Amongst the Cold Stars(FT Nation IC)

[Ithalian Empire]

OOC

Welcome to the Galaxy. A place filled with insurmountable beauty and unbelievable cruelty. Stars are born, they die, the cycle continues. Civilizations cling to the thin skins of their homeworlds, some move beyond and spread amongst the stars doomed to die, others kill them selves before they even start. Amongst these cold stars rise and fall empires. Some etch their names so deeply that they are remembered for millennia after, others are but a breath in the wind, a transient vapor amongst a million other such vapores.

So what then of you? Will your civilization be one of those who influence future generations long after you have fallen? Will your story be one of war and bloodshed? Will it be of peace and progress? Will you be the conqueror or the conquered? In such a cold and uncaring universe, does it really matter?

This is for you to decide as you find your way amongst the cold stars.

[Newne Carriebean7]

Uesugi Confederation
Echigo
645TG (3145)

Shogun President Taigo Nagato tapped the small glass on it's thin edges as he watched from the balcony of the imperial palace on the capital. millions of citizens toiling about to do the Confederacy's bidding ,whether they were slaves or citizens of the confederacy,it did not matter. the Isone were trying to get along and show some of the Hattori what it means to be alive, to which they bombarded them with questions in their usual boring ways. the doors opened and Nagato spun around in his chair. it was Jin lee,a Hattori that bent down as a salute, the long,wavy and flexible neck bending with the head as it was brought back up.
"Your Majesty elect, the annual production numbers for last year have come in, and I am pleased to say that a 5% increase in Bakedaesti deaths per rotation on 15 systems has been discovered to be truthful. also, there are miner strikes on the planets of Chargeni II and Tarlent VI, shall we deploy the police,if we do that, it will make the population restless with the additional 300,000 potential troops needed to subdue the strike,and it will lead to thinner forces overall in the armed forces."
"I'll leave it up to you, jin lee to decide,you're a smart guy right?"
"S-sir, I am merely a servant, I have no political-"
"Don't need any. I got my election results from a cereal box,remember?"
"Yes sir, we all know of that story, it was one cold and foggy night long ago, with the your many plants all around you."
"They provided moral support, how very amusing.now get me Sklavenführer Usihide Mastomaya."
"At once, your majesty elect,is there anything which you need?"
"What's the status of ship production?"
"Well, the ushio class patrol ships have seen 9,475 be made this month, a 37% increase compared to last month's number of 3,506. the malevolent class frigates have seen a 22% increase, the luggerhulks at 5% and the construction of a single Starnium class battlecruiser has increased from 6% completion to 8% completion."
"As for the land recruitment numbers,how are those faring?"
"For volunteers, it is only 3 million more soldiers, for enlisted it is one third of that number. or-"
"Or 1 million? I'm not that stupid you know."
Jin Lee looked at the man with his eyes blinking, he then frowned and crossed his arms, looking down with a tilted head.
"I know you uesugi have intelligence,we almost forget that every time we're in the lab."
"just make sure to marry a nice hattori girl,you don't want to be lonley forever right?"
jin lee looked shocked.
"I'll let you know that I have no plans for a use of relational or reproductive organs for another 100 years!"
"You are getting old,what is it now-118,120?"
"136 years sir. that is how much time has passed since the commencment of my operations."
"Jeez,ya all sound so robotic,why don't you just say, since birth or something?"
With that, Jin Lee began to debate with him, Nagato not listening as he put on his coat and left the Imperial Palace.

Jardent-Jadeini class yacht
space above planet Edikayama
Isone Hanjub Jafar bit into the fruit he kept onboard, them being specialty types from long ago preserved by some technobabble he droned out of at the orientation. a small beep forced him up and made him put his feet firmly in the small elevator to be transported up to the second floor, where he could get a better view of the deck. Removing his ceremonial Narjen hat, revealing a bald head,he ran his fingers through the smooth surface and chuckled.
"Is this what they mean by balding, never thought so. shoulda listened to me pop."
With another chuckle,he took his hands off his head and plugged in a small key to the wall, almost instantly, a small ball was lowered down hardly, with a drop and clang against the expensive materials,much to Jafar's shock.
"Careful you Bake! this stuff will fetch me a pretty penny at market,including you if you dont' stop being idiots!"
With a sigh, he adjusted the ball upright and pressed a red button on the ball, activating it, turning off the lights and having a blueish illumination replace it emerging from the ball.
Taking a minute to adjust his eyes,he studied the star map he kept with him.
"Ah, so we're right near Iptus II,and, according to this, 1 day travel from the planet."
getting on the platform, he was lifted up to the bridge, where he saw the greenish brownish tint of the sphere shaped planet, where hundreds of space ships were moving in every direction. he knew it was wise to do his business in such a big planet, as he was a prime slaver that needed to make a new deal, as the ship began entered the atmosphere,it began to slow down. The radio crackled to life with several ship calling signs and annoying sounds, forcing him to flip a switch and turn it off. Within a few more minutes the ship began to descend into the atmosphere, with a hot reddish orangeish tint blessing and gracing the hull of the ship, that made jafar tremble slightly with the vibrations that were occurring. They stopped after a short while and he felt the creaks and groans of the landing gear deploy as the ship touched down softly on one of many platforms. With a press of another button, the landing ramp was lowered down and the Isone descended down, taking a sniff of the air and grimaced.
"This was a disgusting planet," He thought,"but one necessary to put food on the table." With a sigh, he flagged down a port customs official. the uesugi looking man grinned wildly at the thoughts of more money in his own pockets.
"Ah,an Isone,whatever it is,we'll supply it."
"I need a military escort for my new business, 20 soldiers to my new offices and a few frigates to make sure my ship's fine."
"Of course, assuming you have the funds,that is?"
With a light shove, Jafar chuckled.
"I'm an Isone,does it look like I'm poor?"
"No, the supplies will be readied and the soldiers shall be called up at once. would you give the address."
"Sure."
With a scribble of some paper he flung it at the man,then entered a hotel.

[The Moscow Metro Red Line]

Bridge - I.O.S. Emperor Karl Engels the First, Emperor Class Dreadnought - Ostia Orbit - Ostia System
7th of October, 3145

Today is a glorious day to be an Ostian citizen. Today is a historical day in Ostian history. Today is the day that the Ostian Imperium was founded. From the ashes and ruins of the Ostian Republic arose the Ostian Imperium which has stood the test of time. An interstellar empire which grew from twenty four solar systems to three hundred solar systems in a period of 800 years. Out of the many alien ideologies encountered in Ostian history, the Ostian ideology of strength and honor has prevailed over all of them. While anyone can perish, ideals will never perish from the hearts and the minds of its followers. Today marks the 800th anniversary of the founding of the Ostian Imperium. Today is Imperium Day.

Imperium Day is a state-wide holiday which includes a week of celebrations and festivities. Celebrations to honor the proud and tested soldiers of the Ostian military and festivals displaying the depths of Ostian culture. This is also the week where publicly broadcasted military exercises and parades appear on all the holo-channels of the Ostian Imperium. On the planet below in the capital of Nue Berlin, the televised parade of various military units is being shown to the masses of the Ostian Imperium. Loud and patriotic music played as soldiers in full Ostian ceremonial uniforms marched down the streets of Nue Berlin with crowds of Ostian citizen, both human and non-human, cheering for them and holding banners. Ostian ceremonial uniforms harken back to Ostia's past and roots to its older Earth country. Following the contingent of soldiers in Ostian ceremonial uniform were soldiers dressed in standard combat armor from the infantryman up to the Ostian Royal Guard. Following the companies upon companies of armored and armed soldiers were platoons of armored vehicles ranging from duos of sleek and swift Ostian All Terrain Reconnaissance Vehicles to columns of imposing and mighty Ostian All Terrain Main Battle Tanks. But the most impressive sight of the parade were the Ostian Army battlesuits which marched down the streets. Their synchronized steps causing the ground around them to vibrate. The first battlesuits which marched were composed of Ostian Army EI-31 Ares followed by EI-32 Cerberuses. Despite this show of military force and power, the focus on today's parade was the fleet review which was to occur right after the ground parade had finished.

The Ostian Military is unveiling for to their public the newest class of military starship in the Ostian Navy, the Emperor Class Dreadnoughts. The Dreadnoughts were publicized as the strongest ships in the Ostian Navy and was to be used by the most esteemed of Ostian Naval officers. Nine Emperor Class Dreadnoughts have been announced to be ordered with three of these dreadnoughts already built. These Emperor Class Dreadnoughts were to be named after the nine monarchs of Ostian history. In the bridge of the latest Ostian warship was the monarch and ruler of the Ostian Imperium, Emperor Karl Engels the Seventh. The Emperor sat on his command throne on the bridge and was watching the parade from his personal holoscreen. As the parade on the planet below was occurring, the fleets of the Ostian Navy were gathering. Twelve fleets from the twelve battlefleets in the Ostian Imperium had arrived in the system for the fleet review. This day was a good day to be an Ostian.

[Theyra]

Vryr'yks Coalition
Iso system
In orbit around planet Tel'Vor

The expedition ships were prepared and set to leave at any moment. They were in orbit around the planet Their were only awaiting for the go head from the commander of the expedition forces. This would be the second commission of a expedition fleet and it would go far into space then before. The ships are state of the art and are a modified version of the Aurora-class cruiser. They have everything that they need to properly explore the galaxy and it feel different then the first time.

The first time time, it was only the Vryr'yks that was exploring the galaxy. Now the Coalition is made of four different races. Each of them equally apart of the new ships.... it was a weird thought. Years ago this idea would have been traitorous, but now four races working together after losing so much. Most of them know what true loss is and do not wish to happen again. All would were okay with the protocols but, some protested how the protocols worked. Hopefully they may not be a problem and will follow protocol.

After the last system check of the ships were all green. So with that the commander of the expedition did not delay any longer. So he ordered the the official launch of the ships and it was a glorious moment for the Coalition. A grand mission of science and exploration and another chance to find the homeworld. They did not find it during the last expedition but, this time their equipment is better and they have a better understanding of where the homeworld could be. But if they found the homeworld that would be only a great thing but it would raise questions. Questions that hopefully will not be complicated by the other powers and they can settle it the Coalition way.

[Ithalian Empire]

Terion IV

Terion IV was a rocky barren world on the outermost edge of the Republics space. Scans of the Earth sized planet showed that it was once an inhabited planet teeming with a nuclear age civilization. Like most civilizations that learned the secrets of the atom the were the victims of their own intelligence. The world had been bathed in nuclear fire some 300 years ago. Needless to say there wasn't much life left after the oceans had boiled away.

The scans also detected plenty of minerals and other resources that would be of interest to the Republic. So roughly six months ago a mining company staked claim to the mineral rights. As the gigantic mining machines began drilling they found something. A large subterranean structure spanning miles under the surface. It would have been impossible for the native of this planet.

So the Republic dispatched a science vessel and a team to investigate.

Dr. Jeash Re'mull was the leader of the scientific team that had just recently landed on the planet. The wind whipped around her as the pale morning sun rose over the eastern mountain ridge. Everything about this place was grey and desolate. They had flown over the gutted ruins of one of the natives cities, the ruined building reaching into the grey sky, hidden amongst the tiny corners and fallen concrete would be the remains of the original inhabitants, forever preserved as carbon statues.

