"Sir, we've got a reading." A security officer stated. "Make that several readings! Holy Crap! There's a whole fleet out there!"

"What?!"

"It's a large battlegroup of mixed ships headed by-"

"Mag Steelglass." Slug interrupted, obviously having worked this out. "Any position as to the location of his Heavy Cruiser?"

"Eight-four-nine by mark Twelve. He's all by himself, the battlegroup is about to emerge behind him."

A large Cantharan security officer came into the conversation. "He's vulnerable. If we attack now we can get him where it hurts."

"Attack." Slug ordered grimly.

------------------
I do not suffer from insanity
I enjoy every minute of it

-Cantharan Commodore za'Grom
After the capture of Earth

A wing of enhanced fighters rolled one by one out of formation into a long string of death.

"Engaging weapons." A barrage of laserfire bolted out seemingly out of nowhere, striking the unshielded Heavy Cruiser. One by one, the fighters decloaked, struck, rolled off and cloaked again for another pass.

"Estimated time untill reinforcements?"

"30 seconds. Engage long-range weaponry."

"Roger roger."

Now the flame of death was replaced by rockets. The Rogue easily dodged the rockets and struck several of the fighters flaming out of the sky, however it's damaged shield generators offered little protection to the second wave: the gunships.

Darting between the antimatter blasts, the Rogue seared the undersides of the Cantharan Gunships with it's lepton batteries. Moments later, the battlegroup jumps in.

The fighters, the gunships: all limp back to Slug's fleet. After crippling the Rogue, Slug jumped out of the system, knowing that he had made a bad enemy that day.

Revenge is a dish best served ice cold.
It is very cold in space.....

------------------
I do not suffer from insanity
I enjoy every minute of it

-Cantharan Commodore za'Grom
After the capture of Earth

"This would be a PROBLEM. P-R-O-B-L-E-M. Admiral, could you ge this thing towed back to the repair ships? Meanwhile, could I use a spare fighter?"

"We have a squadron of fighters ready for pilots who lose their ships but not themselves. When we get the Rouge secured with a repair ship, we'll have a shuttle take you over to our carrier with the spare squadron."

"Thanks, Admiral."

"Quite welcome, Mag."

The Rogue got towed back to the repair ship, and Mag took the shuttle to the carrier. About halfway there, the Salrillian fleet arrived. There were ships of all of the Salrillians' allies in the fleet, as well. The fighters and cruisers made a line headed for the enemy fleet, and hundreds of Salrillian Gunships uncloaked all around them.

"It's a trap! All heavy destroyers and carriers, use your superlight boosters to get in there! We can't lose all of those cruisers and fighters!"

Mag finally docked with the carrier. He hopped out of the shuttle, and the pilot flew it away, to carry somebody else somewhere else. He looked at the squadron of fighters.

"What the heck are THESE?!?"

"Angel fighters, of course!" said the mechanic.

"Oh. I've never flown one before. Never actually seen one in combat, either. Could I see thier design specs?"

"Sure. Here ya go." The mechanic handed Mag a QuickDisk. Mag put it in his iPad.

"Hmmm... 600 shields, rapid pk beam cannon, five concussion missiles, fast, maneuverable... Looks pretty good. We'll just have to see."

"These are top-notch fighters. You don't need to doubt that."

"I don't. Thanks for letting me see the specs." Mag got in one, and closed the cockpit window. He fired up the systems, and headed for the battle.

It wasn't going well at all. After the gunships had attacked the cruisers, the enemy fleet had quickly jumped in as well, perfectly in formation and ready for combat. They stayed on the outside and fired in, catching the UNS and their allies in a crossfire. Tractor tugs were extremely busy trying to keep up with all of the disabled ships. He targeted a Salrillian Carrier, and fired off all of his missiles, keeping his distance. It managed to stop one with magno pulse, but Mag didn't mind. He didn't go in further, because trans space bolt rods were one of the few weapons that he couldn't dodge. He decided to attack them from the outside as well, because they were busy concentrating inside.

