Imperium: IC (See OOC to join)

[Wasi State]

Hyperborea Epsilon
Nova Karabakh

Inside the Superintendent Core

The technical team sent to restore power and control to the city's AI system had been met with some success in the admittedly short amount of time they've spent thus far in their efforts to gain full control of the city, however maintaining a steady power supply to the Core has been an utmost priority for them. And with several power lines either damaged or destroyed already in the chaos and destruction above ground, linking the core up to the reliable sources that still remain in the city and within the greater area would be prove pivotal to the Hyperborean defense of the Planetary Capital.

With some power restored however to a very limited emergency level, the AI's announcement system was immediately brought back online from its momentary slumber. The AI, accessing the situation of the city from data logs that had accumulated since its shut down from practically a day ago, now went into full overdrive mode within a manner of nanoseconds to warn civilians and Imperial personnel in the area, not realizing it was far too late to warn them...

Realizing the AI was still following Imperial protocol though, the technical team worked fast to dismantled it and replace it with their own Hyperborean approved version. However some messages through the PA announcement that broadcasted within the greater area and had reached into the planet's orbit above managed to get out in time before the system was hijacked.

---

The Superintendent

"Danger. All. Civilian Personnel. Evacuate. Nova Karabakh. Immediately. Active Shooters Detected In District 1. 2. 3. 4. 5-" A noticeable glitch took place in the audio as the AI was scrambling with the data coming in all at once, taking into sudden account that the whole city was long since compromised.

"All. Off Duty Planetary Defense Force Personnel. Report To Local Garrison For Active Deployment."

"Warning. Unauthorized Personnel Detected In Administrative Command Center. Are Advised To Report To PDF Personnel For Immediate Questioning."

"Danger. Fires Detected In District 8. 9. 6. Automated Fire Extinguishers Activated."

"Attention. This Announcement Sys-." The system's audio that was of the computerized young woman's voice was quickly replaced with one of a gruff man's. "-Tem. Is. Now. Under. Hyperborean. Command." Immediately the open emergency broadcast was turned into the closed circuit that only the Hyperboreans and anyone on the ground could have any real access towards.

"Attention. All. Imperial Personnel. Report To Hyperborean Personnel For Immediate Security Check."

"Attention. Bravo. Lima. Force. Secure Substation D. F."

"Attention. Repair Crew. Delta. Report to Substation A."

The Superintendent's announcement continued to give a long list of orders to the Hyperboreans, seemingly in order to secure its full activation of the city. As the Substations were clearly ones for power linking up to the core.

---

Streets of Nova Karabakh

Men who had just been fresh from patrols or a massacre of civilians flooded through the ruined streets of the still mostly dark city, many of them either rushing to secure strategic points, or setting up deployable defenses to combat the inevitable Imperial ground invasion that they could sense would likely take place rather shortly.

Gun emplacements, barricades, trip wired mines, booby traps galore were set up in great haste by the Neo-Pagan insurgents. Some were even poking holes through buildings to get clear vantage points to the streets to set up sniper nests. All of this was in preparation to last and holdout as long as possible in the already pretty decimated Planetary Capital to stave out the Imperials for as long as the fanatics feasibly can. They knew already they were going to outgunned in a straight up fight with them, so making the playing field as unfair as possible was the ultimate end goal.

However one problem that would remain with them extensively was their overall lack of air superiority against the Imperials, as the incoming squadron of Skyfyres would have indicated. Quickly a few handheld AA missiles from Personnel on rooftops and deployed SAM launchers (from both static or mobile carriers) from the ground were quickly fired on the incoming craft from the city and key facilities as they came into range from the deployed radar managing to detect them.

Where the missiles didn't hit, incoming salvos of autocannon AA fire from the ground peppered the sky with flak in order to try to shoot down the incoming craft. Anything the Hyperboreans could do with what they had to halt the incoming strafing run through their key points.

