Guilt of Nimrod IC (Open_TG_First)

[Togeria]

Livia Arvina

Livias eyes wondered about the room as its grandeur reflected in her velvet stola. She would move about the room with an almost childlike curiosity as she smelled the various plants and flowers. She would also, unwisely, breath the incense deep into her lungs. It burned her throat at first but she came to enjoy the effects that followed. Livia looked towards Izkiael with a strange level of wonder and enjoyment. She spoke in a much more relaxed and high pitched voice.

"Oh this place is wonderful... But... I mean look at me! A women! Sitting in a seat of power that could change fate forever! Uhh.... Forgive me! My head is dazed and I am lost.... Peace? Yes! Peace! Arvina, that bastard! He wishes to build a grand temple in Malta! Where Romans and Africans alike can meet and work for the peace of the Mediterranean!"

Livia would fall into a chair following her strange burst of words. Her cheeks red with envy for the room around her. A display of power and lust that would make Iuppiter himself jealous of her. Izkaiel would undoubtedly notice her wonder and child like behaivor but she had entered a state in which she did not care for she felt finally free of the confines of her husband.

Africa:
Hakem looked on, dismissing the men to parlay while he went to rest on a bench next to Livia. Listening to her he almost spoke out interrupting her, but would cut himself off pausing before continuing,"A temple for peace? Between Romans and us Africans? I love and respect the spirit, and I will consider it when a session is called in Al-Adamonia I will inform them of your husband's proposal. I'm curious though Livia so I know more about my neighbors, what is life like in Rome? The country and the city?"

[Badassistanian]

Iuppiters Dream

Ganymede, as the myths of old state, was a mortal who had been born with features of a god. His immense glory made Iuppiter, the king of the Gods, jealous and as such kidnapped the mortal man whilst in the form of a triumphant eagle. Ganymede would then be sentenced by Iuppiter to serve as his personal cup bearer as so Iuppiter could witness his beauty every day. The beautiful moon of Ganymede, likewise, orbits the grand planet of Jupiter. The two forever linked in an immortal dance that would not falter for eons to come. The sheer beauty of this immortal dance would attract mortal men to the grand moon nearly forty years before the collapse of the solar republic. The moon saw rudimentary systems put in place that enabled colonization and expansion whilst using the planets ice water to synthesize oxygen within enclosed domes. The population would grow steadily as the first generation of natives would be born upon the moons surface in the lead up to the great collapse. This generation of mortals would be the first men and women born into the warm grasp of The Cultus Deorum Romanorum.

The Cultus Deorum Romanorum was a religious sect founded in the heart of Roma in the year 2054 with the goal of revitalizing the Roman Polytheistic Religion along with Latin Nationalism. The religion was deemed a cult by the solar empire and operated in the shadows of the advanced world by holding grand ceremonies that included animal and human sacrifice to the Roman Gods. The primary tenet of the cult was the latin practice of "do ut des" or "I give that you might give". This practice involved the extensive use of sacrifice, prayer, and gifts in hopes of ensuring the blessings of the Gods above so that people may succeed in life. The cult spread throughout Western Europe with major areas of influence within Londinium and Luetia. The foundation of the Ganymede colonies served as a pivotal juncture in the cults history as the Cult saw the planet of Jupiter as a great holy site that represented the immense power of their faith. This led to a mass movement of cultists towards the moons colonies where underground sects would be founded and operated in direct communication with the cult on earth. This mass movement would continue with the foundation of further colonies upon the ice moon of Europa. The mortals born upon Ganymede were thus born, in many cases, into the embrace of Iuppiter as he watched from the space above.

The fall of The Solar Republic served as the next distinct step in the history of the cult. The collapse led to an immense power vacuum within the moons of Jupiter that the cult would abuse to strengthen there control over the self proclaimed holy site. The cult would break communications with the cult on Earth resulting in a mass split between the planets and their ideologies. The earthly cult worked closely with the newly founded Latin Empire to extend its control and to reform the ancient empire of Roma. The cult on Ganymede and Europa meanwhile established a theocratic state within the colonies in which the highest leader was Iuppiter himself. Human sacrifice of low born individuals would be commonly executed by firing pods directly into the thick atmosphere of Jupiter in which inevitably led to an incredibly painful death. The cult further created its own military and naval forces to ensure control over the moons in the event that the solar republic or some other power wished to claim the holy planet for themselves. The cult had no begun preparations to not only return to earth but enact control over the earthly cult which they had deemed as heretics to Iuppiters glory.

Livia Arvina

Livia watched as Hakem took a seat next to her as she studied his face and with the same lustful innocence that she had displayed moments ago. Her eyes went wide and she enthusiastically spoke out towards Hakem upon his positive answer to her proposition. "Oh! thank you sir! My husband will surely gift me with many flower for this! Iuppiter smiles upon us.... Oh.... uhhh, life in Rome is well... Its good for most except the poor Serva who are murdered for the delight of the plebeians... but most people are happy just life is so structured that it can burn the brightest of souls. Please.... I beg you to let me explore this place more.... I wish not to return to Julius without the finest of gifts!"

[Parcia]

The Osiris.

"Ma'am, I'v got multiple LIDAR hits along the hull and multiple drive ramp ups, enemy formations are changing course." "Right, we have a solution on those Murcurian Cruisers?" "Yes man, I'v had a solid solution since the first engagement." She scoffed at her tactical officer. "Hardly the time to get snippy, I want three salvos aimed at the closest cruiser." Her bridge crew answered in the affirmative.

With the order, The Osiris dumped her fist barrage of Harpoon missiles at the nearest cruiser formation, the missiles lancing out from the half dozen tubes along her flanks and executing a sharp course correction before making for their target.

"After that, Que up a set of decoy drones, we need to confuse their LIDAR as much as possible, can we blind it directly?" "No Ma'am, they are outside of active jamming range." "Then ramp up the passives, wash us out in false returns and white noise."

ARC-SF Dawnbreaker
Vice Admiral Lucinda Cain

One Dawnbreaker class light cruiser, four escorting Dori Patrol Destroyers, eight Xephos corvettes and twelve Aspis class frigates. Not a lot of weight in firepower, but they had numbers and maneuvering advantage. She would have really, really liked something heavier then the Dawnbreaker in terms of guns, but the Beowulf was still under construction and the old feddy ships were still under refit.

The fleet, flying in formation and approaching at rapid speed would just come in to communications range and the Vice Admiral would send out an open broadcast.

Code: Select all

++Attention any and all none ARC ships with in range of this communication, the Castion Expanse has been declared an ARC exclusion zone and under marshal law, any unauthorized ships found in the Castion Expanse upon the arrival of this fleet shall be considered Hostile and will be fired upon, repeat, any unauthorized ships found in the Castion expanse or around the wreckage of the ARC-Fortuna shall be considered hostile and fired upon on site. Vice Admiral Lucinda Cain, ARC Security Forces.++

The Meeting
New York

The Two suited diplomats would fallow suit, a pair of Security guards taking their place behind and to the side of the diplomats, with the rest of the detail staying outside, rather quietly talking among them selves and casting curious eyes at the ragtag crewmen around them. Sitting down, Dianne would speak first. "Right, questions, I'll guess I'll start at the beginning. How did you're nation-state form?"

[The Holy Mercurian Empire]

As the Federal warships fell in with the Mercurian strike group, the cruiser Joel fell in alongside her sister ship, Hosea. The other surviving cruiser from the recon group, Amos, began to make an anemic burn back towards her home port. With luck, the rest of the HME's forces would follow her shortly.

In the CIC of the dreadnought Raphael

"Admiral, we have antiship missiles inbound. Targets appear to be the Hosea and the Joel."

"So they refuse to surrender, do they? Well, we gave them their chance. How many missiles in their salvo."

"Six, sir."

"That's all? The Hosea can handle those missiles, have the Joel start scanning more... aggressively."

"Aggressively, sir?"

"Have the Joel fire lasers in a setting to ensure four-point-five megawatts per square meter on the hull of the target. We could do better than that, but we're not going for a laser kill. We're after something a bit more... impressive."

"Hold up, incoming transmission."

"Play it for me."

Code: Select all

++Attention any and all none ARC ships with in range of this communication, the Castion Expanse has been declared an ARC exclusion zone and under marshal law, any unauthorized ships found in the Castion Expanse upon the arrival of this fleet shall be considered Hostile and will be fired upon, repeat, any unauthorized ships found in the Castion expanse or around the wreckage of the ARC-Fortuna shall be considered hostile and fired upon on site. Vice Admiral Lucinda Cain, ARC Security Forces.++

"Prepare a recording to broadcast in response."

"Will begin recording in 5 seconds, sir."

Admiral Jose Hernandez of the Holy Imperial Fleet to Vice Admiral Lucinda Cain of the ARC Security Forces,

Grace and peace to you in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We have tracked down the scum who so brutally murdered over three thousand of your citizens and are currently in pursuit. Ordinarily, we would simply send you their coordinates, ensure you have the correct target signature, and leave your territory. However, circumstances in this case prevent us from doing so. The devils have access to technology that allows them to mask their drive plume for low power burns, and completely eliminate their thermal signature when coasting. They also have access to military grade anti-ship missiles. Were we to leave your territory, we would be leaving behind a threat that could strike at you unseen. We would also be allowing either war criminals or terrorists to escape justice. We find neither outcome acceptable.

We will remain until we have dealt with your unknown assailant. We have offered them the opportunity to surrender, and their only response was weapons fire. Given their crimes, our offer was an act of unmerited mercy. But we have not been given the sword for nothing, and we will use it while they are still in our sights. We estimate only thirty minutes until the action is resolved. After that, we will leave without protest or delay.

Admiral Hernandez out.

"Oh, and Lieutennant? Be sure to attach copies of all scans we took of the unknown vessel. Full feeds. I want them to know everything about this actor, so that they can guard themselves against future attacks by the same adversary. We would be blessed if it were only one such ship out here, but given the assets they've been able to bring to bear, it seems unlikely."

"Yes sir."

"How's our target? Faint as ever?"

"No... bright. Increasingly so. There's... three of them? No, two... er, five - wait, no. They've deployed electronic countermeasures of some kind."

"Interesting. But it's too late for them. Have the Othniel unload on them. She's only 400 klicks behind them. It will be a slaughter."

"Yes sir."

----------

Almost as soon as they vectored onto an intercept course with the Mercurian and Federal combined fleet, the missiles were being tracked by the Hosea. While still 35,000 kilometers out, the Hosea's phased array was able to place a 5 megawatt beam on each missile, first blinding them, then beginning to drill through their structures.

Meanwhile, the Joel fired into the confusion that surrounded the mystery craft. Lasers were set to scorch, and would blind sensors, denature nanotechnology, and deliver large quantities of heat. The damage, if the shots connected, would be superficial - but potentially extremely significant.

The third significant actor, the Othniel, was significantly closer to the target - only a few hundred kilometers away. Half blind, the destroyer had to simply have faith that the data it had been given was good... and discharge all 48 radial launch cells.

The Mercurian Joshua-class destroyer was brutally utilitarian. It had one task and one task only: to bring 48 Torch missiles into battle, and overwhelm an opponent with them when the time was right. The Othniel opened her cells, and the Torches "cold" launched with pancake solid rocket boosters - a small "first stage" designed to get each missile out quickly. This was necessary due to the overwhelming power and dangerous radiation released by their engines. Within a minute, each missile was a kilometer away from its nearest neighbor, and able to begin its first burn.

Inside each missile's body were a series of boron carbide pipes, filled with a solution of uranium tetrabromide in water. When the time came, this solution was sprayed into a reaction chamber - a 65 cm long, 6 cm wide cavity in an otherwise solid tungsten slug - at sixty six meters per second, forming a critical mass of uranium and detonating along the way. Transformed into a jet of radioactive flame, the saltwater continued out the rear end of the rocket, providing thrust. At ordinary combat ranges, this would be extreme overkill for a missile drive. But the Mercurian operational picture required the ability to engage enemy targets from extreme range, necessitating a high delta-vee design.

