Europa 3998 AD: Renaissance

[The Isles of Xeraph]

ASHKELON, THE HOLY LAND


Max seemed to study the situation for a moment. "I hate to say this but this is more in your preview then mine. I have always had a hands off when it come to Ssyn. However stability must be maintained." Max looked around the room for a moment before He continued. "This trouble with a possible Immortal worries me. When one comes out of the wood work more follow."

Taking a sip of whisky Max looked down at the padd He carried. We need to be proactive, stop the tribes from gathering at any cost. But, can Solath be trusted? We may be trading one problem for another if we let Him deal with the problem. He may prove to be the greater danger in the long run. Armed forces in anyone's hands but our are dangerous."

The other men nodded but said nothing for the moment. Max placed His Padd on the side table then spoke again. "We may need to take a personal hand in this then let Solath and the Guilds handle the problem."

Alaric and Viktor nodded and Viktor said, "Alright, so it seems we need to beef up what small military the Empire has. When you think about it, we haven't sent foot soldiers into battle for several centuries. There's been no need. No country has anywhere near the wherewithal to bother us on any level."

"We can just send our AI defensive units to the east side of the Tigris. The Empire has thousands of multi-purpose AI-Bot-Android units programmed for any eventuality. Retrofit them with lasers of the lethal variety and not even vhammpyrian warriors will survive."

Viktor replied, "The problem, gentlemen, is Ninevah. The city is a hundred kilometers from the Tigris. We can deploy all the tech at our disposal and it won't stop the Guilds from building their financial empire in the far east. We've got to deal with Ninevah."

"From what I hear, the sorcerer-kings of Aeternu hold sway there."

"No longer, Max. The demon-infested tribes of Queen Sybele are the main players there. In a city full of evil spirits, witches, pagans and shamans, she is a standout. Her magick is of the darkest sort brought up from the ghoul-haunted catacombs of the ancient Chaldean sorcerers and priests of long-forgotten Temple of Set. Their massive sepulchers she raids for age-old spells and she collects the powerful bones of the priestesses of black temples, lost in time. It is still Aeternu that bears the name of the Queen's dealings, but she and her...people...are far more deadly than anything that has come before."

Viktor felt the hair rise on his arms as Alaric spoke. "Witches! Demons! Sorcerers! What can we do to fight those things?"

A voice behind them said, " What indeed, gentlemen. Seems you need a bit of unusual help."

They turned to see a man dressed in a long black cassock, dried mud on the black leather boots. He unsnapped the chain holding his deep purple cape on his shoulders and draped it on the back of a chair. "What's the matter? Never seen a pontiff before?"

Emperor Alaric was the first to recover. "Pontiffs went out of style nearly 500 years ago. Forgive us if we stare. Just what in hell are you a pontiff of?"

The man grinned. "Certainly nothing in hell, your majesty." He glanced at the table. "Got any more of that whiskey? A cigar would be nice as well."

Without speaking, Emperor Maximilian poured two fingers of the scotch in a glass, then poured himself another. Viktor tossed the man a cigar.

"My name is Gregory. At least that's what it's been for the past few decades. Light?" King Viktor rose and struck a match to the cigar. Gregory drew on it until the air was filled with the rich, pungent smoke. He looked at it and commented, "Not bad. Not quite a twelfth century Moroccan, but not bad."

Alaric said, "Okay, you somehow got in here without detection, so you've got fifteen seconds to tell us who you are and what you want before I call the ShadowGuards in."

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, majesty. I hate the needless loss of life that would result in your pressing of your commpin." Gregory's calm and jovial face turned hard and humorless for a couple of seconds, then he smiled.

"I've already told you who I am, and why I'm here is because of Ninevah."

Max said almost in a whisper, "You're an Immortal."

Gregory pointed the cigar at him. "Correct, majesty. After I speak my piece, I may tell you a little more about myself if you desire. Suffice it to say I'e been hanging around this area for 2,844 years. I'm very familiar with Ninevah and it's environs and this latest situation there has occurred fourteen times over the centuries. Y'know, the demons, sorcerers, and various supernatural beings. You three may have managed, with our help of course, to rid your realms of such creatures, but I assure you that they are alive and well in the vast portions of this planet to the east and far south. Those in the Afrique are particularly vicious."

"Alright, Gregory. So you've been around awhile. What can we expect?" It was a fact that, although all three were very much aware of the fact that the Immortals existed, none of the three had actually ever seen one in the flesh.

"First off, you have, as we speak, a situation on the southern borders of your Solar Zone. There is an ancient denizen of the darkest hell known as Vhammpyr that has killed your human engineer and is awaiting another just like it. Solath has correctly determined that if he cuts your power grid, he cuts your power."

The rulers looked at each other. "The drones and jets haven't dealt with this?"

Gregory smiled. "You tell me. If you haven't heard anything, I'd check on it if I were you."

All three tapped their commpins and in less than a minute had a holo of the area projected on the walls of the veranda. The engineer was dead and partially eaten. There was no sight of any intruder or damage to the panels, but they could see the wreckage of two drones and a jet in the desert sands just south of the SPG.

Alaric murmured, "What could have done this? What could have overcome our technology way down there?"

Gregory blew a couple of smoke rings, then said, simply, "Sybele."

[Tarlag]

ASHKELON, THE HOLY LAND


Max double checked His padd then tapped a message to the Black Watch Commander stationed a few buildings over. Placing the padd back on the side table he spoke. "So We have this Sybele person trying to sabotage the grid. Gentlemen do you realize that 95% of the Empire's power comes from that grid. The wind farms in the Irish sea and the tidal plants in the North Sea can't make up that kind of short fall. We are well and truly fucked if She can pull this off."

Max heard His padd make a small beep of an incoming message. Looking around the room Max continued. "I trust Gregory, you can find these beasts and help us dispatch them before they can cause any damage. Also this place Ninevah, how do you purpose we deal with and and this witch?
".

[The Isles of Xeraph]

..Ashkelon, The Holy Land..


In answer to Max's question, Gregory said, "Sybebe is an anomoly, even to us Immortals. She's not one of us, but rather we believe she was one of the rebels that fell with Lucifer when he foolishly sought to overrun the Creation Worlds. When the Creator exiled them, they chose Terra along with a handful of other planets to settle. There weren't as many of the rebels as was traditionally thought. In fact, less than 12,000. At any rate, they spread across the planet, creating zones of influence that exist to this day. In your empire, they have been rendered of no effect. Again, with our help." He paused to sip the scotch.

"There's something you need to understand about beings like the Fallen. They are flesh and blood, like us, but of a different atomic composition. Their atoms vibrate at a much higher rate than ours. Which is why you can't see them unless they want to be seen." He stepped a bit farther into the room and looked out over the Judean landscape. "Just as beautiful as ever. Even during the Crusades when blood ran in the streets it was a fair and bountiful land."

Turning back to the trio, he continued. "It was here and in the Egyptian-Arabah regions that most of the Fallen remained. The coming of the demi-god Jhesu removed them from this Promised Land, but they were entrenched in Egypt. Most, if not all, of the various belief systems that were contrary to Jhesu's were birthed in Egypt and spread over Terra." He paused, lost in thought.

"Okay, so fast-forward hundreds of thousands of centuries and we have a situation much as we know it today. Sybele, who somehow morphed into a demi-god herself, has raised an army of nearly a half-million, which includes hundreds of half-human beasts from the dark lands of southern Chine. Also with her are the remaining Nephilim, those Fallen who were the offspring of angels and humans."

"A half-million? How are they armed?" Alaric was making notes as Gregory spoke.

Gregory smiled. "Alaways the warrior, eh? Your ancestor, Ricard, was much the same." He continued. "The horde, as we're calling it, have primitive weapons. Swords, knives, axes. We have not permitted any peoples but the empire to have advanced weaponry. This orde is presently encamped, in stasis, in the far eastern portion of the Persian Hegemony. Sybele and her generals have soldiers from numerous areas including Rus, Nippon, Punjab, and the south Pacific islands. But they travel on foot or horseback."

"You say they are in stasis?"

"Yes. They stay ready at any moment to fight, and their condition keeps Sybele from having to feed them. Only about 5,000 are awake and fuctioning at this time."

Max mused. "So, what's she waiting for? Surely a half-million can cross the Tigris and conquer Ssyn."

Gregory replied, "No doubt. But Ssyn is not her ultimate goal. Getting past your Wall and into your Empire is he goal. And the solar panels are the key to that goal."

Alaric was punching buttons furiously. "Over my dead fucking body! That bitch won't succeed on my watch!"

Gregory again flashed that enigmatic smile. "You are correct, Majesty. She will not breech the deserts of the Afrique. We'll see to that. But one thing we cannot prevent is the infernal influence that will spread throughout the Far East and Afrique, perhaps to the other side of the oceans. The spirit of discontent, disillusionment, and protest will again become prevalent in all the world, including your empire. People will once again feel the itch of wanting more than they need, of searching for something just beyond what they can see or feel. This is the real danger of Ninevah, for it is in Ninevah, as well as Babylon, Ur, Akkad, Thebes and Haran that the seeds of spiritual rebellion have always sprouted. You of the Empire may downplay the worlds of the spirit, but you may believe me when I say that it is alive and well."

"Can we do nothing to stamp it out?"

Gregory gazed at them. "Can you stamp out the wind? At best we can stanch the incoming tide of discord and chaos. We can diminish it's worst effects for a time. But in the future, perhaps a few thousand years hence, we will again be faced with a planet in spiritual disarray, each man and woman a god unto themselves. And Sybele will be their leader."

[The Isles of Xeraph]

..The Wall Zone, Central Euphrates River..


Geneva had managed, with the help of several adult beverages, to calm down and relax enough to begin to enjoy the beach area of Ssyn. She consoled herself wit the thought that, if they had to run for their lives, they were just a short sprint from the river to the Wall. Her husband, on the other hand, was enjoying himself immenesly. Since alcoholic drinks were not permitted in the eastern empire, he took it upon himself to become acquainted with a concoction called the "Dirty Italian Bitch". He was on his third one, and was feeling no pain as he lie in the un-domed sun.

