Operation Brimstone [IC/FT/SIGNUPS]

[Callistos]

OPERATION BRIMSTONE
OOC Thread

---

It was now a week into the siege of New Carthage, with Callistian ships hammering the planets surface from orbit with kinetic and plasma weapons. Military bases, air fields and fleet docks had all been peppered with rounds from the sky, destroying the Free Hyperion Defense Force's one key advantage, equipment. For all intents and purposes, the Workers' Army of Callistos was the superior fighting force, battle hardened and fanatic, massive in size with an even larger pool to recruit from. Their equipment, while inferior to Free Hyperion, was still decent for their tech level, with reliable Gauss rifles and armour, and rudimentary shielding. Their ships and larger vehicles were capable of using plasma based a light weapons. Now, with the destruction of several key bases on New Carthage, the playing field was tilting in the favour of Callistos. The Local Free Hyperion defense fleet had retreated, leaving Callistos time to prepare for stage two. Full scale invasion of the Free Hyperion Republic.

---

CSS Infinity Spear, Marathon Class-Carrier
Worker's 215th Expeditionary Force, 101st Shock Regiment
Above New Carthage, April 6th, 2330

"Right camaradas, move your asses!" Someone shouted over the noise in the Infinity Spear's hangar bay, "We are moving out, dropping in in 5 mikes! Operation Brimstone is a go!" The voice was barely audible over the sound of roaring engines, dropships, choppers and airships getting ready to take off and head for the surface. Men and women of the Callistian Worker's Army were also bustling about here and there, carrying weapons and equipment, lining up in formation around the hangar bay. In about 5 minutes, they would insert into the Free Hyperion Capitol of Constantinople by drop pods, freeing the cities proletariat and destroying the Local Defense Force.

"Alright! Listen up!" Above the cacophony, a man in full kit roared, hopping up onto the tread of a Mammoth Tank. His name was Lt. Colonel Hugo Carrasco, and young and fanatic soldier, who had fought for the Worker's Party during the revolution. Heavy set and mean looking, he was loyal to the death, willing to give up everything for his men and his country, "Camaradas, today is the next step in our galactic revolution. It is an honour to see you all before me today, and it will be even better to see you smashing the capitalist dogs into the mud!" His soldiers respond with a mighty 'hurrah!', "Then we'll show those bastards how to fight! They thought that left to our own devices we would crumble, that we were living in a fantasy, but today we prove them wrong! Today, we show them that the Workers' Army bows to no one! Today, we show them the might of Callistos! Camaradas, get to your pods, we go to war!"

Moments later, in the Free Hyperion Capitol, the screams of civilians could be heard as Callistian drop pods fell from the sky. The Sky Scrapers of Constantinople reflected them as the plummeted towards the ground, carrying the first wave of the invasion force.

[Kyrenaia]

RKS Mutraqa, under the command of Admiral Amin Bey.
A day away from the Hyperion-System.
The Admiral in command of the Expeditionary Force Mutraqa frowned.
He had been longer in military service then the person on the other end of the communications connection was even alive, but only because he was the Crown Prince, he was Lord-Commander of the Fleets, her highest superior. He was intelligent and, admittedly, good looking, that was not the question, but he lacked experience.
"So...", the Admiral said with a nod, "Callistos finally invaded New Carthage."
A week ago, the long-range sensors on several sensor-posts along their unofficial border picked up signs of fighting in the Hyperion-System, which ended with a sensor-picket being dispatched - from there, things went as Razia officially condemned the invasion of Free Hyperion by Callistos, until now without a reply.
The picket stayed on station, its small size aiding it in being undetected so far.
"It looks that way.", Crown Prince Ilia ibn-Razia replied, "Her Majesty, the Sultana wishes, that you go into the system, within their sensor range, to make a point. At the same time, she will compose a message. Stay on high alert."
The Admiral looked over to his RKA-Counterpart, General Fadia bint-Amal, who nodded. "Self-explanatory, Your Highness.", the General replied, "Anything else?"
"Try to stay in one piece." With that, the connection fizzled out.
The two high-ranking officers exchanged glances. "We are making a point. Not going in to crush these idiots, but making a point.", the Admiral repeated, "Did we loose all balls?!"
An hour later, the 152 ships, including fleet train and troop transports, of the Expeditionary Force Mutraqa jumped to hyperspace. A day later, they would arrive in the Hyperion-System - to make a point. It was gunboat-policy, clear and simple, but that was not something the Admiral considered to be a good policy.
At the same time, a message was send from the Kyrenaian capitol of Utica:

To: Antonius Emeterio Del Lobo, Generalissimus of the Democratic People's Republic of Callistos.
From: Razia Sultana of Kyrenaia.
Subject: The Invasion of New Carthage.

Dear Sir,
We write to you for the purpose of making it known to you, that We are displeased about your current affair with Free Hyperion. In that sense, We would like to re-emphasize, that We wish for you to contact the Government of Free Hyperion and ask for peace.
As long as Kyrenaia exists, we stood in for those, who were bullied and attacked by those, who thought that they could bully others into submission, putting them in their place. This will not be any different.

A failure to reply from your side will be seen by Us as a declaration of unwillingness to peace and will be acted upon accordingly.
You have one standard-day to reply.

Signed,
Razia Sultana,
Sultana of Kyrenaia, Ilkhana of Utica.

[New Roman Empire]

Emperor Tedian
216th Royal Expeditionary force
TES Derlict, Above New Carthage

An AI popped up in front of the Captain and Emperor Tedian, "Warning I am readying ship signatures above New Carthage. They are reading to be Callistian ships, advise we arrive with weapons and shields up. I would also advise formation D-43 once we drop out of FTL." Informed Javik the AI was now looking out into the expanse waiting for a response.

