South Tip Conclave
Halls of the Conclave, Kayia

The Halls of the Conclave, the effective centre of the Conclave’s government, was a circular chamber with a diameter of eighty metres, with walls that stretched high to a domed, transparent ceiling. Four rings of chairs were aligned around a raised platform, the outer rings raised on pedestals. On the raised platform was a single chair - Mathuin’s, at the moment. Currently, the Halls were all but empty. The last meeting had ended two hours previously; another meeting discussing the future of the Conclave. Why can’t they see? If we do nothing but solidify our borders and keep to ourselves, we will be allowing evil to rage across the galaxy, Mathuin thought to himself, annoyed. He hadn’t left the Halls after the meeting, but had rather remained, wrapped up in his thoughts.

Weakening Varian’s position in the Conclave had been so easy at first. It had shocked Mathuin how quickly he’d been able to turn his puppet power into real influence, but already he felt it begin to weaken. It didn’t help that Varian was out on a mission he had assigned himself - liaising with the League, and then going off on a tangent without authorisation, to meet with the Azdgari and others in Xix. The part that grated, however, was that the rest of the Conclave hardly seemed to care, deeming Varian’s reaction as necessary, because “the situation left no time to confer with the rest of the Conclave.” It was absurdity.

The decision to build Chamenaur, an orbital shipyard and defence platform mirroring Nachaurrez, was one of the first examples of events being taken out of Mathuin’s hands. The project, part of an operation dubbed “Impervious”, was designed to solidify the Conclave’s defences to the point where they were all but impenetrable, at which point, Mathuin was disgusted to note, the majority of the Conclave believed attention should be taken away from the outside world, and attention should be spent on “improving the conditions of life on Conclave-controlled planets.” It was a nice idea, but ignored the suffering of countless millions due to moral evil being repeatedly commited.

Pacing around the chair he felt he held so precariously, Mathuin pondered the conferene in Xix. He had send a communique to Varian, who had been so kind as to “commander” the Conclave’s main admiral, Arhanor, as a personal escort. However, he wouldn’t be surprised if Varian paid very little attention to the advice Mathuin had sent. As much as Mathuin disliked it, Varian was in no position to worry about orders from the leader of the Conclave.

“Is there a problem, Mathuin?” a strong Kayan voice inquired. Mathuin turned on his heel to find Kataon crossing the space between one of the doors into the Hall and him. “I imagine you’re stressed about the Conclave overruling you regarding Chamenaur.”

Mathuin spat. “We shouldn’t be wasting time and resources building defences in core systems - defences we don’t need. This is absurd.”

“Indeed it is,” Kataon agreed, and he sounded almost sincere. The dark-eyed Kayan stepping up onto the platform lightly. “The Conclave is afraid. They’re afraid of war, and afraid of doing what in many cases must be done. Take the situation with the Azdgari. Should logic not suggest that the Conclave is obliged to move into the formerly Igadzra systems and protect the interests of our allies? Would it not be morally right to defend the rights of the Igadzrans? And yet, we ask for a conference , to discuss matters. It’s pathetic.”

Sighing, Mathuin turned around and took several steps away from the chair. “I don’t know how to recover this situation. There’s already suggestion of electing a new leader of the Conclave, whispers between members... it won’t be long until it happens, and the way things are going, I doubt that I’ll be re-elected. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

“Keep your position,” Kataon suggested. “Go along with the majority will, Mathuin. You have to understand, anyone who is elected as leader will become a puppet of Varian - that’s what he does, and all too well. If you bend slightly, you’ll be able to limit Varian’s own influence, and slowly bring the others to see that you are right.”

“So what do I do? Allow Impervious to continue?”

“Yes. Conclave scientists are also making considerable breakthroughs. Research into sub-space is apparently making great progress, and the development of the Reaver turret is going well. Our fleet has also be refitted with the graviton membrane. I’d suggest you surprise everybody and push for operation Impervious - pour more resources into turning Akrayhek into a virtual fortress. Once our warships are refitted with Reavers, our navy will be in a good position for defence or offence, as the situation plays out.”

The two Kayans talked for some time, mapping out short-term and long-term plans, and in all of it, Mathuin didn’t once realise that while escaping becoming a puppet of Varian, he was walking right into becoming someone else’s puppet.

In the sky above Kayia, on the other side of the world to Vardamaught, far away from any semblance of civilisation, a streak of intense blue-white light shot through the atmosphere, into high orbit of Kayia and beyond. Beneath the surface of Kayia’s sapphire oceans, sensors watched as the pulse made its path, straight as an arrow, towards the designated target, ten times further out than South Tip Station, a stationery target the size of an Arada.

The pulse pierced the target, a sphere of energy expanding around it, dissipating, and then revealing nothing. The target was completely gone.

Down on Deep Isle, the sensor readings were logged and examined, and the first prototype of a Reaver was powered down. While a great step in the development of the weapon, it was hardly perfected yet.

“That’s pretty damn close to our target damage, Taikaenor,” reported one of the Kayan scientists, reviewing the readings. “I’d say... that’s about 75 structural integrity points’ worth. Shall we repeat the experiment with a shielded target?”

Taikaenor nodded. “I want you to set the target’s shields to... 1500 shield units. We’ve made progress when one pulse can eliminate that target.”

The Kayan winced. “Right then. We’ll get there. What about range?”

“Set the shielded target at a range of twenty six AUs,” Taikaenor responded coolly. “If the prototype can shoot down a shielded target at this range, I’d say we’re pretty close.”

In the Xix system, the ten Conclave vessels, recently arrived, received the communication from the Miranu with relief. There had been some concern that the parties would not turn up, but now, with news from the Azdgari and League seeming fairly positive, it appeared the conference would go ahead.

Some time later, Igadzra representatives from the Miranu-conquered worlds arrived on Miranu craft, and the League’s escort fleet also arrived, the full ten. Finally, the Azdgari ships entered the system.

(- Source: 3102:3504:8705 Sector DB Xix; Conclave warship Defiant -)
(- Recipient(s): All ships in Xix -)

As the Conclave is the most neutral party in this conflict, having taken no part in the war with the Igadzra, we suggest that the conference take place on the Conclave warship Defiant, flagship of our navy.

Each nation represented may bring one emissary and two guards, including the Igadzra. This rule will apply to the Conclave as well, and the conference chamber will have no defensive measures - gun turrets have been taken down for peace of mind.

All conquered Igadzra worlds are being represented, as well as the interests of the Azdgari, Miranu, League and the Conclave. Finally, in response to the Azdgari offer to send observers onto the conquered worlds, we respectfully decline.

(- end transmission -)

The Defiant’s escorts spread further out, in a less hostile formation, leaving all of the other ships closer to the flagship than they were. However, the way things were organised, one Conclave warship and one Lazira covered each hyper-exit. The shields on the Defiant, flagship of the Conclave fleet and Arhanor’s personal ship, powered down in a sign of goodwill. There was a palpable sense of tension in the system as each of the four governments waited for the other to act first.

(- Source: Halls of the Conclave, Alpha Nexus, Vardamaught, Kayia; South Tip Conclave -)
(- Recipient(s): Miranu Star League -)

Enclosed is data on all Conclave military and non-military technology, as well as access to our sensor networks, bolstered by two of our Galactic Eye sub-spacial sensors (information enclosed.) We ask that if you wish to construct Galactic Eyes, you transfer all the data received from them immediately to us for analysis as we have done.

Bear in mind that this transfer is a sign of our trust in the Miranu Star League. However, we do not yet lower our guard with you, until our friendship has extended for some more considerable time. Betray our trust, and you shall feel the razsaegul’s talons.

(- end transmission -)

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-Esponer
Am I posting in Just Chat or B&B;? If so, I'm probably joking.

The Conference of Xix

The representatives from the Miranu, Azdgari and League were quickly transported to the Defiant, along with the Igadzra emissaries. Each was separately escorted to the conference chamber by a Conclave crewmember so as not to stir any dispute early on. The conference chamber was a spacious room with a circular table in the centre. As mentioned in the communication to the other governments, there were no defences in the table, and only one camera that could be seen.

“Councillor Ashak, Tyrakiur, a pleasure to meet you both again,” Varian greeted them coolly at the door, shaking hands. He turned to the Azdgari representative. “I am Varian, one of the members of the Conclave. To whom do I address?”

The Azdgari representative shook his hand formally, but with some slight restraint. “I am Casirus. I understand that the Conclave is interested in keeping the peace?”

“Perhaps not so much keeping the peace as maintaining the right,” Varian replied, flashing a signifncant look between Casirus and Tyrakiur. “We’re interested in justice. And please, let’s all take a seat.” Turning without another word, Varian took one of the seats on the table. The two Conclave ‘guards’ were both quite evident: one was wearing casual clothes of an unrecognised fashion, and seemed to be armed in a similarly odd style. The other was covered from head to toe in black. At first, it appeared to be some sort of suit, but it was quite clear that it was in fact a sort of chemical substance, set in place. A rather more conventional weapon sat in a holster on his back; a phase rifle, no doubt upgraded to photonic class. If fighting broke out, the Conclave hardly appeared to be in any position to lose control.

Casirus took a seat opposite to Varian, the two Azdgari marines - both, interestingly enough, armed with melee blade weapons in addition to phase sidearms - with him leaning on the walls of the chamber at either side of him. Tyrakiur also sat, his guards taking positions on the wall also, both unarmed. Ashak and the Igadzra representatives were the last. The Igadzra guards for the most part came off as untrained and nervous, while heavily armed and armoured. The Miranu had no guards.

“Right, thank you all for coming,” Varian begun swiftly. “We all know why this conference was called into being, of course - to discuss the governing of the Igadzra systems following their defeat at the hands of the Azdgari and Miranu invaders, and the fact that the League have moved in to occupy a number of these worlds. I also understand there is some dispute over a League colony in Elridi. Tyrakiur of the Strandless Redemption League, would you please make a general statement to open the discussion?”

"The League’s position is very clear,” Tyrakiur answered. “It has sworn to defend these systems, and will not give them up. The League would like nothing better than to trade peacefully with the Azdgari, but their threats and demands have angered the League’s people. If the Azdgari withdraw immediately, the league will forgive them. If they do not, the League must request that the system of Apert be turned over to the league, due to its position.”

“The systems are rightfully ours,” claimed Casirus. “We conquered the Igadzra, and they surrendered to us. We will not accept people moving in and squatting on our territory.”

“You made a military invasion about the Igadzra,” Tyrakiur replied calmly. “You killed thousands of their people in fleets alone, and turned their capital planet into an ashworld. By no means are those planets yours to govern. You seek to dominate them, to conquer them.”

“Indeed,” Varian mused, “does your very argument not prove that? You say that you have a right to govern these people because you destroyed their own government, their own ability to defend themselves, and you killed their kin? This gives you the right to conquer those worlds? I think not.”

“Ah, excuse me...” Casirus put in. “What’s this about turning their planet into an ashworld? The Azdgari did no such thing - and we would not, we know what it is like for this to happen, for the Zidagar did it to us. The Igadzra brought that tragedy upon themselves.”

“Why would they do so?” Tyrakiur asked. “Killing billions of their people for next to no reason. And is there any conclusive, indisputable proof that you did not do it? I don’t think so.”

“We have sensor logs.”

“Which are easily faked,” Tyrakiur cut him off. “The most logical answer is that it was the Azdgari who destroyed all life on Igadzra.”

“Leave it,” Varian asked. “Ashak, do you have anything to say?”

“Not particularly, I’m afraid. I will say that the opinions of the local Igadzra on each planet should be considered as the most important factor here. Of course, both the Azdgari and the League will claim that they care for the interests of the people... but what do the people want?”

Attention turned to the considerable number of Igadzra officials, who had until that point remained silent. One of them - representing Motif, spoke. “The Igadzra does not want to see the Azdgari or the League on our worlds. We are interested in governing ourselves, and remaining our own people. However , as it appears that the Azdgari are bent on conquering us, we would grudgingly submit to the protection of the League, providing we are are allowed to remain apart and govern ourselves.”

“Protection of the League?” asked Casirus. “Do you really believe that is what they are out to do? They saw the situation, saw a chance to expand their own military power, and honed in on it.”

“Who are we to trust, Azdgari?” the Igadzra asked wearily. “Those who have sought to see us dead for centuries, or those who we barely know? It’s a difficult question, but for us, there is only one option that we can take. We know of the hatred you bear for us, and we know that you only seek to destroy what it is to be Igadzra. That cannot be allowed to happen. The Igadzra navy is defeated, but the Igadzra people are not. ”

Casirus opened his mouth to respond, but Varian stalled him. “Would the Igadzra and Azdgari both be satisifed if regional command of Igadzra shipyards was passed on to the Azdgari?”

“Hold that,” Tyrakiur said. “Perhaps the Igadzra and Azdgari would have no problem with this - although I somehow doubt the former - but the League has promised to defend Afen, Motif and Norhis from the Azdgari, and we refuse to back down in any sense.”

“Surely, this only proves my point,” Casirus argued. “The League are only interested in the industrial capabilities of the planets and moons it has ‘liberated.’ They’re no more interested in the people than you seem to wrongly assume we are. And what of their outpost in Elridi? A military outpost - it has no other logical reason for existing - in our space.”

"The Azdgari have had centuries to claim the Elridi system and planet as their own, and they have not,” responded Tyrakiur. “They have never made a claim to it, and galactic maps show it between ex-Igadzra space, and Azdgari space, so it is not within their borders. The outpost has no military function, but is intended as a trading post.”

“A trading post? That’s absurd...” Casirus said. “I will not waste my time with this any longer. We are getting nowhere.” Casirus rose to his feet. Igadzra guards trained their weapons on him, a miracle their tension hadn’t caused them to pull the trigger. The casual seeming Conclave guard had a shotgun and handgun in hand, one pointed to Casirus’ back in the second he rose to his feet, the other pointed at the first Igadzra to raise his weapon. The Azdgari guards also had their blasters out. Tension was palpable in the air for a second, two... Then the Conclave guard laughed, and put away both weapons. Slowly, weapons were lowered across the chamber.

