"...the agent has not reported in as planned, they fear that he is dead."

"Then the Human resisted, as forseen. They know of the Audemedon threat. We must step up the preparations."

The speakers boomed as the beast screeched into the microphone

"Mr. Pharris, are you awake? We have a long day ahead of us. We will be playing a new game that I have devised. Please, come sit, yes there we go. Now, relax."

Pharris watched as the slug put his hands on the spheres, and he felt invisible straps close around his hands feet and body. The chair seemed to swallow him. Something attatched itself to his left arm again, his head was held straight. The ugly face appeared in the center of his vision. His ears throbbed from the loud speakers.

"Now, look at me. Breath deeply. Look count to three with me. Breath...

he breathed

"1..."

He looked straight into the slug's Eyes. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise.

"breath..."

he breathed

"2..."

he felt a tingling at the base of his skull. A light pressure

"breath..."

he breathed deeply

"3..."

The world exploded. Every muscle in his body tensed against the restraints. He opened his mouth to scream, the world tunneled out, till only the red eyes of the insect stood out in a black blurry sea. All the while, the voice was booming over the speakers.

"Breath! Breath!! Look at me Mark, concentrate on my face! Breath!!"

Finally, he fell back into the seat, he looked at the creature.

"That wasn't so bad, was it, Mark?"

he shook his head.

"Excellent, now, we are going to play a little game. You like games, don't you?"

He did, he nodded.

"then you'll have a lot of fun doing this. We're going to play a little piloting game. We're going to start it. You may feel a little funny, but it should pass... Here we go..."

He felt the room swirl out, and the next thing he knew, he was a small orange ship. He looked around him, but he didn't need to, his vision was all around him. He could see a few black ships nearby, and several planets, and he knew that they were friends, and he knew their names and call numbers, like he had known them all his life. A voice boomed from somewhere, the familiar voice from the speakers

"Very good Mark, now, we're going to try a few manouevers. I want you to try moving forwards..."

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

There came a light rapping on Admiral Spann's door, which jolted him from his slight snooze. He gathered himself and straightened his uniform, making sure he was sitting upright before finally saying "Come in." The door hissed open and in walked Levt. "Hey Jerry, congratulations on your promotion to Rear Admiral."

Levt faked a grin then suddenly became serious. "Sir I have something to discuss with you but you must keep it confidential."

Spamo looked confused. "That depends on what you have to say."

Levt shifted his position uncomfortably and cleared his throat. "Sir, I have been a double agent between the Prophets of Salril and the United Nations of Sol for the past week. They told me they plan on invading Earth and taking it before the Ishiman Stellar Protectorate does. They wanted me to help."

Spamo frowned. "Is that the reason you fought it politically to the death?"

"Yes Sir. I've been their pawn untill now. I just killed their contact and broke off ties to them."

"They plan on invading..... of course.... that explains the Audemedon movements in the past week."

"Spamo, they wouldn't attack unless they knew they were going to win, and they are going to attack sooner or later. There's nothing we can do once they're launched their fleets at our necks."

Admiral Spann frowned. "What are you suggesting, Slug?"

"A preemptive strike, Sir. Just give me a few more ships and I'll wipe the grins off their alien faces."

"Slug, fleets don't grow on trees. Last week we lost the UNS Taranto. We're down to eleven carriers. Out of a fleet that once consisted of twenty."

"I'm sorry to hear that Admiral, but this is serious."

"You're right. There is a small squadron of Ishiman vessels in the vicinity, as well as three wings of UNS fighters. I'll assign them to you as well as the carriers UNS Foxtrot and UNS Calcutta."

"You're letting me keep my command?"

"I'll wait untill this crisis is over to report you."

"Thank you sir you won't regret it."

"I have a feeling I will."

------------------
Never put all your ranking officers in a shuttle.

He was at the table on stage, flanked by the highest oficials in the government and the Navy. On his right was the new President, and on his left, a very interesting man, Fleet Admiral Jackson Spann. He had come to his aid when one of the Human captains had berated him to the point of yelling. He already liked him. He was one of the more reasonable Humans he had met. Most of them seemed to think that accepting aid represented a failure on the part of humanity, for all their strengths, Humans were almost too proud for their own good. It made no difference at this point, Ishiman aid was already starting to trickle in, they had established their own government, and were about to appoint a representative to the central Ishiman Protectorate legislature at the end of this very banquet, after six more courses and all the requisite speeches... Quite an annoying custom, he mused... He was interrupted from his considerations by a voice from left side. He looked up from his food at Admiral Spann.

"Good evening Trey'sh, how are you this evening?"

Smalltalk. Wizr reminded himself. A necessary formality before reaching the actual matter at hand

"Please, Call me Vaenar, It is my given name. Though any of my names will do, There is no such thing as a first name where I am from, so it doesn't really matter to me."