After about ten minutes, the battle was slipping to the side of the Salrilians, and another jumpgate opened. From it emerged a slightly larger carrier and some light gunships. Then a message came on his screen from one of the new ships...

------------------
"I can ail what cures you."

(This message has been edited by Sargatanus (edited 09-07-2000).)

"This is Auspex Verad of the Prophets of Salril, and the Divine Galactic Axis." Barked the image on the screen. "You have initiated an unprovoked attack on a science and medical fleet en route to Dos Tir to study and treat a large outbreak of the Boodan Plauge, and study spacial phenomena in the Dead Plantes. You have thiry seconds to explain this barbarous attack on a fleet of mercy, and are ordered to cease fire immediately. Your fleet is outmatched, and you will pay dearly for any further hostilities."

Mag's jaw practically hit the floor at the message, and Slug couldn't help but stare blankly.

"Is this some sort of trick!?" Mag demanded.

Slug pulled out of his stupor just in time to respond. "I'm not sure. Ensign,"

"Sir?" Replied an Elejeetian.

"Lock on to the message bouy at Dos Tir and see if they're bluffing."

"Aye, Sir... Data transfering... Data recieved: It's no bluff, Dos Tir has had some 210,000 deaths to the Boodan Plauge."

A chill ran down almost all the spines (or the rough equivlant) in the fleet.

Another message interrupted: "You have twenty seconds to answer."

Slug stammered as another jumpgate opened and the Absolution along with about twenty more ships came through. "We thought you were an invasion fleet preparing to start a war."

Verad reeled back in disgust. "War!? The Divine Galactic Axis has promoted nothing but peace! How can you possibley be so stupid as to allow old social stigma blind you like that?"

Another message come through to conference; it was Kagstz. "How dare you fire on a peaceful fleet!" The Obiard exclaimed as he turned red. "Has the United Galactic Powers Aliance become so prejudiced that they cannot stand for us to treat our own ailed?"

Mag tried to thimk of something to say. "It was a mistake, if you-"

He was cut off by Verad. "A likely story. Quite a well orginized 'mistake' at that."

Slug did his best to calm things down. "Look, if there's anything we can do to help-"

"You've helped enough!" Shouted Kagstz. "The only thing we expect you to do is to withdraw. If you don't, you will be destroyed."

Slig was numbed, and was silent for a moment. Finaly he murmered: "Withdraw."

The crew beagn muttering and protesting.

Slug cut them off. "That's an order!"

Kagstz broke in again. "And you had better hope the Haruspex decides to have mercy on you when he hears of this!" The connection terminated.

After that, both fleets went their seperate ways.

------------------
Verad
Ex-Taeskor and
Salrilian Auspex

(Sorry to cut your story off like that, but it wasn't congruant with my plot at all.)

Unfazed by the incident with the spy, Sundered Angel continues.

"Cicion, as a Taeskor I know you are honourable. However, sadly, the same does not apply to all within your race, or even your government. Attempt to remove the leak- and you might well find yourself destroyed. Not insulting your capabilites, of course."

He leans forward.

"The situation, as you know, is dire. Of all our enemies, Verad is second only to Sargatanus in power. If we can turn him to our cause, we gain a substantial advantage."

"Verad, and the the others in Sargatanus's elite guard are bound to his will through the process of 'enlightenment'. They do not realise it, but it is an unbreakable bond nevertheless. Or so Sargatanus thought."

"I've discovered a way to break the tie between Verad and Sargatanus. Sadly, I cannot do it myself- Sargatanus seems to be able to sense me when I approach him or his places of power. Nevertheless, I have found the bond which links the two together."

"I need you to travel to the Salrilian homeworld, and find the Temple of Jhsk'Ssavar. Inside, there is a crystal sphere, surrounded by nine crystals, each with something trapped within. The light blue sphere with a hair trapped within- bring it to me. Be very careful- if a single sphere breaks, you will be killed for sure."

"You've committed that to memory? Good. I'll be waiting here. If I'm not here, look where Sargatanus and I last directly clashed."

When Cicion nods, Sundered Angel smiles.