When the science team finally reached the start of the mine the were greeted by the mines operator, a human male about 30 years of age with flaming read hair and the build of someone who could lift a tunnel bore in on hand. In Re'mulls Antivarian perspective he was slightly larger stronger than an Antivarian in its 18th year.

The shook hands and the man, whose name was Robert, lead them down into the shaft. The walked along the rough hued stone of the tunnel for a few hundred meters before there were presented with a large metallic wall.

"Yup, this thing right here is what stopped Betsy." Robert said, his accent being one of those from the outer human colonies, a rough and tumble dialect of the normally refined and prime language of the core colonie humans.

"Betsy?" Re'mull asked, the man never said that a woman was hurt when this thing was found.

"The drill, that what we named the drill. After me old ex wife because she works when you don't need here and when you do she breaks down."

Re'mull had stopped caring, she was too busy studying the gleaming metallic sheet in front of her. "You say you hit this going at max RPM?"

"Right you are miss."

Incredible, between the speed of the drill rotation and the harness of the bit itself it should have gone through if it has a normal material Re'mull thought. Further study was a must, that was sure.

Ni'ish City, Antivar

Ni'ish, the city that was the heart of the Republic both financially and politically. It was a city of over 500 million inhabitants and was constantly in motion. From the spaceport and it's consistent flow of spacecraft carrying goods and people, to the wide boulevards and highways that connected the city and it everions.

In the center of the city was the administrative district, 50 buildings housing all the various departments and bureaucracies of the Republic, for the Commision of Foreign Relations, the the Department of Colonization. Ni'isj city was were power was put into action in one of the most powerful nation in the known Galaxy.

At the head of all this was the Chancellor, the most powerful elected official within the government of the Republic. Elected in 3144 Chancellor Rein Vo'ock had been leading the Republic through a time of economic rise and relative peace. The economy had grown and the amount of piracy within the Republic had decreased as the military took an ever increasing role in hunting down and dispatching pirate ships ans bases amongst the frontiers.

But Vo'ocks first five year term in office was coming to an end and in the next year the campaign for Chancellor would start again and a new political season would shape the Republic for the next five years. Such was the way of Antivarian politics.

[Veroxia]

---

THE PRATORIAN BROTHERHOOD

---

INTRODUCTION:

A Dream or a Vision:Part I

---

Peace and unity amongst our brothers and sisters, a vision of love. It has been the vision we were brought up on, and the vision we see into our own futures, except I. It is not because I hold seperate views nor because I am one filled with negatice energy,no. Brother and sister, it is dreams. Recent these have been, and more common they are. They are not dreams of becoming wind, slipping through the blue sky nor is it one of calm. These dreams are one of disturbing manners, one of darkness. I dream of awaking from my slumber, a voice from a distance. It is my young brother Tuya.He had always been the first to awake the family. I arise from my meditating state, and chuckle at Tuya. "You always seem to enjoy waking me up, Tuya-gen." He giggles, and I pat him softly on his pointy, metallic head of his. My parents, still asleep were attacked by Tuya, pouncing at both at them as if he were catching a small, timid creature. They appear annoyed at first, but then speak with a true, joyful manner. "Joyous sunrise, my young Tuya." Mother always had a way with her words. Father, like I patted Toyu and saw that I had arose from my slumber. He laughed a grand laugh, and asked if Toya had awaken me. I nodded, walking with Father to deal with our daily work. The small, but quaint village of Nokai was already bustling with my brothers and sisters, all working to the needs of their kin alongside with their neighbors. I had seen my friends alongside their fathers walk to their own occupations. I and father have our own occupations in the Temple, as providers; we provide assistance to the knights and keep such a place tidy. It was found in the mountain north of our village, the puffy clouds covering up much of the Temple itself.

As I and Father walked our way, a sister appeared to be of need; she was carrying a large pile of pots and pans of all sizes, curving and swaying. The sister had tripped, and I swiftly acted to help: Swiftly saving anything that would have dropped otherwise. I realized that the sister was Naki, a friend I had not spoken to in a while. "Thanks...Tiberi-tun! Where have you been?!" I was stunned. "You see, Naki-tan...I was..erm busy helping Father at the Temple." She swiftly counteracted, with force. "Oh, same old excuse! Same old Tiberi!". I was in awe, Noki always seemed to love to argue...especially of I. "I'm sorry, I deeply apologize for missing that, Noki. I promise, after I finish at the temple we can." Naki merely looked at me with an annoyed look."Hmph! We'll see about that!"
"I promise."
"Do you?"
"Truly."
"If you don't come back right here after the temple.." She sighed and looked back. She found me to be a distance away, with Father. I waved, hoping she would feel less agitated. I then continued with Father to the Temple, our little journey...

---

TO BE CONTINUED

[Tagali Federation]

Ostian Space
Grechtingkeit System
Tagali Federation Transport Vessel "Heart of Vurs"

---

Neysa Mansoor was awoken from her slumber by her alarm clock. After 2 weeks of travelling from her native World of Vishkar to Angelvolk in the heart of the Ostian Imperium, a nation that the Church of the Unity had decided was in need of their teachings. Neysa didn't know much about Human nation to the Federation's southern Borders, the little information that Neysa knew was that Ostia was a Human-centric nation that oppressed those that could not defend themselves, taking away their names and rights. If that was true, than it was no wonder the Church would send Missionaries to spread word of the unity, she only questioned why they would send someone as unimportant as her, a lowly Preacher of the Unity from the Slums of Vishkar, to be one of the first to spread the word of the Unity to the lost souls of Ostia.

Neysa walked out of her compartment, others were awaking as well, a few of them leaving living compartments similar to Neysa's, but those that did were more well off. It was expensive to supply a ship like this for such journeys through space. While Federation Military ships could be resupplied and stocked with ease while within Federation space, civilian vessels didn't have the same infrastructure. Many interstellar transportation companies charged huge fees for such accommodations. Most passengers went into cryo-sleep for the journey, being woken up once the journey was complete. Many found that the sleep was uncomfortable and caused sickness upon waking up, which is why Neysa felt grateful that the Church had spared no expense on the mission.

Still, Neysa somewhat wished she took the journey in cryo. Very few ever ventured this far into Ostia, less that had the funds to stay awake during the entire trip. For most of the journey, the corridors of the ship were silent and spacious, much different for the slums of Vishkar. Neysa hoped that Angelvolk would be different.

"All passengers, please gather your belongings. We will be docking at Angelvolk Starbase shortly. Thank you for choosing Federation Interstellar Lines." Neysa followed the order of the pilot on the intercom. She went back into her room, simply shoving her clothing and her tablet back into her bag. She didn't bring much from Vishkar, not that she had much to begin with. She departed for the waiting area of the ship next to the exits, ready to start a new part of her life on Angelvolk.

[The Moscow Metro Red Line]

Docking Bay 5 - Angelvolk Fleet Starbase - Grechtingkeit System - Suhl Sector - Ostian Imperium
7th of October, 3145

"Please put your belongings through the scanner", repeated all of the customs officials. Travel in the Ostian Imperium is regulated to maintain the bureaucratic logs of where the citizens and foreigners of the Ostian Imperium are officially. Of course travelling in a system is not are tightly monitored as traveling to other systems, but Ostian government officials are not are strict as times of war or internal chaos. Customs and checking in the Ostian space is often fast enough to not be considered a nuisance to the traveler. While the overt motive is to make traveler feel more comfortable, the ulterior motive is so that the Ostian Inquisition can monitor travel in the out of Ostian space. But of course there are other ways which the Inquistion monitors the population of the Ostian Imperium for the sake of national security and stability.

Relations between the Ostian Imperium and the Tagail Federation are not overly hostile but a foreigner can sense the rivalry between the two powers. It is a rivalry between an older and more established power and a younger and budding power. However in the present moment war between these two powers is unlikely. Foreigners from the Tagail Federation are treated with some suspicion by local officials and the local citizens. But are generally treated fairly by all parties with the exception of the youth. All of the customs officials were wearing their standard uniforms with an exception of a few in standard Ostian infantry combat armor. When Neysa finally reached the front of one of the lines in the docking bay an angelvolk custom's officer was typing something into his console. Since the angelvolk species is naturally attuned to the dark, all of them have to wear special eye-wear to see in the light. This eye-wear is incredibly darkened which makes it looks like the angelvolk are always wear sunglasses. He looked at Neysa with the usual bureaucratic suspicion and said, "Please give me your travel card." He asked and grabbed the card Neysa showed him. Travel cards were the internal passports of the Ostian Imperium. It was to be kept on all times and logs the travel and personal information of the person. Every citizen and foreigner are given one and these cards are supposed to make travel much faster and easier.

The customs officer took the card and inserted it into a slot in the console. "Name? Reason for travel? What system did your transport leave from? Anything restricted items to declare?"

[Dansha]

Avaria System
Silor, Inner Lunar Orbit
Command Ship UDV "Javat"
Briefing Room

Fleet-Commander Kyldaks Odoskir stands in front of the assembled Defence Corps officers spread out across the briefing room, left arm resting on the podium he's standing behind and his right hand holding a sheet of paper with his fleets orders on it. Kyldaks silent reads through the sheet of paper in his hand a second time after having it printed off in his office, making sure not to miss any details while the officers talk amongst themselves.

"Eliminate pirates attacking civilian ships in the Akron System...Orbital Defence Corps forces insystem will be assisting...light resistance expected. Something doesn't quite add up here...why hasn't the Akron Fleet handle the pirates yet? And why is my fleet being sent? Guess it doesn't matter right now, I'll think more on it later."

Pushing the thoughts to the back of his mind for the time being, he raises his free hand to get everyone's attention before clearing his throat and starting the briefing. "Alright, now that everyone is ready, let's begin the briefing. At 0950 Silor time, ORBCOM* sent a message to the Javat Fleet, containing orders for our fleet to deploy to the Akron System near our western border and eliminate pirates who are attacking civilian ships in the system. Along with taking out their ships, we are also to destroy their base if possible or at least relay its location for other forces to deal with it. The Orbital Defence Corps forces insystem will be assisting us during this assignment as well. Any questions?"

One of the officers, the captain of the cruiser Aldrek, speaks up. "What kind of resistance are we expecting?"

"We are expected to only face light resistance from the pirates due to their ships being poorly maintained and armed according to images that have been recovered and eye witness accounts." Kyldaks answers. "Anyone else?"

When no one else speaks up, Kyldaks speaks again, standing up straight from from leaning on the podium. "In that case, this briefing is finished. We move out in five hours. Dismissed!"

After everyone else exchanges salutes and leaves the briefing room, Kyldaks takes one last look at the orders in his hand. "Just what is going on here?" Shaking his head silently, he walks out the room and turns the lights off, plunging the room into darkness.

*: Orbital Command

[Ithalian Empire]

Terion IV

All attempts to gain entry into the subterranean structure had yielded little more than stress and a lot of sweat. They tried cutting into it with plasma, blasting it with explosives, banging on it, vibrating it, digging around for an entrance with no avail. In the end they were about the give up on trying to get in. Dr. Re'Mull placed her hand on the cold metallic wall, its secrets seemingly hidden inside for all eternity. One day she thought.