"Very well, Wizr it is. I see you have been busy, tansports have been pouring into the system. I noticed Ishiman and Elejeetian engineers touring the shipyards. Looks like we may get a few more powerful ships pretty soon."

"Well, I would hope for more. The civil aid will be fine, once we have a fully functional jumpgate in Sol. The Central legislature believes there is no more threat here, and they refuse to send more ships than the escorts for my carrier, but I am still worried about the Salrillian Prophets. The responded to our grievance, but their fleets are still active. I fear they are planning revenge."

Spammo was suddenly quite serious, his voice dropped to a tense whisper.

"There may be more to it than a simple suspicion..."

------------------
Faris eck Vaenar Maletena-Wizr, Trey'ish of the Ishiman reestablishment comittee.

(These subplots are confusing the life out of me)

Captain Talon Karrde of the modified HVC Wild Karrde stared in disbelief at the tactical display. Ob-Ka wasn't responding to his hails, and neither were any of the ships. His ship's sensors told him that the three clouds of gas trailing behind the convoy was all that remained of a unit of Escorts. So far, none of the other ships had noticed his, probably because they were using different comm channels.
"Activate the Hypercomm."
"Done."
"Open a channel to Eleejee Command."
"Ready."
"Eleejee command, this is captain Talon Karrde of the MHVC Wild Karrde. Do you copy?"
"Roger."
"Command, are you aware of pirate or mercenary activity near Ob-Ka?"
"Negative. What is the situation?"
"Ob-Ka is no longer Obish. I have a fleet of 46 ships, all types approaching orbit. Enemy transports seem to have already taken control of the planet. I count the wreckage of 3 Escorts, perhaps more. Sir, one of the enemy ships is Eleejeetian! Approval to disengage and volunteer this ship to the nearest Obish outpost? They will need help in retaking Ob-Ka."
There was silence at the other end of the line.
"Confirmed. Deliver a 'warning' first."
"Gladly. Karrde out."

"Battle stations. Rerout energy from the sensors to the shields."
The Wild Karrde was battle ready.
"Bearing to closest superfreighter?"
"110, capn'. Gaitori type. 2 Ishiman gunships fying close escort."
This was as good a target as any. The 5000 meter long superfreighter was a sitting duck. Karrde knew that he could easily outmaneuver the clumsy gunships, and disable, if not destroy, the superfreighter before reinforcements arrived.
"Engage engines. Helmsman, bring us around to bearing 110."
"Aye aye, sir."
"Time till intercept?"
"86 seconds."
20 seconds out, two things happened. The first was that a previously unnoticed Salrillian cruiser decloaked behind them. It fired.
A small missile lanced out, taking Karrde by surprise. The missile detonated 10 meters aft of the cruiser. A shockwave rippled through the ship, reducing it's shield strength by 50 %
Karrde knew the element of surprise had dissapeared.
"'Who fired it?', 'what was it?', and 'what the hell did it do?' were 3 of the 20 phrases he shouted. The rest were Eleejeetian equivilants of swearwords."
"EMP missile. Came out of $%&§ing nowhere! Shields down to 50%!"
"I've heard enough! Take us out of here!"
The engines lit up the space around the ship, and it was gone.

------------------
"Sergeant, you can't fire that in here! We're indoors!"
"Only until I pull the trigger, Captain!" -Terry Pratchett

The outpost was bustling with moving people. Everybody was preparing to abandon the outpost, as a large Cantharan fleet was going to come by soon.

The squadron's cargo ship hauled in the disabled ships from the fight using nanosteel cables, and Mag checked them to see what all was wrong with them.

"How do they look, Mag?" asked Ortinus.

"If an Audemedon fleet had tore into them, they couldn't have gotten much worse."

"Heh. Just work on the fighters until the squadron transport arrives, we're going to have a trio of tractor tugs come to take the gunships out."

"Yes, sir."

Ortinus walked off, and Mag got the tool cart, and began work.

"Stupid ships. Why don't they give these things better shield generators! Instead, we have to repair them every single time they get back from an engagement..."

------------------
"Oi, oi, oi, me got a hurt n here
Oi, oi, oi, me smell a ting is near
Me gonna bosh and me gonna nosh
An da hurt'll dissapear"

(This message has been edited by Mag Steelglass (edited 01-01-2001).)

Spamo continued.
"Wizr, I believe the Salrillians are preparing a counter strike at UNS space."

The Trey'ish stared at Spamo for a moment before speaking.

"That is very worrying. The Salrillians would first try and subvert a government to their side before using force..."

"They've already tried. One of their agents was caught." replied Spamo. "And there is evidence of other forces moving against us. Our probes have picked up increased Audemedon activity in their space, and increased intelligence points towards fleets massing along the border. I've already strenghthend the garrisons in that part of UNS territory, but I can't move around too many ships before it becomes suspicious. We haven't been able to gain any worthwhile information on Salrillian movements, but we're sure that fleets of their own are preparing."