"Thank you Javik, we shall prepare to do as you have advised, Captain Daln prepare the order I want this to be ready so when we drop out of FTL we can move right away and launch fighters and bombers as well." Ordered Tedian as he now put his helmet on and saw the timer till they would drop out of FTL. Captain Daln nodded and walked over to his station and dispatched the orders. Emperor Tedian checked his weapons and assault rifle and then he touched the plasma sword that was on his back. He had no doubt his blade would taste blood today, but there was going to be a casualties he knew that.

"Droping out of FTL in 5...4...3...2...1...mark!" Barked Javik as the fleet dropped out of FTL, they were no doubt the largest ships in the battlefield at present and they were going to use that to their advantage. "Fighters and bombers are launching as we speak, we should get into position no doubt our allies on the surface would like assistance when we break this fleet line." Informed Javik as he was detecting projectiles leaving ships heading towards the surface. While the fighter and bombers were flying towards the hostile fleet and the fleet was moving into position to fire.

[Fleuri and Paix]

Hyperion system (OPNAME: “Paso”)
Hyperion d – New Carthage
Homeship Kastelo
OPDATE xxxxx.27.777.550

< GARDE GARDE GARDE – NOW ENTERING PASO OPS AREA – PLEASE STAND BY >

The Red Mantevin battleplate eases out of hyperspace. It is an unlovely ship, two squashed pyramids stuck base to base, one vertex forward. It is pierced through the middle with a V-shaped beam, bending backwards. The points bear spheres, which, as the ship moves sedately into realspace, are revealed to be drives, glowing a searing blue – primary attitude control thrusters, on gimbal mounts, moving subtly to keep the ship on its desired course. Heatsinks surmounting the thruster arms glow red from the immense heat generated by forcing the ship's mass through flashdown.

Further flashes signal the arrival of Kastelo's escorts, and only then does its scale become apparent. It dwarfs the eight-hundred-metre, heavily modified Fleurien Peacemaker-class cruiser pulling into a protective position ahead of it. The battleplate must be more than three kilometres long from prow to stern, and only slightly less tall. It is far narrower than it is long, but its width still exceeds one kilometre at its widest point. The 'reaction thrusters' on its drive arms are the size of dreadnoughts' main drives. The three main drives of the ship itself are twenty times their size.

The battleplate does not have the typical lingering flashdown radiance of smaller ships exiting FTL. Passive sensors show why: the radiance has been severely blueshifted by exotic spacetime effects stemming from the sheer mass of the ship. Instead of light, the radiance has been converted into ionizing radiation. The ship and its attendants briefly flare cyan across their hulls as their energy shields intercept the deadly X-rays.

:: ATTENTION FREE HYPERION FORCES – WE ARE FRIENDLY – DO NOT FIRE ::

Across the entire squadron, hulls that were flat and featureless up to this point come alive with activity. Panels armoured against hyperspace flux withdraw; main gun banks rise up and click into place, turning to line up on the largest ships of the Callistian fleet. Torpedo tube hatch covers move aside on rails and lock open.

On Kastelo's four forward faces, featureless hull irises outward to reveal ports. The ship's main guns rise out of them. They are deceptively small, looking almost pointlessly tiny against the vast expanse of hull – but they are heavy plasma lances that fire searing rays which can hole a Fleurien light cruiser in 15 seconds flat, and they are locked on the Callistian fleet.

:: ATTENTION CALLISTIAN FORCES – BREAK OFF AND WITHDRAW IMMEDIATELY – FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN YOUR ELIMINATION ::

The internal announcement, distributed only to the Mantevin captains, is much more terse.

< BONA CASO – BONSANCON – IRI IRI IRI >

Good hunting – good luck – go, go, go!

[New Communist and Socialist Unions]

Small ripples started to form around orbit of Callistos, the ripples intensified and intensified until a small rip in space and time formed, the rip, which was purplish in color and ejected a eerie pink mist, started to grow in size. Eventually it grew to being three thousand meters in diameter, the ejection of the mysterious pink mist intensified to the point that it seemingly smothered the entire rip in pink mist.

The blight in space and time seemed to have become static after that, and the black tip of a ship passed through the rip. An entire ship, covered in what seemed to be rotting flesh oozing an odd liquid whose smell was questionable, would then appear, connected to the black tip. It would then appear to flop in space in a way like the whales do in the oceans of the homeworld. Hordes of smaller ships, fighters, would then follow it like bees. After some more moments, an entire fleet was ejected through the purple portal. Said portal then collapses on itself, it would then cause a explosion of pinkish mist, dispersing said mist throughout the system at sub-light speeds.

On the bridge of the enormous flagship, stood General Griev. A veteran general of the Rimworld Remnant, a collapsed state, Griev would flee from his now collapsed homeland and find asylum in the NCSU. Due to his extraordinary skill, he was quickly turned into a general of the professional daemon hordes that the NCSU army was. Back to the bridge, it seemed that he was observing the entire thing.

A message was sent...
//TO ALL CAPITALISTS BLIGHTING THIS SYSTEM: LEAVE THIS WAR AND INTERVENE SOMEWHERE ELSE.//

[Xiron Federation]

[DELETED]

[The Interstellar Federation]

Orbit of New Carthage

The background of space was distorted as an array of spirals twirled the visible spectrum. Seconds later the massive bow of a starship sliced through space-time and it's length slithered out of another dimension. A large printed text was shining on the side of the ship: IFS William, a Hastings-class Assault Carrier. 25 other starships also exited out of warpspace, escorting the 16km warship into the orbit of the Free Hyperion - controlled world of New Carthage. The AI contacted the Captain, 35 year old veteran, Jones Kabrachi, about multiple fleets in orbit around the planet.

"Thank you, all hands on deck!"

The crew assembled to their posts and began surveying of the data zone via quantum sensors. "Sir, multiple ships in primary weapons range."

"Alright, deploy twenty squadrons of fighters and get all other ships on combat alert."

"Yes sir."

In a few minutes, over five hundred fighters and bombers were already surrounding the 255th Interstellar Expeditionary Force, heading straight for the Free Hyperion capital.

A short coded broadcast was sent to all designated Free Hyperion allies: "This is the 255th Interstellar Expeditionary Force, we are friendlies and are inbound, over."

