Interstellar Ascendancy(FT, Nation, IC, OPEN)

[The Greater Gambia]

Interstellar Ascendancy (IC)

OOC

Image coming


The year is 3155, 840 years since Humanity fled their doomed Home World, lost to war, famine, climate change, and dwindling resources. Humanity scattered across the stars, forming mighty empires and fledgling backwater systems. As they settled their new homes, Mankind would find that they were not alone among the stars. From docile creatures that feast on the elements of gas giants, to intelligent life with their own interstellar Empires. All of them competing in some form or another to survive in an unforgiving galaxy. Will your people make keep their place among the stars, or will they become a footnote in history?

[The Greater Gambia]

Scutum Systems, Harma System, Harma II

bolts of plasma-like substances flew past halgo's head as he ran towards the bunker. It had only been a few hours since unknown creatures had assaulted Harma III, a lowly backwater planet near the edge of the Galaxy in the Scutum Systems. It was home to the Kal, a race of Molluscoid organisms that have only become apart of the Galactic community in that last 100 years and have rarely left their world since. Out of the corner of Halgo's eye, he could see his fellow soldiers fighting for their lives, their "primitive" kinetic rifles having almost no effect on the invaders armor-like exoskeleton.

The Bunker was in sight amongst the rubble of his home world, other soldiers were running as well, some following the order to pull back, others out of fear. Halgo dove into the bunker, the blast doors closing as he did. Other soldiers were able to make it in time, many more were not so lucky. They banged on the blast doors, pleading for their comrades to open up, but they were soon replaced with screams of terror and the horrifying shriek of one of the invaders. Soon, nothing was heard except the rumbling of artillery all around them, much to the horror of the survivors inside. Halgo regained his composure and walked up to one of the guards, a young trembling recruit, terrified at the blight that had descended upon their planet.

"You, where is the communications terminal!?" The recruit snapped back to reality, as much as he could given the circumstances.

"C-Command Center, sir..... I- I'll lead you to it." The soldier led him through the bunker, the wounded and dying littered the halls as the overburdened medics tried their best, barely managing to make their deaths less agonizing. Halgo was led to the Command Center, Screens and consoles lined the walls, many of them offline due to the destruction of the planet's satellite system, another reminder of the Kal's dire situation. Halgo approached the Communication's Terminal, trying to report to what was left of the chain of command. A older looking Kal appeared on the screen, artillery batteries firing in the background as soldiers escorted civilians to what they hoped would be a safe place.

"General Kalamri, we need reinforcements, the invaders have overrun the city and are slaughtering anything in sight!"

"Request denied, Commander Halgo. All of our reserve forces are tied down in the Capital province protecting the evacuation vessels. Right now what satellites we have left in orbit are detecting that any civilians in your area have either been evacuated or killed, thus you have been placed on low priority. We will help when we can." Halgo slammed his fist on the console.

"My men, our brothers, are dying in droves at the hands of these things! You can't just abandon us!"

"Look around you, Commander! We've lost contact with ANYONE in the Southern Hemisphere and we're not faring much better ourselves. the 2nd and 3rd defense fleets have been completely destroyed and the on the verge of complete annihilation and when they've gone to the beyond, our evac vessels will be completely defenseless. We've sent out a.... distress......hope.....someone" The message was cut off as a scraping noise was coming from the roof of the bunker. Suddenly, it's source showed itself in the form of one of the invaders. This one was not like the ones Halgo had seen so far. Before he could react, the creature stabbed Halgo with his knife like claws, picking him up and flinging him across the room. The creature soon lost interest in Halgo and flew out of the room, followed by the sounds of screams and gunfire, both quickly being silenced by the creature. Halgo laid there dying, bleeding out from his wounds. He would soon join the billions that would die this day.

[The Orson Empire]

Reserved

[New Zacharia]

3/11/3155
Report to the Imperial Office of Fatima's Hope Station,
concerning the unknown alien glyphs discovered throughout Perseus Region interstellar space

This section of alien script, which does not correlate to any known languages, extant or extinct, has been found in identical format, etched into the interiors of derelict alien starships, also of unknown provenance, at no less than forty-six separate sites in deep interstellar space throughout the Empire [see attached map]. The presence of these ruined vessels, scattered light-years apart, is sinister enough, particularly given the extreme variance in age between them. Some are scarcely hundreds of years old, others millenia old, encased in ice and pitted end to end with meteoroid impacts. These findings seem to suggest the existence of some uncontacted alien race that has been traversing the stars of the Perseus Expanse since before our Empire's inception. It is possible, even, that this uncontacted race continues to exist at present.

This knowledge is concerning enough, but the particular disturbing import of this script has only become apparent now that my teams have managed a partial translation. There had been little success on this front, until, through analysis of the dessicated alien corpses found aboard the derelicts - though the remains were too old to tell us anything beyond the most elemental aspects of their biology [see attached dissection reports] - it was discerned that their tactile sense was most likely their primary. With this understanding we found that the texture and depth of the carved script's grooves were in fact fundamental to its meaning, and from this point on our decoding was met with considerably greater success. The semi-translated script, disconcertingly, appears to reference a highly eusocial, expansionist society, the dangerousness of which should be, I fear, quite evident.

Note: An ellipsis [...] designates an untranslatable section

'You were birthed in the dead flesh of your parents. In the corpse nurseries you were little and wriggling and weak, blind and anosmic, and the Swarm gave itself unto you. So you could grow fat and strong, legged and smelling, made anew in the image of ... as on distant ... to be as a stone in the ancestors' path, a ... And as you came to it so shall you return to the Swarm. For such is your debt. And as your reward, your children shall outnumber the stars, and the stars shall they claim for their own'.

At present our Empire faces many dangers from within and without, and I can quite understand that the Imperial Navy is more concerned with addressing known threats rather than chasing ghosts unearthed by archaeologists. But I implore the Imperial Office to take heed of these most recent discoveries. The absence of superluminal drives aboard these derelicts seems to have given the impression that this unknown race is primitive, and could pose no threat, but if anything this makes the danger more severe. I believe these vessels represent a concerted effort to colonise the Perseus Expanse with generation ships, and given the great variance in the ages of these derelicts, without FTL this effort must have been a continuous project taking place over thousands of years.

A species able to persevere in such an undertaking, for what must be countless generations, longer than our civilisation has even existed, with no way of knowing if their efforts have ever been met with success, must posses a unity of purpose and direction that is frankly terrifying. Almost insentient. And over these thousands of years, who can tell how far they have spread themselves over the galaxy? Interstellar space may still be teeming with their ships, quite intact, and ready to settle new worlds. Our worlds.



+++transmission [Liang Offices, Imperial Archaeological Society] end+++

[The New Earth Federation]

New Earth, New Earth Federation

New Earth is one of the most populated planets within the Federation as it capital of the Federation and the cultural heart of the nation. It is also a center for commerce as a majority of companies have their primary headquarters on New Earth. Because of its strategic assets it's one of two heavily defended planets in the capital syste, the other one being Draco, the home planet of the Dracoians. On the surface it was covered in mega cities that are always full of activity, as people moved form place to place, shopping, meeting with friends or just enjoying the day.

Frederick looked out of the window and down at the new of New London, the capital city of the Federation everything seemed so peaceful and happy, however this was merely an illusion as he just got word form one of the sensor outpost that they had detected a increase in background radiation, something was coming towards this galaxy, or they already might be heard. Nether the less they would need to create plans to defend the Federation form this incoming threat. He turned to the Dracoian known as Jul Von Rath, he was the Paladin Lord, one of the highest ranking officials in the Federation

"How long?"

Jul looked at Frederick "it could years, months or days. We don't know that type of technology they have nor how many they are......."

Frederick gave him a cold stare and Jul moved toward the table between them, he pressed a few buttons and then a map of the Galaxy popped up and several red markers where present on the rim of the galaxy. Jul pointed at the markers "Right now we can only guess at most a few months before they hit the edge of NEF space"

"Options?"

