according to the holographic display.

Jules was no tactician, but he understood the benefits of forcing his opponent to fight a two front war. He studied the holographic map for a moment before nodding towards the holographic image of Lord Von Zaschen. “ This makes sense, is there any more information on Dominion forces in the area? Unit composition? defenses?” he finished, before looking at the map once more.
“Speaking in the best term possible there is no resistance… the Dominion is refusing to fight they don't want to be ready for a civil war they don't wanna fight it even though they need this is why Saxonian mobilization was not interrupted at all by any army of the dominion no attacks just a few raids'' Frederick says the map shows the region empty of forces besides stationed in a few important locations mainly outposts and industrial worlds of importance but still a very small fraction compared to the dominions whole military armadas distribution Frederick then say “according to the leader of our expedition to go she calculated we have precisely 2 weeks once the first world falls before full response is activated if we are lucky of in our attacks your armies need to be quick need to be swift we have a 2 weeks window once the attacks begun without any opposition to capture as much land as possible” The map display the invasion you notice extensions and salients formed in a very fast form in a blitzkrieg form aiming to take the best sectors as fast as possible Frederick then continued by saying “this might sound hard to believe that the most powerful state of the galaxy is refusing to fight but its the truth that exists you have this information including more in the laptop as its being uploaded send it to your armies and be ready i hope you understood”

Jules nodded “ I have no reason not to trust you, you have been true to your word with us, we shall be there when you need us” he said in a flat tone. Internally, he wondered if his was sending his forces into a trap. The Eclissia, has been far removed from the politics and affairs of the dominion for ages, but the idea of leaving something undefended was alien to the Solite psyche. He didnt want to be the one to lead his crusade force into a trap, that would be a fate worse than death.

“ I understand completely Lord Von Zaschen, I will be sure to pass these plans onto my forces” He finished

“May i ask you to deliver one thing to your men once things begins?” Frederick said he seemed blunt compared to the first time both met more worried rather then confident.

Jules grinned widely “ I'm sure you will have the ear of all the Solite forces in the area, we are at your disposal. You will also have the ear of Lord Barca himself, you should find him…...very willing to help.”

Jules narrows his eyes again, looking at the holographic map and pointing to the collection of worlds they needed to conquer first, “ Are these human worlds? Xenos? Mixed?” he aksed quizzically.

“for the location, it's mainly human worlds albeit there is Xeno minorities there is some worlds where there is a mix but just a few” He says showing data about the worlds in question especially in the area itself mainly the public ones available for people in the area since saxony was close to the dominion some of its nobles had access to local public sensus on populations.

After a moment he sighed and then said “send this to your forces…” He paused and then took a deep breath and realised he opened his eyes a feeling of discipline could be felt in Jules almost like saluting an officer of high rank he then said “your gods allowed you to have a sword to strike down a corrupt decadent state with the might of your rightness your enemy is week and thinks himself unbeatable his legions rest worrying about other things while you march in the light of the sun guiding your path the light of your god shining in your eyes do not waver and do not give up as your war is holy...” he stopped and then said “I believe this is everything i had to give anything you wish to know more about the plan?”

Jules nodded as he finished writing down the last of the message “ No sir, I think this will be sufficient, my admirals will be able to fill in the gaps with their expertise. This message will resonate well with the troops, you are a talented statesmen” he finished before looking back towards the holographic image of Lord Von Zaschen.

“ I will send this immediately” he finished

“Marvelous the rest of the information is on the tablet it has been downloaded and is now in the tablet send it all if needed be to then have a nice day Mr Jules” He says with a smile before turning off the communication in the tablet.

Jules sighed, and walked towards a large rucksack towards the back of his simple room. Kneeling down to open it, he revealed what looked like an oversized radio with an attachment for a large collapsible satellite dish. Before, Jules would have to walk for miles into the wilderness to get enough privacy to transmit messages. However, subtlety was no longer necessary and Jules grabbed the rucksack and began his ascent to the roof.
It took him a little while to extend the satellite dish and place it on its tripod before he began to boot the communication system. As the system calibrated, it automatically aimed the dish toward the closest known communication hub and began transmitting the plans laid out by Lord Von Zaschen. Once complete, Jules began typing the personal message from the Saxonian noble, before sending the entire package. He could hear the electric whirring of electronics working as the communication system transmitted its message as he waited on the roof, looking out towards the dusk sky.

[Knight Solaire]

Commander Cassius Caspian
CVN-069 Blinding Light ( Supernovae Class Carrier)
Crusade Fleet Flagship


Cassius held onto the back of a nearby chair as the ship transitioned back into normal space, resulting a slight shift in momentum. According to his mental notes, the crusade fleet was almost halfway to the maps designation of Dominion space. In reality however, they were completely unaware of where they were. Long Range travel was limited to the edges of Solite controlled space and just beyond. True long range travel was reserved for solar priests undergoing pilgrimage to other known nations. In reality, the maps and star charts they were using were at least 40 to 50 revolutions old.
Cassius always found some comfort in space travel, he never could get over the beauty of the vacuum. It was peaceful in an eternal kind of way, knowing that these were the same stars that their ancestors saw as the made their exodus from the Dominion. This fact meant little to Cassius, but for the majority of the crew and troops onboard this was akin to a religious pilgrimage.
Nearly everyone was overtaken by religious fervor and preformed rituals and sacred rites nearly every day. Every bit of the carrier, its strike craft and weapons had been blessed nearly 6 times over and had the purity seals to prove it. Although this was a minor annoyance to Cassius, it was good for overall morale, particularly important during these long voyages.

“ Strike group one and three have exited FTL and is standing by 0.2 AU off to our starboard,” a crewmember said towards the ship captain, as he buried his face in the radar screen. The captain nodded in response before looking towards the communications station.

“ Have we tapped into the nearby communications array that the recon team dropped?” the captain asked, looking expectantly towards the crew member.

“ We have accessed the array and are currently downloading communications from high command, sir”. The crew member answered as he turned to face the captain.

Being a former naval reconnaissance operator, Cassius has spent plenty of time on long range destroyers and recon craft. As a result, he knew the procedures and tactics of how these vessels work within larger fleet operations.
While underway within a larger fleet, Solite destroyers sit far to the port and starboard flanks of the greater fleet in order to provide both long range defense, targeting and recon to the bigger ships towards the center. Solite destroyers also travel far ahead and behind of the formation in order to provide increased security. Destroyers that are on point, ahead of the formation, will commonly deploy recon craft to jump ahead of the battlegroup in order to map safe FTL lanes and drop small communications arrays to maintain connection with high command. These arrays are small, about half the size of an average man, making them hard to find unless you are right on top of them. Wherever a Solite fleet travels, it leaves a trail of communications arrays all the way to its destination.

“ Commander Caspian….” A grainy rough voice barked, breaking Cassius’s trance as he looked out towards the stars.

“ Yes…..sir…..Admiral” Cassius answered in a shaky tone, looking up towards the captain’s chair.

“ We have downloaded the most recent comm dump from high command, you may want to inform our illustrious high priest that there is information that he should be privy to” the admiral said in a dismissive tone.

The navy has always been more rational than the other branches and attracts those of more moderate faith than the Army and Marine branches. As a result, they viewed the intervention of religious clerics as unneeded and often unwanted. Being the oldest branch in the Solite state, they have earned the right to their own relative autonomy.
The Admiral of the battlegroup may have been second to the Lord Barca in terms of leadership, but this was the Admiral’s ship and armada, his word was final.

“ Yes admiral, I shall inform him at once” Cassius said with a curt nod before walking off the bridge and into the corridor behind.

‘It must be important’, Cassius thought as he walked back to the ships shrine bay, ‘why else would the Admiral request that the high priest read this personally’ Cassius continued as he walked to one of the personnel elevators.
The mystery of what this could be was eating Cassius alive as he arrived at the door, opening it with the press of the door controls

“ Ah yes, my son…..please sit, we have much to discuss” Lord Barca said as he patted the table next to an empty chair.

The room was lit by a large holographic display in the center of the table, displaying star charts, planet and system maps along with what looked like battle plans for the upcoming invasion of the dominion. This was complete with unit compositions and even frequencies for communication with the Saxionian forces in the area.

“ This is useful…..” Cassius said as the door to the shrine bay opened once again, allowing the Admiral and General to enter the room.

“ Gentlemen, Im glad you could join us….it seems our brothers and sisters of the solar truth have provided us with much needed information” Lord Barca said as the men took their seats

The Admiral grunted in response looking at the updated star charts with the new borders displayed. “I wish we knew this a few weeks ago…” the Admiral said in a flat tone, manipulating the display to show the small gap between dominion and OPAO controlled space. “ This is a problem, according to these new charts and plans, we need to enter Dominion space through this bottleneck, flanked on either side by unknown nations” he finished flatly. “ I would recommend finding another route through” the Admiral barely before the General abruptly spoke up.

“ We have been blessed with good fortune, the Dominion’s forces are thin here, and our time table will not allow us to waste more time traveling around this “bottleneck” to reach the same destination. We have Saxonians depending on us to be at that location at a specific time” the General finished before zooming in on the first system they would encounter. “ These planets are all but undefended, save personal defense forces and police. If we go around, these will be replaced with the local military if we wait and blow our timeline” he said looking towards Lord Barca. “ The gods will it, we must act with the ferocity and speed of a solar flare. It has been foretold and it is written” The General finished.

“ I agree….” Lord Barca interjected, only to be cut off by the Admiral

“ I trust your word to matters of faith but this is my domain priest, Ive seen this go very badly for our forces in the past. Please, leave the strategy to those who have the pedigree for it…” the Admiral spat back at Lord Barca.

The atmosphere in the room changed as Lord Barca rose from his chair, his small frail frame accentuated against the large holographic display. “ These may be your ships Admiral….but this is my expedition” he said as he rested his hands on the table, to lean closer to the pair of officers. His bright red eyes seemingly boring holes into the pair. “ You will go where I order….and I order that we enter the territory here….” He finished pointing up towards the gap between the OPAO and Union. “ Is that understood…..brother..” Lord Barca spat back towards the Admiral as an evil grin began to form on his face.

With a deep sigh, the admiral rose from his chair and nodded towards the men in the room. “ Don’t be so hasty to return to ash priest, such glamorous language will have your body floating in the vacuum in short order. I can assure you, it is not a glamorous or quick death.…” the man finished before walking out of the room, followed by the General after the men exchanged their farewells.

“ Not making any friends I see” Cassius quipped, looking towards the high priest.

“ The path to righteousness will always have obstacles, and those who wish to pull you from it..” Lord Barca answered before walking next to Cassius to pat him on the shoulder. “ Get some rest my son, I will see to it that your on the first recon element that is deployed in this new conflict. You shall have your glory and then return to me, you are far to valuable to loose throughout this new campaign”, he finished before walking to the door. “ Wake me in a few hours, or if anything else comes up…” the priest said with a yawn before leaving the shrine.

Cassius agreed with the Admiral, this was risky, dumb maybe, but he knew enough to keep his mouth shut. An admiral can voice his opinion freely, but Cassius was expendable, there was no shortage of noble born sons in the Solis Ecclesia.

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

Crusade Fleet
LST-091 ( Incandescent Truth, Heavy cruiser converted to a troop transport vessel)
13th Mordant (Acid Dogs) Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 3rd platoon (Mechanized)
Pvt. Cato Euchar


Cato’s eyes shot open before he began to fight against his restraints and the intubation tube stuck down his throat. Panic was evident on his face before the automated medical software noticed his elevated heart rate and began administering a mild sedative to calm him down. This was the first time the private had been awake since the ambush on Mordant Prime, he thought he was dead.

“ Nurse…….NURSE!!!” a voice could be heard through the amniotic fluid capsule he was in, before a figure could be seen moving around the room, running for the door.

The inject calmed Cato down as he slowly settled back into his normal floating position and he was able to take in his surroundings with a clear head. A number of machines were attached to Cato’s body, one around his left leg, his arm and one firmly wrapped around his midsection. They were transparent and Cato could see a number of mechanical arms, rapidly repairing bone, muscle and skin tissues one strand at a time. ‘ I thought I was dead…’ Cato thought before a number of figures hurriedly entered the room again.

“ Hey kid….” A familiar voice could be heard before his platoon leader pressed his face up against the glass, followed by the jeering of his remaining platoon mates.

“ They took the entire 13th Mordant off the planet after that ambush, we were replaced some by marine battalion…” he stated flatly, an uncharacteristic smile plastered on his face.

“ Were somewhere far to the galactic south of Solite territory, but that’s all we know” the lieutenant finished before eyeing the private’s wounds.

“ We took a beating in that park, Kuro, and Hellas were killed and you saw Kostin die before we were all blown to shit..” he said in a somber tone.

“ We have a while to relax and recoup though, who knows where they are sending us next. Its all good though, it cant be worse that Mordant Prime” he finished with a disturbed chuckle.

“ I managed to get you a promotion, you’re a corporal now…congrats. We’ll see you when you get out of this tube, Komninos brewed something from some fruit he stole from the mess hall. It tastes like shit but, it’ll get you some type of drunk” Lieutenant continued followed by the collective laugh of his platoon mates.

“ You’ll be out soon kid..” he finished, before removing his face from the glass

“ Oh….” the platoon leader said as he walled towards the door, “we have a new name for the regiment. Apparently, the general thought that we moved through rebels like acid and fought like rabid stray dogs” he quipped with a slight shrug and a grin. “ They are calling us the acid dogs now…Mordant Acid Dogs..” he finished with a chuckle as the group left the room.

‘Mordant Acid Dogs….’ Cato thought to himself, ‘ I could get used to that’ he finished before the sedatives took hold again, knocking him out.

[LustForDecay]

BGM: Inanna - Ancestral Raging Tides

Usually the gulf that sat between the Foundry and the Imperivm was a quiet place in an intergalactic sense. The loose clusters of worlds belonging to some vague, warring set of worlds could not be counted upon to become much with how long that civil war had been going on. Had it ended in someone’s favour perhaps? Human presence in the form of space stations and starcraft still patrolled its exospace but something had changed. The Ascendancy that had ruled them for long was defined by bright gold, whites, and deep blues but these rigid, boxy craft had gone for something fierier as of late. Striking streaks of red, night black, and even moments of motley green defined them now, greater in number since the war seemed to drone into a footnote of irrelevance on the grand scale – the internal politics of lesser kingdoms, like the ambient buzzing of swarming flies amidst a brutal and uncaring universe. It was something that should be beyond the interests of the Dominion and competing would-be empires making their grand power games – nobodies were a dime a trillion.

Yet even independent vessels passing amongst this grand cluster of worlds noted that perhaps such dismissal was not entirely well founded. The bush fires of flame thinned and retreated to increasingly isolated portions. The strange floating monoliths of flesh, metal, vegetation, and shimmering ethereal matter fired their beams at one another less and less and moreso on those bearing the colours of the old regime. The violence had not vanished but it was diminishing, forced into smaller spaces as the multicoloured vessels of eldritch, alien construction joined with those of humanity’s architectural rigidity. Away from the prying eyes of warlords, tyrants, aristocrats, and alien consciousnesses something stirred amongst once besieged soils. A new unity born from a common heritage of suffering and defiance; hands of chitin, bone, mycelia, and cartilage, all clasped around the same goal and throttling the same throat of a hated, now vanquished enemy. The Ascendancy was no more but the distant echoes of the last hidden holdouts and their misguided remnants battling amongst the civil wars they had engineered up in their cruel wake.

Beyond their boundaries and into the warp gates, the strange ships that seemed as much arthropod or fungoid as they did machine voyaged forth – the largest movement of vessels beyond their boundaries since the days of the now deposed human empire that ruled them. Movement was fast with the wormholes, the fleets of mismatched fleets joined by strange shapes far more than merely bestial – they moved with the fluid, predatory animation of the great star-faring devourers of the myth. These creatures dwarfed many of their smaller ships, some of which even outclassed their capital vessels in size, layered not only in their natural scales, shells, and exoskeletons but bristling weaponry and armour integrated into their bioluminescent forms – spiny, plated, jagged, sweeping hungrily for targets. They moved in formation with the rest of the vessels as a group of coordinated predators in a silent drift.

Some of them would spread outwards towards the three wormhole points between the NIRC and the Imperivm. Their quarry was elusive, rightfully so. The Ascendancy after all, had been removed but not obliterated and ever since their departure from what was now the territory of the Nexus of Integrated Revolutionary Councils, they had sworn a revenge and bristled with an incessant vitriol. It was more than angry sputtering of fallen lords and kings; the still murky boundaries of the Nexus were easy for the old regime’s most fanatic to drift through and within, find those who still praised the gilded hand of iron and the uplifting divinity of their reign. If not that, then joining the civil wars to further the last raging embers of internecine civil war would do. Some of the Nexus’ war-forged legions desired revenge, others simply a ceasing of hostilities, but it was clear that the problem would not solve itself. Power was always waiting to flow from the barrel of a gun – a ship mounted plasma cannon and an electrobiological auto-rifle fulfilled the same function.

Another group, slightly larger in size but not quite a full-on invasion fleet, had neared Karbana Kinis, circling around its northwestern hemisphere as they fanned out over the labyrinthine world. The floating, drifting fragments of mechanized planet looked almost like reeds or stones, hiding whatever secrets it could from the eldritch hungers and curiosities behind the fleet. It would be a mistake to claim they were strangers to this planet. Traces of their own could be found here whether in the distant past or the antediluvian one. Settlers and explorers from times before both the Nexus and the Ascendancy, vanished somewhere into the chasmic depths and the scattered surface plating.

The enormous bioweapons did not appear to have the hesitation of the sapients who commanded them. They slowly drifted in descent as gravity tugged them close enough to be halfway towards the outermost layers of the atmosphere. Shadowy entities of serpentine and decapod shape scoured the realm with skulls tapered and triangular, hyper-evolved senses adapted to stalking through cyberspace and the blackness between the stars augmented by powerful syncretic technologies fusing human, tarrhaidim, gealtirocht, and vrexul and attaching it to the sensory organs of these creatures. Antennae large enough to slice smaller ships in two, energy-reactive glands pulsing with an ominous sickly light, taste-buds wired to olfactory-analytic networks, even additional eyes maintained by nanobot and symbiote colonies, piercing metal with their gaze as information was slowly drip fed back to their handlers. This was an occupied world after all; they did not wish to become the same as the conquerors and tyrants they had overthrown. It would be treated well for its secrets.

[Arawak]

Aboard the TDF Capital

Much distress had been coming from the inner sanctums of the Dominion. The wave of unrest that has so thoroughly spread across the dominion has forced the Emperor to have to redirect himself back to doing a bit of actual work.

"I can't believe it! They canceled it! The fucking pussies!" an exasperated emperor shouted upon hearing the news while his smashed his couch with the mechanical arms of the powersuit.

The TV screen in his wooded imperial lounge in large text read, "BREAKING NEWS: The 415th Annual Denebian Slaughterfest has been canceled. The Gladiator by the name of Hi'bli the Elder broke from the arena and eviscerated 46 spectators before the local militias were able to terminate the rogue gladiator. The local organizers express disappointment and say the emperor needs to wait a few weeks before returning out of concern of potential assassination."

The emperor however, proved to be just mad and cannot believe that the one thing good left in this galaxy has now been taken from him. Than one of the advisors entered the room. It is some middle-aged woman dressed in a business suit taken from ancient times and modified with lots of gilded dominion regalia. She saw the emperor’s frustration and said to him, "We know you were excited about the games but one of the gladiators ate a couple spectators and until they get their business under control, we have to do something less life risking."

"Like what?" the emperor barks at her, annoyed at the little girl now talking to her.

"We need to go to the imperial senate." she says to him.

The emperor just shook his head a bit.

"We are far from there, little girl." he replied, not really giving it much a second thought.

The advisor than told him, "We have been en route the whole time, some navigation errors happened."

“What?!” the emperor than shouted, completely exasperated at how this could ever happen.

The advisor quickly than assured the Emperor by telling him, "Don't worry, we will deal with the perpetrator of that sabotage."

The circumstances all vexed the emperor somewhat, but to him it made sense. Aliens are like animals after all, wild monsters that eat people. Even the little rat people, they are like piranhas.

"Uhh… that... makes sense..." he replied. With a bit of indifference, he said to the advisor, "well I guess I need to get some of that mess under control. Why did they have to rebel? Dominion has done so much for them, but they rebel. They are crazy people."

She shrugged her shoulders not sure at all herself. She than mentioned to the Emperor, “We also got you the proper stimulants this time. It will help you speak with the imperial grace we need in these now trying times. We had an issue with the last shipment that ruined the speech and the traitors who did that have been purged."

"Oh good... They made me look bad. Out the airlock?" the emperor asked.

"Yes." She replied elatedly as a small robot brought the stimulants into the cabin and puts the stimulants into his suit.

The emperor after a brief pause, said with relief, "Good."

The stimulant was injected through his decrepit yet gilded, medical power suit through slots in the back. He made a loud 'aaaaahhhhh' noise as it was injected. The emperor motioned to the advisor to leave the room as the substance began to do its work.

The advisor bowed to the emperor before leaving the room.

In the hallways, the Advisor than met up with admiral of the Emperor's closest Dominion Guard. The admiral is an old guy like the emperor, with pale skin and a harsh demeanor. He lacked the advanced age of the emperor however, being a mere 74 years old and would look to humans today like some guy in their early 40s.

"Wow. That worked?" the admiral asked the advisor, with a bit of unease held back only by the stern, rigid posture he habitually took.

"Yes. The emperor bought the story entirely. Despite me being told the gladiator ate people yet on the TV it said it eviscerated people!" she told the admiral. The admiral looked for a bit at his wrinkly arm and then back at the advisor.

The Admiral than told the Advisor, "The technicians and editors we had intercept the signal of the emperor's television thought that wasn't believable. Like lots of things that are impossible to believe like all these nutjobs who think they are entitled to just break away and form their own petty little fiefdoms. The glorious Imperial Executive of the Dominion needed to get off the TV for the good of the Dominion and that is what we made sure of. Your role was the easy part, you know. I had to get enough people to go with this and all you had to do was keep a story straight. You could not even do that. The Emperor may be advanced in age, but he is not stupid. He can't possibly believe that intelligent creatures would well..."

The admiral than just briefly stopped talking, as if something is off in giving xenos any credit at all. Then he proceeded to finish his rant, saying "What kind of intelligent being would eat other intelligent beings anyways? That would be fucked up. Whatever, it worked."

"I'm amazed you don't know the way the emperor thinks much even after all this time." the advisor replied with a bit of a smirk. The admiral paused at this slight from an advisor who has only been advising the emperor for a few years.

The admiral than proceeded to say, "I'd rather not underestimate the emperor of this vast Dominion. Doing that can get you killed. As you should know with how you got that one guy killed who did not need to be killed at all."

The advisor shrugged her shoulders, doing the best she could to avoid saying anything more. Then an announcement was made: "Destination reached. Welcome back to Earth, our great Imperial Executive Octo Smith."

The Emperor proceeded to burst open through the Cabin door, elated. Too elated.

"It's time!" he shouted, almost childishly as the stomping of his power suit shakes the room and he began to depart from the ship and to the senate as a strange, shadowy figure followed him. Faint sounds of whispers can be heard.

Neither the Admiral nor Advisor said much after that, just disturbed by the emperor’s behavior. A sense of dread had begun to seep into their heads as the triumphal regal music began elsewhere.

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

Earth: The Senate

The senate was a vast space. As a large, decked room akin to an amphitheater where the senates all sit faced towards the center stage where the emperor and whoever takes the floor faced all the rest. The arrangement of the large, theater-like room had the senators of the inner sectors are seated closer to the Emperor than the many seats of the outer sectors. The room for all its fabric and decor, showed the scars of multiple rounds of remodeling over the centuries including bullet holes from prior inner Terran conflicts, secession crises and acts of terrorism.

There was also the seams from the multiple times the room had to be resized to fit ever expanding amount of space the Dominion has come to occupy. The room currently is a vast thing, with hundreds of senators all in the same place. And many others with proxy avatars or surrogates, especially with all the commotion that had been going on. The senate also was staffed with many armored guards wearing gilded power armor of a sleeker, more modern design than what the emperor had. They stood still in the senate, in an almost statue-like fashion and with hawk like sight on all parts of the senate. Worries of assassins filled the hallways, so they were summoned to maximum capacity.

The Emperor than proceeded to make his entrance and all the senators lower themselves so the Emperor stands high over them. Trumpets that had an electronic tinge to them were played as he triumphantly walked into the senate in his massive and rustic powersuit that shook the floor of the senate itself with each step.

He then proceeded to make it to the center of the room, facing all the senators who watched their Emperor anxiously. Something was a bit different, however. Some of the senators seem to be missing. Others are here using some androids to be telepresent. Others still have someone else representing them instead. Cowards, all of them.