“Leaving so soon, Casirus?” Varian asked, apparently unperturbed.

“It is clear that the League do not want to negotiate here. We will make one last offer - one. Motif and Norhis will be surrendered to the League on the condition that Afen is turned over to the Azdgari, and the outpost on Elridi is cancelled.”

“That will not happen,” answered Tyrakiur. “The League will not abandon our protectorates, nor our outpost, at your demands.”

“Then I am gone,” Casirus sighed, rising completely to his feet and turning to leave the chamber, his guards bracketing him.

"Hold one moment please, Casirus," Varian asked. "How would the Azdgari feel about the systems being ceded to local control entirely, and both Azdgari and League ships being banned from entering those systems?"

Casirus paused, thinking. "We'd go with it, I'd imagine."

"And you, Tyrakiur?"

Tyrakiur shook his head. "By League law, we do not abandon anywhere we swore to protect. We will not."

Varian laughed. "Convenient," he noted.

"Maybe you should ask yourself, Varian, what the League's motives in this situation truly are," suggested Casirus.

"Oh, there's no doubt about it," Varian replied calmly. "I don't have any misconceptions about either of you. You both want the colonies for their industrial output, their ability to strengthen your own societies. I don't believe either of you would oppress the people, but you would use them nonetheless." He paused then, looking around him. "The Conclave supports the offer I have just made to you, that the systems be left to the Igadzra control, and both the Azdgari and the League retreat immediately. I do not make an offer now, I'm afraid. Leave the systems, both of you, or the Conclave will be brought into this."

The conference of Xix was over, and its result would surely be war.

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-Esponer
Am I posting in Just Chat or B&B;? If so, I'm probably joking.

(This message has been edited by SilverDragon (edited 12-22-2002).)

Mira, Mirava
The Emalghan Carrier came out of hyperspace and requested a landing berth on Mira. The Emalghan crews, especially the sensor crews, were rather attentive, as they didn’t want to miss a single bit of crucial information. Rather than having the Weapons Officer man his station, the Captain had instead assigned him to help double-duty the sensor stations. They were musing together,”Hmm. We’re getting huge energy signatures, but the metal and plastic content of their armor is low. I guess that their armor is low, but they account for that deficit with huge shields.”

The Captain began issuing orders to his crew. “Fighter Command, order the fighters to launch into a diamond formation behind us. Helm, after the fighters have launched, take us in. Sensors, be especially alert. Communications, make sure that you don’t miss anything.”

15 minutes later, the Emalghan Carrier had docked, and the Captain and a diplomat were whisked away by air car to a negotiater room somewhere in the capital.

“From the Emalghan,” the diplomat began. He hesitated, and turned to the Captain. In a whisper, he asked the Captain,”Well, Captain, what are we? We’re not precisely an empire, and we’re not really a democracy.” The Captain hastily whispered back,”Just call us a protectorate. It’s vague enough, and it sounds good too.” The diplomat continued. “From the Emalghan Protectorate to the Miranu Star League, we bid you a hello. Hopefully, our negotiations here will be fructifying. Let us tell you a little bit about ourselves, and our history.

“The Emalghan people started in a system with one planet, upon which we inhabited, and two moons. This system was called Emalghion. It took us a mere 30 years from the time that we first achieved our first flight to the time when we stepped on our moons. Sensors showed that the atmosphere of both our moons were favorable to living; indeed, we were able to make use of them. We discovered hyperspatial engines five years later, and managed to colonise a planet in the system of Kelmaon. We thought that our navy was strong and impervious to any outside force. We thought wrong.

“The Voinians appeared. Do you know of them?” The Miranu Councilor nodded. “They subdued us, and broke our ships. They pillaged our cities, raped our daughters, and killed the resistance. While they broke our bodies, they never broke our spirits. Secretly, a Resistance lingered. We knew that our Emalghan Turrets were devastating against the Voinians’ armor. The planet of Kelmaon was the first to rebel. The Voinians sent reinforcements to our mining planet. We ambushed them as they came out of hyperspace, and another fleet came out of hyperspace behind them. It was a hard battle, but with our superior numbers, we killed them.

“Now, we are masters of our own fate and captains of our souls. We have expanded; we now have 5 systems and 9 planets or moons. We would like to form at the very least an economic alliance with your honourable race. We would love your help in expanding our meager Protectorate. The Captain informs me that one of my men bought a rather thorough map of Miranu space. With your permission, we would like to bring two systems into our control. They are not really yours; rather, they are uninhabited. They are Stror and Sirabor. We do not ask for this help lightly and freely; we are willing to give you something in return. We do not have much to give you though. Will you help us colonise those planets and be our brothers of the stars?

Grenits
The Captain of the convoy knew his orders. He began settling the planet below.

DSN-8619
The huge convoy came out of hyperspace. They began reading lifeforms on the planet below. While primitive, the life forms were much like the Emalghans were when they discovered the Voinians. Remembering the hard learned lesson, the Emalghans went down for diplomacy, rather than slaughter.

DSN-1469
5 Defenders begin dropping biospheres onto the surface of the planet there. The population begins to grow.

Fleet Position: Same as last time
Projects: Prototype Station still building. ETC: 12/23/02

Point Defense Battery:
Every Emalghan Warship and Carrier has only 3 Turrets out of the 4 possible turrets. The Ministry of Science, at the request of the Emalghan Council of the Elders, has been working on a new type of turret. With a much improved tracking system, the Point Defense Battery is two Emalghan Cannons on a full swivel turret. It is designed to take out Voinian Rockets and Enemy Fighters. With a high reload and a slightly slower fire rate, it can take out about 80% of what is fired at it.

Notes:
*Tienna's production is increased to .425 of a Defender and 2 Fighters per day.
*Swan's production has peaked at .425 of a Defender and 1 Fighter per day.
*Ridley, now known as Yeldir, peaks at .85 of a Defender, .425 Carrier, and 2/3 of a Fighter per day.
*Holmm (the ringed formerly uninhabited planet in the Holmm System) has increased and maximized its production to .6375 Defender, .425 Carrier, and 2/3 of a Fighter per day.
*Taylor (the planet Swan orbits around) has topped off at .425 Defender, .425 Carrier and 2/3 of a Fighter for every RTD.

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(This message has been edited by specops (edited 12-22-2002).)

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(-------)New Ship Deployment(--------)
Ships constructed since 12/20/02
10 Azdgari Warships
10 Azdgari BattleCarriers
55 Azdgari Aradas
45 Azdaras
4 Igazras
26 Igadzra Aradas

Already Assigned to Igadzra Militias
4 Igazras
26 Igadzra Aradas

en route to Apert System
2 Azdgari Warships
15 Azdgari Aradas

en route to Muid System
5 Azdgari Warships
5 Azdgari BattleCarriers
20 Azdgari Aradas
25 Azdaras

en route to Mark System
3 Azdgari Warships
5 Azdgari BattleCarriers
20 Azdgari Aradas
20 Azdaras

(-------)Current Ship Deployment(--------)
Azdgari System
30 Azdgari Warships
50 Azdgari Aradas

Diudir System
6 Azdgari Warships
25 Azdgari Aradas
40 Azdaras

Chak System
10 Azdgari Warships
30 Azdgari Aradas
25 Azdaras

Molar System
55 Azdgari Warships
10 Azdgari BattleCarriers
190 Azdgari Aradas
170 Azdaras

Muid System
45 Azdgari Warships
10 Azdgari BattleCarriers
160 Azdgari Aradas
85 Azdaras

Apert System
13 Azdgari Warships
43 Azdgari Arada
54 Azdaras

Mark System
15 Azdgari Warships
15 Azdgari BattleCarriers
85 Azdgari Aradas
70 Azdaras

Notil System (Mined)
6 Azdgari Warships
5 Azdgari BattleCarriers
45 Azdgari Aradas
20 Igadzra Aradas
154 Azdaras
10 Igadzra Aradas redeployed to Mark System to engage in mining operations

Nujja System
8 Igazras
5 Azdgari Warships
27 Azdgari Aradas
32 Igadzra Aradas
48 Azdaras

Igadzra System
15 Azdgari Warships
10 Azdgari BattleCarriers
65 Azdgari Aradas
80 Azdaras

(-------)Reserch and Projects(-------)
Igadzra Fleet Capture and Refit
Begun 12/20/02 to be Completed 12/23/02
OOC: This will result in the capture of 76 Igazras and 198 Igadzra Aradas

Exploitation of Diudir Asteroid Belt/New Shipyard Facilities

• Phase 1: Star Destroyer Shipyard
  Constructs one Azdgari Star Destroyer every two real time days.
  Begun 12/21/02 to be Completed 12/25/02

• Phase 2: Asteroid Mining
  Boosts Azdgari production rate by 10%
  Begun 12/21/02 to be Completed 12/23/02

• Phase 3: Additional Shipyards on Diumin(/u)
  Boosts Azdgari production rate an additional 15%
  Begun 12/21/02 to be Completed 12/24/02

Azdara PDS Refit
Adds 8 PDS Batteries to an Azdara at the cost of 5 tons of weapon space.
Begun 12/21/02 to be completed 12/23/02

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Out ride the sons of Terra, Far dirves the thundering jet,
Up leaps the race of Earthmen, Out, far, and onward yet - Robert A. Heinlein, The Green Hills of Earth
"Saddam Hussein foregoes weapons of mass destruction (and) values human life." George W. Bush

United Earth
Deep space, Hatuli

Hatuli had for long been held in the claws of the renegades. It was a place where hope did not dare exist, where the enemy was already within their ranks, already in control, and there was no hope. The United Earth Confederacy had never seriously attempted to clean Hatuli out, for two reasons. The first was that with being engaged with the Voinians, they barely had the resources to do so - with only six squadrons in proximity ( Star Dragoon , Riders of Midgard and Mjollnir based at Huron, and Sovereign Star , Claymore and Daemon’s Halo based at Thoso), they had not had sufficient forces to mount an attack on the renegades. The second reason was that Hatuli’s twin planets were already infested by the renegade’s presence, mingled in with the population, oppressing and using them. It was next to impossible to clean them out without causing civilian losses.

And then, one of those six UE squadrons made the dare. Fifteen UE destroyers and thirty three UE fighters - the Riders of Midgard - tore from hyperspace into reality at maximum speeds. A small knot of pirate Kraits, no doubt defending the interests of one pirate leader or other in Hatuli, moved to engage. The squadron’s fighters did not slow, launching rockets which sent the Kraits up in flames as they streaked across the system. The destroyers launched salvo after salvo after pirate Helians and Turncoats in the system, then engaged them swiftly and with deadly precision, the Nidhogg taking the lead. While the pirates desperately tried to fight off the destroyers, the fighters returned in a wave, finishing the job off. Stardust settled, and it was done.

“Fleet status?” Marshall asked, his eyes intent on the monochrome display ahead of him, watching stardust glimmer and scatter.

“One fighter lost, captain,” reported his tactical officer, Kim Whight. Her voice was as restrained as could be expected of a military officer, but there was a hint of loss. The Riders of Midgard were a close lot. “The Blade of Ragnarok.”

Marshall nodded slightly. He’d known the pilot of that ship - a good man. “We can’t afford to stay in the system any longer. Open a transmission with the Shadows.” The Shadows was the name given to the militia of Hatuli, who fought bravely yet futilely to free their system from the renegades. They had long since lost all their love for the United Earth.

A transmission quickly opened, however. It was hard to miss the fact that a UE fleet had cleared the system out completely. “What do you want?” a shaky, yet determined voice demanded of Marshall. There was no visual; the Shads were on the low tech side of things.

“We’re en route to Yelts, through Riomor, to eliminate the renegades. Now would be a good time for you to make your move,” Marshall suggested. He was met with laughter.

“Riomor is cleared out - we got news from Iothe. But I bet what you don’t know is that Yelts is too, and there’s a massive alien fleet in Huan moving here. I don’t think renegades are the problem now, captain.”

Marshall blinked, and paused. It appeared that the same aliens who had destroyed the renegades in Riomor and taken Freeport must have done the same in Yelts. Marshall hadn’t even known that the Shadows had possession of a long-range sensor - they were supposed to have been the first target the renegades took out when the defences of Hatuli broke years ago. But if the aliens were now in Huan... they could be a serious threat. To have struck the renegades with such ferocity, it seemed like a repetition of the Voinians. Even if they had identified them as renegades, would they make the distinction between them and the rest of humanity?

“A similar fleet will be arriving in Hatuli within the hour. Make your move, and we’ll prepare to defend this system if necessary,” Marshall responded, cutting the link quickly. “Move all ships to the Hatuli-Huan hyper-exit point and prepare for battle. If these aliens are anything like the Voinians, I fully intend to be ready for them this time ‘round.”

Paaren Station

Work on Paaren Station was fast reaching completion. All that was left to be completed now was the internal workings of the station, and the main reactor had suffered a few early problems that had to be fixed before it could be turned on. The shipyards of Paaren Station were all but completed. The station was designed with three separate shipyards - the first was a standard Skirmish-class automated dry-dock, designed to construct the United Earth’s fighters quickly and efficiently. Such docks had not been made in some time, due to the demand for more destroyers, but the Confederacy was beginning to bring them back onto the line. The second shipyard was a more conventional one, capable of constructing destroyers, while the third was the first of its kind.

With the UE cruiser fast reaching completion itself, a shipyard designed to construct them had already been outlined and had a design drawn up. It was one such shipyard that was just in the process of being completed on Paaren Station. Already, a program was being considered to build such shipyards all over UE space, rather than converting conventional shipyards.