"We mobilize the military Chancellor, increase military production and build more defenses until this thing comes"

Frederick walked to his chair and sat down he then massaged his forehead Damn he thought to himself, he then stopped and looked up towards Jul

"Do it"

Paladin Lord Jul Von Rath bowed and left the Chancellors study to begin mobilizing he military and preparing its assets.

[The Heavenly Commonwealth]

DRONE MINE GAMMA: X-22L-a

"I'm Impress with what you've accomplished in so little time, Administrator."

"Thank you, my Liege." The Administrator was indeed proud of what he managed to accomplish, in six months he established a mine which would normally take years. Already they had mined thousands of usable artifacts, but he could tell it wasn't about that.

"However impressive this mine may be, we need to divert resources elsewhere. You will be sent off world on the morrow, we need you to investigate the happenings at Harma II."

"Why, my liege?"

"The entirety of the population was destroyed, while we normally wouldn't care, their description in the report I received make it seem like they could be constructs as well" He looked out at the great drill of the mine, and the busy Drones collecting the many artifacts in the newly revealed caverns. It took him a moment to collect himself, but when the Lord did he spoke with urgency. "This could bring us one step closer to preserving a future for our people beyond digging in the ground of any planet we come across. We need this, Administrator, we don't know if we can continue to live forever, and eventually the last planet will run dry, and that's only if we don't get conquered."

"Our kind," the Lord continued "needs to live beyond this one generation we've been given. They could hold the key!" As his speech ended, the Administrator was filled wit a sense of duty, and agreed to continue with the Lord's plan.

"May I have strength, my Lord"

[True Refuge]

The Ruin

Lord of Ruin Michael Saldana
Tranquillity, Pacem System, the Ruin

Every day that passed by, the Ruin seemed to need more and more guidance from its leader and the High Tacticians, or at least, that's what the leader thought. Michael stood up in his lavish penthouse on the top level of Tranquillity's Central Starscraper, wine glass in hand and traditional Earthen-style black pinstripe business suit as his choice of clothing. He had to admit that if he was wearing the uniform he had donned a decade ago in the Kulu Kingdom, the pose would be described as one that was perfectly regal and suitable for priceless oil paintings. There were habits he just couldn't shake from his upbringing.

Behind him, two girls played and chattered like a buzz in his ears. The Kavanagh sisters, candidates for Hellhawk Program captaincy and his guests for the meantime, and the source of his guilt for taking a break to think instead of entertaining them. It didn't seem to matter, since they looked happy enough to simply be there rather than what Hellhole the Program provided for them. A servitor, or whatever model of servant bitek construct the biteknicians had thought of most recently, kept a supply of sweet biscuits in a minimalist metal container topped up. The older and gauntest of the two, Louise, certainly needed the sugary energy.

The Nadeheol fiasco between his nation and the ASR continued, with Tranquillity currently locked into a discussion with their Prophet System. Its conversation with the ASR's principal AI was just starting to be played word for word through its secure person-to-person affinity link, and he listened to it intently. The High Diplomat had recently returned from her diplomatic excursion, sadly but unsurprisingly empty handed. Everyone was stone-faced these days, she said, unwilling to make any sort of deal. But, she also stated, that was how the Ruin operated too. The country's isolationism certainly didn't help her.

More exploratory missions had been launched, but halfheartedly and in a lacklustre manner. Economic growth was moving along steadily, but not particularly fast enough the settling of a fourth system so soon after the last. The Valisk habitat personality could certainly attest to how the third settled system was increasing only slowly. It had also been highly but logically criticising of the High Tacticians' decisions, as an intelligent being was entitled to. Tranquillity had quickly rebuked it. Despite an age difference of only about eight years, the maturity levels of the two bitek habitats were certainly unequal in the favour of the eldest.

Perhaps they would have another situation like the Faulian Republic, stumbling into someone's territory without even knowing. He had the reports filtered through the High Administrator's offices to him at remarkable speed, but even with the infinite range of affinity, they hadn't just found or stumbled upon anything just yet. He would be one of the first to know out of the Ruin if they did, of course, but he wasn't sure he wanted to know, not after the numerous problems caused by the short-lived Triumvirate that the Ruin had been part of only months ago.

---

1st Official Ruined Exploratory Squadron
Outer Territory of the New Earth Federation

Fleet Members
Voidhawks
Ombey-Captain Ikela
Sentia-Captain Alester
Non-bitek Starships
Second Chance-Lieutenant-Captain Ky Cranel

Several instances of spacetime disturbance appeared in the latest system in the squadron's journey as three wormholes opened and closed and three ships flew out of them. The two voidhawks quickly and expertly removed the anomaly in that patch of space, returning it to its previous state. All crew except the captains were asleep, resting in preparation for the possibility of an emergency. That chance was negligible, as it had been for the rest of the week they had undertaken the journey under.

As the Lord of Ruin himself thought, exploration was nowhere near as exciting as it was in the days following the Ruin's foundation. At present, exploration was mostly cruising from system to system, performing several swallows and wormhole jumps and filing a report that there were no habitable planets or significant amounts of useful resources. Move to the next star, rinse and repeat. It bored the absolute hell out of Lieutenant-Captain, but boredom was not an emotion shown by commanding officers, and the trip was nearly over anyway. The hawks were at approximately sixty-five percent of their nutrient fluid reserves, meaning that they would have to turn back in the near future.

At least the Second Chance had gotten a major upgrade. The bridge of the fifty metre long cylinder-like vessel was sparkling clean, and the mess left behind by the last time it had flown had all but disappeared. The new plasma rockets performed admirably well for old Kulu tech, as did the artificial gravitonic patterning cells that kept his feet planted on the ground. New accommodation, tech, all the jazz that made spaceflight actually comfortable. That, and also a promotion and removal of punishment platoon status of the crew.

The procedural guidelines flicked up on a nearby computer console, automatically triggered by the wormhole drive's message to the central computer. He set several scanning modules and probes to their purpose, and the ship computer sent off several radio pings throughout the system, three seconds apart. All procedure, and if something hostile turned up from the signals, then they could turn tail and run. The hawks were certainly good at rapid retreat.

He waited for the hawk captains’ affinity links. Whether or not they outranked him was always ambiguous. Technically, they outranked everyone apart from the High Tacticians and the Lord of Ruin, but the captains and hawks were so humble and modest sometimes that it confused everyone. In this instance, the procedure dictated that they open the Consensus, and Ikela and Alester were quick to follow it.
Exploration of star Q-749, number twelve in our trip, Ikela droned from Ombey.
Affirmed, Alester sighed. Ky, you still awake?
Due to a lot of caffeine, yes, I am.
The Ombey scoffed at him. You drink too much of that, Cranel, it said with a touch of mocking.
I agree, the Sentia continued. That amount of intake probably isn't healthy.

Ky listened to the two hawks tiredly, but their participation was welcome. Even by just hearing their level, calm and ever so slightly warm voices, he woke up a little more. Fine, he replied jokingly. I'll cut back.

[Dansha]

Perseus Expanse, Perseus Arm
Human Systems Federation space, Central Systems
Berlin System, Aldol

Aldol, capital of the Human Systems Federation and one of the most populated planets in Human Systems Federation. It is also the heart of the HSF's economy, with many of the Federation's largest companies having their headquarters there including BAE Systems which dates back to before the exodus from Earth and Stellar Industrial which was created on Aldol and is now one of the largest companies in the Human Systems Federation. It's surface is dotted hundreds of towns and cities of various sizes, the largest being Aldol City, a bustling city of over 11 million people. As the capital of the Human Systems Federation, Aldol is also one of the most heavily protected planets in HSF space, with the 1st Fleet assigned to protect the planet and a network of orbital defence satellites and stations that orbit around Aldol.