They were both going to try their luck at the casinos later on in the evening. Geneva had won a bit the other day, and was looking forward to going back. Ccaile just wanted to watch the naked dancing girls.

The beach area was semi-secure. There were wooden sidewalks that held game-booths and stores and it was here that the more disreputable people hung out. None were especially dangerous. No assaults had been recorded in months, and no killings at all in over two years. But there were a few Imperial citizens who had suffed the loss of their wallets and jewelry when they were distracted by thieves.

Neither Geneva nor Ccailenoticed the large old man moving with a pronounced limp along the walkway. He was dressed in a tattered cloak, rags wrapped around his feet and he steadied himself with a wooden staff. As the pair stood in line at a booth waiting for another drink, the old man suddenly straightened and pulled his staff apart to show a wicked-looking rapier. With a lightning-fast move,he swept the blade horizontally and Geneva saw the woman in front of her stiffen, eyes wide. She screamed as she watched as if in slow motion the head of the woman topple from her neck, blood spurting high.....

[Vhammpyr]

..Vhammpyr,southwest coast of Ssyn..


King Solath gazed long at the narrow lane along the coast of the Euphrates and the crosses that lined both sides of it. He was pleased that the humans crucified and impaled were still alive and moaning in their pain. Soon, the final spike would be administered through their open mouths and through the back of the skull.

His thoughts were interrupted by a Presence coming up besidehim. He didn't have to look to see who it was as he recognized the dark aura of Sybele, Queen of Ninevah. He nonetheless turned and bowed, noting that she wascovered in a black, hooded cloak. All he could see was her eyes, a startling indigo in a perfect face. Her beauty was unearthly, angelic. He further knew that she was one of Lucifer's lieutenants in the rebellion of the Creation Worlds millions of years ago. That she was here now was of great importance to him and the nation of Vhammpyr.

"My lady, all has been done as you instructed. One hundred human infidels have been sacrificed on the crosses of their god. And the warships have been readied." The ships had been built to her specifications and would soon launch from the shores of the Whispering Sea to the ancient temples on the islands of Maldive. The ships were of sufficient size to carry 500 soldiers of Indus descent and they would eventually dockin the Bay of Muscat, deep in the Arabah. They would disembark and march to Sheba where another 225 soldiers of the Dracul Legions would join the ranks and prepare for the assault on the southern borders of the Judean Holy Land.

Sybele spoke in that ethereal voice that only fallen angels possessed. "Solath, give the orders. What you and your armies do in the coming week will determine the fate of Ssyn and the Persio-Muscarii lands. Those idiot rulers of the empire do not realize that the time of their end is near."

"Yes, my Queen. I have summoned the Nameless Ones from the darkness below Babylonand they have one again taken up their ancient swords for the furtherance of our nation. They will not fail."

Sybele turned to look deep into his eyes and saw the fear. "They better not, O King! The floors of the deepest Hell will be your home for eternity if they do!"

[The Isles of Xeraph]

..Cyprus Dome..


Jhane walked into the Emperor's office without knocking. "Good. You're sitting down. Read this."

Alaric was mildly annoyed at the interruption, but her tone was not to be ignored. He grabbed the sheet of paper and read it through.......twice.

"This is accurate, Jhane? How can this have happened?"

"Your guess is as good as mine, Sire. To say it's unprecedented is an understatement."

"Who else knows about this?"

Just a few farm workers on the island and the scout that brought the evidence here."

"Scout?"

"Yessir. Judge Taram Atha. Base supervisor on Corfu."

"Atha. Why do I know that name?"

She allowed a grin. "If you recall, Sire, an individual named Maran was with the discoverers of the missile silo in the Italian Alps fourteen centuries ago. You know.....the one where the Immortal who called herself Lilith was found to be fiddling with the computers? Well, the Judge is a member of Maran's family. They have a long and illustrious history within the Empire. It was he who arrived on the scene when the farmers found the item."

"Alright, bring the Judge and the farmers here at once. And tell them to bring the...thing...with them."

Jhane removed her glasses, which was a sign that she was very troubled. "Sire, what if this is true? What if someone, or something, had recently found their way into the Empire? And what could they have been doing?"

It was a given that no unauthorized personnel had arrived within the borders of the Empire for nearly a thousand years. It was impossible. All Imperial citizens were implanted with a synthetic stem cell complex that acted as an identification unit. Quite simply, if you didn't have one, you were not an Imperial citizen or citizen-candidate. Yet, if this discovery were true, there had been at least one unknown entity within the Empire's borders.

That the item found was a broken talon of a Vhammpyrian Warrior made the potential emergency even more serious.

[Tarlag]

EDINBURGH CASTLE, EDINBURGH DOME


Emperor Maximilian sat in the main conference room surrounded by His advisers. He had a worried look on His face as He spoke. "There you have it people. Intelligence has confirmed attacks have started in Syssn and there is at least one Vhammpyr intruder in the Empire. What in the name of God do we do?"

General O'Donnell of the Black Watch was first to speak. "We deploy the Shadow Guard and the Black Watch with the Protectors as reserve. We have plasma weapons and lasers. With the A.I. drones for support we should have little problem dealing with a few sword swinging fools."

"A half million sword swinging fools with Vhamps as support and Lord knows what else. Sending military forces that have not seen any kind of combat in generations,who are out numbered a 100 to 1. I might as well open my vein and wait for the Vhammpyr to walk in the room." Replied Minister of the Interior Williams. "If they take out the power grid then it is game over our forces will be needed to stop the lower level dwellers from charging to the surface. Removing our only security forces to fight if they are more needed here is unthinkable."

Max sat back and thought for a moment. "Besides General, we have no heavy weapons to speak of. Our A.I. manufacturing can change that but your men would have to be trained in there use and that may take time we don't have." Leaning forward the Emperor had an idea. "How about we us the uplifted? The larger primates that we use for farm and forestry work. They are stronger then us and know woods craft. A gorilla or adult chimp should be able to go toe to toe with a Vhammpyr."

"You would arm our underclass. train them to fight and expect them to go back and pick grapes for us next season. It might work or more likely they just turn on us after things settle down. We would have the monkeys running things. Besides most of them are selected for passive tendencies. The ones we know won't turn on us would never pick up a weapon in the first place. " Replied Williams. "Sorry My Lord, that is just a bad idea."

Ronald Cargraves the court historian spoke up. "In the Wars of Unification the Crown had a similar problem. Queen Sofia the First was fighting a technologically inferior foe who out numbered Her, had no need of logistical support and could live off the land. Her rifle equipped troops needed heavy support from home. Her troops had no real combat experience against their foe and in the early battles it cost them. Her troops and commanders did get the experience they needed. Supply was always a problem however. Several attacks were put off for months due to lack of ammo or basic supplies like food or coal for their ships."

"At least She had troops to start with. We have been at peace for so long we have forgotten how to fight. I don't see trying to arm our citizens either. Most have never picked up a gun in their lives or even been outside." Max put up His hands in desperation. "Any ideas, people?"

Jenny La Duke Minister of entertainment raised Her hand. "That is not quite true my Emperor, this may sound like a wild idea but there is a portion of the population who fights on a regular bases. Thousands of hours in fact. They operate well in teams and if given the proper tools of war I think they would jump at the chance to fight."

Williams was the first to respond. "Jenny my dear, I don't know what you are smoking but I want some."

Max looked to the woman, at the same time he waved his had to shut Williams up. "Go on, where can we find these people?"

"There is a very popular on-line game called Robo-Jocks. Over a hundred thousand play it, at home or in holo-simulaters. Players combat each other in robots using real world weapons. Not just against other robots but infantry and other combat units even monsters. These people are all ready trained and if we give them incentive and giant robots to drive around in we would have a out of the box army ready to go."

Murmurs of Oh my God that is stupid and the like were heard around the room. The Emperor raised His right hand the the low talking stopped. "Enough, I have two questions. Can we build working manned combat robots is a short amount of time?"

The head of Western Imperial industry raised His hand. "Not a problem, I play that game and if we use the ones that operate on wheels and treads no research is needed into walking machines, just manufacture the parts and put them together. That game is so detailed they even have fucking blueprints."

"My next question is when can you get started?"

[The Isles of Xeraph]

..Cyprus Dome..


It had been quiet for the past seven weeks which made Emperor Alaric de Bourbon-Veurey all the more suspicious that something was about to happen. He was the first to enter the Hall of Meeting with a handful of retainers in advance of the meeting with the representatives of the various provinces. Greystone Forest, the Grey Legions, and the Grey Phoenix would be at the table along with three of the Amurcans from Formentrera, far off on the western border of the western empire.

"Jhane, what do you think of these Amurcans? They do not claim to be Imperial citizens, do they?"

Jhane said, "This is true, Sire. But what they claim and what they are is two different things. They live in the eastern empire, they adhere to and obey eastern laws and culture...to a point...and they enjoy some of the perks of the Empire."

"What do you mean, 'to a point?'"

"Well, they still arm themselves according to their ancient Amurcan Constitution, and they hold lightly to the restrictions imposed by Imperial declarations."

"Such as?"

"They enjoy alcoholic beverages which, by the way, they distill themselves. They occasionally smoke a wild weed which, they claim, has medicinal effects. And they travel in the western empire at will."

The Emperor punched up a fact sheet on his holo-screen and sighed. "All this leeway granted to themby my illustrious ancestor, Ricard de Veurey. And therefore immutable. I don't like the fact that there are exceptions to the law in my empire, Jhane."

"Neither did a half-dozen of your predecessors, Sire. But, long story short, none of the Amurcans would tolerate any interference andwere prepared to fight for their rights."

"Resistence and independance seems to be in their blood. And I suppose they will wear their weapons to this meeting?"