[Olimpiada]

---

Clockwork, Olimpiada
Eastern Commerce Initiative headquarters

---

Interestingly enough, it had been centuries since the "Eastern" part of the ECI's name had meant anything. However, Olimpiadan businessmen did like tradition, and Constantinos Valos was no different. The name would stay, as it had for the last few centuries. His office was perched on the top of the company headquarters, just above the designated fly-zones for the ecumenopolis's extensive transportation network. From his office, he could see the stream of flying transports screaming through the skies below through the semi-transparent screen of his computer, the holograms projected onto a flat sheet in midair.

Of course, the cars weren't nearly as worth paying attention to as the reports of the commies invading New Carthage. That by itself wasn't a problem. Nations invaded one another all the time, it was expected. What wasn't expected was for the damn communists to do it. They were a problem. Communists were rarely willing to trade, and were entirely unwilling to sell assets that the ECI could use to expand.

There was only one effective solution to these situations, he had found: Violence. Usually of the utterly excessive sort. Throwing lives into the drain wasn't the cheapest option, but in this case, the extra cost was worth the potential payoff. Expansion of the Callistan state would result in a massive income reduction in the Sagittarius arm, and he wasn't ready to let that happen.

His finger stabbed frantically at the intercom button that was integrated into the mahogany of his desk.

"Yes, Military Section? I'll be needing two of our satellite PMC companies, and the Ten Thousand," he said, not even waiting for the diplomatic small talk that would have ordinarily happened. "Send their respective leaders up here, ASAP."

After about twenty minutes, three people stepped up from the short flight of stairs that led down into his office's reception area. They were all quite different looking. One was a woman in a modern business outfit, wiry and ready for action, but utterly harmless (to the untrained eye, that was). Ariadne Nicola, head of Purple Phoenix Securities. Following her, was a man in lightweight military clothing, his muscular body pockmarked with battle scars and implants that were there to hold his body together as much as they were to give him an additional edge in combat. Justinian Chronis, head of the Drakon Military Cooperative.

Finally, the last of the three arrived, and he was quite mysterious. He was clothed head to toe in the full battle gear of the Ten Thousand, the metal plate of his combat goggles and mask utterly obscuring his face from any scrutiny. The rest of his body was covered in combat equipment, from the form fitting bodysuit standard for his unit to the articulated carbon fiber plating covering up large sections of his back and limbs. He was Androu Mingas, head of the enigmatic Ten Thousand, the ECI's elite combat unit.

"Do you all know why I called you here?"

"No sir," replied Ariadne, shaking her head.

"Haven't the foggiest, sir," said Justinian, shrugging. Androu gave no response.

"Recently, Callistos began an invasion of Free Hyperion. I wouldn't expect you to know much about it, it's nowhere near the Scutum-Centaurus arm of the galaxy. That said, this does pose a serious problem. Callistos is a communist state, one that will seriously hamper our operations in that area. So, I've got a simple task for you three: Remove them from New Hyperion," said Constantinos, staring at them with a calculating glare. Would they be up to the task? From what he knew of the situation, his forces would likely be outnumbered.

"Understood, sir. What should we expect from the enemy?" asked Ariadne, unknowingly mirroring some of Constantinos's concerns.

"Being a national military, they likely have numerical superiority. That is fine. They're likely technologically inferior. Be smart about it, yeah?" He blew off the concerns in an attempt to conceal his true worries about the situation. "You're free to handle the situation as you see fit, but I'd suggest a visit to our CMO* beforehand, see what he thinks."

They all nodded, and headed out, leaving Constantinos alone with his thoughts.

---

Orbit of New Carthage, Hyperion System

---

Forty ships appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. That was true enough, supposed Justinian, as he recalled what he could about the function of the blink drive. It didn't cause the ships to enter any sort of different space like other drives did. The ship simply disappeared from one place, and reappeared in another. He'd once listened to a very boring lecture on the matter during his short time at Tlacopan University, and decided that he didn't give a shit, as long as it took him places. And it had indeed taken him places, places full of far more ships than he'd suspected.

"Ariadne, this wasn't supposed to happen!" He spoke into the receiver that let their two fleets communicate in a very agitated tone.

"You think I don't know that? Last I checked, we were supposed to show up, shit on a handful of commies, and leave," she replied, the irritation in her voice quite evident.

"Fuck it, I'm sending a message to our new neighbors, and preparing for a fight. Get your railguns ready," he said, hanging up before picking up again to send a message to the nearby ships, who he didn't know for shit.

"Greetings everyone, this is the head of the Drakon Military Cooperative, Justinian Chronis. We're here to kick the shit out of some commies, and I hear that several of you are with us. For those of you that aren't, that happen to be listening, I'd advise fucking off pretty soon.

His casual tone was a hallmark of the attitude most of his crew had. Unlike Ariadne's team, and much unlike Androu's, the DMC wasn't as disciplined, focusing instead on the fighting ability of individuals. This had the adverse affect of making them tactically inept in many situations, but they were a force to be reckoned with in hectic close quarters fighting. This, fortunately for them, would likely be the space equivalent.

The shaped nukes were loaded into the railguns. The shields were charged. FTL drives were cooling down. Engines were ready to move. The forces of the Eastern Commerce Initiative were ready to do battle.

[Callistos]

El Generalissimus
Villa De Lobo, Santa Dominica, Callistian Capital
Hestia, April 6th, 2330

The sun was rising above the Callistian Capital City, as the leader of Callistos, El Generalissimus Antonius Del Lobo stood on his porch, overlooking a river that slowly flowed past his Villa. It was a warm and comfortable morning, as the Generalissimus stood in the quiet, listening to his city waking up as he enjoyed a cup of coffee. It was to be a long day, Antonius knew, dealing with foreign diplomats as well as repercussions from his move on New Carthage, but for now he could enjoy the peace and quiet.

