NationStates Jolt Archive

(ooc: This is related to the event in the Sslaa system (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=438469&page=3). Assorted allies are welcome to participate. This is mostly the build-up before the storm. Why did I title this thread like I did? You'll find out....you'll alll find out! Mwah ha ha ha *hack gasp*

"So that's what we're looking at." The voice of Admiral Shaar was grim and low. The normal boisterous confidence she exuded was quite dulled at this stage after looking at the footage garnered from the DefSatt network in Sslaa.

In the briefing chamber on Titan, First-General Gaarm, First-Admiral Shaar, Ex-Chief Engineer Jouuha, Emperor Gorrm, Advisors Kraah and Sszeera, Director Thress, First Orderman Rrassa and Commander Sshrrakka were seated. This was a collection of the beings that basically oversaw all matters pertaining to the Herpetological Empire, and to have them all in one place meant dire news indeed.

Jouuha was the first to speak. "All that firepower. Enough to obliterate a standard battlegroup of warships. And it was barely enough to take down a single scout craft?" He shook his head slowly. "Bad. Very bad." Kraah gave him a gentle ribbing. "Ah, old friend. But this means we come out of retirement for the moment to once again surmount incalculable odds, yes?" For all the exuberance he emits, the scent of clove comes off him as well, betraying his concern.

"Sire, please. This is a grave matter." Emperor Gorrm gave his father a weary look from one eye. He knows his sire's jovial nature is meant to try and lift the grim air around them, but there is work to be done. "First Orderman, have your Scholars managed to bring any knowledge of what we may face from your tomes?"

The ancient and weathered Sakkran stood up with aid from his cudgel, and addressed the gathering in a voice drier than papyrus. "They have. These Antarans are a race of conquerers. Their technology was advanced in the earliest records we have, and we can only imagine what they've achieved since. They enslave every race, drain the planets of resources, and continue on doing the same everywhere they go. Diplomacy has no meaning for them, only strength of arms."

He produces several sheets of paper, and seems to levitate each to one being in the grouping. "There is a reason we weren't totally over-run in the First War, which we fled from aeons ago until we came to Sol. It was with the assistance of the War Shamans of the Order. I have given orders to reactivate that ancient Order. Their powerful psychic abilities mixed with their awesome prowess kept the Antaran ground forces from over-running the planets fully and kept them busy long enough to flee. I can only hope they will at the least do much the same. But they will need time to train and grow strong." He sat down again, and motioned his hand to the table indicating he has said what he needed to.

Gorrm looked over the info on the War Shaman Order, and gave his nod. "Very well. They will have whatever funds are needed. First Admiral, i'm allocating funds towards your ship techs as well. We need to bolster the fleet's strength. And the same goes towards your Skeen, Director thress. Counter-espionage will be key to keeping security during these times. We know the Antarans will come. Now it is only a matter of when."

Sshrrakka looks at the papers and hmmms a bit. "I'll apprise our Commander of these events. In the meanwhile, I think it would be most prudent of our allies in the Triumvirate to be given this information as well. We'd be fools to think we could repel this force ourselves."

The Admiral, General and the Emperor nod their assent. "Very good. Get on that immediately." The Emperor turned to Jouuha while the Commander sent out her comm. "Now, then, Reinstated Chief Engineer. You have some analysis reports you'd like to show us?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Commander Sshrrakka, Sol Ranger Battalion
To: All allies in the Triumvirate, VERITAS
Encryption: High. Eyes Only.

Information given to us from the Ur-Quan of Kzer-Za AKA Sslaa I, has been routed to your highest branches of government. Eyes Only; no press releases at this time to avoid panic. Keep this information on a need-to-know basis.

Originally Posted by Ur-Quani Information Available On DataCom Disc (http://www.orionsector.com/pages/moo3/bg/background.shtml)

From: Lord 311
To: Commander - AntiSpinward Colonial Fleet

Sir, it is with the gravest aspect that I bring the following to your attention -

History Of 1st Sentient Milieu
<attached Library Data: Contextual reference to 1st Antaran War>

Antaran Race
<attached Library Data: Extra-Dimensional Theorem, Antaran Psychology, Biology and Technology Reports (declassified)>

Ten Millennia Vigil
<attached Historical Notes: Ur-Quan Archives>

The Battle Of Orion
<attached Military Reports regarding 2nd Antaran Invasion - including reference to:
* Orion Colony Report: Infrastructure/Resource/Casualty losses
* Milieu Report: Casualties/Communication Reports
* Military Report: Fleet Activity - Detonation Of Sa-Matra
* Military Report: Discovery of 5th Fleet
* Xenology Report: Projected Antaran Expansion>

In light of this information, it essential that a conference of all sentient species in this system be organised as soon as possible, as it is highly unlikely that any species would survive if left to organise a defensive solution in isolation.

With Respect

Lord 311 - Ur-Quan Colony - Kzer-Za (Sslaa 1)

May we all succeed in our efforts
Commander Sshrrakka

Not really anywhere in particular

Sky Marshal Blair sighs without displacing any air. "It's still quite the matter of debate just how much of that fire actually hit the target. I don't think I particularly care for this sort of scaremongering." His place at the table is underlit with blue track lighting, mirroring the soft spotlight mounted an interminable distance above.

Sky Marshal Farentino, frowning in the sort of severe way he's never gotten accustomed to, folds his arms and rests his elbows on his green section of table. "You know as well as I do, Charles," he says in his distinctly Dominion-accented voice, "that the Sakkrans aren't much for hyperbole. I've ran all this by Fleet Admiral Graau of the Fourth Guard and he concurs. These 'Antarans' are trouble."

"The problem is," says Sky Marshal Gregor Pandousco, leaning back even though it doesn't make him any less red-bathed, "is that full analysis of the documents offered by the Ur-Quan suggest some sort of exegenesis for humanity. Short of some sort of panspermic principle, OPO historiographic analysis shows this isn't the case. With how the multiverse is, the Antarans could be exactly as historically described, worse--as the ISN staff suggests--or something entirely different." Events not so recent by some reckonings and not too long past by others had made the commander of the Galactic Rimward Colonial Theatre the de facto go-to man for information concerning the brokenness of the world.

Sky Marshal Rico taps his brawny hands against his place at the conference table, soft yellow light streaming through his fingers. "M.I. credo: Never trust Intelligence; always assume the worst." Pandousco smirks at that, nodding gently as the brawnier man continues. "Simple fact of the matter is that if fighting the Antarans absolutely needs the entire Solar System to act on a unified front, then we'd best get ready to go down fighting. It ain't gonna happen. Still, we've got our jobs and our orders, and we have to get them done with the Services we have. Options?"

"Based on this?" Blair waves a hand, and abstracts of the documents sent along to the TYCS carousel around slowly, hovering in a squat vertical cylinder about a quarter of a meter off the table. "Fairy tales of ancient enemies with nearly godlike powers? If they really are concerned with raping women and stealing resources, then they could just vacuum up the entire population of Earth and then blow up the Sun so the resources of the inner planets' cores would be easier to get to. Anything than that is just... Scientologist space opera."

"Well..." Gregor says with a smirk, passing one hand through his curly brown hair in customary habit. "...we could simply pull out Operational Profile Judo again. It's worked in the past against cliche' unstoppable alien hordes... except I don't think the Sakkrans would follow through, and we can't leave them behind."

"Gentlemen," says a thoughtful voice, cool and calm as a frozen lake, from lips behind the folded hands and under sunglasses whose broad black lenses reflect the white-lit table underneath him, "what I believe you are forgetting is that even against such space-operatic odds we hold several asymmetric advantages over even this enemy. If they have not corrected their weakness concerning psionics and metanormal defenses, then we have that advantage; there are even physical advantages to our approaches, styles, and technologies that provide us with avenues of attack and defense. While our methods may not be half as pretty or entertaining as seems to be the common meme among other aerospace services, they are... functional.

"I will have these reports sent along to StratWANCC so the College and its thinktanks can begin working on appropriate strategems. M'sha, Pandousco, be ready to divert forces from your theatres as needed. Zolkin, Dieu-Hien, work with the Sunsetti and the Cetagandans to get their fleets into play; the augmentation may surpass most expectations. Farentino, continue working with the Sakkrans and stand by for reinforcement."

A momentary pause. "Blair..."

"Yes, sir?" The blonde man's eyebrow goes up slightly as he leans back slightly, tilting his head to better see his commanding officer from under the black visor of his green wheel cap.

"This may just be the kind of situation the Nemesis were made for, again. If the Antarans really are all they're said to be, then I don't think it would be wise to bother with trying to bring the honorable fight to them."

"Ack, sir." Blair nods.

"You have your orders." One by one, the colored sections of the table wink out as the Sky Marshals jack out of the stratnet, leaving the CINCTYCS to sit alone in thought.

Colony Prime - Kzer-Za

Lord 311 took up position in front of the PolyGlass view port in his personal sanctuary. The port occupied almost an entire chamber wall, and from there the Ur-Quan had a panoramic view of the colonial construction work below.

The latest series of construction tasks were nearing completion. The alien quarter, hydroponic domes, robotic factories, matter replicators and planetary defences were already finished, with only the expansions to the space port and ship yards remaining this cycle. Despite the planets inhospitable environment, the Ur-Quan had succeeded in building a self sustaining colony on Kzer-Za within two years of habitation, an outstanding feat of engineering.

Several aides attended the bulky overlord and it was one of these, a small paler version of Lord 311 himself, that slid a data crystal across the ebony table with a slender proboscis.

"My Lord, this communication has just been received from the 5th fleet", the throaty voice of the young Ur-Quan rasping the words.

Lord 311, glanced at the crystal.

"Shall I guess Death 390's report subordinate?", hissed the gigantic overlord.

"I...", began the aide, unsure of whether his master was speaking literally or figuratively. His confusion was however mercifully brief as Lord 311 swiftly continued.

"I imagine that the "Sacrificial Pain" has failed to detect any trace of where that Antaran scout originated….no mothership…no supply base….not even trace evidence of inter-dimensional fatigue…"

Lord 311 moved closer to the table, his tentacles a mass of writhing movement as he deposited his great bulk at the head of the obsidian block.

"So we have no way of knowing, whether this fragile outpost is secure, whether the scout communicated our presence, or when the next attack might come?"

The Overlords aide shifted nervously but remained silent.

"Open communications with the Sakkrans. Perhaps a more unified approach is required….", his voice trailed off as he turned once more to the view port to watch the latest refitted warships streak into space. He hoped they were enough.

The aide rushed to obey.

'Eyes Only' was less a consideration in the Basin. In their strangely communist/communal society, information was freely shared, especially when it dealt with things like this. The comminication was secure, of course, but it was still shared with all available sentients.

<Elijah> Everybody up to speed on this?
<Ruth> Aye.
<Zeke> Ayup.
<Joshua> Sure.
<Habakkuk> I understand fully.
<Esther> ...
<Esther> ...yeah
<Joshua> Fucking lag.
<Elijah> Quiet.
<Elijah> Our ability to contribute is pretty minimal, the nonsense on the home front not withstanding.
<Elijah> Habakkuk, you're going to be the prime mover on this, obviously, as you're our contact with Yut.
<Habakkuk> Understood.
<Elijah> Ruth, just keep your eyes open, and be ready for any misc. work that might be needed. If this explodes, we may actually become important.
<Esther> We may need your factories too.
<Joshua> Whatcha need from me?
<Elijah> I want you to come back to the Basin for now. I've got some designing to do, and I need you here to run day-to-day operations.
<Esther> Elijah: I gotcha. I'll prep some of them for other uses, just let me know.
<Elijah> Good, good. Habakkuk, keep me updated as needed. Hopefully this won't be the catastrophy it may turn into.

-----
Initiate CommandKey \\:\\:commsystemsecure
Return //://:commsystemsecure Successful; Level: UV/Eyes

Initiate CommandKey \\:\\:entrncomm\\tightbeam:yutsundry
Return //://:entrncomm\\tightbeam:yutsundry Successful

Greetings allies.

The Basin has been made aware of the current situation, or rather, potential situation, and is ready to assist in whichever way we can. While our force projection is extremely limited, we can be of assistance in more logistical ways, including mass materials fabrication and exotic materials fabrication. We certainly hope that this won't turn into a nightmare, but we are prepared to give whatever aid and help is necessary.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

~ Habakkuk, Ambassador to the Triumvirate of Yut
The Federated Mercurial Demesne of the Caloris Basin

Initiate CommandKey \\:\\:closeroute
Return //://:closeroute Successful

TYCS Fleetnet

<MFF_Saskatchewan> Huhuhuhuh. "Rod." Huhuhuhuhuh. "Staff." I gots rods and staffs of protection RIGHT HERE!
<BB_Scolomorph> Oh do shut up, Skippy.

Chief Engineer Jouuha looked over the abstracts and data-feeds he was given access to. All the Imperial Stellar navy designs were there in front of him displayed on a massive wall-sized screen; hundreds of smaller windows covering it each with their own rotating displays full of info on the organic ships in service, in reserve and yet to be prototyped. On a separate terminal were the schematics of the Ranger crafts as well. The lighting from these displays were the sole light in the room, casting off a greenish-yellow illumination.

He was testing theorems and ideas, bouncing them off the sentience of the Wheeland who volunteered to assist while Commander Sshrrakka was busy organizing and gathering heads, so to speak. "I've analyzed the Antaran data you've fed me. There are no records of psychic phenomena in their culture or in their technologies that I can construe."

Jouuha continued looking at the data around him, changing some info here and there. "That may have changed since their exterminating of the Elerian people, if history is correct. They may have learned of and even harnessed that ability by now. We'll have to make an allowance for that possibility." A particular display caught his eye, and he zoomed in and expanded it. "Hrrrmmm....so it is the 'brain' that keeps production of vessels at a cap limit. What if....." Several keys were pressed, and the window changed to follow with the information put in. The theoretical results were poor as the screen turned red.

"It seems that idea would throw fleet-ops into confusion." Wheeland piped in with the observation of the obvious. "Too much conflicting data colliding with order-execution lag. Also, take into account the time it would take to train the new crafts as well as outfit them."

"No good. I'll have to run some more tests, adjusting as I go." Several Resin Beetles flitted in, increasing the level of light in the room and dimming the displays all about. Jouuha looked at them with one eye. 'Rrrr. If you pests weren't given Imperial status, i'd call you rodents and....." He silenced himself as he saw them flitting in a pattern about the room, clicking in an excited manner with their wing-carapaces. On occasion they'd fly right through the displays, distorting them momentarily. Wheeland observed this, and gave her analysis. "What's that? Timmy fell down a well?"

Jouuha cast his other eye at the ship's avatar in an annoyed manner, to which Wheeland stated her defense. "I'd almost say they want you to follow them. You need to take a rest anyways. Weary minds staring at displays in the dark for hours on end don't make an efficient work-place."

Jouuha threw his hands up in the air, exasperated. "How can I work with all this distraction!? FINE!" He put his stylus and notations down. "Wheeland, can you keep the place locked up and secure while I see what all the fuss and bother is about?"

The tiny avatar saluted with its gecko-like appendages. "Will do, mon capitan." This caused the Chief Engineer to cast his eyes sky-ward. "Blessed Pantheon, why am I plagued with this house of devils?" He exited the lab, following the still excited and chattering beetles to destinations unknown.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sshrrakka was in her residence at that time on the Titan city of Pakaa, speaking with her superior officer. "So there you have it. Full cooperation from the Imperial Government, the Armor Cavalry and TacSoft Infantry as well as the ISN. No word from the Director about Skeen cooperation, and nothing from the Order either. But they like to move on their own terms anyway. I expected no less."

"Very good. Keep me apprised of the situation. Oouru, out." The image of her superior officer winked out, and Sshrrakka was alone. She decided to take her weekly oiling, and was rubbing it on he rtail when the comm came in. Open comm."

The audio connection executed, and the info-display showed her it was from a relay post in Vubz, routed from Sslaa I aka Kzer-Za. "Commander Sshrrakka here."

"These 'Antarans' sound like demons out of a fairy tale."

"Yes, well... it's not exactly like they fall into the same boat as Solus if they actually show up now and then."

The Imperatrix nodded. "If we're looking at fairy tales, though, it'd take Solus to fight off an invasion of these things."

"I am recommending at this point that we send a delegation to whatever meetings may result from this incident in the future."

"Ahah. And?"

"I'm also recommending we expedite the salvage operations at Arasur. If we're pulled into this thing, I'd think we need a bit more fire support."

"Oh, I doubt there'd be a lack of that..."

"Current operations aboard 'Derelict 14' have restored auxilary power and atmospheric control throughout the vessel. We can move it under it's own power..."

Lirella looked a little incredulous. "It can fly?!"