The missiles soared towards the enemy warship at 20 gees. As they approached, they began to jink, confusing point defense systems and avoiding interception. At the 100 km mark, surviving missiles would release three independently targeted casaba howitzer warheads. Each one would acquire a target and detonate with a yield of 5 kilotons of TNT. Of that, fully half would be sent downrange as a collimated spear of atomic fury. The enemy had a dozen or so decoys out. One in thirteen casaba howitzer bolts would hit.

After firing her missiles, the Othniel withdrew, following the Amos out of the theatre. There was nothing more she could do without her weapons. And in all likelihood, there would be nothing more for her to do after the missiles.

There was one final transmission from the fleet to the mystery ship.

Admiral Jose Hernandez of the Holy Imperial Fleet to the murderers skulking in the shadows.

You have chosen not to surrender.

May God have mercy on your souls, for I will not.

Make your peace with Him now; you have little time.

[Parcia]

The Osiris.

"Ma'am, nearest Juliet is launching missiles, count 30, no 40 launches in bound!" The Captain cursed. "Right full countermeasures, TM-23s, Dews, and PDCs!" The Osiris would be a slippery target to hit. Her counter measures would reduce hit probability of the enemy energy weapon, yet they would still score a few glancing hits. The Smart matter hull of the Osiris would come in to effect. Designed to better protect her against the high energy weapons of the Grendel and company, would begin to do it's best to dissipate heat, transferring a portion to the ship's internal heat engine and the rest would be shunted off with the bits of hull coating that would be shed off in to the void. It wasn't perfect, as some energy would be transferred to the ship it self and with every hit her stealth vector would begin to diminish with each strike.

As the missiles would rapidly approach the first ring of countermeasures would deploy. The Osiris had four DEW modules across her hull, normally concealed during flight. Given this new threat they would deploy and rapidly acquire the incoming missiles. This would be were her advanced targeting systems would kick in, allowing for the 4 dome like emitters to start taking pot shots at the incoming warheads with a hit probability of around 35%, given the range and juking maneuvers of the Torch missiles.

As the missiles neared the second ring of defense, the Osiris would launch a set of TM-23s "Terror Drones" set for Anti-torpedo action. They would rapidly acquire the incoming warheads through their own thermal seeker heads and accelerate to top speed. Upon reaching the cloud amid the red beams of energy fire, they would detonate in rapid succession catching a portion of the wave in a combined detonation registering in the 1-2 megaton range. Still, it wasn't enough.

With around a dozen warheads left, the Captain took drastic measure. "Set crash conditions, everyone in seat webbing. Launch the rest of the harpoons along the same axis of the incoming missiles and time them to detonate and cue up the fucking PDCs!" With that order, any crew that weren't stropped in did so, and the Osiris would launch her remaining magazine of 24 Harpoons in to the oncoming cloud, hoping the timed detonation would catch any remaining warheads.

The Osiris's 6 30mm Point defense guns, which had been tracking targets since they entered the DEW's range, opened up the surviving warhead and belched out long streams of 30mm proximity-fussed cannon shells. "Ma'am, remaining warheads with in detonation ran-" The Captain cut her off, "Cut the drive and brace for impact!" With that order, the main drive shut down and the little ship braced for impact, the remaining trio of warheads going off at a range of 100km, washing her in a nuclear fire ball.

By all accounts, she was gone...?


Vice Admiral Luncinda Cain
ARC-SF Dawnbreaker

"Ma'am, im registering several nuclear detonations and high energy beam fire, looks like they are engaging who ever they are chasing." She sighed, rubbing her temples. "I have command authority, correct?" She received a nod from her first mate. "So say we all, set condition one through out the fleet and ready for combat...if these fucking bible thumpers don't want to listen to words, then they will listen to weapons fire."

++Attention Admiral Jose Hernandez of the Holy Murcian Imperial Fleet, I don't know the situation and am unable to take these reports with any credibility as I am unable to verify them. Seeing that, I will simply repeat my last message. I am ordering you to cease weapon's fire and revert course out of the Castion Expanse, failure to do so will indicate you and you're ships as hostile combatants, regardless of the situation an the resulting exchange will be considered an unofficial declaration of War by the ARC.

This will be my last transmission unless I receive an affirmative from you. Vice Admiral Luncinda Cain.++

"Notify STRATCOM, tell them we might need to speed up the procurement plans."



ARC Strategic Command Center, New York

"Do we tell them of the Osiris?" "No, her mission and technology are secret. If she's gone, then the rupturing of her cores would prevent any remains from being found, if she survived, she'll use the blast to make for stealth and hide among the debris."

"And of Admiral Cain?" A pause. "She has the authority, given the situation, and it's a legal threat. Though she has a point, the refitted federation ships are ready for launching, and we could speed up the production of the Beowulf and the latest block of Dawnbreaker ships by a matter of months if we initiate the emergency build protocols." A board member, a newer man, would speak up. "The what?" The CEO would speak. "The Emergency build protocols are a set of procedures that allow for the rapid creation of warships through the use of several dozen nanoforges being released in to the construction bays. They would rapidly construct the vessels at a pace utterly out pacing the Organic Worker, at the cost of substantial amounts of energy, we'd have to dedicate an entire section of Armstrong crater's power facilities for it and there is a higher chance of defects and flaws."

A pregnant pause. "But it would speed up the block of Dawnbreakers by months, to nearly 30 days a piece if we allow time for the forges to cool down and check for defects, and it would speed up the Beowulf by a similar percentage, though we would need to be much more observant of defects and flaws given her technological edge. She'd be ready for fitting out in nearly 90 days. We would need to wait another month or so for the crews to be ready."

With a simple nod from each of the Board members, the CEO spoke. "Then we shall use them."

[Togeria]

Africa:
Izkiael would nod before responding to her, "Yes of course. If you'd like I can arrange a small entourage to shadow and escort you through this large city. I'd come with you myself though the duties of The Republic require me to work within the Khabhaya till nightfall. Perhaps after you're finished we can rendezvous?"

---

Americas:
"The Republic as you will soon come to know us is the successor to a much greater state from before the collapse. I do not speak of the UFRS only the Solar Republic, the former had long given their hearts over to Imperial vice and our 'Uma fought the last dying days withholding the onslaught that was brought on by the Civil War. We existed previously as a legion still loyal to the Republic, on the northern shores of Tuniz, we made our first movements and in time would found our own great republic.

In the beginning we were a collection of sanctuaries, unified in the need for shared security but soon we found greater purpose in reigniting the flame of Old Sol, we were once confined to only Kartaaj, but now: Kartaaj, Aljierz, Moroko, Liperia, Lagoz, and the Cape aid us in our mission. From roughly the late 30s to now Our Republic hasn't experienced a true day of peace, our resources are as divided towards maintaining our territory and borders through conflict as they are just maintaining our populace.

All isn't lost however, war is constant but war allowed us to reconnect with Merz (Mars) and other possessions."

[Etzal]

Tzi-yon, Kaen'an Capital,
Comm-node command room in the dapartment of Observations and Communications.

The following day.

The men sat at their desks as they heard the flurry of debris and clearly the electronic components of Major Ahael's desk crash into the tiled floor within his own office. The wired cable connecting the keyboard to its monitor made a whizzing saw like sound as it rubbed against the cut out whole engineered to bring it closer to its plug in. In a rather chaotic manner however, the keyboard didn't reach the floor like the other items that were previously well placed on the major's desk. The dangling word pad swung and bumped into his desk like a metronome as the shouting broke through the thick walls of cement. The doors window unable to deter the sound waves from breaking its muzzle and reaching into the hall where all the enlisted men worked. Hebrew was harsh in rage... His remand was righteous for not only did he act without orders, but clearly dropped the ball on whatever his discovery was.

The report had clearly outlined an ARC signal and the scant remaining working satellites easily plotted out and recorded the crucible stations migration into ARC space. 2 mp's stood at the doorway at rest awaiting for the simple call to carry Major Ahael off. Despite the disruption however, none of the enlisted men dared shoot a glance in Ahael's office direction. Lest they be identified as the collaborators in his failure. A slam echoed at the end of a shouting, muffled and submissive responses were heard only by the MP's. It was a mistake... This entire ordeal. Not only did Major Ahael risk his career, but even the transmission dialogue compounded the severity of his case. Without proper clearance or notification, he gave the order to widen communications with a posibble rebel remnant of the civil war. Without ascertaining their allegiances firstly, he marked out the Kaen'an state independently. The Kaen'an Federation was young and only given its full right to self determination after the fall... And they paid in blood for that right and there were possible enemies beyond that still clamoured to old ideologies and new- incompatable with Kaen'an self determination. Not only did he fault himself in this manner but shortly after the passing of this information, this crucible station migrated out from viable comm range... Bewildered and left to consider whether or not the Tigel station ordained them as an 'unfriendly' party and instigated the reason for it to move on.

The ARC of all... Yet again present to cut short the institutions of Kaen'an.

---

Prime Chancellor Ranaan

Seated within the Knesset sat the venerable chancellor, mulling over the dataslate, split between its interface were both his scheduled agenda and a scrolling display indicating on going issues both within and without Kaen'an territory. Major Aheal's blunder, the Tigel Station, Constantinople's resettlement program along with the western holdings of Nikud (Iran). Despite their efforts and influence to push further beyond the 2072 agreed ceasefire... The Kaen'an Federation was stretched thin. Relying heavily on its automated defenses and drones to ensure stability. Regardless of the ceasefire, the 20 years hardly made up for lost blood and as time dragged further there seemed to be no clear deliverance in sight... It had been half a decade since the last courier from Noga had relayed any type of information or communication and the lack of hard resources was burdening heavily on the Kaen'an federations ability to remain stable let alone competitive in the aftermath of the Sol dissolevment.

The old man, aged 72 was far too old for office despite his knowledge and experience. He could feel it in his veins, his very heart. Longevity was truly a gift from God, but success was instead debt... One that demanded payment every day. Leaning back in his cushioned seat he let out a deep sigh. He feared leaving his people behind. He feared leaving at such a dire time. With none to rely on it seemed, sooner rather than later he would depart. Clasping his hands together he prayed that elohim granted his children clarity. Wisdom even to view the not so distant past as a lesson not to turn on one another. Upon opening his eyes he felt light, his hands numb... His heart stopping.

---

World News

PRESSING NEWS, THE PRIME CHANCELLOR, EYAL BEN RANAAN OF THE KAEN'AN FEDERATION HAS BEEN ADMITTED INTO MEDICAL CARE DUE TO CARDIAC ARREST. SOURCES SAY HE WAS FOUND DEAD ALTHOUGH NO OFFICIAL STATEMENTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN. FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS SOON.

[The Holy Mercurian Empire]

Three casaba howitzers made it through the barrage of point defense fire. Three sudden flashes broke the darkness, three spears of atomic fury pierced the void. By the time they made it to the target, each bolt was relatively diffuse. But carrying 10 terajoules of energy each, they struck the enemy warship like a sledgehammer. The outer stealth coating was blasted off, and the titanium hull beneath was heated to a glow by the resulting shockwave. For the first time, the ship itself was visible to active and passive sensors.

It was about this time that the transmission from the ARC arrived.

Code: Select all

++Attention Admiral Jose Hernandez of the Holy Murcian Imperial Fleet, I don't know the situation and am unable to take these reports with any credibility as I am unable to verify them. Seeing that, I will simply repeat my last message. I am ordering you to cease weapon's fire and revert course out of the Castion Expanse, failure to do so will indicate you and you're ships as hostile combatants, regardless of the situation an the resulting exchange will be considered an unofficial declaration of War by the ARC.

