Wide beam coded ship-to-ship transmission.
@to Carrus, shipmistress, Chamaran kingdom vessel 'Windsummer'
@from Taxaani-Rokain#7-Kari'naha, general co-ordinator, K.O.S.C. Elucidate
@subject Possible Excession in Sol system
Approximately 2^17 maneuvering bodies ranging from (~100m) to (~2000m) in length suddenly appeared near the system's star just under (2 hours) ago. Initially appeared to be approaching Earth, but this may have been an optical illusion created by some form of space-distort FTL system, as they have settled back into close stellar orbit. Significant transient dimming effects may indicate some kind of large scale solar energy absorption. Still no confirmation on whether they are warships, civilian ships or indeed ships at all.
We are tracking massive mobilisation of Terran fleets and observing several areas of chaos (evacuations, riots, military deployments the humans call 'martial law') on the planet below. The eclipse-like effects seem to have drawn the attention of virtually every civilian telescope and sensor platform in the system, making the rushed and disjointed 'cover up' attempts by various governments seemingly ineffective. The recent nuclear terrorism on continent 'Africa' already had the humans on edge. Several ships and stations appear to be launching multiple probes towards the intruder fleet, no apparent reaction yet.
We have displaced almost all non-TGA NGTO personnel to the Elucidate or the Sky Bear envoy ship, including your earth personnel and support team. A few of your staff insisted on staying with their equipment on the embassy station as long as possible, for some sort of intelligence gathering. A skeleton crew of our flockmates also remain, we are standing by to displace them off if the fleet begins a hostile advance.
Recommend you remain in the outer system for now. This place is a crazy nest, no escort is available at this time and you may even be fired upon if the human systems fail to recognise you. Furthermore the technological capabilities of the intruders are unknown but clearly impressive. We hope our shroud can get us clear but if they advance on Earth they have the numbers and possibly the speed to run down and destroy all conventional ships.
With your consent we will establish a bidirectional telemetry link to pool our sensor resources. We have requested a feed from the TGA surveillance net but they have been too preoccupied with events on and off planet to respond yet. Please relay all observations from your vantage point to NGTO joint defence command.
Last edited by Starglider on 2007-07-08 10:30am, edited 2 times in total.
To: Taxaani-Rokain#7-Kari'naha, General co-ordinator, K.O.S.C Elucidate
From: Carrus, Shipmistress, Chamaran Kingdom Hunter ship Windsummer'
Subject: Understood
While we can scarcely believe this information we concurr and will hold here to assure the NGTO gets information on these events and gather data, Telemetry link commences after this message. May your ancestors watch over you.
The freighter captain was overridden by swift orders from Carrus, the intelligence satellite pack was deployed at the edge of the system, launched one after another onto paths that will allow them to observe from more of the sky. The hunter commencing FTL transmission from its place at the edge of the system, broadcasting a stream of all pooled telemetry data to NGTO command.
A freighter, frigate and a dozen spy satellites all observing the inner part of the solar system with every available sensor.
Sol
Terra
Sant Tomas
Coalition Conference Hall, Main Meeting Room
Ambassador Felsith watched the whole strange affair with considerable bemusement. Had these ladies truly been offended by his discussion of the potential profits that could be obtained with the opening of new safe trade routes to Earth? And why had one of them decided to point a slug thrower at him? While he wasn't exactly worried, as while he was no soldier his body was tough enough to shrug off most forms of small arms fire, stray bullets could cause problems for his apprentices and other diplomats.
Felsith was about to ask them what the fuss was about when suddenly his senses were overwhelmed with a growing sense of panic. This was not the simple sort of panic of even a mob, it was an entire hemisphere starting to feel the sort of dread only people staring at incoming nuclear missiles experience. With billions of minds, a noticeable minority of them potent psykers, the emotional assault was overwhelming.
