NationStates Jolt Archive

In a small backwater system of a backwater sector about 40,000 light years from Earth, a heated battle is locked on the large planet, Thalim IV. Vicious Fex (http://s4.invisionfree.com/Alliance_of_Aranamor/index.php?showtopic=16&view=findpost&p=203560) leap from wall to wall, cutting through the starport's defense garrison like a slick fang through warm, pink flesh. Lightly armed gnomes are no match for the Emperor's formerly trained killers. Mauled, half-eaten corpses of Gnome and Fex alike litter the starport hallways and landing pads. And massive Carnifex (http://s4.invisionfree.com/Alliance_of_Aranamor/index.php?showtopic=16&view=findpost&p=203560) guard the entrances cutting down any grey-skinned short-men they see.

The battle at the starport is not the fight for oppressed slaves' freedom or an invasion come to destroy the Holy Empire - in fact, this has nothing to do with the Fex politically, or the destruction of the Holy Empire. The orders to kill any gnomes on sight came, quite ironically, from a gnome.

This is the story of one gnome's quest for vengeance; vengeance for wrongs done to his ancestors on the world of Solomon orbiting the star of Spoot. Hundreds of years of peace and prosperous living ended abruptly when the Human overlords, claiming Solomon as their nation's capital, banished all gnomes from the world. Million's were killed - stepped on preferably - upon refusal to leave. Millions more were killed when they did not leave the planet quickly enough. Thus began the mass gnome exodus to the nearby Thalim system and the subsequent founding of the Holy Empire of Bandalok.

OOC: New Aranamor Alliance members may join pretty much whenever they want, but try to be creative. As for anyone else - read on, but please stay out. Bandalok Factbook - Includes ship stats (http://s4.invisionfree.com/Alliance_of_Aranamor/index.php?showtopic=16&view=findpost&p=28351)

Once the starport is secure, gnomish-suboids are ordered to fuel the grounded warships and launch them into orbit as soon as possible.

The captured rebel ships now include: 2 carriers, 1 siphon, 4 scarabs, 5 claws, 5 shells, 10 stingers - along with enough Fex to fill both carriers and provide full boarding parties for all ships; there is one Carnifex on each ship. However, the ships have not nearly enough munitions for an extended space battle.

[code:1:ce6878be32] GNN (Galactic News Network)
...and we have breaking news for you. A recent terrorist attack against the Holy Empire of Banalok has been reported. The attack on the Thalim IV Starport has left hundreds dead and with noone to point the finger at, the soverign government is all the more enraged...[/code:1:ce6878be32]

The plan was, for all intents and purposes, simple. Master Waff stood in the war-room of the renegade Siphon Dreadnaught and hovered over the operation plans created just weeks ago. “Simple”, he thought to himself, “We go in, take what we need, and move out toward Skeelzanian space”.

Master Waff is an interesting character. Once a hardened Fedaykin of the God Emperor, he lost favor with his god when his “simple” plot to incite a war between two massive nations failed horribly. Waff was recalled to Chusuk, discharged from the Fedaykin, and exiled to the metropolis hellhole of Thalim IV. In no way has Master Waff’s religious fanaticism waned over the years since his exile.

Two renegade Carriers docked at the orbital munitions depot, and quickly sent out troops to confiscate all needed munitions for the coming battle.

As the two Carriers rejoined the rest of the small fleet, Master Waff sent out the order to begin a FTL-Jump that would drop them in close orbit above Azuck II, a barren mining outpost near Solomon.
“Yes”, thought Master Waff, “This will certainly bring God’s favor back upon me…”

Skeelzanian Frontier, Spootonian Panhandle.

La Chienne cruised through space at a steady .4 LS. She was an old ship, one of the first Wyrm cruisers to come out of the yard nearly 50 years ago. Numerous asteroid impacts pitted her hull, and the windows were grimy with months of accumulated space crud. Captain Ypres hated her.

"The Bitch" was a fitting name for the flying death trap, whos long neglected engines were likely the blow them halfway to Sol any day. "Only three more weeks" Ypres told himself. "Three more weeks, and then we'll be home and I will no longer be a simple border guard." For that is what they were. To thinly armored and to slow for a frontline combat vessel, many of the Navy's 200 light cruisers had been relegated to patrol duty, if that hadn't already been scrapped. Ypres gazed lazily around the bridge, which hadn't seen any real activity in over a month. "Charles, you are now officer on watch, I'm retiring to my cabin for this cycle. Wake me if a sun explodes or something."

"Yes sir, see you in six-" at this moment the ships scanners decided to go mad.

"The hell- Intel, what's out there?" Probably a comet. Damn things were more plentiful than hydrogen atoms out here on the frontier.

"Unknown ships sir. They're in FTL and I can't get a good read on them, ship types or heading. Looks like tachyon signatures." The intelliegence officer silenty cursed the outdated sensors; it was a miracle they had picked up anything at all.

