NationStates Jolt Archive

The war with the United Mankind was far from forgotten. The five years of absence had given the Ascendancy time to also boost fleet strength and come up with an operations plan to do two things at the same time..

First.. give the Ascendancy a military morale boost, and at the same time assist the Abh in their war with the UM forces. Greater Alcont, Sovereign Union, and United Mankind core military bases and sectors were targeted, and a vast armada was assembled in several specific areas, both in the Guardianship Sphere, and in the Humankind Abh zones, near major Sords, several that were opened even deep in Ascendancy space.

Second.. give notice to the other nations watching the Gaians had far from given up.

The Gaians however seemed to be lackadasical with their signals, and even were lazy with them going through Sord, and some probes that traveled between the main Guardianship supercluster and it's few remaining external Colony Galaxies. They also sent one towards the Sol System itself, and one 'mistakenly' programmed to the old site of the Gaian Homeworld.

So lazy in fact, it seemed they 'wanted' them to be caught.

They had to locations of thee major Ascendancy buildups in Clan Home, Edo and XGAS-19193 Nebulae in Mochar Galaxy.

It seemed too easy.

There was even a timetable that shown the attack would be in two days.

--

Secret IC: High Command was not only counting on the capture of the probes, but in fact expected the ones that did so, to forward them by some means to the Siciliy nations.

They even expected double talk and reconsideration.

If the Four Nations Alliance attacks as expected, then the trap would be sprung. If they didn't, then six major enemy systems would be taken, and then 'moved', this time with no replacements of systems.

In either case, the buildup was the bait, and if anyone else by Sicily nation fleets attacked, they'd run into the Fold Ejection Network, and removed instantly.

The Ascendancy programmed the network to work with only either Abh, Ascendancy, or Sicily nations, as part of the trap.

Either way, the Ascendancy was going to make the other nations out there 'wake up' some.

The key was the Abh. They had to get the Sicily fleets to draw into the trap in some fashion, once the probes were intercepted. The Gaians promissed full access, and even allowed construction of Abh specific habitation over all Ascendancy worlds. This mean over 300 million light-years were at their disposal to live in however they pleased.

All they needed to do was get the enemy to spring the trap.

Then the Ascendancy was going to teach the rest of civilized space, the meaning of real war. Ionics were disabled for the duration of the operation.

The nice guy gloves were 'off'.

When shall the other one begin?

((OC- Actually we can start in a new thread, with the war existing in other superclusters outside the one the Ascendancy controls at the moment. Star a new thread.))

---

The probes are sent out, heading for Ascendancy worlds, but are 'diverted' by neutron stars, black holes, or other nearby phenomenon that 'steer' the probes into nearby Sords.

They arrive in the appropriate areas with beacons turned on, when they arrive in Zetan and other territories, as well as in the Sol System.

Now the Ascendancy waits.

OOC: would these Probes reach Deatharon's territory?

(OOC: I don't think that the Eshirian Sovereignty would even be on the radar of the Gaians right about now, but I feel like I want to join in. Have any suggestions for how I could jump into this? I kinda want to avoid the very overused "Listening outpost" idea, and the "My big fleet just happens to be in the area" method.)

OOC: I would Join in a major role but i have my own thread for the UMK for tommrow. Abh agreed to it. Its going to be a standered Dominion Attack force them to join or face destruction. Only i will go to their capital. The rest is up to Abh since its his rp and such.

IC: Two Jem'Hadar Attack Craft move in on the probe and start to scan it.

((OC- A simple cruiser will do. The idea is that someone intercepts the probes. And Deatharon is a 'target' of the probes.))

IC: The Attack craft finnished their scans and fired on the probe. They did not figure out who it was from but feared it could be a Son'a probe. This dissapointed the research workers who were from Zanarakand. They loved to mess with all kinds of forgian tech.

The Imperial Battle Cruiser Kraken scans the probe and sends a message to the Imperial Council that a unkown device has entered Imperial Republic space.

"The probes were launched milord."

Aleaic looks up at the holo indicating the probes and their course. Chances were one would survive the process intact.

