Third Menjeti Crusade (IC/FT/TG for Interest)

[Sinyettan Polystellar Alignment]

Based on my real-life Stellaris session in Ironman Mode.

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IC THREAD
OOC Thread: Click on This Link

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Screenshot of Menjeti Grand Arbiter Slemmel in his warning message to the Polystellar Alignment Council, 2462 Yávië 49 (12 September)


There was an uproar among the Sinyettans all over the Alignment, whose lives have been destroyed by the Menjeti.
Zealotry was their unified tone, calling for another war to inflict a greater punishment upon the fanatical purifiers.
After the Alignment Council declared the crusade on 2462 Quellë 41 (30 October), the Sinyettans cheered and praised Ilúvatar.

- Tecrë Ingolmoner, excerpt from Records of Galactic and Interstellar War: English Copy, Book III, Ch. 3, Introduction

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The Second Menjeti Crusade had been a victory for the Sinyettans. Naming it the Ohta Entulesseva ("War of Return" in Sinyettan Quenya), they regained their stolen star systems and colonies from the Menjeti Bloodletter Empire. However, with this uplifting fervor comes grief, as their return to their original homeworlds were marred by tears and anger, as many of their loved ones were slain by the genocidal fungoids.

Calls for another crusade were vocal throughout the Alignment. Even the Sinyettan-planned Menjeti Heartland Offensive in the last crusade was not enough to quell their taste for revenge. But While a numerous amount of people supported it, especially those of the spiritualists and militarists in Sinyettan politics, most of the population and the Alignment Council abstained. Present circumstances changed when a warning message from the Menjeti Grand Arbiter Slemmel was reported from news sources all around the Alignment. Soon after, calls grew in volume, espousing the belief that Ilúvatar willed them to commence another crusade against them to inflict a severe punishment on the Menjeti by taking apart their Empire one by one and convert them from their sinful beliefs. This expression intensified in the year 2462, as warnings from the Menjeti became increasingly hostile in tone. Of course, there was opposition, especially from some of the xenophiles, pacifists and neutralists regarding the extent of the crusade, but on Quellë 41, the Council with the assent of Stewardess Rívëlairë Sangahyando declared war on the Menjeti.

Days after, the Sinyettans made their preparations, and other galatic realms affected by the Menjeti bloodbath or are willing to support the Sinyettan effort were already adding to the Menjeti's reckoning.

[Novaya Equestria]

The fall of Novaya during the First Menjeti Crusade have shattered the Novayan Commonwealth, a militaristic state that had never involved itself in any dealings with the Menjeti Bloodletters. Yet it fell when the Menjetis attacked.

The Fall of Novaya, where the Menjetis brought orbital armageddon to that continental world of Novaya, the Commonwealth's capital world, rendering it to a still habitable yet lifeless tomb world, led to a panicking crisis that saw the exodus of many Novayans. However, the rapid onslaught of the Menjetis meant that those who could not afford to escape in time were systematically exterminated; only those who escape the slaughter and hid in the wilderness of many of the Novayan Commonwealth's worlds were able to link up with other survivors.

Despite the bleakness of the situation, the surviving Novayans knew that, out there, Novaya is, and was always, never truly gone; and so long as there are Novayans out there, surviving in the wild or taking refuge in other nations who oppose the Menjetis, the idea of the Novayan nation never fades from history. With the Menjetis settling themselves in the former Novayan worlds, now is the time for payback against the genocidal fungoloids who hath wrought ruin. And thus, disparate resistance cells were formed, both within and without the wilderness and underneath the cities the Menjetis defiled.

Those far-flung Novayans from the First Menjeti Crusade - whether worlds, vessels or military units - were far better, yet the Fall of Novaya caused panic among their populace. One world wanted to forget it by having much partying yet, combined with the robotic assembly lines producing goods and services, gave birth to a NEET-heavy culture; another incorporated the Novayan military units into the police force and transformed its government into a military-led democratic government; another world, formerly composed of penal colonies and several cities housing non-criminals, saw many criminals and prisoners joining a totalitarian government run by a military-style paramilitary force and launched monthly raids to abduct as many Menjetis as possible and then bring them to the nightmarish industriebezirks; and another world, divided into two empires, felt the weight of a massive refugee crisis that flooded the Western Empire. Others simply become roving pirates, mercenary groups or private military companies.

The largest of these remnants were the Novayans of the continental planet New Novaya, formerly the alpine world of Wir Thosk III, located within Sinyettan space. Formed from migrating Novayans before the First Crusade and the refugees and exiles fleeing the First Crusade, the Wir Thosk system's other worlds (Wir Thosk IIIa and Wir Thosk II) were colonized by the Novayans, but the Second Crusade saw the Menjetis arriving to occupy their new homes until a joint Novayan-Sinyettan counterattack, led by several Novayan and Sinyettan leaders, drove them away. With the Wir Thosk system safe, the Novayans of the Wir Thosk system were then organized under a military junta, which soon formed the New Novaya Military District, the new home of the Novayans who escaped to the Sinyettan Polystellar Alignment.

Years passed, and when the increasingly hostile threats from the Menjetis arose, and rumors of a third crusade circulating throughout Sinyetta and into New Novaya, plans were made to prepare for a defensive war. The Novayan people militarized, their cities fortified and armored, their new homeworlds shielded from attack, their military-industrial complex churning out military equipment, their homes stockpiled with MREs.

In another world where the Western Empire is wracked by a massive refugee crisis, a series of conflicts between the West and the East occur, ending in victory for the Western Empire but it still suffer from the instability the refugee crisis and the civil war caused. It wasn't until the ruling Emperor was incapacitated in a terrorist attack did he appoint his two sons as Emperors of the West and Est, and made his trusted aide, a young naval officer, the son of a commoner woman and a male member of the Norsoutha-Tomoshima families, as the regent of both his sons.

Invited to the meeting between the Alignment and various allied delegations, it is now confirmed that a third crusade is brewing. With this the leaders of the Novayan remnants leaving for their respective parts, ready to bring their forces to bear against the fungoid murderers. And in the fallen Novayan worlds the Menjetis colonized after the First and Second Crusades, resistance is brewing in preparations for the attack on the Menjetis; some of the resistance cells and even a few of the far-flung Novayan remnants have grown to develop new faiths under the so-called Novayanas Aagiokratia, or "Imperial Novayanity", ready to bring the new religion and its followers to bear against the genocidal murderers.

The time for the reckoning of the Menjeti Bloodletters have come.

New Morales, New Novaya
Wir Thosk system, Sinyettan space

"Gentlemen, ladies," spoke General William Norsoutha, the head of the Novayan military junta and the head of state and government of the New Novaya Military District, to his staff officers and junta members present, "the time has come to make the Menjetis pay. From across the galaxy, many Novayan remnants - legitimate ones, military-turned-mercenaries/pirates and far-flung ones - will be joining the fight. Those that cannot provide forces, such as the refugee camps-turned-colonies, will be providing resources and equipment to us, and we'll make sure that everything will not be in vain."

"As you may know, we are joining the Sinyettans on a three-pronged or two-pronged attack; we will be joining the Sinyettan military striking at Vagalod, the capital world of the Menjeti Bloodletters; forces under the direct command of Admiral Borealis Norsoutha III, whom you may have heard to hold the rank of magister militum or magister utriusque militae, will be launching a sortie at the former Novaya sector, now defiled by the Menjetis." One of the staff officers raised their hand, saying, "If we are to strike at the heart of the Menjeti empire, shouldn't we worry about the Menjetis' firepower?"

"Worry not," replied one of the junta members, a female vice admiral in her late forties, "we have been making modifications on our ships' combat computers as well as developing high-quality advanced combat computers to give our fleets a chance at destroying many Menjeti vessels while taking few losses. We also have been making upgrades to our vessels' and spacecraft's weapons, but because of the budget constraint we will have to give some vessels and spacecraft with those upgrades; of course, in order to make this possible we must have heavy military spending. The military-industrial complex needed a great boost, and our corporations, state-owned or otherwise, will have to produce new military equipment for our forces to use in the fight against the Menjetis."