"Even without main power aboard it, we've already been able to coax it out of Arasuri orbit. It's holding position at the outer edge of the system with the Command Carriers Soramur Kani, Soramur Inyil, and Oversector Command Ship Titan. We could get main power up, with the right facilities..."

"Well, if you've got it running, I think we may need a new name for it..."

"The salvage crews have already suggested one. Kajur Lan. She's been broadcasting under that transponder for the past half hour, actually..."

Lirella scowled at the advisor.

"Bring. It. Here."

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Arasur...

"This is the Federated Kajali Starship Kajur Lan, to the Imperial Necrontyr Ship Asinsata, requesting permission to piggy back to Ljosal Dan for further salvage and repair operations."

"...and our agents within the Sons of the Reformation thus find themselves in a particularly dangerous situation." concluded Minister for Intelligence Giuseppe Pacelli.

"Thank you, Minister." Minerva Karamanlis said, settling back slightly into her seat at the head of the large table in the Ministry. The table had room for the entire Cabinet but for this meeting only the Prime Minister's Security Council was present: Pacelli, Minister for Defense Ya'acov Jabotinsky, Minister for Justice Flora Bruck, and Minister for Coordination Henry Cromwell. The prime minister's frown deepened as she moved to the next of the folders sitting before her. "Now, we have a communication from the Sakkrans. I assume you've all read the reports." The heads of the gathered ministers nodded.

"Your Excellency, I'm not sure that it's as dire as it seems." pointed out Jabotinsky. "This country has few to no interests off the Earth itself. While it is true that these Antarans are reported to have enslaved or destroyed whole star systems before, it is also worth noting that our space experts maintain that Earth is unique in the modern cosmos in a number of ways, some of them quite confusing to science. In any event, they assure me that the conquest of Earth power is essentially impossible."

"That might be." Bruck cut in quickly. "But we have allies who stand in serious danger."

"We do." Karamanlis nodded. "The Danaan Space Program could only make a very small contribution to a battle of the line alongside nations which maintain full-blown space navies. However, we have other ways in which we can assist. I do feel I need more information from our allies, though. Can one of you get me a secure channel to speak with Emperor Gorm as soon as possible?"

"I can get the channel..." Pacelli said "...and communicate your request to for such a conference to the Sakkrans."

"Very well." Karamanlis said. "I believe the situation in the Reich is next on our agenda." she continued, moving to another folder.

“Powers from the beginning of time. Ancient evils. Wonderful,” Emperor Gregor Vetinari runs a hand through his hair and looks about the gathered members of the Strategic Planning Board. “Right. First off, threat to our colonies?”

“Most of our expansion is directly opposite the direction of Sslaa, and the major star stations are quite a ways out. It'd be easier for an threat force moving from that direction to get to Sol than to them,” replies Signy Mallory, head of the Cetagandan Security Directorate. She brings up a map of the rough sphere that is space explored by the Triumvirate. “Of course, it will depend on their FTL technology. I've already had patrols stepped up, and strategic defense platforms placed on higher alert status.”

Gregor nods. “Get one of the plans for a convoy system dusted off, too. For that matter, have all the major merchanter clans and corps start up partial militarization programs for their ships – the less ships deployed on escort, the better. If they complain, remind them that we've been subsidizing those heavy weapons pods for a reason.” He calls up deployment schedules and shakes his head. “We're going to be short handed as it is, unless we can get these ships back into service ahead of schedule.”

“Lord of Light, don't even get me started,” Mallory replies, annoyance in her voice. “I should have known that starting this major of a rolling refit was going to be trouble. Admiral?”

Down the virtual table, the avatar of the EI heading the refit progam shrugs. “We're going as fast as we can, Lady Mallory, my lord. Taking this many ships out of service at once was the most efficient way to finish the ninth-gen program. We have to have them in the yard for the drive refit, and we may as well keep them there rather than do normal field refits with the rest of the subsystems.”

“In any case,” adds Mallory, “it means we're down a considerable amount. We have enough to keep normal theater deployments going, but the primary reserves are all either in the yard or on station.”

“Secondary reserve?” asks Gregor, pursing his lips.

“We're looking into it. Most of the ships are still quite powerful, but too slow both STL and FTL for front-line duty with main forces. They'll make good escorts or second-line defense, but that'll require a lot of manpower.”

“I'll see about getting Senate authorization to call up the Fleet ready auxiliary.” He studies the displays more. “I do want to put together some kind of expeditionary force to support Sslaa, though. Something operating out there, not based in Sol. Could we move a Systems Vehicle into place?”

Mallory raises her eyebrows. “I don't see any reason why not, although I'm not sure I'm comfortable putting even a militarized one out there without knowing what we're getting into.” With good reason – the gigantic ships all but scream 'target,' even the ones built for war. Most are kept well back from active combat zones or deployed defending critical colonies.

“I'm thinking an SSVm or MSV. It will give us a good forward base of operations to work from, an industrial center to provide assistance to other Triumvirate forces out there, and a way to evacuate civilians if needed.”

Mallory slowly nods, accessing other reports and sending queries to her colleagues. “You're right. Even if we can't send a large force of capital ships, it would put us in a good position to provide logistical support for allied units.”

Fleet Admiral Judith Catiline of the Frontier Fleet adds, “I can divert ships exploratory duties to act as scouts. We need to find the Antaran homeworld before the TYCS strategic forces can hit it. Our Science Units are considerably better equipped than warships for that duty, but can handle themselves better than most exploratory cruisers if they get into trouble.”

More people begin voicing suggestions, until Gregor holds up his hand. “Save it for a moment. I'll let you all get to work in a minute. Finally, I intend to submit a request to Archmage sa'Diason that he release several Psionics vessels to the expeditionary force, as well as bring the system vehicle's Tower complement to full strength, if it isn't already-”

“Sensible enough,” says someone. “Telepaths should help us locate them faster.”

Gregor continues, “-as well as request that a circle of the Ars Arcari Pugnae be deployed as well.”

There is silence in the room as Gregor waits expectantly. Slowly, Mallory says, “Gregor.” She stops, then continues, “Your majesty, perhaps you've been misinformed. The Antarans are, by all reports, completely lacking in any sort of psionics or magic. Headblind in every sense of the word.”

“I'm well aware of that. I'm also aware that, according to the Sakkrans, they actually extremely vulnerable to psychic attack.”

“I. Well, yes, but-” she says, flustered, but Gregor cuts her off.

“I'm going to have this talk with my cousin, Lady Mallory, and I suspect once will be more than enough,” he says with a grim smile. “Now, unless anyone has anything else that needs my immediate attention, I have other business. I'd like the Board's proposals be ready for my review by tomorrow evening.” When no one objects, he withdraws.

Deep Space, 10 parsecs spinward of the Sol System, Fifth Fleet Flagship MIS Olórin

Warlady Naurelin nos Fithurin was frankly, adored by much of her fleet. She had commanded the Fifth Menelmacari Imperial Gravitic Battle Fleet in its last significant combat, the action against the Osage over Mars. While several of its highlights had been her work, most notably the idea to use the massive Cairn tombships as self-propelled slabs of armor plating for the Urúvafalma missile cruiser formations, a good deal of the credit for the battle's success belonged to the inspired tactics of the C'tan Asirnoth, the effectiveness of Carnil's ground-to-orbit weapons, and completing her objectives without a single fatality. If it hadn't been for a landing bay impact, one disabled Thoron, and a few debris-collisions, there might not have even been any injuries – and only one of those injuries had actually left the service as a result.

In the private communications chamber aboard the Menelmacari Dreadnought MIS Olórin, she watched with some confusion as the slim figure of Serendis nos Fithurin materialised in the holoprojector, transmitting from the distant Taniquetil Command in Vinyatírion. The grandly-titled Prefect of Imperial Defense and Homeland Security leaned forward on a table Naurelin coudln't see, her manicured fingers splayed, her red and gold robes shimmering slightly.

"You should be receiving the files we have on this situation shortly, Warlady." Serendis didn't bother with formality. Even as she spoke, relevant data appeared in the holo around her, most of it specific to the available intelligence on the Antaran ship. "I'm appointing you to be our woman in the field, we want experienced hands on this situation, given the mess and panic this so-called scout has stirred up. You're to immediately return to Eärendil Ring Station to resupply, then ship out to Sssla Regional Command. A Vingilot with additional provisions is being prepared to fortify our defences at Sssla VI, and it should be ready to ship out within two hours."

Naurelin nodded, "Manpower as well as material reinforcements?"

Serendis returned the nod, "Yes. As well as this, you're being given a wide degree of latitude - even wider than usual - and I've received confirmation that the C'tan fleet will stand up a portion of its non-visible forces to wait on your request if things go south, but bear in mind that the inhabitants may not want outsiders invited in unless it really 'hits the fan' out there."

"Understood, milady," Naurelin nodded, "Anything else?"

"Yes, first off, the ship we’re sending out should be sufficient to evacuate the populations of Sssla II and VI, and I want you to make provision for making our holdings there an inferno if you have to retreat. If these Antarans want to pillage resources, they’re not having ours."

"Yes Milady," Naurelin said, "I'll stock up on heavy weapons."

"I've talked to Sirithil, and she's given authorisation for high level ordnance to be put at your disposal. You can pick it up while on Eärendil. Further, there seems to be some sort of meeting on Titan about the matter. You’re to teleprescence yourself there and liase with Triumvirate allies."

"Yes Milady," Naurelin said as the hologram faded out of existence, picking up a data-pad from the table, containing all the 'eyes only' files so far received from Taniquetil. She had reading to do… but first, she had a jump to order.

“I'm sorry, Gregor. I must have misheard you. I could swear you just asked me to deploy combat mages against an opponent without psionics capability,” says Kyle sa'Diason coldly to his cousin

Across the room where he looks out the window across the valley to the capital, Gregor only says, “I did.”

The archmage shakes his head. “No. It isn't going to happen. Doing so would be in violation of both the Compact and of the Charter of the entire Tower system. Both of which I know you are well aware of.”

Gregor turns and calmly replies, “Psi powers have always been a key foundation of our military operations, Kyle. You know that as well as I do.”

“Non-combat psi, yes. We provide communications, we provide logistical support, we provide healing for the wounded. We even use our powers to protect civilians, for intelligence gathering, and for interrogation, which skirts the line. We do not use offensive battle magics against opponents without similar capabilities!” the other man says angrily.

“That's not strictly true, you know.”

“Oh, please. You're not going to pull out that ridiculous argument about how it's wrong to have used matrix technology to develop weapons, are you?”

“I'm referring to the exception in the Compact that allows for the use of offensive magic if the survival of the Union and its people are in danger,” Gregor explains patiently.

Kyle laughs incredulously. “That section hasn't been invoked in nine hundred years! And only four times in all our history!”

“I'm completely serious here. If what the Sakkrans are saying is accurate, then we could be looking at a threat greater than any other in our lifetimes. The lives of tens of billions of people are at stake. We can't afford not to use every advantage that we have.”

“I still-”

Gregor draws himself up and cuts off the other man. “Enough. Archmage sa'Diason, I hereby request and require that you immediately dispatch a psionics combat team to the Medium Systems Vehicle Eschatologist, and prepare for a full-scale mobilization of all preternatural assets to counter the Antaran threat.”

For a brief moment pure hostility seems to crackle in the air between the men, then it cuts off as Kyle nods curtly. “As you wish, my lord. Don't think that this is the end of the discussion, though.”

“As long as your people show up, I'll be more than happy to debate thaumalogical ethics with you when I'm not trying to mobilize a nation for a war.

Joint Central Command, Crystal City, the United Solaris Federation of Tiburon

Behind many major command structures in Tiburon were AIs. They ran the networks, routed subprocesses, helped the Tiburonese military and diplomatic aspects run as smoothly as possible, and were in many ways as integral to the United Solaris Federation as the generals and ambassadors at the terminals. The AI officially known as GA-01M (the first Tiburonese AI, and the one to always get the newest upgrades) was no different. Humorously called "Our Lady of the Microchips" and self-styled Gabrielle, she had seen decades, centuries, and administrations come and go without so much as scare. But it would come.

[SECID: GA-01M]
[Sec Pass: *********************]
[Authorization... Approved!]
<GA-01M has joined :Echelon, 4 OCT 255 NCE 2204 EST>

[VPOTUSF] 'lo, Gabi. What's the matter?

[GA-01M] Our allies seem to have sent us an Echelon-specific message. And appear to be shit scared.

<GA-01M uploads file Sakkra129402.zip>

[WillAcheson/DOD] Hm. Starburst, Hexa, Astra, Asherton, and GEC don't seem to be as threatened as Sol, and we've got all those ships there doing nothing in the first four in national hegemonic systems. I'm thinking force redeployments.

[AltStar/DOSA] First thing is to assist those that are closer. Are we sure these are really the uber warriors of doom? You remember the last times we were up against OMFG Borg. And we have the alliances on top of massive technological improvements. And the GAPA beam.

[CJC Ainriyko/JC] Borg?

[VPOTUSF] Really, really, /really/ old show. I'll send you a file later.

[POTUSF] Agreed. Prepare for the best, explore for the answer. You all know what to do. Move out.

[Sent Via E-Net]
[To: Commander Sshrrakka, Sol Ranger Battalion, the Herpetological Empire of Sakkra]
[From: Echelon Class, the United Solaris Federation of Tiburon]
[Subject: Antarans]
[Cc: {Mailing List: VERITAS Echelon}; {Mailing List: Triumvirate of Yut Echelon}]
[Classification: Echelon Eyes Only]

Commander Sshrrakka,

The USF has recognized the threat delineated by the Sakkrans and is beginning to take necessary defensive action. Meanwhile, we wish to assist our allies any way we can, and request information from all allies affected by or concerned about such an attack on where we can assist.

For an allied victory,
ECHELON,
The United Solaris Federation of Tiburon

OOC: Echelon Class is the analogue of the President's Cabinet plus the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the United States.

Colony Prime - Kzer-Za

"Commander Sshrrakka, an honour to speak to you", began the Ur-Quan Lord, "I am Lord 311, Hierarchical overlord of the colony on Kzer-Za. I would like to discuss, at your convenience, the current situation with regards to the Antarans."

The view from the monitor backtracked slightly providing the Commander with a long shot of the enormous green hued Ur-Quan, and a wider view of the surrounding conference chamber. The same chamber that had recently hosted the meetings between Lord 311 and the Sakkran ministers Hulroo and Gaark.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Interstellar Space

Without warning a perfectly smooth Black Globe (http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=tbn:W90uIBWKKYAJ:www.celestiamotherlode.net/catalog/images/screenshots/fictional/black_hole_108__fsgregs.jpg) yawned into existence at the LaGrange point between several local star systems, and around 27 light years from Sslaa.

It would have been almost impossible for an observer to ascertain whether the globe was an actual three dimensional object in space, or some localised warping of the fabric of space-time. And had anyone been in proximity to take readings, they would have discovered that the diameter of the globe was exactly one light second, and that it was emitting almost no gravitational or radioactive signature at all.

Time seemed to stand still for a while, as if the universe was holding its breath, until the perfect blackness of the globe was broken by a shaft of purple light eminating from an indeterminate point at the globes equator, relative to the galactic plane. Five small wraith like vessels emerged, their movements as synchronised as migrating birds, and after a moments pause they aligned themselves with a distant star and began to accelerate.

The Sslaa system carved its way through space, as yet unaware of the impending visitors….

Sshrrakka finished toweling off her tail, and turned to the monitor. Too each their own design tastes. AT least there aren't a flock of scanty serving girls around. "Lord 311, a pleasure. I've taken the liberty of looking over the data that was given to Minister Gaark. Most interesting, i'd say. But I question how recent the information is?"

As she was speaking, a light came on indicating other transmissions incoming. Vrelte. She read the mesaage quickly with one eye, while keep her attention on Lord 311 with the other. One hand keyed out the response to Tiburon.

[Dir: Commander Sshrrakka, Sol Ranger Battalion, the Herpetological Empire of Sakkra]
[Rcp: Echelon Class, the United Solaris Federation of Tiburon]
[Subject: Antarans]

Good cycle to you.
I am compiling information as we speak. Also looking for more updated files on this potential threat. Will advise as information becomes open.

Cm. Sshrrakka

Medium Systems Vehicle Eschatologist
Dropping into Sslaa from a coreward cruise

“Now approaching Sslaa hyperspace singularity, captain.”

It was interesting, mused Admiral Andrew Lepescu, Captain-Governor of Eschatologist, how despite radical changes in the way the world worked, some things always stayed the same. Take, for example, what the helmsman had just called out. It was a completely unnecessary statement. Like most Fleet officers, they both had cybernetic implants (even those without implants used external neural interfaces, for that matter), and it would have been easier to simply send the message over them even if the Admiral hadn't been directly monitoring the approach. For that matter, the huge command and control center itself was largely unnecessary. The officers' secure interfaces could be easily placed in physically separate and thus less vulnerable locations, because it would be far easier to cripple the bridge than to destroy the massively redunant command and control network. Even his own position was odd – crown governor of the large population aboard, admiral and commander-in-chief of all the military operations running on and out of the ship, and some sort of co-captain alongside the ship itself.

