(APOLLO SYSTEM, FREE TRADE ZONE)

The end of the jumpgate was getting close. Soon, the Flamewave slipped out of the jumpgate, and set a course for the Cantharan trading post in the system. It was one of the more popular nearby trading posts, and had some history behind it. A long time ago, and Cantharan carrier had been exploring this area of the free trade zone when it got hit by an ion storm. A Cantharan trader had found it, disabled, and had converted it into a trading post. There was now a large network of tubes and docking rings and cargo pods built off the carrier, but the carrier itself was where all of the trading was done.

Mag was halfway to a nearby docking ring from the trio of jumpgate modules when a message came over his screen:

INCOMING TRANSMISSION NO KEY - NW2 BROAD BEAM
SOURCE: Cantharan Trading Post #984753 "Feather Arm of Zom"
All ships: Evacuate the system! A large incoming pirate fleet has an ETA of three minutes. The Gaitori Union has dispatched a fleet to help, but the pirate fleet will arrive two minutes before they do, and that is enough time for them to get your cargo. All ships: Evacuate the system, now!

Mag considered. The Ishiman Stellar Protectorate wanted him dead. As soon as the various trading posts in the Free Trade Zone found out, he wouldn't be able to trade, anymore. He'd have to do something to clear his name. The Flamewave came to a halt.

"Sir, what are you doing?" asked a Bazidaneze crew member.

"Everybody, hang on, we're in for a ride..."

-----------------
(ALPHA, SECRET UNS RESISTANCE BASE SOMEWHERE IN THE CARRIBEAN)

The three Irto Squadron fighters docked with Alpha. They'd just gotten back from another raid. The Resistance was extremely efficient with victories to losses, although they had so few victories that it didn't really matter. All they were was a thumbtack in the Axis' backside.

Ortinus felt especially weary as he got out of his fighter. He wondered how long it would be before the Protectorate retook this planet. He'd had several close calls, and didn't know if he'd be able to survive long enough to have an opportunity to get off. He headed for his quarters.

-----------------
(SIMLAB CLUSTER 239583, ZEUS SYSTEM)

A lone Cruiser patrolled the simlab cluster, darting this way and that in a randomized patrol pattern. Most of the crew inside wasn't even paying attention, as there had been no hostile ships near here recently, and the computer was doing all of the work.

A jumpgate opened near the simlab cluster, and a Gaitori heavy destroyer shot through it. The crew on the cruiser didn't even have time to realize what was going on before the cruiser was just so many pieces of absolute zero shrapnel. The destroyer docked with a simlab, and an elite infantry team got out.

Five minutes later, Admiral Carter was being hauled onto the destroyer. As soon as Admiral Carter and the infantry team had reentered the destroyer, it blasted away, though the jumpgate again, this time headed for Ishima.

------------------
"I am the supreme dictator of the universe, it's just that nobody knows about it yet."
"Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow."

The Schooner sped through the Nebula in a panicked flight, followed by three of the huge ships it had seen. On board, Darkk was cursing loudly as another beam hit, slamming into the side. They were herding him deeper into the nebula!

Darkk directly turned and started heading from the nebula when the lead pursuer fired a pair of beams directly into his path, as if to say don't go there.

(url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/slug1337/Pursuit.jpeg")(image)(/url)

Deeper and deeper into the thick clouds the schooner plowed....

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

Once again, Hillbilly and her squadron were sitting in their fighters, waiting for the Racker to come out of the Jumpstream. This time, they were hitting a system deep in Salrillian Space. It was a key industrial center, not of extensive military value, but tremendously valuable financially. The system was deep in Salrillian space, far away from the frontier, where all of their predictions had said the war would be fought. Because of this, emplaced defenses were largely absent in the system, and only a hastily assembled fleet was there to greet the four Rackers as they dropped out of the Jumstream and sped towards the largest defence station in the system. They had slowed from FTL and dropped their fighters in less than ten seconds. Carrying detailed plans, and large, guided neutron bombs, the fighters had already incapacitated the station by the time the Rackers made safe distance and readied their missile tubes.

Of the dozens of docked ships, only four cruisers managed to power up their reactors and clear the station before is superstructure began to collapse. As power failed on the station, the carriers and HVDs were trapped. Engineering crews scrambled to start up their reactors, a process that took hours without umbilical power, but it was hopeless. With their remaining bombs, the fighters made sure to knock out the larger ships while they were still powerless to defend themselves. Gunships and cruisers whose crews were still somewhat intact began to power up their smaller reactors to save their station, and the two carriers that were on patrol in the system FTLed in to save what was left of their station. They thought they had succeeded in driving off the intruders when the fighters broke off their attack, and the ships that had been out on patrol rushed to rally around and defend the carriers that were picking up survivors from the base as it came to pieces. The carriers had launched all their fighters, and they were trying to chase down the missiles that continued to pester the defense fleet from the Rackers. As several cruisers and gunships broke off to stop them, Sixteen thermonuclear missiles that had somehow been mixed in with the rest tore through what was left of the base and detonated, turning the remaining two carriers and their escorts into an atomic fireball.