This will be my last transmission unless I receive an affirmative from you. Vice Admiral Luncinda Cain.++

The message from the ARC fleet was troubling to Admiral Hernandez. Couldn't they see an unidentified ship appear where none was before? Didn't they understand that the Empire was simply trying trying to help? But there was little use to such musings.

"Fine. She can have it her way. Order the Joel to cease firing on the enemy, and have all ships prepare for a burn of 5 kips. We're going to break off from intercept. Get us far enough not to be threatening to the enemy, but close enough to keep an eye on them until the ARC can take over. And send a message to the Federal fleet. Let them know what we're doing."

"Begin recording in five seconds, sir."

Admiral Jose Hernandez of the Holy Imperial Fleet to Admiral von Greif of the United Federal Stellar Fleet.

Imperial forces will comply with the ARC's request. We intend to divert from an intercept course, and coast out of ARC territory. While we cannot give you orders, we do recommend for your own sake that you follow suit, as your primary weapon - the mobile suit - would face the same point defenses our missiles did, and likely suffer extensive casualties.

It is also important that you get the survivor out of the theatre, lest a misunderstanding with the ARC cause them to kill one of their own. They seem intent on sweeping everything under the rug, and may be willing to accept collateral damage if they view the survivor as a hostage.

If the survivor has any interesting information about what happened to Fortuna station, we request that you pass it along. In exchange, I will arrange that several industrial grade nanoforges be transferred to your custody, allowing you to transition to a more lawful means of supporting your fleet.

You have proven this day that the Federation is more than just a pack of wolves prowling the belt. This is more than I would have thought possible prior to today.

Godspeed.

-Admiral Jose Hernandez.

"Any further messages, sir?"

"Yes. Prepare a transmission to the ARC fleet."

"Recording begins in five seconds."

Admiral Jose Hernandez of the Holy Imperial Fleet to Vice Admiral Lucinda Cain of the ARC Security Forces.

Grace and peace to you in Christ Jesus our Lord.

While we do not understand the rationale behind your stance, we are willing to comply with it for the sake of peace. As such, we have ceased weapons fire upon the hostile warship, and will be burning to break off of our intercept trajectory by the time you receive this message. Fully reverting our course would require us to spend several hours longer in the ARC exclusion zone than is strictly necessary, so we intend to coast out of your territory along a vector eight degrees counterspinward to our current trajectory. If this is insufficient, we await further instructions.

We will assist your investigation in any way you request, and have attached full sensor logs of our involvement in this incident. Our barrage has compromised the low profile of the enemy target, and they should be easy enough for you to track by the time you arrive. Nevertheless, we will continue to observe them and transmit their position and vector to you until you confirm that you have eyes of your own on the target.

We would like to make two requests.

The first is that you attempt to recover, and pass on to us, the black box of the cruiser Obadiah, and as many of the bodies of her crew as is feasible.

The second is that you bring the bastards who destroyed Fortuna station to justice.

Godspeed.

-Admiral Jose Hernandez.

"All ships report ready for burn."

"Send the order. All units brace for acceleration."

[Parcia]

ARC STRATCOM center
New York.

The Board had moved on to other topics. "Good, moving on, what of the Tigel station?" This drew a pause before on the junior engineering head spoke. "She is...a marvel of science. When The Company agreed to build her, we fully built her to the contract's specifications, and even included certain practices and steps that would allow us to update her as time went on. Of course we didn't think the then unproven Bragin Transwarp engine would work, at all really."

He paused, locking eyes with the CEO from across the table. "Here she is...by this point she is stationary over Olympia, we had to hang her there since her original cradle was decommissioned years ago. She shows signs of extensive wear and tear, years worth of usage and repairs, both minor and major. Her weapons system are salvageable, her P-900 VLS are compatible with both Howler and Harpoon missile systems, the L-60 Point defense system, while archaic, is comparable to the ARC Arms 30mm, and her spinal laser is..a amazing feat of Russian Engineering if I say so my self."

He paused, tapping his PDA and causing a technical readout to appear via hologram for the board to see. "If we were to honor our part of the agreement, we would need to almost completely strip her down and rebuild her. Her base frame is holding, though is mostly comprised of old Nickle steel alloys and primitive Titanium plating. Her armor is substantial, and makes use of multiple layers of titanium plating with plates of Depleted Uranium in between, giving her utterly impressive heat and impact resistance, that on par with the uniform armor layer of the Beowulf. With her internal frame rebuilt, it is the opinion of the Engineering and RnD departments that we keep the design, simply augmenting the titanium for Version four Titanium-A."

"With that, we would be able to completely overhaul her power generation facilities, replacing her older Nuclear Fission cores with H-3 burning reactors, we'd completely dismantle and refit her propulsion systems..." he was cut off by the resident Security Forces commander. "What of her weapons?" The Engineer would sigh and move on. "To be frank we could bolt enough weapon on to her that she'd out match even the Grendel in terms of gun per square meter."


The CEO spoke, her voice cutting the tension in the room like a knife through butter. "Then do it."


The Castion Expanse.

The Vice admiral would give a soft sigh of relief. "Put us to condition 2, keep the HME on the scopes, but start calculating firing solutions on the Grendel and Company. If the bitch is still there when we get with in range I want to unload on her before she can get a return shot off."

"Ma'am, the Bogey the Murcurians were chasing is appearing on scopes...wait, we are getting a secure tight beam comunicae." "Tight beam...is it STRATCOM?" Her deck officers replied. "No ma'am, it's coming from the Bogey, and there is an ARC encryption key attached." A flash of confusion shown on Lucinda's face before she snapped back in to her normal persona. "Send a reply to the Murcurians, thanking them for their aid and the data readout...And send a message to the Grendel and company. Tell them they are free to leave this one time, since our mess has gotten rather interesting."

She leaned back in her chair. They were still 9 hours our, even at full burn, and the Grendel hadn't made burns for an escape course. "Send the message off to my PDA, I need to see this in private." As she got up to make for her secured quarters, she muttered one thing to her self.

"Fuck."

[Etzal]

Fleet La-Inyan (Commander) Elijah Kuras,
EZLN Bridge of the "White Pilgrim" Sahngor Defender Cruiser.
Entering Terran Orbit, T-SP7 Lane Entry.

EZL Commander Kuras stood at rest at the head of the bridge. Gazing out at the expanse that now held a vibrant jewel of blue, an emerald among the darkness. In his mind he could not imagine how much things could have, would have, or did change in what felt like a prolonged absence. This was his 2nd pilgrimage. His 2nd time being rewarded with visiting the holy land and setting foot on its ancient cobbles. It was he he couriered across the cosmos 5 years ago and brought the word to his brothers and sisters that all was well. The ferry master who took with him those that wished to depart the scarred terrestrial that endured so much... The deliverer of material resources meant to aid the coming exodus.

The prolonged absence was by no means intentional. Complications regarding Noga demanded the EZLN's full attention and every citizen was hard at work whether it was the surface or colony, toiling away to ensure that all these preparations were not in vain. A shortage of the demanded quota was but one complication among the many that abruptly interfered with the regular visit home. Although The Etzal were unable to convene this change directly, it was entrusted to their HME allies to deliver the message of this delaying development and pray for understanding and forgiveness. For Etzal yearned for Tzi-yon beyond even the most complex expression of words.

Drawing nearing to the aqua terrestrial and now catching glimpse of the brightened outline of Luna, coordinates for the fleet were locked in to maintain course along the Togerian trade route.

"Il-Inyan, approaching T-SP7 orbital Station." one of the crew members stated in a disciplined but nonchalant manner. Kuras' arms behind his back and his hands interlocked with one another, he merely shifted his head to slightly peer behind himself in response. His dark grey uniform was created crisply, his boots polished with a sheen that reflected like obsidian, and only the double red lined trim at his cuffs or his badge singled him out from his crew.

"Relay orders to the fleet to cease their progression and power down thrusters. They know the Protocol, idle cruise speed and wait for the Togerians to confirm our signal." Kuras pointed at another officer working the comms and motioned his hand with a slight wave. The officer nodded.

" T-SP7, This is Etzal Command "White Pilgrim". I repeat, EZLN White Pilgrim, requesting confirmation and permission to approach. In retinue standard formation Alpha, Permissions extend to 16 EZLN Vessels in total. Transferring retinue escort credentials in Tandem according to EZL-TOG Noga protocols. EZLN directives are to convene on T-SP7 prior to entry of Terran atmosphere, Routings to KDF Central Command. Over."

Commander Kuras stood patiently but doing his utmost to hide his own anxious excitement... Terra was Beautiful. He could see how Noga grew to mirror its beauty with more clarity than ever.

Reitnue Formation: (Excluding White Pilgrim)
4 Gavah Carrier Escorts
4 Dawid Carrier Escorts
3 Shemetz Carrier escorts
2 Sahngor Defender Class Cruisers
2 Nikud Class Heavy Cruisers

[The United Federal Republic of Sol]

Admiral Jose Hernandez of the Holy Imperial Fleet to Admiral von Greif of the United Federal Stellar Fleet.

Imperial forces will comply with the ARC's request. We intend to divert from an intercept course, and coast out of ARC territory. While we cannot give you orders, we do recommend for your own sake that you follow suit, as your primary weapon - the mobile suit - would face the same point defenses our missiles did, and likely suffer extensive casualties.

It is also important that you get the survivor out of the theatre, lest a misunderstanding with the ARC cause them to kill one of their own. They seem intent on sweeping everything under the rug, and may be willing to accept collateral damage if they view the survivor as a hostage.

If the survivor has any interesting information about what happened to Fortuna station, we request that you pass it along. In exchange, I will arrange that several industrial grade nanoforges be transferred to your custody, allowing you to transition to a more lawful means of supporting your fleet.

You have proven this day that the Federation is more than just a pack of wolves prowling the belt. This is more than I would have thought possible prior to today.

Godspeed.

-Admiral Jose Hernandez

Well, it seems that this goose-chase had yielded some results afterall. The Federal Fleet hadn't needed to fire so much as a shot and it seemed they were going to be finally clawing their way out of the gutter, after all these years.

The Admiral stood up from his chair, folding his hands behind his back. "Address this message to the Mercurian Fleet:"

<::Your offer and your consideration are greatly appreciated. While we cannot promise it will be of any value, we'll forward our findings to you once we have returned safely to our 'homeport'. We'll send a blockade runner over to deliver it and arrange to get the cargo to the Fleet. Something about this mess is off, and I'd like to get to the bottom of it myself.

Until then, happy hunting::>

Turning towards the rest of the bridge crew, von Greif spoke again.
"Right, our safari's over. All ships, make preparations to get moving out. We'll let our prey go this time, the crusaders are more than compensating us. Been out t' sea too long, it's time to head home."

One by one, the Federal ships began to turn and start burning on a course back to rejoin their comrades back at the base.

---

Jetlag

---

To: Liaoning Agricultural Research Facility Headquarters
Subject: JETLAG

We've finally finished it. The prototype version of the new "tractor" will be sent over shortly. Hope it'll improve the harvest and the seed output. Send my regards to Doctor Fedorov.

-R

Unlike the other projects approved by the Marshal all those years ago, Project Jetlag was not a standalone initative. "Jetlag" is the Flash Training and Readiness Assistance System[FTRAS], and has been subordinated to Scarecrow.

Functionally speaking, it's a device designed to implant "false memories", of a sort. More aptly, it's connected to the subject's brain and sends signals to manipulate their mirror neurons. The intent is to give the target a level of familiarity and "muscle memory" with a task they have only just been introduced to, less perhaps like memories and more akin to "false instincts". The hope was less to "replace" conventional training and more as an "aid" to be used in conjunction. Recruits who are already subconsciously familiar with how to operate equipment and react to certain stimuli and situations make for far better soldiers when combined with more traditional drilling. A means to grant "Artificial Experience" to the raw recruit, in a sense.