"Tachyon? Wha- only the gnomes use tachyon for interstellar travel. Comms! Send a transmission home, report several unidentified ships, possibly of Bandalok origin crossing the frontier." That was all he could do. Fleet regulations called for them to remain on station and continue monitoring the border. Ypres reluctantly decided against sleep this cycle. If this really was an invasion, he'd be damned if he was executed for sleeping through it.

Cruising smoothly through the vacum of space, the fleet is in a flurry of activity. Suboids are injecting hunger inducing chemicals into the Fex and riling them up a bit for the coming battle.

On the bridge of the lead Stinger Destroyer, the suboid captain, Scy, sits patienly in his comfortable chair-dog, watching old vids of the famous Twing Sisters. Scy's moment of relaxation is interrupted by the sudden comm. from the command dreadnaught.
[code:1:64185ed5ed]Lead Stinger, you are ordered to decelerate the ship to sublight speed and brace for impact.[/code:1:64185ed5ed]

Without hesitation, Scy stood up and replied, "Yes Master Waff".

Unfortunately for Scy, the light armoring of his Stinger Destroyer does not account for impact with ship sized objects in space when traveling near the speed of light.

And so, right on cue, the destroyer popped out of FTL-Jump just a few hundred Kilometers away and hit the patrolling Skeelzanian Ship dead center.

The effect of two ships colliding at near light speed is not a pleasent expirience for either party. In fact, it is catastrophic. La Chinne's sensors failed their crew one last time by failing to pick up the rogue destroyer. Upon impact, the destroyer's protruding bridge forced its way through the cruisers thin hull and succeded in rupturing the ship's aging and volatile reactor. In turn, this explosion ripped through the front of the Stinger and knocked out the magnetic field that kept her supply of Anti-matter torpedos from detonating. This promptly brought several tons of antimatter into contact with real matter, completely obliterating both ships from real space.

Skeelzanian Naval Command noted that one of their ships had blipped off the tracking board, most likely due to a burnt out bulb. Someone would have to go down to inventory.

Azuk II was needed as a stepping stone and forward command post for the planned full scale invasion of Solomon. Also this attack might provide more ships and supplies which might be better used for the purposes of the gnomish peoples.

A series of bright, white flashes of light appear as the small renegade fleet ended its FTL-Jump. Hopefully, before any more of a disturbance could be noticed, the ships engaged their cloaking devices and vanished; virtually invisible to all the most advanced Xanthal sensor technologies. And with that, the two Carrier transports descended toward the surface of Azuk II, while the deadly warships spread out to track vital orbiting stations and ships – the Siphon Dreadnaught moved to high orbit and established itself as a command post to monitor friendly and enemy radio chatter, and just generally make sure things go smoothly.

Azuk II Central Command

Azuk II was a nice place, if high-dose radiation was your thing. The barren, lifeless planet was known to cause low-grade gieger counters to explode. This didn't stop the Skeelzanian High Command from making it the home base of the FS 3rd Mechanized Division. Their armories and training facilites honeycombed the planet's crust, all of it branching out from Yucca Mountain. The massive domed city has been constructed shortly after colonization and quickly grew to become the commerical and military hub of the planet.

On the peaks east of the habitat, the military had constructed numerous sensors for controlling the flow of traffic in and out of the city, as well as in the space above. Private Faqua was deeply afraid this would be his duty in life. The young man had joined the FS to traverse the sector and crush disgusting aliens, and had wound up behind a computer terminal making sure the various uranium frieghters didn't collide.

"Urm-freight 04426 you are clear for laun- hold on. Negative 04426 you are not cleared. Stand by for further instructions." Odd. The space above Yucca Mountain had momentarily been filled with the ripple effect associated with tachyon drives, though no ships were supposed to be in the area. "04426, my scanners blipped out momentarily. You are clear for launch." Turning in his seat, Faqua punched up the watch commander.

"This better be imporant Private. Spoot knows the transports can't guide themselves out of the port."

"Forgive me sir, but I thought I should report this. I've just had numerous contacts above the city, but no ships are visible. In my opinion, it looks like a fleet of ships exited tachyon jump, minus the ships."

A frown crossed his commanders face. "That is peculiur. I'll send it up the chain of command. Private, continue monitoring the situation."

"As if I would do anything else." Faqua turned back and began punching commands idylling into the keyboard, trying to find a way to figure out what was going on.

OOC: could you name the ships/contructs currently in orbit?

OOC or IC, not sure which.
Installations and ships currently orbitng Azuk II

Civilian

Numerous commerical supply and fuel depots.

One relay sattelite.

One mooring "post" for larger ships
-The 50,000 ton heavy freighter Gunthos is currently moored here, taking on a load of uranium. She is armed for 4 light frieghter turrets of low combat potential.