The ambassador moved by instinct. He had to see the sun to confirm with his own eyes what was going on. Unfortunately, the edgy delegation from the Colonial Settlements was right in the path between Felsith and the nearest window. Doubly unfortunate for the women, Straltoc social conventions stated that when you had to politely move someone aside in such situations, the more dextrous appendages were to be used. Considering that Felsith's hands could be used to bend steel I-beams and his tentacles were meant to trace out complex, non-Euclidian patterns, it was quite obvious to him which appendages to use to politely move the women out of the path of his enormous frame.
Ignoring their shocked and frantic reactions, Felsith stares up at the sky through the window and watches in dawning horror as the sky above goes dark as an unexpected eclipse occludes the sun. Something very bad was happening.
Somewhere in deep space South-West-Up of the Straltoc Borders
"Oh, I would expect you to screen your own ships. What I meant was that it is always good when going into an unknown situation to have some form of backup waiting to help haul your ass out of the fire in case things go pear-shaped. Unlikely against pirates, but you never know when they might spring a surprise on you. Plus, they are likely to have a large number of light, fast ships for the purposes of raiding. What I was thinking was to keep my fast ships in reserve and then, when we have your interdiction fields up and the enemy is trying to flee, we jump the reserves into battle along the vector they are fleeing, letting your interdiction fields bring them back into realspace. Our more powerful engines will let us move deeper into the field than normal, letting us close the trap faster and providing some misdirection to the enemy, hopefully making them think that the field is smaller than it really is."
I love learning. Teach me. I will listen. You know, if Christian dogma included a ten-foot tall Jesus walking around in battle armor and smashing retarded cultists with a gaint mace, I might just convert - Noble Ire on Jesus smashing Scientologists
Somewhere in deep space South-West-Up of the Straltoc Borders
"The plan sounds workable. Shall we hunt?"
The Excellent Prismatic Spray. For when you absolutely, positively must kill a motherfucker. Accept no substitutions. Contact a magician of the later Aeons for details. Some conditions may apply.
Somewhere in deep space South-West-Up of the Straltoc Borders
"Yes, I think we shall. To victory!" Aquirz says before signalling for his destroyers, EW ships, and his own cruiser to jump to the system while leaving his frigates, light cruisers, and the battlecruiser behind. A tight beam, heavily encrypted signal of absolute nonsense was kept going to the reserve ships. If the signal was disrupted for any reason, the warships would immediately follow.
Above the elliptical of an unnamed star system
Bursting back into reality in a significantly less radioactive location, the Straltoc warships immediately began picking up contacts about the nearby ruins of a Venus sized world, mostly old freighters and some battered frigates, but there were a couple destroyers and one or two cruiser sized ships visible. Not that there could not be more, but more or less what one might expect from a minor pirate fleet. Clinging to the burnt out wreck of a planet were several settlements for storing goods and people in between raids.
Admiral Aquirz then broadcasts the following message:
People of this system, you are under suspicion of piracy. Please stand down and submit to the inspection of your ships, cargos, and crews. Noncompliance will be considered a hostile act and measures will be taken to rectify the situation and force compliance. We recommend cooperation.
I love learning. Teach me. I will listen. You know, if Christian dogma included a ten-foot tall Jesus walking around in battle armor and smashing retarded cultists with a gaint mace, I might just convert - Noble Ire on Jesus smashing Scientologists
The Uche had called for Polish assistance in shutting down the rebellion, and Poland had agreed. A small force- no more than a single Army- had been re-allocated, ironically from the Warsaw staging grounds where troops had been preparing for possible action versus the NGTO.
In high orbit over africa, the Heavy Cruiser ORP Gdansk hung, her powerful sensors and systems assigned to supporting the force on the ground. Re-entry vehicles carrying kinetic kill devices and EMP bombs waited in her gun tubes, under orders only to fire under express permission from the Uche.
The troops assembled in New Mombasa in neat ranks, bulky figures in Polish field browns supported by armoured vehicles and swift aerospace EMVs. The Polish Republic awaited the orders of the Uche.
Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite.
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908 - )
Tight beamed to the military and political centers of the Sol System:
"Stellar nations of the Sol System, our instruments have detected the immenent arrival of a fleet with a massive FTL foot print. There have been no communications from this fleet nor do they conform with the emissions of any known ship designs. The Centrality is mobilizing all of its fleet resources to counter this potential threat and urges all other nations to join it in a unified defence of our home star system."