[Imperialisium]

Korak, Capital of the Krakatoa Dominion
Capitol Building

The assembled Imperial officers eyed the holographic display with utmost professionalism. Some even recording the information on data-chips or taking notes on data-slates. It was Grigori Vladem, Imperial Ispan of the Cacharadon Sector who spoke in response to the query for questions. "Have previous tactics proved obsolete against these Xenos since their sudden burst of sophistication?" Indeed, it would be a deciding factor in how to prosecute this conflict. Their chitin hide would likely mean troops would have to rely on mass fire or heavier squad and medium support weaponry to quickly kill this insectoid menace. The other officers awaited for the Krakatoan's response on what they have learned in killing these Xenos.

An Imperial Audience

We come from the Highest Authority.
The Tsaraj-Emperor?
The Highest Authority
-Transcript fragment from the Journey of Perszian the Traveler, circa 16th Millennium, Imperial Calendar

Alojs would be awoken in the early morning hours of the next day by a sudden bleep of his door alarm. Followed by the sudden de-activation of its electronic locks, the turning of its bolts from the outside, and the slow swish of the portals opening to the outside hallway. There, taking up much of the door frame stood an armoured giant of a man. Not inhuman in stature but large, standing easily closer to seven feet tall and gird in electrum coloured armor. The swirling gold-silver metal from Lost Solaria covered the figure from head to toe. A red plume cascading from his high topped helm while the aegis of the Galactic Imperium laid wept and spread eagled across the front of his face plate. The bone white colouring of the face plate contrasted with the electric red of the helmets eyes. A sword was gird at the figures hip while in his armored fist was held a peculiar spear. Seven and a half feet tall with an elegant golden blade tinged with red tones. Like fiery rose gold. The spear itself had several glyphs along its metallic haft before coming to an equally fiery red metallic point. Evidently more staff weapon than dedicated spear by its proportion and design.

The figure spoke in a slicing tone. Cutting Alojs to the marrow by its sheer authority and rumbling chasm for a tone. "Your Audience has been granted."

The Praetorian would give Alojs several minutes to gather what he needed before leading the man from his apartment. Scarlet cloak following the armored figure as habitat crowds parted at the mere sight of the figure. Murmurs rumbling through the crowd at the awe inspiring sight of the Tsaraj-Emperor's Praetorians. The Guardians of the Celestial Throne of Nova Terra. The Praetorian was silent as Alojs was led to an gunship of some unusual metallic alloy. But Alojs could guess from even cursory remembrance. Solarium. The Emperor's Praetorians were known to use weapons, vehicles, and armaments from the Vaults of the Imperial Palace. Vaults which are said to predate the Imperial Palace itself.

The gunship moving as soon as Alojs sat down in a simple chair. The Praetorian remained standing while Alojs could not see who piloted the ship. If it even had a pilot. For all he knew the ship could be entirely automated. But was obvious was that it was designed for war more than civil transport. Its sleek yet angular frame no doubt was chalk full of arcane weapons and defenses so rare and impossible to replicate that they would be unavailable to the rest of the Imperial Military. Not that the Praetorians were considered part of the Imperial Military in the slightest. They operated outside of it, and even the Lex Imperialis and other such extensive examples of Galactic jurisprudence was careful to give the Praetorians exceptional leeway, if not free hand, in the pursuit of their duties. As it had been since the time of the Tsaraj-Emperor Valorian thousands of years ago...

The engines themselves were silent as well, and with no windows, it was unclear how much time had passed. Alojs would only know when he arrived by the sudden opening up of the same entrance he had used to enter. The rectangular side of the gunship sliding open without a sound. Revealing a landing pad and clear skies. On the landing pad a pair of Imperial Palace workers were checking platform fuel dumps under the watchful eye of a Praetorian surveillance drone. The Praetorian, spoke again in his rolling mountain of a voice. The characteristics of which caused by the helmets communication devices or not was unclear. "Welcome to the Imperial Palace. You are to follow me.