"Tell all forces to go to Code Yellow-Two. Inform A-SSD Command to also up their operations."

"Got it kid." Tsutsumi commented back, and gaves orders to the effect.

The operation timetable was down to a day and a half..

The Kraken after a three hour fight with the Reaserch Core and the Imperial Council. blasts the Probe with a point singularity cannon.

Scans latter showed the probe was a Gaian one. They were glad it was. They would rather deal with Gaians then Son'a and their Breen Allies. The remains were gathered up for the Zanarkand research teams to tinker with.

((OC- A simple cruiser will do. The idea is that someone intercepts the probes. And Deatharon is a 'target' of the probes.))

(OOC: Understood.)

IC:

E.S. Fringe Systems:

"What is that?" spoke a women on the bridge of the one of the many new battlecarriers of the E.S. it was out a one ship routine border patrol when it encountered the probe sent by the Gaians. However, the crew didn't know just who is was from yet.

The captain, Ai'shui swiveled in her chair and faced her. "What's what?"

"I'm getting some kind of strange signal here..."

"Eh? Strange how?"

"I don't know, it's just giving off a bunch of signals almost at random. It's like the thing is more of a beacon than...well...whatever it is."

"Uh, huh... I don't know what that thing is, but it obviously isn't intelligent, and it's way too close for comfort. Get rid of it."

"Yes, ma'am, opening fire."


From the side of the ship, one of the retractable multi-phasic cannons under the crew sections deployed. It quickly targeted the probe, and made quick work of it in one low powered shot.

"Alright, now it's question time. Find out what that was exactly, and who sent it." ordered the captain.

The Imperial Republic scans discovered there probe was Gaian as well. The Kraken unlike the Neo Zetan ship distergrates the remains of the Probe to wipe out all memmory of Gaian oppression.

OOC: lol, they're too barbaric to be tempted.

anyway, tag.

"Three probes destroyed so far. Looks like they're too jittery for all this." Tsutsumi says to Aleaic. Azusa and Funaho watch as well. Aleaic rubs his hair. "More than that. Apparently we can't be sure that the United Mankind will get the message intended.

Well, there's the passive coded signals also being sent by the fleet comm-stations. All we need is some 'kind' soul to transfer the data to any Sicily outpost, and wait for the UM to react.

Even by Sord they'll need a couple of days to get here though."

Aleaic heads over and leans on a console. He considers, then..

"Get me Admiral Row on the horn." Tsutsumi nods and begins making connections to the Black Opal Fleet Command.

OOC: well if you had to border the Breen and Son'a you may just be a bit on edge too.

The black clad Admiral of the Black Opal Fleet, Alex Row pops up on secrure holo-comm. Lady Sophia, his Executive Officer, stands to his left on the deck of their SSD Silvana. "You called Excellency?"

Aleaic says it succinct. "Take your fleet and Fold to United Mankind Fleet Docks in the Orash System for a raid. At the same time, a second raid will hit the staging base for the Alcont Third Fleet base and rough them up.

The probes might not work, but this well might if these raids are sent at the same time as coded messages sent into listening posts of several nations.

We need to know who is what ally of whom. When the main attack begins, we'll know who to approach more carefully when we take a bite back at the Zetans soon after."

Row nods. "We'll give a rough time of our own." ..and he blinks out.

Tsutsumi looks over. "This planning doesn't seem like us sire."

Aleaic nods. "Thank Hiei. Until he's dealt with, we not playing the fools anymore.

When everyone has had enough of war, 'then' the Intergalactic Union can be put forward.

Everyone only listens after the blood is shed. A shame, but we can make them listen in ways they cannot dream of."

Tsutsumi and Azusa exchange glances.

Lady Aluria bowed before the Emperor Mavis Von Antheron, she hated it but he was now the Emperor ever since Emperor Akarth died in his sleep. The Shadow queen looks up and saids, "A Gaian probe was detected in our space my Emperor what is your command?" The Emperor Mavis hated the Gaians they had made his older brother look like a fool in the intergalatic community. The Emperor Mavis replies, "Mobelize all Imperial Republic Space Navy forces in the area. Kill anything Gaian that enters our space." The Shadow queen bowed and left to fullfill these orders.

