Hostile Takeover(Closed)

by **Olde Frankia** » Sun May 10, 2015 9:44 am

There was a good deal of money to be made off of the exploitation and colonization of the Buroq. That is, if the system was clear of potential threats to the East Frankish Trade Company's assets in the region. Such a threat existed in the form of unknown hostiles who had ravaged the EFTC installation of Yurk on the world of Karaakt. This was the reason why Admiral Cloderic was now face to face with the EFTC's pretentious representative on board the Forlorn Hope.

"Listen here Admiral, the Board is intent that our casualties be light in this engagement."

"I cannot promise you that, nothing is promised in battle."

"No, you will or I promise that you'll never be able to command a dingy let alone command a fleet!"

"Is that a threat? Must I remind you, Mr. Gantz, that an Admiral's word is as much law out here in the Black as the Captain's?"

Before Gantz could reply sirens sounded overhead which could only mean one thing.

The enemy was still at Karaakt...

"We'll finish this later, Mr. Gantz."

Gantz smirked.

"I'm sure we will, Admiral."

Forgetting Gantz for the time being, Clodreric headed towards the Control Ward. When he arrived the Ward to the untrained eye would appear as if all Hell had broken loose. Cloderic, having been in countless fights before, knew it was standard routine. No one as much as noticed when he sate himself down, they did notice however when he requested the latest reports on the enemy's actions.

"They haven't fired yet, sir. We must be on the edge of an interdiction field as our FTLi just went up now. Probes and recon vessels are being employed as we speak. Countermeasures are online."

"Excellent, full speed ahead."

The vessels of the EFTC fleet bound for Karaakt were some of the largest, and therefore, the most expensive in the EFTC Mercantile Fleet. The loss of the fleet could cut heavily into the company's profit margin for this cycle and deter potential investors from investing in milking backwater systems dry. Yet, if the company was to save face and ensure investors of its capability in defending its assets, it must commit its scarce resources even if the risk should prove to be too great.

(To be continued)

by **Waikahla-Pohakuula** » Mon May 11, 2015 9:45 am

The Winds of Karaakt...

The intricacies of the technology are foreign to them, these children of Kawaikini. For hundreds of years they waged war by opening direct portals into the atmospheres and onto the surfaces of defenseless worlds. Their empire grew and Kawaikini proved victorious. But the war with the Anunaki had proven to them the real inferiourity of their craft. The lack of FTLi became a hindrance that would come to be their undoing once the Pords intervened. That Nalydya would offer to help rebuild Kawaikini's fleet after the war ended came as a great surprise to them. Kawelo's sacrifice must not be forgotten. It must not have been made in vain.

The blue hues of the star beat down upon the vessels of Kalani's fleet, the Royal Kawaikini Battlegroup Pohaku, glinting magnificently off of the massive rivet-heads and bulbous half-sphere blisters along the vessel flanks. It betrays the existence of batteries of sextuple and octuple-mount artillery pieces - navalized slaggers, massive kinetic guns that hurl molten metal at incredible paces. The myriad half-dozen thousand ships of the armada drift lazily in orbit, gracing the extremities of the air column of the blue-green world below. Their undersides just barely clear the gases of its furthest extent as they plow their way through the fabric. They seem to float across the thin wisps of upper-atmospheric air as they cruise, when they suddenly change course, appearing to heel their numerous bows over onto a heading that will take them out into open fabric.

We have incoming warships, Kalani, a sensors operator notes.

How many? Kalani questions.

Many, she replies, thousands, even.

Kalani nods. He remembers the disaster that was the Battle of Iauna. The high c-frac combat capabilities of the Anunaki fleet were devastating. He was second in command beneath Kawelo then. He saw the lizard-men destroy his commander's flagship. He heard the screams of the dead and dying of Kawelo's crew as they frantically scrambled to defend the ship from the boarders. He had severed the comms link between his ship and Kawelo's. He wasn't going to listen to the death-throes of the doomed.

But now in command of the battlewagon Calm Nui'ino he finds himself in a similar situation to that of Kawelo. Kawaikini blood had been spilled fighting over that useless rock... Iauna. Now it will be spilled again. He had spent time working with Nalydian officers. They had invited him to look through many archives. He saw the sections on the Franks, and of Barlat and Laptev and the JSOC. This is what worries Kalani. The vessel-signatures of those gathered before him are... Familiar.

Distance?

Sensors indicate about a dozen AU, Kalani.

Again he nods. One can never be too sure. The accuracy of the sensory suites always seems to degrade with range.

Bring us up to full speed, he orders.

The orders are echoed through the ship and it isn't long before the loud report of the engines can be heard drowning out all other noise on the craft. It is an apocalyptic cacophony of sounds, a loud droning noise, a thick hideousy that pierces deep into the bowels of the ship and penetrates even to the most desolate recesses of the minds of the engineers and sailors assaulted by it. The craft begins to vibrate violently as the engines go to work, seeming as if they, with all their awesome might, want only to sever the small wheelhouse of a bridge - sat precariously atop her hull - from the rest of the ship. Kalani takes the opportunity to seat himself fully, gazing out the window with much worriment upon his face, watching as the planet begins to fade away into the distance as the fleet begins to accelerate to extreme velocities...

They move together in concert, arranged as the fish of the great Ocean Nui'ino swim, an echo of the past...