The Excellent Prismatic Spray. For when you absolutely, positively must kill a motherfucker. Accept no substitutions. Contact a magician of the later Aeons for details. Some conditions may apply.
The Polish Fleet, long since reformed from it's engagement with the League of Thought force, organized into battle groups in high orbit, with the exception of one cruiser still deployed over Africa.
"The Polish Fleet stands ready to join in the defense of Earth against this unexpected threat. We call on all Sol System powers to prepare for a possible engagement. Analysis of the incoming signatures suggests that the force about to arrive is of unprecedented size and uncertain power. We ask for calm and order in the face of this new adversity."
Last edited by Thirdfain on 2007-07-08 10:01pm, edited 1 time in total.
Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite.
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908 - )
New Arizona
Southern Continent 2
Town of Minersville
Colonel Gabriel Logan walked to the front of the assembled officers, his helmet tucked under the crook of his power armored form. "Good morning gentlemen. Today, we are going to be conducting operations against the insurgents here in Minersville. Word is that all the civilians have left, so its just hostiles. Today, we are going to be conducting a 'thunder run.' You've all know the profile for a thunder run. We have one hour till sunrise. I want to hit the edge of the city just as the sun rises. So get to it." He turned and walked from the stage, walking outside the tent and to his personal vehicle.
*********
Sol
Near the Custodian Fleet
ROA FLE Coast Guard Patrol
"Unidentified fleet, this is the ROACGS Hamilton. You are in restricted space, please use the standard shipping lanes and state your identity and business." The skipper's voice was trembling with fear. The huge ships dwarfed the five vessels under his command.
The Centrality's Home and Fourth fleets gathered above their home world an assumed fighting formations. Data links connected them to the Martian orbital defences and to the home fleets of the other Solar nations. Engines flared to life as the combined fleet began to depart.
"This is Fleet Admiral Sebastian Mann, commander of the Logos Centrality Sol Forces. Our long range scans indicate that the foreign ships are individually weak, but we don't know if they have some means of shielding their power cores or spoofing our sensors. Given the unprecedented size of the fleet, we urge combined action. Proposed rendevous point, just above the elliptic, follows." <data burst>
The Excellent Prismatic Spray. For when you absolutely, positively must kill a motherfucker. Accept no substitutions. Contact a magician of the later Aeons for details. Some conditions may apply.
"Mars responds, but not before we see the scrambling of units to defend the planet Earth." The Mnesoic ambassador commented absently. "Adjunct, open a line to Logos."
The transmission was again psionic in nature, but still a voice feed. "Negative, Logos Control. We can make do without an escort on the way in. Looks like you'll need all the ships you have. We're on approach to Martian orbit. Our military escort will remain at the Heliopause in case things get unpleasant."
The Dart leapt in system, dropping back into realspace in the belt and begun it's careful approach to Mars, trying to keep hidden behind the planet from the horde.
Manic Progressive: A liberal who violently swings from anger at politicos to despondency over them.
Out Of Context theatre: Ron Paul has repeatedly said he's not a racist. - Destructinator XIII on why Ron Paul isn't racist.
The 1st Fleet Corps was assembled, serried ranks of cruisers and battleships and the fat, ugly gourd-shapes of the proud Fleet Carriers. Over two thousand strike craft were forming up, freshly loaded and equipped by their motherships. Telemetry from the forwards scouts was already being transmitted to the gun controls on the fleet battleships, shell-missiles programmed to find their targets across great distances.
General of the Fleet Andrej Wielkopolski's command center was full of the quiet hum and purposeful action of a warship at battle-stations. The ORP Tadeusz Kościuszko, CVF-03, was the nerve center of Poland's Earth-based starfleet.
"Wait for a response to the American vessels. Broadcast our own communications efforts on all bands. If they prove to be hostile, or a threat to earth, we will not hesistate to destroy them."
Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite.