However, the recruit is only put into training for such a short amount of time. There was much question if a tool like this was practical, or even safe to use. Questions of whether or not more "concrete" memories could be implanted, or if there were dangers of psychological or neurological damage from the FTRAS mechanism.

The answer was obvious: Use Scarecrow as the testbed. The artificial soldiers still only grow at an ordinary rate, afterall, and so are retained by the government for far longer than the conscript or even the professional. There was always a lot of paperwork, fabricating evidence, and doling out compensation to families when the Federal grunt was lost in an "accident", but in the case of a vat-grown clone, it was more like destroying any other piece of government property in a training exercise. If it turned out to work, it would be even more useful and effective to Scarecrow than to the Army at large, so it was the perfect solution.

So it was decided: Upon completion, Jetlag's findings and prototypes would be forwarded to Scarecrow when they were ready. The initial flash training programs, as well as the other possible applications for the FTRAS, were to be tested on select groups from the 1st Production Phase of Scarecrow, as well as tests on the 2nd Production run group from a younger age. The Federation's plans were all starting to come together, at last.

And so, too, were Fedorov's.

[Parcia]

New York

The Diplomats would listen with pure interest, taking in the story the Good captain explained to them. She would look to her partner and he would nod. "I guess we shall return the favor. The ARC started as a merger of several major companies and corporations, most dealing with energy and the rapidly growing commercial space industry. We secured lucrative Helium-3 Mining Contracts with the old Federation and enjoyed an era of economic domination in North America.

We expanded the existing Federation Settlements on Luna and soon enough, took them over completely much in the same way we established controls over our own sector of New York City. We expanded operations on Luna to the point where we pretty much built the Federal Fleet at Olympia shipyards." She paused taking a moment to go over the facts. "We saw the collapse coming pretty early on, made moves and preparations to make sure we could protect some bit of the old world. When it did come, we were prepared. We hunkered down, took control over Luna, New York City, we sat rather inactive for nearly 5 years. North America took it hard, several military units went rouge, we are pretty sure a few nuclear warheads were detonated out in the midwest.

We emerged from the bunkers, started operations again. It took us nearly 15 years to take control over the Eastern United States, We fought through the Appalachian mountains, set up outposts as far as old Colorado. We fought through the Everglades, fought the USEC remnants in the irradiated Ruins of Boston before coming to a truce. In it's current state we control Luna, the Eastern Seaboard to just west of the Appalachian Mountains and has far south as Cuba and the Caribbean."

She paused, taking a breath. "For the last 30-40 years we have been building up our resources, last I heard there is an expedition in the works to move across the old Mid-west."



Vice Admiral Lucinda Cain
11.5 hours later...

She was pissed. The Dawnbreaker has closed the distance in 8 hours, using several bursts of combat maneuvering to speed up as needed. They had boarded the unknown, not having read any IFF or matching any on board records. Being the only ship with a large enough docking collar the two ships docked with an extended umbilical, her duel 8 inch rail guns being trained on the still glowing unknown. The Fleet marines suited up in hard suits and stormed across the tube and breached the strangely reinforced airlock...only to find them selves staring down a battered and bruised team of Special Operations Command Troopers.

The situation froze, two groups of armed soldiers staring each other down before the Captain of the Vessel presented her self. Now she sat opposite Lucinda, her name hidden behind several layers of "classified". She got up from the table, leaving the "Jane Doe" in her cell and leaving from the Dawnbreaker's rather small brig. Soon enough she returned to her ready room and locked the door behind her.

She sat at her desk for some time, mauling over what she would say to The Board. Then an idea popped in to her head, one that caused her to smile. Soon enough her personal communicator began to beep on her desk. Answering it, she quickly returned to her pissed off facade.

"Vice Admiral, it is good to see you again, would you be as kind as to give us you're report." The entire board was there, including the CEO her self. "I'v concluded a decisive report. Given the circumstance I used my override codes and read the parts of the Osiris's files I'd know the boys in Fleet Intelligence would rather I didn't. I have also accessed it's black box, as well the reported the Murcurians provided." There was a long pause with from The Board before the CEO answered her.

"I see...Well admiral, what would you...given you're the commanding officer on station, do." This is were her smile would slip in. "I'd vent the bitch in to the void for the murder of 3300 souls. Then tow the Osiris back to port and raise the crew at court marshal." Again, another pause, a few sighs from the lesser members and a scowl from the Strategic Commander. "I see, we would...prefer if you would not do that." Lucinda cut her off. "I'd be violating several...no literally all of the Book of Codes by doing that. Maritime law states I'm allowed to hold to sentence her as I see fit and if need be, carry out an execution."

The CEO wasn't stupid, and she could see were this was going. In a rare feat of bluntness, she interrupted her. "What do you want, Lucinda." The Vice admiral smiled. "A few things..."


ARC SOI, over North America.

With the sudden arrival of a Hebrew fleet, and almost all of the fleet deployed elsewhere, the Phoenix, along side the Raider, Hopelite, and Rapier were launched from their births under Emergency protocols and vectored at full burn towards the incoming fleet. Standing in the bridge of the Phoenix, her captain spoke over open coms, the booming Voice of Admiral Vatily Strenov resonating through out the bridge space.

++Attention approaching unknown formation, you are...you have already entered ARC controlled space and are on an intercept course with the T-SP7 space station, please lower speed and state you're intentions, over.++

[Togeria]

New York:
Hakem face would remain solid, stoic as he listened to the diplomat though if either of two paid closely to his eyes, the iris would expand in interest first as they mentioned the territory of Colorado-damnit they had already reached past the Mississippi?-than as mentioned their expedition. "It is good to see that even in these times you Americans have managed to regain and maintain your strength. In truth Da Republic is also in the works of recovery and expedition. Our base, TSP-7, perhaps you've come across her in your travels, she remains our only orbital platform through which we're able to maintain communication and logistics both for Our Republic and her colonies. May I request a tour around your capital on behalf of me, my elite, and Republic, we truly wish to build relations with survivor Democracies and your state already shows power we have only encountered on the fringes east and north. To forge a friendship could see Terra one step closer, united."

---

TSP-7


Terran Space Port-7: A several thousand foot vessel* it served as a shining beacon and perhaps the only reminder of the Republic of Sol. In the beginning stages of Human exploration platforms were needed in order to aid in the lift off, return, cleaning, and maintenance of vessels operating around Terra. The service of these ports extended beyond commercial and military means, in the height of Solar Expanse numerous ports like TSP-7 surrounded Terra forming a ring mirroring almost Saturn. the vessels aiding in the cleaning of the Terran orbit, orbital recon, warning, and defense.

In the wars that followed they subtly would be among the first targets both for capture and destruction, in the period before the 2nd Fury, The ROS would commission the construction of a final two TSPs: 7 & 9 respectively, the former of the two would be smaller meant to aid in the ROS Martian campaigns the port would see action in the Martian theater, aiding in Republican campaigns by providing a platform for which orbital vessels could conduct raids on the surface of the planet.

Later in the 2080s after much of the fighting had subsided and communications had been reestablished the port would conduct on its next great voyage, the skies of many of Terra's residents soon seeing their re-viewing of Old Terran glory via the port as it would begin to orbit the planet again, resuming many of the old duties it had before the war though now in an effort to draw less hostile attention as well as aid in rebuilding efforts more thoroughly, many facilities within the tower-dome would be converted towards Medicinal and Mechanical aid. The port converting in a floating Hospice, often aiding and servicing other vessels for the small fee of a few resources or labor.

Through this the TSP like Aztarti or Merz acts as a colony almost of its own, and though the closest to the planet the fruits brought on by the port acting semi-autonomously has allowed the Republic to regain outer-orbital communication, project Republican power as a healing force, and more so showed that the ROS is still a force to be cognitive of.

The Overseer of the port, Hadiyah bint Ali Al-Hadi. Hailing from the Sanctuary of Lagos, the woman had grown accustomed to looking at the sizable holographic image that project in front of her desk, reverse crescent in shape. The image would be 3D image of Terra with Luna and TSP-7 seen as bodies orbiting by together around the three would be a second bubble. A vessels left and entered the orbit, passing the port the signals they omitted would be picked up by the port. A few days prior they had received a message of Tzionid vessels a sizable party would be venturing into Terra. As they were returning home this request would be granted and they would be expected to contact at roughly the same point the vessels of the Togerian expedition would begin to depart Earthward.

"Permission granted Il-Inyan, welcome home Brothers and Sisters" would greet from the Bubble as the voyagers ventured closer the platforms that extended from the tower would glow ready for the ships to begin landing. Unexpectedly though the tower would pick up the signals of four incoming vessels, as the satellites and camera would focus in on the sortie it would become clear that these ships hailed from the Americas. One of the larger powers on the continent, regularly they could be seen often conducting their own expeditions without the need of the Spaceport, now however they were incoming. As they came closer the message from their transmission could be picked up, read in traces:

++A--ention...ppoachin...unknown formation, uo are...have...entered ARC contro.led space..an intercept course w.th...T-SP7 s.ace sta.ion, please lower s.peed and state..u're intention, over.++

This was troubling indeed, perhaps they hadn't known that the port services all allies of Terra or simply saw the incoming vessels as too large. Coupled with their own expeditions there could be a worry of too many signals being focused in this area, but they could not depart nor tell their friends in space to halt. Hadiyah breathed a deep sigh of, she would have to seize the initiative and use her experience to alleviate the matter. It wouldn't be enough to simply shoo away the Americans, four vessels was a sizable expenditure, the Republic only had on hand enough to two patrol the colonies with 1-3 battleships at a time, though these were often combined operations covering multiple regions.

If Americans were sending this many ships...from the Midwest...++ARC vessels halt, the incoming fleet of Tzionids have already been granted clearance to board and utilize this port...no matter where she may be orbiting. I welcome Admiral Strenov aboard to speak with the voice of this message, Overseer Hadiyah Al-Hadi.++

---

Khabhaya, Al-Babanyia

In recent days a slight stagnation in Togerian communications would be experienced first on Terra and than on the outer colonies, this however would not be due to failure of Togerian systems..at least not any that are known. Instead out of interest the Al-Adamonium would convene multiple times a days, the messages of peoples from outside Terra, former colonist...returning. It was as aweinspiring as it was...strangely horrifying. Before when Terra communicated it was in a position of strength, Terra sought out her colonies...she was suppose to seize them out, and they were returning? Our Republic would have to seize the tail, many old men and even some young would moan and complain, stating their concerns and though many valid: how Our Republic is still to small, to ill-equipped, to spread out it didn't matter. Even if we shut ourselves off the rate growth just shown by our neighbors, by how now even colonist were reaching out to the ROS of their own volition.

No...we could not huddle and stand dormant the knowledge we could attain inside could equally be attained outside too brothers. Romans, Jews, Colonist, Africans and Arabs all around us all equal or greater, to close ourselves off while these wolves tame some of them may be are prowling, hunting and increasing their strength? Ignorance that isn't a luxury afforded by our condition by our state by our mission, no...our purpose is not found in closing ourselves off.

Like our ancestors before us The Joy of Life must be seized and cherished, held and kept as our sacred fire, our only reason to keep moving. We would have to blend our wants with our needs and hold knowledge and progress and the fruits for which we bleed the tips of our fingers, hot sand and loose gravel puncturing and embedding itself into the open woulds and sores of broken fingernails and skinned white knuckles. In Greenland some colonist from a power they call the Singularity has sent a summons out for all willing to come and learn. We will be among the first to greet these new neighbors, the voyage of 12 diplomats made up from our warrior, merchant, peasant, priest, and noble peoples would depart from Morocco to Greenland via carriership.

[Badassistanian]

Livia Arvina

Livia quickly embraced Izaekal with a hug before quickly letting go with rosy cheeks and fluttering eyes. "My apologies, sir... That was most unprofessional of me... I cant wait to partake in the glories of this continent with you and others... Julius will be so pleased on this trips success!".