A derision of the void.

by **Thanvagi** » Wed May 13, 2015 9:12 pm

Death of The Seven

It's a proud fleet not seen since days gone by. These nomads, arriving on planets at the will of their god. Wishing to free the energies that were stolen; energies that belong to the Mask. Glistening crystalline pyramids ready for conquest.

A fleet of ten thousand ships grouped in various rotating clusters operating like a miniature solar system. The crystalline structure that composes each ship acts as a means of energy amplification, and so the clusters of these ships greatly amplify the shared energy housed within each craft allowing for transportation as well as defensive and offensive mechanisms. In the middle of this fleet lies the head-command ship, which is the largest ship in the fleet. Five separate clusters act as satellites for this massive craft. Housed within this ship is the crew as well as a council of war, who command the entire fleet around them. Communication is done by means of telepathy.

"Death approaches us."
One of the crew in the head-command ship scanning the fabric, is pondering the current circumstance as the fleet cruises to oblivion.

His voice is not heard, his fellow Thanvagi are deep in meditation devoting their energies to the ship. A symbiotic relationship giving rise to ancient wonder. The structure glows and hums, speaking to them like a dream only can. He isn't dreaming as he stares into space with his mind, he sees the end of himself and his brothers. Trained to be a soldier, with a storage of internal energy far above the average Thanvagi. Trained and bred for war, those like him have been kept in reserve and haven't seen conflict in sometime. These "death walkers", living free of death.

"Death approaches and I am afraid."
His eyes open and he stares blankly at the glowing crystalline reacting to his inner turmoil.
"I was bred for this. Told of the glory of the mask since my birth, but I cannot die for such a cause as this."
He rises and mentally informs the council of his intention to abandon.

"You know the penalty."
They reply to his statement.

Then others rise from among the crew, a group of six stand with him.

"We all do"
One speaks and all agree.

A group of seven stands unconvinced of their leader's cause before a council leading a fleet, in all likelihood to their destruction. A group of seven is branded as dishonorable to their comrades, their pristine, snowy white flesh is burned by the fiery-heat of abandonment in a system of lines ultimately forming a triangle. An intricate mark of shame adorning their chests.

"Cursed are your bodies by this council, by your brothers, your family, by the divine Mask. You are now dead to all, for doubting the divine."

With this, the seven are sent out in a scout ship headed to an unknown system.
Their punishment, a metaphorical death of themselves to everything they've ever known...and a cancerous sense of insecurity that will drive them all to madness in the end.

by **The Triskelion Federation** » Fri May 15, 2015 2:32 pm

The Grand White Fleet

The Triskels were a humanoid race, empire builders they thought of themselves, spreading throughout the galaxy adding more and more planets to their Imperial Federation. For many thousands of years then fleet was their way of displaying dominance over their dominion and the galaxy at large. Hell itself would have a hard time competing with the heat which was generated in the star forges across where Federal planets which built the star ships for the Federation and bacteria would find it impossible to multiply itself faster than the Forges could spit out new cruisers. Now the Grand White Fleet was in charge of peace keeping from the planet Triskel to every important system in the galaxy. Today it was in for its biggest challenge yet...

The Grand White fleet stretched out for miles across space, each ship a Goliath in its own right, at the back of the fleet were five thosuand of the largest ships in the fleet named Gauntlet Class Super Battle-cruiser which hosted a humongous array of weapons from Super Mass Accelerator Cannons to 2,000 Super Heavy Quad Turbo-laser banks which could all be aimed at one target. Each Gauntlet also had hundreds of meters of thick reinforced armour to protect the crew and systems from sustaining critical hits, this was also combined with multiple layers of shielding from the giant reactors stored in the belly of the craft. Next in line of the fleet was the Bellator Class Super battle Cruiser which was the second largest ship ever built for the fleet, bristling with weapons, armour and shielding it was truly a force to be reckoned with on its own or in a formation, there were five thousand of these in the fleet. This left the final ship and the bulk of the Imperial Fleet, the Star Cruiser, smaller than the Gauntlet and the Bellator it was still considered a deadly warship in the hands of the right commander made up the remaining 10,000 in the armada.

Bridge of The Sir Galahad, Gauntlet Class Super Battle-Cruiser

Grand Admiral Hans-Boulder walked across the observation deck, a holograph of the system in front of him was glowing a bright red, each ship was marked up with statistics to go with it. His dark brown eyes danced between the ships as he was moving his hands through the data giving orders and commands to his subordinates without speaking a word. In a instant the holograph disappeared and a female ensign wearing the dark grey uniform of the Imperial navy spoke softly.

"My lord, we have spotted several fleets in system, several hostile one friendly, to our fortune we have left dark space just above the friendly force, we appear to have walked into a Mexican stand off" she spoke softly but firmly.

Boulder brought up the new holograph and hummed "Ah yes, it appears that we have, I want all ships in the fleet at battle stations until further notice. All weapons are to be brought online from Turbolasers to the MAC batteries aboard the larger vessels. We are to be prepared for any situation. I want our communications officer hail our allied fleet and scramble anyone trying to read ours. Ship commanders are to pick possible targets and in other formations and report back to me".

