Rebirth (Original-Free Federation)

[White Haven]

That's why I was thinking sorcerous manipulation of electromagnetics, to take advantage of the iron-alloy hulls of their opponents. But whatever it is, I'm sure it'll rock.

[Imperial Overlord]

That's why I was thinking sorcerous manipulation of electromagnetics, to take advantage of the iron-alloy hulls of their opponents. But whatever it is, I'm sure it'll rock.

Ahh. I misunderstood you. While not impossible, the energy sinks and force fields will make that difficult. Of course, with some of the most powerful sorcerers in known space on the other side, its not out of the question.

[Imperial Overlord]

Karsa Enclave
Terra
United States of America

Lamech looked around, humming to himself a tune in a language that was more than four thousand years dead. The Karsa had chosen a nice little mansion for themselves and it was a beautiful day. Too bright for his engineered eyes, but shield magics or simple sun glasses could take care of that. Multilayered shields with a stealthing outer layer attenuated the incoming sunlight into something that would not eventually burn away his too sensitive skin. It would have been nice of the Kordassi to have been able to finish fine tuning their work on vampires before the Devourers came and issued in an era of interstellar barbarism twenty millenia ago, but not to be.

The doors swung open at his approach. The von Karstiens, as the Terran branch of the family had been called for the last millenia or so, were lining up to great him. They were not his descendants, but the ties between them were close. They had fought the Night Prince and Rhavan Hellborn on Earth and later they had crushed the Slaver Lords in a long and bloody war.

They were pale, like most vampires not trying to change their appearance, and predominately dark haired. The dress leaned to expensive casual. Lamech himself was wearing dark pants and a dark blue shirt. "My friends, it is good to see you again."

"A shared pleasure," said Istvan, who had helped in running down Slaver operations on Earth after the Resurgency. "The eldest are stirring from their long sleep. The will soon arise and greet you properly."

"I will be pleased to speak with them again."

"Please, join us within great lord." Lamech inclined his head respectfully and the crowd of vampires and semi-vampires parted to admit the eldest of all vampires to the house. Several children rubber necked as he came in.

"Witch Hunter Overcommander."

Varidan Reeze bowed low. "Savior of Earth. I am honoured you remember me."

The vampire smiled at the Reeze's choice of title. "False modesty is inappropriate overcommander. Your tenure as Kane's Hand alone would make you memorable let alone your ability to defeat The Killing Machine in hand to hand combat."

"Against Zahn I had a few victories and a great number of defeats," said Reeze.

"You chose neutrality."

"I did. I was already on Terra and felt no compulsion to end my life here in favor of spilling Free Federation blood. I slept badly enough as it was."

"And now?"

"I remember the Grand Alliance as it was. What the Free Federation has become is not what I lead men and women to their deaths to defend."

"So what now, Varidan Reeze?"

"May I die in harness."

Lamech smiled. "I thought that would be your answer. Now sleep. We will speak again when you awaken." The former Internal Security agent collapsed bonelessly, but was caught by an invisible force. "I need a private room with a bed or a couch," said Lamech. "I have work to do."

Reaver class Battlecruiser Kinstrife
Deep Space
Near Free Federation Space


The shroud dropped. A host of different sensors gathered data on the ships as they began to accelerate toward Battle Squadron Terrible. The data and computer extrapolations based upon it raced up Battlecommander Vok's links. His mouth went dry. "Verify sensor results," he commanded.

"Verifying," said Captain Elena Suul. There was a long pause. "Results confirmed. Four battlecruisers, Reaver derivations, and the Sun Eater. All have active energy sinks, force fields, and shields. They are engaging in jamming."

"Coms signal from the Sun Eater," said Lantros.

"Put it through," said Vok.

The black armoured form of a Zarkos Elvindar warlord formed in front of Vok. Savaya ith Kazasan was not wearing her blade crowned helmet, revealing the cruel and alien beauty of her features. "Out of love for my consorts and our children, I offer you mercy in the name of the Grand Alliance. Surrender now and you will be treated well and without vengeance or cruelty. You are outmatched and serve masters unworthy of loyalty. Refuse my offer at your own peril."

"The navy of the Free Federation does not surrender to murderous witches, no matter who they may be sleeping with. Your offer is rejected."

"The Free Federation is dead," Savaya replied coldly. "It's killers wear its corpse as a disguise. It falls upon the Lords of Darkhold to perform the necessary resurrection." The communication ended.

Vok licked his lips and studied the projection of the Sun Eater. The largest warship ever fielded by a Zarkos Elvindar house, the monster ship was two slim warcruiser hulls projecting from a central engineering section like two tines of a fork. The monster ship was a little over three kilometers in length and possessed the blade-like radiator fins used as heat dumps by the Zarkos for their high capacity energy sinks. There was the small mercy of the ship not being adamantium hulled, but that was more than offset by the reinforcing and protective runes all over the ship's armour and superstructure. Only Daemonstraum's command ship, the Enslaver, was larger and more fearsome.

"Target the Reavers," Vok ordered. "We'll take the easy kills and strip her of her escorts and then finish her." He tried to sound confident. He didn't feel it.

[Imperial Overlord]

Shadowcatch
The Spike
Free Federation Space


"Alright," said Overcommander Vorlar Kadril, "some of you are new. There are two reasons why there are so many new people in the room. The good reason is that this unit is expanding. The bad news is that Legate Zahn, bloodnamed The Killing Machine, opened a few spots in this unit the hard way. This isn't a safe assignment ladies and gentlemen. Darkhold's lords are killable, but they tend to go down hard and that's who we are after."

"Hopefully not all of them," said Rike from the back of the command center.

"That's Rike, Slayers' Guild and his crew. He graduated from Darkhold with the fancy death head neck tabs back before the Civil War. He's killed honest to God Slaver Lords. He also remembers that the good old days were better than what we have now, so he doesn't exactly love us." That brought out a low chuckle from the room. "Seriously, he hates our guts but knows his shit."

"The general situation is this: the Black are coming back, in strength. They're dropping the hammer all over the place and showing the flag. They've been pretty careful to avoid collateral damage, not counting the whole Babylon Towers bullshit."

"You mean your Babylon Towers bullshit," said Rike.

"That's not what the media says," said Kadril.

"The mainstream media is all owned by the corporations who half own your politicians, excepting our beloved President of the Senate who happens to be both mogul and politician, combing both halves of the ruling rot in one corrupt whole. There credibility is low. Net gossip and underground fingers the Directorate, as do conspiracy loonies. They're actually getting traction with this, because they actually have supporting evidence of this since it happens to be the truth. Fearless leader here tried to ex out The Killing Machine with orbital weapons. And fucked it up."

"Enough," said Vorlar. "Rike doesn't exactly love this assignment. He does have a point. The Black has been leaving witnesses and minimizing collateral. Mainstream media sources have low credibility at the moment. They're trying to manufacture discontent. The navy's running down their forward operating positions, we have to shut down their underground operations and stop their strikes."

"Why can't we run them down in the Between?" asked a sithi with a captain's insignia.

"Because the Between ain't empty," said a man with the diagonal hash marks of banner sergeant. "Ain't just the natives either. There's weak spots in some of the borders with a few hells. There's a reason only heavy hitters travel very far through the Between."

"That's half of it," said Kadril. "The other is that we've been taking losses from the Black when we try to pursue through it. The Demon Wolf pack and the Guardians of the Black Throne." The room stirred uneasily. "Yeah, its not exactly good news propaganda wise that Zerakis has taken sides and it ain't with us, but that's not much of a surprise. Not our worst problem." He flicked on a holo display. A logo floated in mid air.

"Transtream Transportation, a Black shell company set up over a decade ago mostly by apparent immigrants from Elvindar and Terrani space as well as a few locals. Agents travelled all over the place, made contacts and came into close proximity with all sorts of prominent people." More names spawned in thin air, names of important and powerful companies, corporations, and politicians. "Then, of course, is the people they then came in contact with." The names continued to multiply, filling the air.

"Yeah, that's a lot and too many of them are far too important. The Directorate has to investigate all of these possibilities and go hard at them. That's going to eat up manpower, hinder a lot of operations, and piss off a lot of powerful people. That might even be the whole point of the damn op. We're taking hits people and that's gotta end or the bosses are going to graveyard us, or our careers, faster than Black assassins."

Super Dreadnought Sun Eater
Deep Space
Outside Free Federation Space


Savaya locked her helmet into place. "Bring the shields, force fields, and energy sinks to full combat status. Power to all guns, set them cycle at maximum sustainable rate at maximum power. Activate both bores. Status on arcana chambers?"

"All three manned and standing by," said Kerlaros.

"First is to reinforce the shields. Second and third are to stand by for offensive action. Status on the hell furnace?"

"Normal output," said Kerlaros. "As expected. It's not like we didn't test this hag thoroughly."

"First time in combat is first time in combat, brother mine. Even if my beloved husband had his hand in its design." She checked the range. They were outside the normal edge of effective long range combat. "Begin firing with the mains. Split fire against those Slaver battleship knock offs. Hold the bores in reserve. All Reavers, target and kill a ship. Leave the Reapers for last."

Massive turrets holding ship killing variable frequency lasers shifted towards their assigned targets. Firing at maximum power, invisible beams streaked through space at distant targets. More than half of the beams struck home with brilliant flashes as force fields deflected and attenuated part of the beams.

