NationStates Jolt Archive

The high seas near Arda
The sun shone mercilessly upon the sea and the air was visibly distorted by the heat waves that filled the atmosphere. From high above, a group of tiny spots could be seen. Upon closer examination these would prove to be giant cargo ships: long and sleek yet bulky and filled with cargo containers. The ships made their way trough the sea at full speed, as they had a tight schedule to fill.

On the small bridge of the freighter Bretwalda captain Rotanga wiped the sweat from his forehead. Rotanga had been a corporate mercenary for years now, and this was just another job. “Simple as that” he thought and his mind went over it again:. “quietly shipping in the precious alloy from Alcona and Hubris, return and get some more. Easy as that.”

But even a corporate mercenary knows fear: it is a job requirement needed to survive. And the situation was a bit unsettling. Rotanga you got it fixed again, you don’t exactly know who you are working for, and you have to ship stuff you don’t know anything about to one of the most dangerous places in the world”

The air stirred up and seemed to be moving. One of the corporate hirelings turned around: “Sir? Reading a massive disturbance.” “What is it?” “Well Sir, look out the window!”, the hireling gasped. Out of the water came a huge metallic lump. Large guns were mounted on the great machine and it seemed to be hovering in front of the Bretwalda, the lead ship in the convoy. It almost seemed as if the ship was a creature itself, staring at its prey determining it’s strength.

“Sir? A transmission code is being sent.”, the hireling gasped at the huge structure. Rotanga was quick to reply: “I’ll handle it.”. He punched in a predetermined code signifying this convoy was friendly. Without a word the giant beast turned about and disappeared, leaving nothing but the simmering air. The convoy continued on its way…

Arda itself, a few months later.
A black military helicopter landed on a small launch pad somewhere in Melkorian territory, on its belly a small purple-white-green flag with the word “Democraten” on it. The exact location of the helicopter had been scrambled out so it was not exactly clear where it was that the pilot had touched down.

As the droning sound from the rotors faded a side door opened. Out came an skinny man in his thirties. He had a pale white face which contrasted sharply with his short black hair that had been carefully arranged. With his right hand he held small spectacles in place from the wind coming from the rotors. This man was an employee from the Knootian ministry of Defence came to inspect the yards where the order from his employers would be fulfilled.

A small delegation (OOC: of >insert race here<) awaited him, and he was led down beneath the surface. But instead of a narrow cave this subterranean part of Arda was home to a giant shipyard. The mans pupils widened as they got used to the semi-darkness where the Uruk Hai worked in giant underground pits. They were busily assembling, building, moving, hammering. When the man turned around the corner led by his tour guides he gasped, there was an impressive dorsal view of a Gravship frigate, the armor shining and reflecting the light from the fiery lamps that had been placed to illuminate the yard. ”So this is her” the inspector thought as he watched the construction of what was to become the first Knootian gravship: the KGS Macht en Orde (OOC: Might and Order)

One of the Uruk Hai passed carrying a big tool. When he saw the inspector he halted for a second and stared at the human intently, aggression was in his eyes as he sniffed up the air dangerously. He breathed out, a bit of steam coming out of nostrils. Manflesh. The Knootian shuddered and a chill went down his spine, but the guide gave the Uruk Hai an angry look and barked something the Knootian did not understand.

Once more the inspector glanced at the mighty ship under construction: “most satisfying”, he noted to himself as he mentally prepared his report…

OOC: @Melkor. Is this all right or does it need editing?
OOC: @Others. This is secret-IC of course.

BUMP. thoughts anyone?

Yeah. You thought about the thingy we discussed yet?

Yeah. You thought about the thingy we discussed yet?
Yes, I thought we already agreed on that. My thingies will move into your big dimensional thingy and then we will thingy the thingies together... :P

My thingies will move into your big dimensional thingy and then we will thingy the thingies together... :P

OOC: Sorry to jump in but .... ROFLMAO!!

WN

OOC: Hey, if you want grav-ships, it's either Melkor or Siri. Course considering the way it will be build (brick) it will be really obvious where you got it, and likely harm your relationships with certain nations. Your choice I suppose.

OOC: Hey, if you want grav-ships, it's either Melkor or Siri. Course considering the way it will be build (brick) it will be really obvious where you got it, and likely harm your relationships with certain nations. Your choice I suppose.
OOC: I talked with my "ally" Siri but she refuses to sell. Same goes for Rurh. Well I have no real other choice then eh? And also there are "ways" to make sure she doesn't know.