The four Rackers superlighted back to their fighters, quickly docked them, and then they split up, each taking it upon themselves to wreck beyond repair a group of power stations or an orbital construction facility, or some other important production facility. In another half an hour, the remaining defenses were obliterated, along with most of the production facilities in the system. The four squadrons met up again to destroy the jumpgate, before retourning to their Rackers for the final time, and being extracted by the Ishiman Gateship. By the time Hillbilly and her squadronmates were debriefing, the mission clock was just clicking past half an hour.

------------------
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."

(APOLLO SYSTEM, FREE TRADE ZONE)

The pirate fleet had been a group of eight modified Gaitori cruisers. A few of them had extremely powerful engines, and Mag had to keep superlighting to get away from them. There were now two cruisers left. Mag fired another salvo of concussion missiles from behind the station. One left, now. It ran to the trio of jumpgate modules in the system, and soon dissapeared.

Mag then requested docking clearance.

----------------
(ISHIMA SYSTEM, ISHIMAN STELLAR PROTECTORATE)

The Gaitori heavy destroyer landed outside of the UNS headquarters, and the crew escorted Admiral Carter to the door. The guards opened the door immediately, and they entered.

After Admiral Carter had written a report on his abduction and sent it in, he noticed that the Gaitori were still there.

"Um, yes?"

"We were wondering if you could arrange for a meeting between our captain and an Admiral Jackson Spann."

"For what purpose?"

"The Gaitori Union would like to form an alliance with the United Nations of Sol."

(Spamo, you continue this. The Gaitori want an alliance because the UNS has had luck in not cooperating with the Cantharans, and they're getting tired of being stepped on.)

------------------
"I am the supreme dictator of the universe, it's just that nobody knows about it yet."
"Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow."

Lietenant Stanley opened the airlock, revealing the wet, shivering man, curled in a fetal position. He grabbed him by the collar and hauled him out of the water and dropped him onto the hard metal deck. The man's breatheing was ragged, and he was shivering uncontollably. As Alistair dragged him to his feet, he saw the other man in the room. He knew him as one of his best friends, Rick, but here he was, wearing a submariner's uniform smiling coyly, almost laughing, his arms crossed revealing his nametag "Johnson". After what had felt like days in the pitch black freezing cold, he couldn't take it. He tried to collapse again, but Alistair held him in place as he retched, then he dropped him to the floor, sobbing.

"Why did you do it, hm? That's all I want to know. Come on, tell me, and this will all go away. I'm a reasonable man, tell me."

Agent Johnson walked up and stood over him, carefully avoiding the puddle of vomit with his leather boots. The man could barely focus his eyes, he looked up at the agent he had trusted. Through his chattering teeth, he swore at him.

"Then you want to go back into the airlock? This time, we won't let you out. Put him in, Lieutenant."

"Right ho."

Alistair grabbed grabbed the man by the back of his shirt and started to lift him up, but he grabbed the grate on the floor and began shrieking. Long, high-pitched wails. Alistair jerked his hands free of the floor and hauled him back to the airlock. He began begging.

"Please! God, no! Not again! I'll do anything! I'll tell you everything! Please no! Have mercy!"

Alistair stopped and looked at him, then at Johnson.

"He's lying. I can tell. Put him in."

The man started screaming again, pleading. Johnson stopped Lt. Stanley.

"Fine. Put him in a cell, and guard him. I'll talk to him later."

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

Wizr was considering the consequences. If word got out that Humans were engageing in large scale genocide, espescially ones so well-equipped as these, it would be horrendous. It didn't matter if they were affiliated with the UNS or not, the legislature would cut aid. They might even declare war on them! It would be a fiasco, and worst of all, he would be trapped right in the middle of it. He would have to conceal it. He couldn't let it get out, and he couldn't let on that they were actually making use of these humans to liberate Earth. He had to play down the reports, and get his friends in the information committee to cover it up for him. He didn't have much of a choice.

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

Pharris was getting closer and closer to finishing reactivation of Audemed, and Audemed was preparing Pharris for liberation. Pharris had covered for the tremendous construction project, saying that he had plans to design a new class of carrier, and the Slug had appeared to accept it, but Pharris thought he could tell that he was getting nervous.