The remaining energy was mostly absorbed by energy sinks and distributed in a shell around the ship to be radiated away. So powerful were the Sun Eater's guns that even at this range that wasn't enough to stop the beams. The last layer of defence, shields generated through an arcanetech network of mage crafted generators powered by the starship's enhanced fuse reactors. The shield network was pushed to near critical levels by the strikes.

The waste heat as a percentage of energy expended in powering the guns was minimal, the total amount was immense. Arcanetech coolers, energy sinks, and dumps to the main energy sink field bled most of it away quickly. Ten seconds later the guns were ready to fire again.

[Imperial Overlord]

Super Dreadnought Sun Eater
Deep Space
Outside Free Federation Space

Savaya watched the data stream. "Reapers, halve acceleration. Kill the small fry." The other two squadrons were almost within range. "Leave the battleships and the Reavers to us. Guns, continue on the battleships."

Invisible beams from the Reavers' knifed into the cruiser and destroyer escorts. The weaker force fields of the smaller vessels did little to deflect full power blasts from guns built to wreck the mightiest ships in the Naomar Kordassi fleet. Energy sinks were pushed towards overload and the shields were near collapse. The ships hadn't even entered missile range yet.

The Reavers' soaked up the counter fire with little difficulty. They had the force fields and energy sinks of their Reaver origins coupled to a superior shield network and power plant. It would need more than a few long range shots from inferior vessels to collapse their defences.

The Sun Eater's guns fired, cooled and recharged, and fired again. Beams even more powerful than the Reavers' smashed through force field's in brilliant flashes of light. The beam's fury was only partially absorbed by the taxed energy sinks and the the punched through the failing shields. Steel vaporized under their hellish fury as the Sun Eater's guns left their mark on the battleships' armour. "Burn through," said Kerlaros, a slight smile on his face. "No armour penetration."

"Mundane steel," said Savaya dismissively. "Gut them and bring the bow to bear on one of those cruisers. That one," she said touching an indicator glyph floating around here. "It's been getting off lightly." She watched the range indicators. They were nearing the edge of the missile envelope. "Both bores."

The Sun Eater's guns continued firing. The reduced range meant less energy was being scattered away by the force fields. Straining energy sinks only absorbed a fraction of the beams' energy and the tatters of the regenerating shield network provided almost no defence at all. The guns tore holes in armour and blasted open compartments as well as wrecking energy sinks, field generators, shield wardnodes, sensors, point defence clusters, and a main gun battery.

Extreme range fire struck the Reavers, increasing the load on their energy sink networks but failing to damage the ships. "Sister dearest," said Kerlaros archly, "we appear to be taking additional fire. And entering missile range."

"The bow is aligned," said Yestren from a console niche ahead and slightly to the left of the two senior members of House Merezen's ruling cabal. "Awaiting your will."

The Sun Eater's guns fired again. The damaged battleships were even more vulnerable to the Zarkos Elvindar warship's heavy guns. They tore massive wounds in armour, wrecking weapons and defences as well as killing hundred and ravaging power transmission and life support systems. Wreckage and atmosphere spilled from the wounded ships. Savaya watched the image as her helmet projected it onto her eyes. "Guns, gut the battleships and finish them." She paused for brief moment as targeting data scrolled. "Murder the cruiser," she ordered.

Kilometer long linear accelerators fired in each of Sun Eater's bows. Two slugs of blue-white hell, glowing like stars, flew through space at a substantial fraction of the speed of light before smashing into the lightly damaged cruiser. A shell of expanding plasma and white hot metal lit the void where the cruiser had once been.

Cruel laughter drifted across the Sun Eater's command deck as the Zarkos Elvindar celebrated the kill. "So much for the Dragon's Teeth," said Kerlaros. "Launch missiles and finish the wounded."

The Reavers fired their own spinal mounted accelerators at heavily damaged cruisers and destroyers as their heavy turrets continued their murderous work. Magnetic accelerators from the Reavers and the Sun Eater flung missiles out of tubes and into space with more than enough kinetic energy to be fearsome weapons in their own right. Fusion drives kicked in and drove them towards their wounded targets.

"I taste blood on my tongue and laugh," Kerlaros quoted softly. "I raise my knife and murder worlds. My blood is fire and my malice is ice. I am Zarkos. Fear me."


Karsa Enclave
Terra
United States of America


Elizabeth slipped into the room with stealth a cat would envy. Varidan was sleeping on a couch and Lamech was in a chair beside him. The Eldest of All Dragons turned his head slightly. "I see you."

Elizabeth abandoned stealth. She craned he neck for a better view. "You made him young again."

"Yes," said Lamech, "I did."

"Was it hard?"

"You are a very impertinent child."

"That's not an answer."

"No it isn't. Yes, it's very hard. You probably won't be able to do it. Most vampires never can."

She padded closer for a better look. "Why did you put him to sleep?"

"Because widespread mass alterations hurt," he said. "And then there's shock to the system. Better for him to wake up young and pain free than be conscious through that hell. The end result is pretty nice though."

"So what now?"

"I travel with the deadliest assassin of his generation for the rest of the trip. You are nosy."

"Yes."

"Are you indulged in everything?"

"Just about."

"I think you're not being entirely truthful."

"I don't ask for more than I think I can get."

"Clever girl."

"Yes. Can I ask a question?"

"By all means."

"Do you remember being human? What it was like?"

"Yes I do," said Lamech. "Being dull, weak, and frail. Cold and hungry too much of the time. And afraid. Afraid of so many things and understanding so little."

"You didn't like it."

"Compared to how I am now? Of course I don't like it."

"So you're grateful for what happened to you?"

"Now that I understand, yes."

"Was it scary?"

"It was terrifying. Bright flash of light and I end up strapped to a metal table with all sorts of stuff getting pumped into my body and frog demons prancing around. Of course, considering the events of the time, the whole spiral arm should be grateful that things worked out the way they did."

"Well, you didn't save civilization. Or the kith."

"Too late for that. The Devourers were already slaughtering everything by the time we were ready to fight. Collapse was inevitable, if we won. And if we lost, well no one was going to be left to worry about things like that. Those were bad days."

"But you won."

"We did. The kith were exterminated. The sithi and kordassi civilizations fell and it was thousands of years before they got into space again. A hundred of us walked onto the Anvil, seven walked back. The best of us we left behind as dust and none of my friends left. We came back to an Earth alienated from everything we had ever known."

"That sucks," she said.

"So do we."

"That's an awful joke."

"You have an eternity to hear a thousand bad variations on it. Better start developing a thick skin now."

"That's not fair."

"I too said that as a child."

"What did your parents say to that?"

"Fairness is in the hands of the gods."

"That's not an answer."

"I didn't like it either." He shrugged. "Still, the occasional bad joke isn't that much to put up with when its packaged with god-like power."

"True."

[Imperial Overlord]

Reaver class Battlecruiser Kinstrife
Deep Space
Near Free Federation Space


Vok watched Terrible's squadron die under the awful fury of the spinal mounts and swarming missiles. Only Terrible itself remained. "Get me analysis on those weapons," he croaked. Somehow his throat had gone terribly dry. Spectragraphic and divinitory data flashed in front of his eyes.

"Preliminary results confirm that the spinal mounts are havoc blast generators," said Captain Elena Suul. "The results are inconsistent with any other kind of weapon. It appears the Black have overcome the difficulties in producing reliable arcanetech havoc generators. The energy required to charge the guns and maintain force fields and shields at those levels-"

"are beyond the means of conventional power generation, especially these havoc generators." The Sun Eater was now leading the attack, her ship killing guns flaying the closest targets while the Reavers trailed behind her, their own guns hammering the ships of Remembrance's squadron. Two blue-white beams flashed from the Sun Eater and a single beam from each of the Reapers. The disruptor beams stripped the Terrible of her defences and ravaged her sensors and weapon systems.

Sun Eater drank in the incoming fire that came her way, most it being deflected by her force fields. The monster vessels energy sinks slowly filled with absorbed energy as steel flashed into vapor under the hammer of her guns. More fire went out at the Reapers, but they were further away and harder targets. Data streaming from Terrible had dropped to nothing, but sensor and actuality sphere data showed the ship to have been crippled by the massed disruptor beams. The Reaver was now a minor threat at most, until that damage was repaired, and a prime target for boarding and capture.

Vok consulted the data display. He signaled Forcecommander Hssesu Sleen in command of the destroyer Rapid. "Forcecommander you are ordered to make an immediate retreat out of the combat zone until you are free to jump back to Free Federation Space and report our fate and all data of this encounter to naval high command."

The link crackled. "Understood battlecommander. We are beginning our withdrawal. Good luck."

"Good speed Rapid." On the display ahead Sun Eater drank down more fire, her energy sinks glowing on the infrared, and struck back with a volley that gutted the strike cruiser Sabre. He activated the general channel. "All ships, hold the line. We have to buy time." The Sun Eater entered the edge of the missile envelope. Missiles launched from scores of tubes as Vok watched the beginning of the end.


The Roost Restaurant
Chicago
Terra
The United States of America


Dana Silverman walked into the roof top restaurant. The maitre d' greeted her. "Silverman, party of two," she said. The place was dimly lit and offered a great view of downtown Chicago, which was half of this place's appeal. The other was that it deliberately catered to vampires, which made this an unusual choice for von Karstein.