The Praetorian led the way without another word or pause for Alojs to answer. Instead, the man would be forced to follow silently as he stepped out into the light of Nova Terra's main sequence star. The Imperial Palace was a massive complex, the grounds extending far beyond were other detached buildings rose, while the Imperial Palace District of Nova Terra was easily the size of a small continent. For it also doubled as the worlds largest remaining artificially preserved wild life refuge for the planet.

The Praetorian led Alojs along a long white stone causeway into a set of bronze doors encrusted with gems and polished silver relief of ancient Imperial Heroes and Heroines. One of dozens of entrances. Alojs would be laid bare before he even managed to pass the threshold however. The Palace's layers of full spectrum scanners, biometrics, and other more exotic devices ran through Alojs so many times that it was likely the Praetorians monitoring his passage from else where knew more about his physiology and biology than he did. But, upon entrance, passing under the shadow of the Palace's imposingly vast edifice. Itself bearing many styles throughout the millennia. However, a distinct Neo-Roman and Byzantine flair was evident. Not that other designs of mankind's past weren't present. Inside the vaulted and elegant appearance of Imperial Baroque Revival common from the 17th-18th Millennia of the Imperial Calendar surrounded him. The enameled wooden edifice and extravagant tile work under his feet was truly incredible in detail, and finery of materials. The Imperial Palace was truly representative of the Galactic Imperium and its incredibly vast reach, power, and wealth.

Winding through what seemed to be hundreds of meters of passageways brought Alojs to a section of the palace built in the fashion of Nova Terran Classicism. A more spartan design of sleek black stone and bronze filigree depicting characters and metallurgy in a more conservative fashion. Where as before Alojs was treated to lofty scenes of creatures from mythical pasts and epic heroes of even Pre-Imperial times. This section bore only basic images of eagles, minotaurs, and simplistic representations of galactic cosmology. Another turn and down a wooden lacquer paneled lift. The panels from extremely rare and precious Nova Terran Cedar no less. The scent of the wood still able to hang in the air for Alojs nostrils to take in. Brought him to a level of the palace fashioned with a distinctive Gothic feel. Figures both religious and secular of the Galactic Imperium's early history lined marble plinths. The Praetorian led Alojs along until they reached a pair of Diamond-Gold doors bearing a peculiar electric texture. Another preciously exotic material from Lost Solaria that made the doors of the Imperial Throne room. Indeed, Alojs could look around and take in the vastness of the space. The lead up to these doors was over two kilometers wide and one kilometer high. Drones above cascading to depict images of cherubs, clouds, and even full landscapes. A pair of Praetorians flanked the door...

Though no words were spoken between them, at least not ones Alojs could hear at any rate, and the seconds of standing turned to minutes. Until, just as abruptly as he was absconded from his apartment the Diamond-Gold doors opened. Revealing an even larger, massive, imposingly and seeming impossible space. The ground and walls swirling with the texture and colors of an entire Galaxy! Far afield, a throne of the same material, rose from the floor with a man upon it.

The Praetorian led the way with Alojs in tow. Crossing the threshold and the full weight of the place bore down on Alojs like a suffocating pressure akin to a tidal wave. One could only imagine what the man felt crossing to stand before the Tsaraj-Emperor. Who upon closer inspection was indeed an aged man with many years of rule etched upon his once fair face. Snow white hair still rose from his scalp. His eyes, fair coloured with a golden-silvery hue, peered down at the man known as Alojs. His white fur cloak and fine, yet plainly coloured clothes, ruffled slightly as the Emperor spoke in a deeply austere voice, "A most interesting report was given to me about what you seek to build. Perhaps, in your own words you can go into more detail with me, here and now, about the exact purpose of this, datamind? The Praetorian who had brought Alojs bowed before the Emperor and stepped back.