"Feliz cumpleaños!" He started, almost spilling his coffee as a women announced behind him, "Happy Birthday!" It was El Generalissimus' wife, already dressed for the day in a white suit and tie. She kissed him on the cheek, before raising her own coffee, taking in the view from the porch.

"A hell of a birthday." Antonius muttered, "By the end of the day we'll have taken Constantinople, and then New Carthage." He chuckled quietly to himself, "Maybe I'll have it wrapped up in a bow, and red paper."

"It might not go as smoothley as planned..." Antonius' wife, Gabriela began.

"Why? You're telling me a bunch of mercenaries are any match for the Workers' Army? They'll be lucky if they get steamrolled by our boys."

Gabriela passed him a folder, which Antonius flipped open. Inside it was a small collection of telegrams from foreign powers, threatening the use of military action if El Generalissimus did not withdraw his forces, "Well... Why didn't they just say they wanted us to back off? I'd be more than happy to give in to their every demand." He snorted, "Relay word to our commanders... I want a parade in the Capital of New Carthage by the end of the day, to celebrate our momentous victory."

To: Sultana of Kyrenaia, Commander of Couronnois Federation
From: El Generalissimus Antonius Del Lobo
Subject: The Invasion of New Carthage

We deny your request to stand down and negotiate, and will continue with our campaign against the Regime of Free Hyperion. We will in turn like to extend to one on opportunity to withdraw from this system, and stay out of the affairs of our people. Any action against our government or military will be seen as a premeditated act of war, and will be dealt with as such. Do NOT proceed, or face the consequences.

CSS Infinity Spear, Marathon Class-Carrier
77th Expeditionary Fleet
Above New Carthage, April 6th, 2330

"Sir, we're picking up multiple warp signatures."

"What's the source?" Admiral Carlos Menendez asked, from the bridge of the Marathon Class-Carrier Infinity Spear, the vessel that would act as the command post for the invasion. Admiral Menendez, an older gentlemen stroked his beard, watching a map displaying the city of Constantinople down below them, with drop pods fast approaching it. He looked up to one of his radar technicians who had spoken up, "Is it the Free Hyperion Defense Fleet?"

"Negative, sir, signatures don't match any known make of Hyperion Jump Drive. These are something else..." The Techie spoke, "Coming up on the viewfinder, now." Soon, the Admiral found himself staring down a relatively smaller fleet, but one of unknown capabilities. That was never something that Admiral Menendez wanted to deal with. "Apparently the hailed HIGHCOM already."

"And what did they say?"

"They wanted us to stand down, sir. HIGHCOM told them to fuck off."

"Fantastic. Get all hands to battle stations, if they fire..." It was just then that sirens began to sound through the bridge, with the ships AI announcing, "Hostile boogies inbound! Prepare for contact starboard!"

"Damn! Battle stations! Looks like the war has finally found us, comrades!"

"Sir, inbound comms." A radio technician announced, "Putting it on screen now!"

"Greetings everyone, this is the head of the Drakon Military Cooperative, Justinian Chronis. We're here to kick the shit out of some commies, and I hear that several of you are with us. For those of you that aren't, that happen to be listening, I'd advise fucking off pretty soon.

"Yeah? They want to fucking dance, aye? Open fire!"

CSS Infinity Spear, Marathon Class-Carrier
Worker's 215th Expeditionary Force, 101st Shock Regiment
Above New Carthage, April 6th, 2330

"Brace for landing! 3... 2... BRACE!" With a thud, the drop pod hit the hard pavement, crushing a minivan beneath it. Seconds later, the door swung open, and a squad of Callistian Soldiers hopped out. They were not alone, and more and more pods began to plummet from the sky, landing on roads and buildings as they came down. Frightened civilians ran for cover as the first wave of the invasion force touched down.

[Kyrenaia]

El Generalissimus
Villa De Lobo, Santa Dominica, Callistian Capital
Hestia, April 6th, 2330

The sun was rising above the Callistian Capital City, as the leader of Callistos, El Generalissimus Antonius Del Lobo stood on his porch, overlooking a river that slowly flowed past his Villa. It was a warm and comfortable morning, as the Generalissimus stood in the quiet, listening to his city waking up as he enjoyed a cup of coffee. It was to be a long day, Antonius knew, dealing with foreign diplomats as well as repercussions from his move on New Carthage, but for now he could enjoy the peace and quiet.

"Feliz cumpleaños!" He started, almost spilling his coffee as a women announced behind him, "Happy Birthday!" It was El Generalissimus' wife, already dressed for the day in a white suit and tie. She kissed him on the cheek, before raising her own coffee, taking in the view from the porch.

"A hell of a birthday." Antonius muttered, "By the end of the day we'll have taken Constantinople, and then New Carthage." He chuckled quietly to himself, "Maybe I'll have it wrapped up in a bow, and red paper."

"It might not go as smoothley as planned..." Antonius' wife, Gabriela began.

"Why? You're telling me a bunch of mercenaries are any match for the Workers' Army? They'll be lucky if they get steamrolled by our boys."

Gabriela passed him a folder, which Antonius flipped open. Inside it was a small collection of telegrams from foreign powers, threatening the use of military action if El Generalissimus did not withdraw his forces, "Well... Why didn't they just say they wanted us to back off? I'd be more than happy to give in to their every demand." He snorted, "Relay word to our commanders... I want a parade in the Capital of New Carthage by the end of the day, to celebrate our momentous victory."

To: Sultana of Kyrenaia, Commander of Couronnois Federation
From: El Generalissimus Antonius Del Lobo
Subject: The Invasion of New Carthage

We deny your request to stand down and negotiate, and will continue with our campaign against the Regime of Free Hyperion. We will in turn like to extend to one on opportunity to withdraw from this system, and stay out of the affairs of our people. Any action against our government or military will be seen as a premeditated act of war, and will be dealt with as such. Do NOT proceed, or face the consequences.

CSS Infinity Spear, Marathon Class-Carrier
77th Expeditionary Fleet
Above New Carthage, April 6th, 2330

"Sir, we're picking up multiple warp signatures."