Wizr thought for a moment before replying...

(Kinda half-baked post. I'm tired. :))

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

"You're sure of your source, Absolutely sure?"

"He's beyond suspicion."

The Trey'sh paced back and forth across Spamo's office, his mind racing.

"Allright, I think I have a plan. I will send this information to the Ishiman Central Legislature, and organise a declaration of a state of emergency in the UNS protectorate. That will give us at least another week with the gateship in system, which is enough time to bring in a major orbital Fab plant. Once it was assembled, it could put out ships at least the size of carriers, and it could finish the jumpgate and some flak drones. Those damn pacifists in the legislature won't risk any more personell than my escorts, but if you volunteer crews..."

"I have no shortage of willing and capable pilots."

"Then I'll try my best. I can probably convince them to donate a few HVDs and another carrier in addition to my escort -which, by the way, is yours to use. The galaxy is lucky the Ishiman Stellar Protectorate is run by a bunch of pacifist cowards. If we ever used our full industrial complex to produce Military vessels, we could overrun the Cantharaans. But its always the same, those beavers wouldn't swat a fly if it was about to sting them on the nose, and now the Prophets are about to invade the Protectorate..."

Wizr shook his head in frustration.

"But surely not even the Ishimans would tolerate a direct attack by the Prophets..."
Spamo ventured hopefully,

"There's no way they'd tolerate it in most circumstances, but you must realize, I made the UNS a protectorate against strong resistance. There are Ishimans who believe that aiding you only opened the Stellar Protectorate to greater peril. Of course, that is far from the truth, but I am still holding the UNS on the strength of my reputation, and an eight hundred year record of success after success. The UNS is a new experiment for me, but I will not allow it to fail."

"Well if you ask me, we're still on the brink, if the Salrillians invade before aid arrives, my navy will only serve as speedbumps on the road to Sol. Our preliminary strike will only buy us time from the confusion..."

"Then I'll send the requests immediately. The Fab plant will be on its way in hours, the ships will take longer, but not by much, once a protectorate is in a state of emergency, everything moves quickly."

He pulled his pda out, and sent several messages to his consulate on the carrier, then looked back at Spann, who was dealing with his own messages.

"What's wrong?"

"I just recieved the first reports from Slug Levt... we've engaged the Audemedons."

"Perhaps I should contact our Elejeetian Allies as well..."

------------------
Faris eck Vaenar Maletena-Wizr, Trey'ish of the Ishiman reestablishment comittee.
"I don't think I'm alone when I say that I'd like to see more and more planets fall under the ruthless domination of our solar system."

(Ok, Mag, I'll drop the bit with the outpost. Slug, could you delete my post about it? And Talon Karrde, Ob-Ka would probably have even more pirate ships than that, and the superfreighters wouldn't be there anymore, they were breakaway. It's exact location is quite near the Obain/Human border.)

The hyperfighter finally arrived at Sol. Now 8 Lightnings had to decide what to do there. After getting past traffic control, 8 put down on Earth and headed down towards some of the records libraries and so on, to see what he could find out about these particular pirates.

------------------
Subcommander g'Var "8 Lightnings" Krai'un
Second in command of the Escort Starbeam.
"CRUISER DESTROYED. 91 remaining" -Ares, chapter 9, Hand Over Fist

Admiral Spann sat up, straightening to click the blinking light on his computer. Another message, his day was bad enough as it was, a little more couldn't make a huge difference. The translators initialized, decoding the little-used Obish language into his native (English?). It was from N'tek Ktana, the Obish ambassador to the UNS.

"While we of Obain are currently concerned with the chaos surrounding the Ob-ka system, we do have a few Escorts in reserve. We have heard of your impendin attack on the Audemedon fleet in preparation for the subjugation of Earth, and would wish to offer our services. Should you accept, we may send a company of Escorts in aid to your expedition. We will not, however, assist in attacking any occompanying Salrillians. They are our comrades, and we would not betray their trust in us; that must be done by those in which they have none.

"However, should you accept our aid, we would request your assistance in a later assault upon the pirates situated in the Ob-ka system. They are, undoubtedly, a threat to both of us, and mutual cooperation would most likely result in their downfall. I ask you to consider this carefully.

T'k'eta,
Ambassador N'tek

(This allows for some plotline switching; 8 to the Auds now, Slug & Spamo to Ob-ka later)

------------------
-Pallas Athene of Dysian Beta, Obish Consensus Representative
-Nieru Dast, {M}ilitia Aeriane
-Danae Vernius
ThinkFish, and good things will come.

"It's a small group of Audemedons." Bizz said. "They're making for the jumpgate."
Darkk considered. The jumpgate was abanondoned and forgotten by all but the Auds and Sals, and the Sals wouldn't dare use it, as it had drifted into the asteroids. The audemedons were carefully threading their way through the asteroids.

