The Solar Empire Expands (FT, OPEN)

[Telvira]

Ventree System
Edge of Imperial Space
The bridge of the Scholyim-class command cruiser Herald of Wrath was wrapped in silence as the crew watched the planet grow in size on the main viewscreen. Primero Zharn Takin sat in his chair, absorbed in the reports being broadcast to him. The 3D control interface was a transparent hazy blue semi-circle filled with reports from the other ships in his armada.
“So far so good.”
“Excuse me sir?” His subordinate, a segundo by the name of Kirama, had apparently thought the statement had been addressed to her.
“Nothing, Segundo. Are all ships in position?”
Kirama nodded. “Yes, Primero. The armada awaits your orders.”
Takin raised himself from the chair. “Good. I will broadcast a message to the planet first. Once I give the order, the Itache and the Night’s Claw will open fire with SBMs. Target communications, space stations, and anything else of strategic value. Then send in the advance wave.”
“Yessir.”

Takin smoothed out his uniform. “Get me a channel to the planet’s leader.” Minutes later, the main viewscreen was split into two images: one of the planet from orbit, and another of a table full of beishalka, humanoid aliens with blue skin and head-tails, similar to Twi-leks, dressed in flowing robes.

The beishalka at the head of the table spoke first. “Human scum! You have three standard minutes to get out of this system or I swear I will blast every ship in that armada into dust, you filthy—”

“Shut up.” Takin cut him off with a sharp and commanding reply. “Now, without anymore interruptions, let me speak.” Takin cleared his throat for dramatic effect.

“Your planet, Ventree, is now hereby under the protection of the Solar Empire of Telvira. You, Councilmen, have five standard minutes to surrender to my forces, or you will face a far worse fate. If you submit peacefully, then I can assure you that your people will not be harmed and your civilization will survive mostly intact. My terms are such: all space-faring craft are to return to dock at once. All soldiers and military vehicles are to remain in their barracks. All ground and space defenses are to be powered down and evacuated. Do you accept?”

The Council Leader’s reply was a simple one: an upraised middle finger and one sentence. “Take your terms, you human filth, and shove them up your—” Takin didn’t even wait for him to finish. “Fire.”

In unison, 150 Strategic Bombardment Missiles (SBMs) streaked out of their launchers on the Mayson-class dreadnoughts Itache and the Night’s Claw. The planetary point-defense knocked down a few, but over 95% hit. Anti-matter explosions rippled across the planet’s surface as the warheads hit their targets with 100% accuracy.

“Primero, scans show no targets are still standing. They are defenseless.”
“Launch the transports.”
In the Umberto-class battlecarriers, Lightning-class assault transports left their loading/docking bays, while F4s launched to escort them down to the planet’s surface.
Primero Takin turned to Segundo Kirama. “Segundo, you have the helm. I shall be taking a nap; wake me if anything interesting happens.”
As Takin walked off the bridge, he doubted that would be likely.

[Telvira]

Some Time Later
Surface of Ventree
Quinto Fabius Marosc drew a bead on one of the beishalka firing at him and his sqaudmates from the cover of the small building. “Select rocket rounds.” Rocket rounds selected, chimed his helmet. Fabius grinned as he pulled the trigger on his MP-35, loosing a small but powerful rocket at the building, which moments later was engulfed in smoke. Someone down the line, probably a cuarto, shouted, “Move forward! For the Emperor and the Empire!” Fabius charged with the rest of his comrades, yelling at the top of his lungs. He changed to regular rifle rounds and put two bullets in the head of a beishalka who was lining up a shot with a crude-looking laser rifle. Fabius and his company, along with the other 5,000 men of the 39th Assault Regiment, continued to destroy any resistance the beishalka could put up, which, considering their planet had just been on the wrong side of a massive SBM strike, was not much.

A while later, Fabius and a sqaudmate kicked down the door to a still-standing dwelling and took in the occupants. Three men, five women, but no children. Fabius shot one man through the head and his sqaudmate did the same. Then the dragged and carried the kicking and screaming women to a waiting prisoner transport. Beishalka anatomy was the same as human, with the exception of the head-tails, and command had decreed that rather than allow an all-out rapefest, they would go about it efficiently. Men were shot or gathered up as slave labor, and the women were handed over to the notorious Infantry Support Branch of the Logistics Unit for later use. The Imperial Army had no qualms about setting up Army-run brothels—after all, the men still had to pay and the money was simply channeled back into the budget.