*Fifteen minutes later*

That how fast and efficient the Ascendancy Fleet action was in preparation, and then acting upon. The Opal Fleet was joined by large elements of the 33rd Fleet Group, as both Fold Jumped over 680 Million light-years in a single jump to reach their exact targets.

The five years were 'very' prolific for the Republic StarFleet.

Over 300 vessels in each 'raiding fleet' were sent, centered around a SSD. The Silvana was unlike most white clad Ascendancy vessels, as it took a pitch black and gray setup, one more striking to the eye than normal schemes.

Their targets were military only, and avoided civilian areas deliberately. But they 'did' let them see it all, as the two fleets attacked the heavily fortified defenses around two major fleet docks. It was a sharp firefight from the start, as the Gaians targeted mainly the docks alone, pushing the existing defenses out of the way with a vicious blitzkreig attack. They still faced down similar numbers of standing forces, yet only attacked the docks, and vessels that emerged to challenge them. Docked and under repair vessels were 'not' targeted.

In short, a two hour battle saw the docks ravaged badly enough to remove them from fleet repairs for a good year at least. They lost seventeen ships, primarily Droid crusiers that rammed attacking Alcot and Mankind ships that tried the same desperate tactic.

In the end, the message was sent at the same time the Ascendancy raiding forces pulled out. In the clear, and in code was...

:: ~ Operation Banner Star

Fleet Compliments:
~ 16 Kushan-Droid Combat Fleet Groups
~ 7 Warship-High Mobile Fleet Groups
~ 8 JumpShip/DropShip Combat Support Fleet Groups

Fleet Basing Systems:
~ Clan Home
~ Edo
~ NGA-#####

Target Systems: Tatas, Rimshee, Nocholas, Partha, Morbid, Tesa

Objective: Claim these systems in the name of the Ascendancy-Abh Alliance, and take the war at the very doorstep of the Three Nations Alliance. Intentions further as demonstration to the Zetan, Deatharon and GE Alliance nations of our power.

Final objective is the permanent removal and basing of these Systems within the Guardianship Sphere. Intentions also are to break major fleet threats to the Abh, and to make the war permanently on the Ascendancy-Abh side.

Intentions also to have Abh forces capture all Sords and surrounding tertiary systems to solidify their own lines as we advance and drive off Sicily Treaty forces.

We will attack in a day cycle of the Homeworld System. ~ ::

It was a simple code that was sent through both new probes and a high power HPG signal. It seems they 'wanted' the signal decoded.

The Imperial Intelligence Core picks up the signal. The Imperial Republic of Deatharon goes on high alert. The Marine Starcommand mobelizes all Marine Fleets to begin an assualt should the Ascendancy try anything.

Weyoun took note of the Gaian transmission

" Anyone can see they want us to see that transmission. Only a fool would fall for it. The Gaians will not start a war with us not now."

He turned back to his tact reports " Another Convoy destroyed. Assumed to be Son'a. They are getting more aggressive. We sould be able to crush them with ease but we have to keep our selfs guarded from a Gaian attack. If we went to destroy the Son'a then the Gaians would attack. This must be dealt with soon"

As per requests that go along with Republic law, the Republic is mobalizing 5 Taledonian fleets to be brought into Deatharon territory to serve as guards for the Republic nation.

"Seventeen verses two hundred and six. Not a bad kill ration I might comment." Lord Azusa remarks after seeing the intel from the two raids. Lady Yurika comments. "Admiral Row is both very effiicent and a good looker. Admiral Chisae also is a good dresser she is."

Lord Aleaic looks over the Council table at her, as the Council, minus the 'fromer' Ladies Excellencies, as the the planning session commences. "How are the other nations reacting?"

Lady Funaho looks at a large Padd in her hands. "The Zetans seem to be in a pickle with a race called the Son`a, and aren't looked at favorably at this time. The Deatharons have gained the support of a Taledonian contingent. As for others, reaction is mixed. Not much to draw upon milord."

Aleaic sighs. "Let them sweat it out. None of them are of my concern. Save one individual.