He had often toyed with the idea of writing a book about the adaptation of centuries of wet naval and primitive space faring traditions to the modern realities of space warfare and life, but suspected he no longer would have time for any such leisure activities.

“Thank you, major. Comms, fleet orders: prepare to revert to normal space, set battle reflex mode to level one-beta.” The order increased the readiness of ships for combat, with the ships' EIs now given permission to independently engage the enemy if sighted. Trouble was not expected, which was why the crews were not at action stations and bridge officers not also at an accelerated consciousness, but he hadn't made admiral and gain command of the second-largest ship in the Fleet by being inadequately paranoid.

“Battle reflex mode lifted to Level One, captain.”

“Thank you, Eschatologist. You may begin entry at your discretion.”

“Aye, captain. Now beginning scout deployment.” Literally at the same instant, the ship's heavy displacers flung drones and scout missiles into normal space, scattered through a wide volume at the edge of the system.

“Scouts show transit zone clear of hostiles. Comms traffic indicates no sign of unusual activity. Signaling combat squadron to transit.” A momentary pause, followed by, “Transit complete. Units now deploying fighter drone net. Science division now dropping to normal space. Eschatologist and escort wing transiting in five, four-”

Lepescu always hated this part. The transit was far smoother than it used to be, and still better than an in-system teseract jump, but -

<DISCONTINUITY>

-it still gave him the willies every time.

“Support group now transiting. All ships in normal space, captain.”

“ Flight, begin launch of escort wings. Comms, signal Sslaa system command. Inform them of our arrival.” Not that anyone watching this part of the sky could have missed it, but the last thing they wanted was a twitchy trigger finger sending a missile their way. Well, the last thing except for an Antaran invasion.

Colony Prime - Kzer-Za

"Commander Ssrrakka, you are right to question the report and we concede that the data we have is relatively scant and often contradictory", began the Ur-Quan Overlord. "But understand that the bulk of our data is many cycles old. Indeed the available physiological and psychological data on the Antarans is primarily from the first Orion war, millenia ago."

The Ur-Quan shifted his bulk slightly so that he squatted more easily over his trophy pit, the camera again panning with him in order to maintain perpective. From this new angle Commander Ssrrakka was able to view the additional occupants of the audience chamber.

Seated to the left of Lord 311 was the renowned Kohr-Ah fleet captain Death 390 along with several other senior military leaders. To his right were two green hued Ur-Quan garbed in the attire of the science corps. Seated between these two imposing figures was the relatively diminutive form of a lone Psilon.

"However", Lord 311 continued, "one fact is immutable, that this report contains the only meaningful data that we have, and until we gain new information for our scientists and analysts to examine, we simply have to make the best of what we have."

"There is some good news however Commander. Although our allies the Elerians were exterminated during the war, and with them our most aggressive psychers, with the assistance of our good friends the Psilons we believe we have been able to develop a new and potent weapon…."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Sslaa System - System Frontier

Leaving the Black Globe (http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=tbn:W90uIBWKKYAJ:www.celestiamotherlode.net/catalog/images/screenshots/fictional/black_hole_108__fsgregs.jpg) behind, the five sleek Scout Ships (http://www.stguardian.to/alien/alien/antaranpatrolshipthebreachbig.jpg) skipped in and out of real space on their course to Sslaa. Their unique propulsion system allowing them to achieve speeds considered impossible for craft operating within normal relativistic parameters.

As they neared Sslaa one of the craft broke formation, turning at an acute angle towards a cold metallic object on the coreward edge of the system. A small chunk of life known as the Eschatologist

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tulwéher Lossedhel, of the Menelmacari Imperial Defence Force, to be specific, it’s ‘marine’ speciality, watched his men working in the corridors of one of Sssla Six’s gas mining stations. They were busily setting up defences, dozens of sentry guns lined each of the major corridors of the station, as well as gravitic barriers and stasis generators. Other more esoteric and cunning techniques were employed, reinforcing walls and floors in the areas where kill zones would be established to prevent escape.

He watched a human busily modifying a nearby terminal, “Istyar Birkoff, progress?”

He glanced up, “Yes sir, I’ve gotten most of the hard-links disabled, and half the terminals on the outer perimeter are. Well, just don’t try and use them.” Seymour Birkoff was one of the rare human members in the MIDF, an exceptionally talented computer… wrecker. His speciality was making systems that had previously been masterworks of ease of use and fluid control into small nightmares of obstupefaction and prodigiously sadistic blind allies including nightmarish ‘surprises’ for unwanted accesses. His only drawback was that he wasn’t so good at putting them back together again.

“Very good,” Lossedhel said, patting the man on the shoulder and walking across to the next intersection, where a small team were testing non-standard weapons from several large crates, flechette launchers, needle guns, fragmentation cannons, and Yvressi shriuken catapults and cannons all found their places in this assortment of lethality.

The standard weapons of the MIDF were designed for range and hitting power, but they could become quite unwieldy in closely confined situations, thanks to their sheer energy. Instead, a wide variety of secondary weapons that were to be employed as the devices of choice, should an invasion of the station come to actual battle.

And it wasn’t just that, elsewhere, the combat and ancillary mages of the MIDF were hard at work on each station, setting up defences and sensor systems, preparing for combat against whatever opponents should emerge. And in the heart of one of the stations, they worked on a sphere of creamy quartzite material twelve paces across.

Lossedhel watched his men setting up plasma mines in key areas, and gauss mines – single use guass-flayers that would dematerialise a single object in proximity when triggered, all linked into a command system by concealed wires, but also autonomous. He was quite confident, all told, that anything attempting to invade the station would be in for a very nasty experience indeed.


In orbit, the first elements of the fifth fleet, a destroyer group, led by Ciryaturnëo Alyaheriel, the commander of the missile cruiser Faicaráca were beginning to arrive. Their first objectives were much the same. The Faicaráca began unleashing a cloud missile-drones to take up positions at the various Lagrange points near to Sssla Six, some of them simple sensors, some long-period dual-burn missiles, capable of remaining in position, like mines, for years before being activated and launched at a foe.

The destroyers, meanwhile, escorted a group of four larger Nienna class vessels, hulls styled in a pronounced catamaran shape that held two large Arta class fortresses between the forward sections of their prongs. These ships prepared to unload their cargo into orbit, four of the vessels in equidistant geo-stationary orbits, and four in polar orbits around the gas giant.

Along with them, a pair of ponderous Daeron fleet carriers arrived, each carrying a prodigious number of hawk-painted fighters, and entire flotillas of other assault craft They’d even brought a new sink for the kitchen of the existing Sssla Command’s headquarters, it had been lingering on the bottom of the requisition list for weeks after all.

----
OOC: Post written by me as Siri had to be working yesterday/today. Subject to approval/editing by the elf-player of course.

Fleetspace

Things are moving decidedly slow. Icons designating sensor contacts labeled as unknown bogies crawl ponderously across the battlespace representing the gravity well of the local star; their curious skipping motion probably being the reason why they disappear and reappear at a rate of linear motion greater than c.

"That'd be them," Brekyirihunuade announces in a matter-of-fact voice, its avatar simply floating in the void, an indeterminate mist with the suggestion of grey matter and eyeballs in the curls and vortices of its form-without-form.

"Interdiction?" comes the suggestion from Chemnitium, a golem of stone and water in a toga.

"Not yet," Brek replies simply. "Just follow the plan. Marshal Farentino is an effective student of history."

"That's because he's closer to it," the odd sinewy bulky-yet-delicate Sachiel grumbles in response, the two holes in its mask-like bony circular 'beak' following the action.

"Like you, Sach?" The cloud suggests a smile.

"Yes, like me. It's a good plan. Kicking out the ready Ferrets now."

"Right. Minds of the fleet, follow the plan." Brek delivers its commandment in a booming voice brimming with authority. "I will obtain further direction from the Sky Marshal."

* - * - *

There's quite a few ships on station around Sslaa, but not as many as there could be according to what's on paper. Several components are out patrolling the Periphery, several more remain on station to patrol the system and its most strategic points, but more than a few--that is to say, perhaps a lot--are just out. Unbeknownst to most, they are out quite literally in the middle of nowhere.

Well, it worked for Enterprise, Saratoga, and Lexington.

Those ships that are in the system calve a little upon detection of the adversary, quickly pickling whatever flight-ready Lokis they have on hand before making speed out of their current parking orbits or patrol routes before disappearing. Then new shyps arrive in their place, shyps with curious names like Punkin' Pie and Goldilockinload and the Three Bear Rugs that apparently take advantage of the TYCS' insystem faster-than-light capabilities.

These new shyps then resume the duties of those they relieved.

“Scan contact! Outer VDA reports inbound ship, unknown configuration!” One of the clusters of scout missiles had detected the incoming ship while it was still several minutes out from the outer defensive perimeter of drones, fighters, and riderships, themselves spread well out from the core ship.

“Action stations. Fleet orders: support and science prep for emergency jump, combat to battle formation. Battle reflex mode to level one, strategic control mode to level one.”

“Condition Red, Condition Red. All hands man action stations.” Throughout the vast ship, weapons primed, pilots rushed to their ships, and crewmen reported to their positions. On the bridge, the admiral lays back on his command couch, and finds himself immersed in the virtual world of the command-level battlespace.

FleetComms:> All-points alert dispatched to allied units.
FleetIntelligence:> Estimated time for contact to reach weapons range of outer picket dropships: five minutes.
Eschatologist:> All ships now on combat footing.
Adm. Lepescu:> Comms, challenge the intruder. Outer picket, standby to engage the enemy. Battle Division 1.3 and Patrol Division 1.4, move to intercept.

Less than thirty seconds after the initial contact, a message is transmitted.

{Open wide-band comms, all languages}
x CSS-MSV Eschatologist, Sslaa ExpFor
o Unidentified Craft

“Attention, unknown craft. This is the Cetagandan Sslaa Expeditionary Force. You are approaching restricted space. You are ordered to immediately alter your vector and identify or we will fire upon you.”
{Message Ends}


Immediately ahead of the scout are a quintet of riderships and a hundred dog-brain fighters, and arcing away from their escort positions are ten capital ships with their own escort of fighters and riders (http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~chigbee/Cetaganda/sslaa/antaran1.JPG), aiming to intercept the scout well outside of it's estimated weapons range from Eschatologist, where the rest of the squadron remains as a second line of defense.

"Why do we fight Kakashi..."
Kakashi sighed; scenes of times past fade, replaced by the sight of a bustling spaceport retreating into the distance.

“Dinnae be troubled. Isnae like yer ne’er gonna meet a fine lassie agin.”
Alexander nudged Kakashi, his lanky frame barely fitting the seat he had chosen.

“You know Alex, when I signed up for this I didn’t realize just how bad our rep was, and just how much that would hurt my chances with the ladies…”

“Hehe, I told ye not tae wear the division shirt. But no, tis the only clean shirt ye got.”

Kakashi, rolled his eyes at the chuckling giant. “It was my only clean shirt. Besides it was under my jacket. If those pilot fucks hadn’t started something…”

“Ye did try an take yon lassie from em.”

“Oh please, she was talking to me to begin with.”

Alexander spun a cross between his fingers, “only after they left for a piss. And ‘sides yer the drunk idiot who took off ‘is jacket and announced tae the world who ye were. ‘YOU SHITS DINNAE WANNA FIGHT ME FOR I AM ‘ELLSING!’ No wonder she dinnae stay round, few would after seeing our logo”

“Works in Heavenly Flirt.”

“Dinnae tell me yer still reading that garbage. No wonder ye cannae get a lassie.”

Kakashi chuckled nervously, trying to hide any embarrassment. “I bore easily.”


“So why do you think shore leave’s been called short?”

“Dinnae know,” Alexander nodded to the others in the transfer ship, most engaged in a rather boisterous argument over who was the best at some feat or another, “cannae be bad though, the lads is been getting restless.”

Sslaa Space - System Rim

The transmission from the Eschatologist seemed to go unheeded as the Antaran Fighter (http://www.stguardian.to/alien/alien/antaranpatrolshipthebreachbig.jpg) continued its approach. The shimmering vessel skipping smoothly in and out of reality while continuing to bear down on the small fleet manoeuvring ahead.

To the Cetagandan expeditionary force, the size and apparent class of the Antaran ship seemed completely at odds with the exponentially growing power signature detected.

Over ten thousand years the Antarans had perfected their inter-dimensional technology to the point where each Antaran vessel was now powered by the funneling of energy from the heart of a singularity via an artificial wormhole. Once kick started, this energy source was massive, self sustaining, and could last for millennia. As well as providing almost limitless energy on unimaginable levels, this technology enabled Antaran vessels to rid themselves of the cumbersome and unnecessary infrastructure and fuel space requirements needed for standard interstellar propulsion. This allowed the Antarans to dedicate almost all of a ships design to a specific purpose. In this case, aggressive scouting.

The scout performed a final dimensional skip taking it to within the very centre of the formation of fighters forming ahead, and from there the vessel emitted a psychic shriek so powerful, that it could be heard instantly in the conscious minds of all sentient creatures within a light second. A shriek that was paralysing in its intensity, filling all un-shielded or unprepared minds with visions so horrific and terrifying that the mind was forced to shut down momentarily to avoid insanity or collapse.

The vessel then activated a high energy lightning field designed to mop up any nearby drones or small projectile weapons and began firing it's lancing particle beams at the vessels ahead…

FYI: The Antaran Stutterwarp is based on quantum tunneling and enables fixed length nanojumps to be made at very high speed. Each nanojump carries the vessel 1/35197 AU (~4250km), and takes 5.1 femtoseconds (5.1*10^-15 s). At maximum theoretical efficiency, stutterwarp drives can average 11,730,000 cycles a second, covering a distance of 1AU in 0.003 seconds! (~47 times the speed of light)

Vubz

In the moon-base, ships were converging, being given their assignments and crewed for The Push, a term used when the populace acts as a single entity for one purpose. This is not to say that they are mindless drones or anything like that, but each imperial denizen goes about their assigned tasks with the knowledge in their heads that it's for the survival of the Empire that they do what they do.

Alarm klaxons sounded as out-system probes detected the skip-warp signature of the Antaran vessels approaching. Automated defenses were put on high alert, system-rim interdiction mines were activated, and wings of corvettes (http://www.5amfunnies.com/sakkra/space/corvetteform.JPG) fled the moon-base like angry bees around a disturbed hive while the capitol ships (http://www.5amfunnies.com/sakkra/space/warshipform.JPG) were just jockeying to exit and engage.

Then the Grass-Walkers, being psy-sensitive as they are, felt the distant touch of the Antaran psionic weapon, and gave out a loud trill as one. "Psionic weapon! The Anatarans are psi-capable! This was fed into the Imperial data-feed, and relayed out to all Triumvirate and VERITAS heads of departments. Non-sensitive beings didn't notice anything, but didn't have the time to question the validity of the statement issued. it was taken as gospel, and Director Seerak gave his orders. "Assign all military psi-operatives to any craft that has not disembarked."

This was coordinated by the Grass-Walkers among themselves psionically, each in contact with the others to figure out who was closest to what bay.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

As Lord 311 made mention of the potent weapon, an urgent comm from Vubz came in, and displayed itself at the bottom of the screen. "One moment, Lord 311." Quantum entanglement message. Must be big news...

She read the message, and her dewlap expanded. "I think we can update that record with one piece of data. The Antarans are now psi-capable, and they're heading for Sslaa right now. Numerous forces are already preparing to engage them at system's rim."

Colony Prime - Kzer-Za

"I think we can update that record with one piece of data. The Antarans are now psi-capable, and they're heading for Sslaa right now. Numerous forces are already preparing to engage them at system's rim."

It took only a heartbeat for Lord 311 to process those words, and another for his reply. But during those few seconds the massive green hued overlord was perfectly montionless. Not a single tentacle or proboscis moved, not an eye blinked, and for all intents and purposes he could have been carved out of stone.

"By the memory of our Lord Za.........we are fallen", he finally whispered.

Lord 311 was an impressive leader; both intelligent and compassionate, a diplomat and architect; but for events such as these a new kind of leader was required....or rather, a very old kind...

The harsh rasping voice of Death 19 crackled over the intercom. "Alert the fleet. All ships are to launch immediately!!", rasped the Kohr-Ah Overlord.

Death 390 moved to obey...his eyes glowing with the barely supressed rage of a Kohr-Ah warrior...

"If we are going to be fighting some extra-galactic or heaven forbid extra-dimensional nasties I want someone in charge on the scene who is used to dealing with the unknown."

