A hologram of Slug appears, the transmission source untracable.

"They press attack on our jumpstreams, we fall back. They turn entire worlds into ash and we fall back. They raise fleets, we fall back.
The line must be drawn now.

While numerous individual attacks and strikes have been made and routed on the StarLance, I beleive that a single, tremendous attack might, just might, make Darvonsal reconsider his opinion on returning to his own universe. While many have died bravely in battle with the StarLance, their deaths were not in vain. We've amassed a complete archive on details and specifications on the StarLance (url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/slug1337/StarLanceDescription.html")here(/url).

Sometime within the next week, the StarLance will pass through the Hatares sector after completely eliminating the Obish world of Harat'u. I already have my armada stationed at Hatares, ready.

Who's with me here?"

------------------
Good laws are produced by extremely bad manners.
-Alduran Pirate Captain Macrobius
StarLance

Nah, this'll work fine for a side-spot for the battle. "The Buildup" thread is getting a bit fat anyways.

Slug wrote this:

"They press attack on our jumpstreams, we fall back. They turn entire worlds into ash and we fall back. They raise fleets, we fall back. The line must be drawn now."<<

P.S. Slug, where'd that line come from? I KNOW it's from some movie. But I don't remember which...

------------------
Ne Cede Malis Sed Contra Audientor Ito

It's from Star Trek: First Contact.

------------------
"You can get much further with kind words and a loaded gun than you can with kind words alone."
- Al Capone

The Phylydion Imperium will dedicate the entire Primary Armada, the Phylydia II, and five other fleets to the cause of defeating the Starlance. We need to strike soon. If it attacks any one of us seperately, only our home systems will be well defended enough to drive them away, and then only in a prolonged and costly battle. If they attack any outlying planets those planets are doomed. We already have transports on all planets out of immediate range of out main fleets to evacuate the population, just in case.

The Ishiman Protectorate hired me to join their Spitfire Squadron in an attempt to stop the Starlance, so I'll be there.

------------------
"You can get much further with kind words and a loaded gun than you can with kind words alone."
- Al Capone

Darkk's holo appears.
I can tell you what hasn't worked so far: Antimatter with superlight-speed ramming and supernovas. Our current plan is to make a disruptor of our own, but all prototypes are from the pre-war era and would only get a single shot, if they didn't explode - on the plus side, I've determined from records that our prototype, like Starlance's, is unaffected by shields.

I don't have any ships that could hold it, let alone power it, so I'd need a gateship. Can the Ishimans put up one? They'd be the most compatable power supply and stablest mounting platforms. Unfortunantly it'd be mounted in parallel with the center hull and would only have one shot, so it'd be a huge gamble.

Now that I think about it, it's a little more risk than should be accepted.

------------------
Me: You ******* IDIOTS!! That planet was INHABITED!!!
Them: Ooops
Me: Let's resume this disscussion near airlock 13.
(immediatly following the first disrupter missle test)

Because of Sargatanus' lack of cooperation, I have had to take his ships myself. My Armada is nearly two-hundred ships strong and I myself shall be using a prototype carrier, the Vengance , as my command ship.

After the StarLance finishes ravaging Obish space, it will proceed to the Audemedon homeworld of Axis Major to finalize the destruction of the Audemedon core. On the way it must pass through the Hatares sector, which is notorious for it's unstable spacial anomalies. I warn you that hyperdrives, omnidrives, and superlight boosters are useless in this sector without a gateship to stabalize the space.

It was also here that my Elasi fleet disappeared, and I believe I know where. We plan on taking whatever steps neccessary to end the StarLance's rampage, but we need more ships.

I beg of you to join our cause, lest it will fail.

------------------
Good laws are produced by extremely bad manners.
-Alduran Pirate Captain Macrobius
StarLance

**PRIORITY 1 MESSAGE

APPENDAGE A**

FROM: Oracular Council- Diplomacy, Communications Sect
TO: Renegade Admiral Slug
RE: StarLance

You of all beings should know that we Salrilians do not take kindly to rumors. Your repeated requests for assistance against a massive ship appearing out of nowhere seem incongruous. We are having a hard time accepting your verasity with this claim. Should a threat like your claim exist, we are more than able to hold our own. Please stop being a nusiance.

APPENDAGE B

FROM: Salrilian Stellar Navy- Foriegn Intervention Sect
TO: Renegade Admiral Slug
RE: StarLance

You are a liar as well as a traitor. We will not be wasting any resources on such a dubious claim. We can defend ourselves.