Military

FS Naval Yard "Sikorsky". This is the main base for the 2nd FS Squadron, most of which is at Solomon undergoing refit. Currently, three ships are in port:
-The Draco class heavy cruisers Nidhogg and SKZHC-016 are docked and being reloaded for thier next cruise. Both ships are fully crewed and are at 50% ammo capacity.
-The Fenrir class assualt cruiser SKZAC-004 is also docked here. She is fully loaded and crewed in preparation for pre-schedueled fleet exercises.
-The Navy (not FS) Wyrm cruiser SZNLC-087 is also docked at Sikorsky (the Navy lacks a installation of its own at Azuk II, so they are forced to berth with the FS). Her crew is currently planetside on leave, and only a small maintenece detachment is onboard. Two of her turrets are currently being disassembled, with the one remaining possesing 50% ammo capacity.
-In addition, 4 SKZMS-01 Drows are stationed within the yard itself. These are space-capable suits and will be deployed in times of attack.

Numerous Ammo and fuel depots for the Fleets are also in orbit.

Stats for all ships present can be found at Skeelzania's factbook. (http://s4.invisionfree.com/Alliance_of_Aranamor/index.php?showtopic=25)

Slight nuances and gurgling sounds can be heard, emanating from the various linked organisms in the command room of the Siphon Dreadnaught as Master Waff hammered out the battle details.

“Master, should we not announce our cause so as not to rally the galaxy to Skeezania’s aid?”
“No Tanis, Baad Skeelzot – founder of the infidel nation - gave ten minutes between the order of banishment and the order to kill all gnomes on sight. We will grant no such mercy.”

Rebuked by his Master, the genetically bred tactical officer nodded reverently and turned to transmit the modified plans.

Standing proudly in front of the main battle view-screen, hands folded behind his back, Master Waff waited for the precise planned moment to shed the cloak of shadow.

Upon simultaneous order, all ships currently tracking orbital targets – including 2 Claws, 3 Shells, 6 Stingers; the rest of the fleet stood by, cloaked with the command dreadnaught - disengaged cloaking and opened fire on their assigned targets. This would hopefully provide a decent distraction for the 40,000 Fex now flying in hundreds of drop pods on their way to the various bio-domes scattered over the surface of the planet.

Mostly targeting the various stations’ defenses, Master Waff decided not to bother with the dilapidated SZNLC-087 Wyrm; perhaps some of the Infidels’ technology could be adapted.

The alpha strike slammed into Sikorsky Station, inflicting substantial damage. Klaxons throughout the base and the berthed ships immediatly sounded, calling the crews to stations. On board the assualt cruiser, Captain Van Cleef awoke with a start as the shcokwave passed through his ship. He had just pulled on his pants when the second strike impacted, and by the time he was on the bridge the firing from both sides was consistant. "Status report!"

The watch officer didn't bother saluting, there was no time. "Sir, a Bandalok fleet decloaked and op-" the ship rumbled from a torpedo impact on her berth-" opened fire. I've ordered all engines full ahead, we're sitting ducks in the drydock."

"I'm well aware of our tactical disadvantage. Helm, bring us up to combat speed and get us away from the yard. Weps, I want all weapons ready and loaded. Comms, send a message to Solomon immediatly, were going to need reinforcements." The bridge crew responded with a thunderous "Yes Sir!".

The situation had rapidly disentegrated into a slug fest. The Nidhogg's captain had ordered the turrets hard to starport, and even now they were launching 300 pound slugs at over 20 kilometers a second at the enemy. Behind her HC-016 had cast off her lines and was edging out of dock. Even the Gunthos was returning fire with her pitifully small armaments.

On Sikorsky itself, the four mobile suit pilots had rushed to their Drows when the first alarms had sounded. Armed with the standard autocannon and tower shield, they catapulted out of the station towards the enemy fleet.

Drop pods launched by the Carrier Transports latched onto the Mt. Yucca Dome. After creating a tight vacuum seal, the mechanically altered organisms released extremely corrosive enzymes that in turn melted away a circular portion of the dome surface.
After a moment’s delay, Fex began streaming out to wreak havoc upon the unsuspecting populace.

The FS command ceneter beneath Yucca Mountain had exploded as soon as the drop pods were detected. Already fully-suited marines were clomping onto the lifts that would take them into the city. The first wave rushed out of the surface barracks into the city proper, blasting away at any scythe-handed chicken monsters they saw. One private put a slug straight through one of the beast's head, but before he could congradulate himself a second Fex leaped down from a roof top, deftly slicing off his arms at the shoulder, which in turned was quickly transformed into bullet riddled pulp by the rest of the squad.

Fighting had quickly consumed much of the city, so numerous were the enemy insertion points. At the starport terminal, Sergeant Dren stood guard with his Radgun. Dren's grand-father had orignially quashed the gnomish civilization 60 years ago, and Dren was damned if they were going to get back-back easily. As he locked the Uranium ammo clip in place, a group of Fex crashed through the street-level windows down the way. Snapping the weapon to his shoulder, the trooper squeezed the trigger. The creature's eyes bulged breifly, but then the 1200 rads of radiation did its work. Every ounce of soft-tissue within the Fex turned to a thick, pinkish goo and slip from its bones. The skeleton stood perfectly for the breiftest of moments, and then collapsed onto itself. Smiling grimly to himself, the Sergeant picked his next target and continued firing.

The first two Stinger Destroyers were put out of operation when a series of direct railgun hits to the bridge completely severed their command ability, leaving only mindless suboids and Fex to roam around the undamaged sections.