President Silaco stood and moved to the huge window looking out over the bay that stretched away to the horizon. There were ships there, mostly pleasure yachts that would have been dwarfed by the floating cell-shaped cities that travelled the oceans of Sslaa IV and were her primary concern. Those were her citizens after all and the reason her office existed was to protect the citizens from foreign aggression.

She turned back to the two people - loosely defined - who were in her office. The first was a penguin, the second an attractive young woman of asian descent. Or design really...

"I'll take care of bringing Villanova back to handle this. Ambassador, as far as we are concerned the situation is being handled by the Sakkran navy and TYCS. All unknown ships are 'Unverified friendlies' or something like that as far as the Sol media is concerned, is that clear?"

The penguin nodded and turned his head to stare out the window at the bay below. The young woman beside him looked over for a moment then back to her mother and smiled.

"Nemesis operations are already moving to local firing positions in case we figure out where these guys are holed up. Refuge is hiding in the Deep with evacucation plans prepared for the Sslaa system and secondary jump drones deployed. I've recalled all Hades-Class to Ares and they are being re-armed as we speak. There are only five Totality-Class ready for action currently but I've got them formed up around the VLEMA to link up with the next one that comes off the line. Is there anything else you would like me to handle?"

Ambassador Penguin rolled his eyes. Predicting the actions of not only your mother but your programmer was no hard feat.

"One more thing - there is someone who might know a bit more about these Antarans. Dig around in my files and dispatch a ship to pick the brain of the Nameless One. Make sure the captain is really patient."

The two began to disconnect from the private circuit when Erika suddenly laughed.

"And activate about a thousand kittens. If we can't beat em by force, maybe we can beat em by cute!"

FleetScan:>Hostile vessel has made tactical FTL jump.
FleetPsi:> Psionics attack detected and reflected by primary wards. Preparing to counterattack.
Eschatologist:> Riderships Eschatologist-210 and 214 destroyed by enemy fire. Eschatologist-211 and 213 under heavy fire. Pi Wing under anti-aircraft fire.
Adm. Lepescu:> All ships fire at will. Standby to deploy FTL inhibitors.

The scout's psychic attack is repelled with ease, the shriek sliding of the layers of protective barriers woven into the hull and shields of the Cetagandan warships. Two of the riders are caught by the heavy particle beams dead on, and their defensive shields quickly move through the spectrum from red to violet before they disappear in a blinding flash of light. Their three companions begin radical evasive maneuvers, their weapons sending spears of coherent light and tearing gravity towards their opponent. Riderships are built for speed, and maneuverability, and manage to take only grazing hits. One takes enough damage that it breaks off in the hopes of cooling off its shield.

Around the scout the drones swarm like a cloud of angry insects, protective stasis fields flicking on and off in a pattern determined by the probabilities of them encountering a discharge from the lightning field at a given instant. Nearly half are cut down, but the survivors release a swarm of anti-shipping missiles towards the scout while firing their own broadband EM weapons. More missiles, relativistic semi-seeking smart projectiles, and beams slice in as the capital ships engage as well.

(As a note, there are currently two dropships and about fifty fighters close in. Closing fast are a battleship, five cruisers, and four destroyers, all engaging the scout with capital weapons; a second wave of dropships and fighters are still closing to effective range.)

Fleetspace

It isn't announced by voice nor displayed in print, but as the situation evolves those hooked up to the tacnet simply know what has occured. It's faster, at least, in this rate.

Cetagandan contingent reports psionic attack.

"All OPO officers go to Condition One," Sky Marshal Farentino says with a quietness that fills the artificial space. "All ships advised to divert excess power to active buffering."

68MCC continuing on course to intercept main adversary group. 67MCC moving to support Cetagandan contingent.

"Good." In reality, the Sky Marshal's lips twitch slightly, curling at one end. "All other forces, maintain Headless Chicken movement around strategic points and await further orders."

* - * - *

A soupercarryer component, consisting of Soupercarryer I Gots Stubby Wingalings, Battolshyp Potatemkin, and Destroiahs Big Nasty Teeth and Ex-Lax Brownie, diverts to move at not-quite-high distort (with accelerations several orders of magnitude greater than Terrestrial gravity) to aid Eschatologist's battle group. Meanwhile, the battolshyp components led by the aforementioned Punkin' Pie and Goldilockinload and the Three Bear Rugs continue in their high patrol orbits in the inner system, still watching idly for now.

Sslaa Space - Cetagandan Fleet

With the psychic attack apparently unsuccessful, Scout Alpha (http://www.stguardian.to/alien/alien/antaranpatrolshipthebreachbig.jpg) was required to proceed along more classical attack patterns. The four remaining fighters, sensing the changing dynamics of the situation, quickly altered course and vectored in to join the attack. The entire scout group was indicating their commitment to the action against the Cetagandan fleet, escalating what seemed a minor encounter into a significant engagement.

Scout Alpha attempted to punch through the storm of drones and missiles with a series of extreme manoeuvres, countermeasure releases, and asynchronous warp skips. However despite this impressive display of piloting, the sleek fighter received several significant impacts perilously close to the primary stutterwarp core, threatening to create an overload. Although screens and dampers were holding for now, the pilot was forced to increase power to the lightning field in a desperate attempt to break through this first wave.

Scouts Beta and Gamma peeled away from their companions to provide support for Scout Alpha, targeting weapons on the nearest damaged vessels. However Scouts Delta and Epsilon set their stutterwarp to maximum oscillation, skipping past the first line of defence, and releasing a full volley of skip-missiles towards the capital ships closing in.

Each of these volleys consisted of fifty skip capable micro-missiles (http://www.vgaplanets.com/v4doc/PLAN0111.gif), which although only a few centimetres in length, drew their power, and their payload, through a microscopic wormhole linked to the centre of a singularity. When detonated, the wormhole would expand to approximately 2-3 metres in diameter for a fraction of second before evaporating. But during this time, the target would be subjected to the full gravitic fury of a black hole, and when coupled with the warp-skip technology, this often occurred deep inside the enemy vessel…

[Question for Cetaganda - Can you give me details of what FTL damping technology you might be utilising so that I can determine what effect that might have on the Antaran Stutterwarp - Thanks :) ]

In orbit around Sslaa IV one of the few (the only) military structures the SDF maintained in the system suddenly lurched to life. Within the confines of it's ringed appeture the Aurora-Class gate ripped local space apart and a blaze of spiralling energy erupted as an artificial wormhole came into existance.

What emerged was somewhat anti-climactic. No task force, fleet, or grand armada these but five ships and not even warships. Venture C's and D's these were instead the front line of Sunset's wide ranging Exploration Command and they definately looked the part. All of them were dirty, some had damage that could have been anything from weapons fire to a bad trip through an asteroid field. The last was even showing signs of some recent damage as she was venting some kind of gas through a large hole in her port nacelle.

Though they were armed - Heavy Explorer was their designation - they were not there for combat and none did more than ready their weapon batteries. Instead they turned a different kind of weapon on the enemy as they sped towards the fight.

"VDA connection established with TYCS and CSS Admiral."

Admiral Villanova sat back and took a bite out of his sandwich. He had been contacted in the middle of dinner and there was no good reason to rush things. If these 'Antarans' came to him looking for trouble he'd give them some. Apparently he had some kind of backup waiting if there was trouble though Erika hadn't been too specific.

"Probably those Hades-Class. I've always wanted to watch one in action..."

"Admiral?"

"Just thinking out loud - you can do that when you are my age. Have everyone turn up the juice and put it all on the lead ship - let's see if they like their privacy."

The microwave oven was basically an accidental invention. Someone noticed that a chocolate bar in their pocket had melted after several minutes near a RADAR emitter. In the case of a Venture D's main and secondary arrays it wasn't just the chocolate bar that would melt if you were standing in front of, beside, or really anywhere near them. Now that power was being focused on the lead Antaran fighter in an effort to glean it's secrets as well as make sure the pilot wouldn't be having children through the normal methods.

----

*** DrRobotnic has joined #TYCS_Sslaa
<DrRobotnic> Good morning everyone. I've sent you a little present - Admiral Villanova is going to be handling our on-scene response. Don't worry about him too much. If things get hairy I've got backup waiting here.
<DrRobotnic> Outside of that the SDF is rallying with the MDF and the 5th Ravenspire in Ares just in case. I've got the Nova's on standby if anything big shows up and we have some evolving evacuation plans for Sslaa IV and whoever else we can grab if things get really messy.
*** SexxyAsian has joined #TYCS_Sslaa
<DrRobotnic> Why are you late, and what's with that name young lady?
<SexxyAsian> ...
*** SexxyAsian is now known as KatrynaS
<KatrynaS> Mother! The bird is late too...
<DrRobotnic> He has a good reason. Apparently this is already on MNN and he's got two turntables and a microphone.
*** SpinDoctorP has joined #TYCS_Sslaa
<SpinDoctorP> Yo yo yo. The doctor is in the hizouse!

Sslaa Space - The Antaran Scout Force

Scout Alpha seemed almost oblivious to the microwave assault instigated by the Venture ships, with only a brief alert appearing on the ships HUD.

The hulls of Antaran vessels are composed almost exclusively of Xentronium, an alloy with an extremely large complex refractive index. When an Antaran vessel activates a Lightning Field, the SPP mode becomes very nearly a plane wave, extending massively into the dielectric but only a very short distance into the metal. This combination allows the ships hull to reflect microwave (and other high frequency waves) perfectly.

This was clearly good news for the Antaran Pilot encased in Scout Alpha, but perhaps not such good news for the surrounding Riderships……

FYI: Surface plasmon-polaritons (SPPs) are surface modes that propagate at metal-dielectric interfaces and constitute an electromagnetic field.

Alyaheriel watched the goings on deeper in the system with interest. She was confident that the TYCS didn’t need her help, and had little to provide anyway, until the non-combatant ships jumped out of the system, the flotilla under her command couldn’t move off, and thus they had no available offensive force beyond fighters and other support craft. Instead she, conscious of her compatriots in the Sol system watching the same data, ordered maximum focus and gain on the distant action, bringing events light minutes away, but thanks to the wonders of sophisticated sensors, most assuredly not minutes past.

“Those missiles are… interesting,” she said, and the expert systems of the Faicaráca brought up a holographic display to one side of her, depicting the gravitational effects of the missile’s detonation in three, and two, dimensions. “They appear to be attempting to jump inside their targets,” she swivelled around to look at the officers who monitored the activities of the ship’s systems, “Standing stock of interdictors, all types, to be deployed in middle-orbits, all ships. Machine shops, make more, maximum priority. I don’t want anything jumping within a light second of here.” She nodded to another officer, “Instruct the civilians on the surface that we want their fabbers making interdictors too. Send the same instructions to the Niennas too, we may as well take advantage of their fabricators while they’re here.”

She smiled at the quick confirmations from her crew, they were highly trained, and to her mind, one of the best in the best fleet, and they continually made her proud.

The Tiburonese had been waiting for a Sakkran message- but now they didn't need to. They had heard all that the Sslaans had heard, followed the movements. While the military debated a response, as the 102nd, 104th, 108th, 110th, and 114th Aerospace Forces mobilized in Kuiper, the military redeployed its assets to allow for a heavy defensive presence in Sol (the landside Aerospace Forces notwithstanding, the 500+ spaceside Aerospace Forces were now focusing their assets on Sol).

Protocols had already been issued, and drone forces had already been launched to contain a threat until the major force had arrived. It was now up to the men and women of the 12th Brigade of the 152nd Remote Aerospace Force who were not putting their lives on the line in defense of their nation and their allies. A squadron of Drumhead-class Mini-BRICs (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/United_Solaris_Federation/BRIC.gif) (Base, Reconaissance, and Interstellar Carrier Units), carrying 80 D-853 (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/United_Solaris_Federation/D-853.jpg) remotely-operated attack drones each. The D-853s were about 1/8th the size of a normal Tiburonese fighter (what with volume being the cube of distance). And they were going at FTL speeds. Because it would take FTL speeds to reach Sslaa.

At Space Fort McCarrigan, home of the 152nd Remote (among other forces), CPT Patel watched the ships slow and enter the system with his subcommanders and an AI named Lilith who had been assigned the task of drone assistance as a background operation. Tiburon had arrived to assist her allies.

The messages were coming in to fast for the atrophied muscle of the Comm Relay Station to handle. They were understaffed as it was for this, and as such switched over to an automated response device. Please be patient as all operatives are busy at this time. Vubz was tracking the crafts engaging the Antaran's scouting party and monitoring the events. It was decided among the sentient ships that they hold back a bit to avoid getting caught in the crossfire of emitters and cannons. Dodging friendly fire as well as hostile weapons could be a daunting task. In the meantime they made sure all their torpedo banks and Hard Beam weaponry were fully ready, all psy-ops officers on board the ships shielded the crafts from latent psionic assaults and tried to coordinate with the present forces as much as possible.

Meanwhile, Jouuha was escorted deep into an access passage under the Eeorouh Spaceyard. it was here he was greeted by the resident Queen of the Resin Beetle hive, as well as one who appeared to be the leader of the local populace of the Alpha Minis.

A short bow was given. "Your majesties." One eye trained on each of them as they chittered among themselves for a second. "The Alpha Mini leader spoke up, with his translating box held to his throat. "We're aware of what's going on. I've been listening in on the Comm Station from up-top. Do you think that the Menace will reach here?"

Jouuha shook his head. "It's possible if everything at Sslaa fails, but we're going to try and hold them there." All about him the ant-like Alphas were scooting about on little hover-platfoms while Beetles whizzed about, doing whatever it is they do. "Hopefully it will be enough."

"Hmmph. Tell ya what. I'm stationing some of the better researchers and technicians to help you along. The Queen here, has agreed to this, and has assigned some of her subjects to run menial errands for you to help keep you focused on more important things. You know, like keeping our exoskeletons on us, so to speak. Relaying messages, getting food and drink. Stuff like that." A series of clicks and the waving of antennae, and several of the little platforms settled down near the feet of the Chief Engineer. The lab-coat clad techs saluted comically. "Reporting and ready for assignment."

Jouuha bowed again. "That will be a great boon, your majesties. My thanks."

The two remaining forward riderships succumb to the onslaught of Beta and Gamma, but not before launching a final salvo of missiles and cannon fire at Alpha. The beleaguered scout fries even more of the drone fighters, but the intelligences controlling them have been learning quickly, analyzing sensor data from the myriad craft and creating tactics to defeat the defenses. Now some are deliberately sacrificing themselves to sap away the lightning field's strength to create holes through which the others can strike with ever-increasing effectiveness as more and more data on the abilities of the field is collected.

Delta and Epsilon have, in their ignorance of Cetagandan technology, made a tactical error. The approaching capital ships had previously been limited to launching missiles and hypervelocity slugs, having quickly realized that long-range laser fire was proving ineffective. Now, however, two new targets had appeared in front of them, where there is no worry about friendly fire, and their powerful scanners can get a more accurate lock. Worse yet, they are now within easy range of the powerful gravitic armaments for the ships. An instant after they appear, all ten capital ships have shunted all beam power to the gravitics and fired upon Delta. Hundreds of shearing, twisting, ripping beams of collimated gravity spear through space at the scout. Simultaneously, Cetagandan warship open fire on Epsilon with their displacers, flinging plasma bombs, gravitic imploders, and antimatter clusters instantaneously across space through micro wormholes towards Epsilon with abandon. Electronic warfare and maneuvers make targeting difficult, but the powerful network of shipminds drop the warheads in spreads calculated to optimize the chances on one dropping inside the scout. The more conventional missiles speeding towards both ships add even more, if less instant, danger to the scouts.

The skip-missiles pose a serious threat to the Cetagandan ships. They are protected by FTL inhibtors against such a thing – a feature implemented almost immediately after the first prototype displacer was built at Camp Restricted years before. All this means is that the warheads are going off just outside the shield perimeters. Many are swatted by point defense in the moment between emergence and detonation, and the shields and drive fields provide some protection. However, in order to use their displacers, the inhibitors blink off momentarily. The chances of a skip-missile hitting at just the right moment is slim, but there are many missiles and a considerable amount of displacer fire.. The SBU Cedar ceases to exist, while the aft third of the MBU Hermiod is sheared clean off.

For their part, the swarm of drones and the half-dozen riderships that had been racing ahead ignore the newcomers and rush in to join the dogpile on the Alpha scout.

(Death, check your TGs, please.)

Karamanlis nodded. "The Danaan Space Program could only make a very small contribution to a battle of the line alongside nations which maintain full-blown space navies. However, we have other ways in which we can assist. I do feel I need more information from our allies, though. Can one of you get me a secure channel to speak with Emperor Gorm as soon as possible?"

"I can get the channel..." Pacelli said "...and communicate your request to for such a conference to the Sakkrans."