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908 - )
"Wanderer ship, your military escort may join you in approaching Mars and will be protected by defence network, if you so desire. We have no desire for you to be endangered by the unknown force approaching Sol."
The Excellent Prismatic Spray. For when you absolutely, positively must kill a motherfucker. Accept no substitutions. Contact a magician of the later Aeons for details. Some conditions may apply.
The captain of the K.R.S. Forethought, the vessel which had ferried Khurlassian diplomats to Earth, looked at High Diplomat Chul with some incredulity.
"Forgive me, old friend," the heavily scarred Shultakk navyman said, "but I assert that our limited arsenal will prove rather inadequate in defending ourselves from this massive unknown force, let alone defend the Earth."
The Khurl diplomat gave the Shultakk officer a brief, half-joking pat on the shoulder, "and that, friend, is why you are not a member of the Diplomatic Corps. It's true that this vessel is hardly armed, and that one ship alone stands to contribute little to the defense of this star system. At the same time, immediate retreat will present a bad face to our allies and our potential enemies. Standing alongside the Earthers against any battle that might occur here will show our foes that our morale is not easily shaken, and our friends that we are sincere in our diplomatic overtures," the Khurl paused to give a rather severe look to the main display screen, "if this newest development proves hostile, we can, at the very least, record and broadcast vital data back to the homeworlds. It's better to be valuable in death than worthless in life; if these newcomers take Earth, then we will hardly serve ourselves or the Republic by withdrawing now."
"True, sir," the Shultakk captain said, nodding his agreement. What High Diplomat Chul said was true, but the captain and his men were not members of the royal family: Chul was. The royals were bred to be willing to take risks and make sacrifices, even the most dedicated Republic soldiers could not claim this. Desire to survive sometimes interfered in the wisdom of one's choices.
The Shultakk captain barked an order to his comms officer; a wideband signal was opened, "The Glorious Republic offers the services of the K.R.S. Forethought in defense of the Earth against potential hostiles. Our armament is fairly inconsequential, but we will provide support if necessary.
Last edited by Tanasinn on 2007-07-18 05:20pm, edited 3 times in total.
The minds of the rest of the League team meet independent of their bodies, joining forces and broadening their sweep outwards through Solar space. For obvious reasons, much of the powerful array's attention is focused towards Sol itself, and the fleet around it, one individual, the man currently departing the Warsaw office, disengages from the combined effort and forces a tight, relatively quiet message outwards at the other gleaming beacon of psionic energy, the Wanderer contingent. "Aaah, I assume you are the other psychic presense that we were informed of? I do hope this contact is a bit less painful than the last, Murderous Rage is not exactly the pinnacle of subtlety."
Chronological Incontinence: Time warps around the poster. The thread topic winks out of existence and reappears in 1d10 posts.
Out of Context Theatre, this week starring Darth Nostril.
-'If you really want to fuck with these idiots tell them that there is a vaccine for chemtrails.'
"We read you, Mars Control. Escorts entering Sol system." Behind the Dart, a pair of Pikes and a quartet of Dancers slid into realspace and formed a perimeter around the tiny transport, guiding it towards the red planet.
We are House Mnesoic, the same as the Gestalt you met. The hivemid responded to the probing League member. We ferry an ambassador here, and find numerous lifeforms/starships/unknowns orbiting the primary. We read nuclear fallout on the surface. Things have proceeded strangely since we were here last.
Manic Progressive: A liberal who violently swings from anger at politicos to despondency over them.
Out Of Context theatre: Ron Paul has repeatedly said he's not a racist. - Destructinator XIII on why Ron Paul isn't racist.
-OOC- Sorry it's been a while since we visited this plot, but let's get it going again!
The freighter was small compared to most of the ships in the Oberin Armada, but it still had a substantial cargo manifest. While marines swept the freighter for any clues, crews worked furiously to check and transport the cargo. Trellen watched in silence, studying to make sure the op went smoothly. After almost an hour, it was done.
The last of the cargo was brought onboard one of the Oberin carriers, with a small Nova contingent invited aboard to oversee the proper transport of the cargo. The Novas were there to watch the cargo - and a small group of Oberin marines was there to watch the Novas.