Another member of the junta, this time an elderly but conservative Generalfeldmarschall, raised his hand, "We may also have to plunder for resources. However, we will not plunder for anything from, pardon if I say this, non-Menjetis, but we will plunder anything and everything the Menjetis have: artifacts, paintings, statues, books, jewelry, gold, silver, currency, ceramics, religious treasures, cultural items of great significance to the Menjetis, anything; hell, even the Menjetis we might capture and sold off. We raise the prices for those items we may loot to fuel our war economy." One of the staff officers, a female naval officer holding the rank of Captain 1st Rank, added, "We should also loot every property the Menjetis owned."

"Everyone, I would appreciate it if we don't sell the Menjetis as slaves to the many zany black markets," spoke General William at last, "but anything the Menjetis have or owned will be looted; the only exception I have is if the Merdinans asked for a large quota of Menjetis for use to work in Merdina's four industriebezirks." Sighing, he added, "Mentioning Merdina's industriebezirks made me feel depressed... Again, we will only loot anything and everything the Menjetis have, owned or held of great significance to them. Now, prepare yourselves, for the Menjetis' time of reckoning will come."

Haestae III, Haestae system
Capital of the Novayan Empire

Exiting warp space is a carrier-battleship of the Imperial Novayan Navy's Atlas-class, the NCS Atlas, as it makes its way toward the Amirales Flavius Spaceport, orbiting nearby Haestae III. A dropship flew from the front dorsal hangar and heads toward the capital world of the Novayan Empire, especially the world's capital city, Ariestal.

Once landing at the planetary spaceport near the Great Palace of Ariestal, the person to exit is a young, blue-haired man in his early twenties wearing a dark-gray military uniform reminiscent of the old Novayan Army officer uniform, but one that lacked the breeches which made the thighs look fat and thick. This is Borealis Norsoutha III, the aforementioned 23-year-old Imperial Novayan Navy admiral, the magister militum or magister utriusque militae of the Novayan Empire, and the regent of the twin young Novayan Emperors. He boarded a military vehicle that takes him to the Great Palace.

Once there, he exited the vehicle and head inside, to be met by a few of his fellow staff officers, both young, middle-aged and old. "Is it true there will be a Third Crusade?" asked an elderly Generalfeldmarschall to Admiral Borealis III, who nod and replies stoicly and methodically, "Yes, it is. My meeting with the Alignment Council and its Stewardess, and several other delegations confirmed that. We are now going to war with the Menjetis, the bastards who burned the Novayan Commonwealth, exterminated those unlucky enough to escape, and defiled our worlds. We will do unto the Menjetis like they did unto our people."

A week later...
Ariestal Fortress Military Academy
Adjacent to the Great Palace of Ariestal
Ariestal, Haestae III

"Novayans! Hear me," shouted a town crier to the civilians, who turned to him as a column of Imperial Novayan soldiers marched down the highway, "for we at war! To the west, the Menjetis have decimated the Novayan Commonwealth decades ago and rendered Novaya into a tomb world. The Menjetis have not only colonized our worlds but also exterminated any Novayans there who were unable to escape."

"THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!" The town crier boomed. "Give us a Novayan of humble beginnings, give us a leader our armies will follow!" At the steps of the Ariestal Fortress Military Academy stood several government officials, military leaders and religious figures. Before them stood Borealis Norsoutha III, the Magister Militum/Magister Utriusque Militae of the Novayan Empire. Decked in gray armor, gauntlets, pauldrons and armor boots over his dark-gray military uniform, Admiral Borealis III held a black-and-gray helmet which fully covers his entire head.

Cheers from the populace erupted as they watched him don the Aurelian Helmet, once worn by Aurelian Norsoutha during the Vandergrave War and now a family heirloom of the Norsoutha-Tomoshima families. "GIVE US...ADMIRAL AND MAGISTER BOREALIS!" Borealis III raised his hands and head towards the sky, with the populace cheering, "BOREALIS! BOREALIS! BOREALIS! BOREALIS! BOREALIS! BOREALIS!"

The time for payback against the Menjeti Bloodletters...is now.

[The Selkie]

CSF Ysbrydrus, Bridge.
Fleet Captain Sian Dewar.
The Trossach-Confederation was not exactly an interstellar powerhouse, but it has been spared the ravages of both Menjeti Crusades - the collapse of the Novayan Commonwealth had been noticed with some satisfaction, the standpoint proved once more, that no amount of militarism could spare one from a good attack. The Confederation had closed its borders, though, no refugees had been accepted beyond the reception camps on Cwachgwenyn-IIe, from which they had been redirected to elsewhere, no amount of begging could have helped.
Especially not against the Cwachgweni.
The declarations of hostilities, including the very dramatic one of the Novayan Empire, against the Menjeti from the various splinters remaining of the Commonwealth and of the Polystellar Alignment had been heard.
And, apparently, in Pendawr on Tlysglass, some people thought, that it was a good chance to expand the Confederation. Apparently, those were not only some people, but quite a few.
Which leads us to here, onto the bridge of the Dewireder-class Supercarrier CSF Ysbrydrus, deep within the bowels of the vessel - I exhaled. "Are those our orders, Sir?", I asked the holographic projection of Grand Admiral Murosu Pgeja, the Supreme Commander of the Starfleet of the Confederation.
The Dynnacath with the beige and yellowish fur nodded. "I am afraid so, my lad.", he said and looked at a pad. "You are to leave Basedara and move to Fynedfa Station via Cwachgwenyn in one week. During that time, Task Forces 16, 17 and 58 will be mobilized and join your Task Force 8 there. Admiral Muyari will be in command of the overall operation from Fynedfa Station, but you will be Local Commander."
"If I have my stellar cartography right, that will move us quite close to the Novayan Empire, too.", I replied.
"They are being informed about our troop movement and its reason as we speak.", the Grand Admiral replied, "If those crazy zealots appreciate it or not is ultimately not our concern." Pgeja shrugged. "I will see, if I can't wrangle an army or two from Marshal Cistaphach. Maybe even one of his beloved Land Carriers."
I snorted in bemusement. "That would be interesting to see."
"Indeed. You have your orders, Fleet Captain.", the Grand Admiral, "And much to do. May Trayetha watch over you." I bowed my head lightly in gratitude at the good wishes. "Pgeja out."
The holographic projection vanished.
I exhaled and looked to my first officer. "He does have a point... orders to all vessels, let's get this show on the road!"
Captain Eline Cysefin, my first officer, nodded. "Yes, Sir. Mobilization orders to all vessels of Task Force 8."
"And invite my Captains for dinner.", I ordered and got up, "You have the bridge. Comms, I need..."
And from there, I went abour organizing and coordinating.
In the meantime, the Confederation's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, sent an encrypted diplomatic message to the Novayan Empire, detailling our planned move to Fynedfa Station, of a substantial force of the SFC, as it was called. Accompanying this were assurances, that this move was not an aggressive move against them, as well as other peaceful words.
In the meantime, Tylluan VII Unmanned Reconnaissance Craft were sent out to scout out the closest parts of the Menjeti Bloodletter Empire, thanks to their interstellar lightspeed engines and subspace communications systems, we could do that - after all, not much of the known galaxy was connected to the Hyperspace Jump Gate Network, the network of wormhole generators, which allowed us to move freight and people quickly without exploding costs. Fynedfa Station, the Gateway to the Wider Galaxy, was the point closest to the Menjeti and within reasonable range for use of the lightspeed engines and with a Hyperspace Jump Gate.
A bottleneck and our assembly area.
There was also a messege sent to the Sinyettan Polystellar Alignment - offering assistance in their struggle against the Menjeti.
Meanwhile, Task Forces 8, 16, 17 and the more logistically oriented Task Force 58 moved through the Confederation's Space - a task fit for its own epic, as hundreds of spaceships had to move to Fynedfa Station, through the already existing traffic at the waypoints, logistical vessels had to be rerouted, traffic adjusted - the Confederated Police had dozens of ships escorting some of the weapons carrying supply vessels because there had been a mixup and no frigates were available to escort them.
It was a huge undertaking - one, which would not go unnoticed by anyone.

[Novaya Equestria]

War Room, Underground Bunker
Great Palace of Ariestal, Haestae III

"Sir," one of the junior staff officers manning the communications equipment spoke to Admiral Borealis III, who is facing a holographic display showing the map of the warzone that would become the Third Menjeti Crusade, "we have received a transmission from the Trossach Confederation, notifying us of their military movements to fight the Menjeti Bloodletters." With a nod from the magister militum, the junior staff officer transferred the message to the Admiral's computer. Turning around, Admiral Borealis III takes his seat and logs in on his computer, which lets out a ringing sound that the message has arrived on his computer's inbox. He peered into it and, his brows furrowing, moved his hands and fingers to compose a response to the Trossach Confederation.