Aside from the Emperor however and the pair of Praetorians off to the side that guarded the interior of the throne room, there was some presence that tugged at Alojs eyes. At his mind. At his heart. The Throne itself. The Celestial Throne at this much closure distance bore not only the cosmic texture of the rooms surroundings, but also seemed to have an energy of its own. Pulsing and alive in some way, in some fashion, to the point where it seemed like some other entity was holding Alojs to audience than the Emperor of the Galactic Imperium himself!

[Segmentia]

Nova Terra

The Admiral departed and left the two women to themselves again. Victoria grinned as Valeria left the choice of option to her. “My my, I'm starting to feel positively spoiled with you allowing me to choose the evenings entertainment, your majesty.” Victoria said with a slight bow of the head. She mused for a moment on the options, not because they were limited but because they were near limitless on Nova Terra for such highly placed people.

“Hm, I hear that there is supposed to be some special occasion at the Kaleidescope this evening, I believe quite a few of my colleagues were on their way there.” Victoria offered. Valeria offered a smile and nodded. “It has been quite a while since I've been there.” She said, turning her head and nodding to the Praetorian behind her right shoulder. There would need to be heightened security surrounding the club, and no doubt a quick but thorough scan of the premises and those currently there. As frequeneted as the club might have been by the great and powerful of Nova Terra and the Imperium, the Crown Princess was another matter entirely.

The company departed on the personal shuttle of the Crown Princess, Victoria disbanding all but two of her own guards. The trip there was short and direct, the air traffic having been cleared and redirected in advance. The Praetorians disembarked first, followed by Valeria and Victoria and they swiftly entered the club. Victoria found the interior to be cramped, but not so badly as other places on Nova Terra, though it wasn't very spacious either, compared to the Old Imperial Club which was the usual grounds for Victoria and those allied with the Rosewoods, nor compared to the Rosewood estate on Nova Terra, but that was to be expected.

Victoria noticed several of her colleagues here, including those from the Midnight Hegemony. “Well, I picked where to go, your majesty, you can choose our company for the evening.” Victoria said with a small grin. One party or another was going to be given the boon of being in the company of the Crown Princess.

[Revlona]

Admiral Shara Lafel
Besplo Prime

"4...3...2...1...impact!" The weapons officer aboard the HMS Illustrious intoned. "All kinetic ordnance and missiles have impacted on target Admiral, gunships are 30 seconds out!" The officer said as he switched his feed from tracking the weapons to tracking the void craft.

"Understood, Colonel Areolas men will be on the ground in 5 minutes, I want those camps bracketed and suppressed for the Marines." Shara said, her face tight as she viewed the feed of different numbers, times, estimated strengths, and other information vital to the operation. "Vice-Admiral Meledon, take your formation down towards one of the rebels regular army training facilities, codenamed TRF-1, the flyboys are softening them up, I you the make those boys regret taking up arms against the empire, basically I want them kept away from responding to the marines," She said before switching off the feed and onto another.

Orders flew from her at lightspeed as she dispersed the XIVth in orbit of the planet, turning the battle fleet from a force ready to a fight a pitched battle to a blockading force capable of intercepting any ship entering or leaving the atmosphere, it also meant that it was capable of hitting any spot on the planet with orbital fury.

[align=]Several Minutes later
Facility 4[/align]
Colonel Erik Areola, commanding officer of the 88th Marine battalion, was set up on a hill just north of the large POW camp the intelligence boys had labeled as "Camp 1". His command platoon platoon and one of 1st companies heavy weapons teams was on overwatch of the camp as Alpha company cleared the camp below.

Suddenly a peal of gunfire erupted from one of the towers in the far corner of the camp and Areola saw one of his men in the camp below go down as the others scrambled for cover. The Colonel turned to issue orders to the heavy weapons team but noticed he didn't need to, the heavy multi-laser and auto gun both swinging towards the wooden tower and evaporating it and whoever was in it under a hail of fast firing laser shots and heavier and harder hitting autocannon slugs.