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

Ssinevex was nervous. There was something afoot, he could tell, but he couldn't be sure. The tremendous activity could simply be a side effect of Pharris' obsession with designing a ship, but it could be more. Maybe the Net had been right, maybe Pharris was about to crack. He couldn't let that happen. He'd have to deactivate Pharris and replace him, but he'd have to find a replacement. He'd call into Salril and request a fresh batch of Humans to prep for the interface. Pharris, the A specimine, was soon to be done. It was a pity, he had been quite successful.

------------------
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."

INCOMING MAIL
SOURCE: Grand Admiral Gerald Levt, C.S.S. Chimaera
DESTINATION: Admiral Jackson Spann, U.N.S. Centauri

I'm not going to sugarcoat this for you as the Ishimans often do, Jack, the UNS is falling apart. Nearly every former UNS province not under Audemedon control has either gone rogue or secceeded from the union. You've had to resort to emergency blood pacts with aliens for god's sake! The Ishimans are in a state of panic about the Audemedons and Earth is still far, far away as long as we contunie to put our trust in these cowards.

Despite your inferiority and blind traditions, it is obvious that we share the same vision right now: Taking back our homeworld. My armada in the (classified) is fully prepared and ready for combat; the last capital ships joined us this morning. With our combined forces and a few of your dirty allies, it is possible to surprise the prophets and their robotic lapdogs and end this war quickly and efficiently.

Our enemy are legion in the hundreds of thousands, so our moves must be swift, and daring. I will need your full cooperation, Spann, lest we both be dashed upon the rocks. Join me, Spann, and see the true power of the U.H.C.

Sincerely,

Grand Admiral Gerald Levt,
C.S.S. Chimaera,
United Human Confederacy

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

Spamo fumed.

Things had been going so well for a while that he had forgotten what it was like to have events turn their bad side towards him. Though, it wasn't a total loss. The raids on Salrillian space were going well, and the newest R&D; ships named "rackers" were wreacking havoc among the Salrillians. Of course, there were some losses...

Spamo shook his head. He couldn't think about that right now. That damn fool Levt was a bigger problem. What does that madman have on his mind?
Levt had not replied to Spamo's recent communiques. It was if he was acting totally independent of the UNS. Of course he's acting independently. He's gone crazy. Wizr's reaction to the news that Levt had gone off the deep end and was now bent on genocide was bad to say the least. Spamo had been told right out that affiliation with Levt may cause the Ishimans to withdraw aid. They woudln't consort with races that committed genocide.
Damn Levt. Damn him! I should have sent him on leave when he got back. Now I've got a potential war criminal on my hand. Why hasn't Darkk gotten me that info yet?
Spamo was still musing about this when his pad bleeped at him.

"Spann here."

"Sir, I have a priority diplomatic message for you."

"Send it through."

The pad went dark, and then the insectile visage of a Gaitori appeared on the screen. Spamo barely contained his surprise, which was quickly followed by suspicion.

"Adtmiral Spann, we thank you for recieving us. I am General Irt'yat't'hat"

Spann raised an eyebrow before responding.
"Yes, General, what can I do for you?"

"We the Gaitori have been downtrodden for several centuries. Our fall from grace long ago has been one we have never recovered from. Foremost, our passive oppressors have been the Cantharans. For long we have feared of Cantharan reprisal, but humans have defied them and succeeded."

"Our success has been quite costly."

"No price is too high for our dignity as a race to be restored. We would join an alliance with the UNS. Perhaps then, with your help we can regain our lost face."

Spamo thought for a moment.
This could be a good thing... the Obiards might have a problem with it...

"Yes General, I think we should talk about this alliance."

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

"All right, let's show these b*stards what the Outrun can do!"
Suddely Darkk kicked in maximum power, turned around, and skirted the web of beams his pursuers had shot at him in an attempt to force him to keep going into the nebula.

"Send a message on all frequencies, no encryption, in ASCI text only: 'You guys aren't so hot. Be seeing you.'"
"Rodger that, boss-man. Hehe, we sure are annoying them."
"Imagine those hulking lummoxes thinking they could keep up with me!"
"Um, sir - what about the wing of fighters ahead?"
"We fly right past them. Our acceleration is probably twice theirs or more. They can't touch this ship, even if we can't fight back."
The Outrun blasted through the fighters, ramming one, tumbling for a few seconds while beams whizzed past, and then continuing on its way.