As the obedient suboid crewmembers followed their orders to the letter, the group of Stingers glided in tight formation like gulls over water, and swerved, and dodged and just generally did whatever they could to not get killed.
Eventually, in a roundabout way, the Stinger group found itself in a position behind and below the shining Skeelzanian Assault Cruiser. And, as if they could do any thing other than follow Master Waff’s magnificent plan, they shot out the bright orange Disrupter beams and launched all loaded missile pods that would hopefully connect to the Cruiser’s port propulsion engine.

Van Cleef cursed as his port engine evaporated in a cloud of particulate matter. Her thrust now unequal, the cruiser lurched to the left, slowing at the same time. The battered ship dropped behind the two destoryers who were already turning around for another strike.

"All weapons, target lead destroyer and fire!" 24 torpedos flew out of the Fenrir in a red, pulsating cloud towards the closest Stinger. At the same time the Skoll beam cannon mounted in the cruiser's bow lanced through space and traced a line of molten metal across the destroyer's bridge.

As the cruiser and undamaged destroyer hurtled towards eachother, the Helm officer lined up for a collision as impact alarms sounded throught the hull.

Gideon Station, high orbit above Solomon

Garbled transmissions were now streaming in from Azuk II, unfortunatly the presence of the sun between the two planets made communicating difficult. But the gist of it had gotten through. At the massive naval yards ajoined to the station, mutinions were hastly being loaded and off-duty crews ferried up from the surface. Already several Dracos were calibrating their warp drives for the short hop across the solar system.

While one Stinger is completely torn apart by the massive yield of the Fenrir’s torpedo volley, the other collides with the front tip of the cruiser and ends up having its starboard wing ripped off. Dozens suboids and Fex are sucked into the void before a tight film membrane can seal the multiple open corridors. One of the two disruptors was attached to the wing, along with half of the torpedo tubes. The ship engages its Tachyon Jump drive in an emergency jump that places it a fair distance from the battle. It is too badly damged to engage cloaking.

The Claw group continues to dodge most fire and take pot shots at the Fenrir while destroying the remaining station defenses.

Two ships from the Shell group latch onto separate supply depots and offload their Fex boarding squads, while the third latches onto the Sikorsky Naval Yard and streams in its own hungry Fex to secure the orbital ship yard.

Meanwhile, a single large drop pod descends to the Yucca dome. After creating a suitably massive hole, the first Carnifex to touch foreign soil drops out and releases a bone rattling roar, smoking saliva and all. Moments later a second pod releases a similar creature at the far opposite end of the dome.

The Fex streamed into the station corridors; cutting down any unfortunate crewmen they came upon. The PA system was crackling with warning of the boarding, but the single-minded blade-chickens paid no heed, they had humans to kill. As the lead Fex rounded a corridor, he came to a screeching halt and was immediately bowled over by the rest of the group.

In front of them was something the Fex had never seen before. Six and ½ feet tall and incased with steel, they stood with their feet braced, each one cradling a flak cannon. These were the elite shock marines of the Principality, the Organically Reengineered Combatants: ORCs. By now the Fex had recovered and were stalking down the hallway towards this unexpected foe; their steady walk slowly turning into a run with claws in killing position.

“Steady, hold your fire-” said the calm unit in each of the ORC’s helmets. Steady…steady…- when the creatures were within 10 feet of the troopers, the long awaited command barked out: “FIRE!” A cloud of near-molten shrapnel erupted from the flak cannons, turning the lead Fex into a red cloud. Again and again the clones squeezed the trigger home, turning the hallway into an orgy of death, gore, and destruction. Finally their magazines were emptied of their murderous payload, but this was of little concern to an ORC. Some used the bulky cannon as a club, others simply waded in with their hands. Within seconds a pitched melee had begun, with scything claws, gauntleted fists slamming through chest cavities, and cannon-turned-clubs spraying creature blood over the corridor walls. The ORCs were in heaven.

Outside the station, the wounded assault cruiser was slugging it out with a third Stinger. Her light beams streaked through space, briefly setting parts of the bio-hull aflame. Van Cleef continued to bark orders and demanding where the hell his reinforcements were. By this time the two Dracos had exited their respective berths and obtained battle speed. Both of them were concentrating their fire on one of the destroyers and attempting to stay out of beam and torpedo range. In the distance, the lumbering Gunthos was preparing for an emergency jump away from the embattled planet.

At the terminal planetside, Dren reached for a third canister as he crouched behind a large planter box. The street before him was strewn with piles of irradiated flesh, while pereforated Fex brought down by the other troops –having joined him soon after the battle began- laid in every conceivable place. The buggers sure could jump. SARs chattered all around the perimeter.