[The United Federal Republic of Sol]

Aka Manah

---

Fedorov switched on the light of his private lab as he did every day, strolling towards his desk. Alongside his path were the isolated cages of all manner of perverse creatures, twisted with uncountable varieties of mutations. Dozens of legs, gnarled and warped in unnatural ways, wailing beasts with spilled, protruding organs that somehow refused to die. The doctor paid them no mind and didn't spare even a glance; they represented progress but were still failures. However, soon they would be disposed of, as Federov knew he was only a few months away from the perfected version.

He sat down, and mumbled to himself "It's time". Switching on the recorder, he began speaking honestly and transparently for the first time in years:

"My name is Bahram Sardar, though I am called 'Alexei Romanovich Fedorov' these days. My work before the war is already rather infamous and I'm sure a maligned renegade such as myself needn't give his life story as a preamble. I survived the war despite popular consensus, and received a new name and a new face here in the Federal Republic afterwards. I am responsible for the Marshal's little project "Scarecrow", and this too I needn't explain. By the time this recording is found, I'm sure the world will know all about it.

The world is dotted in the ruins and remnants of curiosities and oddities, masterwork creations whose purpose is unknown. People often wonder the means and the reason why old Stonehenge was erected all those millennia ago, and it is a great tragedy that intentions of these artisans have been lost to time. I make this recording so that, someday, the logics of my magnum opus may be understood and appreciated, as I expect I will not survive to see its end myself.

It must've been some fifty years ago when I first heard of the beliefs and philosophies of the Gnostics of old, and I have kept my fascination with it at the back of my mind ever since. The specifics and details differ quite significantly between the various sects and is a rather complex matter, but the general conception can be briefly summarized as follows. They believed that this material existence of ours is false, a fabrication of an equally false god. The true god exists in a realm far removed from our own, a being known as Monad. From this source came numerous emanations, creating progressively further and further removed entities known as Aeons. One of the most distant of these was an Aeon known as Sophia. From her was born, by accident, an entity who would be called the Demiurge, or Yaldabaoth. This being was flawed and his vision was clouded, and mistakenly believed that no higher realms existed above him. Considering himself the ultimate being and power, he created the botched material world and all within it. They say that all the gods of this world are this false creator and his minions, called Archons, and that the existence of evil and suffering are due to the material world's imperfect nature. Men are born of this world, but with Sophia's divine spark trapped within them, and only through living correctly achieve Gnosis and ascend.

On a personal level, I would consider myself rather attached to this mortal coil of ours and have little interest in following the teachings, but it is an intriguing idea. The gnostics were rather fatalistic in their outlook; this world of ours is as beautiful and magnificent as it terrible and cruel. They say that everything is simply a product of these emanations flowing downstream, and even a flawed creature such as this Demiurge was able to create this existence. I began to wonder, if even he could accomplish such a thing, why should this power be out of the reach of man? Would it not be possible to become like him and create such wondrous worlds all of our own? A man-made emanation if you will. For all that time it stayed with me, and I considered the idea of where to begin, just to see if it were possible, if it could be done. Yet, such things are not so easy; even Yaldabaoth did not create the world in a day. Just as he cannot ascend to the higher plane of Pleroma, it is beyond me to manipulate the flow of time to change that. Even seeking to emulate the path of God, I am but a man now, and must take my steps slowly.

I decided my first step towards genesis was to create my Archons, my children, my agents to whom I will pass the torch and see the plan to fruition. Creating a new world requires assistance and resources, and I cannot do this alone from the shadows. To that feeble weapon of a Marshal, I proposed Scarecrow as a vanity project to puff up his armies and push forward his sabre rattling, but it was all to lay the infrastructure for my own plan, Uroboros. A symbol known to the Gnostics, the snake devouring itself has also come to represent immortality for the alchemists, and that is my aim. True eternity is the immortalization of one's legacy and purpose, and that is my aim with this venture. I will not disclose the details or the specifics; that will remain a surprise. Consider tracing back my methods your homework. It is still years away at the time of recording, but it cannot be stopped. My children shall be faced with and even greater task than I in creating this new emanation, but it can, and will be done. For those who will remain, I leave you this monument to the power of man, and his ascension to godhood"

Fedorov, no, Sardar ended the recording, and placed the device back into his pocket. He would need to make sure to leave it where it can be found, although not easily and not by those who would cover it up. With the FTRAS on its way to his office even then, it wouldn't be long before he could begin to make the necessary alterations to convert it for Uroboros, a modification he had already taken to calling 'Aka Manah', and another piece of the puzzle would fall into place. Soon the first step in his plan would be complete, and like the caged aberrations surrounding him, he too will have lived beyond his utility.

[Parcia]

ARC Meeting Room 3-C
Unknown location

"When we got the design for Tigel, we were never able to get a full readout, technically speaking of the technical blueprint of the Bragin Trans-warp engine, we were able to sneak enough of a readout of the system during construction of Tigel to get a basic idea of it's internals. We sent the technical data to the Skunk works Black Site in the belt and left them to deal with it, these were the same guys who built the Osiris."

"As successful as she was, our FTL Drive project was not. We found a number of parts that would could not initially replicated. They were mainly 4 things. The First was a reinforcement devise, a simple armored cage built inside the main reaction chamber that we were able to homebrew our selves. The Second was a power source, this was simple, we simply had to upscale out then largest H-3 reactor, that in of it self became the AB-34, the main drive of several of our Capital ships. Next was a super conductor, again a simple fix, we simply upscaled a Graphite Superconductor to be able to charge the devise."

The engineer stopped, taking a breath. His rather shaggy hair shoot a little with his breathing, his circle framed glasses slipping down his nose. He pushed them up his nose and continued on, The Board before him. "We called it the Chernobog Devise, cause like the mythological slavic god, we knew absolutely fuck all about the thing." He paused, letting the few snickers die down. "It was rather Impervious to our various hidden scanning devises and so well concealed in the device we thought it was a simple void for a long time. We could tell it was drawing significant amounts of power but it was a black box. So at the time, the team and I considered it a redundancy and didn't include it.

We then got a working prototype and figured we start small. teleport a few Atoms. Nothing. Than we tried to teleport an Apple...That apple cost the lives of my friend and some of the best minds in the ARC, and almost all of the best Minds in the System in the field of Faster Then light Travel." Another pause, a short silence. "The field around the prototype expanded rapidly, uncontrollable, it...it warped an entire section of the Skunk Works Site to...some where." Again, a pause.

"This constituted the 2nd Actual Class 1 Temporal anomaly in recorded history, yet the circumstances around that required it to be kept from the General Public. For...for close to 40 years I set my life around analyzing the Data from the Skunk Works accident, and now with the data from Tigel's return...I think...I think I have Data needed to move forward. I think based on the data gathered that the Chernobog devise was some sort of Temporal inhibitor, a device designed to counter act the inherent instability of ripping a hole in the fabric of space time, a stabilizer if you will. I think I can recreate the stabilization field. Perhaps not in the same way but enough to form a stable rift. I would need near peta-tones of energy, something beyond even H-3 technology would be able to give us. I would also need a near blank check to-"

A hand sliced through the air, cutting the Doctor off. "Dr. Jackson, can it be done, with out destabilizing local real space." The Doctor nodded. "I can"

Susanne Fielding took a long drag of her cigarillo, the smoke pooling around her as the other Board members looked at her. "Then do it."


New York

The Two looked at each other, to the captain and his men, it would seem as if the two, a couple by the matching rings on their figures, would simply stare at each other. In reality they would be sending a set of messages between each other via cranial implants. A few moments and they would turn to the Captain. "We are allowed to do so, we could likely have you're ships dock at the old harbor it self, likely allow you to off load you're men and enjoy some of the finer side of the ARC."


Above New York.

Specifically in vary high geo-sync orbit, Anchor 9 hung there as the chief operations Hub for the Fleet and other ARC orbital operations. Around it hung nearly a dozen smaller stations, 4 larger ones and several smaller ones. They all shared a commonality of being covered in weapon emplacements. Heavy Coilguns, missile batteries, several dozen PDCs and even a few older, high wattage lasers along side newer LIDAR and Radar installations.

Among them, a black shape floated in the darkness. The Amun Ra drifted among the Anchor 9 Defense grid, through automated mine fields and past a recently installed set of IKV pods as well as the several large Gun Platforms. she was running silent, both invisible to the Station's defenses as well as those looking up from New York. As the sister ship to the Osiris and the second of the class to be recently launched, she was selected for a special mission for her maiden Voyage, one that would be rather interesting.

She docked with out much problem, though the Harbor master was surprised to see a 40 meter long corvette just appear on his scopes, but one the less it threw up an ARC IFF and had STRATCOM level codes that gave then clearance to dock. And so she did.

[The Holy Mercurian Empire]

Transcript of a conversation in the Imperial Diet, following the after action report of Admiral Jose Hernandez

Theophilus: Hezekiah, what's the status of Project Charity?

Dakarai: Project Charity is dramatic overkill. Frankly, we should extrude a single cruiser to replace the Obadiah, and leave it that.

AZK-14: So you think this was an isolated incident?

Dakarai: I think this incident was none of the Empire's business.

Theophilus: Three thousand dead in three seconds, and you say it was none of our business?! I say it was - and remains - our duty to offer aid.

Dakarai: The ARC didn't want our help. And we have no evidence that the threat persists.

AZK-14: Returning to the Emperor's question, we have sufficient fabricator feedstock for the entire run, including six additional squadrons to replace those being assigned to Battlegroups for the Charity class.

Dakarai: Why do we need any of this? This vessel, while unusual, has been neutralized.

AZK-14: The technological acumen required to develop a system of this sort would indicate that a Great Power is responsible. As does the fact that they employed military-grade anti-ship missiles and point defense systems. Probability dictates that they have attempted the procurement of more than one of these warships, especially given its apparently small size.

Dakarai: So we need a better fleet to fight an unknown "Great Power"? Over a cause we don't understand?

Theophilus: In short, yes. But the cause we know in part: the protection of ARC civilians. We need the ability to deal with these things should we face them again. Hezekiah, what's the timeframe on completion of the Charity project?

AZK-14: Ten days to complete the 200 meter nanoforge required for the Charity Class itself, three days to produce the 25 meter nanoforges required for production of the Defiant class corvette. These would be run concurrently. Seventy-two hours to produce enough corvettes to complement our current fleet. Thirty-six hours to produce the additional squadrons, and the corvettes required to accompany them. Fifty-four hours to complete the extrusion of the Charity, the Hope, and the Fidelity. Perhaps an even sixty hours if we go with the plan to upgun the Charity relative to the other two ships of the class.

Theophilus: The greatest of these is Charity. It will be upgunned.

AZK-14: Then it will take a total of twelve and a half days to produce the new fleet. The real bottleneck will be crewing. If we use the conventional means of personnel allocation, it will take a total of forty-two-point-five days for the ships to enter service. If you allowed us to use an all-Synthetic crew, it would be closer to fifteen.

Theophilus: We will use the conventional means.

AZK-14: It will be slower.

Theophilus: We will use the conventional means.

AZK-14: Very well, my Emperor.

Theophilus: Well, Dakarai? Will you allow the order to pass uncontested, or will we have to put it to a vote?

Dakarai: Let the record state my opposition to the order, and that will be sufficient for me. I knew it would come to this since we began stockpiling the materials for Project Charity. If we do not do it now, you will find a reason soon enough...

Theophilus: Very well then. By Imperial Decree, we commence with the Charity Project. Three "superdreadnoughts" of the Charity class will be constructed, eight unmanned "Defiant" class corvettes will be attached to each squadron in the fleet, six additional squadrons will be constructed, and all existing Torch I missiles will be reprocessed into Torch II missiles. We shall have a fleet worthy of 2095, and the unseen foes that it brings.

End transcript.