Spencer Howard, leader of the Human Systems Federation looks out from the balcony to the view of Aldol City, the capital of the Human Systems Federation. To the normal citizen, everything looks the same as always, people going about their lives happily, meeting friends and shopping in various stores. However, behind the scenes, things were far more grim. Word has reached the higher echelons of the Human Systems Federation from the Scutum Systems that entire systems have gone dark along with worrying reports of unknown ships that have appeared all of a sudden that seem to be hostile. Even more worrying, the NEF has sent word that they have detected something approaching the galaxy. Regardless of how far away these threats are from the Human Systems Federation, the leaders of the nation must still prepare a plan in case the Human Systems Federation comes under attack.

"How much do we know of what's going on up in the Scutum Systems?" Spencer asks Erin Barrett, head of Federation Military Intelligence as he walks back into his personal officer.

"Not much, I'm afraid. From what little we can gather, the unknowns are of designs of unknown capability that we have never seen before while we have yet to find out what is causing those systems to go dark. And then there is what the NEF detected..." Erin answers, bring up a holographic map of the galaxy. Quickly, multiple red dots appearing around the galactic rim. "The NEF current estimate for the arrival of whatever it is that is coming at only a few months."

Spencer thinks for several seconds before speaking again. "What are our options?"

"For now, all we can do is shore up our defences along our border in the direction of the most likely path to attack us. We simply do not know enough to plan beyond what is already suggested." Erin responds, highlighting the part of the border that is most likely to be attacked.

"Very well. Then that is what we will do." Spencer speaks.

"Right away, Supreme Chairman." Erin salutes before leaving Spencer to his thoughts to prepare the military.

"Just what is approaching our galaxy?" Spencer asks himself once the door closes. "And will we even be able to defeat it if it's hostile?"

"I guess we will found out soon enough..."

[The Heavenly Commonwealth]

The administrator stood in front of the blood crystal he would be a part of in a few short moments. It's soft glow usually seemed welcoming, but now, it was somehow ominous. His partners were over to his right, and they seemed to feel the same thought he felt. This would be the farthest any Crimson under the Obelisk has been, what would the Galactic Community think? If they found out these things were similar to them, would they be hated, even killed?

They went into the crystal, one by one, the glow growing with each entry. The lifted themselves off the ground and zoomed off, into space, knowing, no matter what they found, their kind's destiny would change forever.

[The Orson Empire]

Aicury System, Aicury Sector
Covenant Space, Scuntum Systems

The Aicury System was located near the frontier of Covenant space. The principal planet in the system was Aicury, a hot and humid world covered in thick jungles and very diverse fauna and flora. The system had been colonized 30 years prior and was the capital system of the Aicury Sector (which included numerous star systems surrounding the Aicury system), the newest sector to be established by the Reformed Council. The planet had a population of 200 million, the majority of the system's 350 million population. The planet was mainly home to farmers and miners that produced food and raw materials that were shipped to other areas of the Covenant. The system also included a gas giant where helium-3 was collected for use in fusion reactors (some of its moons were also inhabited), an asteroid belt that contained mines and factories, and a dead world (which was closest to the system's star). Patrols were regularly conducted in the system by the Covenant Navy in order to combat space pirates, which had been a problem in the system for years. A space station known as the Aicury Orbital Base (AOB) was the Covenant Military's base of operations in the Aicury System; along with thousands of personnel, a full Covenant armada (2,400 warships) was docked at AOB.

As day-to-day life continued in the system, suddenly, dozens of unidentified ships began exiting FTL at the edge of the Aicury System. The entire sector was already on edge after a distress signal had been received from the Harma System (located just 200 light-years to the galactic north of Aicury) two days ago, and now, what appeared to be a massive invasion force suddenly showed up in the system.

The crew aboard the AOB were in a frenzy- AOB's defenses, the numerous orbital platforms around Aicury, and the armada docked at the station were being prepared for immediate combat. The commander of the station was immediately called to the war room to decide the next course of action.

Upon entering the war room, the commander noticed that everyone was mostly quiet and appeared to be very nervous. He didn't think much of it at first, and began viewing the various screens and holoprojectors in the room.

"What is the identity of these unknown forces?" he finally asked. An officer would say,"Commander, you're not gonna like this..." he then pulled up an images of their fleets (captured by listening posts at the edge of the system) and their identity.

"What is this, a damn joke?!" he exclaimed in anger. "What kind of ruse is this?!"

"Commander, the scanners aren't lying," the same officer would reply.

The commander's face then went blank. "By the Covenant....you have got to be shitting me. I am certain we exterminated them 2,000 years ago..."

"Apparently not," another officer would say. "The great conquerors have returned..."

Suddenly, the connection with the listening posts at the edge of the system was disrupted. "Shit, they've taken out the listening posts!" The first officer yelled.

"Have a distress signal be sent to High Command immediately, before they can further disrupt our communications! Tell them that we...have apparently spotted Zorgonian forces in this system."

As the Covenant forces continued preparing for combat, the commander took a seat in the war room, with both of his hands over his face in distress. "If there are any deities out there, we will surely need their assistance to fight them again..." he said quietly.

[The New Earth Federation]

High Command building, New Earth

The High Command building was one of the most fortified places with in the capital the other two areas being the space port and the Chancellor's Mansion. It's set up was much like a massive medieval citadel in total it had three sets of walls each higher then the on before it, and twice as thick as the one before it. The walls where made out if the hardest reinforced nano-concrete that the Federation could make, some people say that it can withstand a months worth of constant heavy orbital bombardment. In the center of the massive fortress stood the main building, which had been reinforced so much that you can't even chip the outside layer of concrete.

It was in the Strategic Command Center where the three High Marshals met the Paladin Lord, they sat down in a meeting room with a holoprojector of the Galaxy, Jul Von Rath stood up

"High Marshals, we are hear to discuss this incoming threat." He said then pressed a few buttons "As far as we know the Persus Empire has came in contact with this threat and is losing ground to them, we estimate it will a few months before we have similar incidents.....the Chancellor has authorized the significant increase in our military budget to creat new defense platforms and raise new Legions"

"How significant?" Asked the High Marshal of the Navy

"A about a 50% increase"

"Well shit....that's significant enough"

"Now let's get to planning this defense he said pointing to the map

Western Edge of NEF space, Sensor post Gamma 15

"CONTACTS!" Yelled the radar officer as he turned around in his chair the captain quickly moved over to his station and bit down on his cigar

"Alright.....ready Delta squadron and tell them to intercept those ships! We are moving to Yellow Alert!" He bellowed then moved over to his chair where he sat down and looked at the screen, Delta squadron had already launched and was now intercepting the contacts

"Command this is Delta One, are in visual range of the contacts.......and.....they are Ruin ships I repeat Ruin ships!"

"Alright Delta, I'll contact them, you are good to RTB"

Attention Ruin ships, you have entered NEF space please follow the fighters back to our base.

[New Zacharia]

Scattered between the stars of the Perseus Expanse, the ancient hulks of the settler fleet had drifted for centuries. A hundred generations of short-lived Kau had been nurtured to maturity in their lightless warrens, and then put down by the next, fed to the larvae in the corpse nurseries before they could grow old and infirm enough to burden the Swarm. A pitiless cycle of birth, death and ravening hunger, that had sustained their race through the depths of the interstellar void.



Now one flotilla of the generation arks crawled into the outer reaches of the Estia System, on the borders of Ruin space, drawn to its rich gas giants and moons. Probes travelled ahead of the main vessels, dispatched to analyse the moons' mineral composition and discover suitable sites for colonisation. Shoals of harvester drones set out to drink from the atmospheres of their mother planets.

Transmissions issued from many of them, likely of intelligent origin. These had been detected by the Kau decades before on the course of their slow approach, but they were of little interest to them. The presence of other aliens at their destination was irrelevant so long as they posed no threat to the swarm and its growth.