Priat

“I... uhh...” Mishima stalled. The aliens recognised his language, and could respond. It was bizarre. “I’m afraid that I’m not authorised to represent the United Earth in first contact... I’m part of the UE’s exploration program, and the first law of the program is that in the event of first contact, we are under no circumstances to liaise... if you, uhh... I could escort one of your diplomatic vessels to our capital, I think... but I’m not authorised to make contact, as such...” He stopped, then, wondering if he was rambling. It was rather difficult, meeting an alien race, Mishima thought to himself.

Not knowing if the aliens would even be able to detect it, but realising that if they would, it would probably be a good sign, he powered down the shields and weapons systems on his ship. After all, it was unlikely he would be able to make his escape with shields and weapons up if they chose to attack. They were aliens, and everybody knew aliens were powerful.

Earth
Fusion reactor had since been installed on all United Earth vessels, providing a modest boost in shielding and speed. However, as it appeared that fusion technology could still be greatly enhanced, a project was initiated to perfect and miniaturise the reactors. It was expected that the result of the enhancement would be additional speed and shielding to UE military craft, as well as more power to the fusion bolt weaponry that would soon be completed and a more powerful warhead in rockets and hunter missiles. Also, if the reactors were improved as far as they could be, it may prove to be feasible to reinstate one of the very first spacecraft weapons used by humanity: the laser.

Overall, the project was a large one, calling upon thousands of scientists and engineers all over UE space, gathering them to Earth where the new fusion reactor, which had already been dubbed “the star furnace”, was to be theorised, researched, prototyped and finally developed.

OOC Update
UE Fleet:
188 UE Carriers
518 UE Destroyers
305 UE Fighters
Total of 1011 vessels

UE Production:
6 carriers, 16 destroyers, 10 fighters per day

Fleet Distribution:
Bakka: 28 carriers, 78 destroyers, 42 fighters
Yandros: 28 carriers, 78 destroyers, 42 fighters
Verril: 14 carriers, 41 destroyers, 22 fighters
DSN-1810: 28 carriers, 78 destroyers, 42 fighters
Saalia: 14 carriers, 41 destroyers, 22 fighters
Aludra: 6 carriers, 20 destroyers, 12 fighters
Molos: 6 carriers, 20 destroyers, 12 fighters
Sol: 14 carriers, 41 destroyers, 22 fighters
Valos: 6 carriers, 20 destroyers, 12 fighters
Huron: 5 carriers, 14 destroyers, 8 fighters
Thoso: 14 carriers, 41 destroyers, 22 fighters
Ariane: 4 carriers, 5 destroyers, 8 fighters
Tulir: 4 carriers, 4 destroyers, 8 fighters
Mestor: 4 carriers, 5 destroyers, 9 fighters
Talii: 4 carriers, 4 destroyers, 8 fighters
Hatuli : 9 carriers, 27 destroyers, 14 fighters, 45 naval fighters

Research & Development
Paaren Station (1 day)
UE Cruiser (2 days)
Fusion Bolts (2 days)
Fusion Reactor Installation (completed)
“The Star Furnace” Fusion Reactor Enhancement (6 days)

------------------
-Esponer
Am I posting in Just Chat or B&B;? If so, I'm probably joking.

The military council in charge of constructing the new Golans was inspecting the different prototypes. All of them were about the same; the only reason the Emalghans had constructed so many were to see whether or not little things, such as the automated programs, worked better on one station or another one. The current contract called for the Golans to be relatively light orbital defence platforms. However, they were only “light” when compared with the planned heavier Golans. They had the least shields and armour. However, they were still a force to be reckoned with. In theoretical tests run, a single patrol of 4 Golans could dispatch a force of 10 Voinian Frigates within 20 seconds with only one Golan casualty. And that was by rocket volleys alone. Should the Frigates attempt to close with the Emalghan Golans, the Golans could let loose a huge barrage of 20 Emalghan Turrets, a number that equaled the number of Voinian Turrets. However, since the station was primarily armour, and Voinian turrets did less damage against armour than Emalghans did against armour, the Voinian Frigates were toast. The true problem was the limited ammunition that the Golans had on board for a fight. While they had a huge number of Rocket Launchers, 10, they only had 10 Rockets for each Rocket Launcher. The Freighters that assembled the different stations could serve as the mobile supply depot. For instance, after a Freighter built its total of 3 Golan Mk. I Stations, it could remain behind and act as a supply depot for extra munitions.

The company representative, a retired Captain (there were so few actual living retired navy personnel; most of them had been retired posthumously), informed the council that, pending naval approval of the best station, the finalised version could be put into effect. The naval council handed the representative the dossier with the following stats:
Golan Mk. I v.0.3
Shields: 600
Armour: 1800
Speed: 250
Acceleration: 200
Turning: 75/sec
Crew: 84 Crew + 40 (Max) Troops
Skeleton Crew: 43
Weapons: 5 Emalghan Turrets, 2 Point Defence Batteries, 10 Rocket Launchers with 10 Rockets Each
Length: 125m (diameter)
Mass: 165 tons

The representative thanked them and then proceeded to transmit the orders to his company.

Project: Golan Mk. I, finalised version. Started 12/23/02. Completed: 12/24/02.

On the surface of Taylor, more extraordinary research was taking place. The scientists that had falsified the data on how good the Emalghan shells had been executed; the Ministry of Science had ordered the remaining scientists to look into a new idea. Currently, they were researching the area of beam technology. They had found a remarkable thing in the extremely hostile environment of Taylor. Occasionally, supercharged quarks would slam into metal. They would perforate it with holes until the metal eventually broke down. However, the scientists noticed that while they could never entirely decompose the matter in this fashion, large chunks of the metal would be destroyed within the first 6 seconds. The scientists gathered enough data from different points, and they realised that when they propelled quarks constantly at any metal, they would decay the metal with a half life occurring every 3 seconds. The scientists realised what they were dealing with was a potentially powerful weapon. However, the apparatus that held and fired the quarks was rather large; it weighed more than 70 tons. Too, a quark “pellet” that supplied the quarks with which the metal was bombarded took an eternity to reload. While the scientists were certainly no crack military team, by their best guesses, it would still take almost 20 seconds to reload the pellets. Furthermore, the pellets supplied only 12 seconds worth (or four half lives) of bombardment; they then had to be replaced. However, while the quark beam had all these wonderful advantages, it also had the advantage of being able to pass through shields (by virtue of the fact that its so small). The only problem with this property is that the Emalghans had no way of exploiting it; it would take literally forever for the half life property to decompose all the armour of a ship. While the implications of this project were enormous, the work was tedious and long, and it would still take another (4 RTD) to effectively complete this project.

Project: Crystal Phase Shifter Started: 12/23/02. Completed: 12/26/02

The Emalghan Council of Elders had run into some problems. They realised that, in their frenzy of colonisation, they had run deep into the red zone of their budgets. Now, they were discussing different ways in which they might be able to bail themselves out of their crisis.

“Well,” said the newly elected Councilor of Tienna,"the race that we have discovered to the northeast might be able to help us. They seem to be a trading race; peradventure we could trade with them.”

“You forget, my inexperienced colleague,” chided the councilor of Lmieto,"that their League is flung across the stars. We have nothing to offer them at a low price that they could not find within their own borders. Indeed, we are barely self sufficient. Kelmaon and its semi precious ores are the only things that they do not possess. On second thought, I suppose that we could offer them some of the new metals that we have been finding on Taylor. But, I doubt that they would truly want to accept our raw and unfashioned materials from Taylor; we have yet to truly fashion it into something useful ourselves. You do well to mind the ideas of your elders, young pup.”

At this point, the entire Council began fighting about who had the best idea. The Council began fighting, and the argument turned from one about financial matters to one of seniority quickly. Throughout all of this, no one heeded the First Elder, who was incessantly banging his gavel. Finally, he became so fed up with everyone else that he ordered the Sergeant at Arms to fire his rifle a few times. With the big noises the discharges created, the Council came back to order. The First Elder began to speak.

“None of you have been privy to the communiqués that I have seen. The Emperor of the Voinian Empire has seen it fit to offer us a truce. More than that, he has offered us restitution in whatever form we may need it. While we can not possibly fully trust them with armed ships in our system ever again, I, for one, am ready to forgive them provided that they send us financial aid. Furthermore, I would request of them help in colonising our new planets. Our Freighters and Defenders will not be even close to enough transportation. However, just one Voinian Supply Ship can carry more than even 3 Freighters combined! I therefore suggest to the Council that we allow the Voinians to implement restitution through the means of transportation. We are in the red zone for all of our planets except Tienna and Taylor. They alone are self-sufficient. The other planets though, could use help, even if it is from the Voinians. For every 5 Supply Ships that is allowed to come into Emalghan Space, one Voinian Frigate will be allowed too. An escort of 5 Fighters, a Carrier, and 4 Warships will be provided in all cases to make sure that there is no deceit on the Voinians’ parts.”

The Council quickly passed the measure that the First Elder had just proposed, and a group of them went off to send a message to the Voinian Empire.

To: Voinian Empire
From: The Emalghan Council of Elders
Subject: Peace
Encryption: High
Priority: High

With some hesitation, we gratefully accept your offer to make restitution to the Emalghan people. While your complacency in attacking us has gone a long ways towards convincing our people that you have had a change of heart, we are not entirely convinced. We thus provide you with an opportunity to redeem yourselves in the eyes of the Emalghan people.

The Emalghan Protectorate has been expanding in the last few months. However, our future vision was plagued by the frenzy of discovery and exploration; we were too nearsighted to see the future results. We are now in rather deep financial woes. All but two of our planets have budget problems.

You have offered to help through means of financial aid. If I am to understand correctly, this would also entail the colonisation of planets, and hence the stabilisation (in an economic sense) of said planets. I would ask of you that any free Supply Ships that you have be sent to aid the Emalghan people. To prove to you that we are not going to deceive you and steal your ships, for every 5 Supply Ships, one Voinian Frigate will be allowed to escort them. We are not fools, however, and we will also have 5 of our Fighters, a Carrier, and a quartet of our Warships to make sure you do not try anything stupid. Our forces have been alerted that you might show up in either the Grenits system and the DSN-4743 System. A force in any other system, without an Emalghan escort, will constitute an act of war.

Do not let the millions of Emalghans that are depending upon you starve.

The Emalghan Council of Elders of the Emalghan Protectorate.

In the DSN-88619 System, progress was being made at a startling pace. The Emalghans had quickly come to the conclusion the the Frotin, as they called themselves, were telepaths. As the Emalghan convoy first experienced, they communicated with thought pictures when encountering an unknown, such as the Emalghans, but then proceeded to communicate with language when developed enough. They hunted and killed their prey with physic attacks, yet they in turn were hunted and killed by the hygrtha. The Emalghans delegated one fighter to protect each minor village, and a larger capital ship to protect the other larger villages. Through this act, the Emalghans began to be friends with the Frotin.

Project: Golan Mk. I, finalised version. Started 12/23/02. Completed: 12/24/02.
Project: Crystal Phase Shifter Started: 12/23/02. Completed: 12/26/02
Fleet Positions: Same as last time. The 24 Warships that were working on the Stations in the Emalghion System are joined by an additional 20 Freighters. 5 more Freighters join the Golan building in Huang. 10 Fighters and 10 Warships, which go to Emalghion to begin building more stations, pull back from the DSN-4743 System leaving 15 Fighters and 5 Warships there. The 5 Fighters and 2 Warships in the DSN-2061 System withdraw to the Emalghion System, where the 2 Warships join in the effort to build 10 Stations.

------------------
(url="http://"http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/webboard/Forum26/HTML/007622.html")Cool(/url)

(This message has been edited by specops (edited 12-23-2002).)

South Tip Conclave
Fallen Embers

(- Source: Halls of the Conclave, Alpha Nexus, Vardamaught, Kayia; South Tip Conclave -)
(- Recipient(s): Azdgari Fleet; Afen -)
(- Forward to... Azdgari Central Command -)
(- Priority: 1* -)

The South Tip Conclave has considered the situation with the systems of Motif, Afen and Norhis over the past few days. This is our conclusion.

The League moving in to protect those worlds was a just action, however, it has become clear that the people of those worlds wish to be independant. It is their right to be free, and the League are refusing to give them this right. It has become clear that you, the Azdgari, are willing to leave these systems be, and as such the League have no claim remaining to protect these systems.

On the matter of the Miranu and Azdgari conquering Igadzra worlds, the Conclave believe that these actions had justification. In the case of the Miranu, their honour was insulted when the Igadzra threatened their people and forced the Miranu to cede technology over to them. The Conclave only wishes it could have defended the Miranu’s honour side by side with them. As for the Azdgari, the Strand Wars have gone on for centuries, and it is unclear as to who was originally guilty of this war. Due to this, the Conclave is not willing to pass any moral judgement on your actions. All we have to go by is recent happenings in the war, rather than the cause of the war, and in that the Igadzra were guilty of crimes that deserve your actions.

As the League refuse to grant these citizens freedom - although they may rule them wisely, and leave them mostly to themselves, they are still taking their surpluses and controlling their industrial and military facilities - the Conclave has no other options remaining. The Strandless Redemption League has ignored our attempt to solve this problem by diplomatic means, and thus we must make them to free the Igadzra by military force.

In four days, six hours, fourty seven minutes and thirteen seconds from now, we predict our fleets will arrive in their systems. This level of accuracy has been carefully planned. If the Azdgari are capable of aiding us in eliminating the League, it must be at this time exactly.

We shall strike the systems of Tibidat, Duios, Siqwe, Motif and Yelts. Within this message is included the sensor logs of all systems we are able to provide a realtime display of -- as for the range of our LR sensors, that is our concern and not yours. We would appreciate it if the Azdgari could clear League forces out of Afen and Norhis, as well as the system of DSN-6107 (information included within this message.) We know of their base in Elridi, and suggest you clear that out as well, along with any other bases they are constructing. From what we are able to ascertain, that will leave the League with one system - Groned - and a fleet ni the Huan system, to the galactic north-west. Our assault will surely succeed.