"Why not? The other reps will wear their traditional garb, which includes swords and the like. Entirely ceremonial."

"I have a feeling that the Amurcan weapons are not ceremonial."

"No doubt. But it was at the instigation of the Immortals that all WMD, from pistols, to rifles, to larger caliber rockets, missiles, and armored vehicles and aircraft were rendered useless by some unknown force-dampening field over a thousand years ago. Only the Empire has these available, and only under certain conditions."

"So the Amurcan weapons are not operational?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Let us hope so, Sire."

[The Isles of Xeraph]

..The Wall Zone, Central Euphrates River..


Geneva had managed, with the help of several adult beverages, to calm down and relax enough to begin to enjoy the beach area of Ssyn. She consoled herself wit the thought that, if they had to run for their lives, they were just a short sprint from the river to the Wall. Her husband, on the other hand, was enjoying himself immenesly. Since alcoholic drinks were not permitted in the eastern empire, he took it upon himself to become acquainted with a concoction called the "Dirty Italian Bitch". He was on his third one, and was feeling no pain as he lie in the un-domed sun.

They were both going to try their luck at the casinos later on in the evening. Geneva had won a bit the other day, and was looking forward to going back. Ccaile just wanted to watch the naked dancing girls.

The beach area was semi-secure. There were wooden sidewalks that held game-booths and stores and it was here that the more disreputable people hung out. None were especially dangerous. No assaults had been recorded in months, and no killings at all in over two years. But there were a few Imperial citizens who had suffed the loss of their wallets and jewelry when they were distracted by thieves.

Neither Geneva nor Ccailenoticed the large old man moving with a pronounced limp along the walkway. He was dressed in a tattered cloak, rags wrapped around his feet and he steadied himself with a wooden staff. As the pair stood in line at a booth waiting for another drink, the old man suddenly straightened and pulled his staff apart to show a wicked-looking rapier. With a lightning-fast move,he swept the blade horizontally and Geneva saw the woman in front of her stiffen, eyes wide. She screamed as she watched as if in slow motion the head of the woman topple from her neck, blood spurting high.....

Instinctively, Geneva turned and sprinted toward the doors that allowed access to The Wall. Her husband, however, surprised not only her, but himself as he launched himself at the sword-bearer. With a sickening crunch, they both toppled onto the wooden walkway, the old man's arm, neck, and skull slamming into it with such force that the snapping of bone was audible.

Fortunately for Ccaile, the man's sword slipped from his broken wrist. Ccaile, somewhat groggy from the impact, stood weakly, trying to clear his head. The old man was now moaning in pain, unable to move. In due course, a pair of patrol-drones, dispatched from The Wall, hovered over the scene, sending live coverage of the situation to the Wall HQ. Seconds later, a large security droid pushed it's way through the crowd and after a five-second evaluation, shoved two finger-like appendages into his eye sockets, penetrating his brain.

The old man, now past feeling any pain, lie on the wooden walkway unmoving. A BOT clean-up detail arrived and removed the body, wheeling it into an opening in the Wall. The droid announced to the crowd that all was now secure and they were to disperse at once.

No one had bothered to talk to Ccaile. As he sat on a bench, a child walked over to him, staring but not saying anything. "What do you want, boy? Go away and leave me alone!"

The child,however, simply grabbed him by the shirt-sleeve and quite forcefully pulled Ccaile over to the security droid. It said, "I have orders to bring you to the Provincial Offices of Grey Legions. You will come now."

"Now just wait a minute! I'm on vacation here! And I don't even work in Grey Legions!" Ccaile was still a bit groggy.

The droid turned and lifetd him straight up off the sandy beach and walked him to a portal in The Wall. In seconds, Ccaile was on his way........

[The Isles of Xeraph]

..Greystone Academy..

Professor Honeywell rapped lightly on the Instructor's door. "Sorry, Cai, but I've heard a disturbing rumor today. From one of your students."

Cai Athnu looked up from his holopad. "Do tell. What is it this time?"

"Well, it seems that a few of your history class has it in their heads that the Empire's historical accounts are not quite,how shall I say it, accurate."

Athnu laughed. "Well, they're not. You know that. The books are far more accurate and truthful than in centuries past, but you know as well as I do that a certain amount of embellishment is always included, especially where our history is concerned. History isn't necessarily what happened, but rather what was written down."

"Hmmm, yes, and that's what old Piscus is up in arms about." Harald Piscus was the Dean of the academy and a hard-core traditionalist.

"Which part of today's lesson is bothering him?"

"What you were saying about how the Islamist forces forced the Grail Kings out of Carcassone. According to your students, you said that old Earl de Veureyallowed them free reign after their victory. That they slaughtered nearly all the Grail inhabitants of the city and set it on fire."

"Yes, so? That's what happened."

"No doubt, but that isn't what the Emperor wants to be known. He doesn't think that his legendary ancestor should be thought of as a blood-thirsty brigand who used pagan moon worshippers to kill and enslave Europan citizens."

"He does, does he? Well, if he has a problem, let him come here and discuss it with us. He himself has issued a ruling that essentially establishes the telling of actual facts, not myth. The truth, in other words."

"Hmmm, yes,but it seems that the crux of the matter is actually which of the Grail Kings were in the city when it was defeated and pillaged. You are aware that the Emperor's family are actually distant relatives of the Grail Kings. It wouldn't do to have family killing family, y'know."

"Honeywell, aren't you a little bit tired of this creeping historical correctness? One of the major problems of the Ancient Days was the proliferation of false and misleading information put forth by the upper crust of society. Billions were poured into keeping the citizens wondering just what the actual truth was. The false flags contributed significantly to the so-called peaceful invasion of Europa by the Muslim refugee crisis. Islam tried and failed a half-dozen times to conquer Europa over the centuries by force, and so with the leaders and rulers of the old EU spouting their humanitarian nonsense, the refugee armies of the Middle East very nearly succeeded at what the Islamic armies of years past couldn't accomplish. Thank the heavens for the handful of right-thinkers who put a stop to the whole thing in time for the forming and implimintation of new and strict guidelines concerning immigration of non-Europans into Europa. It was the Earl's descendants,and our Emperor's ancestors, who accomplished this. In a single generation, the Muslim population of Europa was reduced to less than 4% of 21st century numbers."

"Don't get me wrong, Cai, but Piscus doesn't seeit that way. And neither does the Emperor."

"Well, perhaps the Emperor would like to come and hear the truth, Honeywell. Send an invitation to Cyprus Dome. Tell himI'll cook his favorite meal."

"Which is?"

"Roast Bavarian Sanglier, gratin Dauphinois, and a couple of bottles of Chateuneuf de Pape, circa 3105 vintage."

Professor Honeywell looked dubious, but he nodded and silently left the Instructor's office,mumbling to himself.

Cai Athnu was busy in his kitchen when he heard the door creak open and a voice said, "Smells good in here."

Cai turned to see the Emperor of the eastern empire standing in the doorway with a grin onhis face and a cigar in his hand. "Well, well! So the high and mighty one has arrived!" He walked over to Alaric and they embraced.

"Good to see you, Cai. I wish you'd come back to Cyprus. I can make it worth your while, y'know."

"No doubt, but the students you sent me while I was there were dullards of the worst sort. Too full of themselves to be of much use to the Empire."

Alaric grinned. "And I suppose it's different out here in the hinterlands?"

Cai answered, "Absolutely! My students, though relatively few in number, are among the brightest and most inquisitive I'm ever seen. I'd say they all will one day be teaching the truth in all of the subjects known to man."

The Emperor frowned. "The truth, eh? You mean your truth, no?"

"There may be several versions of a truth, Majesty, but there is only one real truth. As I say to all my students, history is not necessarily what happened, but what was written down. The same holds for the truth."

Alaric thought about this, then replied, "So then, tell me what is the truth about our current state of affairs in the Empire?"

Cai laughed. "That's easy. What it all boils down to is that a particular portion of the Empire, both east and west, are bored and looking for excitement that Ssyn can no longer give them. And another portion of the Empire is reacting against that boredom by doubling down on the rules and regulations that have controlled the Empires for hundreds of years. What you have on your hands, Majesty, is a malady quite common to man, namely the need for change."

"But what's wrong with the way things are, Cai? All citizens and citizen candidates have all they need, at no cost, with a lot of time to pursue their interests. The merit system has been working for centuries, and all of a sudden it's not good enough?"

"It's because there's a hole in man's spiritual life that can only be filled with spiritual things, Majesty. Call it God, or right-living, or whatever. You cannot fill that hole with merit, no matter how meritorious."

The Emperor paused, then replied, "Alright, then how do the reports of the witches, warlocks, and vhammpyrs out in Ninevah fit in?"

Cai scowled. "I hadn't heard about that. But I can tell you that it sounds like it's spiritual in nature, and therefore is somehow a distraction from the routines of your world. I don't know how the world of the spirit is connected, except to know that it is. Your people are spiritually restless. And just as an aside, you killing off the goings-on in Ninevah and beyond won't negate that distractive thing happening."

Alaric sat down at the rough-hewn table and Cai poured him some 500 year old wine. "You have to shake things up once in a while, Majesty. Men are not robots or droids. Their intrinsic nature is to evolve, which means they have to change the way things happen. If I were you, I'd see to it that some of your more rigid paradigms are either changed or at least made more flexible. If you don't, you'll sooner or later have the same situation that existed in the 21st century."

"Hmmm, yes. Half the ^population of any given country is against the other half. A stalemate that resulted in the passive invasion of inferior cultures."

Cai smiled. Very good, Alaric. I see you've been keeping up with my publications."

"Yes, but I haven't released those books into the general population yet. I'm letting some of the surface-level thinkers read them first."

Cai sighed. "Well, it's a start. But don't let them counter-act evolution because they're stuck."

The Emperor sniffed the air. "Alright, enough! Let's eat!"

[Pharex]

..Maldive Islands, Sea of Arabah..


