Miranu Saga of the GuildChapter 2
This meeting of the Miranu High Council is now in session, said the resonant voice of Trademaster Corzun Dah. The trademaster was troubled. Long range scans around the Zeldair system indicated stepped-up activity on the part of the North Tip renegades. Loss of the utopian mining planet would put a dent in the Star Leagues economy. Due to the vast trading networks the Miranu Trading Conglomerate had established, the loss would be manageable. However, Trademaster Dah had no intention of surrendering the system. He had been elected because he had invented the pursuit missile, and was thus viewed as a much-wanted military leader by the people. The population wanted him in office to deal with the renegade nuisance. Corzun Dah considered it a matter of personal honor to fulfill that vow.
The chair recognizes High Councilor Imir of Blaga.
Councilor Imir had recently been chosen by the people of Blaga to represent their influential trading guilds. She was a young Miranu for her position; even younger than Corzun Dah had been when he had been a high councilor. Due to the fact that the Miranu Trading Conglomerate had its headquarters on Blaga, High Councilor Imir had a great deal of inherent power. She stood as she began presenting her proposal.
Members of the Miranu High Council, the Trading Directorate of Blaga has found information that should be brought to your immediate attention. Our analysts suggest there is a high potential for profit in two regions, began Imir as she activated a hologram of the galaxy. The people of United Earth could be a vast market for our products, and would no doubt come to understand the wealth our mutual trade agreements could trigger.
As she highlighted the area that United Earth controlled, Imir studied the other high councilors. Shamon Zin of Leiton was listening intently, no doubt eager to hawk his planets souvenirs to this new potential trading partner. Seran Novan, High Councilor of New Mira, had an unreadable expression veiling his face. The same was true for Lelos Somm, noted Imir. She had hoped the Priati councilor would bring the support of Station Pybin for her proposal. High Councilor Imir began her sales pitch.
There is another region nearby that we should not ignore. I suggest that the Miranu High Council entertain and sanction the idea of exploring the Ji Nebula for more resources. If we can negate the sensor interference that plagues the region, perhaps we can bring more prestige to the Miranu Star League. As soon as the Nebula Penetration Device is completed, we should look into this venture as well as opening trade negotiations with the humans and United Earth space.
Councilor Imir, is the Miranu Trading Conglomerate willing to fund these exploits? inquired Shamon Zin. The high councilor of Leiton was ever concerned with money, and his mind was ever on keeping his own wallet bursting with credits.
And how many NPDs will the Conglomerate need for such an endeavor? added Councilor Lelos Somm, Pybin Stations representative and proxy for the Priati science community. It will be difficult to provide more than one, at least initially.
We await your response, Councilor, prompted Trademaster Corzun Dah. The whole council looked her way expectantly. Imir was still analyzing all the questions, searching for hidden meanings, probing for any extraneous information, and sifting for any veiled threats. She was cautious despite the governments sparkling reputation for honesty. Experience in Blagas government had taught her how much manipulation the Miranu Trading Conglomerate conducted, and that lent weight to the argument that the same could also be true of the High Council. However, the only anomaly she found was High Councilor Somms remark about the number of Nebula Penetration Devices available for the Ji Nebulas exploration. Is he telling me there is more than one in development?
Imir was also reluctant to speak for the Conglomerate. She wondered if the stingy accountants there had accrued enough assets to cover the expenses of the venture. Deciding on the course of a calculated risk, Imir responded. Indeed. The Miranu Trading Conglomerate will cover the finances for the voyages into the Ji Nebula. High Councilors Somm and Novan nodded in approval, while the rest held their countenances to impassive expressions. But what if Im wrong.
Motion to approve the Blagan proposal, said Councilor Lelos Somm. He looked towards Corzun Dah and held his gaze until the trademaster spoke. Apparently Somm wanted the exploration to go forward after all. He wants a testing ground for his work. Somewhere where the government cant see the results and meddle , realized Imir.
All for the trade ventures? Twelve votes of aye were counted by the voting mainframe. All against the Blagan proposal? One vote of nay registered on the console in front of Imir. She wondered who had abstained. The measure passes. The Conglomerate shall contact the United Earth government in a suitable fashion. Station Pybin shall oversee the Ji Nebulas exploration. We shall now move on to agenda item twenty-one. High Councilor Marig, you have the floor.