Among the senators, Octo Smith with the heightened perception of the stimulants noticed some mumbling going on.

In particular, two senators in the back with one named Brundy Winters and the other named Mac Reed. Brundy was a gruff guy, but with blood shot eyes and a whitened beard from the terror he had been faced with. He turns to his colleague and begins whispering quite loudly, "There is a cult, Mac. You know it as someone also in that area. Our Peacekeepers were not equipped to handle them. I had seen their cult rituals firsthand once… We cannot let them nearby. Yet here we are, playing these games instead of just letting the Dominion Guard do its thing. Are they even aware? I do not feel Octo is there anymore. He used to actually know what he was doing… now he just is this mumbling mess."

Mac Reed, however, proved even more shell shocked and barely can articulate a response. Mac was just there, shaking, with an absolute paleness about him and his lanky, almost skeletal body. "...The OPAO... I think they are here... they're coming for me... I can feel it in my bones..."

"You're all bones, Mac!” Brundy retorted, before he told Mac, “No one knows what an OPAO is anyways, is that some dish local to your sector? Since if that is what you are worried about at least you do not have those loonies that worship suns trying to invade your sector."

Reed, a bit off kilter tried to explain, "It's what they call themselves... the society that formed under our nose..."

"Ha! You can't manage shit.” Brundy excitedly insulted, “Mac, you are a terrible senator for letting that happen. What sorta senator are you? All bony and stuff, please eat some more. Mac, you're making the Dominion look bad."

Mac Reed, sick of Brundy’s insults outbursted "Brundy! Please shut the hell up! You are the most insufferable fuck I have ever met! People are fucking dropping like flies all over my sector and your stupid ass thinks the solar nutjobs are more dangerous than spies killing your closest friends!"

That outburst was very much heard by the Emperor, who glared at them in anger. Other nearby senators also started glare at them and shouted at them, "Little children, you will be the first to speak!"

A lot of the senators were silent and just rolled with it. The punishment made no sense, but why question it?

The emperor than proceeded to say, "Now with that foolishness dealt with, it is time for my speech.”

The senators became all ears.

The Emperor began, "Some unexpected trouble has been reported from... everywhere... What collective madness has possessed our citizens of the outer colonies, will take centuries to truly know. But I have full confidence in our peacekeeping forces to handle the threat.

Since it has... come to the attention of my closest advisors... in the many worlds they operate, that there is a grand conspiracy against us. See, we have known for a while of the worlds of the lost ones and various... distant beings. All of whom have chosen to stand in the way of a unified human society in favor of petty fiefdoms.

We have moved long past the era of fiefdoms in our grand imperial republic. But there are cabals of warlords in the outer colonies trying to monopolize the power for themselves. And our warp sensors have picked up quite a bit of activity from the area. There is suspicion to believe they are collaborating with some other people; we just do not know what exactly.

We also have once again intercepted signals from alien robots that we believe to be planning their own invasion of the Dominion, but we do not have much to say on such bizarre signals. One of the people I talk to behind closed doors suggested they were working with that wannabe warlord Katrin. It is hard to believe that anyone, even traitors, would work with aliens. But who knows how desperate they are to rip apart the greatest experiment in all human history to drag us back thousands of years? I would not want to imagine something so stupid as that.

But that is why I called you all here, as the reports are mountainous. So mountainous. And so, I expect that Brundy Winters now speak. He may be himself a mountain of a man, but he must speak to us of the situation in his sector."

Brundy Winters than moved to the floor of the Senate and the Emperor moved to his own seat. Of which was in front of all the other Senators who silently started to judge Brundy Winters.

Brundy, on the floor is just suddenly not able to really say much. The judging eyes of all the senators prove too much for him. His composure broke, instead of giving a well-informed speech instead begins to start hollering,

"My sector is about to be invaded by the most dangerous things the Dominion has ever witnessed- raving cultists of human origin that worship stars want to murder us, and the Peacekeepers can't handle that! They are invading, we need the Terran Defense Force to stop these marauders before they kill everyone in my sector!"

The Emperor just nodded a bit, with a bit of irritation at the idea some lowly cult needs the Terran Defense Force.

"Anything else?" The emperor clearly agitated asked.

"...No sir…" Brundy sheepishly replied after all that hollering.

Brundy was motioned to leave and the Emperor stated, "It is now time for the second Senator to speak. Mac Reed, as you have made yourself well known to the Senate you must now speak."

The problem was, Mac Reed was not leaving his seat. So, one of the Dominion Guards had to walk in from their position and pick him up forcefully. The guard dragged him to the center of the amphitheater. Mac Reed was crying and shaking in just utter terror as the strong arms of the powersuit wearing guard constrained him in place. Worse still, he was forcibly made to look at all the senators, some of whom were already laughing at the scene.

"Now that you have cooperated. Please, tell your fellow senators what you have seen." The emperor tells Mac Reed.

Mac Reed was barely able to compose himself as he shook in just sheer terror with tears down his face as he stammered "th- there is people, bad people- they're in this very fucking room! They are here! they are fucking here I see three of them! Shadowy organizations have been stalking me in my sector from the OPAO, my officers said they go a bar where they kidnapped someone and-"

"That's enough." The emperor barked, cutting Mac Reed off. "We don't need your outer sector attention seeking. Get him out of here." Mac Reed than was promptly grabbed by the powersuit guard and walked out of the room.

The Emperor took a breather as the screaming, bony figure shouted names before saying, "Now, we have another senator from that same area. A senator by the name of Alexandra Mars. She may now speak."

Alexandra Mars proceeded to walk to the center of the stage.

"She's one of them!" was faintly heard by Mac Reed before the door shut, silencing him.

Alexandra Mars was a rather… off kilter figure. Seemingly a typical looking human woman, but with uncanny professionalism to her that bothered some of the senators.

Senator Mars began to speak with a professionalism that other less attentive senators saw as a refreshing change of pace after the rancor of the disruption, however robotic her tone of voice and movement.

"My fellow senators, the Dominion was long been the place I have called home. Ever since the Emperor has picked me for the position of senator, I have done the best work I can to bridge the gaps between the inner and outer Dominion and in this trying time I have continued this work. Within the Orosian Union as the locals called themselves, we have done much to integrate the interests of the Dominion with that of the outer protectorates with our admirals and local planetary governors.

We also have cooperated with the various guilds of the local union to make a better, stronger and more united union that can handle the piracy of our sectors. We believe that the coalition we have been building can handle the solar crusaders and make sure the local economy prospers even as we take the fight to those who stand against our dominion."

Not much of the way of cheering is heard as she closed her speech. The Emperor just dismissively told her, "thank you for the words senator, you may now go."

As she left, a weird squeaking sound was heard, like that of some rodent but not much was thought of it.

The emperor, annoyed by the squeaking than moved on to ask the only senator he can stand at all, "Prime Senator, why is it so many are absent at this critical meeting?"

That Prime Senator was a woman by the name Maxine of Deneb. Maxine of Deneb happened to also have lots of financial investments in the Denebian Slaughterfest, something she proudly showed on her vest which with the standard Slaughterfest logo on it.

"Sir, we believe that there are plotters who have kidnapped many of our senators in multiple places! Especially in the sectors of that warlord Katrin. The reports that have come out of the area suggest that she has kidnapped the dignified senators Lewis and Maria Orange. We do know for what purpose or if they are even alive. The disastrous incompetence of the peace-keepers in the area leave us to believe we need to bring in the big guns." she told him, just rattling out everything with an intensity so great she barely paused between breathes.

"I see. Are we sure they are absent?" the emperor asked, having heard a name he had long forgotten.

The Prime Senator looked down at her holographic sheets in dismay while she was something and told the Emperor with less confidence, "You know... I am not sure. They are very messy in that part of the Dominion. Their peacekeepers are known for being the worst peacekeepers in the galaxy as is. Their tech is horribly out of date and no one knows how many forces we have out there because they keep lying on the sheets"

The Emperor, had a deeply vexed and wrinkly face of disappointment that the Prime Senator just looked away from in shame, if not due to whatever she was sniffing on her arm. The Emperor began to than rant at Maxine, losing what composure in his over engineered Powersuit he had, "Look Maxine, you may run the best system outside Earth, but do not insult the peacekeepers! They are perfection, the best of the best outside of the Defense Force itself which as I may stress is only for alien invasion."

Maxine proceeded to stand down, all too wary of pushing the Emperor too much.

The emperor, exasperated "Now, does anyone have actual evidence of alien invasion instead of all this hysteria about sun worshiping idiots and vague warp signatures from supposed alien robots?"

The senate was just silent. The murmurs started up again before the emperor shouted, "Silence! As no one has the courage I call on the senator James Clarke.”

James Clarke was a rather sleek guy, of whom was from one of the south eastern sectors of the Dominion that the ISC had yet to reach. He walked to the center with a grace, broad shoulders and augments that proved far removed from what most senators ever used. The Emperor, with a scowl on his face motioned the man to speak. He proceeded to do just that.

“Fellow Senators, there is mountains of evidence of UFO contact in many sectors from an entity known as the Foundry. This is well known. Now, I am not one to follow ancient conspiracies of lost exploration crews, empires of Romans capable of spaceflight or of the inter-dimensional plant creatures called Mowogi, but it is not a coincidence that Katrin seceded at the same time the Solar cultists have chosen to attack or of the many claims of mysterious agents acting in the northern sector including the subversion of a prison in that area."

Clarke started to than get a bit more intense, preaching "Our own team in advance of this meeting has used the Sector Sight System our colleagues on Parathalia developed to deduce the likelihood of the events that have transpired and simulate what would have to happen for such a wave of uprisings to occur. Our conclusion is there is smoke and even the slightest bit of snooping will find the fire. We have absolute confidence is outside interference going on in multiple sectors of the Dominion of alien origin, if not plain outside interference. And that should be no shock when we already know from from the Kinnis ruins that wormholes are possible!"

Than he just went overboard as he proclaimed with vindication and an arm raised, "There is a conspiracy against the Dominion! We are seeing but the puppets of a greater puppet master that seeks the Dominion's down-"

"You have had enough time to speak, loon!" The emperor loudly interrupted. Senator Clarke almost immediately deflated.

"We don't need this garbage here, get out." The emperor said to him in disgust at that sleek uppity little kid, "Like come on man... Katrin made you know... announcement and... petty warlords to joined in. You do not need aliens... they eat people... robot aliens, they are joke. Kinnis ruins, a joke. Those aliens are just stuff we pave over for our galactic frontier. They are not credible threats. All of you senators need to calm the fuck down.”

And with a motion to leave, James Clarke left without a word just completely ashamed of himself.

The Emperor meanwhile, felt like this shit has been dragging for far too long and despite many other senators not speaking at all.

The Emperor immediately took back the stage from the other Senators and began his closing speech to the best of his ability.

"Despite the arguments made by our diligent and well-respected senators from across the Dominion, we are not going to mobilize the Terran Defense Force or Dominion Guard against these... minor border threats. Come back when we can have hard evidence of the alien... robot... aliens... being actual threats, then we will deploy the Terran Defense Force. Until then, the most that shall be done, is a Dominion-wide lock down of all sectors to make the job of our competent and uh... well-armed Peacekeepers easier…"

The serum than had worn off. With a bit of a sudden jolt Octo Smith proudly announced, "Section 31 of the Terran Constitution, the rebellion protocols I invoke! Any ships without proper Dominion Identification outside their sector will be... assumed bad people if they refuse to be, smiling! ... With their local peacekeepers."

Loud cheers than consume the senate, reverberating across the whole place as if it was a sports game.

The Emperor, taking in the elation finally cried out, "Now we can go to the slaughterfest, that I proclaim to be reopened! Maxine, open the Slaughterfests! When I get to my ship, we are going straight to Deneb with this crisis now averted!"

More loud cheering continued in the moment. The emperor had proven himself once more. The games shall continue.

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

Deneb, the Slaughterfest

A large, spindly alien creature with cryptic glyphs streaming down their carapace moves its way around a dark room with its large legs and tendrils moving arise the bodies of slaughtered creatures that make it almost thankful for its weak sense of smell. The dark, cement room is a foggy place, but it is one it knows well as its prison. The creature, a Craetak, knows itself as Aunalak.

In its multi-tracked mind, it cannot help but see its own past as real as it sees the present, the traumas of countless battles it had been forced into. Yet it continues to stab at the carcass given to it in diligent frustration, for it is all the humans ever give to it. It knew of its once proud society, but now it just is forced to kill or be killed. It is left in this room, perpetually. In its isolation it had started to manifest itself fellow Craetak of the ancient orders its own mothers once spoke of.

‘Aunalak. Did they ever tell you?’ one of the hallucinatory beings asked it.

‘of what’? It wondered to its council.

‘Of the peaks, of the shining spires. Of the lost contact with the great, soulful Mediators?’

‘Lost cities to a greatness that was murdered, how can it be so in the same plane of existence as the exoflesh abominations who were granted so much power over us? They became our debt collectors, of all beings horrid and great in creation.’

The voices replied, ‘For they are temporal. These humans, they do not know much. It is obvious to us, as the records our friends had shown us… revealed them. The Mediators who the Craetak were once clients. We do not know what happened to the noble society they had, or how the flesh monsters took over and made us die for their amusement. But we have reason to believe them out there.’

Aunalak with skepticism asked, ‘On what basis? They had centuries to do something if they even existed to begin with.’

The voice replied, ‘You will see, for we must persist in fighting for at least this next cycle. You will continue the quest for higher Klautu and our soul will remain pristine no matter the blood on our limbs.

And than Aunalak cries out to it, 'We may be deprived of the pilgrimage, but my struggle is pure!’

As this was being thought, the sounds of human rancor were than heard as one of the flesh abominations told Aunalak, “It is time we let you back into the arena, Stiffy Stabbs.”

[Knight Solaire]

Commander Cassius Caspian
CVN-069 Blinding Light ( Supernovae Class Carrier)
Crusade Fleet Flagship


Cassius sighed as he sat in one of the empty chairs on the bridge. The weapons officer was understandably grabbing some much needed sleep as the ship traveled in FTL. No weapons could be fired while traveling at this speed, so understandably no weapons officer was needed.
The atmosphere on the bridge was tense however, as they were in line to “travel down the slot” as the crew put it. The move worried Cassius too, they had no relations with these nations and the strict radio silence they operated under made them a very imposing force. On the surface, everything seemed to go to plan. The destroyers and recon craft ahead of the main fleet signaled that everything was clear before they jumped, and Cassius hoped that things stay that way when they arrived.
The arrival of the groggy weapons officer signaled the end of FTL travel as the vessel transitioned back into normal space, the glow of a nearby blue giant filling the dark bridge.

“ All strike groups accounted for and moving into close formation sir…” the radar officer barked, quickly looking back towards his radar screen “ We are 10k AU away from the nearest planetary body, no artificial structures have been detected” the officer finished.

At first, the Admiral was quiet, before an uncharacteristic grin spread across his face “ The gods favor us….” He said, pointing his head towards the relatively nearby blue giant. “ Young stars, a sign of new beginnings…” he finished, looking towards the command display.

A series of green lights next to vessel names on the command panel indicated that all ships were now in close formation and ready to travel in between the borders of the OPAO and Union. The bridge was now alive with activity, as crew members were hyper focused on their stations, looking for any sign of sentient activity.

“ Any reports from the recon vessels…” the Admiral said, looking towards the communication officer.

“ No sir, all quiet….nothing to download on the comm array in this sector…” the officer said with confidence.

“ Good, send a message to all vessels over the shortwave radio. All ships, begin max burn on this bearing…” the admiral said as the ship could be felt accelerating.

A large timer, appeared on the public display of the bridge reading 12 hours. This timer indicated the amount of time it would take them to travel through the “slot” and to the next waypoint for a jump.
This was an important milestone, this was the last jump before entering Dominion space and everyone was anxious to start combat action. Cassius let out another sigh and began walking off the bridge before yawning. He needed sleep ahead of his recon action.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15 hours later


“ Commander Caspian……!” a voice yelled through the bulkhead door, violently rousing Cassius from his slumber. “ Commander Caspian, its Lieutenant Junior grade Aquilla….Naval recon commandos…..2nd platoon. Ive been informed that your going to join us for this upcoming OP” the voice continued.

Cassius let out a long groan, wiping the sleep from his eyes before speaking in a groggy tone “ Enter!” he said as the door opened

The Lieutenant JG was young, almost too young to be leading a naval recon platoon leader. “ Sorry to wake you sir, we exited FTL an hour ago, we are set to recon landing sites soon…” the Lieutenant said in a blank tone, clearly not to enthused that he needed to take Cassius. “ We step off in thirty minutes, im here to get you ready…”

Cassius groaned again and stood from the bed, nodding as he followed the young lieutenant down the corridors of the carrier.

“ Do you have anything warm?” the lieutenant asked as they walked past troop and weapons bays, looking back at the commander with a raised eyebrow.

“ No….” Cassius barked, still trying to wake up “ Recon craft are temperature controlled anyway, and the planet is rather temperate if our analysis is right….” He said, his voice clearing as he spoke.

The young lieutenant let out a chuckle and shook his head “ A lot has changed since Mordant.” He said in a jovial tone “ we are jumping from high atmosphere, freefalling to our objective. Your going to be cold..” he finished, letting out another chuckle.

“ Ill be fine” Cassius said flatly as the reached the naval recon bay

“ Fair enough sir…” the lieutenant answered, pointing him inside “ Your gear is in the crate inside, the rest of the platoon is already prepping the craft so you have the room to yourself to get ready. Ill see you in thirty...” he finished walking down towards the hangar bay.

Cassius entered to room and was greeted by a large crate in the center of the room, flanked by a multitude of ammo crates an explosives. Opening the crate, Cassius saw a set of standard issue environmental armor, worn by marine raiders and naval recon. The matte black armor surfaces offering no light reflection.
Cassius was a former naval recon commando himself and was familiar with the armor and weapons associated with recon operations. However, it had been a few years since he was operational and he was not as conditioned as he wanted to be. Relying on his training, he was able to put on the armor without any real difficultly, the sound of pressurizing indicating that he had attached all the armor components correctly.
A large rucksack took up the majority of the space in the crate and it was already pre-packed by the platoon itself, probably to save the time of telling him what to bring. It weighed nearly 100lbs and included extra ammo, advanced optics and explosives. Struggling to pick it up, Cassius finally got the rucksack on his shoulder before he grabbed the small carbine rifle and began walking for the door.
The halls were eerily empty, as most of the troops and crew were still asleep ahead of the recon operation. Cassius always enjoyed the silence, it allowed him to calm his mind before potentially seeing combat. The hallway eventually gave way to the large cavernous expanse of the carrier hangar bay as Cassius walked past strike craft before eventually reaching the lone recon craft that had landed on the carrier. A woman, the pilot, stood next to a technician as the remainder of the recon team was loading their packs onto to ship.
The rest of the platoon barely acknowledged the commanders presence as they loaded the vessel, stopping only to exchange professional pleasantries before continuing to work. The platoon was loading all of their equipment into a drop pod that would be dropped with them. Due to the size of the atmospheric parachutes, they would jump clean, with just their weapons and pick up their packs from the drop pod when they land. Cassius did the same and sat in the troop bay, waiting for the rest of the platoon.
With the recon craft loaded, it taxied to the hangar elevator and quickly began rising up to the flight deck, the back ramp of the recon craft closing as they reached the vacuum of open space. The fleet was roughly 30k miles from the upper atmosphere of the planet, which looked like a large moon at this distance. The flight to the drop point was set to take a few hours, and the platoon sat in relative silence, only broken by the status reports of the pilot as they got closer to the planet.
The planet steadily grew before taking up the majority of the cockpit widow in front of them, the blueish tinge of the upper atmosphere becoming visible.

“ 1 minute!” the pilot yelled over the intercom as the crew began putting on their helmets, preparing to vent the oxygen of the craft into space. The recon platoon followed suit, pressurizing their suits to prepare for the vacuum of open space.

“ 30 seconds…!” the pilot yelled as the sound of oxygen venting out of the craft could be heard, being replaced by absolute silence as the pressure equalized to the vacuum of space.

The rush of oxygen leaving the craft was quickly replaced by the sound of Cassius’s own breathing as the suits oxygen reserves kicked in. Looking towards the rest of the platoon, Cassius watched as they stood and positioned themselves towards the rear of the craft. Following suit, Cassius stood as the rear ramp of the recon craft opened, flooding the interior with light from the planet and its nearby star.
The lights of the craft flashed from red to blue as two members of the platoon quickly pushed the gear pod out of the back of the craft before following suit, jumping after the drop pod. The rest of the platoon followed, running and jumping off the back ramp of the craft into the upper atmosphere of the planet.
It was always weird to be free falling without the sound of air rushing past your face. Even weirder was the sight of having high altitude cirrus clouds below them as the fell. Looking up, Cassius could see the remainder of the platoon is near perfect formation, their arms spread out in an attempt to use what little atmosphere there was to keep them stable. Slowly, the faint sound of air rushing past Cassius’s ears could be heard before they passed the upper layer of cirrus clouds. The sound of air steadily grew louder before it dominated his ears as they dropped further into the atmosphere of the planet.
The drogue chute of the gear pod engaged first, prompting the rest of the platoon to engage their chutes, first deploying drogue chutes before their main chutes opened, jerking them into a slow decent towards the ground. Dawn was just breaking down on the planet, and the majority of the ground below was shrouded in darkness. Toggling his night vision visor, Cassius got his first glimpse of the planet as the platoon drifted down towards the ground, landing together with their gear with minimal noise.

The platoon was now truly alone as they began consolidating and burying their parachutes, they had landed in a large prairie, away from any major population center by a few hundred miles at least. The sound of a radio squelch, startled Cassius after hours of silence, followed the by the young Lieutenant’s voice.

“ Assassin 1 actual, this is assassin 1-1. We are clean and in position, identification of landing zones to follow…” he said calmly as the platoon donned their heavy packs and began walking off into the night.

CVN-069 Blinding Light ( Supernovae Class Carrier)
Crusade Fleet Flagship


The message of the successful recon deployment reached the bridge of the Crusade fleet flag ship. Not wasting anytime, the Admiral, instructed the radio officer to send a coded message to Lord Von Zaschen with the frequencies given to them.

The message simply read

“ Crusade fleet in position, ready to conduct combat operations”

[jorcool]

Knight's Council, Ogrion

The council room was so silent that you could have heard a pin drop. Eleven figures, all seated around a large round table, were staring at a hologram in the middle. Only one of the figures, that of Grandmaster Berko Hepburn, was physically present, while all the other ones were present through holograms. A few more minutes of silence passed before it was interrupted by the deep voice of Grandmaster Hepburn: "So they were Dominion ships? Are you absolutely sure?"

The hologram in the middle of the table turned towards him. It resembled a man in his thirties, dressed in the uniform of an Orosian trade captain. The hologram spoke: "Absolutely sure, my lord. They had Dominion peacekeeper emblems and everything. My vessel, the Hammerhead, was in Dominion space when we received the news of the sector lockdown. We had just offloaded our cargo, and picked up some Colvianian Trout from the local station. We were already heading back home, but the peacekeepers caught us off guard and fired at us. Several of our trade fleet's lightly armored ships had already been destroyed before we were able to jump away. It's a miracle some of us managed to get back in one piece."

"Hmm, thank you for this information." Berko shifted in his seat as turned off the trader's hologram. He looked around the room, as he addressed the March Knights around the table: "I did not know the situation was this bad. It seems that the amount of unrest in the outer Dominion is at its zenith. Our trade fleets are being attacked all across Dominion space, and I refuse to stand idly while our people are being murdered. This is the time to declare our independence from the Dominion, and remove its decrepit government from power. Who is with me?"

An 'aye!' went around the table, but three of the March Knights stayed silent. "Sister de Villeneuve, you look worried. What's on your mind?" Berko asked.

A young woman, probably only between 25 and 30 years old, Joan de Villeneuve, March Knight of the Mall-ta March, spoke: "As you know, Lord Hepburn, nearly half of Mall-ta's sphere of influence, what we consider Orosian territory, overlaps with that of the Dominion, including some of our richest, most prosperous and productive worlds and systems. Even the Mall-ta system itself is almost on the border. How do you plan on handling this?"

"That is a good question, but we've already prepared for this. The Wandering Knights Southern fleet's patrol area has been moved south, in order to protect that area when the time comes. They will be able to help with our main offensive as well, although the fleet will prioritize defending our own territory. Brother KMA, you were silent as well. Do you have any issues with the plan?"

Before the robot could reply however, another voice spoke up. This voice belonged to a Phupra, who towered over the rest of the knights with his 2.2 meters, and inability to sit in a chair. "With all due respect, Lord, wouldn't this leave our northern borders undefended? We've been having a lot of pirate problems lately, they're becoming so bold that they've started to attack frontier worlds and settlements, as Brother KMA can confirm. If we go south, they'll only start to become worse."