"What's the source?" Admiral Carlos Menendez asked, from the bridge of the Marathon Class-Carrier Infinity Spear, the vessel that would act as the command post for the invasion. Admiral Menendez, an older gentlemen stroked his beard, watching a map displaying the city of Constantinople down below them, with drop pods fast approaching it. He looked up to one of his radar technicians who had spoken up, "Is it the Free Hyperion Defense Fleet?"

"Negative, sir, signatures don't match any known make of Hyperion Jump Drive. These are something else..." The Techie spoke, "Coming up on the viewfinder, now." Soon, the Admiral found himself staring down a relatively smaller fleet, but one of unknown capabilities. That was never something that Admiral Menendez wanted to deal with. "Apparently the hailed HIGHCOM already."

"And what did they say?"

"They wanted us to stand down, sir. HIGHCOM told them to fuck off."

"Fantastic. Get all hands to battle stations, if they fire..." It was just then that sirens began to sound through the bridge, with the ships AI announcing, "Hostile boogies inbound! Prepare for contact starboard!"

"Damn! Battle stations! Looks like the war has finally found us, comrades!"

"Sir, inbound comms." A radio technician announced, "Putting it on screen now!"

"Greetings everyone, this is the head of the Drakon Military Cooperative, Justinian Chronis. We're here to kick the shit out of some commies, and I hear that several of you are with us. For those of you that aren't, that happen to be listening, I'd advise fucking off pretty soon.

"Yeah? They want to fucking dance, aye? Open fire!"

CSS Infinity Spear, Marathon Class-Carrier
Worker's 215th Expeditionary Force, 101st Shock Regiment
Above New Carthage, April 6th, 2330

"Brace for landing! 3... 2... BRACE!" With a thud, the drop pod hit the hard pavement, crushing a minivan beneath it. Seconds later, the door swung open, and a squad of Callistian Soldiers hopped out. They were not alone, and more and more pods began to plummet from the sky, landing on roads and buildings as they came down. Frightened civilians ran for cover as the first wave of the invasion force touched down.

To: Antonius Emeterio Del Lobo, Generalissimus of the Democratic People's Republic of Callistos.
From: Razia Sultana of Kyrenaia.
Subject: The affair of Free Hyperion.

Dear Sir,
in the light of your reply, and the incorporated denial of Our request concerning your dealings with Free Hyperion, We are forced to inform you about the existance of a formal state of war between our nations.
This decision has not come to Us lightly. May your cities burn, your fields be salted and your planets burned to ashes.

Signed,
Razia Sultana,
Sultana of Kyrenaia, Ilkhana of Utica.

RKS Mutraqa, under the command of Admiral Amin Bey.
Edge of the Hyperion-System.
The battlegroup under the command of Admiral Bey fell out of Hyperspace at the edge of the system, combat ready and with new orders, orders which were relayed by the commanding Admiral: "All Hands, Battle Stations!", he called to his staff, which began to trandmit the order, "We are at war with Callistos - let's make sure, that it is the last one they fight!"
"Multiple contacts within the system, they are engaging the Callistan forces.", one sensor officer reported sharply.
"Contact them.", the Admiral ordered before he continued:

"This is Admiral Amin Bey onboard the Command Ship Mutraqa of the Royal Kyrenaian Navy. We are here to defend Free Hyperion and we will do so with your help. May the enemy fall before us."

He nodded, biding his officer to send the message on broadband.
From there on out, he would act.
"Fleet Train and Troop Transports stay here.", he ordered with a nod, "Battlegroup Yatagan, advance in groups of three, broad formation, CBG 15, cover them from behind, HCG 25, split and cover the flanks, we are the shaft. All guns on every hostile target, all squadrons, prepare for launch!"
"Yes, Sir!", came the confirmation.
"Advance towards Free Hyperion."
That was the time, when his flagship's sensors finally compiled a workable picture.

[Fleuri and Paix]

:: WE WILL NOW COMPEL YOUR COMPLIANCE

The Vengema rises into place. It is the Peacemaker-class cruiser flying ahead of the colossal Kastelo. At eight hundred metres in length, it looks minuscule in comparison to the battleplate, but it is one of the largest ships in regular Fleurien service – that is to say, it was in Fleurien service before the Mantevins took it in battle. The modifications ordered by the Ruling Conclave have sanded down its outline in some places and created outcroppings in others. In some places, there is a roiling sheen across its surface that almost looks organic.

The biggest modification, however, is almost invisible – a black port in the centre of the flat, vertical prow. It looks small and inconsequential – just large enough for a man of average height to stand in. It is the Vengema's main gun. In sharp contrast to the Paixois magnetic cannons which are the signature of FDF regulars, the Vengema boasts a fixed bound plasma lance, designed to spear reactors and tear ships apart. Its own rail guns are smaller-calibre, designed to hole corvettes and dispose of troublesome patrollers, but what the Vengema lacks in tonnage of tungsten discharged, it makes up for in wattage.

Small blue lights flare across the Vengema's matte-grey hull as it lines up its nose, and its plasma lance, on a promising-looking target in the Callistian fleet. Accurized targeting sensors work in sync with the main engine computer to bring the ship onto target. At this range, a few degrees' difference in heading counts. The lance fires, a searing blue-white beam, needle-thin, drawing a line from the Vengema to its target in the Callistian fleet.

Behind it, Kastelo's hull seems to come to life once again. A little more than two dozen light plasma cannons unfold and rise from their recesses in the ship's hull, swivelling on turret mounts that give them a near-360-degree cone of fire. They have only a minuscule fraction of the wattage of Vengema's main plasma lance. That's all they need. The ice-cool tactical intelligence which calls Kastelo home has noted that the Callistians deploy their armies by drop pod. If the techbase of the Federation is any indication, this should be more than sufficient for that kind of work.

As one, the fleet rises out of Kastelo's arc of fire, and the battleplate begins to sweep the area below the Callistian fleet with plasma fire, with one objective: to eliminate as many Callistian troops as it can, before they have the chance to breathe New Carthage's air.