*points to the Vortex dimensional thingy*

OOC: Not like you don't have the tech laying around - similar systems but smaller scale are used in the atmospheric drives on a Cohort. Use pre-existing weapons (tank guns, naval artillery, etc) to save on ammo costs. You don't really have the facilities to build it though. Unless you intend on building a fleet you don't have a good reason to build the facilities either.

OOC: Hey, if you want grav-ships, it's either Melkor or Siri.

ooc: Kaenei has 'em, I have 'em, and I am sure that Scolopendra and Karmabaijan have 'em.

Siri and Melkor are not the only ones with gravship tech.

Yeah. You thought about the thingy we discussed yet?
Yes, I thought we already agreed on that. My thingies will move into your big dimensional thingy and then we will thingy the thingies together... :P

((OOC: Sorry to jump in, but suddenly I'm reminded of conversations about 'thingies' in the Kitchen Table Live chat.... :lol: ))

*points out to Knootoss that he shuld do more research before wasthing his money*

Purely ooc comment of course.

OOC: Not like you don't have the tech laying around - similar systems but smaller scale are used in the atmospheric drives on a Cohort. Use pre-existing weapons (tank guns, naval artillery, etc) to save on ammo costs. You don't really have the facilities to build it though. Unless you intend on building a fleet you don't have a good reason to build the facilities either.

Yes, I have some of the technology but not all of it. And also I do not want to spent all that much on longterm military research that has already been done and constrution yards that already exist. All in all, this is cheaper I think. And it is also less godmoddy this way...


((OOC: Sorry to jump in, but suddenly I'm reminded of conversations about 'thingies' in the Kitchen Table Live chat.... :lol: ))
*ponders what this is supposed to mean*
Could you maybe subtitle for the non-Americans?

OOC: Hey, if you want grav-ships, it's either Melkor or Siri.

ooc: Kaenei has 'em, I have 'em, and I am sure that Scolopendra and Karmabaijan have 'em.

Siri and Melkor are not the only ones with gravship tech.
Rurh has em too. But I believe that, as with Siri, you had a big "not for sale" sticker on your gravships. ANd I don't even know Kaenei...

*points out to Knootoss that he shuld do more research before wasthing his money*

Purely ooc comment of course.
As stated above, research costs money. And I need that to buy my shiny new gravships. and do not worry, there is more to this then you think.

Melk?

Well...

Would you mind lending me one of the ships?

I would need to test something with it...

and yes, i would pay

(And no, i wouldn`t try to reconstruct anything...)

Well...

Would you mind lending me one of the ships?

I would need to test something with it...

and yes, i would pay

(And no, i wouldn`t try to reconstruct anything...)

IC, results of a call to the ministry:

-ships? what ships?
~confused junior member of the ministry of Defence

-"Gravships? In Knootoss? why that is just ridicilous. We deny any involvement."
~General de Kaste

Siri and Melkor are not the only ones with gravship tech.
Rurh has em too. But I believe that, as with Siri, you had a big "not for sale" sticker on your gravships. ANd I don't even know Kaenei...[/quote]

ooc:

Kaenei is being played by the same person that played Europa Brittania.

Also, Angelus has gravship tech, but does not employ it for their space forces.

Since Knootoss is in the UTP, Angelus would be more than happy to sell it to you.

Well...

Would you mind lending me one of the ships?

I would need to test something with it...

and yes, i would pay

(And no, i wouldn`t try to reconstruct anything...)

IC, results of a call to the ministry:

-ships? what ships?
~confused junior member of the ministry of Defence

-"Gravships? In Knootoss? why that is just ridicilous. We deny any involvement."
~General de Kaste

*slaps Knootoss with illegally gained knowledge of his future plans*

Or, in other words, see tomorrow, the shadow has passed :P

*morning BUMP for Melkor*

OOC: Hmmm... Angelus willing to sell them kind of negates the whole buying from Melkor thingy. Hmmmm... :? I'll appproach you too then Angelus. Always good to have some choice on the supply side. But for now this thingy continues too.

OOC: Hmmm... Angelus willing to sell them kind of negates the whole buying from Melkor thingy. Hmmmm... :? I'll appproach you too then Angelus. Always good to have some choice on the supply side. But for now this thingy continues too.

ooc: As much as I would hate selling you something you got from Melkor, I have no idea IC that this is happening, so my hands would be tied.

OOC: Angelus, I just sent you a little PM on the UTP board asking for information to buy your gravships. Never hurts to compare prices.