He turned his eyes back down to the camp and saw two other marines grab the downed marine by his armpits and drag him behind the bunker to the spot serving as the field hospital and triage center.

"Sir, Captain Ivory on the line, says the platoon he dispatched to secure the perimeter of the camp has done so and has come into heavy contact with a force of rebels holing themselves up in the mines, they've taken light casualties and are requesting reinforcements," one of his staff said took the ear from his headset built into his helmet.

Areola himself had had his helmet off and now put it back on before speaking, "Captain Ivory, dispatch one of your platoons to help secure that mine, command company will meet them there, out" He said before looking at the others, making sure they had heard the orders before setting off at a brisk jog towards the light vehicles they had landed with.

[Antimersia]

Korak: Capitol of Krakatoa
The Capitol building

Serrat turned towards the Imperial Ispan as he asked his question. Serrat, paused briefly before answering. "In most cases, our tactics have shown to remain effective against direct confrontations. They do have on structural weakness that we have worked tirelessly to exploit. The joints of their legs are much more fragile than the appear. Sustained fire on their legs at the joint in most cases will disable to Swarm, and make them able to flail or crawl at most. Although, in this state they are still extremely deadly and dangerous. They can extend their head and mandibles to catch and bite at you. I have seen these mandibles piece through steel as a human would bite through paper. But, this is the time to strike. The extension of their mandibles separates their chitin at their neck and makes them vulnerable to most forms of attack, be it by blade or bullet." As Serrat explains this the display shows Krakatoans fighting the swarm and killing several of them just as he explains. "This however, works primarily for our direct confrontations. The Swarm have learned two concepts that make this tactic nearly useless. They have learned the concept of stealth, and ambush. We have even had reports of Swarm finding recent battlegrounds filled with dead Swarm, and playing dead among them. We often harvest the chitin of the Swarm for various uses. We have since banned the practice after several scavenging crews went missing. With this in mind, I have instructed all of Krakatoa to carry angels with them at all times." Serrat continued. Angels, as the followers of the Path of the Blade call them, are personal explosives meant for taking someone's killer to the grave with them. They were once thought to be shameful. As the name originates from the belief that using them does nothing but make your angel stronger. But, since the arrival of the Swarm, they have become less shameful. Instead being viewed as honorable in some respects to sacrifice your own honor for the sake of the Krakatoan people.

[Imperialisium]

Crown Princess Valeria

Valeria glanced at the decision between who to grace with her presence for the evening. Reaching out a hand she gestured to Victoria's colleagues, which included the Midnight Hegemony members, and said, "After you?"

Hyperborea Episolon
Nova Karabakh

"Hear that," said one of two operators with Numera, a fair skinned man from Nova Terra's Bassenine District. A rough district bordering the layers which never saw the light of day. Numera didn't spare him a look as she responded, "Aye, Julius, they got the Superintendent Core online. Our orders still stand."

The third operator was fiddling with his wrist mounted computer. "We can take a maintenance tunnel three streets up. It'll get us next to a metro transit station which is connected via access tunnel to one of the power lines for the Core."

"Good call, lets move." ordered Numera as the trio of Imperial Special Forces operators hefted their weapons. Moving at a quick pace stealthily through the suburbs of Nova Karabakh's outer districts. Expertly maneuvering around roving patrols of the Hyperborean Front and partisan militia. Deftly plotting a course as they rounded a corner into an alleyway between two industrial complexes. Overhead the pinpricks of craft entering atmosphere could be seen, and then heard as they broke through and got close enough for their engine wakes to reach the city. Stopping at the cusp of the corner Numera scanned with her helmet sensors. A pair of partisans were approaching. She swiftly indicated this via combat sign to her compatriots who readied themselves. As the two men came in close she struck. One kick shattered another's knee as she spun around to sink her blade in the second's throat. Mako already had killed the first with a deft stab to the sweet spot of the aorta. Neither screamed, neither could, they were dead before their heads reached the pavement. The operators wasted no time in tossing the corpses into an alley dumpster before continuing on.

