Daedalus returned to his small office and began worrying about where to get crews for the new ships he was going to build. He decided to call his single Covert Ops team that was vacating on F-25. Within ours the team was assembled in the briefing room. Daedalus addressed them.
"As you are already aware of, I have called a ciese fire in the Kayan war. I have decide to free humanity from the Voinians. The shipyard is to build a fleet. I have only one problem, I will need a crew for the ships I make. I have decided that the crew that would fight hardest and do the most good in freeing humanity would be a crew composed of humans. The RA has humans but they also have their own ships. I plan on rescuing enough skilled sailors for the Voinian death camps to begin my campaign. That is where you 6 come in. I need you to find the death camps where such men and women can be found. Then I can attack and rescue before Nova6 even thinks I have betrayed him. That will be the beginning of the War. You leave in 6 hours, "may the force be-" umm nevermind. Just go get ready."

------------------
----------------------
Give them shell! give them solid shot! Damn them, give them anything!

Thunder was helping to repair the Kayan Militia fleet in the docking bay on South Tip Station when a young Kayan came in frantically waving a computer pad. "Read this!" was all he said, dropping the pad in Thunder's lap and then running off, excited.

"It's a message from Daedalus." Thunder said, out loud. "He wants to call a cease-fire!" Immediately Thunder ran off down the corridor to the Kayan Alliance Militia headquarters. Twenty minutes later, after sharing the message with all the top Militia officials, the Kayans determined that the message was genuine. Thunder got on the communicator and opened a channel to all Kayan worlds and all Kayan ships.

"Thunder here. We've just recieved a message from Daedalus, leader of the Renegade Alliance, calling for a ceasefire between our two governments. Also, the message tells us to expect Renegade diplomats to be sent to Kayia for negotiations. Though we can't confirm that this isn't a trick, we must take the chance to try and negotiate a peace with the renegades. To this end, all Kayan ships are ordered to return to Kayan systems and are not to fire on renegade vessels unless attacked first. Repeat, we are calling a ceasefire with the renegades."

------------------
Explorers are we, intrepid and bold,
Out in the wild, amongst wonders untold...

Titan sends 50 Zidara's to all Zidigar border systems, Titan also has a fleet of 100 warships right behind his 50 heading for Azgari they should arrive 5 minutes after the other fleet. Message to Thunder: Are we still allies?

------------------
"One Ring to rule them all one Ring to find them, one Ring to bring them all into the darkness and bind them, in the land of mordor where the shadows lie."
Check out the upcomming Lord of the Rings Movies at (url="http://"http://www.lordoftherings.net/home.html")http://www.lordofthe...s.net/home.html(/url)

Titan, you didn't know about my fleet.

Anyway, I am disappointed that these Kayans are unwilling to join me and Nova6. I am merciful, though, an I have decided to withdraw all forces from their territory and give them a second chance to join me. Warning: all Kayan ports will be blockaded if you are unwilling to comply. If you agree, however, you will be placed under the protection of my empire and your leaders will be given military positions once they pass a true test of loyalty. I hope that Carno and Nova will agree.
Carno, I am sending you 10 mil.
As for the Zachit, I am sending quite a large fleet (20 AW's, but my enemies dont know that) to lead an assault on some of the outer worlds. I will allow you to counter, but I don't think the Zachit can take that. I am preparing defensively to repel any Zidagar attacks.
I send a large task force, 40 AW's and 10 Igazras plus numerous smaller ships, to cut a hole through the space between the Zidagar and Zachit/Miranu.
Current ship status:

Task force A:
40 AW
10 Igazra
72 A Arada
Mission: Cut off connections between Zidagar and Miranu/Zachit.

Task Force B:
20 AW
40 A Arada
Mission: Begin the conquest of the Zachgit by attacking the outer worlds.

Task force
10 Igazra
72 Azdara
Mission: Prepare a blockade on Kayans in case they are uncooperative.

Task force
20 AW
144 A Arada
Patrol Zidagar borders on defense.

Task force E:
4 A Arada
12 Azdara
4 4 M H Freighter
Mission: Discover and colonize new worlds beyond the crescent.