((OOC: The Kitchen Table Live chat is actually based over in the UK somewhere- it's the official Anne McCaffrey chat room. Oddly enough, that's where I first heard of Nationstates! :lol: At any rate, I'll butt out of your thread now ^_^;;; ))

Warroom, ministry of Defence, Knootcap

Inside the sealed bunker in Knootcap, a secret meeting was taking place. The general staff had invited a speaker to give his ideas of a new military policy for Knootoss. They invited Hans Ehrlichmann the son of an Angstian couple who had moved to Knootoss. What the men in the warroom did NOT know was that Ehrlichmann had been a staunch supporter of Dick Tator, only a wiser one. The kind that waited until the time was ripe. After the introduction and pleasantries, Erhlichmann began his address to the generals. De Kaste and his colleagues listened intently to the Strategic Defence expert:

“Your colleague began his speech by saying that it is critical for a nation that its territory correspond to its population. As he put it so well: "The nation needs space." How well we know that the fulfillment of this sentence has guided and determined the fate of our nation for many centuries. We know further that, save for a relatively short period of Knootian history, we have never completely succeeded in the task. The question confronts us today as insistently as ever: No government, of whatever kind, can long escape dealing with it. Feeding a nation of 590 million means not only maintaining our agricultural productivity, but enlarging it to meet the needs of a growing population. This is true in many areas. I maintain that industrial production is not the most important in terms of the future of the Nationstates peoples. In coming decades it will be increasingly difficult to increase production. It will reach a dead end as the governments that presently do not pay great heed to industrial production over time give themselves to industrialization.

The various governments, be they SATO or Dominion, Anticapitalist or Reich will not be able to meet their own needs with their population. Difficulties in industrial production will inevitably develop, made more serious because they will affect not only one state, but a large number of states in Nationstates. Increasing competition will naturally force these states to use ever sharper weapons until one day the sharpest economic weapons will give way to the sharpness of the sword; that is, when a healthy nation faces the last either-or, and despite the greatest diligence cannot withstand the competition, it will reach for the sword because the question of life is always the problem about which life turns. It is a question of power.

The first way to satisfy this need, the adjustment of territory to population, is the most natural one. As we have seen again and again. We must however conclude when considering this that the foundation is power, always power. Power is also a part of economic struggles. Power is the prerequisite to earth and soil. We can see that today. Even the sorrowful effort to adjust the population to the available territory by building Polders and encouraging the emigration of new generations requires power, even more today as the North sea is becoming smaller and our colonies more extensive, and states hermetically seal themselves from the immigration of uncomfortable elements. The more economic difficulties increase, the more immigration will be seen as a burden. The so-called workers' states seal themselves off more than others as a way of building a protective wall against cheap labour. They deny us acces to their markets. The newcomer after all must be either cheaper or better. Here too one comes to the conclusion that maintaining this way of supporting the population requires power.

When we examine the concept of power more closely, we see that power has three factors: First, in the numerical size of the population itself. This form of power was never really present in Knootoss.
590 million people who seem to hold together are no longer a power factor in a world in which groups with billions of people are increasingly active, nations for whom their population is their major tool of economic policy.

If numbers themselves are no longer a power factor, the second factor is territory. This too is no longer a power factor for us, even seeming laughable when one can fly across our Knootian territory in a few hours. That is no longer an amount of territory that provides its own defence, as is the case with Menelmacar or EOTED. Its size alone is a means of security. If the first two sources of power, population and territory, are inadequate, there remains always the third, that which rests in the inner strength of a people. A nation can do astounding things when it carries this power in its own internal values. When, however, we examine the Knootian people, we must to our horror see that this last power factor is no longer present.

Internal power depends, aside from the value of culture, on the abilities that such a nation still has. A nation cannot be called impotent as long as it is able to produce the minds that are necessary to solve the problems crying out for solution. We can measure the greatness of a people by the minds it produces. That too is a value, but only when it is recognized as a value. If a nation has the ability to produce great minds a thousand times over, but has no appreciation for the value of these minds and excludes them from its political life, these great men are of no use. It can therefore collapse, in the best case perhaps passing on its inventions and ideas to the minds of other nations, teaching these nations, but no longer is it a nation called to lead itself.

The value hidden within a nation is the drive to self assertion. A people that has lost this has almost given up its place in the world, in which each living creature owes its existence only to the eternal striving to rise higher. If a nation today proclaims the theory that it will find happiness in lasting peace, and attempts to live according to that theory, it will one day inevitably succumb to this most basic form of cowardice. Pacifism is the clearest form of cowardice, possessing no willingness to fight for anything at all.

Truly the intrinsic strength of our people is not really regarded in Knootoss. The large international world power infects a part of the people with the ideas of pacifism to weaken their resistance, and uses another part to attack. However… when the Knootian pacifist feels threatened in his practical political activity, he can suddenly become an anti-pacifist, but only against an opponent of his political thinking. He can even reach for bloody weapons. But he calls the battle for the life of the entire nation murder!”