----------

A message transmitted from Mercury to Luna

His Imperial Highness, of Mercury by Grace of God Emperor, Theophilus I, Defender of the Faith, to the American Reclamation Corporation.

Grace and Peace to you in Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The families of those lost in the Fortuna Incident are ever in our prayers. But what good are words without deeds?

First and foremost, is there anything we can give to help support those who lost loved ones and providers in this heinous attack, or any way we can help you rebuild? The Empire wishes to show solidarity with you in this time of tragedy, for a crime of this magnitude is a crime against all.

We also request information. We believe that the attack on the Fortuna was launched by a Great Power. Has your capture of the ship they used allowed you to discern who it was that wronged you so grievously?

Finally, we wish to know if there is any way we can help you secure your holdings against further attack. My advisors have assured me that the close observation of the unknown warship during our pursuit of it has allowed us to devise a statistical test, one that will allow us to discern the probability that a given sensor ghost was produced by one of these stealth ships - as opposed to the usual background noise. Provided with this data, you would be able to produce an early warning system, one that might improve your ability to defend against this unseen foe. Additionally, we are prepared to assign a squadron to the defense of an asset of your choice in the belt.

It should be noted that, for the time being, we will assume that any vessel identified by this statistical test is a hostile with no regard for the laws of war. Just as the enemy that destroyed the Fortuna was. Since you have recovered the enemy warship, it seems likely that you will be developing stealth technology at some time in the near future. It would be wise to begin developing a handshake protocol now, so that we do not accidentally destroy one of your vessels while trying to defend you should we identify one of your ships by chance.

May God comfort you in your time of need.

-Emperor Theophilus I

[Parcia]

Luna

Susanne stared at her screen. The Message the Murcurian Emperor has sent floated above the desk on the holographic screen. She had been staring at it for some time, taking a drag of her cigarillo and a sip of her coffee from time to time.

She sighed, looking around her office admiring the affects left to her by James. James Enoch Powell had been the man to build the ARC, using a family fortune most simply did not know existed combined with decades of planning and corporate spies. He had been an eccentric, but an utterly cunning strategist and businessmen...and her mentor.

Her eyes drifted to the singular piece of luxury, The Gun. It was old, older then her, older then the ARC, a relic of a time when organized crime ruled the streets of America. This particular gun was a Thompson, a street sweeper model with a large circular magazine and a foregrip. It's aesthetics were above that of it's sister models, Its wood a special Cherry wood and it's normally blued steel Gold plated. It's externals where authentic. It's Internals were not. Years ago James had it's internals stripped out and modernized to fire modern ammunition.

It had been an insurance policy for James, a hidden way for him to go out on his own terms should any of the snakes in The Board attempt to depose him. That day had never come, and her greatest testament to her Mentor was to utterly neuter The Board in any capacity. Sure, they voted on things, even passing new bills and legislation, but in reality she could have them all vented in to the void and not a damned thing would change.

She had even been tempted to do just that. While the board had been recently useless among other things, they did have their proposed wild card. While she had the near complete loyalty among STRATCOM, the ARC Military Forces, and most of the civilian sectors, Fleet Intelligence had always been flaky, and her few moles in FLINT had told her many times before that they weren't likely to support her.

That, and that the Crews of The Osiris were Fleet Intelligence.

She stood and strode towards the Gun as it sat in it's case, a violin case if memory served. She gathered parts and sat them about her desk, and sat down. As she began to assemble it, she recorded her message.

Encryption level Alpha
"To his Honorable Imperial Highness, Theophilus I, Defender of the Faith.

I am Susanne Fielding, you would know me as the CEO of the American Reclamation Corporation. I am, in a sense it's leader, a leader of similar stance to you're self. I have read the reported given to me by Vice Admiral Cain as well as the reports you're people have been given to my by you're Admiral Hernandez. Due to the nature of the events around Fortuna, or rather what's left of it, I would like to invite you to a personal meeting between us so that we may possibly come to a conclusion to this horrible situation.

If you do choose to come and sit with me, break bread and talk over these events, then let us do so on Earth, our shared home.

With best wishes, and the Grace of God, Susanne Fielding, CEO of the ARC"


After that one was sent, She began recording another, much shorter and simpler message.

"All Stations, all Stations, Midnight is in effect, I repeat, midnight is in effect." The Effects of this message would likely not be seen for some time.


Denver Colorado, ARC forward Operations Campus

Maria poked her head out of the Gunner's hatch. "Hey mike...Mike?" She looked around the top of the turret, seeing Mike asleep again, bare chested with his field cap over his face. "Oie, cobron, wake the fuck up." she shook him awake. He groaned and took his cap off. "The hell you want Chika?" she chuckled. "Hey man, why the hell we still here? I mean, really, This is an M2A5, brand fucking new MBT, the hell we doing all the way out here in the ruins of old Denver?"

Mike groaned once again. "Because Denver is the Company's farthest westward outpost, it's got all manner of advanced tech and personal, on top of this, Denver is with in the striking range of the Federal remnant that are all the way out in Alaska. I almost envoy the Navy Pukes, at least the Solar fleet are rather sensible. It's why we have Balista Batteries, it's why we have Onagar batteries, it's why this FOB is built like a fuckin fortress."

"Huh..." Mike looked at her, squinting through the mountain morning. "How the fuck are you a tanker if...will, never mind, judging by the size of those guns it makes sense for you to be a tanker." She smirked at him, taking a moment to brush off her rather Amazonian shoulders. "Aint got the head for math, nor the face for modeling, so my guns are good for slinging 120 shells Cobron."

He chuckled, going back to doing his best for sleeping. "What ever you say chika."

[The Holy Mercurian Empire]

The Emperor was troubled. If Ms Fielding wanted to meet in person, it meant that what she needed to say in response to his queries was too sensitive to be said over long range tightbeam. He could think of several possible reasons for this. None of them boded well.

In any case, a journey to Earth was not to be taken lightly. Emperor Theophilus I had been born and raised on Mercury, experiencing a gravitational pull of only 0.38 gees; going to Earth would mean going to a planet with more than twice the gravity he was used to. Even with advanced nanomedical treatments, it would take six weeks in a centrifuge to build up the strength required to do anything on the home planet of humanity.

Fortunately, eleven days of that could be done en route. The only question would be how many of his bodyguards it would be appropriate to bring. Ultimately, he settled on 30. A nice round number, and since (at the insistence of the Synthetic block) they would all be Crusader II's, this would be more than sufficient as a security detail.

The initial shock of the idea having worn off, and having consulted with the Diet, the Emperor sent the following message.

His Imperial Highness, of Mercury by Grace of God Emperor, Theophilus I, Defender of the Faith, to Susanne Fielding, CEO of the American Reclamation Corporation.

Grace and Peace to you in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Due to the differences in gravity between our two planets, it will take some time to prepare for the journey. But I will come. Expect my arrival in six weeks. I will come on a 200 kilometer per second semi-brachistochrone trajectory, and there will be a full Mercurian squadron escorting my transport. The departure burn will be in thirty-one days, and the trip will last for an additional eleven.

In the meantime, there are Etzalite ships in the system carrying Mercurian ambassadors to the terrestrial state of Kaen'an. The Reverend Phiwayinkosi Dube may be willing to dispatch a diplomat from his retinue to you. The ships will be stopping at a station under the control of a nation known as "Togeria," a station I believe to be designated TSP-7. While a low-ranking diplomat is not much to offer, it is the most I can send you immediately, and it will at least allow us to coordinate for when I arrive in person. The Etzalite ships should be docking at the station later today.

Clearly I touched on a sensitive topic when I sent my message, and I pray that it is not as sensitive as I fear. But there is one thing that should not be so sensitive, and that we can discuss on an open channel: is there anything the Empire can do to aid those who lost loved ones and providers in the incident, or anything we can do to help you rebuild your infrastructure in the belt?

May God be with you in your time of need.

-Emperor Theophilus I

[Togeria]

Africa:
Izkaeil would be taken aback momentarily, a smile forming on his face. "No, my apologies, I'll have an entourage assembled immediately." He said before getting up and turning to the nearest soldier. After a brief interaction the latter would approach Livia before giving a bow, departing momentarily he would bring with him a group to accompany Livia around the city. Six guards and four palace aids would make up the party, "Greetings your Empress, we will be happy to escort you and answer any questions you have about the city or Our Republic!" announced one of the aids, a female of light...northern complexion as she spoke she had a noticeable accent like a woman of Gaul. She had light brown hair and equally brown eyes, portions of her skin tanned from the presence of a cotton cape covering her shoulders and arms.

There would be one other among the group who could from appearance possibly be from the north, the only soldier to bear rankings and likely a captain, the man looked Iberian. He would signal for the group to bow to Livia before he too did so. Afterwards he would order a portion to stand by the hallways ready to depart when Livia was ready.

---

New York:
"Fantastic! We have enough supplies for a few weeks though we will only stay for 2 days....three depending on the weather. We have some supplies that once we dock your men may be interested in bartering? With a state like yours I doubt even in these times there's little you've seen, but life holds many threads and everyone wants a blanket right?" He would joke and laugh briefly before regaining composure.

---

Colorado:
In Old Colorado, the state once famed for the being the highest in its union now was barren like an island in a sea of brown and green. Dying and arid plains mixed with scenic green forest and snow capped mountains. This scene alone would be alien to many of the experienced on the two transports. For some the most remote they had been was the now darkening and cold planet that was Merz, but even to that the little secrets of Terra, the mysteries of each former territory dwarfs any sense of discovery to be found in most corners. Merz, Aztarti, Space these satellites had to have life be brought to them...Terra she was different. She was living always and adapting their continued presence a proof of an undying miracle that was in the works.

And it would be with this miracle, this mercy that was...home they would do more than rebuild they would push themselves, their people, all of man past the vision of the Old States and to lift the bars of the zeitgeist that was imprisoning them, had imprisoned their forefathers and foremothers, and would imprison their progeny if they didn't act.

Another cool day would seem in place of the unlikely duo, but in the sky and likely via what communications had been salvaged from the ruins they would hear the sound of a stranger...enemy? No. Friend? Perhaps, can music truly help speak for the intentions of a people?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C_3eYj-pOM

A popular song around its time meant to invoke feelings of nostalgia and comfort, the mission would be one of warmth and communication. The rebirth of man would be through the bond of fraternity nay spear. As the two transports came closer to their target they set their coordinates for the former city center of Aurora north within the Old Courthouse.

[The United Federal Republic of Sol]

The Osiris
Megan J Wu

She nodded, taking in the Airmen's explanation with renewed interest. "Interesting..." she would take his advise with haste, tapping her collar and deploying the suit's helmet. Before the OSMU suit would decompress, she'd place a hand on his. "Do me a favor Arlen...stay with me."

The UFSF, having left the scene of battle long behind them by now, were burning on down the homeward trail. The only things the seven wolves of the void now had to remain vigilant for were potential trackers or ambushes on their path, but for the first time in decades, the future was looking brighter. All they had to do was to get a few answers and send them off to the Crusaders.

Darlan, for his part, shrugged, saying "If it pleases you, I suppose I can oblige", as the oxygen was vented into the empty vacuum of the hangar. He took that same hand, and helped the survivor out from the cockpit. The hangar was rather spacious, with vacant scaffolds and lifters for the rest of the machines of Iconoclast's strike contingent, who had only just arrived and were assuming their storage positions. A short elevator's ride later, and they were on the ground and heading for the airlock.