As she started to leave something happened. She felt a rush of cold air on here back. Looking behind her, were the wall once stood there was an opening into a room. The room went back a good 30 meters, and beyond that there was another room, and another beyond that before her sight was obscured by the blackness within the depths of the structure.

Gathering the equipment and the rest of the team they entered the first room. Within were racks upon racks of crystalline cubes. The lighting equipment was unnecessary, floating spheres of light illuminated the room. One of the technicians tried to get a reading on the light, to see what kind of instrument was creating it.

"Dr. Re'mull, these lights have no physical source."

"How is that possible Kre?" Dr. Re'mull asked, this place was gettin stranger and stranger as the looked at it. Already the life sign indicator was going wild, the crystal cubes were being picked up as having brain patterns.

"Wish I knew, could make a fortune of this. They don't even put of any heat." He said this as he swept his hand through it, the light separating and reforming as his fingers passed through it.

"Were going to need more equipment and personnel." Re'mull said to no one else in particular.

Sos Residence, Verban III

The Sos family was one of the richest families within the Republic. Je'zin Sos was the current CEO of Sos Arms, the arms company responsible for nearly 30% of the Republics small arms manufacture. It was a family business that had been passed down from father to son since the day of the United Union of Colonies. Today for the Sos family was a special day, all three Sos sons were in the same room for the first time in 3 years.

There was the oldest, Kel Sos, a small man by Antivarian standards he was to inherit the family company. He had the education to do it, six years at the Antivarian Academy of Business in the capital and the starting of his own software firm had him ready to run Sos Arms for the past ten years. Many considered him timid and shy, but inside of him the hot blood of the Sos family flowed through him.

Then there was Isaac Sos, the adopted human child. His parents killed when pirates attacked the colonie town he lived on. Growing up with Antivarian had made him more like them then humans. Being the second oldest he was sent to the Naval Academy, in part to avenge his parents deaths and to bring honor to the Sos name. As it stood he would be graduating in a few months at the top of his class and with a cammand to but.

Finally there was Sh'tell Sos, the youngest Sos son Sh'tell was the largest and strongest. Behind his incredible brawn was a quick brain that could look over a tactical situation and give a strategy in a few seconds. He was the only one without a formal education, instead he went carrer military within the grunt ranks of the Marine Corp, ganing fame as part of the Anti-Piracey Task Force and rising to the rank of Colonel.

Between the three brothers there was love and comradery, but there was also a deep competition. Who would be able to gain more fame of fortune then the other. This unspoken rivalry between the three was what drove each to excel in what the did.

"So, how's the navy there Isac?" Sh'tell said as he walked in through the door into the Sos mansion smoking room.

"Oh, you know, top of my class and have my own command already. New Freedom Class I hear. Hows the Corps?"

"Same as usual. Sending the Republics enemies to the Creator one tungsten slug at a time."

This was how the two military brothers greeted each other. Isac was the oldest, and it was odd the the small human could command respect from the hulking mass of a peak Antivarian male, but this Isaac did.

Kel was the last to enter, dressed in a formal suit he had been discussing a new business deal a little under a half hour ago. Once the three were all seated with drink in hand the caught up, talking about the lives each had lead for the past few years. Little did anyone in the house, or in the Republic realize that life would begin to change.

[Newne Carriebean7]

Uesugi Confederation
Ugga Major
645TG (3145)

Shogun President Taigo Nagato's feet touched the surface of the metallic shipyard's deck as he walked with the small party of other politicians and naval upper class onboard the fleet's newly completed Starnium class Battlecruiser. there was no need for fitting out, as the nearly 20 million Bakedaesti ran about getting the last parts on the ship. several convoys of trained uesugi and Testas that had come onboard filed in through the many docking ports and entrances to the vessel,filling it slightly more.
"Come along now President,you mustn't be late for the meeting."
"Ah,right,terribly sorry!"
with a toothy,child like grin, Nagato skipped and clapped his hands slightly as they all filed into the conference center onboard the new warship. once everyone had pipped down, a tall lanky Testa shelled man saluted the president.
"Admiral Ima Diote, what is the status of the Uesugi Naval fleets?"
"We have six main fleets, the 1st,2nd,3rd,4th,5th and 6th respectively, would you care for the admirals of the five other fleets?"
"Sure,connect me with the remaining five admirals."
"Got it."
with a grin, five other commanders were shown on a big tv,it's proportions being sliced up from the rectangular shape.
"Admirals Ima Stupi, Rango Files,Lehi Mountbanten, Ibiici Garten, Blackened Skies,welcome to this meeting,we feel honored that you would join us."
the teste admirals grinned stupidly at the news, with Admiral Ima Stupi begining the meeting off.
"The pleasure is ours, now then, we are going to need twenty eight more shipyard worlds, with a minimum production capacity of 300 frigates a month on each. we would also need fourty eight more naval training academies, three new weapons manufacturers for the frigates, and a new contract for the Ushio mark II patrol frigate."
"Those will all take time,effort and energy to come into fruition, and what happened to the old contract?"
"The man who made it had passed away, and there are no more copies of it."
"Didn't they have them on the computers?"
"Well,no the contract maker was not very good at technology, he is dead, we just want an updated patrol vessel. one that can be mass produced."
"The Ushio can be mass produced!"
"Yes, but the ships are old and we will need newer,faster,and easier to use ships,if you understand?"
"I see, we shall contact the naval heads to see what they come up with, what would the requirements be for such a vessel?"
"50 feet long, three twin turbolasers, six single laser cannons, with three in front and rear, with a minimum complement of 50 Crew members."
"I see, that shouldn't be too hard, I'll get in contact with the Ho Chi Armaments for the necessary weaponry, and the crew members will be trained at our naval academy in order to be experienced in the operation of the new warships. consider the request approved."
"Thank you."
With that the meeting ended as Nagato maneuvered his body through the dozens of uncompleted and partially sealed off,walking to the small Munificent class frigate that operated as his makeshift flagship. he marveled at the size difference between the two ships, 9 kilometers compared to 800 meter vessel, with a sigh, he entered the bridge.
"Take me back to the capital, and get me the generals of the army."
"yes sir."

Planet Edikayama
Jin ishini Boarding and Residency offices
Isone Hanjub Jafar sat cross legged at his table as he took a hit from the small cigarette he held firmly in his slightly elongated fingers. Blowing out the smoke, he coughed slightly,much to the muted irritation of the uesugi bodyguards that just stood stone faced outside his doorway. He was settling into his new office job quite nicely. It was a cushy position sure, but it paid the bills and that was all that mattered to him, and profit. Being an Isone,he had an almost sharp mind for several ground breaking deals and programs that were to occur in his offices,speaking of ground breaking,he was meeting with a top level official from a company that would like to "acquire the skills of the Bakedaesti workers" as he did the small slivers of hair on the back of his body nicely the door opened, and Jafar stood up and sat next to the desk,with one hand on it and the other to his side.
"ah,you must be Dax!"
"Jafar,pleased to meet your acquaintance."
With a firm handshake, both men sat down.
"Now let us get straight to business,from what I understand, your company is in the construction business?"
"Yes,we've gotten a contract for an urban development on the capital world. it's for 250,000 living spaces for residents and immigrants to the nation."
"Quarter of a million homes. and I see why you would want to come to us,correct?"
"Yes,you have the labor needed. now from what I've read on these bake-"
"Bakedaesti."
"Right,heh. Bakedaesti,now I understand they are an expendable workforce,they have their own script,which I don't care about,unless they're planning on overthrowing me,of course, which reminds me, what's the likelihood that they'd overthrow or rebel against me?"
"Ih,very slim, they receive propaganda daily that burdens them in the importance of their jobs and the workers of the uesugi, it makes them feel proud and meaningful, meaningful,can you believe such a ridiculous thing?!"
"I most certainly can't fathom the idea of a rebellion being led by these,what's their IQ?"
"Take a Testa,and make him 20 times more stupider with 5 times more ass kissing per cell! that should give you an idea!"
"That seems wonderful, they are expendable,easy to manipulate,stupid,can they do heavy lifting,I don't want to blow my chance on heavy machinery if these are supermen?"
Jafar frowned slightly,put his hand on his chin and sighed a little. he had the present in a box,he just needed to wrap a bow around it.
"No, very short, that comes with the expendable option I'm afraid, but how about this, you'll need 5 million easy."
"That seems reasonable, now how much would this cost me?"
Jafar bit his lip and smiled,dancing with joy in his head. now here was his chance, now here was his opportunity, he had made a rookie mistake, now time to squeeze every penny out of this rich bastard to make him even more profitable. sitting back in his chair and popping his knuckles,he grinned.
"Now, Dax baby, transporting 5 million slaves is going to take a few days,maybe a week at most,supplying them with enough daily rations for this hard work will be a bit tricky to figure out,tell you what, fifteen million."
"Fifteen million,perhaps I was not getting the cheap labor."
"You are,it's just that I'm the salesman, 13 and a half."
"14."
Jafar looked puzzled he then began to think to himself "why in the gods name would he go up in price?!" then,smirking,he met the businessman's already extended out hand.
"We have reached an agreement Daxter Faust. expect them to arrive on Echigo in 3 weeks time."
"I shall await their arrival at the earliest. thanks you for doing business with Hachi tech industries. the payment will be delivered once the slaves are."
with that, Dex left the room and Jafar closed the door, grabbing a whiskey bottle and chugging it down.
"Easiest sale ever."
he then became intoxicated by his own success, and everything turned black.

Planet Chargeni II
a backwater planet that relies on industrial matters, the planet had once been a major mining world for slaves and the other shipments,but it was closed down to it being a less profitable distance according to the Isone, who wanted to cut back on the small costs. this resulted in several small strikes to the poor Uesugi miners that worked there, one of these was Jax Mires, who had gotten everything planned for a marching on the local governor's building. today was that day.
"Forwards my hungry men, our families are suffering while the slaves take all the credit,to the governor, we shall take the man's head for starving us to death,robbing us blind by the heavy taxes!"
with a shove, he pushed several men forwards. the governor had gotten increasingly worried, and had doubled the forces outside the mansion from 30 to 60 total guards. Mires aimed his yari rifle and let loose, the recoil from the shot forcing him back a solid half a foot. he watched in frustration as the shot missed and hit the building instead, shattering a window. he watched the guards shower the poor revolutionaries with fire,cutting three of them down.
"take out those guns!"
he aimed his rifle again and took command of a squadron of three miners as they entered the house.
"forwards! kill-"
he paused, then looked down at the chest wound that revealed itself, he then smiled and collapsed on the ground,feeling the soft surface beneath his feet as he closed his eyes.

[Theyra]

Deep in Vryr'yks Coalition
Veil Nebula
Planet Vor'Kor

It was only after years of study and research could the exploration of the Veil Nebula be possible. The nebula is a curiosity since the most advanced sensor can not penetrate the nebula. Plus, the actual manned mission have proved that navigate the nebula once you are inside. But, several years ago thanks to the best Coalition scientists. They found a way to navigate the nebula and after days of exploration. A solar system was found to be hidden in the nebula and was surprisingly had live in it.