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From: Admiral Borealis Norsoutha III, Magister Militum of the Novayan Empire
To: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Trossachian Confederation
Encryption: [REDACTED]

I appreciate your intent in seeking the destruction of the Menjeti Bloodletters, even though you sent other refugees to be your neighbors' problems. However, if you have the idea of expanding into the former Novayan Commonwealth, we will not tolerate such actions; the Novayan remnants are preparing to retake the former Novayan Commonwealth from the Menjeti Bloodletters and do unto them as they did unto us, even if it means restoring the cities of the fallen Novayan worlds to its pre-war conditions, even if it means terraforming any fallen Novayan world back to its pre-Menjeti terraforming conditions.

Now, if you encounter military units hailing from the Ordensstaat Merdina, let them be, for they are filled with an indescribable hate for the Menjetis. We do not want to know what the Merdinans will do to the Menjetis that they captured.

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Merdina, Merdina system
Capital of the Order-State of Merdina

Screaming. Drilling. Those are the sounds emanating from a room opposite the hallway. There stood a black-haired, purple-eyed young man in his early-to-mid 20s, decked in an all-black uniform, white collar shirt and a purple necktie, and a black hat with a white skull and a white sharp compass logo. His face shrouded in darkness as he watch the scene unfolding through the window on the wall connecting it to the room.

"Schattenfuhrer," said an officer wearing a darker-gray uniform to the Schattenfuhrer, "the several ships from our recent, monthly covert raid on a few of the Bloodletters' colony worlds and one of their worlds came back with a large number of Menjetis. Our new stealth technology's working very well, making our ships and our soldiers doing the raiding undetectable on the Menjetis' radars. Among those were the descendants of the monsters who killed many Novayans, as well as those who were still living and involved. They are still a xenophobic bunch, claiming their they will be reunited with their gods, whoever they may be. What do we do with them?"

Die Schattenfuhrer der Ordensstaat Merdina turned to face the officer and replied coldly, "Send them to one of the four industriebezirks. They will learn that we will do unto them like they did unto the Novayan Commonwealth; only this time, they will be working themselves to death. Our industries must be developed, and those who dare sabotage will be killed in the most horrific, dehumanizing--or should I say, demenjetinizing--way possible." The officer saluted and left.

Now alone, die Schattenfuhrer made his way towards his office, located in the third floor. Once he arrives, he takes his seat and logged in on his computer, which then shows him reports on the recent raids, most of which are successful and some of which were called off, and on the industrial, political, economic, covert and military projects. A few of those industrial projects involve the construction of three new industriebezirks and several concentration camps in an arid world under Merdinan control. A few military and covert projects involved the monthly, bimonthly or trimonthly abduction of unsuspecting Menjetis, especially those of major significance; the development of an improved version of the stealth technology that can be used to hide the raider ships and soldiers from the Menjetis' radars, including their FTL-detecting radar capabilities; the improvement of the Merdinan intelligence agency's methods of rooting out foreign spies, whether Menjeti or not, and the destruction of any spy stations or satellites; and the expansion of the Merdinan Black Guard.

As he checked them, three new messages arrive on his inbox. Hovering the mouse cursor to the first new message, he opens it and reads it. It was another report from one of his spies, but it focused on the very dramatic declaration of war made by the Novayan Empire, one of several Novayan remnants far-flung from the onslaught of the First Menjeti Crusade. Reading into it closely, die Schattenfuhrer learned of the regent, military dictator and magister militum, or magister utriusque militae, of the Novayan Empire: Borealis Norsoutha III, a 23-year-old Imperial Novayan Navy admiral. The report provided information about him: he was a very loyal naval officer who served under the previous Novayan Emperor, now retired after a terrorist attack cost him his legs, who immediately elevated the young admiral to the rank of full admiral and the position of magister militum. The report also stated that he, as a military dictator, commands the 115th Army Group, a 750,000-strong army group made up of whatever Novayan military units that fled or survived the First Menjeti Crusade, and that he intends to bring back the Novayan Commonwealth, with plans to enslave the Menjetis while taking away their children so that the latter will learn of their families' greatest sins and horrible culture in order to mold them into being members of the resurgent Novayan Commonwealth.

He shook his head, believing that Admiral Borealis III should have done more than to enslave the Menjetis and take their children away just to teach them the follies of their race's actions and how their children must avoid making the same mistake, for he, the Shadow Leader of the Order-State of Merdina (or Schattenfuhrer der Ordensstaat Merdina) himself had a plan: a plan to exterminate large numbers of Menjeti through a totalitarian, nightmarish, oppressive dystopia with a slavery system and working conditions that will make the Menjetis break. Fear and brutality, that's what the Merdinans want the Menjetis to feel.

He then reads the next message, which is also another report from another Merdinan spy but this time it's about the New Novaya Military District, the largest Novayan remnant. Headed by General William Norsoutha, the New Novaya Military District is building up cities, industries and infrastructure at Wir Thosk III, Wir Thosk IIIa and Wir Thosk II; the capital of the New Novaya Military District is apparently Wir Thosk III, a former alpine world that have been recently terraformed into a continental world and renamed New Novaya. The government of New Novaya is a military dictatorship, in actuality a military junta, headed by the aforementioned William Norsoutha. The report goes on to state that the general's 17-year-old daughter, a schoolgirl named Borealis Oceania Norsoutha, is training as a military reservist and is in a relationship with an 18-year-old Sinyettan psionic male, Simano. The report went as far as to state that Simano, should the Third Menjeti Crusade start, is requested by General William to protect his daughter; failing that, and the General will tear the Sinyettan psionic a new one. Verbally. Die Schattenfuhrer smiled, believing that this relationship will survive as long as the two kept staying alive in the Third Crusade that is soon to come.

He then continued reading the report, which now states that the New Novayan Military District, for some reason is being called the Provisional Commissariat of New Novaya, is also expanding its military's numbers, equipment and technologies to better fight the Menjetis. A few Merdinan spies, in contact with agents of the New Novayan Military Intelligence Agency, have acquired, or rather, purchased, a number of military blueprints which contains all the specs for new military techs which will be fielded to combat the Menjetis. He smiled at the prospect of gaining military gear.

Once he finished reading, he opened the last message. Oddly to die Schattenfuhrer, it wasn't a report at all, but a request by Merdina's exploratory force. The request calls for an expedition of five exploratory ships, equipped with stealth capabilities and staffed by Merdinan soldiers and naval personnel, to a group of star systems where rumors of two far-far-flung Novayan remnants, which were secretly established long before the First Menjeti Crusade, exist. The request, of all things, also had a short report, which stated the discovery of an unusual satellite that was intact on Haestae IX. Merdinan spies have already taken whatever data it has, but all it contained is a data-record which only contain a timeline of the transfer of colonists to six worlds, one of which is codenamed Byzantium and the remaining five grouped under the codename Lilnyria; there were no coordinates for these worlds. Finding this worthy of interest, die Schattenfuhrer swiftly composed a reply, giving them his authorization to find the two Novayan remnants.

Then die Schattenfuhrer realized something. This search isn't going to be an exploratory mission, but this search will be a wild ride to find where the hell is Byzantium and Lilnyria. One day, he will learn. And one day he will find out what they really are. "This is going to be a wild ride..." die Schattenfuhrer said before pulling out a bottle of water to drink from, understanding it will be more stressful than his plans to make the Menjetis pay.

[Greater Vanguard Cult]

CZATSDAI MEGACITY
VANGUARD HOMEWORLD
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A jungle of steel and concrete, smothered in propaganda; Czatsdai is a city of unconventional and sinister beauty.

Hall of Governance
11:43am
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If there was a more unique building in the Vanguard Cult, it had yet to be acknowledged. The very blandly-named Hall of Governance was ironically an architectural marvel, blending the traditional, historic "temple" aesthetics of antiquity with futuristic materials and style. Ornate stained-glass windows cast a synthetic daylight, illuminating the pale walls with an unnatural glow, this neon-blue luminosity which bathed the various structural pillars in an unearthly cyan coating.