Captain Trellen took the final shuttle off the Minke, accompanied by the Wanderer. Trellen clutched a datacard tightly in his hand. It contained a full report - or at least as full a report as he could assemble on-site in a short amount of time. Crew list, cargo list, statements from all involved parties, and several inspection reports from every area of the ship, most made by the Oberin marines, but some important few made by the dwarven engineers. Trellen forced himself to relax. There were still unanswered questions, but it was up to better minds than his to answer them. He turned his attention to the Wanderer, and tried to make polite small-talk. He wasn't very good at it.
When the Oberin Armada was secure, it jumped past lightspeed, headed back for Ober. A small contingent of a carrier and two escorts was left behind, but soon they too jumped past lightspeed in a different direction - sent to the nearby Huxley system with their new cargo.
The wisdom of PA:
-Normal Person + Anonymity + Audience = Total Fuckwad
OOC: Just got back from vacation; I'll have some nice juicy stuff up tomorrow dealing with the african civil war.
Earth - High Orbit
The Portuguese Sol and Reserve fleet formed up into a wall of battle. A single Patrulha group remained behind to support Portuguese troops in North Africa.
NIP Nossa Senhora da Glória - BB-18
"Deck Officer, order the Line to take up a defensive position near Fort Muscat but out of range of African ground fire." the fleet admiral Boomed. "Someone get me Admiral Rosario, I want to make sure his fleet is on standby at Bernard's Star."
"The Polish Fleet stands ready to join in the defense of Earth against this unexpected threat. We call on all Sol System powers to prepare for a possible engagement. Analysis of the incoming signatures suggests that the force about to arrive is of unprecedented size and uncertain power. We ask for calm and order in the face of this new adversity."
"Deck Officer, signal the Polish Fleet command that Portugal intends to ensure the security of Earth. Also, signal Earth Defense that it should be prepared to put full power to the planetary shield at a moment's notice." the admiral rattled off a dozen more orders as the Portuguese wall of battle moved into a defensive position.
Earth Free Egypt
In the south fires could be seen too. The riots which had started in Central and Southern Africa had now spread into Egypt as well as Portuguese North Africa. Small private armies were being hired in well to do towns while the largely incapable Egyptian army attempted to quell rioters in the less fortunate neighborhoods.
President Ahmed Nazbarak sat at his desk, while his minister of defense read off the latest reports. Egypt's defense force was tiny; it relied heavily on Portuguese equipment and durings times of major planetary conflict always found protection from Portugal. To this day Egypt's military was subsidized by Portugal. While the President had tried very hard during his administration to distance himself from Portugal and turn Egypt into a modern independant, interstellar, nation. Unfortunately Egypt was had founded colonies and bought star frigates rather than maintaining a proper ground military.
"Mister President, " the minister of defence pleaded, "We effectively do not control many square miles of our own territory. Great swaths of land are now ruled by the crowds. While towns have been pillaged. I emplore you to request aid. The Portuguese have continued to extend their energy shields and strategic defenses over our country. There is no shame in asking for aid."
The president, who had not slept in three days, rubbed his eyes. "This is not what I promised the people, but I also promised the people protection. Please call in the Portuguese Ambassador, we need help."
The Home Fleet was dropping out of its hyperspace vortex in a wall of light and realigned itself with reality.
"This is Fleet Admiral Tobias Toranaga," his voice flowed through the void to the other assembled fleets. "We are ready when you are."
Great Dolphin Conspiracy - Chatter box
"Implications: we have been intercepted deliberately by a means unknown, for a purpose unknown, and transferred to a place unknown by a form of intelligence unknown. Apart from the unknown, everything is obvious." ZORAC GALE Force Euro Wimp Human dignity shall be inviolable. To respect and protect it shall be the duty of all state authority.