"This way ma'am," the maitre d' said, pointing her towards the windows at the northern edge of the restaurant. There was no sign of the vampire and no empty table either. Her heart almost stopped when she saw who the maitre d' was leading her to.

"Christ," she whispered.

"Loki, actually," said Lamech. The Lord of Earth was wearing a dark suit with no tie and a shirt of dark red silk. "Sit down, there a few things that need to be communicated to your superiors."

"Where is von Karstein?"

"Gone, like the rest of the his family. And my soldiers. And a fair chunk of the most powerful of the remaining elders. Except for the ones who are in cozy with Mother Russia."

"What? Slow down and start again."

"Certainly," said Lamech. He took a drink from thick, blood red concoction in a tall crystal glass. The vampire then took a bite from what appeared to be a bloody variation of steak tartare. "Go ahead and order something. The human food is excellent, although not at all nourishing for those of my ilk."

Dana took a deep breath. "You said you were leaving."

"Those of my blood and the von Karsteins are leaving. Some others will be joining us. You will find that the balance of power will have drastically slipped to favor your government. I would suggest some means of letting the rest come in from the cold would be the best way to go."

"I'll pass that along to my superiors," she said as she waved away the waiter.

"You really should eat something."

She pulled out her phone. "Excuse me-"

"No," he said. "Stay. You're not phoning anyone until I'm gone."

"You're not serious."

"Your security leaks like a sieve," said Lamech. "Well, maybe not quite that bad. And the Directorate has assassins on world. So you can obey or I can paralyze you. Your choice."

She sat down. There was no point in arguing with him. "So you're taking them with you to fight in the war?"

"Mostly von Karsteins and my people. A few old fossils who aren't fitting in, a few others here and there. The part that matters to you is that all the powerful ones that aren't working for the Russians are going. No more stand off." He sipped his drink. "You'll be rid of us. After the last little odds and ends are tied off, the destiny of Earth will be entirely in the hands of its baseline inhabitants. It's pretty much the cruelest punishment I can think off. Try not to fuck up the planet too badly, I still like to visit on occasion."

"My superiors will want to speak with you."

"What on Earth gives you the idea that I want to speak with a couple of Intelligence apparatchiks who will be busy massaging the results so it fits the preconceptions of their superiors?"

"I wasn't speaking of them. I meant the president." At least that was what her standing orders were, on the unlikely event that she ever met him. She hadn't seriously imagined she was ever going to convey the offer.

Lamech cocked his head. "I suppose I could make time for him. Set it up. I'll be in touch."

"Sure," she said. "I speak with him all the time," she said sarcastically. "No problem."

"I'm sure you'll manage," he said. "After all, its not everyday that your president gets to speak to someone with real power."

[Imperial Overlord]

Reaver class Battlecruiser Kinstrife
Deep Space
Near Free Federation Space


"Exit pulse from Rapid," said Elena Suul. "They made it."

"Good," said Vok. His eyes flickered to the tactical display. Remembrance and Terrible drifted, the victims of disruptor fire that stripped their defences and forced Between intrusions, overmastering the D-blockers with close proximity and brute force.. Vok had a pretty good idea about what meant to the calibre of the sorcerers on they faced. Every other ship was scrap or vapor. They weren't prizes the Black considered worth capturing.

"I'm proud to served with all of you," Vok said. Gods, it felt weak. Sounded weak too. He struggled to find better words. Eyes all over the bridge turned towards him, trying to ignore what was happening at the adamantium blast door behind him. "You have done the Free Federation and the Navy proud."

There was loud clang as most of the door fell inwards. Five figures in night black armour, the three in the center wearing Zarkos Elvindar style battle armour and carrying beam lances, and the two flankers wearing adamantium rune plate. All of them wore shadow cloaks and carried various bladed implements of mayhem. Insignia glittered on their armour, the memory materials bright now that stealth didn't matter. The inverted golden triangle of the Grand Alliance, the crossed sword breakers of the e'Incaradine, and the stylized dragon pictogram of House Zerell.

The leader spoke. The voice was clearly female. "Your ship is taken. Surrender or die, your choice. Either way your secrets are lost."

Elena Suul replied with commendable spirit, if nothing else. "Get raped you Slaver-" A green nimbus haloed the hand of the man on the far left. Suul slumped, her heart, lungs, spleen, and brain scrambled by the rupture bolt.

"We've left a lot of your crew mates dead on the deck," the woman continued, "you may join them if that is your wish."

"No," said Vok. "I am Battlecommander Jochin Vok. Your leaders will want me, I expect. I want my people treated well."

"The pups will get a comfortable kennel," said the woman on the far right. This got her several hard looks from the bridge crew.

The one in the center spoke again. "We have come to rebuild paradise, not stock the dungeons of hell. They will be shown compassion and will not be forced to yield their dignity or their honour."

Vok nodded in acceptance. "Do with me as you will."


White House
Terra
United States of America


The Secret Service agent approached Lamech with a faintly apologetic look on his face. He was tall, a couple centimeters taller than Lamech, with dark skin and a smooth shaved head. "I'm sorry my lord, but you'll have to leave the shadow cloak here. Security reasons."

Lamech gave him a completely insincere smile. "Of course," said Lamech as he slipped off what appeared to be a suit jacket. He was wearing a dark red silk shirt underneath and wore shield talismans in the form of a adamantium and orichalcum broach, belt talisman, and arm wring. It was a gross breach of protocol and insult, under Grand Alliance protocol. Now it was a quaint custom that carried no force and he was not in a position to force the issue. At least the White were not as assassination as the Slaver Lords. Lamech had no desire to reinstating the custom by means of martyrdom.

The other Secret Service agent, who was almost identical to the one who took his shadowcloak except he was white, extended a bulky wrist cuff of hard white plastic. "No sorcerers get near the president without one of these."

"An inhibitor cuff. Charming. Just for the record, never, ever do this to a Zarkos."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Lamech noted the dismissal and shrugged. "Your funeral." Literally in this case. It was safer to kill Zarkos Warlords than to try to disarm them. "Put it on." He extended his right hand. The agent closed the inhibitor around his wrist and closed it with a click. The agent inserted a key and twisted it.

"Alright sir. You're good for your meeting with the president. He should be done shortly."

"Wonderful. Do they grow you guys in vats?"

"No," said the black agent. The white agent looked at him as if he was crazy.

"Just curious."

"Do they actually do that out there?" the white agent asked.

"The Slaver Lords did."

"Oh. Space Nazis, right?"

"No. Space Nazis were their slave soldiers. If you are fortunate you will never see their like again."

The black agent nodded. "If you will come this way sir, the president will see you now."

[Imperial Overlord]

White House
Terra
United States of America


Lamech walked into the Oval Office. President Chen and a half dozen advisers rose as he entered. The President extended his hand. "Please be welcome."

"Thank you," said Lamech as he shook Chen's hand. "I am pleased we could manage to meet."

"Please, have a seat," said the President. "It's not everyday one gets to meat a living legend. What is the proper protocol of address anyway?"

"Lord will serve, or Excellency, or simply Lamech. It does much matter." He sat down and eyed the men and women in the room, his gaze stopping on a man in his mid thirties. "Doctor Connors, I presume."

"Yes," said the man uncomfortably.

"Your work proceeds you," said Lamech. "The leading theory of Grand Alliance history is always of interest to us, just for the influence it has on our relations. Such as they are."

"That is really the heart of the matter," said William Chen. "We don't really have a relationship, other than your hijacking our government during the Twenty-First Century. You had lost your civil war before our governments every formally met."

Lamech smiled. "I see it is still a sore spot with you. My people acted to prevent a global crisis that you weren't acting swiftly enough on. They acted at pretty much the last possible minute. They didn't interfere with any other part of your government or policy making. And you were the primary beneficiaries of that little intervention."

"Perhaps," said William Chen, "but you also seized control of our government, virtually enslaving the elected leaders of the nation."

"Yes," said Lamech. "It was necessary. I have done many terrible things when I perceive them to be necessary. And I am not alone in this. Your country has a long history of meddling in the internal affairs of other countries. Sometimes you even had their well being in mind. All of that is the past. I am here to discuss the present and the future. The current government of the Free Federation uses its economic and military might to confine your expansion, both economically and territorially. Not just you, but all the nations of Terra. Absorbtion or subjegation are their long term goals."

"And you will be better neighbors, I take it?"

"In a word, yes. These absurd and restrictive limitations on your expansion will be gone, as will the gun boat diplomacy style of trade negotiations. We don't conquer or oppress our neighbors."

"You did eat three interstellar nation-states."

"Yes. The Slaver Autocracy, The Kingdom of Avalon which hosted Slaver Lords, and New Jerusalem which attempted to commit genocide against us during the Resurgency. The latter two hated us like poison and were permitted to survive until those incidents. However much you dislike us, you can live with us as neighbors." Connors inclined his head slightly in acknowledgement.

"Alright," said President Chen. "What is it you want from us?"

"Nothing," said Lamech. "They will crush you like a bug if you oppose them. It would be irresponsible of you to openly ally with us, even if you wanted to. Just stay neutral. Don't interfere. Don't decide to pick off our worlds in the chaos. Recognize us as the legitimate government when we win."

"The latter could be a problem. We don't love dictatorships, military or otherwise. There is also the issue of your treatment of minorities."