Five men walked down one of the many winding corridors of the house. Black-capped, with dark green uniforms, they were all of similar stature. Tall, broad-shouldered; muscular and thick-chinned. The standard thugs of the Internal Secretariat. It was with jackboots that they marched, with star-and-sword insignia, pinned to their lapels, denoting their service to the revolution. It was as if they had been stripped of any sense of individuality, their identities merged into the all-consuming will of the machinery of state. And so one entity, as it were, continued its journey, before reaching a small indent in the wall. The lead of the group, marked by a gold band on his cap, spoke. "Secretariat agent number three-oh-five, callsign Kreuger, requesting access." The artificial blue light in the corridor flashed green, a computerised voice confirming the man's speech patterns as per the building's in-built vocal recognition systems.

"Three-oh-five; Kreuger; granted access." The small indent, with a barely audible hiss, shifted quickly aside, revealing a large office, holographic displays littering the room. At its center sat an old and wizened man, with brilliant white hair immaculately maintained above a rather handsome, slim face. Voztur Zhuryen, Protector of the Eternal Revolution, sat with a quizzical look on his face as the five men entered.

"Your Excellency!" Belted the first man. "Your presence is requested in the Supreme Chamber!"

"Is that so?" He mused. "I'll be there soon. That's all, I take it?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Excellent. You are dismissed." As abruptly as they arrived, the men marched away. The Protector amusedly noted that the whole procedure was rather unnecessary. Why not just send him a message? He looked around at the various gadgets and gizmos around him. It's not like he had any issues with digital communication.

Supreme Chamber of the Vanguard Council
12:05pm
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"Ah, Protector. I see you have arrived." Zhuryen heard from Yaskov Stysacz, his Treasurer on the Council, with a gleeful smile. Beside him sat the other four members of the Vanguard Council, composing alongside the Revolutionary Protector the executive governing-body of the Vanguard Cult. The room itself was rather bland; a medium-sized white dome painted in the same sickly light as the rest of the building. The Council was composed of the Protector, the Treasurer, the Supreme Marshal, the Chancellor, the Head Justice, and the Interior Minister. It was in this room that they orchestrated their response to the current issue at hand; the Menjetis. Namely: the rather justified rabid hatred the galaxy had towards them at late.

Unspeakable evils, indeed. Ones that the Vanguard Cult had sat in blissful distance from, the assailments of the genocidal fungoids seen as another barbarous aggression among many in a galaxy already marked by chaos and destruction. Nothing for the burgeoning revolution to worry about as it continued its professed emancipatory march, its crimson banner flying on the many moons and planets to submit to its dominion. That said, it appeared that the Menjetis were on their last legs. This third crusade would wipe them out once and for all. Of that, the Council had no doubt.

With vigour, they got to work on writing a statement. If they were to be vultures circling around a dying beast, so be it -- fundamentally, more space being secured for the revolution meant that picking from the corpse of what had once been a grand Menjeti hegemony was a worthwhile, if dishonourable, venture.

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IN DIVINE UNITY PROCLAIMED
THE INFALLIBLE WORDS OF
THE VANGUARD COUNCIL
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Authorised by His Excellency the Protector of the Eternal Revolution, Voztur Zhuryen

It has come to the attention of the Vanguard that there is being organised by the so-called "Sinyettan Polystellar Alignment". It has been made clear as of late, naturally, that the affairs of nations outside of the Vanguard's space have been of little concern to the organs of its state. However, under certain circumstances, and with respect paid towards certain "catastrophe-level" threats (i.e., threats with the intent to compromise the existence of all sapients species and the means to do so), the Vanguard is willing to mobilise its military in the name of long-term universal peace. That is to say, that the success of our revolution depends upon the defense of the rights and the securement of the existence of all sapients.

Therefore we express unity with the Sinyettan Polystellar Alignment insofar that we are both convicted to the destruction of the current Menjeti government and the emancipation of all worlds currently oppressed by its whims. In short, we express nothing more than a desire to protect lives, defend liberty, and eliminate an existential threat to the longevity of intergalactic civilisation. To this end, and despite the varied and major differences between the Vanguard and some of the other actors directing themselves against the Menjeti, we hold that fundamental ideal in common: that we are free, that we are independent beings with the right to exist, to persist against the storm of those who would tear from us our families, our freedoms, and our very lives.

To this end, I have personally authorised the organisation and dispatch of the INTERGALACTIC PRESERVATION TASK FORCE, one of the largest battle-fleets assembled in the history of the Vanguard, for the purposes of joining this impromptu coalition, as it were, to eliminate the Menjeti and protect the Vanguard - and the universe at large - from their aggression.

Godspeed. Death to the oppressor!

Signed,

His Excellency Voztur Zhuryen
Protector of the Eternal Revolution

[Battlegroup Anna]

OOC: A post will appear here soon.

[The Selkie]

War Room, Underground Bunker
Great Palace of Ariestal, Haestae III

"Sir," one of the junior staff officers manning the communications equipment spoke to Admiral Borealis III, who is facing a holographic display showing the map of the warzone that would become the Third Menjeti Crusade, "we have received a transmission from the Trossach Confederation, notifying us of their military movements to fight the Menjeti Bloodletters." With a nod from the magister militum, the junior staff officer transferred the message to the Admiral's computer. Turning around, Admiral Borealis III takes his seat and logs in on his computer, which lets out a ringing sound that the message has arrived on his computer's inbox. He peered into it and, his brows furrowing, moved his hands and fingers to compose a response to the Trossach Confederation.

---

From: Admiral Borealis Norsoutha III, Magister Militum of the Novayan Empire
To: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Trossachian Confederation
Encryption: [REDACTED]

I appreciate your intent in seeking the destruction of the Menjeti Bloodletters, even though you sent other refugees to be your neighbors' problems. However, if you have the idea of expanding into the former Novayan Commonwealth, we will not tolerate such actions; the Novayan remnants are preparing to retake the former Novayan Commonwealth from the Menjeti Bloodletters and do unto them as they did unto us, even if it means restoring the cities of the fallen Novayan worlds to its pre-war conditions, even if it means terraforming any fallen Novayan world back to its pre-Menjeti terraforming conditions.

Now, if you encounter military units hailing from the Ordensstaat Merdina, let them be, for they are filled with an indescribable hate for the Menjetis. We do not want to know what the Merdinans will do to the Menjetis that they captured.

---

Merdina, Merdina system
Capital of the Order-State of Merdina

Screaming. Drilling. Those are the sounds emanating from a room opposite the hallway. There stood a black-haired, purple-eyed young man in his early-to-mid 20s, decked in an all-black uniform, white collar shirt and a purple necktie, and a black hat with a white skull and a white sharp compass logo. His face shrouded in darkness as he watch the scene unfolding through the window on the wall connecting it to the room.

"Schattenfuhrer," said an officer wearing a darker-gray uniform to the Schattenfuhrer, "the several ships from our recent, monthly covert raid on a few of the Bloodletters' colony worlds and one of their worlds came back with a large number of Menjetis. Our new stealth technology's working very well, making our ships and our soldiers doing the raiding undetectable on the Menjetis' radars. Among those were the descendants of the monsters who killed many Novayans, as well as those who were still living and involved. They are still a xenophobic bunch, claiming their they will be reunited with their gods, whoever they may be. What do we do with them?"

Die Schattenfuhrer der Ordensstaat Merdina turned to face the officer and replied coldly, "Send them to one of the four industriebezirks. They will learn that we will do unto them like they did unto the Novayan Commonwealth; only this time, they will be working themselves to death. Our industries must be developed, and those who dare sabotage will be killed in the most horrific, dehumanizing--or should I say, demenjetinizing--way possible." The officer saluted and left.

Now alone, die Schattenfuhrer made his way towards his office, located in the third floor. Once he arrives, he takes his seat and logged in on his computer, which then shows him reports on the recent raids, most of which are successful and some of which were called off, and on the industrial, political, economic, covert and military projects. A few of those industrial projects involve the construction of three new industriebezirks and several concentration camps in an arid world under Merdinan control. A few military and covert projects involved the monthly, bimonthly or trimonthly abduction of unsuspecting Menjetis, especially those of major significance; the development of an improved version of the stealth technology that can be used to hide the raider ships and soldiers from the Menjetis' radars, including their FTL-detecting radar capabilities; the improvement of the Merdinan intelligence agency's methods of rooting out foreign spies, whether Menjeti or not, and the destruction of any spy stations or satellites; and the expansion of the Merdinan Black Guard.