"Thank you Cicion. Once I have the sphere, Verad will come to his senses. Go swiftly, and good luck."

------------------
Sundered Angel ,
The One and Only

Ares Webboard Moderator, and all-around Nice Guy

Mag reflected on the events that had just happened while on the five minute trip back to Sol. The government had gotten him into this, and he'd make them pay him for his time and reputation being wasted like that. How could they have been so stupid?!? Now their allies were gone, and many ships in their fleet had been destroyed. If the Salrillians DID invade, the UNS would be toast. Unless they did anything the Salrillians didn't predict, which was pretty much not possible. And the Rogue was being repaired, which he'd have to pay for before he could go and get more money with it. He'd have to see what he could do.
----------
"Did everything go according to plan?" asked Sargatanus. Verad stood before him, ready to report on recent events.

"It did. 25.1636% of their fleet was destroyed, another 12.5934%is being repaired, and their allies are considerably upset with them. They are depressed that they have assaulted a medical convoy, and the Rogue has been shown to be beatable. All things considered, we nailed them with your plan."

"Good. And did a sufficient number of medical supply ships survive to help with the boodan plauge on Dos Tir?"

"Yes, Your Eminance. The plauge should be 97.2143% eliminated on Dos Tir. Then we can produce more ships from the shipyards there, and add more to our fleet."

"Speaking of our fleet, how much did we lose?"

"We only lost 2.6535%."

"Good. With your recent victories, Verad, you are almost redeemed. Continue to do this well."

"Yes, Your Eminance."

"You may leave."

Verad silently left, and headed for the Absolution.

------------------
"I can ail what cures you."

Slug stood at the large window. His window in his quarters. 'Was that what it was all for?' he thought to himself. 'Four-hundred-eighteen years in training, and all I got was this Admiral's window and a half-missing fleet.'

The door buzzed, signaling someone wanting to enter. Slug ignored it.

'This galaxy has an infinite number of potential courses, millions of potential futures, and the Salrilians know them all. They only do something that gains them something. They only attack if they know they'll win.'

The door buzzed again.

'They're up to something........'

The door slid open and an emergency medical team burst in. "Admiral!" The leader set his eye on Slug. "Admiral? Are you ok?"

"What do you want, chief?"

"Sorry for the disturbance..... we just thought something was seriously wrong when you didn't answer the door....."

"I assure you, chief, I'm fine. Just thinking. What is the current position of the Salrilian Fleet?"

"Entering the Tir system."

"Set a course. I suspect they're carrying more than just medical aid....."

------------------
I do not suffer from insanity
I enjoy every minute of it

-Cantharan Commodore za'Grom
After the capture of Earth

"It's good to see you again, darling," Cicion said as the Radiant Flare pulled up to the bar's dock. The ship had been placed under his command for the current situation. The Primary Armada was also under his control, but not directly. He turned to Angel. "I designed her myself, old friend. She is as good a ship as any flying the spacelanes and many which are still on the drawing board. Fastest ship in the Phylydion Imperial Fleet. It is at my desposal, and, if necessary, yours. There is another force also under my direct command, and they come straight from the Phylydia..." A group of ships exit Omnispace directly behind the Flare. The radio crackles. "This is Jackal Squadron, reporting for service." Cicion smiled, then remembered something else, something very important. "Angel, tomorrow one of the Octicates is coming to the bar. He was originally going to a while ago, but this situation dictates that he must come now. He is the Military Octicate, Drion Nerec.

------------------
-Traek Cicion of the Taeskor

"Never tell me the odds!"
-Han Solo

"Then we'll do it real quiet-like."
-Han Solo

Sundered Angel nods.

"I'll try to keep an eye on him- though no doubt he will be well escorted. And I won't be needing to borrow your ship any time soon- you've seen the Angels in action, and my personal fighter is slightly tweaked from them."

He looks around carefully.

"Well, I suggest you be on your way- the sooner Verad comes to reason, the better."

------------------
Sundered Angel ,
The One and Only

Ares Webboard Moderator, and all-around Nice Guy

(This message has been edited by Sundered Angel (edited 09-09-2000).)