Captain Hannos looked around at this motley crew of misfits and once again wondered just how he had gotten into this mess. He'd left Pharex just days earlier with visions of gold and silver in hs head. But now he found himself guiding this old tub of a boat through the choppy waters of the Arabah Sea towards a bay off the coast of the jungle-deserts of the Kingdom of Muscat.

His crew was mostly made up of sailors from the Afrai tribe with a couple of Scuyrie and Chiius thrown in for good measure. Most were fugitives of one kind or another with prices on their heads. But the promise of plunder and rapine drew them out of the ghettos of the Persian seatowns. What really bothered him, however, were the women in the cabin.

Four witches of the Azure Circle and the Coven of the Willow were the cargo being transported to Muscat. There, they would be transported to the ancient kingdom of Shebah where they would meet up with the sorcerers and necromancers of Thebes. Their plan was simple: negate the power of the Immortals in the Judean regions, rendering the protections set up for generations of no effect. This would be the first step of the Sybele's war on the Judeans and Imperial forces of the west.

The Queen of Ninevah's troops had already begun the construction of two ports on the Sea Caspara after assaulting the few, meager militias there. Only one of the inhabitants of the coasts of Caspara had been permitted to live. The rest had been hung from their heels and bled out to provide food for the brutish troops of the Queen. This lone survivor was the former commander of the garrison that had defended against the assault. He was told to go to Jerusem with a message: prepare to be conquered.

[Tarlag]

LIBERTY HALL, SHIELDED SUBLEVEL


Tim and Aron walked into the control room that looked out to a test area. The test area looked like a bomb had gone off, concrete and supports lay around the room and a cylindrical object with two doughnut like rings connected to it sat in the middle of the destruction. The transparent aluminum separating the two areas was cracked and burned in places. Aron looked around then walked over to a large male gorilla who was operating some sort of primitive computer. "Zeus, I take it the test was a failure?"

"On the contrary Boss, the unit preformed better then I expected. The drive field was 25% larger then I thought I would get at the test setting, that is why we are going to have to get the clean up crew in here before any more tests can be done." Responded the Ape.

Tim asked. "What the hell did I bring you Guys?"

Before Aron could speak and beg off the question Zeus replied. "It is a FTL prototype drive system launched by DARPA in the early 21st century."

"Faster then light, impossible. nothing can go faster then light." Tim looked a bit shocked at what Zeus had said.

"You don't go faster then light per-say. This is a Hawking's Drive, it warps space causing the space in front of the ship to contract and the rear to expand the ship rides the wave. making the distance the ship has to travel shorter. This just makes it seem the ship is going FTL. It made the trip to the nearest star system in a little over a month. Takes light all most four and a half years. " Zeus answered as He went back to work.

Aron turned to Tim. "The ship left earth around 2024 A.D. it was to go to the nearest star system and report back for further instructions depending on what it found. By the time the message the probe sent reached earth the shit had hit the fan. No follow up instructions were ever sent. The probe orbited Alpha B until your people heard the beacon the probe was sending and picked it up on their way back."

Tim looked shocked, He leaned back against the wall and seemed to slide down a few inches before He spoke. "Then everything My people did was for nothing. The Great Journey everything our families gave up. You never saw the hollow stares of some of the older folk knowing they would never see home again. My God why?"

Aron grabbed Tim by the shoulders and straightened Him up. "Your folk left on the New Frontiers in the early 1980's the drive had not been developed They knew there was a chance of an FTL being developed. But, remember the ship was never originally meant to return to earth. The ship was meant as a life boat for a group of very powerful cowards. Cowards who wanted to leave and who time meant nothing. They would sail off leaving good old mother earth to the short lived little humans to destroy while they sailed into the sunset."

Zeus gave a grunt. "They did destroy it in the end, Yellowstone going up in 64 just sealed the deal. Most of the world was trashed by that point anyway. Europe was rubble. China was a wasteland, Africa was turning into one big desert. You lot messed our world up bad."

Aron rubbed His chin and turned and began talking it seemed almost to Himself. "It was bad, real bad a deuce of a thing. Atomic war seemed like it would happen any day. The old USSR and America would trade destruction and no one would be left. Some thought it would be best to leave but We fooled them We did. We sent the ones who deserved to go. Not those who would cheat the reaper forever. Hell most of them lived through it anyhow."

"What are you talking about Aron?" Asked the younger man.

"I will explain later, I have a lot to explain my boy a lot."

[Tarlag]

SALISBURY PLAIN PROVING GROUND, SCOTTISH ISLES


The VIPs including the Emperor of the Western Empire, Top commanders from the Eastern Empire and King Viktor of the Holy Land filled the bleachers set up on a small hill side overlooking the test area. Viktor sat nest to Max looking out as several thousand holo-figures popped into existence in the field before them. Viktor leaned over to Max. "These things you are building, You believe they can hold the enemy and then drive them back to the Hell they came from?"

"According to my experts this seems to be our best bet. Some of my Commanders however, think it is damn foolish but this seems to be the best of the bad options we have."

The loudspeaker came to life. "Ladies and Gentlemen off the Holy Land and Empire I present a demonstration of the new mobile suit concept. Before you, you see the representation of an army of 5,000 primitives similar to what we will be facing in the field. Armed with shields, lances, swords and backed by over a thousand bowmen. Primitives but with overwhelming numbers they threaten our very existence. If this force were to get into the underground cities the loss of life would be in the millions."

Two units rumbled out onto the field one smaller unit on four wheels another on heavy treads. Both units had a torso two arms and a head. Both units torsos turned from side to side as it looking for the foe on the battlefield. "The smaller lead unit is the Kuratas, armed with a pulse laser, 5.7mm mini gun and a special .50 cal assault weapon. This mobile suit can be use for fast assault and urban combat."

The Kuratas stopped and swiveled to face the holo-targets. "Next we have the Mega-Bot. Armed with twin particle projection cannon. Twin 5.7 mm mini guns and a rocket launcher. This unit can be used for heavy assault. Both units are armored and have the latest on communications gear. Watch now as they deal with the problem we now face."

As the last word echoed from the loud speaker tracers spat from both machines mowing down the targets. PPC fire from the mega-bot carved craters in the green grass for the field. In a few moments no target was left standing. Smoke and burning grass was all that remained on the field.

Viktor leaned over to the Emperor. "Impressive, if they all line up in the open and have none of the Vhammpyr with them for support."

Max smiled as He responded. "A particle cannon will make short work of a vhammpyr, as will that 50 cal God gun the smaller one carries. They say it is good up to two klicks away. It can do single shot or three round burst. If we can build enough of them we will be able to engage even if the bad guys break up into small units. I believe this is our best bet."

"What of the magic we face? Will these mobile suits of yours be able to fight that?"

Max shrugged and looked out onto the field. "To be honest I have no clue."

[The Isles of Xeraph]

..Roma, Level 4..


Madlene sat with a cool, wet towel over her eyes. A long day of data entry had given her a headache and so she was relaxing with a non-alcoholic glass of wine and the sound of a soft rain emanating from the holo-wall. She was so relaxed that she didn't hear the swish of the front door as it slid open, her mate, Tobias, stomping in and depositing his work bag on the floor.

He saw her sitting back in the reclining force-field, looking as if she were floating on thin air. He thought that this seemed like a good idea, so he punched in a sequence of symbols and reclined next to her, being as quiet as possible.

"So, I guess your day wasn't any better than mine, huh?" Madlene took off the towel and looked over to her mate.

"Sorry if I disturbed you, dear. Yes, today was my four-hour day, and the idiots came out of the woodwork.. He was a coordinator for those transitioning from Levels 5 and 6, and, to say the least, it was a challenging job.

The concept of "work" had changed dramatically over the centuries. With the advent of total-worker care, no one needed to toil endlessly for a paycheck. The two basic human needs, food and shelter, were met without a price attached. Anything other than their needs were provided by their attention to their tasks and their emotional-physical make-up. In other words, they got what they deserved, not what they wanted. Those who excelled in attitudinal living were rewarded with their wants. Those who grumbled were kept at basic levels.

Madlene's week consisted of four days of study and research accompanied by her findings entered into one of sixty data-banks. Tobias's week was a five-day ordeal of 180 consecutive minutes of dealing with the lower levels of Imperial society. It was his job to ascertain if those transitioning were of proper merit for their next level of assignment.

"Y'know, Maddy, we have just three months to go before we can transition to Level 3, and then another four years before we advance to Level 2."

"Yeah, okay. Your point?"

He hesitated. "I don't know if I can take it much longer. I need to get above ground....and soon!"

She sat up and stared hard at him. "Shut your mouth! Don't screw up the progress we've made. We're in the upper 2% of accomplishers as a result of working hard and with the correct attitude."

Tobias hung his head. "I know all this, Maddy. But I need to see the open world and breathe non-filtered air. Feel a real sun on my face, not the holo-sun."

"You know there's not much difference. If it means that much to you, we can put in for a holo-room instead of just a holo-wall."

"Listen, Maddy. I've come across some old blueprints of the days of construction of the six levels here in Roma. We are still, right now, four miles below ground, and all of the holographic effects can't measure up to the reality of the Surface. I think I've found a way to get there without waiting. And I need you to help me get us up there."

Her eyes wide, she said, "Are you insane? You said it yourself! We're four miles below the surface. Twenty-two thousand feet! Even if we had the blueprints and the time needed, how would we get up there without detection?"

He stifled a grin, because he knew he had her attention. She wanted full citizenship as badly as he did. "Believe it or not, Maddy, there are dozens of sub-level workers who have already done it."

She grabbed his arm, fingers digging in. "Dozens? How can this be?"

"There are always exceptions to any rule. It isn't known if it was assumed that the population would adhere to the rules or not, so there were fail-safe measure introduced to allow some form of observation and surveillance to exist in the tunnels."

"Tunnels?"

"Yes, there are access tunnels on each level that go all the way to the surface. Mostly stairs, some ladder-type structures. A reasonably fit person could do the four miles in less than 36 hours."

