A Change in the Wind [ATTN HERMES; FT; SEMI-OPEN]

[The Island States]

A signal pierced a majority of the known FTL communications channels, addressed to heads of state and to various galactic news agencies...

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE IMPERATOR OF NEW HAVEN

AFTER RECENT CONDUCT IN THE GALACTIC ASSEMBLY BY ALLIES OF OURS IN THE HERMES ALLIANCE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED AS TO NOT CREATE UNDUE ANIMOSITY, IT HAS BEEN DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE IMPERIAL MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO TERMINATE OUR MEMBERSHIP IN THE HERMES ALLIANCE IMMEDIATELY. THIS ACTION WILL ALSO BE FOLLOWED BY A DEACTIVATION OF THE HTCC-INSTALLED GATES IN ORBIT, WHICH WILL BE COLD STORED UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THEY ARE CLAIMED AND REMOVED.

MAY THE GODS SEE US THROUGH THESE TROUBLED TIMES

[Auman]

'This has come as a surprise to all of us.'

~Overlord Sheikh Navarrone

[Derscon]

Milky Way Central Command, Gandvik Srjarnheim

The broadcast came through the central hub, and all klaxons sounded. It was an automatic warning system. Due to the nature of the members of the Hermes Alliance, and the nature of the alliance itself, any action that involved the un-friendly withdraw of a member of the alliance automatically set defensive levels to Fimblvetr levels, involving the total mobilization of the Imperial Fleets.

AS of now, though, no official position on the situation has been given by the Chancellery. It was currently unknown how the Amaranthine Imperium would respond.

[The Island States]

As soon as the Imperator's message was sent, a military base on Haven transmitted a signal to the hyperspace gate in the Barycenter between Haven and New Haven. It was an encoded maintenance signal with a specific purpose: the emergency shutdown of the hyperspace gate that serviced the system would be a blow to Imperial travel, but it was already being slated for domestic replacement anyway given current circumstances.

As soon as the signal hit the gate's receiver, the hyperspace modules within each segment began to ground out, immediately discharging the energy from the module out into space. The computers controlling hyperspace module functioning and navigation then shut down, followed by an alert to any personnel aboard the segments to evacuate the station as emergency life support would fail within six hours. The gate immediately began an automated burn program designed to place it into a storage orbit within the double planet system's L4 point with Helios.

Similar actions were taken at the gate in the Phaeton System. The gate there shut down as well, powering down and entering a storage orbit at the outer reaches of the gas giant system containing the colony moons of Asherton and Stanley.

Across the fleet, emergency orders kicked in notifying the fleet to step up to GALAXY-ORANGE alert status... the highest alert status before open warfare. The fleet began being recalled from patrols for defensive action, and the encryption method used for military communications was changed.

For the first time in decades, the Imperium was alone again... but this time, there were neighbors.

[Capsule Corporation]

Heather Raysia and Jack Capsule, still en route back to their home world from the Galactic Assembly, cackled loudly. "I knew it," cried Jack, who had been trying to entice hoping for a breakup of Hermes ever since the confusion over the treaty came about, "it's already begun!"

Heather smiled, as she would be excited for the entire trip home. "I wasn't expecting New Haven to go first, but they were definitely on my list."

[Derscon]

Heather Raysia and Jack Capsule, still en route back to their home world from the Galactic Assembly, cackled loudly. "I knew it," cried Jack, who had been trying the whole time to entice a breakup of Hermes, "it's already begun!"

Heather smiled, as she would be excited for the entire trip home. "I wasn't expecting New Haven to go first, but they were definitely on my list."

OOC: Just to clarify, you had no part in this. ICly, believe as you wish, but OOCly, all can be assured that your influence in the matter was insignificant.

[Bryn Shander]

Cool IC reaction to OOC shit, bro.

[Derscon]

Cool IC reaction to OOC shit, bro.

OOC: To be fair, all IC action is fueled implicitly by OOC action, and often vice versa. To separate the two is nonsense.

[Capsule Corporation]

OOC:edited... I meant to write "for some time" nor "the whole time"... that was the wrong choice of words, you've got me there.


Now... back onto the omgshocking news!