The five moons in the system were capable of supporting life and the worlds seem to be lush. The system was named Ixaas and it's existence was completely erased from all records. For this system meant one thing, the perfect place to house a the Enduring Legacy Project. The project was moved from it's preexisting location to the planet named Vor'Kor. It was the fourth planet in the system and was a jungle planet.

It was after the setting up the base, that a signal was detected underground. Only now was the team led by doctor Iyass Yieopa, able to find the source of the signal. It was the oddest thing thought Doctor Iyass, a giant structure that was located underground. The team tried to access the to the structure, but all attempts have failed. This frustrated Iyass and funds and equipment were set up to study the underground structure. Iyass was hopefully that with time, that the secrets of the structure will be uncovered.

Meanwhile the Enduring Legacy Project is in full swing. Researching better ways to defend the Coalition from foreign threats. This project has been around since the Coalition first met a alien race. The paranoid of the Vryr'yks being wiped out by a alien race never really went away. This project is only know to a handful of officials within the Vryr'yks government and is not even a know to the other members of the Coalition. So they will develop the technology needed to defend themselves against all threats, even against possible allies. the technology that is getting the most attention is nanotech and the Coalition already has a target to use against if need and when the technology is finished.

[Toishima]

---

Children of the Gods
Chapter 26, Act 19

---

Thousands of stars dotted the void, both of this galaxy and of the next. Attached to them would be even more planets, moons, other satellites, some of which were lucky enough to be teeming with life. And then in the middle were the billions of spacecraft built by this Galaxy's intelligent species. And of course, there were the pure children of Izanami and Izanagi themselves, Humanity, rising above the Failures of Infinity and the misguided children who dared to meddle with their pure forms. Spreading from Earth to all corners of the Galaxy, Humanity has prevailed in many ways.

Entire volumes can be, and have been, written about the sum total of Humanity's achievements up to the modern day. But this story begins at the very edge of the territory promised to the purest of Izanami and Izanagi's children, the only ones to remain loyal to their ancestors while the rest of their brethren...

Edge of Uninhibited System Nemuro-35
Vicinity of planet Nemuro
Greater Empire of Yamatai
Imperial Year 19

Spotlights illuminated the wreckage of a gutted Shinchoku-class multipurpose hauler, one of the standard cargo vessels of the Greater Empire of Yamatai. A much smaller vessel, a Seiza-class freighter, probed the outer surface of the hauler in silence. Uniquely, there were numerous weapons systems attached to the usually unarmed vessel, and the flag it flew was not the Rising Sun of the Empire. Pirates. And the vultures were just about tearing apart their freshest kill, right at the edge of a larger debris field that had been here for centuries.

Smaller drones and pirates in extravehicular suits loaded the most valuable of Shinchoku's former cargo into the Seiza's smaller hold. Tiny points of light from dozens of cutting tools lit up the darkened side of the large cargo ship, the Seiza attached to its larger cousin by strong cables to hold it in place. The Shinchoku had been returning from a foreign cargo run; the recent opening up of the Empire was a major boon for piracy everywhere as exotic foreign goods were now easily available, and still sold for exorbitant prices in the black market and elsewhere.

"Sensors got a flash of something out there, might be customs," the pirates working on the freighter received a radio message from their mothership. The Imperial Customs Authority was the main law enforcement agency on the spacelanes of the Empire, though they rarely approached this far out from any regulated spacelanes. They were right on the edge of the Empire's border.

None of the pirates noticed a tiny patch of space that seemed to suck in all sensor pings. It was a strangely cold shadow just south of the debris field, even blocking a few stars from view, though after a few minutes the shadow seemingly disappeared. They were right on the edge of the Empire's border.

And thus they were right in the hunting grounds of the Imperial Navy's death squads.

That phantom region was one of the Imperial Navy's infamous Kabekage-class stealth frigates, lying in wait just beyond the debris field, invisible to sensors and even visual identification due to uniform matte ablative stealth plating applied across the hull. It followed the dagger-like design of many Imperial Navy starships, though was far more boxy on the underside and to the rear. The command tower was not as high either. A cornerstone of the eponymous Kabekage Patrols of the Empire's borders, these destroyers prowled the uninhabited systems and border regions in packs, ambushing intruders detected by long-range scanning satellites that covered almost the entire border region, and then some.

The Pure Human holds themselves with grace and honour.

Panels slid open on the side of the stealth destroyer, revealing glowing red hexagons. The standard long-range weapons of the Imperial Navy's warships, these high-powered and devastatingly accurate laser arrays were not typically mounted on anything smaller than a cruiser. The Kabekage-class was special, however, and utilised these weapons to devastating effect against foreign intruders, criminals and other hostile border elements with impunity. One of the panels began to glow even brighter, before erupting in a beam of energy that sliced through the void, guided by supercomputers towards the only target out there.

No room for degenerates, heretics or the misguided.

The red laser arced through the debris field, tearing through the remnants of its last victim with no resistance. Before the pirates' astonished eyes, the powerful long-range ship-to-ship weapon slammed into their converted freighter, burning through the mediocre armour and venting the ship's innards in a long gash before dissipating back into nothingness. The damage was done, and the pirate vessel was soon gutted by the ignited oxygen supply, then the fuel supply, and then the whole pirate operation quite literally went out with a bang, their debris joining that of their latest victim.

No room for imperfection.

---

A single ripple spread across the cup of deep yellow liquid, spreading from the centre as the teacup trembled. A sakura flower from the tree sheltering the wooden table the cup was set on had fallen close by, the movement so slight as to be almost undetectable. Nonetheless, a pair of cold, grey eyes darted downwards at the liquid, then at the fallen flower, narrowing slightly. The rightmost edge of thin red lips on a white canvas curled slightly.

Imperial Palace
Imperial City, Yamatai

The grey eyes returned to their original gaze, facing the azure waters of the Great Ocean of Yamatai, the largest water body on the Earthlike planet. The capital of the Empire was naturally the richest and cleanest planet, and the surface teemed with life, both native and imported from Earth. A pale hand left hand reached out from a thick, hanging black sleeve and seized the teacup, bringing it up with slow, precise movements. She took a sip of the locally-grown green tea, the best in the Empire, obviously. Blood-red lips, piercing grey eyes and thin black eyebrows stood out amongst the rest of her plain white-painted face, blank besides the pair of thin crimson lines starting from just beneath the eyes and running down the smooth cheeks to the level of the mouth like rivulets of blood.

Two bangs hung from either side of her face, thick black lines that framed the white between like an immaculate painting. Her hair was pulled back, and woven into an elaborate headdress of gold with jade inlays atop lightweight plastic rods shaped to resemble bamboo sticks. Under the makeup, she must have been a very attractive female - and, naturally, she was. Moving downwards, the slender neck was also covered by the white makeup, rapidly concealed by the golden tomoeri of the kimono. The rest of the kimono was plain, aggressive black, with a simple crimson obi and a strip of identically-coloured cloth that hung downwards from the sash to the legs, the Imperial Seal emblazoned on it in gold. The skirt portion beneath the waist was wider and more expansive, as were most modern female kimonos, allowing for greater freedom of movement compared to restrictive designs from over 800 years ago. The edges of the outfit were trimmed with golden strips.

Currently, she was sitting cross-legged before the low wooden table atop a seaside cliff, facing out at the ocean before her. She replaced the teacup at its original location and pressed her fingers together. A brush and scroll were spread out on the table, traditional Japanese calligraphy still very much alive here in the highly-cultured halls of Yamatai. The true meaning of the word "Japan" had been lost centuries ago; it was now almost entirely a religious term, the original homeland of the Purest children of Izanami and Izanagi and the first creation of the same Gods. That the name of the language still contained the name of this sacred land simply proves the language's sacred state - partly why Yamataians preferred to learn foreign languages to communicate with outsiders than allow the outsiders to defile their own tongue.

What was the cause of such rampant racism? Surely the Empire's religion was one of the largest factors, itself promoting fanaticism and a hardline xenophobic stance towards anyone who was not Yamataian, anyone who was not Pure, by their standards. The Imperial Shrine religion was so entrenched in Yamataian society that it was no longer even considered a religion. The worship of false idols and mantras were religion. As far as the Yamataians were concerned, Imperial Shrine Shinto was not a religious tract, it was the truth. To them, their Gods truly existed, and their purpose on this plane of existence was to prepare the plane for the Gods' return, making everything into the Pure Land by purging the Failures of Infinity and the lost children; non-humans and non-believing humans, respectively.

This belief was grounded by the simple fact that one of their Gods actually did exist, and actually walked on this plane as a leadership figure to lead the Pure peoples to prepare the Pure Land for Her kind. And there she was, the only living God of the Imperial Shrine Shinto pantheon, the nineteen year old in the red-black-gold kimono sitting atop the cliffside and facing the sea. The Empress of the Greater Empire of Yamatai. The chief religious figure of the Imperial Shrine Shinto. And to her people, a living God.

Her Grand Imperial Highness, Daughter of Heaven and Our Beloved Saviour's word was more than the law. It was the absolute truth, and anything she requested would be carried out. She had absolute power anywhere in the Empire, and many Yamataians believed this extended beyond the Empire as well. Disobedience was the ultimate blasphemy, and with blasphemy came dishonour. And some would say that Yamataian society viewed dishonour as an even worse fate than death. All this, thrust upon a fourteen year old because her mother had been the previous Empress. Five years had passed since her enthronement, but Empress Kameko, twenty-sixth Empress of Yamatai, still found it difficult to transition from being a mere member of the seven noble houses to being the God-Empress of the Purest Peoples. Her mother had moved on to join their ancestors, and she was the next one to have been taken by the Gods to lead her people.

Some days, she privately viewed her divinity as a curse rather than the blessing everyone saw her as. Nobody else in the Empire could speak to her on equal terms, nor could anyone relate to her. Servants shrunk away when not ordered to stay, government officials only talked business and religion, and nobles only became dreadfully sycophantic as they all wished to gain her - and the Gods' - favour and hopefully have one of their sons wed her to produce the next Empress. Only two people were unafraid, her father and her sister.

Then, on other days, she felt content with the endless possibilities limitless power gave her. She could hunt anything she wanted, get the experts from every corner of the Empire to teach her, even suggest that the Imperial Army breed giant creatures capable of mass destruction similar to the planet Yamatai's native Gojira megafauna species. And it would get done, for such was the word of Empress Kameko.

She bluntly dropped her hand onto the table. The tea rippled. With a disdainfully curled lip, she flicked the fallen flower off the table.

---

A resounding blast echoed across the street as the right leg of a Type-38 Toyotomi light walker was hit by an enemy missile. The walker teetered over and collapsed against the building beside it, tearing through the walls and it fell into what was once a shophouse. Soldiers in the recognisable uniform of the Imperial Army darted for the closest cover as enemy fire from the barricade up ahead increased.

"I thought this was a police action," a soldier leaning behind a wrecked car yelled, gripping his Chi-93 assault rifle, "I don't think police regularly get into such difficulties!"