What about Sicily movements. Did they take the bait?"

Funaho.. "Obviously they are miffed at the raids. The thing is they seem to be pulling forces to the target zones for defense. There may be indications of fleet movements that could lead to the preemptive strike we are looking for, but more forces may be present at the target Systems than wanted."

Aleaic says a bit coldly. "A bit more better all the same. A larger force means when we strike, we can then crush their morale in a signle stroke. The other nations will have to take note and a bit of healthy fear can be a good ally."

Seto hears this and chides.. "This isn't the way our our people milord. I should call to take care along the words of Master Tuta-Sar of your feelings."

Aleaic sighs. "I didn't ask for the GE to attack Jedi. Like I can sit back and watch a group of beings I hold respect for, be slaughtered, and not react in kind in some way to what has been done.

It's the language these fools decided to adopt as their words. It's time to make them so regret that decision, they'll wonder why they were born."

Aleaic leans back. "Hate upon hate. When enough has been spilled and all grow tired, then we can move back to the idealistic policies we hold ture to dear. Out own territories are safe, as we are even crafting the time and place of our enemies to attack us, in specific places. Trying to go outside those boundries on out grounds is useless.

We are going to make sure when the time comes for proper diplomatic action, that the weariness of blood and pain is on their minds. We forced the issue already and started all this for this very aim.

Now we up the tempo and woe any that stand in our way. We are going to make them hate our military so much, they'll want our diplomatic options back. When that time comes, the false hatreds we hold will wash away and the 'real' Ascendancy will be seen once more.

I pity them to think we were simply 'meddeling' before. After all, 'they' all chose the path of blood, we simply pushed them over the edge, and from there, make them learn a lesson they didn't want.

All hard lessons come that way."

Seto looks a touch fearful of Aleaic, and asks. "What if they go further down the wrong path?"

Aleaic sighs.. "Not if they value their own people. hate us if they must. But if their own people are such 'tools' to them, then they are the ones with pity coming.

I didn't ask for this. I only gave them what they seeked."

Aleaic suddenly looks very sad. "Why do all these fools think the way of blood is the 'cool' choice." Aleaic actually sheds one tear, then wipes it away. The rest of the Counil looks in mixed confusion. That is until Aleaic takes a sharp breath and then looks up with iron and steel in his visage.

"The operation will commence in ten hours."

Aleaic starts to rise, but Tenchi asks first. "What of your other operation?"

Aleaic sighs and shakes his head. "Hiei? As soon as the battles begin, the operations commands will conduct themselves by orders. I will lead the White Diamond Fleet and destroy any enemy forces that arrive in the Clan Home System.

If they do, then all operations will commence, and once the planets are likely taken, I will depart to Zeta Prime alone and find out what the hell is wrong with Jayce and his 'nation'.

Maybe when they learn a little respect for us once more, then more amicable relations can be reestablished. But not until they let go of this need to kill to make others react to them."

At that, the meeting ends with a good deal of tension in the air.

---

*Elsewhere*

The United Mankind, Alcot and Soverign Union Fleets indeed were preparing, and indeedc had taken the bait.

Seventy-five Fleet Squadrons were being dispatched, and a hundred more set to defend the targeted Systems.

They entered their respective Sords, or nearby ones, heading for the fleet buildups, and would arrive three hours before the commencement of the Ascendancy Operation.

A good five thousand vessels were committed to the counterstrike.

The Imperial Republic Space Navy Command

The Princess Maria Von Antheron was in Command of the Imperial Republic Space Navy. She was ordered by the Emperor to mobelize a defensive plan for the Imperial Republic. The main Marine Fleets would attack the Ascendancy if they entered Imperial Republic space. The Imperial Republic Space Navy would also launch an offensive attack. The rest of the Navy would defend the Imperial Republic with the Republic fleets.





OOC: She was replaced by a founder and is now commanding the Imperial Republic's space navy.

Observation outposts near the Deatharon realm kept an eye on the fleet movements in the Deatharon realm.

However the Ascendancy tired of the prattle of a nation that remained small, and chained to their ego. For all the Ascendancy did after the war for them, the Ascendancy saw in the Deatharons as weak and too easily molded to the desires of outside forces.