EDIT: Ok, really? is there seriously this much OOC stuff involved here? it was an IC reaction to YOUR IC reactions... as evidence, look at this post from yesterday:

"Mr Kasatkin," Heather said, clearly frustrated at more than one person, "might I suggest that you and your allies get together and inform each other of your maniacal plans before proposing them? You represent the same Hermes alliance that has threatened our worlds! If you do not know what this treaty implies, then perhaps you should find out! Perhaps you should find out the intentions of your own alliance before you speak for them."

She sat down, and Jack slowly sat down with her. Clearly no one in Hermes was talking to each other. Kilrany was apologizing, Auman was pretending to know what they were talking about, and Mr. Kessler was simply dodging the question.

And now, it seemed as though Keflek was being discarded as a lost asset by both those willing to sign and those flatly rejecting the rather vague treaty.

Raysia, and in whole the Capsule Corporation, clearly had more questions than answers.

Heather leaned towards Jack, and quietly muttered "I guess all we can do is watch the skies, make sure no one tries to make a move on us. If Hermes is going to be this vague and self-contradictory, who knows how long it will take before they even know what the words in their treaty are saying."

Jack turned his head towards her, saying "if Hermes continues like this, they're going to have a major split on their hands, if not a civil war, given their propensity for violence. If war breaks out either between Hermes and IRON, or Hermes and Hermes, we'll have to work extra hard to make sure our worlds get... overlooked. Perhaps it's just best for us to shut up for now... let them sort out their issues."

Just as proof that this isn't a sudden response to any OOC issue...

[Feazanthia]

System MW-G-1098 (Dominion Designation)
Imperial Republic Checkpoint A-192-84
Paktu Battlegroup 4 (Jak'sa Moriaan Paktu commanding)

...MAY THE GODS SEE US THROUGH THESE TROUBLED TIMES

Moriaan Paktu steepled her fingers and commanded the recording to play again, simultaneously feeding it to the Lorentzian Array's buffer to be sent back to Coruc-Tel. As the Havenic transmission filled her cabin, she floated weightless in a pensive state.

"This makes things far more interesting..."

[Future-Rome]

From his office at the apex of the Arx Palatinus, Consul Gaius Julius Mamertinus chuckled wryly as the Havenic announcement unfolded above his desk, courtesy of the holoimager unit in one of its legs. Seconds later, the bust of his co-Consul Caelius Peregrinus blinked into existence beside it.

"Very opportune news, Gaius, is it not?" Peregrinus said almost jubilantly.

"Indeed," Mamertinus answered with a tiny smile. "I did not expect Auman and Bryn Shander's attempts to co-opt their own allies to go without consequence for long. This conflict may be averted by the simple fragmentation of their power base."

"Well, we shall see."

[Telros]

The First Jonathan Spring sat in his personal garden, kept and maintained by the staff of the Ancestor's Palace. It was one of his favorite spots to just go and relax, getting away from the heavy burden of leading a nation and dealing with all the crises that came with it. News was starting to turn around, with the Pact's projects making great progress, the Citadel undergoing repairs from a taskforce from all three of the Pact nations, and diplomatic negotiations were still occurring at the Galactic Assembly. Things were dark but not devoid of light. He could still hope and that was what was important. He sensed someone walking through the archway that signified the entrance into this organic wonderland and turned to see it was a messenger from the Diplomatic Core. He waved him over and the man jogged over.

"What brings one of the Core out to the Palace?"

The man nodded, obviously excited about something. "We received a message from the nation of New Haven, one of the members of the Hermes Alliance. The Core felt it was important enough for you to be notified." He held out a paper that detailed the message. Taking it, he read the contents:

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE IMPERATOR OF NEW HAVEN

AFTER RECENT CONDUCT IN THE GALACTIC ASSEMBLY BY ALLIES OF OURS IN THE HERMES ALLIANCE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED AS TO NOT CREATE UNDUE ANIMOSITY, IT HAS BEEN DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE IMPERIAL MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO TERMINATE OUR MEMBERSHIP IN THE HERMES ALLIANCE IMMEDIATELY. THIS ACTION WILL ALSO BE FOLLOWED BY A DEACTIVATION OF THE HTCC-INSTALLED GATES IN ORBIT, WHICH WILL BE COLD STORED UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THEY ARE CLAIMED AND REMOVED.