After three days of pathetic resistance, the beishalka continued to fight on in small pockets. But the majority of the men were either dead or in slave camps, and the women were wither dead or wishing they were. All in all, a good campaign. The first Miners would be arriving shortly, and then the world would simply be another giant strip mine.

[Telvira]

bumparoo!

[Sorgan]

OoC: May i join?

[Telvira]

OOC-Go for it.

IC-A series of bleeps resounded throughout the bridge of the Herald of Wrath. "Incoming sloops!" Primero Takin sighed. "Again? You'd think the damn aliens would've stopped trying by now. But regardless," Takin turned to his command interface and began opening links to his other ships. "Terror of Dawn and Raven will intercept and destroy." The segundos commanding the two ships chimed in confirmation.

The five beishalka sloops were sleek, fast, and aesthetically pleasing ships. However, they had few heavy weapons and poor shielding, making them more suited to raiding and scouting then full-out assaults on enemy warships. As they entered the Imperial ships' weapons envelope, Capital Missiles (CMs) streaked out from the two Abruzzi-class cruisers and began impacting on the sloop's shields, which quickly crumpled under the bombardment. The second wave impacted on the ships themselves. Within minutes, three of the sloops were nothing more than space junk. But two had gotten into range. The laser fire was not enough to hurt the Abruzzis' shields, small blue ripples showing the impacts. Then the Abruzzis fired again, and the remaining ships were reduced to dust.

"Well, now that that's over with," Takin turned to face a holo of his ground commander. "Primero Meishep, how are operations progressing planetside?"
"All goes well, Primero. We've secured all population centers, and we are now working on stamping out the small pockets of resistance. What is the ETA of those Miners?"
"They should be here tomorrow."
"Good. By your leave, Primero?"
"You are dismissed."
The holo flickered and vanished. Takin got up and began to walk. "Segundo Kirama, you have the helm. I'll be in my quarters." As Takin walked to his quarters, he decided he would begin perusing the captured beishalka women. He was commander, after all, and that job had it's perks...

[Despoticania]

ooc: Well, since this is classified as "open"...

ic:

The Colossus-class Arkship Misanthropy of the Interstellar Transhuman Trading Clan Remilliod approached the distant planet at a steady 10-gee acceleration. The antimatter engine was working at 110% in order to move the massive vessel through the vast distances separating safe jump points and the main habitable planet in this star system.

Unfortunately, 110% was not enough at all.

Misanthropy was still more than 3 AUs away when long-range scans showed that the planet formerly known as "Ventree" had completely fallen to the attacking fleet. The sentient AI-assistants of Captain Remilliod brought him a sad message: the remaiging, isolated pockets of resistance no longer controlled their homeworld - Trading Clan Remilliod could not ask them for mining rights in exchange for more advanced weapons and other defensive systems.

Once again, they had arrived too late to exploit the impending-doom-soon-to-fall over a civilization.

But perhaps there was still a faint hope. Perhaps the original inhabitants of the planet could no longer be exploited, but the attacking fleet still remained in orbit above the planet. It was now rather obvious that - like the blue-skinned aboriginals of the planet - they had ablosutely no idea of the unbeliavable wonders they were practically sitting on. Captain Remilliod decided to try and bargain with these newcomers. Perhaps they'd turn out to be as foolish as he had hoped the Ventriites to be.

Misanthropy beamed a comm-laser towards the command ship of the fleet surrounding the planet and broadcast the following, text-based message:

"Greetings and congratulations on your newest takeover. May the power of your fleet bring you great honor and many victories now and in the future. I am Captain Remilliod of the Arkship Misanthropy, a deep-space superfreighter belonging to the Interstellar Transhuman Trading Clan Remilliod. We are independent traders in information, technology, artifacts and memetics. Our vessel requires certain minerals found in large quantities on the planet – known to us as Ventree – and we’d like to purchase temporary mining rights to a certain valley near the Southern Pole. During our long journeys, we have acquired many technological marvels which, we are quite certain, would be of great value to you. We eagerly await your response.

- Yours, sincerely:
Captain Remilliod

[Telvira]

Primero Takin's summoner chimed, waking him from his light nap.
"What is it?"
"Primero, there is a trading ship appraoching the planet. It wants to purchase mining rights to a portion of Ventree. They're offering tech in return."
Takin took a moment to think. "I'll be up in a minute."
--
Takin smoothed out his uniform again, then nodded to the comms chief. A channel opened to the ship. "Superfreighter, this is Primero Zharn Takin, of the Solar Empire of Telvira commanding the task force around this planet. I are intrigued by your offer, but I must first consult my superiors. What do you intend to mine, and what do you have to offer in return for mining rights? Bear in mind that we intend to strip-mine this planet, as dictated by protocol."