Whatever their internal desires, one constant was assured.

The Detharons continued to rely on outside help, and their realm, magnitudes smaller than the Ascendancy's own. The Gaians looked at the Deatahrons with pity.

They had no designs whatsoever on their Galaxy for the foseeable future. If the Gaians had contact with the Deatharons, it would be Deatharons making the contact. The Gaians didn't bother with a childish nation that made themselves small.

If they had let go of their greed and power lust, they could have been 'actually' great.

A pity.

The Gaians had other enemies and concerns first.

OCC: I started up the thread.

((OC- Noted.. =^^= ))

--

Gaian long range subspace and planespace sensor stations detected the first of the large fleet approaching. The vast armada was impressive to note on Abh made planespace holoscreens and status boards.

The signal chatter was kept up to make it seem the Gaians were semi-oblivious to the approach.

The entrapment fleets were secretly notifed of the situation, and stations ordered.

They'd be here in two hours. The Ascendancy operation plan was upped to the same timeframe, and all ilCommand, FACAF and StarFleet forces were also secretly notifed.

The Ascendancy clansmen waited with relishment to blaze the path of the future their leaders wanted.

The Emperor Mavis Von Antheron sends a message to the Ascendancy:

I Emperor Mavis Von Antheron hereby banish all Gaians from the Antaries Galaxy any attempt at coming into our Galaxy will be seen as an act of war and will be treated in kind.

It would take two weeks for the Deatharon message to reach the Ascendancy.

Other concerns were up at the moment, as thirty minutes before the arrival of the Sicily Treaty Fleets, the Gaians finally 'acted' like they were preparing. Automated System and Planetary defenses were readied, and the local fleets and garrisons 'alerted'.

..on cue.

The Gaians however seemed to only react by deploying Seismic Mines and StarJel Pods at the enterance of the Sord at the three buildup Systems.

All local defenses of course were deployed, and comm chatter upped in tempo as the enemy approached.

At fifteen minutes, local defenses were ready, as the first Fleet that would emerge was a United Mankind flotilla of 1,500 vessels.

One major battle was about to begin.

The Imperial Republic of Deatharon orders all warrior Xenos species conquerored by Deatharon in it time of expansion to be armed and sent to the soon to becoming front. Thousands of Mrrshan and Sakarra and Grendel are mobelized and forced to report to the Imperial Republic Guard and Navy. The Emperor issued this order to prove the entire Galaxy was agaisnt the Ascendancy and its Ideals.

OOC: I know these Species are from the Master of orion II and III.

Eighteen Superdreadnaughts, 54 Dreadnaughts, 112 Battlecruisers, 112 Carriers 112 Supercruisers, 112 Assault Carriers, 336 Light Carriers and 336 Light Cruisers transisted the Warp Point at the closest system to the deatharon system. They then engaged their FTL and emerged in the Deatharon system.

"We have come to aid you. Where would the most advantageous position be?

The Imperial Republic sends a message to the Stellar Nations Have your fleet guard the outer systems of the Imperial Republic.

":: The mines are coming through the Sord! ::"

That order was rather panicked sounding for the start of the battle, as the first mines shot through from space-time orbs within, and into the Clan Home System.

The mines were immediately targeted by guarding automated defenses, both conventional, and Ionic based. Defense missles and beam platforms shot at the incoming mines, as they came in thick as fog.

The battle started this way and would be so for the next three hours, as the Sicily forces tried to push back the defense forces outside the Sords, that they couldn't really 'see'. Their sensors had to guess at the enemy strenght in front of them, and the Gaians knew this, and took advantage to hide their numbers.

It would be the third hour when the first Sicily forces would penetrate with vessels enmasse.

The other two Systems were similarly attacked.

The Emperor Mavis Von Antheron questions weather he can defeat the Ascendancy. The problem is his has little intel on the situation in the Ascendancy. He decides to send a recon task force of 10 ships to survey the Ascendancy, The taskforce will be lead by General Marius.