The high-security Imperial Feed isn't a channel that sees much action. In fact, it connects right into the Emperor's Earbud. So when a soft 'bweep' sounded in his ear, he was a mite surprised at first. At the moment, he was watching the data streaming in from the fringes of the skirmish just outside the Sslaa system, and seeing to the outfitting of his flagship, the Tiamat.

A hand is held to his earbud, and he seemingly mumbles into it. The resulting comm would, of course, be much clearer. He listens to the communique from Pacelli of the Resurgent Dream, nods his head slowly, and sends a voice response.

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

Good cycle to you, Minister Karamanlis.

Considering circumstances and the heightened tension therein, I can attend a conference with yourself and your staff. My personal ship is being fitted as we speak, so I can arrive at your liesure. I would require I bring my own escort, of course, as a security measure for my safety.

All I would need is time and location. We will arrive.

Emperor Gorrm

Aboard the White Nile Admiral Villanova watched the proceedings with interest. Valuable data was being gathered by the combined sensors of the explorer platforms and the existing Very Dangerous Array. This in turn was being piped back through the Aurora to data centers elsewhere for some careful examination.

"Commander - send a request back for as many spare recovery cruisers as we can get to make ready to come through. Shortly enough we should have something to get our hands on."

"Aye, Admiral."

Fidelo tapped away at his console - archaic, but some things were better if done patiently - and began to sift through the data. He had been at this long enough to know that there was always a weak point.

----

In a bedroom aboard one of the massive floating cities that dotted the watery surface of Sslaa IV a man suddenly shot upright screaming. Moments before the psionic attack had passed through and now there were similar screams echoing from all over. His wife, a deeper sleeper than him, rolled over and yawned as she woke up.

"Ehm? What is it?"

"I just had this terrible nightmare! We were having sex and suddenly you turned into your mother! Or a horrible beast with a lot of tentacles! It was so hard to tell... They had the same mustache!"

The pillow smacked him flatly across the face and he rocked backwards bonking his head on the wall.

"Owww!"

"Go back to sleep!"

Ben Vitner does something very uncharacteristic: he bursts through the door of the Emperor's office without knocking. Three heads turn to look at him in surprise and annoyance.

The short, indefinably ugly man sitting behind the functional desk on the far side of the room frowns, but quells the scathing rebuke poised on his lips. The fact that Ben rarely exercises his right to enter unannounced is part of why he has it.

"Sslaa is under attack," Ben explains. "It just came over the FTL comms. Triumvirate elements are deployed and responding."

Treznor nods. "Tom, Sally, we'll have to continue this later. Ben, hold your briefing until we can get Janet and Maria in conference." He leans forward to touch a panel on his desk. "Alec, get me Marshall and Sanchez. I think West is in a meeting with the Joint Chiefs. Patch them in, too."

"One moment, Majesty."

There is a pause. Ben takes one of the chairs vacated by the others and listens to the door close behind them. The Emperor stares intently at the computer screen projected before him.

"Online, Majesty."

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is an emergency briefing to cover events happening currently in the Sslaa star system. This is apparently a followup attack by the race named the 'Antareans' by our Sakkran allies. Ben, go ahead."

"Thank you, Majesty. Half an hour ago Cetagandan forces detected and intercepted an unknown craft that launched psychic and physical attacks. We do not yet have full details. However, this is the second assault on allied elements in the system, so my initial analysis suggests this confirms the veracity of the Sakkran intelligence of highly advanced xenophobic aliens. They are highly mobile, masters of interdimensional travel and according to Sakkran intelligence, hard to kill. These creatures appear to have only one goal: to exterminate all other intelligent life."

"Masters of Krikkit, anyone?" Treznor murmurs. No one understands the reference, so no one comments. He shifts in his seat and gestures. "Go on, Ben. Did this attack have a specific destination?"

"None was indicated, Sir. The vessel appeared in the outer reaches of the solar system in the same quadrant as our mining colony, but did not appear to take any interest in it. Our presence on that moon is small and possibly obscured by our underground operations, so they might not be aware of us. They may be reacting to the stronger network signals coming from the more habitable planets in-system. However, I wouldn't bet on it. My reading of the Sakkran reports is that these creatures don't make those mistakes."

"Options."

"Majesty, we could join the operations to repel them," Mark West's voice broadcasts over the speakers. "We've got a lot of seasoned spacers in our ranks now, many of them benefitting from TYCS rotation as well as our own merchant fleet. We don't have to be passive in this."

Treznor smirks slightly. "Admiral, what's your take on the Minister's position?"

"Sir..." Maria Sanchez's voice hesitated slightly, but only slightly. They've had this conversation before. "Sir, we may have the personnel but we don't have the resources. The purchase of the hypergates from Sunset set back our proposed space fleets by years, as we knew it would. We could only add a token defense to the operations under way there, and my best-case analysis suggests we would only get in the way. We are not a military presence in space, Emperor. Suggesting that we are simply doesn't fit the facts."

"I agree, Admiral. Sorry, Mark, but we're not going to play soldier for this one. But you bring up a good point: we have a lot of seasoned spacers with good knowledge of TYCS protocols. We could still use them."

"Majesty, I feel that the Admiral's analysis underestimates our capabilities. Certainly we don't have the mighty space fleets of our interplanetary allies, but we have our own forces! Even if our contribution is only minimal, it's better than none."

Treznor's face hardens slightly. "The answer is 'no,' Mark. You may be Maria's boss, but I'm yours and she's right. We are not committing military forces to this effort. We'd only get in the way. What we'll do is put our resources at the disposal of Gorm and the TYCS. They have ships we can pilot and crew, freeing up their soldiers to do what they do best. We can serve better in logistics than on the front lines. By serving their interests we'll serve our own."

Silence follows the rebuke. Treznor nods. "Janet, I want you to go through diplomatic channels and make ourselves available to our allies. You and Admiral Sanchez will coordinate our efforts and retool for a possible long-term engagement."

"Of course, Majesty." Janet Marshall already knows the people in question, and Ben suspects she's issuing orders as they speak.

"Anything else?" Treznor asks.

"Sir, what happens if these Antareans come after Earth?"

Treznor smirks. "I suspect they'd get bombarded with so many warheads they'd vanish in a flash of light to rival the sun."

"Majesty, can we really take that chance?" Mark West enquires cautiously.

"No," Treznor agrees. "We can't. So we're going to have to place our forces on heightened alert. You and the Joint Chiefs will need to come up with some proposals to respond to this Antarean threat. We're hamstrung by our lack of a proper fleet outside our atmosphere. Until we can get that resolved, it's up to you to consider our worst-case options and assume we're on our own."

"Yes, Majesty." Mark's voice contains a hint of satisfaction for the first time since the beginning of the briefing.

"Ben, anything else to report?"

"No, Sir. I can provide further detail as they become available over the alliance network."

"Okay, fine. Let's go back to our business. For the moment our allies seem to have this threat contained, we just won't assume they always will. You're the best I've got, and I'll match you against anyone else. Make me proud." Treznor leans over to cut the connection.

"Thank you, Ben."

"Yes, Sir." Ben stands. "Do you think our allies can stop the Antareans at Sslaa?"

Treznor shrugs eloquently. "Who can say? The Sakkran reports say they haven't been able to trace the Antareans back to where they live. Unless we can reach them, all we can do is bloody their noses until they try again. I think you should open talks with some of your counterparts to discuss options on taking the fight to them."

"I agree, Sir. I'll get right on that."

"If anyone can do it, Ben, it's you."

On the Earth holdings, in the Titan colony and on Sslaa V, events of a different manner were unfolding. the Order of Rragg has ordained that their War Shaman be activated, trained and prepared for battle, much like in millenia past. From their subterranean temples they emerge cloaked in deep purple robes and cowls which cover almost the entirety of their face. Wielding large hammers, they moved slowly yet gracefully with a deep thrumming sound coming from their throats all the while.

The First Orderman, Rraas, spoke to them. His physical presence was deep within the catacombs, but through his meditations he could project an astral form at any place of his choosing. Multiple forms could be summoned, but it took great concentration. And in his advanced age, his body might not be able to maintain that level of concentration. It was so that he was surrounded by Acolytes and Adepts ready to lend strength to him if needed, and to save his spiritual being if demanded.

"For millenia, the War Shaman has not been brought forth. Times of peace, prosperity and plenty have let the Sakkra grow fat and forget. But we of the Order have never forgotten, and we have stayed true to the old ways. We have been preparing for multiple generations for this eventuality and now we will see the fruits of our labors. The shaded hand of the Antarans have come again, and we will stand ready to rebuff them as our ancestors did. This time there will be no running, no hiding, no scurrying into holes like rodents. We will meet them with arms and will, and we will emerge in victory. For the herpatra of our order and our people, for the glory and memory of the First Scion, Air and Fire!"

The lulled chorus on multiple planets spoke as one. "Air and Fire!" They then shrugged off the robes and cowls, revealing tatooed and bejeweled bodies clad in some ancient manner of armor, smote-out eyes in their heads emitting wisps of smoke. And they traveled as if on a pilgrimage towards wherever the largest and highest clearing would be. In each location they numbered in the hundreds and thousands, and they thrummed as they walked, vibrating the ground beneath them. The projection of the First Orderman faded as they left, and his physical body collapsed from the exhaustion the effort took.

Sslaa Space Perimeter

The battle around the Cetagandan fleet raged on.

The weapons fire discharged during the death throes of the two Riderships, coupled with the suicidal ferocity of the surrounding drones, finally succeed in shattering the already weakened defences of Scout Alpha. The Antaran vessel exploded dramatically, scattering a shower of particles in a dispersal field almost a hundred kilometres in diameter.

With Alpha destroyed, Scouts Beta and Gamma tore into the fast approaching second wave of Drones and Riderships, a psychic shriek of hate screeching through sub-space. Although the Antaran vessels were certainly aware of the Sakkran, Scolopendran and other sundry elements converging on the battlespace, their attention seemed focussed primarily on the ships deployed by the Cetagandan fleet.

Scout Delta approached the remaining capital ships, ripping through the gravitational maelstrom set against it. A cumulative reduction in skip frequency was the only indicative evidence that the weapons employed were having an affect. The Antaran vessel released a second skip-missile salvo before altering vectors in a desperate attempt to peel away.

Scout Epsilon did not fare as well as its companion. A plasma bomb successfully detonated between the hull and shields of the Antaran craft, destabilising the ships lightning field and leaving it vulnerable to the more conventional weaponry that followed. As the Scout attempted to line up for skip-missile deployment, the Cetagandan ordinance impacted and the ship was ignominiously destroyed.

The volley of skip-missiles launched by Delta then began their approach to target - the estimated impact time being a mere 0.15 seconds. Having had time to analyse the damping technology deployed by the capital ships, the second wave attempted an oscillating skip pattern to maximise breakthrough probability. As a result of this tactic a small number of skip-missiles succeeded in avoiding interdiction, successfully making the final skip to target…

“Good morning, Your Imperial Majesty.” Karamanlis’s voice returned to Gorm. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with me. I know that your time is precious in an emergency of this kind. We certainly intend to do everything in our power to help our allies. We would like to meet in the Lunar city of Selinia, at the Danaan Space Defense Headquarters.”

Gorrm nodded his head. "Very well. I will have my ship head out as soon as i can manage. Transmit coordinates on this channel in a packet burst and my earbud can pick it up and store the data. We'll maintain comm silence until we arrive. No sense in some of these raiders picking up a stray signal."

Although the Antaran vessels were certainly aware of the Sakkran, Scolopendran and other sundry elements converging on the battlespace,
And the TYCS element represented by the four shyps led by I Gots Stubby Wingalings keep along their way, but are taking their sweet time--going at constant accel from insystem, even at sufficiently several hundred G, will take a few minutes to get on-site. Any more acceleration would require the generation of asymptotic 'bubbles' of spacetime, which has its own particular host of problems.

Meanwhile, in Fleetspace, Farentino waits for the signal. Right now, he and the Cetagandans have a quiet understanding--a Systems Vehicle is indeed a bit larger and more powerful than even a Sky Marshal-class System Defense Fortress, and the Cetagandan Spacy has a reputation to uphold. If they can handle it, let them handle it is probably the best estimation of the Sky Marshal's silent, not entirely focused thoughts at the moment.

The MBU Kemuel vanishes with a final missile volley and an electronic scream, while only lucky timing in the random manuvers places a skip-missile barely a hundred meters astern the LBU Mendoza, where it 'only' rips out the entire aft battery of secondary beams and point defense lasers while wrecking the main hangar. The other big ships concentrate all fire on Delta. Out with the other two scouts, the riders and drones now concentrate on Beta. The riders have fully realized that their shields are outmatched by the scouts' particle beams, and now concentrate all power on their weapons and erratic maneuvers, while firing off as much of their magazines as they can with no thought of conserving ammunition for use later in battle. Two more of the little ships disappear as their primary fields release the massive amounts of stored energy in them, and a third, shields nearing critical collapse, does it's best to try and ram the Gamma scout, or at least get close enough that the detonation will harm it.

Sslaa Space - System Edge

The concentrated gravitic fire from the surviving Cetagandan capital ships finally overloaded the core damping technology of Scout Delta. The resultant wormhole fluctuations forced the Antaran pilot to perform an emergency shutdown, leaving the ship adrift in normal space...but only for a moment. The activation of a self destruct device spectacularly incinerated the beleaguered vessel.

Scout Beta, clearly deciding that there had been enough aggressive scouting for one day, performed an impressive break-off manoeuvre and screamed away from the battlespace. Within a heartbeat the ship had accelerated to 250,000 cycles per second and was almost an AU distant.

Scout Gamma fired another burst of particle beams at the incoming ship, but was too late to avoid a collision with the stricken fighter. Although the resultant damage from the impact was relatively minor, it was sufficient to prevent stutterwarp activity for a few moments. The Antaran routed all power to weapons, firing burst after burst at the swarm of fighters surrounding him before succumbing to the insurmountable odds.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Colony Prime - Kzer-Za

Death 19 hung above the tactical VidCon in the colony war room - a vast underground chamber carved deep into the obsidian rock. Below him was a holographic representation of the nearby battlespace, from where he had witnessed the mauling suffered by the Cetagandan fleet.

"Open communications to the Sacrificial Pain", he commanded.

"Yes sir", confirmed a subordinate.

Moments later the Kohr-Ah Overlord had been linked to the distant flotilla of star ships.

"Death 390 here", came the rasping sub-space response.

"Situation report"

"One Antaran vessel has escaped, four were destroyed - we were too late to have an influence on the battle."

"Understood. Stay on station and provide support for the Cetagandan fleet - they may require assistance"

"Confirmed, Lord."

Death 19 gestured for communications to be closed and retreated to his trophy pit.

It was essential that the respective militaries of all local species worked together more effectively, he mused.

If the incursion had been anything other than a scouting mission, then there would have been a good chance that it would be a planet in flames at this moment, and not just a few ships…

"That's our cue boys..."

Jumping directly from the fleet yards in orbit around Anuke a dozen SDF recovery cruisers dropped in on the Cetagandan force. Electro-adhessive grappling arms deployed and polite but short messages were sent to the damaged warships. If the Antarans returned they wanted their shields between them and the injured ships before any could be finished off.

One of the recovery cruiser hung back however as several of the explorers began to nudge into the combat zone. Sensors were redeployed to look for survivors as well as to track any debris from the Antaran ships. There would be pieces left and these would be scooped up quickly for analysis with the help of the recovery cruiser.

Meanwhile...

"Helm - after that ship!" Fidelo shouted as he watched the surviving scout ship race away.

"Aye Admiral!"

Space-warp drives whined and engaged and the White Nile leapt forward. To outside observers the ship seemed to stretch as gravity warped around it and suddenly it was gone, hot on the heals of the fleeing scout.

"Keep the primary array pointed right at it but I want side scans - no traps! Tactical?"

"Aye?"

"Arm HOBD torpedos on the forward tubes. If we can get close enough I want to see if we can catch us a whole one. Just pray those bastards are made of water. Comms? Make sure TYCS and SDF Nemesis command is constantly updated on our position. Scouts always come from somewhere - maybe we will get a big target."

Sslaa System

Under the command of Death 390, the 5th fleet began to form a defensive perimeter around the SDF recovery cruisers.

"Open communications with the cruisers Lieutenant, and inform them that we are at their disposal", hissed the writhing Ur-Quan Overlord

"Yes, Sir"

"And alert them to the risk they are taking setting off in hot pursuit unescorted."

"Sir"

A brave life form that Admiral, mused Death 390, certain that the alien would be afforded an honourable period of mourning...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Interstellar Space

The Antaran Scout achieved a maximum oscillation of 10,200,000 cycles per second within moments. Although minor damage had affected Stutterwarp efficiency, at this velocity the Scout would still reach its destination in less than two hours.