"And there's nothing monitoring these access tunnels?"

"For what, Maddy? The mechanics of the six levels are fully automatic and foolproof. No maintenance needed. Probably a result of the Immortals keeping watch over all the Imperial systems."

If it were possible, her eyes widened even more. "Immortals? They exist? They're not just myths?"

"Think about it, Maddy. How could both parts of this immense Empire exist with the highly-advanced tech in place? Fully automated processes, full provision of goods and services, seventy percent leisure time for the population? Man could not have come up with this of his own accord, no matter his best efforts over the centuries. Just put two and two together with the stories of supra-natural beings, and you've got your answers."

"Wouldn't they, if they existed, know of these tunnels and their potential for the bypassing of the rules?"

"Possibly, but do you think they would be concerned about a tiny handful who seek freedom from the routine. Perhaps the tunnels are there for such as us!"

Madlene thought for a moment. "I must be as crazy as you, but I can see you're not going to let this go. Okay, I'm in. What's the plan?"

Madeline and Tobias laid out all the pros and cons of such an adventure. At best, the surface and possible contact with others who had successfully made the trip. At worst, demotion to level 6 to start all over again.

"You don't think they'd send us to Separation, do you Toby?" Maddy looked anxious. Separation was located on what used to be called Iceland on the ancient maps. It was where those who could not, or would not, adhere to Imperial regulations and culture.

Tobias looked down, thinking. "I would doubt it, Maddy. What we're attempting would not be the cause of either destruction of property or someone's death." But he was thinking of he lurid tales of Separation. Sunless, frigid, no vegetation to speak of. Just a thermal hut and a rudimentary food-composing unit.

She surprised him by saying, "Even that would be worth trying to get to the top, Toby. I'm with you, a hundred percent!"

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


It took a bit more than 36 hours for the climb to the top. They had to spend two hours hiding from the bots that randomly glided through the tunnels and they did have to stop to cat-nap every now and then. They had found the access hatch easily enough just twenty yards beneath their bath chamber. Most of the ascent was by steep stairways regularly spaced by steel ladders, all with exactly twelve rungs. At the end of 42 hours, they came to a place where the stairs and ladders ended, a short, flat platform just high enough for them to be able to stand. Above them, only a wooden ceiling that dripped brownish water.

"Looks like the end of the line, Maddy. Just above us is the surface."

"Okay, so how do we get there?"

Tobias pushed up on the wood and was surprised at the result. The wood, obviously very old, splintered and fell away in sodden clumps, falling to a point far below them. After about ten minutes of widening the hole, they could see almost nothing but blackness. Tobias gestured for her to boost him up through the hole and after a few moments, he pulled her up with him.

They were standing in a room, three sides of stone blocks fitted together loosely, the fourth side of wood through which sunlight filtered wanly, dust motes floating throughout. Two wooden doors hung on rusted hinges. "I think this is what was called a barn, Maddy. Animals were kept in them."

As they walked carefully toward the doors, they could hear a skittering noise off to their left. "Some small rodent, no doubt." The doors had a brace lodged between them, and when Tobias lifted it, it fell to dust. Looking at Maddy, he pushed open the doors and they were rewarded with a breath of fresh air and a view of distant mountains. All around the barn were flatlands, an old house off to the right.

Maddy was smiling and so excited that neither heard footsteps behind them "Now, and what manner of beings ye be, eh?"

[Vhammpyr]

..Port of Tsossos, Sea of Caspara..


Commander Atess was pissed. These weaklings who called themselves builders were slowing him down, putting the Queen's schedule in arrears. It had been easy enough to defeat what little resistence there had been on the Caspara coastlines. The primitive humans had few weapons and no training in warfare and so were now either roasting in the Vhammpyrian camps or in cages awaiting cooking.

"Atess! Why isn't this port further along?" The commander turned to see none other than King Solath of Vhammyr walking towards him. "Majesty, had I known you were coming I would have been prepared for feasting!"

"Never mind that shit, Commander. Queen Sybele is just a couple of hours behind me and she's not going to be as understanding as I am."

"Sire, it's the humans. They simply do not have the capacity to work around the clock. If I had vhammpyr worker slaves it would have long since been done. This port is 97% complete and Port Nourd is about half finished. Another day and Tsossos will be operational."

Solath nodded. "Tomorrow will be good, Commander. The Queen will be expecting Muscovii and Chinois tribal chieftains in the ports in four days. And our contacts in the Arabah have begun the magicking necessary for the neutralization of those who call themselves Immortal."

"The witches, Sire?"

"Yes, and the Nameless Ones are presently in Shebah with the sorcerers of Thebes. The four witches are of powerful covens and they will combine their conjurings in the deepest catacombs below Shebah. There, the dead necromancers of antiquity will be revived, those Magi of ancient Koth and the warlocks of darkest Afrique."

"They will be enough to stop the Immortals?"

"The Immortals have powers that we cannot even guess at. Their centuries of development and their control of the secrets of the ancient silos have protected that accursed Europan Empire and those pathetic emperors. They have to be contained if we are to breech that great Wall on the Euphrates."

Atess focussed his serpent-shaped eyes on the horizon. "The serpent gods be with us, Sire. We can do it with their aid."

"They better, Commander. Else the Empire will spread it's reach to the Far East, and there'll be nought to stop them but the decadent Persio-Muscovii tribes. They won't be able to withstand the lasers and missiles of Imperial Europa and our kind may very well disappear from these lands."

[Greystone Forest]

..Greystone Academy..


Instructor Cai Athlu stood with folded arms as he surveyed his class. Of the three levels he taught, this, the middle level, was the biggest challenge. They knew some of the Truth, more than the lower level, and less than the upper level. The levels had little to do with age as in centuries past when how old one was determined what grade one was assigned to. No, the present system was much better, more efficient in it's analysis of who deserved to be at whichever level. Just one of the benefits of meritocratic thought.

"Instructor, isn't it true that after the disasters and subsequent political upheavels of the 21st and 22nd centuries the balance of world power shifted to the regions of the far east?"

Athlu nodded. "By and large, that was true. Once the North Amurcan continent collapsed into barbarism, military might rested in the hands of the Sino-Chinois-Rus territories. It's not accurate to call them nations as they were largely city-state style confederacies. A number of the old missile silos of the 20th and 21st century era were discovered and their weaponry and technology were applied as needed. As a result, clans and tribes became dominant and zones of neutrality emerged."

"When did consolidation begin?"

Athlu thought for a moment. "If you're speaking of the leading-up to our present situation, it was just 477 years ago that the concept of national boundaries evolved in the east. Obviously, Europa evolved at a much faster pace than in the far east."

Silence for a minute, then the inevitable question. "So this was due to the interference of the Immortals?"

The Instructor looked up quickly. "Whatever you may have heard or otherwise surmised about the so-called Immortals is purely speculative as far as you and your level is concerned. While I cannot either confirm or deny the existence of Immortals, you should concentrate on your level of study, not tales of myth and fantasy." He had spoken sharply, as he did whenever the subject of the Immortals came up. At all times, it was the prime law of the Immortals that all inquisitiveness must be down-played and pushed aside before anyone or anything could get too involved in the discovery of their past.

Cai Athlu had successfully managed to brush aside such questions over the years. And as long as some of his ...associates...did their job of covering their tracks, he was cetain that only a handful of Imperials at the highest levels would know for certain that Immortals had been involved in human affairs for some 10,000 years. This, he was positive of.

Because he, a 651 year-old Immortal, had seen the molding and shaping of the Empire by his compatriots.....

[Tarlag]

LIBERTY HALL


Tim was resting in His room when there was a knock at the door. "Enter." Tim said as he got up from the over stuffed chair he was sitting in reading from a padd unit. Marco entered and gave a slight nod to the man. "Boss say you need to get ready to travel fast. You and Him have a big meeting to go to."

"Where are we going?" Tim asked looking at the huge primate standing in the doorway. "I was under the impression we were staying here till the tests were complete."

"I don't know but Boss is getting a long range flyer ready to go and clearance to leave Imperial airspace to the west. My guess is Bermuda."

"What the hell is there?" Tim asked seeming annoyed at the sudden need to leave. "I am still trying to get used to gravity on earth. I am still having trouble on longer walks, can't this wait?"

Marco walked over and got Tim's bag from the close-press and began placing clothes in it. "Boss says move, you move. I think there is big trouble coming. Guards have been doubled and armed to the teeth. The young ones have been brought in from the woods and hidden in the blast-shelter. Bad trouble, you move now!" With that He threw the half filled bag at Tim.

Aron walked in at this point and looked to the two in the room. "Tim we need to make a meeting in two hours. I need you and your computer records. In addition the historical records you brought. They may not help but I want them anyway."

"Where are we going and who are we seeing and why?" Tim asked seeming more annoyed by the second.

Aron ushered Marco out of the room and shut the door before He answered. "Where is Bermuda, it is listed as a government testing center. In reality it is the private island of one Mr. Neander a man of great power and someone I have had not so friendly dealings with in the past."

"Then why go? What does He want?"

Taking Tim by the shoulder Aron looked into the younger mans eyes. "Neander was the driving force behind New Frontiers. He started the whole project back in the 1950s in hopes of escaping if mankind decided to destroy itself during the cold war. What he wants that is kind of hard to explain. What I can tell you is a very old enemy is making a play and you and yours may be the key to stopping it."

Tim seemed to be taken back by what Aron had said. "How in the Hell is this Neander guy alive? Your joking right? Unless He was like us and traveling near the speed of light there is no why He could be alive. What kind of joke is this?"

"No Tim He stayed right here on earth. he survived the fall of man, Damn that Bastard survived the fall of Rome for crying out loud. No this is no joke and he is a power unto Himself, maybe Lilith is stronger but I doubt it. He is an Immortal Tim, the oldest known. He walked the earth before modern man left Africa. We need to see Him so get ready son."

[Vhammpyr]

..Sheba, Southern Arabah..