The taskforce sets out through a multiple wormholes
The Recon taskforce contains:

1 Imperial Guardian
4 Heavy Assault Carriers
5 Imperial Battlecruisers

The Taledonian ships started to take up a defensive pattern around the Deatharon capitol planet. There it would stay until further orders.

((OC- You're still using wormholes only? A long way to pass 650 million light-years at least.))

---

*Clan Home System*

Admiral Fox of the Seventh Gold Fleet Group was waiting in his ISD near an orbital Ladder, as the automated battle between UM mines and Gaian defenses raged. The Mines did enough damage to allow the first UM vessels to push through.

As soon as they did, the StarJel and Seismic Mines suddenly BLARE in the face of the first wave. The second and third however are allowed through, and are targeted at by close in Small Gaian Capital Ships.

Corvettes and Attack Ships on both sides started lancing at each other brutally.

OOC: These Wormholes are vastly upgraded from the orginal design plus they are using more advanced fold drives as well. The Deatharon Reasearch Core lead by the Pslion mutants really boosted are abilites in space travel.)

The Stellar Nations fleet deployed in the outer reaches of the system, waiting for an attack.

((OC- Kay, I can accept that. Still a bit of a long way to do it though in my opinion. =^^= ))

--

"Here they come."

Admiral Fox's comment concerns the arrival of a large number of Sicily Warships that force the screening line to fall back. Just as they do, the first Ion Cannon Platform fire comes in, lancing in from four directions, striking two enemy Heavy Crusiers dead through.

The dying explosions regale as more major vessels, and a flood of smaller ones push through the Sord.

Admiral Fox holds back for the moment. "Wait till they pass close to CH-VI and then pounce. We need them to stretch out from the Sord first. Long range fire will keep firing at will!"

The still very far away inital beahhead battle through the Sord is still unnerving to watch.

The battle in the other two Systems start off similarly.

Inside the Wormhole to the Ascendancy territory...

General Marius hated this Job, For the Five years the Ascendancy had been gone he had been leading Deatharon's armies to invade the many systems in the Antaries Galaxy. The reason to appease the expansionist wishes of the Emperor and his Dukes. The Imperial Republic was turning back into the Empire he hated. The General missed the Golden age as many Deatharon citizens dubbed it when Akarth Von Antheron had the throne and the Imperial Republic was not invadeing every thing that moved so to speak. The bodybags in Deatharon were filled with bodies of men and women who gave there lives to follow orders. even the Marines had taken losses in this era of war. The Xenos races like the Mrrshan and the Sakkra and Grendal and even the Evon supported Deatharon after they were conquerored and given Citzenship into the Imperial Republic of Deatharon. They now followed the human Emperor who had become there leader. Deatharon was no longer a nation of humans and mutants the Xenos races had now become a major factor in Deatharon's society. General Marius calculated in ten years time the Xenos would be the Majority of beings in the Imperial Republic and would be the bulk of Deatharon if expansion kept going on like this but his superiors refused to believe it.

*The Battle of Clan Home*

The main push to expand the 'beachhead' was outright vicious. The Sicily forces were seemingly effective in forcing their blind way into normal space, and then moving out towards Clan Home VI, a large gas giant. However doing so was tedious, as a vast array of defenses and then the usual Gate-Shield array planetoids.

The managed through what seemed a weaker defense than they expected, and as soon as the fleet managed through, they began to push in several thrusts towards major Ascendancy assets in the System.

The main first Gaian counterattack was Fox's 183rd/7th Gold Kushan-Droid Squadron. Eighty large Gaian droid vessels pushed hard at a thrust aiming for a civilian traffic control StarBase.

Unlike the Gaians, the United Mankind had little regard for the rules of war. They even began to fire off nucleonics. As soon as the first warhead destroyed a Gaian vessel, all Ionics were suddenly ordered disabled.

That's when the battles turned ugly. The enemy fleet meanwhile was about three thousand kilometers away from closing the trap, and several UM squadrons were even aiming for civilian JumpShips.

The Wormholes opens in the Ascendancy fringe systems......