MAY THE GODS SEE US THROUGH THESE TROUBLED TIMES

The First's eyes widened. One simple negotiation and the Hermes Alliance was already fracturing? No....that wasn't it. It wasn't just simple negotiations. The fate of both IRON and Hermes, as well as many of the nations caught between, hung on those negotiations and the fact that both the Aumanii and Jannarii delegated walked out of the meeting delivering an harsh ultimatum had severely hampered those efforts. Apparently New Haven had thought the same and had taken action. Nodding, he handed the paper back to the messenger, who bowed and left, leaving Jonathan to his thoughts.

The Hermes Alliance would definitely be distracted, if only briefly by this, and IRON would have a better position for it. It would seem the situation had changed yet again. For now, he would watch, wait, and continue to push for peace.

[Kilrany]

Far from the prying eyes and ears of the galactic community; and even those remaining members of Hermes, there was a simple, circular room, just large enough to comfortably hold a dozen people. It held no doors, no windows, nor even any apparent means of illumination, yet was softly lit with a warm light as if from all directions.

Located in this room were five individuals of Slavic descent, each standing behind a waist high, L shaped podium in a smaller circle half the room’s diameter. Dressed in black non-descript uniforms, these individuals made up the council of five called the Quinquevirate, the ruling body of the Kilrany people.

The first of them to speak was known as Marakova, her tone even, but with a trace of barely contained anger, “What the hell is going on with this alliance you got us into Volkova?”

When all heads turned to look at Volkova standing across from Marakova, and she had no response to give, Marakova continued, “You pushed us into this Volkova, and now these Havenic people are no longer bound by the treaty, and have access to Midgard.”

Standing to Volkova’s right, it was Novikov who eventually spoke up in her place, “They’ve announced their intention to disable their gates, there’s no threat from them.”

Marakova snapped her head over to glare at him as she replied, “Are you that much of a fool Novikov? Do you follow her so blindly that reason is now beyond your grasp?”

Standing to Marakova’s right, Komarov looked towards her and snapped quickly but evenly, “Marakova, this session shall remain civil,” sweeping his gaze then over the other members, he continued, “We do not know the situation at hand, Haven may have turned against those of Hermes, or they may truly only wish to withdraw, we cannot know at this time, but the potential threat remains.”

Standing between Novikov and Marakova, Repnin spoke then, his tone even and indifferent, “Then the solution is obvious. Temporarily shut down the gates within Midgard and outside the Damocles barrier with the emergency code until such time as the situation is made clear. If Haven is merely leaving, then they can be brought back online when their gates are collected.”

A few moments of silence followed as Komarov waited for another option before he replied, “So be it then, the issue is do we merely wait and see, or disable the gates, and wait and see.”

A console formed upon the podiums before each member, and in unison they touched a key upon it. As their hands returned to their sides or behind their backs, Komarev continued, “Then it is decided. By unanimous decision the gates are to be temporarily shut down until the situation with New Haven is rectified,” he paused a moment to allow any additional requests, but when none came he finished with, “This session is now complete and has been logged.”

[Auman]

Overlord Navarrone sat in his office, slouched heavily in his plush, leather, chair. He was reading some files off of the flat screen monitor on his desk. The non-descript room did not give his position within the Vascilian power structure any credit. The walls were panneled with thin, cheap, wood panneling, adorned with a few pictures from the Overlord's glory days. In a row were three pictures, he gave them a quick glance. The were arranged from the dates they were taken. The first was him, his brothers, his mother and his father, taken thirty years before. They seemed happy, in spite of the poor conditions they lived in as a military family. In the old days, on base housing was no more than a shack with a tar paper roof and a single, usually rusted out, wood stove. The second photograph was of him and his army buddies, now all deceased. They were in the field, kitted out in their full battle rattle, all of them had their foot on a stack of dead Turcosians, piled like firewood. The proud hunters were smiling, as they should have been... These men were responsible for a series of terror bombings that killed over one hundred and twenty Turcosian civilians. The third photograph was taken as recently as five years ago, and was one that caused him a great deal of pain. It was from his wedding...