"Fuck, when has the 431st been sent to an easy situation?" Another soldier shot back, leaning against a pillar on the same side of the road. Across the street, the squad leader gave some hand signals, ordering the rest of the seven-man unit to throw grenades in and try to move up. The enemy was firmly entrenched up ahead behind what looked like a prefabricated, easy-deployable anti-riot barrier as was used by police forces all over the Empire. Given that the enemy was supposed to be the police force of the region, this was no surprise.

Kamo City
Unnan, Hirasaka

Hirasaka had always been a flashpoint. Fiercely independent and nationalistic even after so many centuries, the planet had once been a rump state, a violently rebellious planet which had been a constant thorn in the Empire's side for too long until it was finally reclaimed in the Second War of Imperial Unification. And to this day, the primarily agrarian planet still had the occasional revolutionary province arise. The Imperial Government rarely minded with provincial politics, and if a government was overthrown by another they did not intervene, unless said government was disloyal to the government and did not reach quotas. In this case, the new government began threatening neighbouring provinces militarily in a bid to seize supremacy on the planet.

The usual, actually. As the provinces were not allowed to have military forces, such rebellious ones usually just boosted their allowed police force until it was a small military in numbers and armament. Kneeling behind the wrecked car, Corporal Hijikata pulled out one of his standard fragmentation grenades and pulled the pin, tossing the canister downrange. It bounced off the barricade, exploding in the middle of the street. Shrapnell battered the barricade and its defenders, halting the fire for a moment. Hijikata rose to his feet, the servos in his skeletal load-bearing exoskeleton whirring. He shoved the car to the side with the enhanced strength afforded to him by the exoskeleton, charging forward with his rifle at the ready.

An enemy soldier looked over the barricade, ready to resume firing his machine gun. A bullet tore through his face in a shower of gore thanks to the squad marksman, Lance Corporal Matsuda over behind the pillar, his Chi-93 fitted with a mid-range magnifier sight. Hijikata was able to use the brief time extension to duck behind the next piece of cover, an electrical transformer box on the roadside. At the other side of the road, the rest of the squad and Sergeant Haruguchi were also moving up cautiously, firing the occasional burst to keep the enemy pinned down.

The chattering of the rebel Ka-45 light machine gun resumed regardless. A brief spectacle erupted as an anti-aircraft missile was fired from behind the barricade from some MANPAD system, the smoke-belching missile flying into the skies and over the tops of the low buildings, preventing the soldiers from seeing where it was headed. They had other things to worry about, though. An armoured truck topped with a heavy machine gun and a grenade launcher rounded the corner up ahead with frightening speed, skidding to a stop as the remote-controlled machine gun began suppressing the oncoming Imperial forces.

"The fuck did the walker get destroyed!" Hijikata yelled.

"Fall back," Sergeant Haruguchi called from the other side of the road, covering his face with one hand and heavy rounds arced over his position.

Someone finally managed to toss a grenade behind the enemy barricade, blasting apart several enemy soldiers and causing the self-standing armour plates to topple over. With the truck in place, however, there would be no advance. A pair of automatic grenades detonated too close to Hijikata's position for comfort. He punched the ground, using the automatic hydraulic strength assistance to boost himself to his feet, then dashed back to his original position, regretting having pushed the car out of the way earlier.

The remaining barricade troops did not let up. One of the Imperial soldiers got hit in the chest by three machine gun rounds, spinning to a grisly death in a foreign city, on a foreign planet. Matsuda kept up suppressing fire, working with the squad light machine gunner to hopefully keep the barricade men huddling behind it, just as their truck was keeping them stuck on this end of the street. That truck was problematic, and the squad had expended its anti-armour options two blocks back.

Hijikata ducked into the now-empty storefront of one of the shophouses, nest to Matsuda's position. As he prepared to fire at the barricade again, he noticed a steady thumping sound to his left, deeper into the store. Turning his head, the rear wall of the store suddenly caved in, bricks and mortar flying everywhere as a powerful armoured figure smashed through, his momentum carrying him straight past Hijikata and out onto the street.

Clad in the heavily-armoured Type-76 Heavy Infantry Exoskeleton, the soldier finally slowed enough to ram his foot into the ground in the middle of the street, jerking to a stop and cracking the road. Enemy fire immediately moved to him, though even the heavy machine gun rounds pinged off the lightweight synthetic titanium-carbon alloy. The tall, armoured figure raised the rotary cannon attached to his right arm and fired on the barricade with explosive rounds, though the gun truck was protected by its thick plating. He began to move forward slowly and purposefully. Then he stopped, braced himself as an enemy grenade exploded just feet before him, and unleashed four micro-missiles from a shoulder launcher than blasted four enemy soldiers to oblivion.

As Hijikata and Matsuda began to move up behind cover, the enemy entirely preoccupied with the mechanised soldier, the gun truck resumed fire, using its grenades this time. The armoured trooper was unfazed and looking for all purposes as though he were merely annoyed by the deadly ordnance. He raised his left arm and fired the single anti-armour rocket, which blew over the barricade with a billow of smoke, penetrating the truck before it exploded and gutting the already-damaged vehicle.

"Yeah! Advance, advance!" The sergeant yelled as the three remaining enemy soldiers at the barricade finally broke and began a fighting retreat. The squad moved up to the barricade and through the gap formerly created. Reinforcements were finally here, as fellow Imperial Army troopers began moving up the street, along with the rest of the armoured trooper's "Armoured Fist" squad, a unit entirely consisting of armoured troopers. Overhead, jet engines shrieked as a Tengutsume gunship overflew the street at low altitude, the downwash from its VTOL engine blowing strong winds through the streets.

[Separatist Remnants]

Control Station Imperative, in Orbit of Archun II

---

"CC-9, you have again failed me," the Warlord growled, towering above his hapless subordinate. "You led a force of superior droids against our enemies, and again you were defeated. This is too much. You have outlived your usefulness to me."

The cowering robot sputtered an excuse. "My lord! Please! I... I-" Mechis cut him off, one of his clawed hands shooting to the droid's neck and crushing it under his firm grip. The Warlord raised him until he was two feet off the ground and slowly spun around for all of his crew to see.

"This is what awaits those who displease me!" he yelled, gradually tightening his chokehold until CC-9's neck was close to snapping. The Command and Control droid rasped one last plea before the connection between his head and body was severed, and his limp carcass fell to the floor. Mechis held the robot's head in his hand, and without warning he hurled it at a technician droid who was innocently busying himself at a monitor. The TM model yelped shrilly as the chipped head nearly took off his left arm. He quickly ducked and disappeared from his commander's sight; a wise decision.

Still fuming, Mechis took one last look at the sprawled body at his feet. "Scrap this piece of junk. Maybe it will serve me better as a footsoldier."

[Anowa]

Hanlon IIb

Unit 47555, Fives to his biological comrades, maintained his view of the courtyard as rudimentary firearms pinged off him. Citizens in the courtyard below were unhappy to say the least. What started as a peaceful demonstration had quickly escalated into an armed protest, and the mayoral building was now under fire. However not a single bullet was fired back, they would be given a chance to disperse.

The sound of multiple cracks of the sound barrier being outright slapped aside for favour of an old one landing on the planet less than a kilometer from the town, it landed gently for a being so large, and the protests paused, as did the gunfire.

A single noise from the Old One was all that was needed.

The crowd immediately, dropped their weapons and paraphernalia, and dispersed. Going about their usual day. No more incidents would be reported that month. Less than fifteen seconds later the Old One exited the atmosphere, leaving the colony to it's business.

[Newne Carriebean7]

Uesugi Confederation
Echigo
645TG (3145)

Shogun President Taigo Nagato tapped his hands against the wooden desk in boredom. he had waited several hours for the generals of the Confederation's army to arrive, as many of them had business to take to in the form of their slaves and other precious cargo,such as bombs or missiles used to blow each opponent to their money operations out of space with. the door opened and a skinny teste appeared.
"Gentlemen, Shogun President Taigo Nagato."
as several fatter teste and two or three Hattori generals sat down, they all mustered up a faint smile that was trapped in their rocky,cold, expressionlessly dry faces. with a chuckle, Nagato motioned to the aides as they nodded,and vacated the room, the doors shutting behind them. Nagato nodded to the men as they got seated.
"Welcome to this meeting on the military affairs, now then, the first order of business is that we must explore what is out there to our east of us, General Jartenki is to organize an expeditionary force. 300,000 soldiers and 1,500 warships to move to the east of the nation, they are to survey,explore and claim the planets out there in the name of research, but mainly the Uesugi Confederation in particular. the necessary medical,logistical and nourishing supplies for the journey shall be tasked with Hattori Hanso Ichti. the main war fleet will be lead by testa Admiral Idda Dios, working with Admiral Ima Stupi in the management of the operation. questions?"
"Who will be in charge of managing the supplies needed to feed and transport the troops? will they be made up of Bakes?"
"Mostly, but some of the force will contain Teste, these will command,with their intellect the Bakes,and they in turn will take orders from a handful of Hattori, the really smart cookies behind this operation. they will be in charge of the fleets. rule 1. frequent communication between all forces is essential,we must ensure clear lines of communication are established and fully laid out, rule 2. ensure you stay within the supply lines, we don't want to have to waste good resources in saving your ass because you went a shortcut and are now hungry. clear?"
"Crystal."
"Excellent,does any one have any more questions?" a hattori commander raised his hand.
"Why are we wasting resources on new ships when we could just send a new Starnium battleship to subjugate the planet?"
"Because, those ships are limited, the galaxy is large, and my toys are very expensive."
"What about the navy? we have hundreds of shipyard worlds that,while expanding the fleet, aren't really contributing to the economy,could we maybe turn 20 or 100 of these worlds to economic planets for slaves or machinery?"
"That is a possibility that I may consider, and thanks for you suggestion."
The Hattori nodded as the meeting ended.
"Now then, we'll launch the expedition in a good while now, thanks for coming."
The generals grumbled in agreement as Nagato boarded his ship and headed out.