King Solath lurked in the shadows of the immense hall, observing those who entered. The hall itself was of the most ancient antiquity, granite pillars forming a line on either side of a roofless temple. At the head of the Temple was a raised dais, Queen Sybele of Aeternu reclining on her throne of blackest obsidian, huge serpents and a panther that rose to shoulder height on either side of her.

Sheba, that mythic, storied land wherein Queen Teos spent her days and nights in the embrace of King Solomon of Israel. She hd traveled to his domain and he had returned with her to her benighted lands,smitten with her unearthly beauty. Below the City of the Throne were caverns and catacombs gouged out of the solid rock in ages past, their secrets hidden in the dusty tombs of the Sorcerer-Priests of Koth. Two hundred thousand years ago, the world was ruled by the demonic kingdom of Acheron, and the Kothites were but the most recent reincarnation of that dark, idolatrous empire.

She caught the eye of Solath and bid him come forward to stand by her as the various witches, warlocks,and necromancers filed into the Temple of Sakharra. Sakharra was the name of the primal Serpent-God that was cast out of the third heaven with the Fallen Ones in the untold ages past, before man appeared on Gaia. Then, it was the unholy creatures of Sakharra and Lucifer that roamed Gaia, destroying that which The Creator had fashioned.

They both watched as those that were called the Nameless Ones slithered into the Temple, a mass of darkness that oozed an evil presence. Then came the Magi, those adepts who had ascended through the many levels of existence over the eons, second in power only to Sybele herself.

Sybele was one of the Celestial Fallen, one of the 12,000 that had rebelled against the Heavens and as penalty was to be be barred from those realms for eternity. Her sole purpose on Gaia was to steal, kill, and destroy. And to enjoy doing it.

She stood, and the low murmuring subsided. "Holy Ones, Ancient Ones, sorcerers, magickers, death-priests, and yon demons of the Nameless Places! I bid you welcome. I will not here today speak long, but there is much to do. These pathetic Emperors and their Empire need to be defeated and replaced with nothing less than ancient Acheron". The assembled began tomurmur once again.

A monstrously-huge demon, one Azrael, who had been named Seneschal of the Temple, banged his immense staff on the marble floor. "Silence! The Queen will tell you when you may speak!"

Sybele continued. "We have at present a creature doing our bidding on the southern border of the Solar Zone, but another is needed as the Imperials have enough technology to cause a stalemate there. I charge the sorcerer-priests to conjure another from the Pits to give aid to the one already there."

A low, menacing voice was heard from the darkness that was the Nameless Ones. "What, O Queen, do you propose we do against the human technology you speak of? We can do just so much against their weaponry. Their bombs and lasers would'nt destroy us, but they could destroy our creatures."

Sybele gave a short bow. "You speak truth, O Father of Night. What we need to do is strike simultaneous blows against the Solar Zone, the Land Between the Rivers, that infernal Wall, and we need to pay special attention to those called the Sea Lords of the far western islands. They may not know it, but they are the descendants of the Atlanteans who opposed us in ages past."

She continued. "I have millions of creatures at my disposal, what the humans call clones. They will need to be coordinated by King Solath of Vhammpyr and will form the vanguard of the attacks with his Vhammpyrian Warriors coming behind." Looking over the heads of the people, she said, "I will need many levels of nefarious webs of protection for the Magi who will bring up from the lowest Hells those demons who are presently bound there. These will be freed of their chains, and freed to kill and destroy all that is Europan. Our millions will no doubt be decimated in the initial attacks, but we will ultimately prevail with numbers that the Empire cannot match."

One of the witches,Thanatos, asked, "And how will the tech of the Empire be neutralized? We may have numbers, but we fight with medieval weapons of iron and steel. You know that the Immortals have taken away any modern weapon that could be used against the Imperial forces."

Sybele smiled enigmatically. Turning slightly, she motioned someone forward. Out of the darkness and smoke of the dais strode a tall, lithe woman dressed in the purple robes of royaly, her wrists, ankles, and midriff dripping sparkling jewels and gold baubles. Her serpentine pupils surveyed the hall contemptuously, taloned hands on hips.

Queen Sybele stepped over to the woman, putting her arm around her shoulder. They looked at each other lovingly, and as Sybele stroked her arm, they kissed passionately. Looking back to those assembled, she said, "It is known that the Immortals can control the non-Imperials. I don't know how they do it, but there is one who does."

She stood apart from the woman. "My people! Here is the answer! Meet Lilith, Immortal of the ancient and honored line of Cain the First Killer!"

All in the Temple rose and thundered their approval of this legendary Immortal. Lilith, first-created female, first wife of the Adamos replaced by Eve when she refused to lie beneath a man. Lilith....Saviour of the Damned!

[The Isles of Xeraph]

..Formentrara, E.E...


Becky smiled as she watched her kids run and play in the schoolyard. Life was pleasant here on the island of Formentrara. Though it lie in the most western portion of the Eastern Empire, Formentrara and the rest of the Balerik Islands enjoyed the best of both the Eastern and Western Empires. Just a few miles away was the stronghold of the Sea Lords, Barcelona, where the vast markets held any and all goods from all over the Empires as well as from some of the wild places on Terra.

Becky was one of the citizens of the Eastern Empire who had an additional distinction. She was of one of three First Families of the islands, a direct descendant of the first Amurcans who landed here some 16 centuries ago. Her husband, Col. Joe Malone, was the titular head of the Amurcan settlements on the islands and they both preferred the smaller island of Formentrera to any of the others. Ibiza was the too-busy island where most trades were located, and Mallorca was uniquely dedicated to agriculture. The other islands in the group, Menorca and Cabrera, were still relatively remote, undeveloped places.

The population of the islands had remained fairly stable, just a few thousand folks who shared a common ancestry. Centuries before, the Amurcan continent had all but destroyed itself both physically and politically. The numerous divisions and overall states of unhappiness, greed, and hate all combined with the all-consuming pursuit of wealth and power to bring the once-great country to it's knees. The trickle of settlers had experienced a surge of refugees from te central parts of the continent when the Great Volcano finally erupted, erasing some 60 million square miles of the nation. The void left was now filled with an immense ocean fed by the waters of the great Pacific Ocean that found its way there after the decades of earthquakes on the west coast all but destroyed three massive Amurcan states.

Becky turned to see her husband coming towards her. He was excited, which was a bit unusual for the quiet and taciturn man. "Becky! Great news! The Emperors have asked a bunch of us to attend a meeting in Cyprus."

"For what reason?"

"Kind of vague. Something to do with some goings-on in the far east. But if nothing else, they're paying for a dozen of us to go!"

Becky smiled. "Paying? There's no cost to anything any more."

"You know what I mean. All arrangements have been made and we're to set off in two months time!"

Becky was thrilled and disquieted at the same time. She was sure that the Empress was going to gather all the ladies together to discuss a millenial celebration. "What about the children?"

"Aw, hell, Becky. They won't miss us for a few days. Your Mom and Dad would be happy to watch 'em."

Becky let her excitement take precedence over her maternal misgivings. "So....I have to make lists! Begin packing! Oh, dear....whatever will I wear?"

..Roma, Italia..


Becky Malone sat nervously awaiting the entrance of the Empress Noelle Veurey-Bourbon. She was very much aware that her clothes were not of sufficient quality to be meeting with an Imperial such as Noelle, but she had done the best she could. Her husband, Col. Joe Malone, was off somewhere shooting guns or some such boyish nonsense with the Emperor and some nobles. Becky had worked herself into a state that she was sure the Empress would simply dismiss her as an outland peasant.

A door opened and a lone woman walked toward her. The woman was clad in jeans and a loose-fitting sweatshirt, her bare feet slapping gently on the marbled floor. Becky wondered who this person was and why she was dressed so casually in the Imperial Residence in Rome. The residence sat among the four-thousand year old ruins of that ancient land, still magnificent after the passing of the centuries.

"Good morning. I take it you're the wife of the Colonel?" The woman stood next to a food synthesizer unit waiting for her morning coffee.

"Yes, I am. Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?" Becky was a little less nervous in this woman's presence. She gave off an air of careless ease and comfort.

"Welcome, Becky. I'm Noelle. Come, let's get out of this drafty room and into my chambers. The other ladies are already gathering."

Momentarily stunned, Becky stammered, "M-M-Majesty! I had no idea......."

The Empress smiled. "Not to worry, dear. This morning, we're all just a bunch of girls planning a party. Casual is the theme for the day." Noelle looked her up and down. "So you'd better ditch that gown. Come, You're about my size. Let's go find you some clothes."

Becky, still speechless, just nodded and obediently followed Noelle out of the room and into a long hall where numerous doors opened into unknown rooms. At length, the Empress opened one guarded by two of the largest soldiers Becky had ever seen and Noelle ushered her into the presence of a dozen of her ladies-in-waiting. "Everyone! This is Becky Malone of Formentrara. She needs to relax and join our preparations." Gesturing to a bot, she said, "Find some old clothes for her and then return her here."

In a moment, Becky found herself in a large room filled top to bottom with clothing and shoes. The bot said in a disturbingly human voice, "Choose what you will, m'lady, then follow me back to the Royal Boudoir."

In a few minutes, Becky walked back into the room where the others were all talking and laughing. Noelle turned and said, "There! That's much better! Now come over here and give us the latest gossip from the western Med Isles!"

[Vhammpyr]

..Sheba, Southern Arabah..


King Solath lurked in the shadows of the immense hall, observing those who entered. The hall itself was of the most ancient antiquity, granite pillars forming a line on either side of a roofless temple. At the head of the Temple was a raised dais, Queen Sybele of Aeternu reclining on her throne of blackest obsidian, huge serpents and a panther that rose to shoulder height on either side of her.