The winding, intestinal tunnels of the Carrion Harvest, lead vessel of the arks that approached the worlds of Estia, were as silent and black as the void of space it travelled through. For Kau vision and hearing were weak and vestigial, and they lived not by sight or sound but their senses of touch and smell. Millions of Kau scuttled through the dark, cultivating the quivering masses of nutritional slime that grew over the tunnel walls, fighting in the selection chambers to prove the strength of their genes to the spawn-masters, and breeding in the corpse nurseries, feeding the larvae with the bodies of those who were not selected.

Commands travelled continuously throughout the ship, complex olfactory compositions secreted from the pheremone sacs of the swarmlords, circulated through the comm-vents. But the commands were different now. For the first time in all their lives, for the first time since the Carrion Harvest had left the distant Confederation of Swarms a thousand years ago, Kau were redirected from their standard tasks. Launch pods were to be outfitted, settlement algorithms optimised, survey probes monitored, harvester drones operated.

Emissions of joy saturated the air. For of all the generations born and consumed within the ship, theirs was the one chosen to fulfil the vessel's ancient mission. Through the comm-vents the message wafted -

'the void gives way to new worlds, and you shall bring the gift of birth to them. Your children will spread over the lands you claim, and theirs shall cross the void again, and the swarms shall grow forever and ever'

[Inoroth]

Medical Bay C, Echelon 10 of Intrepid, Discovery Class Frigate
Borders of The Scientific Union of Zeon

"You are the model of a healthy Vimnon, Officer Yeetle, now get out of my Med Bay."

The aging doctor barely looked up from his instruments as he spoke -- he wasn't normally this gruff, but regular checkups for all 157 crewmen required a routine he had long ago settled into, one he wished to get through as quickly as possible. 1st Gunnery Officer Yeetle Gerdoor'sar obliged, his four feet clicking softly against the sterile floor as he promptly scuttled out.

A line of about twelve Vimnon, science officer and crew alike, awaited their turn at a checkup as he passed through the sanitary airlock doors. Yeetle knew them all by their faces, of course, but the ship had only been out about a month now, not nearly enough time to really get to know everybody. Then he spotted one of his Gunnery Sergeants, Ditool, at the back of the line. He was likewise spotted at about the same time, and both bowed their necks deeply before grasping one another's two front hands and two front feet -- a customary greeting between friends. Being the officer, Yeetle spoke first.

"Mr. Ditool, good to see you! I thought you were off duty until the next shift -- are you also here for your checkup?"

Then Officer Yeetle noticed that his comrade's plume was a bit pale, a sign that he might not be well. Yeetle's own plume began to flush a bit purple as he realized he might have embarrassed one of his men, but Mr. Ditool seemed to have no concerns about discussing his condition. 'Ever the boisterous one, not easily embarrassed' thought Yeetle.

"Not exactly, sir -- I am on Standby, but I'm afraid I've taken a touch of something. I can tell you what it is too, sir; it's food poisoning! That damn cook! Clumpy, some of us call him now; don't even stir his slop enough to get the big lumps out, and wouldn't you know it but he dredged the bottom of the pot on my serving to boot. Nothing serious, sir, no cause for alarm; a vial or two of digestive enzymes and I'll be back to tip-top shape -- which is more than I can say for Clumpy if he don't get his act straight... sir."

The 'sir' came off almost as an afterthought, as the two Vimnon were both on their second voyage on a science ship, and had served together for over twenty years on their first -- perhaps a long time to many species, but for a Vimnon who could reasonably expect to live past 350 years, twenty years was not a terribly long commitment. At any rate, before Officer Yeetle could tease his shipmate on his lapse in protocol, a jarring alarm blared over the intercom. It was Captain Renoold, a seasoned officer with over 85 years of experience to his credit. His voice, like the man himself, was quick, efficient, and decisive as it spoke.

"Attention. We will exit Warp in ten minutes. Sinks are at the recommended 25% capacity. We must radiate. All personnel on Duty and on Standby report to stations immediately. Prepare for standard sublight maneuvers. That is all."

"Damn." Muttered Ditool, wincing slightly as he clutched his side. The others in line were already clicking down the corridor to wherever their duty stations were. Officer Yeetle ordered Mr. Ditool to report first to the doctor before taking his post, and then turned and himself made for the starboard batteries.

He arrived to find most of his men already seated at the gun controls, saluting as he entered the reinforced room. He put the men at ease as he swiped one of his arms over his own computer station. Immediately its screen lit up, and he received up to the second reports from all his guns, all were lit up in green except his. He sat in his control chair and placed the ear communicator/microphone in one ear, before he pressed a button and his own icon switched from red to green. A few more key strokes, and the image shifted to a video link with the other on-duty bridge officers -- all of them, for it seemed he was the last to log in.

"Nice of you to finally join us, Officer Yeetle"

Commented Captain Renoold, before immediately dropping it and looking at something on his own computer.

"This should be a standard heat dump, no more than an hour. I don't like taking chances, especially this far outside our own space. Navigation has taken us fairly close to an unknown system -- a risk, but a calculated one. This is the fastest way to get to the anomaly we detected two days ago, and this region of space is almost all uncharted anyways. Put a sensor pod out as soon as we leave Warp, and I want you all to be doubly alert until we are again in Warp. To your duties."

A chorus of "Aye sirs" flooded the channel, and then the video-link minimized into the upper right corner. Officer Yeetle wasn't really all that embarrassed; he had done what he thought was his duty regarding Ditool, and besides, he had been all the way down in Echelon 10 Med Bay when the order was given. Still, the captain was a man who expected results, not excuses, and so Yeetle planned to explain himself at a later time, or maybe not at all, depending on if the captain brought it up later.

Suddenly, the ship lurched slightly, and Yeetle knew that meant they were out of Warp. He pulled up the sensor menu on, not to do anything himself, but to act as a second quad of eyes as the Officer responsible for that system did her sweep; if there was anything suspicious, he had to know about it as soon as possible. The ships own sensors were set to passive, which meant that they were less conspicuous -- though the heat venting would certainly negate any attempts to stay inconspicuous. The sensor pod was now clear of the ship, and as it maneuvered to a new trajectory, it's data was now coming in too. Vimnon sensor pods usually used active sensors to make the data they collected more precise, but this also made them more of a target. It was a standard Vimnon tactic to use these sacrificial pods, as they allowed two or more points of detection to increase the accuracy of scans, and if the more aggressive-looking pod were attacked or destroyed by hostiles, it was not nearly as great a loss compared to saving the ship that launched it.
Yeetle peered at the data now steaming in from, looking for any sign that there was anything unusual in the unknown system before them.

[Ithalian Empire]

Amongst the glittering high rises of the UAR's capital, 10 kilometers north of the busy space port, is a flat grassy square roughly 5 kilometers by 10 kilometers. Withing this square lay the various building dedicated the government of the UAR. The Admiralty, the Senate Building, the Bureau of Colonization and other government building. There were also a few colleges and meuseams sprinkled throughout the square. For those that lived in the capital, and to the millions of tourist who visited every year the Central Square was the first place many went.

It was the center of power in the UAR and at the same time it was the center of culture in a city of over 80 million inhabitants. And today it was going to be the sight of a historic speech.

The UAR's executive power is delegated to the president, as such the person who is the defector "face" of the nation. Since the integration of human into the culture and political life of the UAR three humans had served in this capacity. Currently holding the office was and Antivarian Helisar K'her.

Today was going to be the dedication speech to the launch of a new initiative for the nation. Called the Fourth Wave Expansion Prerogative, the law would essential steer the UAR's domestic and foreign policies for the next century. A massive project to explore the unknown region of the Galactic Core, a colonization and a massive military build up to protect the colonies. It would cost trillions of Standard Credits, but the returns would be multiples of what was put in.

In the large rotunda of the Senate Building the President gave his address, to the citizens of the UAR, and to rest of the galaxy. The rotunda was filled to capacity with reporters, citizens prominent and common alike, and of course the 600 senators the represented the 200 sectors of the UAR.

The K'her cleared his throat before specking. "Fellow citizens of the Republic. Human and Antivarian. Fellow citizens of the galaxy. As many of you know a resolution to expand the colonization efforts of our nation has recently passed the halls of this great law making body. In an unprecedented anonymous vote we have decided to further the UAR across the stars.