Malevolent class frigate Desparte
near the Uesugi Confederation-United Antivarian Republics boarder
Captain Hanchi Mao ran his hands through the small stubble of hair left on his body. he had served in the UCN for a solid 18 years now, and was only a mere frigate captain,while big shot stars that were once his friends snatched up jobs to the highest bidder, he had refused corruption,and was perfectly fine with climbing the ranks the old fashioned way. of course this brought scorn from his Isone relatives with pockets as deep as the milky way in profit,but he preferred to take life slow,after all, there was only one Mao, and it would be a shame if he banged up his face doing risky stuff. that was why he was frigate captain after all! with a slight chuckle, he poured himself a glass of champagne. a delicacy that was rumored to be hundreds of years old. but if it tasted bubbly and got him drunk, he didn't care. a teste approached him and nudged him awake with a shoulder slap.
"Sir, unidentified vessel to our port side."
"Huh? what? unidentified vessel, hail them,I'm curious to see who they are. get them to heave to."
"Got it."
The sailor sat down in his coushiony chair and got on the speaker.
"Attention unidentified vessel, heave to, I repeat, unidentified vessel, heave to. this is the Uesugi Confederation Naval frigate Desparte."
As they waited for a response, the show got interesting, with the ship slowing down and allowing the frigate to catch up with them.
"This shouldn't be too hard, we just need to inspect their cargo,that's all."
"I'm worried about their sudden compliance, it might be pirates?"
"Pirates? that is a possibility, we are out on the boarder patrol no man's land. couldn't hurt to raise shields."
with a lever being inched upwards on a slanted display, the small model of the ship began to light up faint blue, then normal blue.
"Shields up."
"Good. bring us alongside her."
The ship's helmsman nodded as he turned the wheel parallel to the unknown vessel.
The unknown vessel turned out to be a freighter, an older looking typed vessel, one from dozens of years prior. the engine's of the Desparte stopped, and a small grayish cylinder appeared from the frigate and made it's way attaching to the other ship with a click.
"Boarding passageway connected."
"Good, get me five teste sailors with me, they'll be the boarding party. you have the helm first mate."
"Aye sir."
with that, Mao holstered his small modified naginata carbine in underneath his jacket and disappeared down the hallway. opening up the door, he saw an older looking human, with horrible breath.
"Ah, you must be those people who stopped us, I'll let you know no illegal women, er children,er drugs,er guns are being transferred onboard this vessel!"
"So you wouldn't mind me having a chat with over the cargo data while my men search the ship?"
"Go ahead, again, nothing to hide,I think?"
with eyebrows raised, the men dispersed while Mao and the captain entered a separate room.
"Now then, this ship is the-"
"Lady Luck, best smugg-er I mean trade ship in the galaxy."
"Well, first off I'd like to thank you cooperation with us, you know who we are right?"
"Slaver scum, yes, I'm familiar with your type."
"How so?"
"My man ran too Lost a bet with one of your fat peopled turtles."
"Yes, the Testes,now then,it says you're coming to the planet Jarg tii for a spice run? and you also ran a shipment of mechanical parts to one of our shipyard worlds, so you've been in contact with the Confederation before right?"
"Is that what that place was called,man, you must think we're idiots, I mean, you people are stupid as all-"
A small vibration interrupted the man's talk, Mao grabbed the phone and put it to his ear.
"Hey Wakko,we've got hundreds of weapons,drugs and some girls here, some new ones the bass would take a shining too."
"Ok then,arrest the crew."
"Arrest us?! we've done nothing wrong!"
"You've smuggled weapons,illegal drugs and slaves off this one world you've been to,you've done everything wrong!"
With a shove, Mao was forced to the ground as the captain rushed to the bridge, getting on his communicator, he barked out.
"everyone back to the frigate,prepare the cannons!"
"Yes sir!"
as he scrambled onboard with the last one, the ramp was disconnected and broke off, floating into space along with one Isone that traveled along for the ride. making his way to the bridge, Mao barked out.
"Target the frigate and open fire with the turbolasers."
With a nod ,the crew complied,the sound of fire filling the ears of many of the crew.
The other ship was lit up with fire,it's weak shields holding for a couple seconds before failing to the well of firepower being pushed on it. a big explosion made the smuggler ship buckle with the stress, and then he held up his hand, the Desparte's guns falling silent.
"Fucking smuggler shitheads,get us out of here."
"Yes sir."
With that, the frigate moved away from the now drifting wreckage,ignoring the crew's last cries for help.

[Tagali Federation]

Docking Bay 5 - Angelvolk Fleet Starbase - Grechtingkeit System - Suhl Sector - Ostian Imperium
7th of October, 3145

"Please put your belongings through the scanner", repeated all of the customs officials. Travel in the Ostian Imperium is regulated to maintain the bureaucratic logs of where the citizens and foreigners of the Ostian Imperium are officially. Of course travelling in a system is not are tightly monitored as traveling to other systems, but Ostian government officials are not are strict as times of war or internal chaos. Customs and checking in the Ostian space is often fast enough to not be considered a nuisance to the traveler. While the overt motive is to make traveler feel more comfortable, the ulterior motive is so that the Ostian Inquisition can monitor travel in the out of Ostian space. But of course there are other ways which the Inquistion monitors the population of the Ostian Imperium for the sake of national security and stability.

Relations between the Ostian Imperium and the Tagail Federation are not overly hostile but a foreigner can sense the rivalry between the two powers. It is a rivalry between an older and more established power and a younger and budding power. However in the present moment war between these two powers is unlikely. Foreigners from the Tagail Federation are treated with some suspicion by local officials and the local citizens. But are generally treated fairly by all parties with the exception of the youth. All of the customs officials were wearing their standard uniforms with an exception of a few in standard Ostian infantry combat armor. When Neysa finally reached the front of one of the lines in the docking bay an angelvolk custom's officer was typing something into his console. Since the angelvolk species is naturally attuned to the dark, all of them have to wear special eye-wear to see in the light. This eye-wear is incredibly darkened which makes it looks like the angelvolk are always wear sunglasses. He looked at Neysa with the usual bureaucratic suspicion and said, "Please give me your travel card." He asked and grabbed the card Neysa showed him. Travel cards were the internal passports of the Ostian Imperium. It was to be kept on all times and logs the travel and personal information of the person. Every citizen and foreigner are given one and these cards are supposed to make travel much faster and easier.

The customs officer took the card and inserted it into a slot in the console. "Name? Reason for travel? What system did your transport leave from? Anything restricted items to declare?"

Neysa breathed in before speaking. No matter the country, Neysa hated talking to Customs Officers.

"My name is Neysa Mansoor. I am visiting Angelvolk on the behave of the Church of the Unity, spreading its word to the Angelvolk people!" Neysa looked at the Customs Officer, who seemed un-amused and neither did the people behind her. Neysa decided to just continued.

"My vessel departed from the 41 Ganges System about a week ago. New Hyderabad Station to be precise. The only thing I have to declare is this." Neysa opened up her satchel, and out of it flew out an AI construct.

"Tagali Federation GEN X Civilian Multi AI Tool. MAT for short." The AI Construct zoomed in on the customs officer.

"Good day to you sir. My primary use is personal assistance. I keep dates, record information, and give reminders about upcoming events."

[The Moscow Metro Red Line]

Docking Bay 5 - Angelvolk Fleet Starbase - Grechtingkeit System - Suhl Sector - Ostian Imperium
7th of October, 3145

The customs officer typed something into his console, "Everything checks out from the last report. You may proceed. Your scanned items will be to your left. Thank you and welcome to the Grechtingkeit System, the world of eternal night." The officer handed Neysa back her Ostian Travel-Card and gestured her to move along. "Next." He spoke. The Angelvolk Fleet Starbase's interior was spacious and open. Unlike other military installations, this one was more accommodating for civilians which meant more spacious and brighter corridors. There were numerous banners of the Ostian Imperium scattered throughout the starbase's corridors and halls. Many of the holoscreens were playing the live feed from the celebrations on Ostia.

The voice of the Ostian Emperor vibrated throughout the halls as he began speaking to his subjects, "Brothers and Sisters of Ostia. Sons and Daughters of Slana. Sons and Daughters of Slita. Sons and Daughters of Krastika Prime. Sons and Daughters of Mordred. Sons and Daughters of Angelvolk. This is your emperor, Emperor Karl Engels the Seventh. Today is a glorious day for the Ostian Imperium. Today is the 800th Anniversary of the founding of the Ostian Imperium. From our original seven systems, we have become an empire of 300 systems and 675 Billion subjects."

"I am proud of our progress my sons and daughters. With our hardwork and toil, we have built up our nation as a bastion of strength in this cold and forgiving galaxy! We have fought and we have struggled for this point in time. With the sacrifices and dedication of the previous generations, we have what we have today. Today on this week of celebration I am proud to present the latest ship of the line in our navy, the Emperor Class Dreadnought." When he spoke it a image of the vessel appeared on the screen. "This ship of the line will add to our navy who protects us and secures our interests. Today I encourage you to honor those who serve or have served in the Ostian Navy. Thank you my subjects, and watch the fleet review." The rest of video focused on an announcer and multiple shots of the numerous fleets of the Ostian Navy being displayed.

There were shuttles available in the Starbase for taxiing to the surface. These shuttles were free and provided for transport to any major settlement or landmark on the surface and to the starbase.

---

Bridge - I.O.S. Postdam, Ostia Class Battleship - Outskirts of Antis System - Antivarian Space
7th of October, 3145

A fleet warped in to the edge of the Antis System. This fleet had the markings of a Royal Guard 9th Fleet. The 9th Fleet was the personal fleet of Prince Xaiver Marx, youngest son of Emperor Karl Engels the Seventh. The Royal Guard fleet consisted of a Ostia Class Battleship, a Litany Class Heavy Battlecruiser, four Honor Class Battlecruisers, seven Dauntless Class Cruisers, three Stalwart Class Escorts and six support vessels. While the firepower and the large amount of ships in this fleet were daunting, they were protecting a member of the Royal Family. Besides this was not the full might of the Royal Guard 9th Fleet. The Fleet Admiral Suess convinced Prince Xaiver to not bring the entire 9th Fleet to his tour of the known galaxy. Ostian Navy combat vessels are known for their similar shapes and looks. For uneducated observers, their ship classes look identical to each other and are too long. However in Ostian Naval Doctrine, the purpose of their similar designs is to confuse the enemy and also be a smaller target from their profile. This doctrine emphasized close quarters to medium engagements. Naval vessels were to close the distance as quickly and possible and decimate the enemy with well placed broadsides and decisive boarding actions. The prominent prow of Ostian Navy combat vessels were also good for ramming actions.

"This is Fleet Admiral Roman Suess of the Ostian Royal Guard 9th Fleet. We have arrived at the outskirts of your system. Prince Xaiver is on board and excited to tour the Antivarian homeworld."

(OOC: References to my ships and their sizes.)

[Nazeroth]

Atolla 5, Star Zone 6, Dead Zone
Expeditionary force



Atolla 5 was a not the most comfortable place in the universe. A multitude of light years from friendly space and nestled in one of the last places a sentient lifeforms wanted to be. Deep within this expanse which was designated Star Zone 6 was the Dead Zone. An portion of galactic space that had gone dark some time ago. The stories that came out of this region were the stuff of nightmares, strange and terrible monsters whom rampaged the star systems within this area, pushing every power out or destroying them. This didn't stop corporate from wanting to investigate what could possibly remain and WIL-CO was very interested. A expeditionary force was created to investigate one of the dead worlds of the region and hopefully recover anything of use and at the very least set up an outpost in the region to monitor it. The fleet was constructed of a handful of WIL-CO military vessels that were compromised of four Watchman patrol boats, three Hooligan corvettes(the Midas, Lutheran, Mars and Ghoul), two Samaritan frigates(the High Horse and Laughing Stock) and a Vandal-class destroyer(The Mephisto). The security detail wasn't extremely heavy but enough to challenge a decent pirate fleet and provide some kind of defense for the future outpost. The security detachment was tasked with defending two large supply vessels and a large prefabricated Outpost that would be placed upon the surface. The Outpost was capable of space flight on it's own, but once it landed it would be incapable of escaping the gravity of world as it's design was meant for one time use. As such it was of a simple design with most of it's advantages coming from it's ruggedness and reliable power generators.