Task force F:
10 Azdara
Mission: A gift to Carno, good luck.

Task force G:
4 I Arada
Mission: A gift to Nova, good luck.

Task Force H:
144 Azdara
Mission: Patrol all Azdgari borders.

Total active ships:
80 AW
20 Igazra
260 A Arada
238 Azdara-10>Carno=228
4 I Arada-4>Nova=0
4 M H Freighter

Message to Nova6, Lonevoinian, Carno
Secure code
<Please withdraw forces from Kayan space. I have offered them the priviledge to join my empire. You may continue to attack if they decline.>
-End-

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Is the answer to this question 'no'?

Titan prepares to meet the azgari fleet with 300 Zidara's, 15 Igadzra's, and 100 Creacent warships. If Thunder still is my allie I will defend him from the Azgari!

------------------
"One Ring to rule them all one Ring to find them, one Ring to bring them all into the darkness and bind them, in the land of mordor where the shadows lie."
Check out the upcomming Lord of the Rings Movies at (url="http://"http://www.lordoftherings.net/home.html")http://www.lordofthe...s.net/home.html(/url)

<Transmission to Arada Pilot>
I think you forgot that I too am allied with the Voinians. For 15 million, I might be able to convince the Kayans to join you.
<End Transmission>

------------------
----------------------
Give them shell! give them solid shot! Damn them, give them anything!

Titan, do you really have 300 Zidaras?

I cannot spare the cash. I will however, reward you with a ship if you are successful.
Everyone else: remember, i dont know about his treason if you think this is strange.

------------------
Is the answer to this question 'no'?

Yes I do have 300 Zidara's, I have more than that, I can have alot of them because they are cheap and easy to build.

------------------
"One Ring to rule them all one Ring to find them, one Ring to bring them all into the darkness and bind them, in the land of mordor where the shadows lie."
Check out the upcomming Lord of the Rings Movies at (url="http://"http://www.lordoftherings.net/home.html")http://www.lordofthe...s.net/home.html(/url)

The Azdgari fleet holds its course, now being complemented by 70 more warships just activated from my fleet reserves. Also, 40 Igazras and 144 I Aradas, most of the forces I got when I conquered the Igadzra, join them.

I invest 10 mil into research of a new sheild generator.

Message to Nova6:
Encrypted
<
Fellow emperor, I have a proposition for you. I will send you the plans for a new shield generator that is currently in development, if you send me your armor technology. I am planning a strike on Zidagar itself (Titan, you didnt read this), and need something to protect against the phase beamers.

-End-

------------------
Is the answer to this question 'no'?

Quote

Originally posted by Arada Pilot:
**Titan, do you really have 300 Zidaras?

I cannot spare the cash. I will however, reward you with a ship if you are successful.
Everyone else: remember, i dont know about his treason if you think this is strange.

**

How bout just 10million. I really need it to bribe some of the officials. I already have agents in place to take them aside. 15 million is garanteed. There is a good chance with 10 million. Carno, doesn't have the opportunity that I do. I just got the agents in place, it is really now or never. Bribing a bunch of government leaders with a ship won't cut it. The money will probably be paid back to you in the long run with a profit.

------------------
----------------------
Give them shell! give them solid shot! Damn them, give them anything!

Titan renforces his fleet with 500 Zidara's. Message to everyone: Does anybody wan't to be my allie?

------------------
"One Ring to rule them all one Ring to find them, one Ring to bring them all into the darkness and bind them, in the land of mordor where the shadows lie."
Check out the upcomming Lord of the Rings Movies at (url="http://"http://www.lordoftherings.net/home.html")http://www.lordofthe...s.net/home.html(/url)

Titan also sends 600 Zidara's to defend the Zidigar homeworld, Titan learnd this through his spies in the Azgari military.

------------------
"One Ring to rule them all one Ring to find them, one Ring to bring them all into the darkness and bind them, in the land of mordor where the shadows lie."
Check out the upcomming Lord of the Rings Movies at (url="http://"http://www.lordoftherings.net/home.html")http://www.lordofthe...s.net/home.html(/url)

Titan has no spies. The Azdgari are loyal, and also the only true good spies.