As he checked them, three new messages arrive on his inbox. Hovering the mouse cursor to the first new message, he opens it and reads it. It was another report from one of his spies, but it focused on the very dramatic declaration of war made by the Novayan Empire, one of several Novayan remnants far-flung from the onslaught of the First Menjeti Crusade. Reading into it closely, die Schattenfuhrer learned of the regent, military dictator and magister militum, or magister utriusque militae, of the Novayan Empire: Borealis Norsoutha III, a 23-year-old Imperial Novayan Navy admiral. The report provided information about him: he was a very loyal naval officer who served under the previous Novayan Emperor, now retired after a terrorist attack cost him his legs, who immediately elevated the young admiral to the rank of full admiral and the position of magister militum. The report also stated that he, as a military dictator, commands the 115th Army Group, a 750,000-strong army group made up of whatever Novayan military units that fled or survived the First Menjeti Crusade, and that he intends to bring back the Novayan Commonwealth, with plans to enslave the Menjetis while taking away their children so that the latter will learn of their families' greatest sins and horrible culture in order to mold them into being members of the resurgent Novayan Commonwealth.

He shook his head, believing that Admiral Borealis III should have done more than to enslave the Menjetis and take their children away just to teach them the follies of their race's actions and how their children must avoid making the same mistake, for he, the Shadow Leader of the Order-State of Merdina (or Schattenfuhrer der Ordensstaat Merdina) himself had a plan: a plan to exterminate large numbers of Menjeti through a totalitarian, nightmarish, oppressive dystopia with a slavery system and working conditions that will make the Menjetis break. Fear and brutality, that's what the Merdinans want the Menjetis to feel.

He then reads the next message, which is also another report from another Merdinan spy but this time it's about the New Novaya Military District, the largest Novayan remnant. Headed by General William Norsoutha, the New Novaya Military District is building up cities, industries and infrastructure at Wir Thosk III, Wir Thosk IIIa and Wir Thosk II; the capital of the New Novaya Military District is apparently Wir Thosk III, a former alpine world that have been recently terraformed into a continental world and renamed New Novaya. The government of New Novaya is a military dictatorship, in actuality a military junta, headed by the aforementioned William Norsoutha. The report goes on to state that the general's 17-year-old daughter, a schoolgirl named Borealis Oceania Norsoutha, is training as a military reservist and is in a relationship with an 18-year-old Sinyettan psionic male, Simano. The report went as far as to state that Simano, should the Third Menjeti Crusade start, is requested by General William to protect his daughter; failing that, and the General will tear the Sinyettan psionic a new one. Verbally. Die Schattenfuhrer smiled, believing that this relationship will survive as long as the two kept staying alive in the Third Crusade that is soon to come.

He then continued reading the report, which now states that the New Novayan Military District, for some reason is being called the Provisional Commissariat of New Novaya, is also expanding its military's numbers, equipment and technologies to better fight the Menjetis. A few Merdinan spies, in contact with agents of the New Novayan Military Intelligence Agency, have acquired, or rather, purchased, a number of military blueprints which contains all the specs for new military techs which will be fielded to combat the Menjetis. He smiled at the prospect of gaining military gear.

Once he finished reading, he opened the last message. Oddly to die Schattenfuhrer, it wasn't a report at all, but a request by Merdina's exploratory force. The request calls for an expedition of five exploratory ships, equipped with stealth capabilities and staffed by Merdinan soldiers and naval personnel, to a group of star systems where rumors of two far-far-flung Novayan remnants, which were secretly established long before the First Menjeti Crusade, exist. The request, of all things, also had a short report, which stated the discovery of an unusual satellite that was intact on Haestae IX. Merdinan spies have already taken whatever data it has, but all it contained is a data-record which only contain a timeline of the transfer of colonists to six worlds, one of which is codenamed Byzantium and the remaining five grouped under the codename Lilnyria; there were no coordinates for these worlds. Finding this worthy of interest, die Schattenfuhrer swiftly composed a reply, giving them his authorization to find the two Novayan remnants.

Then die Schattenfuhrer realized something. This search isn't going to be an exploratory mission, but this search will be a wild ride to find where the hell is Byzantium and Lilnyria. One day, he will learn. And one day he will find out what they really are. "This is going to be a wild ride..." die Schattenfuhrer said before pulling out a bottle of water to drink from, understanding it will be more stressful than his plans to make the Menjetis pay.

To: Admiral Borealis Norsoutha III, Magister Militum of the Novayan Empire.
From: Janto Mumiriri, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Trossach-Confederation.
Encryption: Diplomatic Standard.

Admiral,
your warning about the Ordensstaat was received and handed down to the people responsible for such matters.
However, as you may know, the former Novayan Commonwealth and the Confederation were both claiming three systems along the border, the Mawyn-System, the Haearan-System and the Bhahandi-System - as you also may know, we were in the process of arbitrating that dispute. Now the Menjeti hold these systems. Let me assure you, that the Confederation does not intent to finish the entire process by simply conquering these systems. However, the Confederation would need some incentive to throw our weight into the fight. I hope, that we understand each other.

Signed,
Janto Mumiriri,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Trossach-Confederation.

P.S.: By the way, mibiwanna, it's Trossach-Confederation, not Trossachian Confederation.

CZATSDAI MEGACITY
VANGUARD HOMEWORLD
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(Image)
A jungle of steel and concrete, smothered in propaganda; Czatsdai is a city of unconventional and sinister beauty.

Hall of Governance
11:43am
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If there was a more unique building in the Vanguard Cult, it had yet to be acknowledged. The very blandly-named Hall of Governance was ironically an architectural marvel, blending the traditional, historic "temple" aesthetics of antiquity with futuristic materials and style. Ornate stained-glass windows cast a synthetic daylight, illuminating the pale walls with an unnatural glow, this neon-blue luminosity which bathed the various structural pillars in an unearthly cyan coating.

Five men walked down one of the many winding corridors of the house. Black-capped, with dark green uniforms, they were all of similar stature. Tall, broad-shouldered; muscular and thick-chinned. The standard thugs of the Internal Secretariat. It was with jackboots that they marched, with star-and-sword insignia, pinned to their lapels, denoting their service to the revolution. It was as if they had been stripped of any sense of individuality, their identities merged into the all-consuming will of the machinery of state. And so one entity, as it were, continued its journey, before reaching a small indent in the wall. The lead of the group, marked by a gold band on his cap, spoke. "Secretariat agent number three-oh-five, callsign Kreuger, requesting access." The artificial blue light in the corridor flashed green, a computerised voice confirming the man's speech patterns as per the building's in-built vocal recognition systems.

"Three-oh-five; Kreuger; granted access." The small indent, with a barely audible hiss, shifted quickly aside, revealing a large office, holographic displays littering the room. At its center sat an old and wizened man, with brilliant white hair immaculately maintained above a rather handsome, slim face. Voztur Zhuryen, Protector of the Eternal Revolution, sat with a quizzical look on his face as the five men entered.

"Your Excellency!" Belted the first man. "Your presence is requested in the Supreme Chamber!"

"Is that so?" He mused. "I'll be there soon. That's all, I take it?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Excellent. You are dismissed." As abruptly as they arrived, the men marched away. The Protector amusedly noted that the whole procedure was rather unnecessary. Why not just send him a message? He looked around at the various gadgets and gizmos around him. It's not like he had any issues with digital communication.

Supreme Chamber of the Vanguard Council
12:05pm
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"Ah, Protector. I see you have arrived." Zhuryen heard from Yaskov Stysacz, his Treasurer on the Council, with a gleeful smile. Beside him sat the other four members of the Vanguard Council, composing alongside the Revolutionary Protector the executive governing-body of the Vanguard Cult. The room itself was rather bland; a medium-sized white dome painted in the same sickly light as the rest of the building. The Council was composed of the Protector, the Treasurer, the Supreme Marshal, the Chancellor, the Head Justice, and the Interior Minister. It was in this room that they orchestrated their response to the current issue at hand; the Menjetis. Namely: the rather justified rabid hatred the galaxy had towards them at late.