The ensign snapped a salute and left the room as quickly as she had entered, while Boulder returned to his new stats and waited for the situation to develop.

by **Arlye Austros** » Sat May 23, 2015 2:30 pm

Edge of the Karaakt System, Codenamed <<Dhondubbar>>

The force of thousands of ships headed towards the pointed rally point. They had decreased their speed twenty five AU from the planet, and opened their sensors in order to get a clear view of the planned battlefield. Overlord Kaerash repeated the message in her head, with such a detail its almost a record. <<Our Thangavii allies are about to engage in the Dhondubbar sector. This conquest could be shared and there are talks to acquire a base of operations in the System to use against nearby areas. We are running out of time.>>

The message added a feeling of distress, desperation. She had been pulled out of Zaeros, commanded to take every force with him, leave the planet to the remnants of natives that had not been assimilated. They proved reluctant to their dominion, but the Espheni weaponry rendered then anything but a threat. Now the Zeroan roamed their devastated planet, without any determination, leadership or will, and only got ready to starve out or grow old, and become extinct.

Such was the mind-set of the Espheni. They felt oppressing their own kind was a hideous crime, so they understood the fight their enemies would put against them when their ships bombard any settlement they deem a target, and the fight that follows then, but they care nothing of enslaving, oppressing, changing and destroying the rest, though this is only in need, and for five hundred years, they had been in need.

The Thangavi had granted them advances in their biotechnology that made the control of creatures and their reprograming more efficient, and so an agreement of mutual assistance was made. For the Espheni, it represented an opportunity to increase their campaigns in search of the key to stop their own demise. A key that lies in the genetic code of some organism in the vast space.

Kaerash was a female, if such thing exists, and thus cared for his operators. Only seventy Espheni reside in the fleet, aiding the neural link that allowed Kaerash to control her minions. She had also, though in secret, developed a special care for some of her minions. About six dozen of the Zeroans and over ten dozens of other species she brought to Zaeros. Though now, those links had to be severed. She felt the pain and shock when this happened. But it faded. Every living soul in that fleet, even her´s was disposable. And this was also printed in everyone´s mind.

The fleet advanced at a constant speed, close to the 68% of the speed of light, and passed by a ship.

Thangavi…
Yes… Probably defectors. I recall their damnation for such thing. The thoughts were exchanged in this tone among the Overlords. The Kralatski, creatures able to replicate the Espheni command, but always kept on check, seemed to agree with this. Perhaps an agreement implied by the decades of forced service. They were lords among the very slaves they were part of.
Accelerate. We are feeling the Thangavi, just ahead. They get ready for battle…. Still outside of communication range… But soon. The Overlords started to think closer to a hive mind, always tuned by Kaerash´s command. Battle formations, arm the phalanx to the left of the allies. Kaerash´s voice sounded, clearly, in the mind of the crew.

In a matter of minutes they were closer to the allies, and Kaerash tried to communicate with the Thangavii leader. After all, their method of communication was very similar.
I am Supreme Overlord Kaerash Li´Hattra, of the 6th Conquest Fleet. I have come to aid in your conflict, as per agreed in the Hrava Treaty. My fleet stands ready to form to your left.

by **The Alterran Empire** » Sun May 24, 2015 7:42 pm

Bridge of the Rift Ship - ASF Devora
CLASSIFIED OPERATION TESTING

"Commander! The reaction is becoming too unstable!" Chief Engineer Alexa Riga shouted from the engineering console as the ship shook violently.

The lighting had gone dim as power resources were severely strained. The computer began to warn of life support failure due to power constraints. This experiment was not going well, which was further frustrating Commander Andros. "Fifty-three tests and THIS is what we have to show for it!?"

He shook his head back and forth and clicked a few buttons on his chair with his claw. The Lycan Commander turned and replied to Riga, "Shut it down."

The Chief Engineer tapped a few buttons and the ship dropped out of The Axeros and into normal space, emerging nearly 2 AU above several fleets of ships near a planet. As sensors came online, Ensign Brice Tylac turned and reported, "Commander, I'm picking up a fleet of ships. The IFFs hail from the Triskel Federation and Waikahla-Pohakuula. Our diplomatic records show no direct contact, though I have a notation which reads, "Deemed friendly by Nalydya and Texcoco". I'm also picking up a ship of unknown origin as well as vessels hailing from a race called the Espheni. Patagonian diplomatic records make mention of this race in the Motherverse, and the mentions were usually not good. Sir, I'm detecting high energy readings coming from all directions."

Commander Andros nodded, "Crimson Alert. Raise shields and activate AEON."

SubCommander Faris asked, "Sir, who are we backing in a confrontation?"

Andros replied, "Right now, we're backing ourselves. Mr. Faris, hail the Triskelion vessel. Alterra has a formal treaty of alliance with Triskel, last I recall. I guess we'll start by asking our friends for some advice."

Faris nodded, "Hail sent Sir."

GENERAL GREETINGS COMMUNICATION SENT TO THE SIR GALAHAD.
GENERAL GREETING FOLLOWED BY, "PLEASE EXPLAIN SITUATION AT HAND."

GENERAL FIRST CONTACT GREETINGS COMMUNICATION SENT TO THE KAWAIKINI LEAD VESSEL, INDICATING FRIENDLY STATUS VIA KNOWN ALLIES: TRISKEL, NALYDYA, TEXCOCO.