Thank you, Trademaster, intoned Marig, High Councilor of Zeldra. As you are all now aware, the North Tip renegades are assaulting the Zeldair system. There has been time to scramble the planetary garrison, but reinforcements are needed. The mobile fighters in the surrounding systems should be sent to defend our colony. Help from the Zacha would be greatly appreciated, added Marig with a glance at the Zachit representative. The Zachit nodded in contemplation. We must show these pirates that we are not the soft traders they think us to be. We must defend Zeldra and its metals. The people of Zeldair implore you to come to their aid.
Trademaster Dah wasted no time. All for defending Zeldair? Fourteen green lights unanimously answered. Very well. Reinforcements are to be sent to the defense of our mining utopia.
High Councilor Zorzi motioned to be recognized. He had an aura of urgency about him. Rarely did the representative of Outpost Zachit look impatient, but it seemed that today he wished to keep the agenda moving as quickly as possible. Trademaster Dah recognized his request, and gave him leave to speak.
Agenda item twenty-two is a proposal from the Zacha, allies in arms with the Miranu people. We are pleased that the alliance with the Zidagar went well, but the people of the Zacha have a request to make of the Miranu and the High Council. Zorzi paused, looking around the table and ensuring that all present were paying attention, then continued. The Zachit military has drafted the idea of an anti-matter beam weapon. We request that this project be done in collaboration with some of Station Pybins renowned scientists. Such a development could bring greater strength to the Zachit military and bring a higher probability of Miranu space remaining well guarded. Only two or three scientists are requested, concluded High Councilor Zorzi.
The members of the High Council began consulting amongst one another, and soon there was a large debate raging through the Grand Convocation Chamber. Many of the representatives of the eastern and southern trading directorates were arguing about the amount of the budget that would need to be appropriated to this new development. The Zachit representative was assuring them that his people would be funding the entire undertaking themselves. He reiterated that he only requested the services of a few Miranu intellectuals. The northern directorates vehemently endorsed the Zachit request.
After several raps of the gavel, Trademaster Dah was able to restore order. The northern directorates were the last to be silenced, still grumbling about the quibbling of bankers. The trademaster activated the voting mainframe, and rapped the gavel once more, just for good measure. He wanted todays session of the High Council to remain productive. All for endorsing the Zachit request by loaning Outpost Zachit three of our top weapons scientists not on the defense pod project? Seven green lights lit up in approval. The trademaster did not fail to note that many of them came from the northern worlds. All opposed to lending researchers to the anti-matter project? Five red lights flickered to life in opposition to the proposal. Everyone quickly looked to his or her consoles to find who had abstained. The measure passes. The Zacha shall have the benefit of some of Station Pybins elite minds in expediting their project. Are there any further comments regarding this issue? asked Corzun Dah, looking meaningfully at each member of the council.
I would deign to say that the Zacha appreciate your endorsement of our project. I will see what can be done regarding reinforcements to the Zeldair system. Perhaps we can dent the renegades before our research is completed. High Councilor Zorzi bowed his head to mark that he was finished speaking.
We thank the Zachit for their continued service, and for all they have done for our people in the past. May our continued cooperation be fruitful and profitable, added the trademaster. Let us progress to agenda item twenty-three.
The remainder of the high councils session went calmly. Research updates and progress reports regarding prototype developments were discussed, and trade issues were resolved. New domestic policies were proposed, and the Mira Senate, which handled domestic issues on the planet, handled legislation for approval. The council adjourned several hours later.
In the Zeldair system, the garrison of seventy-nine crescent fighters arrayed themselves in loose formation behind the copious asteroids that were scattered about the system. They formed up in loose claw and wall arrangements behind the protective hunks of space rock that provided sensor cover as well as additional shielding. These Miranu had not been idle in their training, and had honed their tactics and reflexes over the course of their careers. They had learned to dodge enemy fire in practice maneuvers, and now had the opportunity to test their wits in the chaos of battle. Squadrons stayed spread out in their regions among the asteroids, making sure not to clump up for missiles.
Since they were so small, ten crescent fighters were assigned to each of the eight different asteroids along the corridor of approach the renegades were likely to take. The enemy approached the planet, weaving and maneuvering through the asteroid belt yet still maintaining their close grouping. Suddenly, one of the Miranu fighter squadrons peeled off from behind their asteroid and strafed a lazira. The lazira, with its shields down to fifty percent, opened fire on the eight crescent fighters. The rest of the renegades also moved to engage the defenders. They took out one of the fighters in the initial retaliation, and then they were off chasing the remaining seven. The lumbering crescent warship lingered behind the rest of the pack, and all of a sudden, the seventy-one other crescent fighters popped up and swarmed the one warship. The warships fighter escorts were dispatched quickly, and the capital ships phase turrets were slow to track the fighters, often hitting the other renegade warships rather than the more agile Miranu craft. The fighters, however, were not unscathed, as they quickly took five losses. However, the sixty-seven remaining fighters took out the warship and then went flying back into the sensor-blind oblivion where they could plan their next move. The commander of the defense fleet gave orders to the defenders ships.