"As Churchill said, Democracy is the worst system of government except for all the rest. Of course, he didn't have the benefit of having immortal necromancer and vampire lords. We inject a certain amount of stability and foresight into the system, which makes our form of government more stable in a crisis. Of course, little details like the mind probe do help weed out the bad apples in our ranks."

He paused for a moment. "I can assure you our elected officials have a great deal to say in our actions. Unsurprisingly the "Kick the bastards out" policy is as popular among the Grand Alliance politicians as the "Keep American strong" line is among your people. There has always been a means for the voters to strip us from power. White propaganda would state the conflict as democracy versus aristocratic oligarchy, but I can assure you that was not the case. It is quite possible for a tyrant to take power by democratic methods. What was that old line about Africa? 'One man, one vote, once'? In any case, it does not matter. We are restoring justice and democracy to our homelands and following the popular will. Our leaders have the full support of the legitimate, elected government. If that doesn't allay your concerns in that area, I don't know what will.

"As for the treatment of minorities, by which you mean Christians, that will not change. The sociopolitical environment has favored conversion to Christianity over the last few centuries and that will end. They currently make up almost ten percent of the Free Federation populace, but that should drop as the 'Rice Christians' deconvert. We have had small Muslim, Jewish, and Christian minorities as full citizens in our polities since our foundings, to say nothing of the occasional fringe cult. That will not change."

"There is the matter of New Jerusalem," said William Chen.

"Mister President, please understand that what you see when you think of the Grand Alliance is a distorted image of our darkest figures from our darkest hours. We, the Nazar, did almost exterminate them. We shattered their fleets, their planetary defences, and their cities from orbit. We killed them in vast numbers. We did not do this because we hated their religion, although we did because it was one of the nastier mutants ever to be spawned from the general body of Christianity. If they hadn't tried to commit genocide against us while we were busy helping defend the entire spiral arm from Slaver Lord domination and most of our ground troops doing the same, we might have reacted differently. Until then, we let them live in peace. We certainly weren't friends, but we had ample opportunity to burn their worlds if we wanted to."

"Our people and government can live with that," said Chen.

"Our history is consistent with those policies," said Lamech. "It stretches back thousands of years. It gives a far better assurance of our intentions than mere words. I'm more than twenty thousand years old, Nalhen has ten millenia on him. We've picked up a few habits and long ago learned to put up with various kinds of religious belief."

"You've given us a lot to consider," said Chen as he rose up. "I can't say that we will be in touch as I don't think we have a way of contacting you."

"I'm sure some kind of message drop can be arranged," said Lamech. "I'm glad you are so understanding of our security concerns."

"I have to say I am rather skeptical of your plans to defeat the Free Federation under these circumstances."

"Obviously, telling you the details would be a breach of security," said Lamech. "But if you are willing to consider a peace of advice, lean back and enjoy the show." The vampire showed his fangs as he smiled.

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

"How did it go?" asked Reeze as Lamech came by. The vampire had retrieved his shadowcloak and was free of the inhibitor bracelet.

Well, Lamech sent telepathically. They aren't inclined to help the White, which is what we need.

You sure? Reeze replied.

Yes. Got a good read on the whole room, although not a deep one. They believe those toys will actually work on high mage or vampire. Our whole biology has been altered to be a furnace that produces The One Power. Pretty hard to cut off our access to it when it floods through our bodies.

They don't have to deal with Slaver Lords of the First Circle and they have inhibitions about driving needles into people's spines, Reeze replied.

Lamech shrugged. Whatever. They won't be aiding the White and that's all we need from them at the moment.

[White Haven]

Augh, tension buildup, followed by silence. You've laid excellent groundwork, IO, I'm waiting to see where it goes from here.

[Imperial Overlord]

Augh, tension buildup, followed by silence. You've laid excellent groundwork, IO, I'm waiting to see where it goes from here.

You'll be getting some more installments in the next couple of days. Right now the "Must . . .kill . . . . . heretic . . . . mastermind" is dominant.

[Raj Ahten]

Augh, tension buildup, followed by silence. You've laid excellent groundwork, IO, I'm waiting to see where it goes from here.

You'll be getting some more installments in the next couple of days. Right now the "Must . . .kill . . . . . heretic . . . . mastermind" is dominant.

Cool. I apreciate the spate of In Memoria updates, even if it does mean less updates for good stories such as this one. I want the Psi King dead yesterday.

[Imperial Overlord]

The Senate
Sandresha
The Free Federation

President of the Senate Collum Solem addressed his cabinet and senior military officers. His voice was mild "So you are saying that our first major fleet clash against the Black was a complete and utter disaster?"

No one wanted to answer. Deputy Minister Rhodan stepped into the silence. "Yes sir. It is a loss we can eat and we gained valuable intelligence, perhaps crucial intelligence, but the engagement was an utter disaster."

"Fleet Admiral," said Solem, "do you concur?"

The senior Navy man squirmed uneasily in his chair. "Yes sir. The summation is accurate. I must reiterate the value of the intelligence we gained from-"

"The value of the intelligence!" Solem shouted. "We lost three squadrons. Three Squadrons. All three Reavers were captured! Captured! And they didn't lose a ship! They're stronger than ever and apparently they have power generation and weapon technologies that we can't match! We're down three squadrons and they're up three battlecruisers!" He addressed his officers. "Naval superiority was the decisive factor in our favor during the Civil War, correct?"

"Correct," said Rhodan from the other side. "Sir, we still have decisive naval superiority. To hold territory they have to commit and if they commit we can mass against them. There is only one Sun Eater, after all."

"How do we know they haven't built others?" said Solem acidly.

"I hope they have," said Rhodan. "The amount of resources that would have to be sunk into it would greatly strain their limited industrial base. We can only hope they will be so foolish. No, we know that their naval weakness is not as great as we hoped, but they still can't hope to match our strength. Our reconnaissance ships will find them, sooner or later. We will simply mass against them and kill them. We only need to endure and not do anything stupid."

"You're bold, deputy minister," said Solem. He nodded his head at the battlecommanders. "You're dismissed." He turned back to Rhodan. The military men and women glared daggers at the junior minister as they filed out.

"I am," said Rhodan. "We can crush them in raw numbers. They can't threaten our core systems, they can't engage in a conventional military campaign, they can't win unless we play into their hands. All we have to do to win is not panic and grind them out of existence. There are also considerable political gains to be obtained, if we are suitably inclined."

"What did you have in mind?" said Solem in an amused tone of voice.

"With elections suspended and the investigation of the Black conspiracy with Transtream Transportation leading to investigative detentions and suspensions of a large number of Liberal supporters and corporations, the Liberals are both spitting mad and terrified. It should be relatively easy to convince a number of their prominent supporters to jump ship. After all, you will be President of the Senate for the foreseeable future. Their interests are better served by lining up behind you. Whenever elections resume, you'll have even more money and influence behind you as well as being the heroic leader against the Black Terror. Not to mention that Conservative military spending policies will be one of the reason we won."

Kast glared at his deputy. Rhodan ignored them. "The Black Terror eh?" said Solem.

"Or whatever the appropriate media flacks decide to call it. The mainstream will go with it like good dogs."

"Alternative sources are being increasingly turned to," rumbled Tesharess Hithone. The big sithi shifted his bulk. "The mainstream press had been too subservient for too long. It had bled away too much credibility. It is seen as a virtual propaganda arm of the state, which is accurate enough. Their owners are heavily invested in the status quo."

"That doesn't mean we can't get any use out of the," said Rhodan. "Incaradine, for example, was always one who liked a public display of excess. Mass impalings are mass impalings. That they were Slaver Quislings five hundred years ago won't mean much to the man on the street, the fear that he might also end up on a stake will. Play up his Zarkos Elvindar connections and feed in some atrocity footage, minus any context of course. They'll be willing to adopt whatever measures will make them feel safe. We can pull the legs out from under the Liberals for the next hundred years and if they try to complain we say they are soft on security. Its an old Terrani trick, but it works quite well."

"Are you suggesting I exploit this situation to maintain a near perpetual lock on power?" said Solem. A ripple of anxiety went through the senators and cabinet ministers.

"I think sir," said Rhodan, "that we are playing high stakes for all the pieces. And you always keep what you take."

"And you, deputy minister?"

"I think that the right hand of the man with all the pieces holds the keys to paradise."

[Imperial Overlord]

The Phoenix Hall of Voices
Avenyanti
Myashuetha
The Grand Court of the Stars


Ambassador Nathan Singh followed the Zarkos killer in bladed orange and gold armour down the high ceilinged hall. This was easier said than done as the Zarkos had at least thirty centimeters on him and rapid stride. He was used to that, at least. Elvindar tended to be tall and graceful and Singh was short and rotund. The ancient wooden building was in immaculate condition, the process of careful preservation and replacement. Under his feet was a deep crimson carpet with intricate gold geometric patterns woven into it. The walls were covered by ancient tapestries of hunting and feasting. The lights were modern, as was the wiring and comp systems, but much of the building was as it was ten millenia ago.

The Zarkos stopped outside the office. With a wave of his hand, the dark wooden door with a rising phoenix carved up it swung open. Such a casual use of sorcery unnerved many Americans, but Nathan Singh wasn't one of them. He wouldn't be much use if he was. He stepped in. The Zarkos closed the door behind him.