Fine. agreed. expect 10 million. Be warned, though, if you fail me you will die.

------------------
Is the answer to this question 'no'?

A few days later Daedalus sent a transmission to Arada pilot:
<Transmission>
Arada Pilot, the mission was a success. The Kayans have stopped fighting and begun political negotiations. Send diplomats right away, I am sure that the Kayans would welcome your representatives now that they are not at war.
<End Transmission>

------------------
----------------------
Give them shell! give them solid shot! Damn them, give them anything!

The Zidagar Empire currently has 260 Zidara Class Warships. Remember the formula: Number of planets x 20 = number of warships, 75% upper and 25% lower (These percentages don't apply to the Zidagar as they do not have Arada Class vessels). But don't worry, everybody else is also subject to this formula.

CONTINUATION: Rooster sits at a table by himself on the promenade of the Mira Trade Center. He is using his Powerbook to sell some stock while he has the opportunity and keeps an eye out for Carnotaur.

------------------
It is not fear that will destroy you, but the absence of it.

MESSAGE TO TITAN<<<
Encryption code 339-31-omega confirmed
(Nobody but Titan recieves this message, ie. he is the only one who knows it's contents)

Right now there seems to be quite a bit of turmoil in the galaxy. The balance of power between the Renegades, the Voinians, the Azdgari, and the Zachit is uncertain right now, and at the moment the key seems to be the Kayan Alliance. Suffice to say, if an alliance between the Kayan Alliance and the Zidagar were made public knowledge, it might seriously destabilize the delicate balance of power. The Kayan Alliance will officially remain neutral for the moment, but once things sort themselves out a bit and the sides begin to fall into place we can then discuss a formal alliance. If the Zidagar do find themselves in danger then the Kayan Alliance will try to find some way to come to your aid. Also, if the Azdgari take any hostile action against Kayan ships or worlds, we hope we can count on you to try and come to our aid. But any alliance, for now, is strictly off the record.

-Thunder, Kayan Alliance Militia leader

END MESSAGE<<<

------------------
Explorers are we, intrepid and bold,
Out in the wild, amongst wonders untold...

Diplomats are on the way.

The empire is expanding...

I withdraw some of the Aradas I sent, as they overflow the limits. I think the AW's are still in there because of Igadzra space.

I instruct the blockade fleet to start defending the south tip, and send messages to all allies that the kayans have joined us.

Does anyone keep a map for this story? If so, whats the URL?

------------------
Is the answer to this question 'no'?

Samurai: You have picked me up. Where are we going and what are we doing?

------------------
Ganna paint our wagon,
Ganna paint it good,
We ain't braggin',
We're ganna coat that wood!

Daedalus checked on his account and saw that it had gone from 14 to 24 million. The funds for his war were coming in. He waited for the status on the Miranu.
---------------
The Covert team had left on a modified scoutship, slightly larger and faster. They were able to send one of their members to station pybin and another to Sol. This members discovered enough to send the rest of the team to New Calcutta (nm?) in the Aldura system. The Covert Team was unable to get permission to land here so they played the odds, they set their ship to auto pilot, put on their heat sheild suits, and jumped out in low orbit. The team fell for a long time as it aimed for a canyon wall where they saw a ledge, at the last possible moment, the four deployed their parachutes and landed easily on the ledge. They followed the ledge to the top of the canyon and headed to where they saw a large establishment on the way down. They had all brought their jet powered, hover, foldable, Razor scooters and they made it to their target quickly. They discovered a death came and the sights they saw brought tears to their eyes. Never the less, they proceeded cautiously with their mission. Throwing a transiever over an unguarded portion of the wall, the Covert team managed to contact a prisoner and questioned him.
The prisoner told them that they were holding a lot of UE crew members at a camp 5 miles south. The Covert team marked the coordinates and headed for the nearest spaceport. They hid in crates that were being loaded onto a supply ship and took off into space. The supply ship headed for station Pybin where the Covert team got off and met with the other two members and the scoutship. They team took off for F-25 where they gave their report to Daedalus.

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----------------------
Give them shell! give them solid shot! Damn them, give them anything!

DELETED

(This message has been edited by daedalus (edited 01-24-2001).)