"I meant to do that."
"Whatever you say, boss."
"No, really - it was the most efficient method of dodging all those beams - far more random than mere piloting could make it. I do nothing without purpose in battle - never forget that."

NAV DELTA TIGHT BEAM
DARKKNN MODE 14 ENCRYPTION, SECONDARY RSA 65536 ENCODING
FROM: William Darkk
TO: Fleet Adm Jackson Spann
CONTENT:
Spamo, this is BAD. Slug's got himself a grade AAA armada. I've got no clue how he got it - the ships were made by humans - nobody else's ships sound like that - but they are far more advanced than most of the UNS's. There's no way he could have built them all that fast, it's as though they dropped in through a hole in space from another universe or something. The interesting thing is that the pilots of the 4.5km carriers (see attachment) don't consider their ships that big, if the way their tactics rise and fall in pitch is anything to go by. All of this is quite disturbing. There's easily a full fleet's worth, and maybe more, there, and the possiblity of larger ships is most nagging. It is possible that said larger ships are not present here, or only exist on the simulators, but he still has enough firepower to realize most of his claims. BE CAREFUL. As always recently, Sarah says "hi".
ATTATCHMENT: Sensor Log 364
RECIEVE VERIFIED
HAVE A NICE DAY

------------------
Formerly-Rampant Human-Coded AI

(This message has been edited by Fleet Admiral Darkk (edited 02-12-2001).)

INCOMING TRANSMISSION - PRIORITY ALPHA
SOURCE: Grand Admiral Gerald Levt, C.S.S. Chimaera II
RECPIENT: Admiral Jackson Spann, U.N.S. Mobile Headquarters

_The UNS lies on it's deathbed and still you procrastonate! You have yet to launch any signs of an offensive on the Audemedons, choosing instead to seek out friendship the weakest and most desperate aliens, as they are the only ones who will join your cause.

Your prejudeces are blocking you from our aid which we have offered dozens of times, as well as a pact of alliance. The Deal is off, Spann.

Clearly Humanity is split into two factions now: The glorious UHC and the floundering UNS. We're both powerfull, and we both want to be the dominant. I offer this proposal to you, Jackson: we shall both independently strike into Audemedon space. Whoever is the first to force the Audemedon surrender at Earth can use the planet as their homeworld.

Looks like we have a space race. Good Hunting!_

<EOT>

- - - - -

Jerry Levt grinned broadly. He sat aboard the bridge of the newely rechristened command ship Chimaera II , having acquired a preference to it over the ancient former UNS carrier.

He rolled his fingers into the luxurious fabric that made up the captain's chair. He savored the awkward silence that engulfed the fleet, now poised on the edge of the nebula, ready for quasiwarp. He leisurely pulled down the Stellar Chart and selected the system which would mark the first checkpoint for his leg of the race. He was significantly farther from Earth than Spamo was, and would need to move quickly if he was to reach the prize first: Earth.

He cleared his throat and flicked a speck of dust from his broad chin. He breathed slowly in through his nose and finally, after a full minute of deafening silence in the fleet, said "Salril Prime: Engage"

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

"This is a serious problem, Spann. The Gaitori alliance is surprisingly good news. I think I can get foreign affairs to begin working with them very quickly, unless you would rather take care of the treaty yourself, I could act as an advisor to you, and I can also attempt to pacify the Obiards to some extent. With the Cantharaans tied down until they build another gateship, the Gaitori could become a strong and willing candidate for protectorate status, if in name only, as they would be doing quite a bit of the attacking. Imagine if we could quell Cantharis. It would be amazing! Of course, how you handle this is entirely up to you, we can keep it within the UNS if necessary.

As for these Humans that Levt has rallied, I can harly say that they are a good thing. Not just for the protectorate status of the UNS, but possibly for the survival of the Human race in general. The Human Confederacy will have a tough time trying to take out any of the major powers, even with their impressive technology. They may only succeed in angering the entire Spiral Arm. I have read histories of the races joining together as a glaxy against universally hostile forces like this one. It is not going to be good for Humans to carry any assosciation with any sort of racially motivated attacks. Even if the UHC and the UNS remain separate, many people will not bother to distinguish. Many races still don't see the difference between governments, they see individual races. The Protectorate is rare in that it is thoroughly mixed, but the legislature still may not take kindly to trouble caused by any humans, which is why I caution you about accepting their aid. Naturally, there is little I can actually do to stop you, and they certainly make an attractive offer, but there may be consequences... I don't know what to suggest, it certainly has me in a tight spot... its so bizzare, where could they have come from?"

Wizr stopped free assosciating as he continued reading Darkk's briefing, and sipping his tea.

------------------
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."