"That is a valid concern, Brother Xaazqu. In order to prevent these pirate attacks, the Wandering Knights Northern fleet, as well as the Marches of Oros and Newacre, will send fewer forces to the south, in order to guarantee the safety of our worlds. As soon as we are done with this conflict, we can focus all of our attention on these pirate attacks. Now, is everyone on board with the plan?"

Berko looked around the room. No one seemed to be having any objections. Good, he thought, With some luck we will be able to end this quickly, stop the Dominion's atrocities, and return to protect our home. He spoke again: "Now then, there is another matter. Although I know some of you dislike these kinds of methods, we've managed to place a spy, or rather several in the Dominion senate. Here they are."

Rather than turning on the hologram, however, instead the screen behind and above Berko activated, and displayed a very peculiar sight. The Knight's Council could see a very humanlike android, with three suspiciously mouse-like chambers or cavities on the outside. And before it stood three Truqiks, the small rodent aliens that make up part of the Union. Berko continued: "For the past few years, these three have been piloting an android representing Alexandra Mars, who you might know as the Dominion senator for our sector. Their names are Kwik, Kwek and Kwak. Don't worry about the original Alexandra, she's retired and working on a farm somewhere in Urusalim."

Most of the Knights were either shocked or amazed at this. They always thought that the slightly uncanny senator was working for the Dominion. "Now, my Truqik friends, we are planning an assault on the Dominion. I need you three to delay the response for as long as possible, and send back as much information about the Dominion's plans as you can, but make sure you don't get snuffed out. Is that understood?" The three furry aliens bowed in unison, before breaking the connection and deactivating the screen.

"Now then, I believe that's all for today. I want everyone to gather as many of our fleets and armies as you can. I will leave my deputy Avra in charge here. I shall announce our independence from the Dominion and have it publicly televised. We will rendezvouz at the Gate of Lucien. There we will wait for the Dominion's response, and hopefully make it out alive to continue south." With those words, Berko ended the meeting and exited the room.

Omiea, Orosian frontier world?

The ground was soft under Sandra's feet as she walked. It was night-time, and as she looked up at the night sky she could see Ravagua, Omiea's odd, purple moon. Major Robinson paused for a moment as she surveyed the land, looking for any signs of the great dust clouds that the pirates made as they traversed the steppes. Luckily, there were none, and she slung her sniper rifle over her shoulder as she kept walking. It took a few minutes, however, before she realized that she was totally alone. "Gábor, Murphy, where are you?" She yelled out, "This isn't funny guys!". Only then did she realize that shouting might not have been a good idea, because she could hear something
breathing and snarling behind her. Almost instantaneously, she bolted away, not bothering to look back, or call for reinforcements. Whatever the thing was, it gave chase, and she knew that she could not keep up. After about a minute of running, she felt a heavy weight knock into her back. As she saw the ground coming towards her, she braced for impact and closed her eyes...

And was greeted by her room. A nightmare, Sandra thought. Just then, her door opened, and the tall robot that had become her mentor poked his head in. "Squire Sandra Robinson, I was just looking for you. Wake up. Oros is going to war with the Dominion."

[Knight Solaire]

Commander Cassius Caspian
Thera ( Dominion Controlled Planet)
30km outside of City 001

Cassius removed his helmet with a long sigh, relishing in the cool air that greeted him. Sweat poured from his face and neck and pooled in his boots, resulting in a slight squishing sound with each step. It had been years since Cassius was involved in a recon operation, and they certainly didn’t operate like this on Mordant Prime.
He was glad that the naval recon commandos had learned from their past engagements, lessons that were often learned the hard way. On Mordant Prime, they deployed with vehicles, dropships and other loud equipment. They operated more like a light raid force rather than a recon team. This often resulted in contact, casualties and inaccurate intelligence. The new breed of recon commandos were different, they deployed light and stayed away from combat. Not getting shot at usually makes it easier to collect actual intelligence, something a recon team should be good at.

The platoon had established landing zones for the marine dropships, outlining safe locations with infrared trim so they could be seen at night. The team then began moving inland, towards their primary objective.
City 001 was relatively small, according to orbital recon scans. Far from the capital of the region, the importance of taking city 001 was its spaceport. This spaceport would allow the strike groups to land heavy weapons and could support their smaller transport ships, a necessity for continued operations. Without this spaceport, reinforcements would have to come from orbit, taking hours to reach the locations they were needed at.

Cresting a small false peak, Cassius could see the rest of the platoon laying prone against the summit of the large hill they were on. Two commandos were surveying they city handheld binoculars and scopes while the remainder of the platoon were setting up larger imaging devices and camouflage.
Cassius felt old and out of shape, the platoon had walked endlessly for the past three days. His legs ached and his back felt bent out of shape by the heavy rucksack that he was forced to carry. That didn’t seem to faze the rest of the platoon though, they moved over the terrain looking unencumbered and fresh. Even when they reached their destination, the platoon was constantly in motion as they set up their observation position.

“ Care to join us commander…….” A voice could be heard from his helmet as Cassius looked up to see the young lieutenant waving at him.

He could almost imagine the smug grin the platoon leader had plastered on his face behind the mirrored face shield. Letting out a quick chuckle, Cassius donned his helmet again and finished the ascent up the large hill and was immediately put to work.
Producing an entrenching tool from his rucksack he cut the top layer of grass and soil, carefully peeling it back while keeping the top layer intact. Placing the top layer of grass and soil aside, he began digging a hole large enough for two men to be able to lay side by side inside. Cassius then placed a large spotting scope inside while another commando began to set up communications equipment before pulling their rucksacks into the hole with them. Finally, the pair set up a few collapsible supporting beams before pulling the top layer of grass and soil over them, leaving a small gap towards the front of the hole in order for their equipment to observe the city. This process was replicated along the crest of the hill by the remainder of the platoon, as each pair was trained on a separate location.

Finally, after almost a week of exhausting hiking, this was their new home for the foreseeable future. Cassius was just glad to be laying down, this was luxury compared to the past couple days.

“ Sun rises in an hour, we will maintain 50% watch” the platoon leader said over the team’s short range radio.

“ No communication with the Crusade fleet until 1800 zulu, so radio silent until the sun goes down again” the Lieutenant finished with a sharp radio click.

“ Hey….ill take this watch commander, you get some sleep”, the commando in the hole with Cassius said as he took off his helmet. “ You look like you need it anyway…” he finished with a chuckle before turning to bury his face into the large spotting scope.

“ Thanks…..” Cassius barely got out as he laid his head down on his rucksack, still dripping with sweat.

“ No problem pops….” The commando said again without looking away from the scope

Cassius chuckled “pops….” He said under his breath. ‘What a nice nickname’ he added sarcastically before closing his eyes and immediately going to sleep.

[DX3214]

Colab between DX and Arawak

a few weeks ago

Peacekeeper Base Fred Minor

The mood at the base was dismal.

The grunt enforcers in the cafeteria tables were deathly silent knowing how much of a burden they had ahead as the TV blared, “Today the Imperial Executive at a productive senate meeting made the proclamation that all sectors are on lock down due to secessionist activities across the outer colonies. Please report all interstellar movements between sectors to your local administrators or risk capital actions against your vessel.”

One of the grunts just asked their colleague, “Do we even have the numbers to enforce that?”

The colleague replied, “Of course we do, it’s just what we’ve already been doing in Beau being applied elsewhere. We just need to make sure Captain Vuttiger gets the right intel from Senator Orange. An intelligence failure on part of her administration led fellow Peacekeepers to die to those warlords!”

The grunt just nodded along as the sound of ships taking off were heard.

“Well, there goes the brigade to catch up with the Captain.”

Planet Beau, The Palace

Maria Orange was just bored out of her mind. The animated dolls lacked any new plays to act out. They just didn’t do all that much.

“At least it was not having to go to that senate again…” she groaned as the animated dolls were chasing each other around the floors of the palace, as the faint echoing of their movement in the spacious chamber is completed by the haint hums of activities going on in the lower bureaus.

The silence of the palace had some tranquility about it, but the liveliness of the frescoes that adorn the walls spoke to Maria of a time she can barely recall. A time when these palaces were full of people.

“Why did they have to rebel?” she wonders out loud, “Couldn’t they have at least waited another century?”

One of the animated dolls then entered the chamber. It was serving Fructbarene style tea.

“About time that arrived.” she said with relief as the animated doll assisted her in sipping the tea.

Solar Space/Planetary Orbit of Beau

Meanwhile In the outer regions of the star system a rift in space opened the illumination of it shining green bluish lights for a moment before ships start jumping from it and appearing from it before the portal itself closes 10 ships in total leaving it the as thrusters cooled down the ships got busy with officers running around.

In the flagship of the fleet the female knight of Burgundy sighed, taking a sip of coffee after a long journey she then said “This took long enough...” while sitting on a bench the admiral of the fleet said checking the data in a console “we had to take the long way or else they would find out about us...” She then said taking another sip saying while looking at the beverage “More surprised you stored this much coffee for this travel”

“I knew it would be a long journey” he replied immediately after an officer soon then said his energy following “Captain your Highness we have arrived” Upon hearing that the knight slammed the cup in the support saying “About goddamn time!” a display of the star system soon appeared showing the target of the operation the palace planet of the senator.

seeing the situation the Admiral then said “Miss Sophia i think we should make a quick and swift attack we cannot hold our defenses in case of enemy reinforcements come towards us” Sophia nodded she knew that she then said to an officer “Warn the troops…” she then turned to the admiral saying “Try to keep this fleet good captain i hope we can land all forces” the admiral nodded at her she then left the room getting ready to get into action.

The fleet soon began to quickly approach the planet for radars, it seemed like a group of asteroids or a comet and its tail with erratic movement until the image became clearer as its interception orbit was now aimed at the palace world and approaching quite quickly.

The fleet soon started to slow down to be caught by the planet's orbit in the sensors. It could be seen ships in orbit soon began to fire their guns aiming to disperse, scare or destroy the ships too close to their goal or around then to create a small buffer zone the ships soon begun lowering themselves orbitaly and get close into the atmosphere to begin the landings.

Planet Beau, The Palace

The tranquility of the palace was suddenly pierced. “Vuttiger…” she mumbled, knowing well the sound of those footsteps. He walked into the chamber, uninvited as per usual. The ghoulish peacekeeper looked at her with contempt.

“Senator, why would you not go to the Senate?”, he rhetorically asked.

“I did not want to go. Seemed like a waste of time to go there, as we both know there are more pressing matters in this sector.” She explained to him, rather dismissively.

One of the larger human sized animated dolls stumbled about the chamber, much to Vuttiger’s disgust. It was uncanny to even see, walking about wearing those robes.

“Very pressing matters, indeed.” He chided.

Maria did not like hearing that kind of talk from Vuttiger, not one bit.

“you have no business being here right now! Don't you have those warlords to kill, or as i've seen, get your goons killed by?” She yelled at him, knowing of his failures out in the field.

Vuttiger was rather taken aback by that statement, for a bit. Then, he grinned as he noticed a paleness in Maria’s face.

“You bastar-”, She stammered with what breath she had, before the chemicals got to her body too much for her to articulate much at all.

“Is there something wrong Senator?” Vuttiger asked, feigning the slightest bit of sympathy for the senator.

The senator then fell to her knees, coughing repeatedly before collapsing onto the ground. Vuttiger couldn’t help but notice the slight echo of the walls from some of the animated dolls in the room who continued playing with each other as if nothing had happened. The design of the ‘dolls’ Vuttiger knew to just simply be that of androids underneath. Dressed up, as if such metal can be rendered charming. At least one of them had their use, with how easy it proved to subvert those poor substitutes for servants.

Vuttiger looked at the senator with a bit of pity, before saying “You should have gone to the senate, Maria.”

Then he walked out of the chamber unceremoniously and to the local peacekeeper garrison to continue the rendezvous.

As Vuttiger Walking through the halls a rather unusual darkness fell into the palace the guards that were outside could see a ship blocking the skies. It was very low then usual after a moment small glimpses due to the sun being high in the sky.

Soon dropships were visible and they stopped on top soldiers wearing full power armor dropping from them and landing before opening fire at the guards of the palace soldier being deployed in several areas of the palace gunfire begging to be heard at a distance.

The Knight soldiers soon began to kill the guards getting inside of the palace and moving in killing nearly indiscriminately bureaucrats, officers, soldiers the aim of the raid was simple Senator Maria, and the data banks and files of the palace.

The guards of the palace started to return fire with gauss rounds as whatever bureaucrats the Knights didn’t get to escape further underground. Plasteel Barricades were set up by the palace guards, but they proved of little use against the breaching charges, and Plasma cutters some more easily thanks to the incredible strength of their power armor. Vuttiger was not seen in all this, having already left through some secret palace passages some invaders wouldn’t immediately know of.
Then, some of the local androids emerged from one of the windows and started blasting at the intruders from a balcony. Some of those toy-like androids, still wearing the dresses and gowns the senator had out on them just a few hours prior, the fluff on them flayed from gunshots revealing the metallic innards of the so-called ‘dolls’. The walls of the palace accrued new gunshot holes in the process of the firefight, especially as the grenade launchers that destroyed the ‘dolls’ left new holes and smoking places.
As the raid went on Sophia´s group after killing a few guards began approaching Maria´s room she then asked in comms in a small stop due to resistance of other guards “All forces this Alpha report what is the situation” “This is beta we are taking care of the resistance in the gardens behind the palace no casualties so far…” forces beta answered “Charlie here we are about to breach the information vault in a few minutes a few casualties due to the hallways…” Charlie forces answered “Delta here front yard of then has turned into a battle zone might need heavy support sustaining a lot of casualties here…” Delta forces answered Sophia nodded saying “Understood all force explosions being heard outside

As the Alpha forces of the raid arrived at Maria´s door after killing more guards one soldier put a small breaching charge after he stepped out of the way he handed the detonator to Sophia who then said “Attention everyone this is the senator so it might be 20 other guards in this room and possible battle droids… everyone ready” The team nodded she then said “Cleared!” The explosion opening the door someone quickly throwing a stun grenade trough it after the flash they all come in seeing an empty room some holes due to a grenade launcher hitting to the droids in the balcony after looking around Sophia worried was this an ambush she then said “Check it”

The soldiers moved forward, one looking next to the bed saying “Over here!” The group came in checking the room carefully in the floor next to the bed covered in robes was senator Maria Convulsing in the ground foam in her mouth Sophia seeing that for a split moment said quickly knowing something was wrong “Doctor check her” a soldier in power armor with red crosses in his shoulders got close into her after checking her vitals he turned her to the side making she start breathing for a moment after that he said after checking for a moment using a few instruments he then said “She was poisoned…” Sophia´s head began to quickly think ‘poisoned how? why? By who?’ she quickly brushed saying after seeing the situation at hand “Can you take care of her?” the doctor nodded saying “I might need time”

Sophia nodded at that saying to the troops and in comms “All troops make sure the palace is clear we control of it for now but we need a few minutes all forces in this transmission copy” all Forces copied the soldiers in the room also nodded many leaving while other gathered positions in the room especially in the windows using sniper rifles the doctor making sure that the senator was alive for the time being after grabbing a syringe and injecting in her lungs Marina felt she could breathe again albeit quite painfully Sophia seeing the situation at hand then said in comms to the ships “Prepare extraction ETA 5 minutes i don't think we might have enough time to take data from the servers… but we have something good”

Meanwhile, the Vault of data was breached the knights gunning down all inside the leader of the group seeing the Computers and physical files after the dust settled then said “I want everyone to grab anything in the files and put a hacker to unlock that goddamn thing we need to be quick…” the soldiers began to hurry in the search meanwhile in their visors a new thing appeared ETA to evacuation 5 minutes ticking down almost immediately the commander sighed saying “what else can happen now?”

The sounds of more guards coming up the stairs is than heard, the echoing chamber having made the steps all too clear. They were not happy of the massacre below and had sought to corner the raiders in the chamber, the senator presumably having already evacuated.

Despite seeing the senator on the floor, the guards were quick to open fire into the chamber. One of the palace guards stood back to report the incident, which was presumed to be the cause of the raiders. Something Vuttiger from the base of command on the other end of the line was very glad to hear, however much he tried to had that the chaos of raid indeed would work as cover for his own actions. The guards continued to try to surround the chamber from all ends, however much the spacious chambers could be surrounded.

One of the injured bureaucrats in the data vault, it turned out, was alive just enough to fire a personal pistol at the hacker they saw at the terminal. With a bloodied mouth, they uttered before bleeding out “my computers…”

The room of the senator was closed outside a few knights remained shots could easily be heard outside of the doors and around the palace, Sophia grew worried until a transmission coming in from Charlie saying “Captain we lost our expert so we had to ditch the archives while taking just a few papers and leave since reinforcements began to arrive…” the transmission ended with Sophia kicking the bed making it move a few feet due to the power armor she sighed and then said “All forces full evac Alpha is going to attempt to transport the senator remaining forces get to your Evac zones carry your dead with you if possible” after the transmission ended she then said to the medic “So what is the situation?”

The medic after injecting a syringe into senator Orange then said “She will live right miss?” he said to the face of the senator breathing difficulty in the ground she looked bad with a high-level whiteness in her skin almost like she caught a bad disease or bad bleeding under her breath it could be heard a small profanity for the medic something he smiled behind the helmet he then grabbed her into his arms and said “We better hurry…” Sophia nodded at that and then said to the knights in the room “All personal high priority target stays in center we shall guard around it understood” The soldiers then said “Ura” confirming her

Evacuation and Orbit

Dropships were beginning to re-approach the palace Meanwhile in the palace the raiding team of knights begun to concentrate in the evac zones as the knights mounted defensive positions across the zones to make sure that time was bought well Sophia and her team soon arrived in their dropzone with Senator Orange Sophia then said after the team arrived with Beta squad “All forces defend perimeter” Shots from machine guns and laser weapons damaged the walls pillars and to an extent the art of the palace.

After a last few seconds of tension with peacekeepers beginning to get more and more numerous the dropships arrived providing air support and soon landing the troops loading in organized and disciplined as instructed by their trainings the dropships around the palace soon take off back into space leaving behind the palace now with small piles of smoke rising from fires caused by the raid.

The timing of the peacekeeper's arrival could not be worse to Vuttiger, who could only look with disappointment at the slowness of the peacekeeper dispatch arriving only as the raiders left with the barely alive body of that Senator. Vuttiger however, could pass it off as a sudden attack and point out how much information they couldn’t retrieve due to the rapid response of local enforcement. Not to mention, Vuttiger had been discussing already with others who were not ones to care for Maria Orange’s rule as to who should replace her with the cover story being that warlords carried off a corpse. Plans begin quickly on the matter of tracking the raid back to where they came from, in part to perhaps take down the warlord Katrin, in part to ensure that the loose end Maria truly has perished...

Meanwhile, in orbit The admiral kept the fleet in order shooting the small resistance in the planet after a moment someone interrupted him as he checked the situation of reinforcements beginning to arrive “Captain Assault team has begun its return” “Thank god…” He said to himself but also the crew he then said “Was a success the 3 points where achieved?” The officer opened a holographic message he then said “First point capture of Senator and sector ruler Orange was a success albeit it had complications, Second point the capture of intel a possible failure, point three the deployment of a nuclear warhead if full palace control was achieved was a failure as well…”

The admiral sighed ‘Sophia won't be happy’ he thought to himself ‘neither Hildenbrand well it will depend’ he continued thinking after a moment he then said “Once aboard prepare the engines we are to get out as we can” the officer noded after a minute checking the situation the dropships entered and the fleet began to disengage after taking off He then said “we might need to do an FTL hyperjump to make we are followed...” An officer close to him then says “But that is very risky traveling the safe lanes is for the better getting off the path is a quite bad option sir if we use full speed” the admiral thought he was right he thought and then sighed saying “We will still try…”

Sophia punched a box she sighed, she and the leaders of the squads were staying in the hangar as the fleet moved she then said “So the info we got is?” “Useless well except if you consider some corruption and taxes important...” The officer of the Charlie squad said Sophia sighed again saying “At Least we have the Senator but i think she will die by how…” “she will live in reality” The medic of her group interrupted her after realizing what he did he silenced himself Sophia nodded saying “well let's call a half victory everyone back to their posts” The knights soon left the hanger.

Southern border of Saxony and burgundy Classified location

A sigh came from Hildenbrand´s mouth as he looked over the window to the vision of a gas giant. He turned on his chair seeing Sophia in front of him and he then said “Is that all?” Sophia had sweat in her face she was worried on the results she then slightly nodded Hildenbrand then said “I hope your next mission goes better miss Sophia you are dismissed for the time being” She nodded leaving the room the guards opening the doors for her and then closing then Hildenbrand then pressed a holographic button and then said “So when you will start?”
A voice through the comms then said “Not to worry your highness we will follow the three rule protocol to extract the information of Senator orange…” A shout of pain from a female person could be heard through the comms Hildenbrand said “Understood don't worry about the means and how you will do it, i will take the precautions” the person on the other side of the communication then said “Understood sir i will keep up” a second shout of pain could be heard before being cut with the communication being ended.
Hildenbrand then said to a guard in the room “Inform the media and some nobles as a success in regards to the operation and we have some information regarding planetary defenses thanks to the operation…” the guard bowed Hildenbrand soon continued by saying “And prepare protocol 21A just in case and order to prepare the resettlement orders i wanna rush the colonization of this area…”
Hildenbrand faced the window once again as he closed his eyes he opened again seeing a chess piece being taken off by his adversary in the game in the darkroom he sighed for a moment saying “i don't understand why you help and then work against me.” “Wasn't this the bet?” The old man says scratching his beard with a small smile on his face almost like he was having pity for Hildenbrand meanwhile he picked a knight piece and put forward the face of the old man grew wary he then said “How did you?” Hildenbrand then said his face still blunt “The ancients might be good at hiding things but not against me.” the light of the room flicked a little bit and the old man then said “But our game is still going through” “Indeed…” Hildenbrand said his voice sounding worried as the old man moved a rook rising and putting on the board its sound echoing the dark chamber Hilden reopening his eyes seeing the darkness of space.

[DX3214]

Unknown location in Saxony

Frederick was in a space station after hearing Katrin conforming was good, a grim smile raised across his face after checking the time he waited until 8 AM after a few minutes was reached he then opened comms to the Solar priest once answered he then said “Good morning young man… I hope you don't mind this interruption in the early morning but from orders from high command it's a go now it's now or never good luck” he turned the comms off and an officer then said “Sir… about the…” Frederick sighed, saying “...I know about the suicides I ordered to be silenced in the media and not told…” the officer then said his face looking worried “Who would train Saxons to suicide if found out?”
“Burgundy'' Frederick answered immediately the officer turned to him his eyes with dread Frederick then said with a sigh “Call it a opinion but i believe that Hildenbrand orchestrated the terror attacks and the planting of equipment aiming to launch Saxony to war against the Dominion to expand his dukedom and possibly start the current power struggle…” the officer in a shock of horror then said “We must do something!!” “do what?” Frederick answered with a second sigh he then said “The engines of war have been turning for too long if there was an option to settle this peacefully it was outside of Saxony and the dominion just followed the flag of war there is no stopping this now”
Frederick stayed looking at the stars he felt weird about how Hildenbrand told him that the senator was deceased he knew it was a lie something was off, but he knew something else Burgundy had a perfect grip of Saxony in spies so it might be good to focus on finding then

Speerwand a few minutes before

Katrin watched a painting she was calming herself for a moment the painting was of a renaissance style made to represent the war between Katrin’s ancestors and the alien civilization that lived in this area for her it felt was oddly familiar she shrugged that feeling away for her in the palace back home there was so many paintings there might be a copy back home.
Footsteps were soon heard. She looked to the right, seeing Mina a smile soon appeared at Katrin’s face. Mina then said a small smile in her face but a voice of curiosity “taking a break?” Katrin nodded saying “you know me i need a moment of reflection before doing speeches” Mina soon said her smile retaining “you can do this you did that many times before” Katrin nodded on she saying that she then sighed and said “... i wish this year hasn't been this riotous” Mina thought for a moment one of her hands rubbing her now missing arm not wanting to put the conversation down she then said her head thinking of the things that Fridmar once told her “Sometimes history likes to make moves that are unseeable for some people” Katrin smiled hearing one of the quotes of her father after a long time she then said “Thanks” Minna knew it was for the good until Katrin said her mind drifting towards something else raising from hear seat “I nearly forgot about him” she then hugged Minna who then said with a smile “I will be waiting for you in the ship” Katrin nodded hearing this from her.
After walking away for a while Katrin found Lewis he was leaving a room he looked better compared to a few months ago she then said “Senator you seem better” “don't call me that…'' Lewis said immediately after she said he then proceeded by saying “I lost that function when my country didn't ask about me or even cared for a ransom so...” Katrin nodded and she knew he was still bad about the situation of his other home. She then said “You know you don't need to come with us or comply with my officers” “They are a bunch of soldiers and they need and also it might be good to stop them from bombarding places so…” He said Katrin interrupted him by saying “providing intel to the enemy state of your homeland is treason, you know that right?” a moment of silence was noticed before he slightly nodded in confirmation Katrin sighed in a worried sign thinking that Lewis might have lost it he then said “I will be waiting for you in the ship” before walking away after seeing him walking away she puts her hand in her head a ache of pain suddenly rushed through her head and then calmed itself thinking for a moment she then remember something and opened her communicator asking for information about lewis to be sent to her personal computer in her room in the flagship after closing she then continued thinking she then whispered “If i can find why he is acting like that maybe i can help him” for a moment she thought if it was a good idea until she heard a whisper almost ethereal in nature “if you think its good idea” hearing that she looked behind her and around the room was empty she closed her eyes and sensed the psychic nature of the room around her as well nothing it was empty she opened her eyes a trick of her mind she thought before she could think more a call come in saying “we are ready”
Her mind jumped on the message saying that she sighed in a nervus manner nearly forgetting what happened wondering to her position she thought on what she would say while she was good with speeches she knew exactly what to say and what to do if the Solar forces were ready the invasion would be easy according to Frederick as she thought of him a call came from him she answered saying “what you need?” Frederick answered he sounding a little excited “I wanted to tell you that i activated the cell i had about the solar problem right now the invasion led by then will start Operation Retribution is a full go” she nodded when he said that stopping in front of a great door roughly four times her size a red carpet stretching from the hallway to she then said “good i shall now require you leave me be as i must give a speech” “understood” Frederick said cutting comms after a brief sight getting her marshall uniform a military uniform of black and red in order the doors were opened for her snow blowing through it she soon stepped up a few stairs entering a podium.