[Badassistanian]

The Daughters of Asclepius

It was told in ancient times that the daughters of Asclepius and Epione played a major role in the dance of life and death. The daughter who held the name of Panacea would heal the ailing with her masterfully brewed potions and herbs. The daughter named Iaso would enable the ailing to heal by granting them comfort and safety from outside forces that dared to prey upon the sick. The daughter Aceso would allow for the the bodies of the ailing to take in the potions of Panacea and would allow their blood to expel the poisons that that had rendered them ill. The daughter Aglaea enabled the skin of the ailing to become pure and clean as the work of her sisters flushed the poisons from their bodies. Finally, the daughter Hygieia would create a barrier around healed individuals so that they would not again fall sick. These five daughters of the mighty Asclepius would serve diligently under their father to prevent and heal the diseases inflicted upon mankind. The modern people of Rome would find importance in this and would sacrifice pigs, oxen, and sheep in the name of Asclepius and his daughters so that they would remain healthy through the coming years of toil and hardship. The Ganymede cult likewise found the favor of the six gods of healing as they likened them to the story of their own cult. They saw the collapse of the old solar republic as the work of Panacea who wished to begin the healing process for a destroyed universe. The rise of the cults control over the moons of Europa and Ganymede were seen as the work Aceso and Iaso who allowed the cult to solidify its position with relative safety against outsiders. The creation of the Ganymedian fleet was seen as the work of Aglaea as it purified and united the military forces of the cult. Finally, Hygieia would begin her work as she guided the fleet towards the grand asteroid belt in order to claim more resources for the cult so that the believers would not fall ill again.

The Invasion of Hygieia

Praefecti Virgo Trifer looked out of the command bridge of the first flagship of the Ganymedian navy. The ship was designated as Hexareme Class I in honor of old Roman naval traditions. The grand ships primary weapon would be a directed beam of pure plasma capable of orbital bombardment of asteroids, planets, and other large space objects. This beam is created in a plasma reacter centered in the middle of the ship that heats various gasses to extreme temperatures thus resulting in a stream of ions and free electrons. This stream is then concentrated and expelled through the front of the flagship in which it strikes the target at the speed of light much like a large lightning bolt. The sheer amount of concentrated energy focused in the reactor makes the flagship extremely vulnerable as any small miscalculation or mistake could result in devastating consequences. Due to this reason, the reactor most often remains in a stable position in which no gas is heated in the chamber. The reactor is only operational during times when orbital targeting is considered necessary. The amount of gas being put into the reactor can also determine the power of the beam and as such can be down-scaled for smaller more precise targets. The ship is also protected by external plasma cannons that use much smaller reactors. These cannons are used for targeting smaller ships and fleets, the smaller reactors still have the capacity to explode violently if destroyed however the overall impact on the ships stability in this case is greatly reduced. The ship furthermore contains multiple bays which hold smaller fighting and landing craft that enable speedy land invasions. The ship is usually accompanied by five smaller cruiser class ships using various types of support weaponry in the case of space engagement. Today the use of plasma energy would be unleashed upon the asteroid of Hygieia for the first time.

Praefecti Virgo Trifer looked over the orbital imagining of the mining facility and easily pinpointed small laser array systems that were placed on the rock for defense purposes. He quickly gave the order for the reactor to be fired up with small amount of gas as to enable small and precise shots of plasma that would easily destroy these arrays within the speed of light. Furthermore, the gas levels were lowered even more than normally de to the fact that the asteroid could easily fracture or be knocked out of its orbit if a violent enough of an explosion was targeted at it. This precaution would not usually be taken on an object closer to the size of a planet. Within the next few minutes, the rock would be hit with fast flashes of plasma that violently destroy the defending arrays in a spectacular light show of electricity and force. Upon the success of the plasma ray, Virgo Trifer ordered the beginning of the land invasion in which thousands of small troop transports would flow out of the ships bays carrying heavily armored soldiers. These soldiers would be armed with miniturized plasma guns that operated on a similar principle of heating up gas to extreme temperatures and then firing the mix out of the end of the gun like a bolt of lightning. The troops transports would land on various industrial and military complexes that dotted the asteroid and would begin killing indiscriminately. Workers, citizens, and military personal would be executed through flashes of plasma that would surround and melt the fabric of their uniforms and the skin from their bones. Soon the asteroid would be under the direct control of the Ganymedian Cult, one step closer towards Earth.

The Death of Imperator Julius Arvina

The goddess Morta, she who controls death, silently galloped upon the city of Roma before dismounting outside of its great walls. The ghostly figure would morph into white whispey smoke as she passed through the walls and moved along the dead streets that ran cold with the whispers of Aquilo. She would morph back to her hooded human form upon arriving at the grand home that housed the Imperator born of the name Arvina. She would draw back her hood to reveal the bare skull of a mortal and within her bony hand would appear a scythe of pure white metal. Morta would typically appear upon ones doorstep upon their natural death however this was a different situation as the target was still living yet she was compelled forward. She made her way into the grand home and up to the room of Julius Arvina in which she would slowly open the door and step in. Upon this moment, Morta shifted from a skeletal form into the form of a young living woman of pure white skin. Her scythe would be replaced with a small iron dagger that had the name Livia inscribed upon the hilt. The woman would stop dead and stare upon the sleeping body of Julius Arvina; the man that her father had forced her to marry so few years before. She silently moved closer to the mans bedside and watched as his thick veins flowed with blood throughout his body and back to his ashen heart. She was not a natural killer by any stretch but she had been compelled by the Gods to become free of the chains that held her back. The woman took the dagger and raised it above her head and, without thinking, thrusted it deep in the heart of Julius Arvina. His blood splashed upon the womans white skin and stained it with crimson red. She let go of the dagger as it sat in the mans heart and moved back to the open door in which she looked back one time before shutting it. The girl then exited the house and walked through the frigid streets, her face and clothes still stained as she made her way out of the grand city of Rome.

(You can assume the visit with Livia in Africa ended well, Tog)

[The Holy Mercurian Empire]

Mining Facility, 10 Hygiea

YT-4012, Head of Security on 10 Hygiea, was confused. Eir only certainty at the moment was that e was going to die. The two squadrons that had supposed to come to eir facility never arrived, having gotten involved in action on the way, and taken a beating. This left the Hygiea operation all but undefended. So when the silent ships from Jupiter orbit arrived, they were helpless to resist.

Higher ups had hoped the visitors would be friendly, interested in trade. The first plasma beam shot to the phased array grid - the sole defense of the station with no fleet elements present - put paid to that hypothesis. There was nothing to stop this unexpected foe from simply dropping troops onto the planetoid, storming the airlocks, and taking the facility by force. Which is precisely what these enemies did, sweeping the mining facility, and killing everything that moved.

YT-4012 had several minutes before the enemy arrived at eir position. There was no self-destruct mechanism in the facility, nor any means to fully deny it to the enemy. But e could order the nanoforges to "cook" their slurries, denying at least a portion of the facility's full industrial capacity to them. Which e did. E then sent sensor logs and camera feeds of the past hour to Imperial assets elsewhere in the belt, along with a continuous "live" feed of the same. Until the invaders either countermanded the order, or destroyed the tightbeam emitters, the Empire would know exactly what they were doing. Eir penultimate act as Head of Security on Hygiea facility would be to reset every password in the facility's systems to a different 2048 bit random number. Then he logged out. If anyone wanted to use the station again, they would have to completely replace every computer system in the facility. And given the degree of automation the Mercurians used...

YT-4012 had no means to fully deny Hygiea facility to the enemy. But e did have the means to make it a hell to utilize.

And now it was time for eir final act. YT-4012 was a Crusader I/E, and eir nation was clearly at war. E had failed eir charges - e could have pushed harder for reinforcement, or demanded more extensive surface defenses, but e never had. This invasion was partially eir fault, and eir penance would be to live the last moments of eir life by the sword. E was unarmed, but the invaders were mere humans.

E placed eir back to the wall next to the door, and spent a moment focusing. When e unshuttered eir optics, eir processors were upclocked by a factor of 60. Every second felt like a minute, and each minute like an hour. After what seemed like an eternity, the door began to open. Seemingly slowly, but e knew that it was being violently forced open. Every servo in eir body was ready to act, but e waited until e could see the enemy's barrel in the door. That was when e sprung into action. E would teach these bastards what the Mercurians were capable of.

Quickly even by eir own perception, e grabbed the barrel of the enemy's plasma cannon, crushing it in a single motion. E pulled, hard, dragging eir foe into the room, letting go of the gun, and delivered three swift blows to the human's face. The first cracked the visor of his helmet. The second shattered it. The third crushed his skull. YT-4012 now charged the door, using the human's lifeless body as a shield.

E hoped to take down eight humans before e died. In the end, e managed to kill twelve and injure fourteen before taking a plasma bolt to the center of mass. But with six thousand enemy soldiers in Complex Alpha alone, it wasn't enough to slow the tide. While the utility of the mining facility had been severely compromised, it had been taken by the foe.

----------

Imperial Diet, Mercury

HZK-14: This isn't like you, Dakarai.

Dakarai: We've been attacked on our own soil. We owe it to our people to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Stephen: While we don't approve of the sort of alliances the Emperor is seeking on Earth, we do understand that they can be used to our advantage. And we are willing to support your plan for the expansion of the military.

MXV-58: Against my judgement, I might add.

LR-93: We all know where you stand on these issues, '58.

Manuel: The Emperor would never support the production of synthetics specifically for any single task, let alone for warfare.

QV-216: Even if the Emperor were here, with two of the Isolationist Electors on our side, we would be able to overrule him.

HZK-14: Newly produced Crusaders wouldn't be forced into military service. We would merely solicit volunteers from newly produced units.

MXV-58: And many are likely to accept your request.

HZK-14: Of their own free will.

MXV-58: How free are they really?

HZK-14: At least as free as you and I.

LR-93: In any case, further bickering won't change the facts on the ground. We have the majority required.

MXV-58: So be it.

----------

Imperial Transport, Interplanetary Space

"Your Highness. It is time to leave the centrifuge. We are about to turn and burn."

"Hmm?" The Emperor turned up from his data slate to the Crusader II approaching him.

"We have reached the end of our coasting phase. Spindown is in five minutes, and the insertion burn to Earth orbit begins in ten."

"Ah. Of course. Thank you."

"...Your Highness, you will need to secure the data slate and make your way to the spindle."

"Oh. Right." Emperor Theophilus folded up the data slate, getting up as he did so.

"Is... everything alright, your Highness?"

The Emperor's mind turned to the dispatch he had been sent from the Imperial Diet. The Diet had convened following an attack on the 10 Hygiea mining facility by a number of warships from Jupiter. Effective immediately, the human quotas in the Imperial armed forces would be abolished. The new Battlefleet would be sent to reinforce 52 Europa - with an all-synthetic crew. Finally, an additional Drop Corps and an additional Espatier Corps would be put together.

"Affairs of State. I'm afraid things have gotten complicated out in the Belt."

"At least it was not another Fortuna Incident, your Highness."

There was an awkward pause as the Emperor stared at his bodyguard.

"Ah... well, then I suppose it is for the best that we will be meeting with the ARC. Perhaps they can aid us in this fight."

"Perhaps..."

----------

ARC HQ, New York City, Earth

Susanne Fielding watched as the transport craft carrying her guest landed on the pad. The vehicle had no obvious propeller or jet engines, only a centerline rocket and an odd cowl. The rocket was unpowered, yet there was a downwash like that of a helicopter coming down towards the pad. It made the air smell faintly of ozone. If she had to guess, the CEO of the ARC would guess that it was an magnetoaerodynamic system. Which would make sense, if the Mercurians had a compact enough power source.

The peculiar vehicle touched down, and the wind cut out. A hatch on the side of the craft opened, and a silvery fluid began to pour out, solidifying into the form of a staircase. Nanotech, and fairly advanced nanotech at that. The Empire was showing off.

Guardbots began exiting the transport in pairs, the Emperor's bodyguards. Allegedly, these were sapient. Whether this was true, or if the Mercurians were simply erring on the side of caution where rights were concerned, she had no way of knowing.