"Ambassador," said Lord Yelseneth. The Lios was tall, pale skinned, and silver haired. He wore a sky blue robe cut for easy movement and wore a pair of intricate platinum rings. Behind him was a wall length window. Various human religious icons and texts lined the walls. There were Russian Orthodox icons, Catholic crucifixes, Hindu statuettes, a jade Buddha, a prayer wheel, and ancient hammer, among others. Singh's gaze flickered over them.

"I didn't think Elvindar cared much for Terran religion." Diplomacy with the Elvindar was tricky at the best of time. They weren't hostile, but they were standoffish. They avoided close ties with their one time allies the Free Federation and allowed Free Federation dissidents and Zarkos Elvindar to take refuge in their society. They formed democratic associations that was loosely translated as houses and the most alien and hostile seeming house was actually the most reliable ally the Terran governments had. The Elvindar were happy to allow Terran governments to send representatives to them, but the ruling princes (they preferred that translation) declined to meet with the nations of Earth or send envoys to Terra. It could be maddening.

"It matters to you, so I take an interest," said Yelseneth. "Despite our shared origins, our differences in culture and biology are considerable. This is part of my effort to bridge the gap. Your need to invent gods and cling to bronze age fictions is something we have difficulty grasping."

"You honor the Powers."

"The Powers are real. Their influence, although subject to various limits and constrained by the Between, can be measured and tested. Whether or not the Christian god will punish you for stealing from the poor box is a measure of faith. That you will be frozen in a solid block of ice or have your flesh charred off your bones if you attempt to steal one of the swords at the Shrine of Nevaya is objective, verifiable fact."

"You hold onto and value ancient customs, so do we."

"Only if they remain relevant."

"Faith is relevant."

"Yes, it comes down to that," said Yelseneth. "Thus my humble efforts to try and understand it. The Kordassi had religious beliefs similar to yours. The reborn Naomar Empire espoused a version of them. How is it that such beliefs are so common among our progenitor species and among those who created our race from yours, but so rare among us? And what is the significance of that?"

"Interesting," said Singh. "Considering how little House Phoenix has to do with any Terran nation, I find your interest very surprising. I was attempting to speak with House Panther recently and they directed me to speak with you instead. In fact, every House directed me to speak with you. Why might that be?"

"I'm sure you're aware by now, if not from your own sources then from House Panther, that Black has returned. With a resumption of the war looming, it has been decided to present a unified front and speak with a single voice. In this particular case, mine."

"I see," said Singh. "And what does your one voice say?"

"This continues to be an internal Free Federation affair. We shall deal with whoever remains standing at the end as we see fit. House Panther will no longer be passing you technology and intelligence."

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Singh.

"Of course not," said Yelseneth. "It is something of an irony that the House that cares least for Terrani is the one that provides them with the most help. They just want to be able to go to war with the White and win. Realpolitik is widely used term for it, am I not correct?"

"If such a hypothetical situation existed, yes, that would be the correct term. I'm surprised the Zarkos don't have a term for it."

"They do. Politics. Despite the problems we have with integrating them into our society, even in modest numbers and even with most of them joining House Panther, their directness is some areas is quite refreshing. For example, if an American were to desire to carry a hand gun in a major city he would probably site self defence as a reason, correct?"

"Yes," said Singh.

"A Zarkos would say in case he needed to murder someone. Self defence being only one of a number of reasons to kill. Their honesty on the subject is pleasant, but their attitudes result in a whole host of potential social problems. Of course, they are useful in a fight."

"That is their reputation," Singh said blandly. "I noticed a fair number of humans on streets wearing skull mask make up."

"One would be unwise to expect expatriates to love the White government. They are simply making their views known."

"Sensible of them. This has been most illuminating, my lord. I may call on you again in the near future."

"I look forward to it."

"Goodbye." Singh turned and left. He had a report to send back to D.C. The Elvindar may not have chosen sides yet, and might not ever, but it was clear that joining the White was not an option for them. He tried to keep his joy out of his step. If the White went, supposing a Black regime wasn't even more hostile toward Terra, the shackles that limited American expansion would be gone and his country could take its rightful place among the stars.

[Imperial Overlord]

Merres
Sandresha
The Free Federation


The thighbone splintered in Zahn's jaws. The bioengineered infiltrator-assassin sucked out the marrow and then devoured the rest. He had another two hours before he had to leave to maintain his victim's schedule. His body's metabolism and digestive system had been kicked into overdrive so he could consume his victim in that amount of time. One hour to finish eating and excreting, one hour to clean. Plenty of time.

Specialized cells were generating tissue samples, blood, and skin and marrow, that would match his victims. The same process that allowed him to shift shape would enable him to move those samples through his body to where ever they were needed. Stealth implants would allow him to pass through scanners without his inhuman anatomy registering. The Slavers had built him as the ultimate instrument of murder, a weapon surpassing even the hyper lethal class sixes. They had succeeded, but found the class sevens made poor slaves. Zahn had defected and almost every other class seven had been broken down and sent to the recycling vats.

He checked his reflection in the mirror. Naked, smeared with blood, wearing a face that wasn't his own. Perfect. He reached into the bath tub for the other thigh. He had work to do.

Terinar Construction Platform
Terinar System
Nazar in Exile


Nadia Falseborn e'Kail e'Zerakis looked at the face of her most hated enemy. "You died too easy," she cursed her reflection. Her mother's face glared back at her. Yes, there were a few distances. Her jawline was a little stronger than Mirella's had been, her noes a little larger, but that was it. Virtual clones, both attractive blue eyed blondes with strong features. She raised a slim blade in her hands.

"I am blood of your blood, but I am not yours. I reject you now, always, for all time. In my heart I am the daughter of your worst enemy, the savior of your killer. I was born in a Slaver hell, but I am Free Federation." She drew the blade down, slicing her face from above the right eyebrow and then down her cheek. Blood dripped from the wound down her face and into the sink of the narrow bathroom. "I am Dedicated. As Kail fought, so shall I." Nadia heated the blade with The One Power and applied it over the cut. Smoke rose as she cauterized the wound closed. She sheathed the blade and walked back into her bedroom.

An intricate tattoo covered most of her back, a legacy of her days as a Slaver Lord. Power welded to flesh and patterned with exotic inks. Stored spells, shaped sorceries, that lay quiescent in her flesh until needed. The untrained eye could almost see how the dragon's coils connected the clusters of complex geometrical patterns and runes together to form an even greater pattern. Almost.

She began putting on her uniform, dyed black Slaver hide shaped and augmented with necromantic sorceries to bind the slain into monstrously effective armour. Her husband was waiting for her. Lyvan Bloodblade e'Kail e'Zerakis was a lean, muscular man with reddish-brown hair who also resembled his Slaver Lord father. They had somehow survived the treacherous waters of the Slaver Autocracy as lovers long enough to betray their masters and defect to the Free Federation. "Again?" he sighed.

"I will not lead Free Federation soldiers into battle without remembering him."

"Kail never approved of the Dedication Scar. Even if it could be removed with surgery or sorcery. That the scars Mirella gave him weren't so easily fixed wasn't something he wished commemorated in the others flesh. You know that." They both did. Kail hadn't been the warmest of men, unless one got close, but over time she had almost become like kin. A shared hatred of her mother did much to bind them together. Not many of Mirella's victims survived with enough of a mind left to hate with. She had lost her father. Kail had his scars and a dead friend courtesy of her first attack, before Mirella had come back years later to take his wife and children.

"Kail is dead," she said, "and in any event supported our right to do this." She laughed bitterly. "Celene is returned to life only to find out her husband died. The Lady is returned by a miracle only to find her Lord is gone. What cruelty the universe has."

"He may live."

"If so he has been lost for five centuries," she said. "And those bastards piss away everything he fought and died for. Everything everyone fought and died for. Everything we bled for. We defended paradise and they turned it to ash."

"All debts can be paid in skulls," Lyvan quoted. The old saying meant was nothing more valuable than life: saving it, risking it, or taking it. Or losing it.

She smiled and nodded. "Let us ready our soldiers for war."

[Imperial Overlord]

Peace Park
Shadowcatch
The Free Federation

It was quiet. The mid day sun fell on the meadows and rolling hills. Long grass waved slightly in the breeze and scattered trees provided shade. It was a perfect place to take a picnic or a leisurely stroll. It had been carefully manufactured and tended and it served to obliterate any monument to the black.

Varshen looked down again at the picture in his hand. It was not technically illegal, but it had been systematically eradicated. A campaign of deletion and a disinclination to preserve it had served the Free Federations current masters better. They had let the past fade out of memory and history. Almost.

The necromancer wore a pale blue shirt and white slacks. He wasn't on duty, in fact duty wasn't far enough away for him at this moment. He looked around. There was no sign he was standing where Darkhold once stood, before the White had done what the Slaver Lord Autocracy had done and leveled it. There was a hill now where the Vault of the Sleepers had once stood, an ancient resting place of the true undead and severely wounded who chose to sleep away the ages until a means of healing them was discovered or they were needed in battle. The Vault had survived the Civil War, but there had been nothing left but a blackened crater within a year. The history books said it had been unfortunate collateral damage of the last days. They lied and a few images and accounts still survived to testify to it. If you could find them.

He though of all those brave and valiant dead, murdered for having been likely to side with the Black. The Black which had failed them by considering the Civil War insufficient cause to wake them and so condemned them to be murdered as they slept. His masters' work, he knew. The plutocrats and ambitious politicians survived to this age, their wealth and privilege buying life extending sorcery that there policies restricted. The Free Federation's rulers had no desire to personally pay the price for their policies after all. And what other policy would one expect from those who would plunder the nation for all the wealth and power they could take?