An ear-shattering roar replaced the sound of gunfire as something vomited up from a nightmare lumbered into view. Four giant blades, two from each shoulder, scissored through the air in front of it as it plodded down the street towards them. Dren sighted the monstrosity with his Radgun, pulled the trigger and was greeted with ka-thunk. “Son of a bitch! Hell of a time to jam.” Discarding the rifle, he retreated from the planter as the Carnifex slammed through what was left of the wall-windows. By now it had attracted the attention of other FS men, who began firing wildly at it. The beast turned with unnatural agility, surprising a soldier crouching near the door. One of the vicious hooks rammed through his light combat armor, lifting him off his feet and slamming him against a pillar. The defender collapsed into a gurgling pile of meat as the Carnifex withdrew its blade and advanced farther into the terminal, shrugging off the assault rifle fire.

With the Carnifex providing a sizable distraction, uncounted Fex raced across the street to engage the Skeelzanians in hand-to-claw combat. A slow, bloody retreat began into the bowels of the starport.

OOC: so currently engaged in battle there are:

Bandalok
2 Claw
3 Shell (boarding parties depleted)
3 Stinger (3rd is basically derelict but still potentially open to fire)
[reserves]
2 Carrier (troops depleted, cloaked)
1 Siphon (command post, cloaked)
4 Scarab (cloaked)
3 Claw (cloaked)
2 Shell (cloaked)
3 Stinger (cloaked)

Skeelzania
1 Fenrir (heavily damaged, port thruster down)
2 Draco (just out of dock)

Gideon Station, high orbit above Solomon

The last of the ships had left it's berth and was moving to join the rest of the fleet in jump alignment. The Bandalok attack had caught the armed forces at a bad time, with many of the Navy's ships out on manuever. The task of saving Azuk II fell upon the FS Space Division, who wouldn't of had it any other way. A sizeable force had been scraped together, though a guard on Solomon would of course be left behind. The Azuk II Counterattack would consist of:

10 Draco Heavy Cruisers
6 Fenrir Assualt Cruisers
1 Navarro Assualt Dreadnaught.

The Navarro was a massive ship, over a kilometer long and studded with torpedo batteries and beam emplacements. She would form the vanguard of the fleet.

Finally each vessel had calibrated its hyperdrive and waited for the "go" signal. Then it came.

[code:1:0dff3195ba]
Skeelzania High Command:

Sons of the Principality, you are cleared for hyperjump. Lay waste to the enemy and restore our honor. Over and out.
[/code:1:0dff3195ba]

With that, the warships dropped off of this plane and into hyperspace. They would arrive at the embattled planet within 10 minutes.

Distant roars and the scratchy battle-speech of the Fex can be heard echoing in the hallways. An attack squad rushes through the dizzying maze, quickly closing the distance to the station command center. Equipped with chirruping voice-slugs, the suboid commander stays in constant communication with Master Waff’s dreadnaught, and carefully guides the squad to its mission objective,

The three Shells, after detaching from the shipyard, targeted the rear ventral side of the Fenrir Cruiser and let go all loaded munitions.

The Claw group fully engaged the two Dracos, cycling the Disruptors so a constant stream was focused on the propulsion engines. If their navigation capabilities were removed, the light cruisers would be easy pickings for the rest of the renegade fleet.

The remaining cloaked ships lie in wait for the imminent Skeelzanian reinforcements.

Meanwhile (back at the ranch), a carrier transport, only a few kilometers above the small deep-core mining dome, releases a special drop pod containing twin suboids and their special burden. When the pod attaches to the dome and creates its own entrance, the twins hop out and the one – Bejou – begins passing large green, pulsating orbs, to the other - Bejat.
“I Hope you brought the map, Bejat…”
“Why you, Bejou, you are the map bringer”
“Yes, I do, on occasion confuse me with me”, he said with a high-pitched laugh.
“Then perhaps we and I should proceed to the air recycling plant and do our business”
Nodding their heads in unison, the pair deftly steps over a smoking human corpse and head down the street with their arms full of a deadly bio-chemical nerve gas.

The situation was grim onboard the Fenrir. Emergency lighting was bathing the bridge in a red glow, and every warning light that could blink was doing so. All but one of the torpedo batteries and the dorsal beam mount were knocked out; fighting was no longer an option.

Van Cleef did not intend to lose one of the Principality's newest cruisers. "Engineering, shift all available power to the hyper drive and prepare for E-jump. Nav, as soon as we exit jump I want a course plotted back to Solomon." If we don't rematerialize inside of a sun that is. E-jumps were one of the most dangerous maneuvers a captain could pull. It involved the immediate engagement of the hyper drive; without course plotting they could easily wind up inside of a sun, or thousands of light years away.

"Hyper drive ready for jump sir!"

"Initialize E-jump." Space tore and the Fenrir dropped off the plane, reappearing ten seconds later in the nearby Dag Star system, and roughly 12 light-years from Azuk II. It was a lucky break. "Navigation, dismiss my previous order. Plot a course for the Minor House world of Kogoruhm. Comms, attempt to raise them and give notification..."

Coinciding with the cruiser's escape, the Uranium freighter Gunthos obtained a proper trajectory which would not jump it in to the Spoot Star. A Stinger, the same that had been victim to Van Cleef's ramming attack, had the misfortune of blundering into her path and was promptly plastered against the freighter's bow. One of the Dracos disintegrated as it plummeted through Azuk II's atmosphere, closely followed by the few escape pods that had managed to get away before steerage had been completely lost.