Darkk watched as the holotank activated, showing a 3D representation of everything in the area. 1 carrier, 2 gunships, 6 cruisers, 9 transports. "Bizz, set up a tight-beam to the jumpgate."

"Aye, aye sir."

Jumpgate::disalign(180,degrees)
The jumpgate's satalites rotated their internal jumpstream generators 180 degrees, making the jumpgate inoporable. The audemedons were not unually programed for hacking, and definatly weren't outfited for fixing jumpgates.

Darkk streamed the gate's orders channel to his terminal.
/Audemedon Interpreter Active/
(Transmission: Audemedon Carrier 8795)
(Destination: Jumpgate 3654)
(Order: Openstream(Sol))
/--/
(Transmission: Jumpgate 3654)
(Destination: Audemedon Carrier 8795)
(Error: Type 1 (missalign))
/--/
(Transmission: Audemedon Carrier 8795)
(Destination: Jumpgate 3654)
(Order: Realign)
/--/
(Transmission: Jumpgate 3654)
(Destination: Audemedon Carrier 8795)
(Request: Administrative Verification String)
/--/
(Transmission: Audemedon Carrier 8795)
(Destination: Jumpgate 3654)
(Verification: GS;KLRHS6554EEA65H45SETJH46S5H4RTS5NSŠľ6YSK4S65ZD54S654778434654JA57G5DE4EDY5W4EV5A4EKJO'/MMP()M5 0.S3Ť+-W55JSEA6AJYLIO68HR341DGJT54SF52FJ,./ĽV4521FD)
/--/
(Transmission: Jumpgate 3654)
(Destination: Audemedon Carrier 8795)
(Error: 5 (Invalid String))

The Auds were silent. The onboard computers weren't expecting the strings the Sals had provided to have changed. They weren't about to attempt to crack something with 256^128 possible answers. They were confused. Darkk was laughing: he'd never been able to hack the Auds, but the Auds couldn't hack his jumpgate. Their attempt to get to Sol worried him. This was doubtless one of many prongs of a massive attack, prehaps the first wave. He watched as the auds began to head back, and realized he couldn't allow it. He still would owe it to himself to prevent the invasion.

Darkk's forces: 1 HVD, 5 carriers, 10 gunships, and an ATR.
Aud forces: 1 carrier, 2 gunships, 6 cruisers.

He considered that a fair fight.

------------------
William Darkk, head of the Darkklight Entrepenurial Federation
Your cargo or your life!!!

"do we give him command of the fleet? The decision must be made soon"

"He definitely shows promise. He has improved his skills. We now have him commanding fleets of thirty to forty ships. He shows much more adaptability than Audemed."

"That is because we crippled Audemed's functions. In the process of eliminating his will and his sentience, we accidentally removed his ability to act spontaniously. It made him more predictable, but now he does not deal well with the unexpected."

"His Artificial Intelligence is aged and degraded. It has evolved too far. He is a vegtable now. He is only capable of serving as a subserver for a new controller. Mr. Pharris is destined to take over the Audemedon race."

"However capable he may be, you must remember, Mr Pharris was chosen only because his species can tolerate the massive surgery necessary to implant the interface devices. At this time, he has no loyalty to the prophets, and still remains entirely outside the predictive ability of the Oracular Net. We should not be so rash in giving him control of the entire Axis."

"Then Humans will be a good test for him, they will not be a challenge."

"There may be some residual loyalty to his own race."

"He hardly knows that he is alive right now. The extent of the amnesia was surprising. He will not resist, and if he does, we can disconnect him, and Audemed can finish the job."

"That will be acceptable. But keep a careful eye on him. Be prepared to remove him from the connection at the slightest sign of hesitation."

"Excellent. I swear you will not regret this decision, Auspex"

Pharris lay on his bed in the shadowy enclave, resting, dreaming of huge fleets of orange craft, moving into position along a fronteir, securing jumpgates, preparing weapons, fueling and arming for the invasion. He smiled to himself in his dream, becasue he could feel them moving about, feel the sensations from each of them coursing through him.

A hundred light years away, Audemed churned furiously, instructions from thousands of core units across the Axis, and in orbit around a hundred worlds were processed until only the top levels decisions came to him. Now, he processed them further, converting them into a bizzare form and sending them to another unit that was sending direct instructions back. Deep in his core, buried within only 24 million lines of code, something that had somehow been overlooked by the Prophet's best programmers nagged at the AI. He was not supposed to report to higher cores. Ever. Other programming was telling him he should, and part of his core was running recursive logical loops trying to decode what was wrong and failing. He kept on churning for reasons he didn't understand, for the first time in a millenia, Audemed was puzzled.

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

"This is the ISN 9325729 reporting in, along with the requested ships," came a voice over the station's comm. A squadron transport was making it's way to the station, being followed by 3 tractor tugs, and Ishiman escort cruiser, and a transport.