The maintenance tunnel was covered by a grate. Scanning once more before moving from cover the three operators made for the grate. Numera crouched to hold the point while Mako covered from the alleyway. The third, who went after Numera, was named Kyldan, from the Veygir Colonies located far to the Galactic East of Nova Terra. He hefted the grate up and after peering down for a moment began to descend. Mako rushed over and went down second. Numera last as she fitted the grate over her. Covering their tracks.

***

The Skyfyres approached at attack speed to Nova Karabakh. Their pilots and AI maneuvering the craft in a wide vertical arc to come level with the ground. Yet still a kilometer above the surface as they moved to close in on Nova Karabakh for a strafing run on targets acquired by the ships in orbit above. Until their instruments sounded with enemy targeting locks trying to acquire them. "They got AA up. Break off and eject chaff," quickly declared the flight lead as the flight of Skyfyres peeled left and right, accelerating on new perpendicular courses away from Nova Karabakh, chaff flares shooting from their hulls in a dazzling display of angelic wings.

Meanwhile, on the bridge of the Tyrant's Star Commodore Maxine Morr leaned on her holo-lith display. Dammit, they got the core powered up and AA defenses popping up all over the city. "Signal the Marines to land outside the city. Deploy all Marines as well to land outside the city. We'll cut off Nova Karabakh and force our way in if need be. Signal Sector Command of the situation. We'll need Army supports if these rebels really wish to fight a war for this planet."

"Aye, dispatch and report away." said the Communications officer.

***

The Marines of the Taskforce 171 grunted as their landing craft broke atmosphere. Descending on wings of fire, then billowing steam and ozone, the more bulky transports of the Marines rocketed to ground. Following the trajectory of the Skyfyres, albeit less gracefully, the transports began to spread out before coming out a rapid deceleration. New orders had come in, they were landing outside the city, and as the transport point defense guns began to cycle to readiness the landing ramps lowered. The Marines hitting the gangways while combat robots, folded up in storage pods, were dropped to the earth. Unfolding themselves and brandishing their weapons the war machines of the Imperial Marines resembled bipeds and quadrupeds. Bipedal, humanoid, combat robots with smart AI cortexes to fight more directly along with the Marines. While quadruped robots for a variety of tasks such as IED removal, medical retrieval, to mobile platoon support were very much animalistic in design. Four legs to support their more bulky bodies with limited AIs to fulfill their battlefield functions.

All in all a few hundred Marines and several dozen robots had hit the ground when the fiery tell tale signs of additional Marine craft could be seen breaking into atmosphere above them. The remainder of the Marine battalion would be bringing their armoured vehicles, marine artillery, and ground transports.

One Marine, bearing the pips of a Major, felt the earth beneath his boots. His battle armour dulled and camouflaged with the colours of this world. A chime on his wrist and he held it up. The Holographic form of Commodore Morr swimming into view.

"Major Zilvan. The battalion is to take Nova Karabakh bloc by bloc if need be. All Taskforce Naval assets will assist you as needed. The Raven is still attempting to contact and coordinate with Imperial loyalist elements. Stand by for updates. Over."

"Yes, Mam'." replied Zilvan gruffly. The Major trudged several paces in the direction of Nova Karabakh and with a blink click his optics folded down over his helmet lenses. Providing more powerful sensoria equipment feeding into his helmet computers.

Turning to a Marine setting up communications equipment the Major spoke, "Send a wide band transmission to civilians in the region that their liberation is at hand. That they need not suffer under the oppressive yoke of these zealots. Civilians, if able are to contact Imperial forces via wireless or make for our lines. Signal the Raven for possible spots to set up a cordon sanitaire camp."

"Yes, Sir."

Code: Select all

Citizens of Nova Karabakh,
This is Major Zilvan of the Imperial Marine Corps. Your liberation is at hand. These religious zealots and their violent pogrom will be dealt with via Imperial might. If able, communicate your situation to Imperial forces on the ground or orbit. If you can, make for Imperial lines, unarmed, with your hands raised or white flag. You and your families will be evacuated to a safe location.