Gathering grounds of Speerwand

A massive legion of soldiers stood still flags of Saxony flew above her head put against the walls of the Podium, above in the skies transport vessels stood still while others in the distance were in the ground tanks were present mechs and viewed in the distance by the camera drones recording a Titan Mech one of the few that existed in Saxony could be seen right below troops were in formation some holding banners of the different dukedoms and counties but beside then lied a flag of Saxony in unity they all stood Katrin soon stood up seen by all she looked around seeing the troops saying.

“Today! Brothers and Sisters of Saxony! we march against the Decadence of the Dominion and Tyrani! Here we Stand Brothers and Sisters against the Tyrant who Oppressed our ancestors so long ago! and this we shall triumph over then and bring their glory to shambles!”

The armies cheered, raising their flags high and tall chanting “Glory to Saxony! Death to the Dominion!” their ecstasy subsuming after a few seconds after the situation calmed itself again Katrin then said her voice thundering thanks to the microphones transmitting her voice.

“Our Nation is a Nation of warriors forged when we migrated here, warriors that I am proud to see standing in front of me we are marching today and we shall not fail in our Solent duty of defeating our ancient oppressor and this name in the name of our Ancestors and of our grandparents and our fathers we Shall succeed!!” She said in a very her eyes starting to look like shining yellow stars instead of her normal brown as her psionic powers awoke by accident a small thing she quickly made disappear as she finished the speech but it was a little late and it was caught on camera.

The soldiers cheered while small only lasting a single second they turned around and soon started to march singing along in a war song of the motherland marching into the transport ships above the skies the ships started to mobilize and take flight across the skies Katrin walked away from the podium walking towards her Flagship after a while it soon takes off the mobilization now ended now Saxony was on the march.

Hundreds of thousands of ships flyed across space Battleships, Dreadnoughts, Carriers, Corvettes, transport vessels, and others flew together all led by Katrin their objective was simple attack as fast as possible and conquer important locations and drive the dominion out of the borders of Saxony and if possible take place where it all began a goal that was not much optional, but the overall goal as the ships entered FTL the war had finally entered its main phase if there was a chance of peace in the beginning of it all it is now total victory or defeat.

Dominion Space planet of Jovian day 1 of Operation Retribution

Meanwhile, in an observation post close to Saxonian-dominion contested borders in a small world called Jovian observing the activity and enforcing a quarantine of the sector some soldiers watched the situation one then said “Barely anything happens besides some ships raiding the border?” an officer nodded saying “yeah it's just an open revolt it will blow over after a time from what i heard they don't have much in there besides…” “I am seeing hundreds of signals…” The officer replied, interrupting the man and an eyebrow was raised seeing the screen detecting something moving through space after an FTL opening and closing very close to the station. By what the systems detected checking it he slapped the system after a moment the blips began to disappear leaving only a couple dozen.

He then said “see nothing bad just call the…'' an explosion echoed through the outpost making the talk end seeing through the window a massive flotilla of ships many of which warships the old man then shouted “Call central command its a full Bloody In…” before he could finish a shot hit the command deck where they were sucking then into outer space.

The fleets destroyed the very limited force in the planet starting a small-time siege in the surface bombardments from space begun as early as possible meanwhile in other star systems the fleets moved after a few hours of bombardment the planetary governor surrendered soon after when the cities of the planet were nearly reduced to rubble due to lack of preparation

This was all but the beginning in the first day of the invasion the barely equipped armies of the dominion or better the peacekeepers a force to suppress small revolts and some garrisons could not resist the initial invasions at all they were not facing insurgents they were facing armies and fleets marching in speed and strength with barely any power to be stopped and those few fleets that tried were either captured or destroyed the former contested area of the dominion and Saxony ended with Saxony achieving total military control of the region and the world's following said border begun to fall one world after another soon met not the usual sunrise under the dominion but a fleet of ships and Saxonian parade and Saxonian flags in their streets but at that moment the dominion finally awoke and begun to move their armies as fast as possible.

The rest of the days of the week was common with resistance steadily mounting by the day but too slow to stop the advance from day to day the Fleets and armies marched on swapping away in the small resistance or trapping it and taking prisoners for now it seemed like the offensive was on full swing towards a single place the perfect line for a defensive attrition war starting at the south OPAO border and ending at the southernmost regions of the dominion even though it was possible the offensive by the fourth day had begun to stoll as they need to wait for the troops to catch up casualties in the thousands.

By the second week of the front line movement the armies of Saxony finally had restarted but this time slowed down the Dominion had finally begun to get its front lines in order and troops were now more ready a final offensive was declared in the final 6 days after being realized by Katrin the situation at hand of how the objective might not be reached in time a great offensive was called to get into the objective line the cost of said act many lives as the ships breakthrough and begun to move as fast as the beginning of the operation.

Orbit of the Planet of Othea Dominion Space 9 days into Operation Retribution Final line

The flash of light Eplonyx cannons illuminated the darkness together with the flashes of machine guns laser weapons and plasma weapons as the fleets of Saxony battled a fleet in orbit of the planet the world itself was a industrial planet but due to the long time of peace of the dominion it didn't had many defences yet those who existed and those who could be build in the limited window of time there was were doing their job as the first assault on the planet had failed in the flagship of the fleet officers rushed in their screens seeing the situation the commander and captain of the fleet a man with blonde hair and green eyes he was 30 years old by the looks he was calm but sweet could be seen in his forehead they reached their objective but it was the second week he then said “Status how are we doing?” a hologram displaying the battle in orbit hundreds of ships were fighting to take command of the planet “Our forces are pushing then back…” before he could say one man then screamed “Enemy ships breaking through our left flank” the displayed showed the front being pushed back the enemy forces getting close to the flagship and center fleets the commander soon screamed “All Battleships and dreadnought charge your eplonyx cannons!” “But sir this will leave us expo…” an officer said looking worried. The commander then said “... we need to do this now or never prepare them!” the officer nodded.

As this happened corvettes were being destroyed as the battleships charged their main guns the fleet begun to approach the flagship shots coming from the dominion were beginning to be seen and hitting some ships after a few concentrated ships one battleship close to the flagship exploded the bridge being illuminated one officer then said “We lost the battleship Colossus…” The officer said the commander soon sweating slightly as the shots grew in intensity he then saw as the corvettes also begun to prepare a wave of shots as the command was to be given he then heard the words “Eplonyx cannons charged sir” without losing a second he then shouted “Open fire!” the bridge was illuminated by the blue light as the shots flew destroying the enemy fleets explosions in the distance an officer then said “enemy forces repealed sir” a sigh of relief came to him he still had things to worry but not as many he thought to himself until an officer then said “Sir enemy forces in retreat across the whole region” “what?” he said seeing the hologram as the advance was being made he smiled and then said “Blessed be this day send the second assault wave we need to end this once and for all”

Meanwhile in a carrier outside while a hell existed as ships exploded loose inside it a dropship was sitting still in its docks Yeager had finished training his first time in combat while he heard some of his companions in other groups saw it but this was his group he was second in command of the commander of a small team of 7 people the only good thing being that he knew everyone in the ship except for the commander the bad thing was he was going to war many looked worried and scared of what was going Yeager couldn't say wasn't after a moment the message came in take off in a few minutes Yeager took a deep breath meanwhile the Commander Ezachiel said while standing up “everyone attention our goal is simple we are to land and aid in the taking of the planetary capital we will be assisted by thousands of soldiers we can do this” They all nodde when he said the dropship then flew through the window it could be seen the fleet before disappearing in the clouds of the planet the dropship then appeared seeing the streets of the city dust and papers being blown by the ship, everyone jumping off and leaving the ship soon she took off back into the skies.

Around then hundreds of other dropships could be seen deploying soldiers as they looked around and shots began to fly above their heads, then they soon took cover behind a car Yeager looked gently taking a peak outside seeing soldiers in the streets taking cover behind cars he then said seeing one of then reload “Open Fire!” He raised with everyone opening fire and spreading the soldiers dying falling he sighed thinking for a moment while looking around seeing smoke rising in the distance possible other vehicles or house fires he shrugged it off he then whispered to himself saying “This is war...” He then heard Jonas saying “To where now because I wanna a place that doesn't look like a desert…” Yeager looked seeing the dust in the air giving the impression of an arid place he chuckled saying “I didn't know you still hated your homeworld after spending time in that training jungle…” he then moved forward following Ezachiel who then said “At Least it isn't snowing it's much worse” the squad moving behind him Jonas as he followed said “I just hate sand… and pollution” he groaned to himself Emma following the group then said “Tell me something that isn't new since the training camp”

The group advanced through the city arriving in the park in front of the planetary capital building with other groups the capital building was large roughly akin to a monument meanwhile the park in front of it was large after a moment they advanced shots being shot from the palace before Yeager could move he was held by Ezachiel saying “I think we should go around…” Yeager then said “Why?” he pointed to the soldiers hiding behind trees, statues and even benches. He then said “We might look for a better place for better cover, maybe we should go through there'' he pointed to a series of buildings in the streets “Through the buildings?” asked him he nodded he then sighed gesturing to go there the group went through the buildings slowly to not drag attention after arriving, in the end, they bashed through a window shooting some soldiers in the front door.

They soon entered through the window into the building some soldiers of other groups arriving together while other remained to call attention in the outside Yeager and his squad went upstairs cleaning the building entering each room and clearing with together with group Yeager opening door shot a soldier dead after going inside with the rest the room was clear it was just a man Yeager approached the man he killed seeing a man of roughly the same age as himself after checking the body he noticed the smoke from the window close to the body piles of smoke were raising at a distance Ezachiel noticed Yeager after hearing a shout from behind him saying everything was clear he approached the kid saying “Something wrong?” Yeager after hearing him did a quick turn of his head towards him before facing forwards again saying “No… I… I just wasn't expecting to be like this'' he says grabbing a photo of a girl from the dead body family or wife he thought to himself “It will never be like they say…” Ezachiel said putting his hand in the Shoulder of Yeager he then said “But you will get used…” Yeager looked out of the window into the park and in the streets, there were bodies being covered many of them also burned cars and even combat vehicles after seeing Ezachiel walking away he then said “I hope this doesn't go very far either…”

After a moment Yeager went to the roof the group splitting up as the combat slowly goes out of the area and into other city zones while keeping an eye out for possible remaining pockets in the roof he could see the clouds and above ships could be partially seen moving across space he then saw a flag of Saxony being raised over the center of the park in a pole that existed he sighed ‘a victory’ he thought ‘hopefully one that won't be so bloody’ he continued before going downstairs again after a day the planet was conquered albeit the resistance took the life of many people due to the Saxonian approach of quickly taking worlds no matter the cost.

In the last days of the operation, the frontlines finally stagnated with millions dead on both sides, the frontline began in the OPAO border and ended in the south of the dominion in the unexplored regions having undulations while the goal of the frontline isn't achieved Othea being one of the few frontline worlds taken of the original goal the war, for now, had stagnated into a frontline with salients and undulations more common in the center force.

Flagship Valkyrie

Katrin and the general staff were behind the frontlines seeing the map the borders had stabilized Katrin then said “Seems like we cant push forward is time to change tactics…” a young officer then said “the forces of the Solia Ecclesia also report their armies stopping their advance from our information…” an older officer then said “Our tactic of lightning warfare paid off now i believe we should change our main tactic to a more attrition style conflict like planned” Katrin nodded saying “We achieved our goals the best we could now we have to deal with the occupation of dominion worlds and dealing with the frontlines…” The young office then said “As of right now i suggest strengthening the defensive line in the center”

Katrin nodded while looking at the map. She yawned for a moment. It was nearly midnight and she then said “how long do you gentlemen expect this war to last?” an officer then said “we expect maybe in a year,,,” the older officer then said “Maybe a few years if we are unlucky” she nodded she then said “if you excuse me gentlemen i must take my leave they all nod slightly.

Katrin begun to walk to her room she was tired of the weeks the first stage was over and her head finally calmed itself from the constant thinking of what to do now her thoughts were more on other things but the war was still center stage on her thoughts but others as well majorly politics and family entering her room thinking that she whispered “family…” she looked at a mirror for a moment in her room “I only have one person in my family…” she thought her minds flashed with images of her brother she quickly brushed it off wanting to forget taking of her military clothes and getting ready to sleep after a moment she blinked seeing a black space taken by surprise she gave a step back looking around seeing she was a under a partial illumination of something surrounded by a sea of darkness her heart pounding heavier soon very bright images flashed through her eyes before she took a small jump her eyes blinking fast looking around seeing she was in her room laying in her bed “a dream?” she wondered.

Saxonian military advance

Image is bad and rought estimative due to lots of arguments will be definitely fixed later

[LustForDecay]

Karbana Kinis was far from the raging battlefields near the Dominion's boundaries but there were actions of a more calculatred nature progressing. The fleet of monstrosites carapaced and armoured had spread out in the same manner as predators drawn to the scent of hidden quarry - a few of the smaller vessels descended past the voidbeasts hanging in low orbit and past the networks of drones, not burning bright but like faded embers through the atmosphere that shrouded the labyrinthine world. They did not descend alone as like flaking dust, a rain of shrivelled, wrinkled particle fields fell alongside them, burning through the atmosphere as if the creatures serpentine and arthropod were decrepit architecture, the innumerable fragments dotting the sky beneath them like a cloud of flies.

The function of the chaff however was not merely hygenic. As they descended into the atmosphere they burnt, releasing waves of electrointerference and static and turning the area beneath them into a dead zone for any scanning devices present in the area. The beetle-like ships however, were not affected by such. They contained a variety of electronic components themselves but those were placed within the grotesque context of engineered chitin and flesh. What would cripple even EMP hardened satellites and current generation atmospheric entry craft did little but at most slightly dim the bioluminescent lights within them. Their living cargo shuddered as they braced themselves for drop, mycelial nerves connected to electronic wiring jolting them into awakeness. It wasn't light and life behind their flat, pupil-less spot-like eye-analogues or their motley, blemished flesh laced through with complex metals and electronics, lab-grown symbiote-parasites, and adaptive-malleable nano-armour plating directly bolted into their bodies.

The flooring beneath them began to open as the dropships, still beneath the cover of the cloud of interference, discharged their living cargo letting them fall towards the targeted drop sites. Spine-like protrusions on mite-like bodies extended as if waiting to catch onto some passing creature or vegetation, multiple feathered wing like protrusions emerging like moth antennae, stabilizing their patterns as they glided towards the rectangular platform seemingly floating above the chasm of jutting, misaligned metal below. These vast puzzle pieces that formed the body of Karbana Kinis were each large enough to be cities, islands amidst the architectural un-logic of whatever civilization once inhabited and deformed this world.

It wasn't long before their decelerated descent brought them onto the hard surfaces - they, along with others of their lab-born kind descending behind them through the atmosphere. Not human, vrexul, tarrhaidim, or gealtirocht but the un-living creations of this powerful alliance. Arachnid shapes bulbous yet predatory, bodies lined with complex scanning mechanisms and hidden weaponry, skittering about guided by intelligences as programmed machine as bestial instinct. Taking advantage of the remaining static interference, they began to rapidly disperse in groups of four kept aware of one another by psycho-mycelial communication networks immune to electronic interference. A number of them began to scatter downwards, hopping from platform to platform, boosting themselves with anti-gravitational thrusters, and swinging about with specialized retractable silk-like threads launched from frontally mounted caster-ports - they were too graceful to be mere automata but even a passing glance made it clear they were not mere animals.

Their data gathering was not merely visual. Senses normally reserved for creatures guided them and specialized observational software and organs detected minute traces of living organisms - scent trails from repeated use, areas where small flecks of residue could be detected subtly against small irregularities on the terrain, and holes or crevices where they were clearly stronger from distant scans done by camera-mounts behind translucent biomass-ports. There was life on this planet, not just that which teemed beneath from innumerable aliens crowding into the hollowed out carcass-world but something else. Consistent patterns of scent and other residual markings.

Something had been sliding over this ground. Many somethings, too many for it to have merely been ambient wildlife. Not all at once but repeated usage, subtle and creeping, skilled in concealment but not before entities created to detect, observe, and if need be, to prey.

As the information was relayed between the multiple squads, as if guided by an unseen leader they all began to move at once almost in synch across the distance they had dispersed. In the same way marbles clustered in formation would scatter when another clattered into them, so they did the same. The difference was the motions were not random reactions to force and energy but deeper strategic positioning across a shared network of information. Some skittered high, others slinked low, all activating scanner-muting shrouds as they began to settle into various positions at varying heights - all allowing multiple observation angles around the crevices and holes. Angles that if need be, could become firing ones.

A few hours later and more ships would arrive. In stark contrast to the seed-like beetle ships that flown by earlier, these ones had more angular, conventional shapes with bulky bodies and long, powerful wings. High output and heavy calibre weaponry sat next to missile pods and ball-like ECM mounts, the slight shimmer of the air around their bodies as their force-shielding rapidly adapted to the new atmospheric conditions, and a tinge of cold in the air as they boosted over the great chasms and towards multiple landing sites. In their wake, strange organisms like floating spheres of pulsing fungoid mass out of which jutted pointed, smeared electronic antennae and multi-jointed limbs descended. Easily the size of attack helicopters but drifting with an almost jellyfish like languidness, they neared the miscellaneous alien inhabitants below, the long wire-limbs underneath their body waving in the wind currents wafting from the winding chasms beneath.

Out of their bodies, messages in multiple languages, some little more than fragmented code and others transmissions of symbolic images, echoed throughout the hollow realm. The message was the same regardless.

"All citizens of Karbana Kinis, please proceed as usual. The Nexus of Integrated Revolutionary Councils is undergoing a survey of this region."

++++++++++++++++++++++++

South of the NIRC's territory, a different matter was unfolding. Through a vast expanse of shattered metal, sparking plasma fires, and starship carcasses a patrol fleet forged through. The few sparking machines that remained clinging to some semblance of life, some bisected in two and others little more than half hollowed hulks, fired with some vengeful desperation to the fleet of ships. Force-shields flared like glass lit by pinkish red lighting before armoured smashed through their dying carcasses. Lances of plasma and particles sliced apart those that dared to bring heavier weaponry to the fray. The debris field was growing, shields flaring constantly as if they were sending out signals to one another, but they pressed onwards.

They weren't here for a clean-up operations. They knew whose they belonged to. A single individual's fleet was the easiest way to put it.

That was it, close enough, past the interference of the debris field. This was Foundry territory now. The problem was figuring out which foundry. Long range scans had pointed to this region of space supposedly being under control of the originator, the prime machine as they were known to the Ascendency and later, to their successors in the NIRC.

Turrets, vomitor-mounts, heavy duty particle accelerator cannons - a variety of weapons swept the air. There was no telling if this area outside of The Foundry's had fallen years ago to the divisors within their ranks... or if perhaps the Ascendency's remnants were listening in. They were armed for a reason - there was work to be done but would the original Foundry allow for it, even in a weakened state? The cosmos watched their every move. They were upstart inheritors to a throne they had dismantled. They could not afford to metamorphosize into the tyrants they had sworn for lifetimes to defy and never become.

They had backup of course - some of their own and more monstrous companions remained in the debris field. If things truly fell apart, it was better to be prepared than to be remorseful.

From the antennae of one of the enormous earwig like ships, a message was sent towards where they believed the original Foundry's forces were. If they reached that, it was as good as reaching the CORE itself.

"Attention - CORE and its sub-entities. The Nexus of Integrated Revolutionary Councils recognizes that you have a problem. We are of the understanding that if unaddressed, it will soon become ours. If we are in agreement of this assessment, we are prepared to work out an agreement and an alliance."

[Knight Solaire]

Crusade Fleet,
Dominion space, 300k meters outside of Thera


A collection of naval officer sat in the briefing room looking at the holographic star chart in front of them. The plans for the first major offensive of the war were displayed while the briefed the commanding officers from around the fleet.

“ We are calling this offensive operation Torch. Our plan is to cut deep into Dominion territory, cutting off worlds while we link up with the Saxonian frontline”, the Admiral said as the display changed to illustrate the plan.



“ Task force 1 will stay in this system to protect our foothold here and support our troops. Task forces 2 and 3 will continue moving towards the Saxonian front, capturing worlds along the way. Once we link up with the Saxons, we will consolidate our positions, build defenses and distribute troops along the entire front. We also need to set up infrastructure to receive imminent reinforcements from home, until that happens our offensive capability will be significantly hampered”, the Admiral finished.

“ Orders have been sent to your task group leaders, along with any relevant locations and coordinates…..questions” the admiral barked before scanning the room.

The room was eerily silent, everyone was anxious to start the fighting. The longer they stayed here was another day that was lost to the enemy. They understood that the Dominion forces had to be mobilizing soon.

“ Good….dismissed” the Admiral finished before walking off the stage.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A few hours later
Task force 1


Task force 1 remained in its position as the other two groups left, leaving the space around Thera eerily empty. The vessels themselves were awash with activity however, as troops readied themselves and their equipment for the upcoming invasion.
On the bridge, the weapons officer received a sudden coded message, complete with coordinates and locations for an orbital strike. The recon team down on the planet had identified initial targets ahead of the marine’s assault.

“ Be advised, fire mission….stand by for coordinates” the weapons officer said over the ship intercom before sounding the warning alarm, changing the lights on the bridge from fluorescent white to a dark red.

The orders were transmitted to the other vessels in the task force and they immediately began moving into position. Without delay, the ships began firing the first salvos of the war based on the coordinates provided by the recon team.

-ASSASSIN 1-1 REQUEST FIRE MISSION: GRID ZONE ZETA-BRAVO-ONE-ONE-THREE-

TARGET-BARRACKS ( 39W,120N, 45°)
TARGET-BARRACKS ( 29W,120N, 30°)
TARGET-ANTI TANK BATTERY ( 39E,110N,43°)
TARGET-ANTI AIR BATTERY (35W,115N, 40°)
-MORE TARGETS TO FOLLOW-
-STANDING BY FOR BDA-

[Lurking Shadow]

A lone Serekin slithered into the room, carrying with him a report on the Xeno activity. He presented it before Hathax, bowed and left. Hathax turned from his conversation with another Serekin to read on what his spies found. The Xenos made landfall but they are sticking to the surface. The report included mentions of biomechanical constructs and manned vehicles. Lastly it ended with their message, and how one translation was in the human language. ‘This is not a good time to entertain guests…’ Hathax thought. ‘They do not seem to show hostility, yet at least. We can tolerate them for now I suppose, though Tyoss will be agitated. Need to find something to occupy her. Given the situation I think I can convince the others to forget the aggression for now, at least if these xenos are not human. I need more information, and make sure they do not interfere with our plans…’

Ending on that, Hathax turned back to the other Serekin. Immediately one could tell this Serekin was out of place. Wearing intricate armor fully covering its body to contrast with the robes that Hathax and the other Serekin nearby wore. This warrior wore no branding of any clan but had a symbol indicating that this is a Hera’Yiss, a Serekin that serves long after its natural life has expired. Underneath that armor was a heart still beating thanks to very invasive cybernetics and queer alchemical concoctions. This one in particular was a kind augmented for stealth and subterfuge. Tying strings to be pulled or striking with surgical precision as needed, they exclusively are in service to Hathax and his spy clan.