Finally, the Conclave must inform you of our intentions, and in this you may choose not to aid us. We intend for Afen, Norhis and Motif to remain wholly independant, and once the League is eliminated, all their colonies are to be left to their own devices. The base of Neslaut in the DSN-6107 system, and any other bases the League is constructing are yours to annex, providing you take care to cause as few civilian casualties as possible. The Conclave is interested in justice, not shipyards and factories - we are no hypocrites.

Thank you, and please join us in this battle.

(- end transmission -)

(- Source: Halls of the Conclave, Alpha Nexus, Vardamaught, Kayia; South Tip Conclave -)
(- Recipient(s): Miranu Star League -)

The League are refusing to leave the systems of Motif, Afen and Norhis to the Igadzra. They claim to be protecting the systems from the Azdgari, but the Azdgari have offered to stay out of the systems, and, in addition, the people of the worlds have stated that they wish to be free from the Azdgari and the League.

As the League have ignored our diplomatic efforts to convince them to leave the systems, we are left with no choice. The Conclave apologises profusely to the Miranu for what we are forced to do, but the League has shown its true colours, and there is no doubting that they are intending to conquer world after world under similarily weak pretenses.

The Conclave will begin a fullscale invasion immediately. We intend to cripple their fleet and destroy their military facilities, and nothing more. If this means that our two nations are unable to be allies, then so be it -- we will no more back down than they, the difference being that they protect their interests, and we protect the good.

(- end transmission -)

Duios

Hindros was one of the core League worlds, the backbone of the powerful militant force. It certainly wasn’t a planet that was expecting an attack - at least, not until three days previously, when LR sensors had picked up a Conclave fleet in the DSN-5553 system. In preparation, its fleet stood on standby at the hyper-exit point from DSN-5553, box launchers ready to burn when the Conclave arrived.

Then, five Crescent warships and four Laziras entered the system. A massive wave of fire hit them - dispersal rockets, pursuit missiles, capital missiles in huge numbers. To the shock of the League’s ships, however, all nine ships fell from a single blast, exploding. What had caused this ships to be taken down so easily was a mystery. Unbeknownst to the defenders, they were not five Crescent warships and four Laziras, but instead Crescent fighters with their shield masks stretched to occupy the shape of those craft - the nine Crescent fighters that would have been launched by the Conclave’s real warships.

Even while the decoys tore apart under the wave of League munitions, three Crescent warships, four Laziras, eighteen Aradas, twenty Crescent fighters and four Crescent interceptors entered the system, photonic weaponry striking blindly, attempting to clear out the first load of League munitions to target the real ships. Conclave fighters were fast to attempt to move out of the way, evading dispersal rocket fire. However, the decoy had granted them some safety; the League weren’t prepared to fire again so quickly, and many of their missile box launchers had been used already. Considerable losses were still taken by the Conclave attackers, but not as many as would have been lost otherwise.

Overall, Duios’ defenders numbered less than two score, mostly Aradas and fighters. The Conclave’s fighters moved against the League’s own carefully, keeping optimum distance as best they could in the fray. Missiles were launched in any barrage by the League, but not a single one did any damage to the Conclave (the League, of course, were unaware of this fact, knowing only that they passed through the strange outer shield - they couldn’t read the status of the inner shield.) As the Enforcers that Conclave fighters were armed with made short work of the League’s own fighters and Aradas while mostly keeping out of range, the other Conclave craft spread out as much as possible, attempting to render the League’s dispersal rocket fire as ineffective as possible. The quad pulses of Eliminators struck League vessels fiercely, mainly out of the League’s own range.

The situation was such: the Conclave fighters had escaped range of League phase and rocket fire, and were unlikely to enter that range again, as they didn’t need to deal damage. The two Conclave interceptors that had withstood the initial fire kept with the Conclave fighters. The other Conclave ships generally kept within overlapping fire, in groups of five or so. These groups had at least twenty Eliminators between them - easily enough firepower to eliminate most incoming League ships before they came into range. The superiority of Conclave firepower was the key to the battle, most definately. In addition, the League were only just beginning to realise that their missiles were quite ineffective against the Conclave.

In the opening stage of the battle, the Conclave had lost two of their four interceptors, six of their twenty fighters, five of their eighteen Aradas, one of their four Laziras, and one of their three Crescent warships. The League had lost two Laziras, four Aradas and six Crescent fighters.

Siqwe

The battle of Siqwe was essentially a scaled down version of the battle that had begun in Duios. Both sides had less forces, although this was more notable in the League’s side, with less than ten ships in the system to the Conclave’s three dozen or so. The battle begun, like in Duios, with six Conclave ships looking like three warships and three Laziras, which were quickly destroyed. When the real ships entered, they scattered as best they could and then struck out with a total of twenty six Eliminators on their capital vessels. The Conclave’s fighters and interceptors kept in one solid group of twenty two, taking out one League ship and making sure to stay out of range of their rockets and phase weaponry. The League’s Crescent warship fell, embarrassing, to four interceptors. After being weakened by Enforcer fire, the interceptors moved in quickly, discharging a total of twenty Instigators. The already damaged warship exploded promptly, but in the process the four interceptors were destroyed.

One Crescent warship, one Lazira and two Aradas were eliminated on the League’s side, while three Aradas and four interceptors of the Conclave were lost.

In hyperspace...

“Guardian Nhada, we’ll be entering Tibidat within the next few moments,” reported one of the warship captains over the comm. link. One of the many warship captains who had tried to convince Nhada that a Crescent fighter was no safe place to be in a battle of this scale. It was amusing, and saddening, that his new “rank” appeared to mean that he was ill advised to actually fight. It had not been a problem in Mavs or Riomor, and it had not been a problem when he had fought against unbelievable odds in the name of the fledgling Conclave, fighting for space superiority in Akrayhek. But now, he was expected to be ‘safe.”

“Understood,” Nhada replied. The attack on Tibidat was the most important against the League - what happened here would no doubt decide the outcome of the entire invasion, codenamed Fallen Embers. It was thus that Nhada had at his command the largest fleet, comprised of eleven Crescent warships, eight Laziras, fifty three Aradas, eighty Crescent fighters and twenty six Crescent interceptors. It was by far the most capable fleet, but it was up against the most capable League fleet, along with significant defences. “Cap’n, what’s your name?”

“Chakara, sir,” the captain replied steadily. More steadily than Nhada felt, in fact. This was a risky operation.

“If I don’t survive this, I want you to send a message for me,” Nhada said quietly, not really realising what he was saying - merely letting the words come out of his mouth. Words that he’d kept deep inside his mind for too long.

“Ah... yes, sir?”

“Tell Jenra that...” Nhada stalled. “Tell her that...” He never stalled. He had never stalled, he had never expected to stall. It just wasn’t him.

“Sir, we’re entering the system.”

The moment was gone, and it was time for war.

Tibidat

The largest battle in operation Fallen Embers had begun. Thirty three Conclave craft broke out of hyperspace into the system, and before their captains would have had time to look at the sensor readings, never mind fire, the ships - warships and Laziras - were engulfed in missiles and dispersal rockets, and they exploded. From the size of the explosions, the League would realise what had happened - would realise, as there was little time for that now - that the ships were not what they appeared to be, but rather the fighters from the Conclave’s warships, unmanned.

And then, the Conclave arrived. One hundred and seventy eight ships burst into the system a second after the decoys went up in plumes of plasma. Conclave secondary fire was launched off quickly - unimportant dregs to the Conclave, dispersal rockets and SAD modules from their heavier craft. The League had not wasted all their box launchers on the initial ships, but they had fired a lot, expecting much more resistance out of what were but decoys. Conclave munitions exploded half way to their targets in some cases, the trajectories sent to the photon weapons fire, and the munitions picked out of the sky. The myriad explosions created some sensor disturbance, and brought down with them a number of League dispersal rockets and missiles.

The League’s capital missiles split into their pursuit missiles, crashing into the Conclave craft, apparently doing damage - but only apparently. The warheads, locked in the graviton field of the membrane, were all disabled, and slowed to a near stop, the pursuit missiles did next to no kinetic damage. Anti-fighter missiles sought out Conclave fighters, but they weren’t much more effective.

Nhada’s Vigilante led one group of fighters, and Lysaeun’s Vehement Fury led the other, keeping out of range of enemy fire as best they could, the range of photonic weaponry giving them a marked advantage over the enemy. The League’s missiles were all but useless, not even causing an impact, and the Conclave’s fighters kept out of the range of phase weaponry and dispersal rockets. Even the gargantuan barrages fired from the League’s battlestation in orbit of Tibidat could not halt them.

The Vehement Fury left the wing of fighters, Lysaeun making a daring attack on a League Arada, barrel rolling away from oncoming dispersal rocket fire. Its three Enforcers shot blast after blast, the Vehement Fury passing dangerously close to the Arada as it was transformed into a ghost of plasma. The Eudaemon, another Crescent fighter in the Conclave fleet, quickly met with it, along with the Warrior Savant, and the three near legendary fighters - for their skill in the battle in Mavs - took on a League warship with ease.

The battle was near chaotic, however. While lighter Conclave ships were able to all but escape the enemy fire, darting away whenever the League might attempt to draw close, heavier Conclave ships were at something of a disadvantage. Quickly, however, it became clear that their Eliminators were extremely effective at taking down League ships before they came in range, and the Conclave’s heavier ships, including Aradas, massed in a huge yet tight formation. With hundreds of Eliminators all ready, and every ship in the knot moving forward at the same pace, even the entire League force would break itself against the Eliminators.

With the League’s box launchers almost completely used up now, the battle seemed to be turning in the favour of the Conclave. The League had yet to deal with the Conclave’s warship formation, and the three groups of Conclave fighters (the third being comprised of only three fighters.) The problem with the fighters was, however, that they were all but invincible while they made sure to keep a distance. In particular, the Vehement Fury, Warrior Savant and Eudaemon made a mockery of the League’s forces.

There was a worry, however. The League’s battlestation, developed before many of the box launchers were mass produced, could possibly be holding within its depths SAD capabilities - heavy SAD capabilities. While the guidance could be faulted, and not all Conclave ships were in range, it was the only thing the League had that threatened the Conclave’s fighters.

The League had lost four Crescent warships, twelve Laziras, and nine Aradas. The Conclave force had lost three fighters and two interceptors, along with four Aradas.

(This message has been edited by SilverDragon (edited 12-24-2002).)

(--Secure Transmission, Encrypted with One Time Cypher--)
To: South Tip Conclave
From: Vice Admiral Bal'heron, Afen System

We Azdgari will live by our word. At the specified time our ships will liberate the Systems of Afen and Norhis from League control, then we will leave. At the same time, to insure the continued independance of the Igadzra Remnant, and the safety of our own people, we will launch an offensive to clear the League from DSN-6107, Novish, Reban, and Elridi.

(--End Transmission--)

Afen System

It was a tense situation in the Afen System. Both sides had recieved information regarding the end result of the Xix Conference, and both sides knew that peace in this system rested on the edge of the knife. The Azdgari, however, knew something else about that particular knife. They knew that it was about to tip over.

Vice Admiral Bal'heron watched the League ships closely on the holo-monitor in front of his command chair. The scans they had taken of the SRL ships over the past few days showed that their ships were well armed and deadly, but also that most of their power was in their missile weapons. With the over 2000 PDS Batteries distributed among the Azdgari fleet his Aradas and Capital ships would be safe from most missile barrages, the Azdaras on the other hand would be vulnerable any time they left the protective umbrella of the main fleet.

For the third time in the past half hour Bal'heron looked at the chronometer that was counting down to the attack. At 60 seconds to the attack the Azdgari ships made final target confirmations, and the BattleCarriers made ready to take out the League Crecent Fighters. At 30 seconds the main weapons systems began cycling to full power, at 15 the engines. With morbid concentration, Bal'heron watched the final seconds before the attack slowly count down.

The Azdgari struck fast and hard, surging forward in close formation to maximize their ability to combine PDS coverage. While the first League barrage of pursuit and Capital missiles was almost completely destroyed by Azdgari PDS, the League did not do as well. With carfully planned precission the Azdgari BattleCarriers focused pursuit missile barrages on individual Crecent Fighters... taking them out before they were able to launch their second volley.

While the Azdgari Warships closed to primary weapons range, the Aradas stayed in formations of 5 to concentrate their Dispersal rockets on individual League ships. The BattleCarriers remained behind the Warships and concentrated their pursuit missiles on any League Aradas that tried to make attack runs. The Azdaras followed a unique strategy that General Treval had come up with after several days of studying scans of the League ships. He suggested that to avoid League Anti-fighter Missiles, the Azdaras should remain behind the Azdgari Warships only emerging randomly to fire quick Phase Burst attacks.

Using these tactics the Azdgari had quickly taken out 1 of the League Crecent Warships and 2 of their Laziras, along with several Aradas and all of their Fighters. The League ships were not going down easily, however, and had managed to take down several Azdgari Aradas with concentrated Rocket and Missile fire.

While their battle with the League was rather simple, and destroying thier ships neccessity, the local Igadzra Militia forces made things a bit complicated for the Azdgari. The Igadzra had no questions about destroying the Azdgari... but the Azdgari were here to insure the continued independance of the system, and killing off their Militia forces wouldn't be very good for the system's long term survival. It was all well and good to try and disable the Igadzra... but their ships didn't tend to go down without a great deal of force.

The Azdgari continued to go toe to toe with the League ships, their numbers slowly but surely making their victory unavoidable. Two more League Laziras went down in flames, taking with them another Azdgari Warship, and the battle raged on. Attempting to Isolate and disable the League's Igazras six Azdgari Warships seperated from the main engagement and attacked the two mighty ships with a flurry of Phase Burst discarges. The six Azdgari ships had nearly four times the firepower of the Igazras, and quickly gained an upper hand, knocking both down below 50% shields while taking only moderate damaged to two of their own number. As the Igazras absorbed more and more damage they began to focus their power on one of the attacking Azdgari Warships, turning it into a flaming mass of melting hull plating within moments before they were both finnaly disabled.