[Olimpiada]

---

Orbit of New Carthage, Hyperion System

---

A lattice of hexagonal lights bloomed periodically outside of Justinian Chronas's field of view. He swung his arms wide open and laughed, a deep maniacal roar.

"It's happening, lads! Prow forward, and into hell!" he shouted, quoting a book he'd once read about the Olimpiadan Civil War and the earliest days of the Jihad of Man's Divinity. He cocked his head sideways, looking over his well muscled shoulders. "Weapons, fire a broadside at them, and a turret loaded with nukes for good measure. Chop chop." The order was mirrored across the five destroyers and ten cruisers he controlled as well, the statement echoing across the quantum entanglement network of the DMC's fleets.

A relatively short ten thousand kilometers away, Ariadne was doing something similar. Her fleet, instead of reveling in its ability to mouth off, had flown off to the side, aiming its turrets at the Callistian fleets. Shells flew at unimaginable speeds, the occasional one lighting up in a beam of nuclear fire as its charge went off, sending a plume of iron plasma screaming towards the Callistian ships for an eyeblink at temperatures and speeds that would gouge armor with ease.

"Shit, how many nukes do we have left?" asked Ariadne, frantically working the holographic screen before her, slender fingers dancing over the buttons inlaid into her command station. She knew that the maneuver had been risky, but it was generally one that paid off when these two groups worked together.

A calm female voice answered her, PFS's fleet administration assistant. "One hundred and-" the robot briefly recalculated as a cruiser detonated in a colorful explosion of hydrogen plasma and metal. "Recalculation: Ninety seven, total."

"Excellent," said Ariadne, scarcely paying attention as she edited the orders for a destroyer on her screen. "All units, keep firing! Broadsides too, dammit!"

From behind, the one battleship and three cruisers of the Ten Thousand simply watched. Then, they acted. There were eight brief flashes: Four where they were, and four more where they'd used auxillary FTL to gain a strategic combat advantage to jump in right on top of a Callistian ship (OOC: You pick what it is, I don't care tbh) while drowning the main FTL in a rain of emergency coolant.

Drop pods originally designed for planetfall rained from the bottom of a cruiser as the more powerful battleship hugged its three comrade vessels close to within its energy shield, which had recovered faster due to the ship's larger reactors. And the whole while, you could easily hear a pin drop on the bridge of the main fleet where Androu calmly doled out orders by way of a holographic screen, still wearing his unit's hallmark combat outfit, still as unfathomable as ever before.

[New Roman Empire]

Emperor Tedian
216th Royal Expeditionary force
TES Derlict, Above New Carthage

Tedian saw the new signatures and saw the messages painting those fleets red or green. "Order fighters and bombers into attack runs, I want that fleet to be in flames, also have the fleet open fire when ready." Ordered Tedian as he saw the holographic image of the battle in front of him. As the fleets guns roared to life plasma was sent flying towards the hostile fleet. The main guns were still charging up but soon enough they would be soon joining the fire. "Once we have punched a whole in their fleet I want the fleet to move into a defensive posture there so we can start to land forces on the ground. Javik, I want you to keep me posted on anything that develops. Captain you have the bridge, you have your orders." Informed Tedian as he nodded to the captain who returned with a crisp salute and Tedian walked off the bridge.

Captain Daln was looking over the situation and was smiling as the fighters were racing towards the hostile fleet, hopefully the other allies will be joining on the fight and force this fleet to retreat. "Javik, I want to know what is out there, scan any ships you can but do it stealthily only a surface scan nothing invasive." Ordered Captain Daln as he looked out from the bridge to see the scene before him.

[New Communist and Socialist Unions]

In Orbit of New Carthage

Seeing everything from the bridge of his ship, Griev slowly shook his head. "Start up the battle stations, I want focused fire on that enemy fleet," he ordered, "Also, prepare our starfighters, then send them to the bottom of that fleet or any blind spots that can be spotted by the AI now.", and hordes upon hordes of starfighters flooded out of the abominable, rot covered ships like disease ridden pus. Activating their shields, the fighters flew down to the bottom and began firing, both plasma and a shell filled with an odd pulsating meat. One shell hit something and said rotting meat was dispersed throughout a one meter radius, and it seemingly spread slowly, fooling with any electrical wires. The rest of the fleet was now approaching.

[New Roman Empire]

In Orbit New Carthage

Captain Daln was on the bridge when Javik popped up, " Warning, hostile fighters inbound, advise extreme caution there is some kind of organic material on the fighters. Warning detecting said organic substance on the hull of the ship, recommend immediate actions to try to remove the substance. The substance is working is way through to the wires, I would advise redirecting fighters back to the fleet to have them engage the fighters." Javik brought up a holo image of the ship and pinpointed the location of the meat on the ship.

"You cant be serious, launch the rest of our fighters to engage the hostile fighters. If they want what a taste of Terliran power is we shall give them a taste. Keep direct some of our ships to hit that fleets below us, I want the rest of the fleet to fire on the communist fleet." Ordered Captain Daln as he more of the fighter squadrons form the Second Warframe Class carrier were launched and started to engage the hostile fighters.

[New Communist and Socialist Unions]

In Orbit of New Carthage

The starfighters, flying under the enemy ship and firing as much plasma and meat at it, finally saw some adversaries of their own caliber. Enemy fighters started to approach the mini fleet of fighters, and in response, the starfighter fleet started to fire plasma and homing meat missiles at the enemy. The bigger fleet also saw some adversaries of their own size arriving, as a detachment of the enemy fleet began to approach them. They prepared a psyker field, a field that accelerates the growth of the meat. And began firing meat at them, they also approached them, with the intention of ramming into them and flooding their ships with NCSU troopers.

[New Roman Empire]

In Orbit of New Carthage

Several of fighters exploded in the first volley of plasma and meat. Once the fighters were in ranged they opened fire with posotronic plasma weapons at the hostile fighters. the fighters ganged up in groups trying to pick off multiple fighters at one time.