Ehrlichmann stopped for a moment and looked around the artificially lit room:
“The conclusion, gentlemen, is simple. We must arm ourselves, prepare ourselves for the hostile world out there. And for that we need weapons, the weapons that could be used against us. I assert that we must keep our nuclear capabilities and move them elsewhere, anywhere. But most importantly, we must obtain gravships, and a multitude of them. They are, in the end, the means to power.”

OOC: just an explanation, keep in mind though that this is coming from a radical...

ooc: I refuse to believe a descendent of angstian people can believe that gravships are a strategic factor :P

ooc: I refuse to believe a descendent of angstian people can believe that gravships are a strategic factor :P
OOC:Aw come on Angsty? Don't you think decades of Knootian societal brainwashing are an influcence? :P

OOC: Musical background: A knife in the dark, LOTR. :P

Arda, aboard the Gravship frigate Macht en Orde
Inside the pits, the structure of this first gravhip had been completed. The yard was still in full progress, and the Uruk Hai were building at a high pace as materials were fed into the Melkorian warmachine. But there it stood, finished with the name emblazoned on it’s hull “Macht en Orde”, the motto of the ship was underneath the name implanted on a bronze card with a fixed light spot on it: “What we do in life, echoes in eternity”

The halls of the ship itself were small, dark and cramped, most room had been given to the thick armoured hull. Installed on the huge, blocky vessel was a bridge with a distinctly Knootian taste, light and with high-tech computer technology at the Knootians disposal. A change of the usual multicultural happening on Knootian ships, this crew was made of humans only.

A young Knootian female in the simple army uniform keyed in on her station:
“All power readings nominal, checking out Gamma now.”
“Life support online”
On the lower decks lights began to shine and machines in the engine room began to hum…
“Initiating engine pre-start”
The humming was drowned in a deafening roar.
“Commencing external door lockdown”
A click closed the doors, sealing off the frigate from the pits.
“Pre-launch control check delta is complete, navigation systems online”
The viewscreen displayed a sectoral map.
“Copy that, reading green across the board”
“Good to hear, bringing primary engines online”

The newly appointed captain, a personal friend and trustee of General de Kaste, made a sign with his arm, upward. “Take her out”

The Uruk Hai paused for a moment to see the vessel lift off from the pits, up to the sky above. The Macht and Orde hovered for a moment over this position in the Melkorian sector of Arda. “There must be at least three Menelmacari satellites watching us right now.”, the captain said to his first officer. “Six actually”, the man replied. “Well… lets take her out for a spin. Full speed ahead.”

The gravships engines roared up to their full power and the ship sped forward, the land below it passing by rapidly. There they passed over the beach where coalition forces had attempted their first, failed landing. “We should have been there. I was designated to lead the Knootians into battle there to destroy the Dark Lord in combat… but it never happened due to… orders.” the captain thought sadly for a moment. ”I am not leading that Dutch taskforce now anymore. What is done is done..”, he resolved

He looked out and now watched the waters of the ocean. The nav officer looked worried: “Sir, this heading takes us on a direct course to Lodoss. We are heading straight for their territorial waters. “Continue on course,” the captain barked. The ship sped forward leaving a trail on the waves. On the horizon, a foreign coast became visible and the captain thought he could see one of the mighty guard towers that stood their to the defence of the Elvish realm in the distance. “And… stop!”
The engines were cut and came to an abrupt halt. “Now turn back, full speed again before they can respond and head out of the athmosphere but keep feeding them that nondescript friendly IFF.”

The blocky ship now roared its engines again and ascended into the athmosphere into the blackness of the sky…

OOC: to be continued momentarily

-edit: this will take place later in the timeline-

~~Main Situation Room, MIDF AFB Telpeturma (Silver Shield), 10 km south of Osgiliath, on Menelmacar's eastern coast~~

"Holy crap... what's that? Range 100 km and closing."

"Looks like a gravship. Frigate. Seems to match standard Morgoth design... consistent with Alpha class. Origin seems to be... damn. Morgoth's ground-based yards near Thangorodrim. Direct course. Cataloguing... EM signature not recognized. Looks like we've got a new boat. Maybe they're testing her out?"

"By heading straight for our airspace? Unlikely. Probably not an invasion, either, they'd not be so stupid as to come alone."

"Well, sir, they've got a friendly IFF up... SATO designation..."

"They've never done that before. How current is that IFF?"

"It is current."

"Damn. That's a hell of a security breach, if that's an Angband ship. Contact Strategic Defense. And dammit, get some Thorons up. Patrol the border, near their projected entry point."