Azdgari Fleet Status
19 Azdgari Warships (6 Destroyed)
5 Azdgari BattleCarriers
36 Aradas (9 Destroyed)
194 Azdaras (16 Destroyed)

League Fleet Status
1 Crecent Warship (1 Destroyed)
1 Lazira (4 Destroyed)
8 Aradas (12 Destroyed)
2 Igadzra Aradas (2 Disabled, 1 Destroyed)
----------------
Norhis System

In the Norhis System things proceeded much as they did in Afen. General Treval's ships engaged the League ships with swift fury gaining a quick upper hand and taking out both of the League's Crecent Warships. Their sucess was helped greatly by several brave Azdara squadrons that had ignored General Treval's orderes to stay out of the main figting and were going head to head with the League ships and their Anti-Fighter Missiles.

Azdgari Fleet Status
13 Azdgari Warships
5 Azdgari BattleCarriers
38 Azdgari Aradas
212 (38 Destroyed)

League Fleet Status
1 Igazra Disabled
2 Crecent Warships Destroyed
3 Laziras (2 Destroyed)
9 Aradas
1 Igadzra Aradas Disabled 1 Destroyed
----------------
DSN-6107 System

When the Azdgari fleet entered the system the League ships immediatly launched a massive salvo of Dispersal Rockets, Pursuit Missiles and Capital Missiles. Unfortuantly for the League ships, the large Azdgari fleet had more than enough PDS Batteries to destroy every missile before it hit. At full speed the Azdgari attacked the League ships, five spuadrons of Azdaras supported by 16 Azdgari Aradas engaged the Crecent Fighters while the remaining Azdgari ships focused on the larger League ships. With five Azdgari Warships to every League Warship, and the League Aradas outnumbered nearly 3 to one by their Azdgari counterparts, the Azdgari anticipated a quick and easy victory.

After a few minutes the League's Crecent Fighters were mostly dead, and the surviving Azdaras had returned to the cover of the Warships and Aradas and were using the pop-up strategy that General Treval had advised. When the combined might of the five Azdgari Warships, Aradas and Azdaras had brought the Warship's shileds down they were suprised when it's armor survived past the first 30 seconds of combined fire. It took a few more minutes than normal but the overwhelming force of the Azdgari ships eventually meant the end of the League Warship, but not before it was able to destroy two of it's Azdgari counterparts.

The few remaining League ships took advantage of their enemy's lack of long range weapons and temporarily broke away from the fighting, using their Anti-Fighter Missiles to discourage any Azdaras that tried to pursue.

Azdgari Fleet Status
11 Azdgari Warships (4 Destroyed)
49 Azdgari Aradas (9 Destroyed)
62 Azdaras (28 Destroyed)

League Fleet Status
1 Advanced Crecent Warship Destroyed
1 Lazira (1 Lazira Destroyed)
3 Aradas (7 Destroyed)
2 Crecent Fighters (18 Destroyed)
----------
Elridi System

A small Azdgari floatilla emerged from hyperspace and imediatly assumed a geosynchronous orbit over the small outpost on Elridi. The commander of the floatilla, a small, middle aged Azdgari that had been in the Navy for nearly twenty years turned to his communications officer and dictated a message to the small outpost.

(--Active Communication--)
SRL Outpost: This is Captain Dorja of the Azdgari Warship Winged Fury, as we speak your pitiful government is under a massive invasion from both the Azdgari Empire and the South Tip Conclave. Your military will fall within the next hour, and your government not long after that. Because you are not members of the SRL Military, you are being given the oppourtunity to go back to your homeworlds and live in peace. Leave in the next 24 hours or we will destroy your base and everyone still on the planet.
(--End Transmission--)
------------
Reban and Novish Systems

Things proceeded much as they did in Elridi with a few exceptions. In Reban Mobile Infantry Troopers were landed to oversee the evacuation and insure that the local populace did not attempt to destroy the industries that had been set up there. In Novish the scouts were given the option of staying on the planet and working side by side with Azdgari settlers to make a new agricultural colony.

------------------
Out ride the sons of Terra, Far dirves the thundering jet,
Up leaps the race of Earthmen, Out, far, and onward yet - Robert A. Heinlein, The Green Hills of Earth
"Saddam Hussein foregoes weapons of mass destruction (and) values human life." George W. Bush

Voinian Empire
The empire did have the spare supply ships, so a number of them would be sent along to help the emalgha.
(Message to Emalgha)
(From Voinian Council)
The supply ships will be sent. You will recive 20 of them with an escort of no more than 4 Frigates. We do not feel comfortable protecting such a large mass of ships with so few warships, but will do as you ask. They should arrive within the next week(RTD) or so. I ask of you to allow a convoy of or vessels safe passage through your space toward the Miranu. These vessels however will require a large escort to their destination. You may provide it yourselves if you wish but we would naturally feel safer with out own warships. You may post as many ships as you please with this convoy, i assure you nothing will happen. However, there are those that like to fire weapons randomly into empty space so dont be alarmed at that. You may have your entire navy escort this fleet for all we care. It simply must get through.
(end)
------
< unknown>
The convoy that wishes passage through emalgha space is loaded up with dospect armor destined for Zachit. An escort fleet of 20 Destroyers is given and they depart for Romit to prepare for the trip through the old foe's home ground.
------
Voinian R &D; Testing Site
The experimental hyperspace engine undergoes it's rigerous testing and passes with flying colors. Once fitted with this engine a vessel will be capable of typical inflight maneuvers while in hyperspace. In other words this engine allows ships to stop, turn, drift, and accelerate in hyperspace.
------
Voinian Shipyards
A change in assortment is gain ordered so as to gain a sizable ammount of the new Knight class Destroyers. All frigate production is to be chaned to Destroyers.

Voinian R&D;:
New Weapon: 3 days
New Engine; Complete and refiting. all new vessels will be made with it already intact.
<Classified>; 5 days
Voinian Shipyards:
+4 Dreadnoughts
+8 Cruisers
+0 Frigates
+126 Destroyers
+14 HVY Fighters
+26 Intercepters
+4 Supply Ships
Notes: 2 days construction.
2 Dreadnoughts, 4 Cruisers to Gamur + Gualon
30 Destroyers, 7 HVY Fighters, 13 Intercepters to Fridion + Niot
15 Destroyers to Avann + Vorik + Obron

------------------
Insanity has its advantages

OOC: RMA, please hold it on your response. Because Ipvicus and I wanted to post within a few minutes, I gave Ipvicus my password and he made my post... however, he apparently missed the attacks on Motif and Yelts. I'll see to them in an hour or two.

(edit: 'kay, I've got the text. Bear in mind that this should be posted on 23/12/2002, along with the bulk of the battle post. I'm posting it separately just in case RMA has read the battlepost and doesn't intend to read it again before responding.)

Motif

None of the Conclave attacks were very different, though the opening battle in Motif was the best of all of them. With nine Crescent warships in the Conclave fleet, that meant twenty seven unmanned “ghosts”, seeming to be warships, Laziras (and the odd Arada.) The League ships opened fire with everything they had. As the ghosts didn’t have membranes, the missiles were as effective as the dispersal rockets, and the ships quickly went up. But practically the entirety of the first wave of League munitions had been used, meaning that when the real force entered the system, the League had nothing to use for several valuable seconds.

Once again, a wave of SAD modules and dispersal rockets was fired from the Conclave’s craft, and then shot down to trigger their explosions. Before the explosions died down, the attackers had split into two groups. Thirty four ships - twenty four fighters and ten interceptors - went off one way, keeping a distance from the League. Berserker torpedoes quickly went after them, and realising that they likely could not keep on going forever, the League ships moved away as quickly as possible, attempting to shoot them down. They proved an annoyance, but little more.

The second force, led by the Defiant , comprised of nine Crescent warships, six Laziras and twenty two Aradas. They kept together, weaving through the League defenders, firing away with their Eliminators and what was left of their redundant secondary weapons.

Eight League Aradas and ten League fighters were destroyed. No Igadzra Aradas had been lost in the opening stages of the battle. The Conclave had lost four fighters, three interceptors, a Lazira and four Aradas.

Yelts

Twenty four unidentifiable ships entered the Yelts system. Their shapes marked them as ten warships, eight Laziras and six Aradas, and from what the League knew, they were of Conclave origin, and had entered the system on attack. They opened fire, missiles and rockets bursting from their box launchers, streaking across space towards the ships, calculating the likely shields of each ship so as not to overkill, and... the ships exploded after the first missile touched it.

Before the League were able to realise what had happened and while their dispy box launcher were preparing to launch another four rockets, the true Conclave fleet entered the system. Eight Crescent warships, seven Laziras, thirty three Aradas, fourty five fighters and fifteen interceptors. The force outnumbered the defenders more than three to one, and it did not help that the Conclave craft were armed with photonic weaponry, significantly more powerful than the League’s own weapons.

Refusing to enter the range of the League’s primary weaponry and rocket fire, the Conclave made short work of much of the League’s defence force. Dozens of missiles - standard pursuit missiles and deadly capital missiles - were launched, but for some reason they seemed not to faze the Conclave, almost as if they did no damage at all. Missiles that should have sent fighters reeling backwards and exploding did no apparent damage to them, and didn’t effect their speed and direction in the least.

Within a few minutes, six Aradas and seven Crescent fighters of the defence had been reduced to stardust, and two League Laziras were being ripped to shreds, desperately trying to fend off the enemy fighters, but not even being able to get within range. One Conclave warship, one Lazira, three Aradas and five fighters had been burnt to shreds on the attacking side, but the losses had only been at the beginning. Now, the Conclave was not even taking a hit - at least, no hits other than the missiles that seemed to do nothing.

(This message has been edited by SilverDragon (edited 12-24-2002).)

The Emalghan Council of Elders received the Voinian’s message and instantly, there was uproar within the Council. Unlike the last time the council had an outburst, this time, the First Elder more easily quelled it. He began to speak.

“Obviously, you all feel that this Destroyer, however strong it might, would be a threat to our safety. I wholeheartedly agree. While none of us know how strong this new Destroyer is, it is probable that it is less strong than a Frigate. However, we can not agree to such a number as a score of them. Therefore, I propose that we allow only ten of them through, and that 10 Carriers will follow them while they are in Emalghan space.”

To: Voinians
From: Emalghans
Subject: Your Convoy
Encryption: Low
Priority: High

We will not allow a score of your “Destroyers” to come through our space. We will only 10 of them to come through, and they will be constantly guarded by an equal number of Carriers.

Frotin
The Emalghan convoy in the Frotin system was grounded in the various places. In what seemed to be the Frotin’s largest city, the flagship of the convoy was stationed. Captain Savacioun was in his bunk on the ship when all of a sudden a large thunderclap woke him. Immediately, the comm came alive. “Captain, we have an unknown vessel attacking us. We need you on the bridge!” the night officer implored him. He immediately rushed out of his cabin. As he ran towards the bridge, he felt the ship shudder with the effort to get off the ground without having first warming up the engines.

When he reached the bridge of the ship, he immediately demanded a report. The officer on duty reported,”Sir, a rather large white vessel, identifying itself as the Freghter Courier Malignant came out of hyperspace and landed here. Apparently, they were out of provisions when they docked, so they stole some of the Frotins’. A fight ensued, and now they’re trying to strafe the city.”

“Fighter Command, prepare to launch all fighters. Sensors, I want to know where that ship is now! Comm, tell all ships to get here NOW! Weapons, prepare to fire.” After actively scanning around the atmosphere, the sensors officer found the ship.

“62 degrees bearing by 40. They’re coming behind us!”

The Captain grinned. “Tell our stern fighters to power up their rocket launchers. After they’ve fired a salvo, the fighters are free to engage at will. Helm, as soon as our stern fighters have fired one salvo, break off our present course and pursue. Continue on our course for the moment.”

The Freighter Courier closed, and the Fighters let loose a salvo of 2 Rockets. The Freighter Courier was so slow that it had trouble dodging the next volley, despite the fact that it knew it was coming. Then, the Fightes launched, and the Courier was being swarmed by little gnats. The Malignant’s shields were strong enough that even though more than 50% of the rockets hit, the shields were still at 33%. Then, the Courier began to retaliate with its own weaponry, which wreaked havoc on the Emalghans’ shields. Their own cannons were not very effective, and the Courier fired 5 projectiles in rapid succession which destroyed two of the fighters. The Carrier opened fire with its own weapons (rockets and turrets), and the Courier’s shields finally went down. They began to run, but a rocket in their engines destroyed their hopes for a quick retreat. More slowly, they began to retreat. By the time the next rocket hit, their shields had begun to regenerate. Their armour was down to 2%. However, the Carrier’s own shields were down to 33%, and all of its fighters had crash landed or been destroyed. The battle had taken them far away from the scene of the initial theft, and the Malignant clearly intended to go raze some more buildings in its fury.

The leader of the village, Gupja, came out to meet the Freighter. Much as if it was an animal, he focused his mind and hurled an attack at the shielded Courier. Though the Courier was shielded, it had too little armour left, and since his mental attack pierced its shields easily, it exploded.

Blaze turrets, engine parts, Hunter Missile Launchers and the like all went flying. Thankfully, they were far enough away from the city that none of them hit anyone.

The Emalghans landed and began cleaning up the mess and saving anything that might be deemed technologically useful. Meanwhile, they called in a team of scientists from one of their other ships to see if they might be able to utilise Gupja and telepaths like him for defence purposes.