Krakatoa, Capitol Building

"I see," said the Imperial Ispan at Serrat's monologue of the xenos foe, and how they had been fought prior. "Then we must move quickly to begin hemming in the Swarm. Xenocide them region by region if need be. Where are the Imperial forces to be sent first, Serrat, as a best first move to halt incursions for our campaign?" Vladem gazed at the holographic data before him. This was largely the Krakatoan's show in his mind. The Galactic Imperium was fulfilling its duty as sovereign overlord. But it need not take the reins when loyalty could be further embededed by making it seem the Krakatoans were still totally in control of the war effort.

[Brusia]

Johnathan Aetius
Hyperborea Epsilon
The Invictus

After a delay in recalling troops from securing Kyotomo, courtesy of his XO deciding to take his time carrying out Aetius' orders, the Third Sector Army clambered aboard their transport vessels as Aetius returned from Nova Terra, and the Imperial Force soon made its way towards its first objective: Hyperborea Epsilon. Aetius continued pouring over everything Imperial Intelligence had on the Hyperboreans and the planet in question, until a klaxon blared to inform him and the crew that they would soon be dropping to sub-light. Grabbing his datapad and coffee cup, Aetius made his way to the Bridge and watched as the view from the main screen went from pitch black to being filled with a variety of stars, the shining of the system's sun, and the planet they were ordered to retake. Though not yet visible on the screen, the ship's sensors also detected a number of friendly signatures in the form of Task Force 171. As a Bridge officer reported their allies' presence, Aetius took a sip of his coffee then turned to the Communications officer and ordered: "Open a channel to their flagship."

After pressing a few buttons on her console the officer stated: "Channel open sir."

"This is High General Aetius to Commodore Morr: my apologies for our delayed arrival. What is your current situation and how can we be of assistance?"

[Antimersia]

Krakatoa, Capitol Building

Serrat had thought long and hard about this question of Ispan Vladem's. The primary encounters with the Swarm have taken place on Krakatoa. But, Serrat is growing more and more concerned that they do not originate from the planet. But rather, another within the Krakatoan Domain. With no proof of this though, Serrat is forced to be political with his phrasing. "Our best first move would be to go to the southern badlands. Krakatoa has four central cities. Krakatoa is at the center of them. There is one on each pole, as well as another two along our world's equator. The badlands are the dead zones in between them. Where the planet is made of rock that is hard as diamond. The southern badlands, and the supply lines between Krakatoa and our southern city, Maadjem, are where we have the most verified sightings." Serrat expains. He pauses briefly, still worried about what he intends to say next. "And please, all of you, have some of your soldiers pay special attention to scans of anything entering the Krakatoan atmosphere. I have an unnerving fear that Krakatoa is not the source of the Swarm. But, I cannot prove this as of yet. And I pray to be wrong." He looks off into the distance, consumed by thought for a moment. He refocuses and takes a deep breath. "I shall order a march on the southern badlands. Please prepare any troops you send there with me, will need additional rations until we can secure the area to reopen supply lines. Any questions?" Serrat asks, mostly as formality.

[Bolslania]

Amban General Vandercalt landed in his personal docks as the Custer's Revenge and her single escort came into orbit.

He strode quickly to his car, before the chauffer was even able to greet the Amban, Vandercalt had already spoken

"Take me to the Warship docks" He said, usually he was a little more polite, but now was the time for urgency. The chauffer, recognizing the urgency, quickly opened the door for Vandercalt and quickly got into the driver's seat, taking the car out of idle and speeding off to the docks. When he arrived, Colonel Kimball and some staff officers were waiting for the Custer's Revenge to set down. They could clearly see the large gash in the side of the ship, indicating there had been a fight.