"Yes, sir... anything else?"

"Yeah. We got any of those Somtaaw Leeches in inventory?"

"Forty, sir."

"Send up five. Attach them to the Thorons so that they don't register on sensors as separate craft, in the offchance Morgoth's ships can detect them. Fly around the gravship a whole lot, essentially be nice and confusing. And at some point, have the Leeches transfer to the hull. And have them stay there, and be very, very quiet."

"Understood."

----

It was only fifteen minutes later when Wraith Squadron was in the air, patrolling the border. The distant shape of the approaching gravship was clearly visible.

"Wraith Lead to all ships. Remember. Do not approach unless they cross the border."

"Wraith Two. Do you mean, like they just did?"

"Shit. And that is definitely a Morgoth ship. Double-delta formation, boys."

Twenty Thorons came about, forming up into two flawless chevrons, the outer with eleven craft, the inner with nine. When they approached the gravship, the formation seemed to explode, sending fighters every which way, buzzing about the ship almost like bees, and with even less logic or structure to their maneuvers. The Leeches, in all of this, moved over to the hull of the gravship, from under the Thorons that had carried them in. On just about every sort of sensor, it would all be nearly incomprehensible to the naked eye. One of the fighters flew past the prow of the vessel, noting the odd - and decidedly un-Morgothian - Dutch name there. Another ran a sensor scan, finding an all-human crew... not a single uruk among them.

"Unidentified ship. You have entered Menelmacari airspace using a falsified IFF. You will identify yourself and state your business. If your answer displeases me, you will be ordered to turn back or be destroyed."

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/sirithil/sirithilnosfeanor.gifLady Sirithil nos Fëanor
Elentári of the Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar
"If it is to be war between us, it shall be war to the knife and the knife to the hilt."
~Foreign Minister Duke Paolio, The Outlands
We Love the Iraqi Information Minister (http://www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com)
Clicky-clicky!

OOC: Sorry for the nagging, but:

If I understand correctly, the "Macht and Orde" has been tagged with leeches and was then moved into the Void. BUT --> I use Leech technology myself, the same as Somtaaw's, and I know exactly how to detect the little critters. And since one might assume that I'd send out a flotilla to scan and check a huge warship that wants to enter the most valuable asset I have, before I even let it get close, I refuse to accept the fact that the M&O still carries leeches once it gets near the Void.

I can live with that. Even still, that would tell me:

- Vortex Corporation is involved (because your warships would have to approach to remove the leeches).
- Provides a trajectory towards this Void of yours.

Anyway, let Knooty respond to the Thorons already. :)

~Siri

Several kilometres off the Menelmacari coast.

The Knootian captain sat in his chair as he watched the Menelmacari.. things… come in. He gave half a look to his first officer: “Menelmacari response time?” “fast, very fast.” He nodded, “I would have expected nothing less of them. Note it in the log for now: Military intelligence will be pleased.”

A bleeping sound on one of the consoles: “They are scanning us Sir”. That’s okay. And in true superpower style they should probably be hailing some haughty threat right about….”

*Bleeb bleeb*

“Sir? They are hailing us.”


"Unidentified ship. You have entered Menelmacari airspace using a falsified IFF. You will identify yourself and state your business. If your answer displeases me, you will be ordered to turn back or be destroyed."

”It seems confident as always, the captain thought, but below all the haughtiness and selfconfidence there seems to be a hint of nervousness in this Elves voice. Just a hint, but still.” His thoughts trailed off for a moment as he pondered. For a moment he envisioned himself pulling though into Lodoss, right into Menelmacari space. Uncontrolled emotions came bubbling up: ”God I hate what this country stands for. And the peace it had brought.” He snickered selfrigtiously and painfully remembered his journey back to Knootoss. When the expedition force had returned the war had already been over, ”and now here I am sitting in a Melkorian ship. The irony of fate.” His fingers hovered over fire control on the huge Melkorian guns and a chill went though his spine. .”This is nuts, I have a mission to fulfil.” The captain was not just in possession of this ship, the Macht en Orde was slowly taking possession of him, filling his mind with strange thoughts and his heart with ambiguous feelings. Power that isn’t meant to be.

He snaps himself to attention and stands up, projecting his influence across the bridge: “Send back a message, text only. We will not tell them too much, this is what we are going to say:

“Menelmacari control, our identity and the purpose of our being here are classified. We will comply and leave Menelmacari airspace momentarily. We suggest you withdraw your units to avoid harm to them.”

He turned his head backward:

“Science? Give me the status on the sensor garble – whatever it is out there.”