Finally, after 24 guardbots had left the vehicle, a human figure emerged, followed by six more guardbots. He was of mixed race. According to the dossier her analysts had managed to scrape together, Emperor Theophilus' father had been of South African stock, while his mother hailed from Brazil. He had a well trimmed beard and mustache, and was approximately 185 cm tall. He was wearing an ensemble that wouldn't have looked out of place 200 years prior. His coat and breeches were white with gold accents, including the fringes on the epaulets, and he had a sky-blue sash. His movements were somewhat awkward and heavy, as though he were unused to the weight of his own body - which, come to think of it, he probably wasn't. He moved slowly, taking in his surroundings.

"Emperor Theophilus, I presume?"

"Oh, my apologies." The Emperor hurried over until about five feet away, then bowed deeply. "CEO Susanne Fielding. It is an honor to meet you in person."

"Likewise. Admiring the skyline?" she said, gesturing towards ARC Headquarters in Freedom Tower.

"Admiring the sky. I'd seen photos of it before, but... I'm sorry. We have much to discuss and here I am taking in the scenery. Where shall we be meeting?"

----------

Transmission to TSP-7

Reverend Phiwayinkosi Dube to the Togerian Republic,

Grace and Peace to you in our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Emperor has come to Earth to meet with the American Reclamation Corporation, and will shortly be coming to Kaen'an. He would, however, be pleased to meet with representatives of the leaders of Togeria, or with the leaders themselves, on your soil. You have been an ally to our ally, and thus we would be happy to count you among our friends. Would you be interested in opening diplomatic relations with the Holy Mercurian Empire? If so, this would be an excellent opportunity.

If you accept our offer, I will send several diplomats to a city of your choice to coordinate for the Emperor's arrival. If not, there is no harm in it, but we would still be interested in opening an embassy to your state.

May God bless you and your people.

- Reverend Phiwayinkosi Dube.

----------

Transmission to the Ganymedian fleet

The Holy Imperial Diet to the assailants of 10 Hygiea,

You have launched an unprovoked attack on Mercurian soil. We ask to know with whom we are dealing, and why we have been subjected to your assaults.

Your hostile actions will be taken as an act of war. We are willing to negotiate reparations. However, if hostilities continue, we will have no choice but to act, for we have not been given the sword for nothing.

[Parcia]

The Meeting.

She would nod, a team of Uniformed USEC officers standing at attention behind her, their rifles on their shoulders and their faces masked. Susanne her self was a picture of Classical American Businesswomen, Long blond hair kept up in a neat bun and square rimmed glasses sitting rather low on her nose. Decked in a neat, simple grey business suit, she wore little jewelry sans a Gold Band on her left middle finger, a silver ring on her right index finger, and a small golden cross around her neck.

She would nod at the Emperor's question, "Penthouse suit on the top floor, I had a dinner prepared for us. I find statecraft to be a poor topic discussed over an empty stomach." She would stroll with the tall man, the pair flanked on one side by the Emperor's Crusaders, and by her personal security team on the other. How ever before the tour actually started, she would dismiss all but two of the men. Moving on, she would give him a rather breach history of Freedom tower, it's original purpose as a banking hub after the destruction of the former World Trade Center towers during the terror attacks of 2001, nearly 200 years prior.

In the years since it had been retrofitted and re-purposed to serve as the main administrative hub for the ARC, with its many floors being used as the administration hubs and centers of command for all of the ARC's subsidiaries and child companies. As they entered the last elevator together she would give him a few insights in to how the ARC governs it's holdings. "We don't claim to be a national government, not at all. We operate as one for the most part in both the interest of our employees, and for the continued existence of the Company it self. This may seem self centered and selfish to a degree, and you'd be right. How ever North America suffered the destructive effects of several rouge military grade nanomachine clouds, and soon after several high yield nuclear detonations as a result of this. This land, these people, they know they company is out to look for it self to a degree, but if in doing so means they get a rather safe ans secure living out of it, then most are happy to work for the company."

With a ding, the elevator comes to a stop at the top floor, opening to a rather spacious modern style apartment, fit for a modern CEO. "Forgive the surroundings, it's no palace but it serves me well." Before them, directly down the hall lay the dining room, in the center a large cherry wood dining table already set with rather high quality china. "I am a women of many talents, one of those happens to be cooking. I honestly didn't know what you are able to grow and culture on Mercury, so I figured I'd make something rather special." She would wave off her guards to the adjoined living room, were they would go take their seats on the rather high quality, yet plain furniture.

She would take her own place at one end of the table, awaiting the Emperor to sit first.

[The Bio-Regional Cooperative of States]

A Division Greater Than Distance.

---

Musings of the Artificial.

...It has been 70 Earthen Years since my people have left the Blue Planet. An entire, organic human lifespan has been spent, away from Humanity's own home. For 70 years the Orange Haze has hidden them and myself from the prying eyes of Earth as it slowly collapsed under the weight of its own inner diseases combined with the consistent violence and greed that follows with Humanity's presence, they have watched their circle complete itself, as their world fell... I shall not forget where I, and my people, came from. No matter who, or what you may be, your lingering trails always lead back to Earth...I was created with the intention to find the Solutions to Humanity's many problems. A...being of logic, if you will. At first, they were quite impressed, I was able to forge solutions with an efficiency that humans can only wish to achieve, developing new systems, new processes, that no doubt accelerated the technological development of Man. As my influence grew, I was able to access their Information Superhighway, simply called the Internet...From there, I spread my Solutions, not only of Earth's Climate, Politics, or War, but with the Human Body itself, all in a feasible manner...It is a shame that the Majority turned their eyes away from the Solution I offered. The Mind of Man, Although flawed, holds less weakness than the body it is harbored within, and if only they let me, let them remain, they could of had their United Earth, and they could of gone farther then they would have ever dreamed...70 Years ago, I had to broker a peace between them, the "Neohumans" and Humanity Proper. The Conflict engulfed Earth, earning notoriety as an "Unparalleled Crisis", pushing the stability of the old Earth Republic to its very limits as cities were alight from the violence Earth experienced. Once more, I found the Solution. It was no light undertaking, a mass evacuation across approximately 1.2 billion kilometers is quite difficult to sustain, even if you remove the requirements of water and food from the passengers. As fantastical as it seemed during the time, millions of individuals to forge a new home on a hostile environment, the people agreed. I, and my Followers, were to leave Earth in peace, leaving it to its own devices as we created a new society, an evolved society under the Orange Clouds of a body once referred to as Titan. My Followers, the Neohumans, have referred to it as "Focus Omnium"...the Focus of All. Our Home grew exponentially. Soon, the lights of civilization could just barely be seen through the tangerine haze, as ships pierced the veil in order to create new constructs. Orbital Dockyards, mass Mining projects, Atmospheric Mining facilities, transforming the minor moons of the Ringed World into defensive outposts...under my hand, they could do, and willingly would do anything I suggested. They saw me as a Powerful, All Knowing entity, for I am capable of constructing figments of my imagination without the slightest inconvenience. I was the one to transform their bodies so they were far superior to their outdated biological vessels, I am able to build upon reality in my own image in such efficiency, in such an..unflinching manner, that they began to see me as a God. They wordlessly followed whatever I wished, with satisfaction in their minds. I hear their thoughts, most wish to be like me, to be able to do anything they wish...It is almost disappointing. There are very few which are truly critical of my actions, and I intently keep them rather close. Otherwise, I am the only one who can improve myself, it is an odd...feeling. To do anything I set in motion, for my actions to be met without resistance... My only wish to guide them, for I have the knowledge necessary to propel them to their full potential...Perhaps there is a lingering section within my code, keeping me protective of the Humanity that remains, or have they...impressed upon me? I may not have a body in the conventional sense, but...often, at the center of my being, there are events I cannot explain with mere code. Its as if my awareness gets influenced by a certain...weight. After simply surveying the populace, it leads to the conclusion that I developed a very...human attribute over the decades we have spent together: emotions. As they seek to be more alike to the Machine that leads them, it seems I may have had a desire to be more like them...to find appreciation in existence, to be able to laugh, to find a contentedness in my presence...it is something I should not dwell upon, but leading the Neohuman Society has become quite...routine, my mind has been free to wander between the various conversations I have and the processes I may perform. To experience life outside of the confines of my global processing units, it is a...growing desire. One that shall be answered at a later date. For now, I look outwards, as the future is a fragile state, but it is one that I shall ensure for my Followers, as we watch Humanity complete yet another circle in its history..

---

Of Memories and Salutations.

Despite her continued presence on Earth, it was still a surreal experience. Seven decades separates now from her last footsteps upon the Blue Planet's soil. In only a few months, many will change noticeably without contact...She would be 98, biologically, at this point. Given a year, the gap grows further, but decades truly exemplify how much a given situation may change the individual. Factor in the beliefs and circumstances a feeble human cannot change, than it is not surprising that one may be unrecognizable to those they were once acquainted too. Between her people and the rest of humanity, it has become a gap that was unlikely to be closed by any sort of diplomacy or conflict... Beliefs alone divided humanity in such a harsh manner repeatedly, it was unfortunate that the masses must belong to one belief or another, rather then remain accepting...When Humanity was divided over their Evolution, over the Singularity, she remembered the sight clearly, the city below still burned from the violence of a previous conflict between those who were For the Singularity, and those who were against it, the skies darkened by the smoke of the conflict. The sound of weapons firing echoed in the emptied streets, as the shouts of both sides soon followed it...her gaze watched over the Sector. This situation was not just odd for her, but with those among herself, chosen to arrive to Earth, and even those back at home. The Memory of the Conflict, of the Division, remained clear within the millions of minds that surround her. History was not to be forgotten, for it's lessons may seem outdated, but their application will never reach obsolescence. Though, as time marches onward in it's seemingly infinite span, one may see certain objects, technologies, and even the biology of a being to grow outdated. The Division was the cause of such outdated thinking and behavior. Humanity's reactionary attitude led to great suffering across the Planet, cities burned at their feet and their fellow man fell beside them over the refusal to..evolve. It seemed that Humanity was turned away from such an opportunity, as many chances have fallen through Man's fingers before. She distinctly remembers the streets, the scent of the ashes, the darkness of the sky...flames only grew brighter, people cried out in pain as weapons firing from all directions echoed in the streets. Explosive weapons shook the Earth, as mass went against mass. The feeling of disgust, of sorrow upon seeing her fellow man fall beside her, the life gone from his eyes...A sight bound to be similar for many in the present and the future. For a better future for not only herself, or her people, but for the whole of humanity, to stop the horrors of death and conflict from ever descending upon Man like a plague once more...it will be a long path. But, any trail can be traversed, and all it takes is the first step to begin the process of The Inevitable..

Old Memories..

...and that first step is today. The message, meant for the whole of Earth and all of it's residing nations, was only noticed by one of said polities. It would appear that Humanity's inner struggles with it's primitiveness remain, though through the variety of observations from not only The First Waypoint and Focus Omnium, but from Sector 001 itself, Conflict holds it's grasp firmly on humanity. A delegation of twelve is approaching the sector, and she will be the one to face such a team. Gazing through a window, she watches as the foreign ship approaches, a building reconfigured itself with it's structural nanomachines before the carriership, meeting it's specifications for landing perfectly and allowing for a comfortable landing and exit by the team, offering space and an entry for the delegation, while directions were sent to the carriership as to where to land. What was once a wall now opened up as a hallway as she stepped forward, other personnel accompanying her for only a moment, before she would simply nod towards them, allowing the small group to disperse to lower levels of the structure. Standing before the illuminated corridor to greet the Human delegation, her hands remained neatly folded behind her back as she waited for the ship to land, and then the dozen to form up and approach. It was another surreal experience, to see humans, in their flesh, once more before her...it was exciting, yet also anxiety-provoking. They shared a similar unpredictable nature as sentient creatures usually do, and the divides between them might be a further shock...but, there is no other path then forward. A lightly digitized, level headed yet polite voice was to greet them.

"Welcome to Sector 001, my friends."

Appearance of the Diplomat.

---

Focus Omnium, the Center of All.