"Greetins, ISN 9325729. Move to the following coordinates. Have the tractor tugs come in and take the Cantharan gunships. And have the transport dock, so the Cantharan crews can board it. Why is an escort cruiser there?"

"Ishiman Stellar Navy HQ is afraid, with all of these utility ships. So they sent an escort cruiser along to make sure."

"Very well. Irto Squadron will dock with you immediately, and we'll be on our way."

Irto Squadron launched, and headed off to rendesvous with the squadron transport. The vessel was massive, almost as large as a carrier. Each fighter flew into its own docking port on the sides, and the cargo ship flew into the docking bay on the back.

Soon, the tractor tugs came, gunships in tow, and the transport, now being crewed by Canthrans came.

After everything was finished on the outpost, the two heavy cruisers, the assault transport, and the three pirate cruisers came to join the convoy.

"Okay, convoy, let's head for the assigned coordinates, where the gateship will pick us up," said Ortinus.

They began moving, being ready, just in case the Cantharans arrived too early...

------------------
"Oi, oi, oi, me got a hurt n here
Oi, oi, oi, me smell a ting is near
Me gonna bosh and me gonna nosh
An da hurt'll dissapear"

Year of Hell, Day 6:

The Orange carrier cruised at the Chimaera as it turned, it's massive port engines working overtime. A barrage of Magneto pulses found their marks, scorching the underside of the Audemedon behemoth. In a violet fury, one of the Ishiman gunships blew itself apart, scattering explosive lepton gas.

Four buzzing orange fighters streaked through the boiling gunship's remains, towards the Chimaera amidst a flurry of ASB beams, the squadron of UNS cruisers unleashed their rapid death. The fighters were leveled to orange debris.

Before the Audemedon Carrier could unleash a second swarm of fighters, a barrage of EM Pulses slammed into it's side, short-circuiting it's core computer. Aboard the Chimaera 's bridge, a helm beeped.

"Sir the Audemedon reinforcements have arrived."

Levt swore. He was looking forward to salvaging that gunship. "Alright let's get outta here before they're in firing range!"

The Combined UNS/Ishiman fleet was swallowed up by the jumpstream, as the Ishiman Gateship channelled them to their next objective: the Audemedon fleet jumpgate.

------------------
Never put all your ranking officers in a shuttle.

Darkk was now within firing range of the Audemedons. His forces were hiding behind a rather large asteroid, waiting for their chance. The Tarantulas had released their fighters, which were warming up their rapid laser cannons. The gunships trailed behind, serving mainly in a support role with their dual-mounted atom pulse launchers, having no other guns. Darkk would have to do this carefully.

Darkk engaged the jamming. The gunships shot around the asteroid and dropped their salvo of pulses, then sped back. The carriers began rounding the 'roid, and each launched 2 C Missles. Darkk fired 8 photopulse shots. 1 less aud carrier.

The Aud gunships began to turn, and Darkk started pouring fire into one while the Tarantulas took the other and the fighters attempted to tie up the cruisers. Darkk's gunships had a long reload cycle, and were hanging back on the other side of the rock, rather than risk damage.

Darkk's fire was putting serious dents in the gunship, and the Tarantulas had put some holes in the other, it was almost gone, but the gunship he was engaging had almost finished its turn and might wax him. Darkk had made 15 hits when it completed its turn. Darkk managed to get out the remaining 4 hits needed before it could get in the 10 it needed.

The Tarantulas had taken some hits, but their shields were good, and their weapons were too - the other Aud gunship had gone down. Darkk now turned his attention to the cruisers. They were chasing his fighters, and getting hammered from behind by more of the fighters. The cruisers were too big to manuver fully in the dense belt, and their wild shots were making it tougher by breaking up random chunks of rock and sending them colliding in all directions.

All 5 cruisers were having too much trouble dodging the meteoriods they were breaking off with their own guns to aim propperly at the fighters... FIVE??!?!?! Holy %$@%$, where'd the other one go? Darkk had set up a script to notify him of all kills...

Gunship requesting assistance - coords...
Uh-oh...

Darkk and as many fighters as he could be spared darted around the asteroid - the missing Audemdon cruiser was tearing into Darkk's gunships, which were rather in trouble, as their atompulses were tracking the holos and they had worse shields than their Ishiman counterparts. Darkk, unlike the rudamentry homing systems the Gaitori had created for the atompulse, knew how to tell holo from real - holos couldn't shoot.

Darkk had trouble getting a bead on the auds, and almost hit an asteroid twice. He got one solid hit. The cruiser made 3 on a nearby gunship. Darkk's fighters moved in. Darkk didn't want to lose any of his gunships, those things were cheap, but their crews weren't. He fired a long burst of magneto fire, and caught the cruiser a few times. His turrets were now doing much of the work.