The blocky frigate began to turn and raise up…

The Elven voice over the comm was... well, yes. Haughty and arrogant. Yet also melodious, beautiful, and quite regal. It was the voice of a people accustomed to getting their way - but who had earned the right to have such expectations.

"Negative. We will not withdraw. Do not forget where you are, and where you have trespassed. We will form up and escort you out of Menelmacari airspace. Forwarding course corrections to you now; you will follow them without deviation."

A course was uploaded to the frigate; it involved coming full about, maintaining altitude, and following the same course it came in; the course ends eight kilometers outside Menelmacari airspace, presumably indicating that the Elves don't care where the ship goes after that.

------------

Meanwhile, back at Telpeturma Base:

"Doesn't seem right... text-only response? Morgoth's people like to mock and sneer - when they respond at all. Hard to do with text..."

"But it also hides accents. And they haven't followed a single one of the operating procedures we know of Morgoth." The lieutenant tapped on two secondary projectors, showing the scans taken by the fighters, with his stylus. "And these crew complements... and this name. They worry me. 'KGS Macht and Orde'? They're not Angbandhrim, that's for certain."

"Agreed," replied his commander. "Get me a translation on that name."

"I don't know what language it is."

"Well find someone who does. The identity of the language is just as important as the actual name. If not more so. If Morgoth is selling ships - or arguably worse, giving them away in exchange for 'favors' or allegiance - we need to know to whom."

--------------

OOC: Me thinks it's some evil Morgothy magicks working on your cap'n... the ship's just a frigate, after all, if it went over land it would last about five seconds - about enough time for the nearest Grand Cannon to acquire, target, and fire.

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/sirithil/sirithilnosfeanor.gifLady Sirithil nos Fëanor
Elentári of the Eternal Noldorin Empire of Menelmacar
"If it is to be war between us, it shall be war to the knife and the knife to the hilt."
~Foreign Minister Duke Paolio, The Outlands
We Love the Iraqi Information Minister (http://www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com)
Clicky-clicky!

Onboard the Macht en Orde
The captain stood up, used as he was to do that during communications. He fiddled with his uniform, simple as it was it sometimes crept up on him. The reply soon came:

"Negative. We will not withdraw. Do not forget where you are, and where you have trespassed. We will form up and escort you out of Menelmacari airspace. Forwarding course corrections to you now; you will follow them without deviation."

“Expectable”, he said to his first officer. ”Fine with me if they want to play it at that

“Helm, follow that course, make it so.”

The blocky ship came about fully and thrusters fired. The ship went forward exactly over the plotted line. The captain sat down and wrote a response himself:

“We will leave your space within minutes at present course and velocity. Please do send my personal regards to Elentari and Lady Protector Sirithil. I am certain we will meet again sometime – soon.”

The ship blasted forward, out of Menelmacari space at high speed…

- Vortex Corporation is involved (because your warships would have to approach to remove the leeches).


Yup


- Provides a trajectory towards this Void of yours.



No. I don't keep my assault and patrol groups at the Void. Only defence groups there.


OOC: Knoot, sorry for the nagging and hijacking.

And the plot thickens...........

And the plot thickens...........
OOC: indeed it does. If nothing comes from Menelmacar I'll assume they just were allowed to leave unhindred. I'll just post that in a while. I am curious about the investigation though...

Tag for reading purposes.

The blocky ship roared its engines again and ascended out of the athmosphere into the blackness of the sky… there, a corporate mercenary towship was waiting.

The ship was scanned for listening equipment, and EMP pulses removed suspiciouslooking devices. After removing the whisps the ship engaged it's drive engines and left the Sol system...

Planet Caelum, Vortex Corporation space
The mercenary towing vessel came out of warp, trailing behind it was the Macht en orde Before them was the monster of technology that was the Vortex Hyperspace Gate. The conversation after the hailing took place in Dutch, the shared language of both nations.

The hyperspace gate opened, displaying a whirl of colours. (OOC I imagine, correct me if I am wrong.) and the gravship flew in under it’s own power.

Enter the void…

OOC: Sorry voor being so "bijdehand", but I think a few changes should be made in that post:

1. Het schip wordt eerst gescand op afluisterapparatuur, die vervolgens met emp-pulses verwijderd wordt.

2. Ik heb geen huurlingen.

3. De conversatie vind natuurlijk plaats in het Engels. Als iemand een Nederlandse datastroom ontvangt, weten ze gelijk van wie het komt.