The DEW Network would be screaming, its sensors alerted to a presence which would nearly overload the system with data ob n the invaders. Its warnings, broadcast on encrypted frequencies would say "WARNING EARTH INVADED BY CLASS 5 FLEET. REQUEST ASSISTANCE FOR PLANTERY DEFENSE." there would be some technical data, which would imply that the ships were of abnormally large lengths. While the Fleet from Neos Arrived in, their warp drives showing the transition by lengthens the ships to real units, the message from the large fleet, consisting of Two Voite class Battle cruisers, which lead the effort, followed by Three Rowrbrazzle Battleships. Two OtherKun cruisers would appear from Warp, filling out this expedition group. The Rest of the Fleet, Three Harmony Spheres, including the one which had the vital data recording of the heralds probe incident, flew into position.
The Commander of this fleet, a human from the city of Pretoria, Dan Cody, would sigh, as he though about his city. "All ships, prepare to form up,” were his in fleet orders, as he looked at the navigation officer from his flagship, the Battlecruiser "Enterprise-D" He would look upon the viewscreen, and speak to the "Attention Earth Forces" would be his first words" "I have this TGA fleet here to defend Earth. W e are ready to fight, but wait, our mothership should be here to... "The Mothership would jump in, its massive FTL Signature revealing a ship nearly 2 miles long in diameter. The ship would say "Yeah, sorry it took us so long to get here, some incident in the South with Psykers kept us. Now anyway, Earth Forces, We are ready to fight to defend our planet! TGA command Fleet report in!.
The crew of the Mothership, still wearing their training uniforms held their shock as they gazed upon the ungodly large fleet. "Admiral Cody, Uh, we are scanning several thousand ships, and we just assumed DEW had malfunctioned. How do you propose we fight this force?" Cody would look at his private com" "I'll take command, Prepare to have a shuttle landing, and Launch a probe and a diplomatic ship to investigate the swarm. The man would run down from the command deck, temporally promoting command to the Cybernetic being known as SHODAN.
The X-34 shuttle would take off, flying from one ship to the Mothership's bays, its rough approach only contained by the tractor beams of the Motheership. Dan Cody, now a command level officer with no ship would run towards the turbovater, flashing his ID to confused drones and yokai who had all been practicing fro real fleet battles. The turbovater stopped at floor 4, which forced Him to run out, and take several flights of stairs to the Command Room. The Mothership's design was unlike any other in the fleet. It had a human woman in the rear, as the living brain of the ship, making this ship a literal mothership. Its command room was more organic, revealing a room in warm colors, with a holographic display of the battlefield. This ship seemed to be more of a pleasure cruiser than a warship, but its power was still undeniable." Dan Cody, Fleet Admiral of the Cooperative Mothership Fuzzy One, Reporting in!" The other ships would report in and assume a defensive wall with the others. This would be a tenacious battle.
On the Lower floors, three ships were being prepared. A probe, outfitted with sensors and various other computers, was launched towards the swarm. A Diplomatic ship, a glorified Dale class Orbital transport was launched towards the wave of invaders, its inhabitants representing all of the TGA's varied citizenry, headed towards the upcoming storm as well
Earth
Poland
Warsaw
Hotel
In Poland, the Uche was preparing to lead the assault on the large fortress city of Lagos. He was in a room, waiting, while the rest of his family waited in their hotel. He had locked himself into a sort of trance, his brain interlocking with the map of the forces that His Loyalists had given him. The Poles had recently given him a small force, and he decided to help end this rebellion by killing the second military heart. he thought "Ah Lagos, First City I conquered, and It would come down to conquering you again... Irony always prevails. He would assign the Poles to assemble, and take the Trans-Congo Expressway to the Eastern Border of Nigeria. Have missiles, and be ready for possible attacks on the highway. Orbital Scans and information are availed via Harmony Sphere No 6." He would send the Harmony Sphere's operations codes to the forces, as he suddenly was interrupted by the DEW Network. 11,500 ships. Impossible...