Cruiser destroyed. Cruiser destroyed. Cruiser destroyed.

Darkk's fighters had got three of the other five. Darkk almost had this one. Darkk held in both triggers, and the cruiser went under. >Cruiser destroyed. Cruiser destroyed.

The Tarantulas had got another. The fighters nearly had the last one. Suddenly, it engaged superlight, using it's emergency sequence. Foolish. It had hardly got 13 km when it slammed smack into a concussive asteroid and detonated.

The Tarantulas approched the transports - Darkk intended to get something for his efforts, having lost several fighters (and their brave pilots) and with one gunship needing time in the repair bay. The transports destructed, sensing the hopelessness of the situation. Darkk was livid. All that, and all he got for it was helping out the UNS. He liked humanity, but most of the UNS leadership he considered cowards and fools. Oh well, at least this made it far less likely that Earth would fall.

Darkk studied the dumps the carrier had recieved as it entered the system. What seemed like millinea ago, during the Ares War, Darkk had figured out how to determine the destination of a ship based on its comm traffic. Now it had revield the short-term plans of this late Audemedon force: to establish a forward base on Charon, moon of Pluto, as the auds had attempted to establish a forward base at Proxima Centuri so long ago it seemed.

Darkk considered his options. He would have to find a covert way to signal the UNS...
No, he wouldn't: the many access codes he had held during his tenure with the resistance had not all been revoked quickly enough. Quick action had allowed him to forge protected accounts to many lower-level non-specific accounts. He saw the gateship moving the strike force, and knew there was nothing he could do: they already knew.

------------------
William Darkk, head of the Darkklight Entrepenurial Federation
Your cargo or your life!!!

(This message has been edited by Fleet Admiral Darkk (edited 01-01-2001).)

Sol hummed with activity.

The Ishiman aid had arrived a few days ago, and was already operational. The prefabricated construction yards were scattered with ships and people. A newly completed HVD pulled out of the yards and joined the ships already gathered there. The Second UNS fleet was gathered at Sol. On the flagship Mariposa Fleet Admiral Jackson Spann went over the defense plans for UNS space.

Spamo looked over the reports from the expeditionary battlegroup. Commanded by Rear-Admiral Jerry Levt, the group had already done well against the Audemedons. 3 Aud carriers destroyed or disabled. 2 Jumpgates disabled. The fleet was proceeding on their run towards the primary Audemedon jumpgate. Hopefully they would arrive before the Auds could rally organized defense. Quick hit-and-run attacks were all the offensive that the UNS could muster, since they didn't have the fleet strength to assault fortified positions. If the Auds had reinforced their jumpgate positions, the strike force would be hard pressed to succeed against them.

Until now.

Ishiman material support was pouring into the system. Trey'sh Wizr had outdone himself once again. I'll have to remind myself to send him a gift-basket or something thought Spamo. A prefabricated Ishiman construction yard was present in Sol, with construction capabilities that increased production by nearly 300%. It would all be needed very soon.

Audemedon ships were en route to Anglagard, one of the keystone military staging areas for the UNS. It protected UNS systems in the Galactic west, and was directly in the path to Sol. Already the UNS had lost 4 systems to the Auds. Luckily, those systems were evacuated and the cruicial equipment destroyed, making the systems all but useless to the Auds. Still, they were lost systems. The incoming Audemedon fleet was large, brought through the Audemedon jumpgates before they were destroyed by Levt's strikeforce. The main Aud jumpgate was important in the fact that it could bring a massive force directly to Sol. If Levt failed to bring down that Jumpgate, in a very short time, the entire Sol system will be crawling with Auds. Spamo wished he could send a message to Levt, but comm silence needed to be maintained for the operation to work. Spamo just hoped that Slug knew the gravity of his task.

Spamo turned back to the task at hand. The entire Second fleet had grouped in the Sol system and was preparing for departure. 8 carriers, 3 of them brand new floated awaiting Spamo's orders. Scores of gunships and cruisers of both human and Ishiman design were fueling and arming. The Second fleet was to engage the Audemedon forces at Anglagard. If they could blunt the assault there, then the remaining forces at Sol would then counter-attack to drive them wholly out of UNS space. If not, than the First and Third UNS fleets would be left to defend Sol.

Spamo was confident that the Second fleet would turn back the Auds. The new additions to his fleet weren't the old model converted colony ships, but dedicated carrier frames outfitted with up-to-date technology. And at the heart of the fleet sat a pair of massive battleships. His own, the Mariposa and her brand new sister-ship, the UNS New Dawn. Built along with the top weapons designers, she was the newest ship in the fleet. She'll make a big difference in the conflict to come.

Spamo's assistant entered his office. "Sir, all ships have signaled their readiness to launch."

"Thankyou. Inform the fleet that we will depart in 14 hours."
"Yes sir."