"Varshen," said a harsh female voice behind him. The pale necromancer didn't have to turn around to know who it was.

"Sadara," he replied.

"Varshen," said a male voice, "this isn't looking good. We're in a middle of a war against the Black and you spend vacation time coming here?"

He turned around and faced the Mollar siblings, his superiors. "I've got the time saved up and nothing urgent on my plate. Why not?"

"Why not?" Kalen Mollar bellowed. The hatchet faced man's face flushed. "Don't try that bullshit with me! Do you know where you are, you stupid piece of shit!?"

"I'm standing on the ground where Kail lead the Third Legion of the Dark Guard against the War Dogs Incursion. The only large scale movement of troops through the Between since the Devourers came to this universe from who knows where. A Slaver Lord surprise attack on the then capital of the Free Federation stopped cold."

"Kail is dead and cold," said Sadara.

"They never found his body or his possessions. No one claimed the kill. If that rift ended up in a hell, their lords are sure quiet about what happened to him."

"With Incaradine already having the blood of one demon lord on his hands, I wonder why," sneered Sadara. "Dead or not dead, doesn't matter. He's gone and that's old news. A thousand years old and done. You're a fucking necromancer Vashen and you're standing on Black holy ground. In the middle of a war against the Black. Do you have any idea how bad that looks or are you merely dumb?"

Varshen shrugged. "I'm under perpetual suspicion anyway."

"Which is even more reason to keep your nose clean," said Kalen. "Which you haven't. You're under arrest."

"Not funny," said Varshen.

"Not joking," said Kalen. "A Directorate necromancer with questionable loyalties? We can't fucking let you wander around. You're going to detention and interrogation. Be smart. Go easy."

"I wouldn't stand much chance if I went hard, would I?"

"No," said Sadara. "Make it easier on yourself."

Varshen thought for a moment. All his doubts resolved the hard way. It was easy enough to figure out what side he should be on, his masters having already decided he was against them. These thoughts to would show up on the mind probe. Where would that get him? His thoughts strayed to the Vault of the Sleepers. A pistol shot to the back of the brain, most likely.

He struck with sudden speed. Lightning flashed from his hands, dozens of branches of lethal sorcerous energy tearing through the outer layers of the siblings' shields and ricocheting off their core defences. Green witchfire blazed from Sadara's hands, consuming his shields. Lemon yellow beams from Kalen's hands pierced his ravaged defences and ate a whole in his chest about thirty centimeters in diameter. The necromancer fell.

"Damn," said Kalen. "What a fucking waste."

"Yes," said his sister. "Don't get to sentimental brother dear. That happens and we'll end up like this too."

[Imperial Overlord]

Terinar Construction Platform
Terinar System
Nazar in Exile

Lacana Twiceborn eased out of the tangle of her spouses' limbs and left the bed. She walked over to the bathroom and closed the door, triggering the shower and stepping into the warm spray. She stood under it, luxuriating under the hot water for several minutes before turning it off. She toweled off, grabbed her uniform off the floor of the darkened room, and put it on. Her luminous golden eyes easily pierced the darkness. She took shadow cloak and left the room.

She walked down the long corridor toward the observation gallery. Lines of padded chairs a cluster of tables filled the room. On one side a window dominated the wall, showing the great cyan and violet striped bulk of the gas giant and the glittering rings around it. She placed her hands on the back of a row of seats and stared.

She heard boots on the deck. "The view always struck me as cold," said a harsh female voice, "but I have no eye for beauty. Can't sleep?"

The other woman stopped beside her. She was half a head taller than Lacana, who was fairly tall herself. Both women shared olive skin and dark brown hair. The other was more heavily built than the former Internal Security assassin, but her most striking feature was a black half starburst tattoo that covered the left side of her face.

"Anxiety," Lacana said. "A bad mix with empaths. Hard enough sleeping with someone tossing and turning, let alone with her beaming her troubles into your mind."

"The coming battle?"

"Not for me, the children."

"The Hellbrood," said the other. The women in Lacana's group marriage had children only infrequently, but over five hundred years that did add up. And then there were the grandchildren and great-grandchildren and so on and so forth. Most resembling their parents with a gift for sorcery, elongated lifespans, and a desire to prove themselves. They were, to generalize, a bellicose and dangerous bunch that had earned a name of their own to go with their famous parents.

Lacana smiled faintly. "Yes, the Hellbrood. The odds favor at least one of them dying."

"And the others aren't worrying?"

"Dianna does, but locks it up. Incaradine accepts it on the same level he accepts that he will be sending his old comrades and former lovers to their deaths. And Savaya is Zarkos."

"And for her battle is a right of passage to be proud of."

"Yes. And you?"

"I live for the opportunity to kill," she said. She laughed. "I would prefer to kill Slavers, but I'll take what I can get." She laughed again. "Perhaps there will be a few like minded sorcerers there for me to kill. The Lords of Blood in ancient Russia, Rhaivan Hellborn and his coven, the Naomar Kordassi, the Slaver Lords, they are all the same. Surely the oligarchs will have a few ambitious scum who have sunk to that depths in their staffs. Hells, maybe they've got a live Slaver pushing things along. Maybe Kadeastraum wasn't on that ship when it blew."

"Perhaps," said Lacana. "Or someone crawled out of Rhaivan's castle when Zerakis destroyed it. Or a Blood Lord's scion is plotting in the darkness. Or a maybe there's a clone of Daemonstraum masterminding things from the deck of the Enslaver. We can speculate endlessly."

"Do you think I'm mad?" asked the other.

"Yes, a functional kind of madness" said Lacana. "I think that nineteen days being raped and tortured in Slaver hell was bad enough. I think five years as Daemonstraum's captive would inflict terrible damage. I think if you had healed you would have his mark removed from your face and choose a name other than Prize of War."

"Truth," said Prize of War. "Tell me, if you had to do it over again, would you made sure you would have died instead of being captured?"

"That's not a fair question," said Lacana. "I escaped after only nineteen days. Nineteen days of rape and torture and watching my husband go through the same. What are the odds of it going that well? Of even having my mind left after nineteen days? Dianna was worth nineteen days, if that's your question. Yes, I would again if that's what it would take to keep her, but to risk Slaver captivity again with different results, I would die first."

"Five years and keeping my own mind is a good, no a great result by the standards of Slaver captivity," said Prize of War, "but I would choose death instead of it again.

"Why are you up?" asked Lacana.

"The plan," said Prize of War.

"What about it?"

"It reminds me too much of what the Slavers planned for the Resurgency. They hurt us and we crushed them in three years."

"It's not quite the same thing. The rest of the war planning is based on it failing."

"I know. It looks like it will work. Even if it doesn't, we have other measures that will give us a good chance. I still worry."

"I can't wait to hurry up and kill those Slaver spawn and get this over with."

"The waiting is always the worst."

[Imperial Overlord]

Terinar Construction Platform
Terinar System
Nazar in Exile


She was naked, helpless, weeping. The Slavers laughed as she struggled feebly in the restraints as they readied their instruments of rape and torture. Before they would be finished with her she would sustain injuries far too gruesome and severe to survive. Sorcery and advanced science would drag her back from death's door so she could endure it all over again when they wished. Their was purpose beyond punishing her and allowing the Slavers their sport. Cruelty beget cruelty and the Slaver Lords had long studied the art of abusing and molding psyche's in their own maimed and horrific image. From them she could hold no secrets and they would not be finished until she was a full member of their ranks. But that was the future, the present was filled only with violation by jagged edge steel and endless pain.

Dianna awoke screaming. Strong arms held her gently but firmly. "Easy my love," Incaradine whispered on her right. "You're safe."

Savaya gently stroked her cheek on the other. Weakness was a thing Zarkos left behind in childhood, or so they liked to believe. It was shameful to see in one that you loved and a Zarkos who still loved someone who had produced such a shameful display would pretend not to see it. By the code and morals Savaya had been raised by, she shouldn't even be in the room if she still loved Dianna.

"Zha ha beloved," said Savaya. "We are here." Five hundred years had left their mark on the Elvindar warlord and her reassuring touch told the truths that her lips would not speak.

"I'm okay," she said, sitting up in bed. "Lacana?"

"Out," said Incaradine. "Anxiety. She wished to allow us to sleep." He smiled. "A bad choice in hindsight." He brushed Dianna's ink black hair away from her face, his fingers lingering along the shock of white hairs near the front.

Dianna cracked a smile. "It's been nearly a year since the last one. At least I'm getting better. Maybe one every two years in another five centuries."

Savaya smiled and shifted slightly next to her. "I would kill them again for you, if I could." Words that came easier to a Zarkos than 'I love you'. Her spouses knew the truth that lay behind the words.

"Not every problem is solved by killing," said Incaradine gently. Truth, even if one that few would expect a killer so blood soaked and joyous as Incaradine to utter.

"Here I am, my children and grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren ready to go into battle, dreaming about old wounds," said Dianna. "What does that say?"

"Even if our minds had not met in Slaver hell, my beloved torturer, even if the bond between us had never been forged I would be able to tell you the truth behind that. It is easier to deal with old familiar horrors than the new one of sending your family into battle know that some may die. The waiting is the worst. We will endure, as always."

