(Posted on 03-06-2001)
Chapter two:
Captain Obrb had submitted his report on his findings. Absolutely nothing. He was visiting the Hall Of Heroes in his leisure time before his next assignment. The first state he saw was the one-thousand meter high statue of Borb the Unforgettable that guarded the entrance. After that he saw the statues of Borb V, the one who led the fleets that conquered the pitiful Miranu Empire before the Great Rebellion. Then there was Borb XV, the newest emperor. He had planned the most recent assault against the humans, wiping out that pitiful colony they called Verril Prime or something like that.
A little farther on was the newest statue. Surprisingly it was of a human. He could not remember his name and some vandals had melted away the nameplate.
Idiots. He thought. Dont they understand that victory is more important then the means you learn to achieve it? Because of his finding the mining planet of the Emalgha the end of that front is finally in sight! After that we can assign more resources to the Human front and still have some to spare for research into jamming that blasted hunter missile. I think that missile has caused more deaths then the Master Race invasion in the middle times did.
After his few minutes of thought he moved on to the Lesser Hall. There were mostly Cruiser commanders like himself that either racked up over twenty Warship kills single-handedly (so to speak) or were stupid enough to put their ships in incredible danger and return to tell about it, like the cruiser that had challenged that blasted Incontrovertible most recently. There were also a few exemplary Frigate Captains in there. And even the pilot of the Heavy Fighter that destroyed the Scoutship. Obrb was surprised to see the pilots statue still there. After every major defeat by the U.E. there was debate about removing his statue from the Hall.
Chapter three:
After a few more hours of wandering and some Nachos and Pepsi, (a delicacy reserved for the Elite) Obrb started back to the command building to see if his new orders had come in yet. Half way there he was contacted via the Chip in his brain and told to prepare for an emergency transport.
Stepping away from the group of people nearest him he felt like all his parts were ripped apart and thrown to a point several miles away. Which they were. His pain suddenly stopped and he was in the Map Room in the main bunker. Looking around for a few seconds he saw an officer beckoning to him. He went over to see what his orders were.
Commander Obrb. Said a Voinian that he did not recognize I need to speak with you in private. He took him into a room on the far wall and locked the door. Commander, there has been a disaster. The V.D.S. Pluto and its escort fleet have been lost.
It was not unusual for small fleets to be lost in combat with United Earth groups. But the Pluto and her fleet were the best in the Empire. They had taken out many United Earth Cruisers, well known to be the most powerful ship that the Voinian Empire has faced from those no-brain humans. It has been known to turn the tide of major battles just by showing up. It doesnt even need to fire to strike fear into Voinian hearts.
Commander? Said the officer. Did you hear what I said?
No. Im sorry. I was thinking about the Pluto.
I said that outpost Topel has been lost.
Thats not unusual is it? I mean there are always a few pilots trying to get some quick money by any means that they can.
No I mean that Outpost Topel has been destroyed.
WHAT? Screamed Obrb. How could that have happened? I know that we dont have many ships there but how could a whole station be destroyed?
We dont know. We received reports of a ship heading there that looked like the ship that you were looking for in the DSN-7824 system. It is possible that it is a Master ship.
Oh no Thought Obrb. A Master ship could spell the end of the Empire. Is there any known way to stop it? He said to the officer.
I dont know. That is why I called you. I need you to search the planet in the Iri system for clues. Since that was the last strong hold of the Masters it might have technology from which we can find out how to defeat it. That is all. Oh, I forgot, the Emperor is sending several archeologists with you to help once you have found anything. Godspeed.
(This message has been edited by moderator (edited 03-06-2001).)