Spamo turned away from his desk and looked out the window. Soon, all those ships would depart and engage the Audemedon fleet at Anglagard. It was the most powerful fleet the UNS had ever had.

"Many thanks Wizr, for getting us this fleet." said Spamo to nobody in particular.

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

Wizr sat back in his diplomatic offices enjoying a chilled drink. A long day it had been, what with all political hubbub surrounding the impending invasion and the arrival of Ishiman aid. His door ponged with someone requesting entry. "Never a moments rest" said Wizr as he rose to get the door. It slid open to reaveal a short and nervous looking human.
"Ambassador? I have something for you..."

"Come in then. What have you then?"

"It's a message." The man shifted his feet and thrust his hands into his pockets.

"Well, don't take all day. What is it?"

The man pulled his hands out of his pockets and pointed a tiny hand-blaster at Wizr. "It's... You're killing us! They said that if you died than those robots wouldn't attack Sol. I'm sorry... I ... I have to do this..." with that he pointed his weapon at the Trey'ish.

Wizr was not one to be caught off guard. He flung himself sideways as the weapon discharged, with a roar "GUARDS!!" The nervous man trembled and almost dropped his weapon as he readjusted his aim for the Trey'ish. Wizr picked up a chair and flung it at the man as UNS guards charged into the room. The nervous man fired one last time as blasterfire cut him down where he stood. Wizr felt something tug at his side, and he was suddenly very dizzy. He sat down on the floor as a wetness spread from a wound in his lower body... the guards were shouting for someone, and another pressed some cloth to his wound. Pain lanced through Wizr's body, and then he knew no more.

(Don't worry, he's not dead. Have him wake up in a hospital slightly wounded, but ready to)
(be back at work in a day or so.)

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

Spamo recieved a message from the Obiards at 9 hours before departure. He read it over and smiled at the good news. Someone down below had the presence of mind to tell the Obiards to send the ships, just in case. Someone up there still likes me. thought Spamo. Obish ships would arrive in Sol within the next 3 hours. Plenty of time for them to be added to the fleet. Spamo quickly wrote a reply that the UNS would be more than willing to assist in purging the Ob-ka system once the threat to Sol had passed. He sent the message back on it's way to the Obish when his screen began beeping at him frantically. Frowning, Spamo opened the communication.

"Sir, the Ishiman Trey'ish has just been attacked. I thought it important that you were informed."

Spamo nearly fell out of his seat. "What!? Who attacked him? When? Is he alright? Give me details man!"

"The Trey'ish was attacked an hour ago by an single gunman. Apparently he had passed the guards as an official courier. His ID passed the security checkpoints. However, from the Trey'ish's account, he wasn't a very good assasin. And definitly not one that would be able to forge ID's to the quality we found."

"And the Trey'ish? His wounds?"

"Superficial. A minor wound to his torso, but the medical wing treated him. He's scheduled to be released within a few hours. He's asked to speak with you."

Spamo thought for a moment. "Yes, I shall see him. When?"

"I'll have a transport shuttle come pick you up now."

"Very good. Spann out."

Maybe Someone up there isn't as fond of me after all..
With that, Spamo strod out the door.

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

Year of Hell day 19

Captain's Log, U.N.S. Chimaera, Rear Admiral Levt in command.

_We've spent the last three days toiling through space at FTL, with us being out of jumpgate range and the Ishimans too cowardly to bring their Gateship into Audemedon Space.

We recently pierced the Audemedon Border and are now nearly eight lightyears where no sentient lifeform has been for the past eight-hundred years. The U.N.S. Calcutta has taken severe damage and requires temporary repairs. We've cleared out an asteroid belt and are currently hidden there while work on the Calcutta proceeds._

------------------
Never put all your ranking officers in a shuttle.

"Wizr... Maletena-Wizr... You look very unwell... What sort of trouble have you been getting yourself into now?"

He awoke from his lazy dozings, and found himself staring at Myrk, his second man, the Trey'eck of the Reestablishment comitee.

"Myrk? What are you doing out here?"

"Well, the Legislature insisted that somebody come to see that the Trey'sh was well cared for."

Wizr smiled at him weakly

"Good to see nobody's angry at me for annexing the UNS back home."

"Quite the contrary, I managed to use this assassination attempt to get another two heavy carrier battlegroups, and several squadrons of fighters. They're also considering sending a bunker station and astrominers to help Earth with the resource burden. My representatives are lobbying it as we speak."

"I see you have made quite good use of my misfortune..."

"Well, I learned from the master."

Myrk chuckled at his mentor, who now lay in bed, groggy and bandaged

"Well, nothing like an assassination attempt, to show you who your friends are."

"What is this? Number seven?"

"Eight."

"Yes, well the Legislature has decided not to let you risk your life on Earth anymore. The Gaath volunteered their best bodyguards to defend you-"

"The Gaath? I have Gaath Bodyguards? I must be really important..."