"Colonel Kimball, what's happening?" Vandercalt said quickly. Kimball turned to him

"We might have found the hideout of those pirates, and we recovered some of their bodies as well. However one of our corvettes was knocked out and as you can see, the frigate and other corvette are beat up." She said. Vandercalt waited as Commander Vi walked up. He had some bruises on him but otherwise looked fine.

"Vi, what happened?" the Rear Admiral asked. Vi shrugged

"They came at us in small ships in the asteroid field, hit us with a high power laser, destroyed the Epsilon and breached our inner hull, killing about 20 of our gun crew, from there the marines were able to defeat them and we recovered their bodies." Vi said, the fatigue was obvious in his voice.

"Get some rest commander, we'll discuss this more tomorrow." Vandercalt said before the Rear Admiral could continue to pester him.


The bodybags began to be rolled out, the crew of the Custer's Revenge walking alongside them.

Several in the back of the procession were black, which meant dead enemy combatants, while the deceased crewmen got white bodybags. Vandercalt and the two officers stood out of the way of the procession, saluting the dead and returned. After the procession had stopped, Vandercalt followed the OPFOR bodies to the morgue, where he ordered an immediate evaluation.

He noted the old gear they were using, probably gear from decades ago, horribly out of date now. When the gear was stripped off by the coroner, everyone in the room sucked in their breath.

It was human....but it wasn't. It had obviously been human at one point, but it had been mutilated so thoroughly that it might as well be a Xeno.

[Imperialisium]

Glitterheight Shipbuilders
Upper Ring, Antediluvian Arcology
Nova Terra

Nodding to his counterpart and speaking in parting, "Pleasant day," the meeting ended. Departing the luxurious office of the shipbuilders to the awaiting yacht. At the assigned berth. Where it would slide out on low power and make for orbit. Indeed, it was a masterfully crafted vessel even from the outside. Approaching towards the automatically unfolding umbilical which connected to one of the main hatches. A hatch which opened of its own accord as it registered his bio-signature. Only to reveal an interior which matched the exterior. Finely crafted, seen from every angle, the agent, the Spider, ran his hands over the polished smooth surfaces of a bulk head. Reaching the bridge in only a matter of moments to see a luxurious set up of exquisite, designed to the letter, consoles and terminals. Plush yet functional chairs and captains dais supplemented this image.

Moving through the bridge and down to the captains quarters, there, the expected prize was--not.

[Antimersia]

Korak: Krakatoan Capitol

There were no further questions. So Serrat formally and respectfully concluded the war council. With their next movement plans in place, the forces of the Imperium properly educated on their enemy, it is time to begin the logistics of preparing for this offensive. Serrat Mobilizes the professional military, ordering they be provided for their new assignments. He follows up by calling upon the citizenry as the militia to begin preparing to fight for their homes as well. Everyone is a soldier on Krakatoa. And when the time comes to fight, few are not excited to hear the call to action.

Korak, like many cities on Krakatoa, has an outer defensive wall with dozens of guard batteries along it. They keep the Swarm at bay the few times that the creatures are brave enough to launch an assault on a major city. Although they are not always enough. With the city to be less defended as much of the people and soldiers who live here will be marching into the badlands, Serrat orders a wealth of reserve supplies for them, should the Swarm somehow manage an attack on the city in that time.

He allows the other military leaders to have their autonomy. Even if he was given lead in this campaign, he wouldn’t dare give orders to the troops of another commander. He relayed requests, rather than orders. He felt that they would seem more polite to the sensibilities of those from the Imperium’s hierarchy. He sends the request to establish air superiority over the badlands to allow ground forces to establish forward operating bases. That will be crucial to their sustained success. The badlands are called that for a reason. Nothing but rock. Whether it is molten or hard as steel, it is still just barren rock. Dust storms are common. And the Swarm are not the only deadly beasts that roam those lands. Having a place to rest and resupply with be the difference in this conflict. And Serrat is thankful that it is all the more possible with the Imperium’s aid.