“How many cycles have you served?” Hathax asked the warrior.

“672 inactive in stasis, 128 active in a passive role, 32 active for assignments.” The Warrior hissed.

“And what of your mental state? How far has it degraded?”

“I feel Nyagoth’s influence, but his pull is weak. Estimated 7 to 10 cycles remaining, recommend reclamation in 6 cycles.”

“Good, we have plenty of time before Nyagoth claims you back. There are xenos on the surface, doing a survey. Before you woke, and before these xenos came, the council decided on taking action against aggression in a distant part of the galaxy. At this moment, creating an additional conflict is not preferred. You will go wake your brothers and patrol the boarder of our domain and the surface. Any xeno incursions on our border must be impeded and rerouted without being noticed, do not make yourself known and avoid direct conflict as the situation permits. If they come into our territory, you can engage as you see fit. Any activity on the surface will be tolerated for now. Lastly, ensure no Serekin travels to the surface without permission. The clanless sometimes likes to scavenge, you can use any means necessary to prevent their travel past the border. Now go and get your brothers then return to me, I will have specifics then.”
The warrior bowed and slithered out, leaving Hathax alone. Hathax decided to draft a response to the xenos announcement. So, this ‘Nexus’ knows what the Serekin are willing to tolerate, and fortunately they do seem to share one language in common.

---

Some time later

An invisible agent slipped from the darkness, swapping it for the dim light of the night on the surface. Though he is not expected to come across the xenos if he is expedient, he has something to leave behind where it can be found. Gliding across the ground with haste, it is likely the agent will make the drop in time. Within a few minutes, the agent found a suitable spot. The air had enough of that foreign stench and was disparate. They had been here many times, but currently are absent. The agent grabbed something from a compartment, a stone tablet that materialized as it left the affects of the agent’s personal cloaking. The tablet was etched with a response to the Nexus’ presence. With the task finished, the Serekin agent returned the way he came and slinked back to the depths, the only trace being the groove in the ground and the message left behind.

Surface dwellers, your announced presence here is unappreciated. We tolerate your actions on the surface but we will not tolerate any transgressions into our domain in the depths. If you are found in our territory, actions will be taken. Stay protected in the light, or the darkness may consume you. For future communication, leave a message. We will find it and we will respond as we see fit.

[Knight Solaire]

Commander Cassius Caspian
Thera ( Dominion Controlled Planet)
30km outside of City 001


Cassius checked his watch, it had been five minutes since the call for the fire mission went out. From experience, he knew that the rounds should be entering the atmosphere soon. Suddenly, a pair of sonic booms were heard in quick succession as Cassius reflexively dropped down into the hole he was in.

“ Those are the Marines landing….” another commando said quietly, his eyes still glued to an optical device. “ They’ll know we are here now..” he finished before a symphony of loud sonic claps could be heard.

Large columns of smoke could be seen streaking downward over the town before seemingly exploding in mid air a couple hundred feet above the ground. Through the advanced optical devices, one could see the warhead drop from the delivery device and onto the target. With the naked eye however Cassius observed two explosions, once in the air above the target and the second when the warhead hit the target on the ground.
The sky seemed alive with fire, it looked almost apocalyptic as more rounds fell from the sky and impacted their targets. The targeted buildings along the edge of the city were quickly dispatched and the air around the perimeter of the city was full of dust and flying debris.

Grabbing a handled set of binoculars, Cassius pushed the zoom as far as it would go before starting to observe the city. He could see soldiers of the self defense force running around and towards the now destroyed buildings and field emplacements. Some were attempting to dig their comrades out while others hurriedly tried to salvage equipment and get to some state of readiness.
Cassius was surprised, on Mordant, the initial bombardment of cities usually left the defenders utterly shocked and unable to function. The planetary defense force here seemed to have good training and more importantly, the will to fight.

“ Follow on targets!” a commando said in a louder tone as he panned his optical device around the city.

“ Target, mobile AAA battery moving east of the destroyed barracks. Secondary target, anti tank position and stockpile, north of the motor pool” the trooper barked as it was quickly repeated by another commando on the radio

It felt almost cruel to Cassius, he felt sympathy for the humans on the ground as they tried to dig their friends and comrades out of destroyed buildings and bunkers. They had no idea what was coming their way and there was certainly more coming.
The squelch of a radio shook Cassius from his thoughts as foreign female voice burst over the radio.

“ Assassin 1-1, this his Chaos actual. We are at 50% deployment and are sending two company sized elements your way. Request target data and egress points. Marine artillery is ready and standing by for targets…” The voice finished before the familiar sound of rumbling tracks could be heard.

The invasion of Thera had started in earnest and Cassius had front row seats to the whole show.

-One Week later-
Task Force 2
Inside dominion territory ( Designated System: Vescyr)


The radar warning receiver of the destroyer immediately began to light up upon exiting FTL travel, the software tentatively classifying the target as an orbital station. A box appeared on the ship’s heads up bridge display as the radar officer began tracking the orbital station signal, complete with range and orbital drift data.

“ Launch recon craft and communications probes…” the destroyer captain barked before pressing the general quarters alarm. “ Don environment suits! GENRAL QUARTERS, GENERAL QUARTERS!” an automated messaged yelled over the intercom as crew members began readying themselves and their stations.

The Orbital station was still roughly 100k kilometers away and well outside of visible range, but still inside the maximum known range of some Solite weapons. The captain of the destroyer was being careful and rightfully so as his communications officer began intercepting messages from the orbital station.

“ Sir, they are hailing us, sending identification tones. Should we respond….” The crewman said turning to face the commanding officer

“ Identify ourselves, tell them to surrender or be destroyed” the captain of the destroyer barked, his eyes glued to the heads up display on the bridge.

“ No response sir, sending again…” the communications officer said before he was cut off by the radar warning receivers shrill siren

“ LAUNCH TRANSIENT!!” the radar officer yelled over the siren of the warning receiver as the vessel’s heads up display changed to show the projected course of the weapon coming at them.

“ Shit….” The captain said under his breath before hitting the collision alarm twice. “ Make for flank speed, pull to starboard!” the captain yelled as the thrust of the powerful star engine could be felt.

The straining grown of metal could heard as the vessel made its way up to speed and shifted to the right. As the munition fired by the orbital station rapidly moved closer, a timer appeared as it could be more accurately tracked by the vessels radar. 30 seconds was displayed and rapidly began counting down as the heads up display continued to track its progress. The captain gritted his teeth as the timer got down to 10 seconds before the loud sound of metal of metal contact could be heard on the bridge.

“Damage report!” The captain of the destroyer yelled into the intercom before another voice could be heard over the captains intercom.

“ It was a ricochet, minor damage to plating, no structural damage, interior atmosphere intact and stable” the crewman’s voice replied in a relatively calm tone.

The captain grunted to clear his throat before looking towards the radar and weapons officer “ Ready missile tubes 1 through 16 with APHE and lock the orbital station” the captain barked before receiving affirmative answers from the crew members.

“ Fire when ready” the captain finished as the thundering sound of missiles leaving their tubes could be heard.

-A few hours later-

After a quick skirmish with the orbital platform, the threat had been subdued and the remainder of the task force exited FTL travel and made its way to the planet designated “Ibirius”. Much like operations of Thera, the task force set up in a far orbit of the planet and began deploying reconnaissance teams and marine detachments to take the planet.

-Two weeks Later-
Task Force 3
Designated System : Yanna


The recon destroyers of Task force three entered the system designated “Yanna” without much activity. The destroyers stopped a few freighters, captured their flight logs and confiscated their cargo before moving on. According to the flight data captured from the freighters, they indicated a large industrial space port on the nearby planet, designated “ Othae”.

The remainder of the task force exited FTL travel and entered into a far orbit of the planet to begin combat operations. While doing this, a pair of recon destroyers were sent towards the expected Saxonian frontline in order to finally make contact with Saxonian forces and merge their front lines.

[RezonanceV]

Lilith's Descent Series

Collab with theKeltz and Rezo

Drifting to somewhere

Lilith's Descent: Drifting to somewhere

Lilith was pushed between a rock and a hard place. Once the crime lord of Dadaelous. Somehow she went from being the queen of the underworld to a betrayer of it, to now a pawn of the OPAO principality. Never in her life had she felt so used...except when she was left by her first boyfriend in high school for her best friend, a boiling point in Lilith's descent into crime, but that event between her first criminal act was not directly connected, more psychologically influential. Lilith was sitting in a seat aboard a small personal spacecraft given to her by Neema. The one-person craft was equipped with state of the art navigation systems and technology to make it fast, agile, and tremendously smooth. Lilith was not a spacefarer. In fact, space gave her anxiety, the ship however was already loaded up with the coordinates that were identified on the drive she stole from the database back in Dadaelous. Neema made sure the spacecraft was also idiot-proof with the help of some of her top engineers.

In the distance, she saw through the large space glass window a black energetic source that looked otherworldly. A black hole? Lilith thought. It wasn't a black hole, but a wormhole, one of the gates left behind by something beyond Lilith's capacity of knowledge. All she knew was the ship she was riding had instructions to head right toward it. Panicking, Lilith tried to override, fumbling with keys and the A.I. assistant on-board but to no avail. Her clearance was obsolete, she literally was a passenger on a ship being controlled by her puppet master - Neema.

Instead, Lilith took deep breathes as her seat became closer to the phenomenon which seemed to go into an endless black void. Lilith without much confidence she survives screamed as her ship was pulled in. The wormhole crushed her sense of orientation ripping her through deep space like a driver smashing a golf ball down the fairway. Lilith felt as if the ship's exterior was being crushed like a tin can against hydraulics. Soon she couldn't feel the difference between herself and the ship, she was somewhere between her mind and a place in space completely foreign to her human senses. Then...it was over.

Lilith simply arrived. The rest of her felt existence catching up smoothly with her. What had felt like being compressed between compactors, ended as quickly as it began. The terror filling her body when being ripped through the wormhole subsided. Immediately a screen took up a portion of the large glass space window, "Lilith do you copy?" Neema had appeared on the screen.

Lilith yelled, "You ****ing b****, where am I! WHAT IS GOING ON?" Neema absorbing Lilith's energy with ease replied, "You went through what is referred to as a gate. You survived and have now entered a completely new region of space the OPAO or the Dominion if my information is correct has ever been." Lilith wanted to kill Neema, wrapping her fingers around Neema's little throat was the only thought keeping her focused, "I almost died, how do you plan on getting me back!" Neema nodded, "Of course, once you get eyes on the destination, we can turn your ship around and jump using the gate again."

Lilith screamed, "IT ALMOST KILLED ME NEEMA!" Neema let Lilith silence which was unusual, typically, Neema wouldn't tolerate the temper, but she needed Lilith to get eyes on whatever Dizzy was willing to sacrifice her fortunes and networks over. Once Lilith stopped yelling, Neema responded, "I understand, the ship will be fine, you will be fine." ..until she wasn't. The alarms of the ship began sounding. Neema's face went from composed to concerned, "What's going on?" Lilith's worry increased, "I HAVE NO F***ING CLUE, YOU SAID I'D BE FINE!"

The screen disconnected. Lilith was now alone and a sudden jerk of the spacecraft jostled her body hard. The A.I. Assistant turned on, "Emergency landing. Emergency landing. Coordinates detected. Prepare for impact. Keep buckled until landing is successful." The A.I. prompted, Lilith questioned, "What is the success rate?" The A.I. pinged on the screen potential damages, existing damages, location for landing, and percentage of success, "37% success." There was over 60% of exterior damage and 45% of interior damages done during the travel through the wormhole. Without much time to think after her question, terror built up into her gut and chest, the ship then jerked her again. Steel reinforcement descended down outside of the space window and in front of it to seal the glass from causing further damage during impact. Lilith was now in a one-manned spacecraft with no visibility or control as she careened through foreign space.

The Arrival

Lilith's Descent: The Arrival

Lilith felt an amazing amount of gravitational force pulling her in all directions as her ship crashed into something hard. If not for her full suit of buckles she would have crushed every bone in her body. It was as if she was inside of a ping ball that had just been launched by the player and smacking into all of the bells earning the player big points without having to once use the pinball arms. Lilith had fallen unconscious a few times, each time waking up to the continuous rattling, free fall, and scraping of exterior walls against something outside. Until finally the final jerk of the ship happened. Lilith disoriented and unsure of where she was or which direction she was facing, raised her hand to unbuckle her straps. Instead of being seated, she immediately dropped from the chair down onto the steel-reinforced wall which protected the space window.

The impact loosened the ship from its position as it dropped again sending Lilith backward hitting her shoulder against the chair she had just fallen from. Her rib snapped against the side of a corner behind the chair where her body went from falling back to down on the ceiling. The ship was now wedged between something upside down giving Lilith a moment to collect a sense of direction. She rolled onto her stomach pushing herself up onto her knees until finally on her feet. Without knowing how much time she had, she moved to where a space helmet was located next to the door. She called for the A.I. if it was still operational to open the emergency pack for spacecraft evacuation. The A.I. responding opened the small door containing a space helmet and gear. Lilith got to her knees to grab it since the ship was upside down, the gear was closer to her feet.

After equipping the gear necessary for safely traveling outside of the spaceship depending on where she was, she asked the A.I. to open the side door. The side door opened but as it did, the ship loosened once more. Lilith with an immediate sense of impending doom lunged outside the door as the ship fell below her. She entered a space devoid of light but her hands were wrapped up into something that felt like wiring. Her right hand as she fell had caught enough of whatever "wiring" there was which responded by entangling her from shoulder to forearm.

Hanging by "wires" she swung from side to side, Lilith never did hear the ship hit bottom, it just kept falling. Lilith's helmet after recognizing the absence of light switched on revealing a small picture of where she was and what she was holding onto.

Lilith from her perspective was hanging in between an extremely deep canyon with black cords which appeared to have been once transferring some form of energy as electric wires would. The crevice was teeming with wiring stretched between one side to the other. Her ship had been heavy must rip through until enough entangle it to keep it from falling. For her, if she were to fall, odds were one of these wires would wrap her neck and snap it. The good news was she could use these wires to cross from where she was to the other side.

She took her left hand and reached for the closest wire while trying to unravel her right. Lilith after wrestling with the wire which wrapped around her right arm got it loose. Lilith then one hand crossing the other made her way to the other side. Once across she felt a physically flat surface beneath her feet strong enough to support her weight. After some mental arguing, she decided to trust the floor beneath her letting go of the wire and she dropped completely onto the flat surface. Her lights were only able to illuminate an edge and small corridor between two walls that reached up forever.

She took a second, deep breath, the only way forward was through the corridor. Lilith wanted to go home, she wanted to turn back, but she knew there was nothing to turn back too. This was the end of the line and each step only started a new point of no return, from here on, she was alone, and her only goal was to survive. About 10 minutes into her walk between a corridor big enough for her to only walk sideways, one of her lights went out. Lilith was alarmed by the HUD on her helmet that the other battery had about 2 minutes of life left. The crash wouldn't kill her, the fall wouldn't kill her, but being unable to see with no food or water in a place she didn't know up from down, north from south, east from west, would kill her. The second light turned off leaving her to the imagination and the sound of her own breathing to focus on.

Feeling with her hands and feet sliding inch-by-inch, there was a faint sound that cut into her rhythm of breathing. A sound similar to that of a snake hiss, maybe it was her mind creating its own stimulation. Lilith remembered back in high school she had a neurology class that stated some kind of science where the brain if not given enough stimulation would begin creating its own. The explanation was attached to the eye witness accounts of ghost encounters and how ghosts encounters were more prevalent during a specific time of human history when humans didn't have the technology to occupy them at night.

This line of recall had Lilith begin to think maybe she was already dead, and she was actually a ghost searching its way back to the world of things. If she were a ghost, would she know it? Lilith was cut short from her thoughts as her foot caught a hard object sending her down onto the ground. The helmet hit the floor cracking a piece of the glass. Lying there she tried finding a reason to continue, Lilith felt frustrated and hopeless...maybe if she took the helmet off there would be no air for her to survive...maybe suicide was the best option...but that faint sound was heard again...

*hiss*

*Some time earlier*

Sera’nae was exasperated. It’s been long since she had a meal. Though food could easily be gained in trade, by promising a future favor, not everyone got the same value. Her station meant she would have to do something menial and degrading at best. No, she preferred to find alternative means to survive.

By chance, she overheard some interesting news near the Ves’ix district. Two figures belonging to one of the great clans, though she could not tell which, were careless and whispered something of note aloud. A ship in decay. A ship falling in the sky. A ship that crashed through the surface. And with a crashed ship came cargo. Perhaps food. Perhaps something worth food. And the pilot, perhaps dead, perhaps an easy meal.

Though the pangs of hunger weakened her, the pain slowing her, the promise of food (as she convinced herself) seemed to ease the burden if slightly. Slithering through the maze of corridors was no easy task, Serekin rarely ventured to where heat was lacking nevermind mapping, she explored the outsides of Serekin society often enough. Enough to dot the walls every so often with lichen and fungus to either light the way or to satiate the hunger if briefly. After making several turns, going up a bit, then down, then back up. Open up a few fake walls. Navigate through some rubble. Get turned around for a bit then reorient herself. She began to wonder if what she overheard was accurate. The ship should be around here within a few hundred feet or so. But it wasn’t. Was the ship never here or was she lost?

Running low on hope, and the pain beginning to set back in, circumstance seemed to favor her yet again. Lost in thinking, only for pain to reel her back to reality, she noticed something amiss. Tracks in the ground that did not match Serekin, either slithering or walking. She saw prints that were strangely oval-ish. It led back to Serekin territory, somewhere these prints did not seem to belong. The owner seemed to realize this as the prints budged closer and closer together. As panic begins to set in, they likely found it difficult to step more than a few inches at a time.

Finally, the scent hit her. A mix of anxiety and fear. She was getting close and could barely help but let quietly announce her joy in, what she assumes, will either be food or worth food.

“⌇⎍⌇⏁⟒⋏⏃⋏☊⟒” she whispered.

She was rewarded with a thud and the sound of glass breaking. The scent grew stronger, as if the thing grew resigned to what gloomy fate it assumed awaited. Then, at last, her quarry could be seen. “⎎⟟⋏⏃⌰⌰⊬” she hissed. This was no creature she recognized, definitely a xeno. Human if what she heard was accurate. Poor thing could barely fit in between the walls and seemed to be afraid. Sera’nae sympathized somewhat, but she was starving and food is just lying there. The hunger is not a patient master to serve. It demanded death, and the reward was life, at least for a time… but what if… if it need not be this way. Yes, she could bring this xeno to one of the elders of a Great Clan. The xeno would provide some food, but to trade the xeno might be worth more food. Besides, it would be a pain to remove the wrapping this creature is in.

Lilith heard what sounded like a hiss again. Her eyes attempted to adjust but with almost zero light there was nothing for her eyes to catch. She heard the flicking again, were there snakes on Karbanna? She thought. Lilith tried getting up from where she had fallen. Her hands slipping on the wall surfaces between the corridor she could barely maneuver in. Lilith’s hand while trying to find an edge to help the rest of her body up caught a rough layer of something on the surface which illuminated in bioluminescence revealing the silhouette of a large creature which was weaving back and forth quickly. Lilith feeling immediately terrified attempted to orient herself to run the other direction but the corridor did not allow for her to adjust cleanly. She made a few more steps before tripping again over her feet but this time falling backward in the middle of transition. Breathing heavily from the adrenaline and fright, she believed the creature would soon be dragging her to the depths of wherever they took their prey to feast. Lilith wanted to shut her eyes and wished it all to be over, but after a few passing seconds, longer than she anticipated it would take for the creature to grab her, she opened her eyes, only to see the snake hanging above her as if it were figuring out what to do with her.

As Sera’nae slithered closer to her prize, the creature grew more terrified as she smelled the fear and worry envelop her like a shroud. The horror culminated in one final flight, halted at it’s apex when Lilith lost her footing and fell backwards. The scent of Lilith became almost intoxicating for Sera’nae. The fear subconsciously reminding her of her diet, that she is a predator. And before her lie prey who made a fatal mistake. Her body, or more specifically her stomach, reminded her of the urgency with the pains of hunger. Her mind however considered forgoing this meal now with the possibility of more later. Sera’nae knew one of the elders of a Great Clan would likely offer much for this creature. Sithax in particular is known to have queer curiosities and desires. Might be willing to offer enough food for Sera’nae to forget hunger. At least for quite some time. After a brief moment of deliberation, Sera’nae decided to follow her mind. She would need to calm the xeno down though. Though she felt sympathy, she did enjoy the feeling of being a preadator if for a time. Being Clanless, she rarely has such an opportunity and is often forced to scavenge.

“⟟⏁ ⟟⌇ ⍜☍ ⟟⏁ ⟟⌇ ⍜☍. ⟟ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ⋏⍜⏁ ⏚⍀⟟⋏☌ ⊑⏃⍀⋔ ⏁⍜ ⊬⍜⎍. ⟟ ⟊⎍⌇⏁ ⍙⏃⋏⏁ ⏁⍜ ⏁⏃⌰☍” Sera’nae hissed. A bit of a longshot to calm the creature, but hopefully it can tell the truth in her words. Hopefully. Sera’nae detected a shift, a scent of confusion, but still shrouded in fear. Then Sera’nae realized her mistake. This creature is not Serekin, why would she expect it to know her language? Then how would she show she means no hostilities? Recede her fangs and hold her mouth open, to show no threat? No, probably not. Mouth is for food, and it would probably assume she intends to eat it. Offer it a morsel of something to swallow, wait no. She has no food, that was the point of this. Ah! Perhaps wrap herself around the xeno, slowly and gently. Perhaps if it felt itself in her embrace alive and unharmed it might get the intent. Thinking no other alternative, Sera’nae opted to envelop Lilith within her. A simple task since the xeno seemed to accept its fate. Even though Sera’nae was small for a Serekin, she was large enough to entrap Lilith, and after almost a minute of slow movements Sera’nae and Lilith came face to face and now Sera’nae waited for the Xeno to react.
Fear took a big bite out of Lilith’s flesh and began gnashing it’s teeth inside her stomach. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Lilith could barely see other than the faint light disbursed from the bioluminescent lichen that covered parts of the wall. She began to feel the meat of her fate begin to wrap around her waist and legs. It was a snake, Lilith thought. It felt like the beginning to the end of her story, a story long-time coming, and she thought she had more time than now.

It wasn’t long but the snake did move slow, gentle almost, before completely wrapping itself around Lilith and staring directly into her eyes. The snake was so close, it had hissed a few times, maybe trying to communicate? Maybe trying to simply sense surroundings? Lilith wasn’t sure what the hissing was for - maybe tasting the scent of her? Lilith didn’t fight the end, it seemed to her a hopeless fantasy to survive wherever she was in pitch black darkness. Instead the snake face-to-face and now all Lilith could do was close her eyes.

But nothing happened. Lilith’s eyes opened up as a reptilian features gazed back at her. She wasn’t creeped out by snakes in particular, and for some odd reason being in the grips of death instead of anticipating death felt less tense. Lilith questioned, “Well, aren’t you going to eat me?” She didn’t understand why the snake just stared at her. She would rather get this next part over with than be played with.

Lilith opened her mouth but Sera’nae heard no words, just guttural sounds. Is this their speech? Is this how these humans communicate? So… alien. Communicating would be nigh impossible, but at least the human seemed less fearful. Less desperate, more predictable. She came here on a ship, presumably now in ruin since it crashed. Is she looking for light on the surface? Or shelter in the depths? Beyond that, why did she come to this planet? How did she find this planet? Just stumbling here blindly is of such a low chance it might as well be impossible. No, she came here for something. For a secret, and secrets remain so by being buried. Sithax would be interested in a xeno, even more in one that came here on purpose.

Lilith’s fear was replaced with confusion, something the Serekin sensed. ‘I think it understands I do not intend to eat it. For now at least.’ Sera’nae thought. Then an idea came. Though words are not suitable to communicate, perhaps she could use pictographs. Luckily, she had just the instrument to draw on the walls, if a bit rough. Reaching into a pouch tied around a band around her neck, she procured a chalk stick. Thankfully a black color to contrast against the whitish color of the wall. It was only a few minutes of quickly sketching where Lilith could see before Sera’nae finished. Grabbing some nearby lichen, she slowly moved it across the drawing so that it’s light can illuminate the drawings for Lilith.