Maar de wirling wind of colors klopt prima :D

OOC: Sorry voor being so "bijdehand", but I think a few changes should be made in that post:

1. Het schip wordt eerst gescand op afluisterapparatuur, die vervolgens met emp-pulses verwijderd wordt.

2. Ik heb geen huurlingen.

3. De conversatie vind natuurlijk plaats in het Engels. Als iemand een Nederlandse datastroom ontvangt, weten ze gelijk van wie het komt.

Maar de wirling wind of colors klopt prima :D
1. Geedit.
2. Ze zijn ingehuurd door Knootoss, maar van een vergelijkbaar niveau.
3. Dr is niemand anders daar, en zoja dan was het een "fout". Niemand is perfect.

Misschien kan je kort beschrijven wat er in die void zit?

-Diameter van 2000 mijl

-witte wanden, die niet te scannen zijn

-aanwezigheid van een shipyard, en een flink grote ook

-aantal forcefields die het zicht onttrekken aan dingen die je niks aangaan :P

OOC: I knew that, I meant in English deary, for the rest of them... anyways: now we wait for a while for things to develop and more ships to be build I suppose. Unless the Menelmacari people go on with their investigation of course. :roll:

BUMP

Knoot, if you don't mind, I've connected this thread to one of my own:

http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=77382

If you read it, you'll know which part is relevant .

OOC: Yes. And a very nice posting too. I'll quote your bit here for clarity...
---------
Year 9 – Visitors

During may, the hyperspace gate of Sajuuk opened, and out came the ‘Defiance’ (an old Exile class destroyer) and the ‘Phoenix’, a CRM vessel. As a regional ally and trusted friend, the nation of CRM had been invited to watch the construction of new vessels at the Sajuuk shipyards. The people of CRM, known for constructing their huge living cities, had been granted a visiting period of several weeks, in which they were given the full guided tour through the shipyard. During that time, several incremental changes were made to the production process, following suggestions made by these new guests. When it appeared their advice proved valuable, the CRM crews were asked to participate in several brainstorming sessions concerning the type of missile to be used by the Destroyers.

Eventually, it was decided to use two types of weapons. First of all, so-called Mercury missiles would be installed on Destroyers to take down enemy strike craft or other fast-moving objects. Secondly, sets of Earthquake Missiles would be used to engage enemy capital ships and large stationary targets.

After the CRM delegation had left for Sisgardia again, a second group of outsiders arrived. Despite attempts to keep their presence a secret, rumours started to spread that these new visitors spoke the Dutch language, though nobody knew for sure. They had been entering the Void under the cloak of Forcefields that created black screens between floating generators, blocking the view on the foreigners. What they did or why they did it, was not known at that time. They were stationed in the Void, though far away from the shipyards and the Gate. All contact with them was forbidden, and ships that came too close were bombed with EMP charges and then dragged back to ‘secure’ zones. After a while, the crews of Sajuuk stopped caring about what was behind the black fields, and business returned to normal.

(...)

[ooc: post coming tomorrow either berfore or after work, hopefully. I might get dragged out somewhere though, I don't know. Sorry I didnt see this thread sooner, or respond today: I had to work ten goddamn hours.

So good night! :P ]

Sky Marshal Marcus Garrand stood before a massive holographic display, showing the gravship advancing on Menelmacar. He turns, his hands clasped behind his back. "She seems to be operating just fine, Captain Leerdam. Onboard sensors are showing nominal engine performace. Only thing we'r enot sure about is the weapons at this point. And, of courtse, the shielding system. We've never built anything like this before, as we find the energy usage for such a shield to be prohibitive. Generally, we compensate by having abnormally thick hulls."

His eyes trailed across the screen as the Macht en Orde flew past, several Thoron fighters milling around in the background. He shook his head. "If only it was a fleet or two, instead of just one ship." Suddenly, the Macht en Orde sped off and out of the atmosphere. He pushed his eyebrows together and set his jaw, as his gaze slipped to his Knootian counterpart.

He turned back to Leerdam. "You're taking her out into the void?" He shook his head. "Not a good idea. Your crews have little idea what they're doing. Maneuvering a gravship in the vacuum of space requires an understanding of the ship that your men could not possibly have at this point. I strongly reccommend that you bring her back down until your crews know what they're doing. Gravships are... difficult to use in space."

He pushed his brows together. He looked troubled. "One frigate, all alone, with Knootian and Imperial nationals on board. Should you be found out and boarded by the Noldor sub-humans or some sychophantic ally thereof, trying to make a name for themselves by capturing an Imperial frigate..."

He clasped his hands behind his back again, his voice trailing off.

"...it might not be good."