Sheba, that mythic, storied land wherein Queen Teos spent her days and nights in the embrace of King Solomon of Israel. She hd traveled to his domain and he had returned with her to her benighted lands,smitten with her unearthly beauty. Below the City of the Throne were caverns and catacombs gouged out of the solid rock in ages past, their secrets hidden in the dusty tombs of the Sorcerer-Priests of Koth. Two hundred thousand years ago, the world was ruled by the demonic kingdom of Acheron, and the Kothites were but the most recent reincarnation of that dark, idolatrous empire.

She caught the eye of Solath and bid him come forward to stand by her as the various witches, warlocks,and necromancers filed into the Temple of Sakharra. Sakharra was the name of the primal Serpent-God that was cast out of the third heaven with the Fallen Ones in the untold ages past, before man appeared on Gaia. Then, it was the unholy creatures of Sakharra and Lucifer that roamed Gaia, destroying that which The Creator had fashioned.

They both watched as those that were called the Nameless Ones slithered into the Temple, a mass of darkness that oozed an evil presence. Then came the Magi, those adepts who had ascended through the many levels of existence over the eons, second in power only to Sybele herself.

Sybele was one of the Celestial Fallen, one of the 12,000 that had rebelled against the Heavens and as penalty was to be be barred from those realms for eternity. Her sole purpose on Gaia was to steal, kill, and destroy. And to enjoy doing it.

She stood, and the low murmuring subsided. "Holy Ones, Ancient Ones, sorcerers, magickers, death-priests, and yon demons of the Nameless Places! I bid you welcome. I will not here today speak long, but there is much to do. These pathetic Emperors and their Empire need to be defeated and replaced with nothing less than ancient Acheron". The assembled began tomurmur once again.

A monstrously-huge demon, one Azrael, who had been named Seneschal of the Temple, banged his immense staff on the marble floor. "Silence! The Queen will tell you when you may speak!"

Sybele continued. "We have at present a creature doing our bidding on the southern border of the Solar Zone, but another is needed as the Imperials have enough technology to cause a stalemate there. I charge the sorcerer-priests to conjure another from the Pits to give aid to the one already there."

A low, menacing voice was heard from the darkness that was the Nameless Ones. "What, O Queen, do you propose we do against the human technology you speak of? We can do just so much against their weaponry. Their bombs and lasers would'nt destroy us, but they could destroy our creatures."

Sybele gave a short bow. "You speak truth, O Father of Night. What we need to do is strike simultaneous blows against the Solar Zone, the Land Between the Rivers, that infernal Wall, and we need to pay special attention to those called the Sea Lords of the far western islands. They may not know it, but they are the descendants of the Atlanteans who opposed us in ages past."

She continued. "I have millions of creatures at my disposal, what the humans call clones. They will need to be coordinated by King Solath of Vhammpyr and will form the vanguard of the attacks with his Vhammpyrian Warriors coming behind." Looking over the heads of the people, she said, "I will need many levels of nefarious webs of protection for the Magi who will bring up from the lowest Hells those demons who are presently bound there. These will be freed of their chains, and freed to kill and destroy all that is Europan. Our millions will no doubt be decimated in the initial attacks, but we will ultimately prevail with numbers that the Empire cannot match."

One of the witches,Thanatos, asked, "And how will the tech of the Empire be neutralized? We may have numbers, but we fight with medieval weapons of iron and steel. You know that the Immortals have taken away any modern weapon that could be used against the Imperial forces."

Sybele smiled enigmatically. Turning slightly, she motioned someone forward. Out of the darkness and smoke of the dais strode a tall, lithe woman dressed in the purple robes of royaly, her wrists, ankles, and midriff dripping sparkling jewels and gold baubles. Her serpentine pupils surveyed the hall contemptuously, taloned hands on hips.

Queen Sybele stepped over to the woman, putting her arm around her shoulder. They looked at each other lovingly, and as Sybele stroked her arm, they kissed passionately. Looking back to those assembled, she said, "It is known that the Immortals can control the non-Imperials. I don't know how they do it, but there is one who does."

She stood apart from the woman. "My people! Here is the answer! Meet Lilith, Immortal of the ancient and honored line of Cain the First Killer!"

All in the Temple rose and thundered their approval of this legendary Immortal. Lilith, first-created female, first wife of the Adamos replaced by Eve when she refused to lie beneath a man. Lilith....Saviour of the Damned!

..Sheba, an hour later..

"So, Lilith, what new surprises do you have for me?" Queen Sybele of Aeternu stood gazing out of the upper window of the Tower of the Serpents in the age-old village of Ssyn. It was this village that had given it's name to the entirety of the Land Between the Rivers. Yet, as old as the land was, the village was much older.

"My Lady, I do have a surprise for you. A compatriot, so to speak."

"Another of the Immortals?"

"Yes, but one unknown until just a few weeks ago. None of the other Immortals know of her existence.....yet."

Sybele was intrigued by this woman. When she and the other Fallen had arrived on Gaia, this Lilith was not even in existence, yet she was one of the oldest of them. And the wisest, most powerful. "Do tell, Lilith."

"Well, you are aware that my kind are a sort of closed-off group. We know that there are about thirty or so Immortals in Europa, northern Afrique, and scattered here and there in the mid-east lands of the Persio-Rus peoples. We can but guess if there are any in the deepest south of Afrique, or the North Amurcan - South Amurcan continents. Still less do we know of the lands of the Far East and the Pacific Islands."

"But, I think you're about to change that a bit."

Lilith smiled. "Such wisdom to match your beauty, Majesty. Yes, I have found another of us, nearly as old as yourself and quite possibly older than myself." She spoke a word over her shoulder in a gutteral, yet sing-song, language and from behind an intricately carved partition came an oriental woman of stark beauty. Long, straight blue-black hair, a semi-transparent gown of the lightest violet gossamer flowed around her, her feral cat's eyes flashing a fierce blue radiance.

"Queen Sybele of Aeternu, meet Queen Amaterasu of the Nipponais Heavens." The two Queens looked at each other, the cool gaze turning to a smoky, lust-filled appraisal. Without speaking, the two glided toward each and embraced. Lilith smiled. "Get to know each other. We'll all be together for a long while and we have a lot to do."

[Tarlag]

LIGHTHOUSE HILL, BERMUDA


Aron and Tim entered the great hall of the manor they found on the island. The great stone building sat on the isles highest point with a 360 degree view of the surrounding ocean. Tim noticed the man standing by a table as they entered, He seemed wrong some how. His legs and arms seemed to short for his body. His barrel chest seemed to possess a power He had never seen in a man. The man turned to His two guests and He spoke in a surprisingly high pitched voice. "Greetings Gentlemen please take a seat we have much to discuses."

Aron motioned to two armchairs setting across from a high backed leather chair. The man took the chair opposite Tim and Aron and said. "I have dismissed the servants so we may talk, how much does this one know?"

Aron seemed a bit uncomfortable as He answered. "Enough to get Him in trouble but not enough to know what is going on. In fact what is going on? The last time you had anything to do with Me and mine was back in 27 when that fella claimed to be Johnny Profit reborn and you needed Him snuffed." Before their host could respond Aron spoke again. "If this is about New Frontiers or the prototype forget it. If you or that Biblical Bitch get any ideas about hijacking ether I have taken steps to prevent it."

Sitting back in His chair the man smiled. "Come Erwin you are being impolite, you have not introduced me to your Friend here. Manners Erwin Manners."

Looking annoyed Aron/Erwin turned to Tim and used Tim's real name in the introduction. "Tim Freeman I want to introduce Mr. Neander eldest of the Immortals. Neander Tim Freeman of the New Frontiers."

The Immortal leaned forward and smiled at the younger man. "Good it did return as I suspected, Your idea no doubt. If you and your little group did not restart things then His people would of done the work for you. Cleaver Erwin very cleaver. You finally see the long view of things. You are coming around to my way of thinking."

Tim looked a bit confused. "What in the name of God are you two talking about. Aron why is He calling you Erwin?"

Neander gave an all most grunt like laugh. "The Boy does not know! I am surprised my old friend. Tisk, Tisk not telling Him. Well lets lay our cards on the table and get down to business then. Ask me some questions and I will tell nothing but the truth boy."

Tim looked shocked but asked the first thing that came to Him. "How old are you?"

"Over a 100,000 years by your calendar give or take. I was born in a Neanderthal settlement in southern France. Long before you lot crawled out of the garden. Even before Lilith betrayed God I walked the earth. I saw Stonehenge being built, Rome rise and fall. Even the twin towers go down. I was there and I will be here long after you have turned to dust. "

Tim asked. "Why do you call Aron Erwin? Let me guess He is another immortal."

"Correct Boy, The man you know as Aron Townsend is really Erwin Townsend Campbell born in 1894. And if I miss my guess your Great Grandfather on your Fathers side. Old fool doted on His early family. Placed your old man and that little bitch He was hot after on my ship and sent it out with some others He and His followers had collected. I still have not forgiven you for that little transgression. When things went to hell in 2026 I hightailed it to Siberia and spent the next 300 years living like a caveman."

Erwin gave a quick snide remark. "You are a caveman unless you forgot."

"No old Friend I had not forgotten. Erwin I asked you and Tim here for a reason. I trust you heard Sybele has raised her ugly face out of the hell She came from again. We need to stuff Her back in the bottle again."

Erwin looked a bit surprised. "Why don't you and Lilith just kick Her door in and do it like last time it was in Camalot 567 or Berlin in 1945, I never did get the story straight."

"Simple, Lilith has decided to throw her lot in with the Witch Queen this time around. That is why we need to talk."

[Aeternu]

..Priory of Aeternu, Northern Ssyn..


A thick, viscous fog hung low in the area of the Priory. Blestos couldn't see five feet in front of him. He was on a mission to deliver a message to the Queen from the Guild of the Metalworkers. As he pulled his collar closer around him, he became aware of a shuffling sound coming from behind him. The damp cobblestones were slick with the refuse of the day, and now as the weak sun was setting, he found even harder to see where he was going.

"Halt there, human." The voice was more of a growl than anything. Blestos turned to see three ghouls following him. While he was used to such sights in this area, he still shivered when he saw them.