The first set was of two figures. One a straight line, with a circle on top and four other straight lines attached, representing the head and four limbs) to the center line to represent the Human. The other, a squiggly line with four straight lines attached to represent the Serekin. The two figures were located underneath a curved line representing the planet, indicating they are underground. Below the two figures was an arrow pointing down, further underground. This is to represent that Sera’nae wishes for them both to venture further into the depths of Karbana.

The second was of several large ovals connected with sets of parallel lines, to indicate caves. Inside were many more figures indicating Serekin. Of note was one particular figure in one particular cave that was surrounded with a circle, and a long arrow leading from the other caves. Sera’nae hopes Lilith can recognize that she seeks to bring her to a specific Serekin.

The third and final showed a rough profile view of a Serekin, mouth slightly open and emitting small lines. Adjacent and facing the Serekin was a profile view of the Human. Also with its mouth open and emitting the same lines. From this, Sera’nae hoped the Human would recognize that she intends to communicate that there is a Serekin that can communicate to Lilith. Though Sera’nae was not sure if this was true, she felt that if anyone would know how to speak the human’s language it would either be Hathax or Sithax, if not both. Hopefully the human would believe this lie.

After giving the Human some time to view the drawings, she held out the chalk for Lilith to take and attempt to communicate if she wished.

Lilith observed as the snake did not choose to eat her. Instead, it tried communicating using the lichen’s bioluminescence as a way to create symbols on the wall. An ancient technique humans used on cave walls in their earlier primitive days, but the psychological significance of such an evolutionary tool never did lose its power even after the time that had passed for human life. The symbols appeared to Lilith with ease. It was her, the snake, the world, and their orientation - where they’d be going or where the snake was directing them to go. Lilith without much room for negotiating erased the snake and her. Then redrew them holding hands to symbolize an agreement.

Discovering the Serekin Mind

Lilith’s Descent: Discovering the Serekin Mind

It was, thankfully, a short journey void of conflict. Sera’nae knew these passages well. She knew every twist and turn, and though Lilith had occasional trouble with the difficult terrain, Sera’nae aided her and they both came to the final cavern. The markings and banners indicating it was Yuklas territory, the Great Clan led by Sithax and responsible for the tonics, tinctures, potions, poisons, venom, etc. that the Serekin ingest and employ.

This cavern had many amenities whether artificial or real. The proximity to Karbana Kinnis’ power generators in an adjacent cave provides plenty of heat for the Serekin. Underground springs provided fresh water to drink and moisten dried scales. A pen of Zoogs for whenever a Serekin needs to feed. There was much here to make a Serekin comfortable.

“⍙⊑⏃⏁ ⏃⍀⟒ ⊬⍜⎍ ⎅⍜⟟⋏☌ ⊑⟒⍀⟒ ⏃⋏⎅ ⍙⊑⊬ ⏚⍀⟟⋏☌ ⏁⊑⟟⌇ ☊⍀⟒⏃⏁⎍⍀⟒ ⍙⟟⏁⊑ ⊬⍜⎍?” A Serekin slithered up to Sera’nae. He wore ornate silver armor, with intricate inscriptions and designs indicating he belongs to the Tatzu Great Clan. The Serekin was certainly out of place, the Yuklas are typically at the forefront of style but they forgoe armor in favor of robes. ‘Perhaps a guard on loan.’ Sera’nae thought. “⟟ ⌇⟒⟒☍ ⌇⟟⏁⊑⏃⌖. ⟟ ⍜⎎⎎⟒⍀ ⏃ ⊑⎍⋔⏃⋏ ⎎⍜⍀ ⏁⍀⏃⎅⟒.” Sera’nae replied, ignoring that the other Serekin was sizing her up. He had a few feet and maybe fifty pounds on her, if it came to a fight she would not fare well. The Serekin responded with a stare, as if deciding between several different ideas, before glancing at Lilith.

Getting another idea, the Serekin opted to observe her. Aggressively. The Serekin slithered around Lilith several times, occasionally touching here and there to get a feel for her as well as her scent. Though he gripped Lilith roughly, jolting her around a bit in his inspection, Sera’nae did not worry. Or at least not a lot. She knew that a common trait many of the Tatzu shared was a dominating one. They liked to show they were in charge in any situation, but not here. This is Yuklas territory. Sithax held much influence, his words held great weight. Especially here in his domain. The male Serekin would not dare be so foolish as to risk harming this Human, Sera’nae was sure of it. “⟟ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ☌⍜ ⏁⟒⌰⌰ ⊑⟟⋔.” The male Serekin said at last, before slithering away.

Sera’nae was thankful Lilith was able to hold her composure, at least physically. Unfortunately, scent can betray one’s feelings to those perceptive enough. Now all they needed to do was wait for the Serekin to fetch Sithax. With nothing to do, Sera’nae led Lilith to one end of the cave where they could rest, and give Lilith a moment to gather her thoughts.
Lilith was unsure of the snake people and the world she was on, or rather, in. The maze that was Karbanna Kinnis eluded any mental constructs she had developed this far in her life. Before she realized, Lilith and her snake guide approached a cavern where they walked only to be approached by a larger snake who decided to violate her space. There was a potent smell that wafted into her nostrils that made them want to run off Lilith’s face, unfortunately her nostrils stayed put. Lilith was brought back to the end of the cave. There was enough light illuminating a place for her to sit after all this travel. Still uncomfortable and uncertain of her fate, the exposure to her snake guide had dissipated the fears she once held onto. Instead, Lilith was more passive about her potential doom, she also thought that if she were going to die, they wouldn’t have brought her this far...then again...a meal carrying itself is a lot less taxing on the back.

Ruminating on her situation she kept coming back to, how could she help these snake people? If she could answer that, then feeding on her would be less enticing.

A dozen or so minutes later, the two were approached by a few robed Serekin figures. The one in the center could clearly be identified as Sithax. Though he was only a little larger than the average Serekin, he tended to hunch over more than other Serekin when standing, giving him a more diminutive appearance. He wore a blood red robe with accents of yellow. Several bands of various precious metals were worn around his neck and tail, each band was inscribed with different symbols. Several golden rings were pierced through the throat, from each hung an odd trinket from golden chains an inch or two from the rings. Sithax also had with him an ornate silver staff. The staff was fully covered in odd symbols engraved in the staff. The most discerning feature of the staff was a golden serpent coiled around the top third of the staff. The figure lacked arms and legs like the Serekin and instead had several pairs of large feathery wings, and from the top of the staff protruded it’s head, mouth open as if to swallow something.

The two Serekin to Sithax’s side were not as decorated as him and only half as eye catching as Serekin. Their robes were simpler and indicated they were of the Yuklas Clan. “⏃ ⏁⍜☍⟒⋏ ⍜⎎ ⏁⊑⏃⋏☍⌇ ⎎⍀⍜⋔ ⌇⟟⏁⊑⏃⌖.” One hissed before tossing something towards Sera’nae. Quickly recognizing it as a Zoog, Sera’nae snatched in the air and swallowed it whole and finally satisfying her hunger. “⊬⍜⎍ ⏃⍀⟒ ☊⌰⏃⋏⋏⌰⟒⌇⌇, ⏃⍀⟒ ⊬⍜⎍ ⋏⍜⏁?” Sithax questioned Sera’nae.

“⋏⍜, ☌⍀⟒⏃⏁ ⏃⌰☊⊑⟒⋔⟟⌇⏁. ⋏⍜ ☊⌰⏃⋏ ⍙⏃⋏⏁⟒⎅ ⋔⟒.” Sera’nae replied. Confused as to why he asked that question.

“⏁⊑⟟⌇ ⊑⎍⋔⏃⋏, ⍙⊑⏃⏁ ⎅⍜ ⊬⍜⎍ ⍙⏃⋏⏁ ⎎⍜⍀ ⏚⍀⟟⋏☌⟟⋏☌ ⟟⏁ ⊑⟒⍀⟒?”

“⏃⌰⌰ ⟟ ⎅⟒⌇⟟⍀⟒ ⟟⌇ ⎎⍜⍜⎅. ⟒⋏⍜⎍☌⊑ ⌇⍜ ⟟ ⍙⍜⋏'⏁ ⊑⏃⎐⟒ ⏁⍜ ⍙⍜⍀⍀⊬ ⟟⎎ ⟟'⌰⌰ ☌⟒⏁ ⏁⍜ ⟒⏃⏁ ⎎⍜⍀ ⏃ ⍙⊑⟟⌰⟒.”

“⟟ ⌇⟒⟒... ⟟ ⍀⟒⌇⌿⟒☊⏁ ⊬⍜⎍⍀ ⍀⟒⌇⏁⍀⏃⟟⋏⏁. ⏁⍜ ⏃⎐⍜⟟⎅ ⟒⏃⏁⟟⋏☌ ⌇⎍☊⊑ ⏃⋏ ⟒⏃⌇⊬ ⌿⍀⟒⊬ ⏃⌇ ⏁⊑⟟⌇. ⏃⋏⎅ ⏁⍜ ⊑⏃⎐⟒ ⏁⊑⟒ ⍙⟟⌇⎅⍜⋔ ⏁⍜ ⏁⍀⏃⎅⟒ ⟟⏁ ⎎⍜⍀ ⋔⍜⍀⟒ ⌇⎍⌇⏁⟒⋏⏃⋏☊⟒ ⏁⊑⏃⋏ ⟟⏁ ☊⍜⎍⌰⎅ ⌿⍀⍜⎐⟟⎅⟒ ⏚⊬ ⟒⏃⏁⟟⋏☌ ⟟⏁. ⟟ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ☌⍀⏃⋏⏁ ⊬⍜⎍ ⏃☊☊⟒⌿⏁⏃⋏☊⟒ ⟟⋏⏁⍜ ⏁⊑⟟⌇ ☊⌰⏃⋏, ⏃⋏⎅ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ⏁⍀⏃⟟⋏ ⊬⍜⎍ ⌿⟒⍀⌇⍜⋏⏃⌰⌰⊬ ⟟⋏ ⍜⎍⍀ ⏃⍀⏁⌇. ⟟ ⊑⏃⎐⟒ ⎎⍜⍀⌇⟒⟒⋏ ⎐⟟⌇⟟⍜⋏⌇ ⍜⎎ ⏁⊑⟒ ⎎⎍⏁⎍⍀⟒ ⟟⋏ ⋔⊬ ⎅⍀⟒⏃⋔⌇. ⏁⊑⟒⊬ ⏃⍀⟒ ⏚⌰⎍⍀⍀⊬, ⎍⋏☊⌰⟒⏃⍀ ⏁⍜ ⋔⟒ ⏚⎍⏁ ⟟ ⎎⟒⟒⌰ ⏁⊑⏃⏁ ⎎⏃⏁⟒ ⊑⏃⌇ ⏚⍀⍜⎍☌⊑⏁ ⊬⍜⎍ ⏚⍜⏁⊑ ⊑⟒⍀⟒.”

Sera’nae was surprised by the offer, it was more than she was expecting. She needed a moment to ensure that, yes, that is what Sithax said. She asked for food but Sithax offered real opportunity. She need not be a scavenger any longer. It was, in all senses, an offer she could not refuse. “⊬⟒⌇ ☌⍀⟒⏃⏁ ⏃⌰☊⊑⟒⋔⟟⌇⏁. ⟟ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ⍙⏃⟟⏁ ⊑⟒⍀⟒ ⎎⍜⍀ ⎎⎍⍀⏁⊑⟒⍀ ⟟⋏⌇⏁⍀⎍☊⏁⟟⍜⋏. ☌⟟⎐⟒ ⊬⍜⎍ ⏁⟟⋔⟒ ⏁⍜ ☊⍜⋏⎐⟒⍀⌇⟒ ⍙⟟⏁⊑ ⏁⊑⟒ ⊑⎍⋔⏃⋏. ⏁⊑⍜⎍☌⊑ ⟟ ⊑⏃⎐⟒ ⎎⟒⌰⏁...⌇⊬⋔⌿⏃⏁⊑⊬. ⏁⊑⟒ ⊑⎍⋔⏃⋏ ⍙⏃⌇ ⌇⍜ ⌇☊⏃⍀⟒⎅ ⏁⍜ ⏚⟒ ⌇⏁⍀⏃⋏⎅⟒⎅ ⊑⟒⍀⟒. ⟟ ⏃⌇☍ ⏁⊑⏃⏁ ⍙⟒ ⏚⍀⟟⋏☌ ⋏⍜ ⊑⏃⍀⋔ ⏁⍜ ⊑⟒⍀ ⏃⋏⎅ ⏁⊑⏃⏁ ⊬⍜⎍ ⏁⟒⌰⌰ ⊑⟒⍀ ⏁⍜ ⍀⟒⋔⟒⋔⏚⟒⍀ ⋔⟒.”

Sithax then turned to Lilith, eyeing her for a moment and decided on the words to use. They would be historic and would play a large roll in shaping the future for the both of them. At last, he spoke.

“Apologies Human, I needed a word with your ssss map? No, guide. I smell your confusion and I will explain more in my ssss well, I think office would be the closest word. There we can hiss ssss converse where eyes do not pry. This way please ssss.” Sithax ledled Lilith to a dark corner of the cavern, certainly just nigh of pitch black to her but for the silhouette of Sithax. At the end of the cave, Sithax interacted with something in the dark, mechanical clicking and sliding were her only clues, some sort of puzzle lock? After a few seconds, the sounds of gears whirring and mechanical clicking answered her question, then the wall split inwards revealing a hidden room. The room was lit enough for her human eyes to see. Before she had much of a chance to look around, Sithax demanded her attention.

“You have come far from your home human. For someone to come here by accident is nigh impossible. No, I know you come here seeking something. I have dreamed of it. You accessing our wormholes. Crashing, being found by ⌇⟒⍀⏃'⋏⏃⟒, your guide. I have seen our meeting; I have seen the two of us looking for secrets long dead. Most of the pieces I have seen, but still the puzzle is incomplete. Let me be the first to introduce myself, in your tongue, you can call me Sithax. Let me ssss dissuade your fears, I mean no harm. Our fates, at this moment, are intertwined so believe me when I say that I will come to regret impeding you. What I want to know now is, who are you? Who sent you here? And why have they sent you?”

Lilith was confused. There was no other explanation of her feelings. All she could do was follow her story, at this point, there were no controls, fate gripped it’s paws around her waist moving her along. Lilith was led by a much more regal looking snake, the presence of this one stirred the others, kept them “upright”. Then the regal snake spoke, IN ENGLISH! Lilith couldn’t believe her life anymore…it would have made more sense had she fallen with her ship. Lilith, surprised by the regal snake’s politeness, followed as it gestured the way.

Entering a room after a mechanical door opened the regal snake left no room for small talk. Lilith thought, Sithax? Intertwined fates? Impeding her? What was this snake trying to do? Befriend her? Lilith went from believing she was food, to now being treated as a friend? What was the angle of this thing? AND WHY COULD IT SPEAK ENGLISH? Lilith silenced her mind and responded, “My name is Lilith, I discovered coordinates of a location that led me to this world. I was only supposed to report back, not come down to investigate...unfortunately the wormhole damaged my ship. Before falling my suit pinged the coordinates to be even further than expected, but the suit has no more battery life, so I don’t know where to find what I was looking for. Now I am here.” She paused, “I have a question?”, she paused again, “What do you mean you’ve seen our meeting and looking for secrets long dead?”

“Ah yes, I was told your arrival wassss. Met with a sudden end. By now your ship will likely have been disassembled by the planet’s automatons. It did not arrive in good shape and they tend to remove what issues they can not fix. As for your question, I mean what I said. I have foreseen events present and future in my dreams, if but only glimpses. These dreams are not as your kind sees them, Lilith, for my people have learned how to travel to ssss. The land of dreams. We all have dreams. Whether to guide us, to remember, to experience, or perhaps another of a myriad of reasons. This ssss, realm, if you will, is where we all go. Though, we each have our own spaces. Sometimes we have ventured into your kind’s dreams, sometimes your kind ventures into ours. But unlike you Humans, we have learned to come and go as we please, and how to traverse past the surface, to where strange things are possible and, in this case, glimpse into the future. I have seen parts of what is to come for the both of us, I hope you are ready. The only advice I can give, is to remember who you are and most importantly, why you are. Any more questions?”
Did she hear this thing right? The serpent was an astral projecting dream walking guru? If she were back home, she’d have burst in laughter. But, she was talking ENGLISH to a walking snake which spoke to prophetic dream dramas, “Only one,” Lilith replied, “Where do we go from here?” she asked.

Sithax chuckled. “To find your path, we must visit the past. You claim to not know where the co-ordinates lead, but you do. Ssssomewhere in your mind lies that which was forgotten. Perhaps the trauma of the crash hazed your memory, or maybe you only got a glimpse at the co-ordinates, to brief to consciously register. But it is in there somewhere. “Sithax gently pressed a claw against Lilith’s forehead to illustrate his point. “To the dreamlandssss, we must venture, there I can make you remember. There I can lead us to our fate. All you need to do is sleep, and I will join you in your dreams. I will control your dreams to find those co-ordinates, then we can go from there.”

Sithax then slithered to the end of the room, to a metal panel that resided within the cavern walls. After fumbling with something out of view the safe replied with the sound of mechanical clicking. As the plate slowly budged to the side, a thin fog wafted out from the chamber, the cool temperatures within colliding with the moisture in the room. Sithax plucked a sort of ‘box’ made out of ornate golden serpents shaped in a way to hold the glass vials upright. Within the vials were viscous liquids with a consistency similar to ketchup and of various colors. “This potion should help ssss. Sleep find you quickly.” Sithax hissed, giving a red one to Lilith. “Sorry about the taste but it was not made with a palate in mind, never mind a Human’s. Once you pass into the other realm, stick with me. Some of those around here have queer nightmares and I’d hate for you to get lost in one. You won’t come to any harm but psychological. Waking with a fright is not very good for your health. With our ssss waking selves in the same room, it will be a breeze for me to shift through your memories and project them as a shared dream, I will need you to help me to identify relevant memories though. So drink up now, it’s this or I inject venom into you with my own fangs. I’ll let you choose which way to get you to sleep.”
Lilith did not quite understand the mystic tongued serpent with its various riddles of pasts, dreams, and memories. She also didn’t have much of a choice, according to Sithax, her fate had already been preordained. Lilith was assured by Sithax there would be no imminent danger, but his reassurance was of no comfort, she reached out to take the red vial Sithax provided. She was asked to drink up or else...so she drank the putrid filth that seemed to stick in her throat. The substance was awful which led to her gagging, then coughing, falling to her knees she puked, rolled over, and blacked out. For a moment she thought to be dead. There was a humming in her ear, then kaleidoscope shapes and colors appeared twisting in harmony. The shapes became closer and the humming raised louder until her awareness popped through the other side...vast illuminated-darkness...and then it all came rushing to her with Sithax in mind.

Dreamer

Lilith’s Descent: Dreamer

Sithax was pleasantly surprised that Lilith willingly drank the concoction, he thought he would have to get her to sleep with his venom. He was, however, disappointed in the Human retching up most of the potion she ingested. ‘Perhaps it was too much a dose? This Human is smaller than most Serekin, I will need to learn the average Human size later so as to figure a effective dosage.’ Sithax thought as Lilith began to slumber. Once she fully succumbed to sleep, Sithax positioned her sitting against the wall. Being passed out on the floor like that is unbecoming, at least for a Serekin. He wondered for a moment if all Humans were this ungraceful, before coming to a coiled position next to Lilith and slowed his mind. He knew a few tricks to fall asleep fast, one tends to figure out these things when the alternative is that file potion.

Sithax has travels to the realm of dreams so many times that the passage is a quick affair. Little more than simply being in one place, blinking, then finding oneself somewhere else. Or, at least it would if Serekin had eyelids. Sithax waited for Lilith to fall asleep first, so he can bring himself to Lilith’s dreams and, well, it looked almost the same as where he just once. A few imperfections here and there as Lilith probably had not gotten a good look around the room while she was awake. One more noticeable difference was that Lilith was still on the ground, partially in her vomit.

“what are you doing lying in your own bile?” Sithax hissed, slightly upset. “Are you Humans normally this ⎅⟟⌇☌⎍⌇⏁⟟⋏☌, this disgusting? Regardless I’d rather not have your recent meal stick with us” Sithax said, before tapping his staff to the ground a few times. Suddenly, the vomit was no longer there, not even the smell. “Now, please visualize where you might have last seen the coordinates, or at least the room you were in. Don’t worry about when, we don’t need to be that specific. Once we have a location of where the coordinates once were, we can isolate the frame of time and with some help from me, figure out where we need to go next.”

Lilith raised her eyes to meet Sithax who stood above her. He tapped his staff 1-2-3 and the vomit she had not even realized was on her disappeared. She shrugged off his question about Humans, it was his gross vial that created the mess, her being a Human had no connection with being disgusting other than the disgusting vial. Sithax asked her to visualize where she might have seen the coordinates, the reason for her even having crashed here in the first place...she tried recollecting...where would she have - I got it! Lilith thought which actually bellowed out into the room since she was in her own dream. As soon as she thought of the place, the dream shifted quickly, both her and Sithax stood inside of her spaceship just before it came crashing down onto Sithax’s world. The coordinates were saved on the navigational HUD of the cockpit, Lilith pointed to Sithax as she approached the HUD, “these are the coordinates.”

“These are the coordinates? How could Humans have gained this information…” Sithax wondered aloud.“This is a very intriguing development. And very controversial information.” Sithax hissed, turning towards Lilith. “You seek the resting place of the ⏚⟒⌰'⌇⊑⟒⋏. The exiled clan. What is our part in this? What secrets are to be found? Knowledge? Or something more tangible? Nevertheless, I am guided to aid you. Don’t make me regret it.” Sithax pondered for a moment, reflecting on where fate would guide him. “It seems we are done here, hold still and this will only be a slight discomfort.” Sithax announced, barely giving Lilith time to react before he sprung at her like a coiled spring, intending to waken her through fright or by killing her dream self.

Lilith sprang out of sleep. She gasped for air catching her breath as fright smacked her heart. Lilith rolled to her side and picked herself up off the floor about 6 feet from Sithax. The two had the coordinates of Lilith’s purpose. Sithax was going to bring her there.

The Exiled One

Lilith’s Descent: The Exiled One

Sithax led Lilith what felt like even deeper into whatever construct Sithax’s species lived in or on. The two arrived at a large cryptic door with engravings of a language foreign to Lilith’s eyes. Most of what she encountered recently was foreign to her eyes. Sithax approached the large door briefly waving his magic of wisdom that initiated a sequence of events that opened it. Lilith followed Sithax cautiously, she was feeling the end of her journey was a lot closer than she may have hoped. Inside contained a large pod hanging in the center suspended mid-way in the room. Lilith tried observing the room but again it was much too dark to gain any sort of understanding of what this place might be. Lilith looked to Sithax, “Where are we and what is that?”

“This is where our paths diverge.” Sithax replied, taking in the scents of the room deeply. “That pod contains the hibernating body of one of my species. Judging by the inscriptions on the wall, the Elder for this exiled clan. Or at least it should. Something smells… off.” Sithax knew all too well about this technology inherited from their ancestors. In fact, it was pioneered from one of his forebears. The pod itself was nothing special, just some synthesized leathery substance. No the real key was the liquid inside. The chemical reagent is capable of preserving a body long after it naturally should have expired, as if in frozen in time, it also revitalizes and enhances the occupant. This later become the basis for Sithax’s own Viper serum. But, the master of alchemy has a sort of sixth sense for this sort of things. Something was off. It smelled…potent. Concentrated. There is something odd about this room.

Slithering to the walls, Sithax decided a little further exploration was wise. The walls were written on in a different dialect than he knew, but it made sense. Clans often invent new ways to say some words, and forget others compared to other clans. The writing itself was odd, part history and part prophecy. But it did confirm some of Sithax’s suspicions. This room is meant to keep something preserved. Something important, but it does not mention the names of any Serekin Sithax knew of. ⌇⟒⌰'☌⏃⍀. An unfamiliar name, probably who is in the pod. The text goes on about the deeds of this individual, some of which seemed familiar to Sithax, like he was around. Or maybe he heard of them and is misplacing time and place. As the text continued, it only raised more questions.

“I think the clan’s last, and perhaps current, Elder is in that pod. But I can’t be certain, nothing in this room is giving me any clues. I think I am here to awaken whatever is in it.” Sithax said, eyeing an alchemy station against another wall. With just the right ingredients to create a reagent to counter the one in the pod. “Give me a few minutes, I need to make a reagent.” Sithax said to Lilith, slithering to the table where he began the process.