This will mark the first time that our nation has expanded since the end of the Great War. Much like that era of rapid expansion we came into contact with the humans. This was our golden age. Our military was never stronger, our economy was never grater. In the interest of the wellbieng of our nation for future generations we must once more take a risk and venture into the unknown.

There will be sacrifice, and pain, and hardship. Our patience will be tested, our resolve will be pushed. But we will do go were we have never dared go before, build great cities on savage world. We will bring glory top our ancestor and to the Creator we gave us life and blessed us with our current good fortune.

This is our destiny, this is what we must do."

And with those few words the course of the UAR was set into stone. The Antivarian optimism knew no bounds, and human determination only further stiffened there backs. To bad the galaxy is a dark and unforgiving place, and threat far beyond the reckoning of mortal creatures lurk.

[The Greater Gambia]

-snip

The Zorgon Hive ships sped towards Aicury, as if drawn to the millions living both planet side and in orbit. While this system was less populated than many of the worlds they had consumed so far in this Galaxy, it would prove well for the swarms expansion and a base for deeper incursions in the galaxy. It was also special to the Zorgon, for it was home to members of the species that stopped the Zorgon's previous intrusion into the Milky Way Galaxy. The Collective mind of the Zorgon did not care, many had resisted and even won... For a time. All would be consumed by the superior lifeforms of the swarm.

As the Zorgon fleet neared the planet, the Hive ships shot out swarms of pods, all filled with dozens of Zorgon creatures of war. Many of them lodged themselves into the hulls ships and stations alike, dispensing out Zorgons all throughout the ship, causing havoc across the orbital defenses. The Cho'Dosan were in for the fight of their lives.

[The Heavenly Commonwealth]

The Crystal neared to the planet devastated by the Zorgon and deposited it's team of explorers on the surface.

"Confirm arrival to destination, we have made planetfall, my liege." The message instantly warped to the Lord, and he responded, "Gather as much information as you have the ability to find, leave no stone unturned."

The team trudged through the ruins of the once prosperous cities. Crumbling walls, covered in caked blood, surrounded them, but they felt no sorrow, their mission was not the previous occupants.

After hours, perhaps days of searching, they fund the remnants of one of them, and took it back to the crystal for transport.

When they got to the Obelisk, the brought the body of the Zorgon with them, expired and limp, and sent it to a local laboratory, were they would determine if these creatures were, as they suspected, constructs.

[Zeon Refounded]

Medical Bay C, Echelon 10 of Intrepid, Discovery Class Frigate
Borders of The Scientific Union of Zeon

"You are the model of a healthy Vimnon, Officer Yeetle, now get out of my Med Bay."

The aging doctor barely looked up from his instruments as he spoke -- he wasn't normally this gruff, but regular checkups for all 157 crewmen required a routine he had long ago settled into, one he wished to get through as quickly as possible. 1st Gunnery Officer Yeetle Gerdoor'sar obliged, his four feet clicking softly against the sterile floor as he promptly scuttled out.

A line of about twelve Vimnon, science officer and crew alike, awaited their turn at a checkup as he passed through the sanitary airlock doors. Yeetle knew them all by their faces, of course, but the ship had only been out about a month now, not nearly enough time to really get to know everybody. Then he spotted one of his Gunnery Sergeants, Ditool, at the back of the line. He was likewise spotted at about the same time, and both bowed their necks deeply before grasping one another's two front hands and two front feet -- a customary greeting between friends. Being the officer, Yeetle spoke first.

"Mr. Ditool, good to see you! I thought you were off duty until the next shift -- are you also here for your checkup?"

Then Officer Yeetle noticed that his comrade's plume was a bit pale, a sign that he might not be well. Yeetle's own plume began to flush a bit purple as he realized he might have embarrassed one of his men, but Mr. Ditool seemed to have no concerns about discussing his condition. 'Ever the boisterous one, not easily embarrassed' thought Yeetle.

"Not exactly, sir -- I am on Standby, but I'm afraid I've taken a touch of something. I can tell you what it is too, sir; it's food poisoning! That damn cook! Clumpy, some of us call him now; don't even stir his slop enough to get the big lumps out, and wouldn't you know it but he dredged the bottom of the pot on my serving to boot. Nothing serious, sir, no cause for alarm; a vial or two of digestive enzymes and I'll be back to tip-top shape -- which is more than I can say for Clumpy if he don't get his act straight... sir."

The 'sir' came off almost as an afterthought, as the two Vimnon were both on their second voyage on a science ship, and had served together for over twenty years on their first -- perhaps a long time to many species, but for a Vimnon who could reasonably expect to live past 350 years, twenty years was not a terribly long commitment. At any rate, before Officer Yeetle could tease his shipmate on his lapse in protocol, a jarring alarm blared over the intercom. It was Captain Renoold, a seasoned officer with over 85 years of experience to his credit. His voice, like the man himself, was quick, efficient, and decisive as it spoke.

"Attention. We will exit Warp in ten minutes. Sinks are at the recommended 25% capacity. We must radiate. All personnel on Duty and on Standby report to stations immediately. Prepare for standard sublight maneuvers. That is all."

"Damn." Muttered Ditool, wincing slightly as he clutched his side. The others in line were already clicking down the corridor to wherever their duty stations were. Officer Yeetle ordered Mr. Ditool to report first to the doctor before taking his post, and then turned and himself made for the starboard batteries.

He arrived to find most of his men already seated at the gun controls, saluting as he entered the reinforced room. He put the men at ease as he swiped one of his arms over his own computer station. Immediately its screen lit up, and he received up to the second reports from all his guns, all were lit up in green except his. He sat in his control chair and placed the ear communicator/microphone in one ear, before he pressed a button and his own icon switched from red to green. A few more key strokes, and the image shifted to a video link with the other on-duty bridge officers -- all of them, for it seemed he was the last to log in.

"Nice of you to finally join us, Officer Yeetle"

Commented Captain Renoold, before immediately dropping it and looking at something on his own computer.

"This should be a standard heat dump, no more than an hour. I don't like taking chances, especially this far outside our own space. Navigation has taken us fairly close to an unknown system -- a risk, but a calculated one. This is the fastest way to get to the anomaly we detected two days ago, and this region of space is almost all uncharted anyways. Put a sensor pod out as soon as we leave Warp, and I want you all to be doubly alert until we are again in Warp. To your duties."

A chorus of "Aye sirs" flooded the channel, and then the video-link minimized into the upper right corner. Officer Yeetle wasn't really all that embarrassed; he had done what he thought was his duty regarding Ditool, and besides, he had been all the way down in Echelon 10 Med Bay when the order was given. Still, the captain was a man who expected results, not excuses, and so Yeetle planned to explain himself at a later time, or maybe not at all, depending on if the captain brought it up later.

Suddenly, the ship lurched slightly, and Yeetle knew that meant they were out of Warp. He pulled up the sensor menu on, not to do anything himself, but to act as a second quad of eyes as the Officer responsible for that system did her sweep; if there was anything suspicious, he had to know about it as soon as possible. The ships own sensors were set to passive, which meant that they were less conspicuous -- though the heat venting would certainly negate any attempts to stay inconspicuous. The sensor pod was now clear of the ship, and as it maneuvered to a new trajectory, it's data was now coming in too. Vimnon sensor pods usually used active sensors to make the data they collected more precise, but this also made them more of a target. It was a standard Vimnon tactic to use these sacrificial pods, as they allowed two or more points of detection to increase the accuracy of scans, and if the more aggressive-looking pod were attacked or destroyed by hostiles, it was not nearly as great a loss compared to saving the ship that launched it.
Yeetle peered at the data now streaming in from it, looking for any sign that there was anything unusual in the unknown system before them.