A pair of Cerberus-class Heavy Fighters shoots accross space, their ion trails leaving a faint but undetectable trail. "Pegasus unit has locked on."

"Roger roger."

"Have you found anything?"

"We have located the Elasi. Repeat: we have located the Elasi."

"The Admiral's command ship?"

"Bingo."

"Engage cloak and move into close range."

"Captain?"

"Do it. If we come back without Slug dead, the Salrilians are going to be very disappointed. Verad is not as forgiving as most Salrilian commanders."

"We're in firing range now."

"Carrier E.N.S. Visigoth is shifting position! They've detected us! Abort!"

Static.

"Wing leader? Abort! Abort!"

Static.

"INCOMING!"

Boom! Static.

------------------
I do not suffer from insanity
I enjoy every minute of it

-Cantharan Commodore za'Grom
After the capture of Earth

The Radiant Flare approached the outer edge of the Salril system, cloaked. "This is as far as the Flare goes, commander," Cicion said to his first officer. "Aye, sir. The Crimson Tear is ready for you." "Thank you, Lieutenant. As soon as I go, take her back to the bar." Cicion walked down to the main hangar of the Flare, and there it was. A small ship, about a third again larger than the Milennium Falcon. It was a full, self-sufficient ship, with a bridge, living quarters, equipment lockers, med bay, mess area, and cargo holds. Cicion had designed it himself. Its weaponry consisted of a heavy double flare bolt turret and two missle launchers capable of holding many kinds of ordnance. They currently were armed with EMP missles. He walked up the boarding ramp, which closed automatically behind him, and to the bridge. He liked the big ship feeling of there being no seats on the bridge, and the Crimson Tear could be either voice or manually controlled. "Engage." The ship's lights came on, and the engines came online. He walked over to the helm controls and manually took her out of the Flare's bay. As he swooped out of the bay, the Flare came about. "Good luck, sir," came the Lieutenant's voice as the Flare jumped into Omnispace. Cicion's small, one-man ship headed out into the Salril system.

------------------
-Traek Cicion of the Taeskor

"Never tell me the odds!"
-Han Solo

"Then we'll do it real quiet-like."
-Han Solo

"Sir, we've got incoming!" An ensign yelped.

Slug let out a slight groan. Waiting for Mag Steelglass in the Salril system was starting to cost him ships. "More Salrilians?"

"No, sir.... it is a ship of unknown composition.... It appears to be broadcasting a pirate signal."

"Any more info?"

"Advanced weaponry... coming into visual range"

A tiny grey dot appeared on the screen. "Magnify 100."

The screen blinked and then displayed a medium-sized courier. Crimson Tear was neatly painted on it's side.

"He's seen us and is powering shields. We've got a weapons lock, sir."

"Let them make the first move, Ensign" Slug liked playing cat and mouse. It helped him calm down.

The silence between the two vessels was broken as a third ship dropped from omnispace.

"Slug, Cicion, what are you two doing here?!" Mag's voice exclaimed over the intercomm....

------------------
I do not suffer from insanity
I enjoy every minute of it

-Cantharan Commodore za'Grom
After the capture of Earth

"That's classified." Cicion barked. "Besides, my sensores say we should be in the Salril system now, and there may be ears on us."

Mag responded with slight confusion. "Uh, I don't see anything but space out here and my sensors say the same. Isn't there supposed to, you know, be a solar system here?"

"Sir," an ensign began, "we aren't even detecting a Solar wind."

Slug was visibley concerned. "Nothing at all?"

The ensign shook his head.

Cicion's voice crackled over the radio: "You don't think they can cloak a system, do you?"

"I doubt that." Responded Slug. "We would at least pick up a mass reading." Slug paused. "Come to think of it, we aren't picking up any readings at all from ahead of us. Except..." Slug pondered for a moment, then: "Ensign, do a deep field barion wave scan, folloed by a level five electro-magnetic sweep."

"Aye, Sir." The ensign complied and his fingers flitted across his console. "Barion waves detectd, forming a barrier approximately 140,000 kilometes dead ahead, and extending... as far as the sensors can read."

