NationStates Jolt Archive

The Orion Sector shipping lanes got a sight they weren't expecting as, during one fine boring day of transporting, an old friend came knocking.

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The charged 'plow' at the front of the dreadnought forced an opening in the conduit andinto normal space. As the ship passed between the two realms, internal dampeners kept the crew from being nauseated to death.

The ship was just over a kilometer long and an eighth of that wide, dwarving many shipping ships as it travelled under them, dull aquamarine hull lit up by hundreds of running lamps. On it's hull, in Russian, was the name of the ship. Crimmond Imperial Vessel CHARIOT OF WAR (http://usera.imagecave.com/Alpha-Zero/Starship.jpg)

The Chariot's sudden appearence startled many ships, who started shouting to whatever military ships were nearby for help. The dreadnought ignored the frieghters, not even scanning them. It merely accelerated away, towards the capital world, firey engines a orange in it's wake.

It answered all hails with only one text transmission, also in Russian. The last Knight of Midnight has come to visit. It did not slow it's course, raise defenses or arm weapons, the large ship just pressed on. Scans showed it definantly lived up to it's name, with cannons, missile hatches, shield grids and emmiters and reinforced forward hull (standard, for the suicidal tactics of Crimm commanders, who use their crippled ships to deal one last, fatal blow to the enemy).

http://67.18.37.14/129/44/upload/p422.jpg

"What is it, Commander?" Eric Vinzer, Captain of the Kyou Graav, asked, straightening his uniform as he walked onto the bridge.

"An unknown ship, sir," Commander Sean Athens replied, removing himself from the captain's chair. "Says 'Crimmond' on the hull."

"And their response to our hails?" Captain Vinzer questioned.

"Последний Рыцарь Полуночи прибыл как гость," Sean said back in sketchy Russian. It was a language that everyone in the Empire spoke, however not everyone spoke it well.

"The Last Knight of Midnight has arrived as a visitor?" Eric asked, repeating what Sean had said. He hailed the ship himself, and while the grammar was a bit different, the message stayed the same. What the hell is a Knight of Midnight? "Commander, do a complete scan of that ship. We gotta play hardball with 'em, but I want to know if I'm going to be honestly hardass or if I'm gonna be bluffing."

"Yes, sir."

"This is Captain Eric Vinzer of the Imperial Starship Kyou Graav," Eric said over the comm link. "As head of the border patrol, I am hereby ordering you to stand down immeditately. If you fail to reply or to cease your current course, you will be considered a hostile vessel and be treated as such." Shutting down the link, Eric turned to Commander Athens, "Sean, what is their current course?"

"Steel Butterfly, sir," Sean replied, sounding surprised.

Why would they be going there? Eric pondered, staring at the ship through the viewscreen. The capital's been on Bivens for nearly seven years now due to Steel Butterfly's destruction during the Civil War...if these people are returning...when was the last time they were here?

http://67.18.37.15/237/117/upload/p663401.png
Captain Eric Vinzer
CO of the Kyou Graav

http://67.18.37.15/237/117/upload/p91.jpg
Commander Sean Athens
XO of the Kyou Graav

The Chariot Of War was using quite outdated starcharts, as The EMpire had not been to the Steel Empire since... well, since they became a society of recluses.

The ship didn't slow, but it's engines stopped glowing. The mass was now working on inertia now, still on course to what it assumed was the capital of the Steel Empire.

The text response cut out in mid-reply, replaced by a visual image.

http://usera.imagecave.com/Alpha-Zero/HighCommander.jpg

"I hope you address your own former emperor's with a bit more respect, Captain. In case you're computer banks are deficient, I will remind you that Crimmond and the Steel Empire are not at war."

"Sir, the ship shut down its engines but failed to engage reverse thrusters," Sean reported. Eric nodded, squinting at the face before him, trying hard to remember who or what he was.

"Our former Emperor's are all dead," Eric replied sternly and honestly. "I once again order you to stand down until we can verify your claims." Turning towards Commander Athens once more, Eric said, "Get me in touch with Captain Frost. I need Intelligence on this immediately."

"Yes, Captain," Sean replied, quickly going to work.

Eric stared out at the ship. He was sick of this chess game already. It was their move next, they could either comply or he would open fire.

"Captain Vinzer," A familiar voice addressed him from the viewscreen, replacing the image of the Crimmond starship. "It's been far too long."

"Seven years," Eric replied. "How have you been Joseph?"

"Not bad," Captain Joseph Frost responded. "What do you need?"

"I need you to run a full diagnostic on this ship and its people," Eric asked as Sean sent Frost the information. "They are not responding well to border security. As it is now, they are already in Imperial space." Captain Frost paused as he read the information, giving the datapad an odd look.

"No need for that, Captain," Frost replied. "Crimmond was an ally of the Empire's earth colony and an original signee of the Midnight Accord. Crimmond was also a member of GDODAD."

"Back in..." Eric began before rolling his eyes. "...Emperor Graav's time."

"Correct," Frost replied, a smile spreading across his face. The irony of Eric's ship's name wasn't lost on him either.

"Any suggestions?" Eric asked.

"It's been a long time since we've had contact with these people, and even longer since that contact's been official," Frost explained. "But I wouldn't want to piss 'em off...we don't need Earth any more upset with us."

"And if they don't comply?" Eric continued.

"I'll contact backup and the Emperor, or at least General Valkare," Frost replied. As a high ranking Intelligence operative, Frost had many powers that Eric didn't even know of, even though in the military they were the same rank. "Stay strong with them, Eric."

"Will do, Joe," Eric replied, reaching for the viewscreen controls. "Vinzer out."

http://67.18.37.15/237/117/upload/p663401.png
Captain Eric Vinzer
CO of the Kyou Graav

http://67.18.37.15/237/117/upload/p91.jpg
Commander Sean Athens
XO of the Kyou Graav

http://67.18.37.14/129/44/upload/p360.jpg
Captain Joseph Frost
CO of the Phaeton
Imperial Intelligence
Temporal Guard

The Chariot of War did begin braking, quite slowly though. It would have been more effient to swing the ship around and use teh main engines to stop the ship, but no one on board seemed eager to do so.

The man on screen looked to his left and spoke in an incomprehendable mix of several European languages, then looked back at the pickup. "Sorry to hear that. I assumed Graav was dead, by your ship's name."

A packet of information was sent to the Graav, holding several files of information. Text files detailing history(though the last thirty years are missing), identity cards, historical footage(including the High Commander declaring Crimmond's resignation from the GDODAD), voice print data and a photo from one of teh meetings of the GDODAD leadership, showing the Emperors of several nations, Graav included.

"Now, kindly put me in touch with Nemerov on Steel Butterfly and I'll get this cleared up in a matter of minutes."

[*ahem*]

[OOC: sorry man...been REAL busy...I haven't even been doing my RP's :(]