OOC-Check my factbook (link in sig) for more info about what happens to conquered planets.

[Sorgan]

IC:
Back at a sorgan Star port...

A massive X-47 Class Exploration Ship takes off. The thrusters fire up blasting heat everywhere over the hanger. It lifts up off the ground out of the small hanger and out into the atmosphere. It bursts past the atmosphere into the endless scene of black...space. The ships Bridge is bustling with people.

Uni-tech CEO John Henry walked into the Bridge looking at all of the operating bridge associates. He put his hand on the captains shoulder and said "Don't Crash this ship". The captain looked up and they both smiled. Once everybody sat down the CEO gave them a briefing . "Today we are going to head towards the Blux system and get information on the planet. If there is any wildlife alert the Ship and send them to the cargo bay. If you are ordered to touch them be sure to wear protective material. Meaning Haz suits and masks and keep medicine close by. The crew members heading down to the planet are.... John Hues,". John sighed. "Jen Kulen,Fern Kline, and Commander Johnson." The CEO walked back into the corridor. The captain sat back and relaxed knowing that he wouldn't be going to the dangerous planet. The captain said "Warm up the thrusters we are leaving in... 2 hours." The pilot replied "Yes sir!" 2 hours later the engines where blasting and they where on there way to the Blux system. after 21 hours the system came into view. 3 Blue suns glared on the planets. Each on behind the other decreasing in size. The planets came into view after they passed the sun. 1 close to them that had a green/blue terrain,red water,and a green sky. The passed through the Thick atmosphere hovering approximately 130,000 above the ground. The chosen explorer's left the ship in pods. The hit the green/Blue ground and opened up the pods. They awed at the amazing landscape....


TO BE Continued!

[Despoticania]

That was fast, Captain Remilliod thought to himself when the reply arrived. That's a good sign. Perhaps these primitive fools can be bought out even more easily than I thought.

Misanthropy turned completely around and began a 7-gee deceleration. The Captain and his small command crew - as well as their AI-assistants - had a short meeting of about five seconds (their thought processes accelerated by 100-fold, of course) before finally coming to an agreement of a suitable answer. These "Telvirans" seemed proud and arrogant enough to be charmed by words alone, but perhaps they had to be offered some of the more advanced technologies too. But nothing too advanced.

Finally the comm-laser activated again and proadcast the first offer:

"We note that you are on a campaign of conquest. We spacers rarely take part in any major engagements, but we recognize the commercial opportunities these conflicts provide. As such, we are going to offer you weapon blueprints we have acquired from a long-dead alien species which, despite their nearly unheard-of level of advancement, inhabited only a single star system millions of years ago. The most destructive of these weapons are "reversed singularity bombs", which create a local bubble of unlimited spatial expansion, tearing everything within to pieces - even the gluonic bounds holding protons and neutrons together. In addition, we have "hypometric weapons", which eliminate matter by transporting it into a ramdom location in the universe. Of course, these are only a few among the many offensive technologies we are familiar with, and if you so will, we can discuss about our defensive technologies and propulsion systems as well.

The resources we need are of a special isotope of Beryllium, which we intend use in one of our future experiments. This isotope is found in small quantities in interplanetary space as well, but our scans indicate large pockets of this material just below the surface of this planet. You don't need to worry about your own mining projects, for we only intend to stay for a week or two, and Beryllium is very poor as a ship material anyway".

[Telvira]

OOC-2-Sorgan-Are you landing on the planet? If so, how'd you sneak by my armada? Explain.

As the message was played on the bridge of the Herald of Wrath, it was being sent to the Grand Palace on Corvus, where Emperor Grayshade III and his advisers listened intently.
"Well, gentlemen?" The emperor spoke up as the message ended. "What do you suggest?"
Grayshade's top adviser was the first to speak. "I believe we should refuse. This planet is our by right of conquest. We don't need any damn space-traders barging in." A chorus of agreements. Grayshade thought for a few minutes, then nodded. "Get me a link to that ship."