Atolla 5 surface, 1300hrs earth time

Cody Lance stared into the destroyed ruins of the former world. They had landed a day ago but had not decided to explore until the next and he could already tell this small world had seen hell. It's atmosphere had been completely blown off by some kind of strategic weapons, the craters left over were huge, miles wide and must have burned the o zone layer away. They had found destroyed satellites earlier in orbit, they may have been some kind of orbital defense weapons that were turned on the planets surface. Remains were few and far between and many succumbed to the freezing clutch of space. There was a atmosphere but it was thin and weak, not enough to support any real life. Lance was a member of the archeologist contractor team sent by corporate with the Outpost. As happy as he was to finally get out of the thing this scene gave him shivers down his spine. They were huge buildings of strange and alien design, but they were annihilated and those that were untouched looked warped. Whatever happened here it was bad, real bad and it gave Lance a sick feeling in his stomach. WIL-CO payed good money but sometimes he wasn't sure if it was worth working for a mega corporation. The security contractors always gave him shit for having a weak stomach and they were mostly right.

His team had uncovered bones from a possible resident of the world, they appeared to be Giraffe like creatures with four arms and large. Many of these creatures wore clothing and even a few donned some kind of combat armor and weapons. Many of these things were placed in sealed containment and sent back to the outpost for research. If everything went well he would be spending the next two years on this planet with thirty days of paid leave given to him. He knew trips back home wouldn't be very frequent. As he walked through the ruins in his pressurized and sleek WIL-CO Exo-suit he couldn't help but think about how boring or exciting this place could be.

He stared out down the empty alien highways and saw nothing but desolation, if there was a god he wasn't here...

[The United Remnants of America]

The Dead Zone was multiple times the size of the area actively inhabited by the race long-known of but rarely encountered twice. The Vresh Hive's breeding grounds were only spread among twelve systems in a relatively small section of space here in this galaxy, long-since established and constantly writhing with life. They were not areas to be. But the Dead Zone was quiet. Most of the Dead Zone had been emptied for at least centuries, and only those small civilizations on the edge of the zone were aware of what things lived inside the dark section of space. Those civilizations were nowhere near spaceflight, always kept on the edge of collapse by the Vresh incursions.

Some of those people had turned the Vresh into a religion. They were the harbingers of death to sinners and heretics. Others accepted them as the monsters in the night. Those who went longer without Vresh incursions could go generations without them, and the Vresh ended up as legends told to children around the hearth to keep them from behaving poorly, lest the monsters in the night drag them away. Those were the lucky civilizations. Others weren't as lucky. Civilizations that had just so happened to be situated closer to the point where the original Vresh coming to this galaxy had laid down their roots after millenia of travel from another place. Some of these were spacefaring civilizations in their prime, exploring space. Others were on the cusp of civilization and intelligence, learning the ways of mathematics, biology, and physics. And countless races in between. Such as they were on a world unnamed by the Vresh, but known to some outsiders as Atolla 5.

Atolla 5 was decimated the equivalent of 1,200 standard years ago. The race there, beings that were harnessing nuclear power and just beginning to reach their eager fingertips into the depths of their solar system, found something encroaching upon them much deadlier than the proposed emptiness of space. The Vresh came fast and hard, ever-hungering. A decade had lasted from the first contact with the feeling tendrils of the Hive until the fall of the world. The beings had in that time lifted satellites into their homeworld's atmosphere, nuclear and kinetic alike, and had vowed to end their world should the Vresh take control in an effort to stop the spread of the Hive. The last remaining vestiges of their kind had watched with tears in their eyes as the mushroom clouds enveloped their worlds, raining hellfire upon the entire surface of their world with enough power to set fire to their oxygen-rich atmosphere. Many Vresh died that die, as did the last of their kind. But their attempt was in vain, for what was a million Vresh in the eyes of the ever-lasting Hive?

After the rain of hellfire, the Vresh had elected to not move to the world to establish a hive. A world must be perfect, and most worlds in the Dead Zone were not. The Vresh lacked terraforming technology, and so had to find the natural worlds that were the seeds to their lifeblood. However, this did not stop them from doing one thing. The Vresh seeded the world before they moved onward in search of new worlds. Small pockets of Vresh were placed in several locations over the dead world, buried in caves, or hidden deep within tomb-like buildings, where they entered a deep hibernative sleep. The Vresh couldn't know that the beings here had eradicated themselves. Perhaps they had a failsafe? The only way to make sure was to leave behind their own to act as guardians, watchers of the world. Fertilized eggs were placed with some of the pockets of Vresh to ensure healthy young Vresh would emerge if the need every arrived, taken care of by the hibernating old ones. Vresh could hibernate in a near-death state for centuries if it was necessary, though when awakened, they would inevitably be aged, weakened, having most-likely lived much longer than they would have if they'd been active all that time.

So it was, in a long-dead city on Atolla 5, that vibrations, the sounds of excavation and movement awoke a small pocket of the Vresh guardians. Lacking any of their kind that could build hives or infrastructure, these were the vanguard of the Hive's defenses. And the smallest ones, those more sensitive to vibrations, were awoken first.

Stingers and Swarmers stirred. Stingers looked for all purposes like a smaller version of the extinct "sea scorpion" of Terran myth. Measuring only a foot long, the Stingers real danger was in their tail, which contained a hollow needle, which upon stinging, would inject both a liquefying enzyme and an embryo into the victim. The enzyme would create a necrosis from the wound outward while the embryo would quickly begin to take form inside of the victim, splitting and forming into a batch of Swarmers. Swarmers were roughly the same size as their Stinger cousins. Swarmers moved faster, their alien ant-like ability to track down prey and incapacitate it so that the Swarmer can move in to ultimately make more Swarmers was a deadly combination. The two smallest Vresh in the Hive amassed a large percentage of the Hive's population, and as it was, they did a large amount of the work.

The pair of Stingers nested in the rubble of the dead building rustled to life slowly, rousing themselves as the dozen Swarmers did the same. There were no eggs in their small pocket to tend to, so they immediately started their task of digging out of the rubble towards the source of the movement that had roused them. Their awakening did not go without notice. Even though the small creatures had an intelligence of little more than one based on instinct, the Hive Mind, the consciousness of the Hive directed by the mighty Hive Queen herself, had noticed their awakening. The Hive Mind knew through the sensations of those little Swarmers and Stingers that the rumbling was not natural; something was moving in the dead city. The Hive Mind surged to the pocket's team of Soldiers, pushing them to wake with their larger sibling, a Vresh Warrior. The Soldiers and Warrior would take longer to wake themselves, being more complicated and intelligent than their small cousins. They'd take longer to dig out as well.

Moving through the rubble of a building's basement, the first Swarmers broke free, leading their Stinger sisters, scurrying up the stairways towards ground level to investigate the noises they heard. The small creatures had no thoughts other than to investigate and eat what they came into contact with, especially now that they were awake, they'd surely starve to death if they didn't get a meal soon. As they moved along the corridors, light growing at the end of the tunnel to the outside of what should be a dead world, the Hive Mind urged them along:

Move, children. They are back. Food awaits you. We did not finish them. They survived after killing so many of our kind. Move along, children. Your meal is waiting for you...

[Tagali Federation]

Docking Bay 5 - Angelvolk Fleet Starbase - Grechtingkeit System - Suhl Sector - Ostian Imperium
7th of October, 3145

The customs officer typed something into his console, "Everything checks out from the last report. You may proceed. Your scanned items will be to your left. Thank you and welcome to the Grechtingkeit System, the world of eternal night." The officer handed Neysa back her Ostian Travel-Card and gestured her to move along. "Next." He spoke. The Angelvolk Fleet Starbase's interior was spacious and open. Unlike other military installations, this one was more accommodating for civilians which meant more spacious and brighter corridors. There were numerous banners of the Ostian Imperium scattered throughout the starbase's corridors and halls. Many of the holoscreens were playing the live feed from the celebrations on Ostia.

The voice of the Ostian Emperor vibrated throughout the halls as he began speaking to his subjects, "Brothers and Sisters of Ostia. Sons and Daughters of Slana. Sons and Daughters of Slita. Sons and Daughters of Krastika Prime. Sons and Daughters of Mordred. Sons and Daughters of Angelvolk. This is your emperor, Emperor Karl Engels the Seventh. Today is a glorious day for the Ostian Imperium. Today is the 800th Anniversary of the founding of the Ostian Imperium. From our original seven systems, we have become an empire of 300 systems and 675 Billion subjects."

"I am proud of our progress my sons and daughters. With our hardwork and toil, we have built up our nation as a bastion of strength in this cold and forgiving galaxy! We have fought and we have struggled for this point in time. With the sacrifices and dedication of the previous generations, we have what we have today. Today on this week of celebration I am proud to present the latest ship of the line in our navy, the Emperor Class Dreadnought." When he spoke it a image of the vessel appeared on the screen. "This ship of the line will add to our navy who protects us and secures our interests. Today I encourage you to honor those who serve or have served in the Ostian Navy. Thank you my subjects, and watch the fleet review." The rest of video focused on an announcer and multiple shots of the numerous fleets of the Ostian Navy being displayed.

There were shuttles available in the Starbase for taxiing to the surface. These shuttles were free and provided for transport to any major settlement or landmark on the surface and to the starbase.

---

Neysa watched the broadcasts of the Ostian monarch with distaste. The teachings of the Unity rejected such notions of one family ruling over millions. Still, there wasn't much she could do about it. The only thing she could do now was head for the taxi taking her to the surface.

---

Unknown Location
Presumed to be somewhere in the Ostian Leipzig Sector.


On the other side of the country, another Federation Citizen was trying to gain entry into Ostia, but not through the normal civilian channels. They hacked into the Ostian Inquisitions Communications Channels, a rather impressive and almost impossible achievement. When the intrusion would be detected by the Ostian Inquisitors, they would fine no data stolen, but only a message.

FROM: {IDENTITY ENCRYPTED}


A Pirate fleet from Tagali Federation Space will be launching an invasion on the Pieck System. They will be exiting FTL speeds tomorrow, October 8th Human Calendar. Current targets are unknown. You will receive contact from me once the situation is handled.

[The Moscow Metro Red Line]

"It is because of our work why you can sleep well at night. And why our enemies are afraid to look underneath their beds." - Alwin Lang, Late Lord Inquisitor
Chamber of the Lord Inquisitor - [Classified] - [Classified] System - [Classified] Sector - Ostian Imperium
7th of October, 3145

It is taboo to speak about the Ostian Inquisition. To speak about or of the Inquisition is bad luck for the speaker. While free speech is guaranteed in the Emperor's Imperial Edict, the national law of the Ostian Imperium, talking too much or even mentioning the Ostian Inquisition will attract the attention of the Inquisitors and their agents. The Ostian Inquisition likes to keep its tracks covered and its leads confusing. Of course foreign intelligence services of various races may know of the Ostian Inquisition, but there is a difference between knowing a name and knowing what something really is. Those who know what it is are fewer in number.