Meanwhile, Captain Daln was looking over the situation. He had moved the flagship of the fleet to eliminate the new hostile fleet that was slightly smaller than theirs. "Warning, detecting some sort of field we have just entered some kind of bubble and the meat is growing quicker now. I am pinpointing the origin of the field. Location found, it is coming from the hostile fleet." Informed Javik as he was now facing the captain.

"Open fire! I want that field gone now! I want every precaution taken, I dont think this is their only plan and it shouldnt be. I want internal automated defenses online now and I want the troops to be ready for anything. Inform Emperor Tedian and have him come onto the bridge, he may want to see this." Informed Captain Daln as he saw plasma being fired and then meat and plasma being returned.

[New Communist and Socialist Unions]

In Orbit of New Carthage

As enemy fighters returned fire, some starfighters exploded in a brilliant way, with spacecraft wreckage, debris, and meat suddenly floating around in space at subsonic speeds. One of these meat pieces hit an unsuspecting enemy fighter, and it quickly spread around the small ship. Whoever was observing it would see the horror when the meat met another organic being. As it met the pilot, it quickly began to drain him of resources, and meaty tendrils began to rise to the pilot's brain. Eventually, the brain was covered in tendrils, and instead of fighting the NCSU, the meat controlled pilot began to flip in direction and fire at his uninfected kin haphazardly. On the bigger fleet, they began firing balls of meat at the enemy.

[New Roman Empire]

In Orbit of New Carthage

"Fire the main gun, tell all fighters to to take evasive maneuvers, I want all other weapons firing at the balls of meat being fired!" Barked Captain Daln as he saw the main gun fire and the giant balls of meat being met with plasma fire. Meanwhile Tedian had just gotten into the bridge and was looking at the situation.

"Captain bring all fighters back in until we can deal with this meat." Ordered Tedian as he saw the captain give the orders to the pilots to return. "This meat mist have a weakness let's find it out while we still have the time." Ordered Tedian.

[New Communist and Socialist Unions]

In Orbit of New Carthage

"Fire the main gun, tell all fighters to to take evasive maneuvers, I want all other weapons firing at the balls of meat being fired!" Barked Captain Daln as he saw the main gun fire and the giant balls of meat being met with plasma fire. Meanwhile Tedian had just gotten into the bridge and was looking at the situation.

"Captain bring all fighters back in until we can deal with this meat." Ordered Tedian as he saw the captain give the orders to the pilots to return. "This meat mist have a weakness let's find it out while we still have the time." Ordered Tedian.

The meat was extremely burned by the plasma, but nonetheless, remains of the meat continued hurtling through space, hitting random enemy ships and for fighters, corrupting the pilots. The horde of meat covered fighters seemed to be growing in number as they converted enemy fighters in allied fighters. Eventually, a converted enemy fighter, corrupted by the meat, crashed into what seemed to be the flagship. And the bigger fleet, they rammed the enemy ships.

[Callistos]

CSS Infinity Spear, Marathon Class-Carrier
77th Expeditionary Fleet
Above New Carthage, April 6th, 2330

"Fire up the broadsides, get the cruisers to engage!" Admiral Menendez ordered, "We're sailing into war, comrades! I want Plasma Batteries online, ready to fire." He hopped down from a platform above the bridge, starring out the view finder, watching streams of fire racing between the fleets that were now engaged above the Planet. The View from Constantinople directly below them would have been quite the sight to see for sure, a hell of a fireworks display for the men and women of the 215th Army to enjoy. Corvettes and Cruisers were moving into formation, until a bright blue lance of energy struck a Corvette directly through the engine, fire erupting from it's hull before being snuffed out by the vacuum of space.

"This is CSS Alexandria! We're hit, we'r....." The radio turned to static as the ship's lights flickered out. Menendez swore.

"Get a wing of cruisers to attack that ship!" As he gave the order, a group of Cruisers and Destroyers were already inbound, hopping that their maneuverability would draw fire from the Enemy fleet. As they did, they fired volley after volley from the railgun batteries along their hulls. "Right, I want all fighter wings deployed now, interceptors and bombers as well. Nullify enemy incoming fire, good hunting, comrades."

"Jump signatures sir! They're right on top of us!"

"Shit..." Admiral Menendez growled, looking over to the radar screen, seeing three ships above his own craft. A series of projectiles were descending quickly on his ship, "Drop pods, are they trying to board us?" He asked rhetorically, "Let's thin them out then, aye? 90 degree roll, now!" The Infinity spear began to roll, so it's broadside cannons faced upwards through the incoming stream of pods, "Fire!" An explosion of red hot tungsten rods, capable of shredding through hull armour with ease.

"More hostiles, engaging with a friendly fleet a few clicks out." A radar technician said.

"Excellent. Send in the dreadnoughts to assist." The Admiral ordered, and soon enough, two Carthage-Class Dreadnoughts were moving in to relieve some of the pressure placed on NCSU ships. They held their distance, keeping close to the rest of the Callistian Fleet, while using forward facing batteries to engage the incoming ships and fighters. Admiral Menendez chewed his lip, looking over his options. His fleet could easily be overwhelmed by all the incoming hostiles, but surrendering the position would leave the skies above Constantinople undefended, and the ground troops vulnerable. He would stand his ground... for now.

CSS Infinity Spear, Marathon Class-Carrier
Worker's 215th Expeditionary Force, 71st Shock Regiment
Above New Carthage, April 6th, 2330

"Wave two going down! 30 second!" Now, the hangar bay was in complete chaos. Soldiers hurried to get to drop ships and pods, all while fighter craft raced out of the open hangar bay doors, their engines screeching like banshees as they began to hunt down fighters and pods. Meanwhile, the Callistians were launching their own pods, thousands pouring down towards the planet. They had to dodge plasma fire on the way down, and many were unfortunate enough to never reach the surface.

"10 Seconds before planetfall!"