Navarrone sighed and started to drum his fingers on the black ink blotter that his keyboard rested on. With his sister in law, Sarah Newman, currently negotiating on Keflek and the recent announcement of New Haven's withdrawal from Hermes, the Overlord was forced to weigh his options. Sarah was currently breaking a deal with the enemy, what she was working out exactly was impossible to tell. But with the abrupt resignation from the alliance, the general assumption was betrayal. The Kilrany had deactivated their gates in preparation for a Havenic attack. Surveillance gathered from the Galactic Assembly summit suggested that forces were at work to destroy Hermes from the inside out. The Overlord, so it seemed, would be forced to go into combat against Imperator Newman, his father in law... His wife's patriarch. There was always a glimmer of hope, regardless of any situation, how terrible or impossible it might seem. There was always tomorrow and the galaxy had its way of sorting things out.

[Bryn Shander]

"This is fucking bullshit!" yelled King Valos as he threw a chair across the conference room. Gerard Kessler was only barely able to get out of the way before it sailed past his head and shattered against the wall. "I sent thousands of men and their ships to cold graves in space against the Aumanii to protect this asshole's family honor and this is how he fucking repays me?"

"It would seem that the Havenics were subverted by IRON, Val." replied Kessler as he picked his cigarette up from the rug. "My colleagues within the other allied nations have said that they are still with us one hundred percent."

"I won't stand for this. Helios is only fifteen lightyears from here. If IRON has a stronghold this close we're in trouble. Have the fleets made ready for war and take us to condition black."


Some time later, the Jannarii king gave speech at a press conference.

People of Jannath, Mathilde, and our new colonies, I come to you today with terrible news. It would seem that the enemy was not content with just attacking allied shipping and infringing on established trade routes. It appears that now they have managed to strike at Hermes itself. Earlier today, the Imperium of New Haven withdrew from the alliance and has deactivated its gates. We can only assume that this is a result of enemy influence; perhaps an enemy backed coup, perhaps a kidnapping and randsom, perhaps some other form of coersion. Regardless of the cause, I cannot stand idle as our closest interstellar neighbor turns against us, especially one that knows so much about our technology and defenses. As a result, we are now at defense condition black. The fleets are being mobilized and the civil defense organizations throughout the empire are now activated. I hope that the gods will bring the Imperator back to his senses, but if they do not we may have to liberate our neighbors ourselves."

[The Island States]

Imperator Newman looked at the dispatch that crossed his desk after King Velos gave his speech. "As to be expected," Newman said as he pulled out an Imperial Finest cigar.

"What do we do, Imperator?" Commander Swanson, the Imperator's Naval Liason, asked as Newman lit the cigar and puffed on it a few times.

"We move out according to plan. Issue orders to the fleet to engage under the Omega Plan, issue fleet condition GALAXY-BLACK, find the Grand Priestess of the Goddess of Death and get her to my office. Tell the boys down in communication to break out the encryption gear and tell them to transmit this to Derscon." Newman removed a red sealed envelope from his armor and handed it to the liason.

"Yes, your majesty."

===============================================================

Outer Fringes of the Haven System, Resupply Base AL-0294

Second Fleet Admiral Jacob Asherton, famed leader of the military expedition that discovered and claimed the colony worlds of Asherton and Stanley, stood at the communications screen as the message came in. "By the Gods!" Asherton yelled out as he threw his cigarette out of his mouth and threw it across the communications room before storming onto the bridge and signalling to the ship's captain to retrieve his key. Asherton and the captain of the 2nd Fleet flagship and Frigate Tender Imperial Triumph turned their keys into the safe secured into the wall of the bridge, allowing the Fleet Admiral to extract top secret battle plans contained within. He pulled out the Omega Plan and began to read it.

"So thats what this is all about, then," Asherton noted as he read the plans. "Helm, prepare for immediate jump to the Fremont System. Charge weapons and prepare strike craft for launch. What happens next is the will of the gods and the stupidity of men."

"Sir, isn't the Fremont System three light years from Halcyon?" The Helm Operator asked.

"Your job isn't to ask questions, sailor, its to carry them out," Fleet Admiral Asherton ordered. "Jump when ready!"