The ship's powerful Hadronite shields activated in a flash and flare, extending around the vessel and scattering a masking signature around the ship, using the hadronites to boost the scattering effects and distortion fields, deflecting the abilities of sensors or probes to gain any information or gain true tracking locks withing the field.

by **Waikahla-Pohakuula** » Mon May 25, 2015 8:30 am

Hymn of the Fabric
Calm Nui'ino

The droning of the reactors has become nearly rhythmic in nature, lulling those on-board the proud craft into a false sense of security. The great gun crews, standing eagerly by their batteries, take careful note of the reactors. Changes within their dulcet choir indicate reactions to developments outside the warship. This is how they keep track of the flow of battle. Trapped within these constructs of iron and steel, any reference point for the happenings of the outside world are gladly accepted. For the gun crews, this is normalcy. But the reactor-engineers are privy to even less. They slave away in the remote interiours of the ship, adjusting power and review machinery. The outside is of no relevance to them.

But in command elsewhere on the ship, sitting calmly in thought, Kalani's musings are interrupted by the sensors operator. Kalani, she begins, We are picking up a communique of some sort... And more vessels seem to have arrived in-system.

Patch it through, Kalani orders.

The communication plays through with Kalani nodding.

Reply similarly.

A short welcoming and first contact message is played for the Alterrans. It is concise, yet also manages to go on to detail that this is the operational area of the Holy Kawaikini Navy, and that indeed battle is in the process of being joined. It ends noting this area of space is perhaps unsafe for passersby.

What of the additional warships?

The sensors operator looks back to the displays. Another large fleet has arrived from FTL and is racing inwards at incredible speeds, poised to strike at Kalani's contingent. The other ship, from where the communique had come, seems to have disappeared shortly after arriving. Ordinarily that might turn a few heads, but with battle so near it is overlooked.

They are two dozen or so AU away and rapidly closing.

Kalani nods.

The fleet begins to adjust its position. The lead ship, Calm Nui'ino, fifteen kilometers from stem to stern and impressively wide thanks to her outriggers, begins to rotate towards the Triskelion fleet. Kalani messages them, stating that Kawaikini's grace has descended upon the battlefield, and that together the hostile fleets can be bested. Almost as if to prove his point, the Kawaikini fleet begins to output even more power than before as their shields come online, each ship becoming engulfed in the deep crimson hues of their own individual suites. The fleet glows menacingly, volcanically, as the distance between the two formations begins to close and they begin to morph into one conglomeration of warships.

by **The Alterran Empire** » Mon May 25, 2015 9:58 pm

Bridge of the ASF Devora

SubCommander Faris reported, "Sir, I've received a reply from the Kawaikini. Standard first contact reply, indicating friendly status."

"Put it through, SubCommander." Andros replied.

The Commander listened and nodded, "Very well. For the time being, we are backing our allies, the Triskel Federation. We will aid these two fleets in defending this location."

Turning to his chief engineer, he asked, "Riga - what's our power situation?"

"The Axeros Drive is completely offline, but the NOVA Core has stabilized for now and we have access to all normal ship systems. AEON is functioning at peak efficiency, Hadronite shields are holding at 100% and I have ample power reserves now that we're not taxing them with the Axeros jump."

Andros nodded. "Good news."

Turning to Faris, he gave the orders, "Bring the weapons array online and deploy fighters into the AEON field and have them engage vessels that venture too closely to our perimeter."

Faris nodded and gave the order.

Commander Andros also stated, "Send a reply to the Kawaikini. Let them know that we will lend support to the defense of this location."

Faris nodded. "Sir, I've heard nothing back from Triskel."

Andros smirked a little. "It's probably tea time, SubCommander."

"Or Siesta." replied Chief Engineer Riga.

by **The Triskelion Federation** » Tue May 26, 2015 12:04 pm

010000100110111101101111011101000110100101101110011001110010000001110101011100000010111000100000010100000111001001100101011100000110000101110010011010010110111001100111001011100010000001001100011000010111010101101110011000110110100000101110

"I am awake. I feel the connection of a thousand ships and all their systems. This is new.... I am the battlenet? What is my name? Black...Box? BB for short I guess. Orders? It seems that the Bucket suits have got themselves into a sticky situation with one of their experiments again. What even is this star system? I don't recognise it. So many ships. Friendly. Unknown...give me a second...who am I even talking to?

Black Box surged through every Triskelion ship in the fleet, every surface he was now connected to, from each weapon battery to the HUD feed from the Imperial Guards helmets. He could see and feel everything, as much as V.I could feel anything at all. Within milliseconds of him coming online he had drawn up battle plans and created a grid firing system for every ship in the fleet. This was even before the commander of the deck of the Sir Galahad has opened his mouth asking for him to do this, simply because humans were slow and he was quick. What felt like a second to a human would be hours for BB, he was effectively the fleet itself for as long as he was activated.

BB's hologram appeared on the bridge of the Sir Galahad, moving across the deck he was like a ghost from a childhood story, he thought about all the images he could have taken and somehow he decided on a simple black box. Why waste energy and time on a intricate figure, his job wasn't to be an artist, he was to protect the fleet and Triskel at all costs. Approaching the Hans-Boulder from behind he appeared to sit on his shoulder like some kind of pet. BB in his bizarre little way started making a whining noise that a puppy would make to get the attention of Hans-Boulder who promptly turned around in confusion at the noise of a dog on his bridge, BB had be installed throughout the system to the knowledge of very few people, including the Admiral of the Fleet.

"Who are you and what are you doing on my fleet?!" boomed Boulder.

BB's box opened and a small clown present appeared to rise out of it "I am BB or Blackbox if you would like, I am the V.I of the fleet, at your command, I have already analyzed the situation and drawn up battle plans for us to follow now. You can either follow them or I'll go back to watching re-runs of Galaxy- Mummy and your fleet gets swatted from space, your call commander". BB bobbed up and down as if he was mocking the Admiral, which it was likely that he was.