The bridge was flooded with murmers at the report, then Mag came over the radio: "What does that mean?"

Cicion answered: "The Salrilians use barion waves in their tetra-shields."

The ensign cut in: "EM scan complete."

"On screen." Commanded Slug.

The entire screen was filled. At the very top and bottom were faint trails, suggest blocked solar wind, and in between were brilliant lines forming billions of hexagons.

"Whoa..." Cicion said as he stared at the transmission.

Mag stared blankley. "So.... what does this mean?"

"Well," Slug began, "it looks like we've jumped in just behind the Ring. That would explian why we haven't picked up any readings, and why they haven't sent intereptors at us yet."

"Why the heagons?" Cicion asked.

"Superconductive veins." Slug replied. "At the rate the Ring spins, it generates huge amounts of EM energy. That's how it produces the plasma stream from the star. I assume they also use them as highways on the surface of the Ring."

Cicion then abruptly changed the subject: "Would it be possible to get around this and get to Salril Prime?"

Slug delayed his response. "I doubt it. Why would you want to do that? Oh, and that reminds me; why are you here Mag?"

------------------
Throughout their history these "unenlightened" beings have continually opposed and fought abuses of power wrought by their own bretheren. We, as the prophets would do well to learn from these Humans.
-Final statement of the Salrilian reformist Sirthis shortly before his execution.

"Special mission to Salril, Slug. The details are for me to know, and me only."
Slug shook his head. "Well, It's doubtful you'll be able to get all the way to the main planet without being detected. Maybe-"
"One moment," said Cicion. "There seems to be a small patrol coming our way. Tear, charge weapons. Cloak." The Crimson Tear faded away into space and its turret tracked the three Salrilian gunships approaching.
"We've got to be quick about this," Slug warned. they'll attempt to report back the moment they see us."
"Right," said Cicion. I'll leave the first two to you and Mag and I'll immobilize the third for interrogation. Tear, arm EMP missles."

------------------
-Traek Cicion of the Taeskor

"Never tell me the odds!"
-Han Solo

"Then we'll do it real quiet-like."
-Han Solo

"Send three cloaked advance scouts ahead of those intercepters and cut them off. Cloak the fleet and surround them. The moment they show signs of turning back, disengage the cloak and tear them to pieces."

"Aye sir, the tactical officer said. The fleet of Elasi ships faded into nothing, leaving nothing visible save for a slightly blackened heavy cruiser. The three intercepters approached.

"Sensors read two Glen-fighters and a scythe-class intercepter. Closing to one hundred meters..... They're sweeping the area with subspace sonar pings..... They've engage their afterburners and are setting a course mark 180."

"Engage." Slug said with a slightly lowered eyebrow.

The small Elasi fleet appeared seemingly from nowhere, surrounding the fighter craft. A barrage of laserfire lanced out from the ships, disabling both the flanking fightercraft.

"Lock tractor beams." Slug ordered as he observed the intercepter easily weave between Cicion's EMP missiles. An invisible ray locked the intercepter while rocket after rocket slammed into it.

"Sir, the tractor emmiters are starting to overheat.... We're losing the lock!"

The fighter was freed once again, yet it was almost crippled. "Admiral, we're detecting a strange power buildup in it's core." The science officer said with a slight twinge of cencern in his voice. "It's setting a collision course to one of our carriers.... the E.N.S. rish'Takk!"

Slug watched in awe as the interceptor, darted past the defensive fire straight for the carrier. The rish'Takk came about, it's T-space bolt rod desperately lancing out for the intercepter but only grabbed space. "The intercepter's core is on self destruc-"

And with a brilliant flash of light, the intercepter exploded right on top of the carrier, destroying the entire top section and exposing the whole ship to outer space. Several secondary explosions rocked the rish'Takk as it's hull crumpled and collapsed.

"NO!" Slug Screamed, as he watched the firey blasts subside leaving a glowing and scorched hull.

"No survivors." The science officer reported grimly.