Unspeakable evils, indeed. Ones that the Vanguard Cult had sat in blissful distance from, the assailments of the genocidal fungoids seen as another barbarous aggression among many in a galaxy already marked by chaos and destruction. Nothing for the burgeoning revolution to worry about as it continued its professed emancipatory march, its crimson banner flying on the many moons and planets to submit to its dominion. That said, it appeared that the Menjetis were on their last legs. This third crusade would wipe them out once and for all. Of that, the Council had no doubt.

With vigour, they got to work on writing a statement. If they were to be vultures circling around a dying beast, so be it -- fundamentally, more space being secured for the revolution meant that picking from the corpse of what had once been a grand Menjeti hegemony was a worthwhile, if dishonourable, venture.

---

---

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IN DIVINE UNITY PROCLAIMED
THE INFALLIBLE WORDS OF
THE VANGUARD COUNCIL
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Authorised by His Excellency the Protector of the Eternal Revolution, Voztur Zhuryen

It has come to the attention of the Vanguard that there is being organised by the so-called "Sinyettan Polystellar Alignment". It has been made clear as of late, naturally, that the affairs of nations outside of the Vanguard's space have been of little concern to the organs of its state. However, under certain circumstances, and with respect paid towards certain "catastrophe-level" threats (i.e., threats with the intent to compromise the existence of all sapients species and the means to do so), the Vanguard is willing to mobilise its military in the name of long-term universal peace. That is to say, that the success of our revolution depends upon the defense of the rights and the securement of the existence of all sapients.

Therefore we express unity with the Sinyettan Polystellar Alignment insofar that we are both convicted to the destruction of the current Menjeti government and the emancipation of all worlds currently oppressed by its whims. In short, we express nothing more than a desire to protect lives, defend liberty, and eliminate an existential threat to the longevity of intergalactic civilisation. To this end, and despite the varied and major differences between the Vanguard and some of the other actors directing themselves against the Menjeti, we hold that fundamental ideal in common: that we are free, that we are independent beings with the right to exist, to persist against the storm of those who would tear from us our families, our freedoms, and our very lives.

To this end, I have personally authorised the organisation and dispatch of the INTERGALACTIC PRESERVATION TASK FORCE, one of the largest battle-fleets assembled in the history of the Vanguard, for the purposes of joining this impromptu coalition, as it were, to eliminate the Menjeti and protect the Vanguard - and the universe at large - from their aggression.

Godspeed. Death to the oppressor!

Signed,

His Excellency Voztur Zhuryen
Protector of the Eternal Revolution

To: His Excellency Voztur Zhuryen, Protector of the Eternal Revolution.
From: Janto Mumiriri, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Trossach-Confederation.
Encryption: Diplomatic Standard.

Your Excellency,
it was with great joy, that we here in Pendawr heard of the Vanguard joining our cause, as well as the formation and dispatch of the Intergalactic Preservation Task Force. We would be very much interested in the IPTF and the elements of the Confederated Defense Forces dispatched to deal with the Menjeti cooperating - maybe even heralding a new age of cooperation and commerce between our two great nations.
If you are of a similar opinion, your Excellency, I wish to mention onto you Admiral Mohit Muyari. He is the Overall Commander of the Menjeti Operation. His headquarters is on Fynedfa Station.

Signed,
Janto Mumiriri,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Trossach-Confederation.

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CSF Ysbrydrus, Ready Room of the Task Force Commander.
Fleet Captain Sian Dewar.
Next to the bridge were the ready rooms - to the portside, the one of the vessel's Captain, to the starboard side, the one of the Task Force Commander. It was a tastefully furnished room, a large desk in one corner, a seating group in the other corner.
It was in this seating group, where I found myself now, sitting with tea and cake (made and served by a gynoid maid everyone just called Lina), leaning back. The black uniform with golden highlights and green rank insignia fit me well and many people in similar uniforms were around me: The commanders of Task Forces 16, 17 and 58.
Task Force 58 was commanded by Fleet Captain Gwydion Baledrydd, a human and a wizard when it came to logistics and space construction - he and his force of support vessels would be elemental to the task at hand.
Task Force 16 was commanded from the carrier CSF Tantanna, a Mulod-class Carrier. Fleet Captain Tayta Mutyaidege was a Bwytanach, the uniform adapted for his body plan, he himself sitting on a huge cushion. He commanded, by the sheer number of vessels, the largest of the three combat-oriented task forces.
Task Force 17's flagship was the Musewemo, a Goba-class Battlecruiser. Fleet Captain Rhodri Darsbar was in command, a human male, who had seen his fair share of combat, not always to his advantage - a mechanical left arm was testament to that.
Aside from these three, there was also Colonel Danai Certmyn, the commander of Ground Command 12 and the Yimyrid VI Command Carrier CGF-CC Enagoeg. The grey haired woman wore the dress uniform of the Ground Forces of the Confederation and looked relatively uncomfortable sitting there as the odd one out - not only as the only GFC-officer present, but also as the only woman among the five officers.
Admiral Muyari was not present, he had to attend something or the other Tlysglass.
We were at Fynedfa Station, the Menjeti Bloodletter Empire only a short FTL-jump away - or rather the Mawyn-System, the Haearan-System and the Bhahandi-System. I could remember the posturing and grandstanding back in the day, before the Novayan Commonwealth had fallen, and the point had become moot. The Confederation was still very much interested in these systems and for a first stage, our mission was to attack the Mawyn-System - and cut off the Novayan Empire from the other two.
Of course, this plan was secret.
"So, the direction was made clear...", Darsbar said and leaned back, exhaling deeply. "We'll be sticking out our necks for these three systems." His mechanical fingers twitched, which he noticed. "Dang... I need to go to my mechanic one of these days."
"I have a good doctor for mechanical limbs on one of the hospital vessels.", Baledrydd offered politely with his soft voice, which his colleague seemed to consider. However, turning to the assembly, he said: "Once the Mawyn-System is secured, we should focus on building a Hyperspace Jump Gate, simply for logistics. We still have the old star charts and scans of the moons, so there is that, but we don't know, what those mushrooms did over the last years, there."
"I'll have a few Baserunners and a Blychoffer at the ready for whenever you need them, Sir.", Colonel Certmyn offered and nodded. "Those should be sufficient, to my knowledge."
"That would be wonderful, thank you, Danai.", the logistics wizard replied, before he blushed: "I am allowed to call you Danai, right?"
"Sure.", the Colonel allowed with a small smile of her own. "And once that is done, I begin my drops?"
"Exactly.", I confirmed. "We'll set up base and camp before we start any sort of ground invasion. Plus, we don't know, how the Menjeti would reply to such a strike against them. The reconnaissance data is still being processed as we speak."
"Without that data, we can't really plan.", Mutyaidege added for consideration, "Without intelligence, it would be foolish to plan any operation into the blue."
We all nodded and a lull came.
"Tea, anyone?", I broke the silence.

[Sinyettan Polystellar Alignment]

Olótenite Soldiers' Training Grounds, Sirildor, Elenyarda¹ Minyava² Nécion, Limbenyarda³ Sirildor, Sinyettan Polystellar Alignment

The last batches of soldiers had packed with their uniforms and marched out to the hills for their final initiation as soldiers of the Olótenite Order. The Grounds had received a lot of members eager to embark on the Crusade to conquer the Menjeti Empire. A sight that most fervent and pious members of the Order were surprised by.

Mittanyo Siridil, general of the 13th Roquenhossë⁴, resides in his office drinking a cup of narwalassë⁵ tea as he reviews the targeted Menjeti worlds to invade. His eyes, locked on the holographic display, were filled with a fiery eagerness that stood out against his reserved visage. This, along with the surge in the Order's membership, made him feel ecstatic, as if he were given a divine revelation from above. It seemed like it lasted of hours, until Mestanis Quildolortë came in with a tray holding a delicious meal to grab Mittanyo's attention. After settling down and saying their prayers, they both ate and watched the display switch to a planet marked as the first to invade.

"I cannot believe we are going to be one world behind Vagalod," Mestanis remarked.

"We have to thank Ilúvatar for granting us the opportunity to partake in its invasion," Mittanyo replied, his raspy voice proving undaunting to Mestanis, "It is time we inflict retribution on these vermin for murdering our kinsfolk on our ancestral homeworld."

"You seem full of vigor, today."

"Why not? I see that you are somewhat distressed about this."

"Well, granted, I am eager as you are to participate on this venture," she takes a bite off her lembas, "But, I feel we'd be like them once we step foot on their world."