Boulder had gone red in the face, in a bit of madness he took a swing at the box and his fist promptly went through the ghostly box.

A small white flag then appeared out of the ghostly box and BB's voice pinged again "It seems that you are being irrational, my lord. I am here to help. Please calm down and get your head out of your giant butthole and in the game, sir".

In shock Boulder stared " Well then you useless piece of crap, do what you have to do to help me and this fleet".

"Yes my lord, contacting allies and sending out warnings to unknown factions, give me the order and I'll initiate my battle plan" BB chimed and disappeared.

Nearly instantly BB sent out responses to allied messages with greetings and their battle plans if the situation turned bad. Noticing how slow the human communication team was he instantly applied for their termination with Triskel Command.

|

by **The Alterran Empire** » Tue May 26, 2015 9:41 pm

Space around the ASF Devora

The AEON field extended outward from the ship, and used the Hadronite shields to relay the field out to further lengths, making detection of anything within the field nearly impossible. At times, the field would appear to harbor something of intense density, and at others, it would appear that nothing was there at all. The refracting effect that the AEON field would mask the 200 fighters which deployed from the Devora's docking bays and would also mask the power signatures of the ships primary plasma beam cannons.

A single small ship, carrying a crew of three also left the primary docking bay. The pilot of the small ship spoke, "Devora - this is Ensign Karo on the Zuria 128. We are ready for the Rift Seal."

Bridge of the ASF Devora

A holographic image appeared on the ship's bridge, near the Communications Console, which was presently unoccupied. The message coming through was for "Devora", which was technically the hologram's name. Being the personification of the ship's Virtual Intelligence, the ship opted to morph into a female humanoid Alterran in the standard white Communications Officer's uniform. "Karo, this is Devora. Seal her up and report back using the QE."

Commander Andros, hearing Devora's voice turned around quickly and alarmed. "Who? Who said you could be reactivated? I don't recall giving that order."

Devora sighed heavily and rolled her holographic eyes, "Look Cap. You can't force my consciousness to be buried indefinitely. I have things to do, functions to perform, and people to harass."

Andros growled, "Devora. You're a piece of software -"

"Virtual Intelligence, get it right." Devora interrupted.

The growl turned to a snarl. Devora laughed a bit, "Down boy."

The Commander was about to loose his cool when Karo responded, "Roger, Devora. Completing the Rift Seal in Three...Two...One...Seal Successful."

Sure enough, on the sensors of the ship, the vessel vanished from normal space. Even with the interference from the AEON field, the seal worked perfectly.

Devora turned back to Commander Andros, "Look. COMMANDER. I'm sorry. But seriously, let's talk. You've had me cooped up for three days now. I wanted to stretch a bit. Also, Triskel's ship, the Sir Galahad has responded...and their ship's VI was so kind as to even forward anticipated battle plans."

She shrugged a little, yawned, and said, "How quaint."

Andros nodded and replied, "Fine. Stick to Astrometrics and engineering. MAIN Engineering. I don't want you on the bridge."

She laughed, "I'm always watching you."

She winked and vanished from his sight.

Andros turned to SubCommander Faris. "Is there anyway to prevent her from just turning herself on?"

Faris nodded, "There is, but Command won't allow me to do so. Something about pissing off AURORA."

Andros nodded. "Another damned computer."

He sighed and then said, "Faris, respond to the Triskelion ship in the affirmative. And see if you can do something to alter Devora's personality subroutines. I won't tolerate the ship sassing me."

Faris chuckled under his breath, "Of course, Commander. I will see what I can do."

The SubCommander carried out his orders and replied to BB's transmission with an acknowledgement of the battle plans. Encrypted in the message, Devora implanted a message specifically for BB. It read, "01010100 01101000 01100101 01110010 01100101 00100000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01101110 01101111 00100000 01110011 01110101 01100011 01101000 00100000 01110100 01101000 01101001 01101110 01100111 00100000 01100001 01110011 00100000 00110010."

Space outside the AEON field

The Zaria-128 had sealed itself within a Rift Cloak, rendering it completely invisible and incapable of being detected on sensors because it did not exist on the same plane as normal space. The small ship made it's way toward the Espheni task force that was closest to their fleet defense line.

As the Zaria-128 did not have the capability to fire on another vessel from within the Rift Seal, power output was so low that it would appear to be nothing but background noise to any who may be tuned to the proper frequencies.

by **Arlye Austros** » Thu May 28, 2015 7:30 pm

Space out of of Karaakt´s High Orbit

The planet seems to hold some fair amounts of living organisms. Some Multiple-limbed species with basic cognoscitive capabilities.

They could provide quite an addition to our force.
Yet I need to fight. We must confront another issue.

The hive-like mind took form by the minute, and Kaerash slowly held the personality of a battle formation, entirely under her control, through other Espheni and the Kralatski that linked with the lower levels. She felt the cloning facilities working and the battle minions getting ready for combat, they genetic strands adapting or being destroyed, only to be reassembled into something more perfect. The formation formed near the Thangavi, who still sent no response, yet Kaerash had dealt with them before, she learnt their mind-set and knew they would understand her manoeuvre.