APPENDAGE C

FROM: Grand Oracular Council- Internal Affairs
TO: Renegade Admiral Slug
RE: We know what you have done. You will not survive.

<message has no content>

------------------
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.

The Oracles shall have to be defied then! They have been defied in the past, and they will be defied now! I shall survive this battle (or die trying )!

Our amassed fleet is nearly at peak readiness, yet we will need... the cooperation of several mercenaries in this sector.

------------------
Those who make up the rules, do not play the game. We, however, do.
-Imperial Captain Alexi Darvonsal
StarLance

Captain El Spamo studied the discourse for a moment before chiming in.

"My own addition is a piece of work. 600 or so ships from 4 different races have contributed to a fleet of ships that I have stationed in a sensor-dead area to prevent detection. They are prepared to fight to the prevention of the Starlance plauging their homeworlds. I hope they'll be able to help bring down the monster."

Darkk mentions again his Disruptor beam plan.

"That's definitly feasible, if the Starlance were to be distracted. A large enough force could screen the Gateship to get it into position, and then make a firing corridor to hit the Starlance. If it doesn't destroy it outright, it will hopefully bring down it's shields enough for all of our ships to pound it into rubble."

------------------
Ne Cede Malis Sed Contra Audientor Ito

Thank you Spammo. It'll be tricky, as it'll have to be spinal-mounted on a gateship, and all ours were destroyed in the war. Got an Ishiman one? The engineers say it would be the best fit.

That of course completely ignores the problem of AIMING something spinal-mounted on a gateship. Those things turn like boulders pushed by a 5-year old human. Fortunantly there will be a minor range advantage over anything noted on Starlance. I can't come, having an important meeting to attend (civilian responsibilies can be so annoying), my title now being GOVERNOR Darkk.

------------------
Me: You ******* IDIOTS!! That planet was INHABITED!!!
Them: Ooops
Me: Let's resume this disscussion near airlock 13.
(immediatly following the first disrupter missle test)

A tiny ragtag fleet of ships from all races, headed by what appears to be an Ishiman HvD slowly appears in system, just within sensor range from Slug's gunships.

"I and my ragtag fleet of mercenaries are here to lend whatever meager assistance we can provide. Although it looks like some of our ships are pathetic, like that Gaitori carrior over there, if you train your sensors on them, you'll notice they are heavily modified and equiped. Many do not expect to survive, but are willing to die trying."

As Avatara skips the report, he notices a famillier name.

"Also, I would ask to have our squadron fight alongside the Ishiman Heavy Cruisors. Their leader, and me, have had some 'old ties...'"

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

The Nijayais ship popped out of its jumpstream, coasting into the Staging area. The transponder responded to the sweeps of the hundreds of ships in the system, and the text on their screens showed the new blip was NHG-5776 under the command of a one, Captain Pharris. Captain Pharris called Spamo as soon as he was past security.

"Good to see you Spamo, Looks like somebody's been busy."

Spamo chuckled
"You have no idea what it's like administrating a fleet like this. How the hell do those admirals do it?"

"I think they're called staff, Spamo. I think you should get some help before this thing gets any bigger, or you'll go nuts."

"Well, I noticed a certain bloodthirsty pirate who just entered the system who seems like a perfect candidate..."

"Hey! wait a minute here Spamo-"

"Our base is on Three. I'll have a landing spot ready for you, Spamo out."

"Wait a minute you big-"

The line went dead as Spamo hung up.

Pharris couldn't help smiling.

"Take us to three, put us in orbit, and call control to find our landing spot. I've got to get ready. XO, you've got the bridge."

Pharris went to his quarters and put on one of his dress uniforms. After all, he was about to pay a visit to a fleet admiral!

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

Gentlemen, I have just recieved news from Obain. The battle there was hopeless.

As predicted, the StarLance is now heading in our general direction, ETA is two days.

------------------
Those who make up the rules, do not play the game. We, however, do.
-Imperial Captain Alexi Darvonsal
StarLance

The plan is this: my armada will stay cloaked on the fringes of the nebula while the Barbarosa II and Mag's fleet will scatter over thirteen ticks and keep their SuperLight boosters warm.

The Gateship and the Phylydia II generate hyperspace interferance. That combined with the Hatares Nebula's natural spacial instability will force the StarLance and it's accompanying Gaitori Fleet to proceed on superlight boosters alone. When it sees our combined scattered fleets in a helpless position, it'll drop out and engage us.