Waff's forces by this time had seized 90% of the city, with only a few Skeelzanian redoubts remaining. Fighting was reported around the Air Processing Plant where a squad of armored-FS men-at-arms were holed up, as well as sporadic fighting within the Starport. But for the most part, the humans had retreated to their subterranean tunnels where the Fex's mobility was limited.

[code:1:14838b7f04] GNN (Galactic News Network)
…In other news, the God Emperor, figurehead of the Holy Empire of Bandalok, denies all government participation in recent activities concerning the stolen, “rebel”, ships entering Skeelzanian space and plan to send a recovery fleet to end all potential hostilities between the two nations...[/code:1:14838b7f04]

[code:1:ac6d352f65]
GNN
In a late afternoon press conference, a representative of the Skeelzanian Goverment politely but firmly states that no Bandalok ships would be allowed across the Frontier until the crisis had been resolved. "We are not at all convinced that this was not a deliberate attack upon the Principality," Lesli Zhoung told reporters. "We know for a fact that the gnomes are hateful little zealots, and it would not be surpsing at all if factions within the Bandalok heiarchy were found to be supporting the Rogue Fleet."

[/code:1:ac6d352f65]

After the cowardly Skeelzanian cruiser flees the battle, the pair of Carrier Transports glide in near the Sikorsky Naval Yard and begin to graft the beginnings of the bio-mechanical hull armoring seen on all Bandalok ships. Within hours, large bulges would have developed that signify the stores of molten matter used by the external Plasma Spouts.

The Shell group and the remaining Stingers decelerate to orbit in tandem with the nearby Naval Yard, remaining decloaked, while the twin Claws continue their relentless battering of the single Skeelzanian Draco.

Inside the battle torn Mt. Yucca Dome, the ever so slightly diminishing number of Fex hunt down the few straggling survivors on the surface and begin to crowd around the entrances to the underground tunnels.

Wary to enter the dripping moist cement corridors of the subterranean tunnels only a few of the hungrier, more courageous ones ventured into the claustrophobic tunnels, but they were quickly torn to pieces by the fortified defenders.

Above the dank, dark hallways, the last above-ground human outpost fights bitterly from behind its dug-in entrenchments. As stealthily as the Carnifex could be while making three-inch-deep indentations with every step, the frothing monstrosity lumbered up to a wall of the rectangular Air Recycling Plant and planted its massive blades right through the steel and cement – first the blades on the left, then the right – until a suitable hole was made, and a torn armored combatant crushed beneath. As the Carnifex stalked into the building, fifty-caliber gunfire peppered its legs while a few lucky shots got through the chinks in the armor. Pulling in one side of blades, the beast quickly surged them outward, and in a back-handed side-swipe tore two of the fifty-cal SAR wielding squad members neatly in half. Suddenly, the second Carnifex burst in through the opposing wall. Before it could spot a suitable target, the Carnifex’s two right blades explode in a blast of radioactive-goo. The FS squad leader stands at the top of the stairs, behind the rusting iron guard-rail and reloads a uranium charge as the injured Carnifex roars with fury and barrels through the two remaining squad members crushing one’s legs under its feet while shoving the other toward the first Carnifex now happily munching up the remains of the first two squad members. As the Carnifex is reaching its top speed, the FS squad leader calmly steps down the stairway and finishes reloading the Radgun. Not a moment to soon, the commander fires the lethal uranium charge straight into the gaping maw of the injured Carnifex. The heat resistant armor surrounding the creature’s head acts as a cauldron for the intense mixture of Radgun radiation and the vital sensory tissue previously contained within. In the space of about two seconds the Carnifex’s sunken head cavity explodes with a violent BOOM and spatters grey, pink, and green matter all around the factory. Finally finishing its man sized meal, the first Carnifex rushes over to the battle-hardened squad leader and thrusts its lower-left scythe through the man’s back, pinning him up against a still standing wall and proceeds to tear off his head, helmet and all.

First getting a running start, the dubious pair of gnome-suboids quickly begin tossing green, membranous, orbs into various important looking ventilation systems that hopefully led to the dome’s underground. After completing their work, the gnomes hurriedly rush away from the furious Carnifex.

The bioweapon quickly spread through much of the colony, killing those who lacked access to suitable breathing apparatuses. Underneath the city within the tunnels, the surviving defenders were retreating back to their command post. It has been built into the side of a mountain east of the city and was fully self-contained. In addition, its pumping station put out air at a slightly higher pressure, barring the green clouds of death from entering.

High above Yucca Mountain, all organized resistance on Sikorsky station had ended. There were scattered sightings of ORCs rampaging through the hallways killing anyone they got their hands on, but for all intents and purposes the station was in Gnomish hands.

Except for the dilapidated cruiser berthed in spacedock #5.

She had been undergoing repairs when the attack began, her crew on leave planetside. Only a small engineering team had been left onboard to oversee the refit. Now they were backed into a coner: the ship's engines were largely disassembled; Fex were going to enter the ship at any moment; and the whole station would be assimilated with the Wyrm inside.