"Together," said Savaya, "as always." She leaned over to kiss Dianna and lingered for a moment before turning to kiss Incaradine. Flesh moved against flesh and for a while all fears were forgotten.


Departure Gate
The Realm Beyond Hell


The sorcerer finished his meditations and looked up at his floating tower of bone and orichalcum, an arcane engine built from death and the plunder of worlds. After ages of effort, it was finished. He rose to his feet, having restored his strength.

Fatigue did not touch his flesh, but he felt it lift away from his mind. He was close now, so close. The engine was finished and now only the last of the work was left. The easiest part.

The sorcerer began to draw The One Power to his creation. Blue-white ghost lights flared along its length, forming a glowing ghost pillar that seemed to hold up the night sky. One way or the other it would be all over soon. He would take what came his way, regardless of what it might be. Inertia drove him now, more than anything else. He did as he always did. Life tasted like ash in his mouth. He lived now more to deny even the smallest shred of victory to long dead enemies. Hatred, as the old Free Federation half-joke went, was sacred.

[Alan Bolte]

Still enjoying this, though it is a little hard to follow. Some time I'll reread the beginning, I think it's time between updates that's the primary problem. Some stories just can't be read piecemeal.

[Imperial Overlord]

Still enjoying this, though it is a little hard to follow. Some time I'll reread the beginning, I think it's time between updates that's the primary problem. Some stories just can't be read piecemeal.

It could simply be the fact that I'm accidently leaving something out. The pieces are all in my head, so it all makes sense to me even if I leave something out by mistake. Feel free to ask questions.

[LadyTevar]

The Sorcerer... It's Fail

[Imperial Overlord]

The Senate
Sandresha
The Free Federation


President of the Senate Solem walked down the corridors guarded by praetorian elites and riddled with sensor devices. Security measures, already strict, had become iron clad with the reemergence of the Black. Solem had no desire to end his life on the edge of a Shadowknife's blade. Rhodan, no longer assistant minister, trailed in his wake.

"Nothing in a week?" Solem snapped.

"Nothing from the Black in a week," Rhodan replied. "Terrorism and dissident activity, particularly in the holdout world like Nazar or the Gorgon Cluster, have increased."

"How bad?"

"Nothing that can't be handled but its increasing."

"Of course it is. They smell blood. What about the White Winds?"

"The Directorate is the one with moles there. Not part of my purview."

Solem sneared. The doors in front of them opened. Senior military officials of three different species rose up and saluted. Solem waved them off. He was in a bad mood and since he could destroy every career in the room, everyone swallowed their pride and sat.

"Where's Charven?" he barked.

"He was assigned to the Fifth Fleet," said Fleet Admiral Sehasshen, "after his removal from the Strategic Board." Following the defeat of the Black the Senate had centralized military control under its own auspices. No one wanted the rise of warlords capable of threatening the government and it also meant high ranking scapegoats were close at hand. The navy had a round of promotions for its battlecommanders to fill and had become the senior and dominant service as a result of the crucial role it had played in defeating the Black loyalists.

"Right," said Solem. "You had something you wanted to discuss."

"Yes sir," hissed Sehasshen. The sithi gestured and a holodisplay filled the room. "Our analysis of the situation indicates that the Black must intend to defeat us in a swift campaign aimed at destroying our military or seizing the political leadership. Since all chains of command run directly through the Strategic Board and the Senate, destroying the Senate effectively decapitates our military and political chains of command and fragments our military and political systems. Given the current political situation-" a euphemism to Solem's naked power grab, "it is likely that there would be considerable friction between the various local political leaders." Which was to say that the Liberals and Conservatives would be at each others throats. "Militarily speaking, we would reorganize under senior leadership. The overall damage to our war fighting ability and perceived legitimacy would be considerable."

"Yes, yes, I know," said Solem. "Get on with it."

"As a result we have brought troops to the capital and reinforced system and nearby fleets. We have disrupted any attempt to breach to the Between anywhere in orbit. Directorate specialists have been brought in. Planetary fortifications have been increased. An attack cannot reach here without being detected and defeated long before it becomes a threat and even if it could, it would be futile. So we turn our attention to other likely areas of attack.

"The Terrani are too badly outnumbered and their ships are too weak to pose a serious military threat. Our assets in that area will remain at a sufficient level to discourage aggression. Regions with a history of loyalty to the Black have had their garrisons reinforced. The Elvindar boarder, given House Panther's many "volunteers" during the Civil War, has been reinforced. This ties down many of our assets, of course.

"In order to achieve victory, the enemy must defeat our ability to make war. This means an assault on most heavily industrialized systems, with warship production being key. The Black, wherever they are from, will have a very long logistics chain. Only by conquest can they hope to alleviate that." Sehasshen pointed on the map. Several systems glowed gold.

"These systems fit the bill and are within several jumps of our far frontier. The Black could attempt to engage us in battle, defeat us, seize these systems, and then hold off our counter attack. This would give them a foothold in our space. Even with their new ship designs, the numbers are against them. Such a hope is grossly optimistic.

"And even if they succeed, it only buys them time. Free Federation space is too big with too many shipyards and convertible facilities. Even if their numbers are on the high end of our projections, demonstrate extreme levels of skill, and enjoy good luck they will last at most five years before we grind them out of existence based on attrition. Even if the Lios and Zarkos become difficult.

"So you're telling me they can't win," said Solem.

"There are no absolutes in war, Mister President. The numbers don't favor them. They obviously think they can, probably by an overly optimistic appraisal of their chances of triggering a domestic uprising. There is no guarantee sir, but they can commit suicide by attacking us at anytime they choose and they are certainly dead if we find out where they are basing. They have to attack or they die, simple as that. So they'll throw the dice and attack us here, hoping to score big victories back to back and have a chance. We are ready. The chrono is ticking. They are dead men."

Solem nodded curtly in approval. Rhodan was not so sanguine. He knew the enemy too well. They were not inclined to fool themselves about how well they were loved, instead taking quiet and foolish pride in how much they accomplished despite being feared and despised. They had something else planned.

[Imperial Overlord]

Terinar Construction Platform
Terinar System
Nazar in Exile


Thousands lined the observation galleries and millions watched on monitor screens as the fleet prepared to leave. They sat anxiously in their homes or in break rooms or pressed up against armoured windows. The excitement was palpable as they watched lean dark shapes of Reaper battlecruisers prepare to slip their moorings and join the other Grand Alliance vessels.

With a silent gust of vapor the two kilometer long warship Hope drifted free. Thrusters nudged its course as it slid slowly forward, out of the docks and toward the void. They watched as it glide silently away and then saw the flare as it engaged its main drives at a fraction of full power and begin to burn towards the outer system. Night's Reign slipped it moorings and began to move.

"So which one is Sus-Elararian on?" Incaradine asked Nalhen as they watched the departure from an observation gallery.

"I don't know," said Nalhen. "No need to know."

"And you don't know where your chosen are?" asked Incaradine in a bemused fashion. Behind him his sensor net showed Rumour and Whisper smiling at the exchange. Both women were tall and dark haired, Rumour with golden skin and Whisper with white marked by black tiger stripes. They had been worked together since before Incaradine was born, wrecking havoc and ending lives wherever needed.

"I choose not to look closely," said Nalhen. "Stop testing me. Isn't there someone you can kill to work off that anxiety?"

"No," said Incaradine. "I already checked. And I already tried sex."

"In some ways you are a very predictable creature."

"Yeah," said Incaradine. "Of course when part of that is always having a nasty surprise waiting for the enemy, that's not too bad."

"Yes," said Nalhen, "although your sister by adoption seems to have outdone you."

"Well, she didn't get 'Lord of Battle' hung on her by accident. And it is a thing of beauty. I think I can manage just being confined to the execution stage of the plan."

"You are confident."

"With good reason. You aren't?"

"Live long enough, you will see hope die," said Nalhen.

"Nice," said Incaradine. "Kind of like my life, but in reverse. Why do you bother with all this then? If hope is futile?"

"It is. Applied intelligence, sufficient power, and long range planning work much better. Hope puts people on their knees in churches, begging figments of their imagination for help that will never come. My way builds stellar nations that endure."

The Great Necromancer stalked away. Incaradine turned back to Whisper and Rumour. "Brilliant man, defender of humanity, feared in hell, etcetera, etcetera, but not so great to have at parties." They smiled back.


Reaver Class Battlecruiser Chainbreaker
Sinnaleese System
The Free Federation


The honor guard met Fleet Admiral Charven at the airlock. A dark haired young women wearing a lieutenant's insignia saluted and approached. "Glad to have you aboard sir."

"Thank you," said Charven. "I was expecting Forcecommander Selivan."

"Security protocols sir. If you'll come with me." She turned around and marched down the corridor, the honour guard with their very functional weapons closing around Charven.

The fleet admiral clenched and unclenched fist as they approached a scanning station set up ahead. A cluster of sensors and several armatures equipped with sinister needles were aimed at section of corridor. Opposite of the sensor cluster was a shield of armourglass and a operator at a control panel. "This is new."

"Yes sir," she said. "New protocols. Checking for alphas. You understand."

"The price we pay to be assassin proof. Alright, let's get this done." He clenched his fists again, took a deep breath, and stepped forward. The armatures split up, heading towards different parts of his body.