=========================================================

An FTL communications array on Haven pointed itself toward the closest Dersconii system and transmitted the following message:

-.-- .... .- --.. - -.-. .. .--- .--- -.. -.-. --.- --.- . -- -..- ..-. --- .- - --.. --.- --- -.. .. .. -- -.- .... -... .. ... .--. -- ..- -- .- --.. .--- .- . .. .. -..- -..- .--- .-. .-. -... .--- .- .. --. ... -.. -.-. -- . -..- -..- --.- -. .--. --- --.- -.. .--. ...- -- --. .-. --.. -.. .--. .--- / -- ..- ... -.- .... ..-. .-- - -..- .. --- .--- ... .-. . -... -.-. - .-. -- ...- .--. .-. .-- -..- -... . --.- --.- -.-. -..- --.. .--- ...- -- --. .--- -... --.- ..- -.-. .. . .--. ...- -..- -.. -- -.. -.- ..-. -... .. -.- .- / -... --.. .- -.-- -..- -..- .--. --.. .- .--. .--. --- -.-- .... -- -. ..-. --- ... -... .--- -.-. .-. .--- .... -..- -.-. --.. -- .--. .--. -.-- --.. -.- ...- --. - --.. . .--- --.- --. --- .--. -.- ..-. .- -... - .--. -... .--- .-.. -.-. ... -.-. -.-- .--. ...- --.. .-. -- --. -- .- - ..- .- --.. --- ..-. --.- -..- .--. -.-. . ... / .-.. -.-- .. --. ..-. --.. ..- .... .... -.. . ..-. .--- - .-- ...- --. ..- .-. ...- --.. .-- ...- ...- -.-. .-.. ... -.-. -- ... -... -.-- -..- -... -.-- --.. ...- --.- .-- --. .-- .- -..- -.. .--. .--- -.- .-. -.. -.-. .-. .--- . .. --- .--- ...- -.- - / ...- .--. .... -.-- -.-- -..- --.- ...- -... --. . ... .--- . --- --- .. .. . .-- .--- -..-

[Belkaros]

Few things roused Belkan interest like turbulence within the Hermes Alliance. Species rose and fell, and few in Belkaros cared, but when it came to a threat to their position in the galactic community, the interest of an entire empire was piqued. Following suit with the other Hermes loyalists, the Belkan navy immediately mobilized. Troops were called to duty, wartime production measures were put in place, and ships were prepped for interstellar travel.

[Derscon]

Milky Way Central Command, Gandvik Srjarnheim

"Son of a bitch, I think there is a spelling error." The comm officer snarled at the message, but let it go, simply sending it onto command.

In the central chamber, Star Admiral Toshari Djevorav, MWAYCOM, levitated in the psycho-computer chamber, allowing the relevant data to flow through his consciousness, issuing commands and observing the information, when the comm from New Haven went through his awareness. Well. Interesting.

Psychically connecting with Chancellor Enilanuki, their subsequent conversation enshrined the Dersconi position. Naturally, Derscon would do the Dersconi thing and not publicly announce a damn thing, while moving its pieces on the board in a rather clandestine manner. All that any observers that hadn't been shot down or executed would find is a reinforcement of the "Hermes Gateway" system of Derscon, the reinforcement of Gandvik Srjarnheim, and the sudden disappearance of three Imperial Fleets.

In the meantime, the Bifröstheim galactic locale underwent a total lockdown in order to protect the Gates of Heimdall. Normally, all Solar assets would be moved to Gandvik Sjarnheim, but with the Greater Prussian fleet having returned to Mercury, the threat level had raised, and forces were required there.

Down in Comm, the officers were fixing up the message to Auman. Hermes communications always pissed off the Dersconi due to its primitive technologies, as opposed to the tri-level rotating terminal security encryption that Derscon used. Oh well, whatever works. The NH message was attached to the Dersconi analysis to Auman.