Projects:
Crystal Phase Shifter: Started: 12/23/02 Completed: 12/26/02
Upgrading all Defenders, Freighters, Warships, Carriers, and Golans (if they didn't have it) with PDS: Started 12/24//02 Completed: 12/25/02

Fleet Additions:
+22 Defenders, one 63.75% complete
+16 Carriers, one 57.5% complete
+26 Fighters, 13.3% complete

Fleet Totals/Positions:

• 45 Freighters

• 32 Defenders 5

• 113 Fighters 33

• 55 Warships 20

• 24 Carriers 10

• Emalghion: 25 Freighters (working on Golans), 18 Warships (working on Golans), 12 Defenders ( 10 working on Golans), 16 Golan Mk. I’s, 25 Fighters, and 8 Carriers.

• Kelmaon: 5 Freighters working on one Golan and 10 Fighters.

• Grenits: 5 Defenders, 33 Fighters, 20 Warships, and 10 Carriers on standby above Grenits.

• DSN-1469: 10 Defenders working on Golans, 3 Carriers, 15 Warships, and 25 Fighters.

• Holmm: 10 Freighters and 5 Defenders working on Golans.

• Frotin: 5 Freighters, 20 Fighters, 2 Warships, and 3 Carriers.

(This message has been edited by specops (edited 12-24-2002).)

(This message has been edited by specops (edited 12-24-2002).)

(Message to Emalgha)
(From Voinian Council)
This is acceptable provided your ships continue to escort them safly to the system of Zachit. We had forgotten that you had not seen a destroyer before. For the most part we dont care as long as this shipment goes through. Feel free to board them to inspect the cargo, we would do the same.
(end)
------
Romit
The fleet present drops 10 of its destroyers and begins the trip to emalgha space. They should arrive in Emalghion within a {RTD}. Through it's trip it sends a repeting message to the emalgha ahead that it is friendly and that they had permission to pass through Emalgha terrortory.

------------------
Insanity has its advantages

(This message has been edited by U.E. Admiral (edited 12-24-2002).)

I will be gone on a cruise next Sunday for eight days. And I doubt anything intersting will happens. So, I'm producing a prototype Dreadnaught.

Zachit Dreadnaught
Shield 12500
Armor 3500
2 Speed Upgrades
10 LightingHammer Missiles Launchers
150 LightingHammer Missiles
8 Eliminator Turrets
NPD
Miranu Cloaking Device
Singulariy-Warp Shielding
Miranu Ramscoop
Singularity Twist Shields
Nano-armor(Added to Armor)
4 Swivel Nanite Cannon
2 Nanite Cannon
5 Enforcers

Shipyard Report
99 Zachit Fighters
90 Zachit Aradas
5 Gunships

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

(This message has been edited by kauthor (edited 12-27-2002).)

(This message has been edited by kauthor (edited 12-27-2002).)

(This message has been edited by kauthor (edited 12-27-2002).)

OOC: All my favourite characters are tied in up fighting right now, and I'm not in the mood for Varian/Mathin/Kataon and their political scheming, so this post is rather short for me.

South Tip Conclave

An intense arrow of white light rose from the surface of Kayia, many times wider than any existing photonic pulse weapon could fire. The pulse smashed into a target over a huge destruction, practically across the entire system, and it became stardust instantly, puny shields failing without resistance. Back on Kayia, a sensor sweep revealed the data they had all been waiting for.

"Taikaenor, the prototype succeeded," reported the Kayan science officer inspecting the information.

Taikaenor only nodded, not seeming either surprised or pleased. "Carry out ten more tests and monitor the prototype for any signs of malfunctioning. If all goes well, send a message to the Hall that the Reaver is ready for mass production."

"Sir, you hardly seem pleased. May I inquire why this is?"

There was a pause. It was the first time the Kayan officer, under Taikaenor in the development of the Reaver, had asked a remotely personal question. "I am concerned that it was not completed in time for what is possibly the last war the Conclave will fight," Taikaenor responded carefully. "In that, it is a failure no matter how powerful the designs are."

"You never know. And it will be invaluable if we ever do go to war again."

"Never hope for war," Taikaenor muttered. "Never hope for it."

The officer sighed, and turned away. "I suppose. But what are we doing here, if not to make our fleet more powerful? It's a living, and... that's that. You know as well as I do that Deep Isle isn't going to be silent just yet."

"Not just yet," Taikaenor agreed solemnly. "But almost. There are two more things to do complete, and then perhaps it will be possible. The former is a stealth field, to mask our ships from conventional long-range sensors, and also hopefully spread the shield masking effect to outside the graviton membrane. The second is another weapon."

"Right..."

"The last weapon for a long time, I hope."

"I certainly hope so. If this goes any further..." he left it hanging.

"The Conclave will never seek out a war. We fight when we must. You know that more than I; you're a Kayan." We won't. I swear it.

Meanwhile, in the Infinity Threshold, research into sub-spacial energy had reached completion, revealing numerous wonders that could be achieved. The first and foremost was power undreamnt of since the discovery of anti-matter centuries ago (which to this day nobody, save unbeknownst to the Conclave, the Miranu, was able to utilise efficiently.) The idea was relatively simple: to tap into sub-spacial energies. The process was not entirely that simple, however, as transfers into sub-space always worked in the way of an "exchange" taking place. As such, a sub-spacial reactor would work by transferring useless matter collected from asteroids and in stardust into sub-space, exchanging it for valuable sub-spacial energies which could then be directly harnessed.

In addition, such a concept could be modified only slightly: by collapsing the very reactor into sub-space, and indeed the machine carrying it, the sub-spacial tap would flood with energy, causing an impressive explosion which would serve to send ripples through sub-space, having the knock-on effect of temporarily disabling anything that relied on sub-space within a short area. The possibilities for making a sub-spacial warhead, that would have the potential to disable sub-space cloaks, reactors, shields, etc. were very great.

The third and final use for sub-space technology, while somewhat vague, was in defensive technology. At the current time, scientists in the Infinitry Threshold were less sure as to how this would achieved in comparison to a sub-space reactor or warhead, but they believed a sort of controlled rift could be made to surround the ship, which could then be opened in synchrony with the ship's weapons systems, rendering the craft invulnerable while power lasted (not long, likely.) There was some speculation into using sub-space energies to greatly enhance shield regeneration speeds as well.

Overall, it seemed like the dawning of a new era: the era of sub-space. Realspace had gone, hyperspace had gone, and it looked like the Conclave might be setting out to forge a new way in technology.

------------------
-Esponer
Am I posting in Just Chat or B&B;? If so, I'm probably joking.

From the very beginning of the production of the Golan Is, it was very clear to the military council that had inspected the Golans that they had a huge deficiency against anything faster than a Voinian Frigate. While patrols of four would probably manage to pick off anything with huge salvos of rockets, individual Golans could easily be targeted and swamed by fighters. Furthermore, whole patrols could be swarmed by enemy fighters and intercepters, and even fast Gunships. Therefore, the planners of the Golan Mk. I decided to base a Golan Mk. II (Anti-fighter Version) on the Golan’s body. With somewhat lighter armour and more maneuverability, it was well suited to engage swarms of fighters. With 5 Point Defence Batteries, 2 Emalghan Turrets, and 12 Fighters, it was optimized to track and shoot down enemy fighters and light Warships. Since the base was already there, the materials in the Freighters themselves just had to be changed. Other than the weaponry and the speed, everything would change. For every Emalghan construction team working on a Golan Mk. I, there was another team working on the prototype Golan Mk. II.

Golan Mk. II
Shields: 600
Armour: 1500
Speed: 300
Acceleration: 400
Turning: 120/sec
Weapons: 5 Point Defence Batteries, 2 Emalghan Turrets, 12 Emalghan Fighters
Mass: 130 tons
Length (Diameter): 175m (to make extra room for the Fighters)

Project: Prototype Golan Mk. II Started: 12/25/02 Finished: 12/26/02

The Emalghan Fleet Command realised that they had too few planets without adequate defense fleets. The advancement in building orbital facilities had led them to believe that the construction of an orbital shipyard was possible. The Fleet Command ordered that a shipyard to be built that would halve again the current production of the entire Emalghan Protectorate. To this end, 10 Freighters and a Defender began working on the project of building a shipyard that wasn’t constrained by the crags and valleys of planets. The shipyard would be able to manfacture an extra 3 Defenders, 2 Carriers, and 4 Fighters per day. However, a portion of the shipyard was devoted to producing 3 Golans every day. The military commissioned an engineer who had the orders to make the automated lines mobile so that production could be entirely devoted to one class of ship, bigger or smaller than what they had, if the military so desired. The shields, more so than the armour of the shipyard, were relatively weak considering how large it was, and the shipyard would rely mainly on the protection of the orbiting Golans.

Shields: 400
Armour: 3000
Speed: N/A
Acceleration: N/A
Turning: N/A
Weapons: None
Mass: 2500 tons
Length: 1253m

Project: Orbital Shipyard Started: 12/25/02 Finished: 12/29/02

In the Emalghion system, the hyperexit from the DSN-4743 System to Emalghion was heavily guarded. All 26 Stations were positioned behind where any ship would appear, and there was a huge complement of Fighters, Carriers, Warships, and Defenders about 1 klick in front of where they would appear. Suddenly, 10 Destroyers and about 25 Supply Ships came out of space. The Flagship of the huge defensive escort - or attack fleet, if the Voinians tried anything remotely deceitful - hailed one of the Destroyers and demanded that boarding parties be allowed on all Supply Ships and Destroyers.

While the boarding parties were searching for any hidden explosives or trickery, they were also gathering data, especially on the new class of Voinian ship. The ships stayed long enough that the Sensor crews were able to get a good idea of how big the shields were and what the weaponry was like. Once the boarding parties were certain there was nothing but Dospect armour aboard the Supply Ships, the Flagship’s captain decided to ascertain the speed of the Destroyers, and ordered that they follow in Emalghan Fighters. However, to his dismay, they stayed close to their charges (the Supply Ships) and thus he could only guess about their true speed capabilities. On Emalghion, they were allowed to refuel and restock their provisions. Finally, they began their jumps to the Zachit space. Most of the Supply Ships, however, loaded up with biospheres bound for the DSN-1469 system and the planet there. A few of them loaded up with biospheres and headed to Grenits. There, they began colonising the two planets.

Project Update:
PDS Batteries: Complete
Golan Mk. II: Started: 12/25/02 Finished: 12/26/02
Crystal Phase Shifter: Started: 12/23/02 Finished: 12/26/02
Orbital Shipyard: Started: 12/25/02 Finished: 12/29/02

Production:
+5 Defenders, 1 10% complete
+3 Carriers, 1 55% complete
+5 Fighters, 1 86.6% complete

Fleet Deployment:

• Emalghion: 25 Freighters (working on Golans Mk. Is), 18 Warships (working on Golans Mk. IIs), 12 Defenders ( 10 working on Golans Mk. IIs), 26 Golan Mk. I’s, 25 Fighters, and 8 Carriers.
• Kelmaon: 5 Freighters go to Grenits to build Golans and 10 Fighters guarding random things.
• Grenits: 5 Defenders, 33 Fighters, 20 Warships, and 10 Carriers on standby above Grenits. The 5 Defenders and 18 of the Warships go to Swan to pick up Golans to be able to construct them.
• DSN-1469: 10 Defenders working on Golans, 3 Carriers, 15 Warships, and 25 Fighters.
  The 3 Carriers, 15 Warships, and 25 Fighters move to escort the Knight class Destroyers and Supply Ships through Miranu and Zachit space.
• Holmm: 3 Golans. 5 Defenders continue working on the Golans, and the 10 Freighters go to Grenits to begin producing Golan Mk. Is to defend Grenits.
• Frotin: 5 Freighters, 20 Fighters, 2 Warships, and 3 Carriers. The 5 Freighters carry back Telepaths and lots of Frotin to Emalghan space.

(url="http://"http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/webboard/Forum26/HTML/007622.html")Cool(/url)

(This message has been edited by specops (edited 12-26-2002).)

(This message has been edited by specops (edited 12-26-2002).)

(------)New Ship Deployment(------)
Ships Constructed since 12/22/02
18 Azdgari Warships
18 Azdgari BattleCarriers
92 Azdgari Aradas
82 Azdaras
7 Igazras
47 Igadzra Aradas
*Note: This is with +10% for 12/23 and +25% for 12/24 and 12/25

Shipyard Reorginazation: New Azdgari Daily Production:
.5 Azdgari Star Destroyers
7 Azdgari Warships
8 Azdgari BattleCarriers
25 Azdgari Aradas
56 Azdaras
3 Igazras
15 Igadzra Aradas

en route to Molar
8 Azdgari Warships
8 Azdgari BattleCarriers
32 Azdgari Aradas
28 Azdaras

en route to Muid System
5 Azdgari Warships
5 Azdgari BattleCarriers
30 Azdgari Aradas
27 Azdaras

en route to Mark System
5 Azdgari Warships
5 Azdgari BattleCarriers
30 Azdgari Aradas
27 Azdaras

(-------)Current Ship Deployment(--------)
Azdgari System
30 Azdgari Warships
50 Azdgari Aradas

Diudir System
6 Azdgari Warships
25 Azdgari Aradas
40 Azdaras
2 Warships, 8 Azdgari Aradas, 15 Azdaras redeployed to Reban
2 Warships, 8 Azdgari Aradas, 15 Azdaras redeployed to Novish

Chak System
10 Azdgari Warships
30 Azdgari Aradas
25 Azdaras
2 Warships, 8 Azdgari Aradas and 15 Azdaras redeployed to Elridi

Molar System
55 Azdgari Warships
10 Azdgari BattleCarriers
190 Azdgari Aradas
170 Azdaras

Muid System
50 Azdgari Warships
15 Azdgari BattleCarriers
180 Azdgari Aradas
110 Azdaras

Mark System
18 Azdgari Warships
20 Azdgari BattleCarriers
105 Azdgari Aradas
90 Azdaras
10 Igadzra Aradas
10 Igadzra Aradas redeployed to Molar System to engage in mining operations

Notil System
45 Azdgari Aradas
20 Igadzra Aradas
154 Azdaras

Nujja System
8 Igazras
5 Azdgari Warships
27 Azdgari Aradas
32 Igadzra Aradas
48 Azdaras

Igadzra System
15 Azdgari Warships
10 Azdgari BattleCarriers
65 Azdgari Aradas
80 Azdaras

Afen System
19 Azdgari Warships
5 Azdgari BattleCarriers
36 Aradas
194 Azdaras

Norhis System
13 Azdgari Warships
5 Azdgari BattleCarriers
38 Azdgari Aradas
212

DSN-6107 System
11 Azdgari Warships
49 Azdgari Aradas
62 Azdaras
(-------)Research and Projects(-------)
Exploitation of Diudir Asteroid Belt/New Shipyard Facilities
complete

Azdara PDS Refit
Adds 8 PDS Batteries to an Azdara at the cost of 5 tons of weapon space.
complete

Plasma Beam Research & Development
Begun 12/25/02 to be completed 12/31/02

Azira Frigate Design & Prototype
Begun 12/25/02 to be completed 12/31/02

Plasma Bolt Weaponry Research & Development
Begun 12/25/02 to be completed 12/30/02

------------------
Out ride the sons of Terra, Far dirves the thundering jet,
Up leaps the race of Earthmen, Out, far, and onward yet - Robert A. Heinlein, The Green Hills of Earth
"Saddam Hussein foregoes weapons of mass destruction (and) values human life." George W. Bush

(This message has been edited by Vice Admiral Ipvicus (edited 12-25-2002).)