"We may be of Ilúvatar's people, and we show piety as Olótenites, but there are times that, as soldiers, we need to show brutality," Mittanyo's eyes became more inflamed.

Mestanis spaces off and sighs silently. Mittanyo takes a deep breath.

"You need not worry, dear Mestanis. This crusade is the will of Ilúvatar, and I'm sure he will appreciate our vengeance towards the Menjeti for tainting our ancestral world with the blood of his people."

"I just hope we don't go too far."

They continued to eat.

Témayomondë, Sinyetta, Elenyarda Minyava Ancalimë, Limbenyarda Minyava Ancalimë

Rívëlairë Sangahyando walks on the walls of the Council Tower Complex, observing the serene nature of the green plants and the roaring stream of the Calassë River, accompanied by the High Inquisitor of the Faith and Supreme Commander of the Alignment Army. With the sound of nature being prevalent, her mouth could not say any words, despite her colleagues talking to her and each other about the Crusade.

Témayomondë was a beautiful city in the middle of nowhere. It is constructed with pure white marble within the Elenyalohtë Mountains, amplifying its mellow and leisurely environment. You would think this is hardly a place for the Alignment's government to work in, but by being with nature, politicians can find their work easier to accomplish, or so they say. Also protecting the city is a decentralized system of AI-controlled missile defense system and two hangar bays embedded in the surrounding mountains.

"We also have word from the Trossach-Confederation and the Vanguard Cult that they will be joining this conflict on our side," Ravandaner Taryadur, the Master General, announced.

"That's good," Rívëlairë replied as she let her hands grasp the marble wall, "I will send a message to both of them acknowledging their assistance."

"We now have more galactic nations joining our cause, more so than the Second Crusade," Ñaltion Hendusailandil remarked, "It's a miracle I have to say."

"All because of our stand against the Menjeti in that war," Rívëlairë sighed, "May Ilúvatar be with us all."

"And he shall," Ravandaner replied.

Rívëlairë suggested them to walk with her further outside the walls of the Complex, and into the trees. She then stopped to a nearby rock where a collection of Stellar Flowers grew, save for one whose leaves were growing dark. Immediately, she picked it up and took it with her.

Témayomondë

To: His Excellency Voztur Zhuryen, Protector of the Eternal Revolution; Iolyn Chwydeggi, President of the Trossach-Confederation
From: Rívëlairë Sangahyando, Stewardess of the Polystellar Alignment
Encryption: Galactic Diplomatic Standard

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Dear Esteemed Leaders,

Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo⁶. I am filled with joy to be aware of your participation in this Third Crusade against the Menjeti. Our mutual enemy has grown stronger in zealotry and technology in these past days, with their threats of another xenocide exacerbating the tension. As a Sinyettan who was lived in the times of the First and Second Crusades, I do wish for my people to suffer again, and I am glad that there are other nations that are responding to this blatant threat.

May our combined efforts put an end to this threat once and for all. May this conflict result in further cooperation between our nations.

Namárië⁷.

Signed,
Rívëlairë Sangahyando,
Stewardess of the Sinyettan Polystellar Alignment, Custodian to the Faith
သြသ၆၃

Iscayór, Sinyetta, Elenyarda Minyava Ancalimë, Limbenyarda Minyava Ancalimë

Símano was in the room of Borealis Oceania Norsoutha when he heard of the news. Amazement and nervousness filled both of his eyes and deep breath as he looked at his phone. Even his psionic training could not prevent him from containing the apprehension.

"It's official," he said, "The Crusade has begun."

Rilyande, Elenyarda Hyarisse, Limbenyarda Hyarisse

On a station orbiting the star of Hyarisse resides the Macil Cirya, one of powerful fleets of the Alignment Navy. Admiral Lunon Calmasse had just finished a war game, and is now relaxing in his office in the Hyarisse Admiralty. A principal officer in the Navy, he was tasked with invading the capital system of Zithri and the key Menjeti system of Deomia. With his stern expression on his face, he felt no need to further plan his offensive, and simply banished every bit of worry with his favorite music from the Fairërin Hyper-Entertainment Forum. He closed his eyes, gestured his hands in a conductor's fashion, and hummed the tune.

---

1. Sinyettambë for "Stellar Realm"; denotes a system
2. "First"; to denote settlements, systems and sectors with capital status
3. "Multi/Polystellar Realm"; denotes a sector
4. "Knight Army"; name for a gene warrior army
5. "Fiery red leaf"; equivalent to cinnamon, but spicier
6. In English, "A star shall shine on the hour of our meeting"
7. "Be well"
8. Sinyettambë: "Sinyettan Tongue"; an evolution of Quenya, also known as Sinyettan Quenya

[Novaya Equestria]

Iscayór, Sinyetta, Elenyarda Minyava Ancalimë, Limbenyarda Minyava Ancalimë

Borealis Oceania Norsoutha, the 17-year-old daughter of General William Norsoutha, the head of the New Novaya Military District, or Provisional Commissariat of New Novaya, looked up from her study desk to Simano, smiling at him. Then, upon hearing him say of the news, her eyes widen in surprise. "So it is, then..." said Borealis to her Sinyettan boyfriend.

Great Palace of Ariestal,
Ariestal, Haestae III

Admiral Borealis III and his command staff listened to the report from his representative at Sinyetta that the 3rd Crusade has begun. "Everyone," said the stern Borealis III to his staff officers, "the time has come to make our first move against the Menjetis. We'll be striking for Nova COnstantinople and eliminate the Menjeti naval forces that may get in our way. The Merdinans will be joining us in the assault on Nova Constantinople; our Merdinan friends have also told me that they have secretly contacted a planetary resistance network, composed of Novayans who fled from the slaughter and into the wilderness or underground cities, which is preparing to sabotage Menjeti military, economic and political capabilities to make effective our grand return and liberation of Nova Constantinople.

"It is good because not only are they reproducing but also made new technologies, which the Merdinans say as being based on stolen Menjeti technology, allowing them to bypass Menjeti restrictions and hack into the Menjetis' own technology undetected, allowing them to take control of the planetary defenses and turn them against the enemy. The resistance network had also developed viruses to infect the Menjetis' planetary and system intelligence, communications, administrative, military and political network. This will give us the advantages we need when we arrive at Nova Constantinople to liberate it. Any words before we launch the offensive?"

The staff officers looked at him, none of them answering. "Very well," said Admiral Borealis III, "let us strike at the same time the Sinyettans struck first! Get to it, men!" The staff officers nod and went to work. The Admiral made his way out of the palace and towards the Ariestal Fortress Military Academy, where in the courtyard are a parade column of 101 male and female soldiers belonging to the Elite Guard, whose uniforms were a combination of the Admiral's own uniform as well as those of the Principal Elite Guard. Standing before them are five Elite Guard officers and four flag-bearers. This group of Elite Guardsmen were to be the Admiral-Magister's personal elite guard.

"Magister," the commanding officer of the Elite Guard platoon said to Admiral Borealis III, "I would like to represent to you this group of Elite Guardsmen, whom I oversaw their advanced training on your request to prepare them for their first off-world assignment, which is protecting and accompanying you in the war against the Menjeti Bloodletters. As you have said, they are equipped with machine pistols and bladed weapons and trained to be swift and agile." Borealis III nod and said, "Thank you, Captain Hernandes. Now, before I say any further, do any of these Guardsmen or Guardswomen held any interest in being my personal guard?"

Even with the stern, stoic expressions prevalent in the Elite Guard, the Elite Guardsmen looked at their founder in complete surprise, and a small murmur arose from the unit. "...h-held...any interest in being...your personal guard...?" Captain Hernandes looked at him as if he was dreaming. "I-I am sorry, sir," he replied apologetically, "but none of us had the fought of being your personal guard. None of us had any thought of being your personal guard, as our duties were to protect the twin Novayan emperors and you, sir." Borealis III nod, opening his mouth to speak when they heard the voice of a young woman among the unit say, "Um, sir..."

The rest of the Elite Guardsmen and their officers turned to whoever spoke out of line. It was a young Elite Guardswoman, having a two-tone hair, brown and gray/silver/white, whose golden eyes stare anxiously at the Admiral-Magister. "Who is she, Captain?" asked Admiral Borealis III. "Sir, this young woman have joined the Elite Guard since two years ago," explained Captain Hernandes, "however, when we delved into her history, we were taken aback when she was orphaned either at the age of two or three or after she was born, several days before the end the Migration Period. It is not known what have become of her parents or family, but we believed that they may have died during that time." Hearing that made the young guardswoman's eyes widen and shaken. "But we don't know if she was taken in by a local orphanage, so we're still investigating."