Deikun System
Planet Munso
The City of A Baoa Qu

The planet Munso is a heavily polluted industrial world covered with factories and mines. No animal or plant life can be found with any amount of searching, as they died off centuries ago. The polluted air would cause any normal oxygen breathing life-form's lungs to severely itch instantly, but the enhanced beings of Zeon could tell no difference as they go about their lives.

Many high towers dot the landscape. Inside, many activities occur that range from important government work to a newborn clone taking his first breath. In one such tower, there is the office of the High Admiral...

In his office, the High Admiral was beyond furious. Eight hundred years and all ship destructions had been fully documented. But THREE full patrols found destroyed in as many weeks and no trace of an enemy. They will be found and they will be destroyed...

His thought were interrupted as an alert sounded that an unknown object had been detected near the border...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Border of The Scientific Union of Zeon

The clone pilot known as JGJ-9786 was on patrol with his mech. His thirty-hour patrol was just about over and he was going to head back. He was beginning to have thoughts about a hot meal and shower. That sounds good..., he thought and then yawned.

He was shaken out of his reverie by his computer beeping an alert. An unknown object had been detected nearby using an active scan. He activated cloak, gunned his thrusters, and headed toward the signal.

"Mothership, reporting unauthorized border penetration. Moving to terminate."

Some hours later the object came within sight and he accelerated further. Soon he was directly in front of the Vimnon probe and uncloaked for an attack run. The moment before his shield smashed into it, all it saw was the mech's single large eye.

[The Orson Empire]

Aicury System, Aicury Sector
Covenant Space, Scuntum Systems

The Zorgonian Hive Ships moved so rapidly into the Aicury System that the defenses around Aicury and throughout the entire system barely had any time to react. Sticking to their normal strategy, the Zorgon attacked Aicury first, as it had the highest population and was the most heavily defended. While the far more powerful particle lances began to charge up on AOB, the less powerful plasma batteries began to open fire on the Hive Ships, damaging some of them in the process; it was not enough. The Hive Ships began to fire the dreaded swarms of pods at AOB, the numerous orbital defense platforms in orbit, and the hundreds of ships in the area. Zorgons began to disperse throughout all of the stations and the ships, overrunning them and causing mayhem in the process.

AOB was hit the worse, as thousands of Zorgons infiltrated the station from their pods. Almost all of the Zorgonians deployed were the normal bipedal soldiers; they were much larger than an average Cho'Dosan and far more muscular (on top of that, they were also wearing body armor, which is not shown in the picture). Most of the soldiers were armed with large plasma cannons, the standard issue weapon of the Zorgonian forces. However, a select few soldiers were armed with boltcasters; these weapons functioned similar to a grenade launcher, but rather than kill the enemy in an explosion, they could kill dozens of enemy soldiers at once with a very sticky, corrosive substance. After a "bolt" was fired into a crowd of soldiers, the bolt would break open and release the sticky substance, which was capable of dissolving through armor and destroying the skin and internal organs of the enemy soldiers. The soldiers did not carry any other weapons, as the Zorgon knew that bringing in any heavier weaponry was dangerous when fighting in a close quarters battle.

While the Zorgon stormed through the station, killing everything in sight, a group of higher-ranking officers, lower-ranking marines, and various station personnel managed to hide in a conference room deep in the station. The group had kept their composure throughout the chaos so far, until one of the personnel broke down crying, believing her life was over.

"Oh, quit your crying," one of the marines said in a disgusted tone. "I am certain we will get out of here alive- there can't be many of the damned bastards left. Surely High Command is sending in reinforcements."

"Don't be so hard on her, marine," one of the officers said. "We haven't faced a threat like this in millennia, and we were caught completley unprepared. I'm surprised we aren't all distraught."

"How the hell did these damn bugs come back anyway? We killed them off!"

"Well obviously not, marine. They must have retreated and waited for the right time to strike."

Another officer interrupted, saying,"I don't know if that distress signal even got out to High Command. Their ships are blocking all comms system wide. While we have a change, I suggest-"

Then, suddenly, the door to the conference room was blasted open so hard that it ripped off of the hinges. A psionic wave of energy ripped throughout the room, throwing everyone back towards the rear wall. At the front of the room, and using its psionic powers to float was a soldier that looked different than all of the others. During the first Zorgon War, these creatures were referred to as "telepaths". They were armed with no weaponry, as their psionic powers were strong enough to fill the role. Telepaths were surrounded by a very strong psionic barrier that had to be weakened in order for the creatures themselves to be physically harmed and killed, and in addition to having full access to all powers, if close enough, they were capable of reading the thoughts of enemy soldiers and learning of any battle plans they may have. Telepaths were notably much more intelligent than soldiers or workers, and were capable of giving out commands and formulating battle strategies.

A telepath had been standing outside the door for a while, listening in on the conversations inside while psionically transmitting the information to all of the other Zorgon. Once it had a group of 20 soldiers near it, the telepath blew in the door of the room.

After the door was blown open, 6 of the soldiers fired several bolts from their boltcasters into the room, blasting the corrosive substance all over the room. Numerous Cho'Dosans screamed in agony as the substance burned through their skin and began to dissolve their internal organs. Meanwhile, the other soldiers ripped those unaffected to shreds with their sharp claws. One marine tried to fire his laser pistol at the telepath, but the laser beam was simply absorbed by the psionic barrier. As the telepath approached him, one of the Zorgon fired on the marine with its plasma cannon; the plasma bolt ripped the marine in half.

As the remaining personnel aboard AOB were wiped out, the Zorgon began recovering the numerous dead bodies and collecting them in a central location. The bodies were going to be turned into biomass, which (along with various metals) was used as a construction material by the Zorgon.

[True Refuge]

1st Official Ruined Exploratory Squadron
Outer Territory of NEF

"CONTACTS!" Yelled the radar officer as he turned around in his chair the captain quickly moved over to his station and bit down on his cigar

"Alright.....ready Delta squadron and tell them to intercept those ships! We are moving to Yellow Alert!" He bellowed then moved over to his chair where he sat down and looked at the screen, Delta squadron had already launched and was now intercepting the contacts

"Command this is Delta One, are in visual range of the contacts.......and.....they are Ruin ships I repeat Ruin ships!"

"Alright Delta, I'll contact them, you are good to RTB"

Attention Ruin ships, you have entered NEF space please follow the fighters back to our base.

The message sent a chill and a spike of adrenalin through the captains blood. Coffee cups nearly slipped out of fingers before nanonics subtly corrected the muscle movements. The hawks watched with a touch of maturely exhibited surprise, never the sort to outwardly show extreme emotion. Ky thought sluggishly for a short while, as did the other captains. The crew continued sleeping in their quarters, unaware of the emergency that was actually calling them at that moment.

A groan came out from deep in his throat. A problem, now of all times when the whole Nadeheol thing was still going on, and they were calling them to the base! How long would the three ships spend there while an inevitably well-dressed Madeline Nadir got in her High Diplomat uniform and hustled over to save them. The Second Chance was supposed to have been fixed, and if it had indeed been fixed, the computer should have told them that the next system was NEF space. He glared in the general direction of the bunks and the computer engineer slash technician, who was snoring quite loudly.

Ombey was the first to offer her scathing opinion on the matter, but in a terse and restrained manner of course. This is frustrating, it mused. There was a slight inflection of annoyance in the affinity words, and Ky could easily sense such an emotion through the affinity link. Its captain was next.
Damnit, Ikela growled. Ky, you deal with this.
Ky tensed and felt the urge to scream. Fine.

He sent an affinity command to the crew in the form of a drill sergeant's classic 'on your feet, maggots' callout, and the eleven soldiers necessary for ship command jolted out of their beds and quickly but sleepily jumped to attention, only to find that their commander was in the bridge. They took their seats around the ship rapidly. The translation programs were brought online in preparation once they saw the predicament they found themselves in, as was other programs that data-mined the source of the message, telling the Second Chance exactly where it came from.

"Send a message in reply saying that this was a mistake of computer failure," Ky said firmly. "I want this dealt with in good time."