Emalghion System
The Supply Ships for Emalghan use enter the system shorty followed by the convoy headed for Zachit. They both report their arrival and request intructions.
------
Voinian R &D;
Tests were begining of the weapon under development. With Blaze, Phase, and neutron technology a hybrid is being made. Taking the best quality from each.
A Crescent Warship's shield grid is set up in space to be fired on.
The new weapon shot out a pulse and the crew of the base watched as the pulse hit. A digital display of the shield's condition showed a decrease of 45 points in RES(-edit) scale.
Being that that was an increase of 5 from the latest of neutron weaponry(the dreadnought's enhanced turrets) it was accepted and it was put to use agaisnt amor next.
A slab of bronev was hurled out of a ships cargo bay and a shot discharged from the base. A direct hit is made. After bringing it down for survey the scientists find that 20 points of damage(resedit scale again) had been inflicted. While this was no large achivment, more tests would need doing.
------
The Voinian Council wanted to know if there were any more races lurking about out there. An order was sent to the convoy headed for Zachit to buy a map and do some exploring while they were out there. Maybe bring back some equipment. Along with this message 5 million credits were sent for buying samples of the technology available to civiallans.

Voinian R&D;:
New Weapon: 1 days
New Engine; fitting... 1 day.
<Classified>; 3 days
Voinian Shipyards:
+4 Dreadnoughts
+8 Cruisers
+0 Frigates
+126 Destroyers
+14 HVY Fighters
+26 Intercepters
+4 Supply Ships
Notes: 2 days construction. I dont know where im going to put the new ships so ill do that over night.

------------------
Insanity has its advantages

With the arrival of the Crystal Phase Shifters, there was a need now for an Emalghan ship that used it. While the Golan Mk. Is were suitable for best in Anti-Frigate/Heavy Gunship roles, and the Golan Mk. IIs were perfect in their anti-Fighter/Light Destroyer role, the Emalghan lacked an orbital defence station that could take on heavily armoured and armed ships like the Voinian Cruiser. Thus, the Golan Mk. III prototype was created. Since it would be grouped with patrols of Golan Mk. Is and Golan Mk. IIs for maximized efficiency, the Emalghan design team didn’t concern themselves at all with Anti-Fighter weapons (though the Crystal Phase Shifters tracked quickly enough that they could easily hit fighters). Based on the Golan Mk. I, it was the most heavily armoured ship that the Emalghan had created to date. With 4 Crystal Phase Shifters, or Liquidators, it was a force to be reckoned with. Liquidators weighed 50 tons and took up a turret slot. However, they could be mounted as a forward firing turret only. To boot, the Golan Mk. III would have 8 Rocket Launchers with 12 Ammo each as well as 3 Point Defence Batteries to survive the salvos of rockets launched by enemy ships. Finally, it would have 2 regular Emalghan Turrets.

Golan Mk. III
Shields: 800
Armour: 2400
Speed: 150
Acceleration: 125
Turning: 45
Weapons: 4 Liquidators, 3 PD Batteries, 8 Rocket Launchers (96 Ammo), and 2 Emalghan Turrets
Mass: 275 tons
Length: 150m in diameter

Started: 12/26/02 Finished: 12/27/02

Work on the orbital shipyard above Emalghion progressed at a rapid pace. The workers had finally completed the section that was intended to serve as the workspace where Golans were manufactured. Currently, they were working on the section where Emalghan Fighters would be mass produced for their carried ships. The structural supports were strong, and there were huge slabs of Emalghan armour over any points that might be overly vunerable.

Started: 12/25/02 Finished: 12/29/02

With the herald of the Liquidator, the Emalghan Fighter Command realised that most of their Fighters could be more effective if they had a cannon-like Liquidator on board. Thus, the Fighter Command ordered that half of all Emalghan Fighters ever produced or to be produced would be augmented with one Liquidator cannon. Their Rocket Launcher and Rockets would be scrapped so as to provide them with enough to room to accomadate a Liquidator.

Fighter Upgrade: Started: 12/26/02 Finished: 12/28/02

The Voinian Supply Ships began dropping thousands of small biospheres on the grounds of Grenits and F-7038. The workers on the ground began to assemble all the parts that would be necessary to make them habitable planets. In Grenits especially, the teams of Emalghans worked on making the planets as defensive as possible.

Fleet Production:
+4 Defenders, 1 56% complete
+3 Carriers, 1 7.5% complete
+6 Fighters, 1 60% complete

Fleet Totals:
31 Carriers
41 Defenders
45 Freighters
55 Warships
124 Fighters

Fleet Positions:

• Emalghion: 25 Freighters (working on Golans Mk. IIIs), 18 Warships (working on Golans Mk. IIs), 12 Defenders ( 10 working on Golans Mk. Is), 31 Golan Mk. I’s, 5 Golan Mk. IIs, 25 Fighters, and 8 Carriers.
• Kelmaon: 10 Fighters on patrol.
• Grenits: 20 Defenders, 33 Fighters, 20 Warships, and 10 Carriers on standby above Grenits. 7 Golan Mk Is. 18 Warships and 20 Defenders are working on Golan Mk. Is.
• DSN-1469: 10 Defenders working on Golans, 3 Carriers, 15 Warships, and 25 Fighters.
  The 3 Carriers, 15 Warships, and 25 Fighters move to escort the Knight class Destroyers and Supply Ships through Miranu and Zachit space.
• Holmm: 3 Golans. 5 Defenders continue working on the Golan Mk. Is.
• Frotin: 5 Freighters, 20 Fighters, 2 Warships, and 3 Carriers. The 5 Freighters carry back Telepaths and lots of Frotin to Emalghan space.

(This message has been edited by specops (edited 12-26-2002).)

Saga of the Guild: Chapter 29

Mira

Sixteen robed figures entered the remodeled Miranu High Council by sixteen separate doors ringing the hall. They surrounded the circular table in perfect synchrony, then seated themselves at a subtle hand signal from Corzun Dah. Sixteen heavily armed guards positioned themselves at the vacated entrances and loaded their photon rifles. They saluted the High Council, and Trademaster Dah returned the salute. The soldiers dropped their salutes and faced the doors.

“This meeting of the Miranu High Council is now in progress. We will begin with an update from the Construction Guild committee. High Councilor Marig?” The Trademaster gestured, and the representative of the peoples of Zeldair rose.

“We are proud to pronounce the Guild’s efficiency as the highest in Miranu history. Due to effective and honest bureaucracies introduced and monitored by our Igadzra comrades, the corruption rate across the Star League has been cut to levels approaching zero.” The members of Miranu descent looked approvingly at their Igadzra friends. Marig resumed his report. “Also, Supreme Admiral Sunrunner reports the test of the APOPHIS prototype as a complete success, and posits whether we should use some to eliminate the Rock.” Many High Councilors stirred and murmured at this. Imir al Nazdor kel Blaga stood in challenge of this remark. Researcher Somm watched her with an unreadable expression veiling his features.

“We will not fire the APOPHIS warheads on the DSN-2131 system unless the renegades renege on their part of the deal. The Miranu have always prided themselves as a people of their word. We told the Igadzra of Nova Sector we would treat them as we would our own, and we have shown them no less.” At this, the four Igadzra stood.

“The Igadzra citizens of the Star League consider themselves to be citizens of the Star League, and nothing other than citizens of the Star League. We have lost our homeworld to an Emperor who stole unjustly from the Miranu people and brought a five-way war on himself and on us, his people. The Igadzra have no homeworld now, and so we vest our faith in the Miranu Star League. Thus our loyalty has switched to the side of the Miranu for accepting as citizens and friends the Igadzra people,” they said in unison. They then looked around the council and raised hands in warning. “Should the Star League break its word, you will show to the Igadzra little better than the Emperor showed us.” The four Igadzra High Councilors seated themselves.

“We engaged in fair trade with the Zidagar, and they have so far kept to their word as well, which is admirable. Even the Renegade Commander sued for peace after our coalition assault on North Tip Station. He has not broken his word.”

“Yet,” reminded Lelos Somm.

“Even so, he is so far evidence that rogue behavior can be transformed into honorable nature. He gave us his promise to leave us be, we gave him ours. To break our word is to stoop to the level of those the Zachit helped us cleanse from Hrekka and they whom the Zidagar aided us in sending to Sokar. We cannot and must not go against our word. To do so it to destroy all we have worked to build, all we have paid so dearly to preserve.”

Lelos Somm rose, smoothing the flowing red robes of a Scientist of the Star League. He looked at Trademaster Dah, at Marig, then turned to view Imir. He stared into her eyes just as they turned from an icy blue to the royal violet symbolic of Mira’s sky. They were as profoundly deep as the Ji Nebula. He caught himself staring, recovered his composure, turned to Corzun Dah, and spoke.

“The Station Pybin Research Directorate vouches for the Blagan prosition. The word of a Miranu is a sacred thing. We cannot selfishly, dare I say it, unjustly, defile this heritage, this legacy of honor. We will not fire the first shot.” Lelos Somm looked up long enough to see the young Imir blush a deep blue. He smiled at her.

Corzun Dah caught the exchange, but said nothing of it. Marig had not seen, being too busy clenching his fists and shifting his eyes between a hateful red and a merciless black. He eventually calmed. The North Tip renegades had done no other Miranu more harm than to Marig, but he had to put aside his personal emotions to properly serve hi people. He conceded to himself the tangible evidence of Zeldair’s defense force, and nodded to Imir. He seated himself to signal his withdrawal of the motion. The Trademaster signaled to Marig a query to confirm the withdrawal. Marig flicked his hand in an affirmative.

Corzun Dah brought the agenda to the attention of the High Council. The Research Directorate of Himgro had the floor next. The Curer of Himgro, who was regarded as the most talented physician in the Star League, served as that world’s High Councilor. A short, almost stocky Miranu, he nevertheless radiated a sense of authority. The Curer rose in a flourish of the violet robes of a Miranu Doctor.

“The Himgro Medical Institute reports domestic use of the nanotechnology is feasible. It could be put to use in repairing damaged internal organs or swiftly reconstructing bone material. The Himgro plague-curers will still be needed to direct the advancement of the nanites, but it should soon allow us to rid ourselves of all but the most successful diseases.”

The high councilor from Munb stood. He was the only other Miranu other than the Curer who wore the purple raiment of a Doctor of the Star League.

“What of the mystical properties of the Munb leaf?” he demanded. “Do the esteemed researchers of Himgro no longer require the plant? This could mean the end of our medical joint ventures, make no error here.”

Lelos Somm interrupted the argument before all productivity was lost. “Enough. The Munb leaf will still be needed, as I have been told by Engineer Aenig that Eden has a region where vegetation exhibits similar genetic code structure. Judging from the likelihood of foreign diseases appearing there, the Engineer has already requested a thirty metric ton shipment of the product.”

The Curer spoke as well. “Do you forget already the Isis venture? We will need great amounts of the Munb leaf in Stror to be on hand when our nanofactories should falter. Do not expect the nanite swarms to be perfect,” he said in caution to the High Council. “There will always be mutations. However, the collective minds of the swarms should stop the hostile mutations from taking hold and gaining nano-genetic dominance.”

“Should stop?” asked the Researcher with some annoyance.

The stocky Miranu looked up at him. Lelos Somm’s eyes flashed violet, then turned a lightening blue. The Curer stammered, “It will stop the spread.”

“You will see to it that this announcement is not proved false by the deaths of any citizens?” Lelos Somm looked at his Igadzra colleagues, who looked expectantly at the Curer.

The high councilor of Himgro looked up at them with the deep resolve of a Miranu determined not to fail. “I will see this thing done.”

The four Igadzra high councilors nodded their satisfaction. Was not the word of a Miranu a sacred vow? Seeing their acceptance, the Researcher nodded to the Curer.

“Good. I have faith in your abilities in this matter. Let us speak of it again only in the tones of success. Shall we continue forward to the third agenda item, Trademaster?”

“If the Agricultural Directorate of Munb has no objections,” began Corzun Dah, swiveling his green eyes to view the High Councilor of Dewe. When the Doctor signalled his affirmative with a flick of his hand, the Trademaster manipulated the controls of his holoprojector. A spinning image swirled into being above the table. Reminiscent of a freighter, the hull was bristling with weapon emplacements. Imir noticed both Researcher Somm and the Curer nodding in comprehension. She nodded as well; it had to be a craft utilizing the nanoweaponry if the Curer recognized it.