Continue hit and fade strikes but avoid direct engagement at all costs.
On the outskirts of the Kirrim system, a strange sight greeted the Miranu traders gracing the wayward location with their presence. The ship looked like a stretched out lozenge trapped in a metal brace, with a black cockpit protruding at the front. The Miranu who took an interest in its strange appearance guessed its hull must be composed of some exotic organic compound. One of the Miranu captains grew impatient of waiting, and called for his communications officer to contact the alien ship.
Open a channel to these newcomers, ordered Captain Zhet. The captain was a large Miranu, taken to drinking liquor at every bar he set down near. His stomach bulged as evidence of this unfortunate habit. Nevertheless, he was a capable leader and pilot of his courier, and the crew respected him for it. The naval officers began their work to contact this anomalous vessel.
Sir, we have received language databases from the ship. They are familiar with the Voinian tongue. The officer looked expectantly at his captain. His excitement of making first contact with a new species was palpable in the command room.
Send out the following message in Voinian, said Captain Zhet. Unidentified vessel, this is Miranu Courier Flight 283. Request for identification and purpose. The communications officer diligently obeyed, and soon the message was sent. There was a moment of tranquility and silence as the Miranu waited for the response of the lozenge-cruiser.
Suddenly the comlink crackled. The crew became alert once more and strained their ears to the historic message. Unknown ships, I am Captain Teltha of the Emalgha Naval Ship Seltheriy. If you can understand us, we come in peace. We ask to talk, and we await your reply.
The captain was thoughtful after hearing the Emalgha transmission. Back when the Miranu had scouted the galaxy in their zealous search for trade partners, they had encountered a race known as the Voinians. After talking to them for some time but never fully settling on trade agreements, the Miranu had departed in search of other markets. Yet during those negotiations the Voinians had mentioned a newly discovered people known as the Emalgha. The Voinians had assured the Miranu that they would be treated according to the Galactic Conventions laws after the conquest, and the Miranu had departed assured. For Captain Zhet, seeing an Emalgha vessel in Miranu space was intriguing. The Voinians were normally extensively thorough in quashing their slaves chances of developing spaceflight. At the moment, all Captain Zhet could think to do was to start getting his copious questions answered. He signaled the communications officer to prepare another transmission. The officer announced readiness.
Captain Teltha of the Emalgha, I am Captain Zhet of the Miranu. If you would land on the planet below us, known as Kirrim Prime, we could talk in a more habitable and welcome area with one of our governments ambassadors present. Will you accompany us to the surface of this colony of the Miranu Star League?
There was a long pause. The crew of Miranu Courier Flight 283 was bustling about and talking excitedly amongst one another about this new contact and the possible trade potential that they could bring to the Star League. Captain Zhet watched a holodrama playing on the Miranu Broadcast System. The wait seemed interminably long. Finally, the Emalgha vessel responded.
Your terms are acceptable to me and my crew. We will meet you on the surface of Kirrim Prime to speak with you and your governments envoy.
The Miranu fighter pilots in Zeldair followed their commanders orders to the letter. Avoiding the main grouping of renegade ships, they would swoop down and strafe any vessels that were separated from the pack. As the defenders of Zeldra continued their harassment of the renegade forces, the promised Miranu reinforcements arrived in the Zeldair system, a force of 123 Crescent fighters drawn from the surrounding systems. They arrayed themselves in such a way as to continue the guerrilla tactics of the defenders. Suddenly, a group of Zachit reinforcements jumped into the Zeldair system to support their Miranu allies against the renegade invaders. The battle for Zeldair had begun.
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Project Update, Thread 1 Post 27
NPD. Started Post 14. ETC: Post 54. 27 more posts.
Guided Defense Pods. Started Post 14. ETC: Post 44. 17 more posts.
Zidagar Fighter Upgrade. Started on Post 14. ETC: Post 39. 12 more posts.
Miranu Gunship. Prototype ETC: Post 64. Post 84 marks final version. 37 more posts until protoype. 57 more posts until final version.
(This message has been edited by Solel (edited 08-21-2002).)