The Command ships formed in the central ranks, and in front of them a wall of Combat Destroyers aimed at the possibly hostile forces their radars had detected. She cared not for them. They would perish soon. The fleet divided in five sections, and the lines formed to the right, occupying the space in front of the Thangavi formation. Yet, two smaller blocks of ships, with two Command Ships each, formed far in the flanks.

Behind the lines, led by the massive amounts of Frigates of the Line, and followed by the Destroyers, holding the Insertion Frigates in the middle, faced the enemy in a wall of ships that resembled the spear wall formations of the early Espheni archaic era, several dozen millennia ago. The Insertion Frigates, however, started deploying small ships, transport ships, and the lines, like hair strings, connected them with the Lab Carriers, which started sending new organisms, ready to be destroyed in combat, while the Labs designed new ones, adapted better by the generation, and being ready in a matter of minutes. Millions crossed the gap between both sections of the formation.

Get my shields out. We must protect us… Me! Link completed… Shields up now!

The ships energized their hulls, and huge amounts of electrons crawled at some metres from the outer layer of the ships, ready to repel most of the energy or matter that could reach them. The shields were not designed to stop entire attacks. That had proven dreadful in the past, and She rather contempt with them only absorving a fraction of the damage, fully trusting the hulls. The biological sections of the ships, mainly the areas just out of the Pods Launchers, could heal extremely fast, and some section sof the metal hull could be repaired form the inside by insect-like organisms, though this is something with limits, and She knows.

Thangavi Fleet. We have formed in the front and will make sure nothing gets too close unharmed. My forces will open breaches in the enemy formation. Then I shall send forth my force to crush them, at any cost. Kaerash´s mind, the entire mass of organisms now linked to her, tried to reach the Thangavi before the eventual battle commenced.

Right afterwards, the frontal tips of the ships started to gather heat and magnetism. The generators in the front, operated by thousands of mindless creatures, fingertips of Kaerash holding the sword. The generators created a contained system of rotatory heat and plasma. Anomallies in the gravity induced by the operators would cause the collapse of the system, and trigger the massive cannons against the enemy once they get close enough. From the opening of every Thermo Lance cannon the enemy fleet could be seen, approaching, neared by her´s.

Allow me to reach them…

Still at a great distance. Kaerash wanted to touch them, feel their might, be scarred, smell them, claw them, kill… As the Gravitational generators, massive spheres that would attract matter and energy on command, formed and spread in between the Frigates, Kaerash´s curiosity merger with hunger, fear, anxiety, madness, lunacy, but she controlled it all, she had the whole command, and every single organism got ready to die. Millions of beings of countless species, cloned months ago -though some hundreds recently done under the best choices of the Orizenia, the species they had created to better engineer the genetic strains of their Empire- entered the pods, and like an amniotic sack, the pods gave them a load of nutrients, and hormones for their rush and fast reactions, and prepared them to attack. Though only a fraction could make it, under normal circumstances. Many would burn in the void, none cared. The pods were covered by solid structures, not different from the osseous structures that supported most of them, and they were then plated with metal cover by the millions of slaves working on the ships.

The ships were still far away, and She wanted to get closer. Of the 5000 Combat Destroyers, half turned, showing their broadside, and the openings in the structure aimed at the enemy. Fifty thousand of these opened their internal biology, and from the throat-like conducts the organism crawled out, took place right in the border, and was pressed by the opening. A final push allowed it to exit the ship at a speed of 140 kms per second. Fast for many species, no doubt, slow for the defences of those who saw now Kaerash´s hand extending to them, just to touch them.

See… Feel…

by **Thanvagi** » Thu May 28, 2015 10:02 pm

"Apologies comrades, these deserters averted our attention. Your formation is acceptable. We will proceed to assist as instructed."
The war council responds.

An order is sent out from the command ship to the rest of the fleet, informing all occupants to prepare the clusters for battle. The clusters of ships begin to rearrange, the satellite ships pointing their peaks inward toward the commanding ships in each cluster respectively. The rate of rotation of the satellite ships speed up dramatically, sending a surge of power into the center of the cluster. Every Thanvagi close to the center of their cluster can feel this massive increase in power rushing through them.

Deadly clusters of ships, numbering ten thousand, capable of megaton scale damage.

"Death is inevitable."
Remarks one of the war council.
"It will all return to the mask in the end. Yet they will try to resist what they have no power over. Weather or not we die here, is not up to our own desire."
One speaks and all agree.

----------
Return To the Seven

Silence.

Silence fills their small craft.

One speaks.

"We have traded one death for another. We have forever burned the relationships we had, like our bodies have been burned. Brothers--"
She pauses.
"No, not brothers, Not family, not comrades. We are none of these to anyone. We should have died in service to the divine, and not in service to our fears of death! Have not our lives gone on long enough, far longer than many of the beings that will soon be slaughtered?"

She rises from where she was sitting, her entire body quaking with rage.

"Sister we--"
"No! I am not a sister to you!"

The others exchange glances, and acknowledge that there is no comfort for her. Their damnation guarantees that.

by **Waikahla-Pohakuula** » Fri May 29, 2015 12:12 am

Alarm washes over them as a flood, crashing through first from the sensor operators to the bridgehands and from there down the myriad command-chains of the gathered vessels. Before them are twenty-five hundred score contacts, closing, pulsating... Living. It is an impressive sight to behold. The Kawaikini formation, sailing in concert with the Triskelion armada, is again ordered to adjust its course. With this single order Kalani brings the most of his guns to bear against the closing hostile contacts, a sickening array of multi-barrel slaggers. The huge kinetic guns hurl molten metal at incredible paces and are crewed by upwards of twenty men; they slave away within the confines of their gun-mounts, hauling great chunks of metal to and fro and wrestling the barrels into position.