Slug didn't hear that. He could only watch as that crumpled shell, once the grand majesty of a stolen Salrilian Carrier, drifted lifelessly through space trailing sparks and debris.

"No doubt the ring has detected the explosions. Soon, the Salrilians will send a whole fleet here. Helm, set a course for the Hatares Nebula. Maximum fold."

With a series of flashes, the ragtag remnants of the once impressive Elasi fleet jumped into omnispace, leaving the Rogue and the Tear alone in space.

------------------
_After the Alien wars, our civilisation was left in the stone ages. The core worlds were supposedly decimated, yet I cannot shake the horrible feeling that something has survived. _

-Polaris Confederacy Admiral Canaron,
StarLance

"Well, I wish you luck on your mission, but I have to go somewhere where they have, say, an undefended carrier or something, instead of a fleet."

Mag set in a course for a Salrillian outpost, and jumped into hyperspace. Things were not going well for him. He'd just wasted a lot of fuel. The UNS hadn't paid him for being at the battle, and instead had charged him money for the repairs. He decided to play EV3D for a while and then go to sleep for the rest of the trip...

------------------
"I can ail what cures you."

(Please stay out of this, Eminem, unless you know what this is about and you can spell)

"What now, Admiral?" Ensign Drake asked.

Slug stood at the window, slightly drooped ina depression. "I don't know, Ensign, I just don't know."

"We lost another 3 ships today. The Salrilian government want us dead; they didn't even try to board the ships."

Slug sighed. The Salrilians had not just sent a few ships after his group, they had sent a whole fleet. It was only the Elasi battlegroup's position, the Hatares nebula, that had kept them alive this whole time. The EM radiation generated by the Supernovae at the core of the Nebula scrambled all sensors, providing an effective hiiding place for the Elasi.

"For the past three weeks, ensign, the Salrilians have been trying to hunt us down and kill us. And these damn clouds means we can't see them coming."

"Damnit, Admiral!" Drake all but exploded, "If they are going to inevitably win, why should our deathplace be here?! Is the fleet going to die a slow death as they are picked off one by one by Salrilian hunter-killers, or are we all going to go out in a blaze of glory?!"

"THAT IS ENOUGH, ENSIGN." Slug screamed

" With all due respect, sir ," The ensign practically spat sir at Slug, " I don't want to spend my final hours in a damned nebula. I say we attack! Take them down with us! "

" You are releived of duty. "

The door slid open with a hiss and a security team jumped in. "Sir, we heard shouting."

"Take Ensign Drake back and confine him to quarters."

Drake shrugged the security officer's hand off his shoulder angrily. "I know the way." He said bitterly.

One of the security officers stayed behind. "I hear we lost more ships today, Admiral."

"Yes." Slug said coldly.

"Morale is down, our men are dissatisfied with their Admiral."

"Leave me, officer."

"Admiral-"

" Leave me, officer."

"Aye Sir."

------------------
_After the Alien wars, our civilisation was left in the stone ages. The core worlds were supposedly decimated, yet I cannot shake the horrible feeling that something has survived. _

-Polaris Confederacy Admiral Canaron,
StarLance

"Just hold still in there. You cannot prevent this," Cicion said as a coupler pulled all of the information from the Salrilian gunship's data banks into the computer of the Tear. A bleep indicated the ending of the process. "Thank you," Cicion said, and cut the transmission, leaving the Gunship floating in space while the coupler retracted. "Tear, fire." The heavy turret rotated and fired a single blast which blew the gunship to atoms.

------------------
-Traek Cicion of the Taeskor

"Never tell me the odds!"
-Han Solo

"Then we'll do it real quiet-like."
-Han Solo

Back at the bar, two Taeskor Commandos entered the door and stood on either side, rifles at the ready. A few seconds later, Drion Nerec, Military leader of the entire Phylydion Imperium, walked in with his personal bodyguard, a Pure Taeskor, at his side. He was also not defenseless even without the bodyguards, there was a TaeBlade sheathed in his belt, in plain sight. He walked over to Sundered Angel. "Hello, sir," said Nerec. "I believe we have a great deal of talking to do."