The Uche would look at the numbers in shock. "Eleven thousand, Five Hundred, that, shit Well, that's inconceivable. Send message to thee Neos Fleet to arrive here, ASAP." The Message sent, he then looked upon the Earth, and sent out one message, hoping the rebels would get it "ATTENTION, People of Africa. We must stop this war. The Earth is under attack by the Aliens from space. I am not joking. Our Networks have seen ships that blot our the sun, and we are not sure of their power. I Beg of you, stop this fighting, and report to your nearest Civil Defense Centre. Help Defend your city, your Country, Your Planet, against these Space Invaders. We must Stand as One, or We shall Fall to these Unknown beings. Thank You." His speech sent, thee Uche would fall into a deep thought slumber, focusing on the weaknesses of the city itself.
Dan's Art
Bounty on SDN's most annoying
"A spambot, a spambot who can't spell, a spambot who can't spell or spam properly and a spambot with tenure. Tough"choice."
High in Earth Orbit and around the Lunar shipyards, ships of the Home Defense Fleet of the United States Space Navy were assembling to face the gigantic swarm of ships. Reports had been coming in from ships of other nations, freely giving their positions, state of readiness, and willingness to fight the invaders. United States ships were doing the same, forming into walls of battle and picket lines, and heading to preset rendezvous points. Even with all the conflict on Earth herself, nobody would say that the USA was not prepared to fight for their planet.
United States Home Fleet Command wrote:TO: (Widebeam Earth MilNet transmission)
United States ships are moving out to the following rendezvous points. Recommend assigning zones of defense to enhance coordination and effectiveness.
The Polish scout-ship, dispatched when the first problems had erupted over Earth, arrived at the distant edge of the system. It made no effort to hide itself, pinging with active psonar and broadcasting on every band it's arrival, purpose, and flag. The crew hoped that since war had not yet been declared, they would not be swatted from space by the psykers. It was one of a dozen scout-craft dispatched by a Polish light carrier in distant deep space to the worlds around whcih the League were rumored to make their home. It had just recieved word from Earth on FTL-com, and broadcast a message as it arrived-
-::This is short-range FTL scout PB-221 off of the ORP Aleksander Chudek I bear news from Earth and the Polish Republic::-
Solidarnosc
Polish Republic
The light carriers of the 2nd Light Carrier Division spun up to FTL and left the system for distant parts unknown.
Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite.
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908 - )
Colonel Nwan narrowed his eyes at the mottly group of mercenaries standing before him. Their equipment, was on average, outdated if still serviceable, although they had obtained several pieces of more exotic gear from their home military somehow. Not that it mattered, the governor had plans for them that did not require them to have the best gear. No, all that mattered was that these scumbags were amoral killers who could keep the population in line when the rebellion against the tyrannical Uche came. They would need every able bodied soldier in the trenches as possible, and the fewer men from the city the better.
These mercenaries, alien outcasts from their own weird society, fit the bill perfectly. Most of them had an attitude towards killing that was indifferent at best and sadistic at worst. They had no ties to the locals and would thus gladly slaughter the abominations that the sub-human cyborg monstrosity called the Uche allowed to flourish. But best of all, they were scary. The grunts looked like insane fanatics covered in eldritch, blasphemous sigils burned and tattooed into their flesh. The commanders...
Nwan shuddered involuntarily. Most of the time the commanders looked like balls of tar that occasionally manifested eyes or mouths in random places, occasionally creating damned faces, but when they went to combat they could mould themselves to whatever horrid monstrosities they liked. They appeared to favour bipedal killing machines with rending claws and mouths filled with razor sharp teeth that could extend impossibly. They had no bones or internal organs, so slugthrowers were useless against them, and they could project forcefields to stop energy weapons from burning their flesh. Their commander, a particularly sick monster that enjoyed picking things apart, bragged that in urban conditions he could obliterate an entire tank squadron single handedly. Nwan didn't doubt him.
While some of the other commanders objected to the presence of these creatures, Colonel Nwan knew what the governor was thinking. Aside from maintaining order during the rebellion, the mercenaries were ultimately expendable. One way or another, when all was said and done, they could be cut loose and take the blame for any warcrimes that moral cowards tried to level at those who took the necessary actions to cleanse the world of furry scum.
Rebel held Lagos, present day
The city of Lagos was surprisingly quiet for all the nuclear weapons pointed at it and the sun going dark up above. This was because the iron fist was being used to keep control. Terror reigned, and the streets were littered with the corpses of those that opposed the rebellion. Even those soldiers that supported the actions of the governor were afraid of the terrors unleashed.