"No, hold off." Lt. Colonel Hugo Carrasco shouted over the noise, "I'm not wasting anymore men! Tell the regiment on the ground that reinforcements are going to be on standby, but it's to risky! Hold off the drop until we can get this shit under control."

Meanwhile, word that the Eastern Commerce Initiative may have been trying to launch a boarding party, a Regiment of EVA Marines had been readied for combat. Elite soldiers, they gathered their weapons and armour, and were beginning to patrol weak points in the hull.

[Olimpiada]

---

Orbit of New Carthage

---

The Ten Thousand continued with their assault as the rods tore through them. The reason for the full combat gear became quite obvious. They had been expecting this. Oxygen left large sections of the ships, while the soldiers' combat gear allowed them to recycle their air and keep breathing and fighting. The main battleship rolled to meet the enemy broadsides, taking large hits to its sides while dealing its own en masse as well, the successive recoil pushing the ship slowly away while gas jets on the other side periodically fired off to counter the motion.

The falling troops altered their trajectory multiple times midflight, seeking to stay out of the path of the fixed cannons. Eventually they landed. A thousand shock troops clung to the side of the ship, the magnetic pads in their boots and gloves allowing them to stay held on. They congregated in groups of twenty, circling around breaching charges at weak points in the hull. Each time one detonated, the troops flooded in in rapid fashion, using their spare grenades to launch themselves inside, the damage being largely deflected by the small personal energy shields they carried. They landed into the gravity inside, adjusting to the changes with ease as their railguns blazed away at the enemy marines, the periodic shell puncturing through a wall.

Back in space, the mercenary fleet took the rolling flagship as an opportunity. They fired their maneuvering jets to advance on the flagship, applying extra thrust to counter for the railguns that they fired at the Callistian fleet as they did so. The occasional nuke still lit up the darkness, lancing through a section of hull every so often as the ECI fleet advanced on the enemy flagship.

"Ariadne, seems our mysterious friends have taken the initiative," said Justinian into the intercom between the ships. "They're not very good at communicating with us, are they?" He cut off the transmitter for a moment to shout something about damage control on deck six into the on-ship communications system.

"I wouldn't suppose they are. They don't even seem to care about their ships, either. The hell are they thinking? That's expensive company property!" asked Ariadne, amazed by this seemingly careless action on the behalf of the Ten Thousand.

"I don't think they ever meant to stay on those four in the first place."

[New Roman Empire]

Orbit of New Carthage

Emperor Tedian stood looking out into the battlefield, "Emperor all remaining fighters that are not affected have returned, but we have a bigger problem several ships are moving to ram the fleet. We are bracing for impact and we are activating internal defenses now, I would suggest that we use our short range FTL blink drive once we repel the borders and hopefully the meat or what ever this thing is will be left behind and we can come back right behind the Callistosian cruisers that have just joined the battle. Hopefully this will work, or we will just put ourselves in the midst of two fleets." Informed Captain Daln as Javik appeared on the bridge.

"Warning ramming ship will breach deck 245 recommend sending forces to that section to repel the boarders, internal defenses are operational and awaiting hostile targets to show up. Captain Dalns plan has a 50% chance of obtaining the results that he thinks it does, I would recommend we follow his plan, I will disperse the order through out the fleet to wait for our signal to use the blink drives." Informed Javik as Tedian walked off the bridge to head to deck 245.

Soldiers and Marines gathered in the corridor to where the boarding impact zone would be. They were armed to the teeth with flame weapons as well as plasma throwers. They all took up defensive position and just as Tedian arrived at the point a massive ships pieced through the hull and many of them fell to the ground and quickly got back up and had their weapons pointed at the enemy hull waiting. Meanwhile several destroyers broke off from the main fleet and started to fire on the Callistosian dreadnoughts.

[The Dummies]

[DELETED]

[Vogega]

V.E.S. Traigo Muerto
The Vogegan grand commander had been sitting in his chair for the past few hours. He had received word of some small nations skirmishing over a world. Minor and negligible news. However, one of the nations was communist. Thus, it could not be allowed to exist any longer. The fleet of ships emerged from hyper space.
Flashes and bends in the background of space giveaway the positions of stray shots. Kinetic and plasma rounds filled the void. So far out from the system, the Vogegan fleet was safe.
The grand commander stood up, and walked to the back of the bridge where a holomap displayed the current battle. Areas shaded a dark blue showed sensor shadows, places where the sensor could not read. Already, stealth probes had been launched to clear up these sensor shadows.
The sensor system quickly tagged the hostiles and friendlies. How so was rather simple. Anything that was shooting at New Catharage, was tagged as hostile, and anything shooting at those was friendly. Any vessel that fired at the friendlies, was also a hostile.
With a single message, a wing of Hydra bombers, along with two wings of Tri-Fighters, flew out of the Traigo Muerto's hangar. The target was not the enemy fleets, nor their troops on the ground, it was one of the settlements around the gas giant. The targets were military factories that looked like they were important on long range scanners. The information would become clearer while the fighters and bomber approached.
At the same time, a wing of Vulture droids were sent into the massive fray between the massive fighter squadrons of both teams.
While the fighters closed in on the battle, the main fleet primed their battle cannons. These cannon would fire massive lances of energy. Invisible, and piercing, they could tear through and entire ship in a shot, assuming shields were down. Only the battleships and command ship had these weapons. The three beams speared out towards the hostile ships. Fighters in the way, including one that was covered in a red substance, were vaporized, but each vaporization drained the power of the shot. The other ships in the fleet, opened up with slower moving kinetic and ion weapons. The slower travelling shots could be dodged, so the void was filled with thousands of these shells.
The fleet was quite a distance away, so the shots would take a long time to reach their targets.

To: All Free Hyperion Allies
From: Grand Commander
Hello my friends, I am here to help crush the communist threat. We need to figure out a tactic to destroy their colonies, and their forces to win. Please respond on the frequency given. We will prepare for our ground invasion. Meanwhile, I will bombard the enemy fleets from here.