The scattered fleet will engage it's boosters, cluster together, then attack from all angles. The StarLance has yet to encounter Salrilian cloaking technology, so Darvonsal will be surprised when my armada appears from nowhere. The Phylydion ships will engage the Gaitori, taking occasional retreats to lure them away from the StarLance.

Perhaps with all these factors in our favor we might, just might, end this threat and begin a new era of peace as our races unite against a common foe.

------------------
Those who make up the rules, do not play the game. We, however, do.
-Imperial Captain Alexi Darvonsal
StarLance

3 Nijayias heavy bulk freighters enter the system, strapped to a 3km object.

"This 'ere's the disruptor, Fleet Admiral Da.., er Spammo. Sorry, old vet before the disaster and can't use that rank on anyone else without stumbling..." The captain of the combined, ungainly object continues rambling about his supply runs in Darkk's logistical command days until Spammo cuts him off.

The freighters detatch and tugs stabilize the huge gun in orbit near the gateship. The engineer in charge of the disruptor efforts enters the command center.

"Hello. Darkk sent me to oversee operation of the disruptor, but I've got to warn you - we never perfected the *嵘 thing, and it'll burn out after the 2nd or 3rd shot. Fortunantly, based on the tech specs on the Starlance, one shot would most likely be enough to cause a SEVEARE disruption to ship's systems, frying one whole side of the ship. By side I meant as in top, bottom, left, right, front, back, not just left and right. But still, you could sit in the blind spot and pound all week on a ship that big. If you got the correct side. A hit to the front would smash the black-hole cannon, but might leave Starlance's disruptors operational. I'd recoment a hit to the rear, the engines have tailpipes to the reactor that the shot might penetrate up. Even partway would hurt it hugely. Sorry to ramble."

Spammo informs him to be more concise, and that it had better work.

------------------
Me: You ******* IDIOTS!! That planet was INHABITED!!!
Them: Ooops
Me: Let's resume this disscussion near airlock 13.
(immediatly following the first disrupter missle test)

(black hole cannon? um, no)

------------------
Those who make up the rules, do not play the game. We, however, do.
-Imperial Captain Alexi Darvonsal
StarLance

The Ishiman Gateship floated at the center of the massive fleet, with 3 bulk freighters alongside. Work crews were welding furiously a massive tubelike construct to the spine of the gigantic Gateship. There were 36 hours left until the Starlance arrived. Meanwhile, more and more ships appeared. Now the countless hordes that were allied against the Starlance numbered in the thousands.

Spamo checked on the status of the Gateship conversion. "Sergeant, how's that coming?"

"Well sir, most of the parts were already assembled, so we just have to connect it to the power supply of the Gateship. We should be done in about 24 hours."

"That's cutting it awfully close seargeant. Can you do it any faster?"

"Not without putting the whole assembly at risk."

Spamo frowned at the screen. That ship HAD to be ready and in position for the starlance.
"Very well Sergeant. Don't let it slack off"
"Yes sir" then the screen went blank.

So many preparations to be made, and so little time to make them. Spamo's own fleet was massive, consisting of 60 capital ships in all. But would that be enough? The Starlance could probably kill at least 10 a minute. A terrifying prospect.

Spamo tapped on his comscreen once again. It brought up the commander of the EVATs that would be in charge of storming the Starlance should the shields come down.

"Sir, you called?"
"How are the troops progressing?"

"Good enough sir. I don't know if we'd be able to completly take over entire ship. It IS 11 kilometers long. Maybe once we've made a safe land area, we could land more troops?"

"I think we can set aside a ship or two to dock and unload it's crew."

"Thankyou sir. Out".

Spamo sat back a thought for a moment. Then he reached into his desk and brought out a small pad. He poked at it for a moment then got up and left. He went to the lower science labs of his ship. Alone there, he looked at his secret weapon. The only true way to take over the Starlance was to kill its crew. And the best way to do that was to have something kill them for him.

In the jar, a small larval creature squirmed.

------------------
Ne Cede Malis Sed Contra Audientor Ito

(This message has been edited by Slug (edited 10-31-2000).)

Our job is to take on the Gaitori? What about the StarLance? We've got more than enough to handle the Gaitori and can assign a fleet or two to help with the StarLance itself.

------------------
-Traek Cicion of the Taeskor
"Never tell me the odds!"
-Han Solo
"Then we'll do it real quiet-like."

A heavily modified UNS crusier jumps in system.
"This is Commander Patrick of the UNS Victorious. Need any help?"