The reagent is a very precise mixture, it is all to easy to mess it up. But for Sithax, it was child’s play. He knew it was just right when the resulting liquid had a faint green glow. “Got it just right. ⋏⍜⍙ ⏁⍜ ⟟⋏⟊⟒☊⏁ ⏁⊑⟟⌇” Sithax hissed. “Now I just need to inject this in the pod and let it do its work.” Sithax said, putting the mixture into a syringe. Sithax then slithered a few feet from the pod before coiling and springing into the air. Catching the side of the pod and slithering to the top where the container was the thinnest. He paused for a moment to make one last gleam into the pod. The pod itself was made of a partially light green leathery material. It was egg shaped and was suspended from the ceiling by a thick strand of the same material. The body of the pod was thin enough to be seen through but the dark red liquid within made it hard to see anything else but some vague form of…something within. Sithax then injected the reagent into the pod before Slithering back to the ground, waiting for the reaction.

As the reagent was introduced, the green liquid mixed with the red, creating a black liquid. This liquid reacted violently, the pod bulging in and out at places like bubbles were forming on its surface. Over a period of roughly 30 seconds the black liquid spread and seemingly consumed the occupant of the pod before settling still. Then the pod began stretching and ripping as the thing inside started to make its way out. From top to bottom a large tear formed as the liquid inside spilled out onto the floor. Then the figure inside began to pour out while at the same time, coincidentally or not, what light illuminated the room was extinguished. Unable to see, Sithax still had other senses to rely on and they sensed something moving along the ground towards Lilith. The thing moved with such speed Sithax had no time to say anything.

Lilith observed her guide who seemed to be well learned in the art of mixing chemicals. Sithax injected the leathery pod that hung above their head as if he was always destined to do so. There appeared to be no hesitation in Sithax’s line of movement and Lilith completely feeling herself in the dark could only make guesses at what was really happening here. Once the injection was complete she watched Sithax retreat slightly to gain space from the ancestral pod technology which began to react to his mixture. The pod ripped open violently. The room went black. Lilith could not even scream. She felt like her neck viced shut, her body reacting with an intensity of energy that felt like she was being shocked, an overload of mental stimulation gave her no bearing of a proper orientation as the intensity only raised in volume. Just as the lights of the room went out, the mental lights of her own mind ceased too. Lilith collapsed onto the floor and all was silent.

Building Bridges

Collab with DX and Rezo before the invasion of Dominion begins.

Building Bridges: Katrin of Saxony and Mayven of OPAO

*ping*

Mayven laid in bed as her Arcnaught flagship swam through the vast depths of space within the OPAO limits. Wearing only what was necessary, her long slim legs rolled over the edge as she raised herself into a seated position. She had been reviewing her daily notes on a clear tablet that seemed to effortlessly blend in with her environment except for the illuminated words emanating from the screen's interface. The tablet was brought with her when rising gracefully to walk over to a fixed hologram at the center of the room with a couch wrapped around it.

Her high socks meeting the steel surface of the vessel with each soft step, she slid down onto a large leather-free white synthetic fabric wrapped around a seated area with the hologram table at the center. The deep silence of her cruise was cut by the introduction of the holographic message. It was the response to her request for a meeting with one of the faction leaders of Saxony, Katrin Siegel Von Wenhausen.

Upon accepting the request a holographic display of Katrin was shown in colors, albeit some blue imagery as the hologram attempted to display her. She wore her usual noble suit, a white vest with black pigment arms, black pants with gold accented lines, her long hair seemed a little more messy from the usual images of her. Seeing Mayven she smiled saying “Good to meet you miss Mayven i believe and good morning as well... i am sorry we cannot meet in person but our declaration kind of cut our means of travel without brining troubles to your state i hope this doesn't bother you miss”

Mayven smiled back at Katrin, “I understand. I want to thank you for taking the time to receive my message and answer back as promptly as you have. I am sure with the evolving events in Saxony you are a busy woman.” Mayven paused to let the silence punctuate the acknowledgement of Katrin’s importance to her nation, “I wanted to make contact with you as I understand it, you are a rising name within Saxony’s political scene. After your declaration the Orbital Principalities had success in retrieving a high-level executive of Octo Smith’s strategic defense forces. This individual has agreed to cooperate with us to weaken the Dominion.” Mayven paused again to let the revealing of a strategic source process in Katrin’s mind, “Due to Saxony’s most recent stance against the Dominion, we thought you may find interest in this executive’s information. He will be divulging locations, supply lines, and other various pain points that if hit could significantly weaken and create collapse for the Dominion in half the time, would you be interested in such information Ms. Wenhausen?” Mayven was leaning back on the couch, adjusting her crossed legs by switching leg position, she awaited her acquaintance's response.

Katrin smiled as Mayven told her about her job while it was true she had to work a lot from day one to today a small faint of sadness could be seen as she looked to her left for a moment she remember of her father on how she could barely mourn his passing, as she heard Mayven talkings of political and conspiratory natures she maintained her usual blunt stare and analysation of the date after she finished Katrin answered after she got acquaintances on her couch “This could be very useful miss Mayven our state has been depending alot on our head of informations while not having a lot of internal saboteurs available...” she leaned back on her couch in her side of the transmission it was not able to be seen but it was obvious she relaxed on something through the hologram she then proceeded letting Mayven understand her words “Even though it's good what you are offering us i must understand you wish something in return don't you?” she said bluntly almost like its experience and expecting that at this point.

Mayven nodded, “Yes, but first if you and your allies were to reach your goals of success against the Dominion, what happens after the Dominion falls?”

Katrin sighed she knew that question would be asked by one of Saxony's allies but the answer she knew she could give would satisfy no one she thoughted for a moment ‘risking exposing a dangerous truth or’ her mind thoughed after a moment of silence she sighed again and then said “I believe i am beyond the ability to speak out on what will happen once the dominion falls or politics are too much fragmented to come to an agreement at the moment especially since we began our offensive but many agree on one thing in particular the dominion staying intact is too dangerous to be allowed to exist” she thoughed for a moment and for once she smiled since the conversation took a serious tone saying “I think it's more on the wills of what our armies, our allies and some of us want rather than an overall goal”

Mayven listened closely as Katrin found her stance on the question. Mayven unfolding her legs and leaning toward the hologram replied, “Then we agree the Dominion is too dangerous to continue. It is unfortunate you cannot speak to the vision of your own political faction nor to the vision of Saxony other than the Dominion threat, however, I understand these are early days. In exchange for information, we ask for open borders to begin developing strong trade between our markets as our economies will need to thrive to fund the war efforts. I want to split strategic assets that are liberated from the Dominion to be split 50/50. Additionally, if we require aid or military support in the future, there will be no hesitation to answer. Do we have an understanding?”

A relief crossed the head of Katrin economically, Saxony existed in autarky to a very limited extent with the blockade of the sector many commerce ships stopped and the economy hurted itself, smiling hearing that she then said “We are brothers in arms aren't we?” a smile crossing her face she continued saying “Our economy will benefit quite well with trade between our states as for military aid Saxony is willing to help your state but we also ask of the willingness of your nation to also answer a call of aid in the near future as well as for strategic assets i belive i need to convene a convention with my partners some are not…” she paused thinking in a word “...comfortable with said split might take awhile if you it isn't a problem”

Mayven smiled back, “It appears more like sisters in arms, go through your channels and let us reconvene in two weeks. This should prove more than enough time for you to speak with your constituents and get your answers.” Mayven awaited for the recognizing gesture by Katrin and motioned her hand to turn off the hologram.

Katrin hearing that then said “Hopefully next time isn't through a hologram we shall meet later” she then did a salutation gesture to Mayven, a sign of respect from her culture before the hologram turned off.

[LustForDecay]

||| Your kind are not unknown to us. We know you are not the original inhabitants of this world and have an understanding of why. We are not here for you and our presence here is not militaristic in intent but scientific and historical. Your sovereignty is respected and we do not intend to cause problems where they are not needed. This extends to the others who dwell below; we have also been aware of them for some time. We are willing to negotiate - we understand that you are far removed from most conflicts in the cosmos. This extends to us as well. You are aware however it may only be a matter of time before said conflict finds both of us and it will not hurt to be prepared. Our fleet has supplies and we are willing to work out a variety of deals in matters of mutual interest.

We have reasons to enter the depths but we do not plan to conquer them. Just as we are aware of your variuos observation points, we do not seek hostility. There are remnants of our own in there and would be willing to request your assistance with regards to finding them. We would prefer to speak directly about them over a secure channel or in a secure meeting space with your ambassadors. There doubtless questions you may have and vice versa. These are not matters we consider secure for conversation over a datapad. We hope you can understand and we look forward to future communications. Message us back and we can work out a location and time. |||

The mite-like entity scribbled over the tablet, its palps splitting into a variety of smaller manipuator limbs like a nightmarish tree-branch assembly of surgical equipment. Laser projectors, vibratory blade cutters, self-repairing metal-coated cutter tips - its impressive arsenal was put to the task of meticulously writing across the back of the tablet and slowly piling up small anthills of dust around itself. One could easily think it was more of a machine with its mechnical precision. They wouldn't be entirely wrong. Like the bulbous, jellyfish like constructs their features were clearer now that it was easier to watch them. They had the bumpy texture of something like a meatball crossed with a mixture of sewer gunk and a nightmarish mess of jagged, metallic spikes.

These grotesque entities were simply drifting across the chasms below, almost looking like some sort of strange wildlife that had adapted to a world where remaining terrestrial or aquatic was entirely out of the question. Unlike jellyfish though, they were far from mindless. Complex sensory mechanisms and organs were scanning below but elsewhere, the beings they had been scouting for were making landfall.

On one of the large landmasses by the chasms below, a vessel long and flattened like some prehistoric crustacean hovered down to settle onto the ground. It almost appeared at rest but within its biomechanical body, it was anything but relaxed. Hundreds of multi-jointed limbs moved in visually overwhelming, hurried patterns as the un-living ship began to activate a series of complex mechanisms and hidden systems. Huge figures that shambled and skittered with the speed of creatures much smaller moved in busied patterns, coming close to yet never really crashing into one another. Some crept up the curving and undulating walls, others through floor-holes obscured by shadows, and some walked bipedally in a near silent harmony.

This landing spot hadn't been randomly chosen. The gunships flying overhead weren't doing simple air patrols. The mite-machines jumping from rock to rock weren't just exploring. No other nation knew it yet but this wouldn't be the first time some of these crewmen had landed here.

As the belly of the ship opened, hidden from sight behind a complex composite of syncretic armour, the belly of the chitinour machine began to open. Normally this would be used for deploying space-rated combat craft but today, it was something drastically different.

After all, it wasn't often the Rozkleřešení was manifested on the vessel - a gignatic swirling spherical mass of festering biomatter and constant self repair, its very surface a living tapestry of self-consuming and regenerative complexities laced through with eldritch machinery and guided by a consciousness far beyond what what anyone in the NIRC was capable of truly comprehending in terms of scope.

Only fragments of it were ever taken for these missions but they were almost revered such as the swirling chaos-sphere that hovered in the hangar bay, a silent watcher of the enormous vrexul crew that toiled with the complex preparations of scourging the very stone and metal they lay on with precise energy tools and cutter beams. Their augmented bodies seemed nonsensical at first - grotesque and overdeveloped with complex interlocking metal and biomass plating, multiple limbs working independently of one another, fleshless heads and lidless eyes at once aware yet empty. They moved to vividly to be machines but there was an economy to their motion almost measured in execution that certainly wasn't typical of organic life.

How they could keep so calm with the ominous sphere whose very being seemed a biomechanical catastrophe encased in a very loose shape was anyone's guess. There were smaller figures present, some digitigrade and tall, others roughly humanoid. Occaisonally, their armoured heads drifted to the mayhemic mass hovering above and the squishing, chittering, rustling sound - like a thousand pieces of paper shuddering and tearing in a dusty metal vent. Even as stone was scraped, metal scourged, and the ground slowly deepened, the piercing frequencies scratched at the consciousness as much as they did the ear.

Gradually the shape of some sort of cryptic alien design became clearer framed within the ovular launch bay. Symbols hidden by stone and debris revealed - lines and depressions in the black steel beneath the stone, coiling and jutting at asymmetrical angular configurations crafted by hands more ancient than any life on this world.

It seemed a metallic sigil lay there, somehow spotless in black-silver in spite of the ravages of time and the roughness of the excavation effort. Its purpose however, didn't seem clear. Not to the simple crewmen but to the Gnosis Eater fragment, it was clear why it was there. The vile sphere descended, joined by the mixed-species research crew, kneeling around it as blocky handheld computerized devices were pulled out and the sinewy centipede-like organism limbs that crawled out like freshly born worms of the sphere descended onto the the strange formation.

Slowly, a light began to travel along the grooves of the symbol.

++++++++++

In the easternmost reaches of space, between the NIRC and the Imperivm, a series of pod-like objects drifted near the edges of Surnian aerospace. They were inert, seemingly lifeless objects but a casual scan revealed they were satellites of some sort. Primitive machines from perhaps a generation or so ago of what was once Ascendency technology but something was different. They were sending out communications to the Surnians - a simple loop with a simple message.

|| To the high command of the SSCDL, the Nexus would like to formally open diplomatic channels in the wake of a change in leadership. We are aware of the state of your nation in these precarious times. We are offering an alliance and the exchange of our technologies. Retain these satellites in their current position for ease of communication. ||

++++++++++

Southwards, on abandoned Foundry worlds, once inert factories were seeing new visitors. Amidst the shattered bodies of defective vessels and the blast-marked ground, a new force walked upon these hostile worlds. Like the gigantic lungs of heaving beasts, the great industrial centres of the machine empire were starting to breathe again. It was slow at first with the grand shuddering of mechanism and gears but with each passing day, the exhales become growls and the growls became roars. On these lifeless worlds, the organs of dominion were awakening once more but it was not the CORE who was in charge.

On one such world, the pretender's to the throne were learning that the NIRC was far, far from the same threat as their own. The defector-Foundry's machines had the same ruthless efficiency but they were not used to fighting liberated SeCI's following the directives not of rival computerized overlords but a cunning, experienced enemy not bound by their strategic directives. Heavy tanks were baited into assaulting what at first seemed to be random uprisings of service class infantry, pelted by laser beams and missile launchers. Their shells cut first into the stone and steel of what at first seemed like makeshift fortresses, gounging them out and sending smoke and flames into the air.

The enemy would go silent... if only for them to reveal the reason for such. They hadn't silenced the SeCI's - only hidden them from scans as the electrointerference of their discharging weaponry impacting hidden mines, flooding the air with static interference. Early warning systems were left unaware and blind as globs of green-white plasma flew out of distnat, concealed positions. Heavy armour shifted and turned, caught between an enemy strongpoint and unidentified rays of metal-devouring hyper-heated wrath, shells cooking off and armour deforming them crushing under the horrific globules of flame. Stones crumbled and walls fell apart as the fortified position they were once besieging erupted open and from behind it, a monstrous away of titanic constructs foreign to their data logs. Tens of legs carried forth large ovular, crablike bodies effortlessly crawling over or smashing through the debris they had created. Fields of misty green and yellow flared as ion and rail shells slammed against them in close quarters, shielding what could be both warmachine or warbeast.

A few machines tried to break formation and carry out a flank but long beams of blue shot out from distant hillsides, tearing through wheels and navigation computers, sending the defector heavy armour to a stalling halt. All the better for the monstrous constructs to raise their massive, car sized claws and drive them into the unprepared armour of the now trapped armour battallions. Reinforced and hardened to resist railguns, they fared little better as the absurd brute strength and ethereal fields of wrath-amplifyng power simply ripped them apart, exposing delicate wiring and electronics to the rest of the world. Like some vicious arthropod predators, their multiple limbs sliced, stabbed, jabbed, and swung at sometimes up to four more machines. Close-in weapons and cannons fired at point blank against the conquering horde, gouging deep wounds but only seeming to further enrage the enormous machines. As if having discovered fresh carrion, they gutted the iron battalion, viciously ripping through multiple layers of internal mechanisms and gears, scourging open weaker side armour, and sometimes nearly bisecting them with their near-supernaturally enhanced claws.

While armour divisions were being all but devoured by an enemy they had never previously faced, infantry attempting to retake rocier territories themselves suffering no worse a fate. Rigid movements of robotic forces were spotted from thousands of yards away as bioelectro-thermal weaponry fired in criss-crossing patterns, sending living rounds slamming into troops disnegaging from armoured transports. Storms of energy bolts were fired in retaliation as the advance continued, sweeping over hillsides only to be pounced upon by long-legged, savage bipeds. Gealtirocht soldiers, hidden by jamming and active camo, kicked off of the ledges they were hanging on as energy sheaths over their blades effortlessly sliced through skulls, torsos, and legs. High intensity plasma PDW's opened up, overwhelming and overloading disrupted groups of infantry while point-blank solidified energy rounds tore off limbs and staggered back even heavier troop types. Even when forcing them back, it only meant having to deal with storms of overwhelming bio-propulsed seed-like bullets. Weaker than the autocannon fire from earlier, the increasingly bogged down troops pushed through only to find landmines hidden at enfilade positions, shattering them into pieces before gatling guns audibly revved up. Cover was shredded and the countless impacts per second slamming into even their most armoured soldiers nearly knocking them off their feet.

All throughout the valleys and outcroppings, bestial roars howling over shattered, crumbling, sparking metal were a stressful constant. The pretenders to the throne had found themselves now the targets a force like few others, one that could creep beneath their fleet, obscure itself in plain sight, and that so far, treated them as little more than inedible prey.

[Arawak]

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Planet Beau- Starport Gunstran.

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The debate over how to retaliate against the raid proved intense. The lives lost, the senator lost. The peacekeepers that arrived, arrived too late. Vuttiger and his local forces managed to ward them off from doing further damage and so took control of the local garrison.

The Starport had a garrison that was a bit small but had a nice window to where all the docked ships are. The ships that landed were mostly smaller ships, as the larger ships would not be able to handle the gravity of Beau. Those ships stayed in orbit instead. Vuttiger arrived to the bunker to meet with the local Garrison Leader.

Issue was, other branches of Beau's bureaucracy already were in motion...

"The acting senator is here to see you." one of the officers told Vuttiger, who almost felt frustrated at how fast they managed to get an acting senator. This acting senator is a total shrimp, they look more like one of the bureaucrats in the archives than a proper imperial senator. A total pencil pusher. Very unqualified choice, Vuttiger thought with disdain. The other peace keepers however seem to like this guy, for some reason Vuttiger could only contemplate with a scowl.

"Hello, I'm just filling in until the Emperor finds a proper replacement so you know, just hang in there." The acting senator awkwardly told the Sector Commander Vuttiger. The acting senator didn't like this... Vuttiger character much. It proved too hard to know what goes on behind those aviators Vuttiger liked wearing for them.

Vuttiger just shrugged off the senator and asks the local Garrison Captain, "Why is this acting senator at the garrison?"

The confused Garrison Leader just paused a bit before saying, "This acting senator is working with us on the retaliation."

The acting senator than proceeded to explain to Vuttiger, "We have reports from sister worlds that show that this raid was not all that happened. Katrin's forces are known to be occupying Othea, the agrarian planet of Soot and the Curtis system also has a signal of another attack. We are not sure if these are seperate forces or if they are working with Katrin in a grand conspiracy against the Dominion. It is however likely to be the solar crusaders that terrorize northern sectors I knew had been brought up at the senate by proxy. However without more information we cannot determine if this is the case. It seems unlikely they would make it this far to me but you never know with the kind of psychopaths willing to go against the Dominion."

"What a shame, Acting senator. I've heard theories there are aliens working with Katrin on the exonet, would have been nice to see if any were true for once." Vuttiger replied, frustrated to hear how far reaching these attacks have so quickly become.

"I have a name..." the acting senator replied, a bit annoyed with the freakish peacekeeper.

"No one cares, acting senator. You have said everything we needed to hear, the meeting is over." Vuttiger told the acting senator. The acting senator just deflates out of shame after that and left the garrison to deal with administrative matters.

"Sector Captain Vuttiger, with that news aside we have been waiting for your orders to know what to do." the lesser Garrison Leader explains.

Vuttiger starts to grin a bit as he contorted to a rigid stance.

"You want to know the plan, Darrel?" Vuttiger asked again.

The Garrison Captain, a bit shaken by how Vuttiger addressed him by his actual name stutters a bit before replying "Yes... sir."

"Lighten up, Darrel, what I'm about to tell you won't disappoint. I had worked with some of the navigators at the local space port and realized with the fleet at Beau and local ship militias we can impress into the greater war effort in exchange for some tax write offs we have enough to pull off a historic retaliation." Vuttiger told the Garrison Leader.

The Garrison Leader was a bit put off by that and replied, "You mean using..."

"Yes." Vuttiger replied before he elaborated, "We have to use the full extent of our forces, Darrel. What has happened at this place must be repaid with the strongest hand we can, the Emperor will expect nothing less from us."

The Garrison Leader just nodded before he asked, "And what would you expect our forces to do, Commander?"

"We have been contemplating that question with intent. We want to make it so Katrin and her gang of warlords knows what real suffering is. They play space knights, it is cute and all but it is ruinous to any hope of our galactic humanity to have petty warlordism replace organized civilization. We will have to introduce something these myopic cretins something they should have known the whole time- the consequences of treason. We will strike the world of Othea with full force."

The talk of destruction was a bit much for the Garrison leader, who like some others in the sector tried to talk Vuttiger down from this position. He had fear in his eyes doing so but questioned it anyways.

"Do we even have the capacity to? That world is not in the Beau sector, it is outside our jurisdiction. Othea is a major city center and to raze that would be too costly on our end should we retake it." he objected.

Vuttiger paused a bit. The grin on his face vanished before he explained, "The local senator will understand, assuming the ISC hasn't already murdered them like they had Maria Orange. They strike for the heads because they know people like you play by these rules that would be nice in a world where people played by the rules. We do not exist in that world and Othea is compromised as is just by letting themselves fall to those marauders."

The kind of scorched earth warfare Vuttiger proposed unnerved the Garrison leader who objected by telling the Sector Commander, "Commander, as much as it pains me to say these warlords did no such tactics to us so would that not put us beneath them to act out the kind of actions that should be reserved for aliens? I was raised and educated on the belief in the human fraternity and yet here you want to treat other people like ants to burn. Othea has billions of loyal Dominion citizens, we use orbital bombardment on that world and it would risk more warlords cropping up from more defections."

Vuttiger held back his anger just hearing this insolent subordinate. He wanted to shoot the Garrison Leader on the spot. So instead Vuttiger opted to try a different approach. Vuttiger told the Garrison Leader, "It's not enough. The high values of our human fraternity cannot be maintained without proper enforcement against those who would so break with it. It is in human nature to need a display of force to know who is in charge and these warlords have forgotten who was in charge. That is why the ISC are rebelling in the first place. Being nice on the belief it would stop further rebellion has already failed as far as I can tell.

As is these warlords have time and time again shown that they are more powerful than space pirates. It is obvious from anyone with half a brain that what we are fighting are rebels who festered about for too long with their own societies and deviant cultures. They even built their own military while people like that acting senator slept at the wheel. This must be taken seriously, Darrel. Or the whole Dominion will be ashes. Historical precedent shows this. From ancient conflicts like the Great World War of the 20th century to the Unification itself with the final downfall of Italy. It is the most effective option of the narrow slate of options we have. I wish it weren't so, but the history shows otherwise. We will strike Othea primarily but we also will send supporting forces to Soot and Curtis. The local peacekeepers we have sent messages to about these arrivals to the loyal forces of those systems, so they better make it."

Darrel let himself silenced by that, if only because he knew another word would likely get him far harsher penalties than the citations already about to head his way.

Meanwhile outside the ships at the Starport Gunstran begun their ascent.

A large fleet of peacekeepers it was, with ships ranging from fighter carriers loaded with local prisoners promised their freedom to even ships that used tech inherited from the inner dominion guardian fleet. Vuttiger looked out the window of the garrison at the sunny sky filled with the metallic dominion ships and their blocky designs. Many inscribed with the insignia of earth into their hulls. The ships ascended with a thunderous symphony, going further into the sky as additional streaks of light converged with them.

Vuttiger motioned to the garrison leader and said, "They tried to break our dawn. And as you will see, they like so many marauders and warlords before them will falter."

And with that, the retaliation began.

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Sector Vitrium- The Grand Conduit

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Mac Reed, distraught from his time at the senate decided he needed a break. So he chose to try to calm his nerves by going to the Grand Conduit, the jewel of Vitrium. A place of vast splendor and commerce, with vast spires and an atrium draped in Dominion regalia. Due to the crowds, Mac Reed had entered the center with seven body guards in exosuits that kept the rest of the crowd in the place away from him. These exosuits were more 'rustic' by Dominion standards, but they did the job.

The guards pushed the rabble away from Mac Reed as he headed to where he wanted to go- a theater that he was informed would be where he would get the answers to the "assassin problem" that he believed was plaguing him. He just knows that he was told there was someone who believed his rambling at the senate. He didn't trust it but he had little better to do and he wanted to calm his nerves by drinking the only beverage worth drinking anymore- Glistenfloat.