A frantic counsel took place, and the engineers came to a decision. It was their duty to prevent Principality property from falling into the hands of the enemy, and the station certainly constituted property. The station's capture had to be averted.

Everyone of them knew what had to be done. Throwing safety regulations to the solar winds, they pushed the old vessel's reactor core to the breaking point, initating a uncontrolled reaction within the outdated fission core. With seconds to spare the small contingment crammed into the single servicable escape pod and rocketed away from the doomed ship.

Three minutes later the reactor went critical. The half-megaton explosion ripped through the ship and continued on through the station yard. Stores of torpedos and missles were detonated by the shockwave, resulting in more explosions. The combined shock jarred the Sikorsky off it's orbital path and she slowly but ever more rapidly desended towards Azuk II.

Within moments of the beginning of Sikorsky's plunge, Skeelzanian reinforcements arrived on the season. Pouring out of warpspace like angry hornets, the 17 ships unleashed a massive volley of fire at any Bandalok craft within range.

OOC: curses...

[code:1:79ee69de9a] GNN (Galactic News Network)
…In response to the Skeelzanian government’s position on the rebel ships crossing the border, and that no recovery ships would be allowed to enter its sovereign space, the Bandalok head of diplomatic relations – High Priest Achilles – stated, quote, “We will respect Skeelzania’s selfish pride to refuse help, but when innocent lives are lost, don’t hate me for saying I told you so”.
Sounds like things are heating up in the Nuarvla sector, Jim.
Sure does, Barbara.
We’ll keep you posted as the situation develops.[/code:1:79ee69de9a]

After catching sight of the escape pod once it was a fair distance away from the station, the remainder of the Stinger group hastily raced away from the rapidly transforming Sikorsky Naval Yard, that would eventually form into a orbiting Hive.

Two and a half minutes later, the Stingers had finally caught up with the human escape pod and with little effort, the ship on the left shot out a grappling tentacle and pulled the rusty metal egg into its limited cargo hold.

As the destroyers were rotating to follow a path back to orbit, suboid captain Nem of the left Stinger witnessed the series of massive explosions that knocked the Naval Yard out of orbit. Along with obliterating the pair of Claws and burning away the two layers of armor on the three Shells.

Onboard the lead ship of the Claw group, suboid repair workers were presenting pain reducing and growth increasing chemicals throughout the various systems thrown out of balance by the sudden explosions. The electronic sensor systems only caused more pain for the overloaded ship when the Skeelzanian reinforcements arrived.

Barely able to maneuver, but using its wing-ships as shielding for which didn’t last long under the fire from the reinforcements, the lead Shell engaged an emergency jump which only caused the associated organic systems to burst in a shower of green and yellow fluids. The ship was not going anywhere.

“That was NOT according to plan, Tanis!” Master Waff shouted with fury and knocked the tactical officer from his seat. He would give the orders to decloak and engage the enemy, himself.
Tanis simply stood up and backed a safe distance away, wary of the impulsive actions the Master was known for.

And so the small fleet decloaks about one hundred kilometers off the starboard bow of the Skeelzanian dreadnaught. Stingers and Claws racing toward the rear Dracos, randomly firing torpedoes and missiles. Scarabs with Shells in the center of the formation already launching torpedoes at the grouping of Fenrirs. And the Siphon gliding wide of the engagement to launch its large complement of fighters, while cycling the missile pods at the Skeelzanian dreadnaught.

OOC: Currently engaged ships.

Bandalok
2 Carrier (troops depleted, planet side)
1 Siphon (command post)
4 Scarab
3 Claw
2 Shell
3 Stinger

Skeelzania
10 Draco Heavy Cruisers
6 Fenrir Assault Cruisers
1 Navarro Assault Dreadnaught (lead ship)

Planet side, the gnomish pair – Bejou and Bejat – look up into the space above, marveling at the spectacular fireworks show. Though the Gnulliths (http://s4.invisionfree.com/Alliance_of_Aranamor/index.php?showtopic=16&view=findpost&p=236110) they wore on their faces restricted breathing, the twins could still imagine the interesting conversation they might have had. Turning back to the immediate matters at hand, the two quickened their pace to the waiting Carrier transport.

Now breathing in the sweet smell of the modified narcotic - covering pretty much everything in a greenish particulate residue – the squads of Fex currently crowding around the underground entrances, are emboldened and begin to flood into the now completely dry underground tunnels. Passing the almost mummified corpses of various humans, staring with empty eye sockets and frozen in disturbing caricatures of the spectrum of human emotions.

The lone Carnifex on the surface stomped around angrily, wondering where all the food went.

The Banalok ships smashed into the Skeelzanian flank, quickly becoming entangled with the various warships. Fenrirs and destroyers raced through space, each attempting to out maneuver the others. A Scarab came barreling down on one of the Draco cruisers, raking it with torpedo attacks. Railgun slugs and missiles zipped through the cold vacuum of space off to their respective targets.