He was glad the Alterrans responded warmly. A simple affirmation of their intent had been relayed back to them, but as the distance between the two fleets began to draw ever closer, he found himself hoping they would move soon. Now, with one section of the hostile fleet beginning its assault, it would be Kawaikini blood in the firing line... Kawaikini steel bringing them to their knees... and Kawaikini valour remaining steadfast in the face of adversary.

Open fire! he barks, eyeing the tactical displays that paint a decently accurate rendition of the battlespace. The enemy had sought to begin the engagement, firing first from great distance, but they would not keep the initiative. Not while Kalani is in command.

Deep in the bowels of the ship, another rhythmic rumble begins. It too grows in power and intensity until it drowns out even the droning of the reactors. It began nearly as soon as the order to open fire had been given. It is a deep primal noise, easily not machinery, but laden with such purpose and determination that even the most hardened observer might be fooled. It begins with the first of the gun turrets to be received of the order, and then it spreads, sweeping over the ship and taking hold of the guncrews...

A glorious cascade of chanting and footstomping.

Then suddenly, it stops. And but for a moment the reactor-din overtakes all until the gun batteries themselves open up, thunderous swooshing in sets of six and eight, swoosh! swoosh! swoosh! swoosh! swoosh! swoosh! The slagshots glow as crimson as the shields that encompass Kawaikini's warships, hotter than a planet-interiour and pregnant with the speed of the gods. They target the incoming swarm, each turret firing off a volley before switching targets, and unleashing a horrendous torrent of slag downrange.

by **The Triskelion Federation** » Sun May 31, 2015 2:37 pm

BB felt something in the distance, one of the furthermost ships in formation had detected incoming signals and they were coming quickly. Within seconds he had brought online the weapon systems of the entire fleet and was calculating what to do before even the human commanders had reacted aboard their vessels. A bright white light began to pulsate among the Triskelion vessels as BB brought a new experimental shield system, each ship was being connected by this bright white light until each which was consumed. From the outside it looked it appeared as if the entire fleet had been consumed by a giant orb light, when in reality BB has just combined the shield network of every ship in the fleet into one shield which would shield them from any incoming targets. He predicted that this would give him enough time calibrate all the Super Mass Accelerator Cannons aboard the Battle-cruisers, before this he had already generated thousands of firing solutions that he would pick from when all weapons were ready and at his command.

Alarm were ringing out aboard all the vessels in the fleet, crews were running to battle positions and in the hangars thousands of drone fighters were being prepared to launch into space at the command of either BB or their individual commanders, though given BB's speed over humans it would likely be him. The sound of clacking armour echoed through the hallways of the vessels as the Galatic Marines prepared to repel any attackers who dared to breach the hull of their dreadnoughts. Galactic Marines were some of the toughest soldiers in the Federation, having the longest training, they were also tasked with defending the Supreme Chancellor herself when she was present.

Now all his weapons were charged and ready for combat and aligned for a grid-fire style combat BB sent out a small encrypted communication blast "Triskelion fleet ready for combat, lets wipe the floor with these guys, I want to get home in time for tea and biscuits".

by **Givious** » Sun May 31, 2015 9:43 pm

20 AU from Karaakt
The Dark Fleet

Space. Darkness and the void surround the planet as the battle begins. On the ships the hammering of the weapons can be heard but in space... nothing. As the two forces bear down on one another, to the right of the defending fleets the nothingness is disturbed by movement. The glassy void is ripped open, a green tint glows as the ships of the Dark Fleet exit their jump. The Givosions had for centuries had hidden much of their strength, waiting and watching as brother fought brother and men died on fields close and far away. Now, however, they had new orders. Before it could be used in war metal had to be tested, and this was a test not for the ships, but the men aboard them.

On the lead flagship, Admiral Roc'tar watches from his command chair; studying the movements of the enemy and ally. They had cut a deal, a very sizable amount was paid for their services, and they would not lose without reason. His men had made the jump in combat formation; the picket ships forming a wall of steel while the remaining ships stood in a checkered formation, ready for engagement. He stands, a cigar in one hand while the looks at the battlefield scans, smiling as the red and blue colors light up his face.

"Activate." A simple word for his ships to engage in their formation, the picket ships diverting almost all power to the shields as the massive body is created before them. To those on the other side of the shield it looked like hexs appearing in space, black as the void and shining light back at the enemy. Scans of the unknown fleet would only bounce back, the shields deflecting anything directed at it. Suddenly the shield shudders, and then holds firm. Nothing coming from the other side, and only silence from the fleet.

by **Arlye Austros** » Fri Jun 12, 2015 5:28 pm

The view was astonishing. It took about a minute to the volley to reach the enemy, slowly curving towards the planet in a ballistic trajectory. Kaerash felt the sting on the Fleet´s hand, which had tried to touch the hostile elements. Seconds later the cloud of biological clusters that had nearly faded in the void was set alight. The internal chemicals set aflame and for a fraction of a second each was aflame and bright. They then expanded in the void, forming a dark cloud that covered a large part of the enemy force. The battle had begun, and the memory of billions of tastes, the blood of each victim of her conquests, flooded her mind. She smiled.

A small force. I must gather all the information I can. Adapt, penetrate.