Aft sensors noted the hot pursuit of the White Nile but the pilot was reasonably confident the alien vessel would be unable to intercept in time. Nevertheless the Scout deployed several proximity mines in sub-space just to make certain.

Ahead of the scout, still hanging motionless at the interstellar LaGrange point, the Black Globe (http://www.ciai-s.net/black-holes.jpg) awaited his return…

"Did we get all that?" Director Seerak was hovering over the sensor stations in Vubz, peering over the shoulders of one of the officers. Telemetry data, sensor hacks and every possible view of the skirmish was recorded and analyzed. The officer closest to him looked up, keeping one eye on the displays. "Aye, we got it. Should I send it to MilSci for analysis?"

Seerak stood up, and clasped his hands behind his back. "Do that, and have a copy of it kept here. Always good to have more than one set of eyes on something. Order the corvettes to deploy their sails and scour the area for debris, ambient radio traffic, the like." He wanted to see if anything worth analysis was left. "And those dud torpedoes the Antarans fired; collect those and have one shipped to MilSci as well, after it's been contained."

"Acting, sirrah. All ships, deploy sails, form up a net....." Seerak walked off as the orders were given, and returned to his command chair. He pressed his fingers against the sides of his head. Stress. Yes, I really REALLY need this right now. "Somebody get me a damn aspirin!"

A few minutes after the Antaran ship drops off of scan, the order for most of the ships to stand down from action stations goes out. The engagement has taken surprisingly short period of time – or, depending on your perspective, entirely too long for what should have been an easy victory for numerically superior Cetagandans. The ships that engaged the Antarans return to formation and the repair bays of the systems vehicle, while a group of fresh units take up position to guard the SDF ships, along with a Medium Science Unit and science drones to assist in making through scans and picking up debris.


{Secure Comms, m16 Security}
x Adm. Lepescu (MSV Eschatologist, Sslaa Expeditionary Force)
o All Allied Forces

As most of you know, at 1300 hours, my task force successfully engaged and repelled a small force of Antaran vessels. In doing so, heavy losses were incurred, against only five vessels of approximately dropship size that we believed to be scouts. All data gathered during this encountered has been sent to the relevant commands and facilities. I intend to proceed with dropping defense platforms and transports in system before withdrawing Eschatologist into interstellar space, where it should be less easy to find. My ship and it's staff will still do our best to accommodate any requests to use our facilities and resources that may be made. This especially applies to any psi-related needs, as our psionics vessels are scheduled to arrive shortly. Meanwhile, my FTL-capable ships will then begin patrols of both the system and surrounding space while we attempt to locate the origin of the Antaran craft. Further updates will follow once a more final plan is in place.

On the virtual level where the crew did most of their actual interaction with the ship's AI there was a moment of panic. But only a moment.

'Main sensor target's mass has changed.'

'Mass has wha...'

'Likely deployment of mines or missiles. Ignoring.'

'Hey - wait a minute! You can't just igno...'

'Probable deployment location has already been passed due to current speed of this spacecraft. Ignoring.'

Indeed the White Nile had already passed the location where the mines had been deployed. There was some math involved on the size of the targetting cone used by the scout, the manuvers used by the White Nile to enlarge that targetting cone, the distortions of local space caused by real-space use of a space-warp drive, but it all came down to too much space and not enough mines.

'Target spacecraft may have achieved maximum speed or is out of fuel. Tactical possibilities also exist.'

'Ok - move to match speed and increase evasive manuvers to maximize targetting. Course projection?'

A map of local space along with the course of the Antaran scout appeared. It was more or less a straight line with the course of the White Nile being a curved line that was now parallel to the course of the scout. A faded line appeared along the projected course.

'Anything out there other than our new friend?'

'No known interstellar objects. Navigation shows gravitational stable inter-star point lies along this course.'

'Keep going then - let's see where they are running off to.'

----

Debris from the various explosions was already dispersing into titanic egg-shaped clouds that would eventually spread out so far that there would be little chance of finding it. The ships would have to act quickly in order to get as much as possible. Gravitic cannon were engaged and deployed like interstellar drain pipes - massive gravity wells sucking debris into the center where it could be collected once the cannon were disengaged.

The SDF Columbia, as the second most senior ship present, was now in charge of coordinating the SDF search efforts between it's sister ships and the other allied ships present. There was already a discussion between the scientists aboard and those elsewhere in the flotilla as to what the various parties were after.

"Of particular interest to us are the drives used by the Antaran ships. Early datamining has found some matches between their drives and other drive systems we've encountered. Any drive debris located could give us enough insight to develop a broad or narrow counter."

"Of course, Sire. I'll have exact coordinates sent to you immediately. Karamanlis out." She settled back into her chair as she ended the communication, unable to help being slightly the Sakkrans didn't already have this information on file.

At the Prime Minister's orders, exact coordinates in space and time were transmitted to the Sakkrans over a secure channel just minutes later. That taklen care of, word was sent to Danaan Space Command to make discrete arrangements to transfer the Prime Minister and some of her officials to the Lunar surface in short order.

Seerak pinged Gorrm on his mobile. "My liege, the situation around system's rim has stabilized. I have recovery teams comginh the area for debris."

"Very good, Director. I'll be going out-system to hold conference on this Anataran business with some of our allies." The mobile shut off, and Gorrm headed for the boarding-ramp of Tiamat. His guard detail followed him to his quarters, where he set up his room and checked everything over. "Hello, old friend. How are we this cycle?"

The voice came from all about him at the same time as the ship's avatar appeared. It was a swamp newt, fully grown in red and yellow scalation. "Good cycle, Emperor. I'm doing well. At least, as well as can be expected." The mouth didn't seem to move, but the tongue kept lashing in and out in a mimicry of tasting the air. "All this recent business has me a bit concerned. I've managed to wrangle some of my old students into guard detail as escorts. I've got the coords for where we're going."

"Good news, then. Good news. Whenever you're ready, we can get underway. I'm going to rest a bit. This whole thing is triring me." Gorrm heads for the heatchamber i the room, and curls up on an over-sized pillow while the chamber closes and seals about him. The ship's avatar seems to stare a moment, circles the room, and then lays out as well, the image fading out.

After a time, the Tiamat (http://www.5amfunnies.com/sakkra/space/commandshipB.JPG) cast off, followed by its escort of two warships (http://www.5amfunnies.com/sakkra/space/warshipform.JPG) and a warcarrier (http://www.5amfunnies.com/sakkra/space/warcarrierform.JPG). The system's edge is reached, and the group seems to fade into nothingness as they enter sub-space.

Fleetspace

"Congratulations on a successful strategy, Farentino," the Chinese man with the jet-black and mirror-smooth sunglasses says from behind folded hands. "While the losses to the Cetagandan capital ship group are not entirely acceptable, I understand the political situation you were operating under."

"Thank you, sir." Farentino fidgets slightly at his green-lit seat. Who would think they could make chairs uncomfortable in cyberspace? "Our Combined Services forces in the area have suffered no losses and, additionally, we have reason to believe that the enemy also got no operational intelligence on them."

"I agree with that assessment. It puts us in the position to analyze TacWANCC's suggested maneuvers and reassess them before actually joining battle." The CINCTYCS slightly tilts his head towards the blonde-haired blue-tinted Blair. "What has Central Computing come up with from the Cetagandans' data?"

"The Antarans' drive is simple in operation, sir; it is basically a miniaturized tesseract drive with a much higher minimum-time refire rate but with a reduced range as per our theoretical scalings. The warships and their missiles used the same type of system; apparently the loss in FTLi effectiveness was due to the Antarans being able to match the frequency of their jumps to the frequency of the FTLi system."

"So a constantly operational FTLi system should stop them?" Pandousco taps one finger idly on the red-lit portion of the table that doesn't technically exist. "That could work with our previous strategy."

"I hate to sound like a worrywart," Farentino says with a slight frown, "but if we use our drive-inherent FTLi constantly then that will prevent us from jumping or going high-distort."

"Given our currently posited strategy, that should not be a concern." Blair shrugs. "We can't attack under any of those two conditions. It's simple: when we're on the hit, we activate the FTLi. Drop it before fading and run the switchoff through the shipmind to minimize lag time."

"Operationally, I still don't like the choice between imperfect protection and the inability to maneuver." Farentino frowns some more. "Given that their scoutships mounted light naval-scale particle cannon and shipkiller HDMs, I'm not really looking forward to seeing their ships of the line."

"Said scoutships still don't have the firepower of a capkiller Loki or Sleipnir," Pandousco says, thinking in time with the beat his fingers drum out. "In the long run, we should probably leave their lighter combatants to Loki squadrons--the reason the Cetagandan DropShips weren't a challenge was because their anti-naval arsenal is decidedly... limited. They're also better armored than a Loki, so we know it's not even really worth bothering making it a stand-up fight.

"That the Antarans have what are essentially guided HDMs is... annoying, but using Blair's idea they just become high-kinetics. That's managable."

"What is most important," the white-lit commander-in-chief adds, "is that we continue placing our strengths against their weaknesses. They're not invulnerable, as the Cetagandans have shown at high cost." He pauses momentarily, bowing his head in thought, the white counter in front of him reflecting brilliantly off of his sunglasses for a moment. "Farentino, direct the Triumvirate forces to adopt TacWANCC's hit-and-fade tactics as best they can."

"Yes, sir." Farentino thinks for an instant as something comes to mind, then continues. "The Sunsetti are currently in command of recovery operations. Shall I direct them to coordinate with TechWANCC and Camp R?"

"Yes. Inform them that the full resources of Camp Restricted are at their disposal." Another pause. "Blair, you will expedite this."

The Englishman nods. "Yes, sir."

"I believe that is all for now, gentlemen. Dismissed." The CINCTYCS fades from the dark room, his white-lit place at the table disappearing as he does. Blair and his blue section follow suit, along with the other Sky Marshals, until only Pandousco and Farentino are left.

"So," the Greek man offers with a commisserating smile, "how are you holding up?"

Raphael sighs, tossing his green wheel cap onto the table and folding his hands behind his head, stretching slightly. "Not all too badly, I suppose. Just wish we could've done more in the engagement... not worth it."

"The history books will call it a marginal victory. Still... as cold and mechanical as it makes Blair and The Boss seem..." Pandousco shrugs slightly. "They're right. If you thought our job as regional commanders can be abstract..." He shakes his head.

"What is up with Blair, anyway?"

"He's a beancounter, really. Technically he's in charge of Saturn Theatre, of course, but mostly his attitude makes him a better administrator than a warfighter. He's also an asshole and has been one since before Iraqstan, which is why he pretends he's The Boss' right hand."

Farentino sighs. "One would think that we'd grow out of these playground mentalities..."

"We're human." Gregor shrugs again. "There's a reason why you're at the AntiSpinward, even if you are the FNG." The red-lit man smirks. "The scatter idea was a good one, especially in that it doesn't match what people think of us--so we didn't show to the fight for once; we're still at full strength and wiser for it. Keep using your head and fighting by components instead of fleets. It's too early to get overworried quite yet."

The Dominioner chuckles, glancing oddly at his friend. "Honestly. How do you keep calm, even in private?"

"Psychological abberation," Pandousco says matter-of-factly. "Just be sure to keep your misgivings to your memoirs. We're the strong and mighty bulwarks of the Ticks, after all."

"I'll keep that in mind. Anyway, I've a war to fight, you slacker."

"Don't make me come over there."

Farentino grins wryly. "I just hope you don't have to. Out." And disappears.

FleetSpace

"So. That could have gone much better," remarks Admiral Lepescu dryly as he addresses his staff and ship captains at a planning session. "Obviously, the captains involved can't be blamed for the losses of their ships. None of us expected the enemy to manage to penetrate our FTLi so effectively. Any immediate suggestions on tactics until Research Division comes back with adaptations?"

"Increased random-walk whenever using the displacers, certainly. It would be a bad move to abandon their use entirely, seeing as they were reasonably effective," says Heracles. “We definitely need to change the loadout on the riders, as well.”

Commander Jasmine O'Connor, Eschatologist's CAG, spreads her hands. “We only had limited intelligence to go on. We weren't expecting capital-grade particle weapons, and the skirmishers were prepped primarily for what the initial contact looked like – something in the range of a dropship or very light corvette. My suggestion is that our riders be fitted with high-power weapons pods and that they divert energy from shields to thrusters. There's no way we can fit in more powerful mirror fields and Langston projectors without loosing even more firepower. Better to avoid being hit and do as much damage as possible with any hits we score.”

“Having analyzed the Antaran anti-fighter measures, we have come up with several possible suggestions,” says the carrier Edgar Rice Burroughs. “We have two main directions of research. The Antaran craft were surrounded by some sort of charged-particle field. It proved effective at damaging both drones and missiles. However, we did discover several possible weaknesses. We believe it possible to develop protection against the effects of this field using protective EM fields. We believe that a strategy of massed missile fire, coupled with sacrificial dummies designed to draw as much power from the 'lightning field' is also viable, and easier to immediately implement.”

Commander Alejandro Lousteau of LBU Mendoza, continues for the ships of the line. “Eraser fire seemed completely ineffective. However, gravitics did prove useful close in. We believe that at long range, using the GEM batteries in linegun mode to fire kinetics and particle beams should work as an effective replacement for eraser mode fire. Further, we hope that with proper coordination with fighter groups long-range displacer usage is possible, if not to directly deliver munitions, then to deliver swarm missiles near the targets.”

“Hmm. Good. I want implementation plans for my review as soon as possible.” The admiral skims down. “Next. Evacuation plans. Commander Scatfell?”

“At the moment, my team is pursuing two primary methods,” replies Scatfell, one of ship's logistics officer. “First, we are moving a large number of old JumpShips and newer superlifters into position. They can simply pick up non-FTL vessels and even small habitats and jump them clear of the combat zone. An added benefit to this is, obviously, that on the inbound run they can bring in supplies and defense equipment. We're looking into the design of some simple evacuation containers to supplement this plan. They consist of a low grade surface to orbit and insystem thruster assembly, plus long-term life support. They drop down on a community, scoop them up, return to orbit and are jumped clear. This has the added benefit of keep communities together, increasing social stability”

“That's a good idea,” remarks the captain of the medium carrier Battle of Stalingrad. “If I remember anything from the Um Lizaa extraction, it's that the less small craft flying at a given moment, the better.”

“Precisely our intention,” replies Scatfell, nodding. “Our second vector is our handy systems vehicle. Eschatologist itself is capable of holding approximately one million people indefinitely – significantly more if we're willing to compromise life support sustainability. Obviously, that's not a good idea in case we need it to become more permanent. Thus, we're preparing to mass-produce a large number of stasis pods. If we start getting near the borderline, we start sticking non-essential personal into non-eating, non-breathing temporal storage. With independent power supplies, it won't even tax the ship's systems.”

“Won't evacuation to the ship be difficult, if we're forced to stay outsystem?” queries the admiral.

“We don't think so, no. We can use small jump craft to cover the distance with relative ease, rather than have them waste time ferrying small groups to more distant points. If we can come in system, we believe that we could use stepping discs for mass transit from surface to ship and quickly reach capacity.”

“Interesting. Work with the other governments to see what they have available. Next up, munitions supply...”

---

{Secure Comms}
x SCmdr. Scatfell (Logistics: MSV Eschatologist)
o Sslaa System Governments
re: Logistics and Evacuation Plans}

Given the current threat to the Sslaa system, it appears likely that it may become necessary to evacuate large portions of the system's civilian population to safer territory, especially for the less well-protected colonies. As such, I have been tasked with coordinating with local governments to lay down the groundwork for such an eventuality. I would suggest that some sort of committee or other group be formed in order to best coordinate the transport abilities of our nations in a coherent manner. We may also need to consider overall logistics for what may become a drawn-out siege of the system.

Subcommander Neil Scatfell
Logistics, MSV Eschatologist, Sslaa Expeditionary Force
Cetagandan Space Service

The distinctive curvedly blocky hull of a Beagle-class research cruiser (http://www.weirdozone.com/projects/nationstates/ships/beagle-refit.jpg) either zips into commonly-accepted reality from infinity in every possible direction or grows from an infinitesimal point to its normal size, depending how one wants to look at it. In her command room, nestled deep in the forward superstructure, Captain Nonye Noromele stifles a sigh. I don't know what to think. I don't want to go to a warzone, but one must admit that this is more interesting than sitting around while the biology department happily catalogued fauna on This Wasn't In The Brochure.