Post Gamma 15, the Ruin has come with intention of exploration, and has only arrived in this system due to faulty computer routines. This is not a hostile meeting, and we would very much like to quickly leave without causing repercussions for either side.

---

Estia System, The Ruin

When the probes arrived in the system and began to near the moons and gas giants, dozens of dormant Spatial Defence Platforms otherwise known as SDs suddenly switched on when their background scanning found them. The restricted intelligence of the bitek processors rapidly flicked through the procedure, sending an alert to the company which owned the heavy electron and radiation lasers, who in turn automatically bounced it via affinity to the High Admiral's office. Material Solutions Ltd wanted no part of a possible threat when there was the military to deal with it for them.

The SDs observed the number of probes and drones and such, classifying it as a larger number that the hawks would have to deal with. A further scan revealed a flotilla of ships of unknown make or design, and the alert was upgraded to something more urgent. The message filtered up through the High Tacticians' building in a matter of seconds, and the High Admiral made no delay in dispatching Captain Meyer, Captain Syrinx and several other hawk captains to swallow out to Estia.

As this happened, the SDs fired several electron laser pulses. They were enough to fry a drone a if they got a lucky shot on one, but the lasers were not aiming for them or anything else. The warning shots passed by the shoal without hitting anything. A message was sent in binary in the direction of the flotilla, menaingless gibberish meant to tell them that this system was indeed inhabited.

[The New Earth Federation]

Sensor Post Gamma 15

The captain looked over the message, sighed, and wrote back. He understood the diplomatic tension that this could and would create so he decided to let them go.

Ruin ships:
You are free to go, do you require supplies?

He sent the message as Delta squadron returned, they used the standard issue F-104 Grimm Reaper, it was a small single fighter. However don't let its size fool you as it was fitted with some very interesting weapons most of them where autocannons which fired shells that where a HE thermite mix. The captain personally flew several times in a Grimm Reaper and was quite surprised with how agile it was.

[Ism]

The H.S.S. Unsung
Captain Gukov Vital rit Ruzik Vital

Captain Vitral stepped into the holoprojector and activated the device. He closed his eyes as the machine scanned him, projecting a holographic image of himself all the way to Admiral Eztuk's office. He never like how he appeared though, his gray-green skin always looked strange, and his black splotched did not help matters. He waited, patiently, for the Admiral to step into the holoprojector on her end. The projector activated with hum, and the image of Eztuk appeared before him. She stared at Vitral with big white eyes, contrasting her dark blue skin, not that much was visible given her uniform.

"Admiral, I have excellent news. The mission to the Feliv Sector was a success! We were able to identify no fewer than 3 habitable worlds, and 8 worlds which could be easily manipulated to suit our needs. I have of course prepared a more detailed report, which should be appearing in your systems shortly." Vitral said, a slight smile on his face. The Admiral had a reputation for conciseness,and an expectation of it in others, something he had learned was based in truth. He believed he had done quite well.

"I am glad to hear it captain, a successful maiden voyage for the Unsung was such a success. I look forward to reading your full report captain. However, you have new orders. You will rendezvous with the 7th Fleet in the Sayet System, and then take of the command of the fleet. You will receive further instructions then, Rear Admiral. Admiral Etzuk, out."

"Rear Admiral?" Vitral said to himself, thrown off by the statement, before it finally clicked. "Rear Admiral! Ahahaha!" He almost fell back he was so overwhelmed by the news, but he managed to compose himself. He activated his comm device: "This is Rear Admiral Vitral speaking," he said, a smile spreading across his face, "we are changing course to the Sayet System, where we will rendezvous with and take command of the 7th fleet. I know we were all looking forward to some leave time, but the Hegemony needs us once more, and we must do our duty. That is all for now."

[True Refuge]

1st Official Ruined Exploratory Squadron
Outer Territory of NEF

Sensor Post Gamma 15

The captain looked over the message, sighed, and wrote back. He understood the diplomatic tension that this could and would create so he decided to let them go.

Ruin ships:
You are free to go, do you require supplies?

He sent the message as Delta squadron returned, they used the standard issue F-104 Grimm Reaper, it was a small single fighter. However don't let its size fool you as it was fitted with some very interesting weapons most of them where autocannons which fired shells that where a HE thermite mix. The captain personally flew several times in a Grimm Reaper and was quite surprised with how agile it was.

A technician was about to reply with a stern 'No' when the image on the console's screen fractured. The screen glitched as the speakerphones made several grating noises, like static from televisions of more than a millennium ago. He looked helplessly at his station as the screen turned to solid black. He raised his voice and said, "Commander, the central computer's crashed."

Before Ky could react, a series of agonized cries emerged from the other members of the crew as their stations either failed in the same manner or froze up. Out of his mouth came a moan of tired frustration as the affliction spread throughout the ship. "Damnit!" he bellowed, startling some of the soldiers. The other captains and the hawks felt the anger coursing down the affinity link, and their own curiosity flew back to him.

What seems to be wrong? Sentia asked mildly.
Computer failure! he said in a much calmer way, eager to maintain his composure upon inspection by his superiors.
So the repairs were not as comprehensive as you hoped then? Ombey chimed in. It must be frustrating for you.
Captain Ikela shushed her voidhawk's patronising tone, before assuming it for herself. We'll swallow you out briefly. Save your stern words for later.

The two voidhawks flared their distortion fields and began to bend spacetime around them, allowing them to move sideways towards the Second Chance at a somewhat quick pace. When they got closer, they extended the fields further to reach for the ship.

A large electric bolt flew out of the ship's hull, striking Ombey's polyp as both it and the Second Chance simultaneously lost power. The voidhawk's inhuman screech of pain overtook affinity, and Sentia quickly flew away while expressing incredible concern for its kin. Shit! Ikela shouted. Alester, sent a distress call. I don't think Ombey will be able
Yes, Ikela, Alester replied.

Requesting assistance, electrical system failure resulting in light damage to two ships and temporary loss of FtL ability.

Ky was left astonished as a few emergency generator-powered red lights switched on, and an urgent message was indeed sent by Sentia's crew while he gaped along with his squad. The ship could not have not failed more.

[The Greater Gambia]

Events

The Good: A trade vessel from Human Systems Federation came across an abandoned station in the depths of the Perseus Expanse. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the station was apart of the intergalactic pathway system, built by the mythical ancient race known as the Kelraaza 20 Million years ago. The station opens up a wormhole, connecting itself with other stations across the Galaxy. The discovery of these stations has increased trade and travel across the Galaxy, making journeys that would have taken weeks or months now only a couple of minutes, benefiting the economies of many nations. Due to discovery a long lost wonder of the galaxy, something adventurers and nations have searched for eons, the Human Systems Federation is now heralded as a great nation in the Galaxy for bringing this great treasure to light.

The Neutral: Endo, a new narcotic has been unleashed upon the Galaxy. Endo is a genetically modified version of a plant called Hajani, a herb native to the Tagali world of Keshiga with aphrodisiac properties that has been used by the Tagali since ancient times. While it still retains this property, it has also been "enhanced" with others, such as the extreme release of endorphin hormones, pain suppressant, and even unlocking psionic capabilities in species that could previously not. The drug has appeared to be active for days or even weeks. The drug's side effects are not as kind as it can induce psychosis, along with being extremely addictive. What's more troubling is the possibility for overdose is extremely high, just a single decimal over the limit is enough to cripple or even kill someone.

Fortunately Bitek, one of the key technologies or the small star nation called the Ruin is able to "clean" any trace of Endo from the body and greatly helps the rehab process of Endo Addicts. It is yet to be seen how the Ruin will react to this development. Still, the more positive effects of Endo cannot be ignored. throughout galactic history, psionics have played a great role in the creation and destruction of Empires. Perhaps Endo can be used to further the goals of many rising powers in the Galaxy. Still, one must not take it lightly, nor can they let it fester uncontrolled in their society.