A few minutes later...
"Superfreighter, this is Emperor Grayshade. This world, Ventree, is ours by right of conquest. As such, I have decided to refuse your request for mining rights on this world. However, we are willing to sell you this "Beryllium," at a price we shall decide on later, but only the Solar Empire will mine Ventree."

Near the Telviran flotilla, a pair of Miners emerged from skip space and began to descend to the world below.

[Lingards]

The Imperial Class Star Destroyer Vantage dropped out of Hyperspace. It was meant to be a normal Exploration mission, but when they saw the situation taking place there was a rather large discussion on wheter to get involved. The Decsion was made among the command staff to move towards the planet and observe the situation before taking any action. Moving towards the Planet the Vantage remained at High alert.

[Despoticania]

After reading the message from the Telvirans, Captain Remilliod was furious, although only for a few microseconds. After this, the analytical side of his multi-chambered mind took control and began searching for alternatives. It was out of question to buy the worthless Beryllium from these fools. True, the planed did indeed have large pockets of this relatively rare material, but the true interests of the Interstellar Transhuman Trading Clan Remilliod lay entirely elsewhere.

Perhaps they should resort to force? As a trading clan, Remilliod was well-known for their almost manic obsession with weapon technologies, so perhaps this was the right time to finally put them into a good use? But no, using force was only for the most desperate situations - Captain Remilliod didn't want his vessel to be associated with murder an piracy. At least not too often, he thought. Perhaps, then, they could introduce a deadly plague among the planetary population and then offer a cure? No, the Captain doubted the Telvirans actually cared anything about the remaining Ventriites. At least not enough to fall for this kind of ruse.

What, then?

And suddenly, the possible answer was there - not in the Captain's mind but inside the star system. New vessel, a large and powerful warship, emerged from the depths of Hyperspace with powerful energy readings coming from its weapon systems. Perhaps this was the chance Captain Remilliod was hoping for?

Misanthropy targeted her comm-laser again, this time towards the newcomer and proadcast a message:

"Welcome to this war-torn star system, fellow space travellers. As you can see, this once beautiful planet, Ventree, with its serene wilderness and resourceful people have been utterly devastated and cruelly enslaved by the foul mongrels of the warmongering Solar Empire of Telvira. We of the Interstellar Transhuman Trading Clan Remilliod wish nothing more than see all the diverse people of this vast Cosmos live in freedom and security. We are truly heartbroken by these horrible acts and we believe – we hope – that so are you, too.

We beg you, in the name of dignity and justice, help us to liberate Ventree from the iron grip of these criminals! Together we can put an end to this madness and give the Ventriites back their home!

Yours, sincerely:
Captain Remilliod of the Arkship Misanthropy”

[Lingards]

Captain Remilliod of the Arkship Misanthropy, this is Captain Jeramy May of the Starship Vantage. Having our suspicions of the situation confirmed, the Alliance will support any liberation operations that should take place. The Vantage will moved to intercept you to plan the operation.

The Vantage headed for the hailing ship.

[Telvira]

OOC-Oh, you little snake! lol
OOC2-So are just going to use Lingards to fight for you, Despoticania, or will you be fighting as well? Once I get an answer, I will edit this into an IC post

[Despoticania]

ooc: Snake? Who - Me?! ...Bwahahaha...OK; Playing as the "Smiling Deceiver" is my trade... And yes, I'll be fighting too, although Captain Remilliod is surely planning to let Lingards do as much of the dirty work as possible.

[Telvira]

OOC-OK.

IC-"Sir, we've intercepted a transmission from the superfreighter to the new arrival. They're planning to attack us!" Takin stood there thinking for what seemed to his crew like an enternity. "All ships open fire. Majority of fire is to be directed on the new arrival. Something tells me that superfreighter's captain is thinking this up as he goes, and I doubt he's planning on putting himself in the front rank."

From the launchers of the armada, over 500 Capital Missiles (CMs) spewed from the Telviran armada, engaged sprint mode, and streaked toward the two ships. The CMs were tipped with small nuclear warheads, and their sprint mode capability meant that they were almost impossible to track by point-defense. And their use en masse ensured that even if a few got knocked out, more than enough would get through. Most were aimed at the new arrival (Lingards' ship), but a hundred were aimed at the superfreighter. Meanwhile, the some 400 F4s prepared to launch, armed with short-range FRAMs and longer-range FM3s.

OOC-I know that sounds kind of ridiculous, but my ships are built around the dual concepts of overwhelming missile barrages and heavy point-defense.