Code: Select all

.- -.-. .- .-. .. --. .... ..- --.- -.- .-- -.-- ..- --.. .-- ..-. -.-- .... .-.. . -.. -. .-.. .. . -.. --.. -.-- -.- -... ..- .-. .. .- .. -.-. .. .-.. -.-. -..- ... -.- -.-. -. -.- -.. -... -.-- ..-. -. -.--  / -- --- -- -- -... .-. .--- -.-- -... ... --.. .-.. -.-- -..- . .-. -. .--- ... -... -.-. -. -.. .-. -. .--- .--- --.. -.- -... .... .. .. ...- .-. -.-- --. .... -.-. ..- ... ... -.- --. ... -- .... -. .-- -. -.-- / -.-. .-- .. .. ..-. . -..- - .-- ... --.- .--- --- --.- -.-. -.. . ..- --.. .--. ..-. .--- .-.. -... --.. ...- - -.. ...- .-. -.-- --.. ...- --- .--- --. ..-. .... -. .-.. / .- .--- -.- .... -. --. .--- -... .-- ... --.- .--- -..- --. .-- --.- -. -... ..- --- -... .- .... .--- -- .-.. -.-. --.. -- -... -.-. --. ..-. - .... .-. ...- ...- -... . ..-. --.- -. --- -..- ..- ..-. ..- -.. -... -- .-.. - .... .-- -.-- --.. --.- ..- .... .- --. - -- -.- .-.. .... / -.- .-- -.. -.-- -.. -.- ... -.. .-. --- ..-. .. -.. --.- --. -.. .-.. .. -- -... -... .... .- / -.- .-- -.. -.-- -.. -.- ... -.. .-. --- ..-. .. -.. --.- --. -.. .-.. .. -- -... -... .... .-

[TRIAD Enterprises]

From: Karadesh Sovanii, Branch Director to TRIAD Enterprises, Nexus 3746 Branch
To: Imperator Newman - New Haven
CC: None
Encryption: Moderate

Re: Diplomatic Relations

Imperator, I will not be so crass as to ask how this day sees you. I know that with recent events regarding IRON and Hermes, that the political situation has likely kept you quite busy. However, I wish to thank you in advance if you are now personally reading this message.

I write this to tell you that even though our nations may not be friends, much less allies, that you have friends and support here at TRIAD. Sadly, political necessity prevents me from doing what I wish to do, which is to render military aid to ensure that New Haven is not forcibly re-absorbed by the Hermes Alliance. I have instead petitioned my superiors, and subsequently received permission to begin hiring paramilitary forces for a specific mission. That mission is the augmentation of New Haven's defenses. Should you accept this offer of assistance, these forces will rendezvous in whatever system you designate, and shall then be placed under the command of your military for the duration of the contract. I hope that such measures prove unnecessary.

Furthermore, I wish to seek permission of your nation to open official diplomatic relations between New Haven and TRIAD Enterprises. This will be with the purpose of attempting to bolster New Haven's economic standing, as well as it's ability to function commercially independent of Hermes.

Thank you for your time.


Signed,
Karadesh Sovanii
Branch Director to TRIAD Enterprises
Nexus 3746 Branch

[The Island States]

OOC: Apparently, attacking people you've ignored with mercs is kosher lol.



On that note though, I'm not going to put up with people offering to attack or attack people they've ignored in my threads. TRIAD, note the semi-open tag, note me telling you that you are now ignored, and take note of the door. You get nothing! You lose! Good day, sir!

[Feazanthia]

OOC - Hubba wha?

[The Island States]

OOC: Crap went down in moderation over this. Needless to say, if you need a post out of Bryn Shander for the next three days, you're going to have to wait . Good thing for the weekend OOC ceasefire.

[Capsule Corporation]

ooc: I edited my post again, for future continuity. I do not feel that it accurately represented the characters or the OOC situation. Sorry for the OOC stir-up as well, but this has nothing to do with that. This change shouldn't have any IC effect either, since it was merely a private conversation.


viewtopic.php?f=5&t=9712&p=325233#p325233

[Derscon]

OOC - Hubba wha?

OOC: TRIAD ignores Bryn Shander, but is offering to sell mercs to TIS to fight Bryn. The mods have ruled this not to be griefing or flaming, but that doesn't mean it's not a Totally Dick Move, hence TIS' ignore of TRIAD.

IF that cleared anything up.

[Trailers]

OOC: Also, tag.