The Bad: Due to the Zorgon blight in the Scutum Systems, refugees have begun pouring into the other regions of the Galaxy, finding safety in the star nations of the Perseus Expanse, Outer Frontier, Core Region, and the Centaurus Veil. The sudden influx of Refugees into these regions has caused conflict with the various natives. Due to different languages and cultural beliefs, tensions have risen between various communities almost to the point of violence. These refugees also bring word of a great horror that has been unleashed upon the Galaxy. They speak of the Zorgon, a race from beyond the Galaxy that has devastated hundreds of systems and shows no signs of stopping. This has caused panic among various populations. The Refugees show no sign of stopping, and if this threat they speak of is true, this is only the beginning of something worse.

[The New Earth Federation]

1st Official Ruined Exploratory Squadron
Outer Territory of NEF

Sensor Post Gamma 15

The captain looked over the message, sighed, and wrote back. He understood the diplomatic tension that this could and would create so he decided to let them go.

Ruin ships:
You are free to go, do you require supplies?

He sent the message as Delta squadron returned, they used the standard issue F-104 Grimm Reaper, it was a small single fighter. However don't let its size fool you as it was fitted with some very interesting weapons most of them where autocannons which fired shells that where a HE thermite mix. The captain personally flew several times in a Grimm Reaper and was quite surprised with how agile it was.

A technician was about to reply with a stern 'No' when the image on the console's screen fractured. The screen glitched as the speakerphones made several grating noises, like static from televisions of more than a millennium ago. He looked helplessly at his station as the screen turned to solid black. He raised his voice and said, "Commander, the central computer's crashed."

Before Ky could react, a series of agonized cries emerged from the other members of the crew as their stations either failed in the same manner or froze up. Out of his mouth came a moan of tired frustration as the affliction spread throughout the ship. "Damnit!" he bellowed, startling some of the soldiers. The other captains and the hawks felt the anger coursing down the affinity link, and their own curiosity flew back to him.

What seems to be wrong? Sentia asked mildly.
Computer failure! he said in a much calmer way, eager to maintain his composure upon inspection by his superiors.
So the repairs were not as comprehensive as you hoped then? Ombey chimed in. [i]It must be frustrating for you.[/b]
Captain Ikela shushed her voidhawk's patronising tone, before assuming it for herself. We'll swallow you out briefly. Save your stern words for later.

The two voidhawks flared their distortion fields and began to bend spacetime around them, allowing them to move sideways towards the [i]Second Chance at a somewhat quick pace. When they got closer, they extended the fields further to reach for the ship.

A large electric bolt flew out of the ship's hull, striking Ombey's polyp as both it and the Second Chance simultaneously lost power. The voidhawk's inhuman screech of pain overtook affinity, and Sentia quickly flew away while expressing incredible concern for its kin. Shit! Ikela shouted. Alester, sent a distress call. I don't think Ombey will be able
Yes, Ikela, Alester replied.

Requesting assistance, electrical system failure resulting in light damage to two ships and temporary loss of FtL ability.

Ky was left astonished as a few emergency generator-powered red lights switched on, and an urgent message was indeed sent by Sentia's crew while he gaped along with his squad. The ship could not have not failed more.

Post Gamma 15

"Sir the Ruin ship is requiring assistance"

"We'll send a frigate out to help them"

"Aye sir"

Ruin ship:
We are sending a frigate out to assist you in your repairs. Stand by.

With those orders, a single frigate form the two battleground stationed at the post moved out form dock to go assist the Ruin ship that sent out a distress signal. As one of the smallest class of ships in the Federation Navy, it designed to be an all round combat ship, this could be seen by its heavy armor and armaments however it was fitted with powerful thrusters to keep it agile. It wasn't long before the frigate pulled up to the Ruin ship

Beta sector, New Haven, Helios City

"Um we got a 10-10 in progress over in 18th Ave, Eastern Refugee area, anyone copy?"

"This is car 196, responding to over

"10-4 196"

The Home Guardsman clicked off his radio and moved toward the refugee area. A 10-10 which was a fight, wasn't that uncommon in the refugee area there are always fights in that area, most of these refugees had come for the areas that these Zorogons where in and they could visually describe the destruction that these bastards where doing to the local law enforcement and military forces as well as the infanstructure there. He approached the gate to the refugee area and was met by several Troopers who are wearing the standard issue Trooper BDU, which in sense was power armor over fatigues. He nodded to them as he entered and headed down the street where he found two refugees fighting. He stopped, exited the car, quickly walked over and pulled out his stun baton and forced the baton between them. Then he looked at both of them one was an alien and the other was a human

"Knock it off!" He bellowed waving the baton in front of them "Now what the fuck is going on?"

[Veroxia]

An Untimely Encounter

"Darkness fills thy soul, it creates power within me,
Death, only a mere journey for all to see,
I am neither of the dead, nor the living,
I am the Plague, the beginning and the end...
-Recorded 'Tainted' Conversation

---

Scutum Systems,Capital System, Koros, Marcadia
The New Pratorian Republic

---

'Attention to all travelers! All guidelines must be followed in order to ensure your safety!' was the first words any newcomer would find in any system of the New Pratorian Republic; they didn't like to deal with complaints that tourists were 'missing'. It has been such that way after the incident in the Perseus Empire, a case of the 'Tainted' had erupted in one of their planets; resulting in unnecessary deaths. For the last several years, the NPR had been the power of the North, and one of the larger synthetic nations found in the galaxy. Bragging rights for the Korosians, for they had done most of the expanding. The Pratorians and Skylians in the meantime were the newer members, despite the nation itself being led by one. The Korosians had allowed such a thing, they couldn't say no to their forerunners to run a nation; and it paid off big time. Again, it was the formerly human machines that took pride in such a thing. They were a fascination for many across the galaxy, for they were once human and now had turned or 'evolved' into cocky, merciless killers; the Korosians were well-known for their militancy toward anything that wasn't them, though they really can't say no to cash, cold-blooded cash. The remainder of the human population was rendered to be trained as anything possible to become; ranging from merchants to special forces. They were the ones to generally be accepted by anyone from anywhere, excluding the Pratorians and their Skylian brothers/sisters.
The sky was a solid black, though one would merely focus more on the lifestyle and culture of Marcadia, the capital city of the New Pratorian Republic. Founded over 800 years ago, it was the oldest city in the NPR and the center of culture for many. Famous landmarks range from the Palace, serving both as an area of living and politics for the leader, Pacem. Originally constructed for the former leader X-5, the Palace is an impressive work of architecture, the interior and exterior in such a unique style; the interior covered with compounds of rock and metal, the exterior composed of 'glass art'. Other landmarks include the economic center of the city, bustling with movement and talk, and its underground system even louder. Marcadia is famous for its seafood and its wide array of manufactured products; especially in the arms industry. The city, too was infamous for its minimal presence of the 'Tainted', and as such guidelines were placed to keep tourists from being 'infected'.
Within the Palace,Pacem had been busy with the containment of the 'Tainted', speaking to Visvius, Supreme Commander of the NPR's Military.

"Visvius, my friend. I hope you bring good news to me." Pacem, through a form of digital communication had stated; Pratorians were unable to normally speak, and as such are only to do so through psionics or digital means. The same goes to the Skylians.

"NPR Forces are as prepared as possible to combat the 'Tainted' threat. However, it has been discussed with HC that we begin using them as a biological weapon. The incident with the Perseus Empire has shown that we could use them to our advantage. They cannot merely damage or attack synthetics such as ourselves, and with the majority of the galaxy consisting of sentient organics, we can use them as a way of influencing the galaxy." Visvius had chuckled in a monotone-like voice.

"I cannot say I accept this, Visvius. This would merely be dishonorable to the intentions of the NPR. We are the peacekeepers, not the bringers of death.." Pacem had replied.

"As you wish, my King." Visvius acknowledged, though regardless of the approval of Pacem, testing would continue with the 'Tainted' and their use on the battlefield as a biological weapon. An encounter with them would truly be untimely for the enemy...