Melkor, Lord of Darkness
He who Arises in Might
Emperor Eternal of the Imperial Dominion of Melkor Unchained, Lord and Master of Arda
http://people.vanderbilt.edu/~darion.c.smith/melkor.jpg

OOC: okay.. the ship already went in there so it is going to happen, but this just fills in the space in-between.

Captain Leerdam was very exited. ”This is only the test version of the new shielding system. This barely outclasses an Oberth class vessel.” He nodded appreciatively to Sky Marshal Marcus: “Yes, now we can have the advantages of both defence systems by stripping away those fighter bays. Really you’d be surprised what a little technology from Sunset can do." The captain paused. "We currently equip our deep space exploration vessels with these things. A large part of ingenuity is simply putting together what other people made and turning it to a new use. Though we have our own research projects of course…” He did not quite finish the sentence and in his mind he pictured the wild promises made by that promising young research fellow from The Vortex Corporation. "200 percent more efficiency... well he is probably grossly overstating. But no doubt if this little project works we can outclass a Menelmacari ship of the same size. Heck, we might for once be on par in military technology."

He gazed out over the bridge. "But for now I must keep playing our role. Being every superpowers b*tch. Always begging for support, compromising."


His eyes trailed across the screen as the Macht en Orde flew past, several Thoron fighters milling around in the background. He shook his head. "If only it was a fleet or two, instead of just one ship." Suddenly, the Macht en Orde sped off and out of the atmosphere. He pushed his eyebrows together and set his jaw, as his gaze slipped to his Knootian counterpart.

He turned back to Leerdam. "You're taking her out into the void?" He shook his head. "Not a good idea. Your crews have little idea what they're doing. Maneuvering a gravship in the vacuum of space requires an understanding of the ship that your men could not possibly have at this point. I strongly reccommend that you bring her back down until your crews know what they're doing. Gravships are... difficult to use in space."

Captain Leerdam’s concentration was disrupted and as he turned his head away from the Nav display his eyes flared up to Marcus Garrand. Having his authority questioned like that suddenly felt like an insult. This authoritarian streak was very unusual for any Knootian to display. Remembering who he was talking to, he swallowed the bitching comment he would have made. ”Stay diplomatic”, he thought biting on his lip..

His expression changed to the pre-programmed polite smile of a tradesmen selling wares and the inflection in his voice was one of feigned humility: “Sky Marshal, I assure you this is by far preferable over waiting around Menelmacari airspace until some pirate does exactly that. And promise you, my crew is capable of handling this. I personally led 54 starship atmospheric landings and ascends. And we trained for it in the flightsims. Now is as good a time as any. ” The captain tilted his head slightly and faced the helm station: “carry on.”

>insert reply here if you wish<

The ships engines blasted out as the skies became thinner and thinner. After a few minutes of earnest silence Leerdam turned to Marcus Garrand again, his voice being as ever polite: “We have arranged to meet a mercenary ship here which will tow us to our final destination. Another ship is waiting to return you to the surface, to Arda. Rest assured, it is on a classified mission, and heavily escorted.”…

BIG FAT OOC:

With the Melkor player gone I'll assume construction and delivery of the gravships contiues...

same goes for "research and development" hehehe --> :P

secret-OOC. Production of all the Melkorian ships has finished and they have been transferred to the Vortex base. Research and development is now also in full swing...

BUMP for exposure. And good morning to the rest of you :)

OOC: It's a real pity that the big M isn't around any more.

OOC: Yes it is. I'll have to continue this without him. :cry:

OOC: And what's even more of a pity is the fact that his natural successor to the throne of pure evil, me, is kept very close to Menelmacar.

OOC:
*ponders starting a new thread with the new development because this one now contains too much OOCishness*

Well... I don't know. From a sociological-NS perspective I expect there to be a gradual tilt in who is the big evil guy. I don't know when it will take place but all the big changes to 'how NS works' always take place between the big wars in silent periods such as this one. I wonder who it will be. It could be you, it could be saviour. Whoever attracts most groupies I suppose. There is potential for an 'evil' side in NS...

*Cough*

IC: I would like to buy 3 Gravships for my legions. As you might know, Roanians are allergic to salt water, and so we consider gravity defying vessels to be a vital part of our plans.

We will pay an extra 1 billion dollars on top of whatever Morgoth was going to pay.

IC:
Gravships? We don't have gravships? What are you talking about?
~Random ministry of defence associate.

OOC: I got them from morgoth and it is all top-secret because Siri doesn't really like me buying from her archnemesis. So you don't know and they are not for sale. Sorry.

OOC: Oops. Sorry, ignore cannoning my own post.

If only I could get Siri to sell me some.

OOC: Siri sells them to nobody. Not even her closes allies. Why do you think I have to turn to Melkor? :?