"I'm sorry sir, this is in case they have new stealth tricks. It does hurt like a bastard." The armatures snaked forward and then struck like coiled cobras. They sank needles into his flesh, one into his left shoulder, another to his middle back, and third into his left thigh.

"Fuck!" Charven swore.

"Sensors reading normal," said the operator behind the shield. "Tissue samples being analyzed. Normal. Starting sterilization cycle."

"Are we done," Charven hissed through clenched teeth.

"Yes sir," said the operator. "You passed."

"What a surprise," he said. "Now my I go to the bridge and take command of my fleet."

"Of course sir," said the lieutenant. Charven clenched and relaxed his right fist. "Right this way."

[Imperial Overlord]

Terinar Construction Platform
Terinar System
Nazar in Exile

"Three speeches?" Incaradine asked Lamech as they walked down the corridor. "Three raping speeches? Who in blackest depths of the Slaver Hells approved that?"

"One from the senate, one from Nazar, one from the Free Federation," said the vampire with a slight smile on his lips. "Three. And I believe it was the Senate that decided on that, in the end. You know that democracy thing you Free Federats think is so important?"

"Then why did you and Nalhen make yourselves accountable to an elected government when setting up the Nazarian Domain?"

"We were drunk," he said. "I swear." He grinned, showing his fangs. "Anyway the politicians have mandated three speeches so the number of speeches shall be three."

"You know," said Incaradine, "we are politicians."

"Speak for yourself. I'm a godless, bloodthirsty barbarian savage, half drunk on power no man should have." They both laughed.

"Seriously," Lamech said after a moment, "I arm twisted the Senate into keeping their's short. Do the same and we can get this shit over with."

"And you?"

"The personification of brevity, I swear."

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

They numbered in the hundreds of thousands and they stood ready at their departure points. They were human, sithi, and kordassi, Lios and Zarkos Elvindar. The wore uniforms and armour, carrying or attending to weapons of war. They were the leading edge of the Grand Alliance's sword, the warriors that would strike a mortal blow against the White tyrants.

Relays and holo projectors carried the words and images of the speeches so that all could see and hear. In one bay Incaradine hovered in front of thousands, in another Lamech, and in the third First Consul Lesenessh Mahass. The soldiers were eager, the young ones because their whole lives had lead up to this point. The old veterans hungered to reclaim their own. They shared one driving will, one irresistible purpose. They would not be denied. They were also, somewhat impatient to get going.

Lesenessh was no fool. The blue-green scaled sithi was lean for one of his species and age, as sithi grew throughout their lives. He would speak first, as agreed. The speech was more for the billion watching and the trillions who would watch in the future. History had its own demands.

"We stand," he began, "on the labor of five centuries. For five hundred years, everyone from the most brilliant scientist to the humblest maintenance tech have worked for this day. This day. You carry all our hopes and dreams upon your shoulders. We know you will safeguard that trust.

"Two millenia ago Zerakis and Nalhen lead their followers into exile. The sithi made them welcome and the course of history changed forever. We would never again be dividable by species, but by values. We are their heirs, the free peoples who would fight to defend themselves and their neighbors. Our enemies were the tyrants and the would be slavers ruled by greed, for whom the galaxy and its peoples were nothing but plunder waiting to be taken.

"We return not to kill, but to liberate. Not for revenge, but for justice. Not to destroy, but to build and restore. What was done cannot be undone, but something stronger and greater can be built in its place. That is the future, a future that all will partake in, not just a privileged few. That is our will and so must it be!"

A roar answered him, half because it was expected, half because they felt it. Incaradine's sensor net fed him the responses and he waited for it to die down before speaking. The twisted empath felt their impatience and their blood lust washing over him. It was a warm feeling and he responded to it. "I'll be brief," he began. "We are not alone. Our arts have improved throughout our long exile and their's have degraded. Celene Nightfire made this plan. It will work. I will be leading from the front, the blood of my blood will be taking up arms to fight this fight. We will win.

"We will play the blood price for this victory. We cannot fall back upon weapons of mass destruction to make this easy. We will have to kill them the hard way and we must take prisoners and be careful to spare civilians where possible. This will cost us in blood, but it is necessary for victory. There are no cowards in our ranks, but no one here wishes to die. Some of us will die on this battlefield to spare many of us from dying in future battles. This is a hard thing."

"We are Free Federation!" he thundered. "We are Elvindar and Nazar! We have done the impossible. The merely hard is easy! We shall break the enemy! We shall win this war!" More applause and cheering. He had played it well, but then he had a lot of practice and an empath's sensitivity to his audience's mood. Lamech's telepathic gifts would give him similar advantages.

As the roar died, Lamech picked up where Incaradine had left off. The vampire warlord wore night black articulated plate. A slim, slightly cured short sword hung on his belt. His shadow cloak twisted in a non-existent wind.

"I am the barbarian who defends civilization. So it has been since my first battle, so it is now. Those things that were great in man I helped nurture, those that would prey on him I helped destroy. My purview is wider now, but my motives have not changed.

"I will lead the warriors of my own blood, the chosen of Nalhen, and all the greats of the Grand Alliance. What stands against us? Not the Devourers, who would have consumed the galaxy. Not Daemonstraum, who would have enslaved it. Just misers, would be slave drivers, their lick spittles, and their chain dogs. I see nothing that can challenge my might. I see nothing that can stand against us. Let there be no more words. Now it is time that we act."

He flung out his hands. In front of him a great rip opened at the departure gate, a hole into night that spewed chill mist. He drifted down towards it. Frost was forming on the floor. He raised his hand. "We begin!"

A wordless shout answered him. Lamech, Cunning Loki, turned and walking into the Between. Behind him and at a dozen points nearby, others began to do the same. Laughter drifted through the void. The White would never know what hit them.

[LadyTevar]

The flung out his hands.

The who did what?

[Imperial Overlord]

House of All Stars
Myashuetha
The Grand Court of the Stars


The ruling princes of all the houses of the Lios Elvindar slowly walked into the council rooms. They wore simple white robes over their flamboyant finery, a reminder that in this place somber consultation was the order of the day. Most of the men and women in the room had fought the Slaver Lords five centuries ago, their enhanced lifespans and potent life preserving sorcery holding the ravages of time at bay.

The room was dark and circular, illuminated by a single shaft of white light projecting from the top of the room. It was as spartan as their dress consisting of a plain table of white stone surrounded by worn smooth wooden chairs. The Lios had met here since before the birth of Caesar, settling their most dire disputes and addressing issues of common interest. None of them were surprised to be here. They knew this day was coming.

Eyes turned to one of their members, dressed just as simply as the rest of them. Shepheran Nes Elemenathis, Ruling Prince of House Phoenix, largest and most powerful of the Lios Elvindar nations felt the weight of his fellows regard. "No one will weep for us when we are gone," he quoted. "They shall reap the benefits made possible by our sweat and blood but they shall not mourn us."

He paused. "They were wrong. We mourn them, although we came to the realization too late. We knew their character and we know the character of those that now rule. House Phoenix erred badly when we urged others not to become involved in their civil war. The definition of wisdom is learning enough from our mistakes that we do not repeat them. We are prepared to correct our error."

Zalahana Senn Merinias, Ruling Prince of House Manticore raised her hand to signal that she would speak. Fifty years ago the Chinese had encroached on territory House Manticore, a small and militarily weak house, claimed as their own. The situation quickly escalated and broke out into a large scale battle. Manticore had slaughtered the Chinese both in space and on the ground. They had become much more militaristic and wary of the Terrani in the aftermath. "You are proposing that we join with the Lords of Death against the White Usurpers. The Terrani covet our territory and the White has superior numbers. How is this course not suicide?"

"The Americans and the Russians have committed themselves to a friendly posture towards the Grand alliance," said Shepheran. "The Canadians and Europeans will follow their allies' lead. We will maintain a sufficient force in reserve to discourage adventurism by the Terrani."

"You've been in contact with the Lords of Death," said Zalahana.

"Yes," said Nadrian Essetai Morenais, Ruling Prince of House Panther. "They have been in league since the White bombed the Vault of the Sleepers."

"You knew," said Zalahana.

"Yes," said Shepheran. "Involvement was kept to minimum to prevent leaks, but it was deemed prudent to inform the Ruling Prince of House Panther to prevent the Panthers from doing something imprudent."

"How long?" asked Evillana Senn Cariveth, Ruling Prince of House Griffin.

"Since the day the Vault was destroyed," replied Shepheran. "We have funneled intelligence and a modest amount of resources their way for five hundred years."

"So you are committed," said Zalahana.

"They will make us beggars or slaves," said Shepheran. "They have already discarded even the pretense of responsible government. Whether it is dictatorship or oligarchy that emerges, it does not matter. They will eat the Terrani, because the Terrani are weak, and then they will devour us. House Phoenix and House Panther will fight."

"I have," began Lanerasa Nes Cellerithin, speaking slowly, "seen the horror of Daemonstraum. In the flesh as he bestrode the battlefield and his minions fought and died out of fear of his wrath and desire for the rewards he could bestow upon them. These Whites, they are nothing compared to him, Slavers who poison their own nests so they may remain rip wealth from their neighbors. I remember the Grand Alliance as well. I faced Daemonstraum to preserve it. It preserved us and everything of value in this spiral arm. The White are nothing compared to the Slaver Lords. And that is my answer."

Around the table the ruling princes nodded. It was decided. The might of the Elvindar would go to war.