[Lingards]

"Enemy has opened fire ALERT ONE ALERT ONE!" THe Tactical officer yelled, the Bridge immediatly darkened and emergency lighting began to blare. The Crew quickly manned their battlestations. The ships shields were raised and all weapons armed. As the enemy missiles streaked towards the ship the Turbolasers began to fire an anti-missile screen. Missiles that got past were enganged by the Point-Defense Lasers. as this happened X-Wings and Y-Wings were launched and stayed in formation behind the Star Destroyer as they enemy missiles slammed into the Ships shields, which glared as they absorbed most of the impact.

[Telvira]

OOC-SO your shields survived at least 300 hits by nuclear-tipped missiles? I don't intend to be mean, it just seems a bit improbable.

Anyhoo...just waiting for Despoticania to respond to the 100 missiles-o-love I sent him...

[Lingards]

OOC: Well i thinned them out with Turolasers, and I'd say that the Star Destryer could absorb the hits, there'd be some damage to internal systems, and a fair amount of casualties, but Nuclear isn't that powerful really

[Telvira]

OOC-I guess...
Eh, whatever. In any case, your shields are definitely down, so my next wave'll getchya
So where are your fighters right now?

[Lingards]

OOC: The shields are partial, so depends where you hit. THe Fighters are currently waiting behind the Star Destroyer.

[Despoticania]

Well, Captain Remilliod thought when the combat-AIs informed him that the Telviran fleet had launched numerous missiles, I knew it couldn't be this easy... Now this is going to get dirty, no matter what. At least we tried this time, we really tried. Now, let's hope these Alliance fools can do their job well.

The Captain and his command crew moved their consciousness into tactical space display and began analyzing the situation. The Telvirans were still more than an AU away, beyond the range of most weapons systems other than missiles.

Most. But not all.

Misanthropy launced 300 "combat wasps", which were among her most numerous weapon systems. Each combat wasp was an AI-controlled missile bus/weapons platform armed with numerous smaller missiles, kinetic penetrators, particle beams and finally an antimatter detonator to-be-used after all the other weapons were either lauched or used up. The massive superfreighter itself stopped deceleration turned around again in order to let her frontal shield face the hostile ships.

Captain Remilliod shut down most of the non-essential functions of his modified brain and watched as the combat wasps began moving towards the Telvirans at a 30-gee acceleration, their miniature antimatter engines burning brighter then the surface of a blue sun.

And now for their missiles, he thought. Small nuclear warheads - primitive but powerful. And they moved fast.

Misanthropy opened fire with her long-range laser-projectors. At this range, point-defenses were still almost useless, but at the widest possible spread long-range lasers - known as "fatbeams" truly excelled in taking out incoming ornance.

But that was not good enough. A few of the missiles got though, and although the AI-controlled point-defenses did their best in order to shoot them down, three of them detonated less than 10 kilometers away from Misanthropy. The frontal shield was a ten-layered Whipple armor designed to protect the massive vessel from incoming hypervelocity projectiles and relativistic interstellar dust, and, although it stopped this attack as well, the sheer power of the explosions was felt through the entire hull of the ship, all the way into the command center. Damage reports indicated that several tons of armor had just been lost.

You will pay for this Telvirans, Captain Remilliod thought. You will pay this very dearly indeed...

As the combat wasps reached the effective firing-range, Misanthropy opened fire with her flak cannons in order to create a protective field between herself and the Telvirans.

[Lingards]

As news of the engaged met the commanders of the Starfleet, additional ship were dispatched to assist the engaged Vantage.

[Telvira]

The Telviran ships' point-defense (PD) systems opened up. Small flechette missile batteries firied hundreds of small missiles at the "combat wasps," and small hetlaser turrets shot laser beams at the missiles the "wasps" fired. Meanwhile, a second salvo of CMs, only 250, were fired at the superfreighter, while 300 of the F4 strikecraft launched from the Umberto-class fleet carriers, armed with a mix of FRAMs (Fighter Rocket, Anti-Matter) and FM3 missiles. These formed up, then streaked towards the Star Republic ship, half moving to engage the fighters with FM3s, the other half moving to strike the ship itself with FRAMs.

[Telvira]

ORABT-Telviran Armada
1x Scholyim-class Command Cruiser
8x Mayson-class Dreadnoughts
11x Abruzzi-class Cruisers
3x Umberto-class Fleet Carriers

OOC-A glorified bump