"And why is her attire...like that?" asked Admiral Borealis III, eyeing the young guardswoman's uniform. It looks very fine to him, but it looked very impractical. "You see, sir, we were having a bit of an issue with the uniform and material shortages two years ago, so the only thing the tailors can make for her is that attire using whatever material is available," answered Captain Hernandes, "and we still are sure don't know why they make that attire; overtime, however, she became used to it. Now, back to the topic at hand, she had trouble utilizing the halberd during her training, leading to various damages to public imperial property and mishandling her weapon. Fortunately, she analyzed what went wrong in her training and, with advice from the other Guardsmen, focused on techniques and speed. She had only a year of combat experience, but her battle style is useful, and that's what saved us during the attack on the Great Palace and the Ariestal Fortress Military Academy by a large group of bandits, during which she downed several of them, who were the last group in the attack, assailing the Great Palace."

"What is her name?" Borealis III asked abruptly, taking the captain off-guard. "Well...she doesn't really have a name, but the only thing we know of her name is 'Plume'," answered Hernandes sheepishly, "she only have that name, or codename, as per policy on recruiting those who were nameless." The admiral nod before ordering him, "Let Plume speak." Captain Hernandes turned and nod to her before facing the admiral. With hesitation Plume stepped forward towards the admiral and say softly, "Um, sir, I would like to request..." She paused, anxious and nervous before Borealis III, whose presence akin to that of a more superior entity, whether a military officer or one of the powers-that-be. "...er, when I heard from several colleagues that you, as the magister militum, are searching for someone who will accompany you as your personal guard, I thought I may be willing to volunteer. But...to see that you are the magister militum, well...I don't know what to say..."

"Your request is granted," Borealis III responded in a more blunt way. "E-Eh?" Plume looked at him with surprise. "You wanted to be my personal guard, now you shall have it," he told her before saying to the rest of the Elite Guard unit, "Now, you will report to me three hours from now, Guardsmen, on board the INS Atlas. Understood?" The Guardsmen replied and saluted to him. "Very good," he said, "now I must go to the Ariestal Fortress Military Academy to meet up with several high-ranking military officers on the military units the Novayan Empire have." With that, he then enters the Ariestal Fortress Military Academy, with Plume following him. The Elite Guard unit then marched back to their barracks.

[Farreilan]

District Tunte, Unknown Star System, Unnamed Gas Giant Ring System, LK Miikkalinn

East of a distant blue star, west of a brown gas giant, a volcanic moon sat in between.

Swirling in dense clouds of carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid flowing rivers and seas of magma dominated the tumultuous and rocky landscape. In fact, it was impossible to see the twinkling stars in the cosmos, nor was darkness even possible, as there was so much heat. To top it off, there were occasional earthquakes, both from turbulent tectonic plates and ... falling debris?

There was a massive crater in a shallow ravine, where a ten kilometre wide chunk of rock was slowly being levitated into the sky. Attached to its surface and sides were a forest of reinforced cables, all of whom were stretched from a central source up above. Assisted by rocket engines underneath, the asteroid-sized chunk slowly rose into orbit, where an hour later, it hovered underneath a lonesome frigate.

Once the chunk was stabilised, the LK Miikkalinn - a frigate with triangular solar sails - lumbered over the most eastern side of the chunk. With a a 2.5km diameter habitation ring and a 15.4km length, the unarmed, retrofitted frigate was a giant self-propelled ore processing and mining facility. With five decks on the habitation ring, the Miikkalinn is home to a crew of 7,000, half of whom were mining/engineering personnel.

Heavy Equipment Operator Ulla Mai - a 33 year old woman - was among those key personnel, dressed in the standard orange jumpsuit, communication cap, and, most importantly, semi-rigid space suit. Though she was in the safety of a 20 metre long mining pod, the only thing separating her from the zero gravity vacuum and space rock was the pod's armour plating. Viewing the outside world through an LCD screen, her hands were busy at the joystick and levers, keeping the ship steady and stable as its antenna-like drill sunk into the asteroid.

"10,000kg." A familiar voice chirped in her headset, belonging to her co-operator, Pirkka, seated to her right at a separate control station, "Shutting down in T-minus five minutes."

"Copy." Ulla stoically acknowledged, all the while maintaining a close visual on her screen and controls.

A couple minutes, Pirkka began to deaccelerate the drill, sluggishly pulling back a tall lever near the left side of his seat. Just as the lever was about to touch his armrest, an elusively subtle vibration began to shake the pod.

"Ulla?" He calmly frowned, slowly peering over at Ulla.

"That's not me."

"Eh? Uh ... huh."

Suspicious, Pirkka looked at his screen, but there were no anomalies in the equipment or system.

"What do you have on your end?"

"Uh, we didn't hit anything. But I don't get it."

"Aye, and I have the steadiest hands in this flotilla.

"No doubt. Let me see what's happening with the other-"

Unfortunately, the vibration abruptly intensified, followed by a ghastful force that slowly pushed the pod into the asteroid. Momentarily, the screens fizzled with static and mottled colour stripes, largely leaving both operators blind and disoriented. Fortunately for the pod, Ulla fired the RCS thrusters to resist the unexplained rearward shockwave, giving Pirkka plenty of time to retract the drill.

"Get us out of here, Ulla."

"I'm trying." She calmly snapped, "Get on the line with CMC (Central Mining Control), we have a problem down here."

Without hesitation, Pirkka rushed his hands to his chest mounted PDA, immediately tuning himself onto the radiowaves, "Alpha Control, do you copy?"

For three long seconds, there was no reply.

"Alpha Control, do you copy? We're experiencing unexplained thruster movement."

Again, there was no response. But while this was happening, visual feed was restored on Ulla's side. Much to her relief, the pod was drifting away from the asteroid; however, a violent rumble jerked the pod upward, creating an uncontrollable spin for two long minutes.

Unfortunately for Pirkka, once the pod stopped spinning and his screen normalised, the storage tank had the notification box 'AILINEN' blinking in the centre.

"Argh, there goes our payloads." Pirkka growled internally, visibly frowning very slightly as he saw the red text and box blinking on screen.

"Pirkka?"

"Eh?"

Before she could say anything else, a familiar voice beat him to the chase, "-pods, steer clear of the ship! Repeat, steer clear-! A Code Red ... Grey aboard! This is not a drill!"

"Miikka-Main?" Pirkka chirped dumbfoundedly, "What's going on up there?"

"There's been a catastrophic explosion in the refinery section. We lost gravity and suffering rapid decompression between the hydroponic and storage sectors. Do not, and I repeat, DO NOT return to the ship until further notice." Then, the line went dead with an ominous beep.

"Ah shite..." He murmured inaudibly.

"Come again." Ulla suddenly chirped, apparently hearing him via his headset.

"Th-The ship. There's been explosion aboard the Miikkalinn."

He was expecting a silence from his coworker, but a curse immediately rung from her voice, "Blimey."

"I'm sorry, this is-"

"No, look at the ship!"

"Hmm...?" He hummed unintelligibly, promptly obtaining forward visual feed from his side, nonetheless, "Blimey! The habitation ring has been breached!"

"Aye, no shit, Holmes. Brace yourself, we need to steer clear of the lift cables." Ulla sneered while maintaining a professional voice tone.

"Copy."

Outside, the LK Miikkalinn was in miserable shape. While the 2.5km habitation ring remained in the mount, there was a hole that broke the ring's loop, and, more importantly, the ring had all but stopped. Even worse, the longer aft section had broken off entirely, drifting slightly upward as smoke and smoldering debris whooshed into space.

To the operators' horror, however, there were telltale orange lines and blurs in the distance; some of the crew were unfortunate to be jettisoned along with unfurling cables, machinery fragments, and large hull pieces. Perhaps most troubling of all were several plumes of grey dust leaking from the aft, occasionally igniting as puffy fireballs or amorphous arcs of fire whenever they came into contact with any smoldering debris. Nonetheless, there were thin clouds of dust forming in all directions, sticking or ricocheting on any surface it hits.

For Ulla and Pirkka, it was a nightmare unfolding before them...