“Behold the Thoth -class destroyer,” announced Somm. “After analyzing our battles with the Renegades and with the Igadzra loyalists, we realized the Miranu Defense Fleet was wanting for a destroyer element to bolster our support forces. The Thoth will provide cover for our Ra gunships, which already fly cover for our carriers. The Thoth utilizes an extensive array of nanoweapons, including four swivel nanite cannons. Our freighter chassis has been modified in this manner to also carry three Horus Interceptors. Both ships will wield nanoarmor plating, our recent development in self-healing metals. As we have long intended to unclog our choked starlanes of additional freighter fleets—”

“Indeed, we have enough,” interrupted the high councilor of the Merchant Directorate of Leiton. “Even I concede this.”

“As I was explaining,” redirected Somm with a light laugh. “All freighter production shall switch to constructing these ships when the final design plans were released to the shipyards. That is, if no one here objects to their usage?”

Only signs of agreement and support greeted Somm. Smiling, his eyes turned a soft orange as he seated himself and thanked the High Council. Trademaster Dah spoke again.

“This leaves the matters of the Miranu jammer equipment and the completion of our Galactic Eyes. As both were joint ventures between the Engineering Directorate of Nadej and the Supply Directorate of Zanat, would the high councilors of those systems please entertain us with the details of these endings and the prognostications of their beginnings?”

High Councilor Qwaad Xohh and Dativ Ecath rose and bowed to the Council. Xohh expained the Galactic Eye in Nadej was functioning splendidly, and that the whole of the DSN-2123 system was fully viewable from the Eye’s control station. Xohh added that this would allow precise targeting with APOPHIS weapons and was quickly supported by Marig, but the two were silenced when Ecath reminded them that the issue had already been discussed. Ecath reported much the same for the Zanati Eye, and then spoke of the Refinery’s work on a jamming system, explaining to the High Council its abilities. The Miranu Jammer could block enemy communications on both spatial and sub-spatial frequencies and had been tested against Lightninghammer missiles, SADs, plundered SAEs, berserkers, and the few remaining berserker mines in Nova Sector; the results had been most successful. Sokar Carriers and Ra Gunships had lost targeting integrity 85% of the time the jammer had been employed, and Osiris Fighter squadrons had reported losing communications to indecipherable static within moments of the jammer’s activation. Trademaster Dah ordered the fleets equipped with the devices immediately.

Researcher Somm was recognized one final time. “There is one final item to be discussed by the Council. The Supreme Admiral has requested an offensive version of the singularity warp shields be developed. I have taken on this responsibility and Station Pybin will develop the Singularity Cannon. It is a massive gun. The cannon bends gravity fields in on themselves and thus produces a precisely targeted synthetic black hole. Modification is underway to make the cannon capable of firing rounds as long as a power core is providing energy, thus removing the roadblock our shielding systems still suffer from.”

Imir rose. “What will you mount this gun on? What spare ships will we have to use it on? What resources?”

The Curer of Himgro rose. “Isis will provide the resources. Stror has enough raw material to facilitate the construction of one Crescent Warship per day, if we exploit both worlds there. Researcher Somm will explain the ship the cannon will be mounted on.”

“It is more like a casing for the Singularity Cannon itself. The weapon is so large that an entire Crescent Warship must be built around it. Indeed, the ship will have room for nothing else except standard shielding and a warp shielding matrix. However, it will serve as both a long range artillery weapon in the theater of space warfare and a defensive emplacement to intercept large barrages from an enemy fleet.”

Trademaster Dah approved the Singularity Cannon and the Miranu Artillery Ship that was to come from it. He heard a tapping sound from his console, and activated it to greet three messages. The Emalgha had arrived in Mira to negotiate with the Star League. High Councilor Qwaad Xohh of Nadej was dispatched to negotiate with them. Word had also arrived that the UE wished to bring a Miranu ambassador back to their capital. High Councilor Imir volunteered, and left the chambers immediately. Finally, Admiral Sunrunner explained an Azdgari patrol had been contacted in Igadzra and both sides wished to discover the story of the Igadzra homeworld’s destruction. Researcher Somm, being the most knowledgeable Miranu alive, volunteered for the mission and boarded his courier. Neve Ashak would return soon.

Trademaster Corzun Dah then declared the meeting closed.

=======

“We believe a peaceful agreement can be made between us and the Emalgha,” explained Qwaad Xohh. “However, Stror and Sirabor are required to remain with the Star League at this time. We can aid you in setting up colonies, as our sensors in Zanat can look for habitable areas for you with ease. We are thus willing to sign a trade alliance with the Protectorate, and wish to explore the possibility of a technology exchange. We understand this is a difficult time for this, as the Zanat sensors have shown a Voinian force heading into our space shortly. Perhaps we could arrange some form of summit?”

=======

Imir boarded the UE scoutship after conversing with its pilot. She was armed only with a photon pistol, and intended to drain its power when she arrived on Earth. For now, she sat at the scoutship’s terminal reviewing the onboard history of United Earth.

=======

Event Horizon

Project: Miranu Nanite Forces: Recognizing the cost of refitting the current fleets with nanoweaponry would be wasteful, the Miranu Defense Fleet has ordered the design of nanite-armed ships.
• Thoth -class Destroyer: Based on the familiar Miranu Freighter hull, the Thoth will feature increased maneuverability and considerable armament. Armed with 4 Swivel Nanite Cannons and Nanoarmor plating, the destroyer will be a boost to the Defense Fleet. Complementing its role as a support craft, the Thoth carries three Horus Interceptors.
• Horus -class Interceptor: Following the success of the Osiris craft, these crescent fighters are armed with Miranu Nanoarmor and one swivel nanite cannon. It can be carried aboard a standard QuickDrop Fighter bay.
(Begun: 12/27/02) (End: 1/1/03) (Production will switch from 12 M.F.’s to 8 Thoths and 8 Horus Interceptors per day.)

Project: Equipping of Fleet with Jammers, Graviton Membranes, Shield Masks: (Begun: 12/27/02) (End: 1/1/03)

Station Pybin Research Directorate:

Project: Isis: A Miranu colony established in Stror. The system will serve to flesh out the Miranu Star League and provide a frontier for Igadzra and Miranu pioneers. It will build one Singularity Artillery Ship per day upon completion. All three worlds there will be inhabited.
(Begun: 12/27/02) (End: 1/1/03)

Project: Singularity Cannon/Singularity Artillery Ship Prototype: A massive battery developed as an offensive adaptation of the Miranu shielding technique, the Singularity Cannon is such that is requires the hull of a Crescent Warship to be built around it. It warps space-time into bending large gravity fields in on themselves, producing a much larger singularity than made by the shields of the Miranu fleets.
(Begun: 12/27/02) (End: 1/1/03)

========

• 455 Ra Gunships (Count: 455)
• 185 Sokar Carriers (Count: 185)
• 404 Miranu Heavy Freighters (Count: 404)
• 716 Miranu Freighters (Count: 716)
• 18 APOPHIS (Count: 18)

Station Pybin (Priat System)
25 Ra Gunships
10 Sokar Carriers
25 Miranu Heavy Freighters
50 Miranu Freighters

Kirrim Prime (Kirrim System)
25 Ra Gunships
10 Sokar Carriers
30 Miranu Heavy Freighters
60 Miranu Freighters

Munb (Dewe System)
10 Ra Gunships (With NPD on board)
30 Miranu Heavy Freighters
47 Miranu Freighters

<<Ji Nebula/F-25>>
10 Ra Gunships

<<Hrekka/The Door>>
3 Ra Gunships
3 Sokar Carriers

Zeldra (Zeldair System
25 Ra Gunships
18 Sokar Carriers
32 Miranu Heavy Freighters
49 Miranu Freighters

Fuelling Post 12 (Eiribi System)
20 Ra Gunships
8 Sokar Carriers
25 Miranu Heavy Freighters
37 Miranu Freighters

New Mira (Nadej System)
38 Ra Gunships
15 Sokar Carriers
25 Miranu Heavy Freighters
37 Miranu Freighters
3 APOPHIS

Tmidran (Tmidor System)
25 Ra Gunships
10 Sokar Carriers
29 Miranu Heavy Freighters
47 Miranu Freighters

Kitrak (Kitrak System)
25 Ra Gunships
10 Sokar Carriers
24 Miranu Heavy Freighters
49 Miranu Freighters

Poch (Zimla System)
17 Ra Gunships
7 Sokar Carriers
29 Miranu Heavy Freighters
47 Miranu Freighters

Zanati Refinery (Zanat System)
20 Ra Gunships
8 Sokar Carriers
34 Miranu Heavy Freighters
57 Miranu Freighters
3 APOPHIS

Mira (Mirava System)
26 Ra Gunships
10 Sokar Carriers
27 Miranu Heavy Freighters
61 Miranu Freighters

Leiton (Leita System)
25 Ra Gunships
10 Sokar Carriers
29 Miranu Heavy Freighters
59 Miranu Freighters

Blaga (Blaga System)
28 Ra Gunships
17 Sokar Carriers
30 Miranu Heavy Freighters
47 Miranu Freighters

Himgro (Himgro System)
20 Ra Gunships
8 Sokar Carriers
30 Miranu Heavy Freighters
47 Miranu Freighters

Outpost Vargien (Ersadt System)
20 Ra Gunships
8 Sokar Carriers
5 Miranu Heavy Freighters
10 Miranu Freighters
3 APOPHIS

Innor (Innirian System)
23 Ra Gunships
8 Sokar Carriers
3 APOPHIS

Lapsin (Threefrog System)
22 Ra Gunships
7 Sokar Carriers
3 APOPHIS

Ragni (Ragni System)
23 Ra Gunships
8 Sokar Carriers
3 APOPHIS

Stror
25 Ra Gunships
10 Sokar Carriers
12 Miranu Freighters

------------------
Cogito Ergo Cogito
United we stand, so I wandered off and got me a chair.

(This message has been edited by Solel (edited 12-27-2002).)

(This message has been edited by Solel (edited 12-28-2002).)

Saga of the Guild: Chapter 30

(—Transmission...encoding...(—Encryption Level Delta—)
-Recipients: Zachit Armada
-Source: Miranu Star League
-Priority: High

As you are by now aware, the Miranu Star League is in alliance with a powerful civilization entrenched in the South Tip. They are the South Tip Conclave, and have already given us the great boon of photonic weaponry. We have signed a pact of brotherhood with them, and have thus shared with them all the technology we have thus far discovered, and they have reciprocated. We thus pass onto you, our pact brothers, the technology of the Star League as well as the photonic weapons known as Enforcers. We thus pass onto you all the below named technologies and design plans.

Singularity Warp Shielding

Sokar-class Carrier

Ra-class Gunship

Nebula Penetration Device

Miranu Cloaking Device

Lightninghammer Missile

Antimatter Explosives

Miranu Ramscoop

Rotohammer Launchers

Singularity Twist Shields (2x the absorbtion)

APOPHIS Strategic Weapon

Nanotechnology
Swivel Nanite Cannon
Nanite Cannon
Nano-armor

Miranu Jammer

May our alliance ever be fruitful.

Caution: Do not pass ANY of this technology to ANYONE without the Miranu's consent, as there is the likelihood of it being used against you and ourselves. It is vital to the future of the Miranu people and to the Zachit that these technologies remain in our hands (the Star League, the Zachit, and the Conclave) and in our hands alone.

(With the Trademaster's consent)
Researcher Lelos Somm, High Councilor of Station Pybin, Priat System

============

Eden, DSN-6160 System

Twelve trillion Miranu now populated the world of Eden, initially dubbed F-25 by the Miranu astronomical survey unit. All were hard workers, each one either an Engineer, Scientist, or Pilot. Every Miranu born or settling on Eden was inducted into the ranks of the Eden University, an exquisite institution of more than thirty thousand acres. Staffed by the graduates of Event Horizon and Station Pybin, the University trained some of the best minds of the Star League to live symbiotically with the planet, Eden.

Amazingly enough, the Miranu of Eden had all been impressed by a charismatic individual who called himself the Prophet Galil. He was the teacher of environmental studies at Eden University, and he spread his dogma of respect, sometimes bordering on worship, of the ecosystems of Eden. Already he had a massive population which was reportedly represented by half of the world's population, although many would later maintain it was much more. The Edenist ranks swelled as more and more people became interested in Galil's work, as he had headed the Osmium Novae project that was now beginning to show its fruits. Already Patrol Aleph was circling above Eden in practice maneuvers, comprised of 1 Sokar, 3 Ras, and 4 Osiris craft as it was.

Nevertheless, the world, often refered to as either Eden or simply Planet, was now speckled by structures known as Research Nodes. Each Node was populated by one Scientist, one Engineer, and two Pilots. They monitored the activities of Planet in each of their respective sectors; by now all seventy seven sectors of Eden were monitored by a fully staffed and functional Research Node. Each one, as it so happened, was staffed exclusively by Edenists, so far had the religion spread.

The High Council on Mira had not heard or perhaps did not care of the world's religion. Certainly Supreme Engineer Aenig had reported to Somm the going-ons of his world, which no doubt included the Edenist activity for he was one himself. Lelos Somm either did not care or chose to keep secret the religion of F-25, Edenism.

The religion gave to the population a fervor unheard of before in the Star League, save when one entered a logic-trance, as Loeugith, Aenig, and Regaul had done when working on the Researcher's assignment once. But Loeugith was now Researcher of Event Horizon, and Aenig was Supreme Engineer and governor of Eden.

Or so he thought. Prophet Galil moved ever more freely among the population, and there were now few indeed who did not hearken to his counsels.

------------------
Cogito Ergo Cogito
United we stand, so I wandered off and got me a chair.

(This message has been edited by Solel (edited 12-27-2002).)