Just the other day there had been a massive riot that the alien mercenaries had put down in a most brutal fashion. They had used their monstrous commanders to herd the mob, ripping through entire ranks of people, until they had several thousand terrified people running down a main thoroughfare, right into the fortified position prepared for them. Using obselete machineguns, they mowed down the unarmoured group with sadistic glee, the bullets merely tickling the amorphous beasts still slaughtering the would-be counter-revolutionaries. Earth moving equipment was still cleaning up all the bodies and body parts.
So it was that the city was quiet as the sun dimmed with the arrival of the alien fleet. The people were already too scared to do feel any more threatened. The clinically skinned and gutted otherkin hanging like hunting trophies from lamp posts and flagpoles served as mute reminder to anyone who forgot.
Listening to the Uche's calls for solidarity, Colonel Nwan smiled. He knew that the governor would agree that this would be the perfect time to strike. Let the Poles and Chinese deal with the problem in space. The freedom fighters in Africa had better things to do.
I love learning. Teach me. I will listen. You know, if Christian dogma included a ten-foot tall Jesus walking around in battle armor and smashing retarded cultists with a gaint mace, I might just convert - Noble Ire on Jesus smashing Scientologists
The Polish scout-ship, dispatched when the first problems had erupted over Earth, arrived at the distant edge of the system. It made no effort to hide itself, pinging with active psonar and broadcasting on every band it's arrival, purpose, and flag. The crew hoped that since war had not yet been declared, they would not be swatted from space by the psykers. It was one of a dozen scout-craft dispatched by a Polish light carrier in distant deep space to the worlds around whcih the League were rumored to make their home. It had just recieved word from Earth on FTL-com, and broadcast a message as it arrived-
-::This is short-range FTL scout PB-221 off of the ORP Aleksander Chudek I bear news from Earth and the Polish Republic::-
The system, to even the crude psionic sensors of the Poles, is a blaze of activity, the inner system nearly inscrutable past the sheer amount of psychic force being thrown off. Murderous Rage warcraft blaze brighter against the background activity, but they are by no means the only sources of spaceborn emissions, not by a long shot. Smaller signatures, weak only in relation to the sheer concentrations aboard the battleship-analogues, crisscross the system all over, very few of them exhibiting more than a standby power load on any conventional sensors.
At the scout's arrival and message, a sizeable percentage of in-system traffic, military and civilian alike, begins moving outward to intercept...only to swerve back onto their original courses at a bellowing psychic shout from one particularly-radiant Murderous Rage vessel in the outer system. That vessel then vanishes into hyperspace and emerges again shortly, near to the Polish ship. A sphere of force solidifies into being around the ship, a thickly-layered shell of mental energy accompanied by a transmission in a gravely, middle-aged male voice, "This is for your own protection, but I do not recommend you remain here long. Many here know of your treachery, and it would be tiresome to have to keep protecting you. I am Gabriel, of the," the ship is wreathed in an outline of a flaming bird, wings outstretched, "and we will only shield you for the time it takes you to deliver your message."
Chronological Incontinence: Time warps around the poster. The thread topic winks out of existence and reappears in 1d10 posts.
Out of Context Theatre, this week starring Darth Nostril.
-'If you really want to fuck with these idiots tell them that there is a vaccine for chemtrails.'
The Poles are not alone however in being recent arrivals. In the space beyond the edge of the system a swirling vortex opens from hyperspace. A flicker of pseudo motion out of the portal heralds the arrival of the Chamaran Yacht 'Quintana reborn' seventy five metres of unarmed and streamlined ship riding a blazing star of plasma fire towards the system. The ships escorts peeling off and holding at that position.
The ship's running lights and transponders run but more importantly, as the ship closes towards the star, the six psychers aboard let their minds listen, And when they're close enough to the system to believe their modest calls will be heard over the background babble, they try to make contact a widebeam message directed into the system by six minds in unison. ~Hello?~