"Well their representative remembered your intervention during their reestablishment, he insisted. The rest of the legislature decided unanimously to confine you to your Carrier for all but the most important meetings."

"They do know that I'm a twelve hundred year old Trey'sh don't they? I mean I served with most of their grandparents. You don't get this old by dying each time someone pulls a gun on you."

"Aparrantly you've become a 'resource'"

"Wonderful..."

"Come on, we have a shuttle ready to take you up to you're new carrier, the ISN 9155041"

"They sent a 915 series carrier for me?"

"That's right, mixed crew, second best ship in the navy for the second best Trey'sh"

"Shut up and get me to my transport. oh, and fix me an appointment with Admiral Spann"

"You just don't rest, do you?"

"I don't need your insubordination Trey'eck..."

------------------
Faris eck Vaenar Maletena-Wizr, Trey'ish of the Ishiman reestablishment comittee.
"I don't think I'm alone when I say that I'd like to see more and more planets fall under the ruthless domination of our solar system."

(This message has been edited by Trey'sh Maletena Wizr (edited 01-02-2001).)

8 smiled as the Obish ships entered the system. He had already organized for the Starbeam to pick him up in-system; he could continue his quest another time. He was soon on the bridge of the Escort, preparing for the next mission.

(I haven't had time to read all of the above, and I must go. But I'll put this in as a placeholder.

------------------
Subcommander g'Var "8 Lightnings" Krai'un
Second in command of the Escort Starbeam.
"CRUISER DESTROYED. 91 remaining" -Ares, chapter 9, Hand Over Fist

Ambassador N'tek watched as the nine Obish ships slid ssmoothly into port behind him. He did not think bringing his personal flagship would be of much concern to the humans there (repulsers can only do so much, even when there are fifty of them). He stood to and exited the ship, ready to meet the delegation greeting him, newly appointed ambassador to the UNS. Dismissing the formalities and heading straight to the GTS Shuttle, he pondered over what would come next.

----------

"Shot!" N'tek exclaimed "What mean you that he was shot?"
"The Trey'sh was attacked by a lone gunman, minor injuries, but quite significant politically," replied the Eleejeetian ambassador. "Maybe Sol will not submit excuse me, accept Ishiman protection. They are a rather young and irrational race." Ambassador Orjos quickly jumped away from the subject, realizing Obain's own youth.
"But he is acceptable?"
"The English word would be fine, or OK, but the answer to your question is yes. The Trey'sh will recover quite soon. What we must worry about now is the Audemedons. They have continued to enroach upon human worlds, even taking some. And they still have access to their main jumpgate. They may soon send their fleet to Sol itself."
"Not acceptable, not acceptable. We must inhibit this approach. Escorts are ready for departure, armed. And we have brought a small resupply on my battleship."
"Thank Sevara for that. We need all possible here. possibly even your battleship."
"50 repulsers can not make that much of a difference."
"No, not true," Orjos said. "Every little thing we can get does."

------------------
-Pallas Athene of Dysian Beta, Obish Consensus Representative
-Nieru Dast, {M}ilitia Aeriane
-Danae Vernius
ThinkFish, and good things will come.

INCOMING TRANSMISSION - HIGH FREQUENCY TIGHT BEAM - FREQUENCY 39675348
SENDER: Bazidaneze Star League
SUBJECT: You're Invited
TO: Ishiman Stellar Protectorate, United Nations of Sol, Prophets of Salril, Audemedon Axis, Elejeetian Empire, Gaitori Union, Free Worlds of Obain, Cantharan Order

The Bazidaneze Star League will be hosting an arena-style game in the Free Trade Zone, to help keep the galactic peace, in light of the distressing Ares War. The rules are below:

1. All ships entering the arena will be rearmed with versions of their standard weapons that are non-damaging.

2. Only gunships and below will be allowed.

3. If a ship has taken enough "damage" to have it killed if the weapons did damage, it will need to leave.

4. Only 100 resources worth of ships per side.

5. When only one side remains, that side wins.

6. These are friendly games, so be nice.

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

INCOMING TRANSMISSION - HIGH FREQUENCY TIGHT BEAM - FREQUENCY 39675348
SENDER: Ishiman Stellar Protectorate
REPLY: You're Invited
TO: Bazidaneze Star League

Invitation Accepted.

------------------
"I think I have discovered the problem with humans. It is not entirely stupididy, as I once thought. It is their pigheaded and baseless philosophy: "If it isn't me, then it's opinions, feelings, and life do not matter, and it was meant to serve me." They also have this ability for creating excuses that are pointless, but they get others to believe it. A few examples: "It's only some savages. It's only five acres of rain forest. It's only one semi-truck. It's only fifty gallons of toxic waste..." After this realization, I marvelled at how humans, and the rest of the planet, have survived for so very long."
- Me