The ghouls lived in cemetarys, reportedly feeding on the flesh of the dead. They were polite enough about it, replacing the caskets and filling in the graves once they were done. They were of an unknown race long-since settled in this region centuries ago. Certainly long before any humans settled in Ssyn. It was thought that they were somehow related to the long-lost Etruscan slavers that provided workers for that pre-Roman peoples. But whatever their origin, they were apparently here to stay.

Blestos held up his leather pouch. "I'm on the way to the Priory to deliver a message. I have the Queen's word of safety."

The ghouls entered his sight. Short, they were, hunched over, long arm almost dragging on the cobblestones. Where their skin showed, it was mottled, grayish, open sores dripping a greenish ooze. Their few teeth, the color of rotten wood, were visible as the one spoke. "You do, do you? Nobody told me."

Blestos asked, "What are you doing so far from your haunts, ghoul? Hungry?"

What passed as a chuckle came from the ghoul. "Nobody has died in over two weeks, human. We're hungry. And you look plump enough to satisfy our hunger for a few days." They started to shamble forward when two large shadows hurtled past Blestos, slamming into the ghouls, scattering them. Devil Hounds. Queen Sybele's own pets.

The Hounds tore off the arm of one of the ghouls and the others turned an ran as quickly as their short legs would carry them. The grunting screams of the first ghoul was cut short as the Hounds tore it's throat out. The sounds of the Hounds feasting on the rotting grey flesh ended with a low whistle coming from a dark alleyway.

Blestos took his hand of of his sword and watched as a hooded figure walked out of the alley, the Hounds following. It said nothing, but gestured for Blestos to follow. In minutes, they were at the gate of the Priory, which opened silently as they approached.

The one that had been in the alleyway was gone, and Blesros was now alone as he walked up the intricate pavement to a large oaken door nearly hidden by leafless trees. The door swung open on rusted hinges, a wan light coming from inside a broad hall. He walked in, noting the numerous doors leading off of the hall and when one of them opened, a ...creature...came out and pointed at him to enter.

Blestos found himself in a darkened room, following a dark creature, towards another door. The creature held up a hand for him to stop, and a torch was lit throwing the room into sudden light.

The creature was vaguely human in shape, about seven feet tall, rags hanging off of him. An upside-down cross hung from his neck, his skeletal face half-hidden from view. "I am Master Egr, a monk of this Priory. You will wait here until called for."

"How long will I have to wait? I've got things to do back home."

The monk paused, then said, "You will wait as long as it takes. And if you value your pathetic life, don't speak again."

[The Isles of Xeraph]

..Solar Zone,North Afrique..


Hank had few illusions concerning the creature before him. It stood about two meters tall, grey skin glistening despite the intense desert heat. It had a a long thigh bone in one hand, a thick piece of metal in the other. "Droid, analysis."

The droid hovered ten feet to Hank's left, two red lights blinking, blue and green lights on. With the voice of a small child, it said, "Mr. Hank, if I were you, I'd get my ass out of here, quickly. Organic readings suggest the beasty is powering up to kill you forthwith."

Hank grinned. "Good. What's them nanos doing?"

"Oh, they're just dandy. In a holding pattern 24 inches above the beasty." The nanos were the microscopic nano-bots Hank had requisitioned before departing Malta. He figured he'd need just fifty million or so to get the job done, even if there had been two opponents. As of now, there was just the one.

"Okay, good. If that piece of shit takes just one step in my direction, scan half the nanos to it's head. Hold the rest in suspension in case."

"In case, Hank?"

"Yeah, in case my plan goes south. Then scan the rest of them. If the first half seems to do the trick, save the others in case another piece of shit shows up."

The droid beeped. "Got'cha. No second beasty within range...yet. Releasing nanos, five seconds."

Within ten seconds of the scan, the creature was writhing in apparent pain, 25 million nano-bots entering all it's cranial orifices. In due course, fluids began dripping, then pouring, from other openingsin it's body. The creature's mouth was open as if bellowing, but there was no sound coming forth.

Hank watched, mini-chain gun at the ready. But he didn't need it. In another thirty seconds, the creature collapsed in a moist puddle of grey flesh and what Hank assumed were it's innards. "Droid, that thing smells."

The droid, sounding a bit miffed, replied, "Well,what in hell did you expect?" All the same, it moved to hover over the slowly-congealing puddle and a fine mist settled over the corpse of the creature. The horrid smell of decay disappeared.

"Well done, droid. Now go see what, ifanything, you can do with the remains of the human over there, then see if the drones and fighter jet can be salvaged."

"Got it. You hungry?"

Hank glanced at the disgusting pile that had been the creature. "No, you wise-ass. Now get to work."

[Tarlag]

LIGHTHOUSE HILL, BERMUDA


Neander poured drinks for the men as He spoke. "The Witch Queen has gathered allies and will make a final push against Syssn and the Empire soon."

Tim asked seeming a bit overwhelmed at what He had been discussed."I take it then you want to stop Lilith and Her?"

The Immortal gave a strange smile. "Their goals and mine are not aligned if that's what you mean. I have use for the Empire and its continued existence benefits Me. Stopping the Witch Queen again is just icing on the cake as it were." Sitting back down He continued. "You have something I need in the coming conflict, something I can get no where else and besides dear Erwin stole it from Me in the first place I just want it back."

Tim looked at Erwin for a moment. "It isn't New Frontiers or the prototype your after. Both are only good in space and are unarmed to begin with so what do you want from us?"

"He wants A ZPM or the manufacturing unit that makes them. From the crashed alien ship they found at Roswell in 1947. An all most unlimited compact power source. You need it you hairy little bastard." Erwin stated.

Neander sat back looking to the two men. "A Zero Point Module or several would keep the the Imperial power grid up and give some of my allies the need energy to counter Lilith and Her unholy alliance. I just want what is mine back. Besides if I want to recruit a certain Immortal I will need one in trade."

Erwin stood and motioned Tim to do the same. "You offer little to us besides keeping the Empire in tact. Me and Mine can just get on the New Frontier and with the FTL drive go where ever We please and leave you to be Lilith's Bitch."

"I know you too well Campbell, you would not leave millions to die at Her hands. Very well I will sweeten the pot. Help Me defeat Lilith and certain sanctions against North America will be lifted."

"Done, We will supply the ZPMs that you need and the sanctions are lifted and you will influence the Empire to give greater freedoms to their people."

"If you insist, now can you young man supply the ZPMs I need?"

"Mom said they had several in storage and can make about one a year so I guess We can give you a few. You said you need one for someone else who? My folks are gonna want to know."

"Me!" An old women appeared in the center of the room leaning on a broom. "My servants will require one to power our war effort against the Whammpyr. With such power at my disposal I can shove all those pretender whores into the sea."

Erwin looked a bit shocked. "Tim I want you to meet Baba Yaga."

[Pharex]

..Pharex, Eastern Coast of Ssyn..


It was disgusting if one really thought about it. Abducting vacationing humans from Satananya and subjecting them to slavery. Then, when of no further use, they were sent to the kitchens under the dark tents of the Senoii and either boiled whole or chopped into small, deep-fried, bite-sized morsels for the generals and nobles of Aeternu.

King Solath of Vhammpyr, in his usual foul mood, was scowling at the human serving wenches who balanced large platters of cooked flesh while bringing them to the tables in the large mess tents. They were naked, covered in blood from the numerous, small scratches his men caused as they fondeled their tender skin.

As he watched, a six-legged beast waddled up to him and squealed in a high-pitched voice that the Barons had arrived. Solath slapped the beast aside and mumbled, "About fucking time."

A dozen warriors filed into the tent, each representing one of the myriad tribes and clans of Ssyn. These were the top of the educated warriors, those who had gleaned abit of Imperial knowledge from the captured humans.

"So, Baron Erewith, what can you tell us about Imperial technology?" Erewith, huge even by Vhammpyrian standards, replied, "Sire, Iknow a bit of their capabilities as far as space travel is concerned. They have small ships that traverse between Gaia and Luna as well as the mines on various asteroids. They also use he asteroid belt as a prison. Small domes similar to those in the Empire house the most incorrigible of the non-conformists. They are kept alive with minimal amounts of bread and water until they die at which point they are jettisoned into space."

Solath nodded and turned to a female war-chief. "Shendra, Baroness of Timsau, what say you?" The Baroness, a rock-solid pile of muscle covered head to toe with letters of an ancient alphabet said, "My Lord, the Sea Kings of the far western ocean are presently probing the coasts of the Amurcan continent. They are also making contact with a being beyond our ability to identify. Their orbiting vessels continually scan the planet at regular intervals. They are very much aware of Queen Sybele's movements though they seem not to care overmuch. Such is their arrogance that we cannot prevail over the Empire."

The other nobles gathered echoed pretty much the same news and observations. Bottom line was that if the magikers of Ssyn, Aeternu, and the Magi could not counter the tech of the Imperials, their rebellion was doomed before it even began.

"So, my nobles, suggestions."

After discussion and debate, it was concluded that the initial assault should be against the Land Between the Rivers with a massive push to breech The Wall at specific points. It was noted that even if they couldn't get over The Wall, they might be able tosmash through to the Wall's lower levels andenter the Empire in that manner.

Solath grunted. "Shit, I'll need 250,000 warriors with some sort of aerial cover to keep the lsers on the Wall busy."

One of the Barons said, "More like a half-million, Majesty. Estimates put our losses at nearly 80%. That would leave a hundred thousand to enter the shafts and tunnels of the Wall and to fight their way through to the far side of it into Imperial territory."

"And beyond that?"

Baroness Shendra replied, "Beyond that, we simply have no info beyond the fact that the Empire is a heavily-forested domain with sparsely settled citizens in buildings no more than 22 feet high. We could no doubt capture a number of these areas, but the Domed cities are presently impervious to frontal attack."

Solath grinned. "Unless Sybele and her sorcerers,demons, and beasts have a plan........."