In the Chamber of the Lord Inquisitor, a meeting was taking place between all the heads of the various divisions of the Ostian Inquisition. The chamber of the Lord Inquisitor was more practical than ornate, having many consoles, holoscreens and databanks lined up on the walls. The only decorations in the chamber was a holo-portrait of the previous Lord Inquisitor with the image changing to the previous Lord Inquisitors every 30 minutes and the red carpet on the floor towards the Lord Inquisitor's desk with the seal of the Ostian Inquisition on the spot where one would stand before the Lord Inquisitor's desk. The Lord Inquisitor sat silently in his metal chair waiting for a certain sound. There was a translucent gray orb on top of his desk which flashed blue light periodically. The Lord Inquisitor wore a long black greatcoat and a black large brimmed hat. He was a human male in his mid-forties with a full-grown black beard and a short trimmed hair. Just than a light chime was heard and the orb flashed blue and suddenly the holo-projections of 8 individuals appeared before him.

"High Inquisitors." He spoke candidly and smirked at them. "Are you all aware of what this meeting is about?"

"....." the High Inquisitors immediately responded.

One of the silent individuals adjusted the collar on his jacket in a habitual gesture. The one who adjusted his collar walked forwards, "Lord Inquisitor Hess, my agents and my inquisitors are still trying to figure out how this rat was able to hack into our systems. But I am happy to report..."

"High Inquisitor Sonnen, I already know that from our databases, as much as we are aware, nothing was stolen, copied or deleted. This meeting isn't about your failure." Hess looked at one of the Inquisitors, "Aleksandr? Do you know why I called everyone here?"

"We are here to discuss whether the threat to the Pieck System is false or true." He replied bluntly.

"Correct, well done High Inquisitor Acheson." Hess complimented out of character, "As the head of the Charybis Echelon, your skills in interception in vocabulary is just as well in your skills in capturing vessels."

"Heh if you wanted a confession perhaps you should have consulted me." Another of the Inquisitor replied, "They do call me the gamemaster and I do love a good interrogation."

"So, High Inquisitor Mengele, what do you think of the message? It may not be a vocal message, but finding the truth in the lies is your job." Hess asked his subordinate. High Inquisitor Hans Mengele whose distinctive feature was his fur cloak and his distinctive sadistic grin.

"Have all our agents and inquisitors be prepared. Especially the listening posts beyond the borders of the Imperium. Leave no holes in any of our defenses. But let us watch and see what is going to happen. Besides, they always say that nothing happens in the Pieck System anyway." Hans chuckled at his remark.

"You bring a good point and exactly what I wanted to communicate to the rest of you." Hess spoke and looked at each of his Inquisitors. "All of you are to be on alert for tomorrow everywhere and at anytime. I want a fleet to be within warping range of the Pieck System. If these pirates do appear, let the local Ostian Navy garrison deal with it and if these pirates are too much for them, we shall assist them. Since these pirates are from the Tagali Federation, I cannot help but wonder if these are actual pirates or ships of the FIS. Keep calm and keep watchful." He replied and then saluted his fellow inquisitors as they projections turned off one by one.

[Veroxia]

---

THE PRATORIAN BROTHERHOOD

---

ENDING OF INTRODUCTION:

A Dream or a Vision Part II

---

I tell you, this was not an ordinary temple; this one was cared as if it were a child. Nurtered and maturing to its greatest potential. It was high in the mountains, the fluffy white clouds that I had seen almost everyday had covered much of where the temple would be. How did I get there with Father you ask? Through stairs, of course; though I despised going through them each time. The stairs were a solid glistening white, they had been constructed through the use of our local marble. I continued to walk up toward the temple, Father had known well enough I was already tired and chuckled. I sighed, and after some time in agony we arrived at the entrance. To my view I saw the bridge, it were a wooden one designed to form a curve. I found it to ease my suffering of the bridge, and blessed it. A distance away were the large, grand doors to the temple. The temple had reminded me of the simple homes down below, though much more spacious. Understandable for a place of worship and meditation. The doors had opened slowly, revealing a Skylian brother; his sleek and thin sword signified he was of the Guard, an honorable seat in the defense of peace. He walked slowly, moving toward us through the bridge. He was somewhat tall from what I recall, for his brothers and sisters though we were able to look straight at him with ease. We all bowed toward each other in an honorable manner.

"Joyous sunrise,Ski-Samesun." Father warmly stated to the brother.
"And to you as well, Xek-jin. I see you've brought your kin. Is he up to..the task?" The Skylian chuckled.
"Of course I am!"I blurted in a somewhat enthusiastic way. The Skylian merely rose his left hand and patted my head. "Your kin has good spirit, Xek-jin. That is good trait I tell you." The Skylian acknowledged, with Father nodding. Our Skylian brother then proceeded to lead us to the temple, and allowed us in.
We were greeted by a group of Skylian and Pratorian Knights, all preparing for their morning activities:Swordfighting, meditation, growing crops,etc. We bowed and sat alongside them.Though we are providers, we meditate alongside them as a sign of equality, peace within all. As I meditated, a great gust of wind arose. It would seep around the entire temple, as if it were searching for something. I continued to search deep within my mind, focusing in expanding my inner peace. I heard whispers, whispers of the unfamiliar coming closer to I. I had become afraid, and I had stopped; only to find the temple empty. I looked to my right, to see the most disturbing, evil figure I had seen. It's flesh appearing to have been rotting, it's eyes a deep black. I was in shock, and was unable to move as I saw the darkness come closer and closer to where I meditated; its hands reaching out for me until I saw Father. Father had come out of nowhere,his mettalic body appearing to have eroded to an extent; slamming into the evil.
"Run, my Son. Run!"

---

I ran out through the door, to see the temple in flames. I saw more figures arising from the ground trying to snatch me. The bridge,too was in flames and slowly crippling away. I had to move. I ran across the bridge, to hear it fall only moments later.I began the journey back to the village, to see slowly across the clouds there was nothing but the glowing of flames across the village. As I arrived, there was nothing but chaos...and evil. The monsters I had seen before were already here, attacking all of the good in the village. I had to save my family. I looked and looked through the burning ruins, to only notice Naki laying on the ground unconscious. Removing the planks of wood that had landed upon her, I took her upon my arms and searched tirelessly for my family. However, where my home once stood was in ruins. Flames seeped through whatever gap I saw and hoped for the best they left. With Naki, I ran as much as I could; leading me to an open plain. I saw behind me as monsters were in pursuit after me, and I hid within the fields. I hid for several hours, until it was the time of the Stars; Naki's head resting upon my shoulder. I realized I was alone, with me and Naki possibly being the only survivors. I wept, hoping that Father and Toya and mother were alive and safe.

---

Awoken, I look to see I am not in the home of my ancestors but in the city of Unity, the capital of my people. It was neither a vision nor dream, but it was reality. Destiny. I look toward the view of the city centre, and weep...

---

TO BE CONTINUED: The Proposal

[Ithalian Empire]

---

Bridge - I.O.S. Postdam, Ostia Class Battleship - Outskirts of Antis System - Antivarian Space
7th of October, 3145

A fleet warped in to the edge of the Antis System. This fleet had the markings of a Royal Guard 9th Fleet. The 9th Fleet was the personal fleet of Prince Xaiver Marx, youngest son of Emperor Karl Engels the Seventh. The Royal Guard fleet consisted of a Ostia Class Battleship, a Litany Class Heavy Battlecruiser, four Honor Class Battlecruisers, seven Dauntless Class Cruisers, three Stalwart Class Escorts and six support vessels. While the firepower and the large amount of ships in this fleet were daunting, they were protecting a member of the Royal Family. Besides this was not the full might of the Royal Guard 9th Fleet. The Fleet Admiral Suess convinced Prince Xaiver to not bring the entire 9th Fleet to his tour of the known galaxy. Ostian Navy combat vessels are known for their similar shapes and looks. For uneducated observers, their ship classes look identical to each other and are too long. However in Ostian Naval Doctrine, the purpose of their similar designs is to confuse the enemy and also be a smaller target from their profile. This doctrine emphasized close quarters to medium engagements. Naval vessels were to close the distance as quickly and possible and decimate the enemy with well placed broadsides and decisive boarding actions. The prominent prow of Ostian Navy combat vessels were also good for ramming actions.

"This is Fleet Admiral Roman Suess of the Ostian Royal Guard 9th Fleet. We have arrived at the outskirts of your system. Prince Xaiver is on board and excited to tour the Antivarian homeworld."

(OOC: References to my ships and their sizes.)

The Orbital Control Commision was the agency in charge of coordinating the local system traffic of all the various systems inhabited with in the Republic. The arrival of the Ostian royal had not been unexpected, but was still rather short noticed. A private lane through Antis had to be made, else a unattentive merchant vessel or private yacht would hit on of the Ostian ships.

On the surface preparations were also made. The Chancellor himself would greet the prince and a Antivarian would show him what he desired to see of the grassy savannahs of the Antivarian home world, with in reason of course. All the while a squad of the Special Division within the Marines Corps would keep the prince safe, on top of whatever the young man had as his guard.

The calm, feminine voice of the Control Operator gave the fleet its instructions.

"Welcome to Antis esteemed guests of the Republic. I request you remain on travel lane designated 2200b." The Control system automatically gave the ships the information to move along the travel lane. "We ask that all ships of military origins keep an orbit of 1,000 kilometers above Antivar. The Prince's personal ship may dock at Space Station 22, bocking ring 33-1a. Transport to the surface will begin after a security check. Thank you for choosing to visit our capital."

[Separatist Remnants]

Battlecruiser Nihilist
Fringes of Praetorian Space

---

The droid Warlord hovered above the droids working the bridge, gazing out of the viewport and into the endless depths of space. His sensors quickly refocused on his next target; an isolated planet sitting at the very edge of Praetorian Space, and ripe for a raid. Since Ripclaw had acquired his first battlecruiser he had worked tireless to expand his fleet, and now that he was at the pinnacle of his power he felt ready to unleash his wrath on the despicable lifeforms that were constantly encroaching on his corner of the galaxy.

"Sir, our raiding party is ready to deploy. Should I activate it?" Ripclaw was stirred from his thoughts by the high-pitched voice of a Command and Control Droid.

"I will be personally leading this assault," the Warlord hissed, pushing CC-12 out of his way and clanking towards the starship's elevator. The droid behind him cocked his head, puzzled, but quickly assumed command of the ship and began scrambling squadrons of droid fighters. Ripclaw boarded an elevator and traveled to the cruiser's hangar, where he discovered numerous transport ships being packed with an assortment of droids. Clearing a path through them, he fought his way to the cockpit and shoved a diminutive pilot out of the way, accessing the comlink.

"All ships, begin the assault. Pillage this pitiful planet and kill everyone in your way."

---

The transports touched down and instantly spilled forth a wave of slaughter. Droids poured out in the hundreds and trooped towards the nearest villages, beginning a macabre massacre of anyone they found and plundering the meager loot. Ripclaw himself stood atop a small grassy knoll, leering at out the destructing which was engulfing the sparsely populated planet. Around him he had gathered a cadre of elite droids, and now awaited the appearance of any Praetorian force which dared to challenge his invasion.

"Let them come! They will die at my feet!" he cackled, ripping out a vicious, notched blade and running his spindly fingers over it.