In the midst of it all, the dreadnaughts lined up like two dueling beasts. Neither particularly shined in long-range figthing capabilites- this would be a close-range slugfest. Building up speed the two ships began hurling volley after volley of torpedos at one another. The distance between the two vessels shrunk rapidly.

The Skeelzanian Railgun slugs seemed to be doing surprising damage to the destroyers. The narrow connection stem from the propulsion engines to the bridge of the ship could be weakened and eventually shattered with only a few direct hits. Buts that’s if the slugs hit; Skeelzanians were not known for their precision in sensor systems, or intelligence for that matter.

Master Waff’s fleet began a chaotic non-formation, shooting randomly – often at multiple targets – and kept distance to a minimum. Hopefully with their superior numbers, the Skeelzanians would inflict some damaging fire upon its own ships.

By this time, thirty drone fighters had been released from the two launching bays of the Siphon dreadnaught – about two fighters launched every minute. They swarmed around the massive dreadnaught like an angry beehive, firing at the volleys of torpedoes and prematurely detonating many. The Siphon continued its slow advance with a smug aura of prophesized victory.

Fex streamed through the underground hallways of Azuk II cackling with anticipation. The attack squads would reach the mountain command center any moment. Fortunately, they had no idea of the imminent doom falling toward them at an increasing rate.

At the edge of the dome, Bejou and Bejat are waiting patiently in the sticky, moist interior of a drop pod as it resealed the dome with an intensely strong fiber-membrane. Once it is finished, a long proboscis extends down from the hovering Carrier transport and pulls the pod up into itself. The Carrier moves off to pick up other important units and squads. The Sikorsky Naval Yard would surely crash into the planet. Where exactly it would hit could not yet be calculated.

The Navarro's captain had had quite enough of the annoying bug-ships zipping around his ship. It was time to activate the point defense. Perched ontop of the two main engines and along the keel the four beam batteries hummed to life. These were large anti-ship lasers, not the best at tracking fighters. But like most things in the Skeelzanian armed forces percision had been sacraficed for overwhelming firepower. Killing-light streaked out from the dreadnaught, slicing through space and fighters alike. A Draco- limping from a torpedo hit to the port engine- pulled along side her flagship and opened up with the rotary gun autodefense turrets lining her towerbridge; her guns lined up with the approaching Siphon and began lobbing slugs at that as well.

***
Within the FS command center the remaining defenders held on grimly. Scattered transmissions were coming down from space, alerting them of the battle. Fire continued to pour down the few access corridorss, though green haze prevented seeing no more than 15 meters down them.

***

Sikorsky Station skipped along what mesosphere there was over Azuk II. Sections began to disentegrate, including what was left of the armories. Massive explosions as well as sonic booms shook the planet' atmosphere.

By now the once-massive but still sizable hulk had traveled a good distance from where it orignally was. At the increasingly closer horizon, light reflected off of the dome covering Yucca mountain.

Streaking past the rising Carrier, Sikorsky Station slammed into the mountain ridge east of the dome, carrying away the FS communication center along with Private Faqua who for a breif second was glad he would not live to be eaten by a chicken monster. The still-moving station corkscrewed through the air and straight into the domed habitat, shattering the transparent barrier, finally impacting the planet's surface. The resulting explosion triggered massive earthquakes in the area, obliterated the city and starport and wiped out inumerous Fex still milling about on the surface as well as one very hungry Carnifex.

With the destruction of the only possible refueling and repair base, along with all ground invasion forces, Master Waff’s perfect plan had been destroyed. Further Skeelzanian forces could not be fought. No options left.

[code:1:65153fc0b7]Priority Command Message – Eartchk Encoded
Master Waff:
All ships, disengage targets and regroup at designated rendezvous point outside of Skeelzanian space[/code:1:65153fc0b7]

The battered Siphon dreadnaught called in its drone fighters and turned away from the battle. Once the majority of the ships had freed themselves from the entanglement of battle, the command ship engaged its Tachyon Drive and fled the scene. Hopefully free to fight another day. The other ships quickly followed suit in a rapid succession of blinding flashes.

OCC: Yes this should be in Skeelzania, but I don't trust the forums enough to log out and then back in.

IC:
"andalok ships withdrawing, sir."

"Damn. Any chance of tracking them?"

"No, sir. They exited to fast to get a proper lock on them."

"Very well. Comms, prepare to signal the other ships."
[code:1:c357cb00ea]
All Skeelzanian Ships- Attention:
Enemy forces withdrawing from the battle.. All ships are hereby ordered to stand down. Repeat: Stand down. All avaiable shuttles are to be deployed to the planetary surface and assist in rescue operations. Monitor for further orders...
[/code:1:c357cb00ea]

Well outside the main Skeelzanian system and with no sign of pursuit, Master Waff is quite enraptured by the aromatic smell of a particular Bandalok narcotic. He sulks in his private chambers and tries not to think of the punishment his God will no doubt inflict. But not yet; for now the renegade ships will continue their journey. Far away from any threats or retaliation, a new colony may form. A new God may emerge.

The End?