The Galaxy Exploration Command is an interesting beast, for two major reasons. One, its budget--solely intended for exploration duty--is wholly dwarfed by the greater Combined Services budget and yet it is still the best equipped centralized exploration service available behind the Sunsetti and the Cetagandans (and even then the Beagles, essentially flying research universities, have advantages over Sunsetti explorers). Two, most of the actual exploration is done by TYCS forces on theatre patrol or by the devil-may-care ship-and-a-prayer crews of Triumvirate Interstellar Trading. Ever since that incident with the colliding stars, Beagles are never sent anywhere that hasn't been initially charted by Endeavour-class GEC or Challenger-class Interstel scoutships.

In other words, it doesn't really live up to the recruitment posters... but then again, what ever did?

"Keith," Nnoromele says, folding her dark brown hands across her lap, "send a missive to Sky Marshal... whoisit... nevermind, report in to the local TYCS theatre HQ and let the warsies know we've arrived as directed by Titan."

"Aye, ma'am," Lieutenant Keith Richter, communications officer of Research Cruiser Beagle, replies as he starts typing up a response at his console. Text-only will do; no need to go to the trouble of voice or visual or holo comms... besides, by how the Captain's talking, he knows he'll be asked to do something else in short order.

"Thank you, Keith. Oh, and open a channel to the Sunsetti in charge of salvage operations. Columbia should be the one in charge."

"Aye aye." Leaving one hand to type nearly as quickly as his other two (a source of much merriment among his comm staff due to the potential for cheap 'lots of practice' jokes), Richter taps a few keys on the touchscreen portion of his console, looks up Columbia's transponder and designated carrier, and pings them with a request for AV communications before flipping the record-and-transmit bus switch with a flick of a finger and an intentionally audible click.

Intentionally audible because that's the captain's cue. "This is Captain Noromele..."--she pauses for an instant to remember that it's a warzone and therefore military comm protocol is in effect--"TYRS-RCR Beagle Actual calling SDF Columbia Actual. You needed a portable university?"

* - * - *

Sky Marshal Farentino leans back in his chair aboard Supercarrier Osprey, gently rubbing his temples in an acupressure massage Sky Marshal Dieu-Hien once recommended. The skullcap certainly prevented the need for... 'augmentation' as the crazy Titanian spacers so euphemistically put it, but overuse by someone not conditioned to the tech (or is that overtech) tends to lead to something akin to eye strain in the same way that the controlled demolition of a skyscraper is akin to a house of cards falling over. After a few moments, he realizes the bridge officer on duty is looking at him expectantly, and after quickly suppressing a sigh he shifts one hand enough to get a clearer view of the watch officer. "Yes?"

"Sir, the trekkies have arrived."

"Che cosa?" Raphael mutters mildly. "I thought the Sunsetti were already here--"

"No, sir, the GEC ship Beagle. They are reporting to the Sunsetti now." The Officer of the Watch bows with a quiet apology; sometimes slang has a tendency to mix oddly.

"Oh, yes, them. Very good. Keep me informed if anything else happens."

"Of course, sir."

Farentino closes his eyes and grumbles quietly. Damned spacers and their needlessly anachronistic cultural reference slang.

The dome city of Selinia filled the forty square mile crater on the Lunar service. Through the semi-transparent surface of the dome, incoming ships could see the lights coming up from the city below. Of course, it was not simply an open city beneath the dome. Such a set up would have created grave danger were the dome ever breached. Instead, the city consisted of a complex network of interconnected modular buildings, alien to the usual norms of human cultures but functional.

The spaceport was a few hundred yards from the edge of the crater, connected by a sub-Lunar rail. Two Danaan combat shuttles flew up to meet the Sakkrans as the approached Luna. "Attention Sakkran vessels, this is the Danaan Space Command. Please prepare to be joined by escort."

The other ships were only with them briefly before the outer door on one of the space dock hangars opened for the incoming vessels. "Sakkran vessels, you are now cleared for landing."

The corvettes makie their net-run, scanning and filtering through their organic sail-like structures whatever comes across them. One picks up the dud Antaran torpedoe, and resumes formation while some of the crew aboard it give it a look-over.

"So what do you think?"
"The brain-banks are going to want to reverse engineer it, most likely."
"I'm not poking in that thing!"
"Then stasis-wrap it and pack it up. Be careful about it; I don't want it suddenly becoming active again."
"Will do." The one crewman waves his arm to one of the techs, who arrives shortly bearing a back-pack like device. Foamy cushioning substances jet out of a nozzle, coating the torpedoe until it's fully covered, then a clear substance like a gel covers the foam and solidifies.

"Alright, pack that into a mag-lev crate and let's get back."

The corvette wings turn and fold their sails, heading back to Sslaa's inner system, while several duos of capships begin flanking the system's rim, 'eyeballing' the area cautiously.

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

The Tiamat takes on a holding pattern with the escorts, while a reptavian-class drop-ship is prepared. "Acknowledged. Emperor Gorrm will dock via shuttle craft. We'll keep a watch out here." The shuttle is launched from the cap-ship's bell and vectors in to the docking berths.

Gorrm steps out of the craft after all final checks are done, and bows slightly to the greeting party.

Various details of information were transferred along infinite paths- to Joint Analysis Division in Halifax, to Sakashima Military Collegiate Academy, to the Starways Corporation of Chennai, to all of the academies and government institutions and corporations that coalesced during wartime and peacetime to help the entity known as Tiburon stay among the top in terms of military and diplomatic capabilities. Of course, in this particular instance, military capabilities would be maximized.

Selected excerpts from the Preliminary Report of the Military Analysis Community

TOP SECRET- ECHELON
[To: POTUSF et. al.; SecDef et. al.]
[From: C. Ivanilov, Joint Analysis Division, DOD]
[Subj.: Preliminary Report of the Military Analysis Community

[...] Enemy ships shown to use Jump Nodes with reduced range and increased repower. MAC believes that use of Directional Faster-Than-Light Transport Inhibitors (DFTLi)s would be ideal for anti-Antaran combat. [...] Antaran scoutships seen using standard particle cannons and high-den missiles, standard ships believed to contain more of such weapons. [...] Enemy forces shown to have standard vulnerability to boson weapons (graviton weapons as used by the Cetagandans) and plasma weapons (as used by the Cetagandans). Enemy forces were protected by limited-range CP shielding that prevented photonic weapons at a certain distance; heavy sustained kinetic weaponry should prove useful for breaching CP shield. Enemy forces believed to have subpar resistance against GHDC and GAPA, to be used once CP shield drops. [...] As heavy resistance is expected, MAC advises use of Remote Force swarms with extremely strong Aerospace Force backdrop. MAC expects coordination with allies but advises preparation for unilateral warfare against enemy forces in case of such an engagement. [...]

The break in Antaran formation was noted with some surprise- the second step in the scout-retreat-force pattern characteristic of their armed forces. Major al-Bikkri intoned the instructions to the rest of D Squadron in the 12th Brigade, 152th Remote Services. "All right. A, B, and C platoons to escort the 'Gandans. D and E, make a wide sweep of the system before doing the same." Meanwhile, a large force consisting of seven seperate Aerospace Forces (the equivalents of divisions in the USF Army) prepared in Kuiper for launch into Sslaa.

[Sent Via E-Net]
[To: Sky Marshal Farentino, TYCS]
[From: Major General E. López, TASF]
[Subject: Antaran Coordination]
[Classification: TOP SECRET- EASOT]

Sky Marshal Farentino,

As part of the allied effort against the Antaran force, the United Solaris Federation is preparing seven Aerospace Forces for battle. Requesting a rendezvous with the TYCS fleet after our force has jumped to Sslaa.

Sincerely, and for an allied victory,
Major General Emilio López,
Tiburon Aerospace Force,
The United Solaris Federation of Tiburon

OOC: The Tiburonese Major General is a three-star general, while a Lieutenant General is a two-star general.

27 Light Years From Sslaa

The Antaran Scout noted the manoeuvring of the White Nile with curiosity. Despite the mauling the scout group had inflicted on the alien capital ships in the Sslaa system, this vessel insisted on pursuit. This situation left the pilot with something of a dilemma, to remain on course or break off and engage. However as the interstellar LaGrange point approached, that decision became redundant…

Emitting no detectable signature, the light second wide Black Globe (http://www.ciai-s.net/black-holes.jpg) hung motionless in space, sucking in the surrounding light like the maw of some aquatic leviathan. Occupying tactical positions in synchronous orbit around the globe were five Antaran capital ships. (http://hypernova.free.fr/images/spaceships/Minbari.jpg)

The hub of each capital ship was approximately two kilometres in length by one kilometres wide, with the three primary projections adding an additional kilometre each. As the incoming vessels approached, the nearest capital ship broke from orbit and screamed towards the White Nile, launching several waves of Heavy Fighters (http://www.kitsune.addr.com/SF-Conversions/Rifts-B5-Ships/Minbari_Fighter.jpg) as it did so.

The Black Globe itself emitted a massive combined sub-space and gravitational distortion field. The area of effect of this being several light minutes, and the purpose being FTL interdiction and subspace communication dampening. The Antaran capital ship and escorts were, of course, perfectly synchronised with the distortion field, and continued their skip towards the White Nile.

Once in effective range the Antaran Battleship would begin to fire Heavy Particle Cannons and Heavy Skip-Missile salvos at the alien vessel. To any observer wishing to draw comparisons, the particle cannon fire would be approximately fifty times the potency of the scout variant. As before the missiles would be launched in clusters of fifty, but were three times larger with a singularity blast radius of 10-12 meters.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sslaa System Debris Field

As the vessels in system began the clean up operation, the debris of the eliminated Antaran Scout vessels would be detected. The remains of these vessels would include distressed Xentronium fragments and a number of trace organic compounds, including both Antaran and Elerian DNA…

The skip-missiles that had been successfully interdicted were completely inert. The artificial wormholes that powered them had been shut down and therefore emitted no gravitic signature at all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To All: Please note that I will not be able to post after Wednesday 21st December for around 2-3 weeks (as I'm emigrating to Australia!!) I shall return a couple of weeks into the New year, but until then I've asked Sakkra to keep my side of the story going! See you all very soon!!

"What we could use is a mobile forensic reconstruction facility Captain Nnoromele. Neither the Columbia or the recovery cruisers are designed for that kind of effort and the more data we can get together in one place the better."

Captain Granger of the Columbia was trying to carry on three conversations at once and wasn't being very successful. One of the scientists
on the Lewis was excitedly talking about some sensor data that he wanted to re-check with absolutely every ship in the system and she was trying to find out what the Sakkrans were going to do with that lovely missile they had found.

"...why do you want to re-check the mass sensor data for the entire fleet? Doesn't that seem a little redundant as you have it sitting right there?"

"But the recorded data seems to indicate that their mass didn't change from..."

"I could also use a padded cell to dump several scientists into. Failing that a room full of grad students."

"...either their power generation is extremely efficient, more efficient than a CIDES unit, or they are using some kind of remote..."

"Tell you what - let's have a face to face. Get the heads of the various science and research components present together aboard the Beagle so we can figure out how we want to share things out."

----

The White Nile was a veteran explorer. Over the decades it had mapped, cataloged, and otherwise seen a lot of stellar phenomenon of both an explained and unexplained nature. Before it dissolved into a sheet of energy that raced towards the rapidly approaching darkness as a photon 'ghost' there had been a very rapid conversation...

'Stellar occlusion detected! Singularity warning!'

"Admiral! Either we have a black hole ahead of us or something is seriously wrong with the sensors!"

Which wasn't really possible - Venture-Class ships used a binary sensor array system to automatically correct for errors in one of the arrays. The likelyhood of both halves of the primary array going out were astronomical. Add the sub-arrays used for specific tasks and the odds were even worse.

"Remember how I asked to keep an eye out for traps?"

"Aye Admiral..."

"This smells like one."

Data streamed into the navigator's head and his hands moved to controls nearly automatically.

"Additional mass signatures detected! Multiple lar..."

There were few times in which Villanova took direct command of his ship, but he did want it to remain his ship and so this was one of them. A single button was all it took and the White Nile's tesseract drive kicked in, leaving behind nothing more than a photon ghost rushing onward.

Prime Minister Karamanlis and a small cluster of advisors stepped forward to greet the Sakkran Emperor. Karamanlis was anxiously adjusting the almost embarassingly tight suit of space-age fabrics that she had donned for her very first trip off the Earth's surface. Her face was slightly flushed and she walked as though she were faintly sick, struggling to adjust her steps and her body to the Moon's different gravity. SOmehow, she managed to bow. "Thank you for coming, Your Majesty. I know that it was hard for you to spare time from your schedule in the present dire circumstances."

She gestured to the other members of her party. "Please let me introduce Dr. Daind Landeck, one of my experts on xenobiology; Captain Alois Gygax, one of my best officers from Danaan Space Command; Lieutenant Beat Fah, one of my experts on security procedures; and Special Agent Flavian Mader from the Bureau of Paranormal Affairs. Ordinarily, we would have someone escort you to quarters befitting your station to settle in but, given the urgency of the situation, I believe we should move directly to the conference room."

Gorrm bowed to each person slightly as they were introduced, and nodded his head at the mention of the situation at hand. "The skirmish is complete at the Sslaa system for the time being, but your reccomendation would be the correct one." He motioned to one of his retinue, and an attache was handed to him.

"Time is of the essence, and cooperation among the peoples of the known systems is key to survival." A hand motion is made towards his guards, and several return to the shuttle, whilst one remains, following behind the Emperor. "Let us adjourn to the conference chamber, yes?"

Alyaheriel retired form the ‘combat information centre’ (titles varied, of course, depending on ship, and current terminology-vogue), to the observation deck at the top of the ship. Sipping a glass of a deep red and slightly alcoholic drink that was becoming mildly popular, a sugary product made from the oceans of an otherwise dead (though not unpromising in the grand scale), and of course, uninhabitable to humans and elves, world discovered some time ago by the continuously ongoing exploration efforts of the Menelmacari ship Elrandir.

The inland sea it came from was very rich in sugar-compounds and other minerals, but had yet to develop measurable life, which was in itself quite rare, but not suspicious. Of course, eventually, it was a given that true life would develop on that world, and then the drink would disappear from the market, in as little as a few centuries or so, some estimated. Thus the fermented and soft varieties of its deceptively ferric looking waters were being stored by many a connoisseur.

The flash of more extra-dimensional interdictors being launched was visible outside the window. Around half a light second from the planet was interdicted, meaning that one eighth of her initial goal had been achieved. With nothing else to do, Alyaheriel responded to the Cetagandan communiqué:

{Secure Comms}
x Ciryaturnëo (Commodore) Alyaheriel, MIDF commander, Sssla system
o SCmdr. Scatfell (Logistics: MSV Eschatologist)
re: Logistics and Evacuation Plans}

We are presently arranging for evacuation, should it become necessary, of the population here. The number of civilians here is low, as Sssla Six is essentially a resupply base for us in this region of the galaxy, and not home to a large civilian population. We will probably be able to lend assistance in the form of ships and evacuation resources to other nations and planets, though I suspect that it would be quickest for me to send a request to my superiors.

I shall, in the interim before the arrival of the main force of this fleet, task the logistics specialists available to liasing with you in this matter.

The Danaans led the Emperor and his delegation down a small set of stairs to a tube, not dissimilar from the sort of tube system one would expect to see in any major modern human city on Earth except for the fact that this one had been cleared of passengers and staffed with officers of the Royal Guard for the use of the Prime Minister and the Emperor.

After a ride of about ten minutes, the train pulled up to a metal platform on which several armed guards in Air Force uniforms were stationed. The platform was visibly monitored by several cameras. The only door off of the platform was a heavy titanium affair next to which were positioned an optical scanner, a console, and a palm scanner.

"Karamanlis, Minerva Irene Bakirdzis." the Prime Minister said as she disembarked and stepped towards the door.

"Voice scan confirmed." replied a computerized voice, one which went on to confirm her palmscan, her security code, and her retinal scan before unbolting the great door.

Karamanlis led the Sakkrans through into the center of what looked like a gigantic hangar bay. To either side lay about a dozen oval-shaped ships, ranging in length from 242 to 288 meters, 127 meters in breadth, and sixty meters in height. Technicians in Air Force uniform were working furiously on and around every last one of the large vessels while, further down, other technicians worked to keep several hundred fighter craft in good order. The sight would have been quite impressive if one were unaware that it represented the entirety of Danaan extraterrestrial military capability.

The Prime Minister, who had never been here before, paused at the entrance to take in the sight. "So this is the Space Command...."

"Yes, ma'am." answered Gygax as he led the way towards a tall stairway in the back of the hangar, which led to a small meeting room whose full windows on one side looked out over the ships below. A dozen chairs were ranged around the central table, some human normal and some specially prepared for the Sakkrans.

Karamanlis sat at one end of the table as Gormm was ushered to the other. "Well, Your Majesty, the situation does seem grim..."

Gorrm took his seat, and laid his attache upon the table before him with a nod to his usher. The case was flipped open and a holographic display popped forth. "Grim, yes. Hopeless, no. These Antarans have been beaten back before, although at great cost and using a device we wouldn't dream of unleashing now." A pair of solar systems zoomed in, and rotated slowly.