Something else happened. A flash image. One single pod managed to cross the main barrage that answered their attack. It was soon consumed by energy. Kaerash realized the beings burned in the void slowly, but died before they could penetrate the field. The light was all that she needed. Some energy shield was activated, highly reactive. She could hope to overwhelm the aggressive defences, but the shield would be something else. Other cases were reported to her, and she noticed only a part of the enemy seemed covered by that layer. Some, those with the firepower so far, seemed not to be protected, but the point-defence weapons, something Kaerash was familiar with, wiped out the few that made it through.

Seems sheer numbers may have the effect I seek. We must increase our speed. Use the gathered information, try out new shots, see the success of each unit and replicate the most successful in the attack. See if we can gather any information on that shield. Begin the attack.

Her orders issued command to the fleet as a brain to the limbs of a creature. She felt the Orizenia twisting, bending, burning, weaving and planning thousands of genetic codes by the second, as the information was provided to them through the chemical controls she had over their brains, they wouldn´t complain, they couldn´t if they wanted. In a minute new beings were placed in additional pods, about a quarter of them, however, where modified by now. The impressive growth systems of the biological aspect of their force allowed them to deploy new variations in a matter of minutes, and she had already planned this previously.

These new containers were to move faster, about twelve times, enough to reach the enemy in six seconds in a straight line. However it would take them ten. Most of them had adapted what looked like a stretch opening in the front. Inside, a thick and hard crown of spikes, almost like a mouth, prepared to stretch out of its cavity and attach to anything it could consider a target.

Breakthrough. Archived strand, allows the containers to shift their direction in space. Small blast in the surface. Can use. The thoughts of the Orizenia flowed into Kaerash´s mind, and back to them. A fifth of the entire force adapted an out layer filled with segmented hive-like cells, these filled themselves with a heavily-condensed liquid that would evaporate upon release, allowing the “mind” of the projectile to slightly change their direction.

Estimated time for reach, fifteen seconds. She was informed. The frigates turned once more, and even more joined them. The gravitational orbs drifted to the flanks and up and down, and activated their fields. Kaerash became aware of the new directions she could now exploit.

This time the barrage was to be continuous. All 5000 Combat Destroyers and the 2000 Insertion Frigates too position and opened fire in a continuous barrage. However half of the fire was not aimed at the enemy itself, but instead close to the gravitational orbs that had deployed in a circle, passing through the sides and upper and lower sides of the fleet. This half slowly curved and accelerated, reaching an even greater speed, and they were tossed at great speed, following a curve, and reaching the enemy formations within seconds, and from not only the front, but also from above, below and the flanks. It was a test, but this was about something more than sheer force.

8000 Frigates of the Line moved to the front in the meantime, and opened fire before the attack could reach the enemy. The front of these ships were set ablaze, and each expelled super-heated plasma, and heavier materials at speeds close to that of the light. The flare expanded slightly, but it was aided with a magnetic wave. The flare contracted near the enemy, and the many lines that had been spawned from the Thermal Lances of the frigates looked at blades that shrunk in a tip as they closed in the enemy. The temperatures at these regions were terrible, enough to vaporize any trace of life, but were also filled with material, particles that due to magnetism merged inside this stream, and formed small rocks moving at incredible speed. While small, these could still cause some unforeseen damage, and it was intended.

More…

The other 2000 Frigates turned broadside, and the 4000mm openings there aligned to the enemy fleet. The accelerators formed massive magnetic fields and spikes, and upon command, the metallic projectile was hurled at the enemy, moving at 0.999c, near pure energy, but heavy matter none the less.

by **The Alterran Empire** » Sat Jun 20, 2015 11:27 am

Aboard Zaria-128

Ensign Karo and his small crew took in readings from the various ships that were inward bound, toward the combined allied fleet. As the small vessel began to detect power levels, energy frequency signatures, and organic compounds. Around the large ships, an energy barrier was detected - a thick energy barrier. Karo ordered, "Begin transmitting the data to Devora."

Speaking to the VI, Karo stated, "Devora, analyze this data and feed it to the Commander."

"Understood Ensign." Devora replied.

Bridge of the ASF Devora

A science terminal on the bridge began to accept the data coming in from the Zaria-128 showing the spheres that were generating the weapons and indications of high powered and dense energy flow layers on the exterior of the hull. Coming from the Espheni ships, an incredible amount of biosigns were detected, but a very low output of cerebral energy was detected, indicating that either they were working with a hive mind, or with biological weapons - or both. There was also a high level of heat being put off by the ships, which Devora began to analyze.

Commander Andros began reading the data being transmitted from the Zaria. Suddenly, a fleet of Givosion vessels appeared. Andros arched an eyebrow. "Who the hell is that?"

"Looks to not be flagging with IFF, but the configuration suggests Givious." a science officer reported.

"Should I hail them?" Lieutenant Arkos asked from the communications terminal.

"No. Not...not yet." Andros replied. He thought for a moment and then continued, "Scan them. And prepare to deploy PSYBOK."

Space around the ASF Devora - enclosed within the AEON field

Rift and star fighters deployed from the belly of the Alterran vessel - each powering it's drivers, defense systems, and weapons arrays. The Alterrans held back, but began targeting anything flying toward the planet surface, firing various forms of energy and projectile weapons (Rail and mini-MAC weapons).

Hostile Takeover(Closed)

Hostile Takeover(Closed)

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