The sour, iridescent alcoholic beverage was on full display at an open bar facing some a theater of sorts. That theater Mac Reed looked at for a bit and found what he saw just plain disgusting. It was a prisoner show. Mac Reed found those nauseating, absolutely nauseating but local interests kept him from being able to outlaw them. And with an Emperor that watchers aliens murder each other on TV screens... good luck.

Just the odious sight of that prisoner without his shirt being forced to dance for the crowd as hideous bug-like machines were latched onto his limbs with trails of flayed skin just was too much. The blood, the screams, the desperation. It was just all too much for Mac, it just was not the imagery he had wanted to see just than and there. Mac Reed averted his eyes even as one of his bodyguards was clearly enjoying the sight, even laughing in amusement with the crowd at the public torture going on.

Mac Reed was quick to head into the local bar to get some Glistenfloat. The service android with its nozzle and prefabricated cups poured the intoxicating rainbow liquor. Mac Reed quickly grabbed the beverage with his spindly arm but hesitated to chug it, unsure if it was spiked of not. One of the exosuit guards looked at the drink and asked Mac, "Is a scan needed?"

Mac Reed meekly nodded and the guard took the drink from his hand and after staring at it for a bit with a soft digital humming noise buzzing about, told the senator "no weird shit is in this drink."

"Thank fuck!" Mac Reed yelled before he ripped the cup from the bodyguard's hand and chugged it, perhaps a bit too fast as he groaned quite load after drinking it. It was at that point Mac Reed ordered a several more Glistenfloats before the server blocked him from ordering past the safe limit. He quickly chugged them all as the bodyguards just stood around there.

One of the bodyguards than mentions to Mac Reed, "Should we go?"

Mac Reed, intoxicated by all the Glistenfloat proceeds to tell the bodyguard, "No need, let's see if they're doing something less fucked up at the theater instead."

"Isn't that where we were supposed to be?" the Bodyguard asked.

Mac Reed at that point jolted up from his seat, the bony body hidden by the fancy senatorial suit rattling as he did so as he shouted "Oh shit! We were here for that contact! We have to get back outside."

The bodyguards looked around, but see the other people in the bar had gotten caught up in a fight where rainbow fluids were getting spewed about. The floor boards, multiple people and tables, even a couple bots just had colorful bile dripping off of them. Mac Reed was quick to get out of the bar after that odious sight.

And than the theater, to Mac's relief had something not public torture. Instead it was a play with some xeno involved. Mac Reed had no clue what kinda xenos but they were clearly xenos. The stage players were reenacting something.

"It is I, baby eater Kibby Muck. I want to grind babies into my stew." A rather unenthusiastic bipedal alien with a shock collar on them said as they dropped prop dolls into some pot that made fake sizzles. The alien than made some weird screech that sounded kinda like laughter but it clearly could not vocate laughter the way humans could, if it even had the concept of laughter.

At that point, a peacekeeper came onto the stage and proceeded to shoot the alien with live ammunition. The alien screeched again as it clearly was not killed by the first volley. It proceeded to its best ability shout expletives about how it was promised the peacekeeper wouldn't use actual bullets on them. The crowd cheered wildly.

At that point, a disclaimer was projected stating that "The xeno that carried out the atrocity you have witnessed have been extinct for centuries. The xeno we had brought here was not the same species-"

Booing was than heard with a very audible 'who gives a shit!' coming from the crowd.

Or something on those lines, for Mac Reed had already tuned much of that out as he felt something touch him. The whole world than suddenly paused and he found himself face to face with an unknown figure.

---------------------------------------------
In frozen time

This xeno being was had been just casually watching the savagery at play, amused by the sight. Mac Reed couldn't believe this... thing was here the whole time.

"I often do speculate what your society would do if they knew what was going on in the galaxy at large. But why waste the time on that?" the bizarre figure remarked rhetorically with one of its tendrils.

Without warning, Mac Reed found himself just stuck with the figure in a place where his body guards were seemingly frozen still. Everyone around him and the figure also appeared almost statue-like. Tiny bits of sound at times seeped through, but it was all too ambient and stretched out to matter.

"Oh fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" Mac Reed repeatedly started to shout in shock as he began to vomit rainbowy fluids and hyper ventilate. He stumbled over himself as the figure reached out to him with... some scaly hand. Mac Reed despite kneeling on the ground flinched at the sight of it.

The distraught and panicked senator just stuttered with vomit in his threat, "wh-at are you..."

Mac Reed looked up at the figure. It had thick legs, like some land animal. Yet it was all mostly featureless, the silvery, shifting suit having no discernible features. The xeno did however look strangely organic, as if there was musculature and something flowing about its dermis.

There was a head that had eyes with a bill-like form and neck that led back to the main body. The body was peculiar, with a conic hump that had wrapped around it snake-like tendrils. The xeno was topped with another set of white, glowing bits that Mac Reed figured were eyes. Mac Reed than noticed the wrists of the tendrils, which he realized to be arms with hand-like mandibles which also had eyes.

Mac Reed just didn't know what to make of the thing.

The figure, with its synthetic but calm voice replied "Your initial shock is natural, most unaware of our existence react in some way at first."

"What the fuck are you?" Mac Reed reiterated, with a dry voice still recovering from the initial panic but unable to muster the strength to run, if that was even an option.

"I am a Dealer. My name as best as our translators can mimic for your language is Jiyus Vusados. You came here at my will and it is in your interest to know the deal I have for you."

Mac Reed, realized than that this 'dealer' thing to be a xeno infiltrator and shouted at it near incoherently "A xeno spy! Kill it!"

Mac Reed than just fell back on his ass.

"That does not work." The figure replied, "This temporal field has made the local time whatever I will it to be. If you were any actual threat you would have been dead hours ago. That much alone should be proof of my intent."

"What the hell would you want with me?" Mac Reed than slurs, just not sure if he's even seeing something real as he almost tries reaching out to touch the figure, of whom felt very real. Than with one of the serpentine arms it had, the Dealer Jiyus pushed him a bit away before responding,

"Not much. All I wanted to tell you is that everything you believe is completely factual and your current protections are not enough to protect you from those threats. To help with that, there is a chip that you need to have. Do with it as you want, its fate is not our concern."

One of its arms twisted itself to Reed and presented a strange cylindrical chip. The wrist eyes discomforted the hell out of Reed as it did so.

"Wait... What's on the chip? What's the catch?" Mac Reed asked it, just confused at this point by the whole situation.

The Dealer replied, "There is no catch. The chip has all the damning information you need to validate to everyone else the truth you know. There is nothing else we expect of you but to have this information. In return you will get the respect you deserve. That is the deal."

Mac Reed didn't trust the xeno one bit, but Reed just nodded along. With a seemingly sudden shift towards happiness, Reed said to the Xeno, "I don't trust this one bit but what do I have to lose?"

The Dealer than just vanished and Mac Reed found the body guards looking with disgust at the vomit on his senatorial suit.

"What the hell was that?" one of the guards wondered.

"Maybe we just missed him soiling himself." the other replied to Mac's annoyance. Little did those guards know how fortunes were about to change for bony, bony Reed...

And with that Mac Reed left The Conduit, with something he believes will change everything. It is the first bit of hope in a long time for Reed.

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

At Deneb IV - The Arena itself

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

Aunalak was in its usual meditative state. It was the best state to be in, when having to shed so much life from these fellow victims of the Dominion. Yet existence was fragile for it, as it realized from how many little ones it had to skewer. Aunalak had long desensitized itself to all the mindless screams around it, but it knew they grew louder.

Still the flow was what it was, the slight resistance of the enemy carapace, the flesh and bone, the amorphous membranes, all at the end of the cycle but material once animated. Just like itself. At times, it wondered how come it got as efficient at this culling of the physical form. Was it its own upbringing, having only known this existence? Was it the records infecting it with the past knowledge of its own kind? Aunalak couldn't tell and often wishes it had remained oblivious to its own kind's tragic past.

It would have led to less moping about and more massacre for the sake of it. After the amount of times it has repeated the slaughter it has become dull. Once it recalls feeling actual desire with the act, but it has become mundane.

But it knows deep down that the time of stagnation is nearing its end. It just had to persist against the grind and eventually it would be free.

[DX3214]

Saxonian Occupation Zone

Aolara one of the initial worlds to fell into the hands of Saxony a habitable planet near the Saxonian borders with a modest population the military had ruled the affairs of the region for a time in the capital governmental building of the planet a young officer stood in the cabinet of a politician watching the papers telling of resistance operations, and ongoing military occupation. he was a new cog in the military occupation of the Dominion until a communication hologram call began to ring on his desk he answered seeing a bureaucrat saying “A man came to see you sir…” “let him in” he quickly answered entering the room was a Dominion Civilian one of the many elite members of the previous industrial leaders he then said “Hello Militärgouverneur” he said in Saxonian botching the pronunciation the officer nodded slightly for a moment saying “Are you here for the position?” “Yes I would like to work with you gentlemen'' The man said, his tone sounding a little worried and the officer gently nodded saying “Understood be known that working with us is very Beneficial good you came to your senses I believe…” before he could finish a comms hologram and requesting to be answered the officer then said taking a look he then said a smile “I am sorry could you give me a moment…” the man bowed making the officer raise an eyebrow and then left the room the officer then sighed looking at the unknown call he then said to himself his face looking very disappointed. “We are struggling to find collaborators, due to the stupid policies of the dominion of shooting collaborators. For fuck sakes! what can it be…” he answered, hiding his anger for a moment, he then answered the call.

A Holographic image of a man, he had black hair and blue eyes. It was Eadwing Siegel Von Wenhausen, the officer's heart jumped seeing someone from the house of Wenhausen he stuttered saying “M… m… m… Mr… Wenhausen?” Eadwing then said “Good morning officer no need for worries about my call” The officer saluted him he then said “I am sorry sir...” Eadwing smiled. He seemed like a good person, at first sight, he then said “So how is the status of the planet?” the officer then said “Well we have a small struggle to find collaborators for the occupation.” Eadwing nodded he then said “Understood we will most likely have to jump in about the cost… but I bring some news… The region you are in will be integrated into an Integration Administration to be integrated into Saxony you will be sent into another world, unfortunately.” the officer nodded understanding the situation he then said “Understood sir I believe I should start working on transition…” Eadwing nodded until he said “Tell me Mr…” Eadwing looked off the hologram for a moment then saying “...Helleran would you like to work in the new administration your knowledge of the region can be proven useful and according to what I saw a new noble raised from there might be useful” Eadwing said with a smile Helleran smiled and said “yes sir this would be very good” Eadwing then said “Good warn your underlings as some leaders suggest better ways to integrate keep on the good work.'' The officer saluted saying “Yes sir” the transmission soon cut Helleran was happy even though it wasn't yet announced if he was promoted to noble he could easily be lord of a planet if not a system he moved on working much harder than before.

Eadwing had finished off another talk with a leader of a key planet he sighed looking over the charts and maps of the region to be integrated and outside the region under just general occupation while resistance was minor it was shown to be on the rise due to the lack of collaborators he sighed saying “it's going to be hard… at least is a job…” he looked forward seeing the space trough the windows of the station he was in looking above he saw a portrait of his father Fridmar he laid to his right meanwhile to the left of Fridmar was his sister Katrin ‘she achieved this much’ he thought she made sure that he would be far from her he scoffed for a moment a grim smile on his face whispering under his breath “Still thinking high sis... shame that precaution isn't enough…” he looked down on a physical map not a holographic map but one of paper in its borders it lied the west of saxony and the occupied zone of the dominion inside of the map a big line divided itself from the rest of the dominion and saxony a line saying territories to be annexed into a redacted words could be seen Fridmar smiled seeing it he then rolled it up and throwing in a trash can incinerator he then continued by saying“...to stop me” a faint sound of something hitting a board could be heard as the map burned.

(short one due to things)

[Knight Solaire]

Commander Cassius Caspian
Thera ( Dominion Controlled Planet)
Outside City 001

Cassius warmed himself on the large bonfire in front of him, eyeing the alien slabs of meat he had put on a makeshift grill. It had been a month since the recon team dropped down on the planet, and Cassius had made himself very comfortable within the recon team. All of the comfortable fat he had accumulated while working for Lord Barca was gone, revealing the slim physique common within recon teams.
The team had finally accepted the former recon officer into their team and they were celebrating a successful recon mission with alien meat and liquor. The meat was a freshly killed farm animal commonly eaten by the locals of this system, while the liquor was surprisingly donated by a resident of the city.
City 001 was taken without any significant damage or loss of life, something rather uncharacteristic for the Solite marine regiments. Additionally, the population of city 001 was rather sympathetic to the Solite troops as they prioritized keeping infrastructure intact, minimizing the change to their way of life. The population of city 001 was largely human, removing most of the animosity of the invading Solite troops.

Cassius brushed the meat with a homemade marinade of Solite spices and herbs before walking back to a makeshift throne of ammunition and rations. A half empty bottle of local liquor sat next to the crates and was quickly snatched up by Cassius as he sat down.

“ ten more minutes”, Cassius said in a tipsy tone before removing the cork from the bottle and taking a swig.

“ Where did you learn how to cook?” a recon commando said, clearly drunk and slurring his words

“ Mordant Prime….” Cassius answered with a smile “ We used to hold bonfires like this almost every week after an operation. There was always something fresh to eat and plenty of livestock around” Cassius continued with a drunken smile.

The rest of the team laughed as they shared a few drinks as the meat cooked. The conquest of City 001 was largely over and small orbital transports could be seen using the spaceport within the city. On a clear day, the larger ships of Task Force 1 could be seen in low orbit of the planet , as continued operations to control the sector were under way.

Task Force 2
13th Mordant (Acid Dogs) Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 3rd platoon (Mechanized)
Pvt. Cato Euchar
On planet Ibirius

Third platoon shuffled back into the into the forward operating base after a weeklong combat patrol. The men of third platoon looked haggard as they stagged back into their barracks for a well needed rest.
The platoon had lost three men, all replacements of troops lost during the Mordant campaign. The resistance on Ibirius was well prepared and very motivated to fight. Xenos and human fought side by side and their resistance became fore vicious by the day. Solite troops enjoyed a nearly two to one kill ratio, but the largely guerilla resistance was disheartening to say the least.
The 13th Mordant and 2nd Marine division were veterans of guerilla campaigns on Mordant prime, but the conflict still had an effect on the new replacements the Solites had gained since leaving Solite controlled space.

Cato, found an empty patch of pavement and promptly fell to the floor, using his pack and helmet as a makeshift pillow. The large industrial spaceport was under Solite control and the larger ships of task force 2 could land and unload their cargo onto the planet. Combat engineers and local laborers, worked day and night to erect defenses and the area around the spaceport looked more like a fortress than a spaceport.

As Cato watched the endless stream of men and material arrive on the planet, his eyes involuntarily closed as he drifted off into a well deserved nap.

Task Force 3
Designated System : Yanna

The troops of Task force three landed and started combat operations with relative ease. The PDF was largely under strength and poorly trained. The resistance was not match for the drilled and hardened troops of the third task force.
As the last pockets of resistance were being destroyed, combat engineers worked to erect defenses and make defensive positions.

[RezonanceV]

The Grand Conduit of Vitrium.

Desa lurked in the shadows of Vitrium. She had been formerly contacted by Mayven Reigns for a sensitive mission within the Grand Conduit. Her target was a puppet of the Dominion, an outskirts senator named Mac Reed. A frail man hid under the thin facade of a decadent failing empire.

The job had been addressed by Mayven Reigns herself. The details of her target took her to the theater in the Grand Conduit of Vitrium. Apparently, the OPAO through an informant of the Dominion was notified about this senator breaking down in the middle of his colleagues. Mayven saw it as an opportunity to lead a frightened mouse searching in the dark hungry for answers into the cat’s bed. Former Dominion officer Williams pulled some strings to get the next destination of Mac Reed, a theater where Desa kept a low-profile.

It was not difficult to spot Mac, he made the fatal error of surrounding himself with 6 beacons of attention. The beacons were an exosuit escort team, a junker force shod up in rusty old Dominion technology toting their poor defense weapons. Before Desa could get herself over to Mac discreetly, he had already signaled his team to leave.

Damn. Where is he going? Desa thought as she kept a far enough distance away while still maintaining a direct line of sight on Mac. He exited the theater and she made her way upstairs peering out of a window.

Typical…thirsty dogs, why am I surprised? Desa reflected as she watched Mac Reed enter the nearby bar. There were four windows across the theater on the second floor, it was a hall that had several pieces of furniture for lounging. The space was designed for the theater’s intermission moments. The people who could afford the box seats would hang here as servers walked around with refreshments. The show staged today was not one of their most celebrated at the highest class, which meant Desa was safe to hang as her view allowed direct sight to the bar.

30 minutes later…

A drunk Mac Reed came fumbling out of the bar with his escort team. He was moving back to the theater as the first show finished wrapping up. Desa made her way back down into the dark theater room where Mac was last, her eyes trained on the door, Mac entered, and she moved into position. The team was ill-equipped and ill-trained, their gaze as was Mac’s was on the stage and not their surroundings. Desa, if she had cared too, might have been a little insulted by the Mayven Reigns assigning her to this job. Approaching the team from their left profile the alien on stage was making a loud noise which drew in their attention. Except Mac, he appeared more like he was about to fall asleep instead of being entertained. Then there was a brief pause. She could not move, yet she sensed something shifted. Desa was an Anubi, an Iyesi of the Anubi system where Princess Valshehk originated. Some Iyesi although not magical in nature, exhibit a form of psychic prowess, a sense beyond the five for the typical human, and her mental awareness cued in on the disturbance that interrupted her stream of consciousness.

An apparition of some sorts, a form, a subtle, yet indistinct shape appeared close to Mac…then it was gone. Her body moved as intended but she fault exhausted. Before she could carry out her plan her legs gave out, quickly two men came to help which cut off her direct line of sight and as she regained her footing from the help of the two patrons…Mac Reed was gone.

Desa slowly made her way out of the theater in hopes to catch a glimpse of the direction Mac would be heading in. As she fumbled outside, a car sped up to the curb and she got inside.

A dark brown man looked over to her as he drove off, “I know where they are going, I put a bug on their vehicle, but how did he get away?”

Desa took a deep breath, “I don’t know, there was something else there.”

The Empire Strikes Back.

The stream of communications across the galaxy came pouring in from the OPAO’s central intelligence office up the ladder to the Executive Strategic Office. The state of current affairs was complex as Solis managed to squeeze through Oros and OPAO space, take a city on Thera, begin mounting strongholds on Ibirius, and advancing into the “Yanna” system to take Ibirius. The same momentum of force shocked the Dominion across the Saxony borders who pushed their arms forward attempting to meet the Solis lines in Yanna. The three powers were at war, and the OPAO stood idly by waiting for their time.

One of the officers in the ESO slapped a letter down on the table of General Bernard’s desk, “General Bernard Sir, my apologies for the forwardness but this is timely!” General Bernard looked up from reviewing the preparation logs of the OPAO gearing for entering the war, “Well, then what is with the formalities officer?” The officer relaxed from an attention stance, “Of course, I received this information from one of our contacts in Beau, it appears a large fleet headed for Othae has been sent by the Dominion to reinforce their lines to crush Solis and Saxony from meeting their lines.” The General nodded, “Is there more?” The officer continued, “We are not sure but these reports claimed that they are not going to Othae to reclaim any lost ground…but to completely waste the surface of any life and resistance.” The General leaned back in his seat, “My God, get me General Octavia on comms in my office, now!” The General stood up from his seat in the command deck of the ESO Headquarters.

Upon entering his private office he walked over to a short ledge containing a bourbon bottle. Picking it up, he opened the cap and tipped the substance into a clean short class next to the bottle. A small elegant steel ice cooler was next to the bottle half opened from the last drink he poured. Lifting the lid off the cooler he used his fingers to pick up a square block of ice and dropped it into the small glass. General Bernard then sat down at his desk, he situated himself before a ping rang through the office. The old General waved his hand across his desk which immediately responded to his motions by projecting a holographic vision of General Octavia on the surface.

“Greetings General Bernard, you requested my attention?” General Octavia asked before Bernard could brief her.

General Bernard always admiring Prime General Octavia’s demeanor began to report the recent details. She responded, “Well, I guess it is time for us to make ourselves useful then. Try to make connection with Solis and warn them about the incoming threat. I need Commander Nyx to be ready, he will be spearheading the defense of Othae. Also, have Nyx contact Major Baesili, I want her team fitted into SOL suits. I will meet Nyx at the front in three days, is there anything else General?” Bernard recorded his orders, “No Prime General Octavia, that is all.” Octavia signed off, Bernard looked down at his glass picking it up for a small taste of the good stuff, a nice warm feeling caressed his insides, “Time to become useful again.”

[Arawak]

(Not a big post, but is one to help bump the thread and advance a GM plot point a bit since the bigger cross-collab post will take some time and this plot point exists independent of the big space battle about to hit)

Deneb IV - The Pits

Aunalak was once again continuing the usual slaughter.

The precision to which the souls exist the body of those slain is hard to truly put to words. One could imagine they seep through the wounds, others imagine a slow release from the last breath of the slain. Others still, just imagine it like blood draining into the ground... and into the pits. The impaling of the various monsters the dominion throws, it is shameful. The killing is so factory-like that it would have been a better profession just to slaughter animals. Animals, what an old memory that brings Aunalak. But Aunalak knows the time nears. The glorious time that this grind will pay off, with all those dead.

The nature of The Pits however, even made Aunalak almost convulse for what it has sensed happen in them. The pits could not be visualized, but could be felt very easily even from the arena. The pits were uniquely grotesque, the arenas were what they had no shame airing to the stars around Deneb, but the pits. Even the Dominion had shame for the pits. For in the pits, the Dominion had even their own kind tossed in. The smell even for Aunalak was terrible, what it must be for the choking, diseased creatures once known as humans left to wallow around all those corpses with other parasite addled beings? That a species that could take to the stars is able to be so savage almost fascinated Aunalak. If only fellow Craetak learned from them faster, Aunalak thought.

What was more fascinating however, was that Aunalak had those who seemed to be fans of it. They called Aunalak, “Stiffy Stabbs”, yet shouted those words animalistically from the perches which they sat. They loathed Aunalak enough to make it butcher for their entertainment, yet that same butchery was what brought them so close to Aunalak. Aunalak never really had much in the way of fellow Craetak company, but so often those it had imagined resembled others like Aunalak speaking of the lost times before the Dominion crushed so many in their way.

So Aunalak, despite being a slave to the Dominion, still had a sense of privilege in this society. After all, Aunalak had the right to butcher. The frail humans who made this Dominion in those pits did not. Aunalak stands over them, in the arena. While they go mad from all the rotten alien flesh tossed into the pits, they must subsist on for whatever cause brought them so low.

As Aunalak continued to butcher, an announcement could be heard,
“Emperor Octo Smith has sent us a message- That he will return despite the… aliens eating people… and that he is unconcerned about… well… to paraphrase… the possibilities to which we may face when hosting a Slaughterfest. But do not worry, citizens of the Dominion! Our security has been improved significantly since that message, as you are about to see.”

Just then, groups of soldiers in powersuits entered the arena from all sides. All armed with armor that has been tried and tested over the centuries. Such forces being stationed here made it clear that the emperor is near and that they are strangely worried for it.

Aunalak didn’t really think much on that, too absorbed in its own circular laments as the butchering continued.

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

Aboard the TDF Capital

“That simpering announcer bitch changed what I sent them. I will be sure they are tossed to the pits, along with those who dared cancel the 415th slaughter fest!” Octo Smith yammered to no one as he watched his video stream in his personal cabin. He than got up from the 20th century style couch he had brought in and pulled himself up in his medical power suit and walked out of the cabin where he had someone, whoever that someone is tell him some non-sense about peacekeeper camp time at the unimportant worlds of Soot, Curtis and Othea.

He just told that someone “Not of my concern, little girl. The people of the Dominion need me at Deneb, they need their emperor at the slaughter fest. We have neglected the slaughterfest too long. They have grown weary. There is a lot of weariness. I just wanted to be sure no funny business was going on, robed weirdos or such that dare drag me away from the slaughterfest any longer! Any suggestion other than going to the slaughterfest is treason.”

That middle-aged woman happened to be his advisor. She calmly assured him, “There is no intention to change routes anymore. We are headed to Deneb IV right now.”

Octo Smith nodded his head and just said, “Good, but just remember if we end up going to some other planet again you will be thrown out the airlock like that traitor you found for me.”

He than left back to his cabin while the advisor was just relieved that Octo Smith was only going to kill her if the ship had to stop anywhere else other than Deneb again.