The General was notifyed that all ships had made it and were using Phase Cloak. The Imperial Republic Recon task force was to spy on the Ascendancy's outter territories and then go into there inter sphere territories and scan weapons installation fleet movements and possiable secret weapons.
The General gave the order split up and scan the different systems...

(OOC: Sorry I'm late)

4 Abh fleets linked up with the Gaians main fleet. The strike force was lead by Lord Dusanyu and was complimented by Admiral Spoor, Mustaf, and Admiral Febdaush. Dusanyu sent a comm link to the main ship

Sorry we're late. I hope we haven't missed too much of the party. I've brought 3 fleets with me and the rest of Star Forces is on standby. They are waiting to see where they will fit in. As soon as we can coordinate where you want us, the sooner we can kill the enemy.

The 4 fleets combined totalled about 20,000 ships along with several newly crafted heavy fighters, attack ships, guardships, frontlineships, and several new mobile suits. Each fleet was accompanied by its own supply fleet.

Dusanyu: "Let's let them know we're here for the long haul."

The Ten ships split up into groups of two ships. The Ships then start scanning Gaian positions in the outer systems, while cloaked they also mantained a strict radio silence.

The Deatharons had little realization that they were merely at the established borders of the Core Worlds Republic, the single richest expanse of space for millions of light-years around.

The trade off for the Guardianship, was that the Ascendancy enjoyed beyond measure of no need for want. The border was a mere line between the Core and the vast Inner Republic, one that extended for millions of light-years in the Archonis Gamma Local Cluster. The adjacent thirty galactic clusters were the Mid-Rim Republic. This extended into the next hundred Local Groups.

The ones past this and into the remainder of the current realm, was the Outer Rim Republic. A strange pseudonom for context, but the Gaians through far larger in scope than their allies and enemies did. As such, a palrty reconasance fleet by the Deatharons was laughable.

They left them to 'delve' secrets, know where they exactly were, thanks to the array of several Deep Void StarBases (another Ascendant 'toy'..) that maintaned watched over every conceivable subspace, gravemetric, particle, and non-standard effect in their governed space.

Mere gravity 'nudges' was all that was required. They then kept watch while the real attention was given where it was due.

---

Aleaic was already anticipating and reacting. As he boarded his flagship, he recieved the communicae from the Abh Fleet.

"Send this reply, secure comm." Aleaic commanded, and then watched as the plan fell frighteningly into place.

--

:: ~ My regards to your empress. Please follow these instructions.

Send your fleets to the Sords in enemy space and prepare to assert full control of them. The battles here are a trap we have laid to assert our dominance over more than just the field of battle of our direct enemies.

But to the hearts and morale of our tertiary enemies, planning our downfall.

As such, send your forces to break the defenses at the Sords, at the same time we send twelve Fleet Groups to assert control of the planets of six seperate Systems. *Names in operations manifest*

The reward is unattested rights to spread your forces and way of life into the Archonis Supercluster. Over 300 million light-years of open space is yours, for this small 'payment'.

We intend to take control, and move six enemy Systems into Ascendancy space, to gain direct control of all strategic material and assets of the enemy, and divulge where to further the conduct of this war. We also intend to shatter the confidence of our enemies and ensure they do not disrespect us again as a total force of what our Guardianship states as.

A warrior culture of the light, honorable, and to our word.

As such, the glory of the battle is all yours, with reward, and the assets become ours. This is codified command of the FACAF and ilCommand.

Honored Regards, Allied Lords and Ladies,

Lord Excellency Aleaic Saloam Kerensky
ilCommander, Operation Banner Star, Phase I ~ ::

Dusanyu: "Send the Gaians our compliments. We will not waste anymore of their time. We shall move out immediatly and claim new territories while killing the enemy. Chief of Staff, set course for the first system. I want all Frontlineships to fuel their mines and prepare for a volley as soon as we reach the next sord. I want fighters at standby at mobile suit pilots to gear up. Guardships are to finishing refueling before we leave. I want all ships to perform a system check before we enter the sord."

The four thousand plus abh ships moved into position to enter the nearest sord. All systems went through a diagnostic check while the ships' Space Time Orbs were activated. The entire Abh force then disappeared into the sord to confront the enemy.