Using his claw on a pad, a pin of light popped up and highlighted some areas of the display. "These are the Sol system and the Sslaa system respectively. Our interests and allied interests are highlighted. Military resources are hown in red, scientific and research interests in blue, and resource interests in yellow." Multiple blips popped up, some colors overlapping. In the Sslaa system, the rim has a pale yellow ring around part of it.

"In this area have been placed warp-interdiction mines. These have shown to slow the Antarans down somewhat. Several dozen corvette wings and a battlefleet are present there while we mobilize and plan. Allied fleets are also present, and the combined effort has repelled a cursory investigation by Antaran scouts. They got no information they did not already have on the system there. I can only assume they will send a probing strike to Sol next to test the defenses here. ISN ships are enroute here that are not otherwise engaged with garrison duty at Sslaa or on supply routes between Sol and there."

Karamanlis nodded as she looked at the display, studying it carefully even though most of the space shown on the map had no real meaning for her. Gygax leaned forward. "Your Majesty, this device you would be unwilling to release now, do you still have it?"

"Our ships will be sent to join other allied vessels in guarding Sol." Karamanlis said thoughtfully. "However, it seems a rather paltry contribution. In many ways, this situation brings to the forefront a tactical problem in VERITAS which we've given some thought to before. Namely, a substantial portion of VERITAS military resources, including most Danaan and Lavenrunzian resources and all Knootian resources, are of such a nature that they can only easily be used upon the Terran service. In addition to the contribution of our limited space forces, it is our hope that in consultation with yourselves and other space powers in VERITAS, we might be able to determine a way to utilize these resources in action against extraterrestrial threats, a way which we would also share with the Knootians and Lavenrunzians."

Gorrm nodded his head in the negative. "The device was never ours to possess, Sirrah Gygax, as we had left the site of the ancient conflict before things looked their worst. We were nomadic then, and this gave us an advantage in relocating when called for." He pulled out a datachit from a housing in his arm. "This is the frequency for contacting the Ur-quan Kohr-ah. It is they who had the device, and they who would be capable of telling you of it, as well as their role on the ancient conflict." This was slid towards Gygax.

Karamanlis was once again the focus of the Emperor's attention. "No contribution can be considered paltry if it is given with all the honour and strength of its crews. But perhaps it would be best to have a conference with the Knootians and Lavenrunzians, and see how we can most efficiently combine our resources."

Karamanlis nodded slightly. "I am sure that given a way to help the Lavenrunzians will stand by their allies fearlessly and honorably." A slight frown marred her face for a monent as she considered something. "A conference with those two powers might well be worth while but I would not want to make Your Majesty waste a trip by simply post-poning discussion for such a meeting. What kind of help do you think you could best use from primarily planetary powers in the Sol system?"

"There are a number of possibilities." Gygax mentioned. "Perhaps ground troops might be transported in foreign ships? Perhaps our economic resources might be put to some use supporting the war effort? Perhaps the Menelmacari might be persuaded to take their stargate out of storage? That device, effectively used, is known to give surface based forces a better than fair chance against otherwise more technologically sophisticated foes."

Karamanlis nodded to the captain, looking to the Sakkrans to see if any of that seemed to appeal to them.

Gorrm nodded as Gygax listed off the possibilities. "First-General Gaarm would better be able to say what the most efficient deployment possibilities would be. I would indeed ask for the Menelmacari gates, but getting in touch with them involves so much red-tape that it could hinder efforts rather than help. But they should not be discounted in the least. If you're people can get in touch with them faster than I, it would be a boon indeed. Let us mobilize these efforts."

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

On the moon of Titan, on the Earth and in the Sslaa system, the War Shaman had convened and were met by the Crafters of the Order. Burrowers would carve glyphs and runes into the armor and weapons bore by the Shaman, while the Grass-Walkers would tattoo the Shaman themselves while chanting and invoking the Pantheon all the while. The tattoos would give a faint glow for a time, and then fade, looking for all intents like a normal decorative art.

The process was long, as each Shaman and his or her equipment would be done one at a time. They then congregated in groups of thirty, waiting.

Karamanlis tilted her head slightly with a small frown. "It is often very hard to get the attention of the Menelmacari but I think that our ambassador in Vinyatirion can manage the task within a week or so. What, however, would Your Majesty wish to see done in the meantime?"

As she spoke, they could hear the noise outside the meeting room as the great hangar bay opened. Karamanlis turned slightly in her swivel chair to look out the windows. The launch was beginning. The first of the ships, one of the largest, marked Coyote was lifting off the ground, moving slowly but steadily towards the opening, very careful while inside the hangar.

Dr. Landeck turned to the Emperor, looking curious. "The information that you've made available to us contains a great deal about Antaran technology, tactics, and the like. However, I cannot help but be curious as to what kind of information exists about the Antarans as a biological species. If their technology is as powerful as you say, there might be a way to get past it at the beings within, as vulnerable as any finite creatures."

OOC: *Cringes at making an entirely OOC post* Alas, that particular device is not presently operable. Anyone attempting to dial into it would end up in Giltheran {presently dead, but this is because of an inability to post on the forums} or more precisely, a smear on the barrier over that stargate, as the Giltherani have a working dial home device connected, which gives it preceedence over Menelmacar's gate in the dial-in process. Also, it'd be very hard to get two working in the same system (the stargate RPG gives an absurdly generous figure of the closest they can be while operating as 1 AU, it's more likely anything up to a parsec, but I use that figure for Lord Atum, so...

Far better would be the necrontyr version, which operate with no such targeting problem in a multi-planet system, and which Menelmacar has far greater access to - factories of them, in fact. And Alyaheriel could get them in, well, half an hour tops.

Gorrm closes his eyes in thought a moment. His fingers steeple as his tail seems to flex and twitch a bit at the tip. "What would I like to see done? Hrrrmmm....very difficult to project. Mobolization and organizaion of resources and personnel is always a good start. The Anatarans would likely be taking the time to analyze the data they've collected; we should do the same while making defensive preparations."

His eyes open again, swiveling towards the display. "The people and regional governments have been asked about evacuation proceedings near the possible front of future conflicts. The unanimous decision has been the evacuation is not a factor for our people. They will stand where they are, or face defeat. Better not to give these intruders a foothold to launch further attacks from." A slow sigh escapes his nostrils at this point. "As such, the First-General and First-Admiral have ordered a bolstering of the ranks at Sslaa. Task Forces and Patrol Fleets are being reorganized and deployed, but we do show a lack of bulk transport for the Armor Cavalry."

"As for information on the Antarans themselves, we know little. Their ships tend to self-destruct when incapacitated, making recovery of living Anatarans ..... most unlikely. I have my Chief Engineer attempting to find a solution to that at this moment. But we will have to go with the assumption that they are as prone to anything any other species is."

After a short nap, the next thing on Farentino's plate is to respond to an ally interested in some action.
--<Transmission Type: Secure Military Communication>--
-<Sender: SKYMSL Farentino, CO GASCF, TYCS>-
-<Destination: MG Emilio López, TASF>-
--<Subject: Re: Antaran Coordination>--

General López,

I recommend not jumping into Sslaa at this time. TYCS Central Computing and the Strategic Department of the War Analysis Concepts College put the probability of the volume inside the Sslaa heliopause being unsecure for strategic ship movement at a very high order of probability.

For this reason I established a rally point approximately two lightyears from Sslaa, designated KILO. Coordinates are hacked to this transmission. Don't expect to see too many ships around; to prevent any sort of crippling strategic strike the AntiSpinward Colonial Fleet is currently scattered by components within immediate-response range of Sslaa.

Your assistance is appreciated.

Good hunting,

Sky Marshal Raphael Farentino
CO, Galactic AntiSpinward Colonial Fleet

--<End Transmission>--

* - * - *

In other news, aboard Beagle, Captain Nnoromele nods. "Certainly. We can keep the partitions between our hangar bays open. That should give us all plenty of volume to work with." She makes a quick gesture over to the hangar operations officer to get ready, then smirks slightly. "Beagle standing by for transfer operations. I'll keep this channel open for executive-level coordination. Beagle Actual out but standing by."

((OOC: We'll find out about that Necrontyr thing IC once we have people look into the Menelmacari gate.))

Karamanlis nodded a little. "You said that they preferred to infiltrate their enemies before striking. What means are currently known to identify Antarans?"

Gorrm looks a bit puzzled at first, with the scent of cumin wafting about for a short time. "Identifying Anatarans......Ah. Therein lies a problem. Due to their .... odd physical appearance. They have multiple arms and an oversized head covered in a light carapace. This would make espionage difficult for them, and so they 'comission' other races to do their espionage for them. Namely, the Darlok."

The report from Hulroo is brought up, detailing the encounter with the Darlok spy on kzer-Za. "They can mimic a race almost perfectly. But there is sometimes one thing amiss. In this case, smell wasn't accounted for, and my ministers picked up on it."

There's no need to respond to Sky Marshal Farentino- doing so would be superfluous, and both López and (presumably) Farentino know it. The best confirmation is the coordinates that the ships of the First Anti-Antaran Battle Fleet move towards. Two Equilibrium-class semidestroyers, along with numerous drone fighters and Mini-BRICs, enter KILO, while most of FAABF stations within immediate response/safety pocket distance. And waits.

Karamanlis nodded. "We shall have to increase the variety of the electronic and personal means used to check for such things then. It can be arranged easily enough to use all five normal senses as well as infrared, ultra-violet, and other special imaging equipment."

Two Equilibrium-class semidestroyers, along with numerous drone fighters and Mini-BRICs, enter KILO, while most of FAABF stations within immediate response/safety pocket distance. And waits.
"Incoming drive signatures, sir... not matching known Antaran FTL signatures. Seem to match Tiburonese ships."

Captain Mustafayev, commanding nods. "Comms, hostile challenge, tightbeam, from Quarab Actual."

The communications officer types in a quick message as the low-power comm lasers quickly acquire the Tiburonese ships. What Quarab has to say is rather simple when translated from Morse code:
UNKNOWN SHIPS, THIS IS QUARAB ACTUAL <STOP> IDENTIFY YOURSELVES IMMEDIATELY OR WE WILL OPEN FIRE <FULL STOP>
The Sixty-Eighth Medium Cruiser Component, represented by Medium Cruiser Quarab, Missile Frigate Messara, and Destroyers Sheksninskoye and Bergumermeer certainly aren't kidding, already at Event Condition One and, in the old analogy, cocked and locked. It's not so much a matter of offense as 'be prepared' being set out to the absolute extreme.

Such things are expected in time of war, after all. Captain Slovikje of the TSS Chillinji Point was chosen as flag commander of the small force, and it was the Chillinji Point that sent the confirmation.

TYCS QUARAB ACTUAL, THIS IS A TIBURONESE FORCE <STOP> REPEAT, THIS IS A TIBURONESE FORCE, PART OF FAABF-TASF, STARTING RENDEZVOUS WITH TYCS <FULL STOP>

Nothing out of the unexpected occurred, really. The Tiburonese ships continued, continued, continued, slowing down and spreading out at KILO, waiting for some sort of action to occur. Many people have a picture of war being a constant firefight, some sort of glorious constant struggle for your life in the face of an enemy. While this may be true for maybe one or two hours, most of the time, war means sitting and waiting- for orders, for enemy action, whatever.

"Very well. Thos emeasures in action should assist in preventing further incursions to a degree. Make sure communication between staff members and departments is current. If equipment or data goes missing with no reasonable explanation, you may have spies about." Gorrm eyeballs the people sitting at the table a moment.

"If there is no pressing business, I have many policies to oversee. I hope you understand."

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

An outgoing comm is fired out from Vubz to the crafts lying outsystem.



All allied crafts

We are making available for those that wish to take advantage of this, our stations to resupply, repair and re-crew your vessels. All crafts desiring this should file a short-form report to Vubz, and we will arrange to have your needs met as swiftly as possible.

Director Seerak

"Of course." Karamanlis said. "Thank you for coming, Your Majesty." She and her people rose and saw the Emperor back to his ship. After he left, she sat down for a moment to reflect upon the meeting, looking up at the great void between the stars. She frowned faintly. She could not think of anything else specific which should have been done but the meeting seemed shockingly short for the Emperor to have travelled so far for. Perhaps it would have been better to have arranged a video rather than a personal conference. Shaking her head, she shrugged that off as a very minor reflection on things already done and stood.

"Alright, people. Let's get to work. Send a message to the Knootians and the Menelmacari inviting them to a high level military meeting on Uinen. Have our military chiefs meet me there. Tell our ships to join other allied vessels on the perimeter of the solar system. Have our intelligence and security people get to work on using technology and some of the more unique members of our various agencies to use, as we discussed. Now, let's get going."

"Their codes clear with what TYCSHQ sent us over the encrypted, sir. Afraid we don't have any names, just hull numbers."

Mustafayev nods a quick acknowledgement to his comm officer's confirmation of the veracity of the Tiburonese signal. "Right. FleetCom, set the component to Alert Condition Two. Weapons, stand down from hostile posture. Comm, set up a secure voice line."

A chorus of "Acting, sir" from the officers prelude their turning to their tasks; sensors go back to passivity and turrets return to neutral positions, rather than tracking far-off friendlies. The communications officer is the first to report readiness; the captain acknowledges with a nod of the head and waits for the audible click of the transmit switch before continuing.

"Tiburonese commander, Quarab Actual. I've been authorized by the Sky Marshal to provide access to our tacnets. Please forward the codes hacked to this signal to your flag via secure lines; your headquarters can use it to synchronize your systems to use our high-bandwidth local systems and talk to the Sky Marshal directly for coordination and rendezvous." Ultra-secure quantum entanglement systems cannot talk from one system to another; this is just the most secure way to do it now. The next step is for the crew being hailed to hand off the codes to their regional commander, who can then set up their ships to talk freely with whatever TYCS ships they have line of sight to. Additionally, the regional commander will have clearance to talk to the fleet-level tacnet and arrange a meeting with Farentino and his flag component. Risky, having all the high command together even for a short period, but necessary given the nature of secure communications.

Operational security may be the key to airpower, but it can also be a right bitch at times.

{Secure Comms}
x Cetaganda Space Service Transport Command
o Sslaa Traffic Control and Allied Forces

General Notice: As of 6/14/1607 ICE {date conversion link} CSS-TC convoys will begin arriving in Sslaa. Current short-term and preliminary long-term schedules will shortly be posted to the general TacNet for those with appropriate need-to-know status.

CPO Antonio Blanchard
Senior Comms Minion, CSS-TC
}

Two convoys arrive within the arrival windows a day after the latest incursion. One consists of a group JumpShips (http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~chigbee/Cetaganda/sslaa/jumpships1.JPG) of various sizes and ages, arriving directly into the inner system on the edge of Sslaa V's FTLi zone. Another, comprised of far more ships (http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~chigbee/Cetaganda/sslaa/convoy1.JPG) that use the Black Knight drive and other (cheaper) FTL drives than can not directly jump, arrives at the edge of the system. Both are escorted by packs of outdated cruisers and a larger command vessel. While the warships are admittedly far less capable than their modern counterparts, especially in self-sufficiency and maneuverability, they are still formidable vessels thanks to a constant upgrade program and 'plug-and-play' systems that had been designed with easy replacement in mind. The ships are filled with weapons, sensor pods, spare parts, medical supplies, and the sundry other things that might be needed to bolster the system's defenses and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Eschatologist has set it's massive manufactory complex in motion building escape vehicles and munitions. The voracious resource demands of this are met by dropping into a random system and dragging a large asteroid into a mainbay before heading back out to loiter in interstellar space.

As Gorrm's flagship removed itself from orbit around the Moon, he mused to himself some of the questions brought forth. There are indeed those with not as heavy a fleet presence in the known systems that want to aid in repelling the Antaran menace. But how? He stalked back to his chambers aboard Tiamat in silence, offering only a nod here and there to crewmen and Handlers along the way.

Entering his chamber, he sat upon what appeared to be a day bed. Tiamat's avatar popped in shortly after. 'The Captain desires to know your next appearance." The reptilian avatar sat flat on its belly, seemingly sunning itself while leveling an eye on the Emperor.

"Hrrrmmmm......" Gorrm scratched his leathery tendrils on his chin; a habit picked up from observing the bearded acquaintances in the Triumvirate. After a moment, he stood, and paced over to the refreshment repoditory, fetching a cold glass of tea. "Have the Captain take us to Titan. Inform the Traffic Control officers there of our arrival, and that I might require a tele-conference of Triumvirate Department Heads. And inform your Handlers to alert the FleetHeads that I want an audience with them. The Sakkrans and the Ships there need to know what the latest is, and what we're going to do ."